Twins players are excited about the news that Paul Molitor will be introduced as the team’s 13th manager on Tuesday.
Several Twins commented about the news that after a five-week search, the Twins have settled on the first ballot Hall of Famer to lead the organization.
I'll tell you this much, there won't be a team anywhere in the league with a better leader than Moli. Very excited to battle with him!
— Coach Trev (@trevorplouffe) November 3, 2014
Molitor spent last season as the Twins infield coach. Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe gives Molitor much of the credit for helping him improve defensively.
The Pioneer Press reports that Plouffe, like many others, was impressed with Molitor’s attention to detail.
“He’s the guy that everyone really wanted to replace a guy like Gardy,” Plouffe told the newspaper. “I knew the Twins had to do their due diligence and look at other options. That’s a good thing. But in my opinion… I thought Molly was the guy all the way. I’m happy it worked out for him.”
Molitor, a St. Paul native, was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame as a player in 2004. He played 21 seasons of Major League Baseball with Milwaukee, Toronto and Minnesota, and retired following the 1998 season after recording more than 3,300 career hits.
Twins second baseman Brian Dozier also is a big supporter of Molitor’s.
Dozier on Molitor: "From Day 1 when we went out looking for (a manager), I told a lot of people we had the best one in-house." #MNTwins
— Tyler Mason (@tylermason21) November 3, 2014
Dozier said Molitor's knowledge of baseball is "off the charts. I think it's truly a blessing. I'm excited." #MNTwins
— Tyler Mason (@tylermason21) November 3, 2014
Molitor has been a coach in the Twins system for many years. According to 1500 ESPN’s Phil Mackey, he has worked closely with nearly every key player in the Twins’ system – including top prospects Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano.
FOX Sports Net notes the announcement means that Molitor has gone from a standout high school player at Cretin-Derham Hall, to a star for the University of Minnesota, to manager of his hometown team. Molitor recorded his 3,000th hit as a member of the Twins.
MLB.com columnist Mike Bauman calls Molitor the “perfect fit” for the Twins.
About the only thing Molitor lacks is Major League coaching experience. He has just four years as an assistant coach in the big leagues.
- 2000-01: Twins bench coach under former manager Tom Kelly
- 2004: Hitting coach for the Seattle Mariners
- 2014: Infield and base running coach for the Twins
That’s not a concern for many of the players, though.
“I am excited for him for the opportunity he is getting,” Twins reliever Brian Duensing said in an email to the Pioneer Press. “I’m also excited for the guys on the team. Paul has a great mind for baseball and will have some interesting ways (of) looking at things. I think we all will learn a lot from him.”
