Ted Schwerzler

The St. Paul Saints nearly matched the Minnesota Twins ten runs, and the farm system as a whole picked up a Saturday sweep with every level grabbing a victory. Image courtesy of Seth Stohs (Image of Yunior Severino) CURRENT W-L Records Minnesota Twins: 42-35 St. Paul Saints: 38-35 Wichita Wind Surge: 30-38 Cedar Rapids Kernels: 39-27 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels: 33-34 FCL Twins: 17-17 DSL Twins: 7-8 TRANSACTIONS OF DaShawn Keirsey Jr. activated from IL by St. Paul LHP Wilker Reyes transferred from FCL to Fort Myers SAINTS SENTINEL St. Paul 9, Toledo 7 Box Score St. Paul turned to Caleb Boushley for the Saturday start, and while earlier rain looked to threaten action, the game started on time. Boushley worked six innings of scoreless baseball and gave up just three hits while walking four. Facing big league pitcher Matt Manning, the Saints wasted no time putting runs on the board. Yunior Severino singled home both Edouard Julien and Brooks Lee in the first inning before Matt Wallner drove home Alex Isola and Tony Kemp with a second inning single. Returning to the lineup after being out since May 26, DaShawn Keirsey Jr. made his presence felt with a third inning solo shot, and Kemp followed his lead with one of his own. Severino blasted a dinger in the fifth inning to make it 7-0 before a Patrick Winkel single scored Diego A. Castillo. Winkel scored Keirsey on a seventh inning ground out to make it 9-0. Austin Brice and Nick Wittgren made a meal of the ninth inning, allowing a combined seven runs and allowing the tying run to step in, but St. Paul held on for the win. Julien had four hits while Severino was 4-for-5 on the evening. Keirsey and Kemp both had three hits of their own. Jordan Balazovic worked a scoreless inning of relief while striking out a pair. WIND SURGE WISDOM Wichita 8, Arkansas 3 Box Score Playing their final game of the first half, Jaylen Nowlin made the start for Wichita. He worked 4 2/3 innings allowing three runs on four hits and five walks. He struck out seven. The Wind Surge kicked off the scoring with a big third inning, and their eight spot largely put the game out of reach. Luke Keaschall brought in Dalton Shuffield with a single before Tanner Schobel brought home Jorel Ortega. Jefferson Morales singled home Keaschall, and Aaron Sabato drove home Schobel with a single. Noah Cardenas plated Morales with a bases loaded walk, and Carson McCusker brought in Sabato, Jake Rucker, and Cardenas with a bases-clearing double. Arkansas plated a trio of runs during the fifth inning, but still trailing by five, they were staring at a loss. John Stankiewicz worked 2 1/3 scoreless while striking out three, and Regi Grace pitched a pair of scoreless innings of his own. Sabato and Rucker both grabbed a pair of hits while Shuffield drew two of the four Wichita walks. Of the eight hits, only McCusker’s double was for extra-bases. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 6, Peoria 3 Box Score Ty Langenberg worked five innings allowing just a pair of runs on five hits. He walked one and struck out seven. Giving up a pair of first inning runs, the Kernels answered with one of their own in the second inning. Nate Baez hit his ninth home run of the season to halve the deficit at 2-1. Ricardo Olivar hit his tenth home run in the third inning, and the two-run shot scored Rayne Doncon to give Cedar Rapids their first lead. The fifth inning saw Cedar Rapids add again. This time Olivar doubled home Kyle Hess before Kevin Maitan plated Olivar on a single. Up 5-2, the Kernels scored their sixth run in the seventh inning when Rubel Cespedes brought Doncon home on a single. Peoria scored a pair in the eighth inning, but that wasn’t enough to bring them back. Olivar and Doncon both had a pair of two-hit nights. With each recording an extra-base hit. Langenberg grabbed his second victory of the season with Gabriel Yanez earning his fourth save. MUSSEL MATTERS Fort Myers 5, St. Lucie 0 Box Score Charlee Soto was on the bump Saturday and he turned in the best start of his professional career. Going four innings scoreless, he allowed just two hits and three walks while striking out five. Yohander Martinez started the scoring with a fourth inning single to score Maddux Houghton and give Fort Myers a 1-0 lead. In the sixth inning Poncho Ruiz came home on a wild pitch before Martinez drove home Houghton again with his second single of the game. Cole Elvis scored Nick Lucky with a single and the Mighty Mussels went up 4-0. Walker Jenkins, playing as the designated hitter, got his first dinger of the season with a ninth inning solo shot to make it 5-0. Martinez and Byron Chourio both had a pair of hits while Xander Hamilton earned a win working three scoreless innings of relief. Nolan Santos worked a pair of scoreless relief innings and struck out four. COMPLEX CHRONICLES FCL Twins 4, FCL Red Sox 0 Box Score Liam Rocha started for the Twins and worked four scoreless innings. He scattered three hits and walked two while striking out four. Cleiber Maldonado got the win working three scoreless innings of relief, and Devin Kirby finished off the shutout with two scoreless innings of his own. Anderson Nova opened the scoring with a second inning ground out that scored Hendry Chivilli. A fifth inning double from Bryan Acuna scored Javier Roman and Nova to make it 3-0, and a bases loaded walk to Ariel Castro scored Amilcar Vasquez. Roman had a pair of hits. Rehabbing prospect Gabriel Gonzalez was 1-3 with a walk. DOMINICAN DAILIES DSL Twins 7, DSL Phillies White 4 (F/6) Box Score Santiago Rojas started for the Twins and turned in four innings of four run (three earned) baseball. He walked three but struck out five during the outing. Down 1-0 when coming up to the plate, the Twins took a first inning lead. Yandro Hernandez singled home Daiber De Los Santos before scoring himself on a wild pitch. The Phillies tied it at two in the second inning, but the Twins went back to work during the third inning. Murphy Hernandez scored Luis Fragoza on a ground out before Eduardo Beltre raced home on a wild pitch. After the Phillies tied it at four in the fourth inning, the Twins put them away in the fifth inning. Hernandez scored on a wild pitch and Victor Leal scored on a Ruben Velazquez sacrifice fly. Another wild pitch scored Ricardo Paez and the Twins held on 7-4. The Twins scored seven runs despite having just two hits thanks to drawing 11 walks. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Caleb Boushley (St. Paul) - 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K Hitter of the Day – Yunior Severino (St. Paul) - 4-5, R, 3 RBI, HR(14) 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) – 1-5, R, RBI, HR(1), K #2 – Brooks Lee (St. Paul) – 1-3, R, 2 K #3 – Emmanuel Rodriguez (Wichita) – IL #5 – Gabriel Gonzalez (Cedar Rapids) – Rehab with FCL - 1-3, BB #7 – Charlee Soto (Fort Myers) – 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K #8 – Austin Martin (Minnesota) – 1-1 #9 – Luke Keaschall (Wichita) – 1-5, R, RBI, 2 K #13 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 1-5, R, RBI, K #18 – Yunior Severino (St. Paul) – 4-5, R, 3 RBI, HR(14) #20 – Ricardo Olivar (Cedar Rapids) – 2-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR(10), 2B,(11), K SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS St. Paul vs Toledo (2:07 PM CST) – RHP Louie Varland (2-5, 5.31 ERA) Wichita @ Arkansas (1:35 PM CST) – RHP Travis Adams (3-5, 5.19 ERA) Cedar Rapids vs Peoria (1:05 PM CST) – RHP John Klein (4-1, 4.66 ERA0 Fort Myers @ St. Lucie (11:10 AM CST) – RHP Jose Olivares (1-1, 2.75 ERA) Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Saturday’s games! 