Sam Caulder

Image courtesy of © Eric Hartline-Imagn Images The Minnesota Twins are about to return from the All-Star break, and in my eyes, they're set to begin the most important week of their season. They avoided being muscled out of the playoff picture by midseason, but otherwise, nothing has been decided. They've run hot and cold all year, and now find themselves in the mangled middle. Despite the inconsistency, though, the Twins are still very much in the hunt. They're currently tied with Seattle for the final American League Wild Card spot, and they also sit just three games behind both the White Sox and Guardians in the AL Central. As it happens, Cleveland is the team they'll see four times early next week. Before that, however, Minnesota opens the second half with a three-game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Chicago has established itself as one of the better teams in the National League, and they look well on their way to a postseason berth. In short, with the seasonal leverage index already cranked up, the Twins have seven games coming up against two playoff-caliber opponents. That stretch is going to tell us a lot about what this team is made of. More importantly, it could legitimately determine what this roster looks like for the rest of the season. The Twins are still in that awkward position where it's difficult to know exactly how they should approach the trade deadline. They're close enough to the playoff picture that buying makes sense, but they're also inconsistent enough that selling isn't out of the question. The next seven games could go a long way toward answering that question. Let's say the Twins stumble to a 2-5 showing against the Cubs and Guardians. That would leave them at 50-54. Even in the best-case scenario (assuming, among other things, both of those wins came against Cleveland), they'd still be at least three games behind the Guardians. Depending on how the rest of the Wild Card race develops, they'd probably find themselves slipping further behind there as well. At that point, the front office would have to ask itself some difficult questions. On the other hand, imagine the Twins stay hot and go 5-2 over the next week. Suddenly, they're 53-51 and right back in the thick of everything. They'd be firmly alive in the Wild Card race and could find themselves right on the heels of the division leaders, or maybe even sitting atop the AL Central. That would completely change the conversation. Winning is one thing. Winning against high-quality competition is another. If the Twins take care of business against the Cubs and Guardians, what kind of message does that send to the front office? To me, it would be a sign that this team deserves reinforcements, especially if they're able to do it without Byron Buxton in the lineup. If the Twins can beat two playoff-caliber teams while missing their best player, I'd have a hard time sitting on the sidelines at the trade deadline. At that point, I'd be looking for pitching help wherever I could find it. Whether that's another starting pitcher, bullpen help, or both, the goal should be maximizing this team's chances to win the division—or, at the very least, lock down a Wild Card spot. The opportunity is there, but the opposite is also true. If the Twins lose both series and struggle against quality competition, that may be the clearest sign yet that they simply aren't on the same level as the league's contenders. If that's the case, selling becomes a much more realistic option. Maybe you move some of your veteran pieces. Players like Kody Clemens, Josh Bell, Trevor Larnach, Ryan Jeffers, and others could all generate interest from contenders looking to add before the deadline. While none of those players would bring back franchise-altering returns on their own, collectively, they could help Minnesota add future value while opening opportunities for younger players. It's not just about where the Twins stand in the race after seven games. It's about what direction the organization chooses over the next couple of weeks. Another thing I'll be watching closely is how the Twins decide to structure their starting rotation. With seven games over the next week, there's an opportunity for two starters to throw twice. Ideally, those two would be Joe Ryan and Taj Bradley. Those are your two best starters, and if you're trying to maximize your chances of winning the biggest week of the season, it makes sense to have your best arms on the mound as often as possible. The complication, of course, is timing. Ryan and Bradley both pitched against the Angels last weekend, with Ryan throwing on Saturday and Bradley following on Sunday. Ryan also made an appearance in Tuesday night's All-Star Game, even if it was only for one inning. That could make it difficult to line everything up exactly the way you'd like. So how do the Twins approach it? In deference to some of those concerns, they elected to start Bailey Ober to