Several weeks into their managerial search, the Minnesota Twins appear to have reduced the field of candidates to four.
After multiple rounds of discussions, the search appears to be focused on a group that includes ex-Twins bench coach and Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton, New York Yankees hitting coach James Rowson (who held the same title with the Twins from 2018-19), former Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais and Chicago Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty, according to multiple league sources.
Sources believe the Twins are leaning toward hiring a candidate with whom they’re familiar. Given their previous experience working with Twins president Derek Falvey and general manager Jeremy Zoll, Shelton and Rowson appear to be the strongest candidates.
Sources confirmed Friday that Boston Red Sox bench coach Ramón Vázquez and Kansas City Royals third-base coach Vance Wilson were among those who didn’t advance in the process of replacing Rocco Baldelli, whom the club dismissed after seven seasons on Sept. 29. Ex-Twins infielder and current San Diego Padres coach Nick Punto is also no longer in consideration.
With the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays playing in the World Series, one club source said the search is ongoing and potentially could be expanded.
Shelton, who managed the Pirates for five-plus seasons, was a finalist in the October 2018 search that resulted in the hire of Baldelli. A key member of the coaching staff as the Twins transitioned to Baldelli after firing Paul Molitor, Shelton was close with Falvey and then-GM Thad Levine. He also helped engineer an elaborate plan to allow Joe Mauer to catch one last pitch after more than five years away from the position in the final game of his career.
Rowson, who impressed the Twins with his recent interview and also during the 2018 search, was the team’s hitting coach when the Bomba Squad smashed a major-league record 307 home runs during the 2019 season. After leaving the Twins, he spent three seasons as bench coach for the Miami Marlins from 2020-22. Rowson returned to the Yankees as their hitting coach in 2024 and spent the 2023 campaign as an assistant hitting coach for the Detroit Tigers.
Flaherty, who joined the search after the Milwaukee Brewers eliminated the Cubs in the National League Division Series, also interviewed well, according to a team source. An infielder for eight seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians, Flaherty was a coach for the Padres and a finalist for that job that ultimately went to Mike Shildt. He was named Craig Counsell’s bench coach in Chicago for the 2024 season and has been with the Cubs since.
Servais posted a .514 winning percentage in nine seasons with the Mariners, but only led them to the playoffs once (2022). A big-league catcher for 11 seasons, Servais worked in player development for the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels from 2008-11 before he was named an assistant GM for the Angels in 2012. He is currently a special assistant for the Padres but has not yet interviewed for their opening, sources say, and it’s unclear if he will.