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The Minnesota Twins turned to Bailey Ober needing to end a losing streak and give the bullpen a break. The starting pitcher turned in the first complete game of his career, and the lineup provided him with a double-digit scoring performance. Image courtesy of © D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports Box Score SP: Bailey Ober 9.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 10 K (89 pitches, 70 strikes, 23 whiffs) Home Runs: Manuel Margot(2) Top 3 WPA: Manuel Margot (.216), Ryan Jeffers (.116), Carlos Correa (.111) Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) Twins Come Out Crushing Facing J.P. Sears, who the Twins tagged for four runs on nine hits and three home runs last week, Minnesota got off to a great start. Sears had runners on the corners before recording an out, and allowed the first run of the game on a hit by pitch against Ryan Jeffers that scored Manuel Margot. While the Twins did leave the bases loaded, and Bailey Ober gave up a J.J. Bleday solo shot in the bottom half to tie it, Rocco Baldelli’s lineup went right back to work. Willi Castro opened the second inning with his 20th double of the season, and Kyle Farmer became the third Twins batter to get plunked. Leadoff man Margot stepped in for the second time and clobbered a three-run blast, his second of the season, to make it 4-1. The Twins weren’t done against Sears as Carlos Correa and Royce Lewis both immediately singled before Jose Miranda ripped a two-run double to make it 6-1 Carlos Santana finally flew out to give Sears an out, but Jeffers singled and Byron Buxton doubled to drive in another run and knock Sears out of the game. He allowed seven runs on nine hits while getting just four outs. Farmer blooped in a single to score Jeffers and the Twins had put up a seven-spot in the second inning. Across two outings in the last week, Minnesota had bludgeoned Sears for 12 runs on 18 hits in just 6 ⅔ innings. Double Up for Runs Sears being out of the game didn’t slow the Twins roll. Answering a Tyler Soderstrom home run in the second inning, Lewis and Miranda traded doubles and made it a 9-2 game in the third inning. Ober got the Athletics quickly in the third inning, and the fourth inning saw Minnesota go down in order for the first time during the ballgame. A fifth inning single gave Miranda his third hit of the ballgame and pushed his OPS to .819 on the year, but Minnesota couldn’t cash in. Ober answered by sending Oakland back to the dugout in order and the sides had completed five innings. Plunked Again Margot stepped in to start the seventh inning against Osvaldo Bido and got plunked. He was the fourth Twins hitter to get hit on the day, and Minnesota made it hurt with Correa rapping his 14th double and driving Margot in. A 10-2 ballgame, the Twins certainly were widening the run differential on Saturday. Threatening to really blow things open, Santana walked to load the bases with one out for Jeffers, but the Minnesota catcher grounded into an inning-ending double play. Ober was back out for the seventh inning, and struck out Brent Rooker who made it 15 straight games with that stat. Again getting Oakland in order, Ober was at just 68 pitches. A quick eighth inning for Minnesota brought Ober back on and he struck out the side to push his tally to nine on the day. The Twins put up an impressive 10 runs on the day, but it could have been even worse for Oakland with Minnesota leaving 13 runners on base and going 7-for-21 with runners in scoring position. After picking up his career-high-tying strikeout, Ober faced Athletics Armanda Alvarez in his first big league at bat following 700 career minor league games. He tapped a check swing back to the mound and will be hoping for another chance. Daz Cameron grounded out, and Ober completed the game on just 89 pitches. He becomes only the third pitcher, joining Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez, to pitch a complete game in the Rocco Baldelli era. Notes Manuel Margot’s game-opening single was the 700th hit of his career. He has started heating up and is faring well against left-handed pitchers this year. Going 3-for-5 on the day, he had himself a nice start. It’s been quite a while since Joe Mauer has done an autograph event outside of Twins Fest. Fan HQ has lined up a private signing, and while the date has yet to be set, the details are available. Willi Castro became just the fourth player in Major League history to accomplish this incredibly versatile feat. Potential Twins trade target Jesus Luzardo almost certainly won’t be moved at the deadline. The Marlins hurler hit the injured list, and Miami’s most valuable trade chip has all but been taken off the table. Max Kepler was unlikely to start Saturday against a lefty, and he could get another day of rest for his neck spasms with the Athletics having another southpaw going on Sunday as well. What’s Next? The Twins look to win their last game ever at the Oakland Coliseum. Pablo Lopez starts for Minnesota against the Athletics Hogan Harris. A win would give them a series victory, and end the year against Oakland with a 5-1 record. Postgame Interviews Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet View full article

The Minnesota Twins are quickly barreling towards the All-Star Break, and while they have yet to take over first place in the American League Central Division, Royce Lewis has made a monumental impact. If Major League Baseball is serious about showcasing its stars, then he has to be invited to the All-Star Game. Image courtesy of © Jesse Johnson - USA TODAY Coming into the season Royce Lewis was healthy and on the Opening Day roster for the first time in his career. He took Cole Ragans deep in the first at bat of his season, and the lore of a young superstar known for hitting grand slams only got greater. Then he got hurt. The quad injury sapped two months of his playing time, but since returning, it hasn’t done anything to his production. Having produced 1.5 fWAR through just 15 games, and having more games with home runs (9) than without (6), he is producing at an otherwise historical pace. Each time he steps into the box it seems like something incredible is about to happen, and he has become appointment viewing for plenty across the league. When the All-Star Ballot was unveiled, it seemed hard to distinguish just who should represent the Twins. Carlos Correa certainly seems worthy, and Carlos Santana has actually been the most productive American League first baseman this season. There’s a real case for reliever Griffin Jax, and Ryan Jeffers has flirted with that type of production too. There is no one the league needs more though, than Royce Lewis. The reality is that the Major League Baseball All-Star Game is little more than a popularity contest. Correa being the only Minnesota player within the top-10 vote-getters seems egregious. There will be examples of players getting in over those that are much more deserving. Fan voting is largely misguided, and hand-wringing over the rosters themselves doesn’t make sense. However, those involved with the league need Lewis to be present. Bruce Bochy will manage the American League squad, and having Lewis head home to Texas and play at Globe Life Field is something well within his control. The infectious smile is worth the price of admission, but the unrelenting pace in which he impacts a baseball game is something the national stage needs to see. It might be fun to put Lewis in the Home Run Derby. His quick swing and impressive stamina could serve him well in such a contest. That wouldn’t be enough though. Even winning that event doesn’t give him the opportunity to shine brightest under the biggest spotlight. Lewis could be present as a fan too, and maybe even will, but that would be a disservice to his production thus far. Selecting a player with so few games played during a season seems odd, but looking at what Lewis has done with those chances makes it anything but. Opportunity has passed him by while he was on the injured list, but he has more than made up for it when in the lineup. Producing the same value as Corey Seager and Matt Chapman this season, despite playing 50 less games, it’s incredible to truly quantify how impressive Lewis continues to be. If Major League Baseball is in the business of showcasing its superstars, then putting Royce Lewis on the American League All-Star Game roster should be a no-brainer. View full article

