Matthew Taylor

Image courtesy of © Brad Rempel-Imagn Images The Minnesota Twins were scheduled for Game 81 of the 2025 season Thursday, marking the official halfway point of the 162-game grind. That milestone brings a natural chance to pause and reflect on what's gone right, what’s gone wrong, and which players have made the biggest difference in a season that has been anything but consistent. The first half featured a 13-game winning streak that kept the Twins in the playoff race, but that hot stretch has been surrounded on both sides by some of the worst baseball the team has played in years. They’ve struggled to stay healthy; to hit consistently; and to maintain the pitching depth that was such a point of pride entering this season. Still, they’re not out of the race, and there are a few players who deserve credit for that. Here’s a look at the Twins’ first-half MVP ballot, counting down the five most valuable players who have kept this season from completely unraveling. 5. Jhoan Duran – 37 G, 35 1/3 IP, 1.78 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 40 K, 14 BB, 1.0 fWAR, 0.58 WPA In a bullpen full of question marks and inconsistency, Duran has been one of the few answers. He’s posted a 1.78 ERA while handling by far the highest-leverage spots of any Twins reliever, with an average leverage index of 1.88. He’s allowed just seven earned runs all season, and has converted 11 saves while only blowing two opportunities. With Griffin Jax running into bad luck and others fading in and out of various roles, Duran has anchored the back end of the bullpen and been one of the most reliable arms on the entire pitching staff. 4. Pablo López – 11 G, 60 2/3 IP, 2.82 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 61 K, 14 BB, 1.6 fWAR, 0.65 WPA Pablo López didn’t make it to the halfway point healthy, but his 11 starts before and between stints on the injured list were exactly what the Twins needed. He was sharp, efficient, and dependable, regularly going deep into games and leading the Twins rotation. Since López was placed on the IL on June 3, the Twins rotation has posted a 6.61 ERA, underscoring just how important he was. Even in limited time, he still ranks second among Twins starters in fWAR and WPA. His absence has only made his value more obvious. 3. Harrison Bader – 71 G, .251/.336/.410, 7 HR, 27 RBI, 1.4 fWAR, 0.30 WPA The Twins signed Bader as a fourth outfielder and potential insurance policy for Byron Buxton. Instead, they’ve gotten an everyday player who has quietly become one of their most valuable contributors. Bader has played excellent defense in left field, while putting together his most productive offensive season since 2021. His on-base percentage is a career-high .336, thanks to improved walk rates, and he filled in admirably when Byron Buxton missed time with a concussion. Bader has been steady and impactful, and far exceeded expectations. 2. Joe Ryan – 16 G, 91 1/3 IP, 2.86 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 104 K, 20 BB, 1.8 fWAR, 1.78 WPA With López injured and the rest of the rotation floundering, Ryan has stepped up and pitched like a legitimate ace. He leads the staff in innings, ERA, WHIP, and strikeouts, and he's posted the highest Win Probability Added of any pitcher or hitter on the team. Ryan has taken a step forward this season, showing the ability to dominate lineups deep into games and flashing command and consistency that sets him apart from the rest of the staff. If the Twins have any chance of turning this around, it will be because Ryan continues to pitch at this level every fifth day. 1. Byron Buxton – 62 G, .280/.346/.559, 17 HR, 47 RBI, 3.1 fWAR, 1.68 WPA Byron Buxton is not only the team’s MVP at the halfway point; he’s playing like someone who belongs in the league-wide MVP conversation. He leads the Twins in nearly every major offensive category, including OPS, home runs, RBIs, stolen bases, fWAR, and WPA. Even more importantly, he’s been on the field nearly every day and playing center field at a high level. Outside of a two-week stint on the shelf with a concussion, Buxton has been a daily fixture in the lineup, and his impact is felt in every phase of the game. After years of starts and stops, Buxton is finally putting together a season that lives up to the sky-high expectations—and doing it when the Twins have desperately needed a reason to believe. Without him, it’s hard to imagine how bad things could be. The first half didn’t go according to plan, but the Twins are still within striking distance of a playoff spot, and these five players are the biggest reasons why. Whether they can keep it going or whether a new group steps forward in the second half remains to be seen. Maybe Carlos Correa finds another gear. Maybe Bailey Ober bounces back. Maybe Brooks Lee makes a leap and forces his way onto this list. For now, these are the players holding things together. Who’s on your first-half MVP ballot? Do you agree with these picks or do you have someone else in your top five? Let us know in the comments below. View full article

Image courtesy of © Matt Blewett-Imagn Images The Athletic's Dan Hayes reported Tuesday that the Minnesota Twins have picked up manager Rocco Baldelli’s team option for the 2026 season. In doing so, the Twins made it clear that not only is Baldelli safe for the remainder of 2025, but that they intend to continue forward with him leading the team beyond this season. It’s a baffling message to send right now, although it's not clear when the team actually made the decision and Hayes's reporting might have forced them into this untimely acknowledgment. The Twins have been a bad baseball team for a long time now. They are 49-70 in the 119 games since Jorge Alcala’s meltdown in Texas last summer, and that record doesn't begin to tell the story of how lifeless and sloppy this team has looked. They’re getting beat in ways that well-run teams simply don’t. They’re failing in the details. They’re playing poor defense, running into outs, and routinely losing winnable games. One-run games, in particular, often shine a light on a manager’s in-game decision-making. The Twins have now lost eight one-run games in a row and are 7-14 in those games