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  • Minnesota Twins Trade & Free Agent Rumors

    Follow the latest Minnesota Twins trade and free agent rumors, along with quick notes on the big league club, the minor leagues and the draft.
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    Steve Drumwright
    In addition to the major news of former first-round pick Royce Lewis being sent to Triple-A St. Paul, the Minnesota Twins made more than a handful of other moves Tuesday ahead of the second game of the series against the Houston Astros. The most noteworthy of those moves is catcher Ryan Jeffers going on the 10-day injured list with a broken left hamate bone, which could sideline him anywhere from one to two months.
    Here is the complete list of moves:
    Optioned third baseman Royce Lewis to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints. Placed catcher Ryan Jeffers on the 10-day injured list with a left hamate bone fracture. Designated right-handed reliever Justin Topa for assignment. Selected the contract of catcher Alex Jackson from the Triple-A St. Paul Saints. Selected the contract of shortstop Orlando Arcia from the Triple-A St. Paul Saints. Recalled right-handed reliever Travis Adams from the Triple-A St. Paul Saints. Transferred right-handed reliever Garrett Acton (strained right shoulder) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. In other words, Lewis, Jeffers and Topa off the Twins' 26-man roster, with Arcia, Jackson and Adams now on the 26-man roster. Acton was moved to the 60-day IL to make room on the 40-man roster. There does appear to be one more 40-man move coming as FanGraphs lists the Twins with 41 players on the 40.
     
     
    Cody Christie
    The Minnesota Twins earned a 6-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Monday night, but the win came with an unsettling development behind the plate. Catcher Ryan Jeffers exited the game late after suffering what the club is calling a left wrist sprain.
    Jeffers will undergo an MRI on Tuesday morning after leaving during the middle of an at-bat in the eighth inning. The injury occurred after he fouled off the first pitch from Astros reliever AJ Blubaugh and shattered his bat. Jeffers initially stayed in the box and took two pitches for balls before calling timeout and signaling that something was wrong.
    “I was kind of going through the mental battle of whether I could swing or not, and then made the decision,” Jeffers said after the game. “We’ll know more tomorrow.”
    Manager Derek Shelton and athletic trainer Masa Abe came out to check on Jeffers before he walked off the field and headed to the clubhouse. Veteran catcher Victor Caratini entered as a pinch hitter and remained in the game behind the plate.
    The timing could not be worse for the Twins because Jeffers has been playing the best baseball of his career. He finished Monday’s game 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored, continuing a scorching start to the season. Through his first stretch of games in 2026, Jeffers is slashing .295/.408/.541 with seven home runs and 26 RBIs while emerging as one of the most productive offensive catchers in baseball.
    For a Twins lineup that has dealt with inconsistency throughout the year, Jeffers has been one of the few dependable middle-of-the-order bats. His combination of patience, power, and quality contact has elevated his value significantly as he approaches free agency following the season.
    If the MRI reveals a more serious injury, Minnesota may need to make a roster move quickly. Jeffers and Caratini are currently the only catchers on the Twins’ 40-man roster, leaving the organization thin on immediate depth.
    That situation would likely open the door for Alex Jackson to return to the major leagues. The veteran backstop has quietly put together a strong offensive season at Triple-A St. Paul, hitting .239/.295/.511 (.806) with notable power production across 95 plate appearances.
    The Twins can survive injuries at several positions because of their organizational depth, but catcher is not one of them. Losing Jeffers for any extended period would remove one of the club’s best hitters and force Minnesota to rely heavily on Caratini while searching for additional help.
    For now, the organization and its fans will wait for Tuesday’s MRI results, hoping that one awkward swing did not sideline one of the most important players in Minnesota’s lineup.
     
    Cody Christie
    The Minnesota Twins continue to battle through injuries as the calendar pushes deeper into May. With the season past the quarter mark, staying healthy becomes even more important for a club trying to get closer to a .500 record.
    Some updates offered optimism this weekend, while others created additional uncertainty. Byron Buxton appears close to returning after progressing through baseball activities, but Taj Bradley’s rehab outing at Triple-A St. Paul raised more questions about his timeline. Minnesota also provided updates on several pitchers working their way back from arm injuries.
