Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – The Minnesota Twins continue a nine-game road trip tonight with the opener of a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals. First pitch at Kauffman Stadium is set for 6:40 p.m.
Minnesota comes in at 56-57, third in the American League Central and four games behind the first-place Chicago White Sox. The Twins dropped their last two games in Seattle, including a 7-6 loss Sunday afternoon.
The bigger news came before Monday’s trade deadline, when the Twins landed veteran right-hander Jeff Hoffman. Minnesota acquired the former All-Star and cash from the Toronto Blue Jays for a package that included pitching prospects Dasan Hill and John Klein, infielder Dameury Pena and international bonus pool space. Under the terms of the deal, the Twins will cover the roughly $3.25 million still owed to Hoffman this season and will receive $3.75 million from Toronto toward his 2027 salary.
The 33-year-old Hoffman has been uneven this year but carries the kind of strikeout stuff Minnesota has lacked at the back end of games. He owns a 3.94 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with five saves and 75 strikeouts across 48 innings, averaging more than 14 strikeouts per nine innings. He posted a 0.75 ERA in June after losing the closer’s job in Toronto earlier in the season. Hoffman caps an overhaul of the Twins bullpen that also brought in right-hander Tommy Nance from Toronto, left-hander AJ Minter from the New York Mets and starter Dean Kremer from Baltimore.
The Royals sit last in the division at 46-67. The Twins wrap up the road trip this weekend in Milwaukee before returning to Target Field on August 10th to open a series with Baltimore.
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