Ted Schwerzler

The Minnesota Twins wrapped up the month of August holding onto a lead in the AL Central division. As they look towards a postseason berth, a handful of hitters have helped to keep them afloat of late. Who takes home the title though? Minnesota has done little to separate from the Cleveland Guardians in 2023, and that is why they hold only a five game lead as the calendar turns to the final month. While August’s 15-12 record was their second best month of the season, it also highlights how close they have played to a mediocre team. Rocco Baldelli’s club has done well on the mound in 2023, and it’s because of a strong pitching staff that the Twins find themselves in a solid position. For August, a few of the Twins bats continued to heat up following the All-Star Break, and after having no hitters play in the game, that has been a nice development. While the lineup as a whole may not have turned a corner, these are the players that have stirred the drink: Honorable Mention: Ryan Jeffers - .246/.338/.539 (.876), 74 PA, 16 H, 4 2B, 5 HR The Twins have been waiting for Ryan Jeffers to break out for some time, and it's finally happening in 2023. Despite bringing in Christian Vazquez to head up catching duties, Jeffers has forced his way into the strong side of a split. Jeffers has had some very big games in August including a two home run game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and a big blast against the Texas Rangers that included a bat flip they didn’t like. Minnesota has not seen the returns from Vazquez at all offensively, and while the bar was not high for him to clear, seeing Jeffers step up and carry that load has been huge. Baldelli has put Jeffers in the designated hitter spot at times with Byron Buxton out, and his bat has been hot enough to warrant the extended playing time. #3: Michael A. Taylor - .257/.321/.581 (.902), 81 PA, 19 H, 8 HR In the same way Vazquez brought in for his defense behind the plate, Taylor was acquired for the same reason in centerfield. That has been beneficial with Buxton unavailable defensively, but the bat wasn’t expected to play like this. Launching his 20th home run of the season during August, Taylor has set a new career high in longballs. Having been mostly a light hitting batter, Taylor has always been known for his elite defensive abilities. Not only has he brought some speed to the table for Minnesota, but the power surge is something he hasn’t tapped into since being with Washington way back in 2017. Taylor posted eight extra-base hits during August, and each of them left the yard. He had a multi-homer game in a big contest against the Rangers, and he has continued to do it while being available defensively on a daily basis. What Taylor has meant to Minnesota this year goes far beyond what would’ve been realistic expectations during spring training. #2: Royce Lewis - .273/.355/.600 (.955), 62 PA, 15 H, 3 2B, 5 HR The only thing keeping Lewis from topping this list is availability. He played in just 14 games during August after returning from a lengthy stint on the injured list due to an oblique injury. Despite missing time, you certainly wouldn’t know he may be rusty given the production. No matter how sporadic the playing time is for Lewis, he continues to produce at the plate. His 12/6 K/BB since returning to action is a very strong sign for his plate discipline development, and his five home runs continue to show an immense amount of game power. Lewis, as he has done all year, continues to find himself in the thick of big moments as well. Against the Rangers and Guardians, Lewis launched the first pair of grand slams in back-to-back games during Twins history. He found himself with another opportunity later in the Guardians series as well, and drove in 14 runs across the action he saw. Making a deep run in the postseason will be largely reliant on the continued production of Minnesota’s historic rookie class, and Lewis is right there leading the charge. #1: Max Kepler - .314/.392/.616 (1.008), 97 PA, 27 H, 8 2B, 6 HR No one has had a season of higher peaks and valleys than that of Max Kepler. From initially looking like a candidate to be DFA’d earlier, to producing like one of Minnesota’s best players, it has been quite the transformation. Kepler has been on fire since the All-Star Break, and he didn’t slow down during the month of August. Baldelli has not been able to get production from Joey Gallo in left field, or Buxton in center, but Kepler has propped out the outfield alongside Taylor. He is driving the baseball from the left side, and elevating pitches with an opportunity to generate extra-base hits. Kepler has always had a sweet stroke, but the ability to provide lift has held him back. Should the Twins pull away from the Guardians down the stretch, it will likely be in part due to the continued success from their regular right fielder. When Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach began to put pressure on him earlier this season, Kepler responded with production that not only has kept him in the lineup, but may keep him around next season as well. How do you feel about the Twins hitters during the month of August? Is there someone else that should have made the list? Do you expect any repeat performances for September? View full article

The Twins were off on Thursday while the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels got back into action after Hurricane Idalia. Take a look at the action of the farm, and check in as to where Minnesota's call-ups may come from. Image courtesy of William Parmeter TRANSACTIONS RHP Hunter McMahon promoted to St. Paul from Wichita LHP Jovani Moran placed on 7-day IL for St. Paul (Left forearm strain) SAINTS SENTINEL St. Paul 8, Columbus 7 (F/10) Box Score Louie Varland was scheduled to start on Thursday night but instead was used as a bulk reliever out of the bullpen to transition him toward the Twins postseason plans. Francis Peguero gave up four runs (one earned) before turning the ball over to Varland in the third inning. Louie worked four innings of one-run baseball out of the bullpen, and he gave up just three hits and a walk while striking out four. Columbus grabbed a 4-0 lead in the first inning, but St. Paul wasn’t deterred and battled back. Chris Williams blasted his 20th homer to put the Saints on the board in the third inning and make it a 4-1 game. After giving one back in the fourth inning, St. Paul buckled down. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. drove home Trevor Larnach and made it a 5-2 game before Larnach launched his ninth double in the sixth inning to bring home Alex Kirilloff and make it a 5-3 game. Jair Camargo followed with a ground out that plated Larnach, and Hernan Perez cleared the bases with his ninth home run of the year. With Anthony Prato and Keirsey Jr. coming in on the big fly, St. Paul had a 7-5 lead. Columbus clawed back in the seventh inning and tied things up at seven. Both sides drew even through regulation, and the pair needed extras. In the bottom of the tenth inning, Perez stepped in with the bases loaded, and his single drove Brooks Lee home to win the game. Alex Kirilloff and Keirsey Jr. recorded three hits, while Perez and Larnach had two of their own. WIND SURGE WISDOM San Antonio 8, Wichita 6 Box Score Cedar Rapids gave the ball to Carlos Luna on Thursday night, and he turned in 5 1/3 innings of five-run baseball. Six hits did him in, and four home runs did in the Wind Surge starter. Despite walking no one and striking out six, getting around the long ball was challenging. Getting down 1-0 in the first inning, Tanner Schobel tied things with his second home run in the bottom half. By the bottom of the sixth inning, Wichita faced a 5-2 deficit, and Patrick Winkel’s single to score Michael Helman only made it a three-run game. Alerick Soularie launched his ninth home run of the season during the seventh inning to bring Wichita within two, but the Missions added three in the eighth inning to stretch their lead. Wichita responded with Winkel driving in Willie Joe Garry Jr. during the bottom half, but they were still doubled up. It wasn’t until Aaron Sabato sent a two-run blast, scoring Alex Isola, that the Wind Surge were again within two. While Wichita grabbed ten hits on the night, only Winkel could record two alone. The Wind Surge came up a pair short. