Recent content from Bobby Nightengale
Twins starter David Festa expects new pitch to unlock next level in his development
After struggling to pitch righthanders inside last season, Festa has added a sinker to his repertoire.
Observations from Twins camp: What stands out in full-squad workouts
We see … Jose Miranda at both infield corners, new guys Harrison Bader and Ty France slashing, Chris Paddack throwing hard and Pablo López doing "nasty" stuff.
'I love this': Hitters get fired up as Twins practice challenging ball and strike calls
Major league teams will use a challenge system during spring training. It was popular Thursday.
Twins' Martin wants to go back to college, but not for education
He was at his athletic best when he was playing for Vanderbilt, where he became a high first-round draft pick.
Rookie Twins pitcher relives his spring training moment of heroism
Travis Adams helped rescue an older man from a burning house in March 2024. "There wasn't even a second thought," he said about the decision he made.
Amid a comeback born on TikTok, Twins pitcher aims for accuracy and a major league future
Alex Speas gained fame and regained his baseball career after he threw a viral pitch 97 mph while retired and coaching Little League.
With new hitting coaches, Twins set priorities for their offense
Twins players will likely receive more at-bats during spring training. During the season, they will be expected to take batting practice on the field much more often.
Projecting the Twins' Opening Day roster as spring workouts begin
The first full-squad workout is Monday for the Twins. Here's a look at which players might make the final cuts.
Twins aim to fix former top Dodgers prospect Cartaya
Catcher Diego Cartaya was rated as the Dodgers' No. 1 prospect in 2023 but then fell out of favor in the organization.
'He's going to play a lot': A new face arrives at Twins camp as the starting first baseman
Manager Rocco Baldelli is unfazed by last season's numbers for Ty France, the worst of his career, and France is executing a plan to improve.
Twins Rule 5 draftee embraces the roster challenge that comes with the label
The rules say Eiberson Castellano must stay in the big leagues or be offered back to the Phillies, quite a chance for a pitcher who has barely tasted Class AA.
Twins' Paddack finds confidence by moving out of his comfort zone
The righthander's statistics didn't satisfy him last season, and then he got injured. He blames his mental approach: "When you get comfortable in this game, the next guy is up."
'It's good for the game': Twins players accept Dodgers' offseason spending, embrace it as a challenge
The spree has led to criticism of the World Series champion and of Major League Baseball, but athletes say the market is working.
First base, rookie contributors: Nine questions facing the Twins in spring training
The Twins open camp hoping their pitching pipeline and new hitting coaches can make a difference.
Twins center fielder Byron Buxton wants to expand on steps taken in 2024
Buxton played more games than he had in seven seasons, but still was hit by the injury bug too often.
Granted a little more money to spend, Twins seek to fortify roster depth
As moves with Harrison Bader and Danny Coulombe became official, team President Derek Falvey said he'd been "greenlighted" by Joe Pohlad to "add a little bit here."
Twins clear roster space by trading outfielder Helman to St. Louis Cardinals
The team has agreed to terms with two free agents in the past two days.
Twins build outfield depth by signing free agent Harrison Bader
Veteran Mets, Cardinals player won a Gold Glove in 2021.
Twins to add first free agent of offseason, reuniting with Danny Coulombe
Coulombe returns after pitching effectively the past two seasons for Baltimore, but he's coming off elbow surgery.
Twins' top prospect welcomes high expectations after 'below average' season
Walker Jenkins, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 draft, gave himself harsh grades after one full year in the system.
Healthy after foot injuries, Correa stays upbeat about Twins despite payroll constraints
Recovery strategies ranging from walking barefoot to shockwave therapy have the shortstop confident: "I'm ready to go, full go."
Already designated the Twins' Opening Day starter, López says he's unbothered by trade rumors
The righthander's name comes up because teams see Minnesota lacks payroll flexibility, but he tries to pay little attention.
Twins expect pace of quiet offseason to pick up as spring training nears
With payroll constrained, trades look more likely than free agent signings.
Twins flip Dodgers prospect to begin international signing period
Teilon Serrano heads this year's crop of teenage additions.
Twins sign former Athletics infielder to minor league deal
Armando Alvarez played first base and third base in 16 games for Oakland. He ranged further in the minor leagues, where he hit .315 in Class AAA last season.
Twins acquire catcher Diego Cartaya from Dodgers; arbitration eligible players all agree to contracts
Diego Cartaya was a promising prospect who stalled in the Los Angeles organization.
