The Top 13 Home Runs of the Twins 2023 Season

[Peter Labuza]

We all dig the long ball! 

If you're like us, you really liked these 2023 Twins home runs. 

Image courtesy of Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

With the season now at a bittersweet end, Twins fans should consider what matters most: our favorite moments when hitters smashed a ball out of the park. Although this list is entirely subjective, I did my best to collect a diverse set of well-timed dingers from the season. Let's review.

13. Joey Gallo Breaks Statcast
vs. Hayden Wesneski (Cubs), May 13. Exit Velocity: 110.6 mph, Distance: 422 feet

Most Twins fans would probably be happy to forget Joey Gallo’s frustrating Twins tenure. But the former Ranger had a monster start to the season, including a 1.066 OPS in the first month. In particular, how could anyone forget Gallo’s monster three-run shot against Cleveland that broke Statcast, the analytics tracker. Speculation about the distance of the ball took over Twins Twitter—did Gallo break 500 feet?—before the reported distance came in at a surprisingly minuscule 422 feet (the culprit turned out to be the poor launch angle; in fact, Alex Kirilloff hit one the same distance that day). But for those watching, the eye test made it seem like Gallo smacked it to another dimension.

12. Max Kepler Comes in the Clutch
vs. Paul Sewald (Diamondbacks), August 6. Exit Velocity: 110.4 mph, Distance: 438 feet

Max Kepler was the consensus favorite among Twins Daily writers for Most Improved Player of the Year. Continually cited as a DFA candidate throughout the early months, Kepler's sudden power surge came at opportune times, including several late innings smacks that often turned the scoreboard back in Minnesota’s favor. Just a week after the trade deadlines, Kepler faced down Mariners-turned-Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald. Down a run going into the bottom of the ninth, Kepler wasted no time and launched the pitch to tie the game. It was one of several moments that the right fielder made count in the second half.

11. Matt Wallner Goes Very, Very Far
vs. Paul Blackburn (Athletics), September 26, Exit Velocity: 114.5 mph, Distance: 463 feet

There was a lot of hope for Matt Wallner coming into the season after his late-season debut in 2022. Even during a slump late in the season, Wallner continued to get on base and prove his worth. During a final week game against the Athletics, Wallner smoked one from starter Paul Blackburn with the bases loaded a massive 463 feet, one of the longest home runs of the season that had fans in the upper deck scrambling for a ball they never expected to land anywhere near them. Expect a lot more like that next season.

10. Carlos Correa Declares His Time
vs. Devin Williams (Brewers), June 13, Exit Velocity: 108.6 mph, Distance: 408 feet

It became a running joke in my household that I would declare Carlos Correa finally “back,” only to watch another week of struggles due to his injuries. Correa’s lack of clutch hitting this season may have frustrated Twins fans, though most writers on this site would argue his playoff performance wiped away the slate. Even within that struggle, Correa found quite a few moments to awe fans and teammates alike. None felt like a personal victory, as much as a bottom of the 9th smack against the Brewers. Closer Devin Williams had already given away the lead on a Michael A. Taylor home run. Fans were already joking that Correa was due for a double play with a runner on first. Instead, the shortstop took a 1-1 pitch deep to left field to walk it off. He immediately pointed at his wrist in one of his classic moves: “It’s my time.” 

9. Ryan Jeffers Lasers the Ball
vs. Bryan Abreu (Astros), May 29, Exit Velocity: 117.4 mph, Distance: 374 feet

There were several highlights as Ryan Jeffers rose from backup catcher to Joe Mauer’s apparent heir, as both the team and fans saw a swing that seemed full of dynamite. What has always made Jeffers’s dingers fun is how incredibly unique they are. Rather than get the right launch angle, the dingers look like cruise missiles. How else can you categorize this critical extra inning hit against the Astros in May? Coming off the bat at 117 mph, look at how quickly the ball gets out to the Crawford Boxes. It’s a shame Jeffers could not match it during the ALDS, but the potential remains.

7-8. Byron Buxton Obliterates It…Twice
vs. Brandon Walter (Red Sox), June 22, Exit Velocity: 112.2 mph, Distance: 466 feet
vs. Justin Garza (Red Sox), June 22, Exit Velocity: 111.9 mph, Distance: 465 feet

Fans will debate the contours of Byron Buxton’s disappointing season, not only due to the injuries that once again plagued his availability but also the poor performance as a Designated Hitter. Although the All-Star had transformed himself from a hit-and-run guy into a power hitter, the DH position seemed to change his mental stance and balloon his strikeout rate. But when that power came, it sure did. His June 22nd game against the Red Sox showed the Buxton that we all desperately desired, pulverizing not just one but two dingers. The first was 466 feet, and the second nearly matched it at 465 feet. No hitter since the Statcast Era began had ever hit multiple home runs over 460 feet. Buxton’s response? “They all count the same, so if they go over, they all feel good.” Let’s see it again next year, Buck.

