By signing Rocco Baldelli, the Twins acquire a modern Major League manager prototype.
During Thursday’s news conference at Target Field, Chief Baseball Officer Derek Falvey, left, Senior Vice President and General Manager Thad Levine, and new Twins manager Rocco Baldelli spoke.Credit: Craig Lassig’s MinnPost photo
Small and large changes are becoming the norm in the Twins organization, even in the press room at Target Field. After the season, the Twins moved the chairs around so they faced the long wall across from the main entrance.
According to a Twins representative, they changed things up to feature a new collection of enormous magazine covers hung on the walls.
Thursday saw the arrival of new Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, who is attractive on the outside but prematurely balding at 37.
His dark brown shoes, maroon tie, and closely cropped black beard complemented his dark blue suit well. Baseball’s youngest manager certainly looked the part on this new day.
Baldelli was an outfielder for the Rays in the past, having played for Boston and Tampa Bay. His low-key communication style helped him land the position, much more so than his baseball acumen.
He soon showed his ability to follow instructions. Baldelli shook hands with 98-year-old Star Tribune journalist Sid Hartman, who was slumped in the first row, before going to the dais to join Chief Baseball Officer Derek Falvey and General Manager Thad Levine.
It was obvious that Baldelli had been requested to do this. A polite young man was brought up by Woonsocket, Rhode Island, Dan Baldelli, and Michelle Baldelli.
The start was promising. Paul Molitor, a 62-year-old manager who had won the American League Manager of the Year award the year before, was let go by Falvey and Levine, who faced criticism. They are staking their professional futures on Baldelli’s superiority.
According to Levine, Falvey and owner Jim Pohlad gave them important stage instructions: treat this managerial hire as if it were their last.
Levine stated that this was not a dire omen but rather a return to stability and the Tom Kelly/Ron Gardenhire philosophy of managing a team for ten years or longer.
Since Kelly took over for Miller in 1986, Baldelli is the fourth manager to be hired overall and the first since Ray Miller was brought in from outside the company in 1985.
These days, you hear a lot about how players should relate to and communicate with new managers, and Baldelli is a perfect example of that.
In the front row, Baldelli’s parents, three brothers, and lifelong girlfriend were all grinning as he talked extensively about getting to know his players and allowing them the space to learn, unwind, and perform. Baldelli came out as intelligent, personable, and modest.
Although he doesn’t speak much Spanish, he emphasized the need for a diversified coaching staff in order to connect with players from different backgrounds.
Levine stated, “I think what got him through the process was the person, but part of what got him on the board was his résumé. We thoroughly investigated each and every applicant.
Everyone we spoke with about Rocco was raving about his capacity for building connections, showing respect for others, and being able to both lead and follow. He is open to both speaking and listening. We found that combo to be really charming.
Hall of Famers Nap Lajoie and Gabby Hartnett were born in Woonsocket, where Baldelli grew up, and former Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher Clem Labine spent the majority of his childhood. Baldelli’s family is passionate about baseball.
Falvey and his brother Nick, a dentist by trade, played baseball together at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.
Nick had to reschedule his appointments for Thursday and Friday in order to go to the news conference.
In 2016, the Phillies selected Dante, a junior outfielder from Boston College, in the 39th round. Additionally, his mother, Michelle, was named after Mickey Mantle. She was the daughter of a Woonsocket High baseball player who was named All-State.