Where Does Rocco Baldelli Rank Among the Best Managers in Twins History?

Rocco Baldelli recently passed Sam Mele for third-most wins in Minnesota Twins managerial history, behind only Tom Kelly and Ron Gardenhire. That milestone has renewed debates: how high does Baldelli rank among the franchise’s great managers, and what will the Twins’ brass do if the team’s middling recent performance leads fans to demand change?

Below is a look at the top managers in Twins history, how Baldelli stacks up, and whether the criticism he’s getting is earned or misplaced.

Tom Kelly (1986-2001)
The standard by which all others are judged. Kelly’s tenure brought the Twins their only two World Series titles (1987, 1991), along with multiple playoff runs, consistent regular-season success, and deep roots in player development. He logged 1,140 wins as Twins manager, the franchise record. Even when the team was rebuilding, Kelly was known for a steady hand, patience, and doing the little things well.

Ron Gardenhire (2002-2014)
Next in line in terms of longevity and success. Gardenhire guided the Twins to 1,068 wins during his 13 seasons. He won six AL Central division titles, kept the team competitive, and (despite playoff under-achievement) built a culture of ruggedness and consistency that Twins fans remember fondly.

Sam Mele (1961-1967)
Mele was the early benchmark. While the Twins were still adjusting to their Minnesota identity, Mele led them to multiple 90-win seasons, a club-record 102 wins in 1965, and their first AL pennant (though they lost the World Series that year). His wins total (522) has been in one of the top three spots throughout the franchise’s history.

Paul Molitor (2015-2018)
Molitor’s tenure was shorter and more uneven. He didn’t win as many games as Kelly, Gardenhire, or Mele, but he did earn a Manager of the Year Award (2017), helped stabilize the team, and presided over a sensitive transition era. 

Rocco Baldelli’s Rise — What the Numbers Say
When Baldelli arrived, expectations were mixed: a new front office, a young core, and a fan base hungry for something beyond mediocrity. His first season (2019) was explosive: 101 wins, a division title, and AL Manager of the Year honors. There was little he needed to do during that first season, because the team was hitting home runs at a record-breaking pace. 

Over the following seasons, the results have been more inconsistent: injuries, underperformances, missed playoff opportunities, and late-season fadeouts have plagued the team. Earlier this month, he moved past Mele in total wins as a Twins manager, becoming third all-time in franchise managerial wins.

At the same time, his postseason record is mixed. Through several playoff appearances, the Twins under Baldelli have not advanced far. His regular-season record is above .500, but expectations from fans and media have risen with each season, making the last two seasons’ collapses sting more. 

Ranking Baldelli Relative to the Greats
Here’s a sketch of how one might rank Baldelli in the pantheon of Twins managers, given what we know now, including their strengths and weaknesses. 

1. Tom Kelly
Strengths: Championships, longevity, consistency, deep institutional legacy.
Weaknesses: Late-career fade, but few managers have such a complete legacy. 

2. Ron Gardenhire
Strengths: Strong regular-season track record, many playoff berths, and a fan favorite.
Weaknesses: Never got over certain playoff hurdles, less hardware than Kelly.

3. Rocco Baldelli
Strengths: Won over 100 games in 2019, ended the playoff losing streak, modern managerial strengths (player rest, data, etc.).
Weaknesses: The team has missed the playoffs in four of the last five seasons, and there have been recent notable collapses. 

4. Sam Mele
Strengths: Set early peaks (102 wins, first pennant, foundational in club history. 
Weaknesses: Short tenure, fewer overall wins vs. those who followed. 

5. Paul Molitor
Strengths: Had flashes of success, won Manager of the Year, helped implement transitions
Weaknesses: Less long-term impact, mixed record, fewer cumulative wins.

This ranking puts Baldelli above Mele on total wins and modern expectations, but not yet at the level of Kelly or Gardenhire. Though there’s a case to be made that if he strings together a couple more solid seasons (especially with postseason wins), he could challenge for #2.

Where Baldelli Stands Now, and What’s Next
Baldelli has earned his place among the best managers in Twins history. He’s now third in wins, has captured division titles, won Manager of the Year, and, in general, met the expectations assigned to him when he took over. But he isn’t yet in the class of Kelly or Gardenhire, at least in terms of championships and defining legacy moments.

Going forward, the key for Baldelli is:

1. Playoff success: If the Twins can win in October under his leadership, many of the criticisms will fade fast.
2. Closing strong in seasons: Avoiding late-season collapses that turn good potential into mediocrity.
3. Roster health and construction: He can’t control everything, but when injuries aren’t overwhelming, performance must track with talent.

If he fails to produce postseason wins, or if the team continues to fold under pressure, ownership may well consider a change. However, it would be harsh to place all the blame on Baldelli now, since he deserves more credit than he often receives and more time than some fans are willing to give.

How do you rank the top five managers in Twins history? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

Are you interested in Twins history? Then check out the Minnesota Twins Players Project, a community-driven project to discover and collect great information on every player to wear a Twins uniform!