It was reported Saturday afternoon that former Minnesota Twins Paul Molitor was interviewed multiple times for the managerial job. In late September, Minnesota parted ways with former manager Ron Gardenhire after 13 total season.
Molitor started his big league career with the Milwaukee Brewers. He started at shortstop then moved to second base. He made his MLB debut in 1978, playing in 125 games and hitting .273 with 6 home runs, 45 RBI and 30 stolen bases. In 1981, he spent time at center field and right field to avoid the injuries associated with infield play. Molitor was moved to third base before the 1982 season. Molitor was part of a young Milwaukee Brewers team that lost the 1982 World Series in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Early in his career, he was placed on the disabled list six times between 1980 and 1986. He has multiple elbow problems and in 1984, he only played 13 games and had surgery to save his career.
Molitor attracted national media attention in 1987 during his 39 game hitting streak. Near the end of the streak, columnist Mike Downey wrote, "the amazing thing about Paul Molitor's recent bat-o-rama is not that he has hit in 33 straight games but that he has played in 33 straight games."
During his costless agency after the 1992 season, he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays. They offered him a $13 million dollar deal over three years. Agent Ron Simon said, "I was also talking with Milwaukee, but it became clear to us that Milwaukee didn't have the same kind of interest in signing Molitor, perhaps because of their financial situation."
Molitor quickly became an offensive force. He hit .332 with 22 home runs and 111 RBI. Returning to the playoffs for the first time since 1982, he was a key part of the Blue Jays' second World Championship. In 1994, Molitor hit .341 and led the AL in games played (115) and singles (107). That season was shortened because of a strike against the MLB.
Molitor was born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He went home to play for the Twins in 1996. Molitor played his last three seasons with the club and was able to achieve 3,000 triples in his career with the Twins.
Molitor became the second 40-year-old, after Hall of Famer Sam Rice, to have a 200-hit season, leading the league with 225, while also leading the league in singles with 167. Molitor also remains the last MLB player to drive in 100 or more runs in a season while hitting fewer than 10 home runs.
Upon retirement he stated, "My heart tells me I've done what I can do on the field and in this game. I'm happy to leave it playing my last season in a Twins uniform... Now I'm going to redirect my efforts to find out what else the future holds."
Following his retirement, Molitor remained in the Twins organization for three years as a bench coach. He was a leading candidate for the managerial spot after Tom Kelly retired in 2001, but declined. He was a hitting coach for the Seattle Mariners in 2004. During the 2014 season, Molitor rejoined the Twins. He oversaw base running, bunting, infield instruction, positioning and he assisted with in-game strategy.
The 58-year-old doesn't possess any previous big league managerial experience, but the Hall of Famer did spend 21 years in the majors, in addition to coaching extensively at numerous levels. He is considered the front runner for the Twins managerial job next season.