Brooks Lee only recently returned to the St. Paul Saints lineup, but he continues to absolutely torch the opposition. With a pair of dingers on Thursday night, he continues to knock at the door for a big-league debut. An impressive pitching performance in the DSL shined, and the Twins farm system had some standout names on Thursday. Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints CURRENT W-L Records Minnesota Twins: 41-34 St. Paul Saints: 36-35 Wichita Wind Surge: 28-38 Cedar Rapids Kernels: 37-27 Fort Myers Mighty Mussels: 31-34 FCL Twins: 16-16 DSL Twins: 5-8 TRANSACTIONS RHP Jay Jackson DFA’d by Minnesota Cedar Rapids OK Gabriel Gonzalez began a rehab assignment in the FCL. Fort Myers placed RHP Danny Moreno on the 7-Day IL. SAINTS SENTINEL St. Paul 8, Toledo 5 Box Score Former Saints fan favorite, and friend of Darryl Strawberry, Dave Stevens, was on hand to throw out the first pitch on Thursday night. Top pitching prospect David Festa started for St. Paul and worked 5 2/3 while giving up four runs. He allowed six hits but didn’t walk anyone and struck out six on the night. Matt Wallner remained in the lineup despite Max Kepler being lifted by the Twins due to back spasms. He made his presence felt with a first inning solo shot, his 17th of the year, to put St. Paul on the board. Toledo answered with a run in the third inning, and three in the fourth inning, but the Saints weren’t going to go away quietly. Diego A. Castillo homered in the fourth inning to make it a 4-2 game, and a four-run fifth inning was just what manager Toby Gardenhire ordered. Edouard Julien singled home Chris Williams before Brooks Lee hit another dinger, and the three -run blast scored Will Holland and Julien. Lee wasn’t done with his hot streak though, and a sixth inning blast scored Holland giving him his second big fly of the evening. St. Paul was now up 8-4. Scott Blewett and Austin Brice combined to work scoreless relief outings before Josh Winder took over in the ninth inning. With runners on the corners and no outs, Winder induced a double play that gave Toledo their fifth run but had the Saints just an out away from ending it. Julien posted a three-hit game out of the leadoff spot, and Lee had his pair of dingers. The Saints tallied 10 hits as a team and only Tony Kemp failed to reach base. WIND SURGE WISDOM Arkansas 2, Wichita 1 Box Score It was Andrew Morris on Thursday for the Wind Surge. He gave up four hits while scattering three hits. Morris gave up a single run, walked two, and struck out three. Arkansas opened the scoring in the fourth inning with a run, and soon after, Wichita evened the score when Tanner Schobel drove in Dalton Shuffield on a sacrifice fly. Another Arkansas run came in during the seventh inning, and that 2-1 lead was enough to hang on for the victory. Scott Engler worked 1 2/3 of scoreless relief while striking out a pair. Jared Solomon worked around a walk to put up a scoreless inning as well. Wichita managed just four hits while striking out 11 times and drawing only a single walk. Of course, Luke Keaschall had one of the four hits, his being a double. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids was set for a tilt against Peoria but wet field conditions caused the game to be canceled. MUSSEL MATTERS Fort Myers 6, St. Lucie 5 (F/10) Box Score Tanner Hall took the ball for Fort Myers on Thursday night and threw four innings. He allowed four runs on six hits and a pair of walks. Hall struck out four as well. After St. Lucie scored a pair in the first inning, Fort Myers responded with three in the second inning. Poncho Ruiz singled home Yohander Martinez before a Rixon Wingrove single brought home both Cole Elvis and Ruiz. The Mets answered with a pair in the bottom of the frame but Ryan McCarthy tied it with a fourth inning single that scored Martinez. Scoreless the rest of the way, the teams went to extras. Maddux Houghton drew a bases loaded walk to drive in Carlos Aguiar, and McCarthy followed with a walk of his own to score Matthew Clayton. The Mets only got one back in the bottom of the tenth inning and the Mighty Mussels held on. Wingrove recorded a pair of hits while Pena drew two of Fort Myers’ seven walks. Samuel Perez struck out three in three scoreless innings. Jack Noble picked up the win in relief. COMPLEX CHRONICLES FCL Rays 8, FCL Twins 2 Box Score Facing the same matchup as the big-league squad, Dylan Questad got the start and worked three innings. He allowed four runs on five hits with two walks and a strikeout. Gregory Duran kicked off the scoring with a second inning sacrifice fly that scored Yasser Mercedes to make it 1-0, and rehabbing Gabriel Gonzalez singled home Angel Del Rosario in the third inning. Unfortunately the Rays then ripped off eight unanswered to take the victory. Gonzalez went 1-for-4 and Ricardo Pena was the only Twins hitter with a pair of base hits. Alejandro Crisostomo worked 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief while striking out a pair. DOMINICAN DAILIES DSL Phillies White 2, DSL Twins 0 Box Score Melvin Rodriguez took the ball for the Twins and was nothing short of exceptional. Working five innings, he allowed a single run on two hits while walking one and striking out seven. The Twins couldn’t do anything with their four hits, two of which came from Yandro Hernandez. Jose Vasquez gave up a run in two innings of relief while striking out three. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Melvin Rodriguez (DSL Twins) - 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K Hitter of the Day – Brooks Lee (St. Paul) - 2-4, 2 R, 5 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. #2 – Brooks Lee (St. Paul) – 2-5, 2 R, 5 RBI, 2 HR(4) #4 – David Festa (St. Paul) – 5.2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 6 K #5 – Gabriel Gonzalez (Cedar Rapids) – Rehab with FCL - 1-4, RBI #8 – Austin Martin (Minnesota) – 0-3, R, BB, K, SB(6) #9 – Luke Keaschall (Wichita) – 1-4, 2B, 2 K #11 – Simeon Woods Richardson (Minnesota) – 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K #13 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 0-3, RBI, 2 K #18 – Yunior Severino (St. Paul) – 1-4, 2B, 2 K FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS St. Paul vs Toledo (7:07 PM CST) – RHP Randy Dobnak (5-5, 4.55 ERA) Wichita @ Arkansas (7:05 PM CST) – RHP Marco Raya (0-1, 4.67 ERA) Cedar Rapids vs Peoria (6:35 PM CST) – RHP Jordan Carr (2-1, 4.81 ERA) Fort Myers @ St. Lucie (5:10 PM CST) – RHP Cesar Lares (2-2, 3.30 ERA) Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Thursday’s games! 