MINNESOTA TWINS NEWS

Cole Sands - Struggles again Sunday Sands (0-3) allowed five runs on five hits and a walk with five strikeouts in 4.2 innings, taking the loss Sunday versus the Rays.

Impact Sands got through the Rays' order once without trouble, but he struggled after that. While this was his longest appearance of the year, he didn't enjoy any additional success, as he's now allowed at least four runs in all three of his starts this year. The 24-year-old has an 8.82 ERA, 1.78 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB across 16.1 innings in five appearances overall. With Joe Ryan (illness) and Sonny Gray (pectoral) due back this week, Sands is likely to slip out of the rotation, and he could head back to Triple-A St. Paul or end up in the bullpen again.

JUNE 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Springs, Rays finally slow Twins hitters in 6-0 win

Jeffrey Springs threw two-hit ball into the sixth inning, Randy Arozarena stole two bases after twice getting hit by pitches and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Minnesota Twins 6-0

JUNE 12, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Live: Follow Twins vs. Tampa Bay play-by-play on Gameview The Twins close their three-game series vs Tampa Bay at Target Field. Tap here for pitch-by-pitch updates, the real-time box score and game...

JUNE 12, 2022 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Tyler Thornburg - Contract purchased by Twins Thornburg's contract was selected from Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday, Megan Ryan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Impact He struck out five while giving up three hits and zero walks over three innings in two appearances with the Saints. Thornburg is capable of working as a multi-inning reliever and is well rested, having last pitched June 8.

JUNE 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Gary Sánchez - Out of Sunday's lineup Sanchez is not in Sunday's lineup against the Rays.

Impact Sanchez is hitting .125 with one home run and nine strikeouts in nine games this month. Luis Arraez is in at designated hitter while Ryan Jeffers starts behind the dish.

JUNE 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Max Kepler - Out of Sunday's lineup Kepler is not in Sunday's lineup against the Rays.

Impact Kepler is hitting .250 with zero home runs and zero steals in 36 at-bats over his last 10 games. Gilberto Celestino will start in right field and bat seventh.

JUNE 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Alex Kirilloff - Heating up at Triple-A Kirilloff hit two home runs Saturday for Triple-A St. Paul and is hitting .379 with eight home runs and a 1.158 OPS in 24 games since being sent to the minors on May 15.

Impact Kirilloff will likely be called up again soon, but the Twins wanted to see him thrive in the minors after missing several weeks after suffering inflammation in his surgically repaired right wrist in mid-April and early May. There was a fear that Kirilloff may have had his power sapped from a setback to his wrist that needed surgery to repair a ligament tear last summer. It looks like his wrist is fully healthy and he may be able to show the power in the majors again that he did at his peak last season.

JUNE 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Twins aim to sweep 3-game series against the Rays

The Minnesota Twins play the Tampa Bay Rays looking to sweep their three-game series

JUNE 12, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Josh Winder - Set for second rehab outing Winder (shoulder) will make another rehab outing after throwing 30 pitches Friday in one inning with Triple-A St. Paul, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Impact It's possible Winder may need an additional rehab outing or two as the team talked before about building him up slowly before he returns from the injured list. He gave up two runs with three strikeouts and one walk in his one inning of work Friday.

JUNE 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

With injury woes behind, Aaron Sanchez is ready to help the Saints, and eventually, the Twins Aaron Sanchez believes the Saints — and eventually the Twins — are about to reap the benefits that eluded the Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Ast...

JUNE 12, 2022 • TWINCITIES.COM

Luis Arraez - Launches grand slam Arraez went 3-for-5 with a grand slam in Saturday's 6-5 win over the Rays.

Impact Arraez's line looks like that of a typical first baseman, rather than the elite-contact, minimal-power archetype that he actually fits into. He even struck out once, something he'd done in just one of his previous eight games. His third-inning grand slam off Shane Baz means he now has two homers in his last three games, though he still has a total of just three on the year.

