Posted December 27, 2025
After a disappointing 2024-25 campaign that saw the Minnesota Twins finish 70-92 and miss the postseason, the organization has decided to make a major change at the top. The team announced the firing of manager Rocco Baldelli following the season and has hired former Pittsburgh Pirates skipper Derek Shelton as his replacement.
Shelton comes in as a veteran manager who has seen managerial action at a high level. According to Dayn Perry of CBS Sports, “Shelton managed the Pirates for parts of six seasons before being let go in early May of this year after a 12-26 start to the 2025 season. With the Pirates, Shelton went 306–440 (.410) with two last-place finishes and two fourth-place finishes in his four full seasons on the job.”
While Shelton’s overall managerial record isn’t stellar, his connection to Minnesota made him a strong candidate. As Matthew Leach of MLB.com said, “He served as the Twins’ bench coach under Paul Molitor in 2018 and Baldelli in ’19 (the famous “Bomba Squad”) before heading to Pittsburgh.”
Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey expressed enthusiasm about bringing Shelton back to the organization. “His journey, through both the successes and the tough stretches, has given him real perspective as a leader,” Falvey said. “That balance and his connection to what this place means to people will serve our players and staff well as we work to build something lasting for our fans and for Minnesota.”
After a season marked by a steep decline in both performance and fan engagement, the Twins hope Shelton’s leadership will help the team return to playoff contention in 2026.
The article may be found online at https://uwrfjournalism.org/2025/12/back-to-the-bomba-squad-roots-twins-reunite-with-derek-shelton-to-lead-the-club/.