RSS Twins Team Notes

[Minnesota Twins]

Roster Projection 2.0: Lopez, Festa Injuries and Outfielder Breakouts Create Problems

BRADENTON, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Minnesota Twins center fielder James Outman (30) bats against the Pittsburg Pirates on February 26, 2026, at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Twins’ two best hitters this Spring have been, unquestionably, Alan Roden and James Outman, two players who were on the outside looking in coming into Spring Training. Roden has options remaining and may find himself in AAA to start that season anyway, but Outman can’t be sent to the minors without passing through waivers, where his defense and base running would almost definitely get him claimed. Too many outfielders is a good problem to have, but it’s a problem nonetheless. Let’s break it down by positions.

Italics = Non-roster invitee

Bold = change from Projection 1.0

---

Starting Pitchers​

• Locks (4): Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Simeon Woods Richardson, Taj Bradley
• In contention (2): Zebby Matthews, Mick Abel
• Out (9): Pablo Lopez (IL), David Festa (likely IL), Andrew Morris, Connor Prielipp, Kendry Rojas, John Klein, Cory Lewis, Trent Baker, Christian MacLeod

Pablo is out for the season while Festa will miss the first couple weeks after a slow buildup in wake of his shoulder injury/thoracic outlet syndrome that cut his 2025 short. With Festa’s funky delivery and history of shoulder problems, I wouldn’t be surprised if he moves to the bullpen full-time when he returns, but until the playing time or statements from team officials makes that official, he’s a starter. Bradley was likely a lock before the injuries, but now he’s unquestionably in the rotation. Ryan, meanwhile, sounds like he’s on track for Opening Day after back tightness forced him out of his first Spring Training start.

That leaves Zebby and Abel fighting for the final opening day slot. Abel has been better this Spring, but Matthews has the experience edge and has had more consistent flashes against MLB hitters. Whoever loses out will undoubtedly see plenty of time with the Twins throughout the season.

Marco Raya was removed from the list completely after officially moving to the bullpen full-time.

Relief Pitchers​

• Locks (6): Taylor Rogers, Justin Topa, Cole Sands, Anthony Banda, Eric Orze, Liam Hendriks
• In contention (11): Kody Funderburk, Travis Adams, Connor Prielipp, Kendry Rojas, Marco Raya, Andrew Chafin, Julian Merryweather, Matt Bowman, Dan Altavilla, Cody Laweryson, Grant Hartwig
• Out (3): David Festa (likely IL), Matt Canterino (IL), Andrew Bash, Raul Brito

Hendriks made his first appearance of Spring Training and looked relatively strong coming off of his injury-riddled season. I think he will be on the roster as long as he looks relatively effective. The Twins’ new plethora of lefties also earns Funderburk a demotion due to the crime of having options remaining. From quotes made by both manager Derek Shelton and GM Jeremy Zoll, it sounds like they would really like to bring Chafin with them out of camp, and I don’t think it’s strategically smart to carry 4 lefties, especially with all but Funderburk being relatively ineffective against righties.

I would still expect the Twins to trade an outfielder for a right-handed reliever around the roster deadline, meaning Funderburk, Adams, and less likely Raya, Merryweather, Bowman, and Altavilla are competing for the final bullpen spot. Bash and Brito were already reassigned to minor league camp.

Catchers​

• Locks (2): Ryan Jeffers, Victor Caratini
• In contention: none
• Out (6): Alex Jackson, David Bañuelos, Ricardo Olivar, Noah Cardenas, Patrick Winkel, Andrew Cossetti

No changes. Barring injury, we’re locked and loaded at catcher.

Infielders​

• Locks (5): Josh Bell, Luke Keaschall, Brooks Lee, Royce Lewis, Kody Clemens
• In contention (5): Ryan Kreidler, Eric Wagaman, Tristan Gray, Orlando Arcia
• Out (4): Austin Martin, Aaron Sabato, Gio Urshela, Tanner Schobel, Kalen Culpepper

Martin is only out of the infield mix because he’s gotten all of his work exclusively in the outfield this Spring. He’s still in the mix for an outfield spot. Other than that, there’s been no clarity at all on who has a leg up between Kreidler, Gray, and Arcia for the backup SS role. Arcia looked like the early favorite, but he was one of the worst hitters in baseball last season and Kreidler/Gray have gotten more of the SS reps over the past week.

