Nash Walker

The early returns on the Minnesota Twins' No. 5 pick Walker Jenkins are exceptional. Jenkins is dominating the lower levels of the minors, increasing excitement for his future among the fanbase. View full video

If the Minnesota Twins make an unlikely run this October, how will they do it? Let's break it down. View full video

After back to back ACL surgeries and plenty of adversity, Royce Lewis looks exactly like the player Twins fans hoped he would be after the team drafted him first overall in 2017. Lewis is hitting for average, power, and playing a strong third base in the middle of a pennant race. View full video

The hometown kid Matt Wallner has burst onto the scene as an instant contributor for the Minnesota Twins. Is this his true talent level or just an early bender? Let's discuss. View full video

The Minnesota Twins were hoping Pablo López would provide much needed stability in their rotation after the group let them down in 2022. López is delivering on that plus much more, as the promising young right-hander finds his Ace form at the perfect time for the Twins. View full video

The Minnesota Twins have been in first place in the AL Central for most of the season and own a lead into the dog days of summer. If the Twins hang on, their most likely opponent in the Wild Card round is the Toronto Blue Jays. Let's break down why this isn't a bad matchup for the Twins. View full video

The Twins are floundering against left-handed pitching again in 2023, creating a need for a platoon right-handed outfielder at the deadline. Let's compare two prominent rental options in Teoscar Hernández and Hunter Renfroe. View full video

Even with injuries to Brock Stewart and Caleb Thielbar, Minnesota's bullpen has held its own through the dog days of summer. Let's analyze two exciting relief targets who could transform the Twins' arm barn from a good unit to a great unit. View full video

For years, the perceived strength of the Twins’ farm system was a slew of left-handed mashers in the corners. Fast-forward to 2023 and you’ll find an unbalanced roster in need of help against southpaws, especially but not limited to the outfield. Here are three trade targets to monitor at the deadline. Image courtesy of Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports Target No. 1: Nationals OF Lane Thomas Lane Thomas is enjoying a breakout campaign for Washington, sporting career highs in nearly every offensive category. Thomas, 27, has played all three outfield spots in his career while spending most of his time in right in 2023. You aren’t targeting the fringy (at best) glove. Thomas is hitting .299/.348/.490 with 24 doubles, two triples, and 14 homers through 91 games. The strikeout rate is elevated (25%), but Thomas has mashed for both average and power in the heart of Washington’s order. He’s essentially what the Twins need: a controllable, right-handed outfielder with upside. In an attractive twist for the Twins, Thomas has monster splits. Against righties, Thomas owns a career .689 OPS in nearly 900 plate appearances. Against lefties, that OPS rises over 200 points to a remarkable .908. Since his debut in 2019, Thomas is tied with Tim Anderson and Manny Machado for wRC+ against left-handed pitching (146). He’s a true lefty destroyer, evidenced by a .374 average and 1.076 OPS against southpaws this season. The question is whether Washington will part with a potential building block as Thomas is under team control for 2.5 more seasons. Target No. 2: Red Sox 3B/1B Justin Turner The Twins had reported interest in Justin Turner this offseason, and that process looks sound. The longtime Dodger is rocking an OPS well over league average in his age-38 season, mostly starting at DH with Rafael Devers entrenched at third base. Turner graded as a decent defensive third baseman in Los Angeles and has been just fine at the hot corner in limited time this year. With Royce Lewis rehabbing an oblique injury and José Miranda on the injured list with a lingering shoulder issue, Turner could be a valuable fit. The red beard is holding his own versus right handers (.790 OPS), and as usual, is crushing lefties (.950 OPS). Turner owns a $13.4 million player option for the 2024 season, slightly complicating the prospects of a trade. The Twins have promising options to start at third in Lewis and top prospect Brooks Lee. If Turner were to exercise his option for next year, he could platoon with Alex Kirilloff at first base or start at designated hitter (assuming Byron Buxton returns to centerfield). This equation gets muddy when you think for the future, but Turner would undoubtedly improve the Twins’ lineup while adding a valuable veteran voice who has played in 86 Postseason games. Turner made sense last winter and he makes sense now. Target No. 3: Mariners OF Teoscar Hernández The Mariners and Blue Jays completed an under-the-radar but significant trade last winter involving 2022 stalwart reliever Erik Swanson and 2021 All-Star Teoscar Hernández. Seattle moved Swanson, who posted a 1.68 ERA in 57 appearances in 2022, for a grip-and-rip masher in Hernández on an expiring deal. Hernández, after hitting .283 with power in the heart of a deadly Blue Jays lineup from 2020 to 2022, is struggling to match those numbers this season. The 30-year-old leads MLB in strikeouts, an unattractive mark for a Twins club on pace to set a record for punchies. The pull is in the splits. Hernández isn’t touching righties, but continues to crush lefties to the tune of a .571 slugging percentage. If you’re looking for an inexpensive rental suited for a very specific role, you can do a lot worse than Hernández. He was a potent bat for multiple seasons prior to this one and is still only 30 years old. Hernández seems like the ideal lightning-in-a-bottle addition, much like Jorge Soler and Eddie Rosario for Atlanta in 2021. You might get a ton of strikeouts and poor outfield defense… or you’ll get the Hernández from the second half of 2021, when he hit .296 with a .925 OPS and 21 homers in 75 games. This is a high upside play and one I think the Twins should absolutely explore. What do you think of these three options for the Twins at the deadline? Comment below! View full article