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 12, Lake County 1 Box Score The Kernels turned to C.J. Culpepper for the night, and he held Lake County scoreless for 4 2/3 innings. Culpepper gave up just two hits and two walks while striking out five. He dropped his ERA to 3.58 on the year. The sides stayed scoreless until the fifth inning, and Cedar Rapids took charge. With the bases loaded, Kala’i Rosario walked in Jeferson Morales to score the game's first run. A passed ball then allowed Noah Miller to score, and a balk scored Ben Ross. Another balk brought Rosario home, and the Kernels led 4-0 without doing much in offensive production. Jose Salas singled home Jorel Ortega before the inning ended, and the good guys had a 5-0 lead. Lake County answered with a run in the sixth inning, but that only brought them within four. Rosario blasted his 19th home run of the season in the bottom half, and the three-run shot also scored Miller and Ross to make it an 8-1 game. During the seventh inning, Kyler Fedko singled home Luke Keaschall, and Miller brought home Jose Salas on a ground out. Ross then made it 11-1 with a sacrifice fly to score Fedko, and this one was plenty in hand. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Andrew Cossetti launched his ninth home run of the year to make it an 11-run lead, and the Kernels never felt much competition. Grabbing eight hits on the evening, Keaschall and Salas recorded a pair apiece. MUSSEL MATTERS Fort Myers 7, Clearwater 4 Box Score Back in action after Hurricane Idalia presented adverse weather conditions, Jack Noble took the mound for Fort Myers. He worked six innings of three-run baseball on Friday night. Noble allowed just three hits and three walks while striking out four. The Mighty Mussels jumped out to an early lead when Ricardo Olivar doubled for the 25th time to bring home Walker Jenkins. Rubel Cespedes then lofted a sacrifice fly later in the inning to make it a 2-0 game as Olivar scored on the play. Clearwater got both runs back in the bottom of the first inning, but the Mighty Mussels flexed again in the fifth. With the bases loaded, Danny De Andrade took a walk to bring home Maddux Houghton the easy way. In the sixth inning, Alec Sayre launched his fourth home run of the season to make it a 4-2 game, and Fort Myers was primed for a big frame. Olivar followed with a single to score Jay Harry before Jenkins came home on a throwing error. Up 6-2, De Andrade then singled home Olivar on a base hit back to the pitcher, and it was a wide 7-2 margin. Clearwater grabbed a run back in the sixth inning with a solo home run in the ninth inning, but the 7-4 deficit was as close as things got. The Mighty Mussels put up nine hits on the night, with three coming from Olivar and two from Jenkins and De Andrade. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – C.J. Culpepper (Cedar Rapids) - 4.2, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB 5 K Hitter of the Day – Ricardo Olivar (Fort Myers) - 3-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B(25), 3B(2), BB, K PROSPECT SUMMARY We will again keep tabs on the Twins top prospects. You’ll probably read about them in the team sections, but if they aren’t there, you’ll see how they did here. Here’s a look at how the current Twins Daily Top 20 performed: #1 - Brooks Lee (St. Paul) - 0-5, K #2 - Walker Jenkins (Fort Myers) - 2-4, 2B(2), BB #8 - Tanner Schobel (Wichita) - 1-4, R, RBI, K #10 - Luke Keaschall (Cedar Rapids) - 2-5, R, 2B, 2 K #13 - Kala’i Rosario (Cedar Rapids) - 1-3, HR(19), 2 R, 4 RBI, 2 BB, K #14 - Yunior Severino (St. Paul) - BB #17 - Danny De Andrade (Fort Myers) - 2-4, 2 RBI, BB FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Columbus @ St. Paul (7:07PM CST) - RHP Simeon Woods Richardson San Antonio @ Wichita (7:05PM CST) - RHP Marco Raya Lake County @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) - RHP Alejandro Hidalgo Fort Myers @ Clearwater (3:00PM CST) - RHP Miguelangel Boadas Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Thursday’s games! View full article

Last season, the Minnesota Twins ran Jose Miranda onto the field for 125 games. He put up a strong rookie season and was someone to look at in the years to come. In 2023, Minnesota has a rookie class that could be the best group in franchise history. Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports Prospects rarely develop at the same rate, and the path is almost never linear. Twins fans have seen that with everyone from Joe Mauer to Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano. Rocco Baldelli was not around for the development of those three, but he has a front row seat for Royce Lewis, Edouard Julien, Matt Wallner, and Louie Varland. None of those four players began the 2023 regular season on the Twins 26-man roster. Varland isn’t currently on it, and has pitched just 56 major-league innings this year. That said, each of them now have contributed in substantial ways, and that taking place during a run toward the postseason has been huge. Edouard Julien stepped in early this year when Jorge Polanco went down with injury for Minnesota. He came up in April and immediately posted a .720 OPS across his first eight big league games. A month later, he was recalled, and he hasn’t gone back since. Julien has an .875 OPS for Minnesota across 72 games since his last recall, and he’s been the regular starter at second base. Polanco was bumped off the starting spot, and Julien has consistently hit atop the lineup with a strong on-base prowess. Minnesota saw just a glimpse of Royce Lewis last year before a fluke knee injury ended his season. He has dealt with plenty of setbacks during his professional career, but he has continued to prove doubters wrong. With concerns about his swing being too long on the farm, his leg kick has been muted, and his production has taken off. In just 37 games this year, Lewis has a 1.2 fWAR, which puts him on an all-star trajectory over the course of a full season. He owns an .858 OPS and has blasted seven homers. Moving to third to accommodate of Carlos Correa playing shortstop, he could find himself in centerfield for 2024. The cry for Matt Wallner grew loud this summer. With Max Kepler getting off to a slow start, and Joey Gallo never got going, there was a desire to see the slugger tearing up St. Paul. As a Minnesota-native, Wallner has the benefit of playing in front of familiar faces on a nightly basis. He forced his way into the action with incredible Triple-A numbers, and he has continued to do big things for Minnesota. There was an 18-game cameo last year, but in 47 games for the Twins this season, the lefty owns a .229/.336/.496 slash line. He has hit for power, destroyed right-handed pitching, and played a solid corner outfield. Varland may be the overlooked name here, but has doubled the five starts he made a year ago. He has been snake-bit by the home run ball in 2023, but has shown better results at Triple-A. Although the Twins starting rotation is strong, the bullpen will need to be supplemented during the postseason and Varland should find himself in that mix. Pablo Lopez and Sonny Gray are guarantees to start, but from there it may be all hands on deck. Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober could use the help of Dallas Keuchel and Varland alongside them. Kenta Maeda has previously worked in relief, and could factor in similarly as well. For players like Lewis and Wallner, production should be expected given their draft position. That doesn’t guarantee success through development, but the investment and belief in their abilities is substantial. For guys like Julien and Varland, Day 3 draft picks, Minnesota has established some very big come-ups with regards to their big league success. Due in part to the performances of players like Gunnar Henderson, Luke Raley, and Josh Jung, Minnesota won’t have a rookie of the year winner. None of the Twins players have had enough of a runway to generate the same level of production. However, in their experience this year, each has shown an ability to be counted on as an established regular going forward. The more Derek Falvey and Thad Levine can churn out quality big leaguers prior to arbitration, the better the organization can supplement the roster as a whole. With four players producing to this caliber, it’s fair to wonder if Minnesota has ever had a group so talented come into the league together at the same time. The Twins should remain near the top of the AL Central for years to come, but just how far they push the competition will largely lie on the shoulders of this group. Starting things off as well as they have, it’s anyone’s guess what the end result may be. Looking back at previous Twins rookie classes, with notable years being 1982, 1999, and 2004, what are some groups that would contend with this foursome for you? Have we ever seen this many players step up immediately, together, and make an impact? View full article

