Rocco Baldelli named manager of Minnesota Twins

October 25, 2018 1:57 pm

By: Scott Cook

Email: scook@abc6.com

Twitter: @SCookABC6

MINNEAPOLIS, M.N. (WLNE) – Thursday morning, the Minnesota Twins announced that Rhode Island native and Bishop Hendricken High School alum, Rocco Baldelli, will be the clubs new manager.

“I think everyone who knows him knows he will rise to the top level of whatever he gets involved in, so I think this is a great step for him and a great opportunity,” said Baldelli’s former coach and Bishop Hendricken athletic director, Paul Alianiello.

Baldelli was drafted straight out of high school by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2000, and went on to have a very successful career in the Major Leagues playing for the Rays and one year for the Red Sox.

His friends and coaches at Bishop Hendricken remember him for his other talents as well.

“He was a kid without any ego, very humble, a great family person,” said family friend, Paul Danesi.

“He was probably the best volleyball player to ever come through Rhode Island. He was also an outstanding track athlete,” explained Paul Alianiello.

“I was his track coach at the time and he went from being a rookie to the next year winning the state championship in the dash.”

Baldelli also won back–to–back–to–back state titles in baseball for the Hawks, but his Major League career was cut short by a rare metabolic disorder.

“He could have felt badly for himself being dealt a bad hand as far as his illness is concerned, but his knowledge, intelligence, and love of the game gave the Rays an opportunity to take advantage of what he had to offer,” explained Paul Danesi.

After eight seasons as a scout and bench coach for Tampa Bay, this morning, Baldelli got his big break.

“He’s lived the entire baseball circle, from player, to coach, and now manager,” said Danesi, “and they made a great choice because he will be spectacular.”

Baldelli’s parents took a last-minute flight to Minneapolis Thursday morning, so they could surprise their son when he was officially introduced as the Twins manager.