John Bonnes

It’s great to have baseball back, but our excitement often means reading too much into spring training’s game results. That said, there are things to notice beyond the box score, so here are some observations from the Twins' 3-1 win over the Atlanta Braves on Saturday afternoon. Zebby Matthews’ Velocity Twins fans who don’t know the full story of Twins pitcher Zebby Matthews might view the 6.69 ERA he posted in his rookie year as disappointing. They are overlooking his meteoric rise – from Eighth round draft pick to the majors in two years, which was fueled by an increase in velocity. Apparently, he’s not done yet. Last year, Matthews’ four-seam fastball averaged 94.9 mph. In yesterday’s first spring outing – where velocities are usually lower – he threw 14 four-seam fastballs. The slowest was 95.4 mph. The fastest was 97.3 mph and the average of those pitches was 96.5 mph. He did all this while registering 19 strikes in the 29 pitches he threw. It was not unexpected. “So far this spring, I've been sitting around 95, 97. So, can't really complain too much about that,” said Matthews after the game. “Feel like we're in a good spot.” “We” includes the Twins, since they will likely have him stashed in St. Paul as the #2 option if the Twins need to swap out a member of their starting rotation. That depth is something the team lacked last year when they rushed him to the majors. It’s also something that can come in handy if the team needs to make some deals during the season or at the trade deadline to aid their pursuit of regaining the AL Central crown. Automatic Balls Strikes (ABS) In the first inning, Matthews gave up a lead-off double, but got out of the inning thanks to catcher Christian Vazquez challenging a “ball” call by the umpire. The call was changed to a strike upon further review, and that third strike call ended the inning. Matthews was not so sure. “I was like, I might be away a little bit,” said Matthews. “But no, we clipped the zone. So that was cool to see.” MLB is using spring training games as a testing ground for a “challenge” system for Automatic Balls & Strikes or ABS. Within seconds after the umpire’s call, the catcher, batter, or pitcher may challenge it. The challenge is announced, and almost immediately, the pitch is put on the scoreboard, allowing fans to see it from various angles and zoom in on it to see if it edges the zone. In the case of Matthews’ pitch, the edge of the ball touched the strike zone. That’s a strike. Last year in Triple-A, the average challenge took 17 seconds, and yesterday’s crowd cheered for the dramatic result. Matthews’ reaction also shows another aspect: that pitchers might not be in the best position to challenge. Twins’ manager Rocco Baldelli talked earlier this week about how the team might handle these when they come to real MLB games. “You’re going to see the catchers using opportunities to challenge behind the players, and the hitters should do it,” said Baldelli. “The pitchers are not in a position to do this as well as those other guys. They’re just not. It’s been proven that’s the case.” The team worked with the system starting on Thursday in live BP. Everyone was encouraged to try it to gain experience. In games, a team can challenge calls until they miss two; then, they cannot challenge calls for the rest of the game. But in spring training games, Baldelli isn’t worried about the penalties for challenging too many. These games don’t count, and he feels it’s important for players to become comfortable with the process by using it. Justin Topa Gives Up A Run But…. Justin Topa pitched the third inning of Saturday’s game and gave up the Twins only run on three singles to his first four batters. Twins fans didn’t see Topa much last year due to a knee injury and other setbacks, so I expect I’ll get some questions about today’s performance. Here’s what I saw. One of the singles was hard hit. One was a soft hit. The three singles came on three different pitch types: cutter, sinker, and changeup. His sinker and cutter had about the same velocity as they had in 2023 when he was with Seattle. And he got out of the inning by relying on a sweeper for six of the last eight pitches he threw. The results weren’t great, but I also didn’t see any red flags. Luke Keaschall is Already Hitting Like Matthews, Twins infield prospect Luke Keaschall launched himself up the prospect charts last year (landing at #3 on Twins Daily’s list) before having to shut down his season for Tommy John surgery. We likely won’t see him ready to play in the field until mid-March, but driving in two runs off the first pitch he sees this spring is encouraging. Because, also like Matthews, he could end up having a role on the team before the end of the year. View full article

Aaron and John talk about the early Twins tidbits from spring training involving Ty France, Jose Miranda, Brock Stewart, Louie Varland, Royce Lewis, Brooks Lee, Chris Paddack, Harrison Bader, and more. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link. View full article

