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Things are really starting to change around here, but one thing stays consistent: playoff futility. Image courtesy of Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports This is Part 2 of a series looking at how much the Twins organization has turned over since the beginning of the club's infamous 0-18 streak. For the best reading experience, start with Part 1, which reviews the 2004 and 2006 playoff teams and outlines the concepts and aim of this series. 2009: Sailing Back East The Twins missed the playoffs in 2007 and 2008, though in 2008, that miss resulted from a lost Game 163 tiebreaker against the White Sox. Luckily, they used that Game 163 experience and came out on top of another Game 163 tiebreaker in 2009 to clinch the Central crown. At this point, parts of the team separate from the players started getting replaced. After Terry Ryan's retirement, Bill Smith became the club's general manager. If you're counting that position as a part of the Twins' ship, we have our first turnover of a lead executive. Also, Carl Pohlad passed away early in 2009, and his son, Jim, took control. Although there were only two seasons between 2006 and 2009, almost every piece from the previous series wasn't a factor in the 2009 series. Only Mauer, Cuddyer, Punto, Nathan, and Guerrier had played in 2006. Longtime franchise staples Hunter, Santana, and Radke, who each had captured the hearts of Twins fans in the early parts of the decade were no longer with the team. Hunter left in free agency, Santana was the subject of a long, messy trade season after 2007, and Radke retired after 2006. Kubel played in his first series since 2004, and Francisco Liriano had his playoff debut in 2009 despite being an integral part of the 2006 team in the regular season. Morneau, like would happen in 2010, missed the postseason due to injury. Cuddyer started at first base in his place, his third playoff position in three years (second base, right field, first base). The lineup featured new, young pieces like Denard Span, Delmon Young, Carlos Gomez, and backup catcher Jose Morales (not to be confused with LOOGY Jose Mijares, who was also on this squad. This group was supplemented by veterans like Orlando Cabrera—whose deadline acquisition was something of a catalyst for the team— and utility man Brenden Harris. Almost everyone in this offense was developed entirely by the Twins or was traded for early in their careers. Oh, designated hitter Matt Tolbert was there, too. Can't forget Tolbert. The likes of Carl Pavano, Nick Blackburn, and Brian Deuensing replaced Santana, Radke, and Bonser. Nathan was supplemented in the pen by Liriano, Mijares, and Guerrier and a combination of Game 163 11th inning LOOGY hero Ron Mahay and 6'11" tattooed behemoth Jon Rauch. Although less than a quarter of the players who were trounced by the A's in 2006 returned for this series, the Yankees (and Phil Cuzzi) swept the Twins in short order. Only Cuddyer, Kubel, and Nathan faced the Yankees in the 2004 ALDS and again in 2009. Jorge Posada, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Hideki Matsui, Andy Pettitte, and Mariano Rivera played in both for the Yankees, in case you were wondering. The count is at nine. Returning pieces from 2006: Michael Cuddyer, Matt Guerrier, Joe Mauer, Joe Nathan, Nick Punto New pieces in 2006: Nick Blackburn, Orlando Cabrera, Brian Deuensing, Carlos Gomez, Brendan Harris, Jason Kubel, Francisco Liriano, Ron Mahay, Jose Mijares, Jose Morales, Carl Pavano, Jon Rauch, Matt Tolbert, Delmon Young Italics indicate the player never appeared in the playoffs for Minnesota after this year 2010: Redux Guess who's back? That's right, it's a sea battle between the Twins and Yankees in the ALDS. The Twins had a crew reasonably similar to the 2009 squad. Nathan's 2009 injury left Cuddyer as the only player who had played in all four playoffs, though Kubel had also played in 2004 but did not play in 2006, and Jesse Crain played in both 2004 and 2006 but didn't pitch in the 2009 postseason. The Yankees returned Jeter, Rodriquez, Posada, Pettitte, and Rivera from the 2004 series. The Twins swapped one Orlando out for another, parting with Cabrera but signing veteran second baseman Orlando Hudson in the offseason. Four times in four years the Twins now had new second baseman (Cuddyer, Luis Castillo, Punto, and Hudson) and shortstop (Guzman, Bartlett, Cabrera, J.J. Hardy). Hardy came back in a trade that sent away the prize jewel of the Santana trade, Gomez. Other notable changes included one of the greatest year-to-year step-ups you'll find, replacing Brenden Harris with future Hall of Fame slugger Jim Thome at DH. Although Thome's career was winding down, he could still wallop the ball, and his presence was more than welcome. Danny Valencia, then a promising third baseman of the future, had a terrific series for the squad, and Jason Repko, a great name to pull when you're Remembering Some Guys™, also played a role. Scott Baker made his playoff debut as a reliever, and Liriano replaced Nick Blackburn in the playoff rotation instead of relieving as he did in 2009. Matt Capps, Proven Closer™, was a trade deadline acquisition to replace an injured Joe Nathan. Besides Jesse Crain returning to the picture, the only other bullpen difference was Brian Fuentes in place of Mahay, which fits, given their relative obscurity among Twins fans. As could be expected, there was no massive overhaul between playoff teams in back-to-back years. The substantive differences were the loss of Nathan, the Orlando swap, Gomez for Hardy, and the presence of Jim Thome. Otherwise, the turnover was insignificant. The count is 12. Hopefully, the Twins can get a third straight crack at the Damn Yankees in 2011. Returning pieces from 2009: Michael Cuddyer, Brain Deuensing, Matt Guerrier, Jason Kubel, Francisco Liriano, Joe Mauer, Jose Mijares, Carl Pavano, Jon Rauch, Denard Span, Matt Tolbert, Delmon Young New pieces in 2010: Scott Baker, Matt Capps, Jesse Crain, Brian Fuentes, J.J. Hardy, Orlando Hudson, Jason Repko, Jim Thome, Danny Valencia Italics indicate the player never appeared in the playoffs for Minnesota after this year 2017: The Ship Sails Again So. A lot happened. As would be expected when a team misses the playoffs for six consecutive seasons, there aren't many similarities. This is to be expected. Six years is enough for an entire successful career in Major League Baseball. Since 2010, Terry Ryan had been given control of the team following Bill Smith's 2011 firing. Ryan was also relieved of his duties in the middle of 2016, replaced by interim general manager Rob Antony before the hire of Thad Levine as the Twin's GM and Derek Falvey as President of Baseball Operations. I'm not great at math, but that's four men who were called GM between trips to the postseason. Longtime manager Ron Gardenhire had also been fired. Hometown hero Paul Molitor took over as the team's skipper. Only Mauer remained from the 2010 team. Crain left the team after the 2010 season, and then Cuddyer and Kubel followed suit after