Reith replaces Pete Maki, who was fired after the 2026 season. He spent the past five seasons as pitching coach at Class AAA Durham in the Rays’ farm system.

By Bobby Nightengale | The Minnesota Star Tribune

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton, right, stands with players while making a pitching change during the sixth inning against the New York Yankees on Sept. 15.

The Twins expect their starting rotation to be a strength in 2027. Now they have a new pitching coach to lead the group.

Brian Reith was hired as the Twins’ pitching coach Wednesday. Reith, 48, worked in the Tampa Bay Rays’ farm system for more than a decade, including the last five seasons as the pitching coach for the Class AAA Durham Bulls.

During the 2021 season, Reith worked as a “fellow” on the Rays’ major league coaching staff with a focus on pitching development.

Reith succeeds Pete Maki, who was fired along with assistant pitching coach Luis Ramirez from manager Derek Shelton’s staff at the end of the season. Maki had served as the Twins’ pitching coach since midway through the 2022 season.

Bullpen coach LaTroy Hawkins is returning in the same role next year. The Twins have not yet announced a hire for assistant pitching coach.

In a news release, the Twins noted the Durham Bulls issued the fewest walks among all Class AAA pitching staffs in the last five years while ranking fourth in WHIP (1.37), fifth in ERA (4.52) and fifth in strikeouts (6,863).

Reith, a sixth-round pick in 1996 by the New York Yankees out of high school, appeared in 73 major league games with the Cincinnati Reds from 2001-04. He had a career 4-12 record and a 5.92 ERA.

In addition to Reith, the Twins promoted Ben Myers to their assistant athletic trainer to replace Jason Kirkman, who was dismissed at the end of the season. Myers has spent eight seasons in the Twins organization, including his last five with the Class AAA St. Paul Saints.