The 5 Most Telling Quotes from Derek Shelton's Introductory Presser

[Nick Nelson]

Image courtesy of Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

By now we've become accustomed to public-facing words from Minnesota Twins leadership that are long on jargon but short on substance. So that's where expectations were set heading into Tuesday's press conference introducing Derek Shelton as the club's new manager. 

To his credit, Shelton kept the first part in check, answering questions succinctly in a quick session that ran less than 30 minutes front to back. But alas, there wasn't much substance to be found in Shelton's responses from reporters who pressed him on what he'll do differently as Twins managers, and why fans should believe in better days ahead.

There is more insight to be drawn from what Shelton didn't say — flat-out refused to say, really — than the few things he did emphasize, which on their own rung pretty hollow. Here are five quotes from the presser that I found especially striking, and why. 

"Attention to detail and fundamentals are extremely, extremely important to me ... There is no detail that's too small."

He's singing the right notes, given how much frustration had mounted with the Twins' sloppy play by the end of the Rocco Baldelli era. But in his only major-league stop as a manager so far, attention to detail was not a strength of Shelton's teams. "Constant struggles with fundamentals" was cited by Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette as a primary downfall of the Pirates under Shelton. That doesn't necessarily mean it was the manager's fault, but Shelton hasn't shown any demonstrable ability to elevate decision-making and execution in a poor fundamental bunch, which these Twins have proven to be.

"We're gonna have to continue to work in that market of growing, competing, developing."

This came as part of an answer from Shelton on what he sees as the Twins' strengths. First he mentioned the "good starting pitching group" (which ranked 23rd in the majors in ERA this year) and Byron Buxton (conspicuously the only specific player h named). Then he pointed to the standout farm system, portraying internal development as the "market" in which the Twins must operate — an interesting word choice. And again, this is the same market Pittsburgh was operating in while failing miserably under his watch. 

"I think we'll get into that more, as we go through. I think that's something that as we talked about there was clarity, but it's also going to be a group that's going to learn and grow, but yeah, I think we'll probably get into that more as we continue to go."

To me, this was the flashing red-light moment of the entire press conference. Shelton was asked by one reporter if the front office pitched a vision to him for how they planned to turn the team around, and what the near future held in store. He gave a fairly long-winded answer about the complete transparency he was given, and how everything was on the table, but failed to elaborate. Moments later, another reporter followed up asking directly: What did they say? Shelton responded with the laughably evasive answer above, firmly asserting that he fully knows of the team's intentions but is unwilling to peep a word about them, even directionally. And I think we can all put two and two together on why that would be the case.

"Excitement about the young group we have. Excitement about the pitching group we have."

These are the two things Shelton led with when asked to give Twins fans a reason to feel enthused about this team. And it's one of those answers that just completely falls flat. Why would we feel excited about the young talent that we've been watching flounder over the past two seasons? Why would we feel excited about a pitching staff that just had its bullpen wiped out, with underwhelming initial returns from the deadline? Maybe it's a question with no satisfying honest answer to be given, but I fear this is a preview of the empty youth-based vision that will be pitched to fans on a further whittled down roster in 2026. 

"I'm not using the term rebuild. People are always gonna go to a certain term, but I think we're gonna develop young players."

So, he's not using the term because he doesn't like it, that's more or less what fans can expect. Got it.

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[Schmoeman5]

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss. We wont get fooled again. Maybe

[Teflon]

I was hoping for more of a Dan Campbell type of press conference.

[tony&rodney]

Hard work and honesty are not an asset in our current world. Who do you know and how can you benefit personally in every transaction? From friends to spouses to children and onward, the prevailing or controlling element today is transactional. People are trying to change that dynamic but power prevails for now. Anyone who expected honesty is not paying attention. If Derek Shelton had answered questions in a direct substantive manner he would have been fired. Things can and do change; people change, hope for change.

[CRF]

Another baloney sammich.

[Parfigliano]

20 minutes ago, Teflon said:

I was hoping for more of a Dan Campbell type of press conference.

Yeah let's see a TC team that's " going to take a kneecap off" their opponents.

[GNess]

I am not inspired by these quotes - at all.

[Dawgzilla]

All hyperbole, nothing less, very vanilla, uninspiring, etc.  Any reason for a large season ticket renewal, let alone new ones?  Not!  I see attendance around 1.3 million, which is down significantly; revenues will fall hand-in-hand as a result, hence a perpetual malaise and downward spiral!  Sorry!  You get mediocrity if you push mediocrity!

