Ted Schwerzler

Rounding out the second day of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft the Minnesota Twins went back to the college ranks. Selecting third baseman Peyton Carr from High Point University, they grabbed a four-year senior who is ready to get into action. Peyton Carr's collegiate journey is one that dealt with plenty of adversity, and saw him overcome different obstacles to post an incredible senior season. With a 1.380 OPS across 27 games, he brandished a power stroke that saw 13 balls leave the yard. Carr is from Twins Territory south, and the Fort Myers native being selected by Minnesota is something of a full circle moment. Carr was First Team All-Conference last season in the Big South Conference, and he has shown impressive tools each time he steps on the field. Injuries may have slowed down the overall numbers, but it's clear that there's a ridiculous amount of talent waiting to be shown off over the course of a full season. Following his selection in the tenth round by the Twins, I caught up with Carr to introduce him to Twins Territory. Twins Daily: You put up some solid numbers in your first two years with High Point, but last year was something else. What tweaks did you make to boast that 1.380 OPS? Peyton Carr: I think that it came with the positions I was getting into with my swing. My first two years I don't think that I was putting myself in the best position to drive to the baseball, but this year I was able to get to my spot more often. TD: 13 home runs in 27 games is quite the Royce Lewis-esque pace. Would you describe yourself as a power hitter, or what is your approach like at the plate? PC: I would describe myself as someone who controls the zone with the ability to drive the ball. My approach is to just be on the pitcher's fastball timing and adjust to the off speed. I try to stay middle of the field to keep my direction right and maintaining length through the zone. TD: You have dealt with some injuries and setbacks over the course of your collegiate career. How has that adversity shaped you and gotten you to where you are now? PC: That adversity has shaped me by growing my faith in God, and trusting His plan. It was tough to deal with my injury these past two years due to the fact that it was misdiagnosed. I finally got it figured out right after the season, and had surgery on it-I should be good to go in a couple weeks. But that adversity definitely helped me grow my faith in God knowing that everything happens for a reason, and He doesn't make mistakes. TD: Is there a big leaguer, current or former, that you have modeled your game after? Who was your favorite growing up? PC: I'm not sure that I can pinpoint an exact major leaguer who I model my game after, but I love watching Austin Riley and his presence in the box. Growing up being a Florida kid, my favorite player was Evan Longoria on the Rays. I loved how he took pride in everything he did both offensively and defensively. TD: From Fort Myers, you obviously were in close proximity to Twins Territory south. What do you know about the Minnesota organization? Have you been to Target Field? PC: This is a dream come true for me because I grew up going to a ton of Twins spring training games. Their complex is ten minutes from my house! It will be awesome to play in front of my hometown. I know that the Minnesota Twins are a historic organization that I am proud to be a part of. They are a well respected organization throughout the MLB community and I could not be more excited for this opportunity. I have not been to Target field, but hopefully I will be there soon! TD: What do you do to get away from the game? What do you do for fun? PC: I love spending time with family, and pretty much anything outdoors. I love to fish and be out on the water with friends and family. I also love to play golf whenever I can! Welcome to Twins Territory, Peyton! View full article

This weekend Joe Mauer is scheduled to be enshrined in Cooperstown. Voted in as a first-ballot Hall of Famer, the Minnesota Twins legend had plenty of memorable moments throughout his career. The 2009 season alone was more than many players experienced throughout the entirety of their playing days. Going into 2009, Joe Mauer had already been in the big leagues for five years. He had a pair of All-Star Game selections, two Silver Slugger awards, and he had just won his first Gold Glove. None of that was enough to foreshadow what he was about to do. Playing in 138 games, Mauer won his third batting title while hitting a career-best .365. He posted a 1.031 OPS while hitting 28 home runs, a number 15 higher than he had ever previously achieved. His 191 hits were a career-best, and he parlayed the outburst into significant opportunity. Landing on the cover of MLB The Show, he also signed an eight-year, $184 million contract extension to stay with the Twins. Looking back at it, Mauer’s 2009 season was among the greatest to ever happen in a Twins uniform. By fWAR, only Rod Carew and Joe Cronin have had better years in franchise history. What games stood out along the way though? May 17 @ New York Minnesota lost this game in extras, and Mauer was just 2-for-4 with a pair of measly singles. However, he made arguably the greatest defensive play of his career in this contest. Francisco Cervelli's comebacker off the glove of Jose Mijares was fielded by Mauer. He pump faked a throw to first and chase down Brett Gardner with a dive at home. In a tie game, during the ninth inning, Mauer made his mark. May 21 @ Chicago In an early-season laugher, the Twins bludgeoned the White Sox for 20 runs. Mauer had a team-high six RBI. He roped a pair of doubles and homered off a pitcher named Jimmy Gobble. Bartolo Colon was the opposing starter in the contest and Michael Cuddyer made hay with four hits of his own. May 23 vs Milwaukee Going 3-for-3 with three runs scored, Mauer was a menace for Brewers pitching. He blasted a fifth inning home run against Braden Looper, and his six total bases led Minnesota. Driving in a pair and drawing a walk, it was as close to perfection as it gets. 44 games into the season, he was hitting .429. June 16 vs Pittsburgh Going 4-for-4, Mauer was still hitting .429 through the season’s first 66 games. Just one of his base hits went for extra bases, a double off Jeff Karstens. He scored a pair of runs and drove in one that night. Minnesota trounced a mediocre Pirates squad by an 8-2 tally. July 24 @ Anaheim The first multi-homer game of his season, Mauer went deep twice in California. He was just 2-for-4 on the evening, but he got John Lackey both times. Each of the home runs were solo shots and Minnesota’s three runs weren’t enough to take down an Angels team that ultimately went to the American League Championship Series. August 4 @ Cleveland Mauer was known much more as a doubles hitter throughout his career as opposed to hitting dingers. This was an extreme example in which he put up a season-high three two-baggers. The Twins cashed him in each time he got on base, and Mauer brought a run home himself. Among those to feel his wrath were infamous Guardians broadcaster Jensen Lewis. Minnesota won 10-1. August 13 vs Kansas City A Thursday afternoon game, Mauer contributed a season-high .309 WPA. His fifth inning home run off Gil Meche brought the Twins within one. Ultimately they couldn’t scratch a run across against Joakim Soria and fell 5-4, but Mauer was 2-for-4 on the day and also recorded a double. His four RBI were the second highest total of the season. August 18 @ Texas Facing a solid Rangers team, Mauer posted the second of two multi-home run games. He went 3-for-5 during the game while taking Jason Jennings and Scott Feldman deep. The home runs drove in three and the Twins won 9-6. Delmon Young also went deep, and it was just the next year that Josh Hamilton won the MVP award. Of course the year ended in heartbreak, and Phil Cuzzi gave us the double heard round the world. New York knocked the Twins out of the postseason with a 3-0 series sweep, but Mauer will forever have his MVP. View full article