Wagaman is a mainstay in nearly every Spring lineup and absolutely has a role as a do-it-all platoon bat at both infield and outfield corners. I think the Twins would like to bring him out of camp, but he has options remaining while players like James Outman and Trevor Larnach do not.

Outfielders​

• Locks (4): Byron Buxton, Matt Wallner, Trevor Larnach (for now), Alan Roden
• Near locks (2): Austin Martin, James Outman
• In contention (1): Eric Wagaman
• Out (6): Emmanuel Rodriguez, Gabriel Gonzalez, Hendry Mendez, Kyler Fedko, Walker Jenkins, Kala’i Rosario

As mentioned above, there’s a weird confluence of scenarios between the infield and outfield groups where you have to factor in options remaining, ability to play multiple positions, and off-field factors. For example, Kreidler can play CF, so if he wins the backup SS job, does that make it more likely that the Twins try to trade Outman or option Roden or Martin to St. Paul? It’s hard to untangle everything.

But let’s do our best. Roden has options remaining but has had SUCH a standout Spring that I don’t think you can keep him off the roster, increasing the need to find a Larnach trade partner. It’s also possible that Larnach could pass through waivers unclaimed and sit in St. Paul until the Twins need him, but that would be pretty disrespectful to a perfectly fine player who has been in the organization for a long time. We’ll keep him on the roster and deal with the fallout.

Final Roster Projection​

Bold = New addition from 1.0

Asterisk = Camp battle

• SP (5): Ryan, Ober, SWR, Bradley, Matthews*
• RP (8): Rogers, Topa, Sands, Banda, Funderburk*, Orze, Hendriks, Chafin*
• C (2): Jeffers, Caratini
• IF (6): Bell, Keaschall, Lee, Lewis, Clemens, Gray*
• OF (5): Buxton, Wallner, Larnach, Martin*, Roden*

The Twins want Chafin, so he escapes with a role barring another addition. They do, in fact, bring 4 lefties thanks to Fundy’s ability to get righties out. Abel has been better this Spring but the Twins have historically treated the rotation as a seniority battle more than results, and neither has a great track record at the MLB level anyway. Gray retains his hold on the backup SS role while Roden and Martin can feasibly play CF well enough to put Outman on the waiver wire.

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/minneso...ries-and-outfielder-breakouts-create-problems

 

[Minnesota Twins]

TwinkieTown Movie Night: Stop Making Sense

From the movie “Stop Making Sense.”

(Adapted from this post on another website.)

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! (This Strange Site doesn’t start automatically, so cue it up first, and click the start click at 7:30.)

I grew up in a home where, increasingly, any/all rock music post-Beatles was characterized as Satanic. Backbeats were Satan’s lulling rhythm; the way the Prince of Darkness got his claws into your soul. I dunno, some of it sounded pretty neat to me.

So, at one point in the 1980s, I dared going to the library’s Rock section of their record collection. And I grabbed the album with the most religious or sacrilegious title I could find, Speaking in Tongues. (The title refers to a non-coherent vocalization which, some believers feel, allows them to directly channel the Holy Spirit.) I figured it would actually be a good, Christian rock album, or the worst Satanic music I’d ever experience, and I was curious either way.

I put the record on the library’s record player, with headphones, and awaited the ominously-titled opening track, “Burning Down the House.” Which… was confusing. It didn’t seem to be about speaking in tongues, or burning down a house, either. Just some kinda oddball funk with some really nasally-sounding vocals.

The band, of course, was Talking Heads, the first band I “discovered” by myself (if ten years after they’d started playing). I’ve liked more bands better, since, but the Heads will always be special to me. They were my gateway to liking whatever music I wanted to like.

