What is the story about?
The Twins chose to interrupt the World Series with the news that former bench coach and Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton would be returning to the organization as the new manager for 2026. Shelton was in Minnesota between 2018 and 2019, under both Paul Molitor and Rocco Baldelli, before going to Pittsburgh to manage for almost six seasons, finishing with a 306-440 record.
In other news, former Twin Brock Stewart is now a World Series champion, after the Dodgers and Blue Jays played one of the more
memorable Game 7s in recent memory. That being said, I think we can all agree that Jack Morris’ CGSHO in Game 7 in 1991 is still probably the best Game 7 ever.
The Past Week on Twinkie Town:
- Check out The Feed, where you can add your discussions about the Twins!
- Zach Koenig is back with another offseason list – this time working through the Greatest Twins moments and Performances. Spoiler alert: Morris’ performance in 1991 tops the list, but you can now vote for the second-best moment in Twins history.
- Need to keep track of what the Twins are up to this offseason? Ben Jones has your 2025-2026 offseason calendar.
- Join James Fillmore on November 7 for our first Twinkie Town Movie Night!
- Brandon Brooks takes us around the AL Central in the aftermath of the 2025 season.
- Zach Koenig looks at whether Derek Shelton will get the “Year 1 Boost” that other Twins managers have experienced over the years.
Elsewhere in Twins Territory:
- Dan Hayes at The Athletic talks with LaTroy Hawkins about his dream job: “Twins pitching coach”. ($)
- La Velle E. Neal III at the Star Tribune doesn’t have a positive outlook for the Twins in Year 1 of the Shelton Era.
- The benefit (or curse) of the Twins’ freefall in August and September was that it afforded the team a chance to look at all their major league-ready arms. Theo Tollefson at Zone Coverage checks in on the chances of two of those arms – Travis Adams and Pierson Ohl – making the team next season.
In the World of Baseball:
- The World Series is over, with the Dodgers winning a thrilling Game 7 over the Blue Jays to repeat as champions for the first time since the Yankees’ three-peat earlier this century. That being said, award season is now beginning with finalists for the MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, and Manager of the Year awards. In case you’re wondering, no Twins were nominated.
- The Gold Glove Award winners were announced on Sunday night, with former Twin Ty France, who led all American League first basemen in Outs Above Average and Defensive Runs Saved, winning the award for first base.
- Silver Slugger Award winners will be announced on November 6th. Byron Buxton is the only Twin that was nominated.
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto joins Christy Mathewson, Randy Johnson, and 12 other pitchers who have won three games in the World Series. Tyler Kepner, at The Athletic, chronicles how Yamamoto was able to join the elite group.
- Martín Gallegos reviews the three homers given up by the Blue Jays in Game 7.
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