Minnesota Twins Fired Pitching Coaches
The team dismissed Pete Maki and Luis Ramirez following a season plagued by poor pitching performance.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Baseball
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The Minnesota Twins have fired pitching coach Pete Maki and assistant pitching coach Luis Ramirez. The move follows a difficult season where the team ranked near the bottom of Major League Baseball in earned run average.
Why it matters
Management made the coaching changes after the team finished with a 4.56 ERA, struggling significantly in the latter half of the year. The franchise is looking to address deficiencies that saw them rank 25th in pitching efficiency among all 30 MLB teams.
The Minnesota Twins finished the 2026 season with a 4.56 ERA and allowed the third-most runs in the American League. The starting rotation notably struggled in the second half, posting a 4.72 ERA after the All-Star break.
The players
Pete Maki
He served as the Minnesota Twins pitching coach for five seasons after joining the organization in 2018.
Luis Ramirez
He is a veteran coach who worked within the Minnesota Twins organization for 21 years.
Derek Shelton
He serves as the manager of the Minnesota Twins and will lead the team with the remainder of the returning coaching staff.
The details
The decision marks a significant shake-up for the staff under manager Derek Shelton, who is expected to retain all other coaches for the upcoming season. While the pitching coaches were released, the rest of the coaching hierarchy remains intact.
Timeline
Pete Maki joined the Twins organization in 2018.
Pete Maki served as the bullpen coach from 2021 to 2022.
Maki was promoted to pitching coach in 2022, the same year Luis Ramirez joined the major league staff.
The Minnesota Twins fired the coaches on September 28, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This move signals a shift in the organizational strategy following a lackluster 77-85 record during the 2026 campaign. The coaching changes aim to stabilize the pitching staff to restore the team to the competitive standing seen during the 2023 Minnesota Twins playoff appearance.
The coaching overhaul will likely lead to changes in the team's pitching philosophy and potential roster management decisions heading into the off-season. Fans should expect a shift in how the organization values pitching depth and prospect development as the front office prepares for the next season.
The takeaway
The dismissal of veteran staff reflects the high-pressure environment of professional sports when performance metrics fail to meet institutional standards. Teams must often choose between continuity and radical change to reverse declining trends in player output.
Further reading
For more news on local team developments, visit Baseball.
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