MINNESOTA TWINS NEWS

Jeff Hoffman - Heading to Minnesota Hoffman (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with the Twins on Sunday that includes an invite to big-league spring training, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Impact Hoffman elected free agency after being designated for assignment by the Reds in November, and he's finally secured a new deal with spring training just underway. The 30-year-old had a 3.83 ERA and 45:23 K:BB over 44.2 innings last season but missed the second half with forearm and elbow issues. The right-hander's contract includes opt outs March 28, May 15 and June 15, so he'll have options if the Twins don't add him to the big-league roster.

FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Royce Lewis - Moves to 60-day IL Lewis (knee) was placed on the 60-day injured list Sunday.

Impact The 23-year-old underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL in June of last year, so the move to the 60-day IL is hardly a surprise. Lewis' rehab program has reportedly gone well to this point, and he could be ready for game action by late June or early July if he continues to progress with no issues.

FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dennis Santana - Claimed by Minnesota Santana was claimed off waivers by the Twins on Sunday.

Impact Santana was acquired by Atlanta in November, but the club apparently put him on waivers this week. The right-hander appeared in 63 games for the Rangers last year and had a 5.22 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 54:28 K:BB across 58.2 innings.

FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

A conversation with Buster Posey: On the transition from player to investor, the Giants' wild offseason, and more Posey details his respect for Carlos Correa, his thoughts on MLB's relationship to labor, what he'd say to Scott Cousins, and more.

FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Chance Sisco - Returns from knee injury Sisco (knee) started at DH and went 0-for-4 in his spring debut Saturday against Baltimore.

Impact Sisco appeared in just 10 games for the Twins' Triple-A affiliate in St. Paul in 2022 before being shut down for the season in May due to a left knee strain. He'll compete for a roster spot this spring, but likely adds depth behind the plate at Triple-A.

FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Christian Vázquez - Scratched with illness Vazquez was scratched before Saturday's spring game against Tampa Bay due to flu-like symptoms, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Impact Vazquez was set to be in the starting lineup, but he was replaced by Ryan Jeffers shortly before game time. While his illness shouldn't be a worry for his Opening Day status, it's reassuring to hear it wasn't something more serious. Vazquez should slot in as Minnesota's starting catcher after signing as a free agent following an impressive 2022 season across stops in Boston and Houston. The 32-year-old backstop slashed .274/.315/.399 with nine home runs, 52 RBI, one stolen base and 41 runs scored over 119 contests.

FEBRUARY 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Twins' Kenta Maeda pitches in first game in 18 months Kenta Maeda threw a scoreless inning in the Twins’ first spring training game.

FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • TWINCITIES.COM

Jorge Alcala - Rocky spring debut Alcala gave up two earned runs on two hits with a walk and no strikeouts over one inning in his spring debut Saturday against Tampa Bay.

Impact It was Alcala's first competitive game since June as he struggled with injuries last season. Alcala went on the injured list in mid-April with a sore right elbow. He experienced a setback when trying to return in June, and then underwent season-ending arthroscopic debridement surgery on his elbow in August. He had a rough spring debut, but he's likely rusty with the long layoff. More importantly, he's looked healthy early in spring. If he can work out the kinks, he's expected to be a key setup man and could figure in the mix for saves with the Twins possibly using a committee approach.

FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Kenta Maeda - Scoress inning in spring debut Maeda (elbow) threw 13 pitches in a scoreless inning with a hit allowed and strikeout in his spring debut Saturday. He reached 90.3 mph with his fastball. "Just a relief to be able...

Impact Maeda hadn't thrown a competitive pitch since August of 2021 before undergoing Tommy John surgery. He hopes to reach 92-93 mph with his fastball, but velocity hasn't been a big part of his arsenal (90.6 mph in 2021). The Twins will slowly ramp him back up this spring, but the larger question is if the Twins will use a six-man rotation in April to ease Maeda back into action.

FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Charley Walters: Former Twins ace Frank Viola optimistic about robot umpires The St. Paul Saints, and other Triple-A baseball teams this season, will use robot umpires to call balls and strikes. Former Minnesota Twin...

FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • TWINCITIES.COM

Maeda sharp in long-awaited return from TJ FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Hammond Stadium radar gun lit up at 102.5 mph for Jhoan Duran on Saturday -- but all eyes were on the guy who was th...

FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • MLB.COM

Twins bats start out hot against Rays in spring training opener The Twins scored six runs in the second inning.

FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Ex-Yankees OF Joey Gallo: Minnesota Is 'More My Vibe' Gallo is hopeful that he can excel in the Minnesota market after struggling mightily in New York

FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Orioles pitcher Drew Rom will start Saturday’s Grapefruit League opener against the Minnesota Twins Orioles pitcher Drew Rom will start Saturday’s Grapefruit League opener against the Minnesota Twins. Baseball America has the 23-year-old le...

FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • DENVERPOST.COM

Pitch clock will put Twins' effective signing to the test Manager Rocco Baldelli and third base coach Tommy Watkins know there will be no wiggle room in waggling signals to hitters.

FEBRUARY 25, 2023 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Notes: Jax eyes triple-digit heat; Kirilloff 'optimistic' FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Four of the pitchers who could factor into this season’s Twins bullpen have thrown 100 mph in a Major League game. Griff...

FEBRUARY 24, 2023 • MLB.COM

Alex Kirilloff - Not full-time starter at first base Kirilloff (wrist) is one of many players Twins manager Rocco Baldelli plans to use at first base this season, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Impact "We don't have a first baseman," Baldelli said. "We have several guys that are going to play first base. We don't need one guy that's going to play first base." Kirilloff was expected to see the lion's share of starts at the position as long as he's healthy though, and the 25-year-old is optimistic about his recovery from right wrist surgery last August. However, Donovan Solano, Nick Gordon, Jose Miranda and Joey Gallo could also see playing time there. The Twins are also expected to have a turnstile in the designated hitter spot, with all of the aforementioned players and others in the mix, and that approach could impact the playing-time picture at first base.

FEBRUARY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Bonjour! Meet rising Twins prospect Edouard Julien FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Edouard Julien says that when he arrived in his first big league camp a few weeks ago, Jorge Polanco surprised him by tr...

FEBRUARY 24, 2023 • MLB.COM

Ronny Henriquez - Battling elbow injury Henriquez is dealing with right posterior elbow soreness, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

Impact The reliever underwent an MRI and will be re-evaluated in about a week after receiving an injection. Henriquez probably wasn't going to crack the Opening Day bullpen anyway, but this injury should officially rule out that possibility even if it doesn't wind up being serious.

FEBRUARY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

2023 MLB World Series odds: Futures lines for every team

Spring training is here, so it's time to look at the 2023 World Series odds. Let's dive into the latest Fall Classic futures at FOX Bet!

FEBRUARY 24, 2023

MLB catchers wary of looming robo umps amid rules changes

Yankees All-Star catcher Jose Trevino is among big league catchers staunchly against introducing robo umps at the major league level

FEBRUARY 24, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Twins notes: Alex Kirilloff 'optimistic' about wrist recovery; Donovan Solano arrives Notes on Alex Kirilloff, Donovan Solano and Christian Vázquez at Twins camp.

FEBRUARY 24, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Rosenthal: For Twins' Joey Gallo, will a new team and a change at the plate revive his game? While any optimism about Joey Gallo must be tempered, it is not unfounded. With a strong season, he could be a coveted free agent at 30.

FEBRUARY 24, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Twins newcomer Donovan Solano proves his loyalty with his actions Team Colombia star pulls out of World Baseball Classic to focus on spring training with the Twins; Kenta Maeda will start the team's first e...

FEBRUARY 24, 2023 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Twins finalize 1-year deal with vet infielder Donovan Solano Infielder Donovan Solano finalized a $2 million, one-year contract with the Minnesota Twins, who added another productive and versatile play...

FEBRUARY 23, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM