Pirates' Jacob Stallings: Dad's hiring at Pitt a 'funny coincidence'

Rob Biertempfel
Monday, March 28, 2016 6:12 p.m. | Monday, March 28, 2016 6:12 p.m.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Pirates catcher Jacob Stallings looks to the dugout during a spring training game against the Phillies at BrightHouse Field in Clearwater, Fla.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Pirates catcher Jacob Stallings returns to the dugout after warming up a pitcher during a spring training game at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Fla.

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

Pirates catcher Jacob Stallings watches the Phillies' Ryan Howard celebrate his grand slam during a spring training game at BrightHouse Field in Clearwater, Fla.

BRADENTON, Fla. — Pirates catcher Jacob Stallings grew up a coach's son, so he's used to seeing his father draw attention. But even he was a bit taken aback last weekend amid the whirlwind that led to Kevin Stallings becoming the Pitt men's basketball coach

“He's been (at Vanderbilt) since I was in the fourth grade, 17 years,” Stallings said. “It's just wild that it's Pittsburgh. A funny coincidence.”

Kevin Stallings was in Bradenton all last week to watch his son work out with the Pirates in his first major league spring training camp. The elder Stallings flew to Pittsburgh midweek to interview with Pitt, then returned to Florida to wait for the decision.

“Dad was caught off guard a little bit because Jamie (Dixon) left so abruptly,” Stallings said. “He's really excited because Pitt's a great program, so it was a good (kind of) caught off guard.”

A seventh-round pick in 2012, Stallings spent last season with Double-A Altoona and caught 75 games. He batted .275 with a .683 OPS.

Stallings might begin this season at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he could get ample playing time while Elias Diaz works his way back from an elbow injury.

Rob Biertempfel is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at rbiertempfel@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BiertempfelTrib.