Five managerial replacements for the Minnesota Twins in the post Rocco Baldelli era

The Minnesota Twins let go of longtime manager Rocco Baldelli on September 29th, after seven years with the team.

Baldelli, who won the 2019 American League manager of the year award as a rookie manager, finished with a 527-505 record. He’s the third-winningest manager in Twins history, behind only Tom Kelly and Ron Gardenhire.

With Baldelli in the rear-view window, the Twins will now turn to the future, so here are my top five managerial replacements in Minnesota.

5. Torii Hunter

This one, albeit, is a long shot. There’s been no rumblings of Hunter even wanting to manage a team, but he just fits the bill so perfectly.

He’s a Twins legend. He’s charismatic, good with the media, has ties to the Twins organization, and has garnered the respect of major leaguers surrounding the team.

He understands the grind of a 162-game season and would be able to keep players motivated throughout the year. Turning to a former player would, without a doubt, ignite a spark with the Twins fanbase.

4. Ramon Vasquez

Vasquez is the first interview request the Twins have made since firing Baldelli. Vasquez was an MLB journeyman playing almost 700 games for the Mariners, Padres, Red Sox, Indians, Rangers, and Pirates from 2001 to 2009.

It would be Vasquez’s first time managing a team as he’s spent the past four years in Boston, three, as the bench coach.

Vasquez is a typical bench coach, who has worked his way up the ranks since taking up coaching in 2013. He’s gained the trust of World Series-winning manager Alex Cora, so he’s certainly qualified for the job.

Vasquez would be the first manager in Twins history born outside the United States.

3. Hank Conger

I know most, if not all of you reading this, just said, “Who?” And trust me, I understand that question, but if you’re looking for someone who truly fits the role and is ready to step up as a manager, this is the guy.

Conger has been with the Twins since 2022, where he started as the first base and catching coach, and was eventually promoted to assistant bench coach this past offseason.

He’s a former catcher and was dubbed as an “on-field manager” during his playing days.

He’s risen through the ranks and already has an excellent relationship with the current roster. His positive reputation and excellent communication skills make him a solid candidate for this job.

2. Toby Gardenhire

Is this a personal pick? Yes. Is it also a pick that logically makes sense for Minnesota? Absolutely.

First of all, he’s the son of the Hall of Famer Ron Gardenhire. That alone makes this selection seem so simple.

Secondly, he’s managed in the system since 2018, first with Cedar Rapids, then Fort Myers and finally with the Triple-A St. Paul Saints. He also recently secured his 500th win in the organization.

It is also an in-house move, making it much easier than searching outside of the organization.

However, there are better options. Gardenhire would be a great story, don’t get me wrong, but he has no experience at the major league level, making this choice more of a feel-good selection than the correct one.

1. Skip Schumaker

This is the move to make. There is no way around it—an absolute slam dunk for Minnesota.

Schumaker, who’s only 45 years old, led the Marlins to a playoff appearance in his first year as a manager in 2023, where he also won the NL Manager of the Year award.

He stepped away from managing after a tough 2024, but reappeared as an advisor with the Texas Rangers in 2025.

Schumaker remains a top managerial candidate, so if the Twins want a guy who can restart this franchise and bring them back to the top of the AL Central, this is the manager to do it.

It’s still early, so anything could happen, but there are many managerial spots open, so Minnesota will want to act fast on whoever they are seeking to lead this Twins team in 2026.

Sawyer Bogaty is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please contact him at sgb5468@psu.edu.