[Irishman]

Blah! Blah!

I will believe it when I see it.

[Blyleven2011]

Wow , same old crap , different day ...

Shelton Seems like a smooth operator , maybe he's smooth enough to do falveys job ...

But what's the big dark secrets that there always reluctant to share with the fans ...

Fans want to know or there won't be anymore fans , this is getting real old  ...

Same old $h!? Different day ...

Clone of Rocco only more intelligent is my take , hope we can at least be a 500 team with those 3 on the podium having so much enthusiasm ...

[rv78]

Sounds like they are going to rollout the same crap we have been seeing. No big surprise there. 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/derek-shelton-used-his-time-off-after-the-pirates-fired-him-to-present-the-twins-a-better-candidate/ar-AA1POjHV

 

[Doctor Gast]

Yeah, I don't share the same optimism with our farm in general as Shelton stated. But he has to be optimistic, that's part of the job. Maybe rebuild is a bad word for managers to use, but when you sell off 40% of the roster, it's a rebuild. If they trade Ryan & or Lopez, it'll be a full-blown rebuild. 

But Sheldon gave the right answers, to focus on development, details, fundamentals & communication. Putting importance on coaches who have MLB experience to better help, & instruct struggling young players. This is where the Twins have failed & should have been done years ago. At least Tingler, Watkins, Conger & by default the hitting coach should be fired. My hope is that Sheldon, with Zoll's help, would be able to find good coaches who are able to implement these virtues. Sheldon has embraced former baseball-smart Twins, whom I believe he is willing to draw from.   

[LastOnePicked]

A better style of play. More accountability and self-respect. That's all I'm asking of Shelton at this point. Ownership is going to leave him with absolutely nothing in terms of payroll. So be it. These are the new dark days of Twins baseball. But the players coming in have got to learn to play the game with more skill and composure.

This is a AAA team for the foreseeable future. Let's be a AAA team that can at least look itself in the mirror after nine innings.

[Dave Borton]

A dandelion is always a dandelion, never a rose.

Would love to be surprised 'cuz 'never say never.'

Always hopeful...but not buying ticket package.

[old nurse]

Day 3 of the new job for Shelty and he is supposed to have the answer to questions about a team in transition.  Half of the 40 man when he took over could or should be gone by spring training. Corporate baseball speak is about all anyone will get out of the other recent hires. .  Just chill, wait to see what he gets to work with 

[Mahoning]

It's all baloney, but you can't blame Shelton -- it's his first public appearance. He has to do what he's told. And if his so-called major leaguers are poor on the fundamentals the blame falls to all the coaches and decision-makers in charge of the minor leagues. Isn't that what the minors are for?

[jorgenswest]

I suggest everyone simply go listen to the press conference and decide for themselves what is most telling.

 

[terrydactyls]

3 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

Yeah, I don't share the same optimism with our farm in general as Shelton stated. But he has to be optimistic, that's part of the job. Maybe rebuild is a bad word for managers to use, but when you sell off 40% of the roster, it's a rebuild. If they trade Ryan & or Lopez, it'll be a full-blown rebuild. 

But Sheldon gave the right answers, to focus on development, details, fundamentals & communication. Putting importance on coaches who have MLB experience to better help, & instruct struggling young players. This is where the Twins have failed & should have been done years ago. At least Tingler, Watkins, Conger & by default the hitting coach should be fired. My hope is that Sheldon, with Zoll's help, would be able to find good coaches who are able to implement these virtues. Sheldon has embraced former baseball-smart Twins, whom I believe he is willing to draw from.   

His name is Shelton, not Sheldon.

[Parfigliano]

31 minutes ago, Mahoning said:

It's all baloney, but you can't blame Shelton -- it's his first public appearance. He has to do what he's told. And if his so-called major leaguers are poor on the fundamentals the blame falls to all the coaches and decision-makers in charge of the minor leagues. Isn't that what the minors are for?

Shelton probably hasn't even met the players yet so lack of fundamentals now can't be his fault.

[palmspringstwinsfan]

I’m guessing he’s been instructed by Falvey to not use the term “rebuild.”

[Whitey333]

Such a bland press conference by Shelton.  This team has gone downhill since Falvey took over.  Yes he had one good year.  But in his 10 years here he just provides very boring minor league baseball disguised as Major League.  This whole organization has turned into a joke and is an embarrassment. 