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The Minnesota Twins needed a strong start from Simeon Woods Richardson today, and Rocco Baldelli got it. Then he turned the game over to his bullpen and a pair of slider-throwing relievers blew up forcing a ninth inning comeback. The lineup was ready for the moment and Jose Miranda stepped up, but extras did them no favors. Image courtesy of © Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports Box Score SP: Simeon Woods Richardson 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K (92 pitches, 60 strikes, 12 whiffs) Home Runs: Royce Lewis (9), Carlos Santana (12), Jose Miranda (8) Bottom 3 WPA: Carlos Correa (-.395), Steven Okert (-.271), Manuel Margot (-.165) Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) Carlos Motors Home The Minnesota Twins needed a good start from Simeon Woods Richardson on Thursday afternoon with Rocco Baldelli’s bullpen a bit taxed. He made it through a scoreless first inning before Josh Lowe and Randy Arozarena traded doubles to score Tampa Bay’s first run. In the bottom of the first inning though, the Twins lost their right fielder. Max Kepler attempted two bunts, getting the second one down, and he slid head first into first base seeking a hit. Leaving the game with neck spasms, Manuel Margot was on with Trevor Larnach shifting to right field. It might just be Matt Wallner time. Responding with a quick answer, Carlos Correa singled against Zack Littell to open the Twins half of the second inning, and he put the pedal down on Kyle Farmer’s double to race home and tie the ballgame. The Rays did cash in a run on Alex Jackson’s leadoff double in the third inning, but Minnesota pushed their former hurler Zack Littell to 48 pitches in just the first two innings. With rain falling at Target Field, the sides needed to stay warm and settle in. Death, Taxes, and Royce Minnesota’s lineup turned over in the third inning and it didn’t take long for them to make an impact. With Royce Lewis stepping into the box, the unrelenting home run aficionado did it again. His per plate appearance production remains unfathomable, and would have even Barry Bonds smirking. Ripping a home run to left field, the Twins designated hitter knotted the game at two. Woods Richardson walked Arozarena with one out, and he swiped second base. The Twins starter worked around the traffic though, and getting Jose Siri on strikes, he wrapped up the inning unscathed. The Twins went scoreless in the fourth inning, and Woods Richardson punched out Brandon Lowe for a zero in the fifth inning. Okert and Jackson Off Again Both teams matched zeroes through the sixth and seventh innings, but it was Steven Okert that came on in the eighth inning and couldn’t get the job done. Isaac Paredes singled before being lifted in favor of Richie Palacios . The pinch runner quickly stole second base, and the slop-throwing lefty gave up a double to Amed Rosario making it a 3-2 game. Lifted for another slop-throwing slider reliever in Jay Jackson, Rosario stole third without a throw and Tampa had another threat with two outs. Jackson did freeze Jonny DeLuca on a fastball for strike three. Willi Castro pinch hit for Trevor Larnach in the bottom of the eighth inning and led off with a single. Jose Miranda flew out on a 3-1 pitch but Lewis worked a walk. Garrett Cleavinger was lifted and Kevin Kelly was called upon to end the Twins threat. He got Margot looking Ryan Jeffers suffered the same fate (albeit on a pitch off the edge). The Twins were going to need to do it in the ninth inning if a win was to be had. Jackson stayed out for the ninth inning, and his second slider to Siri was sent into the left field seats. Having been designated for assignment previously, it continues to look like the slider specialist just doesn't have it for Minnesota. Walking Alex Jackson, the Twins Jackson watched his changeup get crushed into the bullpen from Yandy Diaz and the Rays took a 6-2 lead. Having allowed three home runs since being recalled, there's little reason for him to wear a Minnesota jersey again. With the game all but out of hand, Caleb Thielbar was on to grab the final two outs. Brandon Lowe welcomed Thielbar with a double but the lefty got Palacios to roll over a ground out. Taylor Walls struck out and the Twins had a four-run deficit to make up. Hello, Carlos Carlos Santana led off the ninth inning against Rays Chris Devenski and he welcomed him with his 12th home run of the season. A potential All-Star, Santana showed life for Minnesota. Byron Buxton then stepped in and ripped his ninth double of the season, and suddenly the Twins were in business. Farmer drew a walk to put Austin Martin up as the tying run, and Pete Fairbanks was called upon to pitch. Having dealt with a thumb contusion following a comebacker on Tuesday night, he was deemed ready to go by Kevin Cash. Martin's groundout put runners on the corners with one out and it was Castro stepping in with a chance to do damage. Fairbanks got the Twins utility man to whiff on a bunch of benders, and while Martin stole second base, Minnesota was down to their final out. Behind 0-2, Miranda held up on a check swing, and then put a pitch on a clothesline and tied the ballgame at six. Lewis couldn't walk it off, but the Twins forced extras again. Headed for Extras, Again Because the Twins and Rays love to play extra-innings it seems, they went there again on Thursday. Griffin Jax took the ball and quickly disposed of Arozarena. DeLuca got him for a single on an 0-2 pitch though, and Walls came around to score. Jax worked the Rays into an inning-ending double play and Minnesota needed to respond again. Carlos Correa stepped in for Margot, and despite his hitting streak having ended, he was looking to keep up the hot run for Minnesota. He got a hanging breaking ball and missed it. Attempting to move up 90 feet, Lewis was nailed by Siri at third base. Up to Ryan Jeffers, he ripped a single over the glove of Walls and the Fightin' Baldelli's had a chance to walk it off with a home run. Santana couldn't get Fairbanks though, and his fly out ended the ballgame. Notes After breaking one of the ribbon boards last night, the Twins had a bit of fun with Royce Lewis today. It’s almost like he channeled Caitlin Clark’s energy. Justin Morneau pulled a trump card during Rocco Baldelli’s media session today. Jay Jackson was again DFA'd immediately following the game. Kodu Funderburk is reportedly joining the Twins in Oakland. Max Kepler is hoping to avoid the injured list, and will be day-to-day over the weekend. What’s Next? Headed to Oakland this evening, the Twins will make their last trip to the dump that is the Oakland Coliseum. Having just mopped the Athletics this week at Target Field, they’ll look to go 7-0 against Mark Kotsay’s club this year. Postgame Interviews Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet View full article

