Ron Gardenhire has been part of the Twins organization since 1986. Here's a look at the highlights and lowlights of his Minnesota years.

1986: After five seasons in the Mets organization, including one year as their starting shortstop, Gardenhire is traded to the Twins for a player to be named later. That player is a minor-league pitcher named Dominic Iasparro.
1987: Gardenhire competes for a utility infielder's spot with the Twins.He loses out to Al Newman, who was picked up in a trade from Montreal at the start of spring training. Another candidate for that job was Ron Washington, current manager of the Texas Rangers. Gardenhire played for the Twins' Class AAA team at Portland that season, batting .272 in 117 games.

1988: At age 30, Gardenhire is named manager of the Class A Kenosha Twins, who finished second with an 81-59 record.

1989-90: Promoted to Class AA Orlando, where he had winning record in both seasons. In 1989, he was named Best Manager in the Southern League by Baseball America and in 1990 the same publication named him the best managerial prospect in the minors.
1991-94: Named third-base coach of the Twins by Tom Kelly.
1995: Spent one season as Kelly's bench coach after rupturing his Achilles tendon during spring training.

1996-98: Returns to the field as the Twins first base coach.