open the second half. Bradley will follow him, and Zebby Matthews gets the ball Sunday. Ryan will, presumably, open the Cleveland series; Bradley is positioned to close it. The priority right now should be putting your team in the best position to win. They've done that, while also giving Ryan a bit of time to recover from the whirlwind of All-Star Week and an intense between-starts appearance in the cauldron of Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park. No matter how the rotation shakes out, though, one thing feels certain. This next week of baseball is going to tell us a lot about who the 2026 Minnesota Twins really are. And depending on how it unfolds, it could have a major impact on what this team looks like for the rest of the season. View full article

That's a bold statement my friend

Image courtesy of © Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images The Minnesota Twins are just one game below .500 and only three games back of the White Sox and Guardians in the AL Central. For most of the season, they've been viewed as deadline sellers, but that might not end up being the case. Their offense has been the best in the AL this season, and a few additions to the pitching staff might get them over the hump. The bullpen, in particular, has been extremely shaky. So, who are some relief pitchers the Twins could target over the next couple of weeks? Here are three names that make a lot of sense. Kenley Jansen On paper, the Tigers probably have the best roster in the AL Central. But in fact, they're eight games below .500, and Jansen is a 38-year-old reliever. There have been injuries. There have been blowups. There have even been way too many walks, which is a bit uncharacteristic. Jansen is one of the best closers of his generation, but he's very much in the later stages of his career. He's no longer the guy who carved out a plausibly Hall of Fame-caliber career shutting the door in the ninth inning. But that's also exactly why he feels like such an intriguing buy-low candidate, should Detroit be willing to move him to a division rival. The underlying metrics offer a lot more encouragement than the ERA does. Jansen owns a 3.82 expected ERA and continues to limit hard contact at a very impressive rate. While the cutter isn't the 98-MPH weapon it once was, he's still throwing it over 80% of the time, and hitters aren't doing much with it. He can still be one of the most uncomfortable at-bats in baseball when he's commanding that pitch. He can't be the relief ace that every contender is chasing at the deadline, which could work in Minnesota's favor. If the Twins are looking for an experienced late-inning arm without paying a premium prospect cost, Jansen feels like someone who could really stabilize this bullpen. Brock Burke Burke profiles similarly to Jansen, in the sense that both have struggled with command this season, but both are also excellent at limiting hard contact. Burke's hard-hit rate sits in the 90th percentile of all pitchers, and until this season, he consistently generated a ton of ground balls. That's been one of the biggest differences in 2026. Formerly a reliable ground-ball arm with solid command, Burke and the Reds made a few adjustments to both his delivery and pitch mix entering the season. Neither has really worked. He's lost the strike zone far more often than in previous years, and his ground-ball rate has dropped roughly 13 percentage points from where it was a year ago. Even with those issues, though, Burke has still managed to post a 3.02 ERA. The Twins wouldn't necessarily be acquiring him for what he's looked like over the last few months. They'd be betting on getting him back to the pitcher he had been for several years before that. As a low-salary rental arm, Burke is exactly the type of reliever teams love taking a chance on at the deadline, hoping a new coaching staff can unlock the version of the pitcher that's been buried underneath ill-conceived adjustments. Minnesota could certainly use another dependable left-handed reliever. Kody Funderburk and Kendry Rojas have both bounced between Triple-A and the major leagues this season, leaving the Twins without much consistency from the left side of the bullpen. Burke could provide exactly that, and since he'll be a free agent after the season, it wouldn't take much to bring him to Minnesota. Keaton Winn Of the three pitchers mentioned here, Winn would almost certainly cost the most to acquire. He's putting together an excellent season with the Giants, posting a 3.09 ERA across 32 innings while striking out 26 batters compared to just 10 walks. Unlike some of the other bullpen options who may become available, command really isn't a concern with Winn. He also comes with something teams always value: club control. Winn still has another year of pre-arbitration remaining on his contract, meaning the Twins would have him under team control well beyond this season. That added value is