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The Minnesota Twins are off to a strong start in the MLB, currently third in homers and sixth in slugging percentage. Their success is attributed to unexpected power-hitting from both established and new players.
1 Factor That Has Catapulted Minnesota Twins to Hot Start
The Minnesota Twins don't have one of MLB's most stacked lineups on paper, but that's why the players are paid to play the games. The squad is outperforming expectations through the first three weeks of the season, and it's largely because of its power-hitting.
The Twins are third in baseball with 26 homers and sixth with a .399 slugging percentage with 19 games played thus far. They're 11-8 despite center fielder Byron Buxton being their only established above-average position player, as they're getting production from several more unheralded players.
For example, third baseman Brooks Lee and right fielder Matt Wallner are each tied with Buxton and first baseman Josh Bell for the team lead with three homers apiece. Buxton and Bell have been in the big leagues for 10-plus years, but Wallner and Lee debuted in 2022 and 2024, respectively. Plus, each of them only has one season with 100-plus games played.
Wallner must be more consistent, as he's slashing just .191/.276/.353, but Lee is slashing .241/.281/.426. The latter player is trying to establish himself as a long-term infielder for Minnesota, and he'll make a compelling case if he keeps his OPS above .700.
Meanwhile, center fielder Ryan Kriedler already has two homers despite playing just three games thus far. The 28-year-old went yard against the Boston Red Sox on both Monday and Wednesday, and he's trying to establish himself as a big-leaguer after playing just 89 games for the Detroit Tigers from 2022 to 2025.
The Twins rank 19th collectively with a .232 batting average, but every player that's taken an at-bat for them has homered except center fielder .
The Minnesota Twins have an 11-8 record so far this season.
Brooks Lee, Matt Wallner, Byron Buxton, and Josh Bell are tied for the team lead with three home runs each.
The Twins rank third in MLB with 26 home runs and sixth with a .399 slugging percentage.
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Minnesota Twins left fielder Austin Martin. © Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
While Minnesota's lineup has done its job so far, there's plenty of time over the next few months to lose that momentum. The team's hot streak can't be taken too seriously until it happens over a larger sample size.
If the Twins do keep hitting the ball out of the yard, that probably means that their unproven players are having breakout seasons. That's the dream scenario for an organization that hasn't made the playoffs since 2023 and is desperate for a young cornerstone piece on offense.
Up next for Minnesota is a home series against the Cincinnati Reds starting on Friday before it hits the road to face the New York Mets and Tampa Bay Rays. Friday's game starts at 8:10 p.m. ET, and ace right-hander Joe Ryan will start on the mound for the Twins against left-hander Brandon Williamson.