This wasn't the first time Caden Kendle was drafted, and despite betting on himself as a senior sign, he put up even more gaudy numbers. The Minnesota Twins took note and made the UC-Irvine product their fifth round selection. UC-Irvine has been an impressive baseball program for some time, and grabbing a played like Caden Kendle in the fifth round is a nice come-up for the Twins. If you remember, Irvine is where Twins star Royce Lewis was committed prior to going first overall in the draft. Jacob King, who is currently on the 60-day injured list in the system as well was an Anteater. Current Twins prospect Dillon Tatum also played with Kendle at Irvine. Kendle is a talented outfielder that posted an OPS north of 1.000 for the first time last season as a senior. He has continued to get better each year, and looks the part of a contact hitter that could quickly blitz the system. Following his selection on Monday afternoon, I was able to catch up with him to introduce him to Twins Territory. Twins Daily: This isn't your first rodeo after having been drafted by the Cardinals last year. What went into the decision to go back to school? Caden Kendle: The decision was mainly to finish up my last year in college. You only get those memories one time in your life. I didn’t want to miss out on that opportunity with such a great team as well. I also wanted to finish my degree. TD: You put up the best numbers of your collegiate career, and significantly improved your draft spot because of it. What changes attributed to that? CK: I didn’t really change much at the plate. I trained hard in the offseason to control the strike zone better and be more aggressive early on in counts. I wanted to hit more home runs, but oh well. TD: You're definitely a high average and on-base guy. What can you tell use about your style at the plate and how you play the outfield? CK: I just try to get my best swing off early in the count on good pitches. I am definitely an all out player. I believe I play the game the right way, and will never take a pitch or play off. You never know when you are going to hang up the cleats, so I just try to play every game like it’s my last. TD: Is there a current or former big leaguer that you have emulated or feel like you have characteristics of? CK: I have always looked up to Mike Trout because the Angels are 20 minutes from me. I try to play like him and appreciate how humble he is. I feel like my fire and passion from the game is kind of like the way Bryce Harper plays. TD: What is your knowledge of the Twins organization and Minnesota as a whole? Have you ever been to Target Field? CK: I don’t really have any knowledge about the Twins, but I am fired up to play for them. My old teammate Dillon Tatum and Jacob King play for them as well. TD: What do you like to do away from baseball that helps you reset? What do you do for fun? CK: I love to play poker, fish when I have time, skateboard, body surf, and boogie board. Already inked to a deal with the Twins, Kendle can't wait to get started. View full article

After three hitters, all from college, the Minnesota Twins dipped into the prep ranks. With their 69th overall pick they grabbed Dasan Hill from Grapevine High School. When the Minnesota Twins came on the clock with their competitive balance round B pick at 69th overall, they decided to mess with Texas. Having recent won a 5A State Tournament for Grapevine High School, Dasan Hill found his name being called. The 6'5" lefty was committed to Dallas Baptist, but instead he will go pro and start his journey towards a Target Field debut. Following his selection on Sunday night, I caught up with the southpaw to introduce him to Twins Territory. Twins Daily: What was the draft process like for you? When did it start to become clear that you could wind up going pretty early? Dasan Hill: Awesome! something I've always dreamt of so really focusing on staying healthy and just going and doing what I know I can every week. Staying consistent with my routine was big for me. TD: As you kick off your pro career, you've already pitched in some huge games. What was the state title experience like in a baseball hotbed like Texas? DH: It was a cool experience. I love those big moments where the lights get bright. I feel like it elevates my game and pitching in that game was definitely one of those moments. I just went out and trusted my stuff, did what I do, and we ended up winning it all. It was definitely something I’ll remember for a long time. TD: Dallas Baptist is a well respected baseball school. What drew you there and got you to commit? DH: They were on me early, and those coaches there are second to none. Heef (Dan Heefner) has been so good for that program with (Cliff) Pennington and now Cale johnson the pitching coach. The facilities are great and the fact that it is Christ-centered is even better. It just felt home for me. TD: What do you want fans to know about your game and repertoire? Seeing a lefty top out at 96 in high school is beyond impressive. DH: Obviously I’m trying to put on a bunch of weight and strength, but I am a very crafty pitcher. I have so many different ways and sequences that I can miss bats. My favorite pitch is my slider because I am able to shape it and manipulate speed depending on what I want it to do. I love working that off my other pitches. TD: You shared the Twins jersey image from little league. What do you know about the organization and Minnesota as a whole DH: I remember that being one of the first ever teams I was on and remember thinking that one day what if I was on the real Twins. It’s surreal to be here with this opportunity I have now. TD: What do you like to do off the field for fun, what keeps you loose? DH: I spend time with people; friends and family. Anything I do with them is always fun no matter what. Also I am a big fisherman as well as a big car and fashion guy. Welcome to Twins Territory, Dasan! View full article

