Twins Add Grady Sizemore to Coaching Staff

[Seth Stohs]

With more Twins Coaching news (some coming to the Twins, several former Twins coaches heading elsewhere), Bob NIghtengale reported on Tuesday night from the GM Meetings that the Twins have hired Grady Sizemore to their coaching staff. It isn't official, but we have heard that he will be the team's first base coach and also the outfield and base running coach. Ramon Borrego will shift from first base to third base coach in 2026.    

 

Sizemore was a big-time prospect in high school, and in 2000, the Montreal Expos made him their third-round draft pick. he became a three-time All-Star centerfielder. He was part of a couple of big trades. He earned two Gold Glove Awards and a Silver Slugger. He was a great all-around player with Cleveland. Unfortunately, he started fighting injuries in 2009, was very limited in 2010 and 2011, and then he missed the entire 2012 and 2013 seasons. He played for three times between 2014 and 2015, but he just was unable to return to his All-Star form. 

In 2017, he was given a special advisory role in Cleveland but soon after returned home and spent time with his young family. In 2023, he took an internship under the Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen. In 2024, he went to the White Sox and joined their big-league coaching staff. When Pedro Grifol was fired, Sizemore became the interim manager to finish out the season. The White Sox went 13-32 with him leading the way. He remained with the White Sox in 2025 as the team's Offensive Coordinator.   

As you saw earlier, Pete Maki is returning to the Twins as their pitching coach. We still don't know about Derek Shelton's bench coach or the status of the team's three hitting coaches from 2024. 

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves sent out a press release on Tuesday night announcing their 2026 coaching staff. We had heard that former Twins bullpen coach Jeremy Hefner jumped into their pitching coach role and Tommy Watkins will be their third base coach. In addition, former Twins infield and bench coach Tony Diaz has joined the Braves coaching staff. Also, former Cedar Rapids Kernels pitching coach (and assistant minor league pitching coordinator) JP Martinez will be Atlanta's bullpen coach. He has been the Giants hitting coach for the past five or six years.  

 

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[Senior Softball Guy]

We will miss Tommy Watkins personality but not so much his third base coaching. It sounds encouraging that Sizemore is added. Looks like they are fully committed to the aggressive running game. With the expected departure of Larnach and, perhaps a more limited role for Wallner, the outfield could be upgraded in terms of speed and defense. Encouraging first steps to an interesting off season for the Twins.

[Jeff K]

I like Sizemore joining the staff.  I like Tommy Watkins off the staff at least as much.  Good luck with the Braves.

[JBK]

Three hitting coaches?  No wonder we hit .238

[TheLeviathan]

This just makes me want to fire up MVP 2005 again.....

But if those job titles are his - baserunning and OF defense - that is a critical need for this roster.  Hope he helps.

[stringer bell]

Sizemore's career arc is similar to Rocco's, except that Grady was healthy longer before falling to a siege of injuries. I do like shaking up the coaching staff, although I don't think it necessarily means more wins or a better team. 

Every team's third base coach gets criticized and I'm sure Borrego will get plenty. What helps is having fast runners who can undo a base running mistake and I hope the Twins feature more speed in 2026. ,

[Blyleven2011]

A great player before the injuries shortened his career ...

Hes hired for outfield and base running coach , let's hope he can help some of our players improve on defense  , ( better reads on trajectory and throwing to the right base ) ...

A positive hire that has some major league experience at managing , must have a good head on his shoulders  ...

Glad to have him ...

[Seth Stohs]

16 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Every team's third base coach gets criticized and I'm sure Borrego will get plenty. What helps is having fast runners who can undo a base running mistake and I hope the Twins feature more speed in 2926,

Correct... if a 3B coach isn't getting a few guys thrown out at home, he's not being aggressive enough. Tommy is a big loss in the clubhouse and on the field. 

 

[S Bart]

15 minutes ago, Seth Stohs said:

Correct... if a 3B coach isn't getting a few guys thrown out at home, he's not being aggressive enough. Tommy is a big loss in the clubhouse and on the field. 

 

Watkins is not a loss... a change was needed in that role more than any other at the coaching level. Regardless, Nice guy.  wish him luck in Atlanta. .

[S Bart]

33 minutes ago, Blyleven2011 said:

A great player before the injuries shortened his career ...

Hes hired for outfield and base running coach , let's hope he can help some of our players improve on defense  , ( better reads on trajectory and throwing to the right base ) ...

A positive hire that has some major league experience at managing , must have a good head on his shoulders  ...

Glad to have him ...

