2025 Twins Daily Most Improved Player

[Matt Braun]

Of all the awards we do here, this one is my favorite. “Most Improved” is a perfectly up-for-interpretation concept: do we mean to reward breakouts, acknowledge rises to superstardom, or shed light on those who rose from the perimeter of roster considerations to everyday player status? I don’t know. And I’m glad I don’t know. Nine players appeared on a ballot for this honor, and today, we’ll go over the top three vote-getters.

3. Austin Martin
You’d be forgiven if you didn’t tune in much for the second half of the season. What with the 40% roster dismantling and sudden announcement that ownership wouldn’t change hands. Plus, the Twins just stunk. 

Austin Martin was not one of the reasons the Twins stunk. Though his 2024 season painted him as a tweener—someone ok at too many things for their own good; yet not great at anything—his 2025 was an upgrade on almost every front. Fueled by incremental improvements in contact and chase rate, and a more all-fields approach, Martin’s wRC+ jumped from 92 in 2024 to 113 in 2025. That’s more than enough to demand a spot in the lineup.

Perhaps more significant was Martin’s defensive prowess in 2025. Advanced stats thought he was abysmal in 2024. Whether coming in or going back, Statcast believes he was worth -6 Outs Above Average in the outfield—a bad omen for such a great athlete. This year was different. Statcast credited him with +3 Outs Above Average in left field, the sixth-most in MLB for the position amongst players with at least 50 attempts. He probably should still only play center in a pinch. But an above-average left fielder who can also moonlight at second is a useful player. 

Martin’s baserunning remains insane. He’s a madman on the paths. His aggression has led to some glorious plays, with a few too many “what-are-you-thinking” moments. Still, it grades out as above-average. And maybe we could use some more excitement in our lives. 

2. Louis Varland
Well, this is a little awkward. The Twins moved Louis Varland to the bullpen, pushed his knuckle-curve to the extreme, and watched him rack up ground balls at an elite rate as a fire-breathing reliever. Then they traded him. It was by far the most shocking of their mid-season deals. 

Varland suffered a significant drop-off in play following the deal—perhaps unsurprising given how hard he took the trade—yet, he’s now a critical part of what looks to be an important Blue Jays team. 

1. Kody Clemens
Kody Clemens? Kody Clemens. The guy who was a Philly when the season started? The son of one of the greatest pitchers of all time?

Clemens joined the Twins under inauspicious circumstances. A plethora of injuries begat the acquisition of Jonah Bride on April 16th, with Clemens arriving 10 days later. Bride’s time as a Twin is best left as just this sentence, yet the latecomer proved more consequential. He started bashing homers. His bat speed had improved. Suddenly, as the team collapsed around him, Clemens stood out as one of the few bright spots on the roster. 

Only a sporadic utility guy in his previous endeavors, the Twins penciled in Clemens almost everywhere: he played 58 games at 1st, 50 games at 2nd, 21 games in the corner outfield, and he even spent a frame as a center fielder. He was plus or neutral at every position. At 1st alone, he was worth 3 Outs Above Average, the 7th-most amongst all 1st basemen with at least 100 attempts. 

The zenith of Clemens’ season came in a dramatic mid-September game. Most of the fanbase had checked out. This author only watched it because he had postgame responsibilities. He led off the 3rd with a homer, ordinary enough, before blasting another one the following inning. He simply doubled in the 6th. Then—as the opener for a grand, dramatic walk-off—he completed the trifecta with a solo blast in the 9th, giving the Twins their first three-homer game since Miguel Sanó in 2021. 

Overall, Clemens slashed .216/.284/.442—lopsided and a touch tepid for a 1st baseman—but with an xwOBA that suggests he deserved better (.341). Even if he remains a slug-happy utility player, that is a much better outcome than the team ever could have predicted when they acquired him at the beginning of the season. For that reason, he is Twins Daily’s Most Improved Player for 2025.

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[rdehring]

Interesting.  My preference would be Martin but can't argue with your report.

Any comment about Varland reminds us of the one trade that really hurt.  At least it does for me.  Have to believe the FO hadn't considered trading Varland when Toronto made an offer they couldn't refuse.  Hopefully, they know enough about the Roden and Rojas and they end up being right.  I guess time will tell. 

[DocBauer]

1] Martin

2] Funderburk 

3] Clemens would rank no higher than #3 on my list. If he had an OB% of .300...still not good...or more work that power and low AVG I'd rank him higher. 

[Patzky]

3 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

1] Martin

2] Funderburk 

3] Clemens would rank no higher than #3 on my list. If he had an OB% of .300...still not good...or more work that power and low AVG I'd rank him higher. 

Funderburk improved after August started, markedly so! 

[FlyingFinn]

Clemons seemed to have so many clutch hits this year. Something you can't say about many on the team. Some people think that clutch hitting is luck while others think you have (or develop) a clutch gene. 

[Doctor Gast]

Clemens had a few very bad seasons while getting plenty of quality ABs on different teams; he had a good season with MN. I knew Varland was going to become a very good RP, but the Twins traded him. IMO, a player has to be on the team last season & finished with the Twins. Martin is the best candidate, plus he had a pretty good season. Martin should have gotten the award.

[DJL44]

Joe Ryan was the obvious choice for this award.

[S Bart]

I fully agree about Clemens, but would consider Martin if it was the last month or so of the season. Varland....still would be considered the WORST trade of 2025. If one looks back at Clemens....he hustled and put forth an effort at 1st base. 

[DJL44]

14 minutes ago, S Bart said:

Varland....still would be considered the WORST trade of 2025.

