Minnesota Twins pitching coach Wes Johnson will leave the team to join LSU in the same role, according to multiple reports Sunday evening.

Johnson has previous college coaching experience. Before joining the Twins, he served as Arkansas’ pitching coach as it reached the College World Series final in 2018.

Still, the decision to leave a first-place Twins team in the middle of the season — and after the conclusion of the college baseball season — raised eyebrows among Minnesota observers. The Twins reportedly asked Johnson about what it would take for him to stay, but he held firm to his decision and did not request more money.

Minnesota will promote assistant pitching coach Pete Maki to replace Johnson.

–Field Level Media