Minnesota Twins Dismiss Four Coaches After Season-Ending Slump

The Twins' late-season collapse prompts significant changes in the coaching staff, focusing on hitting performance issues.

The Minnesota Twins fired hitting coaches Rudy Hernandez, David Popkins, and Derek Shomon, as well as assistant bench/infield coach Tony Diaz, following a disappointing season finish.
Despite holding a firm playoff position mid-August, the Twins lost 27 of their final 39 games, ending the season with an 82-80 record and missing the playoffs.
The team's offensive performance plummeted in the last six weeks, ranking 20th in MLB for runs per game and 22nd in OPS during August and September.
Hernandez had been with the Twins since 1996, while Popkins and Shomon were relatively recent additions to the coaching staff.
Manager Rocco Baldelli and President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey will remain in their positions for the 2025 season, with an emphasis on revamping the team's hitting strategy.