Minnesota
What does an ideal, fully-healthy Minnesota Twins lineup look like?
Offense has not been the strength of the 2025 Minnesota Twins, who are 27-22 heading into a weekend series against the Royals at Target Field. They’re tied for 19th in runs per game (4.1) and are 20th in OPS (.695). It’s been their pitching staff — both the starting rotation and the bullpen — that has largely driven their recent success (14-2 since May 3).
But the offense also hasn’t been at full strength this year. Matt Wallner, Minnesota’s Opening Day leadoff hitter, has been out for over a month with a hamstring injury. Royce Lewis missed the first month and change with his own hamstring strain, then got off to a slow start in May. Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa have been on the concussion IL since crashing into each other last week.
The good news is that the Twins are getting healthier. Correa is expected to be back in the lineup on Friday. Buxton and Wallner shouldn’t be far behind. With the exception of Luke Keaschall and his forearm fracture, the Twins could have all of their guys in the lineup next week, which will lead to some decisions for Rocco Baldelli when he sets the batting order.
Let’s take a stab at putting together a healthy Twins lineup that should have a chance to start producing runs at a high level.
Here’s what it could look like against a right-handed starting pitcher:
1. Matt Wallner RF
2. Byron Buxton CF
3. Trevor Larnach DH
4. Ryan Jeffers C
5. Carlos Correa SS
6. Kody Clemens 2B
7. Royce Lewis 3B
8. Ty France 1B
9. Harrison Bader LF
That’s a good-looking lineup if you assume Correa and Lewis will eventually hit at their career levels after slow starts to this season. It’s got a bunch of pop at the top with Wallner, Buxton, and Larnach (who has an .817 OPS against righties this year). It’s also got some real balance, with Lewis and the two newcomers making up the bottom of the order. If he starts to heat up, Lewis could swap places with Correa.
And yes, I’m giving Clemens the start at second base over Brooks Lee and Willi Castro. He’s been unbelievable (and extremely clutch) for the Twins as a scrap-heap pickup from the Phillies, hitting .318 with a 1.070 OPS and nine of his 14 hits going for extra bases. Until he cools down, his bat deserves to stay in the lineup.
And here’s what it could look like against a lefty starter:
1. Byron Buxton CF
2. Ryan Jeffers C
3. Royce Lewis 3B
4. Carlos Correa SS
5. Ty France 1B
6. Carson McCusker DH
7. Matt Wallner RF
8. Brooks Lee 2B
9. Harrison Bader LF
That lineup stacks right-handed bats at the top and throughout the order, with Wallner (3 for 5 with three XBH in a tiny sample size against lefties this year) as the only left-handed hitter. Larnach (.442 OPS in 39 PAs vs. lefties) does not make the cut. I’d rather give the hulking McCusker an opportunity to see if his Triple-A production can translate to the big leagues, though it’s definitely not a guarantee he remains on the roster when Wallner is activated.
There isn’t a great option at second base, considering Lee and Castro have both struggled against lefties. You could use Jonah Bride there if he’s still on the roster, but I’d rather see if Lee can get going from that side of the plate. I ended up without Castro making either version of my ideal lineup, which maybe isn’t fair. I just think I prefer Wallner and Lee against a lefty.
Christian Vazquez will obviously make plenty of starts in the Twins’ catcher rotation, and he’s actually been hitting the ball surprisingly well lately. Still, he’s not a guy you include when constructing an ideal, bat-first lineup for this team.
Minnesota
Minnesota weather: Rain and storms possible late Thursday
Minnesota weather forecast. (FOX 9)
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Most of Minnesota will be under a marginal risk of severe weather on Thursday, with rain and rumbles expected.
Thursday weather forecast
Local perspective:
A line of storms is expected to develop in west-southwest Minnesota on Thursday and grow in coverage as well as intensity tracking east into the early evening.
Large hail and damaging winds are the prevalent threats, but an isolated tornado is also possible along the line.
Isolated showers are expected to form in the western part of Minnesota on Thursday morning.
Rain chances in the Twin Cities area increase in the afternoon, as a line pushes through with possible thunderstorms.
