Warren Schaeffer 'extremely thankful' to go from Greensburg CC to managing Rockies at PNC Park

Warren Schaeffer couldn’t stop smiling while sitting in the visitor’s dugout at PNC Park as the manager of the Colorado Rockies.

It’s a position he never dreamed of — repeating the never multiple times for emphasis — before the start of a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“No, not once. Not once in my life did I think that,” said Schaeffer, a Vandergrift native and Greensburg Central Catholic graduate. “But that’s just the way life has turned. Its twists and turns have led us here. Just extremely thankful for that. It’s very cool. These three days are very cool for me.”

After taking over a team that was off to an historic start — winning only seven of its first 40 games — Schaeffer is trying to steer the Rockies toward respectability as the interim manager. The 40-year-old spent his entire career with the club, playing, coaching and managing in the minors before becoming the Rockies’ third-base coach in 2023.

Under Schaeffer’s direction, Colorado won more games in June (10) than it did in the previous two months combined (eight). The Rockies took two of three games against the Pirates to start the month, rallying from a nine-run deficit for a 17-16 walk-off win in the series opener at Coors Field and a four-run hole for an 8-5 win the next night.

Despite following the Pirates series with an eight-game losing streak, the Rockies recovered to win seven of their last 10 games entering their visit to PNC Park.

Three straight losses to the Pirates dropped their record to 9-14 (.391 winning percentage) in August, but Schaeffer has a young team “playing the game the right way for nine innings” and finding ways to win by reducing its strikeout rate and moving runners by hitting the other way.

“I’ve loved it,” Schaeffer said. “I’m proud of those guys.”

Rockies bench coach Clint Hurdle, who spent nine seasons as Pirates manager, is proud of how Schaeffer has handled the in-season transition from third-base coach to replacing Bud Black on the bench with “tremendous energy.”

“He knows the game, defensive-minded. He can tell you the hitting part was hard for him, but (as) a strategist, he managed in the minor leagues so he had abilities there,” Hurdle said. “The pitching part of it is always tricky for anyone, working with a major-league bullpen. Good bullpens make managers look smart, bad bullpens make managers look not smart, but I love the energy, the preparation, the application.

“He wants to hear the coaches’ voices. So it’s been a joy. One of the biggest joys I’m having is watching a young man grow up in a situation and managing a young team through a very hard time, and the energy he’s bringing and his ability to show up with a fresh face every day. He showers really well, and it shows up really good. He’s got a work ethic second to none.”

Still, Schaeffer had to pinch himself to be back in his hometown as a major-league manager. He lives in Freeport in the offseason, called his wife’s cooking his favorite thing about coming home (although Mineo’s pizza is a personal favorite) but didn’t want to spend much time reminiscing about the first time he played a game at PNC Park.

That came in 2002, when Schaeffer led Greensburg Central Catholic to the WPIAL Class A final, where the Centurions fell to Neshannock, 4-3. That loss still haunts Schaeffer, even though GCC went on to win the PIAA championship.

“I don’t really want to talk about that,” Schaeffer said, his smile fading. “That’s a loss. That’s a big loss. WPIAL final game against Neshannock. We lost a game we should’ve won. No offense to Neshannock, but we should’ve won that game. … It was really cool to be out here. That’s everything you dream of as a kid growing up in Pittsburgh, to play on that grass right there. We got to do it. It molds you together for life, the guys that you played with.”

This trip was all business for Schaeffer, as he stayed in the team hotel. But he was grateful to be able to say hello to family and friends who came to the Pirates-Rockies games and thanked them for their support.

Schaeffer is even excited about the direction of the Pirates under Don Kelly.

“Super happy for Donnie, especially being a Yinzer taking over this ballclub,” Schaeffer said. “I think it’s the coolest thing ever. I’ve watched him from afar. I’ve gotten to know Donnie just a little bit. Great guy. Happy for his success. It seems like he’s pushing this ballclub forward, as well.

“It’s just cool to be here. It’s awesome to manage against Donnie, no doubt about it. But just to be here in this ballpark with all the childhood memories coming here. Just the whole thing. The city, it’s home, man. There’s nothing better than home.”