Minnesota Twins Manager Rocco Baldelli Takes Paternity Leave as Twins on the Way
Minnesota Twins Manager Rocco Baldelli is set to take paternity leave as he and his wife, Allie, are expecting twin boys in the coming days. After Saturday’s game against the Chicago White Sox, Baldelli will step away from his managerial duties to focus on his growing family. The couple is thrilled about the arrival of their twins, especially considering they weren’t sure they would make it this far.
We’re excited. It’s twins, and we didn’t know what to expect and we didn’t know or even anticipate making it this far, said Baldelli. So we’ve made it basically to the end of kind of the term that they laid out for us, so that’s exciting and I think good for the babies. Allie’s still feeling pretty good, so I mean we’re lucky.
Baldelli and Allie tied the knot during the All-Star break in 2021 and welcomed their daughter, Louisa, on September 6, 2021. Now, they are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their twin boys.
During Baldelli’s absence, Bench coach Jayce Tingler will take charge of managing the team. The Twins, who currently lead the AL Central, will soon face the Cincinnati Reds for a three-game series before returning home to play the Los Angeles Angels.
As for pitching plans, right-handers Joe Ryan, Kenta Maeda, and Bailey Ober are listed as the starting pitchers for the series against the Reds. Additionally, left-hander Dallas Keuchel will temporarily transition to working out of the bullpen. Keuchel has struggled in September, posting an 8.03 ERA in three starts.
Baldelli is unsure of when he will return, as it will depend on his wife’s well-being and the needs of their growing family. He remains focused on providing the best care for his wife and newborn twins.
We don’t have a plan for a return yet. I’m not sure when that’s going to be, Baldelli explained. We’ll see how Allie’s feeling and how everyone’s doing.
The Twins manager also mentioned that the pitching rotation may undergo changes, stating, We have five guys right now that are in the rotation currently, and that could change. We could end up with a different five guys. We could end with six guys. We could end up with four guys in the rotation towards the end of the regular season. We’re going to have to see just the way it best fits for everyone.
While Baldelli takes paternity leave, the Twins will adapt and continue their pursuit of a successful season. The team is determined to maintain their lead in the AL Central and make a strong playoff push.
