The new-look Minnesota Twins fall 3-2 to the Cleveland Guardians on Aug 2, 2025, on a walk-off single. Joe Ryan pitched well, but the rebuild begins with a loss.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
If you tuned into Saturday's game and wondered who was wearing the Minnesota Twins uniform, you weren't alone. In the first game of the post-deadline era, a squad of new faces and young talent fought hard but ultimately suffered a familiar fate, losing 3-2 to the Cleveland Guardians on a walk-off single in the 10th inning. It was a painful loss that served as a fitting, if frustrating, introduction to the team's new reality: a full-scale rebuild.
In a dizzying week, the Twins traded away nearly 40% of their roster, signaling a complete franchise overhaul.
The game itself was a tense, low-scoring affair that felt like a glimpse of the team's immediate future: strong starting pitching and a struggle for runs. Joe Ryan was excellent, holding Cleveland to two runs over six innings while striking out eight. The Twins' offense, however, was silenced by Guardians starter Gavin Williams, managing just four hits. The team's only runs came in the seventh inning on a bizarre two-run error by pitcher Hunter Gaddis, a brief moment of hope in a game defined by missed opportunities. The hope faded in the bottom of the 10th, when Kody Funderburk surrendered a walk-off single to Kyle Manzardo—his second game-winner against the Twins this season.
The game was played by a roster that was almost unrecognizable from a week ago. With stars like Carlos Correa and Jhoan Duran shipped out, the Twins called up a wave of reinforcements from St. Paul. Eight players, including infielders Edouard Julien and Ryan Fitzgerald, and outfielders Alan Roden and Austin Martin, joined the club. The pitching staff was restocked with arms like Travis Adams, Pierson Ohl, and veterans José Ureña and Erasmo Ramírez, who were immediately thrown into the fire. Roden, a key piece from the Louis Varland trade, became the first of the newly acquired prospects to make his big-league debut.
These moves weren't just about patching holes; they represent a seismic shift in organizational philosophy. President of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey described the deadline sell-off, which saw nearly 40% of the 26-man roster traded, as an 'investment in the team's future.' By trading established, expensive talent for prospects like pitcher Mick Abel and catcher Eduardo Tait, the front office has officially torn it down to the studs. With the franchise still for sale, this is a clear signal that the focus has shifted from winning now to building a new core for years down the road.
The rest of 2025 won't be about the standings, but about evaluation. It's a chance to see what the Twins have in players like Alan Roden, Austin Martin, and the host of new arms. It will be a season of learning new names and managing expectations. The path forward is long and the wins may be scarce, but for a franchise in transition, every game is now an audition for the future.