Fort Myers was still off while waiting out a hurricane on Wednesday, but Byron Buxton and Alex Kirilloff made rehab appearances in St. Paul. David Festa took the mound for his Triple-A debut, and both Cedar Rapids and Wichita sought victories. Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints TRANSACTIONS OF Byron Buxton begins rehab assignment with St. Paul 1B/OF Alex Kirilloff begins rehab assignment with St. Paul INF Kamron Willman reinstated from the development list by Fort Myers SAINTS SENTINEL St. Paul 6, Columbus 1 Box Score Quite possibly the most anticipated Saints game of the 2023 regular season took place on Wednesday night. Not only was prospect David Festa making his Triple-A pitching debut, but Alex Kirilloff was in the lineup rehabbing, and he was joined by Byron Buxton playing centerfield. The outfield action was Buxton’s first in more than a full calendar year as he ramps back up to rejoin Minnesota. After getting top Guardians prospect Bryan Rocchio to ground out on a broken bat, Festa grabbed his first strikeout when he punched out rehabbing major leaguer, David Fry. Festa popped 97 mph multiple times in the first inning. He got Jonathan Rodriguez, another top 25 prospect for Cleveland, swinging to end the frame. Watching a strike to kick off the at bat, Buxton lined a single to left field and his rehab assignment started off with success. Kirilloff grounded out to the first baseman, on a ball that should’ve been a double play, and Austin Martin stepped in behind the big leaguers. Putting more traffic on against Jerad Eickhoff, Jair Camargo ripped a single to left and brought home Kyle Garlick for the game’s first run. The lineup turned over and leadoff hitter Andrew Stevenson continued his strong season with a single to drive in both Anthony Prato and Camargo to make the score 3-0. In the top of the third inning, Columbus got Festa for a homer before Fry bounced a double off the left center wall. Buxton had his first fielding opportunity, but needed to do little more than play the bounce and throw it back into the infield. Kyle Manzardo finished the inning by sending a lazy fly ball to Buxton, and the Twins centerfielder had his first putout since 2022. It didn’t take long for the Saints to get the run back. Coming to bat in the bottom of the fourth inning, Camargo brought Kyle Garlick around on a single to push the lead back up to three. Buxton drew a walk in his third plate appearance and loaded the bases for Kirilloff with two outs in the fourth inning. He responded with a 105.5 mph single to bring Camargo home and make it a 5-1 game. Festa worked the fifth inning and struck out his seventh batter to end the frame. After throwing 91 pitches, his night was over. It was a strong Triple-A debut allowing just one run on four hits and a walk. Festa continued to sit around 95 mph late in the game, and navigated a very good Clippers lineup. A Brooks Lee double in the fifth inning came on a scary scene as Columbus left fielder Micah Pries went down in a heap tracking the ball. He was eventually carted off and replaced by Chris Roller. The Saints had second and third with no one out. Anthony Prato took his spot in the box and lined a ball back up the middle to score Martin and make it 6-1. Yunior Severino watched strike three on a pitch that just tickled the zone for the ABS system, and Camargo went down swinging leaving runners on first and third. Ronny Henriquez did a great job in relief of Festa on Wednesday night. Although he did walk a pair, the righty didn't allow a hit and struck out three during three scoreless innings of work. He remains on the 40-man roster and could be an option for Minnesota when rosters expand on Friday. Brent Headrick worked the ninth inning and secured Festa's win. Buxton finished going 1-for-2 with a pair of walks, while Kirilloff went 1-for-5 with an RBI and pair of strikeouts. The Saints had 11 hits Wednesday and were led by Stevenson, Prato, and Camargo. WIND SURGE WISDOM San Antonio 9, Wichita 2 Box Score The Wind Surge went with Jaylen Nowlin for the start on Wednesday. Starting strong, he tailed in the middle innings and wound up allowing six runs on eight hits and a pair of walks. Nowlin also struck out two. San Antonio struck for four during the third inning. Three singles and a sacrifice fly did a number on Nowlin and put Wichita behind. The Missions plated another in the fourth inning and one in the fifth inning to take a comfortable 6-0 lead. Wichita got on the board in the seventh inning when Willie Joe Garry Jr. doubled home Alerick Soularie. With Dalton Shuffield standing on third and just one out, the Wind Surge had a threat. Michael Helman lofted a sacrifice fly to bring Shuffield in and it was a 6-2 game. San Antonio grabbed a run back against Miguel Rodriguez in the eighth inning, and the lead was again five. Facing Sean Mooney in the ninth inning, San Antonio grabbed another pair and pushed the tally to 9-2. Wichita had just five hits, with Soularie accounting for two. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 3, Lake County 2 Box Score Cory Lewis was on the bump Wednesday night for the Kernels, and he was again looking like the star prospect he has been all year. Turning in five scoreless innings, Lewis scattered seven hits but issued no walks while striking out six. He lowered his ERA to 2.53 in the process. In case you missed the incredible slow-mo video of his knuckleball on Twitter, feast your eyes on this. Cedar Rapids jumped out to an early lead when Jorel Ortega blasted his eighth home run of the year. The two-run shot also scored Noah Cardenas. After Lewis’ strong start, John Stankiewicz and Malik Barrington gave back both in the seventh inning. Emmanuel Rodriguez crushed his seventh triple of the season during the eighth inning, and the three-bagger brought Noah Miller home with just one out. Unfortunately the Kernels couldn’t bring him home, and the one-run lead was the only breathing room for the ninth inning. Jackson Hicks came on looking for his first High-A save. Doing it in style, Hicks sat down big prospects Chase DeLauter and Kahlil Watson before ending it with Dayan Frias. Cedar Rapids recorded just five hits on Wednesday and Rodriguez was responsible for two of them. MUSSEL MATTERS Canceled Fort Myers and Clearwater will kick off their series tomorrow night after Hurricane Idalia disrupted action earlier this week. Thoughts are with everyone down in the southern tip of Twins Territory. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Cory Lewis (Cedar Rapids) - 5.0 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K Hitter of the Day – Jair Camargo (St. Paul) - 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 K PROSPECT SUMMARY We will again keep tabs on the Twins top prospects. You’ll probably read about them in the team sections, but if they aren’t there, you’ll see how they did here. Here’s a look at how the current Twins Daily Top 20 performed: #1 - Brooks Lee (St. Paul) - 1-3, 2B(5), BB #3 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Cedar Rapids) - 2-4, RBI, 2B(11), 3B(7), 2 K #6 - David Festa (St. Paul) - 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K #7 - Austin Martin (St. Paul) - 1-3, BB, R #8 - Tanner Schobel (Wichita) - 1-4, 2B(5), BB, K #13 - Kala’i Rosario (Cedar Rapids) - 0-2, 2 BB, K #14 - Yunior Severino (St. Paul) - 0-4, K #19 - Cory Lewis (Cedar Rapids) - 5.0 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K #20 - Brent Headrick (St. Paul) - 1.0 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Columbus @ St. Paul (7:07PM CST) - RHP Louie Varland San Antonio @ Wichita (7:05PM CST) - RHP Carlos Luna Lake County @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) - RHP C.J. Culpepper Fort Myers @ Clearwater (5:30PM CST) - TBD Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Wednesday’s games! View full article

