Sherry Cerny

Image courtesy of © Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images Box Score SP: Simeon Woods-Richardson - 3 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (88 pitches, 48 strikes (49% strikes) Home Runs: Byron Buxton (15), Kody Clemens (4) 3 WPA: Simeon Woods-Richardson (-0.47), Luke Keaschall (-0.12), Matt Wallner (-0.07) Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) We’re in Our ‘Fix the Starter’ Era After an absolute gem from Bailey Ober on Tuesday, the Twins handed the ball to Simeon Woods-Richardson heading into the night, still searching for his first win. Almost immediately, you could tell this would not be that night. He issued a walk to Xavier Edwards, and an error by Luke Keaschall on a ground ball by Liam Hicks doubled the trouble. Otto Lopez followed with an RBI single that should also have produced an out, and Kyle Stowers walked to load the bases. Connor Norby then hit into a double play that still brought in a run, giving Miami an early 2–0 lead. Victor Caratini threw out Jakob Marsee on an attempted steal to end the inning, but the defense had let Woods Richardson down—and he had done nothing to help himself. Minnesota answered right away. Byron Buxton led off the bottom of the first with a first-pitch solo home run, cutting the deficit to 2-1. It was a skyscraper, a high pitch Buxton hit very hard but clipped the bottom half of, but which still easily carried into the bleachers down the left-field line. But Miami kept applying pressure in the second inning, breaking through again with a two-run homer that stretched the lead to 4-1. Woods Richardson never really found a groove, and in fact, he hasn't found one all season. While the pitching struggled to settle in, Buxton kept the Twins alive. He struck again in the third inning, launching another first-pitch home run, giving the Twins their second run. After being burned on a high four-seamer, Max Meyer tried a low sinker. The result was different, in that Buxton hit a screaming liner this time. It was the same, in that he circled the bases with his 15th dinger of the year. Could he hit 40 before 2026 is over? It's absolutely in play. New Pitchers, Same Old Problems The first four batters of the top of the fourth inning reached against Woods Richardson, with two more scoring. Derek Shelton turned to his much-rested bullpen, but not the way he'd hoped he might be able to. Travis Adams entered in relief, but could do little damage control. A single through the drawn-in infield scored two more runs. Adams closed the barn door, but the horses were long gone. The Twins scored twice in the bottom of the fifth, on a well-placed double by Josh Bell, but Adams couldn't keep the game within slam range. Edwards tripled past the hopelessly immobile Matt Wallner in the sixth and came home on a fielder's choice, stretching the lead to 9-4 Miami. Justin Topa took over and minimized damage, though he hardly looked dominant in his first outing since having his own doors blown off a week ago. So It Goes… By the time the game reached the later innings, what had been a long, grinding contest finally began to settle into a quicker rhythm as both sides cycled through the bullpen. Luis García came out in the eighth inning and mopped up the mess. Tristan Gray made the second of two good catches on pop-ups behind third base; he looks more like the team's short-term regular third baseman every day. Kody Clemens offered one last jolt of life in the bottom of the eighth with a garbage-time home run. If he and Bell can get going again at the plate, the team will have a moral victory to take away from the loss. What’s Next? The Twins will close out against the interleague series with a rubber match tomorrow in an afternoon game at 12:40 PM CT, before the Brewers come over to continue the nine-game homestand. The Twins are expected to promote Triple-A starter Zebby Matthews for his first outing of the year. After rookie Robbie Snelling landed on the injured list, the Marlins will also reach into their farm system, for Braxton Garrett. Postgame Interviews Coming soon. Bullpen Availability Chart View full article

Image courtesy of © Matt Krohn-Imagn Images Box Score SP: Taj Badley - 7 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K (114 pitches, 73 strikes (64% strikes)) Home Runs: None Bottom 3 WPA: Eric Orze (-0.70), Josh Bell (-0.18), Matt Wallner (-0.13) Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) Taj Bradley entered Wednesday's game looking to get back to his dominant ways. Bradley surrendered four monster home runs, his first of the season, last weekend against the Rays—two each to former teammates Junior Caminero and Jonathan Aranda. But this game was different, Bradley had control, and marched through seven innings in which he allowed two runs on just four hits and two walks, while striking out seven. Derek Shelton trusted his newfound workhorse, letting him throw more pitches than any Twins pitcher had since Kenta Maeda was chasing a no-hitter during the 2020 pandemic season. Arguably, that trust tipped over from admirably old-school to inadvisable passivity in the seventh. With the Twins nursing a 2-1 lead, Bradley gave up back-to-back doubles to left-handed batters to tie the game with two outs in the inning, already having passed 100 pitches—even though lefty Anthony Banda was warming in the pen. Banda came out in the eighth