Sam Caulder

Image courtesy of © Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images Box Score SP: Taj Bradley - 6 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K. 100 pitches, 65 strikes (65%) Home Runs: Matt Wallner, Kody Clemens, Royce Lewis Top 3 WPA: Taj Bradley (0.40), Kody Clemens (0.12), Kody Funderburk (0.11) Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) The Twins wrapped up their series with the Royals on Thursday, playing a 1:10 PM finale after a late finish the night before. With a different-looking lineup and a quick turnaround, the focus was simple: get more length from Taj Bradley and find just enough offense. They got both. BRADLEY SETTLES IN After an inefficient first outing that saw his pitch count climb quickly, Taj Bradley looked much more in control this time around. He worked six scoreless innings, allowing five hits and just one walk while striking out three. More than the line, though, was how he got there. Bradley was far more efficient early, needing just 27 pitches to get through two innings. He mixed in his cutter effectively and did a better job getting ahead, even if his first-pitch strike rate still wasn’t perfect. When he ran into trouble, he adjusted. The fourth inning was his biggest test, as he loaded the bases with two outs. But he reached back and got a swing-and-miss on a cutter out of the zone to escape. It wasn’t as dominant as his first start from a pure stuff standpoint. He generated fewer whiffs and gave up plenty of hard contact. But this was a different kind of outing; one built on navigating traffic, limiting damage, and giving the Twins exactly what they needed after getting just four innings from Joe Ryan the day before. And this time, it held up. SCRATCHING EARLY, BREAKING THROUGH LATE The Twins didn’t exactly jump on Royals starter Cole Ragans, but they made him work. A 24-pitch first inning set the tone, and multiple long at-bats followed, even if the runs didn't pile up. Their first run came in an unusual way. In the second inning, Kody Clemens reached base and eventually scored on a failed pickoff attempt by Salvador Perez, who threw the ball into center field. It wasn’t pretty, but any runs in a game like this matter. From there, chances were limited. There was some traffic, but nothing consistent enough to break things open. It felt like a one-run game that could flip at any moment—until the endgame. A Josh Bell walk, a Royce Lewis double and a Byron Buxton sacrifice fly got a run home in the top of the eighth, and after the bullpen avoided letting the lead slip away in a nervous bottom of the eighth, the offense gave them some breathing room in the top of the ninth. Matt Wallner got things started with a missile to right-center, a 405-foot drive that came off the bat at 107 MPH. A few batters later, Clemens jumped on a backdoor slider and sent it into the bullpen in left. Then Bell made it three in the inning, launching a hanging slider into the seats in right field. Just like that, a tight game turned into a comfortable one. BULLPEN SLAMS THE DOOR With Bradley through six, the Twins turned it over to the bullpen, and they delivered. Kody Funderburk handled the seventh cleanly, working around a loud foul ball to post a zero. Cole Sands ran into some trouble in the eighth, allowing a run on a sacrifice fly, but limited the damage and avoided a bigger inning. Taylor Rogers came in to finish the frame, stranding a runner and picking up a key strikeout, and Justin Topa closed things out in the ninth. Even with a little traffic to start the inning, Topa induced a double play and ended the game with a strikeout. It wasn’t flawless, but the bullpen was effective. Despite some iffy defense, they held the lead. There were a few smaller moments that stood out along the way. Victor Caratini was active behind the plate, successfully challenging multiple calls early in the game. Luke Keaschall made one key, unorthodox defensive play, picking a low throw as he arrived at the keystone for a pivotal out in the eighth. And while the lineup wasn’t the usual group, it found a way to produce when it mattered most. That’s what this one came down to. What’s Next? The Twins head to Minneapolis for their home opener tomorrow, where they’ll open up a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Bailey Ober is set to make his second start of the year, and Joe Boyle will take the hill for the Rays, with the action getting going (after some season-opening pomp and circumstance) at 3:10 PM CT or so. Postgame Interviews Coming Soon! Bullpen Usage Chart SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU TOT Abel 0 81 0 0 0 0 81 Kent 0 0 0 0 47 0 47 Funderburk 13 0 26 0 0 15 54 Laweryson 0 0 0 0 36 0 36 Banda 15 3 0 0 12 0 30 Topa 12 0 10 0 0 13 35 Orze 21 0 0 0 0 0 21 Sands 16 0 0 0 0 11 27 Rogers 0 0 14 0 0 4 18 View full article