I had this same thought for sure. I am sick of thinking about it too! I wish it wasn't so present. I can't shake the feeling when I watch the Twins every day.

Appreciate you reading. My stance is pretty clear. If they don't end the postseason losing streak in 2023, it's time for a change.

In what was primarily deemed at the time as a "win" of a trade for the hometown nine, the Pablo López (plus two prospects) swap for Luis Arraez is creating sharp twangs of angst across Twins territory. The 26-year-old hitting maestro is heading to his second straight All-Star Game while the Twins continue to middle away into despair. Image courtesy of Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports Every offseason, Derek Falvey and Thad Levine have specifically and aggressively targeted the areas that stopped them short of a run in the playoffs in the prior year. After the Twins hit a record number of home runs (307) and won 101 games in 2019, the front office made a run at Zach Wheeler to add a much-needed frontline starter. They lost the bidding to Philadelphia and instead flipped Brusdar Graterol in a trade for Kenta Maeda, who subsequently finished second for the American League Cy Young Award. They also added Josh Donaldson on a team-record free agent contract, shifting Miguel Sanó to first base to prevent more runs. The plan worked. The team pitched very well in the Covid-plagued 2020 campaign, riding Maeda, José Berríos, Randy Dobnak, and a stalwart bullpen to the playoffs. Jorge Polanco's inexcusable error in game two of the Wild Card Series prompted the next volcanic shift. The Twins signed Andrelton Simmons, moved Polanco to second base, and hoped they'd checked the last box. After a complete disaster in 2021, the Twins added a premium player in Carlos Correa, traded for Sonny Gray, and extended Byron Buxton, among many other moves. The rotation broke down throughout the summer as Dylan Bundy and Chris Archer predictably faded following stellar starts. Falvey and Levine noticed… to say the least. The Twins traded one of their best players, the reigning American League batting champion and a fan favorite, to add more quality depth to the rotation that failed them. It seems they went too far. Entering play Thursday, Arraez would lead all qualified Twins in batting average (duh), on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and b-Wins Above Replacement. It was an extreme but reasonable move in the moment. The Twins couldn't rely on Maeda, Tyler Mahle, or Bailey Ober for a high volume of innings. In the case of Maeda and Mahle, that proved overwhelmingly valid. While López has pitched much better than his ERA suggests, the Twins misjudged the overall impact of losing Arraez. Fans have longed for a rotation loaded with playoff-caliber starters. It's finally here, but at what cost? Multiple things can be true. Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton have been legitimately bad, keeping the Twins from consistency. José Miranda is at Triple-A after a horrendous start. Jorge Polanco has played only 30 games due to various leg injuries. Arraez can't make up for that lack of production. However, the Twins' spark plug brought immense energy and an elite ability to put bat to ball. This club is asleep at the wheel, aimlessly whiffing and whiffing en route to an MLB-record number of strikeouts. The argument that Arraez couldn't help much because the Twins wouldn't drive him in ignores Arraez as a run producer himself. Arraez would not only lead the Twins in RBI but also doubles. Don't get it twisted; they massively miss his bat, especially in a slew of spots where just a harmless fly ball to left or a grounder to second would do the trick. This offense is so one-dimensional, so prone to strikeouts, that the thought of adding back Luis Arraez is like seeing a glass of water after months in a scorching desert. Arraez is the anti-Twin in 2023, and it's painful, especially considering how likable Arraez has been since his debut in 2019. The Twins took a gamble they could make up for his loss, and so far it's been sobering. Several past moves are haunting the Twins in 2023. Time will tell, especially considering Pablo López is only 27 years old and under team control through 2027. The Twins may come out on top when all is said and done. For now, though, it's flopping ruinously in a year where the front office desperately needs results. View full article

