Recent content from Phil Miller
Gardenhire, Gladden, Tovar elected to Twins Hall of Fame
Player, manager, broadcaster — the trio of inductees for 2022 epitomize versatility. Tovar has an especially unique distinction.
Toby Gardenhire to manage St. Paul Saints for second season
The son of ex-Twins manager Ron Gardenhire has delivered three straight winning seasons in the minors, including a third-place finish with the Saints in 2021.
Twins open signing period by signing Acuna, younger brother of Braves All-Star
Bryan Acuna, 16, tops list of international players to agree to deals. His brother is Atlanta's Ronald Acuna Jr.
Almost a complete team: Kaat is 10th to have number retired by Twins
Jim Kaat will be honored by the Twins before a game in July against the White Sox, another team where he had great pitching success.
Name change in store for Twins' spring training home
The headquarters in Fort Myers, Fla., will revert to its original name, the Lee County Sports Complex, until a new corporate partner is found.
MLB lockout drags on over money issues, with no end in sight
It has been five weeks since the shutdown, and we're five weeks away from the start of spring training.
Twins shuffle coaching assignments, two coaches added to Baldelli's staff
Former Angels catcher Hank Conger and longtime minor-league pitching coach Luis Ramirez have been hired for 2022.
Twins lose Gabriel Maciel in minor league Rule 5 Draft
The native of Brazil was acquired from Arizona in the Eduardo Escobar trade.
World Axe Throwing Championships give Minnesotans chance to prove their chops
Darts, billiards, cornhole — bar games are evolving from hobbies to sanctioned sports, and axe-throwing has grown faster than any of them over the past five years.
So much love: Tributes pour in for new Hall of Famers Oliva and Kaat
Tony Oliva waited 45 years to be elected to baseball's Hall of Fame. Now that he has, it may take him another 45 to acknowledge all the adulation he has received.
Twins greats Tony Oliva, Jim Kaat elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
The two stars of yesteryear were chosen to baseball's shrine by the Golden Days Era Committee, along with Minnie Minoso and Gil Hodges.
'Certainly been worth the wait': Kaat humbled to get unexpected call to Cooperstown
Longtime Twins lefthander Jim Kaat will be enshrined in the Hall of Fame nearly four decades after throwing the last of his 25 big-league seasons.
One vote short last time, Oliva at peace as he waits for that Hall of Fame call
No one has felt the disappointment — however brief for Tony — of not making the baseball Hall of Fame more than Twins great Tony Oliva.
Lengthy, lucrative contract shows loyalty between Buxton, Twins
With higher-payroll teams in the bidding, Byron Buxton would likely have gotten richer offers had he waited to become a free agent after next season despite his injury history.
After memorable day of signings, Twins bosses prepare for lockout
Minor league player development and amateur scouting can go on unaffected if there is no new labor agreement.
Twins sign Duffey, Thielbar, Cotton. Offer contracts to three players, release three
The Twins offered contracts to Taylor Rogers, Mitch Garver and Luis Arraez while sending three others to free agency, including a player claimed on waivers only hours earlier.
Twins face contract decisions today on Rogers, Garver, others for 2022
Eight players are eligible for contract arbitration and the Twins must decide by 7 p.m. — the deadline for offering 2022 contracts — whether they want to spend the money to keep them.
Astudillo clears release waivers, will head to baseball's open market
Popular Twin Willians Astudillo was designated for assignment last week. Pitcher Charlie Barnes also cleared waivers and was assigned to Class AAA St. Paul.
Heading into next season, Twins could have $50 million to spend
Pitching and shortstop are areas of immediate need, and the team expects to spend up to last year's payroll of about $125 million.
Chart: A look at every contract on the Twins' roster for 2022
Josh Donaldson eats up a big share of the pie, and seven veterans are under contract, with nine others headed to arbitration.
Willians Astudillo among players dropped from Twins roster
The team had to make room on its 40-man roster to protect top prospects such as Royce Lewis and Jose Miranda.
Twins looking to reshape roster to avoid piracy of minor leaguers
The Twins will make a few changes to their offseason roster by Friday's MLB deadline, and they'll do so with a valuable tool that was missing last year: information.
David Popkins joins Twins' staff as hitting coach
The 31-year old has reputation as a learner and fan of data-driven methodology.