Three of the most intriguing arms in the Twins system are on the verge, but who gets the call first? Connor Prielipp, Kendry Rojas, and Andrew Morris are all pushing the timeline, and the answer might come down to who forces the issue. View full video

It’s early, but the Twins’ bullpen roles are already starting to take shape — and the usage of Kody Funderburk, Justin Topa, Anthony Banda, Taylor Rogers, Cole Sands, and Eric Orze tells a pretty interesting story. From Topa’s late-inning work to Sands locking down the only save so far, some clear trends are emerging. The question is: are these roles here to stay, or just a product of a small sample size? View full video

He had surgery last summer to remove bone spurs from his throwing elbow. Sounds like he's recovering from that still, but SHOULD be back around early May

Image courtesy of Malamut Photography (L to R: Eduardo Tait, Dasan Hill, Brandon Winokur) The Cedar Rapids Kernels are back, and their 2026 Opening Day roster is officially set. Cedar Rapids opens the season with 29 active players and six more on the injured list. There’s a strong mix here of returning names, 2025 standouts, and a handful of highly-touted prospects. Let’s break it down. Coaching Staff: There’s a lot of continuity here, starting at the top. Brian Meyer returns as manager after leading the Kernels to a Midwest League Championship Series appearance in 2025. Pitching Coach Hunter Townsend, Hitting and Development Coach Yeison Perez, Strength and Conditioning Coach Morgan Buckley, and Assistant Athletic Trainer Morgan Leichtenberger all return as well. There are a few new additions as well. Erick Julio joins the pitching staff, Danny Marcuzzo steps in as hitting coach, and Katie Lortie takes over as lead athletic trainer. Pitchers: Christian Becerra, Adrian Bohorquez, Jason Doktorczyk, Brent Francisco, Dasan Hill, Eli Jones, Paulshawn Pasqualotto, Cole Peschl, Sam Rochard, Ivran Romero, Michael Ross, Yehizon Sanchez, Nolan Santos, Eston Stull, Nick Trabacchi, and Jacob Wosinski. Injured List: Miguelangel Boadas, Michael Carpenter, Ross Dunn, Tanner Hall, Garrett Horn and Charlee Soto. There are a lot of arms here, but one name clearly sets the tone: Dasan Hill is the guy. The Twins’ #6 prospect and second-highest ranked pitching prospect in the system, Hill already got a brief taste of Cedar Rapids last year, and the stuff showed up immediately. In just 10 innings, he struck out 15 hitters, flashing the type of swing and miss ability that gives him real breakout potential in 2026. This is a big assignment for him. If he performs early, he’s going to start climbing even higher in prospect conversations. Behind him, there’s a mix of returning depth and upside arms like Cole Peschl and Adrian Bohorquez. And then there’s the injured list, which is loaded. Charlee Soto, Ross Dunn and Tanner Hall are all starting the year sidelined. Soto, the Twins’ #10 prospect, is a huge name to monitor. Once he’s back, he immediately raises the ceiling of this entire staff. This group might take a little time to come together, but the upside is very real. Catchers: Khadeim Diaw, Luis Hernandez, and Eduardo Tait. Eduardo Tait is the headliner here, but don't overlook Khadim Diaw. The Twins’ #4 prospect is the biggest name on this entire roster. In a small sample last season, he totaled 13 extra-base hits in just 30 games with Cedar Rapids, showing real power potential. There’s going to be a lot of attention on how that translates over a full year. Khadim Diaw, the #19 Twins prospect, is a really strong complementary piece. He hit .294 with a .446 on-base percentage and an .866 OPS in Cedar Rapids last season, which is excellent production from a catcher. He also has experience in the outfield, giving the Kernels some extra versatility. Infielders: Miguel Briceno, Danny De Andrade, Rayne Doncon, Marek Houston, Andy Lugo, Jay Thomason, and Brandon Winokur. This is, arguably, the biggest strength of the roster, and Marek Houston is the most notable name here. The Twins’ #9 prospect is going to be one of the key players to watch all season. He struggled in a small sample at High-A last year, hitting just .152 in 46 at-bats. But the same was true of Kaelen Culpepper entering last season, and he took a huge step forward. Not far behind him is Brandon Winokur. The Twins’ #13 prospect brings one of the most intriguing profiles on the team. Last season, he led the group in home runs and added 26 stolen bases but also struck out in just under 25% of his plate appearances. Winkour’s power and speed are real, and if the contact improves even slightly, his ceiling is extremely high. Danny De Andrade is another name to know. He was limited by injuries last year, but he’s one of the better defensive infielders in the Twins’ system. This is a big year for him. Rayne Doncon returns after posting a .516 OPS in his first taste of High-A and will look to adjust with more experience. Andy Lugo quietly had a strong season, hitting .309 with an .889 OPS, giving this group another productive bat. Outfielders: Jaime Ferrer, Caden Kendle, and Jacob McCombs. It’s a smaller group, but still some interesting pieces. There’s no clear “top dog” at the position entering the year. Ferrer finished with a .635 OPS at High-A last season but showed flashes and will look to take a step forward. Kendle brings a contact-oriented approach with strong bat-to-ball skills, and McCombs, the Twins’ 7th round pick last summer, will start his first full professional season in Cedar Rapids. As I noted earlier, Khadim Diaw will likely mix in some as well when he’s not catching. This Cedar Rapids roster feels pretty familiar, but in the best way. There’s a strong returning core, several high-end prospects, and a lot of players with room to grow. If the pitching staff gets healthier and a few key bats take a step forward, this has a chance to be a really fun team to follow in 2026. Opening Night is set for April 3rd, and there’s going to be a lot to watch right out of the gate. View full article