almost certainly going to increase the asking price, but it's also part of what makes him such an attractive target. Beyond his contract situation, this is an arm that could really benefit the Twins. Winn is one of the best pitchers in baseball at generating weak contact. His average exit velocity allowed and hard-hit rate both rank in at least the 95th percentile among major-league pitchers, while his barrel rate isn't far behind, in the 88th percentile. He throws strikes, he throws hard, and he keeps the ball on the ground. That's exactly the type of profile the Twins could use at the back end of their bullpen. Adding Winn wouldn't just be about fixing a problem for the rest of 2026. It would also strengthen Minnesota's relief corps moving forward, giving them another controllable late-inning option alongside the pieces already in place. Whether the Twins ultimately decide to buy or sell over the next few weeks will depend on how they play leading up to the deadline. But if they continue hovering around a playoff spot, standing pat probably isn't the best option. The offense has already proven it's capable of carrying this team. Now, it's up to the front office to decide whether adding to the bullpen is enough to turn the Twins from a fringe Wild Card contender into a legitimate playoff threat. Kenley Jansen, Brock Burke, and Keaton Winn are three relievers who could help make that happen. Let me know down in the comments what other relief pitchers you'd like to see the Twins go after! View full article

Image courtesy of © Petre Thomas-Imagn Images The Minnesota Twins' first draft of the Jeremy Zoll era is officially in the books, and they may have landed one of the best catching prospects in recent years. Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey is officially a Twin, and there's a lot to like about his long-term outlook. This season with the Yellow Jackets, Lackey slashed .397/.519/.772 over 61 games. He collected 39 extra-base hits and walked 12 more times than he struck out. He's always been known for his bat-to-ball skills, but his power production shot up this season. As a result, so did his draft stock. It's not just the bat that makes him such an intriguing prospect, either. Lackey projects as a quality defensive catcher. He owns a 60-grade arm and a 55-grade fielding tool, giving scouts plenty of confidence that he'll remain behind the plate for the long haul rather than eventually needing to move to another position. Needless to say, the Twins got a good one. The timing of the pick makes it especially interesting, because Minnesota's catching situation could look dramatically different over the next 12 to 24 months. That raises the question: when could we realistically see Vahn Lackey make his major-league debut? Before getting too far ahead of ourselves, it's important to acknowledge something. No matter how talented Lackey is (or how excited Twins fans are about him), there's no guarantee he'll immediately live up to the hype. Prospects are never sure things. In fact, the last catcher selected this high in the MLB Draft was Henry Davis, who went first overall to the Pirates in 2021. Davis has yet to establish himself in the majors, carrying a career .568 OPS. That's not to suggest Lackey is destined for the same outcome, but it does serve as a reminder that development isn't always linear. Fortunately for the Twins, catcher has been one position where the organization has consistently done a nice job developing talent. Obviously, Joe Mauer is the gold standard. More recently, though, Ryan Jeffers developed into a quality major-league catcher after coming through Minnesota's farm system. They've drafted some guys (Mitch Garver, Ben Rortvedt) who didn't profile as big-leaguers at the time, only to develop them well enough to make them useful catchers—and, in Garver's case, even a short-lived star. Lackey has a chance to be the next success story. It's not impossible that we see him in the majors as soon as 2027. A few things would have to go right for that to happen. First and foremost, Lackey would need to hit the ground running. Players don't reach the majors a year after being drafted unless they're dominating the minor leagues and forcing the organization's hand. If Lackey is flying through the system, the Twins shouldn’t hesitate to reward him. The other factor is the major-league roster itself. Jeffers is very likely to leave via free agency this winter. If something were to happen to Victor Caratini or Alex Jackson—whether it's an injury, a trade, or another roster move—it could create an opportunity for Lackey much sooner than expected. Still, that feels more like the best-case scenario than the most likely one. If I had to project today, I think a debut sometime in 2028 is the more realistic outcome. Caratini has a mutual option for the 2028 season. While it's certainly possible both sides agree to bring him back, mutual options rarely end up being