MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota Twins have named a new manager to replace Paul Molitor, who was fired this offseason after four seasons in the role.
The Twins will make 37-year-old Rocco Baldelli the youngest manager in Major League Baseball and the 14th manager in club history. Baldelli told the media Thursday that he was "absolutely ecstatic" to join the Twins.
Baldelli replaces Paul Molitor, who was fired after four seasons with the Twins. Baldelli will be the youngest manager in the major leagues, the first skipper ever born in the 1980s.
This is the first time the Twins have hired a manager outside the organization since Ray Miller in 1985.
Baldelli has spent the last four years as a coach for the Tampa Bay Rays, where he played for six of his seven years in MLB as an outfielder.
At the time of Molitor's firing, Twins chief baseball officer Derek Falvey said, "This wasn't about our record this year. This is about what we think is best as we continue to grow a young team in the direction toward being a championship contender."
The Twins fired Molitor earlier this month after a 78-84 record. They finished second place in the American League Central, 13 games behind the division-winning Cleveland Indians. Molitor compiled a 305-343 record in four seasons, including one playoff appearance and AL manager of the year -- both in 2017.
Baldelli's career was hampered by injuries, but he still managed to hit .278, 60 home runs and 262 RBI in 519 games.