The first series of the season already gave us plenty to dig into, and not all of it was encouraging. While Joe Ryan and Royce Lewis showed why they matter, Bailey Ober and Mick Abel raised some early concerns that are worth watching closely. View full video

definitely thought about adding him, I think he's going to be an immediate impact kind of player

Image courtesy of William Parmeter Coming into 2026, a lot of the conversation around the Minnesota Twins farm system has centered on high-profile arms like Connor Prielipp and Kendry Rojas. But internally, there is another name that keeps coming up. “I think John Klein’s a guy to look for,” St. Paul Saints pitching coach Ryan Ricci said. “Just watching the improvements he made last year, gaining velo, fine-tuning his off speeds… a guy that is going to be able to carry a lot of innings and pitch in some different roles.” That idea of different roles is a big part of what makes Klein such an interesting piece of this system heading into 2026. The season begins tonight in Indianapolis with three games against the Pirates Triple-A team. The home schedule begins on Tuesday (3/31) at CHS Field when the Saints host a six-game weekend series against speedy Braiden Ward, old friend Mickey Gasper, top prospects Payton Tolle, Mikey Romero, and the Worcester Red Sox. Tickets are still available. At 23 years old, he doesn’t necessarily jump off the page in the same way as some of those top prospects. But in a lot of ways, he is tracking right alongside them. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound right-hander out of Brooklyn Park looks the part immediately, with a frame that’s more reminiscent of an NFL tight end than a typical pitcher. And over the last year, he has started to turn that physicality into real production. Klein logged 106 1/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A last season, finishing with a 3.98 ERA, 128 strikeouts, and 37 walks. At Double-A, he was especially steady, posting a 3.12 ERA across 80 2/3 innings before earning a promotion. His Triple-A numbers look rough at first glance with a 6.66 ERA, but the underlying data tells a very different story. His FIP sat at just 3.30, and his strikeout rate actually improved to a very strong 11.6 K/9. A spike in walks and a .373 BABIP played a major role in his inflated ERA, and both are areas that tend to stabilize over time. In other words, his performance was better than the results. That progress is a big reason why the Twins have been intentional with how they have developed him. “There’s a couple factors,” Ricci said. “For John, he started on that length reliever role where you’re still accumulating innings on a little bit shorter rest. We didn’t want to fully commit to the bullpen but also keep the door open to starting.” That hybrid role isn't new. The Twins began using it throughout the organization to allow more pitchers the ability to throw more innings. We saw it with Travis Adams and Pierson Ohl who made their MLB debuts in 2025. The role allowed Klein to do two things at once. He was able to build up his workload, while also getting the type of between outing work that typically comes with being on a starter’s schedule. “He performed his way into the conversation of, ‘This guy might be able to start long term,’” Ricci said. “Being on that starter plan gave him the bullpens he needed to really fine-tune the off-speed pitches and get more reps.” That development shows up when you look at his arsenal. Klein already features a fastball, sinker, slider, curveball, and changeup, and this spring he added a sweeper to his mix to give hitters another look. His fastball and sinker were consistently touching 96 miles per hour this spring after sitting around 94-95 last season, giving him a solid foundation to work off of. The next step is continuing to sharpen everything around it. Klein’s first pitch strike rate sat below 50 percent last season, an area that needs to improve. Getting ahead in counts is one of the simplest ways to change an at-bat, and even elite hitters like Shohei Ohtani see a dramatic drop off when they fall behind early. Last season, Ohtani hit .329 when working from a 1-0 count, compared to just .227 when pitchers got ahead with a first-pitch strike. For Klein, that is where a lot of the upside still lives. His stuff is good enough, his frame is built to handle innings, and the role flexibility gives him multiple paths to the major leagues. Because while the Twins have not fully committed to him as a starter, they also have not closed that door. At the same time, there is a very real scenario where Klein carves out a role as a multi-inning reliever. Someone who can give you two or three innings at a time, a couple times a week, and help stabilize a pitching staff over the course of a long season. That kind of pitcher does not always get the same attention but is a valuable piece to have. And with the way Klein has developed over the last year, he is putting himself in a position to be exactly that. He may not be the flashiest name in the Twins system, but between his progress, versatility, and the underlying numbers, he is absolutely one to watch in 2026. For much more Twins Daily content on John Klein and his rise through the Twins organization, click here. View full article