Adrianza joins Twins as player development assistant
Ehire Adrianza, who played with the Twins and four other teams during a 12-year major league career, positioned himself for a front office or coaching position after retirement.
Twins sign first baseman Mike Ford to minor league deal
The veteran lefthanded hitting Ford will be among the candidate to succeed Carlos Santana at first.
Twins trade lefty reliever Moran to Red Sox for utilityman Gasper
On Tuesday, the Twins dealt lefthanded reliever Jovani Moran, who missed the entire 2024 season recovering from Tommy John surgery, to Boston in exchange for catcher/infielder Mickey Gasper.
Former Twins manager Gardenhire wins team's Carneal Award
Twins will have to replace two minor league coordinators, and five players get pre-arbitration bonuses.
Takeaways: What we learned about the Twins' offseason plans at the winter meetings
Here's a list: They're prioritizing trades over free agency. They're seeking a first baseman and a righthanded-hitting outfielder. And Derek Falvey sees a prospect likely to make an impact.
Twins aim to meet with hotshot Japanese pitcher
Robust competition is likely for righthander Roki Sasaki, whose agent suggests a "smaller, midmarket" team might be a good route to take, but the Los Angeles Dodgers are said to be the favorites to land him.
Agent Boras says Correa is happy with Twins
The speculation surrounding shortstop Carlos Correa's availability in a trade was overblown this week, Twins officials indicated at the winter meetings in Dallas.
Twins pluck pitcher from Phillies in Rule 5 draft
Eiberson Castellano must remain on the major league roster for the entire 2025 season or he would have to return to the Phillies. He is projected as a reliever.
Will Twins move Royce Lewis to second base?
The top pick in the 2017 MLB draft has been a third baseman during most of his injury-shorted big league career.
Twins focused on trade market during winter meetings with 'high bar' for any Carlos Correa talks
Given the continuing payroll restrictions, the Twins are unlikely to make a free-agent splash in the offseason, but Juan Soto megadeal may get things moving.
Falvey's baseball-and-biz assignment is rare, but he's seen it done
The Twins executive was on hand with Cleveland when Mark Shapiro did the double, and Shapiro noticed then his ability to "connect across every role in the organization."
How Zoll worked to become the seventh general manager in Twins history
Only 34 years old, Jeremy Zoll has worked his way up the organizational ranks since coming to the Twins in 2018.
Twins moves: Falvey replaces St. Peter as team president; Zoll is new general manager
Dave St. Peter, who has been with the team for 35 years, moves to an advisory role as the Twins prepare for an offseason sale.
Twins rookie starter David Festa had interesting second-half numbers
Next up for the 6-6 righthander: Extending his outings, and developing another pitch. Will that happen in the majors or minors?
Twins takeaways from GM meetings: Rodriguez, trade candidates, coaching staff update
Emmanuel Rodriguez had an abbreviated season after being hit by the injury bug, but he showed promise as a disciplined hitter.
Boras: New Twins ownership should bring in a 'very refreshed view'
The Pohlad family has the team up for sale and Scott Boras, Carlos Correa's agent, has some advice for whoever buys the team.
Twins expected to be active on the trade market during offseason
The Twins don't have a glaring positional roster hole besides first base. Jose Miranda and Edouard Julien are the leading internal candidates at first.
As Pohlad family explores sale, it's 'business as usual' for Twins front office
'My job is to continue to try to build the team the best we can,' Derek Falvey, the Twins' president of baseball operations, said as baseball's GM Meetings opened in Texas.
Twins first baseman Santana wins first Gold Glove at age 38
Santana edged Ryan Mountcastle and Nathaniel Lowe for the American League honor, the Twins' first Gold Glove in seven years.
Twins offseason primer: Free agents, arbitration eligibles, Rule 5 candidates and possible trades
Free agents, trade prospects, Rule 5 protection candidates, arbitration eligibles and more ...
Twins' Alex Kirilloff, plagued by injuries, retires from baseball at age 26
The Twins first baseman was never able to play an entire season in the major leagues because of injuries.
Twins hope 33-year-old hitting coach Matt Borgschulte can develop young players
After a late-season batting slump plagued the team, they dismissed all their hitting coaches and brought back a familiar name.
Twins hiring Borgschulte from Orioles as hitting coach
Matt Borgschule, 33, spent four seasons with the Twins minor league system before a three-year stint in Baltimore.
Familiar predicaments await new Twins owners
Developing revenue streams to increase payroll is never easy, especially for teams in the flyover country of the MLB.