FORT MYERS - Ty France is looking for a simple fix and a simple fit. He thinks he found it with the Twins. Image courtesy of © Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK For the first time in his career, Ty France navigated the free agency process. The resulting contract – a non-guaranteed deal worth $1M – reflects the ups and downs that free agency holds for the majority of MLB players. But long before he signed on the dotted line, the 30-year-old first baseman felt early on that the Minnesota Twins were the right fit. “They run a lot of different lineups out and play a lot of matchups,” France explained. “They had Carlos [Santana] here last year, who did a great job, and lost him in free agency. Saw an opening there.” Finding the right fit was important because France is trying to rebound from back-to-back difficult seasons. The easy explanation for his 2024 numbers—a triple slash of .234/.305/.365—is a hairline fracture in his heel that he suffered early in June last year. Before the injury, his OPS was 734. Following that, he posted a 621. “I don’t want to put all the blame on that,” said France. “There was a lot that went into it.” Instead, France focuses on a more self-inflicted problem. After struggling in 2023, he tried a swing overhaul heading into 2024. It didn’t work, and he admitted he let panic dictate his adjustments. “So my first four years in the big leagues had really, really good, strong seasons. Then in ’23, numbers dipped a little bit, and I shouldn't have, but I panicked a little because I wasn't used to that, you know, kind of production,” reflected France. “So I was like, ‘Okay, how can I get back to being my old self’ … and kind of got lost.” France dove into mechanics and analytics but soon realized that wasn’t his style. “There was a lot of it - the analytical side - where I tried to tap into, that I shouldn't tap into,” he said. “I should just worry about being a baseball player and hitting the ball.” Determined to rediscover his natural approach, France worked this offseason with former Twins infielder Denny Hocking. He also reflected on lessons from his youth when he worked with “Coach Gwynn.” That is Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn. “He was very big on simplifying things,” France said. “When I’m at my best, I’m not focused on analytics. I’m just simplifying hitting.” This can lead to another lesson that Gwynn taught him that France had to relearn: baseball should be fun. “One of the things that I think kind of got lost the last year or two was he always preached, ‘This is a game, you’ve got to have fun,’” France said. “And the last year or two hasn’t been fun baseball for me. I think my time in Cincinnati last year, having that reset, I found that joy again.” Towards that end, France insists he will not put extra pressure on himself, even though he’s playing on a non-guaranteed contract. “I’m not going to go out here and try and be something I’m not,” he said. “I’m going to go out and play my game. And if it aligns, great. If it doesn’t, it is what it is.” The way Twins manager Rocco Baldelli talks about him, France need not worry about being left off the roster. Baldelli talks about him as if he’s already the everyday first baseman. “He’s going to play a lot,” Baldelli said Saturday afternoon. “That’s really the best way of saying it. The kind of hitter that he is, yeah, this isn’t a platoon situation. I think he’s going to play.” For that reason, regardless of the amount or the terms of the contract they offered him, the Twins seem to be a great fit. Now he needs to show he’s a great fit for them as they try to recover from last season’s collapse. He knows just how he’s going to do it. “When I simplify hitting and get back to being myself, I’m a pretty good hitter,” he said. “I’m just going to go out this year and play baseball instead of worrying about all the mechanical stuff.” View full article

Aaron and John talk about the Twins signing Harrison Bader and Danny Coulombe just before the start of spring training, which roster battles to watch during camp, why adding anyone else might mean trading away someone like Willi Castro, and the latest details on the new TV setup. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link. View full article

