LAS VEGAS — Pete Maki will return as the Minnesota Twins pitching coach, but much of the remainder of the team’s coaching staff remains in limbo, according to multiple sources with knowledge of the team.
Maki will return to partner with new bullpen coach LaTroy Hawkins as part of new manager Derek Shelton’s coaching staff, sources confirmed Monday. Multiple sources confirmed last week that Hawkins would join the coaching staff after spending the past nine seasons working in Twins player development and in the broadcast booth.
Multiple sources also confirmed ex-Twins third-base coach Tommy Watkins is set to join the Atlanta Braves coaching staff, either at third base or in another capacity.
The Twins remain in the market for a new bench coach to replace Jayce Tingler, who reportedly has been hired by the San Francisco Giants. One source said the Twins wanted to allow Shelton to have real say in naming his coaching staff, hence the overhaul.
Shelton identified what he’s seeking in a bench coach during his introductory press conference last Tuesday.
“Someone to communicate, someone to keep me in check, someone that’s very detail-oriented,” Shelton said. “I think the one thing that I learned from (Paul Molitor) and I said it, it was my greatest fear that he was going to ask me something I wasn’t prepared for. So preparation was a big one in that regard. Ability to communicate with players, you have to be able to go out and have tough conversations with players, you have to be out and be soft with players when the manager is not so soft. So looking for that skillset.”
After allowing numerous coaches to interview elsewhere, which led to both Tingler and bullpen coach Colby Suggs leaving (Texas Rangers), the Twins also dismissed coaches Hank Conger and Nate Dammann.
Dammann had served as part of the coaching staff since 2020 after spending 12 seasons as the team’s bullpen coach and another as video coordinator. Conger originally joined the Twins coaching staff ahead of the 2022 season, serving in multiple roles, including operating as the team’s catching coordinator. Multiple sources said that Conger has held numerous interviews for a variety of roles since learning of his dismissal a week ago.
The future of the Twins’ three hitting coaches — Matt Borgschulte, Trevor Amicone and Rayden Sierra — all of whom were hired a year ago, is uncertain, a team source said.
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