The Twins have moved on from pitching coach Neil Allen, according to Mike Beradino of the Pioneer Press.
Allen, who has been the Twins pitching coach for the past three seasons, was let go on Monday shortly after manager Paul Molitor agreed to a multi-year contact extension.
The Twins have yet to formally announce the firing.
“It didn’t totally surprise me because they’re new and they’re free to do what they want to do — and they did.” said Allen to Beradino.
The Star Tribune reports Allen was at his home in Sarasota, Florida, when he was told by the club he won’t be brought back.
Talking to the newspaper, Allen thanked Terry Ryan and Paul Molitor for the opportunity to be an MLB pitching coach, saying of Molitor: “I could have not have asked for a better manager to start my pitching coach career under.”
Minnesota hired Allen before the 2015 season from the Tampa Bay Rays minor league system by former general manager Terry Ryan.
The Twins used 36 pitchers in 2017 – a club record – yet the staff finished 19th in the MLB for team ERA. That was an improvement from the 2016 season where the unit had the worst mark in baseball.
Although the pitching staff mostly stayed the same from a year ago, the biggest reason for the turnaround was due to better outfield defense from Byron Buxton, Eddie Rosario and Max Kepler.
