The Minnesota Twins are getting all their pieces to the puzzle put in place. Whether at the MLB level or in the minors, the Twins organization has seen a plethora of new coaching hires. Recently, Triple-A St. Paul promoted Brian Dinkelman to be the new manager, and the Twins brought on former big leaguer Michael A. Taylor to be an outfield instructor.
To keep the ball rolling, Single-A Fort Myers hired Jordan Smith to be the new manager. He will lead the Mighty Mussels following some time coaching in other organizations.
Twins' Single-A affiliate hires Minnesota-born Jordan Smith as new manager
Smith, who went to high school just went of Minneapolis in Willmar, played his college ball at St. Cloud State, earning All-American honors twice in the early 2010s. He then went on to play six seasons of minor league affiliated ball, all within the Cleveland Guardians' umbrella. He was a career .268 hitter with a pair of seasons in Triple-A.
Smith brings plenty of coaching experience, too despite only being 35 years old. He was the manager of the Lynchburg Hillcats (High-A, Cleveland) for three seasons, which included the club winning a championship in the Carolina League, as well as Smith being named Manager of the Year in the league.
The Hillcats posted a 204-185 under Smith. After a decade-and-a-half within the Guardians' organization, it was time for Smith to come back home and represent the team he grew up rooting for.
“As I went through interviews with other organizations, the Twins felt like home and the place where we wanted to be,” Smith said in the Mighty Mussels' press release. “It just brings me back to my younger self. It’s a full circle feeling and an opportunity with the family that we are really excited about.”
Smith's youth and embedded love for the Minnesota Twins is a huge bonus as he manages players in their late teens and early 20s. He'll not only provide a proven leadership, but can mix in an appreciation for playing for the Twins, all while understanding the modern nuances of baseball.
This hire feels like a win-win for the Twins. The Mighty Mussels went 52-73 in the Florida State League in 2025. Twins No. 7 prospect Dasan Hill was exceptional with Fort Myers in 2025, logging a 2.77 ERA in 16 starts with 68 strikeouts in 52 innings. Yasser Mercedes led the team with 10 home runs, while Jay Thomason batted .298 with eight homers.