Jeffers went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run in Monday's 10-inning win over the Astros.
Jeffers already had two hits when he came to the plate with the game tied in the top of the 10th. The backstop plated what proved to be the winning runs with a two-run blast to left field. Jeffers has homered twice over his past 12 at-bats after notching just one long ball across his first 25 contests of the campaign. Christian Vazquez has yet to go deep this season and is slashing a paltry .223/.296/.250, so the door is open for Jeffers to earn more playing time if he continues to swing a hot bat.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Hits second homer of season
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Jeffers went 1-for-2 with two walks and a solo home run in Wednesday's 7-1 win over the Giants.
With Christian Vazquez getting a day off, Jeffers drew the start at catcher and hit eighth. He walked in his first at-bat, lined out in his second and hit a solo home run in his third, which extended Minnesota's lead to 7-1. Jeffers has been solid when called upon and is slashing .246/.395/.426 across 26 appearances (61 at-bats) with two home runs and five RBI, but Vazquez remains the everyday backstop. The home run was Jeffers' first since April 3.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Gets start in series finale
Rotowire
Jeffers will start at catcher and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Giants.
Jeffers will step in behind the plate in place of top backstop Christian Vazquez, who is receiving some routine maintenance for the day game after a night game. Though Vazquez has maintained a lowly .565 OPS for the season, Jeffers has yet to gain any major momentum in displacing the former atop the depth chart. Despite carrying a .748 OPS into Wednesday's contest, Jeffers will be making just his fourth start in 10 games.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Goes deep in win
Rotowire
Jeffers hit a solo home run in his only at-bat Monday in an 11-1 victory versus Miami.
With the Twins running away in a rout, Jeffers was brought on in the ninth inning to pinch hit for Byron Buxton. Jeffers took advantage of the opportunity, slamming a 417-foot solo homer off Marlins catcher-turned-reliever Jacob Stallings. Jeffers has played in just two games so far this season, but he's gone 3-for-6 with three RBI.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Two hits in season debut
Rotowire
Jeffers went 2-for-5 with two RBI in Sunday's 7-4 victory over the Royals.
Jeffers got his first start of the season and picked up where he left off from a hot spring training during which he hit three home runs with a .891 OPS. Jeffers will serve as the backup to Christian Vazquez but could get close to half the playing time.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Set to split time behind plate
Rotowire
Jeffers went 0-for-4 in Wednesday's spring training win over Boston and is hitting .214 (6-for-28) with two home runs and a .790 OPS this spring.
Jeffers' numbers this spring are similar for what to expect during the regular season. He offers some power and the ability to draw walks (9.7% BB%), but he has a low batting average. Jeffers will split playing time with Christian Vazquez and will likely get the minority of playing time.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Resting Wednesday
Rotowire
Jeffers is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox.
After catching in Tuesday's 8-3 loss, Jeffers will take a seat Wednesday as the Twins close their season with a day game. Gary Sanchez will fill in for Jeffers behind the dish.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Retreats to bench Saturday
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Jeffers isn't starting Saturday against the Tigers.
Jeffers was productive during Friday's series opener in Detroit, going 2-for-5 with a triple, a run and an RBI. He'll head to the bench while Gary Sanchez starts behind the plate and bats seventh.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Hits bench Thursday
Rotowire
Jeffers is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the White Sox.
After being activated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Jeffers made his return to the lineup in Wednesday's 8-4 win and went 0-for-3 with a walk. He'll take a seat for the day game after a night game, but Jeffers should be part of a timeshare at catcher with Gary Sanchez for the final week of the season, if not the Twins' preferred option behind the dish.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Reinstated from IL
Rotowire
Jeffers (thumb) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday.