There are a handful of free agents set to hit the open market this offseason, and the Minnesota Twins will need to supplement their roster with a few of them. After Shohei Ohtani’s UCL injury, does the chance he plays home games at Target Field become more likely? Image courtesy of Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports The short answer is probably No, but we can at least add probably in front of it with the payday becoming a bit more muted. Before Shohei Ohtani blew out his elbow, he was set to get something north of $600 million in free agency and potentially an ownership stake in a new team. With the Los Angeles Dodgers having had a conservative offseason, it seemed they would take the biggest run at the superstar. But what now? The likelihood that Ohtani still gets something north of $500 million remains high. He will ultimately undergo a second Tommy John surgery, and while he could opt against pitching in the future, the possibility remains for at least the next few years. Teams could look at him as a reliever in an effort to limit innings, and his bat is always going to play. No matter how you slice it though, he’s a lesser version of what was expected to hit the market. After the Twins spent $200 million on Carlos Correa, and $100 million on Byron Buxton, it’s hard to envision them handing out $300-$500 million for Ohtani. Even in a depreciated state, Ohtani will have the biggest suitors and should be the most coveted free agent we’ve seen maybe ever. The possibility that he takes a short-term deal is remote at best, but the way the market responds to what he’s expected to be remains to be seen. When Ohtani was coming to Major League Baseball from Japan, it seemed as though Minnesota had at least some shot to land his services. The ability to pay a higher posting fee made them a late contender, and it wasn’t until the Twins sent international bonus pool dollars to the Angels and the Mariners that they were completely out of it. Now they’ll have significantly more hurdles to clear, and money is not even across the board. The Twins contract with Bally Sports North ends after the 2023 season, and there is reason to believe they could take a step backwards in payroll with uncertainty surrounding the TV contract. Maybe the lackluster performance by Correa in Year 1 of his long-term contract is enough to divert this front office from more mega deals, and anyone else signed to more than $100 million would be the third deal they have done in the past three seasons. Still, the most unlikely reason for Ohtani rests on his shoulders. The New York Yankees will make a run at the talented two-way player, but he has seemed less than enthused about the idea of the east coast. Minnesota is in the Midwest, but that doesn’t compare to the allure of Los Angeles, or maybe even Seattle should he choose to follow in the footsteps of Ichiro Suzuki. Beyond location, the fit for Ohtani becomes less straightforward as well. We have seen Rocco Baldelli hamstrung this season with Buxton being locked into the designated hitter spot. It wasn’t until other players broke out, and Buxton again got hurt, that the true benefit of a fluid designated hitter was felt. Maybe Ohtani would learn a corner outfield spot, or first base, if he isn’t going to pitch. Short of that though, paying an extreme amount of money for a bat-only talent is a stretch for an organization like Minnesota. When Ohtani does wind up signing a new deal, he’ll likely already have undergone surgery and began the rehab process. He has been through this before, and we have seen surgery advance to a place where the procedure is rarely a death sentence in baseball. Regardless, there still will be no indication as to what he returns like until a new team sees him on the field. The day Ohtani’s elbow blew out unquestionably cost him a bunch of money. That probably opened up the door for a few new potential suitors, but it also likely gave teams pause as to how he’ll fit and what he can be used as. Regardless, Minnesota is a long shot at best, and the Twins probably aren’t even making an offer for a guy that might not pitch. This front office has paid guys like Michael Pineda and Chris Paddack while they have rehabbed, only with an eye on future benefit. Ohtani is looking for his big payday, and a two or three year deal isn’t happening. The fit for any fan base is a fun one, even if he winds up being a lesser version than what we have come to know. Target Field will have new faces in 2024, but don’t expect Ohtani to be among them. View full article

The Minnesota Twins all but control their destiny as they look toward ending an 0-for-18 postseason streak. Leading the AL Central, they have an opportunity to host an opening round series at Target Field in October. If they can help it, avoiding the Astros at all costs should be the goal. Image courtesy of Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports When it comes to October baseball, the Twins have not been good. Sure, they won a pair of World Series rings with Tom Kelly multiple decades ago, but the recent trend is so well documented it’s tired. Thankfully they won’t have to match up against the New York Yankees this year as Aaron Boone’s team is terrible, but finding the Houston Astros in the opposite dugout isn’t ideal either. Right now the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, and Houston Astros are jockeying atop the AL West division. One of those clubs will win it, with the other two looking like potential wild card teams. Of the three of them, it’s Houston that presents the most daunting opponent. In 2023, the Twins took the season series against the Astros going 4-2 with a +4 run differential. That pair played earlier in the calendar, and Houston has a new look since finishing with Minnesota. 2022 Cy Young award winner was sent back to his former team after the New York Mets flopped despite spending oodles of cash. Although their new acquisition at first base, Jose Abreu, hasn’t hit at all, he’s a respected veteran that could find it at any moment. Jose Altuve is back and healthy, and Yordan Alvarez may be among the best power hitters in the game. Add in Kyle Tucker and the lineup is not one to mess with. The starting rotation isn’t full of horses, but Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander are two extremely good arms to roll out in a short series. The bullpen is still anchored by former Twins reliever Ryan Pressly, and both Bryan Abreu and Hector Neris have had great seasons. Dusty Baker’s team is built to grab a lead, expand on it, and hang on as well. No matter who Minnesota plays, they’ll likely face an opponent with a better record. That’s fine if it’s the Seattle Mariners or Texas Rangers, both good opponents, but something hits different with Houston. It’s not just who the Astros currently employ, but the fact that they have been in this spot so often in recent history. Minnesota recently welcomed the Rangers to Target Field for a four-game series and took three out of the four contests. Bruce Bochy’s club has been among the best in baseball all year long, and the lineup is beyond talented. Facing Max Scherzer will never be an enviable task, and they can hit one through nine. Seattle is among the hottest teams in the sport, and Julio Rodriguez appears primed for a postseason impact. Still though, it's Houston, their pedigree, and the familiarity with bright October lights that makes them scary. Minnesota will have the benefit of hosting a short series at Target Field given their title as a division winner, but that advantage matters much less than experience. Verlander, leading a team of battle-tested veterans that have already won a World Series together, is a daunting opponent to run up against. Maybe the short series helps Minnesota and pushes the advantage a bit more in their favor, but they’ll undoubtedly have their hands full. At the end of the day there is nothing the Twins can do to control their opponent. The AL West race will unfold on its own over the course of September, but Minnesota should definitely have a list of preferred outcomes. If it is Houston that comes to Target Field, the Twins will look to exact revenge from the 2020 series that saw Alex Kirilloff make a debut. Beating a juggernaut would be one way to end the losing streak in style. View full article