the 2011 season, marking the departures of the remaining Twins who played in the 2004 ALDS when the streak started. If you've been waiting for a golden opportunity to state that the team has officially turned over, here's your chance. New ownership took the helm prior to 2009. Executive and field managers were replaced. No players remained from the 2004 series. And only one player even remained from the 2010 team. Mauer himself wasn't the same. The former MVP catcher was in the waning hours of his career and playing first base. Sure, you could argue that he was part of the streak because he was on the team but injured in 2004, but he played no part in that series. And he's the only connecting unit to that team unless you wanted to include someone like President Dave St. Peter, who plays no part in the on-field matters. It's like replacing every piece of a ship except one board that's getting close to disrepair and another with no functional purpose. And even the board in disrepair didn't come with the ship when you bought it from the ship store. To add to that, an entire core came and went in the intervening years. It could be debated whether an organization can have a core when they are one of the worst teams in the league, but the team was no longer built around the M&M Boys in that stretch. Although the team didn't win, they did have promising pieces that they hoped to form into a competitive team. Even after the exits of assumed building blocks like Span or Young, the entire Twins careers of fan favorites and exciting young players (and All-Stars) like Valencia, Trevor Plouffe, Ben Revere, Brian Dozier, Aaron Hicks, Oswaldo Arcia, Eduardo Escobar, Danny Santana, Eduardo Núñez, and Kennys Vargas existed entirely or at least mainly within this window of time. Did I cast a wide net with those names? Yes. Are they all good examples? No. But it was an era of Twins baseball. The team tried to build around that rag-tag group. I think that counts as a separate core. Many well-respected evaluators had big dreams for many of those players. We can skip the specifics of this playoff team that only played one game. Remarkably, they were the first team to go from losing 100 games in one season to making the playoffs in the next—in no small part due to the addition of a second Wild Card team. Many of the above names had played in that one-game Wild Card. Many who played in that Wild Card would go on to play in more playoffs for the Twins. You can see the names below. The count is 13. Returning pieces from 2010: Joe Mauer New pieces in 2017: Ehire Adrianza, Matt Belisle, Jose Berrios, Alan Busenitz, Byron Buxton, Jason Castro, Brian Dozier, Eduardo Escobar, Chris Gimenez, Zack Granite, Robbie Grossman, Trevor Hildenberger, Max Kepler, Jorge Polanco, Taylor Rogers, Eddie Rosario, Ervin Santana Italics indicate the player never appeared in the playoffs for Minnesota after this year View full article

Although he hasn’t pitched in Major League Baseball since 2018 when he was 45 years old, Bartolo Colon is officially ready to call it a career. He will be retiring as a Met, but there’s no way we can forget the legend of Big Sexy. Image courtesy of Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports Pitching with the Atlanta Braves to start the 2017 season, Bartolo Colon found himself on a team going nowhere the rest of the way. 15 games out of the division, Colon had a bloated 8.14 ERA and was released on DFA’d on June 29. His FIP at 5.09 was enticing enough for a contending Twins team to take a flier, and they signed him as a free agent on July 7. Colon made his debut 11 days later, throwing against the New York Yankees in his first Twins start. He turned in three outings that month for Minnesota putting up a 5.87 ERA, and then it happened. On August 4, 2017, Minnesota welcomed the Texas Rangers to Target Field. Minnesota had stumbled, coming in at 51-55 with losses starting to mount. Then it happened. The man known as “Big Sexy” took the mound and pitched a game that rallied a clubhouse. It was a Friday night and the Rangers sent future Twins starter Martin Perez to the mound. Texas was under .500 as well, and some fun names were in that lineup. Future Hall of Famer, Adrian Beltre, batted cleanup. Joey Gallo was the left fielder, and former Twins fan favorite Carlos Gomez was in center. Things started off less than ideal for Minnesota as Colon gave up a single to Beltre in the first inning that scored Shin-Soo Choo and Elvis Andrus. Minnesota responded with a four spot in their half of the inning. Brian Dozier hit a solo shot to lead off for the Twins, one of his 34 that year. Robbie Grossman also went yard, and his three-run shot plated Miguel Sano and Joe Mauer. Colon then cruised through the second inning, and Dozier homered for the second straight at bat. Minnesota had a commanding 5-2 lead, and they had given “Big Sexy” some breathing room to work with. Nomar Mazara did beat him for a single in the third inning, scoring Brett Nicholas, but a 5-3 lead was still intact. As he had done most of his career, Colon worked through traffic on the bases. He gave up some contact during the fourth and fifth innings, but nothing came across. Again in their half of the fifth, Minnesota added. Eddie Rosario singled home Mauer and Grossman for some insurance and the Twins lead grew to 7-3. At that point, Colon had to be feeling great with a blanket the size of a grand slam. Getting the Rangers side in order during the sixth inning, he punctuated the up-down with a strikeout of Gallo. Future Hall of Famer, Mauer, punched a sacrifice fly to left field, bringing home Dozier in the sixth inning. Colon faced the minimum during the seventh inning, starting with Gomez looking at strike three. He then faced only four in the eighth inning, and toying with 100 pitches, Paul Molitor allowed him a shot at the complete game. Getting two quick outs, Mike Napoli and Gallo, Colon was just the 27th out away from his first complete game since 2015. Finishing with 38 complete games in his career, and a league leading nine during 2003, this wasn’t uncharted territory for the longtime veteran. At 44 years old though, this was a testament to a Big Sexy amount of energy. Gomez, he of the game 163 theatrics, homered, but Nicholas ended it during the next at bat. Colon had done it, he had thrown nine innings on just 106 pitches. Scattering nine hits allowed him to keep the damage at four runs. He walked only one, and struck out five. At 44, he was the older player in franchise history to throw a complete game. A team needing a turnaround had just been given the emotional lift they could use the rest of the way. Facing Cole Hamels the next game made it an understandable loss, but Minnesota then ripped off six straight, and won seven of eight. Getting to 70-63 by the end of the month, they wound up at 85-77 to finish second in the AL Central. Unfortunately the season didn’t end with a ring, but Colon had brought a whole new energy to Target Field. Still now you can find the random Colon shirt or jersey walking around Target Field. The Twins did their Big Sexy shirt give away, and he was embraced as the cult hero he always has been. He’ll now enter into retirement with a different cap, but Minnesota will always have those four Big Sexy months in 2017. View full article

