Thursday, June 25

MINNEAPOLIS – Following a surge through mid-June, the Twins wobbled a bit as they hit the 81-game mark, dropping their first two games to the Dodgers to start a homestand. It’s been that kind of year, down and up and down and back up again, and Minnesota’s 38-43 record at the season’s midpoint is probably a fair reflection of how the team has played.

As for how they got to this point? It’s been quite a ride. Here’s a look at some of the highs and lows of the first half of the ’26 season:

The story of the season: Byron Buxton

He had a stop-and-start spring, not getting nearly as many at-bats as he hoped in the World Baseball Classic, and started slow. Since mid-April, he’s been at least arguably the best player in the American League. Buxton has crushed 25 homers, played his usual excellent center field defense and grown into an increased leadership role.

Maybe best of all? He’s going to be around for a while. General manager Jeremy Zoll made a point to emphasize on Tuesday that the club has no interest in asking Buxton to waive his full no-trade protection. The face of the franchise is sticking around, and he’s well on his way to his second All-Star start.

Biggest disappointment: Pitching health

The Twins entered Spring Training with eight legitimate candidates for their starting rotation. Two of them -- Pablo López and David Festa -- haven’t thrown a pitch in a game. Two more -- Mick Abel and Bailey Ober -- are currently on the injured list. Kendry Rojas, who started the year as something like the ninth or 10th option, has also spent time on the IL though he’s currently healthy.

Best surprise: Yoendrys Gómez

At the end of April, Gómez had worn out his welcome in the Rays bullpen with an ERA over 6.00. He had almost as many walks as strikeouts and was averaging a homer every other appearance. But the Twins, in dire need of live arms in their bullpen, took a flyer on him, and it’s worked out brilliantly.

Since arriving, Gómez has refined his pitch mix and emerged as first a trusted high-leverage option and now something very close to the team’s closer. He’s missing bats, throwing strikes, and keeping the ball in the park, and providing backend stability from which manager Derek Shelton can build out with the rest of his relief corps.

Most unexpected transactions: Royce Lewis and Matt Wallner to Triple-A

There was almost no player that Shelton prioritized more highly in the offseason than Lewis, whose immense potential and 2025 struggles made him one of the most pivotal figures coming into the ’26 season. As for Wallner, even after a rough ’25, he began the year not only playing regularly but playing pretty much every day – even against left-handed pitching.

Then both homegrown sluggers fell into deep slumps. And both found themselves optioned to Triple-A St. Paul. Fortunately they both made the most of it. Lewis began raking almost immediately and earned himself a recall. Wallner started a bit slow but has come on strong, putting pressure on the club to consider bringing him back as well.

Biggest moves: Just about every hitter, all over the field

If there’s been one hallmark of Shelton’s managerial tenure thus far, it’s positional versatility. Kody Clemens emerged as the primary first baseman for a while, and has also played some center field. Brooks Lee moved from shortstop to third base when Lewis was optioned. Lewis played a little bit of second base and seems to have settled in as the starting first baseman for now. Austin Martin took over as the main right fielder for a while, and now seems to be playing more left.

Aside from Buxton, Luke Keaschall and Ryan Jeffers, this team basically doesn’t have one-position players.

In a pregame ceremony Monday, Anthony Banda was presented with his Dodgers World Series championship ring from 2025. Banda, who pitched on both the ’24 and ’25 champs, had his parents and aunt and uncle present for the moment.

“It’s a long season,” Banda said. “It’s a lot of time spent away from your family. But to have my parents here to see this, they saw the first one and now they see this one, it’s special. That’s why you play the game, for memories like that. achievements are going to be what they are. It’s mostly the memories. You get to sit down and talk about it over a cup of coffee one day. But it’s great. It’s a heavy moment for me, really. So it was fun.”

A large number of Banda’s old teammates made it onto the field to recognize the lefty, a sign of the esteem in which they held and still hold him. Banda has quickly established himself as a popular figure in the Twins clubhouse as well.

The Twins Broadcast Auction, the annual event to benefit the Twins Community Fund, is under way now. Among the items up for auction this year are a pheasant hunting experience with longtime Twins announcer Dick Bremer, free oil changes for a year and a pair of Champions Club tickets, tickets to the sold out Noah Kahan concert at Target Field, and two different packages to see the Savannah Bananas at Target Field. For details, visit this link.

• Buffalo Tom, “Summer”
• David Bowie and Mick Jagger, “Dancing in the Street”
• The Kinks, “Sunny Afternoon”
• Bananarama, “Cruel Summer”
• Sly and the Family Stone, “Hot Fun in the Summertime”

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