on the year; they went 3-6 in those games over the final quarter of last year. It’s not the only problem, but it’s one where a manager can make a difference. This team is headed toward missing the playoffs for the fourth time in five years. That would be unacceptable for any franchise, but especially one that has consistently had the highest or second-highest payroll in a division as weak as the American League Central. For all the talk of sustained contention and long-term vision, this is a team that continues to fall short. Right now, the Twins are stuck in their worst stretch of the season. They have lost 11 of 12 and 15 of their last 18. Since this collapse began on June 5, they have the worst pitching staff in baseball, with a 7.67 ERA. And it’s not just numbers painting a bleak picture. In an in-game report on Monday, Audra Martin shared some troubling quotes from Twins batters, including Ty France, who said the Twins need to “take a little bit more pride” in themselves when they fall behind early. Even more troubling were comments from Carlos Correa, who said the team “can do a better job with preparation.” Audra Martin reported that Correa had a conversation with the front office and coaching staff about the team’s lack of readiness. You want your clubhouse leader holding people accountable, but it’s alarming to hear that your franchise shortstop felt compelled to initiate a conversation on preparedness, one of the most fundamental and important aspects of a manager's job description. And the signs of that lack of preparation show up constantly in the games themselves. To be fair, it's part of Baldelli's managerial philosophy to have players communicate with each other when expectations aren't being met, or when there's information they can share. "Staff members can do great things, but the guys in the clubhouse, they’re going through the exact same thing at the exact same time in that room," Baldelli said, back on May 25. "You have guys that have great perspective in there, and there’s nothing like a teammate being real with you and helping you out. That can happen so many different ways, but that’s the best way for it to work. If a staff member in any way feels like they have to be the one to always have a conversation with a player about any topic, you’re probably missing something along the way." All of this adds up to a message from the front office that feels completely out of touch. The decision to pick up Baldelli’s team option for 2026 might have been made quietly. We don’t know the exact timing of it, and it’s certainly possible the decision was finalized back during the team’s 13-game winning streak earlier this year, or even during spring training. That wouldn’t make it a smart move. It would just make it another example of the organization reacting to the wrong things. The winning streak, for instance, got the team back to .500 but didn’t erase the bad start, nor did it guarantee anything going forward. There was simply no need to make this move now—or at all. If the team rallies, if Baldelli proves something down the stretch, there would have been time to revisit this later. But having this information leak out during the worst stretch of baseball the Twins have played in years makes it feel like a slap in the face to fans who are tired of being told that everything is fine. Even if Baldelli isn’t one of the main reasons the Twins are underperforming (and that's a very defensible position), he is still the public face of the team. Managers get fired all the time, less because of what they do strategically and more because of the message it sends when you let them stick around. Keeping him is a vote of confidence not just in his leadership, but in the direction of the organization. Right now, that direction is not acceptable. The front office didn’t need to fire Baldelli. That’s not the argument. But to pick up his 2026 option right now communicates that they are perfectly okay with how things are going. That’s the problem. There’s still time for things to turn around. A hot month or two could push the Twins back into the race and take the heat off. But there’s just as much chance that things continue spiraling and the frustration grows louder. Either way, picking up Baldelli’s option was unnecessary, and it sends the wrong message. Twins fans don’t want to be told that what they’ve seen for five years is good enough. Because it’s not. Unfortunately, with the sale of the team on hold, it seems that all leadership decisions are cleaving to the status quo. What do you think about the timing of this decision? Should the Twins have waited to make a call on Rocco's 2026 status? Share your thoughts in the comments below. View full article

Image courtesy of © Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images For more than two decades, the Minnesota Twins failed to develop starting pitching with any consistency. When Derek Falvey was hired in 2016, one of the primary hopes was that he could change that. He had helped build Cleveland's well-regarded pitching development system, and fans in Minnesota envisioned something similar taking root here. It didn’t happen overnight, but over the past couple of years, there were real signs of progress. Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober emerged as very productive starters at the major league level. Simeon Woods Richardson broke through in 2024. David Festa and Zebby Matthews climbed the ladder. Marco Raya, Andrew Morris, Charlee Soto, and Connor Prielipp represended depth, pedigree, and momentum. The idea that Minnesota had finally built a sustainable pitching pipeline started to take hold. But now, in 2025, that belief is being tested. Nearly every name in that group has encountered struggles, setbacks, or injury concerns. It’s not time to declare the system broken, but it’s fair to revisit the optimism and ask whether we may have gotten ahead of ourselves. Ryan remains a clear success story. Acquired in the Nelson Cruz trade, he has developed into a reliable top-of-the-rotation starter and a key piece of the team’s future. He’s one of the few players in this conversation whose stock has held steady, or even improved. Ober is another developmental