Breaking News: The Minnesota Twins are wasting no time leveraging their seasoned veterans! Just days after announcing his retirement, former right-handed pitcher Ryan Pressly is stepping into a player development role with the Twins, as reported by Jon Heyman of The New York Post. This exciting move, also confirmed by Declan Goff of SKOR North, means Pressly will be working with both major and minor league players, sharing his wealth of knowledge.
Pressly, at 37 years old, is clearly not one for a quiet retirement. He's diving headfirst into the next chapter of his baseball life.
Think about it: after nearly two decades in professional baseball, Pressly has a treasure trove of experience to share. He was drafted by the Red Sox way back in 2007 as an 11th-round pick. He wasn't a highly touted prospect, even being left unprotected in the 2012 Rule 5 draft, which is how the Twins acquired him.
This turned out to be a pivotal moment, launching him into a 13-season career as a major leaguer. The Twins later traded him to the Astros in 2018, but it seems there are no hard feelings, as he's now back with the Twins in this new capacity.
Now, Pressly will be guiding younger players, helping them navigate their own journeys. This is the second instance in a week of the Twins bringing back a recently retired player in a new role. Michael A. Taylor was hired as an outfield instructor just a week prior.
But here's where it gets interesting... Could this be a new trend? Are we seeing a shift where teams are actively seeking to keep the institutional knowledge of their players within the organization?
What do you think about this strategy? Do you believe former players make the best coaches and mentors? Share your thoughts in the comments!