The Minnesota Twins farm system was in full swing Sunday afternoon and the St. Paul Saints were the only affiliate to drop their action. Walkoffs and blowouts both happened with plenty of contributors making an impact. Image courtesy of William Parmeter SAINTS SENTINEL Omaha 5, St. Paul 3 Box Score The Saints started Michael Boyle as an opener on Sunday and he gave them three innings. Four runs scored on two hits and two walks while Boyle failed to record a strikeout. The Storm Chasers ripped off four runs in the first inning to grab a big lead. In the bottom of the second inning, DaShawn Keirsey Jr. recorded his second big fly at Triple-A to put the Saints on the board. In the third inning Willi Castro singled home Chris Williams before Kyle Garlick played Andrew Stevenson on a ground out. Down by just one, the Saints allowed another run during the fifth inning and saw the lead pushed to 5-3. Austin Martin went 2-for-2 as the only Saints hitter to record a pair of hits. Jovani Moran worked a scoreless inning of relief while striking out the side. WIND SURGE WISDOM Wichita 6, Arkansas 5 Box Score Travis Adams took the ball for the Wind Surge Sunday. He gave up just a single run on five hits while walking two and striking out four. Patrick Winkel kicked off the scoring with a first inning solo blast. Aaron Sabato launched a solo dinger of his own in the second inning to make it 2-0. In the third inning, Tanner Schobel tripled home Will Holland and Wichita had a 3-0 lead. In the fifth inning Yoyner Fajardo homered for the eighth time, bringing home Willie Joe Garry Jr., and giving the good guys a 5-0 lead. After giving back a run in the sixth and seventh innings, Holland stole second allowing Alerick Soularie to come home in the ninth inning. Arkansas answered with a three-run blast in the bottom half, but came up one-run short. Sabato had a trio of hits on the afternoon with Fajardo grabbing two of his own. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 7, South Bend 1 Box Score It was Kyle Jones on the bump Sunday for Cedar Rapids. He put up 6.0 innings of one-run baseball on just four hits. Jones allowed only a single walk and struck out seven. Cedar Rapids started with three runs in the first inning. Jorel Ortega singled home Noah Miller and Emmanuel Rodriguez before Andrew Cossetti tripled for the third time. His three-base hit brought home Ortega and made it a 3-0 game. In the second inning Miller singled to center field and Carson McCusker raced home. After giving back a run on a third inning solo shot, the Kennels added their fifth when Jose Salas scored on a wild pitch during the fourth inning. Kyler Fedko blasted his fifth homer during the sixth inning, and the solo shot gave Cedar Rapids a 6-1 lead. Kala’i Rosario then lifted a sacrifice fly during the eighth inning to score Fedko and make it a 7-1 game. Miller had three hits out of the leadoff spot, and Cossetti combined with Fedko to grab a pair each. MUSSEL MATTERS Fort Myers 6, Daytona 4 (F/10) Box Score The Mighty Mussels had Juan Mercedes take the ball on Sunday afternoon. He worked four innings of three-run baseball. Mercedes allowed five hits but just one walk. He did strike out two on the afternoon. Fort Myers scored first when Rubel Cespedes singled home Walker Jenkins in the first inning. They gave up a pair during the second inning, and allowed another in the third inning. During the sixth inning, they found an answer. Cespedes clubbed his 12th homer of the season, and the two-run shot brought in Danny De Andrade as well to tie the game. After Dayton scored in the top of the 10th inning, Fort Myers walked it off in the bottom half. Jenkins singled home Luke Keaschall and Ricardo Olivar launched his 10th home run to trot the bases safely. Olivar, Cespedes, Jenkins, and Maddux Houghton each had a pair of hits on the day. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Kyle Jones (Cedar Rapids) - 6.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K Hitter of the Day – Rubel Cespedes (Fort Myers) - 2-4, R, 3 RBI, HR(12) PROSPECT SUMMARY We will again keep tabs on the Twins top prospects. You’ll probably read about them in the team sections, but if they aren’t there, you’ll see how they did here. Here’s a look at how the current Twins Daily Top 20 performed: #2 - Walker Jenkins (Fort Myers) - 2-5, 2 R, RBI #3 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Cedar Rapids) - 0-2, 3 BB, R, 2 K #7 - Austin Martin (St. Paul) - 2-2, 2B, BB #8 - Tanner Schobel (Wichita) - 1-5, RBI, 3B(1) #10 - Luke Keaschall (Fort Myers) - 1-4, R, BB #13 - Kala’i Rosario (Cedar Rapids) - 0-4, RBI, K #17 - Danny De Andrade (Fort Myers) -1-3, R, BB, 2 K TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Columbus @ St. Paul (7:07PM CST) - TBD San Antonio @ Wichita (7:05PM CST) - TBD Lake County @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) - TBD Fort Myers @ Clearwater (5:300PM CST) - TBD Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Sunday’s games! View full article

Appreciate that!

He's scuffled of late, but was great through the middle of the year. Thanks for reading!

The Minnesota Twins signed Randy Dobnak out of Alderson-Broaddus back in 2017. He was an undrafted free agent playing indy ball, and two years later he made a postseason start in New York against the Yankees. That story is well told, but he continues to give back along the way. Image courtesy of Joey Steinbach Calling Randy Dobnak a self-made millionaire would be putting it mildly. After signing a five-year, $9.25 million contract, Dobnak could have pinched himself. He had pitched ten games during a Covid-shortened 2020 season, and his 4.05 ERA showed he had plenty to offer at the major league level. Things haven't gone so well since. He has dealt with a substantial finger injury that sapped his effectiveness and saw him post an ERA north of 7.00 across 50 2/3 innings in 2021. He threw just 25 innings last season, all in the minors, and has worked his way back since. There have been bright spots during the 2023 season, and while the Twins have substantial pitching depth, he's looked to be part of that. Regardless of where Dobnak has been on the field, it's been equally or more impressive what he has done off of it. With his wife, Aerial, the Dobnaks have substantially supported St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Whether selling his mustache t-shirts to raise funds or simply talking about a cause they support so unwaveringly, the Dobnaks and St. Jude's run hand in hand. As he did a couple of years ago, Randy turned brewmaster for a bit with the help of Insight and now has another way to give back. Selling the "Honey Nut Beerios" honey wheat ale, Insight partnered with the Twins starter to create a unique offering. Each beer sold generates $1 donated to St. Jude's. I met with head brewer Sean Carnahan to discuss the new offering and partnership with the Minnesota starter. Having done this once before with the Dobnaks, Carnahan talked about their desire to make more than just great-tasting beer. "We really enjoy brewing beer with a purpose. Randy and his wife, Aerial, are passionate about beer, but are truly dedicated to St. Jude's and raising funds/awareness whenever possible. They're great folks, fun to be around, so it was really a no-brainer to put a second beer together." As good as Dobnak is on the mound and as an athlete, he's equally fun to work with behind the scenes. Sean said, "It's a great time. It's a pleasure to work with both him and Aerial. We've done this twice now, and they're always here for a super long time, hanging out, chatting with the team, signing autographs, and helping to brew of course." This venture isn't just about beer, though, similar to how Dobnak isn't just a pitcher. There is always a greater purpose to everything he ties his name to, and this is no different. Carnahan is appreciative that there is a deeper purpose here. "Beer is a community, and every chance we have to connect with that community we love to