The Minnesota Twins have found their new manager.
Derek Shelton has been named the franchise’s next leader, according to reports from Jon Heyman. This move hints that the organization may have one of their bench coaches, like Yankees hitting coach James Rowson, lined up for 2026 as well.
Previously, Shelton managed the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2020 but was let go earlier this spring due to a tough start with a 12-26 record. There was also some controversy surrounding his departure on May 8.
During his time with the Pirates, which lasted until this year, Shelton amassed a record of 306 wins and 440 losses, failing to surpass 76 wins in any single season.
After Shelton’s firing, Pirates general manager Ben Cherington praised his efforts, mentioning, “Derek worked incredibly hard… His family has become a huge part of the Pirates family, and we will miss them.” He added that change was necessary despite initially believing Shelton was the right fit for the role.
Interestingly, Shelton was part of the Twins’ setup as a bench coach for two seasons from 2018 to 2019 under both Paul Molitor and Rocco Baldelli before heading to Pittsburgh.
Now, he’s stepping in following a disappointing season for the Twins. They began with solid playoff aspirations but ended with a record of 70-92, which is their lowest since 2016. This poor performance prompted the firing of Baldelli the day after the season wrapped up.
Baldelli, who had been with the team for seven seasons, recorded 527 wins and 505 losses, along with three American League Central titles during his tenure.
