Derek Shelton's Promotion to Twins Manager: A Bleak Road Ahead
Minnesota Twins fans are bracing themselves for a long and arduous journey under new manager Derek Shelton. The club has appointed him, reportedly, after a tumultuous season that saw them finish 70-92.
Shelton's appointment comes with the caveat that he may be walking into a similar trap that plagued his previous stint as Pittsburgh Pirates' manager. During his time in Pittsburgh, Shelton struggled to harness the team's potential due to a lack of depth and quality players on their roster. His tenure ended in May 2025 with the team losing 12 of their last 26 games.
The Twins' current situation is eerily similar to that of the Pirates under Shelton. With a significantly depleted roster, Minnesota will be facing stiff competition from top-tier teams, a challenge that even the most skilled managers can struggle to overcome.
A key factor in determining Shelton's success will be the development and integration of the Twins' promising farm system into the starting lineup. The team has undergone an extensive reshuffle of their roster this offseason, trading away several veterans for prospects, which could either pay off handsomely or prove disastrous if the young guns fail to pan out.
Shelton's appointment comes with a ticking time bomb of uncertainty – how patient will the club be with him as he attempts to navigate the rebuilding process? The Pohlad family's decision to pull the team from sale and then engage in a fire-sale of veteran players has set the stage for Shelton's tenure.
The lack of star power on Minnesota's roster is evident, with only two guaranteed contracts – Pablo López and Byron Buxton. López, who was injured at the trade deadline, is still under contract, but it remains to be seen whether he will remain in Minnesota.
As the Twins embark on this perilous journey under Shelton's leadership, one thing is clear: their success will depend largely on the emergence of their top prospects and how well Shelton can harness them to steer the team towards contention.
Minnesota Twins fans are bracing themselves for a long and arduous journey under new manager Derek Shelton. The club has appointed him, reportedly, after a tumultuous season that saw them finish 70-92.
Shelton's appointment comes with the caveat that he may be walking into a similar trap that plagued his previous stint as Pittsburgh Pirates' manager. During his time in Pittsburgh, Shelton struggled to harness the team's potential due to a lack of depth and quality players on their roster. His tenure ended in May 2025 with the team losing 12 of their last 26 games.
The Twins' current situation is eerily similar to that of the Pirates under Shelton. With a significantly depleted roster, Minnesota will be facing stiff competition from top-tier teams, a challenge that even the most skilled managers can struggle to overcome.
A key factor in determining Shelton's success will be the development and integration of the Twins' promising farm system into the starting lineup. The team has undergone an extensive reshuffle of their roster this offseason, trading away several veterans for prospects, which could either pay off handsomely or prove disastrous if the young guns fail to pan out.
Shelton's appointment comes with a ticking time bomb of uncertainty – how patient will the club be with him as he attempts to navigate the rebuilding process? The Pohlad family's decision to pull the team from sale and then engage in a fire-sale of veteran players has set the stage for Shelton's tenure.
The lack of star power on Minnesota's roster is evident, with only two guaranteed contracts – Pablo López and Byron Buxton. López, who was injured at the trade deadline, is still under contract, but it remains to be seen whether he will remain in Minnesota.
As the Twins embark on this perilous journey under Shelton's leadership, one thing is clear: their success will depend largely on the emergence of their top prospects and how well Shelton can harness them to steer the team towards contention.