Official: Twins Name Cuddyer, Hawkins, Hunter Special Assistants

[Seth Stohs]

From the press release:

 

TWINS HIRE MICHAEL CUDDYER, LATROY HAWKINS AND TORII HUNTER AS SPECIAL ASSISTANTS

Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN – The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have hired former Twins Michael Cuddyer, LaTroy Hawkins and Torii Hunter as Special Assistants to Baseball Operations.

 

Cuddyer, 37, was drafted by the Twins in the first round of the 1997 First-Year Player Draft and played 15 seasons in the major leagues, including 11 seasons with the Twins from 2001-11. He also played three seasons in Colorado and one with New York-NL, winning the NL batting title for the Rockies with a .331 batting average in 2013.  The former outfielder played a key role on six different Twins AL Central Division championship teams. The two-time All-Star (2011 with Twins and 2013 with Rockies) played 1,139 career games in a Twins uniform, hitting 141 home runs with 580 RBI. Cuddyer’s responsibilities will include, but not are limited to, helping position player development by focusing on transition programs and teaching an understanding of major league expectations, environment, and culture.  He will also be involved in the amateur draft process and throughout the year as a resource for player acquisitions.

 

Hawkins, 44, was drafted by the Twins in the seventh round of the 1991 First-Year Player Draft and played 21 seasons in the major leagues with 11 different teams, recording at least one save against all 30 teams – one of 13 relievers to ever do so. He pitched nine seasons in Minnesota from 1995-2003, appearing in 366 games. The Gary, Indiana native ranks 10th on baseball’s all-time list in games, appearing in 1,042 over his 21-year career. Hawkins’ responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, contributing to the development of our organizational pitching philosophies used in the selection and development of all players. Additionally, he will contribute to the amateur scouting process and trade deadline preparation meetings.

 

Hunter, 41, was drafted by the Twins in the first round of the 1993 First-Year Player Draft and played 19 seasons in the major leagues, including 12 for Minnesota from 1997-2007 and again in 2015. Additionally, he played five seasons in Los Angeles-AL and two in Detroit.  He was named to five All-Star teams, earned nine Rawlings Gold Glove Awards and two Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Awards. Torii was inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame in 2016 and ranks among the Twins top 10 in multiple categories, including games (1,373), hits (1,343), doubles (281), home runs (214) and RBI (792). Hunter’s responsibilities will include, but not limited to, emphasizing heavy focus on organizational culture and major league environment, and spending time with the major league team and baseball operations decision making staff. He will also be involved with the amateur draft process, scouting, minor leagues and trade deadline preparation.

 

All three special assistants will ultimately be responsible for serving as a resource for players and coaches in the mental and fundamental aspects of the game. In their role as Special Assistants, Cuddyer, Hunter and Hawkins will participate in Spring Training, instructional programs, and visit all minor league affiliates throughout the season. They will work alongside the Baseball Operations staff and uniform personnel to ensure development in player understanding of culture, talent evaluation and organizational vision. In addition, all three will play a part in supporting the Twins community efforts, being involved in charities and community work throughout Twins Territory.

[Mike Sixel]

Welcome (back) to the team!

[gunnarthor]

Somewhere, Myjah is smiling.  

[USAFChief]

If Hunter can instill his work ethic and will to win in even a few prospects, it will be worth the money.

[Thrylos]

I cannot wait for them to name Nick Punto as a Special Assistant for helping players busting their tail off.

 

Don't know whether bringing back former players from the "almost good enough" teams, instead of the World Champions makes much sense to me, esp. since one of the biggest problems with the Twins has been the culture of patting themselves on the back and treating "almost good enough" as success...

 

They had the option of bringing Viola back last season and they blew it.  Plenty of former Twins' players form the 1987 and 1991 teams in professional positions around baseball, to ignore that...

[nicksaviking]

I thought Viola wanted to stay on the East Coast due to health issues or to stay near his family. Also, they had Brunansky who was just canned.

 

I'm not one for bringing back familiar faces, but if the Twins are organizationally short-staffed in terms of front office, scouting and development, they're going to have to find new employees somewhere. I don't know how many new hires they are looking at, but I doubt they'll be able to just snag them all from existing clubs, they're going to have to get quite a few guys who previously did not have work. It might not be too easy to draw lower-level (and likely lower paying) positions like "instructor" to Minnesota, it's probably easier with guys who are familiar with the team and liked it here. I'm not sure if these positions are ceremonial or stepping stone jobs, but from my recollection all three of these guys had post-playing aspirations of joining front offices.

