\n\tThe Saints played their second game of the 2026 season on Saturday. It was a game with several lead changes, clutch hits, and more firsts. In a game with 16 total runs scored, there were some very good pitching performances. Check out what happened throughout this game.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n\tTRANSACTIONS \n\tOn Saturday, the Twins announced that they had signed 32-year-old veteran Drew Smith<\/a> to a minor league deal and assigned him to the Saints. A 2015 third-round pick, he pitched for the Mets each season back to 2018 (with the exception of missing 2019 due to injury).\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n\tSAINTS SENTINEL \n\tZebby Struggles in 2026 Saints Debut \n\tThe third inning was a rough one. It started with a solo home run by Dominic Fletcher<\/a>. With one out, Griffin hit an infield single and stole second. He scored on another Simon single which tied the score.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n\tIn the fourth inning, he began by walking Enmanuel Valdez<\/a>. Following a sacrifice bunt, Esmerlyn Valdez<\/a> singled. Fletcher drove in a run on a double. Nine-hitter Alika Williams<\/a> drove in two more runs to make it 5-2 Indianapolis. However, Matthews responded by striking out Griffin and getting Simon to ground out.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n\tThat concluded his day. He gave up five earned runs on seven hits and two walks. He had just two strikeouts.\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n\tAccording to Baseball Savant, Matthews threw six different pitches: four-seam fastball (27%), slider (29%), cutter (19%), Splitter (10%), curveball (8%), sinker (7%). His average velocity on the four-seamer was 95.3 (95.7 on the sinker), and his max velo was 96.6. He got just one whiff on his 15 four seamer strikes. Likely, he\u2019s being tasked with finding and being more consistent with those other pitches on another cool, Indiana afternoon.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n\tComeback Adults \n\tThen in the top of the sixth, Emmanuel Rodriguez<\/a> and Orlando Arcia got things started with back-to-back singles. A third consecutive single, this one by Kreidler, drove in the sixth run, and Fedko followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Saints a 7-5 lead.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n\tThe Bullpen Got the Job Done \n\tDan Altavilla came in on back-to-back days. In this game, he faced two batters and got them both out.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n\tTrent Baker<\/a> made his first appearance of the season. He came into the eighth inning with a two-run lead. Things can happen quickly in baseball. The inning started with back-to-back-to-back singles which loaded the bases and brought Konnor Griffin to the plate. Maybe luckily, Baker walked him to make it 7-6, but still no outs. Ronny Simon came up and hit a sacrifice fly to left field to tie the game. However, he really responded well. He struck out The Password (Jhostynxon Garcia<\/a>) and got a ground out to end the inning with the game still tied.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n\tWe\u2019ll Play Hero, Again \n\tIn the season opener on Friday night, Alan Roden<\/a> went 1-1 with four walks. He drove in two runs with a first-inning single. Fast-forward to Saturday, and this was definitely a big spot. Roden calmly drilled a double to the gap in left-center field to put the Saints back up by two runs.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n\tMarco\u2026. Raya. Marco\u2026 Raya\u2026 \n\tOn Saturday afternoon, Raya was really strong and mixed his pitches well. He threw 19 total pitches and mixed in five different pitches. He threw just three four-seam fastballs including one at 97.0 mph. His most-used pitch was his sweeper. He threw six sweepers, two were called strikes and he got whiffs on three of the other four sweepers. He also threw five curveballs. One was a called strike and two were whiffs. He added one more whiff on one of the two cutters he threw.\u00a0\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n\tHe gave up a double to left-handed Termarr Johnson<\/a>. Raya got ahead of him 0-2 on a couple of cutters on the inside corner. He then threw him a fastball on the outer part of the plate. Johnson reached his bat out and lined a double down the left-field line. You just tip your cap to the hitter on that one. Raya struck out the other three batters.