to relieve Bradley and took care of business, setting the stage for the Twins to take the lead again. A Little Life The Twins offense was virtually non-existent Tuesday night, making their Monday outburst feel a bit like a mirage. Lately, they seem unable to muster the consistency of approach and production that characterized their hot streak earlier this month. They did get something going in the fourth inning, though. Ryan Jeffers singled with one out and advanced to second on a walk by Kody Clemens. Luke Keaschall blooped a single into center, and although Jeffers couldn't score after holding up to make sure the ball fell in, both he and Clemens scored when Brooks Lee followed with a flared single of his own. Jeffers (.409 OBP) and Clemens (who got on base three times Wednesday and is hitting his stride as the team starts seeing more righty hurlers) have become quietly vital to the team's offense, especially with some of the others in the group beginning to struggle. Those two runs didn't prove decisive, but briefly, it looked like their late tally could. Another Jeffers single set the wheels in motion, and James Outman (pinch-running for the catcher) stole second base. After two strikeout, Victor Caratini pinch-hit for Matt Wallner and came up huge: The Twins threatened to score some insurance runs, too, loading the bases for Byron Buxton, but the Twins' star slugger flied out to end the frame. And a Painful Death Those insurance runs, as it turned out, were much-needed, and because they didn't get them, the Twins lost. Eric Orze couldn't find the strike zone, walking Randy Arozarena to lead off the inning. He fell behind most of the hitters he saw, and though he came back to strike out one of them, he surrendered back-to-back singles and a walk to give Seattle the lead and left Taylor Rogers in a jam, to boot. Rogers minimized the damage reasonably well, but another run scored on a sacrifice fly. The Twins went down with barely a whimper in the bottom of the ninth. What’s Next? The Twins take on the Toronto Blue Jays at home for a four-game series. The Twins will send Bailey Ober to the mound (2-1, 3.94 ERA) in Thursday's series opener, facing Toronto ace Kevin Gausman (2-1, 2.57 ERA). Postgame Interviews Coming soon. Bullpen Availability Chart View full article

Image courtesy of © Brad Penner-Imagn Images Box Score Starting Pitcher: Connor Priellep - 4 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K (82 pitches, 52 strikes (62% strikes)) Home Runs: Byron Buxton (5) Top 3 WPA: Kendry Rojas (.12); Eric Orze (.09); Austin Martin (.05) Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) A New Set of Twins Connor Prielipp and Kendry Rojas gave Twins fans a little something extra to savor Wednesday night—a dual debut against the Mets, and a tantalizing taste of each player's upside. Prielipp, the 48th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft out of Alabama, has long been a high-upside arm the Twins were willing to bet on, even through injuries. After Tommy John surgery in 2021 and a UCL procedure in 2023, his return in 2024 and strong 2025 campaign between Wichita and St. Paul proved the patience was worth it, ultimately earning him a spot on the 40-man roster and his big league call-up. His first inning was no gentle introduction. Bo Bichette wasted no time, sneaking in a double to get things going, and while Prielipp settled in to grab two quick outs, Francisco Lindor singled Bichette home to put the Mets on the board first. From there, Prielipp found his groove. He worked four innings, allowing just two runs, issuing no walks, and punching out six. His stuff was lively, and he gave the team a chance to win. For a starter making their debut on the road, that's all you can ask. Rojas took over in the fifth, and proved less impressive but more successful. The Cuban native, originally signed by the Blue Jays in 2020 and acquired by Minnesota in a trade alongside Alan Roden, has battled his own injury setbacks, but his fastball averaged 97 MPH and touched 98.4. After two quick outs, things got wobbly for Rojas. He walked Mark Vientos, and on a 3-2 count, he hung a pitch that Marcus Semien bashed into the left-field corner. With the full count and two outs, Vientos was running, but he didn't get a very good jump; he's very slow; and Trevor Larnach played the ball smoothly with the bare hand on a nice carom off the wall. Larnach's throw to Brooks Lee left plenty of time for an accurate peg by Lee to Victor Caratini, and Vientos was out by a mile. It was good to see the Twins defense execute the fundamentals, and the rookie escaped his first frame in the majors unscathed—but the play also laid bare some of what's wrong in New York right now. Be it hustle or sheer athleticism, there has to be more of something in Vientos there; that should at least have been a more difficult play for the visitors. Minnesota Keeps Swinging - And Leaving Guys on Base The Twins’ bats looked a little shaky through the first two innings as they worked to chase down the Mets’ early lead, but Trevor Larnach sparked some life by getting on base and moving station to station while Minnesota’s lineup began chipping away at New York’s pitching. That pressure paid off when Victor Caratini lifted a sacrifice fly to bring Larnach home and knot things up at 1-1. In the sixth, the Twins finally struck again. They'd fallen behind 2-1, but Byron