The Latest On Minnesota Twins' Managerial Search

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Minnesota Twins’ managerial search is starting to take shape, and early indications show a clear theme: the club is keeping things in the family. As the front office works to replace Rocco Baldelli, several of the early names connected to the job come with Twins ties, player familiarity, or a shared emphasis on fundamentals and development. Few of the candidates, however, carry an extensive track record of success managing at the major-league level, suggesting the Twins could prioritize leadership style and organizational alignment over pure experience.

Nick Punto Brings “Shredder” Mentality to the Conversation
Few names could spark as much nostalgia among Twins fans as Nick Punto. According to The Athletic’s Dan Hayes and Dennis Lin, the team has received permission from the Padres to interview the former Minnesota utilityman. Punto, who played seven of his 14 major-league seasons with the Twins, is known as “the Shredder” for his signature move: ripping the jerseys off teammates during celebrations of walkoff hits. His dirt-on-the-uniform ethos helped make him a fan favorite.

Punto’s reputation as a hard-nosed, detail-oriented player aligns closely with Twins President Derek Falvey’s recent comments about the next phase of Twins baseball. Falvey emphasized that the club will prioritize baserunning, fundamentals, and precision. Punto seems to embody those traits, though his coaching experience is limited. He managed in MLB’s Prospect Development Pipeline League in 2021, coached at the high-school level, and joined San Diego’s staff in 2024, where he worked with the team’s infielders.

At 48 years old, Punto represents a young, enthusiastic option who understands the Twins’ culture, but he would be taking a major leap into his first big-league managerial position.

James Rowson Could Reunite With Familiar Faces
Another candidate with direct Twins ties is current Yankees hitting coach James Rowson. Rowson, 49, served as Minnesota’s hitting coach from 2017 to 2019 and helped guide one of the most powerful lineups in franchise history. During his tenure, the Twins produced a 105 wRC+ across three seasons and famously launched 307 home runs during the 2019 “Bomba Squad” campaign.

After leaving Minnesota, Rowson worked for the Marlins and Tigers before joining the Yankees in 2024. New York’s offense has been among the league’s best during his time there, and his track record as a communicator and teacher could fit well with a Twins roster built on young talent. While he lacks managerial experience, Rowson’s reputation around the league as a strong motivator and developer of players gives him an edge among first-time candidates.

Derek Shelton Brings Experience but Faces Mixed Reviews
Among the names linked to the search, Shelton stands out as the only candidate with prior major-league managerial experience. Shelton led the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2020 until his dismissal earlier this year, compiling a 306-440 record. The results on paper were underwhelming, but Pittsburgh’s ongoing rebuild calls into question how much of that record can be attributed directly to Shelton’s leadership.

Before joining the Pirates, Shelton spent time on the Twins’ staff under Baldelli, where he earned respect for his attention to detail and ability to connect with players. He knows the organization well, and his combination of experience and familiarity could appeal to Falvey and general manager Jeremy Zoll as they look for a steady hand to guide a roster that may have some rough years ahead before contending again. 

Ramón Vázquez Adds Leadership and International Experience
Red Sox bench coach Ramón Vázquez rounds out the list of known candidates. The Twins have formally requested permission to interview him, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post. A former utility infielder who played nine MLB seasons, Vázquez has over a decade of coaching experience and currently serves as Alex Cora’s right-hand man in Boston.

While Vázquez has yet to manage in the majors, he has done so in both the Puerto Rican Winter League and the minor leagues. His bilingual background and history of connecting with diverse clubhouse environments could make him a valuable leader for a Twins team that could have even more international talent across the roster.

Ryan Flaherty’s Rising Stock Could Put Him Out of Reach
One other name connected to the Twins’ search is Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty, whose growing reputation may make him difficult for Minnesota to land. Flaherty, 38, has been linked to multiple openings this offseason, including the Padres and Orioles managerial jobs. His ties to both organizations could give them an inside track, compared to the Twins. A former utility player known for his baseball intellect, Flaherty has earned praise for his work as a strategist and communicator during his time on big-league coaching staffs in Chicago and San Diego. 

While he has yet to manage at the MLB level, his combination of youth, preparation, and an analytics-driven approach has made Flaherty one of the most sought-after candidates in baseball’s current hiring cycle. If the Twins hope to get in the mix, they may need to move quickly before another club makes a formal offer.