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n\tJenkins Sits, \n\tMulti-Hit Games \n\tChallenges Can Be Good\u00a0 \t\t\t\tBC: Ball Confirmed<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSaints Player<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t3\/27<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t3\/28<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tBOS: Ball Overturned to Strike<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tAlex Jackson C<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t2 (1-1, BOS-BC)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSC: Strike Confirmed<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tNoah Cardenas C<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t1 (0-1, BC)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSOB: Strike Overturned to Ball<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tEm. Rodriguez<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t1 (0-1, SC)<\/p>\n \n\tVersatility is Good \n\tIt\u2019s only been two games, and the lineup will look different again on Sunday, but we have already seen players playing multiple positions. Here\u2019s a quick look (again, just two games):\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSaints Players<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t3\/27<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t3\/28<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t3\/29<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tWalker Jenkins<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tCF<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDNP<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tKaelen Culpepper<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSS<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t3B<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tGabriel Gonzalez<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDH<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tLF<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tEmmanuel Rodriguez<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tRF<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tCF<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tAlan Roden<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tLF<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tRF<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tOrlando Arcia<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t2B<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tSS<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tEric Wagaman<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t1B<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t1B<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tRyan Kreidler<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t3B<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t2B<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tAlex Jackson<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\tCF<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDNP<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tKyler Fedko<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDNS (CF)<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDH<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tNoah Cardenas<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDNP<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tCF<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tTanner Schobel<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDNP<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDNP<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDavid Banuelos<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDNP<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDNP<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tAaron Sabato<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDNP<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tDNP<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tWIND SURGE WISDOM\u00a0 \n\tKERNELS CHRONICLE\u00a0 \n\tMIGHTY MATTERS \n\tPLAYERS OF THE DAY \n\tPitcher of the Day\u00a0 \n\tPROSPECT SUMMARY #1 – OF Walker Jenkins<\/a> (St. Paul) – DNP (planned day off) \n\tUPCOMING PROBABLES \n\tCURRENT W-L Records \n\tPlease feel free to ask questions about the teams, the rosters, and discuss today\u2019s games, or anything else Twins minor-league related!\n<\/p>\n Interested in learning more about the Minnesota Twins’ top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!<\/p>\n
Yesterday, we pointed out the interesting pathway to St. Paul that Matt Bowman<\/a> and John Brebbia<\/a> took. Dan Altavilla<\/a> had a similar path; it just involved a stint with Team Italy in the WBC.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
St. Paul 9, Indianapolis 7
Box Score<\/a>
Fast Start in the Second
On Friday, the Saints jumped ahead with three runs in the top of the first. On Saturday, they went 1-2-3. However, in the second inning, Eric Wagaman<\/a> led off with a single and stole second. After a ground out, Orlando Arcia<\/a> walked. Ryan Kreidler<\/a> and Kyler Fedko<\/a> followed with RBI singles to give the Saints the 2-0 lead.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Zebby Matthews<\/a> made his first start, and things started OK. Sure, he walked Konnor Griffin<\/a> and Ronny Simon<\/a> singled, but he got a fly out and a double play to end that threat. He followed with a 1-2-3 second inning.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
