The Minnesota Twins have officially named Derek Shelton as their new manager. The team confirmed the hiring Thursday morning and announced that Shelton will be introduced at a press conference on November 4.
The hiring marks a homecoming for the 55-year-old Shelton, who was the bench coach for the Twins in 2018 and 2019 under two managers – Paul Molitor and Rocco Baldelli – before landing his first managerial position with the Pirates in 2020.
Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said in a statement: ““Derek brings a tremendous amount of experience from his many years coaching and managing at the Major League level. He cares deeply about this community and our fans, and he’s genuinely driven to take on the challenge of bringing winning baseball back to Minnesota.We’ve seen firsthand the trust and respect he earns from players and how he helps them reach their best. His journey, through both the successes and the tough stretches, has given him real perspective as a leader. That balance and his connection to what this place means to people will serve our players and staff well as we work to build something lasting for our fans and for Minnesota.”
Shelton was fired May 8 by the Pirates, and will replace Baldelli, who was fired by Minnesota on Sept. 29. The Twins finished 70–92 in 2025, placing fourth in the AL Central, following an 82–80 campaign in 2024 – which ultimately led to the dismissal of Baldelli, who had guided Minnesota to three postseason appearances over his seven-year tenure.
Shelton, a former minor league catcher and first baseman in the New York Yankees system, spent two seasons as a player before transitioning into coaching—a move that launched a long career across multiple MLB organizations. In Pittsburgh, Shelton guided the Pirates through a difficult rebuilding period, managing parts of six seasons before being dismissed in May after a 12–26 start. He finished his tenure there with a 306–440 record (.410), earning a reputation for his steady leadership and player development during a challenging stretch for the franchise.
Editorial credit: Media Whale Stock / Shutterstock.com