A Search Centered on Familiarity and Fundamentals
As the search unfolds, the Twins appear focused on candidates who reflect the organization’s values, rather than chasing the biggest name on the market. Each of the five known candidates brings an emphasis on preparation, communication, and development. Overall, the Twins seem intent on finding a manager who fits their identity as much as their strategy.

It remains to be seen if more experienced names will emerge as the process continues, but for now, the Twins’ approach feels intentional. The franchise is leaning into its history, searching for a leader who understands what it means to wear the “TC” and who can build a disciplined, fundamentally sound team for years to come.

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Which candidate makes the most sense for the Twins? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

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[dxpavelka]

You have to go back to Gene Mauch to find a Twins manager with major league managing experience so going the route of NOT hiring someone with big league experience would NOT be a shock nor would it not be on brand.  AND, you're really going to hate this one, it goes back to forty years prior to Falvey so you can't just hate it because it's the Falvey way.

[dxpavelka]

I like Rowson but it's a tough sell to tell me that HE "launched 307 home runs with the Bomba Squad any more than HE launched 274 for the Yankees this year or 53 for Aaron Judge.  The players did all of those things and in the end what happens on the field is because of the players.  A manager / hitting coach plays a small part, an important part nonetheless but a small part. Managers like quarterbacks get too much credit when things are good and too much blame when things are bad.

[CRF]

I'll be the first to say it...I just don't trust Falvey to make the right choice. 

[Jeff K]

Rowson appears to be a fine hitting coach; however, I don't think the Twins should have anything to do with the philosophy that lead to the bomba squad.  Makes little sense to me if the Twins are going in a scrappier direction.

[MinnInPa]

manager wont matter if you keep sending out this caliber of players... the salary dump brought no All Star caliber players in return..just more mediocrity.. needed---Set up man and closer, corner OF needs replaced..+ a 1B that can hit..lets start there

[Original_JB]

"Twins appear focused on candidates who reflect the organization’s values, rather than chasing the biggest name on the market. Each of the five known candidates brings an emphasis on preparation, communication, and development. Overall, the Twins seem intent on finding a manager who fits their identity as much as their strategy."

Did they come up with that line off the back cover off of "How to manage in the Big Leagues 101"? Because I sure haven't seen them exude any of those qualities on for years and years now. "communication" -- What that they got rid of Dave St. Peter? There has been zero improvement in that area and if anything, it's gotten even worse. "development" -- pretty obvious when you look at the ongoing on-field shenanigans throwing to the wrong base, horrible base running, inability to bunt or hit behind the runner. "preparation" -- yeah preparation-H because these fools are just one big pain in the....

[mikelink45]

No opinion.  No one is a good manager until they prove it.  And even the best of managers - think Casey Stengel can win with a great team (Yankees) but not with a bad team (Mets).  And bad managers (Fred Haney of Milwaukee Braves) win when the team is just so good they don't need to be managed. 

Tom Kelly is considered the superstar of Twins Managers  had a career .478 winning record.  And 5 winning years of first of second place in 16 years.  Yet we think of him as the genius manager despite blowing it with Dave Ortiz and a few others.  

What makes a great manager?  It really comes down to a smart baseball man who knows how to relate to his players without losing authority.  

Although my caveat now is that we have so many specialty coaches the manager is also the manager of a coaching team.  How do we measure that ability of the coaches themselves?

[jmlease1]

I guess I like the fact that not every candidate in the pool is from exactly the same mold? In my experience, having a candidate pool where people have a range of experiences/pathways is a good way to help you find the right fit for the organization's needs. When you're slicing and dicing between 4-6 people that have the exact same profile it can start getting into just vibes, which isn't probably the best way.

None of these look like deal-breaker, "oh god, why?!?" picks, but none of them are 100% slam-dunk, "hire them immediately for whatever salary they want!" picks either. Which is sort of to be expected?

[Coach Wheels]

Raise your hand if you believe Falvey can make the right hire when we watched the trade deadline debacle.

👎

[Maybe Next Year]

Here's another name I would love to see interviewed - Dan Gladden. 

[Trov]

1 hour ago, dxpavelka said:

I like Rowson but it's a tough sell to tell me that HE "launched 307 home runs with the Bomba Squad any more than HE launched 274 for the Yankees this year or 53 for Aaron Judge.  The players did all of those things and in the end what happens on the field is because of the players.  A manager / hitting coach plays a small part, an important part nonetheless but a small part. Managers like quarterbacks get too much credit when things are good and too much blame when things are bad.