Image courtesy of © Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images Box score SP: Joe Ryan: 5 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K. 85 pitches, 58 strikes (68.2%) Home Runs: None Bottom 3 WPA: Justin Topa (-.023), Ryan Jeffers (-.015), Royce Lewis (-.014) We’re back. Opening Day has arrived, and within a few innings, it already felt familiar. Not just because baseball was back — but because of how the game actually unfolded. For the Minnesota Twins, it looked a lot like a version of last season: good pitching, missed opportunities, and a game that felt like it was waiting to be taken. But it never was. RYAN LOOK ACE-LIKE Joe Ryan got the ball to open the season, and there wasn’t much more the Twins could have asked from him. He went 5 1/3 innings, allowing just one hit and two walks, and didn’t give up a run while striking out seven. More importantly, he controlled the game. From the first inning on, the Orioles never really looked comfortable. His fastball was working, he got ahead consistently, and he piled up 16 whiffs, keeping Baltimore’s hitters off balance the entire way. This wasn’t one of those outings where the line looks good after the fact — it looked good the whole way through. And it should have been enough, but it wasn’t. On the other side, Trevor Rogers matched Ryan pitch-for-pitch through seven innings, allowing just three hits and four walks while striking out five. Minnesota’s hitters made some contact, but nothing came of their baserunners until later. RISP-Y BUSINESS The Twins finished the afternoon 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position, and that doesn’t even fully capture how the game felt in real time. There were chances early, including a bases-loaded opportunity in the second inning that went nowhere. Traffic in the middle innings never turned into anything. And then there were the double plays; all three of them. It wasn’t just frustrating, it was historic. The Twins tied a franchise Opening Day record that had stood since 1963. It wasn’t one rally that died, it was multiple. Every time something started to build, it disappeared just as quickly. That’s just baseball sometimes. Once Ryan exited, the Twins turned to the bullpen. Kody Funderburk came in and recorded two outs while allowing one hit, one walk, and the go-ahead run. Justin Topa followed with one inning, giving up two hits and one earned run. Between them, both Orioles runs were scored, putting Baltimore ahead 2‑0 but keeping Minnesota within striking distance. The Twins got one back in the eighth. After a Byron Buxton triple, Luke Keaschall hit a sac fly, cutting the deficit to 2‑1 and giving them a glimmer of life late in the game. There were a few moments that stood out as the game unfolded. Kody Clemens pinch-hit for Austin Martin as soon as a right-handed pitcher entered and stayed in left field. Early in the season, getting players into games matters, but it was still a noticeable move given the other options available. Then in the ninth, Royce Lewis was lifted for Trevor Larnach with two outs, and Larnach ended the game with a strikeout on a slider that caught the plate. That sequence will get talked about, and on Opening Day, every decision feels a little louder. But it’s worth remembering what this actually is: Game 1 of 162. Early in the season, part of the process is getting guys into games, seeing what things look like, and figuring out what might work over time. Not every decision is about maximizing that one moment, even if it feels that way when it doesn’t work. Byron Buxton tripled and scored for the first time in a season opener in his career, providing Minnesota’s only run. Opening Day Eight Twins players enjoyed their first Opening Day in the big leagues. Kody Clemens made his first career Opening Day appearance. He entered the game as a pinch hitter in the eighth and stayed in left field. Kody Funderburk made his first career Opening Day appearance on the mound for the Twins. What’s Next? The Twins and Orioles will enjoy a day off on Friday before returning to the diamond Saturday. Taj Bradley will take the hill for Minnesota, with Kyle Bradish on the mound for Baltimore. First pitch is set for 3:05 PM. Postgame Interviews Twins manager Derek Shelton - "Yeah, Rogers did a good job. I mean, we were 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position, we have to be better than that. When he needed to put the ball on the ground, he did, and then we had two innings where [Coby] Mayo made a really nice play and Gunnar [Henderson] made a really nice play. You know, those two balls and then the fact that, give them credit; they hit two balls where we were not standing and it ended up being the determining factor in the game." Bullpen Availability Chart SUN MON TUE WED THU TOT Topa 0 0 0 0 18 18 Funderburk 0 0 0 0 17 17 Rogers 0 0 0 0 10 10 Orze 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sands 0 0 0 0 0 0 Laweryson 0 0 0 0 0 0 Kent 0 0 0 0 0 0 Banda 0 0 0 0 0 0 View full article

