Staff Directory 6370604

Phil Miller

Reporter | Minnesota Twins and MLB

Phil Miller has covered the Twins for the Minnesota Star Tribune since 2013. Previously, he covered the University of Minnesota football team, and from 2007-09, he covered the Twins for the Pioneer Press.


A native of Pekin, Ill., Miller attended the University of Utah, and worked for 26 years at The Salt Lake Tribune, spending five years as assistant sports editor, and later as a reporter covering communities, college football and basketball, and the NBA's Utah Jazz.
Recent content from Phil Miller
Phoenix Suns owners Justin, left, and Mat Ishbia watch their team play a game against the Clippers in February 2023.

Report: Phoenix Suns part-owner considering bid to buy Twins

Justin Ishbia, a private equity billionaire, is already into the NBA and WNBA in a big-spending way. Bloomberg News said he has an eye on baseball.
Twins President Derek Falvey speaks with the media in November.

Twins preparing for MLB winter meetings, big moves unlikely under Derek Falvey

Only once under Falvey's leadership have the Twins announced any significant roster moves during the winter meetings, and that came seven years ago.
Ramon Borrego is the Twins' new first base coach.

Twins fill out coaching roster, adding a hitting coach with ties to their past success

Trevor Amicone, who worked with James Rowson in the minors, will be an assistant hitting coach. Several moves Thursday complete manager Rocco Baldelli's 11-man staff.
Alex Speas' only big league appearance last season came for the Astros against the Twins on May 31.

Twins sign reliever Alex Speas to minor league deal

A former second-round pick of the Rangers, Alex Speas has pitched in four major league games.
Minnesota Twins pitcher Michael Tonkin pitched in the top of the ninth against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Twins agree to deals with Brock Stewart, Michael Tonkin and Justin Topa at the MLB non-tender deadline

The eight Twins headed for arbitration are Royce Lewis, Joe Ryan, Jhoan Duran, Bailey Ober, Ryan Jeffers, Willi Castro, Griffin Jax and Trevor Larnach.
Marco Raya was a standout with the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels, the Twins' Class A team in the Florida State League.

Twins protect minor league pitchers Raya and Adams from Rule 5 draft

By adding Marco Raya and Travis Adams to the 40-man roster, the team made certain they won't lose them in three weeks.
Outgoing Twins President Dave St. Peter arrives in the Twins clubhouse Tuesday for a news conference.

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 relief pitcher pitcher Jhoan Durán will be due a large payday when he becomes eligible for arbitration, just one of many roster questions facin

After dust settles on 2024 season, a player-by-player look at next year's Twins roster

Questions abound on starting rotation and bullpen, free agents like Max Kepler and Kyle Farmer, promising rookies and arbitration decisions.
Target Field and its surroundings will have a role in the sale of the Twins.

Questions about the Pohlads selling the Twins? We have answers.

Why? To whom? When? Will they stay in Minnesota? We get it. Take a look at the details.
Joe Pohlad, Minnesota Twins Executive Chair, smiles during a press conference.

Pohlad family looks to sell Minnesota Twins

The franchise is likely worth $1.5 billion, 40 years after Carl Pohlad paid $44 million to buy it from Calvin Griffith.
Thad Levine during Twins spring training in 2019.

General Manager Thad Levine parts ways with Twins

"I kind of liken myself to Mary Poppins — the kids know how to clean up their rooms now and take their medicine. They don't need someone singing in the background to do it."
Tony Diaz, right, has been on the coaching staff of Rocco Baldelli, left, since Baldelli was named manager in 2019.

Twins fire four coaches after season-ending hitting slump

Hitting coaches David Popkins, Rudy Hernandez and Derek Shomon were dismissed, along with infield coach Tony Diaz.
Bally Sports North and the Twins are moving closer to a full split.

