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Twins Make Managerial Changes on the Farm
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- Twins Make Managerial Changes on the Farm
Peter Aiken-Imagn Images Peter Aiken-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Twins made a change at manager this offseason. Despite the 70-92 season not being a reflection of Rocco Baldelli's leadership , he was replaced with Derek Shelton . Baldelli has since found new employment , and Shelton has overturned the coaching staff.
Among the additions at the major league level was Toby Gardenhire . Son of longtime big league skipper Ron Gardenhire, Shelton promoted the Triple-A manager for his big league debut. That left a hole with the Saints.
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Not only will there be a new manager watching a pig deliver balls to the umpire at CHS Field, but the Twins have three new skippers across the farm system.
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Brian Dinkelman takes over Triple-A for MN Twins
When Toby Gardenhire was promoted to the Minnesota Twins field coordinator, it left an opening at Triple-A. Someone had to manage the St. Paul Saints, and Double-A skipper Brian Dinkelman seemed like the obvious choice. That has now been made official.
All He Does Is Win: @BrDink , 5th Most Victories In Minor League Baseball Since 2019, Takes Over Reins With Saints, Joined By Two New Coaches, @ShawnSchlechter and Hernandez Return
Story: https://t.co/W0cD5kq6e2 pic.twitter.com/BsY6LM5kSO— St. Paul Saints (@StPaulSaints) January 14, 2026
Dinkelman is a former 8th round pick (2006) of the MN Twins. He made it to the big leagues for 23 games during the 2011 season, but the light-hitting utility man has put up an impressive post-playing career.
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The Twins have employed Dinkelman as a coach or manager within the system for a whopping 12 seasons. His 2023 Cedar Rapids Kernels won the Midwest League, and he has racked up a significant amount of wins as a manager.
St. Paul will turn over the managerial position for the first time since being named a Twins affiliate in 2021. Dinkelman, like Gardenhire before him, is a Twins lifer and more than deserving of the role.
More new hires in Twins system
While Dinkelman is a new manager for the St. Paul Saints, he's not new to the system as a whole. Two other affiliates will bring new managers to the dugout in 2026, and one of them is brand new to the organization.
Say Hello to our 2026 coaching staff!👋⚾️ pic.twitter.com/GkvtJYauhp
— Wichita Wind Surge (@WindSurgeICT) January 14, 2026
Introducing our 2026 coaching staff!! 💪 #MNTwins
🔗 https://t.co/OwsjcIhVCf pic.twitter.com/lUSioTxcqc— Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (@MightyMussels) January 14, 2026
With Dinkelman moving up from Wichita, the Wind Surge needed a replacement. That comes in the former of Nico Giarratano. He managed the FCL Twins last season.
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Brian Meyer returns as the Cedar Rapids Kernels for a second season. Fort Myers though, introduced Jordan Smith as their new manager. He joins the Minnesota Twins organization after 14 years in the Cleveland Guardians system.
Smith managed High-A Lynchburg the past three seasons and won a Carolina League championship while being named manager of the year. Minnesota's farm system is among the best in the big leagues , and these gentlemen will be in charge of many top prospects .
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