win. A 12th-round pick who turned into a big-league starter is a major credit to the front office. But this season has brought concerns. His fastball velocity has dipped into the upper 80s and low 90s, his ERA has crept over 4.50 again, and his mechanics are completely out of whack. For now, he looks more like a back-end starter than the mid-rotation mainstay he resembled in the past. There’s still plenty of value there, but his trajectory has shifted. Meanwhile, Woods Richardson was a key contributor in 2024, helping stabilize the rotation early in the year. In 2025, he’s struggled to miss bats, been optioned to Triple-A, and returned more out of necessity than performance. His ERA sits over 5.00, and his strikeout rate is a career low. There’s still promise in his arm, but he hasn’t looked like someone the Twins can count on every fifth day. Festa looked like he might be ready to make the leap. He finished last season strong, and expectations were high entering this year. But in 2025, he’s battled shoulder fatigue and inconsistency, posting a 6.39 ERA and struggling to pitch deep into games. His strikeouts are down, his walks are up, and he has only reached five innings once all year. Festa still has youth and tools, but this season has been a step backward. Matthews showed up to spring training with major buzz. He pitched well in Triple-A and earned a promotion. His four starts with the Twins were a mixed bag, and he’s since landed on the injured list with a shoulder strain. It’s far too soon to make any declarations, but shoulder issues are always worrisome for young starters, especially those who rely on high-end velocity. Behind them, depth is looking thinner than expected. Andrew Morris is on the IL with a forearm strain after an uneven run in Triple-A. Marco Raya has a 7.59 ERA in 13 starts and has taken a significant step back. Even his long-term role as a starter now feels uncertain. Connor Prielipp, who was once one of the most intriguing arms in the system, has pitched this year but is now trending more toward a relief profile than a rotation piece. Soto, CJ Culpepper, and others bring upside, but they are still a ways off and have yet to face advanced competition. Counting on them for meaningful big-league innings anytime soon would be premature. To be fair, none of this is unique to the Twins. Pitching development is incredibly difficult, and arm injuries are more common than ever in today's game. But it also raises the question, is this just normal turbulence in the development process, or is there something about the system itself that still hasn’t quite clicked? This front office deserves credit for finding Ryan, developing Ober, and building some bullpen depth. But if pitching was supposed to be the calling card, and if the position-player development hasn’t been a major strength, the bar has to be higher. We’re not here to declare the pipeline a failure. There is still potential in Festa. Zebby could bounce back. Raya, Morris, Prielipp, they’re not done yet. But the shine has worn off a bit, and almost every name that carried hope into the year now comes with questions. It’s fair to wonder if we crowned the Twins’ pitching pipeline too soon. View full article

Image courtesy of © Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images Box Score SP: Bailey Ober 7 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 0 BB, 7 K (102 pitches, 71 strikes (70%)) Home Runs: Trevor Larnach (11), Carlos Correa (6) Bottom 3 WPA: Ober -.327, Byron Buxton -.087, Christian Vázquez -.083 Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs): The Twins welcomed the Mariners to town Monday night, hoping to rebound after getting swept by Milwaukee. Instead, they fell flat again, dropping their fourth straight and 10th in their last 11 games in an 11-2 loss. Bailey Ober got the start, looking to bounce back from recent struggles with his mechanics. After two scoreless innings, things unraveled in a hurry. In the top of the third, Seattle tagged Ober for five hits and six runs, including home runs by Julio Rodríguez and Luke Raley. Ober settled in after that, retiring seven straight at one point and pitching through seven full innings, but the damage had already been done. He gave up a third home run to Dominic Canzone in the sixth and finished the night with seven earned runs on his line. He was left in to preserve the bullpen, but the early implosion left the Twins with little chance. Minnesota’s offense once again failed to deliver in key moments. They left seven men on base and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, squandering an early opportunity in the second inning, when they had runners on the corners with one out but got nothing after strikeouts from Christian Vázquez and Byron Buxton. The Twins finally showed a flicker of life in the bottom of the sixth, with back-to-back solo home runs from Trevor Larnach and Carlos Correa. Those were the only two runs they managed against Mariners starter Bryan Woo, who struck out nine and didn’t walk a batter across six innings. Unfortunately, it was too little, too late, as the game had been long decided before then. A highlight for the Twins (that will quickly be forgotten, thanks to the final score) was another spectacular play by Byron Buxton, this time in the field. Vote this man in the All-Star Game. Frankly, it's the only thing we have going for us right now. Seattle padded their lead in the ninth off Joey Wentz, scoring four more runs. Cal Raleigh, the league’s home run leader, crushed a two-run homer to put an exclamation point on the night and continue the Twins’ freefall in run differential. It was yet another lifeless performance from a squad that has looked lifeless ever since its 13-game winning streak ended just one month ago. What’s Next The Twins will try to stop the bleeding on Tuesday night, with Chris Paddack facing off against Seattle ace Luis Castillo. First pitch from Target Field is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. Whether the bats or bullpen can offer any support remains to be seen. Postgame Interview Bullpen Usage Report View full article

