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Twins' youth movement includes hiring Rocco Baldelli as manager
Seeking a fresh voice for their underachieving young players, the Minnesota Twins have made Rocco Baldelli the youngest manager in the major leagues.
The Twins hired Baldelli, 37, on Thursday, bringing the former Tampa Bay Rays player, assistant and coach to Minnesota for his first job as a manager. He replaces Paul Molitor, who was fired after four seasons with a 305-343 record. Baldelli will be the first major league manager born in the 1980s.
Baldelli spent the past four years on the staff of Rays manager Kevin Cash, the first three as first-base coach. His role for 2018 was a newly created position called major league field coordinator, helping Cash and bench coach Charlie Montoyo with in-game strategy, working with the outfielders and focusing on the continued development of the team's young players.
Prior to joining the coaching staff with the Rays, Baldelli was a special assistant in the front office of the team that drafted him sixth overall in 2000 out of high school in Rhode Island. Baldelli debuted with the Rays at age 21 in 2003, finishing third in the AL Rookie of the Year Award voting after batting .289 with 51 extra-base hits and 27 stolen bases. He picked up the nickname "Woonsocket Rocket" for his birthplace and his speed on the field.
The only year as a professional he spent apart from the Rays was 2009, when he played in 62 games for the Boston Red Sox. In 2008, he drove in the go-ahead run for the Rays in Game 7 of the AL Championship Series against the Red Sox and homered for the Rays in Game 5 of the World Series the following week. Injuries hounded him for most of his career, however, and a rare disorder that caused muscle fatigue ultimately forced him to retire after the 2010 season.
Baldelli will be the 14th manager for the Twins since the franchise relocated from Washington in 1961, only their fourth manager since Tom Kelly, who was 36, took over in 1986 and their first manager hire outside the organization since Ray Miller in 1985.
The Twins hired Baldelli, 37, on Thursday, bringing the former Tampa Bay Rays player, assistant and coach to Minnesota for his first job as a manager. He replaces Paul Molitor, who was fired after four seasons with a 305-343 record. Baldelli will be the first major league manager born in the 1980s.
Baldelli spent the past four years on the staff of Rays manager Kevin Cash, the first three as first-base coach. His role for 2018 was a newly created position called major league field coordinator, helping Cash and bench coach Charlie Montoyo with in-game strategy, working with the outfielders and focusing on the continued development of the team's young players.
Prior to joining the coaching staff with the Rays, Baldelli was a special assistant in the front office of the team that drafted him sixth overall in 2000 out of high school in Rhode Island. Baldelli debuted with the Rays at age 21 in 2003, finishing third in the AL Rookie of the Year Award voting after batting .289 with 51 extra-base hits and 27 stolen bases. He picked up the nickname "Woonsocket Rocket" for his birthplace and his speed on the field.
The only year as a professional he spent apart from the Rays was 2009, when he played in 62 games for the Boston Red Sox. In 2008, he drove in the go-ahead run for the Rays in Game 7 of the AL Championship Series against the Red Sox and homered for the Rays in Game 5 of the World Series the following week. Injuries hounded him for most of his career, however, and a rare disorder that caused muscle fatigue ultimately forced him to retire after the 2010 season.
Baldelli will be the 14th manager for the Twins since the franchise relocated from Washington in 1961, only their fourth manager since Tom Kelly, who was 36, took over in 1986 and their first manager hire outside the organization since Ray Miller in 1985.