Minnesota Twins Hitters of the Month - May 2025

The Twins flipped the momentum of their 2025 campaign in May, by going 18-8. Interestingly enough, their run production barely ticked up, from 4.0 to 4.2 runs per game compared to the first month of the season. May featured the amazing 13-game winning streak, plus several walk-off winners and comebacks, showing glimpses of the late-game offense that fueled the 2024 Twins' early success (and was almost completely absent in March and April). Team OPS rose, along with a reduction in strikeout percentage, leading one to believe that the new hitting philosophy was beginning to take root across the lineup. Granted, there are some players who couldn't be hitting worse if they tried (see key 2023-24 hopefuls Edouard Julien's rough start to May and subsequent demotion, and Royce Lewis's .430 OPS). Ty France came back to Earth, while not imploding completely, and Matt Wallner missed the entire month with an injury.

With multiple members of the Twins lineup struggling in May, how in the world did they find their way to 18 wins? Look no further than these four bats, who kept the offense alive just enough and at the right moments to (hopefully) save the season.

Honorable Mention: Carlos Correa .313/.352/.522/.874, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 11 R, 21 H, 4 BB
After a horrendously slow start, Correa began to regain his swing early in May, and was perhaps the hottest Twins hitter in the last week of the month after returning from his concussion IL stint. In a small sample size (67 AB), Correa managed to make consistent hard contact and saw the OPS climb as a result. His signature swing came in extra innings in the Twins' lone victory in Seattle, but he also got the Twins back into some games that eventually ended in losses. Since one never can tell how a game will go until it's all said and done, Correa's improved at-bats from the first inning to extras helped to make the Twins' winning May a possibility. His glove also can't be overlooked as a function of his offensive value, as he continues to save runs on the defensive side. That adds to his value.

#3: Trevor Larnach .269/.309/.462/.771, 4 HR, 14 RBI, 13 R, 21 H, 4 BB
Larnach stays in the third spot in our monthly awards lineup, due to his consistency both in availability and results. Larnach outpaced the other players on this list by 40 at-bats in May (104 total), and his numbers didn't climb from month to month, but they didn't decrease, either (except for runs, which are beyond his control, and a whopping 10 fewer walks). As the final weekend of the month proved, Larnach found a way to hit the ball hard when the game was on the line, and more often than not, that helped lead the Twins to victory. A case could have been made for Harrison Bader to remain on the list, but Larnach delivered more runs and RBIs in May, and since the game's outcome most relies on those two metrics Trevor gets the nod.

#2: Byron Buxton .317/.382/.567/.949, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 2 SB, 13 R, 19 H, 7 BB
The magic carpet ride of 117 plate appearances in March/April came to a literal crashing halt in May, with Buxton's collision with Correa limiting him to 60 plate appearances in May. On the positive side, Buxton's production held steady both before and after the incident, with stolen bases taking the steepest dip. As evidenced in the Seattle series, when Buxton is healthy and in the lineup, he is an offensive weapon that has the ability to change games. As evidenced in the offensive drought of the prior week, when Buxton is absent the Twins lack ways of making up for that absence. All signs from Buxton's return point to him operating on all cylinders in June. So expect plenty more of the Buck Truck!

May Hitter of the Month: Kody Clemens .279/.362/.623/.985, 5 HR, 12 RBI, 9 R, 17 H, 6 BB
When the Twins acquired Kody Clemens in late April in the wake of Luke Keaschall's injury, most Twins fans were more curious about Clemen's pedigree than his potential for actual production with the club. Clemens came to Minnesota batting .000 for the Phillies in only four at-bats. He started his tenure with the Twins going 2-for-12, but that "2" was a loud number. On May 3 at Fenway Park, Clemens launched the game-winning homer and started a string of success that is quickly gaining legend status amongst the Twins faithful.

Due to injuries and demotions, Clemens found himself roaming the outfield and infield at a full-time frequency starting with the Baltimore series in mid-May, and the victories at the end of the streak draw a direct correlation to Kody. His bat cooled down in the Tampa heat and stayed cold into the last game of the month in Seattle, so it will be interesting to see if Clemens can make the adjustments necessary now that there is a book on how to pitch him. Buxton's return also potentially limits Clemens' opportunity for playing time, but as he got a look at first base recently, his left-handed bat will seemingly find its way into the Twins lineup as long as this level of production can be sustained. Twins fans are definitely hoping that these beautiful swings weren't just mirages as the season progresses.

What do you think, Twins Daily faithful? Who would get your award for Twins Hitter of the Month in May 2025? Do you think Clemens has was it takes to stay in the lineup come July? Leave your own rankings below.