Gene Glynn knew he might never coach in the major leagues again when he walked away in 2007 in order to spend more time with his two sons. But "I always hoped it would happen again," the Waseca, Minn., native said Wednesday. "So today is a very good day."

Glynn, who managed the Twins' top farm team in Rochester, N.Y., the past three seasons, was hired to be new manager Paul Molitor's third-base coach and infield instructor, the team announced. In addition, Rudy Hernandez, an instructor for the past 14 seasons in the Twins organization, will be promoted to the majors to be assistant hitting coach.

For Glynn, 58, the promotion comes just 10 days after he was passed over for the team's managerial job in favor of Molitor. Glynn was one of three finalists to interview with owner Jim Pohlad and General Manager Terry Ryan, a factor that Ryan said was discussed internally "to make sure there's no situation where that would be a problem."

But Glynn assured the Twins that he's not disappointed to be a runner-up. "Not at all. I've always admired Mollie, and I'm really happy for him," Glynn said. "I was honored they thought that much of me, but that's over with. I'm not thinking about managing now; my focus now is on being a good third-base coach for Paul and the Twins."

It's a position he has already held for the Rockies, Cubs and Giants, not to mention a season as first-base coach for the Expos. He's coached under managers Felipe Alou, Don Baylor and now Molitor, all of whom were accomplished players before becoming managers. But after the 2006 season, Glynn decided to return to Minnesota and accept a scouting job with Tampa Bay that allowed him to watch his sons Christopher and Gino play high school sports. Gene Glynn himself was the first Mr. Basketball in Minnesota history, as a point guard at Waseca High in 1975.

Glynn returned to the dugout in 2012, when the Twins hired him as their Class AAA manager, and he said he loved his time in Rochester. And that experience will pay off, he believes, because he has managed roughly half the team's 40-man roster.

Hernandez, 46, knows most of the Twins' prospects, too, because he has coached or managed at four different levels for the Twins. A native of Maracay, Venezuela, he speaks Spanish, an important trait considering the Twins' growing number of players from Latin America. "He's well respected, and most important, he's a good baseball man," Ryan said.

The Twins have designated him an assistant to hitting coach Tom Brunansky, the first time they have created that specific position. "Hitting coach is an exhausting position, with all the video and time in the cages and time on the field," Ryan said. "We thought we could help [Brunansky] by giving this assignment to Rudy, who's a very accomplished hitting coach himself."

Ryan said he has made progress on hiring a pitching coach, bench coach and the rest of Molitor's staff, but "we're not close to naming anyone as of now."

Notes

• Ryan and his staff have spoken to the agents for "a number" of free agents during the general managers' meetings in Phoenix this week, but "it's always a mystery this time of year" as to how strong the market will be, Ryan said. "There are players we'd certainly like to acquire, but I don't think anybody knows yet" about whether the Twins might be able to lure one of them.

"We've met with agents and we've talked with other general managers" about possible trades, Ryan said, "but it's very early yet. ... I haven't been sitting on my hands out here."

• The Twins' annual winter festival, TwinsFest, will be held Jan. 23-25, 2015, and will remain at Target Field for a second year. Tickets — $20 for adults and $10 for children 14 and under — will go on sale Dec. 11.