The Minnesota Twins are on a mission to find their next manager, and they’re leaving no stone unturned—even if it means diving into the past. Here’s the kicker: they’re seriously considering Nick Punto, a former player once dubbed a ‘piranha’ for his relentless, gritty style of play. But here’s where it gets controversial—is Punto’s old-school, grind-it-out approach what the Twins need in today’s data-driven baseball landscape? Let’s dig in.
It’s no surprise the Twins are eyeing Punto, given their recent emphasis on fundamentals, base running, and small-ball tactics. As Twins president Derek Falvey put it last month, ‘We’re going to be a really good base-running team, we’re going to be on the details, we’re going to be leaning into the fundamentals.’ Punto’s 14-year MLB career, which ended in 2014, was defined by exactly that—a scrappy, never-give-up attitude that earned him the ‘piranha’ label from Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen during his seven-season stint with the Twins (2004-2010). Guillen’s critique? Punto and his teammates were like ‘piranhas,’ constantly nibbling away at opponents with their small-ball strategy.
Fast forward to 2025, and Punto is back in the big leagues as a coach for the San Diego Padres, working with infielders and bringing that same tenacity to the coaching ranks. The Twins have already received permission from the Padres to interview him, according to multiple sources. But Punto isn’t the only name on their radar. And this is the part most people miss: the Twins are also talking to heavy hitters like Derek Shelton, former Pirates manager and Twins bench coach (2018-19), Yankees hitting coach James Rowson, and Red Sox bench coach Ramón Vázquez. Another intriguing name? Chicago Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty, though it’s unclear if the Twins have been granted permission to speak with him yet.
Each candidate brings something unique to the table. Shelton, for instance, was a finalist for the Twins’ managerial role in 2018 before Rocco Baldelli got the nod. Rowson, a former Twins hitting coach (2018-20), has experience bridging the gap between analytics and on-field performance. Vázquez, a nine-year MLB infielder, has spent the last four years as Alex Cora’s right-hand man in Boston. Flaherty, meanwhile, is a rising star in coaching circles, having briefly stepped in as the Padres’ acting manager in 2022 when Bob Melvin was out with COVID.
The Twins’ search comes after parting ways with Baldelli on September 29, and it’s heating up this week with formal secondary interviews underway. They’re one of eight teams currently hiring a manager, so the competition is fierce. But the Twins are clear about what they want: someone who values the little things—the fundamentals, the hustle, the grit. Here’s the question that’ll spark debate: In an era where analytics and power hitting dominate, is the Twins’ focus on old-school baseball a winning strategy, or are they stuck in the past? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Oct 15, 2025
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