Buxton hit a long, game-tying homer to left-center off Mets starter Clay Holmes. Buxton is heating up nicely after his ice-cold start, with five homers in the last week and a half. The Twins made a huge push in the eighth inning against Mets reliever Brooks Raley. Austin Martin came in for Larnach and walked; Josh Bell singled to push the go-ahead run into scoring position. While the Mets were forced into another relief pitcher change, the Twins also made another replacement. With two outs, Ryan Jeffers pinch-hit for Kody Clemens in an attempt to bring at least one of the guys home. Luke Weaver walked Jeffers, loading the bases for Luke Keaschall, but the Luke-on-Luke matchup favored the same-handed, same-named pitcher, who induced a foul popout that thwarted the rally. Twins Pitching Versus … Everyone Taylor Rogers came in to face a left-leaning pocket of the Mets lineup in the bottom of the eighth, but chaos took control of the inning, rather than Rogers or anyone else. Juan Soto led off with a single just past a diving Keaschall. With one out, however, the Twins picked him off, clearing the bases and seeming to pave the way to the end of the frame. Alas, Rogers walked young lefty batter Brett Baty, so Derek Shelton turned to Justin Topa to face Francisco Alvarez. Topa walked Alvarez, too, though, bringing Vientos to bat with the go-ahead run at second. Topa gave Vientos the revenge he probably wanted with a sinker that ran in on him and produced a weak fly ball to right. Unfortunately, Matt Wallner came nowhere near making a play on a ball that seemed catchable. With two outs, Baty had been going all the way; there was no play at the plate this time: 3-2 New York. The damage could have been much worse, though. Semien lined a ball to center that looked like it could get down to score another run, but Buxton made a tremendous, flying, diving catch on the run to take away the hit and RBI. The Twins offense had one more chance to come back and tie things up, but the Mets finally got their demons under control and Luke Weaver shut the door with ease. What’s Next? The Twins finish out the series against the Mets Thursday evening, before taking off for Tampa. They'll send Joe Ryan to the mound (2-2, 3.29 ERA), facing Christian Scott, a former top prospect pitching in the majors for the first time since Tommy John surgery ended his 2024 season. First pitch is, once again, at 6:10 PM CT. Postgame Interviews Coming soon. Bullpen Availability Chart FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED TOT Sands 20 12 0 0 23 0 55 Morris 0 0 47 0 0 0 47 Acton 0 0 29 0 0 0 29 Banda 0 0 0 0 18 0 18 Orze 0 15 0 0 0 11 26 Rogers 0 0 8 0 0 12 20 Topa 11 10 0 0 17 17 55 Rojas 0 0 0 0 0 35 35 View full article

Image courtesy of © Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images Box Score Starting Pitchers: Simeon Woods-Richardson - 5 IP, 10 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 3 K (92 pitches, 57 strikes (62% strikes)) Home Runs: Austin Martin (1), Ryan Kreidler (1) Bottom 3 WPA: Simeon Woods Richardson (-0.39); Byron Buxton (-0.05); Matt Wallner (-0.04) Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) It Looked Promising The Twins rolled into this game having already secured the series—making it three in a row—but every game counts as a team builds towards the later part of the spring. Extending their home winning streak to seven games would have been a wonderful way to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day. Instead, dead lumber and lousy leather derailed them in the early innings, putting them in a hole they couldn't escape. The Twins faced 24-year-old lefty Connelly Early, fresh off a late 2025 call-up and still very much in his rookie era. The hot-hitting home lineup welcomed him with a solo home run from Austin Martin, who dropped the barrel on a pitch down and in and pulled it out of the park. Connelly settled in after that, though, and kept the Twins to two hits and one run for the next five innings, before handing things off to the beleaguered Boston bullpen. New Bomba Squad? While today wasn't a great example of multiple home runs, it doesn't take away from the fact that the Twins lineup has shown a lot of consistency in their hitting. It hasn’t mattered who teams send out to the mound. In fact, lefties have posed the team no problems, despite preseason expectations to the contrary. Too early to say it? Maybe. But also… it’s starting to feel a little Bomba-ish. The Twins pull the ball in the air as much as almost anyone in baseball. They're unlikely to make history this time, but if they can keep slugging the way they did even on a down day Wednesday, everyone will have a more fun summer than was forecasted. It's Not Over Until It's Over... or Something Like That. Even in a game where the guys looked down and out, in the ninth inning, Derek Shelton's competitive bunch put up a fight. In the last of 15 straight games between off days, they could have mailed in what shaped up to be a blowout loss, but they didn't. The Twins started chipping away when Tristan Gray sparked momentum with a single, followed by Matt Wallner drawing a walk to put some real traffic on the basepaths. Brooks Lee delivered, too, ripping an RBI single to bring a run home and keep the inning alive. Ryan Kreidler stepped in, then, and made things interesting, right at the death. He hit his second home run of the