Opening Day is here, which means it’s time to hand out some preseason awards for the Minnesota Twins. From a bold MVP pick to a breakout arm and a major bounce-back candidate, these are the names that could define the Twins’ 2026 season. View full video

Image courtesy of © Mike Watters-Imagn Images Spring training has officially come to a close, with the Twins wrapping up Grapefruit League play at 11-18. The record doesn’t look pretty on the surface, but it rarely tells the full story this time of year. What does matter is how the team finished, and in that sense, there’s at least some momentum to build on. The Twins closed camp on a three-game winning streak, highlighted by a 15-6 splattering of the Red Sox on Tuesday that served as a fitting final tune-up before the games start to count. Spring is ultimately about evaluation. It’s where roles are earned, adjustments are made, and early impressions begin to shape expectations for the season ahead. With that in mind, here’s a look at some of the biggest winners and losers from Twins camp, as Opening Day dawns. Winners Luke Keaschall After a mini-breakout in 2025, Keaschall picked up right where he left off this spring. In 53 at-bats, he slashed .377/.411/.717 with 10 extra-base hits. He led all Twins this spring in doubles (5) and RBIs (12), along with being tied for the team lead in triples (2) and runs scored (10). After a strong but limited showing last season, Keaschall’s impressive contact quality this spring could turn into him taking the next step as a hitter in 2026. He figures to hit near the top of the Twins' lineup every day. Mick Abel Abel was not only one of the Twins’ biggest spring risers; he was also one of Major League Baseball’s biggest risers. The young right-hander looked absolutely dominant, allowing just five earned runs over 22 innings, and posting 27 strikeouts against just four walks. The impressive command and confidence he showed in attacking hitters are things we did not see from him during his time with the Twins last year. His spring performance earned him a spot in the Twins’ rotation to start the season, and Abel has a chance to turn into a frontline starter in 2026. Matt Wallner Just a month ago, I would not have guessed that I’d be talking about Wallner as a spring winner. Yet, here we are. After a very slow start to camp, he wrapped up the spring with a .333/.439/.604 slash line, and gave Twins fans a glimpse into the upside they’ve always known is there. The swing-and-miss aspect of Wallner’s game was still there, as he struck out 14 times in 48 at-bats, but his eight walks and .439 OBP more than made up for it. He’ll enter the regular season as the Twins’ everyday right fielder, and he'll be an important piece of the Twins offense near the top of the order. This kind of production is likely unsustainable, but if Wallner can hover in the .260 range with the batting average, his power and on-base ability will make him a fun player to watch. Losers Zebby Matthews Entering this spring, Matthews looked like a safe bet to have a rotation spot. However, he gave up seven earned runs over just 11 innings, and was never able to string together multiple quality outings in a row. Because of his struggles, he lost out on a big-league rotation spot and will start the year in Triple-A. However, his 3.11 FIP would indicate he ran into some bad luck along the way, and it shouldn’t be long before he’s back up in the majors. Royce Lewis Nobody is taking his roster spot, but this was not the spring you were hoping to see out of Lewis. In 45 at-bats, he slashed .133/.160/.289 with 11 strikeouts to just two walks. The underlying data largely backs up Lewis’s disappointing performance, and he found himself hitting eighth in the batting order toward the end of camp. He’ll still enter the regular season as the Twins’ everyday third baseman, but if these struggles continue over the next month, it’s going to be time to start asking some tough questions. Connor Prielipp The Twins’ top pitching prospect, according to Twins Daily, Prielipp came to camp looking to showcase why he deserves a big-league roster spot. Instead, he showed that he’s not quite there yet. Over 5 ⅓ innings, he allowed four runs on six hits and six walks, striking out six. Opposing hitters consistently squared him up, as Prielipp allowed a 95.4 MPH average exit velocity and a 62.5% hard hit rate. As has always been the case, his stuff was not the problem. But Prielipp has some room left to grow in terms of command before he’s ready to make an impact at the major-league level. Spring training rarely provides definitive answers, but it does offer a glimpse of what might be coming. Some players took clear steps forward, others have adjustments to make, and now the focus shifts to whether those trends carry into the regular season. With camp in the rearview, the evaluations are over. What comes next is what really matters. View full article

