1. The kid is all right
Rookie outfielder DaShawn Keirsey Jr. looks like he can play — but will it be for the Twins? Keirsey doesn't have an obvious path to make the roster Opening Day, but he put on a show Wednesday to help them beat the Tigers 4-0 in Grapefruit League action at Joker Marchant Stadium.
Keirsey hit a solo home run in the third inning against right-hander John Brebbia, and later made a sweet diving catch on a dying quail in right field. Keirsey's blast came off the bat at 99.1 mph and traveled 372 feet after Brebbia missed inside with a high slider.
A day earlier, Keirsey hit a game-ending single deep into the outfield.
2. Tarik Skubal is still a problem
Not just for the Twins of course, but the entire league. The AL's reigning Cy Young literally started fast in his spring debut, amping up to reach 101.1 mph on a four-seamer out of the strike zone to Jair Camargo. Skubal averaged 98.4 mph on his four-seamer, which is 1.5 mph faster than his average speed in 2024.
Granted, it was just three pitches, but the Tigers' TV broadcast noted that Skubal took one (1) day off after the '24 season before he got back to working out. Obviously!
3. Check out José Miranda solving the Skubal Doo mystery:
This is actually a great sign for Miranda, who is going to play a big role in the lineup even with the arrival of Ty France.
4. Edouard Julien hit leadoff — against Skubal!
Even if Twins fans were able to absorb Matt Wallner leading off against Chris Sale, nothing could prepare them for lefty batting Julien vs. lefty throwing Skubal. Julien struggled against lefties a season ago, and has never established consistent success against them, but Twins manager Rocco Baldelli is trying to make Julien rule again, and part of the program means tossing him in the deep end of the pool.
How did Julien do?
He pulled an 81.1 mph grounder an estimated eight feet.
Progress?
He also started at first base, with Mickey Gasper playing second.
5. Please welcome our robot overlords
In a later at-bat against a non-Skubal pitcher, Julien got burned by an ABS challenge. He took a pitch that he (and the ump) thought was off the plate for ball two. The Tigers objected and the A.I. ump said no, it caught the zone.
Are we close to Skynet becoming self-aware?
Are they the ones who will rule again?
Julien went 0-for-3 and is 1-for-7 in Grapefruit action.
6. Twins pitchers combined for a two-hitter
Don't get too excited because Tigers manager A.J. Hinch only lightly peppered the lineup with major leaguers. No matter, Andrew Morris, Cory Lewis, Kody Funderburk, Huascar Ynoa, Scott Blewett and Jaylen Nowlin for seven strikeouts and four walks allowed.
7. Knuckled over
Lewis threw his "fast" knuckleball seven times.
Lewis' knuckler coded as a slider on Statcast because it travels 81.3 mph, and computers can be easy to confuse.
A knuckleball that fast is also a novel concept. Tim Wakefield, for example, was said to throw his knuckleball between 45-69 mph. They typically flutter softly, so this is almost a new pitch.
The Tigers swung three times against Lewis' knuckler, fouling a pair. Ryan Kreidler looped an 88.9 mph single to left to lead off the third inning. Using his other pitches, Lewis was able to get a game-high six swings and misses.
8. They have the power — but that's it
The Twins didn't reach home against Skubal, but they did combine for three home runs against other Tigers.
In addition to Keirsey, Rubel Cespedes and Allan Cerda went deep in the eighth against right-hander Brendan White to cap the scoring. The Twins have six home runs in four spring games so far, which ranks tied for eighth.
That doesn't count Royce Lewis' solo shot Monday that got washed out by rain. They've also stolen four bases in five attempts. Collectively, they are batting .171/.274/.342 so far, which gives them the third-worst OPS after the White Sox and Cardinals.
It's early!
Pitchers are ahead.
Process matters, not results.
Small sample!
The sun was in their eyes.
9. Won't be caught short
Brooks Lee made his second start at shortstop and started a 6-4-3 double play. Carlos Correa did not play, as didn't Byron Buxton, Wallner, Harrison Bader, France, Trevor Larnach (happy birthday!), Ryan Jeffers and Christian Vázquez.
Ryan Fitzgerald, a 30-year-old with 2,600 plate appearances in the minors but no time in the big leagues, replaced Lee on defense and started a nifty 6-4-3 double play himself.