PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates added a former World Series Most Valuable Player Award winner to their front office staff on Saturday, hiring David Eckstein as a special assistant in their baseball operations department.Eckstein, 43, is the younger brother of new Pirates hitting coach Rick Eckstein. He spent 10 years in

PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates added a former World Series Most Valuable Player Award winner to their front office staff on Saturday, hiring David Eckstein as a special assistant in their baseball operations department.

Eckstein, 43, is the younger brother of new Pirates hitting coach Rick Eckstein. He spent 10 years in the Majors as a middle infielder for the Angels, Cardinals, Blue Jays, D-backs and Padres. During his career, Eckstein made two All-Star teams (2005 and '06) and won a pair of World Series (2002 with the Angels and '06 with the Cardinals), and he was named the 2006 World Series MVP after batting .364 in St. Louis' five-game triumph over the Tigers.

I’m honored and excited to be joining the @Pirates Organization! I’m looking forward to working on the same team as my brother @RickEckstein57 and this is what my Dad always wished for us. https://t.co/z8dqAY4T3N — David Eckstein (@DavidEckstein22) January 5, 2019

"David Eckstein brings intelligence, intensity and a unique drive and energy to the Pirates organization," general manager Neal Huntington said in a statement. "David's strengths will be an asset for our Major League team and player development system as a teacher and mentor. We are elated to add a quality person with an extensive playing background to our organization."

Eckstein served as a guest instructor for the Angels during Spring Training from 2012-15 and again from '17-18. He worked with Tony La Russa, his former manager, and the D-backs' staff during Spring Training in 2016. Eckstein held several roles for USA Baseball's 18U national team from 2012-16. In '15, he was Team USA's first-base coach, hitting instructor and infield coach as the squad won the Baseball World Cup.

Adam Berry has covered the Pirates for MLB.com since 2015. Follow him on Twitter and read his blog.