Image courtesy of © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images When Royce Lewis was selected first overall in the 2017 MLB Draft, the expectation was simple. He was supposed to be a future superstar and the face of the Twins franchise. Alas, his journey in professional baseball has been anything but a smooth ascent to the firmament. Multiple ACL tears and a lengthy injury history have interrupted his development at nearly every turn, forcing him to spend more time rehabbing than refining his game. Even so, the flashes have always been there. The moments that remind you exactly why he went No. 1 overall have not been hard to find, especially when the lights were brightest. That's the version of Lewis everyone has been waiting to see over a full season, which is why this spring has drawn some attention for the wrong reasons. In 45 at-bats this spring, Lewis batted .133/.160/.289, with 2 home runs, 2 stolen bases, 2 walks and 11 strikeouts. The surface-level production was rough, and even when you look a little deeper, the contact quality offered little reassurance. Lewis did post a reasonably strong 107.4 MPH 90th-percentile exit velocity, but his average exit velocity was just 88.7 MPH and he hit just over 35% of his balls in play at 95 MPH or higher. For a player whose value comes from the damage he can do when he connects, that lack of consistent authority stands out. It's also worth noting that this has not come against top-tier pitching. According to Baseball Reference’s opponent quality metric, Lewis faced a 7.9 out of 10 level of competition this spring, with 10 representing a typical major-league pitcher. In simple terms, much of his playing time came against minor-league arms, rather than big leaguers, which only adds to the concern one feels at first glance. That's really where this conversation starts. It's fair to ask whether these struggles are simply a rough stretch or something more meaningful, but the answer depends on how much weight you want to give a handful of spring at-bats. There are several reasons to believe this was basically a fluke. The most obvious place to start is his batting average on balls in play, which was an atrocious .114. That number isn't just low; it's essentially impossible to sustain. Even hitters who are consistently overmatched don't run a mark that low over time, which means some level of correction is inevitable as the sample grows. Beyond that, there are still signs that the underlying impact ability has not disappeared. Lewis produced a 13.5% barrel rate this spring, according to Statcast, which tells us that his high EV90 wasn't fueled by hammering the ball into the ground. That figure would have placed him comfortably above the league average last season, and suggests that when he does square the ball up, the quality of contact is still there. The disconnect comes from the inconsistency in getting to that contact. His overall exit velocity and strikeout rate point to a hitter who is not consistently on time or fully comfortable in the box. That would not be unusual, given the context of his offseason. Lewis made adjustments to both his stance and approach over the winter, and that type of change often comes with an adjustment period. Even established hitters can look out of sync in spring training when they are working through mechanical tweaks, especially when the focus is on process, rather than immediate results. Pile the question of sample size on top of these considerations, and it's easy to downplay the problem. Lewis has already shown that he can perform at a high level against major-league pitching, and he has done it in meaningful moments. The raw talent that made him the top pick in the draft is still present, and the underlying metrics suggest that his ability to impact the baseball has not disappeared. As we've already documented, though, there are reasons beyond the stat line to be concerned, too. What matters more is how he looks once the games begin to count, when the focus shifts from adjustments to execution. For now, the results are not pretty, but they're also not especially predictive. It is fair to acknowledge the slow start, and it's reasonable to monitor how he looks early in the season. At the same time, the combination of a tiny sample, an unsustainably low BABIP, and ongoing adjustments makes it difficult to treat this as anything more than a temporary lull. If you have to choose between the two, view this as an unimportant (though not strictly encouraging) spring blip. As the season begins, though, he sure hasn't answered the questions that hung over him all winter. View full article

Kaelen Culpepper, Mick Abel, and John Klein all have the tools and opportunity to take a big step forward in 2026. Each could make a real impact on the Twins' season, and even one breakout performance could change how this team looks long-term. View full video