RSS Twins Team Notes

[Minnesota Twins]

Greatest Twins Moments & Performances: A Twinkie Town Definitive List (Round 14)

Results​

• R1: Jack Morris Game 7 Shutout 1991
• R2: Kirby Puckett Game 6 Dominance 1991
• R3: First World Series championship 1987
• R4: AL Champions Metrodome welcome 1987
• R5: Game 163 wild victory 2009
• R6: Mudcat’s World Series must-win 1965
• R7: Harmon’s 500th homer 1971
• R8: Final day AL Central title 2006
• R9: Kirby Puckett’s Weekend for the Ages 1987
• R10: Breaking the Playoff Curse (TM) 2023
• R11: The Donnie & Hrbie Show 1987
• R12: Johan Santana in 17K 2007
• R13: Mauer’s Final Moment 2018

I’ll always remember the events of 2018’s final Minnesota Twins contest—if mainly because I happened to be moving out of an apartment that day and missed it all live. But when my dust had settled and I watched the highlights, I was as moved by what transpired as any other MN sports fan.

You already know the story: after growing up in St. Paul and attending Cretin-Derham Hall High School, Joe Mauer was drafted by the Twins in 2001 and played his entire HOF career (2004-2018) in Twins Territory. Sadly, concussion issues robbed Mauer of his favorite diamond position post-2014, so putting on the mask and gear for one final bow was likely as emotional for Joe as it was to all of us who watched it:

The newbie: Frankie beats the Rocket!

Thome christens Target Field (2010)​

• When Target Field opened to begin the 2010 season, it was clearly a beautiful new ballpark that the hometown nine excelled in. But it was missing one thing: a signature moment. Try as they might, the Twins could not muster a walk-off victory in front of the sold-out crowds for the first four-and-a-half months. But on August 17, The Man With An Ox In The Batter’s Box finally gave Target Field it’s first magical memory.

Dozier caps a comeback (2015)​

• On July 10, 2015, the Twins trailed the Detroit Tigers 6-1 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning. But in a remarkable sequence of events, Brian Dozier found himself at the plate with a chance to be a hero. He didn’t disappoint. In the words of Dick Bremer: “The most electric moment at Target Field in YEARS!”.

Jacque Jones jolts contraction outta here (2002)​

• The 2001 offseason was undoubtedly the worst in Twins franchise history. After MLB Commissioner Bud Selig floated the contraction idea and Twins owner Carl Pohlad was more than willing to take the payout, it took a county judge to restore order. Jacque Jones restored between-the-white-lines order by homering in the first PA of the 2002 season! I wasn’t able to locate the audio, but Dick Bremer’s “And I hope it lands in Milwaukee!” call remains iconic.

Denard Span’s triple takes the top off (2008)​

• In the final week of the 2008 season, the Twins needed to sweep the Chicago White Sox at the Metrodome to even have a fighting chance at the AL Central crown. After taking the first two games, MN fell behind big in the finale—but kept battling back. In the bottom of the 8th, Denard Span bounced a ball down the first base line that scored Carlos Gomez to tie the game and propelled this Twinkie Town writer airborne. Alexi Casilla would later give the Twins the victory, but Span’s big blow was the buoyant moment.

Francisco Liriano out-duels Roger Clemens (2006)​

• Francisco Liriano’s 2006 run was perhaps the greatest pitching stretch in franchise history. His signature moment that season was out-dueling Roger Clemens in Houston on June 22, 2006. With The Rocket (5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) in the midst of his home-state comeback, Liriano (8 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K) outclassed the veteran in his own back yard. While by no means Frankie’s best single-game performance of ‘06, beating Kody’s Dad put him on the national stage.

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/minneso...ple-2008-francisco-liriano-roger-clemens-2006

 

[Minnesota Twins]

Tom Pohlad’s nonanswer when asked about ICE’s invasion of Minneapolis

These are the people we stand with. | Octavio Jones / AFP via Getty Images

For weeks, the city of Minneapolis has been under occupation by the murderers, kidnappers, and rapists going by the moniker ICE. Two protestors, Renée Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, were openly murdered by ICE agents and smeared as aggressors by Donald Trump and his administration.

Unsurprisingly, the billionaire owner of the Twins, when asked to make a statement, took the most cowardly path to a nonanswer when directly asked about the invasion.

Coming into what appears to be a season ticket holder event, Redditor MasonCharPint asked Tom Pohlad what he would to do to help stop the violence coming from ICE. The question and answer are transcribed below:

MasonCharPint: So, someone was murdered on the streets of Minneapolis this morning, and we’re in a room right now with one of the most influential families in Minnesota in the Pohlads, and one of the biggest institutions in Minnesota is the Minnesota Twins, an institution that employs a ton of immigrants. What are you doing personally, Mr. Pohlad, with your family’s ability to ask questions, influence the world around us, to end what’s happening here in the Twin Cities, and Mr. Falvey, what are you doing to protect your players and their families and everyone they hold dear because we can’t keep going on like this?

Tom Pohlad: I mean, you’re right; we can’t keep going on like this. I want to be careful here; I want to, of course, acknowledge the heartbreak that’s going on in this community right now, and, on a personal level, it’s… it’s killing me on a personal level to watch this. I want to be careful to… to not necessarily pick sides, so to speak, but I think what’s important and what strikes me as a problem is that how you go about something is really important, and how things are being gone about in this community right now is… not good, right? And it’s hurting a lot of people, and my heart goes out to this community, like I said. We’re trying to do our part as the Minnesota Twins to bring people together.

Derek Falvey: Yeah, I think I’d echo some of what Tom just said there around the heartbreak and how shaken you are in the moment as you’re navigating through what we’re experiencing in our community, our collective community. We live here, our families are here, and we’re responding to it in real time and monitoring what’s happening and trying to understand more of how we can do… what we can do in this community to help and support. And, as Tom said earlier, today as we woke up and came into the ballpark — I was here early this morning, seeing our players, and then seeing some fans walk through the doors, and seeing the smiles on young kids’ faces when they walked right past one of our players and brought that joy to them around baseball — that was what I hoped today was going to be about, entirely. It was about bringing that to every one of you all, but certainly for some of the younger fans of our team. wanted to bring that. And in true candor right now, I’m shaken a little bit. I’m thinking about how we navigate that, keeping our players safe and our staff and our organization safe, that’s on the forefront of all of our minds every day. But we need to continue to lean into ways to learn how we can do more. And that’s the way I feel right now; I don’t have the perfect words for it right now other than to say I’m hurting, like you are and like so many others are in our community. I hope we can play a role in making it better.

MCP: The president listens to billionaires. Call on him. Tell him to stop this.

