Twins Minor League Coaches/Coordinators

[Seth Stohs]

The Twins made some changes this offseason already in their minor league system. Pitching coaches Ivan Arteaga and Henry Bonilla were let go, some traning positions. 

 

 

I'm sure over time we'll hear about new coaches, but the Twins have added at least a couple of people to their player development staff... 

 

 

https://twitter.com/ZachBove12/status/1061042111821348864 

 

What I've heard is that he is likely to be involved on the pitching side in some way. Not sure specifically yet. 

 

 

Infield and Base Running Coordinator:

 

 

[brvama]

Thanks I was just wondering how the coaching and development staffs were coming. Although I haven't a clue about these two.

[Thrylos]

Here is Zach Bove's website.  Really interesting stuff.  A very good pickup for the Twins

[diehardtwinsfan]

no complaints there. I'm somewhat curious about the new strenght/conditioning guys they are going to bring in...

 

Also wondering if they bring in AK's dad at some point...

[brvama]

Here is Zach Bove's website.  Really interesting stuff.  A very good pickup for the Twins

This is a very interesting article, thanks for sharing. After reading it, I have a better understanding of what the FO wants and is doing. If Bove is an example, they seem to believe that good coaches can coach at any level and endorsing technology is very relevant in today's game. While I'm 40 years older I think they are not only adjusting to the new technology but also the new generation. I'm on board and think they'll have success.

[Seth Stohs]

With Billy Boyer taking over a the minor league infield and base running coordinator, makes me assume that Sam Perlozzo is out... which would be unfortunate, unless he retired or something. 

[Doctor Wu]

 

With Billy Boyer taking over a the minor league infield and base running coordinator, makes me assume that Sam Perlozzo is out... which would be unfortunate, unless he retired or something. 

 

With Billy Boyer taking over a the minor league infield and base running coordinator, makes me assume that Sam Perlozzo is out... which would be unfortunate, unless he retired or something. 

Seth, let us know if you hear anything about Perlozzo. It seems to me (faulty memory or my own advancing years?) that he has been with the Twins forever!

[bird]

 

Here is Zach Bove's website.  Really interesting stuff.  A very good pickup for the Twins

 

 

Thank you for telling us about this guy's blog, thrylos. Much to the chagrin of my family, I found it fascinating. Also, I learned a lot of useless things.

 

Two takeaways:

 

In his blog, Bove goes into some discussion about individualizing a player's development. I realized I have NEVER heard a single Twins player mention being given some kind of agreed-upon, formalized improvement plan. I'm guessing the mainstream guys wouldn't be likely to ask about such things, since it would not be of interest to the average consumer of their work product. But I hope that my talented pals who write for TD will gain access to some key development guy soon and grill them on all the things going on. Which is a lot, both in terms of new video and software technology and with changes in approach. These new hires are indicative of some exciting movement in the wheels of progress.

 

"Not all of my players have improved their velocity and command, or had success with pitch design, and that is MY fault." Not verbatim, but it sure sounds good, doesn't it? And this from a guy who's not the best candidate for a role in pitching development.

 

Anyway, I encourage people to disappoint those around them and take the time to read this guy's blog. Again, thanks, thrylos.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

Here is Zach Bove's website.  Really interesting stuff.  A very good pickup for the Twins

Fascinating. 

[Seth Stohs]

Like Zach Bove (who will be a pitching coach in the GCL), Ryan Smith comes from the College of Central Florida, a JuCo in Ocala.

 

 

 

[Seth Stohs]

Jeff Johnson from The Gazette in Cedar Rapids with an interesting late-night rumor on possible Twins minor league managerial movement.

 

 

[Seth Stohs]

Rochester Coaching staff:

 

Manager: Joel Skinner (returns)

Hitting Coach: Javier Valentin (up from AA)

Pitching Coach: Stu Cliburn (returns)

4th Coach: Mike McCarthy (returns)

[Seth Stohs]

Lots more minor league signings over the last month: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jim Hahn]

Am I right and all these guys are college coaches who have never played professional ball? If that is true, I am not sure what to make of it. I would think there are a lot of former professional players with an analytical bent, who could make great coaches. So my question is the FO deliberately avoiding hiring guys with professional experience? If that is the case, I would be interested in why. I don't know if you or anyone else might have some insight into this, but I am curious.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Am I right and all these guys are college coaches who have never played professional ball? If that is true, I am not sure what to make of it. I would think there are a lot of former professional players with an analytical bent, who could make great coaches. So my question is the FO deliberately avoiding hiring guys with professional experience? If that is the case, I would be interested in why. I don't know if you or anyone else might have some insight into this, but I am curious.