take. The decision to work with St. Jude's came from Randy's history of collaboration and charity work with them, and we were excited to be able to further his work." Insight Brewery has a beautiful tap room in Northeast and has been among the staples of the Minnesota beer scene. This collaboration couldn't tie two better things together, which isn't lost on Carnahan. "There aren't many things better than beer and baseball, why not enjoy a beer designed by the pitcher you're watching?" Twins fans can do just that on Monday, August 28. While Honey Nut Beerios is already on tap, the Dobnaks will be at the brewery to launch their newest concoction. You can find them in attendance from 6:00pm-close. Although Dobnak is with the St. Paul Saints in Omaha, they'll be back in town next week, squaring off against Columbus. A trip to the brewery to celebrate the new offering was a must on Monday's off day. Randy will be available for pictures and autographs. This collaboration was open, too. Dobnak picked the pairing for a purpose. "I've always loved honey. In the past, I have actually tried different kinds of honey or orange flavored beers. Combining the two together made sense and created something smooth and refreshing." It was a natural idea to work with Insight again after Dobnak created FuMan Bru back in 2021. "They're a local place that is really passionate about what they do and I love that about them. It's a really cool place to just hang out, have some beers, and talk to people or play the various games they have available." To know Dobnak is to understand the compassionate and servant heart he and his family have. Uber may have been the company he was synonymous with during his debut, but St. Jude's has become his calling card. "The work St. Jude's does for children that find themselves in their care is such a beautiful thing. It completely takes the burden of having to deal with medical bills stacking up, and lets the parents focus on giving 100% of their attention and love to their child. My wife lost one of her childhood best friends to cancer when they were kids. For us to be able to give back in any ways has been an absolute blessing, and has far exceeded our expectations thanks to everybody who is passionate about the work that they do. To see everybody come together and help each time we have some type of fundraiser has been awesome, and we are thankful to those that have been part of this special journey supporting St. Jude's." Make sure to get out and try Honey Nut Beerios before it's gone, and find ways to get involved with St. Jude's here. You can find out more about Insight and its offerings here. Grab tickets for the Saints here, including a very special bobblehead giveaway next Tuesday night. 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After a night in which Hernan Perez recorded a career best effort, he did something else impressive on Friday. Walker Jenkins debuted on Thursday at Low-A going 0-for-4, but he was the hero with a big game on Friday night. Image courtesy of William Parmeter TRANSACTIONS UTIL Willi Castro begins rehab assignment with St. Paul RHP Alex Scherff transferred to St. Paul from Wichita SAINTS SENTINEL St. Paul 10, Omaha 7 Box Score Looking to get off the injured list after dealing with an oblique issue, Willi Castro started for the Saints on Friday night batting second as the designated hitter. Simeon Woods Richardson made the start and turned in six innings of three-run baseball. He allowed five hits and three walks while striking out three. Omaha got up by a pair in the first inning, and added a third in the third inning. The Saints came out for the fourth inning and started to chip away. Jair Camargo singled home both Austin Martin and Willi Castro to draw within one. In the fifth inning, Hernan Perez blasted his sixth home run to score Gilberto Celestino and take the lead. Martin then stole third base and came home when the ball got away. DaShawn Keirsey Jr. kept things going with a double that brought Castro home and all of a sudden it was a 6-3 lead. After a 5-for-5 game last night, Perez made his mark on this one with his second homer of the game. A three-run shot in the sixth inning scored Yunior Severino and Celestino. St. Paul now had a comfortable 9-3 lead. Castro is down with the Saints working to return for Minnesota, but with an option remaining, it’s curious if the Twins would opt for Martin instead. The key piece acquired for Jose Berrios has been on fire of late, and he’s a legitimate outfield option at all three spots. Although the Twins have returning players that will probably take September roster spots, Martin continues to prove his worth. Ronny Henriquez and Kody Funderburk combined for three scoreless innings to close out the win. Martin was joined by Celestino and Perez with two hits on the evening. WIND SURGE WISDOM Wichita 11, Arkansas 1 Box Score Despite his innings now being limited, Marco Raya took the ball to start for Wichita on Friday. He worked 2 2/3 innings allowing one run on two hits. Raya walked two and struck out just one. Arkansas grabbed a first inning run, but the WInd Surge took a lead in the third inning. Jake Rucker singled home Yoyner Fajardo and Tanner Schobel to grab a 2-1 cushion. The Wind Surge put up runs in a big way during the fourth inning. Rucker singled again, this time with the bases loaded, and he brought home Alerick Soularie and Ernie Yake. Not wanting to leave anyone on the bases, Alex Isola blasted his 18th home run. Fajardo and Rucker scored on the big fly and it was suddenly a 7-1 game. In the fifth inning Wichita exploded again. This time they came up with four runs and made it an 11-1 game. Fajardo singled home Soularie before Schobel’s single brought home both Fajardo and Yake. Isola then added a single to drive in Schobel and the rout was on. Unfortunately, a ten-run rule wasn’t in action Friday. Fajardo, Rucker, and Isola all recorded three hits apiece. Schobel added two of his own on Friday night. KERNELS NUGGETS South Bend 18, Cedar Rapids 2 Box Score After the Kernels put up 14 on Thursday night, it was South Bend’s turn for a big outing on Friday. C.J. Culpepper was chased after just three outs. He allowed five runs on seven hits, one of which left the yard. Culpepper didn’t give up a walk, but struck out two. Cedar Rapids was down after the first inning thanks to a five-spot by the Cubs. Kyle Fedko did triple in the second inning to score Misael Urbina but the run was quickly wiped out. South Bend added a pair in the second, third, fourth, and sixth innings. The Kernels sprinkled one more in during their portion of the sixth inning on a passed ball that allowed Noah Cardenas to score. From there, the Cubs added another seven and made Friday night’s contest a complete laugher. It only counts as one win, but it was an ugly loss. Cedar Rapids finished with just four hits and no one recorded more than one. MUSSEL MATTERS Fort Myers 3, Daytona 2 (F/10) Box Score John Klein started Friday night for the Mighty Mussels and he was nothing short of electric. Throwing six innings of one-hit baseball, Klein didn’t give up a run. He did allow three walks, but punched out nine on the evening. Similar to Thursday night, scoring was at a premium for Daytona and Fort Myers. The Mighty Mussels notched the first tally with a fifth inning single from Gregory Duran. Three throwing errors on the play by the Tortuga’s allowed Duran to come around for a little league homer. In the fifth Walker Jenkins picked up his first Single-A hit, a single, as well. Nolan Santos uncorked a wild pitch in the seventh inning to give Daytona their first run, and a second came around to take the lead before the frame was over. Jenkins recorded his first Single-A extra-base hit on a seventh inning double, and with Luke Keaschall crossing the plate, he tied the game. After going 0-for-4 last night, Jenkins stepped in with the game on the line. He picked up his third hit and drove in Alec Sayre to walk it off for the Mighty Mussels. His 3-for-6 effort was the only multi-hit appearance for Fort Myers. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – John Klein (Fort Myers) - 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 9 K Hitter of the Day – Hernan Perez (St. Paul) - 2-4, 2 R, 5 RBI, 2 HR(7) PROSPECT SUMMARY We will again keep tabs on the Twins top prospects. You’ll probably read about them in the team sections, but if they aren’t there, you’ll see how they did here. Here’s a look at how the current Twins Daily Top 20 performed: #1 - Brooks Lee (St. Paul) - 1-5, 2 K #2 - Walker Jenkins (Fort Myers) - 3-6, 2 RBI, 2B(1), K #4 - Marco Raya (Wichita) - 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K #7 - Austin Martin (St. Paul) - 2-5, 2 R, 2B(7), SB(11) #8 - Tanner Schobel (Wichita) - 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 K #10 - Luke Keaschall (Fort Myers) - 1-4, BB, 2B(6), 2 K #14 - Yunior Severino (St. Paul) - 1-4, R, 2 K #15 - Simeon Woods Richardson (St. Paul) - 6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 3 K #17 - Danny De Andrade (Fort Myers) - 1-5, 2 K SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS St. Paul @ Omaha (6:35PM CST) - RHP Randy Dobnak Wichita @ Arkansas (7:05PM CST) - RHP Pierson Ohl Cedar Rapids @ South Bend (6:05PM CST) - RHP Zebby Matthews Dayton @ Fort Myers (6:00PM CST) - RHP Jose Olivares Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Friday’s games! View full article