This off-season the Minnesota Twins front office was told they were cash-strapped and had no money. That forced them into shrewd veteran moves, and through the first half, they’re batting 1.000. After the most successful season in roughly three decades, Rocco Baldelli should have been expecting reinforcements. Carlos Correa was here, Royce Lewis had emerged, and Pablo Lopez looked like an ace. Instead ownership hamstrung the front office and forced some more needle-threading decisions. Looking at multiple lineup additions on the open market, there was plenty of exciting names to look at. Who was going to be the 2024 version of Michael A. Taylor? What about a big bat that could play first base? Those were the two most obvious positional holes to fill, and it’s hard to argue that Derek Falvey got them wrong. Manuel Margot over Kevin Kiermaier, Harrison Bader, or Michael A. Taylor What the Twins needed to establish was insurance for Buxton, and that player needed to bat right-handed while playing respectable defense. All four of the names listed above realistically fit the bill, but Margot has been the right choice for a myriad of reasons. Both Kiermaier and Bader were paid $10 million by their respective clubs. That would have been too rich for Minnesota, who offered Taylor something like a $4 million deal over two years. Kiermaier was recently DFA’d by Toronto after posting just a 53 OPS+. He was great defensively, but the Blue Jays have failed expectations and cut bait. Bader has produced a strong 110 OPS+, and has been worth 6 OAA, but his -2 DRS isn’t good. He too was never truly a consideration given the price tag. Taylor was a fan-favorite last year, but was primed for offensive regression. With a 53 OPS+, identical to Kiermaier, he has been as bad as expected. Similarly to Kiermaier, his defense has been great, but the Pittsburgh Pirates aren’t exactly a team capable of winning on the fringes. Then you get to Margot. He hasn’t produced the 94 OPS+ of last season, but his 78 OPS+ is respectable. The hope would be that his defense was going to carry him, but that hasn’t been the case. Rarely playing center field, and negative defensively everywhere, he’s been only part of what Minnesota needed. His .788 OPS against lefties plays, and that’s despite carrying a .468 OPS from both sides into May. He has slashed .282/.2339/.409 over his last 45 games, and that makes him an asset. If the Twins had unlimited funds, then Bader would have been the ideal candidate. They didn’t though, and avoiding a re-up with Taylor was sensible. Of course, the biggest benefit to the roster as a whole for Minnesota has been the relative health displayed by Buxton himself. Carlos Santana over Rhys Hoskins Among big ticket free agents, few looked like a better fit for Minnesota than Hoskins. Getting a $16 million deal from the Brewers (with options) he was paid well despite missing the entire 2023 season with an injury. In return he has posted a 100 OPS+, exactly league average, while being the same negative defender he has been his whole career. Instead, paying Santana roughly one-third of the freight, Minnesota got a borderline All-Star candidate. Despite starting slow, Santana has a 112 OPS+ while being Gold Glove worthy. His 1.7 fWAR is even with Guardians Josh Naylor atop the American League, and bests American League All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. With health being a boost for centerfield and Margot, the opposite is true with regards to Santana. Alex Kirilloff has been both bad and hurt, and he was seen as the primary candidate to get the leftover reps. Jose Miranda has been incredible, but is shaky defensively, and while Edouard Julien may move positions eventually, he’s at Triple-A. For the money and fit, Santana has been the perfect addition for Minnesota. Sure, no arm was brought in to replace Sonny Gray, but Anthony DeSclafani was a byproduct not a choice. Minnesota still needs rotation help, but the financial limitations remain in place. Taking on a contract for a rental seems unlikely, and it doesn’t appear another big swing deadline is looming. If there was a misstep, it was tendering Kyle Farmer a $6.3M deal. The market clearly wouldn’t have bore that for him, but that’s hindsight at best right now. The minimal bullpen moves weren’t egregious, and didn't move the needle much either way. The offseason was anything but acceptable from the Twins, but while stifled by their bosses, the front office made multiple right calls. They’re certainly in a better spot right now because of that. View full article

The farm system saw some down results in the win column, but getting Connor Prielipp back in action, and Edouard Julien continuing to keep rolling, were both good signs. Image courtesy of © Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports TRANSACTIONS: RHP Nolan Santos transferred from Fort Myers to Cedar Rapids. RHP Juan Mercedes has been transferred from Cedar Rapids to Fort Myers. OF Maddux Houghton transferred from St. Paul to Fort Myers. INF Nick Lucky transferred from St. Paul to Fort Myers. RHP Sheldon Reed was released. COMPLEX CHRONICLES FCL Twins 2, FCL Braves 2 Box Score Anthony Narvaez started for the Twins and worked four innings. He allowed a pair of runs on two hits while walking one and striking out two. The tilt was scoreless until the fourth inning. Bryan Acuna doubled home Yasser Mercedes before stealing third and scoring himself on an errant throw. The Braves evened things up in the bottom half however. Through seven innings neither team could break the tie and that's where it was left. Hendry Chivilli went 3-for-3 and Acuna's double was the only extra base hit for the Twins. DOMINICAN DAILIES DSL Mets Orange 9, DSL Twins 4 Box Score Santiago Rojas took the ball for the twins and worked four innings. He gave up a pair of (unearned) runs on two hits. Rojas walked one and struck out two. Anderson Ramos coughed up two more in an inning of relief. Down 1-0 after one, Luis Fragoza doubled, then scored on an errant throw to tie the game. The Mets added another three runs by the fifth inning and the Twins deficit grew. Fragoza frove in Merphy Hernandez and then scored with Ricardo Paez on a throwing error to tie things at four in the sixth inning. The Mets responded with a five-spot though, and the 9-4 lead held. Fragoza and Irvin Nunez both doubled to record the only extra-base hits for the Twins. WEEK IN REVIEW Triple-A: St. Paul Saints Overall: 44-48 (0-6 last week) Fourth place in the IL West Overview: The Saints took a trip to Louisville that they’d like to forget after dropping all of the games. Edouard Julien continues to keep the good times rolling as he batted .316 with a double and pair of home runs. Anthony Prato hit .286 in five games and recorded both a double and a home run. Aaron Rozek was recalled and made a three inning start. He was perfect and struck out five. Louie Varland struck out six across 5 2/3 scoreless. Jeff Brigham’s seven strikeouts across two appearances led the team. Zack Weiss made his St. Paul debut, and while the six runs across four innings were rough, he struck out six. What’s Next: The Saints come out of the break with a three-game set at Toledo. Double-A: Wichita Wind Surge Overall: 36-51 (1-5 last week) Fifth place in the Texas League North Overview: Winning just a single game on the road against Springfield, it was a tough week Luke Keaschall made the most of