 

I 100% think that is a very fair question. I obviously don't know what the philosophy is, but they are definitely getting away from anything related to traditional. The thing that makes it interesting is that these guys are coming from all over the country, different levels. A guy from Northern Colorado, a guy from Wisconsin-LaCrosse, two guys from the College of Central Florida... I mean, I can't claim to understand it. I am intrigued by it. 

[Thrylos]

I think that it is interesting to get all these College coaches.  For one, College coaches are experts in dealing with and relating to 18-22 year olds, unlike recycled "seasoned" professional coaches...

[Squirrel]

I 100% think that is a very fair question. I obviously don't know what the philosophy is, but they are definitely getting away from anything related to traditional. The thing that makes it interesting is that these guys are coming from all over the country, different levels. A guy from Northern Colorado, a guy from Wisconsin-LaCrosse, two guys from the College of Central Florida... I mean, I can't claim to understand it. I am intrigued by it.

 

Intrigued is a good word. As am I intrigued.

[ashbury]

Finding some solitary diamond in the rough, down at the amateur athlete level, could be genius.

 

But going with it as a guiding strategy? This reminds me of the draft where Terry Ryan went for a lot of college relievers who he wanted to convert to starters - there aren't too many market inefficiencies out there.

 

Call me skeptical but always hopeful.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I can't see anything wrong with these hires.

 

And I see Toby Gardenhire mentioned in this thread. He checks all the boxes: played professionally (got to AAA), but also coached in college, coached in the minors, and I can guarantee you is more analytical than his old man.

[drivlikejehu]

 

Finding some solitary diamond in the rough, down at the amateur athlete level, could be genius.

 

But going with it as a guiding strategy? This reminds me of the draft where Terry Ryan went for a lot of college relievers who he wanted to convert to starters - there aren't too many market inefficiencies out there.

 

Call me skeptical but always hopeful.

 

I don't see much, if any, parallel between the two situations. I doubt that hiring college coaches is even the "strategy" . . . it's probably the case instead that they are looking for forward-thinking guys and are having more success finding them in the college ranks, for whatever reasons. 

 

One possibility, for instance, is that it's harder to get someone to make a lateral move from another MLB organization, as opposed to giving someone their first pro job. Another might be that college coaches are able to speak more freely about the approaches they are using.

[sdangus]

My question is how do they know all these guys and their qualifications to make them want to hire them. Do they know the inner workings of all these organization?. And thus they know these guys are a fit for what they want to accomplish in the organization. That would be impressive that they have the networking to do that.

Another question I have is, are other organizations taking a similar approach?

I liked the suggestion by Thrylos that maybe they prefer to have college affiliated coaches work with their young and impressionable players at those levels.

[Rosterman]

Nothing wrong. You are getting guys who can/may motivate young players on a day-to-day basis. What does a former major league (or even minor league) player brings to the mix, except riding buses or living the dream - I guess. But it is now called player development. Teams are signing more and more guys after the draft, and fewer and fewer positions seem to exist for the AAAA-type guys overall. They also weed thru guys in record numbers, it seems. If I guy makes it to his third minor league season, he stands a better than 50% average of maybe making it to minor league free agency. But, I wonder, what IS the salary of minor league coaches compared to what you can make at a state college or university?

[Doctor Wu]

 

My question is how do they know all these guys and their qualifications to make them want to hire them. Do they know the inner workings of all these organization?. And thus they know these guys are a fit for what they want to accomplish in the organization. That would be impressive that they have the networking to do that.

Another question I have is, are other organizations taking a similar approach?

I liked the suggestion by Thrylos that maybe they prefer to have college affiliated coaches work with their young and impressionable players at those lev.

Not only qualifications, but some of these new job titles themselves are puzzling. I read on the ESPN website that Cubs just hired Bob Tewksbury as the team's mental skills coordinator. Huh? What exactly will he be doing in that job? And will the Twins hire their own mental skills coach?

[old nurse]

The results of the minor league development would lead me to believe that the FO believed they needed to try something different. The dearth of late round draft picks and IFA bargains that developed into solid major league position players and starting pitching ought to be the proof that the Twins system needed an overhaul. So many high ceiling players that fizzled,

[Rosterman]

 

Not only qualifications, but some of these new job titles themselves are puzzling. I read on the ESPN website that Cubs just hired Bob Tewksbury as the team's mental skills coordinator. Huh? What exactly will he be doing in that job? And will the Twins hire their own mental skills coach?