Carl Pohlad and the Twins: Four decades of highs and lows
The second owner in Twins history, he oversaw two World Series championships but also took steps to sell or eliminate the team.
Questions about the new Twins TV deal? Here are answers.
The Twins broadcasts will be produced by MLB, and here's how you will be able to watch.
Twins games will be televised by MLB in 2025, ending blackouts
The team's games next season will be produced and distributed by MLB and will be available on cable, satellite and via streaming.
Twins will return to WCCO Radio next season
The sides have a contract after there was some speculation the team would seek another broadcast partner.
Twins brass doesn't blame payroll cuts or trade deadline inactivity for late collapse
In the wake of the Twins' late-season tumble in the standings, owner Joe Pohlad and executive Derek Falvey downplayed the role a slashed payroll had on the team's collapse.
Joe Pohlad says Falvey, Baldelli will be back with Twins in 2025
The Twins' leaders will be judged on their entire body of work and not just the final six weeks of the 2024 season, which concluded with a 6-2 loss to the Orioles.
'This will bother me forever': Inside the Twins clubhouse after late-season collapse
Players were left to lament what happened over the final six weeks of the season that cost the Twins a playoff berth, with Carlos Correa blaming himself for missing two months and Royce Lewis saying he ran out of gas.
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli responds to the 'Fire Rocco' chants at Target Field
"The fans, I think, have a right to feel almost any way they choose," Rocco Baldelli said of the chants calling for his dismissal following the Twins' playoff-less season.
Down early, Twins rally for 8-3 win over the Marlins
Minnesota remains playoff long shot as Kansas City and Detroit also won.
Correa sends cryptic postgame message to younger Twins teammates after Tuesday loss
Shortstop Carlos Correa said, in part, "at the end of the day, everybody has to figure it out on their own." He did not elaborate when asked if he was calling out any players in particular.
Slumping Twins lose 4-1 to Marlins, and frustration is clear
Minnesota fell to the last-place Miami Marlins on Tuesday night and is two games behind the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals in the AL wild-card race.
Longest-tenured Twins player will miss rest of regular season
Max Kepler's injuries might spell the end of his career in Minnesota.
Lee's career-best five RBI help Twins beat Reds to avoid sweep
Brooks Lee hit a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth inning and added a three-run triple in the seventh as the Twins defeated Cincinnati 9-2 on Sunday.
Baldelli: Correa, Buxton to miss some Twins games over season's final weeks
Both Twins stars were just activated from the injured list after long absences, but the team will continue to be careful with them.
Twins blown out by Reds for eighth loss in 11 games
Carlos Correa, Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis are all on the active roster again, but it didn't do much to help the plummeting Twins, who have been outscored 19-5 in two losses to Cincinnati.
Carlos Correa skips rehab assignment, returns to Twins: 'I feel as ready as I can be'
The veteran shortstop has been out since the All-Star break because of plantar fasciitis.
Elly De La Cruz grand slam sinks Twins as Reds roll 8-4
Elly De La Cruz grand slam sinks Twins as Reds roll 8-4
Twins shortstop Carlos Correa will return from injured list Saturday
The All-Star has not played since the All-Star break because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
Twins cut minor league catcher after he aids opponent in elimination game
Derek Bender, a sixth-round draft pick out of Coastal Carolina, was tipping players off about what pitches were coming.
Rocco Baldelli blasts Twins for 'unprofessional series' after shutout loss to Royals
Jose Miranda was thrown out at home in the first inning for the Twins, who didn't have another runner reach third base during a 2-0 loss at Kansas City. Minnesota was swept in the three-game series.
Correa is not expected to rejoin Twins on homestand
The Twins' Carlos Correa told Fox that he felt better when he ran at Target Field in the past few days, but there are no immediate plans to begin a rehab assignment.
Twins lose to Royals after decision to remove pitcher Ober backfires
Ober gave up just one hit through seven scoreless innings, but Kansas City scored four runs off the Twins bullpen to push Minnesota further back in the standings.
Where Twins' pitching coach wants to see growth from rookie starters
In the final weeks of the season, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli focused most on current improvement over long-term growth.
Twins drop to last wild-card spot, slip behind Royals in standings after 5-0 loss
The Twins, who have scored more than four runs just once in their last nine games, were shut out for the ninth time this season.
Twins reliever Jax at his best when throwing his best pitch less often
Griffin Jax is throwing his best pitch, his sweepy slider, less than ever, throwing his fastball and changeup more often and bringing back a curveball he didn't use last year.