Bally Sports North, Diamond close to finalizing divorce with Twins

Diamond Sports Group, parent company of the Bally-branded regional sports network, told a federal bankruptcy judge its new plan for reorganization currently includes only one MLB team: the Atlanta Braves.
Griffin Jax was one of the Twins' most reliable pitchers in 2024.

Twins pitcher Griffin Jax: Reliever or starter?

After another strong season out of the bullpen, Jax still has ambitions of starting games.
Twins first baseman Carlos Santana runs the bases against Baltimore during Sunday's season finale at Target Field. The veteran switch hitter is a free

Twins won't shrink payroll further in 2025, regardless of TV situation

The Twins slashed $25 million off their 2023 payroll at the request of owner Joe Pohlad, but a team source said that won't happen again next year.
Twins players hang on the railing of their dugout during the ninth inning of Friday night's loss to the Orioles at Target Field.

Twins eliminated from playoff contention with 7-2 loss to Orioles

Former Twins farmhand Cade Povich shut down a Twins team that could have remained alive with a victory.
Cole Sands delivers a pitch last Friday in Boston, when he helped the Twins set a franchise record with 20 strikeouts. The Twins matched that total Th

Twins pitching staff has had two 20-strikeout games in the span of a week

Both games were heavy on relievers and went extra innings, but they broke the old record of 19 set by Johan Santana and Joe Nathan in 2007.
Twins outfielder Trevor Larnach is the last player lingering in the dugout after Thursday night's excruciating 8-6, 13-inning loss to the Marlins, a l

Twins lose to Marlins, near elimination from MLB playoffs

The Twins had chance after chance, and finally caved in after 13 innings at Target Field.
Minnesota Twins pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson (78) looks on after allowing a 2-run home run in the top of the second inning Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024 a

Twins elect to end rookie Simeon Woods Richardson's season

The righthander came up big when the Twins needed him this year, but he has thrown 147 innings and has had a 5.91 ERA in his past 11 starts.
Royce Lewis is one of many Twins players experiencing a power loss over the past five weeks.

Twins in free fall heading into the final week of the regular season

The Twins have lost 21 of their past 32 games and are on the outside of the American League wild card race.
Twins first baseman Carlos Santana watches as Romy Gonzalez of the Red Sox rounds the bases on his three-run homer during the fifth inning of the seco

Disastrous doubleheader at Boston leaves Twins on outside of playoff picture

The Twins were blown out by the Red Sox twice in one day, losing 8-1 and 9-3 to leave them a game behind the Tigers and Royals for an American League wild-card spot.
Relief pitcher Justin Topa has yet to pitch for the Twins in the regular season after they acquired the righthander over the offseason from Seattle.

Injured Topa, Paddack could pitch for Twins in final six games of regular season

Justin Topa hasn't pitched all season in the major leagues because of a knee injury, and Chris Paddack has missed most of the second half because of a forearm strain.
Twins righthander Pablo López stands on the mound after giving up a second three-run homer to Boston's Triston Casas in the third inning of Game 1 of

Twins' López pummeled in Game 1 of doubleheader as Boston's Casas hits three homers

The Twins at least temporarily fell out of a playoff spot after getting blown out by the Red Sox to open a split doubleheader at Fenway Park.
Fans wait in the rain before Saturday's game between the Red Sox and Twins at Fenway Park in Boston. The game was eventually rained out and will be ma

Twins-Red Sox rained out, will play split doubleheader Sunday

Pablo López will face Kutter Crawford in the first game while Zebby Matthews is matched against Nick Pivetta in the nightcap as the Twins try to hang on to a wild card spot.
Twins righthander Ronny Henriquez had been getting more opportunities to pitch out of the Twins bullpen of late but was demoted three days after blowi

Seeking a bullpen arm, Twins recall Brent Headrick in place of Ronny Henriquez

The Twins called up a lefthander who has yet to appear in the majors this year, demoting a young reliever who blew a two-run lead Wednesday.
The rain fell as Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers greeted reliever Griffin Jax after a victory in Boston on Friday night.