    Byron Buxton Progressing Toward Return
    Buxton continues to trend in the right direction after dealing with right hip flexor soreness. The Twins consider him day to day, and the recent updates suggest a return may not be far away. Buxton reportedly came through a workout on May 16 without issues and returned to on-field work before the game again on May 17. That is an encouraging sign considering how important he has been to Minnesota’s lineup this season.
    When healthy, Buxton changes the complexion of the roster. His defense in center field remains above-average, and his power production has helped stabilize the middle of the lineup. Minnesota has understandably taken a cautious approach because hip and lower body injuries can quickly become lingering concerns for a player whose game depends heavily on explosiveness. The fact that he continues to increase baseball activities is a positive development for the Twins moving forward.
    Taj Bradley’s Rehab Outing Raises Concerns
    Bradley remains on the 15-day injured list with right pectoralis muscle inflammation after being placed there retroactive to May 6. The Twins hoped Bradley would take a significant step forward during his rehab start with Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday. Instead, the outing ended much earlier than anticipated. Bradley failed to make it out of the second inning after throwing 31 pitches in the frame before being removed from the game.
    On Sunday’s episode of Inside Twins, general manager Jeremy Zoll explained that the organization wanted Bradley to complete roughly four innings while staying near 65 pitches. Because he was unable to reach those benchmarks, his timetable for returning to Minnesota remains unclear.
    That development is notable because the Twins have leaned heavily on their rotation early in the season. Bradley was expected to play a meaningful role for the pitching staff, but the club now appears likely to proceed carefully until he demonstrates he can handle a normal workload again.
    Cody Laweryson Takes Another Step Forward
    Laweryson continues progressing in his recovery from a right forearm strain that landed him on the injured list back on April 9. Laweryson made a rehab appearance with Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday and delivered a clean inning. He allowed no hits, walked one batter, and did not record a strikeout.
    For a pitcher returning from a forearm issue, simply getting through an outing healthy is often the biggest objective. The Twins will likely continue gradually increasing his workload before considering him for activation. According to Zoll, he is expected to make at least two more rehab appearances this week.
    Minnesota’s bullpen depth has been tested throughout the season, so getting another healthy arm back into the mix would provide needed reinforcement.
    Cole Sands Beginning Throwing Progression
    Sands remains sidelined with a mild right forearm strain after going on the injured list retroactive to April 29. The good news is that Sands resumed playing catch on May 12 and May 13 as the Twins began building him back up. At this stage, the organization appears focused on making sure he progresses slowly over the next week before advancing to more intense throwing sessions.
    Forearm injuries always create some level of concern for pitchers, which explains why Minnesota has emphasized patience with Sands. Before the injury, he had become an increasingly important option for the Twins in middle relief situations. If his throwing progression continues without setbacks, he could eventually begin mound work later this month.
    Mick Abel Receives Encouraging Evaluation
    One of the more encouraging updates involved Abel, who has been sidelined with right elbow inflammation since April 17. Abel was evaluated by noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister, who agreed with previous evaluations that the issue stems from posterior elbow impingement. Most importantly for the Twins, there were reportedly no concerns involving the forearm or the ulnar collateral ligament.
    That distinction matters significantly because UCL damage often carries the possibility of Tommy John surgery. Instead, Abel has already resumed light throwing and started playing catch on Wednesday. Minnesota can now focus on rebuilding his arm strength rather than worrying about a more serious structural issue.
    Injuries remain one of the defining storylines for the Twins during the opening months of the season. The organization received positive news regarding Byron Buxton and Mick Abel, while Taj Bradley’s shortened rehab outing introduced additional uncertainty to the pitching staff picture.
    As Minnesota attempts to stay competitive through the middle months of the season, getting healthy contributors back on the field could be a major factor in whether the club can gain momentum in the standings.
    Cody Christie
    The Twins made multiple roster moves on Thursday, but one came much later than expected. Just a couple of hours before first pitch against the Marlins, Minnesota scratched center fielder Byron Buxton from the lineup because of soreness in his right hip flexor. Buxton had originally been scheduled to serve as the designated hitter and hit leadoff before the club made the late change.
