Twins manager Derek Shelton has begun developing coaching staff
The Twins hired Rocco Baldelli's former bench coach, Derek Shelton, as the team's new manager on Oct. 30. For Shelton's first coaching staff addition, Minnesota hired former Twins pitcher and 21-year MLB veteran LaTroy Hawkins as the bullpen coach, leaving Colby Suggs, who has received interest from the Texas Rangers, without a job.
Pete Maki back with the Twins
While most of Baldelli's 2025 staff is gone, pitching coach Pete Maki is returning to the club next year, according to The Athletic's Dan Hayes. Maki has been with the Twins since 2017, starting as the team's minor league pitching coordinator before taking over the bullpen coach duties in 2020. He held the bullpen coach title until pitching coach Wes Johnson shockingly left the Twins for Louisiana State University during the 2022 season, leading to Maki's promotion to pitching coach.
Three-time All Star joins Derek Shelton's staff
The Twins made another addition to Shelton's staff on Tuesday, as the Minnesota Star Tribune's Bobby Nightengale reported that the Twins are hiring Grady Sizemore as their outfield/baserunning coach. He will also work as the first base coach. Sizemore, 43, made three All-Star teams and won two Gold Glove Awards with the Cleveland Indians. He worked for the Chicago White Sox's coaching staff for the past two seasons.
Jayce Tingler, Hank Conger, Tommy Watkins not returning to Twins' coaching staff
In addition to Suggs, bench coach Jayce Tingler, assistant bench coach Hank Conger and third base coach Tommy Watkins won't return to Minnesota's coaching staff next season.
Tingler has accepted a job as the San Francisco Giants' bench coach under shocking hire Tony Vitello, who is the first person in history to make the jump from college coach to MLB manager with no professional experience.
Conger is without a job yet, but given his popularity and the fact that he was promoted last year, other teams will likely be interested in his services. He had been with the organization since 2022, when he started as a first base and catching coach.
Watkins, who pitched to Byron Buxton during the 2025 Home Run Derby, has joined the Atlanta Braves' coaching staff as third base coach.
Watkins' departure may be the saddest of them all for Twins fans, as he had been with the organization since he was drafted as a player in 1998. He made his MLB debut with the Twins in 2007, then retired following the 2009 season. He worked for the Twins as a minor league hitting coach from 2010-16 before serving as the organization's High-A manager in 2017 and Double-A manager in 2018. Then, the Twins promoted Watkins to Major League first base coach in 2019. He held the position until becoming the third base coach in 2022.