New Milestone for MN Twins Star, Top Pitcher Joining Soon
You can suggest the Minnesota Twins don’t have much to play for the rest of the way and you would be right. They are a mile out of the divisional race, and three-quarters of a mile back in the wild card.
September will be more about Rocco Baldelli and Derek Falvey deciding what they have to work with moving into next year. That doesn’t mean there aren’t individual accomplishments to key in on.
Both Byron Buxton and Pablo Lopez saw their names pop up across the ticker on Friday night.
Byron Buxton joins elite club for MN Twins
Maybe more than anyone, Byron Buxton has literal millions of reasons to keep pushing. His contract includes incentives that have escalators as the overall votes go up among the MVP race. It’s logical he’d be a top-five finisher, and he could win his first Silver Slugger award as well.
No matter what, he’s going to finish the year with the first 20-20 season of his career.
This season Buxton has 27 home runs. It’s the second time in his career he has surpassed 20 home runs (28-2022). Not only can he set a new career-high for longballs, but his 20th stolen base, which was also his first career steal of third, marked the coveted 20-20 season.
When he first came into the league Buxton was pushed into being a light-hitting, slap-contact guy. His speed was unparalleled and it was the Twins way at the time. He has since morphed into the same speedster, even after all of the injuries, with an ability to slug.
Buxton went and stole his 21st base of the season later in Friday night’s game. No player in Minnesota Twins history has ever posted a 30-30 season. Buxton will absolutely get there on the home run front, and he could swipe nine more bags in the final month if he wants to.On the year Buxton has been successful in each of his 21 attempts. It’s not like the opposition is likely to get him when he decided to run anyways.
MN Twins closing in on Pablo Lopez return
On Friday night Minnesota set the rotation for the weekend. Taj Bradley will start on Saturday night and Joe Ryan will go Sunday. That puts Mick Abel’s status up in the air as he had followed Bradley during his last turn.
Right now the Twins have six starters on the active roster. David Festa just started a rehab assignment, and now Pablo Lopez is set to check off the final box for his return.
Lopez threw a bullpen at Target Field and will join the Saints for a final rehab start. After 45 pitches in his first start, and 68 last time out, the assumed ramp up would be near a full game.
The Twins don’t need to push Lopes back from the same injury that ended Joe Ryan’s 2024 season. However, a few strong turns would set him up for an offseason of knowledge as to where he is at.
You can also bet that opposing teams will be calling for the ace-level pitcher.
He owns a 2.82 ERA (3.02 FIP) and had started off the best season of his career. With the Pohlads mandating a deadline selloff, they could be inclined to grab prospects in exchange for the $43.5 million left on his contract.