Chris Frantz and David Byrne met as students at RISD, and formed a band they called, variably, The Artistics or The Autistics. Eventually fellow student (and Frantz’s future wife) Tina Weymouth joined because the band couldn’t find a bass player they got along with; so Weymouth taught herself the bass. They renamed themselves the Talking Heads (after people you saw on political discussion shows) and moved to New York in 1975. Former Modern Lovers keyboard/guitar player Jerry Harrison joined the band in 1977, and played on that year’s debut album.

This movie was directed by Jonathan Demme, who had made the fine film Melvin & Howard and would later do the very musically-driven Something Wild. David Byrne designed most of the set decor. The film was shot over three nights in Los Angeles in December of 1983. (The footage from one night was useless; the filmmakers had lit the audience to capture their reactions, and having lights pointed in their faces killed the audience’s enthusiasm for the show.)

As the movie progresses along, we meet the Heads’ incredible touring band; percussionist Steve Scales, guitarist Alex Weir, lovely, energetic singer/dancers Lynn Mabry & Edna Holt, and then Bernie Worrell, who at times seems beamed in from his own planet. (Well, he DID play with P-Funk, and they sometimes hailed from the Mothership.)

It’s an amazing filmed record of a band having a great time together, working at the peak of their powers. Or, it was in December of 1983.

In February, Byrne would walk off the stage during a show in New Zealand; the Heads would never put on a concert again. (They’d make three more albums of varying quality, but they never went on another tour together, and they fought for years over who had writing credits on the music.)

So why do they look so happy here? Well, even couples who’re about to break up can still have some good times together. Until they don’t.

The songs are (mostly) from the Heads’s first four albums, and the one they’re touring behind here, Speaking in Tongues, was the weakest of the four. There’s two songs which really aren’t very good. I will tell you when we get to them so you can go use the restroom / eat a sandwich / smoke a doobie.

The rest of the songs range from pretty good to actually great. The cinematography’s by Jordan Cronenweth, who was cinematographer on Blade Runner. The excellent editing’s by Lisa Day.

And no, it doesn’t have my very favorite Heads song. My favorite’s a song which wasn’t working at all in the studio until Jerry Harrison just slowed it down and made it kind of a country number.

I remember one time, on a plane flight decades ago, looking down at somewhere in the Midwest, and thinking of the lines from the song: about seeing the baseball diamonds, the houses and the schools and restaurants. The song’s about how that kind of low-key life seems appealing, but living among the squares is not; “I wouldn’t live there if you paid me to.”

Yet what I always responded to was the line “I’m tired of traveling; I want to be somewhere.” I had tried living in several places, none had worked out. (Largely because of my own problems.)

Well, now I am somewhere, and it’s where Mrs. James is, and my friends are, and it’s a wonderful place to me. Even if our current goons in charge want it razed to the ground. I still love the Heads, but the lesson they taught me was not to want to be a hipster like David Byrne; to want to be somewhere in squaresville, like Minnesota, instead. And I’m grateful for it.

Oh, and apparently Matt Chapman of the Giants uses “Burning Down The House” as his walk-up song. So this is officially a Baseball Movie! It’s still not the best walk-up song; that goes to Nick Punto using Phil Collins’s “In the Air Tonight,” because Phil Collins is PERFECT for Nick Punto. But we’ll allow it, nonetheless.

Here’s your link again for the movie! Start the show at 7:30! (This Strange Site doesn’t start automatically, so cue it up first, and click the start click at 7:30.)

Here’s the upcoming schedule:

March 13: 42 (2013)

I wanna make sure we get this one in, because we started with The Jackie Robinson Story. I might be outta town March 20. Free on a Strange Site.

March 20: Field of Dreams (1989)

So, if I’m outta town, I can trust all y’all to behave nicely to each other during this one, right? You’re all nice people. Most of ya. Free on the Strange Site.

No more time for suggestions this year… but, who knows, maybe we’ll give it a go next year, too? In any case, show starts at 7:30!

