When Roger Clemens made note of how impressive the Minnesota Twins looked last month, chances are he had his son in mind. Infielder Kody Clemens has become an unsung addition to the Twins' roster this season. Entering play on Thursday, Clemens had a slash line of .236/.340/.517 with 6 home runs and a wRC+ of 141. At a time when the Twins were working through early-season slumps of Carlos Correa and Royce Lewis, Clemens' arrival provided some stability to the offense.
Of course, Clemens arrived to the Twins after being designated for assignment by the Philadelphia Phillies. In exchange, the Twins sent cash considerations to the Phillies. Prior to his move to the Twins, Clemens was hitless in seven plate appearances. The move just got some major love from ESPN, as Bradford Doolittle highlighted six under-the-radar moves that have changed the 2025 season.
"Clemens helped keep a struggling Minnesota team afloat until it got healthier and caught fire. Clemens has hit .236/.340/.517 for the Twins, who have gone 24-15 since he debuted for the team on April 28," Doolittle wrote for ESPN.
The move that quietly saved the Twins' season
There is added sweetness in the move, being that Clemens is a former Tigers' prospect castoff. As it turns out, Clemens' 2025 campaign is shaping up to be the best season of his young career.
Moves like the one the Twins made for Clemens are the dream of Major League front offices. The early months of any season see a flurry of moves as teams shuffle the pieces at the end of their roster. More times than not, it's a gamble that has no payoff for the roster. In this case, given the struggles of the Twins' offense, Clemens has been an unsung hero of the season.
Had Clemens had more consistent plate appearances this season, he would be a no-brainer option for the American League All-Star game. Clemens is having an excellent season, and it's time that he gets some national attention for the work he is doing. For now, the Twins are thankful to have him as the move as paid off in a way no fan could have imagined it what would have when it was first reported.