Middle and late-round draft picks are the lifeblood of an organization. One Twins draft pick from 2019 might be following in the footsteps of a former Twins great. Image courtesy of Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports The Twins selected Brian Dozier in the eighth round of the 2009 MLB Draft from the University of Southern Mississippi. He played shortstop in college, and the Twins continued to use him at up-the-middle defensive positions throughout his tenure in the organization. Dozier hit for a high average in the minors but failed to hit double-digit home runs in any season. His powerful swing only appeared after he made his big-league debut. Dozier became the poster child for a late bloomer. In seven seasons in Minnesota, he hit .248/.325/.447 (.772) with a 109 OPS+. He made an All-Star team, won a Gold Glove, and averaged 35 home runs from 2015-17. He was a leader on and off the field for the Twins, even though the club struggled through much of his tenure. Like Dozier, another mid-round pick is discovering his powerful swing as he gets closer to the big-league level. The Twins drafted Anthony Prato in the seventh round of the 2019 MLB Draft from the University of Connecticut. In three collegiate seasons, he hit .315/.401/.407 (.808) with 49 extra-base hits in 178 games. He played shortstop throughout college and saw time at second base and outfield during his summer league play. From the Twins' perspective, Prato looked like an experienced player who could play an up-the-middle defensive position with high on-base skills. His power wasn't evident in college, but players that make enough solid contact can add power later in their careers. After signing, Prato made his professional debut in Elizabethton and Cedar Rapids, hitting .268/.373/.357 (.730) with ten extra-base hits in 47 games. Coming out of the pandemic, he played at three different levels, with over half his playing time coming in Fort Myers. In 47 games, he hit .260/.403/.301 (.705) with six doubles. Prato dealt with some injuries that season but continued to show his high on-base skills from his college career. Last season, Prato played in over 50 games for the first time in his professional career, which helped him to set career highs in multiple offensive categories. In 132 games, he hit .285/.383/.444 (.827) with 48 extra-base hits between High- and Double-A. It seemed like Prato was poised to break out in 2023. The Twins sent Prato to Wichita to start the 2023 season, and he struggled to get out of the gate. In 43 games, he hit .171/.305/.248 (.553) with five extra-base hits and a 35-to-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Despite his poor performance, the Saints had an infield need, so Prato was promoted to Triple-A. Over the last 28 games, something has clicked for Prato, and he has been one of St. Paul's best hitters. Since being promoted, he has gone 29-for-91 (.319 BA) with ten doubles, six home runs, and a 1.070 OPS. Even Dozier didn't have a breakout performance like Prato at Triple-A. Defensively, Prato is spending the majority of his innings at second base. However, he has played over 75 innings at third base, shortstop, and left field in 2023. Defensive flexibility is a trait many big league clubs value, especially for players with Prato's skillset. Dozier followed a similar defensive path by playing shortstop early in his professional career and started playing other defensive positions when he got closer to Target Field. Dozier debuted with the Twins when he was 25 years old, so it took him time to develop. Prato turned 25 in May and has reached another offensive level with the Saints. There are other second basemen ahead of him on the organizational depth chart, but ignoring his offensive output for the Saints might get tricky. The Twins would love for Prato to develop into the next Dozier, but it seems more likely for him to be a utility player in the near future. Do you think Prato can have a similar career to Dozier? What is his ceiling? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Minnesota Twins have not been considered one of the most premier teams in baseball on a yearly basis for some time. However, the 2019 Bomba Squad holds the Major League Baseball record for most home runs by a team in a single season. With the Home Run Derby upon us, it’s worth looking back at some franchise performances. Image courtesy of Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports Despite the Minnesota Twins posting a Major League Baseball record 307 home runs, they did not have a single participant in the Home Run Derby that year. Nelson Cruz, Max Kepler, Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario, and Mitch Garver all blasted more than 30 homers individually, but none of them competed in the longball event held at the Guardians Progressive Field. Over the years, Minnesota has had their fair share of Home Run Derby participants. With the next iteration of the event on tap, here are the top five performances in franchise history. 5. Brian Dozier 2014 Once a failed shortstop for Minnesota, Dozier turned himself into among the best offensive second basemen in all of baseball. He found a way to yank pitches out to left field, and his home run numbers went through the roof. Despite missing the All-Star Game in 2014, Dozier was invited to participate in the Home Run Derby. He was a hometown contestant with the event held at Target Field, and despite just hitting two dingers, his appearance fueled excitement. Yoenis Cespedes ultimately won the event, but Dozier would go on to blast 42 home runs just two seasons later. 4. Miguel Sano 2017 As a first-time all-star, Sano took his talents to South Beach and appeared in the Home Run Derby following a 25 dinger season the year prior. Hometown favorite Giancarlo Stanton was expected to win, but Sano drew a favorable bracket matchup with the Kansas City Royals Mike Moustakas opposing him. After knocking off the Royals third basemen, he also bested future teammate Gary Sanchez to find himself in the finals against Yankees star Aaron Judge. Sano came up one longball short, but his showing was beyond impressive and highlighted a story of player that had been clamored for since being a teenager. 3. Joe Mauer 2009 Through his first 561 career games Mauer had just 44 homers to his credit. Having won two batting titles already, the Minnesota-native began flipping baseballs into the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome seats. He finished 2009 with an MVP award and 28 homers. Invited to the derby that year in St. Louis, Mauer’s five first-round dingers forced a swing off with Albert Pujols and Carlos Pena. He wound up netting no more and went home quietly, but his season ended with some better hardware. 