PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates have hired longtime major league infielder Jay Bell as the new hitting coach.

Bell replaces Gregg Ritchie, who left the team to become the coach at George Washington University.

The 46-year-old Bell spent 18 seasons in the majors, including eight years with the Pirates from 1989-96.

Bell spent the 2012 season as hitting coach for the Mobile BayBears, the Arizona Diamondbacks Double-A affiliate.

The Pirates hired Rick Sofield as first base coach and Dave Jauss as major league coach. Former first base coach Luis Silverio will serve as a senior adviser to minor league operations.