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/book-club/51501/twinkietown-movie-night-stop-making-sense

 

[Minnesota Twins]

Spring Training Game Thread: Twins vs Braves

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 10: Alan Roden #19 of the Minnesota Twinswarms up before the game against the Kansas City Royals at Target Field on August 10, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) | Getty Images

First Pitch (CT): 5:05 PM
TV: Twins.TV
Radio: 830 WCCO/Audacy App
Know Yo’ Foe: Battery Power

What to watch: We’re on Roden CF watch yet again. With how well both he and James Outman have been playing this Spring, the Twins will have some hard decisions to make if a trade isn’t done before Opening Day. Also, Twins legends Kyle Farmer and DaShawn Keirsey are in the lineup for Atlanta!

Lineups​

Twins	Braves
SP: Bailey Ober	SP: Reynaldo Lopez
1. Alan Roden, CF	1. Jorge Mateo, SS
2. Royce Lewis, 3B	2. Dominic Smith, 1B
3. Josh Bell, 1B	3. Jonah Heim, C
4. Trevor Larnach, LF	4. Brewer Hicklen, DH
5. Ryan Jeffers, C	5. Kyle Farmer, 3B
6. Matt Wallner, DH	6. DaShawn Keirsey Jr., RF
7. Kody Clemens, 2B	7. Luke Williams, LF
8. Orlando Arcia, SS	8. Aaron Schunk, 2B
9. Austin Martin, LF	9. Jose Azocar, CF

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/minneso...1/spring-training-game-thread-twins-vs-braves

 

[Minnesota Twins]

Rival Roundup, Vol. 80: This Week in Boiyoyoyoing!

SANTA MONICA, CA - MARCH 04: Actor David Straithairn arrives at the Film Independent's 2006 Independent Spirit Awards at Santa Monica Beach March 4, 2006 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) | Getty Images

It seems like February grinds to a halt once pitchers and catchers report every year. While the excitement of spring training games provides a midwinter jolt, that buzz quickly wears off as you remember the RBIs don’t count, but the oblique injuries do. But now it’s March, the World Baseball Classic’s pool play is in full swing, and high schoolers are getting out of jams by breaking Aaron Judge’s bat. Baseball is back, baby, and as is the custom of this three-year cycle, we have meaningful baseball to tide us over these last ~three weeks until meaningful baseball begins all over again.

• Starling Marte is still kicking around this ol’ league here, having just finished four mid-30s seasons with the New York Mets and finding a way to close in on a 40.0 bWAR career. He’ll have a shot to add more to that figure on a new deal with the Kansas City Royals that broke at the tail end of last week.

The Royals have agreed to a deal with Starling Marte, per Mark Feinsand. The deal is pending physical.

— Roger Cormier (@yayroger.bsky.social) 2026-02-28T19:09:44.040Z

• The Cleveland Guardians are bringing on Rhys Hoskins via that classic late-February minor-league deal avenue. Details indicate that Hoskins would receive an escalation to a $1.5MM salary should he advance to the major-league roster. Name a more classic duo than “details” and “providing information”.

Rhys Hoskins is in the Guardians’ clubhouse and has a locker.

— Tim Stebbins (@timstebbins.bsky.social) 2026-02-22T15:14:43.381Z

• Royals Review proposes that the Royals have a surplus of catching depth from which they may be motivated to utilize in shoring up weaknesses elsewhere around the diamond. It reminds me of how the Twins have a surplus of starting pitching depth, which they, uh, which they could draw from to — hold on.
• I mentioned it last Roundup, but it still blows my mind that Yoan Moncada and Alexei Ramirez are teammates in a 2026 baseball exhibition.
• Some Cleveland news and notes from their latest wave of internal spring transactions:

Hunter Gaddis had some mild forearm tightness coming out his spring debut on Friday. He underwent imaging that "came back clean," Stephen Vogt said. Will be reassessed Thursday and then begin to build back up.