Twins look to low minors in hiring 31-year-old hitting coach
David Popkins was the coach of the Class A Great Lakes Loons in Michigan, where his team hit more homers than all but two of the 90 teams in Class A and AA.
Former Twins star Cruz wins baseball's Roberto Clemente Award
After Nelson Cruz was traded to Tampa Bay in July, the Twins were given the chance to submit a new nominee. The team stood by its choice.
Staying or leaving? A look at the Twins roster heading toward 2022
An unexpected drop from first to last place and a revolving door of players leave a winter of decision-making ahead.
Twins hitting coach Varela reassigned to minor league system
Hitting coach Edgar Varela was one of two Twins coaches who will work in the minors next year; Texas claimed a minor-league pitcher off waivers.
First to worst: What happens now with Twins after disaster of a season?
Manager Rocco Baldelli says he takes 'full responsibility for the direction that our season went in.' The plunge left people wondering who might have played their last game for the team on Sunday.
Twins end 2021 season with 7-3 victory over Kansas City
Minnesota finished with eight wins in its final 12 games, avoiding a 90-loss season with a 73-89 record. It is, however, the Twins' seventh losing season in the 12-year Target Field era.
Playoff drama absent in Kansas City as Twins close awful season
Winless rookies matched up on mound in 2021 finale
Twins pitchers combine for three-hit shutout of Royals
Griffin Jax pitched five innings before the bullpen finished it off.
As Twins' season ends, Buxton 'pumped' about what he's done, what might be ahead
When he wasn't injured, Twins center fielder Byron Buxton hit 18 homers and his on-base plus slugging percentage ranked with the best in the American League. He believes he can sustain, perhaps even improve, that production.
Jax returns to site of his first career start for final start of 2021
Twins face Royals lefty Kris Bubic, try to snap two-game skid
Sano says he wants to lose 30 pounds before next season
Coming off one of the most discouraging and yet weirdly encouraging seasons of his career, Miguel Sano says he intends to do more with less in 2022.
Twins clinch last place in AL Central with loss at Kansas City
The Twins will finish in fifth place in the division for the fifth time in 11 seasons.
Rejuvenated Twins reliever Minaya beating 'best hitters'
Only eight times this season have opposing batters gotten a hit on Juan Minaya's changeup, and only three for extra bases.
Twins, Royals start three-game series to conclude 2021 season
John Gant gets the start as Twins need a sweep to avoid last place in the American League Central.
Pineda 'a pillar in our clubhouse.' But will he be back with Twins?
Michael Pineda is the sole survivor from the Opening Day starting rotation. On Wednesday he won his fifth straight game by showcasing his ability to avoid big innings.
Polanco's quick home run sparks Twins to 5-2 victory over Detroit
Casey Mize's first pitch to Jorge Polanco on Wednesday night was a 94-mph sinker, which Polanco deposited into the seats for a three-run home run.
Pineda faces Mize as Twins, Tigers continue series at Target Field
Nick Gordon will start at shortstop for the Twins, who reinstated Joe Ryan from the bereavement list.
Miranda, Varland named Twins top minor leaguers for 2021
Jose Miranda has 29 home runs as he finishes his season with the Saints; Louie Varland, named top pitcher, is a former Concordia-St. Paul standout
In the zone: Ryan sets Twins record with 11 strikeouts in five innings
Rookie righthander Joe Ryan dominated the Cubs, striking out 11, including the final seven he faced, and Max Kepler hit two homers in a 5-4 win.
Ryan's strikeout is 1,914th — and possibly final — for a Twins pitcher at the plate
All of MLB is likely to use the designated hitter rule next season, meaning pitchers are unlikely to come up to bat.
Joe Ryan faces Kyle Hendricks as Twins, Cubs meet at Wrigley Field
The Twins won the opener of a two-games series on Tuesday night.
Gordon's homer sparks 16-hit attack as Twins outscore Cubs
Nick Gordon was one of four Twins to rack up three hits on the 9-5 victory, the first time in more than two years they've done that.
Mitch Garver's season of injuries: 'Wrecked is an understatement.'
The Twins' catcher was hitting the ball hard until he was beset by injuries, but now he's looking to finish strong.