week, another no-doubter. Suddenly, what felt like a comfortable 9-1 Boston lead had been cut in half, forcing a mound visit and a pitching change as the Red Sox tried to stop the surge. Minnesota didn’t just score—they made Boston sweat. Alas, the comeback fell far short. Simeon Woods-Richardson entered the game hoping to bounce back after a rough outing against the Blue Jays, wherein he was reportedly pitching through illness. If that’s the case, it offers some context—because otherwise, the performance raised concerns for the young starter. He looked sharp through the first two innings, but things unraveled quickly in the third. Three misplays by Luke Keaschall spread acorss two plays helped Boston score twice to flip the score. Trevor Story then delivered a three-run homer to blow the game open, extending the lead to 5-1. Woods-Richardson battled through the fourth inning. Despite walking two more and having poor defensive support again, he managed to escape without further damage. In the fifth, he wasn't so lucky, and the Red Sox extended their advantage to 7-1. The Sox were on Woods Richardson all day, but he got such lousy support from his infielders that it's hard to hang the loss on him. The bullpen gave up two more runs, neutering the eventual would-be rally before it could begin. Jackie Robinson Day Celebrated Today is a very special day across MLB: Jackie Robinson Day. It comes at a moment when the league feels like it has renewed momentum toward inclusion and diversity in the player ranks. Across the league, the percentage of Black players on Opening Day active and inactive lists increased from 6.0% in 2024 to 6.2% in 2025 to 6.8% in 2026. This marks the first time in at least two decades that MLB has had back-to-back years of increases in that percentage. The 0.6% increase from last year is the highest since a 0.7% increase from 2017 to 2018. Woods Richardson and Taj Bradley are proud to be members of the fraternity of Black starting pitchers. Byron Buxton and Josh Bell have two of the four corner lockers in the Twins clubhouse, offering leadership and mentorship to teammates of all races. This is arguably the most important holiday on the baseball calendar; the Twins have much to celebrate, despite the loss. What’s Next? After an off day, the Twins will welcome the Reds to town for the weekend. On Friday, the team sends ace Joe Ryan to the mound (2-1, 3.80 ERA), to face Brandon Williamson (1-1, 5.28 ERA). Postgame Interviews Coming soon. Bullpen Availability Chart View full article

Image courtesy of © Jordan Johnson-Imagn Images Box Score Starting Pitcher: Bailey Ober - 5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K (99 pitches, 64 strikes (64.6% strikes)) Home Runs: None Top 3 WPA: Byron Buxton (0.11), Luke Keaschall (0.08), Bailey Ober (0.08) Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) Coming Out Swinging The Twins wasted no time setting the tone Wednesday night, coming out absolutely electric in the first inning against Framber Valdez. From the first pitch, it was everything fans had been craving—relentless pressure, smart baserunning, and clutch contact. Byron Buxton ignited the attack with a leadoff single, Austin Martin followed by wasting one of the team's ABS challenges on a first-pitch strike, but Valdez helped him out by hitting him in the foot with a second-pitch curveball. Luke Keaschall notched an infield single to load the bases, almost instantly. Valdez, the expensive ace southpaw with whom Detroit envisioned pairing Tarik Skubal for a deep run into October, melted under the home side's light application of heat. A wild pitch brought Buxton flying home, while Martin and Keaschall scooted up. Ryan Jeffers kept the momentum rolling with an RBI groundout, and Victor Caratini showed patience at the plate with a walk. Then Josh Bell delivered, flaring a single to left-center on which Keaschall got a poor read but made the right, aggressive play by racing home anyway. His flying slide beat the throw home, and it was 3-0 Minnesota. Perhaps the biggest jolt came from Matt Wallner—who entered the game ice cold, at 0-for-20. He heated up like a pan-seared steak with a sizzling double to right field, eerily close to where his previous attempt had just gone foul. That swing brought Caratini home (a ribeye!) and pushed Bell to third, sending the crowd into a frenzy as the team's three beefiest sluggers showed what passes for their speed. With the energy surging, Royce Lewis stepped in and delivered the dagger: a sharp single to center that plated two more runs and blew the game open, at 6-0. Lewis wasn’t done, swiping second and advancing to third, keeping the pressure alive until the inning finally came full circle—ending with Buxton, who started it all, grounding out to shortstop Javier Báez. Six runs, nonstop action, and a statement made loud and clear: the Twins haven't mentally made room for the Tigers atop the AL Central. The top of the order combined to tack on another run in the fourth, thanks to Buxton's speed. He singled, advanced to second on a Martin groundout, and hared around on a Keaschall single to make it a 7-0 cushion. After that, though, the hit parade ended abruptly. The Twins would score just once more, and the tone of the game changed significantly. Holding on Tight The Tigers would charge back to make a game of this (more on that in a moment), so Minnesota was lucky to have