Coaching changes

[lecroy24fan]

We do not know the status of the coaches from the end of the 2025 season but per Bobby Nightengale on Bluesky the new bullpen coach is LaTroy Hawkins.

[jaimedude]

49 minutes ago, lecroy24fan said:

We do not know the status of the coaches from the end of the 2025 season but per Bobby Nightengale on Bluesky the new bullpen coach is LaTroy Hawkins.

If this is true, I hope they give Hawkins players to work with. Hawkins has a lot of playing experience and worked with a lot of good coaches, so I think Hawkins could help the Twins. If true, good choice by Shelton and  Falvey. 

[Hrbowski]

Dumb hire, why go with a guy who is open and proud about being behind the times on pitching development? It's not Colby Suggs's fault that Falvey traded away the 'pen this summer.

[Doctor Wu]

9 hours ago, jaimedude said:

If this is true, I hope they give Hawkins players to work with. Hawkins has a lot of playing experience and worked with a lot of good coaches, so I think Hawkins could help the Twins. If true, good choice by Shelton and  Falvey. 

I think Hawkins is a good choice too. But yeah, we need a few more new arms to work with before we have the makings of even a decent bullpen. 

[lecroy24fan]

Hank Conger will not be back.

[tony&rodney]

Bottom line is that a pitcher must be in tune with their body and each of their pitches. It never hurts to listen to the coaches, but when you get on the mound and face batters it is your decision what to throw. We can be pretty sure that all pitchers have experiences working with numerous pitching coaches and have heard conflicting information at various points. 

When the camera pans the dugout we often see the starting pitchers with each other in conversation. Amid the mindless chatter no doubt these guys discuss pitches, hitters, and pretty much all things related to their craft. In fact we often see guys comparing grips on the baseball. 

Hawkins will be a different voice than the last guy but he has experience and knowledge that can be heard.

[Squirrel]

58 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Bottom line is that a pitcher must be in tune with their body and each of their pitches. It never hurts to listen to the coaches, but when you get on the mound and face batters it is your decision what to throw. We can be pretty sure that all pitchers have experiences working with numerous pitching coaches and have heard conflicting information at various points. 

When the camera pans the dugout we often see the starting pitchers with each other in conversation. Amid the mindless chatter no doubt these guys discuss pitches, hitters, and pretty much all things related to their craft. In fact we often see guys comparing grips on the baseball. 

Hawkins will be a different voice than the last guy but he has experience and knowledge that can be heard.

Hawkins won’t be in the dugout, but the bullpen. But I think he will be fine.

[tony&rodney]

27 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

Hawkins won’t be in the dugout, but the bullpen. But I think he will be fine.

Yes, that was clear from the press release. My point was the pitchers hear many voices, another is fine.

[Vanimal46]

Unserious organization

[Vanimal46]

Oh no! What are we going to do without Windmill Watkins?

[ashbury]

2 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Oh no! What are we going to do without Windmill Watkins?

The Twins are "letting" Watkins interview?   Is that similar to how they're letting Baldelli interview?

[old nurse]

2 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Oh no! What are we going to do without Windmill Watkins?

Thought the complaint was usually the stop sign that was out

[old nurse]

There is an Atlanta site saying that they want Watkins for bench coach 

[old nurse]

11 minutes ago, ashbury said:

The Twins are "letting" Watkins interview?   Is that similar to how they're letting Baldelli interview?

I suppose it depends on the start date of the contract. If the contracts are for January to January, Watkins is still an employee and would need permission to look for a new job.  The Twins did not release or fire him.

[Squirrel]

4 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Oh no! What are we going to do without Windmill Watkins?

Watkins wasn’t the worst, by far, windmill we’ve had. Scott Ullger was way worse.

[DocBauer]

You can have almost unlimited coaches, but only so many can be in uniform and in the dugout game day.

Considering the positive things I've heard about Suggs, I'm surprised he wasn't kept on in some capacity. But with Hawkins brought on board, he's probably looking for advancement, and not another scouting or assistant spot.

Conger has a good reputation. Apparently Shelton just has a different vision?

In regard to Watkins, the whole 3B good or bad reputation is bogus. For every runner sent that scored, times 3 or more, all that's remember is the bad sends. And that's the truth and life of being a 3B coach. BUT that coach is ALSO an instructor. So Shelton wants a different coach.

Isn't that what we want? Don't we WANT Shelton to have some freedom to build his own staff?

I'm very excited to have THE HAWK as an assistant pitching coach. 

But I'm also very intrigued about the rest of the staff. Primarily, who he puts in charge of the hitting side.

[Doctor Wu]

6 hours ago, Squirrel said:

Watkins wasn’t the worst, by far, windmill we’ve had. Scott Ullger was way worse.

Oh man, I had forgotten all about Scott Ullger. I may have seriously bad dreams tonight. I watched him "manage" the Orlando Twins AA team one season. Not impressed. 

[jaimedude]

On 11/6/2025 at 8:15 PM, Hrbowski said:

Dumb hire, why go with a guy who is open and proud about being behind the times on pitching development? It's not Colby Suggs's fault that Falvey traded away the 'pen this summer.

Was not against Suggs, just with uncertainty of bullpen arms, do not mind Hawkins being given a chance to coach. 

[lecroy24fan]

Nate Dahmann also not returning.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

14 hours ago, Doctor Wu said:

Oh man, I had forgotten all about Scott Ullger. I may have seriously bad dreams tonight. I watched him "manage" the Orlando Twins AA team one season. Not impressed. 

how could you forget!?!?!
 

SCOTT ULLGER (coach, Minnesota Twins):first time he slid headfirst into the bag, I thought about saying something. But, really, is it a coach’s place to say something about that? I don’t know.

[stringer bell]

Grady Sizemore is being added as an outfield/base running coach. He was a very good player. Hopefully he can help in both areas. 

[thelanges5]

Bobby Jr:
 

Grady Sizemore will also be the Twins’ first-base coach next season. 

As noted in the story, Ramon Borrego will be back next year as well, one of the holdovers from Rocco Baldelli’s staff. Borrego will be the third-base coach.