50 MINS AGO ? THEATHLETIC.COM
MINNESOTA TWINS
78-84 · 2022 3RD IN AL CENTRAL
Gleeman's picks to click: 5 Twins players who will beat their projections in 2023 Are they breakout candidates? Or sleeper picks? Or maybe just underrated?
Spring training roundup: Max Fried stays unbeaten, Braves blank Twins Max Fried gave up only one hit in 6 1/3 innings to remain undefeated this spring, and Marcell Ozuna hit a three-run homer to lead the visiti...
13 HOURS AGO ? NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Jhoan Duran - Suffers leg contusion Duran sustained a leg contusion after being struck by a line drive during a backfield game Sunday, and manager Rocco Baldelli said the right-hander was "moving pretty well," Dan Ha...
Impact There doesn't seem to be much concern regarding the incident, so it appears Duran escaped with only a minor injury. The 25-year-old may be held out for a couple days but should return to the mound relatively quickly. Duran had eight saves and 18 holds with a 1.86 ERA over 67.2 innings as a rookie last season, and he may not see consistent saves this year since Baldelli prioritizes late-inning matchups over the usage of a traditional closer.
15 HOURS AGO ? ROTOWIRE
Sunday's Transactions BASEBALL Major League Baseball American League MINNESOTA TWINS — Optioned RHPs Louie Varland and Trevor Megill to St.
17 HOURS AGO ? SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM
Max Kepler - Dealing with hip tightness Kepler was removed from Sunday's spring game against Atlanta due to left hip tightness, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Impact Kepler went 0-for-1 before being replaced in the field after the third inning. The 30-year-old was the subject of trade rumors throughout the offseason but has remained in Minnesota, and he's hit well during spring training with a .360/.448/.720 slash line and two home runs. It's unclear if the hip issue will affect his availability for Opening Day, which is less than two weeks away.
18 HOURS AGO ? ROTOWIRE
Polanco (knee) doubtful for Opening Day FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Jorge Polanco might not be ready to start the regular season on time, president of baseball operations Derek Falvey anno...
21 HOURS AGO ? MLB.COM
Trevor Megill - Moves to Triple-A Megill was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Impact Megill made 39 appearances out of the bullpen for Minnesota last season and had a 4.80 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 49:17 K:BB across 45 innings, but he won't make the Opening Day roster after he allowed eight earned runs in 6.2 frames this spring. The 29-year-old should join the big-league club at some point this season but is likely to be limited to low-leverage work.
22 HOURS AGO ? ROTOWIRE
Louie Varland - Sent to Triple-A Varland was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Impact Garland made his MLB debut with five starts last year and had a 3.81 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 21:6 K:BB over 26 innings, but he won't open 2023 with the big-league club. The 25-year-old should start out in St. Paul's rotation, though he's likely to receive some spot starts for the Twins at some point this season.
23 HOURS AGO ? ROTOWIRE
Byron Buxton - Plays another minor-league game Buxton went 3-for-3 with a double and a walk in a minor-league game Saturday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Impact Buxton underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in late September, and the Twins are being very careful about easing him into action this spring. Twins management has said Buxton hasn't had any issues, but it's still encouraging to see him play in two games, even if they're just minor-league contests, in the past week. He'll likely play in a few major-league spring games before Opening Day.
1 DAY AGO ? ROTOWIRE
Jorge Polanco - May begin season on injured list Polanco (knee) could begin the season on the injured list after feeling "normal soreness" a couple of times after taking batting practice this spring, the Minneapolis Star Tribune...
Impact Twins management had been saying Polanco was on track for Opening Day even a week ago, but it sounds like his progress has stalled and its worrisome that it could be a setback. Polanco missed the final month of last season with a knee injury. He's been doing back-field work, but has not played in a game. He may need several weeks of extended spring training before he's ready to play in the Twins lineup.
1 DAY AGO ? ROTOWIRE
Twins' Jorge Polanco might begin season on injured list The infielder's achy knee is healing, but time is running out for him to be ready by Opening Day.
1 DAY AGO ? STARTRIBUNE.COM
Twins' No. 1 prospect has 'near-perfect camp' BRADENTON, Fla. -- Brooks Lee earned an invitation to his first Major League camp this spring, soaked up all he could in 12 Grapefruit Leagu...
1 DAY AGO ? MLB.COM
Jhoan Duran - Having strong spring Duran has thrown five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and two walks this spring. He reached 101.1 mph with his fastball in his last outing Thursday.
