Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli is no stranger to the unexpected. After all, his team has had its fair share of surprises throughout the season. However, the biggest surprise of all came off the field. Baldelli recently announced that he will be taking paternity leave as he and his wife, Allie, are expecting not just one, but twin boys in the coming days. This news has undoubtedly added an extra layer of excitement and anticipation to the Baldelli household.
A Joyous Occasion
“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,” Baldelli shared. “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.”
This exciting development marks the next chapter in the Baldelli family’s journey. Baldelli and Allie tied the knot during the All-Star break in 2021 and later welcomed their daughter, Louisa, on September 6 of the same year. Now, with the impending arrival of twin boys, their family is about to grow even larger.
A Temporary Handover
As Baldelli takes time off to be with his growing family, bench coach Jayce Tingler will step in and run the team. This transition ensures that the Twins will continue to operate smoothly in Baldelli’s absence. While no official return date has been set, Baldelli remains focused on the well-being of his wife and children.
“I don’t have a plan for a return yet. I’m not sure when that’s going to be,” Baldelli admitted. “We’ll see how Allie’s feeling and how everyone’s doing.”
In addition to the managerial responsibilities, Baldelli also provided updates on the team’s pitching rotation during his absence. The Twins will be facing the Cincinnati Reds in a three-game series after their series finale against the Chicago White Sox. Right-handers Joe Ryan, Kenta Maeda, and Bailey Ober have been listed as the starting pitchers for the upcoming games against the Reds.
However, one notable change is that left-hander Dallas Keuchel will be temporarily transitioning to the bullpen. Keuchel, who currently holds an 8.03 ERA, will have an opportunity to contribute from a different role. Baldelli expressed flexibility in the rotation and acknowledged that the final configuration may vary as the regular season progresses.
“We have five guys right now that are in the rotation currently, and that could change,” Baldelli explained. “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.”
As Rocco Baldelli embraces the thrilling news of impending fatherhood, the Minnesota Twins will continue to play on, fueled by the excitement and support of their manager. This unexpected surprise serves as a reminder that life is filled with joyful moments off the field, and that those moments can have a profound impact on the team as a whole. The anticipation of the arrival of twin boys adds a special element to the Baldelli family’s journey, giving an already successful season an extra touch of magic.
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