Twins hire Derek Shelton as manager amid roster rebuild

The Minnesota Twins have hired Derek Shelton as their next manager, a person with knowledge of the move confirmed Wednesday. Shelton, 55, will replace Rocco Baldelli, who was dismissed after seven seasons, and will take over a club that finished 70–92 this year and underwent significant roster turnover at the trade deadline.

Shelton returns to Minnesota after serving as the Twins’ bench coach in 2018 and 2019 under Paul Molitor and Baldelli. He comes to the job with five-plus seasons of major league managerial experience with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hired in 2020, Shelton compiled a 306–440 record in Pittsburgh and was dismissed in May 2025 after the team opened that season 12–26. He did not reach the postseason during his tenure with the Pirates.

The Twins narrowed their managerial search to a four-person group before making the hire. Finalists included James Rowson, the Yankees’ hitting coach and a former Twins hitting coach from 2017 to 2019; Ryan Flaherty, the Chicago Cubs’ bench coach; and Scott Servais, the former Seattle Mariners manager. Other candidates who had interviewed earlier in the process included Royals third base coach Vance Wilson, Red Sox bench coach Ramón...