Congratulations to this year's winner of the Byron Buxton's Injury History MLB Outfielder Fellowship. Image courtesy of © Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images The Minnesota Twins have agreed to sign center fielder Harrison Bader per Jon Heyman. Bader adds another useful skill set for the team, bringing in a right-handed hitting veteran outfielder known for his defense and speed. Bader, 30, was available this late in free agency partially because he held out for a full-time starting opportunity much longer than the market gave him reason to. Coming off a difficult season in which he batted .236/.284/.373 for the Mets, he was never likely to find an everyday job. His 143 games played were a career-high, but in many of those contests, he was a pinch-hitter or a late-game defensive sub; he started only 108 games, all in center field. He hit 12 home runs and stole 17 bases, but the skills didn’t quite match the tools. As a complementary piece and a fourth outfielder, though, he still has considerable value. When he first came up with the Cardinals, he was one of the best defensive center fielders in baseball. In 2019 and 2021, he was worth 15 and 18 Defensive Runs Saved, respectively. He’s thickly built and has already lost a step out there, such that he’s closer to average in center these days, but he’s still a plus in either corner. He retains above-average speed and a plus arm. That’s perfect for the Twins, because in addition to being ballast against a Byron Buxton injury, Bader could be a platoon partner for either of Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner. He’s a career .249/.315/.461 hitter against left-handed pitchers, so he would provide the same kind of right-handed power the Twins could have gotten from the likes of Randal Grichuk and Ramón Laureano, each of whom signed Tuesday for very similar amounts in other places. Unlike either of them, though, Bader offers that ability to play center field without becoming a glaring problem. He’s been less reliable against righties. Throughout his career, Bader has been a streaky hitter, struggling against right-handed pitching (.669 career OPS) but occasionally running into enough power to be playable against them, anyway. He also stole 17 bases in 2022, 20 in 2023 and 17 last year, so he brings a speed weapon the team has been lacking, as well. The Twins had a league-low 65 steals in 2024; they need this infusion of sheer athleticism. Injuries have often limited his production, but in 2024, he managed to stay on the field for a full season. In the past, he’s been sidelined by groin, hamstring, and oblique strains, a hairline fracture in his ribcage, and plantar fasciitis, so the risk is that he’s shelved at the very time when he’s needed to fill in for a downed Buxton. It’s reassuring, though, that he put together his most durable season to date in his most recent one. The Mets gave Bader 437 plate appearances last year; the Twins can probably offer a little less than that for 2025. This move dramatically raises their floor, because it shields them against either Buxton’s prolonged absence or regression and platoon vulnerability from Larnach or Wallner. He’s a clear upgrade, for this role, over Austin Martin. The only lingering question is whether this move will force the team to cut money elsewhere. If adding Bader is the difference between being able to keep Christian Vázquez or Willi Castro and not being able to, it changes the equation. For now, though, it’s a savvy pickup. UPDATE: According to Dan Hayes of The Athletic, the deal is worth $6.25 million in total, with incentives that can take it considerably higher. A chunk of that will be pushed out to 2026 as the buyout on that mutual option—a reminder, those are hardly ever exercised by both parties—but this is a substantial investment in Bader by a team still operating under some level of payroll constraint. It's a show of real faith. Matthew Trueblood contributed to this story. View full article

No longer can anyone say the Minnesota Twins haven't spent money this winter. They have a lefty in the bullpen and a fully guaranteed big-league deal on the books, and look, it's even a familiar face. Image courtesy of © Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images The Twins signed left-handed reliever Danny Coulombe to a one-year, $2.5-million deal Tuesday, multiple sources told Twins Daily. It's a move to balance the bullpen, and it does little or nothing to deepen whatever pressure the team already felt to clear some salary this winter. Our sweet southpaw baby has returned home! Coulombe originally signed with the Twins as a 30-year-old free agent way back in December of 2019, and despite limited appearances in the majors, kept re-signing with the team annually through 2022. He was generally effective with the team from 2020 through 2022 but also dealt with injuries, such as a torn labrum in his left hip that limited him to just 10 games in that last season. He appeared healthy and effective in spring training of 2023 but was crowded out of the bullpen. (“We have to keep a spot open for Emilio Pagan. This will be the year he turns it around!”) Since he had no options left, the Twins traded him to Baltimore - where he became their best left-handed reliever. (Meanwhile, Jovani Moran appeared in 43 games for the Twins with a 5.31 ERA.) In his two years with the Orioles, he pitched 81 innings with a 2.56 ERA, though he did miss a good chunk of the latter half of last year with yet more injury issues; this time he had bone chips removed from his elbow. But he returned before the end of the year and made five scoreless appearances—six, if you also count an appearance in the playoffs. It was somewhat surprising, then, that the Orioles declined a $4-million option they had on Coulombe, which made him a free agent. Or, maybe it wasn’t a surprise, given the contract he received from the Twins is for less. The fascinating question here will be whether the Twins let Coulombe continue with the same pitch mix that brought him so much success in Baltimore. While with Minnesota, he did what Twins pitchers do, basically, leading with a four-seam fastball rather than his sinker: When he got to Baltimore, though, the Orioles raised his arm slot, gave him a cutter, committed him to his nascent sweeper at the expense of his tighter slider, scrapped the change, and voila! He got more ground balls, was around the zone more, and generally got better at everything. Given that he only threw 91 in the first place, it made all kinds of sense to keep hitters on the defensive with two other flavors of fastball—only, the Twins don't really do that. They're very four-seam-focused. Does this reunion with a remade old friend signal an openness to a different way of mixing pitches and attacking hitters? And even if so, can the 35-year-old Coulombe stay healthy pitching this way? His arm angle was around 50° during his time with the Twins; the O's cranked it up to an exceptionally overhand 56°. There are no guarantees here, except the $2.5 million and a roster spot for Coulombe. He does give them upside from the left side, after they traded Morán and let Caleb Thielbar walk as a free agent this winter, but physical and performance question marks loom. His arrival probably also makes the right-handed portion of the bullpen that much more crowded, as some combination of the following are fighting for the remaining seven spots after Coulombe's: Griffin Jax, Jhoan Durán, Cole Sands, Brock Stewart, Jorge Alcalá, Justin Topa, Louie Varland, Michael Tonkin, and Rule 5 pick Eiberson Castellano. I’ll save you some finger-counting: that’s nine names. This team already had lots of depth. Now, they also have better balance, and the warm, fuzzy feeling of having spent some of the Pohlad family's money, after all. UPDATE: Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports the deal as being worth $3 million, rather than $2.5 million. As he indicates, too, we've heard there are performance bonuses involved in the deal, so maybe the difference is more semantic than anything. We'll continue to check into the details as they emerge, but either way, the deal leaves the team some room to navigate from here—as long as they turn around after signing Coulombe and clear some of the deadweight payroll they've been shopping around all winter. View full article