— Tim Stebbins (@timstebbins.bsky.social) 2026-03-03T18:41:58.845Z

Guardians moves:-Optioned Yorman Gómez and Austin Peterson to Minor League camp.-Reassigned Tanner Burns, Trenton Denholm, Tommy Mace, Aaron Davenport and Cameron Barstad to Minor League camp.

— Tim Stebbins (@timstebbins.bsky.social) 2026-03-06T17:31:11.241Z

• Fans of both the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago White Sox may have mixed/bittersweet feelings about Jason Benetti’s hiring as the lead play-by-play man for NBC’s renewed coverage of Major League Baseball. Widely considered the favorite to land the position, the popular broadcaster will add another national gig to an already feathered national-gig-themed hat. He continues to serve in an increasingly-popular dual role a la Joe Davis or even Matt Vasgersian, holding down a local gig while moonlighting as a voice with a little more reach.
• Kevin McGonigle is coming, so you better get used to him now.
• Finally, Eric Hosmer will be joining the Kansas City TV booth this season, the latest in a long line of post-career coaches or broadcasters proving that even if you are only in your 20’s, if you’ve been watching baseball for long enough, somebody is out there who can make you feel old. There’s a part of me that still hasn’t processed that ours is the same Justin Morneau.

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/general/51439/rival-roundup-vol-80-this-week-in-boiyoyoyoing

 

[Minnesota Twins]

MLB Flashback: 1926

(Original Caption) Among those who reported for the press on the 1926 World Series were these well known celebrities of the baseball world. Seen grouped together just before the start of the second game in Yankee Stadium, they are (left to right) Miller Huggins, Nick Altrock, Babe Ruth, John McGraw and Rogers Hornsby.

Another week, another Book Club. How else to get through February & March in MN besides baseball books and catching up on movies?! This time: Baseball in the Roaring Twenties by Thomas Wolf.

The title is actually a misnomer, as the book focuses specifically on the year 1926. Overall, I found it to be a great examination of the key events both on the diamond and off it. Without delving into as much detail as Wolf, I thought it would be fun to hit some of the key points of what MLB was like a literal century ago.

To set the scene, we’re talking about a league year in which…

• No team resided west of St. Louis
• The rosin bag was introduced
• The sacrifice fly came into being
• Satchel Paige made his debut for the still-developing Negro Leagues (they would draw between 3,000-5,000 fans for their World Series contests that year)

In the wider world of sports, Gertrude Ederle attempted the first-ever female English Channel swim (a feat immortalized in this under-the-radar but surprisingly effective film) while Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney traded fisticuffs in the squared circle. Perhaps the biggest baseball fan to ever reside at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave was in office: not Calvin Coolidge—wife Grace.

A game-fixing scandal involving star players Ty Cobb & Tris Speaker was an extremely sensitive topic for MLB officials in the wake of the 1919 World Series. Though neither player was convicted in a court of law—some conveniently-lost documents saw to that—they both received a harsh reprimand from Commisioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis and were ostensibly forced to leave their long-standing clubs to finish up their careers.

Between the white lines…

• Heinie Manush (DET) led the league with a .378 BA
• Babe Ruth (NYY) swept all the power categories: 1.253 OPS, 47 HR, 153 RBI, 139 R
• George Uhle (CLE) was the wins (27) & IP (318.1) king
• Lefty Grove (PHA) presided over Ks (194) & ERA (2.51)

The respective league MVPs were quite interesting as well…

• Somehow, 1B George Burns (CLE) ousted the AL’s Bambino with this line: 5.2 WAR, 216 H, 64 2B, 115 RBI, .358 BA, 130 OPS+
• In the NL, C Bob O’Farrell (STL) (3.9 WAR, 144 H, 30 2B, 9 3B, .293 BA, 112 OPS+) took home hardware in large part due to his handling of the Cardinals pitching staff

When the dust settled, it was a Yankees (91-63) versus Cardinals (89-65) World Series.

