Twins baserunning has flipped from a liability to a weapon, led by a green-light culture that has pushed several players into aggressive steals. Back-to-back four-steal games and a surge to 19 steals in 16 games highlight a season-long shift in risk tolerance under Baldelli.

Rookie Luke Keaschall, Trevor Larnach, and Matt Wallner have become catalysts, while Kody Clemens and Kody Funderburk have stepped into opportunistic roles. The Padres and other clubs faced the speed push as Milwaukee, Boston, and Tampa Bay were noted for struggles against the surge.

For fantasy managers, stolen-base upside has ticked up for Twins’ speed-leaning pieces, but the risk of outs remains a factor as the roster embraces a high-velocity path to offense.

Royce Lewis continues to gain momentum at the plate, highlighted by a recent stretch that includes two home runs in one game and three hits in another. Following several productive outings, manager Rocco Baldelli has made it a routine to meet with Lewis pregame, which seems to have positively impacted Lewis's performance. With impressive exit velocities on his batted balls, Lewis credits luck and better placement rather than a shift in his approach. He has also been promoted to the fifth spot in the batting order while maintaining a focus on consistency.

In other Twins news, Jake Irvin prepares for a significant start against his hometown team. After battling through a so-so season, he looks forward to pitching at Target Field for the first time, an emotional milestone for the Bloomington native. Meanwhile, Kody Funderburk has been recalled to fill in for Anthony Misiewicz, who landed on the injured list. Additionally, Bailey Ober has made progress in his rehab, paving the way for a potential return.

In a recent game against the Athletics, infielder Jonah Bride took the mound for the Minnesota Twins during a blowout loss. Manager Rocco Baldelli expressed his disdain for using position players to pitch, suggesting that the bullpen should contribute financially when such situations arise as a gesture of appreciation. Bride managed to hold his own, allowing two runs in two innings, demonstrating some surprising skills on the mound. Despite this experience being his first in the majors, he has pitched previously in the minors.

Shortstop Carlos Correa sat out due to upper back pain, which has hampered his performance recently, specifically affecting his swing. The Twins also made roster moves, recalling right-hander Travis Adams for his major league debut and sending Kody Funderburk back to the minors. The Twins are looking to solidify their roster as they continue to push through the season.