Reports indicate that the Minnesota Twins are set to appoint Derek Shelton, previously the manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates, as their new head coach. Sources have verified this information to Jeff Passan of ESPN on Wednesday.
Shelton’s tenure with the Pirates concluded on May 8, following the team’s descent to the bottom of the National League Central standings. He is expected to succeed Rocco Baldelli, who was relieved of his duties by Minnesota on Sept. 29.
Shelton, aged 55, previously served as the Twins’ bench coach during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, under the leadership of both Paul Molitor and Baldelli.
James Rowson, who coached hitting for the New York Yankees, formerly held the same position for the Twins under Molitor and Baldelli. He departed to become the bench coach for the Miami Marlins in 2020 and was considered a finalist for the position. Also reportedly considered were Scott Servais, formerly of the Seattle Mariners, and Ryan Flaherty, the current bench coach for the Chicago Cubs.
This year, the Twins join the ranks of nine MLB teams that have opted to make changes in their managerial roles.
Shelton’s appointment as manager of the Pirates occurred in November 2019 as part of a widespread restructuring initiative by owner Bob Nutting. This marked his inaugural major league managing role, following coaching positions in Tampa Bay, Toronto, and Minnesota. Throughout his five-plus seasons with Pittsburgh, his record stood at 306 wins and 440 losses.
During Shelton’s initial three seasons, Pittsburgh’s win percentage remained below 40%. However, they demonstrated progress in 2023, securing 76 victories. The addition of Paul Skenes in 2024 further energized the franchise, positioning the Pirates as playoff contenders until a decline in August. In 2025, the Pirates’ offensive performance under Shelton struggled, ranking among the league’s lowest.
The Twins, who had expectations of competing for the AL Central title this season, experienced difficulties in June. Consequently, they engaged in trade activities leading up to the deadline, trading away 10 players and reducing payroll by $26 million. Following the All-Star break, the team’s performance declined, finishing with a record of 23 wins and 43 losses, ultimately securing fourth place in the division with an overall record of 70-92.
This record represented the fourth-worst in the major leagues and their poorest performance since 2016.
Attendance at Target Field declined during the season, with the Twins selling slightly over 1.7 million tickets for their 81 home games. This figure represents their lowest attendance in a non-pandemic season since 2000 when they played at the Metrodome and achieved a record of 69-93.
Fan discontent has largely been directed toward ownership, fueled by frustration over cost-cutting measures following the 2023 breakthrough led by Baldelli, which included ending a record 18-game postseason losing streak and securing the club’s first playoff series win in 21 years.
Executive chair Joe Pohlad and his family initially listed the franchise for sale in 2024 but decided in August to maintain control, bringing in two new investment groups to inject capital for debt reduction.
The initial report regarding Shelton’s hiring by the Twins originated from the New York Post.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