While there was action all over the Minnesota Twins farm systems tonight, eyes were on Single-A Fort Myers where 2023 first round draft pick Walker Jenkins was making a debut. Image courtesy of William Parmeter TRANSACTIONS RHP Jordan Balazovic recalled by Twins SAINTS SENTINEL St. Paul 10, Omaha 7 Box Score Brent Headrick took the ball Thursday for the Saints and worked four innings of four-run baseball (three earned). He walked just one, gave up three hits, and struck out six on the evening. St. Paul gave Headrick a lead to work with in the second inning. Yunior Severino lofted a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Trevor Larnach. Hernan Perez then picked up one of his five hits in the game. His single scored both Anthony Prato and DaShawn Keirsey Jr. In the third inning, the Saints were out to bury Omaha early. Keirsey Jr. hit his first Triple-A homer, and the three-run shot also brought Brooks Lee and Kyle Garlick home. Tony Wolters then added a two-run single later in the frame that scored both Severino and Perez. Through three innings, it was an 8-0 game. Headrick's trouble came in a four-run fourth inning, but St. Paul responded with one of their own in the fifth inning. Perez singled again, this time scoring Keirsey Jr. Another single from Perez, scoring Keirsey Jr. again, making it 10-4 in the 7th inning. Omaha added a run in the seventh on their own and a pair in the eighth, but the comeback fell short. St. Paul recorded 18 hits Thursday night, and Perez accounted for five. Andrew Stevenson, Garlick, Keirsey Jr., Severino, and Wolters each had a pair. Despite being his 1,645th professional game, tonight was the first five-hit of Perez's career. Stevenson's hit also set a new single-season Saints record, surpassing Tomas Telis' total in 2021. WIND SURGE WISDOM Wichita 4, Arkansas 1 Box Score Wichita, facing the top team in the Northern Division of the Texas League, sent Jaylen Nowlin to the bump. He turned in 5 2/3 innings of one-run (unearned) baseball. Nowlin gave up just three hits and a walk while striking out four. Wichita opened the scoring on a Patrick Winkel first-inning single. Tanner Schobel raced across the plate, and the first four runs in the frame were home. Jake Rucker lifted a single to right field, allowing Winkel time to cross the plate. Alerick Soularie then grabbed a single to bring Aaron Sabato and Rucker home. That four-run lead held up throughout the game, and the Travelers sixth-inning run ended unhelpful. Alex Isola didn't homer tonight, but he did have a two-hit game. Rucker had three hits on the evening as well. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 14, South Bend 8 Box Score The Kernels turned to Cory Lewis on Thursday night, and he worked 3 2/3 innings while allowing three runs on five hits. Lewis did also walk a pair but got seven strikeouts in the contest. After giving up two first-inning runs, Cedar Rapids got on the board when Andrew Cossetti went deep for his seventh big fly of the year. Noah Miller followed Cossetti's lead with a two-run blast in the third inning. Miller's eighth dinger of the year also brought in Keoni Cavaco. Jose Salas kept the scoring with a single that South Bend booted around. Emmanuel Rodriguez and Kala'i Rosario scored on the play before Salas chased them in. Up 6-2, Carson McCusker went deep for the fifth time to make it a 7-2 game. Cedar Rapids gave one back in the bottom of the third inning, but they added again in the fourth inning. Miller tripled home Cavaco before Ben Ross doubled in Rodriguez. Leading 9-3 in the sixth inning, Rosario scored Miller on a sacrifice fly, and Ross brought Rodriguez in again with a single. By the bottom of the seventh inning, South Bend inched closer to make things interesting. Cedar Rapids held on to just an 11-8 lead entering the ninth inning, but McCusker put it away with his second blast of the night. This one scored Cossetti and Salas to make it a 14-8 game and secure the victory. Both clubs had 12 hits on Thursday, but Cedar Rapids was able to do more damage with theirs. Miller, Ross, McCusker, and Cavaco each had two hits in the game. MUSSEL MATTERS Fort Myers 2, Daytona 1 (F/10) Box Score After the promotion became official yesterday, the hype for Walker Jenkins to be in the Fort Myers lineup was here. He fared incredibly well in limited rookie ball action, and Minnesota decided to challenge him the rest of the way at Single-A. Miguelangel Boadas got the start for Fort Myers and worked 4 2/3 innings. He allowed only an unearned run on four hits. Boadas didn't walk anyone and struck out a trio of Tortugas. The Tortugas struck first with a run during the opening frame. Danny De Andrade answered with his 11th home run, a fifth inning solo shot. Needing extras, Maddux Houghton played hero on a sacrifice fly to score Jay Harry and walk it off. Jenkins finished the night 0-for-4 but made contact each time he stepped in. Fort Myers had just two hits on the night, but they squeezed everything out of limited opportunity. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Jaylen Nowlin (Wichita) - 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K Hitter of the Day – Carson McCusker (Cedar Rapids) - 2-5, 2 R, 4 RBI, 2 HR(6) PROSPECT SUMMARY We will again keep tabs on the Twins top prospects. You’ll probably read about them in the team sections, but if they aren’t there, you’ll see how they did here. Here’s a look at how the current Twins Daily Top 20 performed: #1 - Brooks Lee (St. Paul) - 1-5, R, BB, 2 K #2 - Walker Jenkins (Fort Myers) - 0-4 #3 - Emmanuel Rodriguez (Cedar Rapids) - 1-4, 3 R, BB, 2B, K #8 - Tanner Schobel (Wichita) - 0-3, R, BB #13 - Kala’i Rosario (Cedar Rapids) - 0-1, R, RBI, 3 BB #14 - Yunior Severino (St. Paul) - 2-3, R, RBI, BB, K #17 - Danny De Andrade (Fort Myers) - 1-4, R, RBI, HR(11) #19 - Cory Lewis (Cedar Rapids) - 3.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 K #20 - Brent Headrick (St. Paul) - 4.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS St. Paul @ Omaha (6:35PM CST) - RHP Simeon Woods Richardson Wichita @ Arkansas (7:05PM CST) - RHP Marco Raya Cedar Rapids @ South Bend (6:05PM CST) - RHP C.J. Culpepper Dayton @ Fort Myers (6:00PM CST) - RHP John Klein Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Thursday’s games! View full article

