All Things 2026 Minnesota Twins In-Season Thread

I wonder what the payoff of the 1st inning Ohtani/Buxton home run parlay was?

Sort of odd that another All Star Freddie Freeman also hit a solo HR along with Ohtani/Buxton, and that wound up being 100% of the runs scored in a 2-1 game.
 

Not that huge of a deal, but they could have had Abel on the 60-day IL and gotten the benefit of an extra slot on the 40 man this entire time.
Huh?

The original MRI, prior to this one showed no ligament damage either. So he was placed in the 15; if he hadn’t experienced additional soreness after his last bullpen session, after completing two rehab starts in St. Paul, he would have pitched Sunday.

I don’t see any errors in that approach🤷‍♂️
 

Huh?

The original MRI, prior to this one showed no ligament damage either. So he was placed in the 15; if he hadn’t experienced additional soreness after his last bullpen session, after completing two rehab starts in St. Paul, he would have pitched Sunday.

I don’t see any errors in that approach🤷‍♂️

I am not being critical of the decision, just pointing it out in hindsight as I initially stated "not that huge of a deal".

Even if Abel had pitched in Arizona on Sunday (June 21) that was still beyond 60 days as he was placed on the list effective April 20. By mid-May at least the signals looked like it was going to be a full 2 months on the list.

I have zero idea if there was anyone worth keeping that they moved off the 40man nor if a FA player that would have been worth adding.
 
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I am not being critical of the decision, just pointing it out in hindsight as I initially stated "not that huge of a deal".

Even if Abel had pitched in Arizona on Sunday (June 21) that was still beyond 60 days as he was placed on the list effective April 20. By mid-May at least the signals looked like it was going to be a full 2 months on the list.

I have zero idea if there was anyone worth keeping that they moved off the 40man nor if a FA player that would have been worth adding.

Thanks for clarifying - I wasn’t aware it had been thst long.

Uber drivers must love you🥸
 



A little bit here about the ABS challenge so far. I imagine teams will really start training young catchers to recognize pitches to challenge. That skill could be as impactful as anything else defensively. Caratini, for example, has added 11 strikeouts of opposing batters due to his challenges and has reversed 3 walks.

3) The ABS Challenge System has an even bigger impact than expected.
While the number of challenges per game (4.2) is right in line with what we saw at the Triple-A level last year, the impact of those challenges has been more pronounced.
Challenges have been more successful at the MLB level this year (53% overturn rate) than they were at the Triple-A level in 2025 (50%). The goal is to get more calls right, and the system is doing that.
ABS leads to a tighter strike zone -- especially at the top end -- than had been enforced previously. And that’s helping to offset the continued decline of batting average in our high-velo, high-spin, pitch-shaping environment that is such hell on hitters.
The walk rate (9.1%) is the highest it's been in a full season since 2000 (9.6%). So while the leaguewide batting average has dipped one point (.245 to .244) from last year, the on-base percentage has actually increased five points (.315 to .320). The strikeout rate has fallen a small amount, from 22.2% to 22%, but it’s the rise in walks that is most notable.
 





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