Looking to win their seventh straight ballgame, the Minnesota Twins were one out away from taking a tie game into their half of the tenth inning. An errant throw changed the course of the game and ultimately did them in. Image courtesy of © Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports Box Score SP: Joe Ryan 6.0 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K (94 pitches, 66 strikes, 19 whiffs) Home Runs: Royce Lewis (8) Bottom 3 WPA: Max Kepler (-.312), Carlos Correa (-.283), Cole Sands (-.259) Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) Rays First, Twins Answer Joe Ryan has slightly mitigated his home run issues from last season, but they remain an issue for Rocco Baldelli’s starter. After a pair of scoreless innings to open the game, it was Rays Isaac Paredes who got the Twins starter for a solo shot. His 11th of the year made it a 1-0 Tampa Bay lead. Not content with trailing, the Twins worked to quickly even the score. With traffic on the bases and Trevor Larnach stepping in, Minnesota had an opportunity. Unfortunately the left grounded into a double play, but it was enough to score Austin Martin from third base and even the score at one. Both Martin and Royce Lewis made great defensive plays behind Ryan. Of Course Royce Lewis If there is anything that remains a given for the Minnesota Twins, it’s that Royce Lewis is going to come up huge. Stepping in for a fifth inning at bat, the superstar third baseman launched his eighth home run of the season. Putting the Twins up 2-1, he continues to produce at a ridiculous pace. Cole Sands took over for Ryan in the seventh inning, but he was able to get just one outs before being lifted in favor of lefty Steven Okert. Leaving traffic on the bases for the slider pitcher, Yandy Diaz singled home Jose Caballero to even the score at two. Josh Staumont worked a scoreless eighth inning, but he walked the bases loaded and needed to leave them as such to avoid damage. To Extras Again! Jorge Alcala came on for the tenth inning and made his presence felt by plunking Randy Arozarena and putting runners on first and second. A wild pitch to Richie Palacios caromed off the backstop and quickly got to Christian Vazquez. The bounce allowed Minnesota's catcher a chance to nail Jose Siri at third base, and for some reason, Arozarena didn't advance and was still planted at third base. He did steal the base with two outs, and with Lewis making a throwing error for the final out of the inning, the 90 feet gave Tampa a 3-2 lead. Stepping in with a 3-for-3 night, Lewis could immediately atone for his mistake in the bottom of the tenth inning. Manuel Margot pinch ran for Jose Miranda at second base and the Twins needed a run. Lewis grounded out to third on the first pitch though, and Max Kepler was up. The lefty struck out, and an 0-4 Carlos Correa was up needing a hit to extend his hitting streak to ten games. He flew out on the first pitch and Minnesota had to feel like they gave away a potential win. Notes Alex Kirilloff now understands he needs to be a better communicator. That’s all fine and well, but this isn’t the first time he’s hidden something from the Twins to the detriment of himself and the organization. It might be the last though. Brooks Lee continues to rake for the Saints. After his grand slam last night, he had a three-hit day with all of them being doubles. The chronic back issue will probably persist forever, but he’s definitely making a quick case to earn his first big league promotion. While it’s often David Popkins noted regarding the Twins hitting, they actually have three coaches for that area. One of them, Derek Shomon, was recently the subject of a very good story from Dan Hayes at The Athletic. After his tough outing last night, Pablo Lopez leads the American League in runs allowed (50) and home runs surrendered (16). Friend of Twins Daily, Jimmy Lonetti, posted an amazing picture on X (formerly Twitter) today featuring the house Willie Mays lived in while playing for the Minneapolis Millers. What’s Next? Wrapping up their three game series with the Tampa Bay Rays, the Minnesota Twins send Simeon Woods Richardson to the bump. He’ll be opposed by old friend Zack Littell. After the matinee, Rocco Baldelli’s squad will head west for the final trip to the Oakland Coliseum. Postgame Interviews Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet View full article

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In a game that the Minnesota Twins didn't know if they would get in, Pablo López struggled yet again, Luckily, the lineup battled through adversity and weather delays to come up with yet another one-run victory. Image courtesy of © Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports Box Score SP: Pablo López 4.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB 3 K (54 pitches, 39 strikes, 6 whiffs) Home Runs: Max Kepler (6) Top 3 WPA: Carlos Santana (.389), Willi Castro (.239), Carlos Correa (.165) Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs) Pablo Pummeled Again The Twins hoped to see Pablo López compete for a Cy Young Award for a second time, in his second year with the organization. Instead, he’s been a mess, and we're all left waiting on his advanced metrics to normalize in the results column. More of the same was afoot on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays. After allowing a pair of base runners while grabbing a pair of outs, he allowed a three-run blast to Randy Arozarena. In just the first inning, Rocco Baldelli’s squad was down 3-0. Allowing Yandy Díaz to score on a Josh Lowe single during the third inning, Lopez had the twins behind 4-0. Both Willi Castro and Carlos Correa had started threats with inning opening doubles, but the lineup couldn’t cash in during either opportunity. The Twins went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position through three innings. That's a tough level of ineptitude to achieve. Willi Castro Says Enough! López worked around a two-out walk in the fourth inning, and Minnesota came to the plate. Facing a four-run deficit, the lineup needed to reverse course. Correa answered with his second hit of the night, a single, before José Miranda and Byron Buxton got out, but then the Twins went to work. Ryan Jeffers singled and Austin Martin walked to load the bases. Castro ripped a double down the right field line to clear the bases, and advanced to third on the throw. Trevor Larnach dumped an opposite field double into right field, scoring Castro, and the game was tied. Kevin Cash lifted Civale and Minnesota had new life. Turning it over to the fifth inning, Lopez surrendered another home run, this time to Brandon Lowe, and Minnesota was down again. Rain started to fall in droves at Target Field, and home plate umpire Vic Carapazza sent the teams off less than a batter later. Jay Jackson took over and remained the same pitcher that was earlier DFA’d. Josh Lowe took him deep for his third homer of the year and put Tampa Bay ahead 6-4. 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. Minnesota Answers the Rain After getting behind prior to, and following the rain delay, Baldelli’s squad came up with an answer. Max Kepler launched his sixth homer of the season in the fifth inning to make it a 6-5 game, and Jeffers plated Correa on a sacrifice fly to tie the game. Still tied after the seventh inning, it was DMX time with Griffin Jax coming on for Minnesota. Sprinkles dripped onto the crowd, but Baldelli’s reliever got the Rays in order. Jhoan Duran worked a scoreless inning following his entrance and it was on the offense to walk it off. Manuel Margot singled to start the final frame before both Lewis and Kepler went down. Correa ripped a bouncer back to pitcher Pete Fairbanks and got on board as the Tampa reliever couldn’t corral it. With his hand hurting Fairbanks exited the game a Phil Maton replaced him on the bump. Baldelli went with potential All-Star Carlos Santana in a pinch hit spot, and his single drove home Magot to walk it off. Minnesota improved to 14-5 in one-run games this season, and Correa stayed hot with a three-hit outing. Castro grabbed two of his own and the Twins extended their winning streak to six. Notes Some interesting parallels for the Rays starter on Tuesday night. Aaron Civale was traded by the Cleveland Guardians to Tampa last year for prospect Kyle Manzardo. The first baseman was optioned by Cleveland on Tuesday after owning a 63 OPS+ in his first 30 major league games. Alex Kirilloff, who you may remember was optioned to St. Paul on June 13, was in the clubhouse pre-game as he came up with a back injury. It’s a pretty ugly look for him no matter what the situation winds up playing out like. Brooks Lee hit a grand slam for the Saints tonight. That’s more bad news for Kyle Farmer. Willie Mays died at 93 years old on Tuesday and the Twins used their rain delay to honor his memory. With Harmon Killebrew making an appearance, a home run derby of yesteryear showed up on the jumbotron. What’s Next? Former Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Joe Ryan, acquired in exchange for Nelson Cruz, will go against his former club on Wednesday. Taj Bradley opposes him with the series on the line. Postgame Interviews Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet View full article

