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Minnesota has long been known for its passion for baseball. It has its glorious share of baseball success stories, from backyard games to town matches and minor leagues to supporting the Minnesota Twins, the state’s official representative to the annual Major League Baseball (MLB).

Beyond local ballparks and the loyalty to the Twins, there’s more to learn about the local baseball scene in Minnesota. Let’s take a closer look at how the game continues to connect fans across the state.

Minnesota Baseball Through the Years

The history of baseball in Minnesota goes back further than the state itself. In 1857, the first baseball club was formed in Nininger City before Minnesota had even achieved statehood.

Just a few years later, in 1865, Civil War veteran Captain Rollin Olin’s North Star Base Ball Club of St. Paul hosted the Excelsior Club of Fort Snelling in what became the state’s first recorded intercity game. Olin pitched his team to a 38–14 victory, setting the tone for a sport that would quickly take root across the region.

As the game grew throughout Minnesota, so did how the fans engaged with it. From tracking player stats in local papers to discussing lineup predictions, the culture around baseball deepened. That same passion evolved over the years into modern traditions like fantasy leagues, daily stat projections, and even viewing sportsbooks and platforms with Baseball Parlay Picks.

Fast forward to 1961, when Minnesota officially entered the Major League spotlight. Former batboy Calvin Griffith uprooted the Senators from D.C. and renamed them the Minnesota Twins. The Minneapolis Millers, a popular minor league team, ceased operations the year before.

Minnesota’s First Baseball Icons

Few early Twins made an impression like Harmon Killebrew, whose legendary 522-foot home run into Met Stadium’s upper deck still echoes in franchise history. The home run was so iconic that the Mall of America (MOA), which now sits where the old Met Stadium once stood, bolted a symbolic red chair to mark where the ball landed.

Decades later, another star would take the spotlight. After beating the AL batting title with a .339 average, Kirby Puckett became the highest-paid player in baseball with a three-year, $9 million contract. The New York Times dubbed Puckett the “First $3 Million Man.”

Minnesota’s New Turf and Big League Moment

In 2010, after nearly 30 years inside the Dome, Minnesota’s crowd of 39,715 welcomed outdoor baseball at the newly opened $545 million Target Field in the North Loop. The ballpark was praised for its fan-friendly design, skyline views, and seamless integration into downtown Minneapolis.

One of the most impactful moments in recent Minnesota baseball history came in 2021, when the beloved St. Paul Saints joined the Twins system as a AAA affiliate, bringing major and minor league baseball even closer together. For Minnesota’s minor leaguers, the road to the majors is just a Green Line ride away, linking CHS Field to the heart of Twins baseball at Target Field.

Twins Territory, Then and Now

Based in Minneapolis, the Minnesota Twins are a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team’s name was derived from the moniker of the two adjacent cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Founded as the Washington Senators in Washington, D.C., it was renamed the Minnesota Twins at the beginning of the 1961 season.

As Senators, the franchise won the World Series in 1924 and the league as the Twins in 1987 and 1991. Moreover, they have produced five American League MVPs, namely Zoilo Versalles (1965), Harmon Killebrew (1969), Rod Carew (1977), Justin Morneau (2006), and Joe Mauer (2009).

Inside the Twins’ 2025 Campaign

The Twins’ 2025 season didn’t open the way fans had hoped. With an 0-4 start, they sat at the bottom of the league in nearly every offensive category: lowest batting average (.143), lowest OPS (.436), and just six total runs scored. For a team with postseason aspirations, it was a rough beginning.

Still, Minnesota kept its composure. The clubhouse had no panic, just a clear understanding that the talent was there. They just needed to find their rhythm. That shift came on March 31, when a big inning against the White Sox snapped the winless streak.

The team never doubted the pieces were in place. It was just a matter of putting it together. Behind the scenes, coaching staff and analysts leaned into performance breakdowns, scouting reports, and other tools at their disposal to better understand where adjustments were needed. Elsewhere, fans and bettors alike flock to sportsbooks  who provide In-Depth MLB Player Analysis to help them with their own decision making.

Minnesota entered Tuesday’s game with troubling offensive stats: a .143 team batting average, a .436 OPS, and just six runs scored. For the record, it was their lowest in Major League Baseball across all three categories. Unsurprisingly, those struggles contributed to the team’s winless 0-4 start.

To the team, it was about showing signs of life at the plate. And with that performance, the Twins reminded everyone that even slow starts can turn quickly when the lineup clicks into gear.

Wrapping Up

Baseball’s roots in Minnesota go way back, and they’re still growing strong. For over a century, it’s brought people together on neighborhood diamonds, college campuses, and major league fields. Now, with the Twins chasing redemption after their lousy start, that collective energy is once again building, ready to carry the team forward

 

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