I would disagree with that managers get too much credit or blame.  There is a reason some managers have success for years across several teams.  Yes, having good players will be a huge thing, and no matter how good the manager is they will not win with bad players.  However, at the same time they can maximize or minimize the talent they have.  There is also the manager that manages the 162 game season well but not single games well, and other vise versa. Some can do both.

Personally, I found Gardy was good at the 162, but terrible in the short series or single game decisions. Rocco seemed to be more geared for the single game or short series plan but was not as good at the 162.  

Yes, the players will always be the ones that have to make the plays, but one thing that in the Bomba Squad year that I remember was talk about the team attacking fastballs on first pitches, something was not common for the Twins, it was that change in mind set that helped them that year.  Of course teams adjust to that and started throwing less first pitch fastballs to them.

[DJL44]

Out of this group, without ever having met any of them, I'll take Vazquez.

At best, Shelton is just okay. Punto lacks experience. Rowson has a pretty good reputation throughout baseball.

[thelanges5]

Falvey needs help. No one should be POBO and running the business side. He’s in over his head. 

[Doctor Gast]

Qualifications I like to see are a former catcher who has a good grasp & feel for the game. Knows how to use the BP & leadership while creating a favorable club culture. Focused on fundamentals & know how & when to use analytics. Great player evaluation plus comes from a good organization like MIL or LAD & bilingual.

It's impossible to find all these qualifications in one person, so it's imperative to also have a supportive bench coach & coaches. I'd love Rowson as a hitting coach & even Sheldon as a bench coach, but not as a manager. I'd love Tori Hunter as a manager, but he alone is not enough. I'd love Charlie Greene, MIL BP coach, who was a MLB catcher. He's a college manager's son. Has worked with MIL catchers for years, like Willian Contreras & developing Jefferson Quero & knows how to work with pitchers. He'd be a great bench coach & maybe later manager. Nevertheless, a great person to have in the organization. Ron Washington as INF & 3B coach & bilingual Nelson Cruz as hitting & 1B coach.  IMO, these guys would make a great team.

[EGFTShaw]

32 minutes ago, Maybe Next Year said:

Here's another name I would love to see interviewed - Dan Gladden. 

@Fire Dan Gladden  have any comments lol

[SteveLV]

The fact that people like Bochey and Maddon have not reportedly been contacted tells us they are going young(ish) and are looking for an ascending talent who will not break the bank.

On paper, I prefer Vasquez.  I can't get over the idea that being bilingual is so very important with the make up of rosters these days.  Plus, I want an outsider, not someone already working in this system who might be beholden to Falvey's decisions on day-to-day management.

[The Great Hambino]

53 minutes ago, Maybe Next Year said:

Here's another name I would love to see interviewed - Dan Gladden. 

Well, it would get him out of the radio booth - none of the other candidates can make that claim.  So I guess he has that going for him

[twinsfansd]

52 minutes ago, thelanges5 said:

Falvey needs help. No one should be POBO and running the business side. He’s in over his head. 

He has a General Manager. Everybody seems to forget that.

[TopGunn#22]

Of all the candidates mentioned so far, I also like Vasquez the most.  He's young and affordable, but also multi-lingual and he's got some managerial experience.

I'd love the idea of Nelson Cruz as the hitting coach.  I think he would benefit from being a hitting coach FIRST before jumping head-first into managing.  I'd love Tori Hunter as the OF coach and 3B coach.  But I wonder how "committed" Tori would be.  I'd offer him the 3B Coach/OF Coach job and based on his response, gauge his overall commitment. 

Guys like Rowson and Shelton are just taking the lazy way out by trying to rekindle 307 HR "Bomba Squad" days.  Those days are long gone.  Would Punto be interested in coaching Twins infielders and 1B or 3B?  He's not my manager yet, but I'd start with him as a coach on the staff, just like Cruz and Hunter.    

[SteveLV]

Whoever we hire, I want the Manager to pick his own coaching staff.  These folks need to work closely together for many hours a day over a LONG, stressful season and have to work well together.

If Falvey is going to dictate the staff, too, this could be a recipe for disappointment.  People work better with people they know and trust.

[thelanges5]

29 minutes ago, twinsfansd said:

He has a General Manager. Everybody seems to forget that.

Zoll barely talked at the presser to announce the Rocco firing. Falvey shouldn’t be the head of both baseball and operations. He is doing the job that used to be split between himself, St Peter, and Levine. 

