The Twins will officially welcome Derek Shelton back into the organization as the team’s new manager with a press conference on Tuesday afternoon at Target Field. Members of the credentialed media will file in and hear about his selection, and the new skipper (plus club president Derek Falvey and general manager Jeremy Zoll) will take questions from the press. 

The veteran corps of beat writers and members of the media will surely have plenty of their own inquiries, but we want to know what YOU, the fans, would like to ask, if you were given the opportunity. Let us hear your questions in the comment section. In the meantime, here are some good topics that we’ll use as starting points. 

The Interview Process
Fans will surely want to know why Shelton was the right pick, and how he stood out over the other candidates. There was a mix of old friends who have already been on the coaching staff—such as Shelton and former hitting coach James Rowson—as well as other familiar faces from their days as players, such as Nick Punto and Torii Hunter. Nelson Cruz and Ehire Adrianza were also speculated to be intriguing options in fan circles, but like Hunter, neither were confirmed as actual candidates for the job.

What did the interview process look like? When did the list of interviewees materialize? How big a factor was the swimsuit competition? Okay, we’re just kidding with that last one, but clearly, fans will want to know more about the search and the interview process as a whole. 

Shelton’s Fit
Many are assuming that the club’s familiarity with their former bench coach played a vital role in his selection. Shelton appeared to be beloved by the organization when he was with the team in 2019, and his friendly connection to former manager Rocco Baldelli has many fans wondering if his hire will mark a continuation of the same philosophies as those of his predecessor. 

What is it about Shelton’s experience and perspective that makes him the right manager for this moment in Twins baseball? What do they see as his strengths as a leader, and why didn’t those strengths translate into more wins with the Pittsburgh Pirates under his watch? 

The Rest of the Coaching Staff
There are bound to be questions about the coaching staff that will surround Shelton upon his hire. The last time they hired a new manager, they surrounded him with many first-time coaches at the big-league level, and enjoyed immediate success. 

Are they going to do the same with Shelton’s staff? Who will have the ultimate say when it comes to determining the other members on the bench? Will the Twins look to hold on to anyone from Baldelli’s coaching staff? Will they look at other faces within the organization (whether that’s in the front office or in the minor-league ranks) to make the transition to the MLB coaching staff? 

Investment From Ownership and the Front Office
We can safely assume that it’ll be difficult to get answers on this topic, but that doesn’t mean the questions shouldn’t be asked. After the significant payroll slashing over the last two years, fans want some indication of the direction the club will take over the months ahead. 

What are the Twins expecting the payroll to look like in 2026? How will Shelton’s performance be evaluated within the context of this investment? Will players like Byron Buxton, Pablo López and Joe Ryan be at the core of their plans, or on the way out the door?

Like we said, this is just a starting point. It’s inspiration for some of the other questions that we’ll want answered at this introductory press conference—whether they offer a suitable answer or not.

With that said, what do YOU want us to ask? Let us know in the comment section, and as always, stay sweet.