three games (going 8-for-13) before heading to the Futures Game. He went 0-for-1 in Texas. Carson McCusker continued to hit for the Wind Surge, and his 14 total bases led the squad. He had a pair of dingers. Tanner Schobel ripped a pair of home runs and drew a team-high four walks last week. Kyle Jones struck out three in a four inning start allowing just a single run. Zebby Matthews walked a pair in his three inning start, but did strike out four. What’s Next: The RoughRiders come to Wichita for a three-game series following the All-Star Break over the weekend. High-A: Cedar Rapids Kernels Overall: 50-35 (2-4 last week) Second place in the Midwest League West Overview: It was a losing week against Beloit, but the Kernels held their place in the overall standings. Agustin Ruiz went 4-for-11 and recorded doubles for three of those hits. Kevin Maitan picked up three doubles and tallied a team-high 13 total bases while batting .280 across six games. Kyle Bischoff worked four innings of perfect relief and struck out four during them. Jarret Whorff made two appearances, tallying five total innings, and striking out seven batters. Christian MacLeod gave up a pair of runs over 5 2/3 innings, but he struck out 11 in the process. What’s Next: A date with Beloit on the road looms. Low-A: Fort Myers Mighty Mussels Overall: 43-41 (1-4 last week) Fourth place in Florida State League West Overview: Weather continues to be a theme for the Mighty Mussels and cost them a game against Daytona this week. Walker Jenkins was in the lineup for three games and went 4-for-12 with a pair of doubles. Yohander Martinez and Byron Chourio both batted .308 (4-for-13) across four games. Brandon Winokur returned from the injured list and went 3-for-11 with a walk. Charlee Soto turned in the best start of his career with five scoreless innings and six strikeouts. Xander Hamilton made two appearances, picked up a save, and struck out six across three scoreless innings. What’s Next: It’s to Clearwater that Fort Myers goes for their short three game series out of the break. Complex League: FCL Twins Overall: 25-26 (4-1 last week) Fourth place in Florida Complex League South Javier Roman batted .438 in five games while recording a triple and four RBI. Amilcar Vasquez drove in a team high six runs. Yilber Herrera closely followed him with five. Connor Prielipp returned in a rehab start and struck out six over two scoreless innings. Miguel Cordero had five strikeouts across 3 1/3 innings of relief. Dominican Summer League: DSL Twins Overall: 15-13 Fourth place in Dominican Summer League South Eduardo Beltre continued to stay hot. He doubled and homered while batting .385 across four games. Daiber De Los Santos’ five RBI led the team. Victor Leal put a ball over the fence last week. Santiago Rojas struck out seven across a four inning scoreless start. Christian Hernandez was second on the squad with six strikeouts last week. PROSPECT SUMMARY #1– Walker Jenkins (Fort Myers) – 4-12, 2 R, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K #2 – Brooks Lee (Minnesota) – 3-25, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 5 K #4 – David Festa (St. Paul) – 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K #5 – Gabriel Gonzalez (Cedar Rapids) – 4-25, 2 R, 2B, RBI, BB, 3 K #6 – Marco Raya (Wichita) – 4.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 4 K #7 – Charlee Soto (Fort Myers) – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 6 K #9 – Luke Keaschall (Wichita) – 8-13, 3 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI, BB #10 – Brandon Winokur (Fort Myers) – 3-11, R, RBI, BB, 4 K #11 – Simeon Woods Richardson (Minnesota) – 4.1 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K #13 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 6-23, 7 R, 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 4 BB, 4 K #14 – Zebby Matthews (Wichita) – 3.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K #15 – Cory Lewis (Wichita) – 3.1 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, BB, 4 K #16 – Danny De Andrade (Cedar Rapids) – IL #17 – Connor Prielipp (Cedar Rapids) - Rehab With FCL - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K #18 – Yunior Severino (St. Paul) – 4-21, 2 R, 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K #20 – Ricardo Olivar (Cedar Rapids) – 5-20, 2 R, 2B, 3 RBI, 5 BB, 5 K Hitter of the Week - Edouard Julien (St. Paul) - 6-19, 3 R, 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 6 BB, 4 K Pitcher of the Week - Charlee Soto (Fort Myers) – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, BB, 6 K View full article

The Twins sought to rid themselves of the bad taste from Friday night's loss. Everything they did wrong in that game was tightened up on Saturday, and Carlos Santana checked off a final box in the victory. Image courtesy of Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports Box Score SP: Simeon Woods Richardson - 4.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K (86 pitches, 61 strikes, 10 whiffs) Home Runs: Carlos Santana(13) Top 3 WPA: Carlos Santana (.233), Cole Sands (.154), Griffin Jax (.137) Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) New Position, Some Revenge After Carlos Correa was scratched with a heel contusion, Rocco Baldelli’s lineup was left with some serious question marks to start the game. Royce Lewis remains on the injured list, and Jose Miranda is dealing with a back issue. That meant Christian Vazquez was starting at third base for the first time in his career. Simeon Woods Richardson got Jorge Soler on strikes to kick off the bottom half, but last night’s menace Brett Wisely immediately took aim at Vazquez. Bunting to third base, the Giants shortstop singled. San Francisco couldn’t cash in though. Making his first big league start at second base, Brooks Lee flashed the leather early. He was scheduled to take place in the Futures Game on Saturday, but this situation is probably quite a bit better for the rookie. The sides stayed scoreless until the fourth inning. Ryan Jeffers reached after getting plunked, joining Willi Castro as the second Minnesota player to get hit. After Lee moved him to second on a pop out, Matt Wallner doubled to drive Jeffers home. Advancing to third on an error, he scored on a passed ball to make it 2-0. Soler ripped a ball towards third base, but Vazquez couldn’t reel it in. The base hit went for a double before Woods Richardson uncorked a wild pitch. With one out in the fifth inning, San Francisco had the tying run at third base. Heliot Ramos hit a comeback to Minnesota’s pitcher, and the deflection allowed Soler to score. 