Jeremy Zoll appointed GM of the Minnesota Twins

When the Minnesota Twins announce Jeremy Zoll as their new general manager, it marks a steady progression for the young executive known for his expertise in player development and quiet influence within the organization. At 34, Zoll steps into a role that sees him taking on more responsibility within a front office that values collaboration and decentralized decision-making - a unique approach that‘s made the Twins something of an anomaly in a league where top-down hierarchies are more the rule than the exception. Derek Falvey, the Twins’ president of baseball operations, has long been a champion of this model, empowering people to make big calls and lean into their strengths. It‘s no surprise, then, that Zoll has been at the center of some of the Twins’ most impactful moves recently.

In fact, Zoll was the lead negotiator for two major trades - the acquisition of Sonny Gray from the Cincinnati Reds and Jorge Polanco’s recent move to Seattle. Falvey points to these moves as proof of Zoll’s readiness to steer the ship, praising his behind-the-scenes influence and his deep engagement with the team’s management. “It’s pretty clear to many people across our baseball operation how influential Jeremy has been in all of our decisions over the last couple of seasons,” Falvey says. To him, this shift feels like a natural evolution, one that might seem sudden to the outside world but has been long in the making for those within the organization.

Zoll’s promotion also reflects broader changes within the Twins’ front office. With longtime president and CEO Dave St. Peter preparing to step aside, Falvey himself will take on more business responsibilities. This frees Zoll up to take the reins on the baseball operations side, where he’ll likely play an even larger role in shaping the team’s future.

For Zoll, who began his career with stints at the Reds, Blue Jays, Angels, and Dodgers before joining the Twins in 2018, it’s been a steady rise through the ranks, largely in player development roles. His background as the Twins’ former farm director and his experience as the Dodgers’ assistant farm director have equipped him with a deep understanding of the game from the ground up. His reputation as a player development whiz, along with his skill in fostering relationships across the sport, has built him a following among agents and players alike. “Agents have a tremendous amount of respect for Jeremy or they’ve worked with him,” Falvey notes, emphasizing how valuable Zoll’s relationship-building skills are in a league where trust and rapport often drive the deals that shape a team’s success.

Zoll himself seems eager to dive into the new dimensions of his role. He acknowledges that his background leans heavily into development, but he‘s also looking forward to immersing himself in the scouting side of the game, a responsibility that will broaden his perspective on the Twins’ Major League operation. “I’ve always tried to throw myself at whatever opportunity was in front of me to the best of my ability,” he says. This new chapter, he admits, is a validation of years of hard work and a testament to the many people who’ve helped him along the way.

Part of Zoll’s leadership philosophy is a continuation of the Twins’ decentralized approach. He intends to involve as many voices as possible in decision-making, from top management to the support staff on the field, a strategy he believes will allow the organization to get the best from everyone. “The goal is to lean into strengths and put people around me into positions to have as much input as possible and help impact us in as many ways as they can,” he says.

As the Twins look toward the offseason, there’s no shortage of tasks on Zoll’s to-do list. The team is still hiring a new infield coach and an assistant hitting coach after recently parting ways with four members of manager Rocco Baldelli’s staff. Meanwhile, they’re actively seeking reinforcements for first base, a right-handed bat, and improvements in the bullpen - all crucial steps as the Twins try to rebound from a disappointing end to an otherwise hopeful 2024 season.

Zoll’s appointment seems fitting for a team that’s carved out a reputation for building from within and trusting its own. As the Twins navigate this offseason and beyond, Jeremy Zoll is set to be at the heart of those choices, a steady hand with fresh ideas ready to guide the team into the next chapter.