Minnesota Twins Hire Michael A. Taylor as Outfield Instructor

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."

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

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.

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

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. 

15 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

Gold Glove for Wallner on the horizon.

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

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.

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.

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. 

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?

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.)