Minnesota Twins Hire Grady Sizemore to Coaching Staff

The Minnesota Twins are shaking up their coaching staff for the upcoming season. They’re bringing in former All-Star Grady Sizemore as their new outfield, baserunning, and first base coach.

Sizemore made his name with athleticism and leadership during his playing days. His arrival is another strategic move by newly hired manager Derek Shelton, who’s trying to mix experience with new ideas.

Sizemore just wrapped up a stint as interim manager for the Chicago White Sox. Now, he’s part of a broader reshuffling as the Twins look to build on their late-season surge and keep developing talent across the roster.

Grady Sizemore Brings Star-Level Experience to Minnesota

Not many former players step into coaching with a background like Grady Sizemore’s. He’s a three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner, known for his speed, defense, and smart baserunning.

His main job with the Twins will be to get the most out of the outfield and keep the team aggressive on the bases. Minnesota saw some real improvement in both areas late in 2024, so there’s hope he’ll keep that momentum going.

From Player to Coach

After he retired, Sizemore steadily worked his way up the coaching ranks. He just finished a tough 45-game run as the White Sox’s interim manager, going 13-32 in a rebuilding year.

Before that, he was Chicago’s offensive coordinator and spent time in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ minor league system. Those different roles have given him a pretty wide perspective—something that could help with both player development and in-game decisions.

Derek Shelton’s New Coaching Vision

Sizemore is just one piece of the new staff manager Derek Shelton is putting together. Shelton, who’s worked with Sizemore before in Cleveland and Tampa Bay, is hand-picking coaches who fit his style.

He’s taking over from Rocco Baldelli and has a mix of familiar faces and newcomers to work with.

Key Staff Changes

The Twins also added LaTroy Hawkins as bullpen coach. Pitching coach Pete Maki and Ramon Borrego, who’s moving to third base coach, are sticking around from the previous staff.

The team tried to hire Yankees hitting coach James Rowson as bench coach, but contract issues got in the way.

• Grady Sizemore – Outfield, baserunning, and first base coach
• LaTroy Hawkins – Bullpen coach
• Pete Maki – Pitching coach (retained)
• Ramon Borrego – Transitioning to third base coach

Twins’ Emphasis on Aggressive Baserunning

Derek Falvey, President of Baseball Operations, likes the balance of experience and skill on the revamped staff. He pointed out how much better the Twins ran the bases late last season, and there’s a sense that Sizemore’s going to keep pushing that edge.

Being aggressive on the basepaths puts real pressure on other teams and can force mistakes. The Twins took advantage of that in the final months of 2024.

Building on Late-Season Momentum

Even with all the analytics in the game, baserunning still gives teams an edge if they’re bold enough. The Twins improved in stolen bases, first-to-third moves, and scoring from second on singles last year.

Sizemore, who played with speed and sharp instincts, seems like a natural fit to keep that aggressive approach alive.

Former Coaches and Players Find New Homes

While the Twins bring in new faces, some former coaches have already landed elsewhere in baseball. Pitcher Randy Dobnak, who Detroit released earlier this offseason, just signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners.

It’s just another reminder of how quickly things change in MLB. Staffs turn over, new energy comes in, and old chapters close out—sometimes before you even realize it.

Looking Ahead to 2025

Spring Training is almost here, and the Twins seem ready to lean into smart strategy and player growth. Shelton’s staff, with Sizemore stepping into a big role, needs to turn those offseason ideas into real results on the field.

The mix of veteran coaches and some fresh voices might just give Minnesota an edge. Who knows, maybe that’s the spark they need for another playoff run.

For Twins fans, seeing Grady Sizemore join the staff feels like more than a routine coaching move. It’s a shot of baseball know-how from someone who thrived in exactly the areas Minnesota wants to improve.

His arrival shows the front office isn’t just talking about fundamentals—they’re making moves to get better at them. And honestly, if they can keep up that aggressive style from last year, it could be a fun ride.

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