Ryan Jeffers catching again Wednesday. After Martin squandered one of their challenges early, they managed to retain the other into the late stages—at which point Jeffers flipped two crucial calls amid a Detroit rally, snatching two called third strikes initially not given by home plate umpire Steven Jaschinski. Ober Shows, and Bullpen Woes It was a great night for Bailey Ober, who continues to evolve into a kitchen-sink starter as he searches for mechanical efficiency and the velocity that he had two years ago. Turning more and more often to his trademark changeup and mixing in some new wrinkles (curveballs in the first two innings, instead of as late changes of pace; sweepers to lefties, acting like curves but looking more enticing out of the hand), he danced through five scoreless innings and appeared to have the team in cruise control. Ober returned through the top of the sixth, but things started to slowly unravel. Derek Shelton got him out of there after a two-out Dillon Dingler single plated the second Detroit run; Justin Topa cleaned up the mess. Anthony Banda was not able to keep things so calm. The Tigers bunched together four hits against him in the top of the seventh, and when he couldn't escape, Cole Sands came in to face Dingler—who, alas, again came through with a two-out knock, drawing the margin to 8-6. The improbable high-leverage duo of Cody Laweryson and Kody Funderburk took the team the rest of the way, with some help from Jeffers. Martin’s Defense continues to improve The younger players have been inconsistent when it comes to making plays, but one reassuring development has come in left field. In 2024, Martin stepped in frequently during Buxton’s absence, and that gap was noticeable. He struggled with routine plays, poor reads, and missed opportunities that ultimately cost runs. This season, however, something has clicked. Martin’s defense is starting to resemble that of his center-field mentor, Buxton. Even first base coach Grady Sizemore told Audra Martin in an interview before the game that during spring training, he saw a slight change in Martin (er, Austin, that is). So far, he’s been flawless, and he made three fine plays on Wednesday. What’s Next? The Twins finish out the series against the Tigers in a day game, before leaving the chilly temps in Minnesota and heading to Toronto—where, even if the weather isn't nicer, the playing conditions will be, since the Rogers Centre has a roof. The Twins will send Mick Abel to the mound (0-2, 11,05 ERA) in the series finale on getaway day, to face Jack Flaherty (0-1 7.54 ERA). Postgame Interviews Coming soon. Bullpen Availability Chart View full article

Image courtesy of © Peter Aiken-Imagn Images Box Score Starting Pitcher: Joe Ryan 4 IP, 9 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 3 K (77 pitches, 49 strikes) Home Runs: -0- Bottom 3 WPA: Joe Ryan -0.25, Byron Buxton -0.07, Matt Wallner -0.05 Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs): The Twins continued their first divisional series of the season, looking to bounce back after continuing their losses from Baltimore into Kansas City. Heading into tonight, the Twins were also trying to come out with a better record, after losing 10 of their last 12 games there. Alas, it was more of the same frustrating formula, as Minnesota fell to the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in a game that felt all too familiar. The Twins were hoping for Joe Ryan to continue the good work he did on Opening Day, when the team fell to Baltimore but Ryan looked magnificent. Instead, the Royals jumped ahead in the second inning, capitalizing on a two-out double from Jac Caglianone. That moment sparked a string of two-out damage against Ryan. Isaac Collins followed with a double of his own, and after a single by Kyle Isbel, Caglianone came around to score. Isbel then advanced on a stolen base during Maikel García’s at-bat, setting up another scoring opportunity against a clearly struggling Ryan. García worked a five-pitch at-bat before sending a ground ball that appeared playable for shortstop Brooks Lee, but it deflected off his arm, allowing Isbel to score. Ryan retired Bobby Witt Jr. on a pop fly to end the inning, but the damage had already been done. The Twins were not only scoreless through three innings, but they had more challenges than hits. Matt Wallner, who had already drawn attention for an ill-advised challenge during the Orioles series on a pitch that was clearly a strike down the middle, added to the frustration. He challenged another call, lost it, and ended the first inning, leaving the Twins with just one remaining challenge for the next 24 outs. Fortunately for Minnesota, they would later win two challenges before the end of the third, something they desperately needed. Still, it raises the question of whether Wallner should be on some sort of “challenge timeout,” if such a thing exists. Meanwhile, the rain intensified from a light mist to a steady sprinkle, but play continued as both teams pushed to reach the fifth inning. The Royals kept the pressure on, adding another run in the third to go up 4–0. In the fourth, they loaded the bases with no outs, threatening to break the game open. However, Ryan, with help from his defense, limited the damage to just one run. The fog got denser. Fly balls became hard to see; ground balls became hard to handle cleanly. The game was still