Impact Duran has already been in mid-season form with his velocity and looks ready for the regular season. He'll be a primary weapon in the Minnesota bullpen, but manager Rocco Baldelli hasn't tipped his hand about his plan for the closer role this spring. While Duran may be the best reliever, Baldelli usually runs his bullpen with disregard to the save statistic. Duran may be used in high-leverage matchups with Jorge Lopez pitching the ninth inning, for example. However, Duran's elite velocity and prior success are traits that could lead Baldelli to break with tradition and use him as the primary closer if he opts to abandon the committee approach.
1 DAY AGO ? ROTOWIRE
Alex Kirilloff - Plays in minor-league game Kirilloff (wrist) played four innings at first base Saturday and went 0-for-2 in a minor-league game, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Impact Kirilloff continues to make progress as he ramps up following surgery last August to shorten the ulnar bone in his right wrist and clean up scar tissue. His return to game action is a significant step and gives hope he'll be ready for the start of the regular season. Kirilloff has a minor-league option remaining, so the Twins could have him report to Triple-A St. Paul to begin the season in order to continue his ramp-up process rather than stashing him on the injured list if he needs more time.
1 DAY AGO ? ROTOWIRE
Matt Wallner - Optioned to Triple-A Wallner was optioned to Triple-A Rochester by the Twins on Tuesday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Impact Wallner was given a chance to win an outfield job with the Twins this spring, but he faced an uphill battle with Minnesota's outfield depth, and his .192/.276/.346 slash in 29 plate appearances in the Grapefruit League obviously didn't help. Wallner will likely be one of the first bats the Twins call on this spring if or when they need an extra outfielder.
1 DAY AGO ? ROTOWIRE
Brooks Lee - Reassigned to minors camp Lee was reassigned Saturday by the Twins to minor-league camp, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Impact Lee was Minnesota's first-round pick in 2022, and struggled in his limited Grapefruit League action with a slash line of .182/.229/.242 over 35 plate appearances. He'll likely begin the season with Double-A Wichita, and he could see time with the Twins before the end of 2023.
1 DAY AGO ? ROTOWIRE
Tyler Mahle - Velocity regresses Friday Mahle gave up three home runs in a row and four runs total in 3.2 innings Friday against the Orioles and his fastball velocity was in the 89-93 mph range after being in the 90-94 m...
Impact In Mahle's March 11 start against the Red Sox, he had 13 pitches of 93-94 mph, and he threw just two pitches of 93 mph and zero 94 mph pitches in Friday's outing. It might be nothing, but it's at least mildly concerning that his velocity is trending down. Mahle struggled with a sore shoulder last year, ending his season in August. All the reports on his shoulder have been positive this spring, but monitor his final spring outings.
1 DAY AGO ? ROTOWIRE
Jorge Polanco - Murky Opening Day status Polanco's availability for Opening Day could be in question, as he has not played in a spring training game while working his way back from last season's knee injury, Dan Hayes of...
Impact Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said earlier in the week that Polanco was on track for Opening Day, but manager Rocco Baldelli was more evasive Friday and said he would have an update in a few days. Polanco missed the final month of last season and has been doing back-field work, but it's getting late enough in spring training that his absence from even a minor-league spring game is cause for concern.
2 DAYS AGO ? ROTOWIRE
Kyle Farmer - Showing power in spring training Farmer went 2-for-3 with two home runs in Friday's spring training loss to Tampa Bay. He's hitting .381 (8-for-21) with three home runs this spring.
Impact Farmer is set to be Minnesota's primary utility player this season. However, it's possible he could get steady playing time at third base or first base at the start of the season if Alex Kirilloff (wrist) isn't ready for Opening Day.
2 DAYS AGO ? ROTOWIRE
Spring training's loss is WBC's gain as viewership jumps
Many of Major League Baseball’s biggest stars like Mike Trout, Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani aren’t playing in spring training these days2 DAYS AGO ? ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mets claim RHP Dennis Santana off waivers from Twins Right-hander Dennis Santana will join his third team of the spring after he was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets.
2 DAYS AGO ? STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
Mets Claim Right-Hander Dennis Santana Off Waivers From Minnesota Twins The five-year MLB veteran has spent time in the majors with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers before being claimed off waivers by Mi...
2 DAYS AGO ? STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
Twins top prospect Lee moving fast, likely to try 3B FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Twins selected Cal Poly star Brooks Lee fifth overall last July. Carlos Correa opted out of his contract in November....
2 DAYS AGO ? MLB.COM
Twins get good news as Jhoan Duran, Nick Gordon and Byron Buxton play Injury concerns were alleviated during the team's spring training games Thursday in Fort Myers.
3 DAYS AGO ? STARTRIBUNE.COM
'He's feeling good': Buxton returns to game action FORT MYERS, Fla. -- While the Twins continue to barrel toward Opening Day -- already just two weeks away -- Byron Buxton must feel like the...
3 DAYS AGO ? MLB.COM