Minor league vet Maggi back to minors without making Twins debut
With Andrelton Simmons and Mitch Garver being activated for the Cubs series, the team also sent Ben Rortvedt back to St. Paul.
'The game is what the game is.' Sano fastest to 1,000 strikeouts in history
Miguel Sano and the Twins say there is a tradeoff in his game: massive home runs that terrorize opponents and numerous strikeouts that aggravate fans.
Chart: Sano fastest to 1,000 strikeouts in MLB history
Sano reached the dubious milestone in his 661st career game.
Berrios shuts down Twins in first start against former teammates
The vintage Jose Berrios performance that in years past could rescue the Twins from dismal stretches of a season this time felt like piling on.
Mutual respect: Donaldson, Guerrero exchange jerseys after game in Toronto
Josh Donaldson, who was named a league MVP while playing for Toronto, is saying in media interview that Vladimir Guerrero deserves the award this season.
Twins send a relief pitcher to the mound to face Berrios
Luke Farrell will make his fifth career start, and first for the Twins
Walks, homers haunt as Twins fall to Blue Jays 6-2
Rookies Bailey Ober and Jovani Moran have been stingy with their free passes in 2021, but not on Saturday.
'I've been crying all day': After 11 years, Maggi gets emotional promotion by Twins
Drew Maggi toiled in the minors for 11 seasons and was being bounced around by COVID rules in Canada before the Twins promoted him to the majors last week.
After 11 years of minor-league toil, Twins call Maggi up to majors for game vs. Toronto
Saturday in Toronto is the moment that Drew Maggi has waited 11 years for.
Donaldson homers as Twins power their way past Toronto to open series
The Twins hit four home runs on Friday night, three of them consecutively in a five-run third inning that included a warm return to Toronto for Josh Donaldson.
Former Twins pitcher Berrios misses family, having mixed results with Blue Jays
The righthander is adjusting to his new team and says, "I've enjoyed it so far."
Visa issues sideline Simmons for Twins' weekend series in Toronto
Shortstop Andrelton Simmons won't enter Canada because of visa issues, and Nick Vincent will take Andrew Albers' place on the pitching staff.
Yankees makes it official, Twins won't win division in 2021
After Monday's loss, the math says Minnesota can't win the American League Central, and elimination from the wild-card race is coming soon.
'That inning should have been over': Twins fume after loss to Yankees
The Twins got early homers from Jorge Polanco, Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton, but then came a disastrous eighth inning and an ejection for Rocco Baldelli.
Twins face rookie pitcher they traded to Yankees as a teenager
After he was called up this season, Luis Gil became the first starter in MLB history to begin with three scoreless starts. He didn't give up a run in his first 15.2 innings.
Homer-happy Twins hit five long balls to rout Royals 9-2
Byron Buxton, Jorge Polanco (twice), Nick Gordon and Max Kepler combined for more than 2,000 feet of home runs Saturday night.
Top lefthanded prospect Moran hustles to join Twins after promotion
Jovani Moran made a round of emotional late-night phone calls after receiving word he would be called up the the Twins for Saturday's game.
Twins add lefty Moran to bullpen before taking on Royals
Relief prospect has struck out 109 batters in 67.1 innings
Royals edge Twins in 11 innings as starters settle down after early struggles
Griffin Jax, Daniel Lynch turned stingy after the first inning.
'I like what I'm feeling': Twins manager Baldelli takes on new duty: He's a papa
As a new father, Rocco Baldelli says he's "already starting to feel a little differently about some things."
Twins, Royals start three-game series in battle to avoid AL Central basement
The Twins are in last place, 18 games behind the White Sox, with the Royals 17 games out of contention.
The baseball journey of Twins coach Bill Evers winds its way to an end
After many years and many roles, the retiring 67-year-old will manage in the big leagues when Rocco Baldelli goes on paternity leave.
Twins pitching rotation beyond this year remains a great unknown
President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey has seen a dramatic change in his starting staff since the beginning of the 2021 season.
Tokyo to Target Field: Ryan's fine debut spoiled by one big mistake
Joe Ryan set the Cubs down in order in four of his five innings. But the middle one of those innings for the Team USA silver medalist led to the Twins' 3-0 defeat.