Image courtesy of © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The first wave of MLB All-Star voting results dropped this week, and one thing is immediately clear: Byron Buxton is being overlooked. Again. Buxton landed 13th among American League outfielders with 219,808 votes, trailing players like Jarren Duran, George Springer, and Daulton Varsho, none of whom are having a season remotely close to Buxton’s. Let’s run the numbers. Among AL outfielders, entering the weekend: Buxton ranks 2nd in fWAR (2.9), behind only Aaron Judge 2nd in wRC+ (148), again trailing only Judge 3rd in home runs (15) 6th in stolen bases And he’s doing all that while playing Gold-Glove caliber center field. He’s crashing into walls, robbing home runs, and making catches that defy logic. Buxton is finally healthy, finally playing center field again, and doing it all at an elite level. For years, the only thing holding him back was availability. This season, aside from a brief IL stint with a concussion, he’s been in the lineup almost every day. He’s not just living up to expectations. He’s surpassing them. So why isn’t he getting the recognition? It’s not about team success. The Twins are hovering around .500, just like the Mariners, Angels, Guardians, and Red Sox. Those teams all have players ahead of Buxton in the voting. The reality is more frustrating. Major League Baseball has long failed to market its stars, especially those outside of big markets. Byron Buxton is the exact kind of player baseball should be promoting: fast, powerful, highlight-reel ready. But he plays in Minnesota. And that means national exposure is minimal. But the national vote isn’t the only issue. Twins fans also need to look in the mirror. Yes, it’s hard to stay engaged. The frustration with ownership, declining Target Field attendance, and front office decisions is real and valid. But the disinterest that's grown out of those frustrations is showing up in moments like this. And it’s a shame. Because Byron Buxton has given everything to this franchise. He’s battled injuries year after year, stayed positive, signed a long-term extension to remain in Minnesota, and stuck it out through tough seasons and nasty things said about him online constantly. Now he’s finally healthy, finally playing happy, and he’s playing better than ever. Twins fans should be celebrating this. Voting Buxton into the All-Star Game isn’t about rewarding ownership. It’s about recognizing and honoring one of the most exciting, loyal, and elite players this franchise has ever had. We’ve seen fan bases step up before. Remember when Royals fans packed the All-Star ballot in 2016, getting players like Omar Infante into the game? It can be done. So let’s do it. Go to MLB.com/vote and vote Byron Buxton into the All-Star Game. Vote today. Vote tomorrow. Vote every day. Don’t let another season go by where Byron Buxton doesn’t get the national recognition he’s earned. Let’s make sure baseball’s most electrifying center fielder is in Atlanta this July where he belongs. View full article

Image courtesy of © Steven Branscombe-Imagn Images The MLB Draft offers teams a chance to dream big, and after the show Gage Wood just put on in Omaha, the University of Arkansas right-hander should be near the top of Minnesota’s board at pick 16. Wood made national headlines with a performance that will be talked about for years. Against Murray State in the College World Series, Wood threw a no-hitter with 19 strikeouts, setting a record for a nine-inning game in Omaha. He was one hit batter in the eighth inning from a perfect game. It was only the third no-hitter in CWS history, and by far the most overpowering. The outing instantly elevated his stock from an intriguing draft arm to one of the most electric prospects in the country. Wood’s profile backs up the hype. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and can reach 96 miles per hour, paired with a power curveball that consistently generates swings and misses. Across 10 starts this season in the SEC, Wood posted a 3.82 ERA while striking out 16.5 batters per nine innings. He began his college career as a closer, but transitioned into a full-time starting role in 2025 and improved steadily throughout the year. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel recently mocked Wood to the Twins at pick 16, noting that the right-hander could be moved quickly through the minors and might even see high-leverage innings out of a bullpen as a developmental stepping stone. The idea of Wood reaching the upper minors soon, or potentially helping in relief as early as this year, is drawing attention from teams seeking both ceiling and immediacy. Twins Daily draft expert Jamie Cameron highlighted Wood’s unique traits, pointing out that his fastball averages 96 with 17 inches of vertical break and 9.5 inches of arm-side movement from a 5-foot-5 release height, creating an unusual plane that makes life difficult for hitters. “If he stays healthy,” Cameron said, “he should be in the majors in two seasons.” Wood currently sits at No. 43 on Twins Daily’s consensus draft board. With mock draft updates coming after the College World Series, he’s expected to rise significantly. The comparisons to Cubs right-hander Cade Horton are already rolling in. Horton was a breakout performer in the 2022 College World Series who turned a late surge into a top-10 draft slot and was in the majors within three years. Like Horton, Wood’s combination of big-game poise, fastball power, and breaking ball effectiveness makes him one of the most compelling arms in the class. Despite Minnesota’s offensive struggles this season, the MLB Draft does not revolve around short-term roster needs. Building sustainable success means replenishing strengths, and the organization’s pitching pipeline has already shown signs of wear. Continued investment is necessary, and adding an arm like Wood helps ensure long-term depth and impact. The Twins have a proven track record of developing pitching, particularly adding velocity and refining arsenals. If the organization can help Wood tack on a few more ticks to his fastball and build a third pitch to go along with his fastball and curve, his upside could be enormous. Even if he remains a two-pitch power arm, the floor looks like a high-leverage reliever with quick upside. Minnesota has not taken a college pitcher in the first round since 2015 (who remembers Tyler Jay?). This year presents a rare opportunity to grab one with both polish and electricity, who just delivered one of the greatest postseason outings college baseball has ever seen. Gage Wood checks every box: velocity, strikeouts, swagger, and a fearless approach in the spotlight. If he is on the board at pick 16, Minnesota should not hesitate. What do you think about Gage Wood as a potential first-round pick? Which direction should the Twins go in this year’s draft? Leave a comment below and start the conversation! View full article