A 2-0 lead became a 5-2 deficit after four innings, but this team, through two games, has shown a spark, and it\u2019s not just the Top Prospects coming up with big hits. Kyler Fedko led off the top of the fifth inning with a single which was followed by another single by nine-hitter Noah Cardenas<\/a>. That brought Kaelen Culpepper<\/a> to the plate, and he didn\u2019t waste any time. On the first pitch he can from Nick Dombkowski<\/a>, he hit a mammoth home run to the berm beyond the wall in left field to tie the game at five a piece.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Andrew Bash<\/a> came in to start the fifth inning for the Saints. He went 2 1\/3 innings and gave up no runs on three hits and a walk. Bash was the 30th round pick of the Angels in 2019 out of California Baptist. The Angels released him in May of 2020. When minor league baseball started up again in 2021, Bash was with the Blue Jays. He pitched in their organization through the 2025 season. He made his Triple-A debut for Buffalo back in 2022 with seven games. In 2023, he went 4-1 with a 2.22 ERA over 13 games (9 starts) and 48 2\/3 innings. In 2024, he pitched in 27 games (16 starts) and 78 2\/3 innings. He was 4-0 with a 2.97 ERA. In 2025, he pitched in 40 games (5 starts) and in 84 innings, he went 6-2 with a 2.57 ERA. As a free agent, he signed with the Twins quickly.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
In the top of the ninth, Culpepper worked a one-out walk. Gabriel Gonzalez<\/a> lined a double to right field. It would appear that the ball was lost in the sun, but if you\u2019re a Twins\/Saints fan, that\u2019s OK. Culpepper advanced to third base.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
Marco Raya<\/a> was set up for the ninth inning save situation. His spring training performance wasn\u2019t terribly encouraging as he had some bouts of wildness. However, you could see the immense potential, a big fastball and a sharp slider.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
Kyler Fedko pinch hit for Walker Jenkins<\/a> in the eighth inning of Friday night\u2019s season opener. That was as planned. On Saturday, he did not play. Also, part of the plan. As a reminder, he injured his hamstring, so they have a plan for how much playing time he will get early in the season. It is likely that he will play on Sunday, maybe even as the DH, and certainly depending upon the weather.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
The Saints had 12 hits in this game. All nine starters had at least one hit. Alan Roden had two hits and two RBI. Ryan Kreidler was 2-for-3, a walk, and two RBI. Kyler Fedko was 2-for-3 with a sacrifice fly, two RBI, and a stolen base.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
Through the first two games, the Saints have been successful on just one of four challenges (25%).\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
The goal of a Triple-A team is to prepare a player to be ready for the big leagues. That means many things from approach to skill development, to self-confidence, to fundamentals and more things. One of those things is having players ready to play a couple of different positions. Sometimes prospects get called up and take over a position. Maybe that\u2019s ideal in some cases. But I would think that most of the time players are promoted to fill a need. So, giving players actual playing time at a variety of positions is important.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
The Wind Surge season begins on Friday, April 3rd, when they play host to the NW Arkansas Travelers for three games.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Kernels also begin their 2026 season on Friday. They will host Peoria for three games.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
Fort Myers will also begin their season with a three-game home series. They will host the Clearwater Threshers.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
Hitter of the Day \u00a0
Alan Roden (St. Paul): 2-for-5, 2B (1), 2 RBI, K (GW RBI).\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
Marco Raya (St. Paul): 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, Save (1), 19 pitches, 14 strikes (73.7%)\n<\/p>\n
Check out the Prospect Tracker<\/a> for much more on our Twins Top 20 prospects<\/a> after seeing how they did today.<\/p>\n
#2 – IF Kaelen Culpepper<\/a> (St. Paul) – 1-for-4, BB, HR (1), 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 K (played 3B, batted 1st)
#3 – OF Emmanuel Rodriguez<\/a> (St. Paul) – 1-for-5, R, K (played CF, batted 5th)
#4 – C Eduardo Tait<\/a> (TBD) – DNP
#5 – LHP Connor Prielipp<\/a> (St. Paul) – DNP
#6 – LHP Dasan Hill<\/a> (TBD) – DNP
#7 – OF Gabriel Gonzalez<\/a> (St. Paul) – 1-for-5, 2B(1), R, K (played LF, batted 2nd)
#8 – LHP Kendry Rojas<\/a> (St. Paul) – Injured List (hamstring)
#9 – SS Marek Houston<\/a> (TBD) – DNP
#10 – RHP Charlee Soto<\/a> (TBD) – Injured List
#11 – RHP Riley Quick<\/a> (TBD) – DNP
#12 – RHP Andrew Morris<\/a> (St. Paul) –
#13 – 3B\/CF Brandon Winokur<\/a> (TBD) – DNP
#14 – 3B\/SS Quentin Young<\/a> (TBD) – DNP
#15 – RHP Marco Raya<\/a> (St. Paul) – 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, Save (1), 19 pitches, 14 strikes (73.7%)
#16 – OF Hendry Mendez<\/a> (TBD) – DNP
#17 – 2B\/OF Kyle DeBarge<\/a> (TBD) – DNP
#18 – RHP C.J. Culpepper<\/a> (TBD) – DNP
#19 – C\/OF Khadim Diaw<\/a> (TBD) – DNP
#20 – RHP James Ellwanger<\/a> (TBD) – DNP\n<\/p>\n
Sunday: St. Paul @ Indianapolis (12:35 pm CT) – RHP Andrew Morris\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
Minnesota Twins: 1-1
St. Paul Saints: 2-0\n<\/p>\n