Twins need trio of star hitters to stay healthy
The Twins begin their 2025 season Thursday, and success or failure will depend largely on three things: Carlos Correa's feet, Byron Buxton's back and Royce Lewis's legs.
Why it matters: With waning fan interest following last season's September collapse, the Twins need a big year to put butts back in Target Field seats and eyeballs on TV broadcasts.
The big picture: Despite fan frustrations over ownership spending and the TV situation, this appears to be a pretty good team.
They're slight favorites to win the mediocre American League Central division, and if they can make the playoffs, the field could be wide open as no team in the AL is projected to win more than 89 games.
They have a strong and deep rotation of starting pitchers and a bullpen that, if healthy, could be lights out.
Yes, but: Their lineup is shaky and their top three hitters — Correa, Buxton and Lewis — are major injury concerns. They combined to play only 270 out of 486 games last year.
Lewis will begin the season on the injured list with a hamstring strain.
Catch up quick: This year's roster is remarkably similar to last year's. Longtime right fielder Max Kepler left for Philadelphia and they added journeyman outfielder Harrison Bader on a modest contract.
Zoom out: For many fans, the more intriguing storyline of the season is not what happens on the field but in the owner's suite.
The Pohlad family put the team up for sale last fall. Hopes that the deep-pocketed Ishbia brothers would buy the Twins were dashed when they chose to pursue the rival Chicago White Sox instead.
A recent report in The Athletic said the team is still on the market and there's buyer interest, but that the Pohlads are holding out at a $1.7 billion price.
The other side (of the river): St. Paul Saints fans should be excited about the season. They'll get to watch some of the Twins' best prospects in years, including slugger Emmanuel Rodriguez and pitchers David Festa and Zebby Matthews.
A potential mid-season call-up of phenom Walker Jenkins also looms.
Nick's prediction: The Twins will go 87-75 and win the division thanks to strong pitching. Their weak lineup will cause them to lose in the first round of the playoffs.
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New York Times
42 minutes ago
- New York Times
Byron Buxton's all-around effort leads Twins over Rangers; Jorge Alcala traded to Red Sox
MINNEAPOLIS — Byron Buxton achieved 'big boy' status in the third inning. In both halves of the inning, the dynamic Twins outfielder demonstrated his full capabilities when healthy, first with a run-saving, diving catch, then as he walloped a mammoth home run, the longest of his career and second furthest hit in the majors this season. Advertisement Buxton's outstanding all-around game, David Festa's recovery and a late offensive outburst highlighted by Willi Castro's two-run triple propelled the Twins to a 6-2 victory over the Texas Rangers in front of 18,904 at Target Field. Buxton, who blasted a three-run, go-ahead homer, which traveled 479 feet, finished 3-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base as the Twins improved to 36-31. Buxton, whose homer traveled to a part of the park previously reached by former Twins, the likes of Miguel Saño and Kennys Vargas, leads all major-league center fielders with an .857 OPS. BYRON BUXTON!!! 479 FEET!!!!! 🤯 (make him an All-Star: — (@twinstv) June 12, 2025 'I knew that was a good one,' Buxton laughed. 'I ain't going to lie. I knew that was a good one. It's weird. My last (long homer) was off a slider, too. I don't hit fastballs far, but I can hit a slider. … That's big boy status. That's exactly how far I can hit it right there.' Buxton was far happier with his catch, one which prevented Texas from taking a big early lead a night after it routed the Twins. Already ahead 2-0 with two on and two outs, Marcus Semien, who earlier hit a solo homer, ripped a 97 mph liner toward the gap in left-center off Festa. But as he's done so many times before, Buxton soared toward the ball, dove and hauled it in as he safely tumbled to the ground. 'It caught me by surprise when he caught that because I knew it was hit right between us,' Castro said. 'It was a hell of a play.' You know where we heard is a good place to spend the All-Star break for guys that make catches like this? ATLANTA Get him there: — Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 12, 2025 Buxton matched the impact with his bat a few minutes later. Facing outstanding rookie Jack Leiter, the Twins finally got something going in the third. Brooks Lee extended his career-high hitting streak to 11 games with a leadoff double and Christian Vázquez followed with a walk to bring up Buxton, who was walked in his first trip to the plate. Advertisement After fouling off a 2-2 fastball to stay alive, Buxton got all of a slider off the outside edge, hammering it off the stairs of the second deck in dead center field. Mike Trout's 484-foot blast hit in April is the only homer to travel further this season. 'There are a few homers that you remember,' Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. 'That one will stick.' Buxton nearly made more memories if not for a potential missed call at the plate by umpire Ryan Wills. With the Twins leading 3-2 in the fifth inning, Buxton doubled to left and advanced to third on a fly ball to deep right. Buxton then appeared to score on a grounder hit directly at first baseman Josh Smith, who was playing in and made a perfect throw home, only for Wills to call him out. The Twins immediately challenged the call, and replay officials determined the call stood and Buxton was out. Buxton joked he'd review the replay because he thought he was safe. But with the knowledge he shifted the game's momentum and, more importantly, a win secured, Buxton was in a good mood. 'Especially with saving the runs and immediately putting something on the board,' he said. 