    With Buxton unavailable, Austin Martin moved into the leadoff spot while Josh Bell stepped in as the designated hitter. Given how important Buxton has become to Minnesota’s offense over the last month, any injury concern immediately grabs attention.
    The timing is especially unfortunate because Buxton is in the middle of arguably the best power stretch of his career. After launching another leadoff home run on Wednesday night, he now has 15 home runs in his last 26 games dating back to April 13. No player in baseball has hit more homers during that stretch, with Buxton sitting two ahead of Kyle Schwarber.
    Even with a relatively quiet opening couple of weeks to the season, Buxton’s 15 home runs still rank tied for second in the American League and tied for third in all of baseball entering Thursday’s games.
    What has made the run even more impressive is the consistency. Since April 21, Buxton has not gone more than three games without leaving the yard. Wednesday’s blast was the 23rd leadoff homer of his career and his third already this season. The Twins have leaned heavily on his ability to create instant offense at the top of the lineup, especially with injuries and inconsistency affecting other parts of the roster.
    Over a larger sample, the production becomes even more eye-opening. Since May 14, 2025, Buxton has hit 41 home runs in just 128 games. Expanding the sample to his last 162 games dating back to April 1, 2025, he has clubbed 50 home runs. He is also currently on pace for 56 home runs this season, which would easily surpass his previous single-season career high of 35 set in 2025. That is superstar-level production from a player who has often battled injuries throughout his career.
    That is why Thursday’s scratch immediately raises concern, even if the Twins are initially calling it soreness. Minnesota has already dealt with a wave of pitching injuries this season, and the lineup looks entirely different when Buxton is unavailable.
    The Twins are already adjusting to life without Matt Wallner after his surprising option to Triple-A St. Paul earlier in the day. That move opened the door for Martin to take over as the club’s primary right fielder, making Buxton’s absence even more noticeable in an already reshuffled lineup.
    For now, the Twins will hope the move was simply precautionary and not something that lingers. Because over the last month, few players in baseball have been more dangerous than Byron Buxton.
    Steve Drumwright
    Ready or not, Zebby Matthews is set for his next opportunity at the MLB level.
    The right-handed starter was promoted from Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday to start the series finale against the Miami Marlins. Outfielder-infielder Ryan Kreidler was also called up from the Saints, with outfielder Matt Wallner and right-hander Travis Adams sent to Triple-A.

    The 25-year-old Matthews has made 25 starts over the last two years, including 16 in 2025. But Matthews has posted a 4.41 FIP, which is a stark contrast to his 5.56 ERA, during his time in the majors. His walk (6.6%) and strikeout rates (24.7%) are both a couple points above the MLB average.
    In seven starts at Triple-A this year, Matthews has a 4.72 ERA with 11 walks and 33 strikeouts in 34⅓ innings. But he has given up nine homers.
    Wallner was coming off a breakthrough 22-homer season in 2025, but was scuffling to begin 2026 with a slash line of .167/.259/.292 with two homers and 10 RBIs in 34 games.
    Kreidler is up for the second time this season. He went 3-for-14 in five games with two homers and four RBIs. At St. Paul, Kreidler had a .266/.389/.500 slash line with five homers, 15 RBIs and three steals.
    Adams made two relief appearances, giving up three runs in 3⅔ innings with two walks and five strikeouts.
     
    Cody Christie
    The Minnesota Twins have spent much of the early portion of the 2026 season trying to survive wave after wave of pitching injuries. From key starters to important bullpen contributors, the organization has rarely had its preferred staff intact for more than a few days at a time.
    Tuesday finally brought some encouraging news. Both Taj Bradley and Cole Sands made progress in their recoveries, offering some hope that reinforcements may not be too far away for a pitching staff that desperately needs stability.
    Bradley, who landed on the injured list Saturday with right pectoralis muscle inflammation, resumed throwing and played catch out to 90 feet. The 25-year-old also sought a second opinion from noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister after an MRI came back clean. That clean MRI result was already an encouraging development. Seeing Bradley begin throwing again only adds to the optimism surrounding his recovery timeline.
    “He played catch up to 90 feet today,” Twins manager Derek Shelton said. “So I think from there we’ll make sure we appropriately put the program together.”
