MINNEAPOLIS – Emmanuel Rodriguez is rapidly establishing himself as a must-watch player.
The Twins rookie and No. 5 prospect has already shown his explosive ability at the plate with three homers in his first 13 big league games. On Friday, he showed what he can do in the field – not to mention the engaging personality he brings to the diamond as well.
With Kody Funderburk on the mound in the top of the seventh inning, Danny Jansen jumped on a 3-1 fastball and drilled it to deep left field. Rodriguez tracked it, leapt, and reeled it in right at the wall, preventing a sure extra-base hit.
It was a sensational, athletic play, the kind that only a player with Rodriguez’s elite tools can make.
“[I] feel so happy that [I] could help the team,” Rodriguez said through interpreter Ramon Borrego, who is the Twins’ third base coach. “At the end of the day, that’s [my] job to make those plays. [I’m] always going to be happy, no matter the area of the game. [I’m] always going to be running, play defense and try to do the best for the team.”
After the catch, Rodriguez showed the extra spice that makes him such an entertaining player. As he lay on his back with the ball in his glove, Rodriguez gave a fist pump and celebration on the ground before getting up and celebrating some more.
“I thought it was a homer,” said right fielder Luke Keaschall. “That was awesome. He plays with his heart out. I love it. Every time he makes a play, it’s a huge celebration. He fires me up. He’s a really good kid. I like him a lot.”
It was emblematic of the energy that Rodriguez brings.
“My first thought is, ‘Is he OK?’” said manager Derek Shelton. “And then you see his reaction, and he’s lying on the ground first pumping. That was cool. Since he’s come up here, he’s done some really good things. I think the excitement that this young group of players brings, I think as we go into ‘27, that’s what Twins fans should be excited about.”