Hey Doc! Appreciate the comment. I am loving Reno and the Aces. It's a great opportunity here and I am calling games and growing every day!

The Twins backed up a great series win in Houston with a measly split at home against the Guardians. Royce Lewis returned with a bang, injuries piled up, and the feeling of a missed opportunity loomed into the weekend. Image courtesy of © Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports Weekly Snapshot: Mon, 5/29 through Sun, 6/4 Record Last Week: 4-3 (Overall: 31-29) Run Differential Last Week: +3 (Overall: +45) Standing: 1st Place in AL Central (3.5 GA) Last Week's Game Results: Game 54 | MIN 7, HOU 5: Lewis Powers Twins to Win in Extras Game 55 | HOU 5, MIN 1: Twins Lineup Fails to Launch in Houston Game 56 | MIN 8, HOU 2: Bats Erupt, Varland Throws a Gem Game 57 | MIN 7, CLE 6: Twins Lose (Players), but Win in Walk-off Fashion Game 58 | MIN 1, CLE 0: Bailey Ober Crushes Cleveland on Apple TV… Again Game 59 | CLE 4, MIN 2: Gray Allows First Home Run of Season, Twins Lose Game 60 | CLE 2, MIN 1: Seventh Inning Costs Twins Again NEWS & NOTES It was another busy week on the Twins transaction front. Royce Lewis made his highly anticipated return a year after his second ACL surgery as the Twins transferred Nick Gordon (tibia) to the 60-day IL, freeing up the 40-man roster spot for the former No. 1 pick. The team activated Max Kepler (hamstring) from the injured list and optioned Matt Wallner, who had reached in eight straight plate appearances last weekend at Target Field. The Twins sent Kenta Maeda (elbow) and Caleb Thielbar (oblique) to St.Paul on rehab before activating Thielbar for Sunday’s finale. Gilberto Celestino (thumb) is on the recovery trail, joining Low-A Fort Myers for a rehab assignment. Jorge Polanco (hamstring) returned from his second stint on the IL and Edouard Julien re-joined the Saints in a clean swap at second base. Julien was 2 for his last 16 with seven strikeouts and two walks before the demotion. Joey Gallo’s left hamstring remained a problem and landed him on the IL after Friday’s game. With a slew of left-handed starters on the schedule, Kyle Garlick received the call and joined the team Saturday. And finally, the Twins placed Cole Sands (shoulder impingement) on the injured list Sunday in the move to activate Thielbar. HIGHLIGHTS It takes a special person and player to miss an overwhelming majority of the last three seasons, endure back-to-back knee surgeries, and still return as an instant star-level talent. In his first game back Monday in Houston, one year to the day of his second ACL tear, Lewis blasted a three-run homer in his second at-bat. Lewis proclaimed he felt “something special” was going to happen in the game and… that was an understatement. With the Twins trailing by one with two on and two out in the ninth, Lewis lined an opposite field single off Ryan Pressly to tie the game. It was an exceptional swing on an exceptional slider from one of the best pitchers in baseball. The Twins went on to win in extras en route to a fantastic road series victory. A grossly similar script to last year’s headaches played out again in Thursday’s series opener with the Guardians. Cleveland barraged Pablo López with singles, erasing the Twins’ advantage and turning a three-run lead over to its fantastic bullpen. Lewis remained unfazed, blasting a two-run, game-tying homer to the centerfield berm off Trevor Stephan in the eighth. The Twins went on to walk-off the Guards on a Willi Castro sacrifice fly. Without Lewis, this week looks starkly different. It feels like the Twins just added one of their best all-around players, with Lewis flashing his elite athleticism at third base and in the batter’s box. In a scary and distressing turn, Lewis tumbled mightily in a scary collision with Gabriel Arias late Sunday. Luckily, Royce walked off under his own power after several minutes on the ground. Rocco Baldelli said it doesn’t appear Lewis is concussed or seriously