JUNE 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Emilio Pagán - Secures save Pagan picked up his eighth save of the season Saturday against the Rays, striking out two batters while retiring the side in order in a scoreless ninth inning.

Impact Pagan was tasked with protecting a one-run lead after Jhoan Duran threw a scoreless eighth inning and never let the Rays have much of a chance, sandwiching a groundout between a pair of strikeouts. Pagan now has an 8-4 lead over Duran on the Twins' saves leaderboard. The outing lowered the right-hander's season ERA to 2.57.

JUNE 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Nick Gordon - Exits with tight hamstring Gordon left Saturday's game against the Rays due to right hamstring tightness, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Impact Gordon went 1-for-3 with a walk prior to his exit. It's not yet clear if his injury will turn out to be serious enough to require a trip to the injured list.

JUNE 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Twins' Devin Smeltzer making his case to stay ahead of recovering pitchers' returns Devin Smeltzer is 3-0 with a 2.38 ERA in six starts with the Twins this year.

JUNE 12, 2022 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Watch out, AL: Arraez is hitting homers now MINNEAPOLIS -- What does it look like to improve upon an already elite hit tool? You’re seeing it with your own eyes. What Luis Arraez had a...

JUNE 12, 2022 • MLB.COM

Chi Chi González - Designated for assignment Gonzalez was designated for assignment by the Twins on Saturday following his start against the Rays, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Impact Gonzalez lasted just four innings, giving up three runs on eight hits while striking out three batters. He now owns a 7.71 ERA through two starts this season and a 5.69 career mark, which makes him unlikely to get claimed off waivers.

JUNE 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Juan Minaya - Clears waivers Minaya cleared waivers Saturday and was outrighted to Triple-A St. Paul, Brandon Warne of Access Twins reports.

Impact Minaya was designated for assignment Tuesday after giving up six runs in 6.1 innings of relief. While he does own a respectable 3.76 career ERA in parts of five major-league seasons, he didn't generate any interest on the waiver wire and will remain as organizational depth for the Twins going forward.

JUNE 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

MLB batting leader Arraez hits 1st slam, Twins beat Rays 6-5

Big league batting leader Luis Arraez hit his first career grand slam and the Minnesota Twins spoiled Shane Baz’s season debut, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 6-5

JUNE 11, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Batting leader Luis Arraez hits first grand slam to lead Twins past Rays The Twins first baseman went 3 for 5 to raise his MLB-leading batting average to .367.

JUNE 11, 2022 • TWINCITIES.COM

Devastating news can't bring Royce down This story was excerpted from Do-Hyoung Park’s Twins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regul...

JUNE 11, 2022 • MLB.COM

Royce Lewis - Transferred to 60-day IL Lewis (knee) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Saturday.

Impact It was reported Friday that Lewis would miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL, so Saturday's transaction was made to free up a spot on the 40-man roster. Given the timing of the injury, don't expect to see Lewis back on the field until sometime next summer.

JUNE 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Yennier Cano - Sent to Triple-A Cano was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday.

Impact Cano was called up earlier in the month, but he will head back to St. Paul for the time being. He has already been recalled and optioned twice this season, so chances are he will rejoin the big club at some point.

JUNE 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Chi Chi González - Called up to start Gonzalez was called up from Triple-A St. Paul on Saturday.

Impact Gonzalez started a game for the Twins earlier this month, and he will get a chance to make his second big-league appearance of the season Saturday. He tossed just 45 pitches in his first major-league game of the season, so there's no guarantee he goes particularly deep into Saturday's contest.

JUNE 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Gio Urshela - Gets breather Saturday Urshela is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rays, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Impact Urshela went 13-for-40 (.325) over his last 11 games, but he will get a day off after making five straight starts. Jose Miranda will man the hot corner in Urshela's place.

JUNE 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Carlos Correa - Not in Saturday's lineup Correa is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rays, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Impact Correa has gone 6-for-12 (.500) since being activated from the injured list, but he will get a day off Saturday for maintenance purposes. Nick Gordon will start at shortstop in Correa's place.

JUNE 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE