The Minnesota Twins have hired longtime Tampa Bay Ray Rocco Baldelli to be their new manager succeeding Paul Molitor who was dismissed earlier this month a year removed from a AL Wild Card berth.
The terms of his contract have yet to be disclosed, but might be when the club formally introduces Baldelli later today at a press conference. At 37, Baldelli will be the youngest manager in MLB. That is unless the Baltimore Orioles, Toronto Blue Jays or Texas Rangers have thoughts on that subject.
Baldelli has spent nearly his entire professional career with the Rays organization going back to its Tampa Bay Devil Rays days who made him their number one draft pick in 2000. Baldelli reached the majors in 2003 finishing third in AL Rookie of the Year balloting. Unfortunately, a rare muscle disorder shortened his big league career forcing him retire in 2010 at the age of 29.
Except for one season with the Boston Red Sox, Baldelli was in a Rays uniform. Since his retirement as a player, Baldelli has worked with the Rays in various capacities. In 2014, he was named the Rays' first base coach and in 2018 became the team's major league field coordinator playing a critical role in their unexpected 90 win season this year. This undoubtedly was the deciding factor in the Twins choosing to go outside their organization for a manager for the first time in over 30 years.
Will the Twins be the 2019 version of the 2018 Rays? The Twins are certainly counting on it.
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