Manager Derek Shelton retained both coaches from former skipper Rocco Baldelli’s staff.
Ian Casselberry, Contributing writer | Yahoo Sports
One day after their 2026 season ended, the Minnesota Twins have fired pitching coach Pete Maki and assistant pitching coach Luis Ramirez, according to multiple reports.
Minnesota’s team ERA of 4.56 was the third-worst in the American League this season. During the four seasons Maki and Ramirez oversaw the pitching staff, the Twins ranked sixth (3.87), 21st (4.26), 23rd (4.55) and 25th (4.56) in team ERA among MLB teams.
The Twins favor Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) to evaluate pitchers, focusing on outcomes pitchers can control, the Minnesota Star-Tribune reports. However, even going by that metric, the starting rotation declined from second in MLB (3.73 FIP) in 2023 to 16th (4.21) this season
However, the front office dealt away six pitchers before the 2025 trade deadline, including closer Jhoan Duran, starter Chris Paddack, and relievers Griffin Jax, Brock Stewart, Danny Coulombe and Louis Varland.
Maki was a pitching coach at Duke before joining the Twins’ organization in 2018. He began as the team’s minor-league pitching coordinator. He became the major-league bullpen coach in 2020 and became the pitching coach two years later when Wes Johnson left for the same position at LSU.
Ramirez has been with Minnesota since 2006, starting as a coach for the organization’s Venezuelan academy before becoming a minor-league pitching coach in 2013. He was named the major-league club’s assistant pitching coach in 2022.
Both coaches were retained from former manager Rocco Baldelli’s staff when Derek Shelton took over for the 2026 season. Three other coaches that stayed during the transition — third-base coach Ramon Borrego and assistant hitting coaches Trevor Amicone and Rayden Sierra — remain with the Twins.
Shelton added six coaches when he took over as manager before the 2026 season, including bullpen coach LaTroy Hawkins, first-base coach Grady Sizemore and assistant bench coach Mike Rabelo, according to The Athletic.
