Twins Hire Derek Shelton as New Manager
It didn’t take former Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton very long to find his way back to a big-league bench.
The Minnesota Twins are hiring Shelton as the team’s next manager, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Shelton replaces Rocco Baldelli, who was dismissed after the 2025 season.
Shelton, 55, was named manager of the Pirates for the 2020 season and served in the role until he was fired this past season on May 8. In five-plus seasons, he amassed a 306-440 record, peaking with 76-86 records in back-to-back seasons from 2023-24. The Pirates finished in fifth place in the division in four of his six seasons at the helm.
Prior to joining the Pirates, Shelton served for two seasons as the Twins bench coach from 2018-19, the second of which was under Baldelli, the man he now replaces. In addition to serving as bench coach of the Twins, Shelton previously worked as a big-league coach in different roles with the Cleveland Indians (2005-09), Tampa Bay Rays (2010-16) and Toronto Blue Jays (2017).
Last season, the Twins finished in fourth place in the American League Central with a 72-90 record. They last made the postseason in 2023, when they won their division before losing to the Houston Astros in the American League Division Series.
More about: MLB
Well, l was wrong about that one. I never thought he’d manage in the big leagues again.