CJ Baumgartner

1 month ago | zonecoverage.com | CJ Baumgartner

One of the more intriguing storylines of the Rocco Baldelli era has been the Minnesota Twins’ inability to steal bases. Since he became the club’s skipper, the team has been dead last with 285 stolen bases from 2019 to 2024. It was jarring for Twins fans who remember watching Rod Carew, Chuck Knoblauch, Cristian Guzmán, and Denard Span. It felt like the team had abandoned the ground game. The Twins have had a rough start, with a 9-16 record in the first month of the 2025 season.

1 month ago | zonecoverage.com | CJ Baumgartner |Theo Tollefson |Brandon Warne |Tom Schreier

In April, injuries are beginning to pile up on the Minnesota Twins’ lineup. They have placed Matt Wallner on the injured list with left hamstring tightness after he left Tuesday night’s game. The Twins are “optimistic” that Carlos Correa can avoid an IL stint after experiencing wrist soreness. Willi Castro left Wednesday’s series finale against the New York Mets because of mild right oblique tightness.

2 months ago | zonecoverage.com | CJ Baumgartner |Brandon Warne |Tom Schreier

The Minnesota Twins have struggled to get runners across the plate in their first five games this year. They’ve only scored 14 runs through the first stretch of games, which hasn’t been good enough for a team hoping to erase memories of the 12-27 stretch in their last 39 games of the season last year when they missed the playoffs for the third time in the last four seasons. The hitters alone aren’t culpable. There have been some concerning blowup starts in the early season, too.

2 months ago | zonecoverage.com | Chris Schad |Theo Tollefson |CJ Baumgartner

On Sunday afternoon, Royce Lewis pounded the ball into the turf. He ran to first base like he will countless times during the 2025 season. For most players, this is a routine play. For Minnesota Twins fans, it’s an adventure. Lewis pulled up midway to the bag and started hobbling like someone had shot him in the leg. The 25-year-old briefly talked with manager Rocco Baldelli and lead trainer Nick Paparesta, and Minnesota took him out of the game. Twins fans knew what was next.

2 months ago | zonecoverage.com | CJ Baumgartner |Theo Tollefson |Lou Hennessy |Brandon Warne

The Minnesota Twins catching tandem may have a “last dance” of sorts this year. Ryan Jeffers and Christian Vázquez have been the 1-A and 1-B options for the team since the start of the 2023 season. Vázquez is entering the last year of his contract. Despite the offseason trade rumors, he will finish out his contract in Minnesota. Jeffers won’t be a free agent until 2027. Still, the catching room will look much different next season without Vázquez.