The Minnesota Twins have turned to a former Cleveland Indians coach to lead their next chapter.
The organization announced Thursday that Derek Shelton has been hired as their new manager following the September dismissal of Rocco Baldelli.
Welcome to Minnesota, Derek!
Derek Shelton has been named the 15th manager in club history. pic.twitter.com/omjNqW8ICn
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) October 30, 2025
Shelton brings decades of coaching experience and a recent managerial stint with the Pittsburgh Pirates that ended in May after five-plus seasons.
Baldelli was let go after the Twins finished 70-92 in 2024, marking the end of his seven-year tenure.
Shelton posted a 306-440 record during his time with Pittsburgh before his dismissal earlier this year.
The 55-year-old now returns to a leadership role with a Minnesota club seeking renewed direction and competitive energy.
Shelton’s coaching background includes a significant period with the Cleveland Indians organization.
He served as hitting coach from 2005 through 2009, working to refine the team’s offensive approach and build consistency at the plate.
Before that role, he worked as a minor league hitting coordinator for Cleveland starting in 2003.
That experience helped shape his development and eventually opened doors to managerial opportunities across Major League Baseball.
A Carbondale, Illinois native and Southern Illinois University graduate, Shelton has been involved in professional baseball since 1997.
His first Major League coaching opportunity came in 2005 when Cleveland promoted him to interim hitting coach.
He later held coaching positions with the Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays before landing the Pirates job.
The Twins considered a deep pool of candidates during their search.
According to The Athletic, James Rowson, Scott Servais, and Ryan Flaherty reached the final stages before Minnesota selected Shelton.
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