exercised. If Caratini departs after 2027, that creates a cleaner path for Lackey to step into a major-league role. There's also a world where the Twins simply decide to take their time. We've seen Minnesota exercise patience with several of its top prospects over the past few years, and Lackey could very easily be next in line. The organization also has several young catching prospects already in the system, including Eduardo Tait, Khadim Diaw, and Enrique Jimenez. While it's highly unlikely all four players (including Lackey) remain full-time catchers (or Twins prospects) throughout their professional careers, they represent additional competition within the organization. That depth could make the climb to the majors a little slower. If Lackey doesn't debut until 2029, which is the slow-play route, that shouldn't automatically be viewed as a red flag. He'll still be only 23 years old entering the 2029 season. If the Twins believe he needs additional development time, there's nothing wrong with allowing him to fully polish his game before asking him to handle one of the most demanding positions in baseball at the highest level. In many ways, that cautious approach has become part of the organization's philosophy. You could make a strong argument that Walker Jenkins, Kaelen Culpepper, and Emmanuel Rodriguez have all played well enough to deserve major-league opportunities. Injuries have certainly played a role in delaying those promotions, but it also feels like the Twins would rather err on the side of caution than rush one of their top prospects before they're completely ready. There's every reason to believe they'll take a similar approach with Lackey if they feel it's in his best interest. Ultimately, there are too many moving parts to confidently predict an exact debut date. If Lackey tears through the minor leagues and immediately looks capable of helping the big-league club, we may see him sometime during the 2027 season. If his development takes a little longer—or injuries, organizational depth, or other roster decisions get in the way—that timeline could easily shift into 2028 or even 2029. If I had to place a bet today, I'd lean toward the second half of the 2028 season. Of course, the Twins have far more information than any of us do, and they'll make whatever decision they believe gives Lackey the best chance to succeed over the long term. Regardless of exactly when he arrives, one thing feels pretty clear: Lackey is a prospect worth getting excited about. He has all the tools to become the Twins' catcher of the future, and if everything comes together, he could make a lasting impact on this organization. View full article

Vahn Lackey has the talent to move quickly through the Twins' farm system, but several factors will determine when he reaches Minnesota. View full video

For sure, I didn't even bother putting him in here because I thought that was just a given lol

I'm certainly not a Keaschall hater, which is why he's on the list. Would you disagree that he hasn't lived up to expectations this year?

Image courtesy of © Matt Blewett-Imagn Images The All-Star break is officially upon us, which makes this a great time to zoom out and look at this Twins team as a whole. We're 97 games into the season, and it's been a year filled with plenty of highs and lows. While we all expected guys like Byron Buxton and Joe Ryan to be among the Twins' best players entering the season, I wanted to focus on some of the more surprising performances we've seen. I've got two pleasant surprises, and two disappointments. There are going to be plenty of players I don't mention, so don't get mad at me if I leave out your favorite player who's having a great season—or the guy you can't stand who's underperforming. I should also note that I won't be including players who were acquired or moved into significant roles midway through the year. Guys like Yoendrys Gómez and Simeon Woods Richardson won't be making this list. With that out of the way, let's start with the positives. The first good surprise has been Taj Bradley. Bradley's first stint as a Twin last summer didn't exactly leave fans feeling overly confident heading into 2026. There were certainly flashes, but there were also inconsistencies that made it difficult to know exactly what the Twins had. Through 18 starts this season, though, I've been really impressed. Bradley owns a 3.59 ERA across 102 2/3 innings while piling up 118 strikeouts, which currently ranks tied for 15th in all of baseball. The strikeout numbers have been especially encouraging because they're backed up by noticeably better swing-and-miss stuff. His cutter and splitter have both taken meaningful steps forward, giving him legitimate weapons beyond his electric fastball. Speaking of that fastball, it's averaging 97 MPH, allowing him to challenge hitters even when they know it's coming. Has everything been perfect? Of course not. There have still been stretches where his