Twins finally find offense in extra innings, beat Red Sox 4-2 in 12

Minnesota regains the lead for the final AL wild-card spot with the victory and a Tigers blowout loss.
Instead of a prank, Kyle Farmer addressed his teammates on the flight to Boston.

With frustration mounting, Twins veterans call off rookie costumes for flight to Boston

"It's very safe to assume the vibe was going to be off if we went ahead with it," Pablo López said of dressing up rookies after the difficult series at Cleveland.
The Guardians' José Ramírez heads for home, scoring on a walk-off RBI single by Andrés Giménez in the 10th inning to defeat the Twins 3-2 in Cleve

Twins held to three hits, lose 3-2 to Guardians in extra innings

The Twins lost three of the four games in the series in Cleveland, but still hold the last wild-card spot.
Willi Castro of the Twins is hit by a pitch on July 21 in a game at Target Field against the Brewers.

Ouch! Willi Castro sets Twins record for getting hit by pitches in a season

Because Castro crowds the plate, teams pitch him inside, and he's gotten on base 21 times via HBP
The Guardians' Brayan Rocchio, center, celebrates with teammates after hitting a walk-off single during the 10th inning against the Twins on Wednesday

Twins can't hold lead as Guardians rally with three runs in 10th to win

Carlos Correa's two-run single in the 10th gave the Twins a two-run lead, but host Cleveland rallied for three runs off Ronny Henriquez to prevail 5-4 and send Minnesota to a crushing loss.
The Twins' Manuel Margot, shown in June, is 0-for-29 as a pinch-hitter this season.

Twins' Manuel Margot extends his pinch-hit futility

Manuel Margot is 0-for-29 as a pinch-hitter for the Twins this season. It will be a major league record if he fails to get a pinch-hit the rest of the season.
The Twins' Trevor Larnach, left, congratulates  teammate Willi Castro on his two-run home run in the eighth inning Tuesday night.

Castro's two-run homer in eighth powers Twins to key win over Guardians

Willi Castro's two-run blast gave the Twins cushion in an important win at Cleveland as Minnesota tries to secure a playoff spot down the stretch of the season.
Reliever Jorge Alcala, then with the Twins, pitches against the Tampa Bay Rays on Sept. 2.

Twins' choice to demote Alcala came partly because of need for lengthier relief outings

The Twins' rookie-filled starting rotation had something to do with Jorge Alcala's demotion to Class AAA St. Paul, which became official Tuesday
Cole Irvin joins the Twins for the final two weeks of the regular season.

Twins claim pitcher Irvin off waivers from Orioles, option Alcala

Cole Irvin has been a starter for part of his big league career but was designated for assignment by Baltimore.
Twins starting pitcher Pablo López (49) reacts as he is taken out of the game by manager Rocco Baldelli, left, in the seventh inning Monday in Clevel

Twins lose to Guardians 4-3 after Jax surrenders two-run homer in eighth

Pablo López completed six innings with a 3-1 lead, and Griffin Jax rescued him from a bases-loaded jam in the seventh, but Cleveland rebounded to move to 7½ games ahead of the Twins.
After a rough start to the season, Matt Wallner has rebounded and become a fixture in the lineup.

As Twins enter home stretch, Wallner looks to go the distance

The Forest Lake native has been a standout at the plate and in the field during the second half of the season.
The Twins will activate center fielder Byron Buxton by Friday, in time for a series against the Cincinnati Reds at Target Field.

