The first reinforcement for the Twins’ rotation has arrived. Right-hander Mick Abel, acquired from the Phillies in the Jhoan Duran trade, joined the club in Chicago on Friday. No announcement has been made,

RHP Pablo López (right teres major strain), who has been sidelined since June 4, started a rehab assignment for the Triple-A Saints on Thursday in St. Paul. ... RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (illness), who is on a rehab assignment with the Saints, also pitched Thursday.

The first were their elder brothers Meng Xiang and Meng Yuan, who became far better known by the German names Pit and Paule. The cubs were born in August 2019 and were a star attraction in Berlin until they were flown to China in late 2023 — a trip that was contractually agreed from the start but delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the dust settling after Major League Baseball’s trade deadline, multiple outlets have taken a fresh look at their top prospect lists. Recently MLB Pipeline said the Minnesota Twins have the second-best system in the majors. That’s a good thing considering how much talent they just offloaded.

The Athletic reports that ESPN, if able to finalize the deal, would have "full rights to in- and out-of-market games for five teams," including the Twins starting in 2026. It would be a three-year agreement, keeping the Twins on ESPN through the 2028 season.

Tyler Soderstrom went 4 for 4 to extend his hitting streak to 19 games and the Athletics swept the Minnesota Twins with an 8-3 victory.

In a 4-2 loss to the Athletics on Wednesday night, the lasting image might be Twins reliever Génesis Cabrera punching his glove after giving up a go-ahead, two-run homer to Shea Langeliers to begin the 10th inning.

Frustration is starting to get to Royce Lewis and the Twins. After coming a few feet shy of a home run during the sixth inning of Thursday's blowout loss against the Athletics, Lewis let out some of his emotions by slamming his helmet on the home bench three times.