Minnesota
3 Twins takeaways: Bailey Ober cuts up, Carlos Santana thaws out, Jhoan Duran closes in
And just like that, the Minnesota Twins have gone from rock bottom at 7-13 to the hottest team in baseball, winning seven consecutive games to claw their way back to a winning record for the first time since the opening week of the season.
It’s fair to note the winning streak has come against the lowly Chicago White Sox and only slightly less lowly Los Angeles Angels, but wins are wins, especially for a team that was struggling as much as the Twins. Plus, they’re far from finished with the White Sox, starting a three-game series Monday night in Chicago as part of nine remaining games against the American League’s worst team.
Better yet, Carlos Correa’s return to a suddenly hot-hitting lineup is imminent.
This might be the truest representation of Rocco Baldelli’s off-camera personality ever caught on camera. https://t.co/bBuuos42aj
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) April 28, 2024
Here are three Twins takeaways after a weekend spent sweeping the Angels.
Ober cutting through lineups
Bailey Ober’s first start of the season was the worst start of his career. Facing the Royals in Kansas City, he failed to make it out of the second inning, allowing three homers and eight total runs. It was so uncharacteristically bad, and added to his already abysmal history versus the Royals, that Ober and manager Rocco Baldelli both questioned if Kansas City “had something” on him.
Ober won’t have another chance to face the Royals before late May, but in the meantime he’s responded to the season-opening stumble with a dominant four-start stretch that ranks among the best of his career. Culminating with Friday’s road win over the Angels in which Ober tied a career-high with 7 1/3 innings, he has a 1.48 ERA since the Kansas City clunker.
He tossed five innings of one-run ball versus the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers, surrendered a total of one run in back-to-back six-inning starts against the rival Detroit Tigers and no-hit the Angels into the sixth inning. Overall, across four starts, Ober posted a 24-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 24 1/3 innings, giving up zero homers and a .136 opponents’ batting average.
Don’t let his mediocre-looking 4.21 ERA mask the fact that Ober is pitching better than ever. His fastball is averaging a career-high 92.3 mph, his changeup is generating a career-best 42.6 percent swing-and-miss rate to emerge as a real weapon versus left-handed hitters, and he’s seamlessly incorporated a new cutter as part of what is now a five-pitch arsenal for the 6-foot-9 strike-thrower.
“It’s been great,” Ober said of his new cutter. “It feels good right now and I feel like the main thing I’m able to do with it is get it glove-side. Be able to locate it in to lefties and away to righties. And that is really setting up everything else. I’m able to throw my slower, bigger breaking ball off that and get the changeup fading away.”
Ober has quickly gained confidence in the cutter as a go-to pitch versus righties and lefties, throwing it 26 percent of the time, second to only his fastball. And rightfully so, as opponents have done little against it, batting just .200 with one extra-base hit. It’s another useful tool for Ober, who has consistently improved his velocity and refined his individual pitches since debuting in 2021.
Ober tends to fly under the radar because he lacked the raw stuff in the minors to rank as a top prospect, but he’s been one of the most effective starters in Twins history with a 114 ERA+ in 62 starts. In the past 30 years, only Johan Santana (175 starts, 141 ERA+) and Ervin Santana (85 starts, 116 ERA+) have made more starts with a better ERA+ than Ober in a Twins uniform.
Bailey Ober’s 2Ks in the 3rd…and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/GTjSv0p5K1
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 27, 2024
First glimpse of Slamtana
When a previously struggling lineup scores 57 runs in seven games, including back-to-back double-digit outbursts, there’s obviously going to be a lot to like, but the most encouraging aspect might be the thawing of Carlos Santana’s bat.
Signed to a one-year, $5.25 million contract as the biggest-money and biggest-name addition of the Twins’ offseason, Santana hit .141 with zero homers in his first 20 games. That naturally led to questions about how long the Twins should stick with the 38-year-old first baseman, but multiple team officials downplayed the possibility of giving up on Santana, or any well-respected veteran, this early.
“As long as they are putting in the work, we are putting in the work right beside them,” president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said last week. “The most important thing we can do is create an environment that supports them. We are all in this to try to figure it out together. If we have to assess those more difficult realities, we do that a little bit later. It’s usually not a couple of weeks into the season.”
Patience with Santana has started to pay off. At minimum, he bought himself some more time by hitting .286/.355/.679 over the seven-game winning streak, including a homer in three straight games. Santana’s season totals are still ugly, but that stretch raised his batting average from .133 to .182 and his OPS from .374 to .583. And he’s been as advertised defensively, providing an upgrade at first base.