'That deflates you very quickly.' Jorge Alcala's Twins tenure ended after the team's victory. The team announced Alcala was traded to the Boston Red Sox for 21-year-old High-A outfielder Andy Lugo late Wednesday. A team source confirmed no cash was included in a deal which was set in motion earlier in the day when the Twins claimed left-hander Joey Wentz off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Though the Twins made space on the 40-man roster by transferring Pablo López to the 60-day injured list, they still needed to make space on the active roster for Wentz, who is expected to be activated for Thursday's game. '(Wentz has) got good ride on the heater,' Baldelli said. 'He's got an assortment of pitches that he works with. We're excited. … It gives you an opportunity to make good adjustments and maybe even help him go beyond even anything that he's been doing to this point.' Advertisement Acquired in a July 2018 trade that sent Ryan Pressly to Houston, Alcala never lived up to his prospect hype. A big arm capable of topping 100 mph, who debuted in 2019, Alcala struggled against left-handed hitters. Over the last 11 months, Alcala struggled against everyone, posting a 7.47 ERA with 13 home runs allowed in 47 innings. Adding Wentz gives the Twins a second lefty to split the load with Danny Coulombe. A former Detroit Tiger, Wentz posted a 4.15 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 26 innings this season for the Pirates. Baldelli also noted Wentz's ability to pitch multiple innings as intriguing. With the Twins clinging to a one-run lead after 4 1/2 innings, Festa's night appeared to be over. Then the Twins bats produced a three-spot as Castro laced a two-out, two-run triple and Carlos Correa followed with an RBI double. The bullpen went silent and Festa, who appeared to be on the verge of a quick exit in the second and third innings, needed only 10 pitches to retire the heart of the Texas lineup in order. Bailed out by Buxton's diving grab in the third after he narrowly avoided surrendering a two-run homer — Smith doubled high off the wall to bring in a run instead — Festa recovered nicely. Starting with Buxton's grab, Festa retired nine of the last 10 he faced. He even quickly erased the one batter who reached base, picking off Evan Carter after issuing a one-out walk in the fourth. Festa allowed two earned runs and three hits, and walked two with four strikeouts in six innings. 'I felt good to go back out there,' Festa said. 'Whatever the team needed in that situation. I didn't know what the plan was. But in my situation, you're just kind of putting your head (down) and focusing until Roc takes the ball from you.' Though he doesn't think it'll result in a trip to the injured list, Bailey Ober acknowledged knee and hip discomfort is playing a part in mechanical issues that have resulted in reduced fastball velocity. Advertisement Set to start Thursday, Ober thinks he's cleaned up the issues that led to his fastball averaging under 90 mph in two consecutive starts, his lowest of the season. Ober worked on mechanics during a bullpen session Tuesday and thinks he's in a good place, though he'd like to feel better physically. Ober first experienced the discomfort in spring training after a pickoff attempt and has received daily treatment to manage it, which he said is atypical. Ober's average fastball has peaked at 91 mph and is sitting at 90.4 mph for the season. 'I would like to be better, but it is what it is,' Ober said. 'It's nothing I haven't pitched through. … Felt good going into the season. I feel like my velo was OK. It was still a little down, up until two weeks ago in Seattle, but not as much as it is right now. But, yeah, it feels majority mechanical and battling the ups and downs of feeling good and not good during the season.' (Top photo of Byron Buxton celebrating his three-run homer: Jordan Johnson / Imagn Images)
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Alonso's new-look Real Madrid aiming for Club World Cup glory
After Real Madrid's hopes of major silverware this season faded the Club World Cup took on far greater importance for them and it will provide an insight into new coach Xabi Alonso's strategy. The 43-year-old Spaniard, who replaced Carlo Ancelotti at the helm, along with new arrivals Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen add a fresh look to a team that emerged battered and bruised from a domestic season dominated by bitter rivals Barcelona. Former Bayer Leverkusen coach Alonso may deploy his favoured 3-4-3 formation which would give England international Alexander-Arnold an important role on the right flank. Recent Spain debutant Huijsen also bolsters a back-line which has been badly hit by injuries this season. Madrid still have several players sidelined, including Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao and Eduardo Camavinga, but some may be able to make their return during the tournament. Midfielder Jude Bellingham is expected to have shoulder surgery after Real's participation ends which they hope is after they have been crowned champions. Their title ambitions is why they paid a reported £10 million ($13.5 million) to sign Alexander-Arnold early, his Liverpool contract was due to end on June 30. In Group H Real Madrid's campaign begins against Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal on June 18 in Miami, before facing Mexican outfit Pachuca in Charlotte on June 22. Alonso's team then face Austria's RB Salzburg in Philadelphia on June 26 in their final group game. Al-Hilal may be a tougher proposition than many expect, having recently appointed Simone Inzaghi as coach after he guided Inter Milan to the Champions League final. With a squad full of well-known names, including Aleksandar Mitrovic, Joao Cancelo and Kalidou Koulibaly, Al-Hilal will believe in their chances of causing an upset. Pachuca have former Newcastle striker Salomon