4 1/3 innings, on 86 pitchers, was the end of the line for the Twins starter. Taking the Lead Against Taylor Cole Sands came in and finished out the fifth inning for Woods Richardson before Minnesota went back to bat. Bob Melvin told Hayden Birdsong he was done after the fifth inning, and it was former Twins closer Taylor Rogers on to face some of Minnesota’s sluggers. Getting Wallner on strikes, Rogers was got by Carlos Santana. The first baseman blasted a solo shot, his 13th, to left field. The home run was a big one as not only did it give the Twins a lead, but checked off the final ballpark needed for Santana to have gone deep in all of them. Rogers recorded just a single out on 18 pitches. He allowed a pair of hits, including a single by Max Kepler. Randy Rodriguez took over and gave up another hit to Manuel Margot. Vazquez grounded into a double play though, and the potential threat was over. Lee added another solid defensive play at second in the sixth inning, and it was starting to set in just how good the rookie is with the leather. Minnesota mounted a two out threat against Erik Miller in the eighth inning. Margot stepped in against the lefty with runners on the corners, but after a hard-fought at bat he was rung up on a called third strike touching the edge of the zone. Patrick Bailey nearly tied the game with a triple in the bottom of the frame, but Griffin Jax benefited from Oracle Park. Missing middle-middle with a curveball, the Giants catcher went to triples alley and grabbed three bases instead. Jax got Matt Chapman to end the inning and strand the tying run 90 feet away. Insurance, Check The Giants brought in Minnesota-native Sean Hjelle for the final frame. He was greeted with singles by Vazquez, Willi Castro, and Trevor Larnach to load the bases with no outs. Ryan Jeffers grounded into a double play, but Vazquez came home to give the Twins a bit of extra breathing room. Lee walked and stole his first career base, but Wallner's strikeout ended the frame. Baldelli's bullpen pecking order had worked out perfectly, and it was going to be Jhoan Duran for the ninth inning. Duran has struggled to find his typical velocity most of the year, but he has it against the Giants tonight. Punching out Michael Conforto and getting LaMonte Wade Jr. to ground out, the Twins closer had brought his fireball and was ready to grab the save. Duran got Mike Yastrzemski to ground out and Minnesota picked up their 54th win. The Twins had ten hits, with a pair each coming from Santana, Kepler, and Castro. They went 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left ten on base. Notes Twins prospect Luke Keaschall, who took over for Brooks Lee, participated in the Futures Game at Globe Life Field on Saturday. The Wind Surge infielder has already earned a promotion this season, and remains among the best talents in Minnesota’s system. He went 1-for-1 in the game. The National League team won 6-1. Carlos Correa was scheduled to start at shortstop, but was scratched with a heel contusion. It remains to be seen how that may impact his All-Star Game availability. Byron Buxton was also out of the lineup, allowing for Manuel Margot to start in center against a right-handed pitcher. This would seem to be in relation to his hard crash up against the wall on Friday night. What’s Next? Minnesota goes with Chris Paddack on Sunday against the Giants free agent acquisition Blake Snell. The matchup is the final tilt of the first half as the home run derby takes place Monday with the All-Star Game on Tuesday in Texas. Postgame Interviews Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet View full article

It was a tough night for the Twins farm system when looking for wins. The best news is that pitching prospect Connor Prielipp emerged from the darkness and made his first appearance of the season. Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge CURRENT W-L Records Minnesota Twins: 53-40 St. Paul Saints: 44-46 Wichita Wind Surge: 35-46 Cedar Rapids Kernels: 49-34 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels: 42-39 FCL Twins: 24-26 DSL Twins: 15-12 TRANSACTIONS C Jair Camargo recalled by Minnesota. INF Luke Keaschall placed on temporary inactive list by Wichita (Futures Game). RHP Darren Bowen activated from IL by Cedar Rapids. LHP Connor Prielipp assigned to FCL for rehab assignment. SAINTS SENTINEL Louisville 5, St. Paul 1 Box Score David Festa was back on the mound for the Saints, and his schedule was a bit disrupted after the promotion to Minnesota. He lasted just two outs and needed 39 pitches to get them. The top prospect gave up two runs on three hits and a pair of walks. Festa struck out two. Down 5-0 through the first eight innings, the Saints grabbed their first run with Edouard Julien scoring. Wynton Bernard reached on a throwing error by the shortstop, and St. Paul had at least avoided the shutout. It was the Saints fourth straight loss. The Saints couldn’t get anything else done, and their five hits weren’t enough to force a comeback. No one recorded multiple hits, but Edouard Julien did reach base three times with a hit and two walks. Yunior Severino’s double was the lone extra-base hit. WIND SURGE WISDOM Springfield 9, Wichita 7 Box Score Marco Raya drew the start and worked 4 1/3 innings allowing four runs. Raya gave up seven hits, walked one, and struck out four. He threw 77 pitches on the evening. Jake Rucker took over leadoff duties with Luke Keaschall away for the Futures Game. Tyler Dearden scored him on a sacrifice fly during the first inning to put the Wind Surge up 1-0. Springfield responded with a run in the second inning, and two more in the third inning to go up 3-1. With the bases loaded in the fourth inning, Noah Cardenas drew a walk to score Carson McCusker. A passed ball allowed Tanner Schobel to score and tie the game. A bad fifth inning allowed the Cardinals to put up four runs, and make it a 7-3 contest. That didn’t last long however, as Cardenas decided to swing with the bases chucked in the sixth inning. His grand slam brought home Dearden, Schobel, and Ben Ross to tie things up. Springfield pushed a pair across in the eighth inning and Wichita needed to plate two in order to tie it up. The Wind Surge got a runner with Rucker's leadoff single, but then a Jeferson Morales lineout and Dearden double play ended the game. Wichita scattered eight hits with Rucker, Dearden, and Cardenas each grabbing a pair. KERNELS NUGGETS Beloit 9, Cedar Rapids 4 Box Score Making his return from the injured list, Darren Bowen gave up six runs on six hits while getting just one out. Walking one, he couldn’t avoid bats and gave up all of the damage on just 28 pitches. Down by six after the first inning, Cedar Rapids had plenty of work to do. Through four innings, and trailing 8-0, the Kernels got on the board in the fifth inning. Nate Baez blasted his tenth home run of the season. Jose Salas drove in Jay Harry with a single, and Ricardo Olivar drove in the third run on a sacrifice fly that scored Agustin Ruiz. The Sky Carp tacked on a ninth run in the eighth inning to widen the lead. Ruiz drove in Kevin Maitan with a single in the ninth inning, but Cedar Rapids fell five runs short. The Kernels recorded eight hits Friday, but three of them came from Ruiz, including a pair of doubles. Rafael Marcao and Juan Mercedes both threw scoreless outings of relief and struck out three apiece. MUSSEL MATTERS Looking to get the bad taste of their 11-run loss to Daytona out of their mouth tonight, Fort Myers will need to wait another day. Rain postponed the contest and it will be made up as a doubleheader tomorrow. COMPLEX CHRONICLES FCL Twins 4, FCL Red Sox 2 Box Score