injured. The Lewis and Alex Kirilloff duo Twins fans have dreamed on forever is finally taking hold. Kirilloff went 7-for-17 with seven walks in 25 plate appearances on the week. AK is hitting .304/.439/.468 in 26 games, combining patience with an elite slashing ability that made him one of the top prospects in the game just a few years ago. Jhoan Durán remains unbelievable. The Twins’ superstar reliever pitched two scoreless frames in Monday’s extra innings win over the Astros, striking out Yordan Álvarez on a disgusting 99 mph splinker to finish the game. Duran went multiple innings again in Friday’s win, dicing up the Guardians in a 1-0 Twins shutout win. Bailey Ober was also tremendous with six scoreless innings, lowering his ERA to 2.33. Ober now owns a 3.47 ERA in 39 MLB starts and looks more like a frontline starter than a depth one. Louie Varland is making a similar case. The St.Paul native shoved with seven scoreless innings on the road in Houston on Wednesday, working with a mid-90s heater and a nasty cutter. Varland has a 3.51 ERA and 23% strikeout rate through seven starts. Of note, Joe Ryan owned a 3.55 ERA with a 25% strikeout rate in his rookie campaign last season. LOWLIGHTS If there’s been a worse start to a $200 million contract, I’d like to see it. Carlos Correa went 1-for-12 with six strikeouts and one walk in another horrific week. Correa missed all but seven innings in a vital series with Cleveland as he nurses lingering pain from his plantar fasciitis. Correa is hitting .207/.299/.372 while leading the American League in double plays as essentially a replacement-level player. Byron Buxton is hitting .177 and slugging .318 since the start of May. He’s been largely terrible with 27 strikeouts and just six runs driven in over that span, making all his starts at DH. To add injury to insult, Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee drilled him in the ribs with a 97 mph fastball in Thursday’s series opener. Buxton had to sleep in a rocking chair and missed the rest of the series. Speaking of long-term building blocks, Pablo López has been entirely underwhelming. López unraveled Thursday night and has allowed 31 earned runs in 45 ⅓ innings since signing his four-year, $73.5 million extension. Jorge López hit a new low… and a gatorade cooler. The Twins’ prized 2022 deadline relief addition has coughed up five home runs over his last 3 ⅓ innings. The Twins’ belief in Kepler continues to prove misguided after he returned from the injured list to go 3-for-26 with seven strikeouts and zero walks. With Wallner crushing at Triple-A and Trevor Larnach on the mend from pneumonia, it’s worth wondering just how long the Twins will let this ineptitude happen. Kepler is not under team control beyond this season with a $10M club option (and $1M buyout) left on his extension. He's a corner outfielder hitting .192 with a 76 wRC+ in 140 plate appearances. In any other circumstance, a DFA would seem likely. Given how the Twins have stuck by Kepler, though, that seems improbable. TRENDING STORYLINE It sounds like Buxton, Correa, and Kirilloff will all return to the lineup early this week. The Twins offense remains inconsistent at best and feeble at worst. Can they finally click with all of their guns in the lineup? LOOKING AHEAD On paper, this is one of the most difficult weeks of the year. The Rays and Blue Jays await on an American League Beast road trip following the off-day. The Twins will miss Shane McClanahan in a dash of good fortune but may have to solve Tyler Glasnow and Kevin Gausman. TUESDAY, 6/6: TWINS @ RAYS – RHP Louie Varland vs. RHP Zach Eflin WEDNESDAY, 6/7: TWINS @ RAYS – RHP Pablo López vs. RHP Yonny Chirinos THURSDAY, 6/8: TWINS @ RAYS – RHP Bailey Ober vs. RHP Tyler Glasnow FRIDAY, 6/9: TWINS @ BLUE JAYS – RHP Sonny Gray vs. LHP Yusei Kikuchi SATURDAY, 6/10: TWINS @ BLUE JAYS – RHP Joe Ryan vs. RHP Alek Manoah SUNDAY, 6/11: TWINS @ BLUE JAYS – RHP Louie Varland vs. RHP Kevin Gausman View full article