    The Twins can hardly afford to lose him for an extended period. Bradley has been nothing short of electric in his first season with Minnesota, posting a 2.87 ERA and 52 strikeouts across 47 innings through his first eight starts. More importantly, he has brought a level of swing-and-miss dominance that the Twins' rotation has largely lacked in recent years.
    His raw stuff has consistently jumped off the screen. Earlier this season against the Kansas City Royals, Bradley became the first Twins starting pitcher to hit 100 mph since pitch tracking began in 2008. That type of velocity is rare anywhere in baseball, but especially within Minnesota’s pitching history.
    While any pectoral injury raises concern for a pitcher, there is at least some precedent for optimism. Bradley dealt with a similar injury while pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2024. That strain sidelined him for roughly a month before he returned to make 25 starts and throw 138 innings by season’s end.
    The Twins will likely proceed cautiously this time as well, especially considering how valuable Bradley has become to the rotation almost immediately after arriving in Minnesota.
    The encouraging updates did not stop there. Sands also took an important step forward Tuesday by throwing a bullpen session as he works his way back from a right forearm strain. Sands has been sidelined since late April and could soon progress to facing live hitters if everything continues moving in the right direction.
    Even though Sands’ traditional numbers do not immediately stand out, the Twins' bullpen has clearly missed him. The right-hander owns a 4.63 ERA in 11 2/3 innings this season, but some of the underlying metrics paint a more favorable picture. Sands has posted a solid strikeout rate while carrying a 3.65 SIERA, suggesting he has pitched better than his ERA indicates.
    His final appearance before going on the injured list may have offered a clue that something was physically wrong. Sands allowed two runs against Seattle on April 28 in an outing where his stuff appeared noticeably diminished.
    Perhaps most concerning was the drop in velocity. After averaging roughly 95 mph on his fastball in 2025, Sands sat closer to 93.1 mph this season before landing on the injured list. Any time a pitcher experiences declining velocity alongside forearm discomfort, alarms naturally go off. That is why simply getting back on a mound for a bullpen session qualifies as meaningful progress.
    The Twins currently have eight pitchers on the injured list, including starters Bradley, Mick Abel, David Festa, and Pablo López. That level of attrition would challenge any organization’s depth, even one that had eight or more starting pitchers on their depth chart to start the year.
    For now, there is still no official timetable for either Bradley or Sands to return. The Twins will almost certainly remain cautious, particularly with Bradley, given both his importance to the rotation and the nature of his injury.
    Still, after weeks of increasingly discouraging injury news, Tuesday finally gave the organization something it has not had much of lately: optimism. If Bradley can continue to progress without setbacks and Sands can build toward live batting practice soon, the Twins may finally begin to see light at the end of what has been a brutally difficult stretch for their pitching staff.
     
     
    Cody Christie
    The picture at the top of the MLB Draft is becoming clearer, and all signs point toward the Minnesota Twins focusing heavily on Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey with the third overall pick. According to Baseball America, “Minnesota has had a lot of high-level decision makers scouting Vahn Lackey this spring.”
    That report lines up with how the draft board appears to be developing. UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky has looked like the favorite to land with the Chicago White Sox at first overall for much of the year. He entered the spring as a strong candidate for the top pick and has only strengthened that case with his performance this season.
    The second pick belongs to the Tampa Bay Rays, and they have consistently been connected to prep shortstop Grady Emerson throughout the draft cycle. There is still a chance Tampa Bay pivots to Lackey if he remains available, but many recent mock drafts have Emerson heading to the Rays at number two overall.
    If the board falls that way, Lackey could slide directly into Minnesota’s lap. The appeal is easy to understand.
    At Georgia Tech, Lackey is continuing a strong tradition of first-round catching talent, including Jason Varitek, Matt Wieters, Joey Bart, and Kevin Parada. He has been one of the best offensive catchers in college baseball this spring while also showing the athleticism teams covet behind the plate.
    Through his first 47 games, Lackey is slashing .371/.491/.682 with a 1.173 OPS, 12 home runs, and nine stolen bases. That combination of impact offense and athletic ability has helped push him into the upper tier of this draft class.