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

Qualifications I like to see are a former catcher who has a good grasp & feel for the game. Knows how to use the BP & leadership while creating a favorable club culture. Focused on fundamentals & know how & when to use analytics. Great player evaluation plus comes from a good organization like MIL or LAD & bilingual.

Yadier Molina says he wants to manage.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

1 hour ago, EGFTShaw said:

@Fire Dan Gladden  have any comments lol

Only if you are a fan of your manager:
- praising low exit velocity off the bat
- repeating exactly what the bench coach just said
- being 100% anti-analytics
- monologuing about non-related baseball items while occasionally paying attention to the game 
 

[DJL44]

5 minutes ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

Only if you are a fan of your manager:
- praising low exit velocity off the bat
- repeating exactly what the bench coach just said
- being 100% anti-analytics
- monologuing about non-related baseball items while occasionally paying attention to the game 

I don't think Gladden would take a job where he has to be sober.

[PatPfund]

I don't think you can tell from these sketches. The FO is going to have to make the call, and while their history is mixed, they at least seem to be saying the right things.

(Tons of hand-wringing here about the trade deadline and 'tearing down the roster.' Half the teardown consisted of players - Castro, France, Paddack, Bader, Coulombe - who were on expiring contracts and not expected to be back. We could still re-sign any we want back. We got solid prospects at SP (Villoria), C (Jimenez), OF (Mendez), and a few SP lottery tickets in return. Of the other 5, Brock Stewart lasted 4 outings before wrecking his shoulder, and would be dubious for next, or any year. Correa was a salary dump that may allow us to keep Ryan AND Lopez, and for sure provides any chance at FA roster additions. The only real loss against next year is Duran, Varland, and Jax, and we got real assets in return including two SPs likely in our rotation next year (Abel, Bradley), another highly thought of catching prospect (Tait), a possible starting OF next year (Roden), and a great lefty SP prospect (Rojas). The FO did what it needed to do given the standings, including firing the manager they liked after the season.)

Interviewing Shelton, I'd want to make sure he wasn't another Rocco; this team needs directional change. I think more of Punto after reading the Athletic piece; he has done some of the grunt work needed on the coaching side, but I'd grill him on style and check for outside confirmation from the Padres organization and players if possible. Vázquez seems like the most complete candidate; I like the whole 'bench coach with minor league managing experience including guys like Detroit's Lombard not yet in this conversation. I'm not rushing to lock up the Cubs guy; if you put out there that you are keeping Ryan and Lopez, a good manager should be able to compete in this division next season, and that will be attractive enough for the sort of person the team needs. (What I don't think we need is a "star" player like Torii Hunter with little experience drilling or supervising; we just had that. Love the guy, but no.)

[ziggy]

I'd like to see Rowson and Punto on the staff, bench coach or assistant manager, but not manager.

The way things have been the last two years isn't working. A new manager should include a new staff.

[Sjoski]

Falvey will hire his "yes-man".

Might as get it over now.....

No○°•○•°○•○°••°°••• !!!

[Schmoeman5]

3 hours ago, twinsfansd said:

He has a General Manager. Everybody seems to forget that.

In name only. When was the last time anyone's heard anything from Zoll regarding anything? Or Levine when he was GM.

[EGFTShaw]

Unlike Stephen (I've Got An Opinion On Everything) A Smith, at the moment I don't have an opinion on the manager unless it is the Hamm's Bear.

I do have thoughts about what they, (manager and coaches), need to be able to do.

1. keep developing the pitching.
2. teach and stress defense (I honestly don't believe that these athletes with proper coaching cannot be at minimum average at their positions.  Two exceptions, maybe 3, would be shortstop, CF and catcher).
3. develop a hitting program that improves the players similar to what the pitching program has done.
4. OK - that's the coaches and mindset.
5. manager
   1. know how to use pitchers, starters and bullpen
   2. hold the players accountable
   3. resurrect "playing the Twins way" but now perhaps with better talent and better coaching
   4. take advantage of every angle; running, challenging balls/strikes next season, pitch/hitter clocks, etc.
   5. good rapport with front office and St Paul
6. For the love of 11,000 Lakes and the hunt for the elusive Musky, these soft tissue injuries are driving me to fish for sun fish.  I don't know if it is over training, under stretching, dumb players...but I do not understand the spike in soft tissue injuries.

I learned that we cannot Crowd Source Purchase the MN Twins.

But I think we could Crowd Source a corporation to purchase the Twins. (precedence is the Atlanta Braves)

Twinkies Baseball, Inc?