Minnesota is making changes to its pitching coaches after a year when the arms did not hold up their end.
The Minnesota Twins did not wait long to start their offseason.
One day after a 6-4 win over the Texas Rangers closed the season at 77-85, the club announced on Monday that pitching coach Pete Maki and assistant pitching coach Luis Ramirez will not return to the coaching staff in 2027.
What the Twins Announced
The Twins also announced that assistant athletic trainer Jason Kirkman will not be back, according to MLB.com.
The rest of the major league coaching staff will return for 2027, including hitting coach Keith Beauregard and bullpen coach LaTroy Hawkins.
Maki had been with the organization since 2018 and had been the pitching coach since July 2022.
Ramirez had been with the organization since 2006 and became the assistant pitching coach after the 2021 season.
Both were among the few coaches kept when manager Derek Shelton replaced Rocco Baldelli after the 2025 season, MLB.com reported.
Why the Change Makes Sense
The numbers were not good enough.
Minnesota finished with a 4.56 team ERA this season, which ranked 13th out of 15 teams in the American League.
Over the past four seasons, Twins starters rank 21st in the majors with a 4.27 ERA and the relievers rank 24th with a 4.36 ERA, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
It would not be fair to put all of that on two coaches.
MLB.com pointed out that health was a problem and that the team's selloff at last year's trade deadline gutted the bullpen.
There were real success stories too, like the rise of pitcher Joe Ryan as a frontline starter and the recent emergence of rookie pitcher Connor Prielipp.
This move still makes sense, because Shelton just finished his first season, and it is normal for a manager to want his own voice leading the pitchers once he has had a year to see the staff up close.
A new pitching coach can also bring a fresh plan for a group that needs to take a step forward, and young arms like pitcher Mick Abel, who is already working toward 2027, will be a big part of that.
What Comes Next for Minnesota
The next hire will say a lot about where the Twins are headed.
Jeremy Zoll is now running baseball operations, and this will be one of the first big decisions of the offseason.
Whoever takes the job should be someone who can connect with a young staff, because that group will decide how good this team can be in 2027.
The new coach will also have plenty to work with and plenty to fix.
Pitcher Zebby Matthews has shown flashes but has struggled with consistency, and pitcher Jeff Hoffman went on the injured list with right forearm inflammation in the final week.
MLB.com has also reported that the Twins will likely look to add to the bullpen this winter.
The Twins improved by seven wins in Shelton's first season, which was a step in the right direction, but the Twins will not get back to the playoffs without better pitching.
Whoever they hire will be judged on one thing next year, and that is whether that 4.56 ERA comes down.