2. Tom Brunansky 1985 Competing in the first-ever iteration of the Home Run Derby, Brunansky represented the Twins with the event held at the Metrodome. He was a first-time all-star and his 32 dingers the season before was a career high. Parameters were obviously be shifted as the event drew popularity, but in its introduction, Dave Parker won, sending just six longballs into the seats. Brunansky finished second with four to his credit. He tied with all-time greats such as Carlton Fisk, Dale Murphy, Eddie Murray, and Jim Rice. 1. Justin Morneau 2008 Forever known as the Josh Hamilton derby, Morneau wound up winning in New York. Widely regarded as one of the best contests of all time, Morneau made it through the first round with eight homers to his credit. After Hamilton’s 28 blast barrage, he couldn’t keep things going in the final round. Morneau launched five homers in the final round to take the crown. The field was an interesting one with only Morneau, Hamilton, and Lance Berkman as true sluggers. More pure power hitters like Ryan Braun, Dan Uggla, and Chase Utley also filled out the competition. Which is your favorite Twins Home Run Derby performance of all time? View full article

Since 1961 the Twins have had some huge Home Runs hit against them (looking at you Didi Gregorious and Tom Lawless), but they've also hit their fair share of big ones. Most have come in the World Series, but two in particular in my mind, have been huge regular-season home runs. Below, I outline all of them and the reasons why I ranked them where I did. If you have any comments, please let me know below! • 6. Brian Dozier--July 10, 2015 vs Tigers The Twins came into this game 42-40 and were set up for a mid-July battle with the division rival Tigers. The Twins trailed six to one going into the bottom of the ninth, then the Twins bats came alive off Tigers closer Joakim Soria. After a two-run single by Danny Santana brought the Twins back to within a run at six to five, Brian Dozier stepped up and cranked the first pitch, with two runners on, into the LF bleachers for the win. The win, erased a 6-0 Tigers lead in the 8th inning, to this writer, is the most dramatic walkoff HR ( second biggest regular season HR in Twins history), in Target Field history. Listen to Dick Bremers call on this if you haven't, I can listen to it over and over. https://youtu.be/5denizzi9yg • 5. Jacque Jones--April,1, 2002 vs Royals After an entire off-season of contraction rumors from MLB, Bud Selig, and many news media outlets, Jacque Jones took the 2nd pitch of the season from Jeff Suppan and deposited it over the fence. Statement made. The Twins were here to stay, and it was a perfect way to kickoff what would be a special, but heartbreaking, season for the Twins and their fans. This HR, by extension the season, showed everyone nationally that the Twins deserved to be in MN, in MLB and weren't going to roll over and move to NC. Still one of my favorite HRs. It makes this list due to the statement it made after an off season of controversy and an unknown future. https://www.mlb.com/video/jones-goes-deep-twice-in-opener?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share • 4. A.J. Pierzynski--October 6, 2002 vs A's The Twins were tied with the A's at two games each with a deciding game five, to determine who faced the Angels in the ALCS. With flamethrower Billy Koch on the mound, AJ Pierzynski stepped up and took the first pitch he saw over the RF fence to give the Twins a 4-1 lead. (Ortiz later homered to extend it to five to one). This wasn't the game-winner, but it was the most important as it extended the lead and gave the Twins the ability to win the game in the ninth, even if they gave up runs (which they did). It's the HR that's become synonymous with that series, and in my view, is the 4th most important one in Twins history, given the situation, and who it came off of. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5denizzi9yg • 3. Dan Gladden--October 17th, 1987 vs Cards One of the most iconic HRs in Twins history is also one of the most important. The Twins, in their second WS in franchise history, had the Dome field advance. The crowd of 55,171 were waiving Homer hankies and waiting for something to cheer about, in the fifth inning, (newest) Twins HOFer Dan Gladden gave them just that. He deposited the second pitch from right-hander Bob Forsch over the LF fence into the bleachers. This lands at number three on the list because it took place in a WS game, it was Game one and for all intents and purposes, sealed the win for the Twins. It's one of the biggest and most iconic HRs in Twins history, but it's not even the most important one from this series by a Twin, what are the two above it? https://youtu.be/G3vPnlkBrog • 2. Don Baylor,Kent Hrbek--October 24th, 1987. This is kind of a cheat to add two guys to this spot, but honestly, they both deserve it, given the circumstances. With the Twins down five to two going into the bottom of the fifth, they scored a run on a Gaetti rbi, and then Don Baylor came up with the Twins down 5-3, and promptly hit a two-run home run off lefty John Tudor to tie the game at five. The Twins scored again that inning and made it six to five. In the sixth, Hrbek hit a GS to centerfield to give the Twins a 10-5 lead at the time. The Twins don't win this game, and therefore the series, without either of these two gigantic home runs, in the most clutch spots, with their season on the line. These land at two on the list because when I asked TK once at Twinsfest where ranked these he replied "behind Kirby, in front of everyone else". That was good enough for me! https://youtu.be/r6tPmCoVVNI https://youtu.be/bGqlEL54hr8 • Kirby Puckett--October 26,1991 vs Braves What else was it going to be? In the 11th inning, after telling Chili Davis he was thinking about bunting, to which Davis replied "bunt my a**", Kirby took a Charlie Leibrandt changeup on the outer half of the plate, into the LF bleachers, sending all 55,155 Twins fans into exuberant cheers, and giving the Twins new life in the series, after getting absolutely destroyed in ATL and coming back to MN down three games to two. It wasn't just that it was an extra-inning game. It was just that it was the World Series. It wasn't just that the Twins won the WS the next day, this comes in at number one because...it was Kirby. The best player, a fan favorite and a player that I, and many many other fans in the Twins Cities and all around Twins Territory idolized, just hit the biggest HR in team history. In the eyes of this (at the time 7-year-old)fan, it made Kirby something even more than a player, and almost larger than life. There wasn't anything he couldn't do on the field, this proved it. This was also the moment that I became a Twins fan and is the one lasting memories from my childhood that I will never forget. That day, Kirby went from a man to something more. A hero in all Twins fans eyes, it is also the day my love affair and undying fandom (and a lifetime of heartbreak, apparently) began. https://youtu.be/Dig7fkSg6EY