alive starting the fifth. After a pop-out by Victor Caratini, Royce Lewis banged a double out to the right-center field gap, followed by a single from Lee, scoring Lewis to narrow the gap to 5-1. A very frustrated Martin, who has been hitting well this series, saw seven pitches before striking out. Buxton did likewise, to end the inning. Cody Laweryson replaced Joe Ryan in the fifth inning, making his 2026 debut. The rookie was immediately tested—baptized by rain at Kauffman Stadium—but showed flashes of composure. He struck out two and held the home side at bay in that first frame. Laweryson returned for the sixth, as did the grounds crew, drawing cheers as they worked to keep the field playable. But the worsening conditions began to impact his command. He loaded the bases with no outs and walked in a run, allowing Jac Caglianone to score and extend the Royals’ lead to 6–1. As the farce deepened, Matt Wallner chased a fly from Witt into foul territory and slammed into the wall, missing the catch. Clearly frustrated, he quickly regrouped and redeemed himself by tracking down Witt’s ensuing sacrifice fly for the first out. Still, the lead stretched to 7-1. Twins manager Derek Shelton turned to Zak Kent to stop the bleeding, but Kansas City kept the pressure on. With two outs and the bases loaded, Jonathan India delivered the decisive blow—a grand slam that broke the game open at 12–1. The Twins showed signs of life in the seventh, loading the bases with one out. Austin Martin won a challenge that overturned a called strike into a ball, resulting in a walk that made it 12–2. Luke Keaschall followed with a two-run double, trimming the deficit to 12–4. The Royals answered with a run in the bottom half to push the lead to 13–4, but Minnesota wasn’t done. In the eighth, facing Alex Lange, the Twins mounted another rally. Jeffers and Josh Bell drew walks, and Caratini drove a ball into the right-center gap to bring in a run, cutting it to 13–5 with no outs. Martin kept the line moving by being plunked, which forced in another run, making it 13–6. The Twins refused to go quietly. After two quick outs, Bell stepped in and benefited from a successful challenge that extended his at-bat. On the very next pitch, he launched a three-run home run deep to left field, pulling Minnesota within 13–9 and injecting late life into the game. But the rally stalled there. Royals closer Lucas Erceg was able to shut the door, with the tying run dying in the on-deck circle. The Twins can’t pin this loss on the weather. The rally was too little, too late. With a return to Minnesota ahead, Ryan will have a chance to reset and reestablish himself in front of the home crowd—an opportunity to get back to the command and reliability that define him at his best, and the offense can keep forging forward and hopefully continue to show the same grit they showed tonight. What's Next Minnesota has one more chance to claim a win in Missouri, before heading to Target Field to welcome back the fans for the home opener against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Twins will tab Taj Bradley to the mound, while Kansas City is expected to send ace southpaw Cole Ragans out there, Thursday at 1:10 PM CT. Postgame Interviews (Coming Soon) Bullpen Usage Chart View full article

Image courtesy of © Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images This is the second installment in a series about the many opportunities and difficulties of signing and developing international amateur free agents. Part 1 can be found here. Evaluating the Minnesota Twins’ international program requires a level of honesty that can be uncomfortable. For much of the past two decades, international scouting has not been a consistent organizational strength. Before the implementation of international bonus pools under the CBA that went into effect in 2012, teams were free to spend aggressively in the international amateur market, without penalty. Many organizations took advantage of that freedom. The Twins did not. As reported in a 2019 article at The Athletic, international free agency was not viewed as a high priority by ownership or the front office during that era. While competitors invested heavily across Central and South America, Minnesota often spent conservatively, signaling—intentionally or not—a lack of seriousness to players, trainers, and international talent evaluators. There were, however, notable exceptions. In 2009, despite facing challenges related to age verification and budget overruns, the Twins signed three 16-year-olds who would go on to define the franchise for years: Jorge Polanco, Max Kepler, and Miguel Sanó. That class became the clearest example of what international investment could yield when scouting, development, and opportunity aligned. Following that success, the pre-2020 era settled into a familiar pattern. The July 2 signing window typically brought modest spending and similarly underwhelming results. The Twins often targeted athletic infielders and outfielders with defensive versatility and strong baseball instincts. While there were occasional wins—particularly among low- to mid-bonus players who developed steadily—the organization struggled to convert its largest bonus signings into long-term MLB impact. Systemic challenges persisted. Even as the Twins continued to invest in the global market, outcomes frequently lagged behind those of peer