![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/GettyImages-2284569936-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSomehow, the Minnesota Twins are relevant coming out of the All-Star break. Not only that, they\u2019re currently playing some of their best baseball of the season.<\/p>\n
The Twins are 48-49 and in the postseason mix in a middling American League after falling to a season-worst eight games below .500 a month ago.<\/p>\n
Byron Buxton and Joe Ryan\u2019s second consecutive All-Star campaigns drove much of the Twins\u2019 pre-break success. Taj Bradley\u2019s development has been key, too. But many other developments made the Twins interesting.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the Twins are only playing .495 ball. The roster remains flawed. Ecstatic as the team\u2019s diehard fans might be, they probably shouldn\u2019t start patting each other\u2019s backs quite yet.<\/p>\n
With that in mind, here\u2019s a look at what went right and wrong before the All-Star break.<\/p>\n
The good<\/p>\n
\u2022 In November, it was widely speculated that Trevor Larnach\u2019s time with the Twins was ending. Through parts of five seasons, the 2018 first-rounder produced a 102 OPS+ and was far from a bust. But Larnach was competing for time with fellow left-handed-hitting corner outfielders Matt Wallner, James Outman and Alan Roden, and Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez appeared close to ready. Allocating $4.48 million for Larnach didn\u2019t make much sense.<\/p>\n
Well, we were all wrong.<\/p>\n
Larnach entered the All-Star break hitting .289\/.379\/.441 and Baseball Reference ranks him third among Twins position players with 1.3 WAR. He\u2019s got a 1.063 OPS with runners in scoring position and a .965 OPS when hitting leadoff.<\/p>\n
Larnach also embodies the team\u2019s all-for-one mentality, accepting his role in a platoon and trying to build his routine around that role.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Is there a better find than unofficial closer Yoendrys G\u00f3mez? If so, it\u2019s Andrew Morris. There is no .500 in sight without these two relievers.<\/p>\n
Featuring a fastball and a sweeper, G\u00f3mez has a 1.71 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 26 1\/3 innings and has converted all 10 save tries for the Twins.<\/p>\n
Morris is soaring since pitching in shorter relief stints. He\u2019s throwing 100 mph and is putting hitters away with a nasty cutter, posting a 2.37 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 30 1\/3 innings since May 9.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n One year after being fired as Pirates manager, first-year Twins skipper Derek Shelton, right, was named to the AL All-Star coaching staff. (Stephen Maturen \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0Manager Derek Shelton stressed good communication with players. He\u2019s doing it well and it\u2019s paying off.<\/p>\n
The Twins are better because Shelton\u2019s coaching staff has convinced players to move around over time, improving baseball\u2019s second-worst defense. Luke Keaschall, Kody Clemens, Royce Lewis, Austin Martin, Brooks Lee and Ryan Kreidler all have improved after switching positions and are saving pitchers runs.<\/p>\n
Players also routinely cite their trust in the coaching staff\u2019s plan.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Clemens is the poster child for a group of opportunists making the most of newfound chances with the Twins. He\u2019s improved his OPS versus southpaws by 140 points over his career mark, continues to hit with runners in scoring position and is a clubhouse leader.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s been even more impressive is how Clemens effortlessly moves around the field. He\u2019s been a plus defender at first base, second base and in center and right field, too, producing 7 Defensive Runs Saved overall.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The\u00a0decision to sign Victor Caratini for $14 million over two years was justified the instant Ryan Jeffers broke his hamate bone on May 18.<\/p>\n
The Twins snuck Alex Jackson, who is earning $1.35 million, through waivers at the end of spring training. Keeping him and Caratini allowed the Twins to go 24-22 without Jeffers, who\u2019s having a career year at the plate.<\/p>\n
Caratini produced an .861 OPS over 36 games while Jackson produced a .729 OPS, a tick above league average.<\/p>\n
Even with Jeffers back, the Twins are keeping all three catchers because it\u2019s easier to hide a third backstop on a 13-man position player roster.<\/p>\n
The bad<\/p>\n
\u2022 While open tryouts and figuring it out on the fly yielded roles for Morris and G\u00f3mez, the bullpen has nearly sucked the life out of this team. Remember the April home series against Cincinnati when the bullpen blew two winnable games? Or the May walk-off in Pittsburgh? The Kansas City series in June was no picnic, either.<\/p>\n
The lowlights from this patchwork group are plentiful.<\/p>\n
Through 97 games, the Twins bullpen\u2019s 5.19 ERA ranks 29th of 30 teams; its minus-0.72 Win Probability Added is 22nd. Eric Orze walked too many batters. Taylor Rogers is struggling against right-handed hitters. Justin Topa had an 8.05 ERA. Liam Hendriks and Andrew Chafin didn\u2019t even make it through the door.<\/p>\n
Injuries slowed Cole Sands, Marco Raya, Garrett Acton, Cody Laweryson and David Festa.<\/p>\n
The rest are an army of waiver claims and faceless relievers.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Not that Carlos Correa was good (he produced minus-11 DRS in 2025 for the Twins), but finding a suitable defender at shortstop has been difficult. Brooks Lee and Tristan Gray are a combined minus-15 DRS at shortstop this season.<\/p>\n
Keaschall was minus-6 DRS at second base, which prompted a move to the outfield. Lewis was minus-1 DRS at third, resulting in a switch to first base. Meanwhile, Lee was shifted to third base.<\/p>\n
Only after sliding Kreidler in at shortstop more often with Clemens moving to second base did the Twins begin to clean up their mess. Before that, the infield was a sieve that led to far too many runs for pitchers.<\/p>\n
\u2022 After another early-season slump, Matt Wallner\u2019s future with the Twins may be as uncertain as ever. Not only did Wallner hit .167\/.259\/.292 in 34 games before being demoted, but he produced minus-8 DRS in only 284 innings in right field, the second-worst showing by a right fielder this season behind Colorado\u2019s Tyler Freeman (minus-9).<\/p>\n