Bobby Nightengale

Not much was known about Lopez when the Mariners signed him for $280,000 as a 16-year-old international free agent, but he looks like a prudent investment. Lopez finished in the top five in the Venezuelan Summer League in WHIP, ERA and wins in his first pro season. “I threw 66 innings and then four more in the championship game, which we won,” said López, who correctly remembered he had a 7-1 record that year. “It was my earliest introduction to not only professional baseball, but for pitching in general. I signed in 2012, but even in the same year, I had a couple of tryouts as an outfielder. So, I signed as a pitcher, trained all the winter of ’12 going into ’13, and ’13 was my first time pitching. “I was falling in love with the art of pitching, and how to maneuver routines, the best way to take the five or six days in between [starts] to get ready. I have a lot of fun memories of that time. We were in the farthest academy of the whole league, so we would commute back and forth to all of them. The other three [academies] were like right next to each other, and we were at the far one. “I learned a lot. We had like five catchers, so I had to work with a different catcher every single day. That taught me, OK, it’s my own game. I had that early taste of when you are pitching, not that I’m going to call my own game, but I know what works for me, and I know how I should go about my sequence, because the catcher kept changing every single outing. It was probably when I fell more in love with pitching.”

How Pablo López fell in love with pitching and out of love with video games.

More in this Q&A with López, reflecting on his career through his old scouting report: www.startribune.com/minnesota-tw...

I’ve seen Maddyn Greenway play around 10 times and I think she scored 35+ points each time. Incredible how she’s the top focus for opposing teams and never seems to have an off game.

Good story from Cassidy on a historic career ⤵️

Emmanuel Rodriguez among nine cuts from Twins camp Emmanuel Rodriguez, a highly rated Twins prospect, hit .421 though 18 at-bats in spring training games, but was cut from camp Monday.

Emmanuel Rodriguez among nine cuts from Twins camp

Emmanuel Rodriguez among nine cuts from Twins camp Emmanuel Rodriguez, a highly rated Twins prospect, hit .421 though 18 at-bats in spring training games, but was cut from camp Monday.

The Twins cut nine players (many of their top prospects who are on the 40-man roster) from big-league camp.

Top outfield prospects Emmanuel Rodriguez and Gabriel Gonzalez were among those re-assigned to minor league camp: www.startribune.com/minnesota-tw...

Byron Buxton is back in the Team USA lineup against Mexico for anyone still holding their breath after he was hit by a pitch Friday.

(That would be a world-record amount of time for one to hold their breath.)

Federal agents lied about why they shot a Venezuelan man in Minneapolis. Their story quickly fell apart. The attack marked the only time that federal authorities admitted wrongdoing during Operation Metro Surge.

The government’s official story would unravel in court — refuted by video surveillance, crime scene photos and witness statements.

The Taiwan players were in tears after defeating Korea to avoid elimination

Kendry Rojas, from Louie Varland trade, getting buzz at Twins camp Louie Varland starred in the postseason for the Blue Jays last year, but the Twins remain confident that Kendry Rojas can be an impact pitcher.

Ask scouts which Twins caught their attention and Kendry Rojas comes up quickly.

Victor Caratini’s first impression after catching Rojas: “Nasty. Unbelievable.”

Can the Twins salvage the unpopular Louie Varland trade? That may be up to Rojas’ development. www.startribune.com/minnesota-tw...

Tucked inside the story are more details on how the Varland trade came together over three months.

The Twins insisted on Trey Yesavage or Rojas if they were going to move Varland. Blue Jays regarded both as off-limits until they relented on Rojas on deadline day.

Pohlad revealed last month that the team made a play for lefthander Framber Valdez before he signed with Detroit. Fans don’t want to hear what the Twins tried to do. They want the end product. The same applies for promoting the Twins this season. Don’t say they can compete when they were an utter disaster following the trade deadline last season and most of the players responsible for it are back this season. And when the team heads into the 2026 season with a payroll under $120 million. Win first, then you have something to sell. Much of the Twins tormented fan base has become non-believers. Don’t make things worse with empty promises.

Column from La Velle E. Neal III: The Twins can sell stuff for cheap this season, but they can’t sell a winner.

www.startribune.com/minnesota-tw...