command has disappeared, and he'll occasionally run up his pitch count because of it. But overall, Bradley has looked every bit like a No. 2 starter for a large portion of this season, and perhaps the most encouraging part is that he's still only 25 years old. There's still plenty of room for him to grow as a pitcher, and if he continues refining his command while maintaining this level of stuff, the best very well could still be ahead of him. The second positive surprise, in my opinion, has to be Kody Clemens. When the season began, I don't think many people expected Clemens to become one of the Twins' most valuable position players. But here we are, 60% of the season down, and he's been one of the more consistent bright spots in the lineup. He's currently sporting an OPS just shy of .800, while trailing only Byron Buxton for the most extra-base hits on the team. Beyond the offensive production, Clemens has provided value all over the diamond. He's played quality defense at multiple positions, giving Derek Shelton flexibility with his lineup on almost a nightly basis. The underlying numbers make his season look even more impressive. Clemens ranks in the 93rd percentile in average exit velocity, while posting an 81st-percentile barrel rate. He's consistently hitting the baseball hard; those aren't the types of metrics you normally see from a player who was viewed as more of a depth piece entering the year. Clemens's expected batting average sits roughly 15 points higher than his actual batting average. So as productive as he's already been, there's an argument to be made that he's actually deserved even better results. It's certainly possible that Clemens gets moved over the next few weeks if the Twins decide to sell at the deadline. But if Tom Pohlad believes this team can make a run, Clemens is the kind of player who helps you win baseball games. Now, let's move to the negative column. We'll start with Luke Keaschall. Before everyone races to the comments, yes—I know he's been swinging the bat better over the last couple of months. But we're evaluating the season as a whole. Coming into the year, there were some high expectations for Keaschall. He was leading off on Opening Day and looked like someone who could quickly establish himself as a fixture near the top of the lineup. Instead, he enters the All-Star break hitting .258 with a .696 OPS. While he’s not known for his power production, his quality of contact has been abysmal. Keaschall ranks in the 11th percentile or worse in average exit velocity, hard-hit rate, and barrel rate among major-league hitters. That's simply not the type of contact profile you want to see from someone expected to be a key contributor offensively. To his credit, he still puts the bat on the ball well, and he doesn't chase pitches very often. Those are valuable traits. But when the quality of contact is this poor, it becomes much more difficult to consistently produce. Again, he was batting leadoff on Opening Day. Now he's hitting ninth almost every day. Considering the expectations surrounding him entering the season, a sub-.700 OPS through 97 games isn't where I or you hoped for Keaschall to be. The other disappointment has been the Twins' defense as a whole. I don't think anybody entered the season expecting Minnesota to be the best defensive team in baseball, but I also don't think anyone expected things to be this rough. The team currently owns the third-worst defensive efficiency rating in baseball while posting an ugly -28 Defensive Runs Saved, the second-worst mark in the majors. The left side of the infield has been an issue for much of the season. Tristan Gray struggled there, while Brooks Lee and Royce Lewis both had their share of defensive problems before eventually changing positions. Keaschall also had a difficult time at second base before making the move to the outfield. To the Twins' credit, though, they haven't been stubborn about it. Derek Shelton and the coaching staff have shown a willingness to move players around the diamond in an effort to maximize their chances of succeeding defensively. They recognized certain alignments weren't working and have tried to adjust instead of simply hoping things would improve. That doesn't erase the defensive struggles we've seen over the first 97 games, but it does show they're actively trying to fix the problem. Like I said at the beginning, there have been plenty of surprising performances this season—both good and bad—that I didn't mention here. But in my opinion, these are the four that have stood out the most. Now I'm curious to hear from you. What has been your biggest surprise from the Twins so far this season? Let me know in the comments. View full article