Through six games, the Fall Classic had been a taut, thrilling affair. As usual, the Sultan of Swat presided. In Game 1, he ripped his pants sliding and the team tailor ran onto the field to sew them up, causing a 15 minute delay. Before Game 4, Ruth promised a critically-ill 11-year old boy—Johnny Sylvester—that he’d sock a home run for him. The Maharajah of Might mashed three dingers just to be safe.

The season’s most indelible moment would occur in Game 7. With the Cards up 3-2, the Yanks loaded the bases with two outs in the 7th inning. Despite pitching a complete game the day before, veteran Grover Cleveland Alexander was summoned from the pen. Ambling to the bump without so much as a stretch, Ol’ Pete tossed three spheres toward the dish and called his arm good.

Tony Lazzari—a rookie on the verge of stardom—dug in and sent an Alexander attempt deep, far, and…foul. Whether by inches or feet is known only to the 38,093 paid at the House That Ruth Built. Reprieve given, Grover got a third strike by Tony and STL escaped the jam.

With the visitors still clinging to a one-run lead and riding Alexander to the finish, Ruth represented the last hope for the Bronx Bombers. On a 3-2 count, the STL ace did the smart thing and let the Babe trot to first base (instead of tie the game). What happened next is one of the most inexplicable plays in the history of the World Series.

With Bob Meusel (120 OPS+) & Lou Gehrig (153 OPS+) due up, the Big Fella—he of 11 SB & 9 CS in ’26—decamped for second base on the first pitch! O’Farrell threw a seed to Rogers Hornsby who slapped the tag down on Ruth. Game over. World Series over. Theeeeeee Yankees lose.

Imagine the second-guessing in today’s media landscape?! In that more innocent time: Ruth got up, shook the Rajah’s hand, and jogged off the field.

That was baseball in 1926.

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/book-cl...eland-alexander-world-series-thomas-wolf-book

 

[Minnesota Twins]

Monday Morning Minnesota: The “Alan Roden Hype Machine” Edition

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 14: Alan Roden #19 of the Minnesota Twins bats against the Detroit Tigers in the ninth inning of the game at Target Field on August 14, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The first rule of spring training is not to get too excited about spring training stats. That being said, Alan Roden is maybe making the Louis Varland trade look like a better deal, as he has eight hits in 22 at-bats, with one homer and a steal. For sure, a positive after he finished last season with a .191/.261/.294 slash line with two home runs and one steal in 153 plate appearances. Mick Abel is also doing his best to take the sting out of the Jhoan Duran trade, as through three starts, he has a 39% strikeout rate and a 0% walk rate and has yet to give up a single run through 10 innings. Of course, he did finish last season with a 6.23 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP through 39 innings, so let’s not get too excited. But hope does somewhat spring right now, and we’re going to need all the positivity we can get for this long 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!
• With spring training underway, game threads are back! Commiserate with your fellow fans as we prepare for Opening Day.
• Brandon Brooks gives us Vol. 80 of the Rival Roundup.
• James Fillmore recaps “Stop Making Sense” for the Twinkie Town Movie Night. We only have two more movies left, starting with 42 this Friday.
• Ben Jones provides his second roster projection of spring training.
• Apparently, they played baseball in 1926. Zach Koenig has another addition to the Twinkie Town Book Club.
• After looking at the shortest-tenured Twins in team history, Matt Monitto reminds us of another one-hit wonder in Twins history.
• We’re onto Round 19 in Zach Koenig’s list of the Greatest Twins Moments and Performances.

Elsewhere in Twins Territory:

• La Velle E. Neal at the Star Tribune looks at how the Twins’ business and baseball operations may clash this season.
• Patrick Reusse and Jim Souhan at the Star Tribune look back at some fond memories of Kirby Puckett.
• After a rough start to spring training, Matthew Leach at MLB.com recaps Bailey Ober’s most recent outing.
• Ricky Ganci at Zone Coverage provides a guide for Twins fans to the World Baseball Classic.

In the World of Baseball:

• The MLB.com beat writers identify one position battle still undecided for each team.
• The ESPN staff comes together to rank baseball’s top 100 players.

