The Minnesota Twins' Baserunning Mindset Is Changing

Few teams have been more risk-averse on the bases than the Rocco Baldelli-era Twins. Extra bases were left on the table, stolen base attempts were rare, and the emphasis was clearly on avoiding outs, rather than creating pressure. Under Baldelli, the Twins have been last in MLB in stolen bases for four of the past six seasons. That lack of movement wasn’t just about steals; it was an overall approach that prioritized staying safe over aggressiveness.

Through the first week of the 2025 season, however, something feels different. No, the Twins aren’t suddenly morphing into the 1985 Cardinals, but there’s real evidence (in both words and actions) that they’re beginning to view the basepaths as a place to gain an edge, rather than merely survive. Whether it’s Byron Buxton turning back the clock with a couple of early steals, Royce Lewis refusing to play it safe, or an eighth-inning dash from Dashawn Keirsey Jr., the Twins are showing signs of life in an area that’s been lifeless for years.

This shift was addressed directly by Baldelli, thanks to a well-timed prompt from Cory Provus during a recent media scrum. The skipper made it clear the team made a conscious effort in spring training to rethink its baserunning approach.

“We spent a lot of time in spring training preaching just general aggressiveness, being on your toes," Baldelli said. "Not running the bases passively. Running the bases aggressively and pushing the envelope is always an important thing.”

Gone are the days of passive jogging during BP. Instead, the Twins worked on baserunning every day, during live drills, during batting practice, in situations meant to simulate the split-second decisions that define a game.

“I wanted our guys to get as many reads and visuals as they possibly could during camp,” Baldelli said. “And it’s something we’re gonna carry over into the season.”

Some of the previous caution came from practical concerns. Carlos Correa has battled foot issues. Buxton spent all of 2023 as a DH. Lewis's muscles are all looking for the first excuse to tear. When your most athletic players are your most injury-prone, you play the long game. But that patience also had a cost, one the team appears less willing to pay in 2025.

Take Lewis. He’s coming off yet another injury, and nobody would blame him for dialing things back. But that’s not who he is, and he knows it.

“I’m not gonna change who I am. If I start changing who I am, then I think as a player, I’ll start diminishing my value,” he said. “What I do is very special. I think everyone’s able to see that, and I think that’s why everyone is so mad that I keep getting hurt. People want to see me out on the field.”

His style is part of what gives the Twins their edge. He plays with purpose, and that includes taking extra bases, even if it means risk.

Meanwhile, Buxton already has enough steals (2) in the first week to suggest that he;ll eclipse his total from last season (7 in 102 games), and if he weren’t struggling at the plate, he’d likely have more. The fact that he’s running at all is meaningful. He’s still one of the fastest players in the game, and his willingness to go is a signal that the governor may be off.

Then there are the subtler signs. On Tuesday night in Kansas City, Keirsey entered the game as a pinch-runner for Ryan Jeffers in the 8th inning. On a solid single to right, he took off—first to third without hesitation. It won’t show up in any stolen base totals, but it mattered. It was instinctive, aggressive, and, for a team like the Twins, refreshingly out of character.

“Stolen bases help you win,” Baldelli said. “But going first to third, having an aggressive mindset… that’s going to bring runs to the board, too.”

The Twins even went out this offseason and added a player who fits the mold: Harrison Bader, a burner who has multiple double-digit steal seasons and plays with the kind of frantic energy this team has often lacked.

Minnesota’s offense has sputtered early, and that’s become a familiar story. If the bats aren’t going to carry the load, the Twins will need to find other ways to generate runs. Smart, aggressive baserunning might be their best chance to do it.

No, they’re not going to steal 200 bags. But the mindset appears to be shifting. The Twins might not be a track team just yet, but they’re finally taking their foot off the brakes.