It was a big day for the FCL team as Connor Prielipp made his 2024 debut. Starting a rehab assignment and looking to establish health, he was dominant on the bump. Working two innings, the former Alabama hurler struck out six and walked just one. Adrian Bohorquez worked three innings in relief and got the win. He allowed two runs on three hits but walked no one and struck out four. Down 2-0 after six innings, the Twins responded with a four-spot in the seventh inning. Yasser Mercedes drove in Anderson Nova on a single before Javier Roman ripped a triple with the sacks packed. Mercedes, Bryan Acuna, and Jayson Bass all scored to make it a 4-2 game. Cleiber Maldonado worked two scoreless innings of relief and picked up his fourth save. The Twins managed just four hits but did the most with them. DOMINICAN DAILIES DSL Marlins 7, DSL Twins 6 Box Score Melvin Rodriguez turned in a tough start and took the loss. Across five innings of work, he allowed five runs on six hits. Rodriguez walked two and struck out three. The Marlins were up 5-0 by the third inning, and the Twins went into the ninth inning trailing by three. They got two back on a Daiber De Los Santos single that scored Luis Fragoza and Nestor Urbina, but he was thrown out trying to stretch for a double. Victor Leal hit his second home run of the season during the contest. De Los Santos was the only batter to record multiple hits, and Leal’s home run was the only one that went for extra bases. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Connor Prielipp (FCL Twins) - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K Hitter of the Day – Noah Cardenas (Wichita) - 2-3, R, 5 RBI, 2B, HR(3), BB, K PROSPECT SUMMARY Check out the Prospect Tracker for much more on the Twins Top 20 prospects after seeing how they did on Thursday. #2 – Brooks Lee (Minnesota) – 0-1 #4 – David Festa (Minnesota) – 0.2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K #5 – Gabriel Gonzalez (Cedar Rapids) – 0-4, K #6 – Marco Raya (Wichita) – 4.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K #13 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 0-2, 2 R, 2 BB, K #17 – Connor Prielipp (Cedar Rapids) – Rehab with FCL - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K #18 – Yunior Severino (St. Paul) – 1-3, BB, K, 2B #20 – Ricardo Olivar (Cedar Rapids) – 1-3, RBI, 2B, 2 K SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS St. Paul @ Louisville (6:15 PM CST) – RHP Randy Dobnak (7-5, 3.92 ERA) Wichita @ Springfield (6:35 PM CST) – RHP Cory Lewis (0-1, 1.88 ERA) Cedar Rapids @ Beloit (6:35 PM CST) – RHP Christian MacLeod (3-1, 2.92 ERA) Fort Myers vs Daytona (5:05 PM CST) – RHP Charlee Soto (0-3, 6.39 ERA) Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Friday’s games! 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It was a home run party in Wichita. The Mighty Mussels got a pair of their best prospects back. The Complex League squad saw Yasser Mercedes continue to show out. Check out the action tonight. Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge CURRENT W-L Records Minnesota Twins: 53-40 St. Paul Saints: 44-45 Wichita Wind Surge: 36-48 Cedar Rapids Kernels: 49-33 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels: 42-39 FCL Twins: 23-26 DSL Twins: 15-11 TRANSACTIONS RHP David Festa optioned to St. Paul OF Wynton Bernard assigned to St. Paul OF Tyler Dearden transferred to Wichita from Cedar Rapids 1B Aaron Sabato placed on IL by Wichita SAINTS SENTINEL Louisville 3, St. Paul 2 Box Score Louie Varland drew the start tonight for St. Paul and turned in 5 2/3 innings. He didn’t allow a single run and worked around two hits and three walks. Varland also struck out six. The Bats did St. Paul in by getting Ryan Jensen and Jeff Brigham for runs. DaShawn Keirsey put the Saints up 1-0 in the seventh inning with a sacrifice fly, scoring Yunior Severino. His hit was the first of the game for St. Paul. After Louisville added three, St. Paul entered the ninth inning needing a pair. Recently-added Wynton Bernard singled home Anthony Prato and became the go-ahead run. St. Paul couldn’t cash him or Edouard Julien in though, and they fell a run short. Severino’s triple was the only extra base hit, and Bernard had the only other knock. WIND SURGE WISDOM Springfield 6, Wichita 4 Box Score Travis Adams started and was cruising for the Wind Surge, until he wasn’t. Working 4 2/3 innings, he couldn’t get the final out in the fifth inning. Luke Keaschall kicked off the game with a solo shot, his fourth dinger at Double-A. Springfield answered with a run of their own in the bottom half. Tanner Schobel went yard in the second inning, and Jorel Ortega hit a big fly in the third inning. Up 3-1, the fifth inning saw the Cardinals push three across and take their first lead of the night. Schobel went deep for a second time in the seventh inning to tie the game, but Springfield answered with a pair of runs to make it a 6-4 game. Wichita couldn’t crawl back in the ninth inning and came up a pair of runs short. Keaschall continued to hit, recording three. Schobel had two, with both leaving the yard. Tyler Dearden, who was promoted today, went 2-for-4 with a double. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 4, Beloit 2 (F/10) Box Score Ty Langenberg took the ball for the Kernels on Thursday and worked six strong innings. Allowing just two runs on six hits and a walk, the Cedar Rapids starter gave his lineup a shot. Beloit plated a pair in the first inning to take a lead, and it wasn’t until the fourth inning that Cedar Rapids answered. Jose Salas drove home Kevin Maitan on a bases loaded walk, and Dillon Tatum scored Misael Urbina by beating out a throwing error from the shortstop. Going to extras, the Kernels stepped up first. Ricardo Olivar singled home Salas before scoring himself on Rubel Cespedes’ single. Up 4-2, they needed to hold on through the bottom half. Kyle Bischoff capped off his two innings of work by locking down the victory. He didn’t allow a baserunner and struck out . Olivar and Kyle Hess each had a pair of hits. Each of Cedar Rapids’ six hits were singles. MUSSEL MATTERS Daytona 15, Fort Myers 4 Box Score It was a noteworthy night for Fort Myers as they got Brandon Winokur back off the injured list after being hit by two pitches in the same spot. Walker Jenkins also returned to the lineup after being scratched on Tuesday. Unfortunately that’s where the good news ended. Ross Dunn allowed three runs while working just 1 2/3 innings while Jack Noble gave up seven runs (four earned) across his 2 1/3 innings of work. Julio Bonilla surrendered three in just one frame, and by the end of the fifth inning Fort Myers was down by 11. Poncho Ruiz brought Jenkins home on a first inning double play before Rixon Wingrove drove in Byron Chourio with a single to make it 2-0 in the first inning. That was the Mighty Mussels lone lead of the ballgame. Carlos Aguiar homered in the sixth inning, his fourth of the season, to make it 13-3. Daytona got two more in the eighth inning and it was an ugly 15-3 game. Byron Chourio brought in Angel Del Rosario in the ninth inning to give Fort Myers their fourth