When the Minnesota Twins drafted Royce Lewis with the first overall pick they hoped that exactly this scenario would play out. No not the injuries and missed time, but the one where he impacts historical significance in each game he plays. For the past couple of years Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli has not been able to pencil Royce Lewis’ name into his lineup on a daily basis. When he has been able to do so, the superstar third baseman has almost always made a sizable impact. Despite possessing a candor that is entirely team focused, thankful, and reflective of the privilege to play the game at this level, Lewis is so much more. He has battled adversity, and dealt with multiple starts and stops throughout his career. Recently he went through a 4-for-23 rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul that had some questioning what he would bring back to the lineup. The answer has been nothing short of per game production that would rank among the greatest to ever play the game. Through 12 games this season, Lewis already has seven home runs. He slugged a pair in both halves of a doubleheader against the Oakland Athletics on Father’s Day, and he owns an otherworldly 1.398 OPS. Accumulating 1.2 fWAR to this point, he’s been the Twins fourth-most productive hitter despite playing in at least 42 less games. To bring some perspective to just how impressive this run is, extrapolating numbers to a 162 game pace is jaw-dropping: 16.2 fWAR 94 home runs 27 doubles 148 RBI The pace at which Lewis is making solid contact is staggering. It’s obviously unsustainable, but that doesn’t meant the percentages aren’t incredibly appealing to look at: 43.8% of hits have left the yard 17.1% of at bats have been home runs 14.9% of plate appearances have resulted in round trippers For a player that took hitting grand slams to a new level last season, and elevated even further during an exciting postseason run, Lewis opened the 2024 season with a blast and picked right up where he left off when returning from injury. His 22% barrel rate is a career-high and it’s being propped up by a career-best 41.7% hard hit rate. He’s chasing (25.3%) less than ever, and has a manageable whiff rate. Essentially forcing pitchers to play into his hands, he’s punishing them every chance he gets. His K/BB rate looked a bit problematic early last season, and he has avoided strikeouts while adding walks. Dialed in doesn’t even begin to describe where the 25-year-old is at right now. A season ago the Twins got Lewis for just 58 games after a late start. He’s played the same amount of games this year as he did in 2022 when suffering a freak acl tear. The only thing that has ever been able to hold him back at the highest level is injury, and avoiding that bug will continue allowing him to rack up at bats in a career that has yet to see him finish with an average below .300. For all the twists and turns Lewis has taken to get to this point, the fun he is having right now, and results he is producing, are certainly making it all worth it. View full article

Carlos Santana, and All-Star? Certainly that would have been a wild thought to have in April if you had been following the Minnesota Twins. However, his performance since and the case amongst his peers at least deserves a review. When the first update regarding Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game was reported on Monday, the only name present for the Minnesota Twins was Carlos Correa. He rounded out the top ten among shortstops, and that’s a relatively sad reflection of fan voting given his positioning in multiple categories this season. He took home Player of the Week honors anyways. Not present was Carlos Santana, and maybe he should have been. With Vladimir Guerrero Jr. leading the way for the American League at first base, the immediate reaction should have been that the big name was at the top. Obviously fan voting is largely driven by marketing and popularity, but it isn’t as though the Blue Jays slugger is having a bad year. With a 126 OPS+, he has produced at a higher level than last season (when he made a third consecutive All-Star Game), but for a mediocre Toronto team he hasn’t exactly been a dude. Checking the Fangraphs fWAR leaderboards among qualified players at first base, Guerrero Jr. is at the top with 1.1 fWAR, but just behind him is the Twins other Carlos. Santana has accumulated 1.0 fWAR through his first 66 games, and that is with the caveat that the fan base wanted the Target Field masher designated for assignment just weeks into the season. Through his first 18 games for his third AL Central team, Santana owned a .407 OPS and looked entirely overmatched at the dish. Since then, he has played in 46 games while owning an .895 OPS and slugging .542. Brought in to play first base with Alex Kirilloff being questionable there (and now demoted to Triple-A), he has been as advertised defensively too. Leading American League first baseman with three defensive runs saved and five outs above average, he’s well on his way to a Gold Glove award. Having already hit 11 home runs, Santana is four clear of Guerrero’s tally, and they are neck and neck when it comes to doubles. Santana’s 111 OPS+ is just above league average, but if he continues even a percentage of this pace over the next month, then he should find himself overcoming the slow start to have a very similar slash line. The newish voting system forces fans to select from finalists in Phase 2 of the All-Star Game balloting process (aside from the top overall vote getter that automatically earns a starting spot), and there’s almost zero chance that Santana goes from unlisted to being within that range. Guerrero currently leads the Orioles Ryan Mountcastle and Guardians Josh Naylor. It’s possible that Santana could be an additional first baseman (as those that don’t win Phas 2 are not guaranteed a roster spot), or additional designated hitter chosen, as the league will have 18 additional position player roles to fill. Rocco Baldelli’s club could be among those that get just a sole representative however, and Correa has been the most productive player. If those involved from around the league select someone outside of the norm, and it isn’t Santana, maybe Griffin Jax or a lack-of-qualifying-numbers Royce Lewis could be the choice. No matter what, seeing Santana position himself where he is now after such a dreadful start is something the Twins have to be ecstatic about. All-Star selection or not, and it would be just the second of his career, he’s well-positioned to help the club reach the postseason for a second straight year. And hey, if Santana and Guerrero Jr. join up as teammates, maybe they'll stay as much the rest of the way as well. View full article