Image courtesy of © Katie Stratman-Imagn Images Box Score SP: Chris Paddack 5 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 K, 0 BB (82 pitches, 51 strikes (62%)) Home Runs: Byron Buxton 2 (14), Kody Clemens (7), Ryan Jeffers (5) Top 3 WPA: Buxton .175, Clemens .168, Jeffers .136 Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs): After six straight losses and another series slipping away, the Twins finally gave fans something to smile about. Minnesota’s lineup came alive Thursday afternoon in Cincinnati, slugging its way to a 12-5 win and avoiding a second consecutive sweep. Byron Buxton wasted no time setting the tone, launching his second leadoff home run in as many games to put the Twins up 1-0. The early spark was quickly erased in the bottom of the first, however, as the Reds took a 2-1 lead—but this time, the Twins didn’t fold. In the second inning, Kody Clemens hit his first home run since June 7, and Buxton followed with his second blast of the day. It was his fourth home run in the past three games and his 15th of the season, as he continues his incredible season (worthy of All-Star honors). The damage off Reds starter Nick Martinez didn’t stop there. Ty France and Ryan Jeffers each ripped 2-run doubles in the third inning to push the lead to 7-2 and end Martinez’s day before he could get nine outs. The Reds got a couple back in the bottom of the fourth on a Gavin Lux home run, but the Twins answered right away with RBI hits from Trevor Larnach and Carlos Correa to make it 9-4. Then in the eighth, Jeffers delivered the final big blow with a 448-foot, 2-run homer. That swing was especially encouraging after he left Tuesday’s game early with a hand injury and sat out Wednesday. It was his fifth home run of the year. Brooks Lee added another insurance run in the ninth with a bases-loaded walk, to cap the scoring. (Earlier in the game, Lee also extended his hitting streak to an impressive 18 games.) The offensive outburst contained 17 hits, including one from each starter, and featured 3-hit games from both Buxton and Correa. The bats finally looked alive after a sluggish two-week stretch and showed what this group can do when things are clicking, especially for their two best players. That firepower gave Chris Paddack some rare breathing room. He wasn’t especially sharp, allowing six hits and four earned runs over five innings with just three strikeouts. But the early cushion (something he hasn't had much of this season) gave him enough to work with, and he was able to turn things over to the bullpen with a lead. Cole Sands allowed one run in relief, while Louis Varland, Danny Coulombe, Griffin Jax, and Justin Topa combined to keep the Reds in check the rest of the way. The only really worrisome note of the day is that Paddack's velocity was down 2.2 miles per hour, on average, and seemed to sag as the game went along. Hopefully, it was just an off day for the Sheriff. He still did enough to prevent the early lead from slipping into jeopardy. It will be worth monitoring his velocity next time out. The Twins still dropped the series in Cincinnati, but this win snapped the losing streak and could be the spark they’ve been searching for. With the rotation in a tough spot right now, the lineup may need to lead the way, and Thursday was a big step toward getting back on track. What’s next? The Twins return home to open a six-game homestand on Friday night. Joe Ryan will take the mound against highly touted Brewers pitching prospect Jacob Misiorowski. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. at Target Field. Postgame Interviews Coming soon Bullpen Usage Chart View full article

Image courtesy of © Matt Blewett-Imagn Images When the Twins brought in Christian Vázquez before the 2023 season, they knew the bat might not be a strength. The hope was that his defense, leadership, and experience would carry the load. But in his third season with the team, even that intentionally imbalanced profile is starting to break down.Vázquez is slashing .186/.256/.292, with an OPS+ of 53, and the numbers have only gotten worse as the season has progressed. In June, he is hitting just .111 with a pair of extra-base hits. It’s shaping up to be the worst offensive season of his career. The more surprising drop-off has come on defense. His caught-stealing rate and pop time have steadily declined, and this year his pitch framing has taken a steep hit. After ranking in the 70th percentile for pitch framing in 2023 and the 84th percentile in 2024, he currently sits in just the 21st percentile. Defense was supposed to be his calling card. Now that, too, is becoming a concern. Still, the Twins continue to give him regular work. Vázquez has started 35 of the team’s 73 games this season, nearly identical to his usage in 2023, when he started 52 percent of their games. While Ryan Jeffers has been the more productive option, the Twins have shown reluctance to fully shift the catching workload in his favor. That may be partly to protect Jeffers’s health, since he has provided offensive value and has often slotted in as the designated hitter. He was also recently banged up again after taking a foul ball off the hand, and while X-rays were negative, the team has kept him out of the starting lineup since. If anything were to sideline Jeffers further, the Twins would be left with little choice but to lean even more on Vázquez. The idea of simply moving on from Vázquez is not so simple. He is a free agent at the end of the season, but the Twins do not have a ready-made replacement