DETROIT — Manager Derek Shelton’s first coaching staff with the Minnesota Twins has some familiar names and faces.
In addition to former Detroit Tigers hitting coach Keith Beauregard, Shelton has added Mike Rabelo as assistant bench coach and Toby Gardenhire as field coordinator.
Rabelo, 45, was drafted by the Tigers in the fourth round in 2001 and made his MLB debut in 2006. After the 2007 season, he was traded to the Florida Marlins as part of the package for Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera.
After a couple of seasons with the Marlins, Rabelo returned to the Tigers’ organization for a second stint, joining Triple-A Toledo in 2010. Following his playing career, he began coaching in the system and eventually managed at four different levels: Connecticut, West Michigan, Lakeland and Erie.
In 2020, he joined the Pittsburgh Pirates as an assistant hitting coach under Shelton. He later worked as minor league field coordinator and as third base coach during his six seasons with Pittsburgh.
Shelton, who managed the Pirates from 2020 until his dismissal in May, was hired by the Twins last month to replace Rocco Baldelli.
Toby, 43, is the son of Ron Gardenhire, who managed the Twins from 2002 to 2014 and the Tigers from 2018 to 2020. This is his first major league assignment. He has been in the Twins’ system as a coach and manager since 2016 and spent the last five seasons managing Triple-A St. Paul.
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