SLAMTANA DOES IT AGAIN 💣#MNTwins | #MLB pic.twitter.com/ALNWIQsNZr
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) April 28, 2024
Rehabbing relievers Duran, Topa near returns
Jhoan Duran brushed off the lack of his typically jaw-dropping fastball velocity after averaging “only” 98.1 mph in his first Triple-A rehab appearance last Tuesday, noting that it was his first game action in nearly six weeks and he was focusing on simply throwing strikes. Duran, who has been out since spring training with an oblique strain, allowed two runs on four hits.
Sure enough, Duran looked much more like his normal, overpowering self in Saturday’s second rehab outing with the Saints, averaging 101.8 mph with his fastball in a scoreless, 1-2-3 inning. Duran topped out at 102.9 mph, struck out two and got whiffs on six of eight swings, suggesting the Twins’ closer is on the verge of coming off the injured list. And he (and Correa) may not be alone.
Justin Topa, who’s also been sidelined since spring training with knee tendinitis, appears close to joining the Twins’ bullpen as well. He started a Triple-A rehab stint with a scoreless inning Thursday, striking out all three batters he faced, but Topa’s scheduled Sunday appearance was rained out. His velocity Thursday was down a tick or two from the right-hander’s mid-90s norm last season.
Acquired from the Seattle Mariners in the Jorge Polanco trade, Topa was slated to slot fourth in the bullpen pecking order behind Duran, Griffin Jax and Brock Stewart. Twins relievers have fared shockingly well despite missing two top arms, posting a 2.62 ERA with 123 strikeouts in 99 2/3 innings to reinforce the idea that they project as one of the best bullpens in baseball if/when everyone is healthy.
(Photo of Carlos Santana: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)
Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and two assists, and Ryan Hartman had a goal and an assist for the Wild, who are the No. 3 seed in the Central Division. Wallstedt made 27 saves in his Stanley Cup Playoff debut, and Zuccarello had three assists.
“I was definitely nervous,” said Wallstedt, a rookie. “I think it shows that it means something to you. I like a little bit of nerves. I think it’s something good. There were definitely some nerves throughout the day and then a little bit extra rolling into the game. But after the national anthem was over and the first couple pucks started coming, you’re good.
“I wanted to play and I felt like I have been going good. I was a little surprised (to get the start). But I was very excited as soon as I got the news. I just wanted to make sure I was ready today.”
Jason Robertson scored, and Jake Oettinger made 23 saves for the Stars, who are the No. 2 seed in the Central.
“We didn’t deserve to win,” Dallas forward Mikko Rantanen said. “I think two power-play goals for them, two a little-bit bounces for them where we had guys in the right spot. Just even keel. Playoffs are like this. Sometimes you lose a game, you can feel like you’re done. But that’s the mentality you need to have, you’ve got to reset and learn from mistakes.
“First 30 minutes, we didn’t win enough battles. They were just that little bit stronger in the battles and that’s why they were able to make us defend more than we want to. Just got to be stronger.”
Game 2 is here on Monday (9:30 p.m. ET; FDSNWI, FDSNNO, Victory+, ESPN, TVAS2, SN360).
“We prepped for a couple days coming into this one. Now, we will gather information from this game and continue to move forward,” Minnesota coach John Hynes said. “For me, it’s game to game and day to day. We want to continue to get better. We won and they [Dallas] lost. It’s not so much being satisfied where you’re at or that’s what it is. We need to continue to find ways to get better.”
Eriksson Ek gave the Wild a 1-0 lead at 5:35 of the first period on the power play. He scored on a one-timer from the left hash marks to finish a tic-tac-toe passing play with Zuccarello and Boldy, who found an open Eriksson Ek with a pass from the goal line.
“I think every team in the playoffs talks about not getting too high or too low. Just enjoy every day and each game and then we will go from there,” Eriksson Ek said. “I think we played pretty good today. The next game is a new game, so we just have to do it over and over every game. We know they are probably not the happiest with that game, so I am sure it’s going to be hard next game.”
Minnesota prosecutors charged a federal immigration agent with assault accusing him of involvement in a February road-rage incident.
Trump administration ends Minnesota immigration operation
Border Czar Tom Homan announced the end of Minnesota’s immigration operation after fatal shootings heightened tension and community backlash.
Minnesota prosecutors charged a federal immigration agent with assault, saying the agent was involved in a February road-rage incident during the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Gregory Donnell Morgan Jr., 35, faces two counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, according to April 16 Hennepin County court records. He has a nationwide warrant for his arrest.
On Feb. 5, prosecutors said Morgan allegedly drove illegally on the shoulder of a congested Minnesota highway in an unmarked SUV and pointed his weapon at two people in another car.
Morgan is the first agent charged in Operation Metro Surge, the controversial Minneapolis-area federal immigration operation that resulted in two American citizens fatally shot by federal officials, according to the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
The charges “reflect an important milestone in our efforts to seek accountability for the harms inflicted on our community during Operation Metro Surge,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in an April 16 video statement.
