Highlights and lowlights from the first half of the Twins season
Over the weekend in Detroit, the Twins moved past the 81-game mark, the official halfway point in their season — although manager Rocco Baldelli called it an “arbitrary halfway point.” Arbitrary or not, it’s still a fair time to assess where the Twins are in season during which they, in Baldelli’s words, “played all kinds […]
Over the weekend in Detroit, the Twins moved past the 81-game mark, the official halfway point in their season — although manager Rocco Baldelli called it an “arbitrary halfway point.”
Arbitrary or not, it’s still a fair time to assess where the Twins are in season during which they, in Baldelli’s words, “played all kinds of baseball.”
They’re 40-44 and third in the American League Central Division, but a quick glance at their record doesn’t properly indicate how good, and how bad, the Twins have been.
“It’s (been) very up and down,” catcher Ryan Jeffers said. “I think we were coming into this year hoping to find more consistency than we have. I still think there’s a lot of time to do that. … We’re not where we want to be, but there’s still plenty of time to get to where we want to be.”
Here’s a look back.
Highlight: 13-game winning streak
For the second straight season, the Twins got off to a slow start and then pulled themselves back over .500 with a prolonged winning streak. Last year, they rattled off 12 straight wins and introduced a rally sausage to the world.
This year, they won 13 consecutive from May 3-17, which was the second-longest winning streak in Twins history. Twins pitchers threw 34 straight scoreless innings, a streak that was broken the same day the winning streak ended.
Within the stretch, the Twins won a pair of games against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, swept the Baltimore Orioles and San Francisco Giants at home, swept the Orioles again — this time on the road — and then took a pair of games in Milwaukee before losing the series finale to the Brewers.
Lowlight: June
The Twins closed out the month of June on Sunday with a loss in which they got dominated by Tigers ace and reigning American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.
At one point, they lost 11 of 12 games and 15 of 18 on their way to a 9-18 record in the month.
June was a month in which they lost staff ace Pablo López to a moderate shoulder strain, Zebby Matthews to a shoulder injury and Royce Lewis, who had just started heating up, to a hamstring strain. Lewis should return on Tuesday when the Twins kick off a three-game series in Miami.
The pitching staff finished the month with a collective 6.07 earned-run average, the worst in the majors. Starter Bailey Ober gave up 30 earned runs across his five starts (9.00 ERA), and the Twins are searching for answers on how to get the normally-steady right-hander back on track.
Highlight: Byron Buxton
Later this week, Byron Buxton will almost certainly be named to the American League all-star team for the second time in his career. That would be particularly special for the outfielder considering the game is being played in his home state of Georgia. It would be a well-deserved honor for the center fielder, who is enjoying some of the best health of his career.
Buxton has been a consistent bright spot for the Twins, hitting .281 with a .914 OPS this season. His 19 home runs pace the team, as do his 51 runs batted in. He’s a perfect 15 for 15 on stolen base attempts and has provided his usual Gold Glove defense in center field.
He already has posted a 3.4 fWAR (Wins Above Replacement per FanGraphs), which was tied for 12th in the majors entering Monday. Buxton’s own personal highlights include a 479-foot home run, the longest of his career, and a beautiful diving catch to secure a win in April.
“He’s one of the best players in the game,” Baldelli said. “We’re seeing it on a daily basis right now.”
Lowlight: Buxton, Correa collide
Carlos Correa #4 of the Minnesota Twins is helped off field by head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta in the third inning after colliding with Byron Buxton #35 during a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 15, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Carlos Correa raced back, his body angled toward the ball he was preparing to catch. Buxton raced in, his sights on the same ball as he called off Correa.
Somehow, some way, Buxton managed to grab the ball and hang onto it, even as he collided with Correa. Both ended up down on Camden Yards grass and remained that way before getting up gingerly.
Neither made it out of their May 15 collision unscathed. Correa went on the injured list immediately with the first concussion of his life. He was sidelined for a week. Buxton, who has had concussions in the past, missed two weeks.
Highlight: Newcomers making impact
The Twins’ front office didn’t have a lot of financial flexibility to work with this offseason, but the moves it made have worked out pretty well, so far.