behind him. Jair Camargo has already seen a brief call-up, but is struggling in Triple-A with a .577 OPS. Mickey Gasper is more of an emergency option than someone who would be expected to contribute behind the plate. Diego Cartaya, a former top prospect acquired earlier this year, has barely played and has been even less effective than Camargo when he has. Noah Cardenas has impressed in Double-A with an .825 OPS, but with just five games played above that level, he is not a realistic candidate for the near future. A trade could be a possibility. Twins Daily's Cody Schoenmann recently outlined an option, a demoted catcher from the Red Sox system. If the Twins are serious about upgrading the position, that might be the most realistic route. For now, though, Vázquez remains on the roster and in the lineup. The numbers are what they are, but he continues to be highly respected within the clubhouse. Pitchers praise his game management and experience, and the staff’s ERA with him behind the plate is an impressive 3.22, compared to 4.45 with Jeffers. That stat is far from definitive, but it does speak to the trust he has earned with the pitching staff. Vázquez has drawn plenty of criticism from fans this season, and many of the concerns are fair. At age 34, with offensive production cratering and defensive metrics slipping, a rebound does not feel especially likely. But at least for now, the Twins may not have a better option. Like it or not, that means he’s probably not going anywhere. What should the Twins do behind the plate? Can they afford to keep things as-is, or is it time to get creative? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. View full article

Simeon Woods Richardson had his best start of the season on Sunday, throwing five scoreless innings and allowing just one hit in Houston. It was a sharp, efficient outing that gave the bullpen a bit of a breather and kept the Twins in a tight game against a quality opponent. And yet, even as it encouraged, it reinforced a key truth: the Twins don’t trust SWR to face a lineup three times. Despite being at just 53 pitches, Woods Richardson was pulled after five innings because he had gone through the Astros’ order exactly twice. That is not a fluke. It is a plan. The Twins are telling us, with their actions, that Woods Richardson is a two-times-through-the-order pitcher. On Sunday, those two times happened to take him through five full innings. More often, that will mean three or four. That is why the solution is not just celebrating this outing. It is using it as a template. Woods Richardson has become a real problem in the Twins rotation. His results have been poor, his outings have been short, and the ripple effect on the bullpen has been increasingly difficult to manage. Still, despite all of that, the Twins have no real choice but to keep sending him out every fifth day. That means the solution cannot be replacing him. It has to be finding a better way to support him. Since late last season, Woods Richardson has thrown 88 innings and posted a 5.83 ERA with 16 home runs allowed. He does not just struggle with results. He also struggles with stamina and consistency, often failing to pitch deep into games. Since the start of the 2023 season, he is averaging just 4 and 2/3 innings per start. That lack of length puts a heavy burden on the bullpen, a problem made worse by the rest of the rotation offering little relief. Chris Paddack has not been pitching deep into games. David Festa rarely works past the fifth. Bailey Ober has been wildly inconsistent. The Twins are getting far too few innings from their starting pitchers, and Woods Richardson is at the center of that issue. The problem is that the Twins do not have any better options. They have already cycled through just about every starter on the 40-man roster. There is no one in Triple-A clearly banging on the door. So Woods Richardson will continue to start. But instead of asking him to do what he cannot do, the Twins might be better off structuring his starts differently. One solution is to use a piggyback strategy. This means pairing Woods Richardson with another pitcher, allowing him to face the lineup once or twice before handing the ball off to someone else who can carry the game into the later innings. It is not a new concept, but it is one that makes a lot of sense given his current profile. The numbers support this approach. In his career, batters hit .246 with a .673 OPS the first time through the order. That is manageable and even solid for a starting pitcher. The second time through, those numbers climb to a .264 average and a .750 OPS. The third time through, the average drops slightly to .237, but the OPS stays high at .755. That drop in average appears to be driven by an unsustainably low .239 batting average on balls in play, well below his career BABIP of .300. In other words, the third-time-through results might look better on paper than they actually are. By capping his exposure to the lineup at one or two times through, the Twins could avoid the damage that tends to come later in his starts. He could pitch more aggressively, knowing he does not need to stretch himself out. That could lead to better results, and it could help the bullpen by bringing more structure and predictability to those outings. Of course, this plan only works if there is another pitcher available to cover the next chunk of the game. Fortunately, the Twins have some options. One is Joey Wentz, a recent pickup who is already on the roster. Wentz has 113 big league innings as a starter and has shown the stamina to work multiple innings. He also throws left-handed, which could create matchup problems for opponents if they stack a lineup full of righties to face Woods Richardson. Using a righty-lefty combo forces teams to make pinch-hitting decisions early in games, which can drain their bench and limit their flexibility later on. Another option is Travis Adams, who was recently called up but never got into a game. He has a background as a starter and could be stretched out to provide multiple innings as well. There are trade-offs to this approach. Pairing two pitchers for one game means you are effectively using two roster spots on one rotation turn. If Wentz is the piggyback arm, you are taking him out of the bullpen mix for several days between outings. But right now, the Twins are getting poor results from Woods Richardson and still requiring their bullpen to cover multiple innings. If a piggyback setup gives them a better chance to get through six innings without a blowup, it is a trade worth making. The Twins are not in a position to replace Woods Richardson. But they might be able to reimagine how they use him. Sunday’s game in Houston was the blueprint. Giving him help and reducing the strain on his arm and the bullpen could pay dividends as the season rolls on. What do you think? Should the Twins give the piggyback method a shot to help Woods Richardson and stabilize the rotation? Leave a comment and start the conversation. View full article

