SAN DIEGO — It got somewhat lost in the shuffle on Tuesday night as a bullpen blowup sent the Twins to a gut-wrenching loss, but it certainly wasn’t lost on Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers.
His home run in the fourth inning Tuesday off Padres pitcher Martin Perez was his 20th of his season. Jeffers’ previous career high for homers was 14, which he reached in both the 2021 and 2023 seasons.
He’s just the fourth Twins catcher to reach the milestone number, joining Mitch Garver (31 in 2019), Joe Mauer (28 in 2009) and Earl Battey (26 in 1963).
It’s been an up-and-down season at the plate for Jeffers, who was among the Twins’ hottest hitters to start the season but hasn’t been able to sustain that success. He’s had a productive August, though, hitting .270 with a .993 OPS and five home runs since the month began. For the season, he’s hitting .233 and leads the Twins in homers and RBIs (59).
“It feels really good. It’s just a cool milestone, a good number, especially to do that from the catching position, which is hard,” Jeffers said. “And to do that kind of riding the waves of the season, what the season has thrown again, feeling good down the stretch is great.”
Twins at the Fair
The Twins will be well-represented at the Great Minnesota Get-Together, once again hosting the Minnesota Twins Experience at the State Fair, which begins Thursday and runs through Sept. 2.
Mascot T.C. Bear will be in attendance from noon-12:30 on Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 30-31 and Sept. 2 to greet fans and take photographs. On Monday, outfielder Matt Wallner and reliever Griffin Jax will be in attendance from noon to 1 p.m. The Twins host the Braves that night.
Hall of Famer Tony Oliva will be there Friday and Sunday from 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m., and the Twins Experience will also feature giveaways, games and merchandise for sale.
Briefly
The Twins have Thursday off before returning to Target Field on Friday to begin a nine-game homestand that will see the St. Louis Cardinals, Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays come to town. … Pablo López and Sonny Gray are set to face off on Saturday, an exciting matchup between the two pitchers who headed the Twins’ rotation last season. Gray signed a three-year deal with the Cardinals last offseason and has a 3.91 earned-run average this season. “That’ll be a great game,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “Everyone, certainly our fans, will enjoy that.”
