To podcast listeners: Don’t worry, I got syrup for my French toast this time.

Twins injury updates: Mick Abel and David Festa are expected to miss the rest of the season. Abel isn’t expected to resume throwing until at least September after he had arthroscopic surgery. Festa had another shoulder setback throwing bullpens in Florida.

Royce Lewis is starting at second base for the first time since June 11, as a way for the Twins to get Ryan Jeffers, Victor Caratini, and Josh Bell in the lineup together vs. a left-handed pitcher. Jeffers is catching, with Caratini at first base and Bell at designated hitter.

Karl-Anthony Towns does a pretty good chokeslam!

Red Sox just won their 12th game in a row and now hold the AL's last wild-card spot, one game ahead of the Twins.

Twins start the second half with a win over the Cubs and reach .500 for the first time since being 12-12 on April 22.

Honestly, who needs a left hamate bone anyway?

Baseball America just released their midseason top-100 list and the Twins now have four prospects in the top 50.

New (free) podcast! As the second half begins, the Twins' playoff window is wide open and they have three weeks to play their way into buyer status at the trade deadline. Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6U96... YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_GZ...

Matt Miller is giving Dianna Russini real competition for the craziest sports media story of 2026: www.nytimes.com/athletic/744...

Sharing my Twins first-half MVP ballot, 1 through 10. Plus, post-draft thoughts on Vahn Lackey and the rest of the Twins' college-heavy class, breaking down their playoff odds at the break, and why things feel different even if their record is the same. www.aarongleeman.com/twins-notes-...

MLB's looming lockout has kind of ruined my annual "next year's Twins schedule is out, they're going to play 162 games again" joke. In lieu of that comedic brilliance, here's the Twins' theoretical 2027 schedule:

Twins notes: All-Star break outlook, playoff odds, Vahn Lackey and other MLB draft tidbits, my team MVP ballot www.aarongleeman.com/twins-notes-...

My updated midseason ranking of the Twins' top 20 prospects: 1. Walker Jenkins 2. Vahn Lackey 3. Kaelen Culpepper 4. Emmanuel Rodriguez 5. Marek Houston With the addition of Lackey, this is now one of the best farm systems in baseball: www.aarongleeman.com/twins-midsea...

New podcast! Featuring our new "special guest" theme song as Bobby Nightengale of the Star Tribune joins us to talk about where the Twins stand at the All-Star break and look ahead to the trade deadline. Tons of good info on a bunch of topics in this one: www.patreon.com/Gleeman/post...

Here's my full hour-long chat with Dan Barreiro on KFAN: Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/2Xsu... iHeart: www.iheart.com/podcast/462-...

My updated midseason ranking of the Twins' top 20 prospects, with Vahn Lackey joining the mix: www.aarongleeman.com/twins-midsea...

New podcast! - Twins draft Vahn Lackey at #3 - Tom Pohlad breakfast takeaways - Trading for reliever Tommy Nance - Taj Bradley back to looking great - All-Star break playoff picture/odds - Dick Bremer HOF, ballpark wrestling Jam-packed, super-sized show: www.patreon.com/Gleeman/post...

Really enjoyed this @matthewhleach.bsky.social deep dive on Joe Ryan's 'tricky' fastball and what makes it such a great pitch: www.mlb.com/twins/news/j...

This is your chance, @johnbonnes.bsky.social. bsky.app/profile/mlbt...

New podcast! - Twins draft Vahn Lackey at #3 - Tom Pohlad breakfast takeaways - Trading for reliever Tommy Nance - Taj Bradley back to looking great - All-Star break playoff picture/odds - Dick Bremer HOF, ballpark wrestling Jam-packed, super-sized show: www.patreon.com/Gleeman/post...

Why the Twins bet big on the breakout, drafting slugging Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey with the No. 3 pick: www.aarongleeman.com/twins-bet-on...

Twins are now 32-26 since I left The Athletic, the second-best record in the American League. That includes winning eight of the last nine series, and their first at Yankee Stadium since 2014. Twins were 16-23 before my resignation, the second-worst record in the AL. #analytics

Twins go into the All-Star break having won eight of their last nine series to climb to a game below .500 at 48-49. Twins through 97 games: This year: 48-49, -14 run diff Last year: 47-50, -10 run diff Much better playoff odds this season because the AL is a lot weaker overall.

Twins top prospect Walker Jenkins is starting in center field and batting cleanup for the American League team in the Futures Game.

My analysis of the Twins betting on the breakout by drafting slugging Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey with the No. 3 pick, including thoughts from Lackey and scouting director Sean Johnson: www.aarongleeman.com/twins-bet-on...

