Twins manager Derek Shelton has started developing the coaching staff
The Twins hired Rocco Baldelli’s former bench coach, Derek Shelton, as the team’s new manager on October 30. For Shelton’s first addition to the coaching staff, Minnesota hired former Twins pitcher and 21-year MLB veteran LaTroy Hawkins as bullpen coach, leaving Colby Suggs, who has received interest from the Texas Rangers, without a job.
Pete Maki back with the Twins
While most of Baldelli’s staff will be gone by 2025, pitching coach Pete Maki will return to the club next year, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Maki has been with the Twins since 2017, starting as the team’s minor league pitching coordinator before taking over as bullpen coach in 2020. He held the title of bullpen coach until pitching coach Wes Johnson shockingly left the Twins for Louisiana State University during the 2022 season, leading to Maki’s promotion to pitching coach.
Three-time All Star joins Derek Shelton’s staff
The Twins added another addition to Shelton’s staff on Tuesday Bobby Nightengale of the Minnesota Star Tribune reported this that the Twins hire Grady Sizemore as their outfield/baserunning coach. He will also serve as first base coach. Sizemore, 43, made three All-Star teams and won two Gold Glove Awards with the Cleveland Indians. He spent the past two seasons on the coaching staff of the Chicago White Sox.
Jayce Tingler, Hank Conger and Tommy Watkins will not return to the Twins coaching staff
In addition to Suggs, bench coach Jayce Tingler, assistant bench coach Hank Conger and third base coach Tommy Watkins will not return to Minnesota’s coaching staff next season.
Tingler has accepted a job as bench coach of the San Francisco Giants under Tony Vitello, the first person in history to make the jump from college coach to MLB manager with no professional experience.
Conger is still without a job, but given his popularity and the fact that he was promoted last year, other teams will likely be interested in his services. He had been with the organization since 2022, when he started as first base and catchers coach.
Watkins, who pitched for Byron Buxton in the 2025 Home Run Derby, has joined the Atlanta Braves coaching staff as third base coach.
Watkins’ departure may be the saddest of all for Twins fans, as he had been with the organization since he was drafted as a player in 1998. He made his MLB debut with the Twins in 2007, retiring after the 2009 season. He worked for the Twins as a minor league hitting coach from 2010-16 before serving as the organization’s High-A manager in 2017 and Double-A manager in 2018. The Twins then promoted Watkins to Major League first base coach in 2019. He held the position until becoming the third base coach in 2022.
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