Rocco Baldelli may be the Twins manager but his connection to Rhode Island remains strong
BOSTON — Rocco Baldelli sounded a bit like a proud uncle.
The Twins manager was asked on Friday morning about his fellow Rhode Island natives currently excelling in the big leagues. Yankees right-hander Michael King picked up his first save the previous night and Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña is off to a bright start through the first six games of his rookie season.
“It’s a beautiful thing,” Baldelli said. “Being up in Rhode Island, we all kind of take pride in what everyone else around us is doing. I keep up with them.”
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The former Bishop Hendricken supernova turned 40 in September and has a touch of gray in his beard. It wasn’t all that long ago Baldelli was flashing physical tools that earned him college scholarship offers in four different sports. His selection sixth overall in the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft made him something of a modern trailblazer for the state’s Interscholastic League hopefuls.
“There have always been guys with really good ability in New England and in Rhode Island,” Baldelli said. “I think these days it’s able to get out more easily. I think people are coming in and paying attention and noticing what guys can do and giving them opportunities, which is awesome to see.”
Baldelli was certainly one of those players. He debuted with the Rays in 2003 and finished third in the American League Rookie of the Year voting. Baldelli spent parts of seven seasons in the majors, including 62 games with the Red Sox in 2009.
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This has been a special weekend for him and in the city, with Opening Day, One Boston Day and Jackie Robinson Day all coinciding on Friday. Baldelli left roughly 20 tickets for family and friends on what turned out to be the ideal afternoon, and an 8-4 Twins victory. Patriots Day brackets the four-game series on Monday.
“It’s kind of like a party everywhere, isn’t it?” Baldelli said. “Everybody’s excited to be outside and having a good time.”
Baldelli is in his fourth year on the bench in Minnesota, and he’s seen both sides of the coin. The Twins captured A.L. Central titles in 2019 and the abbreviated 2020 season. Minnesota won 101 games in Baldelli’s debut campaign, and he was named A.L. Manager of the Year.
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Last season brought something of a reality check — it wasn’t always going to be sunshine and warm days. The Twins sank to 73-89, which placed them one game behind the Royals for last in the division. Minnesota attempted to regroup in the offseason through a headlining acquisition of Carlos Correa in free agency, a contract extension for Byron Buxton and trades with the Yankees and Padres that brought in Gary Sanchez, Gio Urshela and Chris Paddack.
“We saw it already in spring training,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “Talking to some players and coaches and Rocco — one thing about Carlos is he understands winning. He gets it.”
Peña was Houston’s top prospect per MLB.com and followed up a tough first game against the Angels with a pair of three-hit efforts. He fell only a triple shy of the cycle in his second time out, helping the Astros to a 13-6 victory. Peña shares a mutual acquaintance who told Baldelli long ago the Providence native could be a name to remember.
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“He’s turned into more than a pretty good player,” Baldelli said. “He looks like a very exciting young man.”
King and Baldelli graduated from the same alma mater, and the right-hander looks more and more like a key piece in New York’s plans. He’s pitching in a long relief role, and earned a victory over Boston on Opening Day in the Bronx. King also rescued the Yankees from an Aroldis Chapman meltdown on Thursday, retiring George Springer on a strikeout and Bo Bichette on a double play — both with the bases loaded — to score a 3-0 victory.
“I think everything is a little different these days,” Baldelli said. “It is easier for guys to get out and play more games. First and foremost, play more baseball — which is nice.”
bkoch@providencejournal.com
On Twitter: @BillKoch25
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli remains Rhode Island proud
