Twins Narrow Managerial Search to Four Candidates
The Minnesota Twins are honing in on their next manager, reportedly focusing their search on a quartet of experienced baseball figures. After several rounds of interviews,the team appears to be prioritizing candidates with existing ties to the organization,according to multiple sources.
The leading contenders are Derek Shelton, currently unattached after managing the Pittsburgh Pirates; James Rowson, the new York Yankees’ hitting coach; Scott Servais, a special assistant with the San Diego Padres; and Ryan Flaherty, the bench coach for the Chicago Cubs.
Insiders suggest the Twins are leaning towards a familiar face, giving an edge to Shelton and Rowson, both of whom previously worked alongside Twins President Derek Falvey and General Manager Jeremy Zoll. Shelton served as a key member of the coaching staff during the transition to Rocco Baldelli, and was a finalist for the job in 2018. He’s remembered for his close relationship with team leadership and a memorable gesture allowing Joe Mauer a final moment as a catcher.
Rowson previously held the Twins’ hitting coach position during the historic 2019 season,when the team set a major league record with 307 home runs.He has as gained further experience as a bench coach with the Miami Marlins and an assistant hitting coach with the Detroit Tigers before returning to the Yankees.
Flaherty entered the process after his Cubs were eliminated from the postseason. A former major league infielder, he’s currently highly regarded as Craig Counsell’s bench coach in Chicago and was a finalist for the Padres managerial position earlier this year.
Servais, who managed the Seattle Mariners for nine seasons, boasts a .514 career winning percentage and led the team to a playoff appearance in 2022.While he hasn’t yet interviewed with the Twins, he brings a wealth of experience as both a player and in front office roles with the Texas Rangers and los Angeles Angels.
The search remains ongoing with the World Series still in progress, and the Twins haven’t ruled out potentially expanding their candidate pool. Several other candidates, including Boston Red Sox bench coach Ramón Vázquez, Kansas City Royals third-base coach Vance Wilson, and San Diego Padres coach Nick Punto, are no longer under consideration.