run, but that’s where it ended. Chourio, Wingrove, and Del Rosario each had two of the ten total hits for the Mighty Mussels. COMPLEX CHRONICLES FCL Rays 7, FCL Twins 3 Box Score Dylan Questad drew the start and turned in three innings. He allowed two runs on three hits while walking one and striking out four. The Rays got up early but Yilber Herrera put the Twins on the board with his first triple of the season. Scoring Hendry Chivilli, they were down 2-1 in the second inning. Amilcar Vasquez scored on a fourth inning wild pitch to tie it and Chivilli scored again with Anderson Nova reaching on an error. Up 3-2, the Twins had their first lead of the game. The Rays responded with runs in the fifth and sixth innings to regain the lead by a 5-3 tally. Adding another pair in the eighth the final score settled at 7-3. Yasser Mercedes continues to crush the FCL and had another pair of hits. His 12th double pushed his OPS to .979 on the season. Chivilli also recorded two hits on Thursday, with both being doubles. DOMINICAN DAILIES DSL Phillies White 1, DSL Twins 0 Box Score Leonardo Rondon started for the Twins and worked five innings of one-run ball. He allowed just two hits and gave up only two walks. Rondon struck out four during the outing. A third inning throwing error by Victor Leal, when trying to nab a base stealer, led to the game’s only run. The Twins had three hits with Eduardo Beltre getting the only extra-base knock, a double. Nestor Cafe worked a scoreless inning of relief, striking out a pair. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Louie Varland (St. Paul) - 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 6 K Hitter of the Day – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 HR(4) PROSPECT SUMMARY Check out the Prospect Tracker for much more on the Twins Top 20 prospects after seeing how they did on Thursday. #1– Walker Jenkins (Fort Myers) – 1-4, R, BB #5 – Gabriel Gonzalez (Cedar Rapids) – 0-5 #9 – Luke Keaschall (Wichita) – 3-4, R, RBI, HR(4) #10 – Brandon Winokur (Fort Myers) – 1-4, K #13 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 2-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 HR(4) #18 – Yunior Severino (St. Paul) – 1-3, R, 3B, BB #20 – Ricardo Olivar (Cedar Rapids) – 2-5, R, RBI, K FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS St. Paul @ Louisville (6:15 PM CST) – RHP Adam Plutko (3-1, 4.95 ERA) Wichita @ Springfield (7:05 PM CST) – RHP Marco Raya (0-2, 5.12 ERA) Cedar Rapids @ Beloit (6:35 PM CST) – RHP Darren Bowen (2-3, 5.02 ERA) Fort Myers vs Daytona (6:05 PM CST) – RHP Tanner Hall (0-0, 4.70 ERA) Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Thursday’s games! 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The first half has been a roller coaster for the Minnesota Twins during the 2024 season. While they were brutal early on, they have found smoother sailing since. Let's see what we've learned from the season to date. Image courtesy of © Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports As Rocco Baldelli watched his team collect a win on Opening Day in Kansas City, he was immediately reminded how good Royce Lewis is. Byron Buxton was in center field, and Carlos Correa was healthy. Pablo López was on the bump, and the Twins were favorites to defend their American League Central title. Unfortunately the Cleveland Guardians have been among the hottest teams in baseball, and the Twins' slow start dug them a hole. As they try to claw closer heading into the All-Star break, what revelations from the first half will define the second? Here are a few of the keys: A Healthy Carlos Correa is Amazing Carlos Correa is an All-Star. It's the third time he has been given that honor, and coincidentally, he has played in the World Series during the previous two seasons. Last year, Correa was a shell of himself for the Twins, putting up a sub-100 OPS+ as he dealt with plantar fasciitis. Now healthy, Correa is experiencing the second-best season of his career. He will certainly get MVP votes if this keeps up, and he’ll have a chance to surpass his previous career best in WAR. Correa has delivered precisely the way you need a high-dollar superstar to, and it’s what players like Lee, Lewis, and José Miranda need to see. Pitching Depth is the Problem it Was Expected to Be When the Twins decided to let Sonny Gray walk, it was a calculated decision. He was arguably the difference-maker they needed for a postseason run, but the contract St. Louis gave him was never going to make sense for the more constrained Twins. The thought was he could be replaced through free agency or the trade market, but that move hasn’t come--yet. Louie Varland was quickly jettisoned to the minor leagues, and Chris Paddack has been espectedly up-and-down as he returns from Tommy John surgery. The emergence of Simeon Woods Richardson has been encouraging, but David Festa didn’t look ready in his cameo. With López struggling, a harsher spotlight swings to Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober, which makes October baseball dicey. Expecting a deadline addition for the rotation seems almost too optimistic, but Minnesota needs one. This Isn’t the Best Bullpen in Baseball Starting the season, there was some thought that the Twins could have the best bullpen in baseball. On paper, it seemed to be a fair assessment. Then Jhoan Durán, Josh Staumont, and Justin Topa started the year on the injured list. Jay Jackson has already been designated for assignment twice, and Steven Okert has been serviceable, rather than dominant. Griffin Jax and Brock Stewart have been amazing. Unfortunately, the latter has been on the shelf for weeks, and it’s always a concern as to how his arm will hold up. Staumont has been great since being promoted to the big leagues, but Durán hasn’t found his top velocity all year. The group is solid, but an addition or two should be the focal point at the trade deadline. Minnesota won’t grab someone to overtake Duran or Jax, but a Stewart-type addition seems like a must. Prospect Promotions Have Been Fun Lewis was the best Twins prospect since Buxton, and Walker Jenkins has since taken over that title, but others have been called upon already this season. Brooks Lee missed an early opportunity as he dealt with a back issue, and it was Austin Martin who capitalized on the circumstances. He has proven to be an invaluable piece for Minnesota, and seeing him work at the same time as Woods Richardson from the José Berríos trade has been fun. When Paddack needed a brief reset, we got to see the top pitching prospect, Festa. It didn’t go as planned, but his work at Triple-A suggests there is a talented arm in waiting for the Twins. We probably won’t see Luke Keaschall or Emmanuel Rodriguez the rest of the way, but watching both have substantial success on the farm indicates that the future should be in good hands. What are some of your big takeaways from the Twins start to the year? View full article