Harrison Bader, a Gold Glove Award-winning center fielder, has shifted over to left field seamlessly, giving the Twins one of the best defensive outfields in the game. The veteran is currently second among Twins position players in fWAR.
Signed to a non-guaranteed contact, Ty France has posted up nearly every single day at first base and leads the team in games played. He has been particularly good in some of the most important situations and already has a pair of walk-offs to his name.
In the bullpen, Danny Coulombe owns a 0.81 earned-run average across 22⅓ innings. The left-hander didn’t allow a run in his first 21 appearances. Dating back to last season with Baltimore, he went more than a full calendar year without allowing a run.
And in season, the Twins added Kody Clemens, who has carved out a role for himself, showed some pop and currently has a 120 OPS+ (100 is league average).
Lowlight: Some young-ish position players underwhelm
Jose Miranda #64 of the Minnesota Twins runs to third for an RBI triple in the third inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Sept. 07, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
With both Brooks Lee and Lewis on the injured list to begin the season, Jose Miranda and Edouard Julien started the season with roles on the roster. But that pair, once regarded as important pieces of the Twins’ future, have spent much of the season in St. Paul.
Miranda was hitting .167 with 13 strikeouts in 36 plate appearances in 12 games before his April demotion. Julien was also batting below .200 when he was sent down in early May and had endured his fair share of defensive struggles.
Matt Wallner was among the Twins’ best players early in the season. But since returning from a hamstring strain that cost him a month and a half, he’s hit .163 with a .666 OPS and Lewis went through an 0-for-36 slump before picking things up in June and then getting injured again. On the season, he’s hitting .202 with two home runs and a .585 OPS in 30 games.
Gov. Evers Highlights Childcare Bridge Program While Touring a Childcare Facility in Superior
54 minutes ago SUPERIOR, Wis. – Governor Tony Evers visited Superior today, touring a childcare and education facility. It was all about highlighting Wisconsin’s new childcare bridge program, which Evers says is helping childcare providers across the state. The new state funding for childcare providers is derived from an investment of over $360 million approved […]
SUPERIOR, Wis. – Governor Tony Evers visited Superior today, touring a childcare and education facility. It was all about highlighting Wisconsin’s new childcare bridge program, which Evers says is helping childcare providers across the state.
The new state funding for childcare providers is derived from an investment of over $360 million approved by the state legislature. This will help provide millions in direct payments to childcare providers all across Wisconsin from July 2025 through June 2026.
“It’s able to, like, give bonuses to our staff. Be able to do raises, be able to add like educational toys in the classroom, pretty much just help keep our doors open, operating,” said Amy Benson, owner of Newborn 2 School Education.
“We have more money for our childcare industry, and it’s $110 million direct money that goes into them, and overall, that’s not adequate, but it’s a step forward,” said Gov. Evers.
The first month of direct payments awarded across Wisconsin totaled $8.7 million, helping support providers, staff, and the care of over 100,000 children. Of that $8.7 million, $13,734 of it was awarded to a childcare and preschool known as Newborn 2 School Education, located in Superior.
“They’ve got staff that have been with them a long time, so I’m just really impressed,” said Gov. Evers.
On top of the $110 million going directly to childcare providers, there is a focus on the Get Kids Ready initiative, Wonderschool, child care resource and referral agencies, subsidy program, and a pilot program.
“You’ve got to get to a place where families can get quality care at an affordable price and then have access to it, and that’s really what folks are trying to build out here,” said Jeff Pertl, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.
Superior is just one stop on the list of childcare facilities that Gov. Evers is visiting throughout Wisconsin.
Fort Collins volleyball's Caitlin Cripe voted Preseason Top Girls Athlete
AI-assisted summary Caitlin Cripe, a senior at Fort Collins High School, won the Coloradoan’s preseason Player of the Year poll for fall girls sports. Cripe, a volleyball player, received 51.1% of the votes, beating out other top athletes in the region. Last season, Cripe recorded 70 kills and 44 blocks as a middle blocker. Your […]
Caitlin Cripe, a senior at Fort Collins High School, won the Coloradoan’s preseason Player of the Year poll for fall girls sports.
