Molitor returns to Twins

Former star to serve as roving minor league instructor

By Jim Molony
MLB.com

Hall of Famer Paul Molitor is returning to the Minnesota Twins organization.

General manager Terry Ryan announced Monday that the Twins had hired Molitor as roving minor league instructor.

"We've had him before and he's one of those types of guys with built-in respect because of his resume," Ryan said. "The kids listen to him, he's a good teacher. He's got a lot of knowledge and he certainly knows what we're about, where we're at, where we've been and are trying to do. It's a good fit."

Molitor, a native of St. Paul and a product of the University of Minnesota, spent last year as Seattle's hitting coach but was not retained as the Mariners let the entire coaching staff go following the firing of manager Bob Melvin. Before joining Melvin's staff, Molitor was the roving minor league instructor for Minnesota.

Molitor will be responsible for coordinating infield and baserunning instruction within the Twins system, the same position he held when he last worked for the Twins in 2003.

Ryan said he was "thrilled to have" the seven-time All-Star back in the organization's baseball operations department.

Molitor, 48, hit .306 in 21 seasons with Milwaukee, Toronto and the Twins. He led the league in hits three times and runs scored three times. Molitor appeared in two World Series, one with the Brewers and another with the Blue Jays, hitting .418 in 13 Fall Classic games.

"It's not often you can add a Hall of Famer," Ryan said.

Jim Molony is a writer for MLB.com based in Houston. Twins beat reporter Mark Sheldon contributed to this report. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.