Image courtesy of © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images The Twins have already had a handful of prospects get the call this year. We've seen Andrew Morris, Kendry Rojas, Connor Prielipp, John Klein, and Marco Raya make their major-league debuts so far this season. We've also seen a pair of outfielders get their first taste of the big leagues. Gabriel Gonzalez was up for an entire weekend before heading back to Triple-A, while Kyler Fedko got a slightly longer but less fruitful audition. But if you think the prospect promotions are going to slow down, think again. The Twins currently sit at 48-49, and there's a pretty good chance they'll be moving some established major-league pieces over the next few weeks. If that happens, it impacts a lot of the organizational depth in the process. Even while you're chasing a playoff spot, if you're a team like the Twins, the second half becomes about evaluating talent. It's about figuring out who can help you moving forward; who deserves a spot on next year's roster; and who might force their way into the team's long-term plans. So who else could make their debut between now and the end of September? I think there's a handful of names worth keeping an eye on. Some are among the organization's very best prospects, while others have quietly played their way into the conversation. Let's start with the obvious one. While a lot of people expect Walker Jenkins to make his major-league debut this season, I don't share that belief. I talked about this earlier this month, but I still think the Twins should slow-play him. Jenkins is obviously one of the best prospects in baseball, but there's no reason to rush him. Unless they reach a point where they feel he'd make a difference in a push for the playoffs, I'd rather see the organization stay patient. I'm sticking with my prediction: Walker Jenkins will not debut in 2026. That said, I'd be surprised if we didn't see Kaelen Culpepper before the season comes to a close. It feels like we've been waiting on this promotion for about two months now. He's currently sporting an .868 OPS with the St. Paul Saints, and he checks just about every box you'd want to see from a young position player. He hits the ball hard, he gets on base, he can steal a base, and he plays quality defense all over the infield. There's really not much left for him to prove in Triple-A. He just has to get healthy; you can't debut in MLB from the Triple-A injured list. The same goes for Emmanuel Rodríguez, who would already have gotten a look if he weren't hurt. Kaelen may not even be the only Culpepper making his debut this year. Pitcher C.J. Culpepper has quietly built a very compelling case himself. The 24-year-old has posted a 3.13 ERA across 20 relief appearances with the Saints, while striking out 23.2% of opposing batters. As is the case with any prospect, there are still some things to clean up. His 13.0% walk rate certainly isn't ideal, and command has been an issue at times. But he consistently finds ways to work himself out of trouble. That's an underrated skill for a reliever. Not every outing is going to be clean. Good bullpen arms are often the ones who can strand inherited runners or escape jams after putting themselves in difficult situations. Culpepper has shown an ability to do exactly that. If the Twins don't add external help to the bullpen and try to roll with what they have in-house, I think he'll be one of the first names considered for an opportunity. The final player I'm willing to confidently predict will make his major league debut this season is Ben Ross. Unless you're a Twins Daily denizen who loves the minor league reports and lives in the forums, Ross has come out of nowhere this year. He's already 25 years old, and if you pull up most prospect rankings, his name isn't exactly going to jump off the page. But sometimes good baseball players force the issue; Ross has done exactly that. He's a versatile defender who can move all over the diamond. He can play shortstop, third base, and center field, giving the Twins plenty of flexibility. That kind of versatility becomes incredibly valuable over the course of a long season. The role Tristan Gray is playing for the Twins right now could just as easily go to Ross, if an injury compelled the Twins to try it. And it's not like he'd be getting called up simply because of his defensive versatility. Since being promoted to Triple-A, Ross has posted an .846 OPS. If the Twins eventually fall out of the AL Central race, he could be worth a look in September, even if it means jettisoning Gray. If they stay in the race and more injuries strike, that's another path open. Culpepper, Culpepper and Ross seem like they fit specific things the team either needs now or might need in the near future. If they get and/or stay healthy, and if circumstances warrant in one way or another, they could be the next three guys we see come through the Twins' homegrown pipeline. Jenkins and Rodríguez are bigger names, but might be longer shots to show up in the bigs right now. But what do YOU think? Who do you think gets the call before the end of the season? Let us know in the comments! View full article