The Minnesota Twins have hired Derek Shelton, former Pittsburgh Pirates manager, as their new skipper.
The decision comes less than six months after Shelton was fired by the Pirates on May 8, and a month after the Twins parted ways with Rocco Baldelli on September 29, as per New York Post and ESPN reports.
Shelton’s Connection To Minnesota
Shelton, 54, is no stranger to Minnesota. He previously served as the Twins’ bench coach in 2018 and 2019 before taking the managerial role in Pittsburgh.
His return marks a full-circle moment, as he steps back into the organization where he built part of his coaching reputation.
During his five and a half seasons with the Pirates, Shelton led the team to a record of 306 wins and 440 losses. His tenure saw early struggles, with Pittsburgh winning less than 40% of its games in his first three seasons, but the team showed improvement in 2023, winning 76 games and remaining in playoff contention until late summer.
Despite promising signs, the Pirates’ offense faltered in 2025, ranking near the bottom of the National League, which led to his dismissal.
Twins’ Rebuilding Phase
The Twins, meanwhile, are undergoing a major rebuild after a disappointing 70–92 season that saw them finish fourth in the AL Central and post their worst record since 2016. The front office traded away 10 players at the deadline and trimmed $26 million from the payroll as the team stumbled after the All-Star break.
Attendance also dropped sharply at Target Field, with just over 1.7 million tickets sold, the team’s lowest non-pandemic attendance since 2000.