Second-degree assault with a gun has a presumptive sentence of 36 months in prison if convicted, she said.
“Mr. Morgan’s conduct was extremely dangerous,” she said, adding his actions could have led to “another disastrous incident” in the community.
Neither ICE nor the Department of Homeland Security immediately responded to email requests for comment. A cell phone listed for Morgan, identified as a Maryland resident, didn’t immediately respond to a call or text message.
The incident came less than two weeks after two Customs and Border Protection officers shot and killed Alex Pretti, 37, during a protest in Minneapolis. Pretti would be the second American killed during Metro Surge after an ICE agent in early January fatally shot Renee Good, 37, while she drove her SUV in Minneapolis near an immigration operation.
Later in February, the Trump administration drew down Metro Surge, which officials called the largest immigration operation in modern American history.
Investigators said they interviewed Morgan, who identified himself as the driver. Morgan told investigators he and the other ICE employee were returning from a surveillance shift. Morgan said he feared for his life and others’ safety, so he pulled up alongside the vehicle and drew his Glock 19 firearm. He said he identified himself as police.
State investigators said neither Morgan nor the other ICE agent reported the incident to an ICE supervisor.
The April 16 warrant, signed by District Court Judge Paul Scoggin, said there was a “substantial likelihood” Morgan would fail to respond to a summons, and officials couldn’t locate him.
On April 18, Daniel Borgertpoepping, a spokesperson for the county attorney’s office, said there is no knowledge of Morgan being arrested yet.
Eduardo Cuevas is based in New York City. Reach him by email at emcuevas1@usatoday.com or on Signal at emcuevas.01.
Reds’ Brandon Williamson talks Minnesota homecoming, beating Twins
Cincinnati Reds lefty Brandon Williamson pitched into the sixth inning to beat his home-state Minnesota Twins 2-1 in his first pro start in Minnesota.
MINNEAPOLIS – Brandon Williamson came to this ballpark as a kid, rooted for Joe Mauer and the Twins, maybe even dreamed a little of playing there one day.
“Oh, yeah. Joe Ma,” Williamson said. “That’s my guy.”
By the time that day came, Mauer had a statue outside the stadium, and Williamson had 29 career starts across three big-league seasons for the Cincinnati Reds.
And then the kid from tiny Trimont, Minnesota, came up big enough to beat the Twins in his first professional start in his home state – a 2-1 victory Friday in front of 200 or more personal friends and family from Trimont. And about 31,000 other people.
“It was awesome,” said Williamson, whose personal contingent at the game represented close to one-third of greater Trimont (pop. 705). “It was everything I thought it would be.”
The left-hander didn’t pitch especially deep into the game, getting two batters into the sixth. But on a night made for native Minnesotans, with a game-time temperature of 43 degrees, Williamson looked right at, well, home, pitching to the conditions and setting down the first six batters he faced – and eight of the first nine.
As one local press box wag quipped during the second inning, “These Minnesota boys know how to pitch in the cold.”
A pair of one-out runs in the fourth inning provided the scoring for a Reds team lineup still trying to break free from its early season woes – albeit with the twin obstacles of the weather and All-Star starter Joe Ryan’s presence on the mound for the Twins for the first six innings.
The only two hits off Ryan were doubles in the fourth by Elly De La Cruz and Eugenio Suárez, sandwiched around a throwing error by third baseman Ryan Kreidler. Suárez’s hit drove in two.
The only run against Williamson scored after he inexplicably followed four strong innings with three consecutive walks to open the fifth, including a four-pitch walk to No. 8 hitter Brooks Lee leading off the inning.
Austin Martin followed the three freebies with a sacrifice fly on a dying liner to the gap in right that Will Benson caught with a slide.
Williamson then rallied to get Luke Keaschall on an inning-ending, 5-4-3 double play started by Suárez, who got the rare start at third base.
“I thought he handled himself really good,” manager Terry Francona said. “He looked like he was having fun pitching. I know he didn’t like walking the bases loaded. But he looked like he was enjoying himself out there. I like that when guys are enjoying competing; then we’re OK.”
Williamson also left the bases loaded in the third after a hit batter and two-out single followed by a walk. He struck out Keaschall on a called third strike that was confirmed after Keaschall challenged.
“I could have kissed whoever was running the ABS,” Williamson said.
The Reds improved to 12-8 and remained tied for first place in the National League Central after their third win in four games – the second in that stretch by a 2-1 score.“That was cool,” said closer Emilio Pagán, who pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save in his first outing since experiencing hamstring tightness Tuesday.
“I don’t have a team in my home state (of South Carolina),” Pagán said, “so I don’t know what that feels like. But to pitch against probably his favorite team growing up in front of that many friends and family had to be a surreal feeling. And he handled it great.”
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