The winds of change are blowing through the front office of the Minnesota Twins. In a significant leadership transition, the team has announced the promotion of Derek Falvey to the role of president of baseball and business operations. Alongside Falvey’s elevation, Jeremy Zoll will step into the general manager position, solidifying a new era for the Twins management team.
A Succession Plan Set in Motion
This leadership shuffle doesn’t come as a complete surprise, as it aligns with a succession plan initiated by current club president Dave St. Peter. St. Peter, a fixture in the Twins organization since 1990, will transition into a strategic adviser role, continuing to provide guidance to the franchise.
According to sources close to the situation, St. Peter’s move was approved by Twins owners Jim Pohlad and Joe Pohlad, setting the stage for a smooth transition of power. The Pohlad family, which has owned the Twins since 1984, recently announced that they are exploring a potential sale of the franchise, adding an extra layer of intrigue to these leadership changes.
St. Peter’s Legacy
During his tenure as president, St. Peter played an instrumental role in shaping the Twins’ modern identity. He was a driving force behind the construction of Target Field, the team’s open-air ballpark that has become a centerpiece of Minneapolis’ North Loop neighborhood since its opening in 2010.
He leads with integrity, compassion and an unmatched dedication to our organization and fans,
– Joe Pohlad on Dave St. Peter’s leadership
Under St. Peter’s leadership, the Twins organization twice won Baseball America’s prestigious Organization of the Year award, a testament to the club’s commitment to excellence both on and off the field.
Falvey and Zoll Step Up
With St. Peter transitioning to an advisory role, Derek Falvey, 41, is poised to take on expanded responsibilities as the president of baseball and business operations. Falvey has been leading the Twins’ baseball department for the past eight seasons, and his promotion signals the organization’s confidence in his ability to guide the franchise into the future.
Jeremy Zoll, 34, will assume the role of general manager, becoming the seventh person to hold this position in Twins history. Zoll has been an assistant general manager for the Twins since 2020 and has played a key role in overseeing player development, performance, and analytics initiatives.
I feel truly convicted that Derek is the right successor, and I want to support him in every way and set him up for success, hopefully, over the long haul,
– Dave St. Peter on Falvey’s promotion
Challenges Ahead
Despite the optimism surrounding these leadership changes, Falvey, Zoll, and the rest of the Twins front office face significant challenges in the near term. The team suffered a disappointing end to the 2023 season, missing the playoffs after a late-season collapse that saw them lose 18 of their final 24 games.
While the Twins have captured three AL Central titles under Falvey’s leadership, postseason success has proven elusive. The team hasn’t won or reached the World Series since 1991 and hasn’t appeared in the American League Championship Series since 2002.
Probably my biggest regret is we didn’t do more damage in the postseason, because we had some really good teams and some really good players,
– Dave St. Peter reflecting on the Twins’ postseason struggles
A New Era Begins
As Derek Falvey and Jeremy Zoll step into their new roles, they inherit a talented roster and a passionate fan base eager for a return to postseason glory. With the potential sale of the franchise looming in the background, the pressure will be on the new leadership team to deliver results both on and off the field.
Only time will tell if these leadership changes will translate into the success that Twins fans have been craving for decades. But one thing is certain: a new era is dawning in Minnesota, and the baseball world will be watching closely to see how this new chapter unfolds.