On Friday afternoon, Twins executive Mike Radcliff passed away after a long fight with pancreatic cancer. Over the past couple of days, many have been willing to discuss the impact that Radcliff had on them. Here are stories and well wishes from some Twins players. It is always unfortunate that we wait until someone passes away to honor them, and for people to speak glowingly of them and to share stories about that person. Over the past several years, Mike Radcliff has been given and earned many awards for his career in scouting, Scouting Hall of Fames, etc. In 2021, Radcliff was presented the Herb Carneal Lifetime Achievement Award at the Diamond Awards. All of it is very well deserved. He was well respected in the organization and all around the world of baseball. Mike Radcliff started as an area scout, because a regional supervisor, became the team's scouting director, and VP of Player Personnel. He has watched a lot of baseball players and developed relationships with most of them. And that’s why it is so nice to hear and read all the stories about how Mike Radcliff impacted various players, scouts, front office types and more over nearly four decades. Here are a few stories from some Twins players of the past: Denard Span was the Twins first round pick in 2002 out of high school in Tampa. He was scouted, drafted and signed by Mike Radcliff. Recently, Span shared, “I was very sad to hear of the news of Mike Radcliff. What I remember about Mike, especially in my younger days, was that he was a man of few words and observed, at least when I was around him. Our relationship grew more as I matured as a man and ball player. We had very good convos the last few years when I came back to Target Field for jersey retirements and Hall of Fame inductions. He was definitely a straight shooter, cut from the same cloth as Terry (Ryan).” Jeff Manship was the Twins 14th round pick in 2006 out of Notre Dame. He spent parts of four seasons with the Twins and four more seasons with three other organizations. He said simply of Radcliff, “I remember that he was a great man.” Manship is out of baseball and working for Boston Scientific Endoscopy in medical device sales and says he sees the effects of pancreatic cancer often. “Being in this job has raised my awareness so much about that disease.” Brian Dinkelman has known and worked with Mike Radcliff going back almost two decades when Radcliff used the Twins’ 8th round pick in 2006 on the infielder from McKendree University in Illinois. He worked his way up the ladder and earned a big-league promotion in 2011. He hit .301 over 23 games. Reached on Saturday, Dinkelman said, “Just awful news on Cliffy. He was a staple in this organization and was loved and respected by all. I remember him being at a pre-draft workout before I was drafted and always being so nice to everyone. He would always come visit our teams during the season to evaluate the players.” After a couple of years away from baseball, he returned to the Twins as a hitting coach in the GCL. He quickly moved up to Cedar Rapids in that role and is about to start his fifth season as the Kernels manager. So he and Radcliff have likely communicated in very different ways over his years. Dinkelman added, “Now since I have moved to the coaching side, I have got to know him even better. From visiting us during the season and being in meetings for the org. He was a very intelligent baseball man and we are going to miss him dearly.” Brian Dozier went from ninth round draft pick in 2009 out of Southern Mississippi as a “senior sign” to an All Star and 40-homer hitting second baseman. He retired before the 2021 season and tells me that things are “great in the Dozier household” and that he’s loving life even with three kids under the age of three! He told me about a strong relationship he had with Radcliff. “He was a phenomenal scout and even a better man. He was a part of bringing me to the Twins, and we became closer each and every year. He was so passionate about his job and wanted every player to succeed within the organization, whether he was the one who scouted him or not. He loved the game and loved the Twins. I don’t have any specific stories that come to mind about Mike, but he was a friend that impacted many. Fellow 2009 draft pick and current Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Gibson summarized his thoughts on Mike Radcliff by saying “He was an awesome person and a great baseball mind!” Josh Rabe attended Division II Quincy University in Illinois. The Twins made him their 11th round pick in 2000. He played parts of 2006 and 2007 with the Twins. After retiring from playing baseball, he became the head coach at his alma mater, Quincy University, and led them to the Division II College World Series a couple of times. Two years ago, he took over as the school’s Athletics Director. Of Radcliff, Rabe noted, “He obviously had a huge impact with building the Twins into perennial contenders.” He recalls a pre-draft workout with Radcliff and other scouts. “In 2000, right before the draft, the Twins invited me to the Metrodome for a workout. I had gone to a few of them leading up to this, and it was a select few guys working out at the MLB park of the team that invited you. Obviously a tremendous experience for any aspiring professional baseball player, but in my case, being from Mendon, Illinois, and attending Quincy University, it was special. My parents could not take me to this workout, so my college coach Pat Atwell took me. We arrived in Minneapolis the night before the workout, spent the night and drove to the Dome in the morning for this workout. To my surprise, I was the only player there. Billy Milos, the area scout who got me up there, told me Mike was going to see me in the NCAA tournament, but did not get the chance to see me because we did not get an at-large bid, so he wanted to watch me workout. It was the Twins pre-draft meetings, and every scout they employed was at the workout. All scouts and Mike introduced themselves, all but a guy in a Sports-Cream shirt and Twins shorts. This guy ran the workout with Mike by his side. I ran a couple of 60's, played catch with the guy in the T-Shirt and shorts and went to right field to throw to third base. Mike walked me out to right field and was on the line as the guy in the T-shirt hit grounders to me. One of the scouts had to go into my bag to grab a glove to catch the balls at third base. So, before I go to throw, the guy in the T-shirt yells, take it easy on the first couple. So after three throws, he yells one-hop it to third base! Being a kid from a D2 school, from the farm, I come up and just air mail one to third. I just let it fly. The man in the T-shirt hollers, ‘One-hop it please!!!’ I looked over to Mike, and I said, ‘Don't you guys want to see me air it out?’ Mike looks at me and says, "Son, when the general manager of the Minnesota Twins asks you to one-hop it to third base, I would do it!!" Terry Ryan did not introduce himself, as he was the guy in the T-shirt and shorts, hitting fungoes and throwing batting practice!!! I replied to Mike, ‘I swear I did not know who he was, he did not introduce himself!!!’ He and the other scouts that were around the right field line literally were laughing so hard I thought they were going to fall over..... 100 percent true story, I am sure Mike is still laughing about that one.” Jamie Ogden was the Twins third-round draft pick in 1990 out of White Bear Lake High School. He spent nine seasons playing in the Twins organization including the final three seasons at Triple-A. He has remained involved with the Twins organization at events like Twins Fest, youth clinics and more. Of Mike Radcliff, he said, “Had many conversations with Mike. Just came across as a guy in a pivotal role who didn’t act like it. Very humble and kind and made you feel good with stories he’d tell of you being scouted. Great heart.” Jacque Jones said, “Mike was a straight shooter, and you knew where you stood with him.” Taylor Rogers noted, “ All I know is he was highly respected.” LaTroy Hawkins was the Twins seventh round draft pick in 1991 by Terry Ryan. However, Mike Radcliff was able to scout Hawkins several times. He shared with me the following story. “It was probably 2000, and I was with the Twins. I was coming to the ballpark, and they were up in the front office getting ready for the draft. Larry Corrigan stopped me and asked me to come in. They had all the scouts in there, and Radcliff was up there talking. And in Larry Corrigan fashion, he said, ‘Hey Radi, LaTroy Hawkins.” On a dime, Radi says, “Magical Arm.” That’s the first thing Radcliff said when he saw me pitch in high school in Gary, Indiana. He said, “Magical Arm.” And every time I saw him after that, he would call me Magical Arm guy.” In the past six or seven years, Hawkins has been a very active Special Assistant to the Baseball Operations group. He has participated in many aspects of the game and in that area, including on the road with scouts at times. “His memory. His ability to break a player down, to evaluate. He was just the best at it. He cared. He loved the Minnesota Twins organization. He loved baseball. He had an unwavering passion for it that you don’t see all the time. A special individual.” As his voice softened, Hawkins repeated, “A special individual.” View full article

The Minnesota Twins outrighted lefty Devin Smeltzer off the 40-man roster this week, and rather than take another trip across town to St. Paul, he opted for an opportunity to utilize his skills at the big league level for an organization willing to keep him. In doing so, the Twins chapter with Brian Dozier is closed. Image courtesy of Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports Brian Dozier hasn’t played professional baseball since the 2020-pandemic-stricken-season. He last played for the Minnesota Twins during 2018. There was talk of him being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier for Jose De Leon, and even while Minnesota asked for the like of Cody Bellinger or Walker Buehler, those discussions never moved far. Ultimately, Minnesota netted a return of Logan Forsythe, Luke Raley, and Devin Smeltzer following an agreement set by Derek Falvey and Thad Levine. Fast forward to where we are now, and things have come full circle for both organizations. Dozier wound up playing in just 47 games for the Dodgers. Down the stretch in 2018, he posted a .650 OPS and was never able to regain his 134 OPS+ form from the 42-homer season in 2016. Raley was ultimately sent back to the Dodgers when Minnesota acquired Kenta Maeda by including Brusdar Graterol. Forsythe was never meant to be more than a stopgap, and Smeltzer was the only player remaining. Set to become a free agent following the World Series this season, Smeltzer got a jumpstart on his alternatives by denying his outright to St. Paul. Coming off a career-high 70 1/3 innings for Minnesota, Smeltzer posted a career-best 3.71 ERA. He made 15 appearances, including 12 stars, and while the 5.23 FIP suggests some smoke and mirrors, his results ultimately didn’t reflect the path set out for him. Over the course of his Twins career, there has been a handful of realities. As a southpaw, Smeltzer is not a high-velocity arm, and he doesn’t pile up strikeouts, but he’s a guy that’s shown an ability to create a slow bleed and benefit as his outings go on. Homers have certainly been a bugaboo for him at times, but the former Los Angeles prospect has also done a great job in limiting free passes. The H/9 totals have jumped in recent seasons, and the strikeout numbers have tumbled, but he’s worked around traffic to generate solid outings. Ultimately, it looked as though Smeltzer could be an ideal long reliever for a big-league club. It’s odd that Minnesota didn’t opt for that path more frequently this season with a bullpen so obviously needing someone in that role. Having been shuttled back and forth with no real opportunity to settle in at either place, Smeltzer likely finds the lack of direction for his future with the Twins, and therefore will look to greener pastures. You’d be hard-pressed to argue against Smeltzer being a big-league arm, and at just 27 years old, he has the runway to become an arm that got away. No matter where he winds up, his focus will likely be in contributing at the Major League level regardless of his outlined role. The Twins will turn to the rest of their internal depth when looking to eat innings, and we’ll see what’s next for the final piece of the Dozier trade. View full article

Monday night is one of the most exciting parts of the All-Star Game as sluggers from both leagues look to be crowned Home Run Derby champion. Here are the best Minnesota moments from the Derby. The Twins had an opportunity to add to this list during the 2022 Home Run Derby, but Byron Buxton turned down an invitation to participate. Buxton wasn't the only player to turn down an invite, as some All-Stars need to get as much rest as possible even when attending the week's festivities. Still, there are plenty of other Home Run Derby moments that some fans may or may not remember. 5. Joe Mauer Holds His Own Fans don't typically associate Joe Mauer with home runs, but his sweet swing can produce power. During his MVP season, Mauer was selected to participate in the Home Run Derby in St. Louis. He missed the second-round cut after losing a swing-off to Carlos Pena and Albert Pujols. Former Twin Nelson Cruz finished second in the Derby to Milwaukee's Prince Fielder. 4. Metrodome Hosts First Official Home Run Derby At the 1985 All-Star Game, Minnesota hosted the Mid-Summer Classic for the second time. Part of these hosting duties included hosting the first HR Derby. Since then, the Derby has come a long way with the hype on TV and social media and tons of sponsorships. Dave Parker was named the champion with six home runs, while Minnesota's Tom Brunansky finished tied for second with four homers. 3. Miguel Sano Falls Short in Final In his only All-Star appearance, Miguel Sano finished one home run behind Aaron Judge in the 2017 HR Derby Final. Sano had clobbered 21 home runs during the first half, so he was a deserving participant. He showed up on the big stage and had a chance to be the club's second HR Derby champion. Current Twin Gary Sanchez was one of the players Sano had to defeat to make the final. 