Minnesota Twins Hire Michael A. Taylor as Outfield Instructor

[Matthew Lenz]

Derek Shelton continues to put his own touch on the Minnesota Twins' coaching staff. Since he's taken the role of manager, Shelton has named a new hitting coach, bench coach, bullpen coach, first base coach, and field coordinator. Recently, he made another addition to the coaching staff by bringing in someone who recently played for the club.

Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting that the Minnesota Twins are hiring Michael A. Taylor as the team's Outfield Instructor. Michael A. Taylor retired following the 2025 season after a 12-year career with five different clubs, most recently with the Chicago White Sox.

For what Taylor lacked in offense (a career 79+ OPS), he made up for in his outfield defense. Throughout his career, Taylor was known as an elite glove-first center fielder, which is evident by being a three-time Rawlings Gold Glove finalist and the award in 2021. It's likely he would have received recognition (and hardware) if his bat had allowed him to stay in the lineup more regularly.

Regardless, Taylor will shift from patrolling the outfield to patrolling the outfielders with the Twins in 2025. A role that he seems perfectly suited for, given the 62 Outs Above Average (OAA) he accrued in the Statcast era.

Do you think Taylor can help strengthen the outfield defense, particularly when it comes to Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach? Let us know in the comments!

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[ashbury]

I have no idea whether he's good at getting things across to younger players but he struck me as a thinking ballplayer and of course his defense was top-notch.  I love the move, which if nothing else lets me relive and savor the way he pulled Louis Varland's bacon out of the fire "that one time."

 

[Sampson5]

With wallner and larnach nah but with Jenkins e rod & eventually Mendez yeah he can help them become legit guess it's even possible help wally and larnach become at least passable as defenders instead of terrible 

[nicksaviking]

Interesting, can't hurt.

Paul Molitor notwithstanding, I do think the players who were NOT superstars make for better coaches and managers. If you're a Hall of Famer, you most likely can't teach another player how to hit using God-given abilities only you and a few others have. But if you worked your tail off, learned how to make adjustments, practiced until a skill became near instinctual and honed your anticipation based on experiences, all just to stay on MLB rosters for a decade, you can teach most of those things. And those traits are mostly what makes a good defensive player.

[Seth Stohs]

He will only be at big-league spring training for a couple of weeks. 

I believe he will be the Twins minor league outfield coordinator... 

I have heard but haven't been able to verify that Mike Quade, who had been in the MILB OF Coordinator role since 2019 when he managed the Rochester Red Wings (Then the Twins AAA affiliate), is no longer in the organization. I don't know if he was let go, retired, or something in the middle. So that job was open. 

Will he be able to help Larnach/Wallner? He won't make them Gold Glovers, but what if he can get them a half-second better jump, that's worth it. He will be good for the guys like Alan Roden, Austin Martin, Walker Jenkins, Gabriel Gonzalez, etc. 

[DJL44]

6 minutes ago, Seth Stohs said:

I have heard but haven't been able to verify that Mike Quade, who had been in the MILB OF Coordinator role since 2019 when he managed the Rochester Red Wings (Then the Twins AAA affiliate), is no longer in the organization. I don't know if he was let go, retired, or something in the middle. So that job was open. 

Quade turns 69 years old this March.

[nicksaviking]

18 minutes ago, Seth Stohs said:

He will only be at big-league spring training for a couple of weeks. 

I believe he will be the Twins minor league outfield coordinator... 

 

These are the kinds of former players I want as coaches and managers. You don't sign up to do this right after you retire unless you actually ENJOY teaching young players.

And whether they are in the minors or majors, the young guys DO still need to be taught. They don't have the experience to fix what's not working on their own. 

[NJM]

I thought this was a really good hire, his 23 season was underrated. 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I too am pleased with this turn of events. Thanks for some good news!

[Parfigliano]

46 minutes ago, sampleSizeOfOne said:

I too am pleased with this turn of events. Thanks for some good news!

Gold Glove for Wallner on the horizon.

[HerbieFan]

Well, he was very good at playing the outfield.  Buck is a gold glover.  Larnach and Wallner are DHs masquerading as outfielders.  Here's hoping he can help the young guys get better.

[Parfigliano]

26 minutes ago, HerbieFan said:

Well, he was very good at playing the outfield.  Buck is a gold glover.  Larnach and Wallner are DHs masquerading as outfielders.  Here's hoping he can help the young guys get better.

At least figure out how to unhook that plow Wallner is pulling

[Doctor Wu]

I always liked Taylor, so I'm happy to read this news. I'm hopeful his experience will help some of our younger outfielders hone their fielding skills. Good move by the Twins!

[mikelink45]

Why not?  Look at what he contributed in his one year as a Twin and what Bader contributed last year.  We need some good OF defense - which also means Wallner at DH, Larnach at 1B and Jenkins and Rodriguez in the OF.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

19 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

He will only be at big-league spring training for a couple of weeks. 

I believe he will be the Twins minor league outfield coordinator... 

I have heard but haven't been able to verify that Mike Quade, who had been in the MILB OF Coordinator role since 2019 when he managed the Rochester Red Wings (Then the Twins AAA affiliate), is no longer in the organization. I don't know if he was let go, retired, or something in the middle. So that job was open. 