[darin617]

 

I cannot wait for them to name Nick Punto as a Special Assistant for helping players busting their tail off.

 

Don't know whether bringing back former players from the "almost good enough" teams, instead of the World Champions makes much sense to me, esp. since one of the biggest problems with the Twins has been the culture of patting themselves on the back and treating "almost good enough" as success...

 

They had the option of bringing Viola back last season and they blew it.  Plenty of former Twins' players form the 1987 and 1991 teams in professional positions around baseball, to ignore that...

Nick Punto is going to be hired as base running coach to teach all hitters including Sano to slide head first into 1st base.

[gunnarthor]

 

 

 

Don't know whether bringing back former players from the "almost good enough" teams, instead of the World Champions makes much sense to me, esp. since one of the biggest problems with the Twins has been the culture of patting themselves on the back and treating "almost good enough" as success...

 

Meh.  Molitor won a few WS and he's a ****ty manager.  Bruno was our hitting coach.  I don't think having to have been on a WS winning team is the requirement.  Most of those Twins teams over achieved anyway, which would be nice to see again.  Cuddy and Hunter might help make the transition to the majors easier for a relatively young/inexperienced group of players.  That might help.  It might not.  But it won't work/not work because they were on the 02-06 Twins, it'll work/won't work because of the ability of the new hires on getting the work done.

[D. Hocking]

If they are going to go a former Twin, who was a great utility player and was part of the team that actually won a play off series -  I know of someone who has kept up with the game by studying the analysis of the great baseball minds posting this webpage (as long as they keep elephant foot Jacque Jones off the staff).

[Loosey]

I'm on board with these hires.  If the current batch of players are as good as we expect them to be, they should be more talented than these guys were.  But adding in the experience these three had, plus showing them how develop a work ethic, be professional baseball players etc, it could help them to be that much better.

[Loosey]

 

If they are going to go a former Twin, who was a great utility player and was part of the team that actually won a play off series -  I know of someone who has kept up with the game by studying the analysis of the great baseball minds posting this webpage (as long as they keep elephant foot Jacque Jones off the staff).

How is that finger by the way.  Has it been amputated yet or does it only hurt now when showered with Champagne?

[Doomtints]

Hunter - Single-handedly made the 2015 team not embarrassing.  Was a great defender and a great hitter in his prime.  

Cuddyer - Went on a legendary tear which brought a team on the verge of elimination into the playoffs.

Hawkins - The smartest and most level-headed ball player I have ever heard speak.

 

These signings are less about ability and more about attitude.  There is a lot to like about this.  

But we must bear in mind that the contact these special assistants have with the major league team is limited.  They are with them in spring training but not so much after the season starts.  Otherwise they are helping players in the minors and in camps.  Even at that level they're not around all the time.  

[D. Hocking]

 

How is that finger by the way.  Has it been amputated yet or does it only hurt now when showered with Champagne?

 

Some days it is so sore that it is a struggle to post comments on this webpage, but a drink will help that (as well as help getting through the last 5 out of 6 seasons).

[Thrylos]

 

 

 Cuddy and Hunter might help make the transition to the majors easier for a relatively young/inexperienced group of players.  

 

 

How good is their Spanish?  Have a look at the Twins' good young players, and with the exception of Buxton, they are all foreign-born and predominately Latinos.  Hard to have Cuddyer be their role model...

[gunnarthor]

 

How good is their Spanish?  Have a look at the Twins' good young players, and with the exception of Buxton, they are all foreign-born and predominately Latinos.  Hard to have Cuddyer be their role model...

I won't argue that the Twins need more Spanish speaking coaches and trainers but Cuddy/Hunter have played for decades with guys from different countries.  I think the locker room stuff that they will be helping with will translate.

[Thrylos]

 

I thought Viola wanted to stay on the East Coast due to health issues or to stay near his family.

 

No.  He was interviewed for the Pitching Coach position after Andereson was fired and the Twins decided to hire Neil Allen over him.