2. Target Field Provides Picture Perfect Derby Backdrop The 2014 All-Star Game festivities occurred at Target Field, and the HR Derby line-up included multiple current and former Twins. Brian Dozier got to represent Minnesota, but he struggled and only hit two home runs. Other Twins-related contestants were former Twin Justin Morneau and future Twin Josh Donaldson. Yoenis Cespedes walked away with the title, and a passing storm provided a full rainbow over the stadium. 1. Justin Morneau Upsets Josh Hamilton's Show Justin Morneau is the only player in franchise history to compete in multiple Home Run Derbies. In the 2007 Derby, he finished fifth and missed the cut to make the second round. He returned in 2008 and got an upset win at Yankee Stadium. Josh Hamilton smashed 28 home runs in the first round, but Morneau was more rested and took home the title. It's the franchise's only HR Derby win, and it came from one of the best power hitters in franchise history. What do you remember about the Home Run Derbies mentioned above? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Minnesota's front office didn't mess around at the 2018 trade deadline. Take a look back at the talent acquired during the last week in July. Derek Falvey and Thad Levine took over Minnesota's baseball operations department leading into the 2017 season. Each season has taken on a different feel, but they have a track record of making moves at the trade deadline. This series will look back at each trade deadline under this regime. Minnesota surprised many by being in contention during the 2017 season, with their front office shifting between buying and selling at the deadline. The 2018 season was a little easier because the team was below .500 but ended up in second place in the AL Central. The Twins made multiple moves before the deadline, and the big-league roster still feels these trades' impacts. Trade 1 (July 27, 2018) Twins Receive: OF Ernie De La Trinidad, P Jhoan Duran, OF Gabriel Maciel Diamondbacks Receive: INF Eduardo Escobar Escobar was on an expiring contract, so it made sense to deal the veteran who was in the middle of a tremendous season. Duran has turned into the team's dominant high-leverage reliever, which is more than enough for a couple of months of Escobar. De La Trinidad topped out at Double-A last season with the Twins, where he posted a .759 OPS in 80 games. Maciel played 73 games at Cedar Rapids last season with a .621 OPS. In December, he was selected in the minor-league Rule 5 draft by the Athletics organization and has a .733 OPS as he repeats High-A. Trade 2 (July 27, 2018) Twins Receive: P Jorge Alcala, OF Gilberto Celestino Astros Receive: P Ryan Pressly It was tough to see the Twins part with a reliever that wasn't on an expiring contract, but both prospects in the deal were viewed highly by evaluators. Pressly has stayed in Houston for the remainder of his career while turning into one of baseball's best late-inning arms. Alcala posted decent numbers as a reliever last season, and the team hopes he can return this year to help a struggling bullpen. Celestino has proven his value to the club as a strong center-field defender to complement a decent bat. Minnesota acquired two big-league assets for 14 months of Pressly, so this deal looks great for both teams. Trade 3 (July 30, 2018) Twins Receive: P Chase De Jong, 1B/3B Ryan Costello Seattle Receive: P Zach Duke Duke was a strong left-handed specialist at a time when relievers could face fewer than three batters. Following the trade, he posted a 5.52 ERA in 27 appearances. De Jong made five appearances with the Twins and allowed 11 earned runs in 18 2/3 innings. During the 2022 season, he found a role in the Pirates bullpen, having a 2.25 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP in 32 innings. Costello posted a .755 OPS between High- and Double-A during the 2019 season. Tragically, he passed away on November 18, 2019, from a sudden cardiac arrhythmia. (Learn more about The RC13 Foundation here.) Trade 4 (July 30, 2018) Twins Receive: 1B/OF Tyler Austin, P Luis Rijo Yankees Receive: P Lance Lynn Lynn has evolved into one of baseball's best pitchers over the last four seasons, but he was terrible for the Twins in 2018. It made sense to deal with his expiring contract, and the returning players offered some intrigue. Austin played parts of two seasons with the Twins and posted a .786 OPS. Rijo has been limited to nine appearances over the last two seasons as he dealt with right elbow UCL reconstruction. He is currently rehabbing with the FCL Twins. Trade 5 (July 31, 2018) Twins Receive: 2B Logan Forsythe, OF/1B Luke Raley, P Devin Smeltzer Dodgers Receive: 2B Brian Dozier One year after being vocal about the team trading away veterans, Dozier found himself dealt to a contender. After leaving the Twins, Dozier only played one more full season, but he won a World Series with the Nationals. Forsythe was included in the deal, so the Twins had someone to fill second base for the season's remaining games. Raley eventually was part of the Kenta Maeda trade as he returned to the Dodger organization. Smeltzer has been a surprise contributor to the Twins rotation in 2022. What do you remember about this trade deadline? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. OTHER POSTS IN THE SERIES -2017 Trade Deadline View full article

The Twins are closing in on 1,000 team home runs at Target Field. Here are the top-five home runs hitters at the park since it opened in 2010 and some of their most memorable dingers. 5. Trevor Plouffe: 55 HR Plouffe hit the first Target Field home run during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. He also hit a milestone home run during Target Field's third season as he collected the 300th home run hit at the park. 4. Max Kepler: 64 HR Kepler has a chance to move up this list during the 2022 campaign. At the end of April, he clocked two home runs in one game against Detroit. His first career home run was one he likely will never forget as he walked off the Red Sox. 3. Eddie Rosario: 67 HR Rosario had a flair for the dramatic, and he was part of the team's Bomba Squad dramatics in 2019. He helped the Twins set a record for most players with 30 home runs in a season. One of his most significant home runs from that 2019 season was a pinch-hit homer that gave the Twins a late-inning lead. 2. Miguel Sanó: 76 HR Sanó can be a free agent at season's end, but that still gives him a chance to take over the top spot on this list. However, his cold start and recent injury may leave him searching for at-bats when he returns. There's no question that he has been one of the best power hitters for Minnesota in the Target Field era. 1. Brian Dozier: 80 HR Dozier has the most Twins home runs in Target Field history. He was also responsible for one of the Target Field's best moments. In July 2015, he smacked a walk-off home run that capped a seven-run ninth inning to give the Twins the win. Do any of these names surprise you? Which of the top-5 players has the most memorable home run? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. PREVIOUS POSTS IN THE SERIES -Home Run Hitters: 11-15 -Home Run Hitters: 6-10 View full article