Image courtesy of © David Richard-Imagn Images The Minnesota Twins offense has been a problem all season, and it’s only getting worse. At 4.15 runs per game, they rank 19th in MLB, and their .700 team OPS ranks 18th. Despite occasional outbursts, they’ve struggled with consistency and have scored more than four runs just twice in their last 10 games. With the rotation fragile due to injuries and the bullpen beginning to show its cracks, the need for this offense to step up has never been greater. Instead, the lineup continues to fall flat. And that’s the heart of the issue. This lineup just isn’t working. It looks lifeless. There’s no spark, no thump, and no indication that anything is about to change. The Twins are in desperate need of someone who can inject energy and provide a jolt of production. Yet, instead of turning to a batter who is dominating Triple-A, they’re calling up players who have struggled at the plate at every level. Dashawn Keirsey Jr. is hitting .109 and hasn’t been trusted with consistent playing time. He doesn’t bring offensive upside, and the front office doesn’t seem to view him as anything more than a late-game pinch-runner or defensive sub. Yet, when Royce Lewis was placed on the injured list, it was the backup, glove-first outfielder who got the call. You don’t fix a broken offense by adding a defensive replacement. You fix it by calling up someone who might actually hit. That’s where Mickey Gasper comes in. The Twins don’t have to look far for a better option. Gasper is putting up incredible numbers at Triple-A with the Saints. His first stint with the Twins this season didn’t go well, as he posted just a .488 OPS in 39 plate appearances (the key there being just 39 plate appearances). But he has done everything possible to earn another chance. Last season, he posted a 1.062 OPS at Triple-A, and this year he leads the entire International League with a 1.106 OPS, along with 10 home runs and 25 RBIs in just 35 games. He's not just having a good stretch. He has been one of the most productive hitters in all of Triple-A baseball. Even better, Gasper is a switch-hitter. That gives the Twins added lineup flexibility and the ability to create favorable platoon matchups, which could help a team still searching for the right offensive mix. With the way the lineup has struggled, the Twins should be willing to try anything. A switch-hitting bat with power and patience is exactly what they need right now. Yes, Gasper might ultimately be a quadruple-A player. He is 28 years old and has logged 1,754 plate appearances in the minors, compared to just 62 in the majors. But the Twins clearly believed in his potential when they traded Jovani Moran to acquire him, and after he had a solid spring training, they gave him a spot on the Opening Day roster. The tools are there, and the production has followed. That deserves another look, especially for a team that cannot afford to keep letting its offense sleepwalk through games. No, Gasper is not the most versatile defender, and he would likely spend more time at designated hitter than anywhere else. But this is not the time for the Twins to prioritize defense over offense, or to get picky about who they're calling up based on fit. They need bats. Keirsey doesn’t bring offensive value. Gasper, on the other hand, is tearing up Triple-A and brings a skill set that no one else on the bench offers. The Twins literally have the OPS leader in the International League waiting in their own system. The offense is broken, and nothing they’ve tried so far has made a difference. Why not call up the guy who might actually give you what you’re looking for? Gasper didn’t do much in his first look, but plenty of players have struggled in their debut and figured it out later. He could strike out again, but then again, he could make a difference. Right now, the Twins need to try something new. Do you think Mickey Gasper deserves another shot? Leave a comment below and start the conversation! View full article

His approach at the plate would’ve been vastly different if a ball in play gives you a run IMO

Image courtesy of © Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Sunday’s finale against the Astros ended in heartbreak for the Twins. After carrying a 1–0 lead into the bottom of the ninth, the team saw Houston tie the game and force extras. With the new extra-innings rule in place, the Twins started the 10th with a runner on second base. But what happened next raised eyebrows. Christian Vázquez led off the inning for Minnesota. Facing Josh Hader, one of the nastiest closers in the game, the Twins let Vázquez swing away. He popped up to the catcher, in a non-competitive at-bat: no advancement, no pressure, just an out. The next two batters followed suit with quiet outs of their own, and the Astros walked it off moments later in the bottom of the inning. On the surface, it might seem like just another missed opportunity. But given the situation, this felt like a strategic failure. The Astros offense had been nearly lifeless for two games. They managed just four hits on Saturday, and only three through the first nine innings on Sunday. They had scored just three runs in their last 17 innings before scratching across the tying run. The Twins had a great shot to grab some offensive momentum, and one run in the 10th would’ve shifted the pressure squarely back onto