Minnesota Twins hiring Derek Shelton as manager for 2026 season
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - AUGUST 09: Derek Shelton #8 of the Minnesota Twins reacts in the dugout during the game against the Cleveland Indians on August 9, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Indians defeated the Twins 6-2. ((Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images))
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The Minnesota Twins have their next manager to replace Rocco Baldelli, and the name is familiar to those who follow the team closely.
Twins hiring Derek Shelton
What they're saying:
FOX 9 Sports Director Jim Rich has confirmed the Twins are hiring Derek Shelton as the team’s next manager, the 15th in franchise history. Shelton was the Twins’ bench coach during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, working for both Paul Molitor and Baldelli.
The Twins’ fired Baldelli Sept. 29 after the team finished the 2025 season 70-92, the second-worst record in the American League, and missed the AL Playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons. The Twins couldn't stay healthy, and fell off after trading nearly half the roster before the late July deadline, as the franchise was in the midst of a possible sale that the Pohlad family has since gone back on.
Who is Derek Shelton?
What we know:
Shelton is 55 years old and was the hitting coach for the Cleveland Indians from 2005-2009, then held the same position with the Tampa Bay Rays from 2010-2016. After working with the Twins, he spent six seasons as the manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
During that time, the Pirates finished fifth in the NL Central three times, and fourth twice. He was fired in early May after a 12-26 start.
- 2020: 19-41
- 2021: 61-101
- 2022: 62-100
- 2023: 76-86
- 2024: 76-86
- 2025: 12-26 (Fired)
The other reported finalists the Twins were interested in were James Rowson, a former hitting coach in Minnesota now with the New York Yankees, former Seattle Mariners; manager Scott Servais and Chicago Cubs' bench coach Ryan Flaherty.
Baldelli out after 7 seasons
Why you should care:
The Twins announced on Sept. 29 Rocco Baldelli would not return as manager after seven seasons. Baldelli won 527 games with the Twins in seven seasons and led the franchise to three AL Central titles.
Baldelli was named the 14th manager in Twins’ history in October of 2018. His 527 wins are third in team history behind Tom Kelly and Ron Gardenhire. He led the Twins to three AL Central titles in 2019, 2020 and 2023. In 2023, the Twins ended an 18-game playoff losing streak, and a series losing that lasted two decades.