Royce Lewis is working to rediscover his game after a demotion to the St. Paul Saints, while top prospect Kaelen Culpepper is making a case for a promotion, and the two Black teammates are leaning on each other along the way.
Minnesota Twins
Posted inTwins/MLB
LaTroy Hawkins: From the Mound to the Dugout
LaTroy Hawkins, now in his first season as the Minnesota Twins’ bullpen coach, is the franchise’s first Black bullpen coach in history and the first Black pitching coach since 2018, bringing a 21-year playing career and a hard-earned college degree to his new role.
Posted inAnother View, Twins/MLB
Two Black aces, one rotation: Taj Bradley and Simeon Woods Richardson make history in Minnesota
Twins pitchers Taj Bradley and Simeon Woods Richardson are one of the rarest sights in MLB, two Black starting pitchers on the same team, and both say the bond they have built is making them better.
Posted inTwins/MLB
For Josh Bell, it all started in the backyard
Twins first baseman Josh Bell reflects on baseball, fatherhood and what it means to be part of a Minnesota roster leading the majors in U.S.-born Black players.
Posted inTwins/MLB
Twins’ top prospect Culpepper ready for ‘the big stage’
Kaelen Culpepper, the St. Paul Saints infielder and 2024 first-round Twins draft pick, is ready to make his big league debut and is leading the Saints in hits, runs and total bases early in the 2026 season.
Posted inAnother View
What would Jackie see?
Jackie Robinson Day 2026 raises the question of what Robinson would see in MLB today, as Black players hover around 7 percent of rosters and the Minnesota Twins lead with five Black players on their team.
Posted inAnother View
Gopher hoopsters get new Black coaches
Both U of M basketball teams have coaching additions this season. Corey Green is in his first season as basketball operations director for the women’s basketball team. He formerly spent four seasons at Old Dominion in a similar position, and served on coaching staffs at Memphis (three seasons) and Detroit (two years). He got his […]
Posted inSports
What we lost with the Negro Leagues
MLBbro.com, founded by veteran journalist and NABJ HOF Rob Parker, regularly spotlights Black and brown pro baseball players. The MSR does its best to keep pace with a similar emphasis on U.S.-born Black players at Minnesota Twins home games. The Twins this season had four Black players — position players Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis, […]
Posted inAnother View
In majors, only Twins and Reds have two Black pitchersÂ
With only nine Black MLB pitchers this season (MLBbro.com), the Twins stand out with two: Simeon Woods Richardson and Taj Bradley. SWR struck out 11 Yankees in a 7–0 win; Bradley’s pitch mix shows big-game upside. Both players—and Rocco Baldelli—weigh in on performance, growth, and representation.
Posted inOdds and Ends
From field to booth, Span keeps on learning
Former Twins outfielder Denard Span reflects on his playing career, his role as a broadcast analyst, and his work off the field supporting single mothers through his nonprofit.
Posted inOdds and Ends
Twins’ Lewis takes injury in stride
Royce Lewis is rehabbing with the St. Paul Saints after another hamstring injury. The 24-year-old Twins infielder says he feels good and hopes to return soon.
Posted inSports
It’s back to the Saints for Twins’ only Black pitcher
Twins pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson returns to St. Paul, focusing on improvement, faith, and a new splitter to get back to the majors.
Posted inTwins/MLB
Twins’ Buxton leads by example
Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton is the second fastest player on the basepaths in Major League Baseball. According to Statcast, Buxton is averaging 30.2 feet per second, his highest speed since 2019.
Posted inOdds and Ends
Twins Black hurlers warm up for the season
Alex Speas and Simeon Woods Richardson, both Black players on the Minnesota Twins, are working to make an impact on the team and to stick in the majors, with Speas aiming to join the “Black Aces” list and Woods Richardson aiming to improve his record.
Posted inTwins/MLB
MLB’s next big swing: The rise of the ‘torpedo bat’
The torpedo bat, designed by former Yankees analyst Aaron Leanhardt, is now catching fire across the MLB by redistributing weight closer to the handle, optimizing swing speed and power, and is already showing results with the Yankees smashing 15 home runs in their opening three games.
Posted inOdds and Ends
It’s been reflection time for Twins Manager Baldelli
Manager Rocco Baldelli is looking forward to the 2025 season, while the Minnesota Twins are gearing up for spring training, with a new cable network partnership and the return of LaTroy Hawkins and Denard Span as part of the broadcasting team.
Posted inOdds and Ends
Watkins, Lewis survive the inevitable Twins bloodletting
Tommy Watkins remains the Twins’ third base coach despite the team’s late season swoon, while Simeon Woods Richardson was demoted to the minors after hitting a rookie wall.
Posted inSports
Evolving media landscape complicates baseball broadcasting
The Minnesota Twins have returned to television after a contract dispute, but the future of baseball broadcasting is uncertain as cable and streaming become more popular and over-the-air television becomes less common.
Posted inSports
Simeon Woods Richardson shines as Twins’ starter against Phillies
Simeon Woods Richardson and Zack Wheeler had an entertaining pitchers’ duel in a 3-0 win for the Phillies over the Twins.
Posted inSports
Black Twins players boosting team morale
Royce Lewis and Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins are highlighted in a MLBbro.com article for their contributions to the team.