Pirates Dismiss 3rd Base Coach Rick Sofield

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates have dismissed their third-base coach.

The team announced Saturday night that Rick Sofield was dismissed and first-base coach Nick Leyva was reassigned to a position in the front office.

The Pirates have announced the dismissal of coach Rick Sofield, & have reassigned coach Nick Leyva to Senior Advisor, Baseball Operations.

— Pirates (@Pirates) October 22, 2016

Another tweet followed thanking Sofield "for everything he has brought" to the Major League team and the Pirates organization.

Thank you to Coach Sofield for everything he has brought to our Major League team and the Pirates organization. pic.twitter.com/3IeP8lm1cv

— Pirates (@Pirates) October 22, 2016

Sofield had served on manager Clint Hurdle's coaching staff since the 2013 season as the club's outfield and baserunning coach.

"We have great respect and appreciation for both men. We thank them for their time and effort as part of our Major League team and the Pirates organization," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said in a statement. "It was a difficult decision, but we felt it was the right time to make this change on our Major League staff."

It is believed by some that Solfield is taking the fall for the Pirates' poor base running.

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