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/general...minnesota-the-alan-roden-hype-machine-edition

 

[Minnesota Twins]

Spring Training Game Thread: Twins vs Braves

BRADENTON, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Minnesota Twins pitcher Zebby Matthews (52) throws a pitch against the Pittsburg Pirates on February 26, 2026, at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

First Pitch (CT): 12:05
TV: MLB.TV/ATL Video (via Braves)
Radio: Braves – ESPN 103.7/WIFN 1340
Know Yo’ Foe: Battery Power

What to watch: Zebby Matthews is on the mound in his fight to keep the 5th rotation spot. Mick Abel has had a flawless Spring, but it’s Zebby’s spot to lose.

Lineups​

Twins	Braves
SP: Zebby Matthews	SP: Carlos Carrasco
1. Austin Martin, CF	1. Jorge Mateo, 2B
2. Royce Lewis, 3B	2. Drake Baldwin, DH
3. Luke Keaschall, LF	3. Matt Olson, 1B
4. Josh Bell, DH	4. Austin Riley, 3B
5. Trevor Larnach, RF	5. Mike Yastrzemski, LF
6. Eric Wagaman, 1B	6. Eli White, RF
7. Tristan Gray, SS	7. Michael Harris II, CF
8. Orlando Arcia, 2B	8. Jonah Heim, C
9. Alex Jackson, C	9. Mauricio Dubon, SS

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/minneso...4/spring-training-game-thread-twins-vs-braves

 

[Minnesota Twins]

Spring Training Game Thread: Twins vs Rays

TAMPA, FLORIDA - MAY 27: Joe Ryan #41 of the Minnesota Twins pitches in the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field on May 27, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images

First Pitch (CT): 12:05
TV: None
Radio: MLB App via TB Audio
Know Yo’ Foe: DRaysBay

What to watch: Joe Ryan finally makes his long-awaited debut! Unfortunately this game appears to be lost to the void.

Lineups​

Twins	Rays
SP: Joe Ryan, who is perfect	SP: Steven Matz (LHP)
1. Austin Martin, CF	1. Cedric Mullins, DH
2. Alan Roden, RF	2. Gavin Lux, 2B
3. Ryan Jeffers, C	3. Jake Fraley, RF
4. Kody Clemens, 1B	4. Hunter Feduccia, C
5. Eric Wagaman, LF	5. Chandler Simpson, LF
6. Matt Wallner, DH	6. Taylor Walls, SS
7. Brooks Lee, SS	7. Jonny DeLuca, CF
8. Tristan Gray, 2B	8. Tre’ Morgan, 1B
9. Ryan Kreidler, 3B	9. Gregory Barrios, 3B

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/minneso...600/spring-training-game-thread-twins-vs-rays

 

[Minnesota Twins]

Greatest Twins Moments & Performances: A Twinkie Town Definitive List (Round 20)

MINNEAPOLIS - JULY 29: Denard Span of the Minnesota Twins bats against the Chicago White Sox at the Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota on July 29, 2008. The Twins defeated the White Sox 6-5. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos 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
• R15: Thome is my Homie 2010
• R16: A Killer Clout 1965
• R17: Radke-Santana-Lohse Trifecta 2004
• R18: More Kubel 2009
• R19: Span-tastic Comeback 2008

Unless or until the Minnesota Twins win another World Series—one I’m not a toddler or a kindergartener for—it is possible that September 25, 2008, will remain my Twins fandom zenith. Timing and circumstance matters a lot, and in late ‘08 I had just graduated college and reveling in the “summer after being done” (not quite realizing what the Great Recession was going to do to my immediate-future employment prospects). No, at the time all I cared about was the Twins beating the White Sox at the Metrodome—and Denard Span delivered…

The newbie: Sano-ing in Cleveland!

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.

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.

No Way, Jose! (2024)​

• On July 3, 2024, Jose Miranda singled in the eighth inning of a blowout loss to the Tigers. Ho hum. But then, something inexplicable happened: Miranda reached base the next twelve consecutive at-bats—13 if you count a HBP mixed in! In a sport where 0-fer slumps can sometimes last weeks, Jose managed to find his way on base—without the benefit of a BB—a baker’s dozen worth of times in a row.

