Saint Paul, Minnesota –Payton Eeles has spent the majority of the 2024 season with the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels and Cedar Rapids Kernels, which are low level affiliates in the Minnesota Twins organization. However, not no more! Payton Eeles got the call to join the Saints on July 4^th.

Eeles was born in Scottsdale, AZ, then went onto play college baseball at Costal Carolina. Following his college career Eeles played in familiar territory for the Saints. He spent the 2023 season as a member of the Chicago Dogs, who are an independent baseball team in the American Association. The Saints were in the American Assocation prior to becoming the Twins top affiliate. Eeles appeared in 39 games for the Dogs in 2023 and posted a .311 batting average with 20 RBIs. Chicago made the postseason in 2023 and Eeles helped lead the team. He posted a remarkable .368 average in 10 playoff games; however, Eeles and the Chicago Dogs fell short to the Kansas City Monarchs in the championship series.

The Twins signed Eeles as a free agent in May of this season. Combined between Cedar Rapids and Fort Myers he posted a .316 average with 30 RBIs. Eeles comes in at 5-foot-7 and 180 pounds and used his abilities to steal 21 bases in the minors this season. At age 24 he is set to make his Triple-A debut at second base for the Saints.

The Saints and Gwinnett Strippers (Atlanta Braves) meet in game three of a six-game series on Thursday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:07 p.m. Louie Varland takes the ball for the Saints. He is a fan favorite/local player; attended college at Concordia-St. Paul and drafted by the Twins in 2019. Varland comes into play tonight with a record of 3-6 and a 6.56 ERA. However, Varland is looking to build off an impressive performance last Friday as Varland helped lead the Saints past the Iowa Cubs.