Kendry Rojas, from Louie Varland trade, getting buzz at Twins camp Louie Varland starred in the postseason for the Blue Jays last year, but the Twins remain confident that Kendry Rojas can be an impact pitcher.

Ask scouts which Twins caught their attention and Kendry Rojas comes up quickly.

Victor Caratini’s first impression after catching Rojas: “Nasty. Unbelievable.”

Can the Twins salvage the unpopular Louie Varland trade? That may be up to Rojas’ development. www.startribune.com/minnesota-tw...

How popular was Puckett? Souhan: “Before he signed him to what was briefly a record contract, Andy MacPhail said he was struggling with the negotiations until he saw a child walk up to the Twins logo, point and say, `Kirby Puckett.’ You grew up here. Put Puck’s popularity into perspective.’’ Reusse: “One day I went out to the right-field bleachers to ask a bunch of kids who their favorite player was. I asked 50. All 50 said, ‘Kirby Puckett.’ I thought it might be 47. It was 50.

Kirby Puckett died 20 years ago today. @jimsouhan.bsky.social and Patrick Reusse share their favorite stories from Puckett’s playing days.

Story link ➡️ www.startribune.com/minnesota-tw...

RHP DAN ALTAVILLA, ITALY The 33-year-old Altavilla, who had a 2.48 ERA in 28 relief appearances for the White Sox last year, signed a minor league contract with the Twins in December. He has a chance to break camp in the major league bullpen. He’s been sharp, hitting 98 mph with his fastball and drawing swings and misses with his slider. “I didn’t really know I was going to be eligible to do this, but it’s a really cool opportunity,” said Altavilla, whose great-grandfather was born in Italy. “My grandmother and relatives had to go through and dig up some pretty cool documents. It was cool to see.” Schedule (Pool B in Houston): Vs. Brazil on March 7; Vs. Great Britain on March 8; Vs. USA on March 10; Vs. Mexico on March 11.

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⚾️ A (good) spring training stat where the Twins lead the league.

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Yes, he played some CF in AA until a torn ligament in his elbow made it too difficult to throw.

Luke Keaschall starting a spring training game in LF today.

Derek Shelton said earlier in camp it could be useful if Kody Clemens is at 2B against a RHP and Josh Bell is at 1B.

Twins prospect Walker Jenkins sidelined in spring camp because of hamstring injury Jenkins sustained a Grade 1 left hamstring strain during his only plate appearance Saturday, Feb. 28, while trying to beat out a ground-ball double play.

The Twins announced they cut six players from big-league camp: OF Walker Jenkins, C Andrew Cossetti, C/OF Ricardo Olivar, RHP Andrew Bash, RHP Raul Brito and LHP Christian MacLeod.

Jenkins is out with a hamstring strain. www.startribune.com/twins-prospe...

Twelve years later, ‘famous’ prospect Alex Jackson get chance with Twins Jackson has a chance to make the team as the third catcher, and talks about his decade-old scouting report.

Twins catcher Alex Jackson was one of the most hyped high school prospects when he entered pro baseball.

A conversation about how it affected his career 12 years later: www.startribune.com/minnesota-tw...

John Klein goes from baseball obscurity to a candidate for pitching from Twins bullpen The native of Brooklyn Park was added to the 40-man roster in November and, at age 23, is a prospect on the rise.

John Klein rocketed out of almost nowhere. He started pitching the summer before his senior year in HS. He was a relatively anonymous undrafted free agent signing.

Now the Brooklyn Park native is on the cusp of the Twins’ roster to the delight of his family. www.startribune.com/minnesota-tw...

Oh man, that’s a core childhood memory for me with that Minnesotans in the majors/minors table.

Look at that crowd for a WBC *exhibition* game.

Klein, who wears a continuous glucose monitor, checks his blood sugar between innings. “Sometimes, it’ll be before a game. You’re just about to go out to the mound, and my blood sugar is crashing down, so I’m just chugging apple juice,” Klein said. “Sure my gut feels a little heavy, but, I mean, you have to do what you have to do.” When Klein worked on adding muscle to his frame, with the goal of adding velocity, he said an important part was regulating his blood sugar. “If your blood sugar is high, you can actually lose weight, which is something I learned,” said Klein, who said his results hit a low point last year when he lost some weight temporarily. “My body weight is a huge key to my velocity. I upped that [weight], and then the rest of the year, I just continued to throw hard. “I was like, this is me now. This isn’t a good day or a bad day, this is who I am as a pitcher.”