Twins' Byron Buxton to be activated Friday

Center fielder Byron Buxton will be available for a home series against the Reds after missing one month because of a sore right hip.
Royce Lewis (23) thought he hit a grand slam, but after a review, he settled for a two-run double in the seventh inning of the Twins' 6-4 victory over

Brooks Lee, Royce Lewis emerge from slumps to power Twins past Angels

Along with young infielders Brooks Lee and Royce Lewis finding their grooves, the Twins plan to activate Byron Buxton on Friday.
Four fighter jets, upper left, fly over Target Field where players from the Twins and the Kansas City Royals observed a moment of silence to mark the

On land, in the air, it's a family reunion for Twins pitcher Griffin Jax at Target Field

As his younger brother and sister-in-law streaked across the sky in fighter jets in memory of 9/11, other relatives packed stands.
The Twins' Kyle Farmer hits a three-run home run during the second inning against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday at Target Field.

Twins top Angels 10-5 to halt four-game skid

Kyle Farmer, Matt Wallner and Carlos Santana each homered, and the Twins scored as many runs in the first five innings as they had in their last five games combined to beat the Angels.
The Twins' Royce Lewis reacts after he struck out in the ninth inning Monday night at Target Field.

Lewis, mired in an 0-for-20 slump, is held out of Twins lineup

Royce Lewis, who helped fuel the team earlier this season, was missing from the Twins' starting lineup for the first time in nearly three weeks Tuesday night.
Niko Kavadas (28) of the Angels slides in safe under the tag of Twins shortstop Brooks Lee in the fourth inning at Target Field on Monday.

Twins fall to Angels 6-2 for fourth consecutive loss

The Angels, the American League's second-worst team, scored twice before David Festa recorded an out, and two Los Angeles players hitting below .200 for the season connected on two-run homers.
The Twins' Carlos Correa celebrates in the dugout after homering against the Chicago White Sox on July 10. Correa hasn't been in the lineup for two mo

Twins' Carlos Correa says plantar fasciitis treatment has brought pain but also gains

Twins shortstop Carlos Correa's tears-inducing treatment for his foot problem is working, he says, and "you might see me playing baseball again very soon."
Pablo López has 14 victories for the Twins this season.

Pablo López will be Twins' nominee for MLB's Roberto Clemente Award

The nominees are players, one from each team, who are active in their communities during the season.
The Twins' Willi Castro throws his bat in frustration after striking out against the Braves in the eighth inning at Target Field on Wednesday. Atlanta

Twins get swept by Braves, continuing futility against National League teams

Despite a stellar start from David Festa, a bullpen collapse in Minnesota's 5-1 loss made the Braves the eighth consecutive NL team to win a series from the Twins.
Now that he's returning to the Twins and is no longer a clean-shaven Yankee, Michael Tonkin will be able to grow his usual beard back.

Well-traveled reliever Tonkin hopes he's here to stay with Twins

Relief pitcher Michael Tonkin, who is back with the Twins for a second stint this season and has also pitched for the Mets and Yankees in 2024, has a fan in manager Rocco Baldelli.
Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna hits an RBI single in the top of the fifth inning against the Twins on Tuesday at Target Field.

Twins make spirited comeback vs. Braves but fall apart in 10th for another loss

Jhoan Duran allowed four runs, three earned, in the 10th inning after the Twins rallied from a four-run deficit. It's the Twins' seventh loss in the past nine games.
Twins pitcher Trevor Richards, right, was a trade deadline acquisition for Minnesota but did not pan out.

Twins DFA Trevor Richards, decide to go rest of the season without Joe Ryan on the mound

Trevor Richards, a trade deadline acquisition, was designated for assignment on Tuesday. Joe Ryan, meanwhile, was placed on the 60-day injured list, which ended his season.
Twins starting pitcher Bailey Ober reacts after a three-run home run by the Braves' Matt Olson during the first inning Monday night at Target Field.

Twins lose to Braves 10-6 as Ober gives up nine runs in two innings

A storm caused a rain delay at Target Field after Atlanta made it 9-1 in the second inning, and the Twins couldn't catch up after play resumed in their sixth loss in eight games.
Twins center fielder Byron Buxton makes a grab against the Cleveland Guardians on Aug. 11 at Target Field.