organizations. Volatility is inherent to international scouting, and every team misses more often than it hits, but Minnesota’s results often fell short of expectations due to stalled development or recurring injuries. When top-end talent didn’t fully materialize, the club more often leveraged those players as trade capital, rather than foundational big-leaguers. Until 2020, the organization remained heavily focused on position players. Pitching was frequently acquired via trades, rather than developed after signing internationally. That approach began to shift recently. In 2024, the Twins signed four international pitchers—the largest number of arms they’ve added in a single class—signaling a potential philosophical change. From 2024 through the now-underway 2026 period, Minnesota has shown increased aggressiveness in pursuing pitching talent and a greater willingness to diversify geographically, particularly in the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Colombia. Still, it is far too early to draw firm conclusions. While the Twins appear to be turning a page, the long-standing question remains whether this renewed emphasis will translate into sustained MLB value, rather than isolated success. Until development outcomes consistently match investment, the international program remains a work in progress—defined as much by missed opportunity as by cautious optimism. During the 2016–2020 stretch, the club attempted to recalibrate its approach. The 2021 transition to the January 15 signing period provided stability on the calendar, but not necessarily better outcomes. The overarching pattern remains: In Jamie Cameron’s article in 2022, he points out that Minnesota has invested, but the return has not kept pace with the rest of the league. Compared to organizations known for thriving in the international market (clubs like the Dodgers, Guardians, Rays, and Yankees), the Twins have produced fewer big-league contributors and fewer high-impact talents through this pipeline. For example, the Dodgers have built a reputation for consistently developing international talent, signing players like Julio Urías, Andy Pages and Edgardo Henríquez, who progressed through the system to make meaningful contributions. The Guardians might be benefiting from the signing of José Ramírez for another half-decade or more, and their dedication to Latin America has yielded a bunch of complementary players over the years. They've also benefited by building an infrastructure that is friendly to Latin American players, whom they've thus been especially proactive about acquiring in trades. Carlos Santana, Carlos Carrasco, Ubaldo Jiménez, Emmanuel Clase, Andrés Giménez, Amed Rosario and more have streamed through Cleveland, finding success because the franchise has oriented itself to support the development of players from their home countries. The Yankees, meanwhile, leveraged their international scouting to find players like Luis Severino, who became a frontline starter. When they sign a high-profile prospect from that class, they also remain open to trading them, thus improving their team by converting hoped-for value into sure things in the short term. By contrast, while the Twins have invested heavily internationally, their pipeline has produced fewer high-impact MLB players. Prospects like Huascar Ynoa, Amaurys Minier, and Lewin Díaz highlight both the promise and pitfalls of Minnesota’s approach, showing that spotting talent alone hasn’t yet translated into consistent big-league success. The Twins may not have gotten a lot of high value from their IFA players, but what they have done is make trades for roster-ready players. In 2018, two IFA players brought back Jake Odirizzi from the Rays. In early 2020, the team traded away Brusdar Graterol for Kenta Maeda. More infamously, of course, they dealt then-teenager Luis Gil to the Yankees for Jake Cave, but even that move helped them in the short term. This isn’t to say the system lacks promise. On the contrary, there have been individual bright spots (most notably Emmanuel Rodriguez), and a clearer organizational plan is beginning to take shape. But the Twins’ track record shows that the international program has been more of a weakness than a strength. Fred Guerrero, who was the director for 19 years, left in 2023 after not accepting a smaller role. Guerrero, one of the last guys in the system who was more old school and brought in talent like Sano and Polanco, no longer fit into an evolving vision. The Twins took an analytical turn in 2022, which probably prompted Guerrero’s exit. Kevin Goldstein, who was hired by the Twins in 2022, modernized the international scouting process with data and technology, then was promoted to VP of International Scouting in January 2024. The biggest part of international free agency is the relationships, and the Twins brought in Roman Barinas in 2023 as the new Latin American Scouting Director, bringing extensive experience from the Dodgers to complement Goldstein's efforts. As a result, the Twins' classes in 2024 and 2025 have been more about talent, and less about trade value for veterans—at least, that's the sense so far. The team hasn't done well in this market, but that tide is beginning to turn. View full article