[ScrapTheNickname]

 

If they are going to go a former Twin, who was a great utility player and was part of the team that actually won a play off series -  I know of someone who has kept up with the game by studying the analysis of the great baseball minds posting this webpage (as long as they keep elephant foot Jacque Jones off the staff).

Elephant's foot?

geometrical design typical of Turkmen rugs?

Chernobyl formation of corium?
A half (length) (sleeping) bag, known in the French as pied d'éléphant, and one form known as a bivvy bag?
The foot of an elephant?
A type of step stool with concealed spring-loaded castors allowing the step to be easily moved?

An elephant's foot umbrella stand?

A parlour game?

 

I am at a luss.
A type of chocolate choux bun

[Twins33]

 

But we must bear in mind that the contact these special assistants have with the major league team is limited.  They are with them in spring training but not so much after the season starts.  Otherwise they are helping players in the minors and in camps.  Even at that level they're not around all the time.  

Sounds like they are going to be around a lot more than that. Yes, a lot of minor league development things...but the below sounds way more involved than assistants of the past. But I could be wrong and underestimating previous SA duties.

 

For Cuddyer, duties "include, but not are limited to, helping position player development by focusing on transition programs and teaching an understanding of major league expectations, environment, and culture.  He will also be involved in the amateur draft process and throughout the year as a resource for player acquisitions."

 

Hunter: "emphasizing heavy focus on organizational culture and major league environment, and spending time with the major league team and baseball operations decision making staff. He will also be involved with the amateur draft process, scouting, minor leagues and trade deadline preparation."

 

Hawkins: "contributing to the development of our organizational pitching philosophies used in the selection and development of all players. Additionally, he will contribute to the amateur scouting process and trade deadline preparation meetings."

 

And all three: "be responsible for serving as a resource for players and coaches in the mental and fundamental aspects of the game. In their role as Special Assistants, Cuddyer, Hunter and Hawkins will participate in Spring Training, instructional programs, and visit all minor league affiliates throughout the season. They will work alongside the Baseball Operations staff and uniform personnel to ensure development in player understanding of culture, talent evaluation and organizational vision. In addition, all three will play a part in supporting the Twins community efforts, being involved in charities and community work throughout Twins Territory."

 

The above is all via LEN III Twins insider blog and the release that Seth posted.

[Seth Stohs]

I was in on the press conference. These guys will go to spring training. They'll visit minor leaguers. They'll be available as ears for players to talk to.

 

But all three former players emphasized that they are very much interested in learning about things in the front office, being part of discussions on player development, scouting, decision-making. They aren't just the typical special assistant jobs like Hrbek has. They are going to be involved in the business side.

 

They are all very smart guys with a lot of history in other organizations, a lot of successes and a lot of failures. They all talked about the culture that they played in, in the minors and to the big leagues, and how it's changed. They want badly to be part of helping to turn things around.

 

Falvey said that they will be involved, and they're happy to have them around. 

[Mike Sixel]

Thanks, Seth, for the additional info!

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'm really curious what the reaction would be here if Terry Ryan hired them...

 

Don't really have a problem here. This is kind of like a front office internship to help these guys start moving on from playing into management/coaching.

[jimmer]

If Terry Ryan had hired them, I'd have the same feelings on the subject.

[TheLeviathan]

All teams do this sort of thing.  Hopefully they bring something helpful.

[Mr. Brooks]

I'm really curious what the reaction would be here if Terry Ryan hired them...

 

Don't really have a problem here. This is kind of like a front office internship to help these guys start moving on from playing into management/coaching.

The problem is Terry would have brought them back to play.

[Thrylos]

 

The problem is Terry would have brought them back to play.

 

Would have?

 

He did.  At least one.  He could not afford to bring back the other two

[nicksaviking]

No.  He was interviewed for the Pitching Coach position after Andereson was fired and the Twins decided to hire Neil Allen over him.

I thought Viola pulled out, I remember Carl Willis was a finalist. Either way, I can only imagine the ire and calls of 'country club!' had they chosen another former ex-Twin.

[gunnarthor]

 

I'm really curious what the reaction would be here if Terry Ryan hired them...

 

 

It would have been pretty ugly.  

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

The problem is Terry would have brought them back to play.

 

Well there is that