Tewk has done this for other teams. It is a specialized position that he has mastered.  https://www.si.com/edge/2018/05/02/bob-tewksbury-mental-coaching-baseball-jon-lester

[bird]

 

Tewk has done this for other teams. It is a specialized position that he has mastered.  https://www.si.com/edge/2018/05/02/bob-tewksbury-mental-coaching-baseball-jon-lester

 

 

Thanks for sharing that link, Rosterman. I was surprised to learn that 27 of 30 teams already are in some stage of building capabilities tied to the mental and emotional aspects of athletic performance. It probably shouldn't be a surprise, but we haven't heard a thing about it from La Velle...oh, never mind.

 

It always felt like such an obvious frontier since we've always admired athletes who clearly excel in part because of a psychological edge or a more intense focus.

 

My hope is that Parker can get an audience and go into detail regarding some of the new technology being deployed, a description of changes in philosophy and strategy regarding development (and talent evaluation too), what led to their decisions to increase the focus on teaching prospects, and training prospects, as a supplement to all the field work they do.

 

We're getting huge clues. It's pretty evident that the changes going on behind the scenes are radical in some areas (nutrition, teaching), and maybe not so different in others (scouting). It would be fun to get a more complete picture.

[Seth Stohs]

Twins have hired a minor league hitting coordinator to replace Rick Eckstein (who took over as the Pirates MLB hitting coach). 

 

https://twitter.com/fatse_baseball/status/1082800739498541059 

 

[Seth Stohs]

Here is the press release:

 

 

TWINS ANNOUNCE 2019

MINOR LEAGUE STAFF ASSIGNMENTS

                  Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN — The Minnesota Twins announced today that their minor league managerial and coaching positions have been filled for the 2019 season.

 

                  Joel Skinner returns for his second season managing the Twins Triple-A affiliate Rochester Red Wings. Prior to joining the Twins, Skinner managed in the White Sox organization from 2012-16, with Triple-A Charlotte and Single-A Winston-Salem. Skinner has more than 14 seasons of professional managerial experience, including managing the Indians on an interim basis in 2002. Stu Cliburn returns as Rochester’s pitching coach for the fourth consecutive year and his 28th season in the Twins organization. Javier Valentín will serve as Rochester’s hitting coach, marking his fifth season as a coach in the Twins organization, having previously served as a hitting coach for the Twins Double-A affiliate over the last two seasons. Mike McCarthy will serve his second season as the Red Wings bullpen coach.  Chris Johnson will spend his second season as the Red Wings trainer, and 14th in the Twins organization. Jacob Dean will serve as the Red Wings strength and conditioning coach.

 

                  Ramon Borrego will begin his first year as a manager for the Twins new Double-A affiliate Pensacola Blue Wahoos.  This will be Borrego’s ninth professional job as manager, after spending 2018 with Single-A Ft. Myers.  Cibney Bello and Justin Willard will serve as the club’s pitching coaches after splitting the same position for Single-A Cedar Rapids in 2018.  Steve Singleton will begin his first season as hitting coach for the Wahoos and his fourth season as coach in the Twins system. Davey LaCroix will serve his first season as trainer for the Wahoos and his fourth overall as a trainer in the Twins system, having spent 2018 with Ft. Myers. Travis Koon will serve as the Wahoos strength and conditioning coach.

 

                  Toby Gardenhire will enter his first season as manager at Single-A Ft. Myers and second season as a professional manager, spending 2018 at Single-A Cedar Rapids. Matt Borgschulte will begin his first season as hitting coach at Ft. Myers after spending 2018 with the GCL Twins in that capacity. Luis Ramirez will serve as the club’s pitching coach after four seasons at Rookie-Level Elizabethton.   Frank Jagoda will serve as coach for the Miracle after a season as the Twins minor league rehab pitching coach. Ben Myers will begin his first season as the Miracle trainer and Chuck Bradway will serve as strength and conditioning coach, his second in the Twins system.

 

                  Brian Dinkelman will manage Single-A Cedar Rapids, marking his first professional managerial job. He spent 2018 as hitting coach for the Kernels. Virgil Vasquez will serve as the club’s pitching coach, marking his fifth season as a pitching coach in the Twins system. Ryan Smith will begin his first season as hitting coach for Cedar Rapids, having spent 2018 with the College of Central Florida. Former Twins infielder Luis Rodriguez will serve as a coach for the Kernels, his third season coaching in the Twins system.  Tyler Blair begins his first season as a trainer for the Kernels and Kyle Kelly joins from the University of Notre Dame and will serve as strength and conditioning coach.

