Kreidler launches 3-run blast to back Ryan's 9 K's

MINNEAPOLIS – Few players in baseball bring the combination of defensive ability and versatility that Ryan Kreidler does. He’s a plus defender at shortstop and center field, among other spots, and that combination has gotten him time in the Major Leagues in five consecutive seasons.

His lack of offensive production, however, has limited that time. Despite his elite defensive contributions, Kreidler has never topped 35 games or 84 plate appearances in a big league season. But if he keeps up what he’s doing in his first season with the Twins, that will change.

Kreidler delivered one of the biggest hits of his career Wednesday, drilling a game-winning three-run homer in the fourth inning of the Twins’ 4-1 win against the Astros at Target Field. It was his third home run of the season, exceeding his career total in 211 plate appearances entering 2026.

Starting at shortstop as Brooks Lee got a day off, Kreidler came to the plate with two outs and two on in the bottom of the fourth. He fouled off a first-pitch slider before jumping a fastball up in the zone from Mike Burrows and drilling it into the bullpen in left-center field. The ball traveled Statcast-estimated 416 feet.

Kreidler sports a .296/.406/.667 line in admittedly very limited playing time, but it combines with a strong showing in the minors this year to indicate at least the possibility of a new offensive ceiling. He’s hit .266/.389/.500 at Triple-A St. Paul.

That was more than enough for Joe Ryan and the Minnesota bullpen, who combined to shut down a scuffling Astros offense. Ryan struck out nine over six innings, while Yoendrys Gomez and Andrew Morris finished it off for the series win.