a slumping Houston lineup. That made the Vázquez decision puzzling. Coming into the game, Vázquez was hitting .198, with a .583 OPS on the year. Even with the platoon advantage (against the lefty, Hader), he hadn’t been faring well. Last season, he posted a .200 average and .557 OPS against lefties. This year, that’s dipped even lower to .083 with a .339 OPS. There was little reason to believe he could do damage against a pitcher of Hader’s caliber. Yes, Vázquez did homer off Hader last season, in a dramatic walkoff moment at Target Field. But he was otherwise 0-for-2 with two strikeouts against him. If the Twins were banking on that one swing happening again, they were chasing ghosts. Vázquez's hitting profile simply isn't the type that thrives against a closer the caliber of Josh Hader. Maybe Rocco Baldelli didn’t ask Vázquez to bunt because he isn’t a great bunter. That’s possible. But at some point, a major-league hitter has to be able to square around and put the bat on the ball. And if the team truly didn’t trust him to do that, they had options. Kody Clemens and Jonah Bride were both available off the bench. Either could have been asked to lay one down. Yes, that would’ve burned the DH, but in the 10th inning of a road game, with the bottom of the Astros order due up and the Twins likely needing just one run to win, the odds of that DH spot coming up again were incredibly slim. That’s a trade you make without hesitation. And that’s the bigger picture here. Since the ghost runner rule was implemented in 2020, the Twins have consistently avoided bunting in extras. Their six sacrifice bunts in that time rank 13th out of 15 AL teams. They’ve leaned heavily into the analytics that generally discourage bunting—especially for road teams, where scoring multiple runs is ideal. But this wasn’t a generic situation. This was context-rich. The Twins had their weakest hitter at the plate. The Astros had one of the league’s best closers on the mound. The Twins had their top of the order ready to cash in a runner from third. And Houston had the bottom of their order coming up in the next half inning. Everything pointed toward manufacturing one run. Instead, the Twins chose to play it straight. They gave Vázquez the green light. It didn’t work, and the game slipped away. There’s room in baseball for numbers and nuance to coexist. Sunday’s loss was a prime example of where feel for the game, momentum, and matchup context should’ve mattered more than the numbers in a vacuum. And if the Twins want to capitalize on these tight games moving forward, they’ll need to recognize when it’s time to bunt, even if it doesn’t align perfectly with the spreadsheet. What do you think? Should the Twins have bunted? Leave a comment below. View full article

Image courtesy of © Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images Box Score Starting Pitcher: Bailey Ober 4.2 IP, 6 H, 7 ER, 6 BB, 3 K (98 pitches, 51 strikes (52%)) Home Runs: None Bottom 3 WPA: Ober (-.439), France (-.065), Castro (-.045) Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) The Twins looked to build momentum off a big win on Wednesday night, but instead, they were shelled for the second time in three days by the visiting Texas Rangers, falling 16-3 in Thursday's series finale at Target Field. Bailey Ober took the mound for Minnesota, but continued his recent spiral. From the first batter, it was clear things weren’t going to come easy. Rangers shortstop Josh Smith jumped on Ober and sent it out to right field for a leadoff home run. The Twins briefly answered back in the bottom half with a Carlos Correa RBI single that brought in Byron Buxton to tie things at 1-1, but the good vibes stopped there. Ober unraveled in the second inning, in what may have been the ugliest outing of his big-league career. He threw 35 pitches in the frame, but only 10 were strikes. Three walks, two home runs, and five earned runs later, the Twins were facing a steep uphill climb. Jake Burger and Wyatt Langford each went deep, and by the time the inning ended, the Rangers were in control 6-1. Ober gave up a fourth home run in the fifth inning, this one off the bat of Evan Carter. He exited after 4 2/3 innings, having allowed six earned runs on four homers and six walks. For a pitcher known for his command and poise, it was another confounding outing in a stretch that’s quickly becoming a concern—one that is especially worrisome given all of the uncertainty in the Twins rotation, in the wake of the injury to Pablo López and the unreliability of Simeon Woods Richardson. The bullpen didn’t offer any relief. Cole Sands and newly acquired lefty Joey Wentz each threw one inning and each got tagged hard. Sands allowed four runs on four hits, while Wentz surrendered a three-run homer to Adolis García that officially turned the game into a rout. By the time Jonah Bride jogged in from third base to pitch the final two frames (his third appearance in eight days), the game had long since shifted into damage control mode. Bride gave up a three-run homer of his own, for good measure. Offensively, the Twins managed eight hits but stranded eight runners and struggled to string together any sort of rally. And when they did, like the bases-loaded, no-out opportunity in the second inning, they came up with absolutely nothing. Willi Castro doubled in a run in the sixth, and Brooks Lee drove in another with a fielder’s choice, but the game was well out of hand by then. It was a quiet finish after Tuesday’s promising victory. Minnesota drops the series 2-1 and has now lost four of its last five series, after ripping off six straight series wins. The inconsistency in starting pitching, bullpen depth, and offense has started to mount, and Wednesday’s blowout loss only underscored those issues. What’s Next The Twins hit the road for a tough weekend series against the first-place Houston Astros, who enter Friday at 37-30. Chris Paddack is scheduled to start the opener for Minnesota against Houston left-hander Colton Gordon. Postgame Interviews Coming soon... Bullpen Usage Chart (Writer's note: with Jonah Bride throwing 3 times in the past 8 days, he's officially getting added to the chart. Embarrassing.) View full article