[jkcarew]

The narrative that the Twins are young is a lie instigated by the spin-doctors employed by this club and perpetuated by the lazy media that cover it. Their weighted batting age in 2025, was once again ABOVE league average…and second oldest among the five ALC teams. Simply replacing Correa’s PA’s with Lee’s, still doesn’t make the lineup “young”. Pitching-wise, the average age was slightly below league average…yet still significantly above that of their prime divisional rival, the Guardians…whose pitchers are always both younger and better than Twins pitchers. Always.

At this point…since being good is explicitly not an option…I’m beginning to simply yearn for a year where we’re ACTUALLY YOUNG and bad…rather than just bad. It’s within our grasp in 2026! But, will we do it?…or will we sign 3-4 low-rent veterans to uphold the annual charade of ‘competing’? Again.

[Jacksson]

1 hour ago, old nurse said:

Half of the 40 man when he took over could or should be gone by spring training.  

Let's look into that:

DUMPED = Genesis Cabrera, Thomas Hatch, Anthony Misiewicz, Michael Tonkin, Justin Topa, Christian Vasquez, Edouard Julian, Jose Miranda, DaShawn Keirsey, Carson McKusker, James Outman,  That's 11

POSSIBLE = Ryan Fitzgerald, Mickey Gasper, Ryan Kreidler, That's 3

TRADED = Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, Ryan Jeffers, Cole Sands, Trevor Larnach, Matt Wallner, That's 6

11+3+6 = 20

You are 100% Correct, Old Nurse !!

[ashbury]

Sounds like the opposite of a straight shooter.

[sun]

Shelton handled the press conference admirably. Everything that he said was succint and logical. He mentioned transparency by the FO & owner over & over. He's the new manager hired to manage the players and not a publicity agent. It's not his job to answer dumb questions from assnine reporters. If the fans want to be skeptics and haters then that's their problem. & not Shelton's problem. IMO the author is just stirring the pot because being a shock jock gets more clicks, espeically with the TD crowd that just loves to attack anything & everything. The entire press conference was benign & harmless. Shelton showed that he's one smart cookie. He was being honest & transparent by saying that it's not his place to speak about the Twins future plans.  Patience is a virtue.

[old nurse]

3 hours ago, sun said:

Shelton handled the press conference admirably. Everything that he said was succint and logical. He mentioned transparency by the FO & owner over & over. He's the new manager hired to manage the players and not a publicity agent. It's not his job to answer dumb questions from assnine reporters. If the fans want to be skeptics and haters then that's their problem. & not Shelton's problem. IMO the author is just stirring the pot because being a shock jock gets more clicks, espeically with the TD crowd that just loves to attack anything & everything. The entire press conference was benign & harmless. Shelton showed that he's one smart cookie. He was being honest & transparent by saying that it's not his place to speak about the Twins future plans.  Patience is a virtue.

Welcome to Minnesota nice 

[the_brute_squad]

The still frame of youtube with Falvey, Shelton, and Zoll makes them look like they're more likely to play a game of 'Dungeons and Dragons" than it does a baseball brain trust. I've just become much less confident this team can turn things around quickly.

[old nurse]

7 hours ago, Mahoning said:

It's all baloney, but you can't blame Shelton -- it's his first public appearance. He has to do what he's told. And if his so-called major leaguers are poor on the fundamentals the blame falls to all the coaches and decision-makers in charge of the minor leagues. Isn't that what the minors are for?

I have been told many times that i am wrong to think a baseball player in their mid twenties  should have been versed in fundamentals after playing a game for more than 10 years.  They tell me I am wrong to think by the time a player reaches the majors it is on the player if they have poor fundamentals. 

[Riverbrian]

12 hours ago, Nick Nelson said:

"I'm not using the term rebuild. People are always gonna go to a certain term, but I think we're gonna develop young players."

That's all I wanted to hear. 

Press conference gets a thumbs up from me. 

 

[Riverbrian]

14 minutes ago, old nurse said:

I have been told many times that i am wrong to think a baseball player in their mid twenties  should have been versed in fundamentals after playing a game for more than 10 years.  They tell me I am wrong to think by the time a player reaches the majors it is on the player if they have poor fundamentals. 

I watch a lot of College Football. 

18 to 22 year old football players that have to be assignment sharp with 21 other player chaos going on around them. 

Baseball... is a lot less complicated. OK... Everyone... do you know the cut system?

Fundamentals should not be an issue at the major league level.