Derek Shelton, who grew up in north suburban Gurnee, is grateful for a second chance to manage in the majors with the Twins. And he\u2019s with another club that plays in the same division as a Chicago team.<\/p>\n
Starting in 2020, Shelton spent five-plus seasons guiding the Pirates \u2014 one of the Cubs\u2019 rivals in the National League Central \u2014 until they dismissed him last May after a 12-26 start.<\/p>\n
In his return to the Twins, for whom he was a bench coach in 2018 and 2019, Shelton said he isn\u2019t surprised his team is chasing the White Sox in the American League Central, even if the South Siders are coming off three seasons with 101 or more losses. The Twins entered play Wednesday at 27-28, a half-game behind the second-place Sox.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018I don\u2019t think it\u2019s surprising at all,\u2019\u2019 Shelton, 55, said of the Sox\u2019 climb. \u2018\u2018I think [general manager] Chris [Getz] and [assistant GM] Josh Barfield and [manager] Will Venable have done an unbelievable job. I mean, they\u2019ve put a plan in place and stuck to that plan.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018You know, they went out and made really good signings. When you get a first baseman of this caliber [Munetaka Murakami], they got [starter Anthony] Kay, [Colson] Montgomery is a really good player, [Miguel] Vargas they traded for \u2014 this is a good baseball team.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
In his second managerial job, Shelton said he\u2019s paying attention to detail more than ever.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018I do think that one of the things that came out of last year was I thought I got away from the attention to detail, what I thought was the attention to detail from my space,\u2019\u2019 he said. \u2018\u2018I wanted to make sure that if I ever did get the next opportunity that I would stay more on top of it and that I would build a staff that stays on top of it.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Shelton was a standout catcher at Warren Township High School, where he was coached by his dad, Ron. He then went on to play at Southern Illinois and in the minors before turning to coaching and, ultimately, managing.<\/p>\n
He said he doesn\u2019t think anyone can be fully prepared for his first managerial job in the majors.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018The first year you manage, you\u2019re drinking from the fire hose,\u2019\u2019 said Shelton, noting that 2020 was the COVID-shortened season with extra regulations. \u2018\u2018I didn\u2019t know what I was doing.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Swiss Army knife, made in Japan?<\/p>\n
Twins left-hander Connor Prielipp started Wednesday, so right-handed-hitting Randal Grichuk took over in right field and batted cleanup in the Sox\u2019 starting lineup. That gave left-handed-hitting newcomer Rikuu Nishida his first day off in the majors after two eventful games.<\/p>\n
Nishida, who played mostly at second base in the minors, admitted that getting used to right field in a major-league stadium presented him with some challenges, even if he made some nifty catches and threw out two runners at the plate.<\/p>\n
Venable said he is confident the 5-6, 150-pound Nishida will excel in right or anywhere else.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018He\u2019s a baseball player, kind of like [Sam] Antonacci, where you feel like you can throw him anywhere and he\u2019ll make the adjustments and get the job done,\u2019\u2019 Venable said.<\/p>\n
Hays\u2019 day off<\/p>\n
Venable said outfielder Austin Hays is being held back by \u2018\u2018lower-body soreness\u2019\u2019 and took Wednesday off during his rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte for a strained left calf.<\/p>\n
Hays missed most of April because of a strained right hamstring. He returned April 28 and played three games before hurting his calf May 1 and going on the injured list again. He is batting .208 with two home runs in seven games with Charlotte.<\/p>\n