Cripe, a volleyball player, received 51.1% of the votes, beating out other top athletes in the region.
Last season, Cripe recorded 70 kills and 44 blocks as a middle blocker.
Your votes are in, and we have our 2025 Fort Collins-area preseason fall girls Player of the Year.
Fort Collins volleyball fans made their votes count, spurring Lambkins senior Caitlin Cripe above a crowded ballot and earning her top honors in the Coloradoan’s preseason fan polling.
Congratulations to Caitlin and thank you to fans across the area for voting!
Here’s how the rest of the top five shook out in the fan poll:
2nd: Addi Forrest, Poudre volleyball (25.1%)3rd: Kensley Story, Wellington softball (9.9%)4th: Annabelle Loucks, Heritage Christian volleyball (6.5%)5th: Vanessa Branchflower, PSD flag football (3.3%)Cripe is Fort Collins’ top returning net presence after a junior season that featured 70 kills and 44 blocks from a middle blocker role.The senior will be looking to lead the Lambkins back to the Class 5A postseason after a rare one-year absence last fall.Cripe is also a standout club player for the Premier Volleyball Club, using her 6-foot frame and 9-foot-5 approach jump to soar above the net and win contested balls.The Coloradoan will have more fan polling for top players throughout the school year. Check coloradoan.com/sports every Monday and Thursday for nominees and winners in our weekly Blue Federal Credit Union Athlete of the Week series.
You can send in Athlete of the Week nominations every week to sports reporter Chris Abshire via email: ChrisAbshire@coloradoan.com.
Final poll results below:
Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.
“That’s just the type of team that we are, and you know we’re never out of it.”Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Isaac Collins talked about comeback wins after his walk-off HR during a win against the New York Mets at American Family Field in Milwaukee on August 10, 2025. Now PlayingPausedAd Playing 0
“That’s just the type of team that we are, and you know we’re never out of it.”Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Isaac Collins talked about comeback wins after his walk-off HR during a win against the New York Mets at American Family Field in Milwaukee on August 10, 2025.
By: Chris Harlan Tuesday, August 19, 2025 | 6:24 PM Christopher Horner | TribLive Pine-Richland’s Jay Timmons works out during practice on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, in Pine. TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here is a look at the top safeties for the 2025 […]
Pine-Richland’s Jay Timmons works out during practice on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025, in Pine.
TribLive HSSN will break down the top players at one position per day until Week Zero. Here is a look at the top safeties for the 2025 season.
1. Jay Timmons
Pine-Richland
Senior, 5-11, 185
Timmons is a big play source for the WPIAL Class 5A champions on both sides of the ball. Defensively, the Florida State recruit intercepted four passes and returned two for touchdowns last year. He also scored twice on fumble returns, earning first-team all-conference honors at defensive back. Timmons can handle cornerback or safety, the spot he’ll play more often this fall. He made 42 tackles and forced three fumbles last year. Recruiting website Rivals.com rates him as a four-star prospect and ranks him 18th among cornerbacks nationally in the 2026 class. On offense, he caught 40 passes for 755 yards and eight touchdowns. Timmons was briefly committed to Indiana before switching to Florida State, the alma mater of his father, Lawrence, who played linebacker for the Steelers. Timmons also had Power4 offers from Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia, Maryland, Iowa, Iowa State, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Virginia and Wisconsin.
Coaches voted Davis first-team all-conference as a multi-purpose back after he scored touchdowns rushing, receiving and returning kicks. But the Penn State recruit is also good on defense, highlighted by a 96-yard interception return last season. Davis is a hybrid safety who can also play cornerback. He made 29 tackles, two interceptions and scored 12 touchdowns overall last year. Rivals.com rates him as a four-star prospect and ranks him 39th nationally among senior cornerbacks. He committed to the Nittany Lions over offers from Pitt, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Michigan State and Nebraska. He also had Power 4 offers from Duke, Kentucky, Maryland and Tennessee.
