In a major shake-up, the Minnesota Twins parted ways with several key coaching staff members on Wednesday. The team bid farewell to hitting coaches Rudy Hernandez and a second hitting coach, as well as assistant hitting coach Derek Shomon and assistant bench/infield coach Tony Diaz.
The decision comes after a dismal finish to the season, which saw the Twins struggle to find their rhythm at the plate. Over the final six weeks, the team lost 27 of 39 games, ultimately failing to secure a playoff spot despite holding a comfortable lead in the wild-card race just two months prior.
The Twins’ batting average plummeted to.218 in September, second-worst in the majors behind the Kansas City Royals. The team’s inability to generate offense proved costly, as they fell short of their postseason aspirations.
In a separate move, the Twins announced earlier this week that manager Rocco Baldelli would return for the 2025 season.
Hernandez, a 56-year-old veteran coach, has been with the Twins organization since 1996, serving in various roles including assistant hitting coach and primary hitting coach. The departing coaches have a combined 11 years of experience with the team.
This overhaul marks a significant shift for the Twins as they look to regroup and rebound from a disappointing season.
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