Twins' Buxton expected to go on rehab assignment with Saints this week

Center fielder Byron Buxton, out since Aug. 12 because of a sore hip, won't be activated until the Twins are sure he can play the outfield again, manager Rocco Baldelli said.
Pablo López and Sonny Gray have remained friends even as they are on different teams this season.

Twins' López looking forward to facing Cardinals' Gray

The two All-Stars from 2024 are scheduled to be on the mound in the same game at Target Field on Saturday.
Willi Castro reached base five times Wednesday in the Twins' victory over the San Diego Padres. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Twins use seven-run fourth inning to rout Padres 11-4 in series finale

The Twins offense came alive with 18 hits and salvaged the final game of a three-game series at San Diego.
Twins righthander Griffin Jax.

Twins aren't eager to overextend Griffin Jax in bullpen

The righthander has been one of the most effective relievers in the majors this season, but Rocco Baldelli does not want to wear him down.
Twins starting pitcher Bailey Ober works against a Padres batter during the second inning Tuesday night in San Diego.

Another bullpen meltdown means Twins have lost three in a row

Reliever Steven Okert gave away a two-run lead in 10 pitches as Jurickson Profar's three-run eighth-inning homer lifted the Padres to a 7-5 victory.
The Twins' Byron Buxton looks on during a game against the Cleveland Guardians on Aug. 11.

Twins' Buxton tests right hip in hopes of returning to roster this week

The center fielder came out of the Twins' game Aug. 12 with a sore hip that resulted from, doctors believe, scar tissue that built up after a similar injury in 2022.
Padres second baseman Xander Bogaerts tags out the Twins' Austin Martin during an RBI force out by Willi Castro during the second inning Monday night

Twins fall to Padres 5-3 as first two MLB walks come back to haunt Zebby Matthews

The rookie, noted for his control, issued his first two big-league walks, and both came around to score on Jackson Merrill's three-run double.
The Padres' Donovan Solano, who played in 134 games for the Twins last year, hits a two-run homer against the Marlins on Aug. 11 in Miami.

Donovan Solano finds home with Padres after big 2023 season with Twins

Donovan Solano and Luis Arraez stopped by the Twins dugout to catch up with their former teammates ahead of Monday's game in San Diego.
Twins relief pitcher Jorge Alcala walks back onto the mound after giving up a tying two-run homer to the Rangers' Adolis Garcia in the seventh inning

Teammates rally to support Twins' Alcala after awful seventh inning

Twins reliever Jose Alcala gave up five runs in two-thirds of an inning, turning a four-run lead into a one-run deficit in the Twins' 6-5, 10-inning loss.
Twins reliever Jorge Alcala reacts after giving up a go-ahead solo home run to the Rangers' Josh Jung, back left, in the seventh inning Sunday.

Twins falter late as Rangers win in 10 innings to prevent four-game sweep

Texas withstood Carlos Santana's tying home run in the ninth inning and won 6-5 in the 10th on a throwing error from Twins third baseman Jose Miranda.
Trevor Larnach hits a home run in front of Rangers catcher Jonah Heim during the fourth inning Saturday.

Twins rally late to beat Rangers, trim AL Central deficit

Combined with the Guardians' loss in Milwaukee, the Twins whittled their AL Central deficit to two games behind Cleveland.
Twins closer Jhoan Duran tosses the ball to himself after giving up the first of three runs in the ninth inning of a July 23 game vs. the Phillies at

Twins closer Jhoan Duran looking like himself again, even if he's not hitting 104 mph

Twins manager Rocco Baldelli says pitcher Jhoan Duran doesn't need to "reach the very extreme top of his velocity to be effective."
The Twins' Carlos Santana watches his home run that also scored teammates Ryan Jeffers and Manuel Margot during the fifth inning against the Rangers i

Twins hold off Rangers 4-3 as Santana provides boost on offense, defense

Ryan Jeffers and Carlos Santana homered, and the Twins moved within three games of the AL Central lead.
Twins pitcher Ronny Henriquez throws against the White Sox in April, one of his four one-game call-ups this season.