When was the last time a Twins coach had a silver slugger, gold gloves, multiple all star appearances and had experience as a MLB manager?..not saying it translates to being a great coach. .. but still...he has some expertise at being at a high level.

[jmlease1]

6 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

Correct... if a 3B coach isn't getting a few guys thrown out at home, he's not being aggressive enough. Tommy is a big loss in the clubhouse and on the field. 

 

in the clubhouse, probably. On the field? while admittedly he hasn't had a lot to work with with guys running the bases, he also had way too many instances of late signals, changing his mind (occasionally changing it multiple times on the same play), etc for fans to feel much confidence in him there. Perhaps players were starting to go, "hey, Tommy, you're a great dude, but..."

[JADBP]

7 hours ago, S Bart said:

When was the last time a Twins coach had a silver slugger, gold gloves, multiple all star appearances and had experience as a MLB manager?..not saying it translates to being a great coach. .. but still...he has some expertise at being at a high level.

Molitor

[mnfireman]

1 hour ago, JADBP said:

Molitor

Except for the GG...

[mnfireman]

In 2015, Shelton was his hitting coach and Baledelli his first base coach while he was with TB....

[Parfigliano]

11 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

A great player before the injuries shortened his career ...

Hes hired for outfield and base running coach , let's hope he can help some of our players improve on defense  , ( better reads on trajectory and throwing to the right base ) ...

A positive hire that has some major league experience at managing , must have a good head on his shoulders  ...

Glad to have him ...

I will never understand how people who have been playing baseball since little league can reach the highest level of the game and not know where to throw the ball in every situation.

[FlyingFinn]

21 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

I will never understand how people who have been playing baseball since little league can reach the highest level of the game and not know where to throw the ball in every situation.

When my boy was playing little league and I was coaching, I figured this out. The traveling team coaches would always holler to tell them what to do. They were like robots, never having to think when running the bases or, incredibly, when playing defense at times. Those types of players should be allowed to make mistakes, learn from them, and show the non-traveling team players how to think on the field. I didn't see it.

[Obsvr]

11 hours ago, S Bart said:

Watkins is not a loss... a change was needed in that role more than any other at the coaching level. Regardless, Nice guy.  wish him luck in Atlanta. .

did he not sign your baseball card?

[Sjoski]

12 hours ago, mnfireman said:

Except for the GG...

Great " catch".... 😀

Molly traded in the gold glove for:

1. World Series winner

2. World Series MVP

3. Manager of the Year

4. Hall of Famer

[S Bart]

12 hours ago, Obsvr said:

did he not sign your baseball card?

Did he have a baseball card even made? If someone has it...save it as it will be worth a lot of money when he enters the HOF.....🤪

[S Bart]

16 hours ago, JADBP said:

Molitor

Very true.. but Molitor did not meet the last item that I noted prior to his arrival with the Twins as he was entered as a rookie manager...regardless...Molitor is a gem in my book..believe he won a Manager of the year award..and Falvey fired him a year later...

[jaimedude]

17 hours ago, JADBP said:

Molitor

Wouldn't mind if Molitor was a special assistant to Shelton. He's a numbers guy and good at crunching the analytics. I mean I don't think he would do it, but with the Twins they can use all the help they can get with advanced game scouting. 

[Cris E]

On 11/13/2025 at 11:28 AM, jaimedude said:

Wouldn't mind if Molitor was a special assistant to Shelton. He's a numbers guy and good at crunching the analytics. I mean I don't think he would do it, but with the Twins they can use all the help they can get with advanced game scouting. 

Molitor was not a numbers guy. He was the last old school guy in the org, and the only reason he worked a day for Falvey was the MoY award that made him impossible to fire. He would make a good scout, but not because he's any kind of numbers guy.

[tony&rodney]

4 hours ago, Cris E said:

Molitor was not a numbers guy. He was the last old school guy in the org, and the only reason he worked a day for Falvey was the MoY award that made him impossible to fire. He would make a good scout, but not because he's any kind of numbers guy.

Do you know Paul? He is very cognizant and uber aware of all analytics. Molitor's reputation during and after his playing days was as perhaps the most knowledgable person in the sport. There were few details that ever managed to escape Pauley's eyes and ears. 

[Sjoski]

On 11/14/2025 at 5:32 PM, tony&rodney said:

Do you know Paul? He is very cognizant and uber aware of all analytics. Molitor's reputation during and after his playing days was as perhaps the most knowledgable person in the sport. There were few details that ever managed to escape Pauley's eyes and ears. 

Nice to know. I've always enjoyed listening to Molitors insights into baseball and never liked that Falvey replaced him with Rocco.