Latrobe still has a Tatsch brother anchoring its defense. A first-team all-conference defensive back, Tatsch made 47 tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown last year. On offense, he led the Wildcats with 25 catches and 435 yards. He committed to Lehigh over offers from Akron, Buffalo, Cornell, Dartmouth, Eastern Michigan, New Hampshire, Penn and Yale. His brother Alex is now a freshman linebacker at Penn State.
Crosby is likely a future college wide receiver, but he has a knack for breaking up passes nowadays, too. He made a team-high 67 tackles last season, forced two fumbles and intercepted five passes. A first-team all-conference quarterback in Class A, Crosby scored 20 touchdowns including a couple on special teams. His college options include Akron, Buffalo, Fordham, Georgetown, Harvard, Kent State, Penn and Sacred Heart.
The Quips have a well-earned reputation for talented defensive backs. Goode intercepted three passes as a sophomore in the 2023 state finals and since then has shown that was no fluke. He earned first-team all-conference honors at defensive back last season highlighted by a 60-yard pick-6. Duquesne, Chattanooga and Yale have extended college offers.
A two-way standout, Lowe earned first-team all-conference honors at both wide receiver and defensive back last season in Class 4A Big Six. He intercepted five passes and made 63 tackles. On offense, he had 45 receptions for 923 yards and 12 touchdowns. His longest TD was an 83-yarder. He received his first college offer from Akron.
Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.
NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) – Miami-Dade County Public Schools officials put one special student in the spotlight for her work ethic and passion for aviation. Brianna Jara splits her school time in high school at the Young Women’s Preparatory Academy for traditional classes and gets hands-on aviation training at George T. Baker Aviation Technical College. […]
NORTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, FLA. (WSVN) – Miami-Dade County Public Schools officials put one special student in the spotlight for her work ethic and passion for aviation.
Brianna Jara splits her school time in high school at the Young Women’s Preparatory Academy for traditional classes and gets hands-on aviation training at George T. Baker Aviation Technical College.
M-DCPS recognized Jara for her hard work and dedication to aviation on National Aviation Day.
“The hands-on education that you get here is phenomenal. I get to learn every day about my passion about planes and the fact that this is an opportunity given to us for free that’s something that only I could ever imagine from where my parents are coming from in their home country,” said Jara.
Jara said her love for flying began when she was younger, watching planes in the sky and flying with her grandparents.
“She’s not backing away from any challenges, that’s correct. She’s striving to do whatever she can to set her goals,” said Giuseppe Tartaglia, an instructor at George T. Baker Aviation Technical College.
Jara said she hopes to one day fly for the U.S. Navy.
She also offered advice for others working toward their dreams: “Why live life with limits when you can live limitless.”
Copyright 2025 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Twentynine Palms High School Ladycats volleyball scores and highlights
The Twentynine Palms High School Ladycats volleyball team traveled to Palm Springs High School on Monday night (August 18). The Varsity team played hard but came up short for the win. Sophomore Eva Tili was big at the net with three blocks and one kill. Junior Vivian Grunt had two ace serves and one kill. Junior Berlyn […]
The Twentynine Palms High School Ladycats volleyball team traveled to Palm Springs High School on Monday night (August 18). The Varsity team played hard but came up short for the win. Sophomore Eva Tili was big at the net with three blocks and one kill. Junior Vivian Grunt had two ace serves and one kill. Junior Berlyn McCormick has one ace, one kill and one block. The ‘cats are now 0 – 2 overall.
Junior Varsity played strong and increased their record to 2 – 0. Arabella Staggs has four kills, one ace serve and one block. Tallulah Coleman was also big at the net with two kills, one block and served up three ace serves.
The Cats will travel tomorrow (8/20) to snake territory to take on the rattlers of Rancho Mirage.
Cripe is also a standout club player for the Premier Volleyball Club, using her 6-foot frame and 9-foot-5 approach jump to soar above the net and win contested balls.The Coloradoan will have more fan polling for top players throughout the school year. Check coloradoan.com/sports every Monday and Thursday for nominees and winners in our weekly Blue Federal Credit Union Athlete of the Week series.