Kris Atteberry: The one thing that— I think the dynamic at play, and sadly, as a person who lives in Minneapolis myself, we’ve had to deal with stuff like this unfortunately before. And I think what we learned was: you can make a stand, and in so doing, do the right thing that you believe in, and half of your fanbase will think you’re doing the wrong thing and half the fanbase will think you’re doing the right thing, and what shouldn’t be polarizing is, which is really an odd and unfortunate thing. That makes this tightrope even harder to walk, doesn’t it

TP: Yes, it does. It does make it harder to walk.

Kris and Derek’s answers weren’t particularly helpful, but Tom’s was easily worst of the three. “I want to be careful to not pick sides?” Bollocks. By not picking sides, you are picking a side — a truth reflected everywhere from the catalogue of Rush to the book of Revelation — signifying by your inaction that you have no issues with the federal government’s attack on the people of your city.

If the fanbase weren’t outraged enough at the Pohlads, this ought to push many over the edge. In the comments on Reddit, several fans have promised to boycott the team until the Pohlads sell, and one cannot dispute that this ownership deserves such an action.

Contrary to their ownership, a pair of Twins players, Bailey Ober and Simeon Woods Richardson, have posted images on their Instagram stories (I was unable to access them) in support of the protests and their home baseball city. Not all is wretched in the team’s fandom.

Even so, Tom Pohlad’s comments and character continue to be indefensible as the citizens of Minneapolis stand up, risking — and twice now, giving — their lives in support of their neighbors. We may still cheer for the Twins, but we will never, never, cheer for the Pohlads.

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/general...apolis-renee-nicole-good-alex-pretti-remember

 

[Minnesota Twins]

Twins Trade Julien, Ohl to Rockies

Once one of the most promising Twins on the roster, Edouard Julien’s time in Minnesota has come to a close. The Twins announced they traded Julien and pitching Pierson Ohl to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for right-handed pitching prospect Jace Kaminska.

Julien, 26, was instrumental to the Twins’ 2023 playoff run when they finally broke their 20-year postseason losing streak. In 109 games, he hit .263/.381/.459 with 16 home runs, a 134 wRC+, and 2.7 fWAR. Unfortunately, in the two seasons since then, he’s combined to hit .208/.299/.324, 11 homers, a 79 wRC+, and -0.8 fWAR. Never a good defender, his defense went from “poor” to “unplayable” in his final two years in Minnesota.

The fall came hard and fast for a player who always struck out too much and started getting exploited by pitchers who had better scouting reports on him. With Julien out of options, him getting surpassed by Luke Keaschall and Kody Clemens, and his lack of defensive ability, there simply wasn’t a role for him on Minnesota’s roster anymore. Instead, he’ll get a chance to revitalize his career in hitter-friendly Coors Field where his power should play well.

Ohl, meanwhile, just made his Twins debut last season and served as a multi-inning reliever and spot starter when injuries piled up for the pitching staff in the middle of 2025. His surface level 5.10 ERA was ugly, but his 4.20 FIP and 3.99 xFIP combined with solid, if unspectacular, strikeout and walk rates made him look like he could be a decent mid-game reliever. As a pitcher who relies on his changeup as his “out” pitch, there’s a good chance Ohl will be less affected by the elevation in Colorado compared to other pitchers.

Kaminska, 24, was the Rockies’ 10th-round pick in 2023. He missed all of 2025 recovering from Tommy John surgery, but pitched very well in 2024 in the hitter-friendly California League. Kaminska threw 87.1 innings to the tune of a 2.78 ERA/3.13 FIP while striking out 104 batters and walking just 12. His ERA and FIP were 41% and 35% better than league average, for context. He’ll miss the beginning of the 2026 season due to the elbow surgery, but should make his return in the first half of this year.

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/minnesota-twins-news/50940/twins-trade-julien-ohl-to-rockies

 

[JJ]

oh man where do i even start with all this twins content

first off MAJOR LEAGUE is an absolute banger of a movie and i dont care what anyone says. wild thing is iconic. the whole premise of an owner trying to tank the team to move it is unfortunately way too realistic these days. and yeah the test audiences were 100% right about keeping the owner as the villain. we dont need some feel-good twist where shes actually a secret genius motivator lol

the julien trade though... that one stings a little. dude was ELECTRIC in 2023 and helped break that playoff curse. but man the fall from grace was brutal. going from a 134 wRC+ to a 79 combined over two years is rough. cant blame the front office for moving on when hes out of options and cant play defense to save his life. coors field might actually be perfect for him to get his swing back. sometimes a change of scenery does wonders

and look i gotta address the elephant in the room - that pohlad nonanswer about whats going on in minneapolis is absolutely gutless. "i dont want to pick sides" is PICKING A SIDE my dude. at least ober and simeon woods richardson had the stones to say something on social media. ownership continues to be an embarrassment while the players show actual backbone

the movie night schedule looks solid though. moneyball is always a good watch even if it makes me irrationally angry that the twins beat them and then lost to the yankees anyway

taylor rogers coming back is nice. always liked that guy

 

[Minnesota Twins]

TwinkieTown Movie Night: Benched

Here’s your link for the movie! It’s from a Strange Site, but most internet security experts consider it pretty safe (when it comes to collecting your data, IMDb is worse). It has no commercials, so no sync issues! Sync issues are a pain on Movie Nights! Start the show at 7:30!

I know nothing about this movie (it was not given a wide release), but I like the leads a lot. John C. McGinley was in the TV series Scrubs, where he played a real jerk of a hospital doctor.

What I loved about his character in that show was, he played a total d**k. Most medical TV shows present hospital doctors as these caring, sensitive, impossible dreamboats.

Many such people do exist (the guy who surgeried up my broken arm a few years back is both a sweetie and a hottie, for you eligible singles out there), but there’s also an awful lot of hospital doctors who are, really, just arrogant pricks. And that’s what McGinley played in the TV show, and he was hilarious at it. If you’re in a hospital, and your main physician is one of these guys… for Pete’s sakes, just say “OK” when he’s in the room. And then talk to a hospital nurse, instead, about your real concerns. Hospital nurses are far better.

Garrett Dillahunt played not one, but two, psychotic murderers on my favorite TV show of all time, Deadwood. And then when HBO did a two-hour episode, many years later, to wrap up the loose ends after Deadwood was canceled too soon, they brought Dillahunt back in a cameo role. (You couldn’t have him in a major role, he’d already died twice.) Everybody from the show simply loved having Dillahunt around, so they brought him back for a day or so.

I’m not going to suggest Deadwood to anybody here. It’s grim and violent and confusing. Don’t watch it and get angry at me for suggesting it, because I’m not suggesting it. Yet Dillahunt is excellent in it.

If you want me to suggest a watch, I’ll suggest The Big Sick, a 2017 movie you’ve probably never seen, and I think you’d all love it! It’s really sweet! And it has a really nice hospital doctor in a short scene, in a really believable way! But go watch it on yer own time! We’re doing baseball tonight!

