The new Cedar Rapids Kernels manager got some helpful advice ˇ from his father, Ron Gardenhire
Ron Gardenhire knows a thing or two about coaching. Following five seasons playing in the big leagues, he took on the managerial role with the Twins from 2002-14, earning AL Manager of the Year in 2010. He also joined the D-backs' coaching staff in 2017, and most recently was named the skipper for the Tigers, signing a three-year contract with the team. He's not new to this.
But his son, Toby, is new to this.
Toby Gardenhire was recently hired by the Class A affiliate of the Twins, the Cedar Rapid Kernels, as their manager (last season, he was the team's hitting coach). During the Winter Meetings, Ron was asked if he had any advice for his son in his new role.
"Good luck to him," Gardenhire said. "He's a good baseball guy, he's grown up in baseball his whole life, so he'll do fine."
Ron also joked that Toby could lose as hair much as he did over the years, so it's nice to know some sound advice is not too far away.