    His rise has not been a traditional one. Lackey was a late bloomer in high school and did not receive Division I offers until his senior year. Even in college, his development trajectory has continued to trend upward as he has added polish to both sides of his game.
    Defensively, scouts believe there is still more room for growth. Lackey is agile behind the plate and moves well for the position, giving evaluators confidence that he can become a dependable receiver and blocker as he improves his consistency and focus. His arm strength and accuracy already stand out as major assets.
    For the Twins, that profile makes plenty of sense. The organization has leaned toward polished college talent in recent drafts, especially players with a blend of upside and relatively high floors, including Brooks Lee, Kaelen Culpepper, and Marek Houston. Catchers with Lackey’s offensive ceiling and athletic traits are difficult to find, and Minnesota may view him as one of the safer premium bats near the top of the board.
    If the Twins ultimately go in another direction, college pitcher Jackson Flora and prep shortstop Jacob Lombard appear to be among the other realistic options tied to the third pick.
    Still, as the draft draws closer, the momentum around Lackey continues to build. Unless something changes in the first two selections, the Twins may soon find themselves adding another cornerstone talent to the organization, and one who could eventually become the long-term answer behind the plate.
    Cody Christie
    The Twins are approaching an uncomfortable point with two veteran relievers stashed at Triple-A St. Paul. According to KSTP’s Darren Wolfson, Saints relievers John Brebbia and Matt Bowman both have opt-out clauses in their contracts on Sunday, May 17. If the Twins do not add them to the major league roster, either pitcher could elect free agency.
    That creates an interesting decision for a bullpen that has largely stabilized after a rocky start but still lacks proven depth behind its core group.
    Brebbia entered the season as a relatively intriguing non-roster addition because of his extensive major league track record. The 35-year-old has appeared in parts of eight MLB seasons and, not long ago, was one of the most heavily used relievers in baseball. Back in 2022, he led the National League with 76 appearances while posting a 124 ERA+.
    The recent results, however, have been more uneven. Last season with the Tigers and Braves, Brebbia allowed 20 earned runs across 23 1/3 innings in 22 appearances. The Twins were betting that some underlying traits still pointed toward a useful bullpen arm.
    There are at least a few signs supporting that idea in St. Paul. Brebbia has made 13 appearances for the Saints and struck out 24 of the 81 batters he has faced. His 29.6% strikeout rate is his highest mark in multiple seasons, and he has issued only seven walks in 18 1/3 innings.
    The run prevention numbers have not been particularly attractive. Brebbia owns a 5.40 ERA after allowing 11 earned runs, but his 4.91 FIP suggests the performance may not be quite as poor as the surface stats indicate. The swing-and-miss ability is still there, even though the overall results have remained inconsistent.
    Bowman’s case is different because Twins fans already saw him contribute during the 2024 season. The veteran right-hander appeared in five games for Minnesota in 2024 and posted a 2.35 ERA across 7 2/3 innings. That came during a season in which he bounced between four organizations as a classic waiver-wire journeyman. Last season with Baltimore, Bowman struggled to a 6.20 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 24 2/3 innings, but he has looked significantly sharper with St. Paul this year.
    In 20 1/3 innings, Bowman owns a 1.77 ERA with a 3.20 FIP while striking out 25.9% of opposing hitters. He has also limited walks with a 7.1% walk rate. Perhaps most importantly for a Twins bullpen that has leaned heavily on certain arms, Bowman has provided real flexibility. He has thrown more than one inning in nine of his 13 appearances.
    His recent stretch has been especially impressive. Over the last 28 days, Bowman owns a 1.46 ERA and 0.89 WHIP with 14 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings. At some point, performance has to matter, especially for a major league bullpen that can never have enough dependable depth options.
    The Twins may ultimately decide roster flexibility is more valuable than protecting either veteran from free agency. That is often the reality with opt-out clauses attached to veteran minor league contracts. Still, Bowman has made a compelling case to get another opportunity.
    He has already shown he can survive in the majors, he is throwing multiple innings consistently, and his production at Triple-A has been difficult to ignore. If the Twins are going to lose one of these relievers anyway, Bowman feels like the pitcher worth betting on before another organization does.