I asked Dick Bremer if there was anyone overlooked who he thinks is deserving of being in the Twins Hall of Fame. He had three names: Frank Quilici Dave Goltz Roy Smalley He noted Quilici filled just about every possible role for the Twins over decades, on and off the field.

We just talked to the newest Twins Hall of Famer, Dick Bremer, who brought back one of my favorite bits by mocking @danhayesmlb.bsky.social's inability to catch foul balls hit into the press box.

Twins assistant general manager/scouting director Sean Johnson on Vahn Lackey: "Just a great fit for our organization, on every front. Fantastic player, fantastic human being, great character. Our room is ecstatic about the outcome. Couldn't be more excited that we just drafted Vahn."

Twins draft Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey with the No. 3 pick. Rankings: #3 Baseball America #3 ESPN•com #3 MLB•com Lackey hit .397/.519/.772 in a breakout junior year, adding substantial power. Seen as an excellent defensive catcher with plus arm strength and athleticism.

Rays draft Texas high school shortstop Grady Emerson with the No. 2 pick. Rankings: #1 MLB•com #2 Baseball America #2 ESPN•com Spent all year as the draft's consensus #1 high school player. Left-handed hitter with above-average tools across the board. Can stick at shortstop.

White Sox draft UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky with the No. 1 pick. Rankings: #1 Baseball America #1 ESPN•com #2 MLB•com Cholowsky hit .329/.448/.624 in three college seasons. Spent all year as draft's consensus #1 player. Seen as one of the best college shortstops in decades.

Twins draft picks today: #3 — $9,740,100 slot value #43 — $2,333,200 #74 — $1,138,600 #79 — $1,052,700 #107 — $733,100

Twins optioned Eric Orze to Triple-A St. Paul to make room for Tommy Nance on the roster and in the bullpen. Nance was acquired Friday from the Blue Jays, along with $250,000 in international bonus pool money, for High-A prospect Ryan Sprock. Orze had a 5.66 ERA in 41 innings.

Twins' predicted choice with the No. 3 pick in "final" mock drafts: MLB•com: Vahn Lackey ESPN•com: Vahn Lackey Baseball America: Vahn Lackey The Athletic: Roch Cholowsky

New (free) podcast! On the Twins rolling into the All-Star break playing their best baseball, Ryan Jeffers and Bailey Ober returning, and Luke Keaschall in center field. Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t... Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1oz9... YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT-3...

Ryan Jeffers is back in the Twins' lineup tonight, starting at catcher and batting second.

Tommy Nance is a 35-year-old journeyman who's spent parts of the past three seasons with Blue Jays, posting a 3.22 ERA in 87 innings. Originally signed out of indy ball by Cubs in 2016. Blue Jays acquired him from Padres for cash considerations in 2024.

My breakfast with Tom Pohlad: 'We have to fucking win' www.aarongleeman.com/my-breakfast...

As expected, the Twins activated Ryan Jeffers from the injured list. Jeffers has been out since mid-May following surgery to repair a fractured left hamate bone. Kyler Fedko was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul to make room on the roster. They'll carry three catchers for now.

Saturday afternoon the Twins will pick No. 3 in the MLB draft, their highest pick since choosing Royce Lewis first overall in 2017. My look back at the Twins' last decade of first-round draft picks, from Lewis to Houston and every hit or bust in between: www.aarongleeman.com/looking-back...

On a possibly related note: Twins optioned Kyler Fedko to Triple-A St. Paul after today's game. Fedko spent about three weeks with the Twins, going 0-for-16 with eight strikeouts in 14 games.

Twins placed Connor Prielipp on the injured list with a left middle finger blister. It had been an issue for multiple starts and popped last night, so the All-Star break is good timing to give Prielipp an extended rest. And the Twins have wanted to limit his workload anyway.

Ryan Jeffers is back in the Twins’ clubhouse this morning after completing a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul. No official word yet on his expected return from the injured list, but Jeffers said he feels good and is comfortable with how his wrist responded to game action.

Derek Shelton on Alan Roden: "We know this kid can hit. Coming in, that's the first thing I heard when we talked about Alan Roden."

Alan Roden delivers in his first game of the season for the Twins, walking it off in the bottom of the ninth inning. Twins have won 7 of their last 8 series and have climbed to one game below .500. They'll go for a sweep of the Guardians, and a .500 record, tomorrow afternoon.

Four straight walks by Guardians pitchers, including two with the bases loaded, and the Twins have tied the game at 5-5.

Connor Prielipp ends his start one out short of his career-high for innings in a professional season.

Connor Prielipp served up back-to-back homers after allowing a total of just two homers in his previous seven starts. And they were the Guardians' first back-to-back homers of the season.