Rondon leading the line but are seen as the weakest team in the group. Madrid beat them 3-0 in the Intercontinental Cup last December, with Kylian Mbappe, Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Junior all on target. Real also thrashed Salzburg 5-1 in January in the Champions League group phase, although the record 15-time winners were dumped out by Arsenal in the quarter-finals. - 'Ambitious' play - Ancelotti suggested a year ago that top clubs including Madrid would skip the Club World Cup, but was forced to backtrack, and with the winners bagging as much as $135 million, victory is important to the Spanish giants. After Barcelona reclaimed La Liga on the way to wrapping up a domestic treble, beating Madrid four times in the process, Madrid would also welcome some sporting success to raise morale and increase belief before the new campaign. Some of the same problems that Ancelotti could not solve are in Alonso's in-tray and the Club World Cup is the first chance for him to answer them. The Italian complained about a lack of balance because of the top-heavy attack, and Alonso has already suggested Bellingham will be used in a deeper role than previously. A classy midfielder at Madrid and Liverpool in his playing days, Alonso must find a way of playing both Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe without causing Madrid too many problems at the back. "We have to get everything we can out of them -- I have ideas," said Alonso earlier this month. "I am thinking about how to make a balanced team... (and create) a stability that will allow individual qualities to flourish." Madrid's football was often criticised under Ancelotti, to the Italian's chagrin, and Alonso said he wants his team to excite the fans. "We want an ambitious and active game, knowing how to take the initiative, and we have the players for it," he added. "I want a team that transmits emotion, energy, ambitious play and connects with the fans." Alexander-Arnold's supreme passing range may help Madrid overcome the absence of Toni Kroos, who left last summer, while Croatian veteran Luka Modric is playing his final matches for the club before departing. Leaving with a trophy would be an appropriate farewell for one of the game's modern greats, while record 15-time European Cup winners Madrid would also take pride in being the first team to win the expanded Club World Cup. rbs/pi
Chicago Tribune
2 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
After running long distances and sprints, Lockport's Nolan Lamoureux rolls to state title in 800. ‘A big jumble.'
A stress fracture in grade school has been a blessing in disguise for Lockport's Nolan Lamoureux. The Lewis-bound senior track star enjoyed cross country and distance running as a youngster, but as he approached the high school stage of his life, that aspect started to take a toll on him. Lamoureux suffered that stress fracture in seventh grade, but that's not all. 'COVID hit right after,' he said. 'It was just a big jumble.' When all was said and done, Lamoureux ended up loving the sprints. He spent three years concentrating on those events for the Porters, finishing third in the state as a junior in the 400. Veteran Lockport coach Tom Razo sat down with Lamoureux before this spring, and they came up with the idea of Lamoureux running races in the middle distances, in particular the 800. That plan worked out pretty well. So well, in fact, that Lamoureux went out and won the Class 3A state championship in that event at Eastern Illinois' O'Brien Field in Charleston. 'He came into our school as a sprinter and I knew him as a distance runner,' Razo said of Lamoureux. 'He made his mark as a freshman sprinter, but I thought he would be at a whole different level if he moves up. 'It took us a while to talk him into it. His junior year, he dabbled in it. This year, after the indoor season was over, he said 'OK, I think the best shot for me winning a title is moving up.''' Lamoureux won the state title in a time of 1:51.92, edging out Yorkville's Owen Horeni at 1:52.22. Then, in the 1,600 relay, Lamoureux joined Fope Omisore, Xavier Adeniyi and Michael Nicholson to finish second for the Porters with a 3:18.01, losing out to Evanston's 3:17.73. Still, Lamoureux became Lockport's first state champion since John Meyer won the shot put in 2018 and the first runner for the Porters to take gold since 2008 when Kyle Engnell won the 1,600. Homewood-Flossmoor's 400 relay of Joaquin Jordan, Charles Dees, Myles Ellis and Zion Morrison won the Class 3A state title with a 41.00. In Class 2A, Southland Prep's Amauree Williams became the first boys track athlete in program history to win a state championship, prevailing in the 300 hurdles with a 37.77. Lamoureux's win, however, wasn't easy. It was a come-from-behind victory. 'No one challenged him all year long,' Razo said of Lamoureux. 'He controlled all of the races he was in. The young man from Yorkville took off at 400 meters, gapped him and gapped him good. 'I was kind of worried there for a second. I'm thinking 'OK, you've got to respond to this.' Prior to the race, we talked about going out at a certain pace, which he did. During the last 200 meters, I wanted him to kick like a mad fiend and he did. With 50 meters left, he took control.' Razo may have been a little worried, but Lamoureux was unfazed. 'Throughout the race, I knew that he was a fast mile guy,' Lamoureux said of Horeni. 'But I knew I had a stronger kick. I let him get out a little bit ahead of me, but it's all about tactical racing. 'I was staying not too far behind, and I was at a good point where I was still in the race. I knew that as long as I kicked, I would still have the race.' In grade school, Lamoureux started running because when he played basketball he was faster than everyone else. Track, though, is something that he has grown to love. 'It's a sport where I can challenge myself,' he said. 'And it keeps me motivated.'