 

                  Ray Smith returns as manager for the Rookie Level Elizabethton Twins.  Smith, who will be in his 33rd season on staff for Elizabethton (26th as manager), has a career managerial record of 1,015-667 (.603) with 14 first place finishes in 24 seasons. Richard Salazar will serve as Elizabethton’s pitching coach after splitting 2018 between Double-A Chattanooga and the GCL Twins. Jeff Reed returns to Elizabethton for his 18th season as hitting coach.  Takashi Miyoshi returns to the staff as a coach, his second season with the E-Twins. Matt Kalies will be Elizabethton’s trainer and Connor Derrickson joins the Twins and will serve as strength and conditioning coach.

 

                  Robbie Robinson will begin his first season in the Twins system as manager of the Rookie Level Gulf Coast League Twins.  Robinson spent 2018 managing the DSL Twins, his first season in the organization. Zach Bove and Carlos Hernandez will split the pitching coach duties. Hernandez was with the DSL Twins in 2018 and Bove was an assistant coach at the College of Central Florida. Micheal Thomas, Nate Rasmussen and Caleb Abney will split the hitting coach duties, with Thomas coming from Ft. Myers, Rasmussen from the University of Northern Colorado, and Abney from Austin Peay State University.  Cesar Castillo will join as the club’s strength coach and Asja Morello will join as the club’s trainer.

 

                  Seth Feldman will manage the Dominican Summer League Twins, his first season in the Twins organization, previously spending time with the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse as an assistant coach. Kevin Rodriguez and Dan Urbina will serve as DSL Twins pitching coaches, while Leury Bonilla and Jairo Rodriguez will be the team’s hitting coaches. Jimmy Alvarez will serve as coach.  Carlos Frías and Wladimir Morales will serve as the club’s trainers, while Juan Carlos Pinto and Miguel Cabrera will be the strength and conditioning coaches.

 

                  In addition, Edgar Varela will serve his second season as Twins minor league field coordinator.  Pete Maki will serve his second season as pitching coordinator. J.P. Martinez returns for his fifth season with the Twins and second as assistant pitching coordinator.  Former Rochester Manager Mike Quade returns for his fifth season in the Twins system, his second as outfield coordinator. Billy Boyer joins the Twins from Seattle University as the minor league infield and baserunning coordinator. Peter Fatse will begin his first season with the club as the hitting coordinator.  Tanner Swanson will serve as catching coordinator for the second straight season.  Sam Perlozzo and Bob McClure will serve as senior advisors to player development, marking Perlozzo’s first in this role and McClure’s second.  Chad Jackson enters his 18th season with the Twins as minor league medical coordinator. David Rak will serve as minor league strength and conditioning coordinator. Axel Lopez will serve his second season as Latin American medical coordinator.  Peter Larson joins the Twins as rehab pitching coach.  Jose Marzan returns as Latin American operations coordinator.  Tyler Schmitz will serve his second season in the organization as minor league video coordinator. Brian Maloney enters his third season as senior manager of minor league operations, while Alex Hassan returns as assistant director of minor league operations. Matt Cheesman will serve his first season as minor league equipment manager.  Rafael Yanez and Brad McKenney both return as assistants, Florida operations. Victor Gonzalez will serve as Florida operations manager, marking his second season.

 

                  Former Twins great Tony Oliva will continue in his role as hitting coach, in addition to his community relations activities with the club.

[bird]

I count about 70 individuals who will have more impact on a given player's development then Derek Falvey and Thad Levine will have. That's not meant to diminish the impact the wonder boys are having by any means, but I hope we hear lots of stories about things some of these people did to help guys take the next step.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I count about 70 individuals who will have more impact on a given player's development then Derek Falvey and Thad Levine will have. That's not meant to diminish the impact the wonder boys are having by any means, but I hope we hear lots of stories about things some of these people did to help guys take the next step.

 

I mean, Falvey and Levine were never going to have any sort of direct impact on the players. What Falvey has done here is convince Pohlad that development was a huge key and they have pushed for a lot of spending on systems and on coaches and coordinators. Falvey deserves credit for that. Zoll deserves credit for signings and assignments of coaches/coordinators. But obviously the hope now is that they are the right guys.