Jeffers has been out since July 14 after having surgery on his right thumb. He hit .229 with three home runs, four walks and four strikeouts in nine games during a rehab assignment. Sandy Leon (knee surgery) was placed on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. While he is not in Tuesday's lineup, Jeffers should play a decent amount over the final nine games of the season.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Rehab moves to Triple-A
Rotowire
Jeffers (thumb) will report to Triple-A St. Paul for a rehab assignment Friday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
There is still no target date in place for Jeffers to return from surgery on his right thumb, but moving his rehab assignment to Triple-A is a good sign and leaves room for a possible return before the end of the season. He is scheduled to serve as St. Paul's designated hitter Friday.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Starts playing rehab games
Rotowire
Jeffers (thumb) has started to play rehab games in instructional league, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
It sounds like he could return in the next week or so, but there's no definitive timetable for his activation from the injured list. It's also possible he could be shut down with any setback with the Twins falling far out of playoff contention. Jeffers has been on the 10-day IL since undergoing surgery to repair an avulsion fracture of his right thumb July 20.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Eyeing late-September return
Rotowire
Jeffers (thumb) is scheduled to receive additional X-rays Monday and could be cleared to start catching bullpen sessions as soon as Friday, MLB.com reports.
Jeffers has been sidelined since undergoing surgery July 20 to repair an avulsion fracture in the joint of the thumb on his throwing hand. Assuming he's able to catch some side sessions this weekend without incident, Jeffers plans to head to the Twins' spring complex in Florida next week to continue his rehab program. He's hopeful that he'll be ready to start a minor-league rehab assignment in the middle of September before returning from the 10-day injured list before the end of the month, which would allow him to get a few games under his belt prior to a potential playoff run. In the meantime, the Twins are expected to get by with a timeshare of Gary Sanchez and Sandy Leon at catcher.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Ditches cast
Rotowire
Jeffers had the cast removed on his surgically repaired right thumb Aug. 1 and is now sporting a removable splint, MLB.com reports.
At the time he underwent surgery July 20 to repair an avulsion fracture of the thumb, Jeffers was projected to miss 6-to-8 weeks. Assuming that timeline still holds, Jeffers won't be a realistic option to rejoin the Twins until the early part of September at the soonest. Minnesota will get by with Gary Sanchez as its everyday catcher in the meantime.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Set to miss extended time
Rotowire
Jeffers has a small fracture in his right thumb and will be sidelined for at least 6-to-8 weeks, Megan Ryan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Jeffers was initially diagnosed with a right thumb contusion when he landed on the 10-day injured list Friday, but he underwent further testing that revealed a fracture. The 25-year-old is unlikely to be available to return to game action until at least September, and he'll presumably require a rehab assignment prior to rejoining the Twins. Gary Sanchez is in line to serve as Minnesota's primary catcher in Jeffers' absence, while Caleb Hamilton will serve as the No. 2 option behind the dish.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Out with bruised thumb
Rotowire
Jeffers was placed on the 10-day injured list Friday with a right thumb contusion.
Jeffers presumably picked up the injury during Thursday's matchup with the White Sox, when he went 1-for-4 with a strikeout. According to Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic, manager Rocco Baldelli believes the injury is more serious than a typical contusion, so the 25-year-old may be sidelined beyond the 10-day minumum. Gary Sanchez should operate as Minnesota's primary catcher in the meantime, while Caleb Hamilton was called up to fill backup duties.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Riding pine Friday
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Jeffers isn't starting Friday against the White Sox.
Jeffers went 2-for-7 with a run, a walk and a strikeout over the last two games and will retreat to the bench Friday. Gary Sanchez is starting behind the plate.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: On bench Tuesday
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Jeffers is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Gary Sanchez will form a battery with starting pitcher Josh Winder while Jeffers gets a breather. Jeffers was behind the plate for three of the Twins' last four games and went 6-for-13 with two home runs, a double, five RBI and three runs over that stretch.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: On bench Saturday
Rotowire
Jeffers isn't starting Saturday's game against Texas.
Jeffers went 4-for-9 with a homer, a double, three RBI, two runs and three strikeouts over the last two games and will get a breather Saturday. Gary Sanchez is starting behind the dish while Gilberto Celestino enters the lineup in center field.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Sits Tuesday
Rotowire
Jeffers is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the White Sox.
Jeffers returned from a two-game absence due to a right thumb injury to catch nine of the 10 innings of Monday's 6-3 win, so his absence from the lineup a day later isn't a major surprise. Gary Sanchez will step in for Jeffers behind the plate.