    Steve Drumwright
    The Minnesota Twins needed a fresh arm after an exhausting day for the bullpen.
    The Twins on Sunday called up left-hander Kendry Rojas from Triple-A St. Paul and sent left-hander Kody Funderburk down to the Saints. The Twins used six relievers following Joe Ryan's six-inning start in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians in 11 innings.
    Rojas made his MLB debut April 22, pitching two shutout innings with two hits, three walks and no strikeouts. He was sent back to Triple-A a couple days later. At St. Paul this season, Rojas has made five appearances, including a start, allowing four runs and 14 hits with five walks and 15 strikeouts in 15 innings for a 2.40 ERA.
    Funderburk has been a key part of the Twins' bullpen. He has made 19 appearances covering 16 innings, with 13 walks and 10 strikeouts for a 2.81 ERA.
    Coincidentally, Rojas' debut came as Funderburk was on paternity leave for the birth of his child.
     
    Cody Christie
    Twins Daily's top ranked prospect Walker Jenkins is once again dealing with an injury, this time after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 AC joint sprain in his left shoulder. The injury occurred on Sunday while playing for Triple-A St. Paul, adding another interruption to what has already been a stop-and-start season.
    The organization announced that Jenkins will be re-evaluated in 10 days, at which point a clearer timetable for his return should become clearer. For now, the expectation is that he will miss at least a couple of weeks while recovering.
    The injury happened on a defensive play in center field when Jenkins made a running catch and carried his momentum into the wall. After securing the ball, he hit the fence hard and immediately went to the ground. He exited the game with a trainer and did not return. Imaging the following day confirmed the shoulder sprain.
    This marks the second time Jenkins has been sidelined this season. The 21-year-old appeared in just four Grapefruit League games before a hamstring injury kept him out of action. When healthy, he has been productive at the plate, hitting .256/.396/.389 across 111 plate appearances with St. Paul.
    Despite the setbacks, Jenkins showed flashes of his upside during a recent stretch against Iowa. Over that series, he went 8-for-18 with four doubles, a home run, four runs batted in, six runs scored, and four walks. It was one of his most complete offensive showings of the season before the injury halted his momentum.
    Durability has been one of the few question marks in Jenkins’ young career. The No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft has yet to play a full season, appearing in 82 and 84 games during his first two professional campaigns. In 2025, he missed nearly the entire first month after an ankle sprain in minor league camp. The year prior, a hamstring injury on Opening Day sidelined him for six and a half weeks.
    Jenkins is widely regarded as one of the top prospects in baseball, but consistent time on the field has remained elusive. For a Twins organization looking to develop impact talent, his development is critical. Each setback delays that timeline, even if only temporarily.
    The injury news does not stop with Jenkins. Triple-A St. Paul has been hit hard in recent days, with outfield prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez leaving Friday’s game with a left thumb injury after a headfirst slide into first base. Infielder Kaelen Culpepper was also absent from Sunday’s lineup after being hit by a pitch.
    For now, the focus remains on Jenkins’ recovery and his return to the field. The talent is undeniable. The challenge continues to be keeping him there long enough to fully realize it.
    Cody Christie
    The Minnesota Twins have been searching for consistency in the early part of the season, and over the past week, Byron Buxton provided exactly that. When he is healthy and locked in, there are few players in baseball who can impact a game in as many ways, and this latest stretch served as a reminder of his game-changing ability on both sides of the ball.
    Buxton put together one of the most productive weeks of his career, appearing in seven games and collecting 10 hits in 29 at-bats for a .345 average. His power was on full display as he launched five home runs, added a double, and swiped two bases. He also crossed the plate six times and drove in seven runs, serving as the catalyst for Minnesota’s offense throughout the week. Notably, he homered in five of those seven games, including a streak of three consecutive contests, marking the sixth time in his career he has accomplished that feat.
    This recognition marks the third time in Buxton’s 12-year career that he has earned American League Player of the Week honors. His previous awards came on August 26, 2017, and June 11, 2022. It also represents a milestone for the Twins lineup, as Buxton becomes the first Minnesota hitter to take home the award since Luke Keaschall did so on August 9 of last season.