I also know nothing about this movie’s directors, except that they’ve done some country music videos. The writer, Richard Dresser, has written a stage musical about The Curse of the Bambino, and this movie was based on his successful stage play called Rounding Third. Dresser’s apparently working on a documentary about the brave anti-war activists Daniel & Philip Berrigan. That seems different! But, Dresser is from the Boston area, so that means a high likelihood of being raised Catholic, and the Berrigans were Catholics, so there’s that.

Here’s your link again for the movie! Click your clicks at 7:30!

Here’s the upcoming schedule:

February 6: The Rookie (2002)

Not-yet-weird Dennis Quaid is a small-town schoolteacher who’s always dreamed of playing baseball. Maybe, just maybe, he might have a chance. Free on the Strange Site.

February 13: Moneyball (2011)

Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane, and I’m sure Billy Beane wishes he looked like Brad Pitt. Philip Seymour Hoffman is great as always. The Twins beat the A’s! Free on the Strange Site.

February 20: Back to the Future III (1990)

By request, and because I haven’t seen it since 1990 (when I enjoyed it a lot). Why haven’t I seen it since then? Well, there’s an embarrassing tale… Free on the Strange Site.

February 27: White Men Can’t Jump (1992)

Not baseball, but from Bull Durham writer/director Ron Shelton, and for no real reason I’ve never seen it. So why not watch it with TT friends? Free on the Strange Site.

I’ve got some ideas for future ones if we do this more, and all movie suggestions are absolutely welcome & wanted!

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/book-club/50926/twinkietown-movie-night-benched

 

[Minnesota Twins]

Derek Falvey Out as Twins’ President of Baseball and Business Operations

BRADENTON, FL - FEBRUARY 14: Minnesota Twins President, Baseball Operations Derek Falvey talks to the media during the 2025 Grapefruit League Spring Training Media Day at Pirate City on Friday, February 14, 2025 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

After nearly a decade running the Twins’ baseball operations and a year of managing the business side, the Twins and Derek Falvey announced they agreed to a “mutual parting of ways.” The Twins, Falvey, and owner Tom Pohlad all released statements which can be read below.

Minnesota Twins and Derek Falvey Mutually Agree to Part Ways pic.twitter.com/ILxMXy1AZl

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) January 30, 2026

pic.twitter.com/tVdw8dZ9x3

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) January 30, 2026

It’s hard to overstate how major of a change this is just weeks before Spring Training begins. There was a legitimate argument to move on from Falvey back in November when former manager Rocco Baldelli was fired, a leadership change was underway, and the roster was in a transition period after selling off the entire bullpen at the trade deadline. This agreement also seems like something that has come together very recently, given that Falvey was the lead speaker at Twins Fest less than a week ago.

In the meantime, General Manager Jeremy Zoll will take over the baseball operations side of the Twins while Tom Pohlad himself will run the business side while they search for a new leader for that portion of the organization. It’s unclear if Zoll will run baseball ops permanently or if they will look for a new, outside voice to take over.

I am not a reporter and I have no inside information, but reading between the lines, I think this was truly a mutual arrangement though probably not as nice as the statements would like you to believe. In the last 6 months, Falvey was forced to dump Carlos Correa’s contract for nothing, not given the freedom to reinvest those savings back into the roster, then had a new boss forced on him who appears to be taking a much more active role in the organization Joe Pohlad did. From the ownership end, the Twins have repeatedly underperformed expectations and have seen numerous top prospects fizzle out after holding on to them for too long and ruining their trade value (see the Edouard Julien trade from Wednesday as an example).

Now, two weeks before Spring Training, the Twins are somehow even more directionless than they were before. The move itself isn’t that shocking, but the sequence of events leading here was arguably the oddest possible timing imaginable. Winning fixes everything and the Twins still have a very talented roster (for now). Let’s see what Zoll can do with six weeks to shore up a few major holes.

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/minneso...president-of-baseball-and-business-operations

 

[Minnesota Twins]

Are You More Optimistic About the Twins’ Future After Derek Falvey’s Departure?

TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 15: President of baseball operations Derek Falvey of the Minnesota Twins speaks during the 2024 Grapefruit League Spring Training Media Day at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Thursday, February 15, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Hello everyone! Welcome to our new Daily Question series for the month of February. With Spring Training around the corner, we want to hear from you on what 2026 holds for your Minnesota Twins. Let’s get excited for baseball!

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After nine years at the helm of the Minnesota Twins, Derek Falvey and the Twins agreed to mutually part ways (though, further reporting from Dan Hayes and Aaron Gleeman certainly indicates that the decision was more on Falvey’s end after disagreements on the franchise’s future with new owner Tom Pohlad). GM Jeremy Zoll, at least for the 2026 season, will run baseball operations in the meantime

While the timing is certainly suspect, there were arguments on both sides to move on after nearly a decade. Falvey modernized a baseball operations department that was stuck in 1995 under Terry Ryan and turned their longstanding coaching and development issues into a strong suit. Coaches, scouts, and front office personnel went on to prominent positions with some of the best teams in baseball like the Yankees, Dodgers, and Red Sox, among many others.

Perhaps because of the brain drain caused by replacing those poached positions every season, the Twins had definitely plateaued over the past four or seasons. While a lot of that can be laid at the feet of the Pohlads after repeated budget cuts coming off of their elite 2023, Falvey and the Twins also were unable to develop top prospects into productive MLB hitters, with former Top 100 prospects like Royce Lewis, Alex Kirilloff, Austin Martin, Jose Miranda, Brooks Lee, and Edouard Julien unable to live up to their billing. However, Falvey should also get credit for repeatedly developing both starters and relievers above and beyond expectations.

So, was parting with Falvey the right move? And relatedly, what would you like to see Jeremy Zoll improve on as the new head man? Is there enough time for Zoll to feasibly fix the major holes this roster still has? Can he find anyone to take on Trevor Larnach and his uber-redundant role on this roster?