Coming into this year the hope was that the Minnesota Twins could have one of baseball’s best bullpens. Unfortunately they dealt with injury issues out of spring training and it has taken a while to come together. Jorge Alcala though, has been nothing short of dominant. When the Minnesota Twins traded closer Ryan Pressly to the Houston Astros for Jorge Alcala and Gilberto Celestino, it was the outfielder seen as a bit more of the prize. Alcala has bided his time, and survived a handful of arm issues, to now have this moment. Hoping this was going to be the year for him, he has surpassed basically all expectations. Throwing 1 2/3 innings during the first game of Sunday’s Father’s Day doubleheader against the Oakland Athletics, it was Alcala that Rocco Baldelli called on following 6 1/3 strong innings from starter Bailey Ober. The fireballer came on and worked around a single hit while grabbing another strikeout and pushing his ERA down to 1.99 on the year. Outside of just the injury issues, Alcala’s career has largely been held back by consistency. In recent seasons, as he has worked to get the arm healthy, finding and keeping the zone was something that Baldelli touched on again this spring. With 12 walks in 22 2/3 innings this year, it’s still not completely there, but keeping the ball in the yard and missing bats has never happened to this level for the Dominican native. As the Twins have been known to do with pitchers over the years, velocity was added to Alcala’s bag for 2024. Averaging 96 mph last season, it wasn’t as though the outcome was unexpected, but this is a guy now sitting near 98 mph and touching triple-digits. At his previous best, Alcala was a capable big league reliever during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. In those years the velocity sat where it is now, but the top end of it was not the same. Pairing the velocity with a slider producing plenty of bite, he’s back to generating chases and whiffs from opposing batters. A career-low whiff rate is aiding heavily into an ability to keep the ball in the yard, and for a guy still dealing with a decent amount of traffic, that’s definitely a good thing. For Alcala too, the emotional and mental growth seen this year have to be noted. Despite being among the Twins best pitchers out of the bullpen to start the season, he had been used in curious fashion. For a guy who has dealt with such significant arm issues, it was odd seeing him go multiple innings and racking up pitch counts. Options to St. Paul happened seemingly out of nowhere, and he was forced to work through a reality that his role was constantly in flux. Currently on a run of 11 2/3 innings, over ten appearances, while just allowing a single run, he’s putting it together. The 11/6 K/BB still leaves plenty to be desired, and that’s the part that Baldelli has constantly cautioned about. If traffic is only coming from free passes though, and Alcala is consistently able to dominate whoever steps in the batter’s box, then the opportunities for him to contribute will remain. The Twins aren’t at a place where they should consider Alcala among the group of Griffin Jax, Jhoan Duran, or a healthy Brock Stewart, but having a reliable middle-inning reliever with upside is something the pen has been short on. Even a slight decrease in the walk rate will put Alcala up another level. View full article

It was a streak that never ends for the St. Paul Saints as they swept the Louisville Bats through six games on the road. A former first round pick was released, and a recently promoted prospect just keeps hitting. Check out the week that was on the farm. Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints TRANSACTIONS: IF Keoni Cavaco released by Twins RHP Miguelangel Boadas placed on IL with a forearm strain by Cedar Rapids. IF Payton Eeles promoted to Cedar Rapids from Fort Myers COMPLEX CHRONICLES FCL Orioles 4, FCL Twins 3 Box Score Juan Cota got the start and gave up a first inning run across his 1 1/3 innings of work. The Twins hurler allowed a pair of hits, three walks, and recorded a strikeout. Tying things up in the fourth inning, Ariel Castro’s groundout scored Daniel Pena. Gregory Duran gave the Twins their first lead with a sixth inning single that scored Pena. The Orioles answered with three in the seventh inning to go up 4-2, and Yilber Herrera’s solo shot in the bottom half wasn’t enough to bring the Twins back. Herrera had a pair of hits while Mercedes drew two walks. Anthony Narvaez struck out four while allowing a single hit across 3 2/3 of relief. Ezequiel Ventura took the loss. DOMINICAN DAILIES DSL Rockies 7, DSL Twins 4 Box Score Anderson Chacon took the ball for the Twins and allowed a run on two hits while striking out one. He gave up another in the second and then a four spot in the third inning. Chacon exited allowing six runs on eight hits over three innings. The Twins scored their first run in the third inning when Irvin Nunez came home on a passed ball. Guillermo Sosa then scored on an errant throw down to second base. Down 6-2 after three innings, the Twins played their third run on a Ruben Velazquez sacrifice fly that scored Victor Leal. Irvin Nunez drove home Velazquez on a seventh inning single, but the 7-4 score held. Nunez was the only hitter to post a pair of hits. Eudy Garcia worked three innings of relief allowing only a single run. WEEK IN REVIEW Triple-A: St. Paul Saints Overall: 33-35 (6-0 last week) Seventh place in the IL West Overview: Handed a couple more big leagues returning to the farm, the Saints swept the top affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds on the road. Matt Wallner was ridiculous batting .519 (14-for-27), he had five homers and a crazy 1.700 OPS in six games. Yunior Severino and Michael Helman both batted over .400 (as did Tony Kemp). Severino launched three home runs while Helman had two. Severino took eight walks. Brooks Lee settled in to the tune of a .333 average going 8-for-24 with a double and a home run. Will Holland had a pair of doubles while batting .308, but it was the highlight-reel catch worthy of a watch that should be noted. Randy Dobnak shoved, throwing six shutout innings with ten strikeouts and just a single walk. He allowed a pair of hits. Scott Blewett, Ronny Henriquez, Ryan Jensen, and Josh Winder combined to go scoreless in their relief appearances. Blewett struck out five. What’s Next: Home at CHS Field this week, the Saints will look to dodge raindrops as they take on the Toledo Mud Hens Double-A: Wichita Wind Surge Overall: 27-36 (4-2 last week) Fifth place in the Texas League North Overview: Back to a six-game week, Wichita took a series victory over Midland at home. Luke Keaschall doesn’t care where he plays, he’s going to hit anyways. 