Twins Coach Discusses Challenges of Managing Saints

Toby Gardenhire reflects on his time leading the St. Paul minor league team.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 11:06pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented baseball scene, with sharp overlapping planes in navy, green, and orange, conceptually representing the multifaceted challenges of minor league coaching.Gardenhire's time managing the Saints minor league team offers a unique perspective on the challenges of player development.Kansas City Today

Toby Gardenhire, the Twins' new major league field coordinator, recently discussed the challenges of managing the St. Paul Saints minor league team for five seasons before his promotion. With the Twins enjoying an off day, Gardenhire shared insights about the difficulties of leading a minor league club compared to the big-league squad.

Why it matters

Gardenhire's experience managing the Saints provides valuable perspective on the unique challenges faced by minor league coaches and players, which can help inform the Twins' player development strategies as they aim to build a sustainable contender.

The details

As the Twins' field coordinator, Gardenhire now oversees the development of the organization's top prospects. His time managing the Saints, the Twins' Triple-A affiliate, gave him firsthand experience dealing with the logistical hurdles, roster turnover, and day-to-day grind of minor league baseball.

  • Gardenhire managed the Saints for five seasons before being promoted to the Twins' major league staff in the offseason.
  • The Twins had an off day on Tuesday, allowing Gardenhire to reflect on his time with the Saints.

The players

Toby Gardenhire

The Twins' new major league field coordinator, who previously managed the team's Triple-A affiliate, the St. Paul Saints, for five seasons.

Brian Dinkelman

The current manager of the St. Paul Saints, the Twins' Triple-A affiliate.

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What they’re saying

“You really have to be creative and think outside the box when you're managing a minor league team. The roster is constantly changing, and you have to find ways to keep the guys motivated and focused.”

— Toby Gardenhire, Twins Major League Field Coordinator

The takeaway

Gardenhire's experience managing the Saints provides valuable insights that can help the Twins better support their minor league system and develop top prospects, which is crucial for building a sustainable contender at the major league level.