The Minnesota Twins have reportedly chosen former Hall of Fame player Paul Molitor as their next manager. The team is expected to announce the Molitor hire next week, per Patrick Reusse of ESPN 1500 in Minnesota. Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press reports that the Twins have indeed offered Molitor the job, though specific contract details are still being worked out. Nothing official has been announced by the Twins.
Paul Molitor expected to manage Twins, per reports
The Minnesota Twins are expected to name Paul Molitor their manager next week, per multiple reports.
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Molitor was a coach with the Twins in 2014, overseeing baserunning, bunting, infield instruction and positioning, as well as helping with in-game strategy. Before that, Molitor was the organization’s minor league infield and baserunning coach for 10 seasons.
He has no managing experience, but has four years as a major league coach, including as bench coach with the Twins in 2000-01 and hitting coach for the Seattle Mariners in 2004.
Molitor beat out Boston Red Sox bench coach Torey Lovullo for the job, per Reusse. The Twins also reportedly contacted Joe Maddon, who will be introduced as manager of the Chicago Cubs on Monday.
The Twins have only had two managers in the last 28 years, including the last 13 seasons under Ron Gardenhire. Gardenhire was 1,068-1,039 (.507) with six division titles, but after averaging 96 losses in the last four years he was let go on Sept. 29. Gardenhire had been with the organization since 1987.
Molitor was born and raised in Minnesota and went to college at the University of Minnesota. He played the final three seasons of his 21-year, Hall of Fame career with the Twins from 1996-98. He finished his playing career with 3,319 hits and 605 doubles, ranking 10th and first all-time, respectively.
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