Stay Sky Aware with FOX 9 for the latest.
The Source: This story uses information from the FOX 9 weather forecast.
Minnesota
TikToker’s ban from St. Paul parks lifted after appeal, agent says
A TikTok creator is no longer banned from parks in St. Paul, Minnesota, after appealing the city’s restriction, according to his agent.
St. Paul Parks and Recreation Director Andy Rodriguez earlier this month accused Josh Liljenquist of going to Pig’s Eye Park to “harass, record and profit from vulnerable adults residing there without said individuals’ permission.” Liljenquist, who is known for giving away food and cash in his videos, denied the allegation.
On Wednesday, Liljenquist’s agent shared a new letter from the city.
“Based on an evaluation of the facts of this situation as they were relayed during your appeal meeting, I will be rescinding your ban from our parks, effective immediately,” the letter from Rodriguez read.
Rodriguez also wrote the city expects “all residents and visitors to our parks to abide by the rules.”
“Our responsibility is to ensure park spaces remain safe, respectful, and accessible for all, and we appreciate your partnership in that effort,” the letter read.
Liljenquist told WCCO he has only recorded at Pig’s Eye Park once, and it was with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office’s consent. He said he and his videographer always get consent from individuals they film, too.
Local organizations that work with people experiencing homelessness are split on Liljenquist’s impact. Sue Phillips, director of the Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing, said his content “is exploiting people experiencing homelessness/housing instability.” Feeding St. Paul founder Michael Brendale, on the other hand, said, “Josh has changed many lives, taken people off the streets.”
Liljenquist told WCCO he films his efforts instead of making them private in hopes of “inspiring other people to do it, showing that it doesn’t take a lot of money, it doesn’t take a lot of resources to go out there and do something for somebody.”
Minnesota
5 tornadoes confirmed in Friday’s outbreak in southeastern Minnesota
The National Weather Service confirmed that at least five tornadoes touched down in southeastern Minnesota on Friday, including four that hit Olmsted County. At least another three twisters were confirmed in southwestern Wisconsin.
The NWS was still analyzing data and other information to determine if more tornadoes occurred in the area.
The storms started Friday afternoon, with the first tornado touching down north of Sargeant in Mower County around 1:45 p.m. The short-lived EF0, with top wind speeds of 80 mph, traveled about 3 miles northeast into rural Dodge County near the unincorporated town of Oslo. It lasted for about five minutes in total, the weather service says, and caused minor damage to a grain silo before dissipating.
A new tornado formed a few minutes later, less than a mile away south of Oslo. The storm was also considered an EF0, with wind speeds around 80 mph. Lasting less than 10 minutes, it traveled 4 miles into Olmsted County, causing light damage to farm outbuildings and trees.
The line of storms seemed to pick up intensity as it entered Olmsted County.
Around 2:17 p.m., the EF2 tornado that would later hit Marion Township first touched down just northeast of Stewartville. The weather service estimates that the twister had wind speeds of about 130 mph and traveled nearly 10 miles northeast, before dissipating around 2:31 p.m. Multiple homes were severely damaged with roof removal and partially collapsed exterior walls.
An EF1 tornado was also confirmed to have hit near Potsdam around 2:30 p.m.
The first portion of the tornado was weak, the weather service said, with mainly EF0 damage. On the second portion of the 12-mile track, the tornado intensified to produce approximately 100 mph winds with tree and farm outbuilding damage. It lifted around 2:54 p.m.
A second EF2 tornado was confirmed in Olmsted County around 2:46 p.m. about 5 miles east-northeast of Viola and traveled about 7.5 miles, ending in Wabasha County, a few miles south of Plainview, around 3 p.m. Maximum wind speeds were around 125 mph. The storm affected mainly rural areas and damaged trees and outbuildings. One farmhouse lost a roof and a garage roof, the weather service said.
No injuries were reported in the Minnesota-Wisconsin outbreak.
Friday was a historic day for the NWS La Crosse office, which issued 26 tornado warnings – the most for any one day since the office opened in 1995.
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