Aaron and John host Twins Daily's 2025 Winter Meltdown and interview Minnesota Twins players Ryan Jeffers and Simeon Woods Richardson, and Twins TV play-by-play announcer Cory Provus. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link. Ryan Jeffers, Simeon Woods Richardson and Cory Provus were great guests for the Twins Daily Winter Meltdown. Hear what they had to tell Gleeman, The Geek, and the hundreds of Twins fans on Saturday night. View full article

Aaron and John talk about the Twins' lack of offseason activity, rumblings of the Pohlads moving closer to selling the team, the local broadcast plans for 2025, trading for former top prospect Diego Cartaya, and parsing quotes about the payroll. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link. View full article

Aaron and John talk about Max Kepler, Carlos Santana, and Caleb Thielbar officially leaving the Twins as free agents, how Mickey Gasper and Mike Ford could fit into the lineup plans, why giving up on Jovani Morán seems odd, and starting a cricket podcast. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link. View full article

Aaron and John talk about the billionaire brothers, Justin and Mat Ishbia, being interested in buying the Twins from the Pohlads, trade speculation swirling around Carlos Correa, and the pros and cons of Rule 5 pick Eiberson Castellano. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link. View full article

Aaron and John talk about the changes to the Twins' coaching staff, what to expect from the Winter Meetings, why MLB's early offseason moves have been surprising, and cheap free agent fits for the Twins that might still be too expensive. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link. View full article

This is your chance to join the exclusive crowd of Twins Daily fans and catch a glimpse of the stars without the crowds of a regular game. Trust us, this isn’t your average night out. The 20th Annual Diamond Awards are just around the corner, and this year’s event promises to be one for the books. Every year is a “special” evening, but if you’re a fan of Carlos Correa, Royce Lewis, Ryan Jeffers, Griffin Jax, and Willie Castro, then this year’s awards ceremony is looking particularly can’t-miss. These guys will be receiving honors, and let’s face it, you want to be in the room where it happens. A Night to Celebrate, And Yes, Give Back The Diamond Awards aren’t just about dressing up and watching some players accept shiny trophies—they’re about supporting a cause that matters. You’ll be rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in the organization, all while supporting the University of Minnesota’s fight against diseases like ALS, Parkinson’s, and multiple sclerosis. It’s a good cause, and it’s also your chance to say you “did something” in 2025. This event takes place on Thursday, January 23rd, at The Armory, the night before Twins Fest. So, if you’re looking for a fancy start to your weekend of baseball festivities, this is it. But be warned, the whole night is about more than just making small talk with the players—it’s also about showing up for a cause. Here’s the Catch: Buy Your Tickets Now (Before You Miss the Deal) Here’s the part you really need to pay attention to: if you want to snag your tickets at a discounted price, you need to act fast. Early bird pricing ends on Friday, November 29th, and if you’re even remotely interested in being part of this event, you’d be wise to lock in your spot now at $50 off the regular $250 price. And when you do so, make sure you fill in “Twins Daily” when it asks for your organization at signup. Then you’ll also get to sit at the exclusive Twins Daily tables, connecting with writers and others who share your passion and immerse themselves in the magic of the game. A Night of Baseball, Glamour, and Community (Yep, It’s That Kind of Event) This isn’t just a night for baseball fans—it’s for those who know how to make a difference while looking good doing it. Whether you’re in it for the chance to mingle with the players or just to be part of something “exclusive,” this event is your ticket to a night of fun, philanthropy, and some well-earned bragging rights. So, if you want in, don’t wait too long. Remember, the early bird deal ends November 29th. After that, you’ll be kicking yourself when the price goes up. BUY TICKETS HERE View full article

Aaron and John talk about the Twins' surprising front office shakeup involving Dave St. Peter, Derek Falvey, and Jeremy Zoll, why the timing is odd with the team up for sale, Carlos Correa trade speculation, Rule 5 protection decisions and scouting reports on beat writers. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link. View full article