    With this latest honor, Buxton continues to climb into elite territory within franchise history. He is now one of six players in Twins history to win the award at least three times while with the organization. That group includes Kent Hrbek, Joe Mauer, Kirby Puckett, Rod Carew, and Johan Santana, a collection of names that highlights just how impactful Buxton has been when at his best.
     
    Buxton got off to a slow start at the plate to begin the season, and some have pointed to his limited action in the World Baseball Classic after being hit by a pitch as a contributing factor. Through his first eight games, he went just 4-for-30 (.133) with 10 strikeouts. Since then, the turnaround has been significant. Over his next 24 games, he has posted a .288/.351/.615 (.966) slash line with 10 home runs and four doubles, a stretch that looks much more like the All-Star level production the Twins have come to expect.
    If this stretch is any indication of what Buxton can provide moving forward, the Twins lineup may have found the spark it needs. His combination of power, speed, and defensive excellence makes him one of the most dynamic players in the game, and when he is producing at this level, Minnesota looks like a much more dangerous team.
    Steve Drumwright
    Looking for any solution in the bullpen, the Minnesota Twins have made another addition.
    The Twins on Wednesday acquired right-handed reliever Yoendrys Gomez from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash considerations. Right-handed reliever Christian Roa, who was at Triple-A St. Paul, was designated for assignment to make room for Gomez on the 40-man roster. Another move will have to be made in the next day or two to add Gomez to the 26-man roster.
    Gomez had been DFA'd by the Rays after making nine appearances and posting a 6.23 ERA in 17⅓ innings, walking 10 and striking out 13. He allowed runs in seven of his outings, ironically not in his last game a week ago Wednesday when he went two scoreless innings against the Cleveland Guardians.
    Roa had been claimed off waivers April 23 by the Twins following being DFA'd by the Houston Astros. In three appearances at St. Paul, he allowed two runs on two hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 2⅓ innings. That came after seven games with the Astros in which he allowed five runs in 8⅔ innings with seven walks and six strikeouts.
     
    Matthew Trueblood
    Joe Ryan's MRI Sunday came back clean, a Twins source confirmed to Twins Daily Tuesday. As first reported by Dan Hayes of The Athletic, Ryan played catch Tuesday and will throw a bullpen session Wednesday, after which the team will evaluate when he might make his next start. 
    Ryan left his last start Sunday after just two batters faced, with what the team called "elbow soreness". His scan revealed no damage to his UCL, but until he gets back onto a mound and pitches pain-free, the next steps in getting him back into the starting rotation will not become clear. Wednesday is the last day on which the team can make an injured list stint retroactive to Sunday, so the bullpen session will be important. If it goes well (and Ryan recovers from it well), the team might choose to skate by without placing him on the injured list. If, however, there's any lingering discomfort, a stint on the IL is likely.
    Cody Christie
    Prior to Sunday’s matchup with Toronto, Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll met with reporters and shared updates on several injured players across the organization. Among those, David Festa’s status stood out for all the wrong reasons.
    Festa had been building toward a return after dealing with a shoulder issue during Spring Training, but that progress hit a snag. Following his third live batting practice session, he experienced renewed discomfort, forcing the organization to halt his ramp-up and reassess. The timing is unfortunate, as he appeared to be nearing a minor league rehab assignment before this latest development.
    He has yet to pitch in a game this season, and the road back has already been complicated. Festa was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome late in 2025 and then dealt with right shoulder impingement earlier this year. Each step forward has required patience, and now that patience will be tested again.
    The situation leaves the Twins balancing short-term needs with long-term value. When healthy, Festa still projects as a meaningful piece of the organization’s pitching depth. Entering last season, he was arguably the team’s top pitching prospect. However, shoulder concerns can quickly alter timelines, and the team may need to remain flexible about how they eventually deploy him.
    There is at least some reason to believe a different role could unlock more consistency. Over the past two seasons, Festa has posted a 5.12 ERA alongside a more encouraging 4.27 FIP, backed by a 25.7% strikeout rate and an 8.3% walk rate. Those underlying metrics hint at a pitcher whose arsenal could benefit from shorter bursts, where his stuff may play up, and the physical demands are easier to manage.