Chili for 3 (1991)​

• In the late-80s and early-90s, the Oakland Athletics controlled the AL West. The Twins looked to change that on August 16, 1991. Only a few games up on the A’s, MN found themselves down 4-2 in B9 against dominant closer Dennis Eckersley. Chili Davis led off and smacked a ball to RF, where chaos ensued: Jose Canseco played the sphere like a malfunctioning pinball machine, a fan hurled a roll of toilet paper onto the field, and Chili chugged into third base. A few batters later, the Twins tied the game, won it in extra innings, and never were less than 4 GA of the Bash Brothers the rest of the way to the pennant.

Sano Slams the Division Door (2019)​

• The 2019 season was a magical one for the Twins. But somewhat forgotten in the 100+ wins & Bomba Squad of it all was Cleveland being a persistent pest all summer long. On September 14, Miguel Sano swatted them away on their own grounds. After taking the first game of a rain-induced doubleheader, the Twins & Guardians found themselves tied 5-5 in the 8th inning of game two. That is, until—with the bases juiced—Sano launched a sphere so far that not even the high walls of Progressive Field could contain it! My Mom and I were present on the shores of Lake Erie to see the Twins finally commandeer the Central crown.

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/minneso...is-triple-1991-sano-grand-slam-cleveland-2019

 

[Minnesota Twins]

Statistical oddities with Twins birthdays

I’m sorry, Mr. Jackson: math is for real. | Mark Taylor / Getty Images

Looking through the Twins’ active roster after yesterday’s string of cuts, an unusual trend struck me: of the 32 men on the active roster, five have a birthday in December.

Now, a group of 32 people having a month with five people may not be particularly anomalous given the randomness inherent in populations, but that month being December struck me. I have a December birthday, and growing up in a small school, I was often the only student in my class to have a birthday in the final month of the year. We had a lot of November birthdays, unsurprising since that correlates to conception on or around Valentine’s Day, but never many in December.

So while this can almost certainly be explained by statistical randomness, it should also be noted that December isn’t even the most common birthday month on the roster. Along with the five December birthdays, five players have birthdays in March, and seven were born in August. That’s over half the roster accounting for just three months in the year.

Is this anything more than statistical randomness? Not at all. But it has made me wonder if future parents of baseball players decide to copulate around the MLB calendar:

• December birthdays correspond to March baby-making, suggesting parental excitement due to spring training and the upcoming season;
• A baby born in March will have been conceived in June, during the height of the season and the onset of summer;
• and August newborns will have formed in the womb in November, when parents are coming off the high of a World Series or the commiseration of a playoff exit.

…Alternately, it’s just statistics.

One more note when it comes to statistics and birthdays: any mathematician seeing those words in conjunction will immediately think of the birthday paradox.

For those unfamiliar, the birthday paradox states that it only takes 23 people in a group of to have a 50 percent chance of any two of that group sharing a birthday. An active MLB roster is 26, so the chance is slightly more, and that chance increases further with the 32-man roster the Twins currently have for spring training.

As it turns out, there is not just one pair of players with matching birthdays, there are two, and it’s pretty likely all four players make the initial roster:

• Royce Lewis & Joe Ryan: June 5
• Josh Bell & Eric Wagaman: August 14

Alas for me, despite the several December birthdays, none of the five players shares my birthday. And on another personal note, across MLB history, no player has ever had my exact birthday (month, day, and year); since I’m in my 30s, it’s safe to say that none ever will. (There has been an NFL player whom I share an exact birthday with, though he is no longer active.)

Anyhow, as the roster gets trimmed and changed over the course of the season, we’ll see how many of these birthday patterns change. Statistics!

(And not “advanced statistics” like John Smoltz and his ilk love to gripe about. Probability!)

Source: https://www.twinkietown.com/specula...ddities-with-twins-birthdays-paradox-december