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New York Yankees hitting coach James Rowson is reportedly in the running for the Minnesota Twins manager job, having interviewed for the role. According to reporting from Dan Hayes and Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic, Rowson is a finalist for the job, along with former Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton, former Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais, and Chicago Cubs bench coach Ryan Flaherty. More news: Phillies President Sends Clear Message to Bryce Harper on Trade Rumors The Twins fired Rocco Baldelli after he spent seven seasons at the helm of the roster. During the job search back in 2018, which led the Twins to hire Baldelli, Rowson impressed the front office, playing a role in the team’s interest in him this time around. TORONTO, ONTARIO – OCTOBER 05: (L-R) Brian Cashman, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the New York Yankees, and Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees speak before game two of the American League Division Series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 05, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) Rowson was the hitting coach for the Twins, though he is now looking to return as the top decision-maker in the clubhouse. “Rowson, who impressed the Twins with his recent interview and also during the 2018 search, was the team’s hitting coach when the Bomba Squad smashed a major-league record 307 home runs during the 2019 season,” The Athletic’s article read. “After leaving the Twins, he spent three seasons as bench coach for the Miami Marlins from 2020-22. Rowson returned to the Yankees as their hitting coach in 2024 and spent the 2023 campaign as an assistant hitting coach for the Detroit Tigers.” More news: Best Reactions to Jonas Brothers Interrupting World Series Game 2 Unlike some of the other candidates for the job, Rowson has never managed an MLB team, though he is well-traveled and has been a respected figure in multiple teams. He has also learned under Don Mattingly while with the Marlins, and currently has a couple of years of learning from Aaron Boone. For the Yankees, Rowson’s exit would create another opening in the coaching staff. They have already moved on from first-base coach Travis Chapman, bullpen coach Mike Harkey, and assistant hitting coach Pat Roessler. More news: Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Has 6-Word Response to Drake vs Kendrick Lamar Debate For more MLB news, head to Newsweek Sports.