    Even so, any conversation about role changes is secondary right now. The Twins are focused on getting Festa back to a place where he can throw regularly without setbacks. That means taking a deliberate approach and avoiding any temptation to accelerate the process.
    There is still a path for Festa to contribute in 2026, but it will depend on how his body responds in the coming weeks. Whether he ultimately returns as a starter or shifts into a relief role will sort itself out over time. For now, the objective is straightforward. Get healthy and stay healthy.
    For a team already navigating questions about its pitching depth, every update carries weight. This one may not be what Minnesota hoped for, but it does not close the door. If Festa can resume his progression without further interruption, he still has a chance to factor into the picture later this season.
    Cody Christie
    There is a certain point in every season when the conversation shifts from what a team could be to what it actually is. For the Minnesota Twins, that moment is arriving earlier than anyone hoped. A slow start in the standings has already created urgency, and the idea of reinforcements from St Paul offered a sense of optimism. Over the weekend, that optimism took a hit.
    Walker Jenkins, Twins Daily’s top-ranked prospect, exited Sunday’s game for Triple-A St Paul after a frightening collision in the outfield. With two outs in the sixth inning, he tracked a deep drive into right-center, made the catch, and slammed hard into the wall. Jenkins got to his feet but immediately reached for his left shoulder. He was removed from the game without delay, and the initial concern was evident.
    At just 21 years old, Jenkins is navigating his first full season at Triple-A, and the early returns have been a mix of adjustment and recent progress. After a slow start, he had begun to find a rhythm at the plate with a 1.400 OPS over the last week, showing why he is viewed as a potential impact bat in Minnesota’s future lineup. That momentum now pauses, at least temporarily, as the organization evaluates his shoulder.
    He is not alone. Emmanuel Rodriguez, another top 100 prospect and Twins Daily’s number four-ranked player in the system, also landed on the injury report this weekend. Rodriguez suffered a muscle strain in his left thumb on Friday night when he dove headfirst into first base. The 23-year-old outfielder left the game early, adding another layer of concern for a team already lacking offensive consistency.
    There is at least some reason for cautious optimism with Rodriguez. He was seen taking batting practice on the field at CHS Field on Sunday, suggesting the injury may not require an extended absence. Before the injury, Rodriguez had been one of the Saints’ most productive hitters, posting a .247/.417/.506 slash line across 25 games. His blend of patience and power has long made him a candidate to be the next call when the Twins need a boost.
    That need is becoming more obvious by the day. Minnesota’s lineup has struggled to generate consistent pressure. In that context, the presence of Jenkins and Rodriguez at Triple A represented more than just long-term upside. They were potential solutions, players capable of injecting energy and production into a stagnant offense.
    For a Twins team searching for a spark, the timing could not be worse. Jenkins was beginning to heat up. Rodriguez looked close to forcing the conversation. Now, both timelines are on hold, even if only briefly.
    In the big picture, fans will still need to wait for further news on the injuries. Still, these two players are viewed as key pieces of the organization’s future. In the short term, however, it slows what felt like an inevitable push toward their major league debuts.
    And for a Minnesota club that could use a breath of fresh air, that delay is more than just inconvenient. It is another obstacle in a season that is already trending in the wrong direction.
    Steve Drumwright
    The Minnesota Twins have lost one of their bullpen stalwarts to an injury.
    Right-hander Cole Sands was put on the 15-day injured list by the Twins on Saturday due to a strained right forearm. Right-hander John Klein was called up from Triple-A St. Paul to make his MLB debut.

    Sands made 131 appearances out of the Twins' bullpen the last two seasons and had made 12 in 2026. In 11⅔ innings, he had a 4.63 ERA with six runs on 12 hits with four walks and 11 strikeouts. He last appeared in a game Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners, giving up two runs on three hits, including a homer, in two-thirds of an inning. He came on with one on and one out in the eighth and gave up a double to Julio Rodriguez and a three-run homer to Josh Naylor, turning a 2-1 Twins deficit into a 5-1 disadvantage.
    Klein had made seven appearances, six starts, at St. Paul this year. He had a 7.48 ERA in 21⅔ innings, walking six and striking out 24. Klein signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022.
     
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