Credit: John Meore/The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK
This offseason the Minnesota Twins went through a significant amount of change on the coaching staff. Rocco Baldelli is out. Derek Shelton is in. There was turnover to the support staff as well.
Before Minnesota announced their complete staff, they had interest in bringing back James Rowson. The former Twins hitting coach is now working with the Yankees, but New York blocked an interview as Shelton’s bench coach.
James Rowson’s MN Twins reunion thwarted by Yankees
Minnesota interviewed James Rowson for their managerial vacancy and the New York Yankees couldn’t stop it. An assistant move is something they could speak into though, and chose to block his candidacy. Charley Walters (Pioneer Press) is reporting Rowson was interested in making the jump.
Runner-up for the Twins’ managing job that Derek Shelton got last October was James Rowson, the Twins’ former hitting coach who is hitting coach for the New York Yankees. After Shelton got the job, he tried to hire Rowson as his bench coach, but the Yankees declined permission. Had he been permitted, people who know say Rowson would have accepted a Twins bench coaching offer.
As a hitting coach, Rowson has been hired in that capacity since 2017. He has worked for the Minnesota Twins, Miami Marlins, Detroit Tigers, and now New York Yankees. Although he clearly has performed well in that post, the bench coach title would have been a step up.
Rowson finishing runner-up to Shelton only to then work as his second in command could have been an interesting dynamic. The desire to accept the role though, shows he wouldn’t have had any issues putting aside that pride.
Had Rowson been able to take up the new position, he would have further substantiated his resume for future managerial consideration. It’s also possible he would have found himself in charge during different circumstances throughout the season.
Ultimately the Twins landed on Mark Hallberg instead. He joins the Twins from the San Francisco Giants organization. His appointment comes full circle with former Minnesota bench coach Jayce Tingler starting with Tony Vitello in San Francisco this season.
Mentioned in this article: James Rowson
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