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/minneso...as-moving-on-from-derek-falvey-the-right-move

 

[JJ]

holy crap the falvey news is WILD. two weeks before spring training?? thats some absolute chaos right there

look i get both sides of this. falvey modernized the organization and broke that brutal playoff losing streak in 2023. that counts for something. but man the prospect development on the hitting side has been ROUGH. you cant keep whiffing on top 100 guys like royce lewis, kirilloff, brooks lee, miranda... at some point you gotta look at the common denominator

but lets be real here - reading between the lines this sounds like falvey saw the writing on the wall with tom pohlad pinching pennies and said "nah im out." cant blame the guy honestly. you dump correa's contract and dont get to reinvest ANY of those savings? thats ownership hamstringing your ability to compete. why would any competent baseball ops guy want to stick around for that

and now zoll gets handed this mess with like six weeks to fill major roster holes? good luck buddy. the twins still have talent but this whole situation REEKS of dysfunction from the top down

also lmao at the movie night stuff - john c mcginley was absolutely perfect in scrubs. dr cox is one of the greatest tv characters ever and i will die on that hill. deadwood is also incredible but yeah its definitely not for everyone

the pohlads continue to be the real problem here. always have been always will be. at least in buffalo we know exactly what were getting with pegula incompetence lol

 

[Minnesota Twins]

Thoughts on the 2026 MLB HOF class

I used to be a “small Hall” guy—generally believing that the hallowed halls of Cooperstown should be reserved for “the best of the best of the best—sir!” Then I saw this in 2023…

Truth be told, I wouldn’t have checked the box next to Scott Rolen’s name on the HOF ballet. But seeing his emotional reaction to telling his parents he made it in softened my stance. While I still would probably be a small Hall voter in a strictly balloting sense if given a vote, I no longer complain too much about the results. Who am I to begrudge these moments of joy in a world where such things are hard to come by?

Funny enough, I wouldn’t have voted for any of the three 2026 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees. But they’re in now, so let’s take a brief look at their key stats/accomplishments, career versus our Twins, and why I’d not have punched their ticket.

Jeff Kent​

• Key #’s: 55.4 bWAR, 2,461 H, 377 HR, .290 BA, .855 OPS, 123 OPS+, 1x MVP, 4x Silver Slugger
• vs. MN: 11 G, 38 PA, 2 HR, .212 BA, .710 OPS
• Why not: Purely stats-wise, he’s a little sub-par across the board. Kinda one of those “a few supernova seasons and a bunch more okay ones” player. Poor with the leather, Kent was also a surly fella—once vehemently blaming a 2002 wrist injury on “slipping and falling while washing my truck” when really he was tooling around on his motorcycle and had an accident.

Andruw Jones​

• Key #’s: 62.7 bWAR, 1,933 H, 434 HR, 152 SB, .254 BA, .823 OPS, 111 OPS+, 1x Silver Slugger, 10x Gold Glove
• vs MN: 25 G, 87 PA, 7 HR, .237 BA, .873 OPS
• Why not: Jones was really good at two things: CF defense and power. I’d argue not quite enough for enshrinement. I think he gets a lot of press for being 19 years old and playing in a World Series (1996), and for his age he truly was a phenom. But the rest of his career is a little iffy outside of glove & pop.

Carlos Beltran​

• Key #’s: 70.0 bWAR, 2,725 H, 435 HR, 312 SB, .279 BA, .837 OPS, 119 OPS+, ROY, 2x Silver Slugger, 3x Gold Glove
• vs MN: 105 G, 472 PA, 21 HR, 16 SB, .290 BA, .879 OPS
• Why not: This one is tougher because Beltran’s career on the field probably is Hall-worthy (solid average, power, speed, & defense). Maybe not slam-dunk HOF, but better than a lot of folks already inside. Yet, I still can’t quite get over his role in the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal. I know this gets complicated because of Carlos Correa, but I truly do hold Beltran more accountable in that debacle for being a veteran presence who was still largely masterminding/championing the cheating behind the scenes.

Again, congratulations to all these new members of the MLB HOF club! I visited Cooperstown back in 2001 (I saw Kirby’s plaque!) and would love to get back to upstate New York someday—perhaps tag-teaming it to see the Rod Serling Memorial statue in Binghamton.

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/general...ss-2026-jeff-kent-carlos-beltran-andruw-jones

 

[Minnesota Twins]

Which Twins Player Could Surprise Us With a 3-4 Win Season in 2026?

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 26: Brooks Lee #2 of the Minnesota Twins makes a throw to first base during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on September 26, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Hello everyone! Welcome to our new Daily Question series for the month of February. With Spring Training around the corner, we want to hear what you think 2026 holds for your Minnesota Twins. Let’s get excited for baseball!

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If the Twins are going to compete for a division title in 2026, they’re going to need some young players step up and take the reigns. We all know what Byron Buxton, Joe Ryan, and Pablo Lopez can do, but a big part of Minnesota’s underperformance in recent seasons came due to the lack of development from the young bats in particular.

In fact, the Twins’ two best seasons in recent memory came on the backs of those breakouts. 2019 saw Mitch Garver (3.9 fWAR), Max Kepler (3.9), Jorge Polanco (3.3), and Jake Odorizzi (4.3) emerge for the best seasons of their careers in their mid-to-late twenties. 2023 saw the same from Edouard Julien (2.7) and Willi Castro (2.5), while Lopez (4.6) and Sonny Gray (5.4) took a massive leap from mid-rotation arms to All-Stars.

The obvious candidates are ones who have shown flashes but need to be consistent. Ryan Jeffers is in line to get there with his projected increased workload. Matt Wallner, Luke Keaschall, and Zebby Matthews should reach the 3.0 fWAR threshold if they can stay on the field. Royce Lewis made big strides in the health and defense departments in 2025, but he hasn’t hit well since before the 2024 trade deadline. Brooks Lee is in line to play shortstop every day and, without a clear backup, will get every opportunity in the world to prove he can stick.

Or perhaps an advanced prospect will come up and surprise us like Julien, Lewis, and Wallner did in 2023. Consensus top 20 prospect Walker Jenkins is on the doorstep should any of the regular outfield starters miss extended time. The same can be said for Emmanuel Rodriguez, though he’s much more in the Wallner feast-or-famine mold and won’t have as much runway.

Personally, my money is on Lee who has a chance to settle into the position he’s played his whole life and has shown great bat control already. If he can improve his eye at the plate and take a few more walks, his big frame should allow him to tap more into his power as he’s more selective with the pitches he attacks. But which Twin do you see taking a leap in 2026?

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/minneso...uld-surprise-us-with-a-3-4-win-season-in-2026

 

[Minnesota Twins]

Monday Morning Minnesota: The “It Can Always Get Worse” Edition

FORT MYERS, FL- MARCH 15: Taylor Rogers #55 of the Minnesota Twins pitches during a team workout on March 15, 2022 at the Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Twins kicked off the week with a surprising trade of former top prospect Edouard Julien and reliever Pierson Ohl for minor leaguer Jace Kaminski, who had missed all of 2025 with Tommy John surgery. They ended the week with a bombshell announcement that POB&BO Derek Falvey and the team were parting ways. While the move in a vacuum may not have been surprising, the timing of the move, considering pitchers and catchers report in a couple of weeks to spring training, was quite suspect. Now, the relentless pursuit of new heads of baseball and business operations begins.