No, that one is trading for Outman.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

This is not inspiring in any way.

[Paul Walerius]

39 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

No, that one is trading for Outman.

They gave up stewart who pitched once and was out for the year.   Outman has created more outs than i would like but I believe there is some defensive benefit with our other outfielders.  Hard to call it the worst trade.  

[Patzky]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

Joe Ryan was the obvious choice for this award.

Recency bias.. we forget how far he has come in a short period!

[NYCTK]

Clemens didn't improve at all. He's exactly the player he was with the Phillies, but had a 3 week hot stretch in May. 

 

[DocBauer]

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

No, that one is trading for Outman.

Nope. While I didn't like it when it happened...and might have agreed with you at the time...the end result is a trade that had zero affect on either team.

Originally, FWIW, the report was that Outman was PART of the trade. (Maybe wrong information)? Rumor has it his medicals lowered the trade to simply Outman for Stewart. 

Considering Stewart was done after a couple IP and Outman has been as bad as advertised, if not worse, it's really just a "no benefit for either team" deal that will be forgotten very quickly.

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, Paul Walerius said:

They gave up stewart who pitched once and was out for the year.   Outman has created more outs than i would like but I believe there is some defensive benefit with our other outfielders.  Hard to call it the worst trade.  

It doesn't help the team in the short or the long term. The traded an often injured, but effective when healthy reliever for a DFA candidate. Should have added a lotto-ticket foreign rookie player instead.

[mikelink45]

One correction - last five games - Varland gave up zero runs.  The trade had to shock him too.  For most improved I would say Buxton - just by playing so many games and setting so many new standards.  Otherwise I make it SWR who really became the best SP on the staff the last month. 

Sentimentally yes - Clemens rose from DFA to a fun player who I hope does not start in 2026.

[jmlease1]

It's a fairly thin list, which says a lot about how the Twins season went.

I'd vote Martin. He's gone from being bad defensively everywhere to letting his athleticism shine in LF and getting better at everything he did at the plate.

Without Clemens hot stretch, no one would be talking about him at all. But he did have that run and it did actually happen.

[bean5302]

Harrison Bader would be my vote. From a guy who needed to take a 1yr $6.25MM contract because of a far below league average bat and injury woes, Bader had his healthiest and most productive season at the plate for his entire career.

[tony&rodney]

8 hours ago, rdehring said:

Have to believe the FO hadn't considered trading Varland when Toronto made an offer they couldn't refuse. 

This seems about right to me. Now the Twins need to forward offers to certain teams to pry loose players they could use, even if it seems like an overpay.

My choice for most improved would be either Austin Martin or Simeon Woods Richardson, although I can see choosing Varland or Clemens.

[S Bart]

7 hours ago, DJL44 said:

No, that one is trading for Outman.

????? Varland was traded for Rhoden and Rojas.....I was referring to the loss of a player....

[S Bart]

7 hours ago, Paul Walerius said:

They gave up stewart who pitched once and was out for the year.   Outman has created more outs than i would like but I believe there is some defensive benefit with our other outfielders.  Hard to call it the worst trade.  

Agree...

[S Bart]

7 hours ago, Rod Carews Birthday said:

This is not inspiring in any way.

Inspiration is on its way.....2026 season 🙌 

[old nurse]

3 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Harrison Bader would be my vote. From a guy who needed to take a 1yr $6.25MM contract because of a far below league average bat and injury woes, Bader had his healthiest and most productive season at the plate for his entire career.

Bader’s 2021 season was better than his time as a Twin 

[Permanent Twins Fan]

I think that Funderburk also deserves a mention. I agree with the sentiments that Ryan should be on this list. Even if you look back at the beginning of this year, we weren't sure what kind of pitcher he was. I know that his second half struggles lead to some questions, but he pitched like an ace for much of the 2025 season. Austin Martin would probably be number one for me because he was essentially dead in the eyes of most Twins fans, and now he will almost certainly be on the 2026 opening day Roster. He has great bat to ball skills, and while he is served best as a bench bat, he will have an important role in 2026 for the Twins, possibly as a starter.

[old nurse]

9 hours ago, DJL44 said:

No, that one is trading for Outman.

Trading a player with a long consecutive year history of injuries really can’t be a worst trade. Unless that is the player you are trading for. Hopefully the outcomes for Stewart, Mahle and Paddack will convince them to not trade for injury prone players except if said player has a minimal contract 

[S Bart]

2 hours ago, old nurse said:

Bader’s 2021 season was better than his time as a Twin 

..he has done well in Philly after he left.....Sportwriters predict that he will double his 2025 salary next season

[Doctor Wu]

17 hours ago, Patzky said:

Recency bias.. we forget how far he has come in a short period!

Or how he always seems to run out of gas in September each season. 

[Doctor Wu]

7 hours ago, S Bart said:

..he has done well in Philly after he left.....Sportwriters predict that he will double his 2025 salary next season

Yep, he was a very useful player for the Twins, but he became an even better clutch player the last two  months with the Phillies.

[Patzky]

12 hours ago, S Bart said:

????? Varland was traded for Rhoden and Rojas.....I was referring to the loss of a player....

Poor Louie. Even talking about him months later on TD forum has the jinx.

[srlarson]

Clemens is a .216 hitter....  NOT A MAJOR LEAGUER!!!!!  Stop talking him up.......  he has no place on this team.....

Hated the Varland trade.....would have kept him and made him the Closed or closed in training the rest of this year and given him a chance at the job next year......

Martin is a 4th outfielder at best....but probably a career triple A guy.....fill in type...can play D, hit a little, no power.....