Image courtesy of Twins Player Development (@TwinsPlayerDev) on X/Twitter Thursday marked the opening of the 2026 International Signing Period, and it looks like the Twins have a potential for celebration if all things go their way. This is the day that young athletes from Central and South America have the opportunity to sign with a major-league team, continue to work out and grow with the team. Baseball America says that the Twins 2025 class was one of the best classes in the Dominican Republic and produced a solid prospect turnout. This year is about the same and shows that the Twins are certainly using all their technology and scouting potential. The Twins pool is $7,357,100 this year, tied for the third-highest allotment, and it sounds like they have plenty of places to spend it. The Twins officially announced their 2026 international signing class, featuring 20 players. Here's the full rundown, with an in-depth look at some of the highlights. Enmanuel Merlo (SS, Venezuela) - 29th-highest signing bonus in this class. Twins Daily writer Jamie Cameron covered Merlo in an article going over some of the 2026 class. Merlo is set to make an impact at 6’1”, another switch hitter with top notch offensive skills. He is a little more advanced than his peers with exit velo, ability to be patient at the plate, and take a walk if he can. Fast on the plates and the infield - short stop may end up being home for him with his agility and speed. (Signing Bonus: $1.5 million) Abel Sosa (OF, Venezuela) - Sosa is one of the more intriguing bats in the 2026 international class. The Venezuelan outfielder won’t turn 17 until June, yet already stands 6-foot-3, 185 pounds with broad shoulders and plenty of physical upside. Baseball America has noted his impressive raw power for his age, and there’s reason to believe that power could become plus as he continues to mature. Sosa plays with an aggressive approach and will expand the zone at times, but he’s made real progress over the past year improving his contact against live pitching, allowing his power to show up more consistently in games. He’s a plus runner with a strong arm, giving him a legitimate chance to begin his career in center field, though long-term he could profile well in right if he outgrows the position. (Signing Bonus: $800,000) Juan Diego Holmann (SS/OF, Nicaragua) - One of the top prospects from Nicaragua in 2026. In an interview with 8 Deportivo during a workout, Holman told the reporter that he is excited to have the opportunity to sign with the Twins. Touted as an average runner by Baseball America, the shortstop will more than likely find his home between second and third base, and the outfield. His bat will take some honing, but he has a great read on the ball and a gap hitter, which is something the organization definitely needs. Holmann's father played very briefly in the Dodgers organization. His uncle Mario Holmann spent five seasons in the Yankees organization, topping out at Triple-A. He has participated in events in Europe and speaks fluent German. (Signing Bonus: $500,000) Jendy Martinez (SS, Dominican Republic) - The switch-hitter is one of the shortest prospects on the list, Reports say that he hits the ball with authority, especially given his size. Martinez has plus speed, and could be an asset as a utility player, but there is going to be some work to be done to capitalize on his physical strength to match his bat. (Signing Bonus: $500,000) Misael Rodriguez (OF, Dominican Republic) - An athletic center fielder, Rodriguez, according to Baseball America, has plus speed and has a good chance to stick in center field. He’s not very big, at just 5-10. He will work on making more consistent contact and driving the ball to all fields. (Signing Bonus: $500,000) Frederick Hiciano (RHP, Dominican Republic) - Eligible to sign in 2025, he decided to wait a year. He’s 6-2 and 175 pounds and will likely fill out his frame, according to Baseball America. His fastball has reached 95 mph and sits in the low-90s. Like many young prospects, his off-speed pitches are a work in progress but have potential to complement the fastball. His fastball is in the 99th percentile in his class. (Signing Bonus: Unknown) Sebastian Echavarria (RHP, Dominican Republic) - Echavarria throws his fastball in the low 90s, but has the potential to add speed, like many young prospects. He also has a breaking ball and changeup. From the Dominican Republic, Echavarria is 6 foot 3 inches, and will likely continue to fill out. (Signing Bonus: Unknown) Additionally, the Twins announced these players among their 2026 international signing class: Daiyer Barboza (IF, Venezuela, $130,000) - Juan Germosen (RHP, Dominican Republic) - Yael Retituyo (RHP, Dominican Republic) - Adrián Martinez (RHP, Colombia, $100,000) - Jeremy Jimenez (RHP, Dominican Republic) - Jhon Gonzalez (OF, Dominican Republic, $375,000) - Anibal Beltré (OF, Dominican Republic, $500,000) - Juan Collado (RHP, Dominican Republic) - Luis Duarte (C, Venezuela) - Known more for his defense in his youth, he does have potential offensively due to his strength. Fabián Ulloa (SS, Venezuela) - Luis Suárez (OF, Venezuela, $140,000) - Ashwar Sprok (OF, Aruba) - Jeferson Abreu (C, Dominican Republic $45,000 - Rosmel Silva (LHP, Venezuela, $20,000) - We will keep an eye on these prospects as they begin their professional career. These players, and likely more players added between now and the end of the year, will play in the Dominican Summer League. 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