The Past Week on Twinkie Town:

• Check out The Feed, where you can add your discussions about the Twins!
• We’re starting a new segment called Daily Questions! Provide your opinion on the Twins and debate with the community!
• Zach Koenig looks at the 2026 MLB HOF class.
• Matt Monitto provides his thoughts on Tom Pohlad’s comments on current events in the Twin Cities.
• We’re onto Round 14 of Zach Koenig’s Greatest Twins Moments and Performances list.
• James Fillmore recaps the most recent Twinkie Town movie night, Benched. We’ve got the Rookie coming up on Friday.

Elsewhere in Twins Territory:

• Aaron Gleeman at The Athletic reads between the lines of Derek Falvey’s exit interview with local media.
• Bobby Nightengale at the Star Tribune profiles the new (interim) head man of the Twins, Jeremy Zoll.
• Chris Schad at Zone Coverage looks at the impact of the shortened 2020 season on Derek Falvey’s legacy.
• Betsy Helfand at the Pioneer Press evaluates Derek Falvey’s track record as the Twins’ POBO.

In the World of Baseball:

• Eugenio Suárez, who hit 49 homers last season in Arizona and Seattle, is returning to Cincinnati on a one-year, $15 million contract.
• If you’re looking for some light reading, Shohei Ohtani is releasing a new children’s book about his dog. Seriously, what can’t this man do?
• Thomas Harrigan at MLB.com identifies seven players with more prominent roles this year due to roster changes.

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/general...minnesota-the-it-can-always-get-worse-edition

 

[Minnesota Twins]

Is There a Remaining Free Agent Worth Signing?

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - SEPTEMBER 21: Dauri Moreta #36 of the Pittsburgh Pirates reacts after the final out in a 11-0 win over the Athletics during the game at PNC Park on September 21, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Hello everyone! Welcome to our new Daily Question series for the month of February. With Spring Training around the corner, we want to hear what you think 2026 holds for your Minnesota Twins. Let’s get excited for baseball!

---

Yesterday we talked trades, today, let’s talk free agents.

The reason I wanted to hit trades first is that the remaining 2026 free agent options are fairly bleak. There’s some great options on the market if you need starting pitching, but unfortunately for the Twins, that’s the one area of relative strength on this team. Plus, Framber Valdez and Zac Gallen are well out of Tom Pohlad’s price range.

Using FanGraphs’ handy free agent tracker, you can sort by projected 2026 WAR and see there’s very little left for the Twins’ needs. Just like with the trades, the Twins need right-handed relievers, right-handed hitting outfielders, and a utility man who can reasonably play shortstop 2-3 times per week, given Brooks Lee’s injury history.

In my opinion, there’s three players the Twins should be prioritizing.

1. Miguel Andujar, OF: the former Yankees top prospect has carved out a nice career for himself with the A’s over the past few seasons. He doesn’t offer much value defensively or on the base paths, but he crushes lefties and has a strong arm in the outfield. At this point of the offseason, you could do a lot worse.
2. Dauri Moreta, RHP: Moreta looked to be the Pirates’ future closer as recently as 2023 before he missed all of 2024 and most of 2025 recovering from Tommy John surgery. He flashed good stuff in the second half of last season, and would be controllable for two additional seasons if the Twins want to keep him around. Another year removed from surgery, he could be closing games in Minnesota by midseason.
3. Ramon Urias, IF: Urias was one of the league’s better utility men from 2021-2024 with the Orioles, but his offensive production slipped between Baltimore and Houston in 2025. He hasn’t played short since 2022, but that’s more due to ironman Gunnar Henderson taking over in 2023 and never looking back. If the Twins feel he can still handle shortstop, he’s the best option from a very limited remaining selection.

Take a look at FanGraphs’ list and let me know if there’s anyone you think the Twins should still pursue. It’s not great, but there may still be ways to upgrade on the margins.

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/minneso...is-there-a-remaining-free-agent-worth-signing

 

[Minnesota Twins]

Twins to invest in cloning technology for complete Rogers bullpen

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JULY 23: Taylor Rogers #55 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates with Ryan Jeffers #27 against the Los Angeles Angels on July 23, 2021 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Fresh off taking charge of the business aspect of Twins baseball operations of the Twins, team owner Tom Pohlad has announced a partnership with Brasher Microform, a company specializing in DNA experimentation and cloning.

“It’s in our identity: Twins,” Pohlad said. “We brought back Taylor Rogers, and he’s a twin. It seemed apropos to craft our entire bullpen out of copies of him.”

Rogers returned to his debut team on January 23, signing a one-year, $2 million deal and providing left-handed help to a bullpen still foundering since last year’s trade deadline fire sale. The team only has one other active southpaw reliever with MLB experience: Kody Funderburk, from whom Rogers has reclaimed his old number 55 (Funderburk will now wear #57).

“With a full slate of Rogerses in the bullpen, imagine the lack of worry about pitcher exhaustion,” Pohlad said. “One Rogers blows out his elbow? No problem, we can pop another one out of the tank. It worked for Tom Brady’s dog.”

The Brasher Microform website touts its experimental “Inner Safe” technology, allowing for DNA reproduction without having to re-age the cloned subject from infancy. Curiously, there is no contact information for the country listed on the website, nor is there any address or location listed.

Upon being asked why the Twins did not simply attempt to sign Taylor’s twin brother Tyler in free agency (Tyler signed with the Blue Jays) if they wanted multiple Rogerses in the home bullpen, Pohlad said, “The cloning partnership was less cost-prohibitive.”

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/satire/...technology-for-complete-taylor-rogers-bullpen

 

[Minnesota Twins]

Greatest Twins Moments & Performances: A Twinkie Town Definitive List (Round 15)

Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier reacts after hitting a three-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers during their Major League Baseball game at Target Field Friday, July 10, 2015. Minnesota defeated Detroit 8-6. (Photo by Josh Holmberg/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Results​

• R1: Jack Morris Game 7 Shutout 1991
• R2: Kirby Puckett Game 6 Dominance 1991
• R3: First World Series championship 1987
• R4: AL Champions Metrodome welcome 1987
• R5: Game 163 wild victory 2009
• R6: Mudcat’s World Series must-win 1965
• R7: Harmon’s 500th homer 1971
• R8: Final day AL Central title 2006
• R9: Kirby Puckett’s Weekend for the Ages 1987
• R10: Breaking the Playoff Curse (TM) 2023
• R11: The Donnie & Hrbie Show 1987
• R12: Johan Santana in 17K 2007
• R13: Mauer’s Final Moment 2018
• R14: Dozier’s Comeback Capper 2015

After four straight dismal seasons, Target Field had become more mausoleum than marvel. The 2015 Twins were a desperately-needed injection of competitive excitement into the fanbase. Nothing personified the upswing more than the heroics of July 10, 2015.

After a furious rally from a 6-1 ninth inning deficit, Brian Dozier found himself at the plate with the chance to tie the game. He didn’t do that—he won it instead!

Per newly-elected Twins Hall of Famer Dick Bremer: “The most electric moment at Target Field in years!”