3-4-5-6. Royce Lewis, Holy S**T!
vs. Xzavion Curry (Guardians), August 27, Exit Velocity: 98.2 mph, Distance: 393 feet
vs. Chris Stratton (Rangers), August 28, Exit Velocity: 111.7 mph, Distance: 423 feet
vs. Lucas Giolito (Guardians), September 4, Exit Velocity: 107.6 mph, Distance: 401 feet
vs. Jesse Scholtens (White Sox), September 15, Exit Velocity: 99.9 mph, Distance: 397 feet

How can you even begin to explain it? Royce Lewis, He is Him. Lewis hit four grand slams throughout the season, a ridiculous record that already put him on the top of numerous Twins record lists. They all came after he spent over a month recovering from an oblique strain, almost like he was never injured in the first place. Luck is always a factor in whether a player will even have an opportunity, but Lewis relished it. None of these dingers were particularly unique, but the fact it kept happening, repeatedly felt like a new page of baseball had arrived in Minnesota. If I had to choose only one, I would choose the third against Cleveland. The smash against Lucas Giolito made the game a 6-0 ball game, and, more importantly, signaled to the still barely in-the-running Guardians that their season was over.

The Era of Lewis has arrived.

1-2. Royce Lewis Breaks the Curse
vs. Kevin Gausman (Blue Jays), October 3, Exit Velocity: 105.5 mph, Distance: 386 feet
vs. Kevin Gausman (Blue Jays), October 3, Exit Velocity: 104.2 mph, Distance: 397 feet

I initially began drafting this list before the playoffs. Only minutes into Minnesota’s first playoff game did it become apparent I needed a different home run to top this list. The game that ended Minnesota's 0-18 playoff curse perhaps surprised some as boppers from both sides of the plate went quiet - except one.

Minnesota beat the Blue Jays 3-1. The entire difference was, once again, Royce Lewis. Lewis put himself and the entire Twins team on the map through his dingers to left and then to center, both off Cy Young candidate Kevin Gausman. Only to add insult to injury, these were his first two plate appearances in over a week after a hamstring pulled him out of the regular season. The man could barely run to first base, and here he was, creating a Minnesota Miracle. By the end of the team’s run, Lewis popped four home runs over the six playoff games. The cruelest part of the end of the Twins season? Having to wait a whole year for Lewis to cement his name as a new "Mr. October."

Did you have any favorite home runs from the season? (Perhaps from the Yankees series?) Include them in the comments below.

View full article

[pierre75275]

I know there were more impactful home runs but that Grandslam of Wallner gives me chills. I could watch that all day long.

[Hans Birkeland]

I really liked the August 24th home run Jeffers hit against the Rangers. Completed the comeback, he was prepping against Will Smith's slider, Mitch Garver was really salty about it.

But I have no qualms going with the one he hit against Abreu in Houston. I said out loud at the time that was the worst possible matchup Jeffers could face and them bam we steal the game. I think Abreu has given up 3-4 runs since that time.

[jmlease1]

There's no wrong answer: these are all great! I think if I had to pick one it's either Royce's first Grand Salami or Wallner's GS. Goodness, those were big-time no-doubters. Maybe there's a little extra spark when it's a rookie doing it?

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Thank you, Peter for putting this article and the videos together. I had so much fun watching each one. It is hard to pick a favorite one. I'm glad you included Joey Gallo's HR. Gallo seems like a flawed character in a novel or a play, who can't control a bad habit or addiction (strikeouts), but every now and then, has momentary success..he hits long homeruns, and lives happily ever after.  I wish him well in the future chapters of his life, be it playing baseball, or retiring from baseball so he can teach and/or spend more time with his family, enjoying the 10's of millions of dollars he has earned by playing baseball.

[RocRedWing]

5 hours ago, pierre75275 said:

I know there were more impactful home runs but that Grandslam of Wallner gives me chills. I could watch that all day long.

there are few things more enjoyable in sports than watching a baseball get smoked like that.

[MMMordabito]

4 hours ago, Hans Birkeland said:

I really liked the August 24th home run Jeffers hit against the Rangers. Completed the comeback, he was prepping against Will Smith's slider, Mitch Garver was really salty about it.

But I have no qualms going with the one he hit against Abreu in Houston. I said out loud at the time that was the worst possible matchup Jeffers could face and them bam we steal the game. I think Abreu has given up 3-4 runs since that time.

Also partial to that 8/24 Jeffers pinch-hit blast myself.

[ashbury]

Every grand slam after his first, and both blasts in the first playoff game, were solidly in Oh No He Didn't territory.  He may succeed or fail in any given plate appearance, but for now no moment is too big for Royce Lewis 

[IndianaTwin]

Plenty of big ones and lots of fun ones on the list. 

I want to pick the Aug. 28 Lewis shot against Cleveland, since I was at the game, but on Sept. 4…

• on the heels of a walk-off loss in Texas,
• traveling to Cleveland for a three-game series,
• up five, but with the possibility of leaving town only up two,
• and last year’s late-season collapse in our memory,

Royce took on Giolito with the bases loaded and said, “Season over.”