Ryan Jeffers is trending toward a future All-Star nod - just probably not in a Twins uniform.
Minnesota already has two representatives in this summer’s Midsummer Classic after MLB named Byron Buxton and Joe Ryan to the American League roster on Saturday night. Jeffers, though, had a strong enough first half before landing on the injured list that he looked like he belonged in that conversation too. If not for the left hamate bone fracture that sent him to the IL on May 19, the Twins catcher might have been joining them.
Before the injury, Jeffers was carrying Minnesota’s lineup. In 37 games, he hit .295/.408/.541 with seven home runs and 26 RBI, production good for a 165 wRC+. Even with all that missed time, he still ranks fourth among American League catchers in fWAR at 1.7, trailing only the Tigers’ Dillon Dingler (4.0), the Orioles’ Adley Rutschman (2.1) and the Athletics’ Shea Langeliers (2.1).
Jeffers is also close to getting back on the field. He began a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul on Friday, a sign that his return from the IL is nearing.
Looking ahead, the path to his first All-Star appearance seems pretty clear. If Jeffers, 29, opens 2027 the way he opened this season and stays healthy, he should be in line for the All-Star Game at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The catch is that, if that happens, he’ll likely be wearing someone else’s colors.
That possibility comes down to where the Twins stand over the next few weeks. Minnesota is 44-47 and sits 1 1/2 games behind the third AL Wild Card spot after taking two of three from the Yankees over the weekend.
A hot month could keep the club in the race. A bad one could push the Twins into sell mode before the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
If Minnesota decides to sell, Jeffers is the kind of player who would draw real attention. He’s headed for free agency after this season, and the Yankees have already shown interest in him. If the Twins stay in the hunt, they could keep him through the deadline and at least extend him a qualifying offer, which would give them a compensatory draft pick if he signs elsewhere.
Even then, the odds still point toward Jeffers moving on. Minnesota has catching depth coming, including Eduardo Tait, and could add another name this summer by taking Georgia Tech’s Vahn Lackey in the first round. Add in the Twins’ reputation as a team that doesn’t spend big, and Jeffers looks like a player who should have a strong market once free agency arrives.
In Other News...
Twins Rotation Relief May Finally Be Taking Shape
The Twins rotation and bullpen picture may be starting to clear at just the right time. Bailey Ober threw a bullpen session as he works back from right elbow inflammation, while catcher Ryan Jeffers and reliever Cole Sands are both moving forward on rehab assignments with Triple-A St. Paul. Those are the kinds of updates Minnesota has been waiting for, especially with the pitching staff and lineup both trying to get healthier in the same stretch.
There was also a small roster shuffle as the club activated Woo-Suk Go and sent Cody Laweryson back to St. Paul. The bigger question now is how quickly the rest of the injured group can follow, because the Twins still have a few important names in various stages of recovery and the timing on each one could shape how they navigate the next few weeks. [Read more 🡒]
Byron Buxton Trade Buzz Is Back And Twins Fans Know Why
Byron Buxtons name keeps popping up in trade chatter anyway, which is hardly new for a player whose talent level tends to draw attention whenever the rumor mill starts spinning. The Twins have made their position clear, with general manager Jeremy Zoll saying the club is not exploring a Buxton trade and does not plan to, while Buxtons contract and service time give him meaningful control over where he goes next.
Still, the speculation has not gone away, even with Buxton publicly saying he does not intend to waive his no-trade clause. Some national lists have continued to include him among possible trade candidates, a reminder that star players with real leverage can still become part of the conversation even when the odds are long and the team insists there is nothing to see here. [Read more 🡒]
Twins Fans Just Got Another Brutal Kaelen Culpepper Delay
Kaelen Culpeppers summer has turned into stop-and-start frustration for the Twins, who have been trying to keep one of their best prospects on the field long enough to build momentum. The first-round pick has shown why the organization is so high on him at Triple-A St. Paul, but injuries have kept interrupting the progress since mid-June, leaving his season in fits and starts instead of the steady climb Minnesota hoped for.
Now Culpepper is back on the seven-day injured list, another unwelcome pause for a player the Twins would love to see finish the year healthy and pushing closer to the majors. It also fits a broader pattern in the system, where Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez have each lost time to injuries too, making every setback feel a little heavier for a club waiting on its top young talent to get rolling at the same time. [Read more 🡒]