The newbie: Harmon heroics!

(Note: I expect this series to continue for 5-6 more weeks. I have plenty of moments/performances to consider, but feel free to drop suggestions in the comments and I’ll take them under advisement!)

Thome christens Target Field (2010)​

• When Target Field opened to begin the 2010 season, it was clearly a beautiful new ballpark that the hometown nine excelled in. But it was missing one thing: a signature moment. Try as they might, the Twins could not muster a walk-off victory in front of the sold-out crowds for the first four-and-a-half months. But on August 17, The Man With An Ox In The Batter’s Box finally gave Target Field it’s first magical memory.

Jacque Jones jolts contraction outta here (2002)​

• The 2001 offseason was undoubtedly the worst in Twins franchise history. After MLB Commissioner Bud Selig floated the contraction idea and Twins owner Carl Pohlad was more than willing to take the payout, it took a county judge to restore order. Jacque Jones restored between-the-white-lines order by homering in the first PA of the 2002 season! I wasn’t able to locate the audio, but Dick Bremer’s “And I hope it lands in Milwaukee!” call remains iconic.

Denard Span’s triple takes the top off (2008)​

• In the final week of the 2008 season, the Twins needed to sweep the Chicago White Sox at the Metrodome to even have a fighting chance at the AL Central crown. After taking the first two games, MN fell behind big in the finale—but kept battling back. In the bottom of the 8th, Denard Span bounced a ball down the first base line that scored Carlos Gomez to tie the game and propelled this Twinkie Town writer airborne. Alexi Casilla would later give the Twins the victory, but Span’s big blow was the buoyant moment.

Francisco Liriano out-duels Roger Clemens (2006)​

• Francisco Liriano’s 2006 run was perhaps the greatest pitching stretch in franchise history. His signature moment that season was out-dueling Roger Clemens in Houston on June 22, 2006. With The Rocket (5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K) in the midst of his home-state comeback, Liriano (8 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K) outclassed the veteran in his own back yard. While by no means Frankie’s best single-game performance of ‘06, beating Kody’s Dad put him on the national stage.

A Killer Clout​

• Minnesota’s struggles against the Bronx Bombers did not begin in the 2000s. Despite coming over from Washington, D.C. a competitive club, the Twins couldn’t get over the early-1960s Yankees dynasty. That changed in 1965—especially July 11. Trailing by one run heading into the bottom of the ninth in the final game before the All-Star Break, Harmon Killebrew stepped into the batter’s box with Rich Rollins on base. NYY hurler Pete Mikkelsen didn’t stand a chance. MN cruised to a World Series berth post-Break.

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/minneso...s-2006-denard-span-triple-2008-killebrew-1965

 

[Minnesota Twins]

Who Should the Twins Target in a Trade During Spring Training?

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 08: Orion Kerkering #50 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the eighth inning in game three of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 08, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Hello everyone! Welcome to our new Daily Question series for the month of February. With Spring Training around the corner, we want to hear what you think 2026 holds for your Minnesota Twins. Let’s get excited for baseball!

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Here’s the problem with trade articles. Because you can target nearly anybody, I end up spending hours just going through realistic possibilities. Rather than doing that this time around, let’s leave it up to you and see who you have in mind.

The way I see it, the Twins have two main needs with a few weeks to go. The bullpen is the glaring and most obvious one, but they also need a right-handed outfielder to pair with their bevy of lefties incapable of hitting a left-handed breaking ball.

Last note! Ideally, these trades need to remove some assortment of Trevor Larnach, James Outman, Matt Wallner, or Alan Roden from the roster. Those four are incredibly redundant and each has different strengths, but they all have the exact same weakness: they can’t hit lefties. Larnach is the one most likely to go, but Wallner has good trade value and could be the centerpiece for a team that is low on outfield power. Outside of that, you’re probably looking at a deal centered around a starting pitcher (or two) with one of the outfielders as a throw-in.

I’ll cover the more boring, but still distinct upgrades, options first. Here are a few teams and players that could work as trade partners off the top of my head:

• Boston Red Sox: they’ve had their eye on Joe Ryan for months, but maybe there’s a smaller trade to be worked out for one of the Twins’ lower level starters. Romy Gonzalez is a lefty masher who can play anywhere and they have some intriguing relief options as well.
• Tampa Bay Rays: They could use some offensive production and rotation depth to back up their quality top end of the roster. Something like Larnach and a lower-end (but MLB ready) pitching prospect could fetch the Twins either Edwin Uceta or Bryan Baker in the bullpen.
• Colorado Rockies: The Rockies, famously, are not a well run baseball team. Could we trick them into giving up Victor Vodnik?
• Philadelphia Phillies: The Phillies have maybe the worst projected starting outfield for a bonafide contender. Larnach would be a distinct upgrade for them and they have two excellent right-handed utility men that would be an upgrade for the Twins in Edmundo Sosa and Otto Kemp. If you want to get crazy and kill two birds with one stone, Wallner and Marco Raya could probably fetch you Orion Kerkering and one of the utility guys.
• Los Angeles Angels: my dream trade that won’t happen for various reasons is Zach Neto, who has quietly emerged as one of the best young shortstops in baseball over the past two seasons. It would cost a lot prospect-wise, but picking up Neto and bumping Brooks Lee into the Willi Castro-esque super utility everyday player would solve a lot of issues for this roster.

Let’s hear it: who (realistically) do you want the Twins to trade for? Dream big. Or small. The world is your oyster, and hopefully Jeremy Zoll’s too.

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/minneso...wins-target-in-a-trade-during-spring-training

 

[Minnesota Twins]

Twins Flashback: 1996 (Pt. 1)

Growing up in the 1990s, Twins baseball was Kirby Puckett and Kirby Puckett was Twins baseball to me. Far before I knew the meaning behind the guys running around in funny pajamas or why we waved white hankies to cheer them on, I knew Kirby Puckett. It was the name. The smile. The way he always showed up at the right time.

Heading into the 1996 season, none of that looked to change. In ‘95, Puck was good as ever: 39 2B, 23 HR, 99 RBI, .314 BA, 130 OPS+. Sure, his season came to an abrupt close after taking a ball off the cheekbone from Dennis Martinez on 9/28, but he was battering Grapefruit League pitching (.344 BA) in the ‘96 Spring Training.

Expected to be paired with established superstar Chuck Knoblauch, 1995 Rookie of the Year Marty Cordova, and free agent acquisition Paul Molitor, all signs pointed towards the Minnesota Twins being on the upswing after a 1993-1995 rough patch.

But on March 28, 1996, Kirby woke up unable to see out of his right eye. No vision at all. Despite trying to battle through batting practice, it was clear that the situation put him in imminent harm’s way, much less anything from a competitive perspective.

