Cody Morissette didn’t exactly map out a finish to his season in St. Paul, but the fit arrived quickly once the Miami Marlins let him go in early June.
The Twins were looking for help in the upper minors, and Morissette gave them exactly that. In 70 games with the Saints from June 16 through the end of the year, he put together the best run of his pro career, batting .262/.344/.520 with 16 home runs and 49 RBI across 276 plate appearances.
He also posted a 10.9% walk rate and a 22.5% strikeout rate. Before this stretch, he had never hit above .234 in a professional season.
What really changed the tone of his year was the way he finished. From Aug. 30 to Sept.
9, Morissette launched five home runs in eight games, including a homer in four straight contests. Over his final 22 games, he went deep seven times, drove in 22 runs and hit .274/.365/.571.
“It’s been a lot of fun this year,” Morissette said. “Just getting back to being myself this year has been a lot of fun, and working with this staff, it’s been really good. It’s like we’re chasing a record every other week.”
For Saints manager Brian Dinkelman, the biggest sign of Morissette’s success was how naturally he fit into the clubhouse.
“The guys have accepted him like he’s one of the guys,” Dinkelman said regarding Morissette’s role in the clubhouse. “He enjoys all the things they enjoy. They hang out on the off-days together, so I think guys having him around.”
Dinkelman also pointed to the change of scenery itself as part of the story.
“For Cody, you sometimes just find a new organization, some new faces, and new philosophies on how they play baseball,” Dinkelman said. “Since he’s been here, he’s been great, swung the bat well, played good defense, and I think it’s opened up his career a little bit to see a different side of it and just kind of let him be himself.”
Morissette said the process has been about handling the swings that come with a long season and keeping his approach steady.
“It’s the ups and downs of the season,” said Morissette. “You go through rough stretches, you go through stretches like this, so [I’m] just trying to be as consistent as possible and have fun.”
His arrival in Minnesota also carried some longer-term value for the Twins. Had he remained in the Marlins organization, he would have had at least one more year of team control before reaching Minor League free agency, unless he earned a major-league call-up.
It is still unclear whether he will be under contract with the Twins this upcoming offseason, but he has at least done enough to put himself in position for another shot with St. Paul in 2027.
That matters because the Saints’ infield picture remains thin for now. Morissette is one of only three infielders on the roster, alongside Tanner Schobel and Jake Rucker.
Even if Twins infield prospect Marek Houston begins the 2027 season in Triple-A with St. Paul, the team would still need a dependable second baseman next to him, and Morissette has shown he can handle that role.
With Triple-A rosters changing constantly, a steady presence like Morissette can matter. He’s become a reliable bat for St. Paul, and he’s also helped reinforce a clubhouse culture that left an impression on plenty of players who came through CHS Field this year.
For Morissette, the big-picture takeaway is simple. He was released, found a new opportunity, and turned it into a strong finish.
“I’ve dealt with a lot of adversity this year,” said Morissette. “Wasn’t playing at the beginning of the year, ended up getting released.
And to be given a chance by the Twins and be able to get back to it, playing the way I can has been a lot of fun. And I’m going to reflect on that and bring that into next year and give myself a chance at the big leagues, hopefully.”
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