Twins reliever John Klein, a Brooklyn Park native, has managed Type 1 diabetes since he was 2 years old.

He pitches with an insulin pump tucked into his pants.

Read more on Klein, who is ranked as the Twins’ #24 prospect by Baseball America ➡️ www.startribune.com/minnesota-tw...

John Klein goes from baseball obscurity to a candidate for pitching from Twins bullpen The native of Brooklyn Park was added to the 40-man roster in November and, at age 23, is a prospect on the rise.

John Klein rocketed out of almost nowhere. He started pitching the summer before his senior year in HS. He was a relatively anonymous undrafted free agent signing.

Now the Brooklyn Park native is on the cusp of the Twins’ roster to the delight of his family. www.startribune.com/minnesota-tw...

Twins prospect Walker Jenkins sidelined in spring camp because of hamstring injury Jenkins sustained a Grade 1 hamstring strain in his left leg during his lone plate appearance on Feb. 28 while attempting to beat out a ground ball double play.

Twins top prospect Walker Jenkins is sidelined with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain. It’s his third consecutive spring camp interrupted by an injury (quad, ankle and now hamstring). www.startribune.com/twins-prospe...

Alan Roden, who picked baseball over astrophysics, becoming big part of Twins’ future Alan Roden, acquired in last year’s Louie Varland trade, has been one of the Twins’ hottest hitters this spring.

Alan Roden has an unorthodox batting stance. Derek Shelton said he’s “built like a fullback.”

Why Roden, who chose baseball over astrophysics, looks like he’ll be a big part of the Twins’ future outfield.

🗞️ NEW story for @stribsports.startribune.com: www.startribune.com/minnesota-tw...

Wrote a few more words about it: www.startribune.com/anthony-edwa...

Miss a Daily Delivery podcast? Find it here All of our weekday podcasts, featuring Michael Rand and the Star Tribune staff, are here.

🎤 PODCAST: I joined @randball.bsky.social on the Daily Delivery podcast to talk all things Twins spring training.

Buy your stock early on Taj Bradley, who has pitched well and is set to have a big role in the Twins’ rotation (#2 starter?).

Listen here: www.startribune.com/daily-delive...

Twins’ Matt Canterino still holding onto hope after several injury setbacks Canterino, who underwent shoulder surgery last year, hasn’t pitched in a minor league game since July 31, 2022.

Matt Canterino declined to divulge whether he considered retirement before he underwent shoulder surgery last year.

It’s been more than 1,300 days since he pitched in a minor league game.

“I’ve been saying, ‘I’ve still got it.’ I do believe that.” www.startribune.com/twins-pitche...

Walker Jenkins hit two homers in three live at-bats against Liam Hendriks. This was the second one that carried over the fence in left-center field.

The Twins always have some alumni return to help in camp, players like Johan Santana, Justin Morneau, Tony Oliva and Phil Roof. The benefit of a guy like Pressly, who is figuring out whether he wants to enter the coaching world, is he played with and against many guys in the Twins clubhouse. He knows what current teams are emphasizing to their pitchers. “I just want to help,” said Pressly, who appeared in 44 games for the Cubs last year. “I love being around the guys, being in the clubhouse. That’s what everybody says too, when you leave the game, that’s what you miss the most. This is all I know. I’ve been playing baseball since I was 4 years old. I’ve been in a [pro] clubhouse since I was 18.”

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Live from Fort Myers: Twins get good news on Royce Lewis; Joe Ryan optimistic about WBC After an injury scare, Lewis should be OK. Ryan still hopes to pitch for Team USA.

Joe Ryan says the Twins season is his top priority, but he’s hopeful he will have a chance to pitch in the WBC.

He wants to learn from pitchers like Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes.

“I’m not going to take any risks. As long as I’m feeling good, that’s the goal.” www.startribune.com/live-blog-mi...