Toby Gardenhire's promotion cleared path for former Twins utilityman Brian Dinkelman to take over as St. Paul Saints manager
The St. Paul Saints announced former Twins utilityman Brian Dinkelman will take over as the club's new manager. He replaces Toby Gardenhire, who was promoted to new Minnesota skipper Derek Shelton's staff as major league field coordinator in November.
The Saints' staff will also include pitching coaches Carlos Hernandez and Ryan Ricci, hitting coach Shawn Schlecter, hitting & development coach CJ Baker, and strength & conditioning coach Stephen Thompson.
Dinkelman, 42, managed Double-A Wichita to a 76-62 win-loss record last season after serving five seasons as the manager for High-A Cedar Rapids. With Cedar Rapids, Dinkelman had a 367-286 record. He was named the Midwest League Manager of the Year in 2023 after leading the Kernels to a league-best 82-50 regular season record and their first championship in 29 years. Before his managing career, he served as a hitting coach for the GCL Twins in 2015 and the Kernels from 2016-18.
Brian Dinkelman will continue to play important role in developing Twins' young talent
Managing the Saints next year will be an important role, meaning the Twins obviously think very highly of Dinkelman. St. Paul will most likely begin the 2026 campaign with top outfield prospects Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez, and possibly shortstop Kaelen Culpepper and other highly-regarded prospects. Dinkelman will play a vital role in ensuring those players are on the right developmental track.
Dinkelman has already managed many of the players who'll be with the Saints next year, including Jenkins and Rodriguez. The Twins are likely fans of what Dinkelman has done for their current and former prospects, which is why he earned the promotion.
Remember when Brian Dinkelman played for the Twins in 2011?
Most Twins fans, especially young ones, likely don't remember when Dinkelman appeared in 23 games with the Twins in 2011, his only season in the big leagues. During his short MLB career, Dinkleman hit .301/.346/.315 with one double, four RBI and two stolen bases in 78 plate appearances with Minnesota. He played second base and corner outfield for the Twins.
The Twins selected Dinkelman in the eighth round of the 2006 MLB Draft from McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois. He worked his way up in the Twins' minor league system before his promotion to the big leagues in 2011. He spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons with Triple-A Rochester before retiring from playing and joining Minnesota's minor league coaching staff.