Recently selected to the 2024 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Minnesota Twins Carlos Correa has done this before. Now a three-time All-Star, and first with his new organization, these seasons have parallels for the talented shortstop. When the Minnesota Twins found themselves in a position to sign Carlos Correa the first time, it was following a transition by the Houston Astros. The World Series winning franchise had decided Jeremy Pena was their future at shortstop, and Correa was out on the open market. Trying to work through a lockout shortened offseason, Scott Boras brought Correa to Minnesota on what was essentially a one-year contract. The Twins new shortstop posted the second-highest OPS+ of his career, but the Twins fell short of expectations winning just 78 games. After being snubbed by both the Mets and Giants last offseason, Correa returned on a long-term deal that could have him end his career in Minnesota. A bout of plantar fasciitis sapped his overall effectiveness and allowed him to produce just a 95 OPS+. Now back and healthy, he looks like a superstar again, and the previous All-Star seasons are past glimpses of that. 2017 - 155 OPS+ 4.9 fWAR In just his third season at the big league level, Correa had already bloomed into a star. He batted .315, eclipsing .300 for the first time in his career, and his 155 OPS+ remains a career high. The Astros shortstop set a new career-high with 24 homers, and he had quickly elevated himself to being among the best shortstops across the entire league. Ultimately the Midsummer Classic was just part of the story as Houston went on to win the World Series. 2021 - 131 OPS+ 6.3 fWAR During his final season with the Astros, Correa knew he was playing for his next contract. The baseball wasn’t the same used during the 2019 season, but that didn’t stop him from hitting a career-best 26 home runs. He wound up winning his first Gold Glove, which is relatively surprising that he hasn’t earned more than one. Making it back to the World Series, the Astros came up one game short as they lost to the Atlanta Braves. 2024 - 148 OPS+ 3.2 fWAR During his first season with the Twins Correa put up very good numbers. This year, he has put up great numbers. He missed a bit of time due to an oblique strain, but has always been incredibly healthy. He is tracking towards his best season as a big leaguer in terms of WAR, and he has helped to push Minnesota towards the top of the AL Central. Where the dust settles on his statistics as a whole remains to be seen, but there are a few categories where he could set new career highs. Rolling as the leader of a team with multiple personalities, Correa’s presence has been just as important as his production. In the tenth year of his major league career, Correa has never gone to the All-Star Game in a season in which he didn’t play for the World Series. Minnesota hasn’t been back to the Fall Classic since 1991, and after winning a playoff series last year, that step would be amazing. This is absolutely the player that Minnesota hoped they were getting when handing Correa a $200 million contract. He has lived up to the expectations and then some. What else he can accomplish in 2024 remains to be seen, but hoping trends continue is the goal. View full article

The Twins played a twin bill with the Chicago White Sox this afternoon and they needed to salvage a win after an ugly game one. Brooks Lee came through with a dinger against his best friend, and Ryan Jeffers pushed across the winning run. Image courtesy of © Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports Box Score SP: Pablo Lopez 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 5 K (90 pitches, 67 strikes) Home Runs: Brooks Lee(2), Carlos Correa(13) Top 3 WPA: Jhoan Duran (.205), Carlos Correa (.184), Griffin Jax (.144) Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) Beni Beats Pablo After a scoreless first inning, Andrew Benintendi got the Chicago White Sox on the board. His one out double to the opposite field drove home Lenyn Sosa and put the Twins in a 1-0 hole. After squandering opportunity during the first inning of game one, Minnesota didn’t need to dig a hole to start game two. Pablo Lopez has had a rough season for the Twins, and he didn’t start this tilt off in dominant fashion either. Twins Daily's winning "Make It Official!" game recaps are sponsored by Official Fried Chicken, which you can find in center field of Target Field. With a name like "Official," we know we have to be the best in the game every day, and from your first bite, you'll know that's a promise we make good on. Things didn’t get better for Lopez during the third inning. Throwing Martin Maldonado a middle-middle fastball, he found out that even a terrible hitter can take him deep. Chicago put up a 2-0 lead against the Twins and none of Lopez’s expected statistics were going to be there to save him. Back to Back Jacks Brooks Lee has been nothing short of impressive since his debut last week. He was 0-for-4 during the first game of today’s action but sent a sixth inning pitch into the seats putting Minnesota on the board. The dinger came off his friend from Cal Poly, Drew Thorpe, and that had to make it a bit more fun. Carlos Correa stepped in and blasted his 13th longball of the year to go back-to-back, and tie the game at two. With his finger, Correa extended his hitting streak to 13 games. In the seventh inning Ryan Jeffers provided the Twins with the hit that made the difference. His single scored Buxton and put Minnesota ahead 3-2. Despite a day of offensive ineptitude, the backstop put Baldelli’s squad on top late. Jorge Alcala and Griffin Jax blanked Chicago to keep the lead heading into the ninth inning. Jhoan Duran came on for the ninth inning an punched out Sosa before getting Benintendi to ground out. Paul DeJong struck out to end the game. Minnesota managed just five hits, but drew three walks while striking out only four times. Notes David Festa was selected as the 27th man for the Twins in their doubleheader. He had been penciled in as the St. Paul Saints starter for Wednesday, and needed to make the trip from Louisville to Chicago. Minnesota threatened the White Sox bullpen during the first inning of game one. With Erick Fedde throwing 34 pitches to get through the frame, Chad Kuhl was up and warming. The Twins didn’t cash in, but it put a scare in Pedro Grifol’s team while needing to play two on Wednesday. Ultimately, Michael Kopech finished the tilt with an insane immaculate inning for the save. Thanks to Matt Wallner’s big fly in game one, the Twins extended their home run streak to 27 games. Jose Miranda and Carlos Correa both extended their hitting streaks during the first game of the doubleheader. Minnesota has had a few prominent veterans at Triple-A St. Paul this year, but Wynton Bernard becomes the latest addition. Signed to a minor league deal on Wednesday, he will join the Saints. What’s Next? A well-deserved off day looms before Minnesota wraps up the first half of their season in San Francisco. Neither side has set their pitching matchups for the three-game tilt as of yet. Postgame Interviews Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet View full article

Yeah, definitely an omission there.

Yes. He came back and reinjured it. Expect this time to be relatively lengthy.