Initially diagnosed as glaucoma, further ophthalmologic testing revealed a more specific “central retinal vein occlusion” issue. Puckett would not be playing to begin ‘96.

In fact, after three months away and three eye surgeries in that span, it became clear that Kirby would never fully regain the type of vision necessary for professional athletics. As such, in one of the most emotional press conferences ever assembled, he announced his age-36 retirement on July 12, 1996.

I became a true day-by-day follower of Twins baseball in 1996. Partially because I was just about to turn 11-years old—peak baseball-obsession period. But I couldn’t have quoted you any team statistics at this point. What I could have shown you was the Puckett children’s biography I had checked out from the library, or the Kirby VHS highlight tape I watched incessantly.

My first foray into Twins fandom fervor came from picking up the daily newspaper and switching on the nightly news in ‘96 to get updates about my sporting hero—Kirby Puckett.

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/minneso...njury-retirement-dennis-martinez-hit-by-pitch

 

[Minnesota Twins]

TwinkieTown Movie Night: The Rookie

Here’s your link for the movie! It’s from a Strange Site, but most internet security experts consider it pretty safe (for streaming; I wouldn’t try downloading). It has no commercials, so no sync issues! Sync issues are a pain on Movie Nights! Start the show at 7:30!

You all know the plot, right? Jim Morris pitches in the minors for a few years (including the Beloit, WI, Brewers), but never makes the bigs. One day, over ten years later, he finds steroids that he can still throw pretty hard, and attempts to reboot his MLB dreams. With Dennis Quaid, Rachel Griffiths, the great Brian Cox, and a bunch of Kids + Old Country Coots.

The script’s by Mike Rich, a native of Enterprise, OR, and yes I’ve been there. (Lovely, quite remote.) Rich also wrote Radio and Cars 3 and did some uncredited work on Miracle. The director’s one John Lee Hancock, who’s made a lot of “true story” movies.

Generally, when a Hollywood movie says “based on” or “inspired by” a true story, you can take that with a major grain of salt. In Hancock’s case, there’s the ones which are Mostly True (The Founder), Kinda True (The Blind Side, although the real person got zero money from the movie), Largely Bunk (The Alamo) and Not Even Close (Saving Mr. Banks). In the case of The Rookie, think we’re in mostly-true territory. Except, maybe, what the star looks like.

Here’s the real Jim Morris standing next to the real Dennis Quaid at a premiere showing:

Plus, Dennis Quaid was 48 when this came out, and Morris was 35 when he made his baseball comeback. But that’s not really a big deal. Almost all the stuff about the small town characters is made up (except the baseball team), also not really a big deal.

If you like, here’s a mlb.com article from 2023 on the movie-deal details (which is a major part of the movie biz, although the dullest/most depressing part, for me). I did like learning that the real Morris got paid quite nicely for the movie rights; this is good.

Here’s your link again for the movie! Click your clicks at 7:30!

Here’s the upcoming schedule:

February 13: Moneyball (2011)

Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane, and I’m sure Billy Beane wishes he looked like Brad Pitt. Philip Seymour Hoffman is great as always. The Twins beat the A’s! Free on Vimeo; Spanish subtitles you can’t turn off, but they won’t hurt you.

February 20: Back to the Future III (1990)

By request, and because I haven’t seen it since 1990 (when I enjoyed it a lot). Why haven’t I seen it since then? Well, there’s an embarrassing tale… Free on the Strange Site.

February 27: White Men Can’t Jump (1992)

Not baseball, but from Bull Durham writer/director Ron Shelton, and for no real reason I’ve never seen it. So why not watch it with TT friends? Free on the Strange Site.

March 6: The Stratton Story (1949)

James Stewart plays a pitcher who makes the majors, falls in love, then faces intense obstacles. Haven’t seen it, but it’s based on a true story, which in Hollywood means “100% accurate.” Free on the Strange Site.

That schedule isn’t set in stone; if anybody has something they’d like to watch/comment about with others, feel free to suggest it. I’m surprised that almost every Movie Night has gotten at least one person joining in, and I’ve appreciated it a ton.

I strongly feel like we should have the last one be 42, since the first one was The Jackie Robinson Story. I also wanna fit Stop Making Sense in somewhere, because I found a good free link and most of us are rock fans, too. Just to see if anybody else likes the songs.

So, let me know what you think about the upcoming schedule, if you wish! Hope some folks enjoy this one!

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/book-club/51049/twinkietown-movie-night-the-rookie

 

[Minnesota Twins]

Which current Twin could play in the Super Bowl?

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 25: Byron Buxton #25 of the Minnesota Twins runs the bases following a three run home run against the Texas Rangers during the eighth inning at Globe Life Field on September 25, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) | Getty Images

No funny business. This is serious. Let’s get into it.

First, the rules. This isn’t an alternate universe where players have been training for years as football players. This is the Seahawks or Patriots call today and say they need someone tomorrow. Also, for the sake of Byron Buxton, no one’s getting hurt either.

Let’s knock out the obvious candidates.

High School Football Players

• Byron Buxton was a starting QB and CB for his high school in Georgia. He’s even got highlights on Hudl! He was such a surefire MLB draft pick that he never got any serious consideration, but like all things Buxton, I would assume he’s naturally good at it. You can’t expect him to step in and play QB tomorrow, but let’s get him running some 9 routes or returning some kicks.

View Link

• James Outman was a star linebacker in high school, leading his conference in tackles and racking up 36 sacks as a junior. The Patriots are thin at linebacker due to a few injuries, so let’s get him out there.
• Connor Prielipp: high school starting QB
• Eric Wagaman was at least on his high school football team. But from what I can tell, never actually recorded any stats. We wouldn’t be sending our best, but at least he knows how to put on his pads.

Physical Specimen

• Matt Wallner is big, strong, and, according to former manager Rocco Baldelli, made of cement. All important aspects to being a good defensive lineman. Let him rush of the edge or, at a minimum, put him on the field goal block unit.
• Josh Bell is listed at 6’3”, 261 pound, which we all know means he’s probably closer to 300 pounds. Put the big boy on the o-line.
• Bailey Ober is tall.

Wild Cards

• Victor Caratini is the only player in MLB history to catch back to back no-hitters with separate teams (the Cubs and Pirates in 2021), including the first in Padres franchise history. Seems like he was put on earth to do the impossible. Put him it at RB and see what happens.
• Kody Clemens, famously, is the son of Roger Clemens. Roger has the most Cy Youngs in MLB history and, more relevantly here, also allegedly was a major steroid user. So Kody… you know… those home runs last year came from somewhere…

Since Byron Buxton is seemingly good at everything he does, the smart money is on him. Outman is the most decorated former football player. Ober is, of course, tall. But what do you think? I feel like I’m forgetting someone, but maybe that’s the leftover Joe-Mauer-football-alternate-history talking.