The Minnesota Twins made Joe Mauer the first overall pick during the 2001 Major League Baseball draft. He went on to have a Hall of Fame career in Minnesota, and retired after the 2018 season. He stepped out from behind the plate in 2014, and the organization has been looking for answers since. Ryan Jeffers has provided one in 2023, but who else has carried the load? Image courtesy of Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports With Joe Mauer’s number “7” having been immediately retired following his playing days, it was only right that he would eventually be inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame. He is on the ballot for Cooperstown this cycle, and will eventually be enshrined in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. Replicating that standard probably doesn’t need to be the goal, but finding a viable catching option has been a pursuit since he was forced from behind the dish. Brain injuries took a toll on Mauer and forced him to first base for the 2014 season. Ron Gardenhire, Paul Molitor, and Rocco Baldelli have employed plenty of catchers since, but which seasons stand out as the best since Mauer put away the shin guards? 5. Kurt Suzuki - 2014 The first man to take the plate in the post-Mauer era, Suzuki earned his first all-star appearance in 2014. Playing in 131 games, his 105 OPS+ was a career high at the time, and he wound up catching the final out from teammate Glen Perkins at Target Field in what was Derek Jeter’s last All-Star Game. Suzuki was a quality veteran who did everything decently well. It was a solid transition for the position and provided some veteran stability to an otherwise poor Twins team. Replacing Mauer’s production at catcher was never going to happen, but getting average across the board was worth circling at an otherwise difficult spot. 4. Jason Castro - 2017 Following the Suzuki tenure, Castro came over as a former all-star for the Houston Astros. He flashed some offensive prowess during the 2013 season, and the hope was that he could replicate that success with the Twins. Castro was a solid defender, and his 93 OPS+ was decent for the role he was playing. Castro helped to bring that Twins team back to the postseason, and it was a good first showing for the time he spent in Minnesota. 3. Mitch Garver - 2021 The only player to make this list twice, Garver rebounded in a big way after an awful Covid season. Playing in just 23 of the 60 games during a shortened 2020, the former Twins prospect showed he still had what once made him a Silver Slugger. Garver played in only 68 games during 2021 as he dealt with injury again, but his .875 OPS and 139 OPS+ from the catcher position were as impressive as anything Twins fans had seen since Mauer. Despite the shortened exposure, he still blasted 13 homers and showed plenty of value. 2. Ryan Jeffers - 2023 What Jeffers is doing this season is unlike anything we have seen for the Twins since Garver went on his 2019 run. Christian Vazquez was signed in the offseason to be a stabilizing veteran presence that would at least warrant a 60/40 split behind the dish. Jeffers has pushed that to 50/50 at best, and should be on the 60/40 side sooner rather than later. Across 71 games he owns a career-best .862 OPS and 136 OPS+. Minnesota was chided for taking him in the second round of the 2018 draft as Jeffers was seen as a potential designated hitter. Instead, the Twins coached up his catching skills and made him a great receiver with adequate blocking skills. The bat has continued to play, and he looks the part of a regular for years to come. 1. Mitch Garver - 2019 A decade after Mauer won an MVP while posting a 1.031 OPS and 171 OPS+, Garver did his best impression. A key part of the Bomba Squad, the New Mexico-native slashed .273/.365/.630 (.995) with 31 big flies. Garver played in just 93 games that season, and was launching baseballs out of ballparks at an alarming rate. He adopted new catching techniques with Tanner Swanson helping to provide insight, and Garver positioned himself as among the best backstops in the game at that point. Injuries are really the only thing that have held him back since, and while we won’t likely see the juiced ball production again, it was the 2019 season that put a ninth-round pick from 2013 on the map. Minnesota has the good fortune of having Jeffers under team control through the 2026 season. Vazquez becomes a free agent the year prior. Maybe it’s Alex Isola, Jair Camargo, Chris Williams, Ricardo Olivar, Carlos Silva, or some other prospect that makes the next impact. No matter what, Minnesota will continue looking for Mauer-like production at catcher for years to come. They likely will never find that sort of player again, but good impressions are noteworthy along the way. View full article

Yeah, that's not at all the issue.

The Minnesota Twins kicked off their spring training down in Fort Myers as they have for years. There was buzz about this team being strong enough to contend for the AL Central. Byron Buxton’s contributions likely would be a large part of that, but we’re now in August wondering how that part went so horribly wrong? Image courtesy of Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports During spring training the Twins continued to insist that Alex Kirilloff and Jorge Polanco would be ready for Opening Day. They weren’t. They suggested that Byron Buxton, who had offseason knee surgery, would be eased back into centerfield. He hasn’t been. The former pair have contributed plenty this season, albeit with limitations through more injury. The latter has yet to step foot on the field in a defensive alignment, and it’s hard to understand how we got here. Buxton dealt with knee issues all of last season after sliding into second base awkwardly after a double against the Boston Red Sox. His season was one filled with knee-drains and time on the trainer’s table. Sure, his 92 games played were the most since 2017, but that seemed to give him a weird goal to chase. Speaking at the Twins uniform unveiling, Buxton told me about wanting to play in more games than he had during 2022. That’s a great goal to have, but one that became clouded over the course of 2023. Rather than contributing anything defensively, the Twins put him at designated hitter and allowed those games played to count in a similar fashion. Sure, he was in the lineup, but his .731 OPS, 98 OPS+, and clogging a bat-only position did little for Rocco Baldelli’s lineup flexibility. Now on the Injured Lists, this time nursing a sore hamstring, the Twins seem to believe it’s at this point that Buxton should be pushed back to the field. In a recent article from The Athletic, Baldelli is quoted saying this is where his legs are going to be best positioned to play the field. That seems like absolute lunacy considering what should have taken place during the offseason. At no point should Buxton have been more healthy than he would have been coming into the season. Rather than prepare him to contribute on both sides of the ball, Minnesota put Buxton at the designated hitter spot. That was a fine stance before the emergence of Matt Wallner and Edouard Julien. It worked before Royce Lewis returned. It was ok for a while. It shouldn’t have continued happening though. On May 4, Buxton owned a .920 OPS for Minnesota. In the 56 games he played after that, all at designated hitter, while unable to be even a defensive replacement late in a game, he posted a .178/.263/.366 slash line. His 71/20 K/BB would have made even Miguel Sano blush, and yet he was no closer to playing the field. As the calendar turns to September, and Buxton is apparently working toward a return, Minnesota now finds it the time to put him back in the outfield. That’s a great stance in that he has no business taking the designated hitter role away from other players or out of the hands of Baldelli. That doesn’t make it any less curious of one, however. Why now, after a few weeks off, is it a viable plan to build Buxton back up? Did the Twins do a terrible job getting Buxton ready for the season? Was Buxton set against allowing Minnesota the opportunity to play him in the field? No matter the reason, the timing and execution of everything that has gone into this process has been flawed by all parties. It’s a great thing that Minnesota won’t bring Buxton back solely as the designated hitter. We have seen for months that doesn’t work, and it’s beyond clear it also doesn’t keep him healthy. Maybe Buxton’s body will never again hold up for a full season, but chasing games played over the pursuit of complete contribution is not one that should ever be employed again. Minnesota is better with a good Byron Buxton on the roster. They are not well-served by having him only use his bat, and playing him at anything less than full go shouldn’t be a thing either. The Twins signed Buxton for pennies on the dollar because he is always injured. That’s baked into what they can get from him. Putting him in the lineup as a full participant should be the only way to go the rest of his career, and if that means 80 games a season, so be it. Let’s not ever do this again, for anyone involved. View full article