Brian Dozier had a string of seasons for the Minnesota Twins where it was arguable that he was the best second basemen in baseball. That torch has now been passed, and with two options in the mix, it may be one of the strongest roles Minnesota has had in quite some time. From 2013-2018 Brian Dozier played in nearly 900 games and blasted 161 homers for the Twins as their primary second basemen. He took time to settle into the role and changed his approach at the plate, but became an All-Star in 2015 and earned top-15 votes each of the next two seasons. In 2016-17 Dozier combined to hit 76 dingers with an .871 OPS. For a position often seen as an afterthought in the infield, he’d become a beacon of strength. Fast-forward to where we are now, and the Twins have successfully passed the torch to a new pair of talents. Signed to an extension in 2019, Jorge Polanco is potentially under team control through the 2025 season. He dealt with an ankle injury that changed his abilities drastically, but now with a clean bill of health, he looks like one of the best in baseball at the position. Since June 1 this season, Polanco owns a .926 OPS. He was a first-time All-Star in 2019 and has posted an .806 OPS over the past three seasons, even with the dismal 2020 factored in. There were always legitimate concerns regarding Polanco’s range and arm at shortstop. It was a position he had played often, but one he was ultimately miscast in. Sliding over to second base full time this season, Twins coaches talked up the fact that not only would his bat play, but his glove may find gold there. It’s safe to say the experiment has been wildly successful, and the return to offensive prowess is a welcomed shot in the arm. Recently turning 28-years-old, it’s fair to assume Polanco’s best seasons are still ahead of him, and for a Twins team looking to rebound, that’s a great thing to dream on. Then there’s the opposite but an equally successful type of player at second base for the Twins. Luis Arraez may be the second coming of Rod Carew, and he’s here to challenge for a batting title on an annual basis. Nagging knee injuries have kept him off the field at times, but the bat has remained intact when he’s out there. A .317 average this season marks a career-low, but it’s continued to rise, and the .325 mark across his first 205 big-league games is nothing to scoff at. Arraez will never play with the power that either Dozier or Polanco has, and he’s more Dozier (Gold Glove’s are offensive awards sometimes) than Polanco with the leather, but calling second his primary home helps to push this narrative. Luis has done well for himself by establishing utility around the diamond, but make no mistake that the pipeline Minnesota has pushed here is impressive. Add in that Nick Gordon is beginning to realize some of his potential in the big leagues, a converted shortstop moving to the first base side, and this situation continues to be worth monitoring. Spencer Steer is another name down on the farm that’s pushing his way towards the top and watching the Twins develop these athletes is exciting. Second base is often considered the fallback for a shortstop with a lackluster arm. Be that what it may, but Minnesota isn’t simply throwing out good defenders that have little other tools at the position. Rocco Baldelli has employed lineups that can do damage, and even before the current skipper got here, second base has become an area of strength in the system. Maybe Jorge Polanco pushes for the best in baseball title down the line, but even if he doesn’t, he’s currently headlining an impressive position group within this organization. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email View full article

Derek Falvey and Thad Levine had some tough decisions to make during their first year at the helm of the Minnesota Twins. Are there any lessons that can be learned from the 2017 trade deadline? Minnesota was one of the biggest surprises during the 2017 season after losing an MLB high 103-games the previous season. As the calendar turned to July, the Twins found themselves two games behind the Cleveland and the team stayed within striking distance for much of the month. However, as July ended and the trade deadline approached, the club lost seven of nine games and sat 6.5 games back in the division. The team went from buyers to sellers over a few days and that’s how the deadline played out. Falvey and Levine made it clear entering the deadline that the team wasn’t going to sway from their long-term vision. "In order to accomplish that, we maybe started the year not anticipating being a clear buyer at the Deadline," Levine said at the time. "I don't think we feel that's changed dramatically, other than maybe adding his one qualifier: We're probably not going to be inclined to spend lavishly on short-term assets, but we would be very open to spending aggressively on assets that we could use to propel our team forward this year and for years to come.” The 2017 season impacted the team’s decision making at the trade deadline, because it shifted them from being likely sellers to contemplating buying. The team held on to veterans like Brian Dozier, Ervin Santana, and Joe Mauer. There was also the debacle that was the Jaime Garcia trade as the front office went from buyers to sellers in less than a week. After the deadline, the team went on a run to finish in the second Wild Card spot, but there might be some lessons learned by the front office. During the 2021 season, Minnesota is having another surprising season, but it is for all the wrong reasons. The Twins entered the season believing they would be fighting for a third straight AL Central title and now the club sits double digit games out of first. Looking at the team’s upcoming schedule and it’s easy to imagine a scenario where the club might be facing a 2017 decision before the trade deadline. Leading into the All-Star Game, the Twins have 12 straight intra-division games including six against the division leading White Sox. The Twins have too much talent to be this far below .500 for the entire season, so they may accidentally improve as the season progresses. Minnesota’s pitching has improved, and the offense has become more of the force they were expected to be at season’s start. There’s certainly a realistic chance of the Twins being within 6.5 games or better at the trade deadline. This can put them in a similar position as 2017, but this time the team was expected to be a contender. Many expect the Twins to be sellers before the trade deadline, but they hold their destiny in their own hands. Veterans like Nelson Cruz, Andrelton Simmons, and Michael Pineda can be dealt, but the club might also find themselves back in the playoff race with plenty of lessons learned from 2017. Do you think the front office learned from 2017 deadline? How will it impact the 2021 trade deadline? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email View full article