10-for-27 this week, he had three doubles and a home run while stealing a pair of bases. Aaron Sabato had another good week, batting .316 (6-for-19). He blasted three home runs and his seven RBI led the team. Scott Engler struck out five in three perfect innings of relief across two appearances. Andrew Morris made a scoreless five inning start with four strikeouts. Jaylen Nowlin pitched eight scoreless innings giving up just a single hit and striking out four. Zebby Matthews continues to avoid walks, making a start with seven strikeouts and no walks in six innings. Cory Lewis made his Double-A debut and worked four innings allowing two runs (one earned) in four innings of work. What’s Next: Going out to Arkansas, the Wind Surge face the Texas League North’s top team. High-A: Cedar Rapids Kernels Overall: 36-26 (4-2 last week) Second place in the Midwest League West Overview: Back to their winning ways, the Kernels grabbed a series win against Lansing on the road. Nate Baez led the squad with a 1.224 OPS thanks to three home runs and a double. Agustin Ruiz tied Baez for a team-high eight RBI this week. Both Ricardo Olivar and Kevin Maitan posted an OPS north of 1.000 while batting .400. The paid both had 13 total bases with the former hitting a home run and the latter recording three doubles. Jay Harry hit .304 with a double, triple, and home run to his credit across five games. Ty Langenberg’s seven strikeouts were a team-high this week. Jacob Wosinski acted as both a starter and reliever combining to throw four shutout innings. What’s Next: Welcoming Peoria to Cedar Rapids, the Kernels have a chance to pad the win column facing the Midwest League West’s worst team. Low-A: Fort Myers Mighty Mussels Overall: 30-32 (2-3 last week) Fourth place in Florida State League West Overview: Fort Myers had the same amount of games played as they did games canceled this week. Lakeland came to town and did a lot of waiting. Rixon Wingrove hit .467 across five games going 7-for-15 with three home runs. His six RBI were a team high. Poncho Ruiz went 4-for-10 with a pair of doubles. Spencer Bengard, Charlee Soto, and Jose Olivares each had five strikeouts this week in their one appearance. Tanner Hall worked a scoreless four innings with a pair of strikeouts during his start. What’s Next: Going to St. Lucie, the Mighty Mussels face the worst team in the Florida State League East. Complex League: FCL Twins Overall: 15-14 (1-2 last week) Third place in Florida Complex League South Yasser Mercedes played in all three games for the Twins this week as rain wreaked havoc on their schedule. He had a pair of doubles. Jayson Bass hit the only home run for the club. Every single pitcher that threw at least one inning this week struck out exactly three batters. Dominican Summer League: DSL Twins Overall: 5-5 (4-2 last week) Seventh place in Dominican Summer League South Daiber De Los Santos was 6-for-18 with a pair of doubles and hit the club’s only home run. Luis Fragoza played in five games and hit .357 with a double and a team-high five RBI. Fabian Herrera and Christian Hernandez each had seven strikeouts on the bump. Yoel Roque threw four scoreless innings during his start. PROSPECT SUMMARY #1– Walker Jenkins (Fort Myers) – 2-10, 2B, 4 RBI, BB, 2 K #2 – Brooks Lee (St. Paul) – 8-24, 5 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB, 3 K #4 – David Festa (St. Paul) – 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 10 K #6 – Marco Raya (Wichita) – 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K #7 – Charlee Soto (Fort Myers) – 4.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K #8 – Austin Martin (St. Paul/Minnesota) – 6-16, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K, SB #9 – Luke Keaschall (Wichita) – 10-23, 7 R, 3 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 4 BB, 5 K, 2 SB #10 – Brandon Winokur (Fort Myers) – 2-6, 2 R, RBI, 2 K #11 – Simeon Woods Richardson (Minnesota) – 4.0 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 4 K #13 – Tanner Schobel (Wichita) – 1-8, RBI, BB, 3 K #14 – Zebby Matthews (Wichita) – 6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 7 K #15 – Cory Lewis (Wichita) – 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K #18 – Yunior Severino (St. Paul) – 10-21, 8 R, 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 8 BB, 5 K #20 – Ricardo Olivar (Cedar Rapids) – 10-24, 7 R, HR, 2 RBI, 5 BB, 5 K Hitter of the Week - Matt Wallner (St. Paul) - 14-27, 11 R, 2 2B, 5 HR, 11 RBI, 2 B, 4 K Pitcher of the Week - Randy Dobnak (St. Paul) - 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 K View full article

When the Minnesota Twins landed Carlos Correa on what was effectively a one-year deal, it wasn’t entirely a shock. Free agency had started, and they crafted a contract that set a record and put him in the driver’s seat. When they landed him on a long term deal, it was because a pair of teams got cold feet, and he has proved them wrong. Both the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants backed out on pacts that would have paid Carlos Correa more than $300 million. The years were double-digits, and the reason they said no were medical issues that stemmed from something non-existent for more than a decade. While having dealt with back issues as a big leaguer, the ankle has not been a culprit. Knowing the medicals and how well he took care of his body in year one, the Twins welcomed him back and got the deal of a lifetime as the World Series winning shortstop cut more than $100 million off of his guarantees. Signed to an eight-year deal, there is reason to believe there is reason to believe he could retire at 35 years old. Minnesota also baked in three four years of team options that would decline in salary as the age increases. Ultimately, he’s here to stay. It certainly feels like that is a reality Correa has embraced as well. Having put down roots, and recently being adamant to Audra Martin postgame about his love for the Minnesota Twins, the play on the field is now laughing at recent polling results. Correa could be seen as overrated by his peers due to a jovial personality that has elevated his platform, sometimes above his play. However, the play has only faltered while dealing with injury, and 2024 has him going at a new level. Debuting in Minnesota with a 4.6 fWAR in 2022, plantar fasciitis sapped his effectiveness to the tune of 1.9 fWAR last season while playing in only one less game. Leading the team with a 2.1 fWAR through 72 games, he is on pace to surpass that first season total, and that is while having missed time with an intercostal strain. Since coming back from the injured list on April 29, Correa has owned an .831 OPS. That tally is over .900 since May 18, and during his current eight game hitting streak it sits at an unfathomable The New York Mets were going to move Correa to third base with Francisco Lindor present at shortstop. He posted a 122 OPS+ last season, but is just slightly above league average this year with a 108 OPS+. The Mets have also spent a boatload of money to remain under .500 and be called a terrible team by former Twins pitcher Jorge Lopez. San Francisco has swung at multiple premium free agents such as Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, while whiffing on all of them. Brandon Crawford is no longer there to play shortstop, and they too are below .500. Rolling out Nick Ahmed and his 72 OPS+, even a Gold Glove probably doesn’t save his overall value. Top prospect Marco Luciano may emerge at some point, but has only put up modest offensive production at the top minor league levels. Bailing on Correa because of an issue that may have prevented him from playing shortstop years down the road was never a logical thought. Lengthy contracts are always going to come with the negativity that is an aging process, and Correa fending off Royce Lewis, Brooks Lee, or some other talent down the line isn’t a logical thought. The hope is that he doesn’t move off the spot for at least half of the deal, and so far he’s provided immense value to a clubhouse he was immediately considered a leader in. Having already outproduced last year’s valuation in terms of fWAR generated dollars, Correa is on track to earn the Twins something north of $35 million with his play. Signing up for a few more years of that in his prime is something that any team should have gotten on board with, and definitely one that is giving someone like Lewis a front row seat for. It’s great that Carlos Correa likes Minnesota, but for the organization, it’s even better that the Twins liked him enough to say yes. View full article