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/minneso...ich-current-twin-could-play-in-the-super-bowl

 

[Minnesota Twins]

Who Do You Think Will Win the WBC?

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN - AUGUST 05: Joseph Ryan #40 of Team United States pitches against Team Republic of Korea in the second inning during the semifinals of the men's baseball on day thirteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Yokohama Baseball Stadium on August 05, 2021 in Yokohama, Japan. (Photo by Yuichi Masuda/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Yesterday, MLB finally released the full rosters for the World Baseball Classic. Japan won the event in 2023 over the US when Shohei Ohtani struck out then-teammate Mike Trout in one of the most thrilling single plate appearances in recent memory. Team USA and Japan figure to be the odds-on favorites once again with the most high level talent, but there’s plenty of challengers coming from the Latin American countries.

Puerto Rico had issues getting Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor, Javy Baez, and new Twin Victor Caratini insured for the event, but still carries plenty of Big League talent, headlined by closer Edwin Diaz. Venezuela’s overall talent is right up there with Japan and the US, headlined by our sweet boy Pablo Lopez, along with Ranger Suarez, Ronald Acuna Jr., Jackson Chourio, Luis Arraez, Eugenio Suarez, and both Contreras brothers.

Mexico isn’t anything to scoff at either, with a lineup consisting of All-Stars Jonathan Aranda, Alejandro Kirk, Randy Arozarena, and Jarren Duran. And the Dominican Republic might have the best lineup in the whole tournament with a 10 All-Stars in their lineup: Juan Soto, Julio Rodriguez, Fernando Tatis Jr., Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manny Machado, Junior Caminero, Ketel Marte, Geraldo Perdomo, Jeremy Pena, and Oneil Cruz.

But there’s a reason Team USA and Japan are the favorites: pitching. America’s rotation is lead by the two best pitchers in the world, Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes, and has several All-Stars behind them in Joe Ryan, Logan Webb, Matthew Boyd, Mason Miller, and David Bednar. Japan, meanwhile, has Yoshinobu Yamamoto, one of the only other pitchers giving Skubal and Skenes a run for their money. He’s backed up by two-time All-Star Yusei Kikuchi, Hiromi Itoh (who won the NPB equivalent of the Cy Young in 2025), and Tomoyuki Sugano who has two of those awards himself.

Finally, a Twin/former Twin watch! Here are all the Twins connections I could find competing in 2026.

United States

• CF Byron Buxton (active)
• SP Joe Ryan (active)
• RP Griffin Jax (2021-2025)

Australia

• OF Aaron Whitefield (2020)

Canada

• IF Edouard Julien (2023-2025)
• P Jordan Balazovic (2023)
• Hitting coach Justin Morneau!

Columbia

• IF Donovan Solano (2023)
• IF Gio Urshela (2022)

Dominican Republic

• 1B Carlos Santana (2024)

Great Britain

• SP Vance Worley (!!) (2013)
• Bench coach Tanner Swanson (this is semi-obscure but he was the Twins’ minor league catching coordinator and was credited for turning Mitch Garver and Ryan Jeffers into decent defensive catchers rather than the liabilities they were as prospects. He was poached by the Yankees in 2020.)

Israel

• RP Matt Bowman (current/2024)
• OF Harrison Bader (2025)

Italy

• RP Dan Altavilla (current)

Mexico

• SP Taj Bradley (current)
• RP Daniel Duarte (2024)

Nicaragua

• RP Erasmo Ramirez (2024)

Puerto Rico

• RP Luis Quinones (current)
• UTIL Willi Castro (2023-2025)
• C Christian Vazquez (2023-2025)
• RP Jovani Moran (2021-2023)
• RP Jorge Lopez (2022-2023)
• RP Jose De Leon (2023)
• OF Eddie Rosario (2015-2020)

Venezuela

• SP Pablo Lopez (current)
• IF Luis Arraez (2019-2022)
• Bullpen catcher Juan Graterol (2018)
• Pitching Coach Johan Santana!

The WBC starts a month from today, which will be a fun change from the monotony of a typical Spring Training. Who do you have winning the whole thing? Are you rooting for anyone besides the United States?

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/minnesota-twins-daily-question/51080/who-do-you-think-will-win-the-wbc

 

[Minnesota Twins]

Monday Morning Minnesota: The “Blazing Hot Stove” Edition

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - OCTOBER 05: Gio Urshela #15 of the Minnesota Twins in action against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on October 05, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With the Super Bowl last night, baseball season has officially begun! Jeremy Zoll moved quickly to make his mark on the Twins after Derek Falvey left the organization. So far, Zoll has signed Matt Bowman, Eduardo Salazar, Jackson Kowar, David Bañuelos, and, just announced today, Gio Urshela. While none of them are on the 40-man roster, at least it’s something? Feel free to set your own over/unders on how many combined games these guys play with the Twins this season.

The Past Week on Twinkie Town:

• Check out The Feed, where you can add your discussions about the Twins!
• We’re starting a new segment called Daily Questions! Provide your opinion on the Twins and debate with the community!
• We had a busy night with the TwinkieTown Movie Night featuring The Rookie! We’ve got Moneyball coming up this Friday.
• Zach Koenig flashes back to 1996 in Twins history.
• Matt Monitto gives an inside look into the Twins front office’s hopes and dreams for a bullpen full of Rogers.
• We’re onto Round 15 of Zach Koenig’s Greatest Twins Moments and Performances list.

Elsewhere in Twins Territory:

• Dan Hayes at The Athletic provides the classic “now you tell us” look into the relationship between Falvey and the Twins
• Theo Tollefson at Zone Coverage suggests three right-handed relievers the Twins could still sign this offseason.
• Matthew Leach at MLB.com provides the five storylines that he’s watching at spring training.
• Bobby Nightengale at the Star Tribune found a fun connection between the Twins and the Super Bowl.

In the World of Baseball:

• The last few major dominoes fell in free agency last week:
  • Marcell Ozuna moves to Pittsburgh on a one-year, $12 million deal
  • Framber Valdez signs with Detroit for three years, $115 million.
• There were also a few trades that went down:
  • Brendon Donovan was traded to Seattle
  • Caleb Durbin was traded from Milwaukee to the Red Sox for a package that includes Kyle Harrison, who was previously acquired in the Rafael Devers trade.
• Buster Olney and Jeff Passan at ESPN reflect on the lessons they learned this offseason.
• Tarik Skubal won his arbitration case against the Tigers, setting a new record for a contract earned in arbitration at $32 million. According to Fangraphs, this means that the Tigers payroll will be at least double the Twins 2026 payroll.
• Andy McCollough at The Athletic remembers speedster Terrance Gore, who unfortunately passed away last weekend.

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/general/51113/monday-morning-minnesota-the-blazing-hot-stove-edition