Will he be able to help Larnach/Wallner? He won't make them Gold Glovers, but what if he can get them a half-second better jump, that's worth it. He will be good for the guys like Alan Roden, Austin Martin, Walker Jenkins, Gabriel Gonzalez, etc. 

Maybe Michael A. Taylor can be a late inning defensive replacement and the Twins keep him off the 26 man roster, by claiming Taylor is just doing some "on the field" coaching. 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

15 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

Gold Glove for Wallner on the horizon.

I am impressed with your horizons. You must be really tall.

[jkcarew]

Just keep him a minimum of 150 feet from any and all batting cages. Not allowed to even watch guys work on hitting. Can’t be too careful in this regard.

[Ruven]

>  Do you think Taylor can help strengthen the outfield defense, particularly when it comes to Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach? <
 

No. You can’t catch what you can’t reach. Both these guys are plodders. They are good enough defenders when they can get to the ball.  But you gotta get to the ball, and the speed that made Mr Taylor a top-notch outfielder cannot be taught. Hiring Taylor to improve the outfield defense of Larnach or Wallner would be an act of planned failure. 
 

So the Twins aren’t bringing Taylor in to work with Larnach and Wallner. I mean, they’ll say he is, but let’s not get taken in.
 

Maybe the guy they want him to work with is Austin Martin? That has some possibilities. Or maybe he can help the young guys on the rise, ERod, G Gonzalez, and Walker J. Those would be good reasons to bring Taylor in. 

[Teflon]

On 1/12/2026 at 12:21 PM, Seth Stohs said:

Will he be able to help Larnach/Wallner? He won't make them Gold Glovers, but what if he can get them a half-second better jump, that's worth it. He will be good for the guys like Alan Roden, Austin Martin, Walker Jenkins, Gabriel Gonzalez, etc. 

I agree. Larnach and Wallner are adequate fielders but lacking range. Teaching one or both of them to play 1B would be helpful, IMO.

[LA Vikes Fan]

On 1/12/2026 at 8:12 PM, Parfigliano said:

At least figure out how to unhook that plow Wallner is pulling

Oh, is that what it is? I thought I saw a piano on his back when he was running.

[LA Vikes Fan]

On 1/13/2026 at 4:17 PM, Ruven said:

>  Do you think Taylor can help strengthen the outfield defense, particularly when it comes to Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach? <
 

No. You can’t catch what you can’t reach. Both these guys are plodders. They are good enough defenders when they can get to the ball.  But you gotta get to the ball, and the speed that made Mr Taylor a top-notch outfielder cannot be taught. Hiring Taylor to improve the outfield defense of Larnach or Wallner would be an act of planned failure. 
 

So the Twins aren’t bringing Taylor in to work with Larnach and Wallner. I mean, they’ll say he is, but let’s not get taken in.
 

Maybe the guy they want him to work with is Austin Martin? That has some possibilities. Or maybe he can help the young guys on the rise, ERod, G Gonzalez, and Walker J. Those would be good reasons to bring Taylor in. 

Agreed. Martin was actually a very good left fielder last season based upon OAA, borderline elite. He’s got the tools, just needs some coaching. I would love to see Taylor work a lot with him. I see similar potential in Roden, albeit with a lower ceiling. I think bringing in Taylor to work with those two specific guys and our current crop of AAA outfielders is a very smart move that could actually have some real positive consequences. 

[Jose Herrera]

Taylor's resume:

• Gold glove winner in 2021
• Played for Shelton in 2024
• Was a Twin and teammates with Larnach and Wallner in 2023
• Won a World Series in 2019

Great hire Shelton, Taylor is familiar with everyone and has merit for this position. Hoping Taylor will make Larnach and Wallner's defense better.

[IndianaTwin]

And now Taylor Rogers. 

I have to say, for an organization that supposedly alienates players and has Sonny Gray supposedly wanting out of town and Joe Ryan wanting to get out of town, it seems interesting that guys like Taylor and Rogers are quick to come back. 

Or maybe they don't treat people as poorly as people suggest?

[DJL44]

38 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

And now Taylor Rogers. 

I have to say, for an organization that supposedly alienates players and has Sonny Gray supposedly wanting out of town and Joe Ryan wanting to get out of town, it seems interesting that guys like Taylor and Rogers are quick to come back. 

Or maybe they don't treat people as poorly as people suggest?

Do you mean Ryan Pressly?

The fans get upset and project all sorts of emotions onto players.

[IndianaTwin]

5 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Do you mean Ryan Pressly?

The fans get upset and project all sorts of emotions onto players.

Taylor Rogers, Ryan Pressly, Ron Davis, Mike Marshall, somebody or other...   🤣

Yeah, Ryan Pressly. Thanks for the correction, DJL.

(Though I like being able to play around with a Taylor/Rogers duo.)

 

[JADBP]

On 1/13/2026 at 5:17 PM, Ruven said:

Maybe the guy they want him to work with is Austin Martin? That has some possibilities. Or maybe he can help the young guys on the rise, ERod, G Gonzalez, and Walker J. Those would be good reasons to bring Taylor in. 

Martin, maybe, but I believe this is really focused on E-Rod, Gonzo and Walker.  As Shelton said, the step from AAA to MLB is massive.  Whatever he does to help these three future Twins will earn his salary.  Even if these three are average to good hitters, but excellent OFers because of MAT, then this was a genius move.