Derek Shelton, Paul Skenes, and the Next Wave of Twins Stars

The Minnesota Twins appear set to bring a familiar face back into the fold, as multiple reports indicate Derek Shelton is expected to be named the team’s next manager. Shelton, who previously served as the Twins’ bench coach under Rocco Baldelli, spent most of the last six seasons managing the Pittsburgh Pirates. While his win-loss record in Pittsburgh may not jump off the page, his reputation for player development and leadership has earned him another opportunity to guide a major-league club.

Shelton’s tenure with the Pirates was defined by the steady climb of a young roster learning to compete at the game’s highest level. The brightest example of his impact came in 2024, when top overall pick Paul Skenes burst onto the scene and instantly became one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball.

Getting the Most Out of a Phenom
When Skenes debuted for the Pirates, the hype surrounding him was almost impossible to live up to. A former No. 1 overall pick and college superstar, Skenes carried the expectations of a franchise desperate for an ace. Under Shelton’s leadership, he met those expectations—and even exceeded them.

During his rookie season, Skenes went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA in 23 starts, striking out 170 batters across 133 innings. He was even better in 2025, leading the NL in ERA (1.97), ERA+ (217), FIP (2.36), WHIP (0.95), and HR/9 (0.5). His combination of overpowering stuff and unwavering composure helped him become the front-runner for the 2025 National League Cy Young Award. Shelton’s approach was a key part of that success. He managed Skenes’s workload carefully, never pushing him too far too fast, and allowed the young right-hander to find his own rhythm within the structure of a big-league routine. At the same time, he allowed the young hurler to blossom into a true workhorse.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a rookie that poised,” Shelton said at last year’s MLB Winter Meetings. “To see the lack of emotion, I think right now if you call Paul Skenes, he’s ready for the season to start.”

That poise became Skenes’s calling card, and Shelton deserves credit for helping him navigate the pressure of being the face of a rebuilding franchise. On a Pirates team that often struggled to provide run support or defensive consistency, Skenes remained the club’s constant. Even during losing streaks, his preparation and demeanor reflected the calm leadership Shelton preached.

Leadership Through Adversity
Shelton’s record with the Pirates was an ugly 306-440, but those numbers tell only part of the story. He took over in November 2019, during a full-scale franchise reset led by owner Bob Nutting. The first three years were grueling, with the club winning less than 40 percent of its games, including back-to-back 100-loss seasons. Yet, by 2023, there were clear signs of progress. Pittsburgh won 76 games and briefly flirted with playoff contention that summer, before a late-season slide. 

When Skenes arrived the following spring, the team’s energy changed. Shelton fostered a clubhouse culture that emphasized accountability and preparation, traits that became essential for a rookie handling enormous expectations. Even when the offense faltered in 2025 and the Pirates fell out of contention early, players continued to praise Shelton’s steadiness.

When he was dismissed earlier this year, Skenes summed up the clubhouse sentiment perfectly.

“Unfortunately, I wasn’t shocked,” he said. “Someone’s got to be held accountable, and unfortunately right now, it’s him. That’s just kind of how it goes, but I don’t know that it fixes the root of the issue, which is we need to play better.”

Those words carried weight coming from a player Shelton had mentored so closely. They reflected mutual respect and the type of bond that can only form between a player and a manager who share a singular goal: maximizing potential.

Returning to Minnesota with a Familiar Mission
Now, Shelton is poised to bring that developmental mindset back to Minnesota. His first stint with the Twins helped shape Baldelli’s early success, particularly in building cohesive communication across a diverse roster. This time, the challenge will be different. The Twins are shifting toward a younger core, and Shelton’s ability to guide emerging stars could prove invaluable.

The organization’s top prospect, Walker Jenkins, isn’t far from his major-league debut. Like Skenes, he will arrive with considerable expectations as a potential franchise cornerstone. Shelton’s experience managing a phenom through that type of pressure should serve him well. He knows how to balance patience with performance, and he understands the importance of nurturing both the physical and mental aspects of a young player’s transition to the big leagues.

If Shelton can replicate even a fraction of the success he helped Skenes achieve, the Twins could be entering an exciting new chapter. A return to familiar surroundings, combined with a proven track record of getting the most out of elite talent, makes Shelton a fitting choice to lead Minnesota’s next wave of stars.

What stands out most about the relationship between Shelton and Skenes? Leave a comment and start the discussion.