Twins righty Henriquez relishes every moment in the majors he can get

Up with the Twins for the fourth time this season, Ronny Henriquez focuses on staying positive and helping his team on the mound.
The Twins' Kyle Farmer dives across home plate while Rangers catcher Jonah Heim reaches for the throw in the second inning Thursday. Farmer hit a trip

Injury-riddled Twins scrounge up ninth-inning run without a hit to edge Rangers

Missing Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton, the Twins pushed the go-ahead run across on two walks, a steal, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by Carlos Santana.
Minnesota Twins' Edouard Julien (47) smiles at Byron Buxton after Julien hit a two-run home run against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning of

Twins place Byron Buxton on injured list, recall Edouard Julien from St. Paul

Starting pitcher Louie Varland was sent to the Saints and reliever Ronny Henriquez joined the team in Texas.
Twins shortstop Willi Castro reacts after a play in the top of the sixth inning, when Cleveland scored four runs.

Buxton homers twice, but Twins lose to Guardians and split series

The Twins couldn't score against Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase after loading the bases in the ninth inning and dropped to 3½ games behind the first-place Guardians.
Hall of Famer Jim Kaat spoke Sunday at Target Field during an on-field ceremony to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Washington Senators’ 1924

Baldelli downplays importance of Twins-Guardians series

The Twins manager told his players that every series is going to be important for the remainder of the season as they battle for a playoff spot.
Twins pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson reacts after giving up a home run in the sixth inning against the Guardians on Saturday at Target Field.

Twins fall to Guardians 2-1 as Simeon Woods Richardson's strong start goes to waste

Both teams managed only four hits in a game that took 1:58, but two of Cleveland's went over the fence.
Twins righthander Joe Ryan delivers a pitch in the second inning Wednesday against the Cubs in Chicago. The next inning, he departed after three pitch

Twins' Joe Ryan felt fine moments before getting pulled from game due to injury

Righthander Joe Ryan said he noticed a tightness in his shoulder, but it wasn't until he threw some pitches that he realized something was wrong.
Twins catcher Christian Vázquez steals home as Cleveland catcher Austin Hedges tries to make a play at the plate in the second inning of Game 2 on Fr

Twins sweep Guardians in doubleheader

The Twins got within 1½ games of AL Central-leading Cleveland.
Twins trainer Nick Paparesta led pitcher Joe Ryan off the field in Chicago on Wednesday.

Bad news for Twins: Starter Joe Ryan sidelined indefinitely with shoulder strain

Reliever Brock Stewart will need shoulder surgery, and infielder Brooks Lee is on the injured list.
Joe Ryan leads Twins pitchers with 135 innings pitched this season.

Twins pitcher Joe Ryan has MRI after leaving Wednesday's game suddenly

The righthanded starter's injury isn't expected to be serious, pending tests on Thursday.
The Twins' Royce Lewis celebrates his three-run home run in the second inning Sunday at Target Field.

Lewis' three-run blast helps Twins beat White Sox, who lose 20th in a row

The Twins completed a three-gamesweep with a 13-7 win over the Chicago White Sox, whose skid is one game away from the 1988 Orioles' AL record.
Byron Buxton, left, celebrates Royce Lewis' three-run homer in the second inning with Lewis and Max Kepler on Sunday at Target Field.

Colossal catch, collision just another day at work for Twins' Buxton

The center fielder denied the White Sox's Robert Jr. in the sixth inning and said he appreciated the cheers from fans and teammates alike.
Carlos Santana has 14 home runs in 100 games for the Twins this season, and 315 homers in his 15-year major-league career.

Twins first baseman Carlos Santana headed toward his goal of winning a Gold Glove

The veteran slugger has been a bargain on a one-year contract, and his defensive play has been a highlight.