MINNEAPOLIS -- Sequencing matters, and if you need proof, look no farther than the 2026 Twins.
Minnesota enjoyed another successful night with the bases loaded, highlighted by Tristan Gray’s second grand slam, en route to a 9-6 win over the White Sox that snapped a five-game losing streak. The Twins loaded the bases in both the fourth and fifth, and they turned each of those opportunities into a big inning.
On the year, no team has more at-bats, plate appearances, hits or RBIs with the bases loaded than the Twins. Their .874 OPS in bases-loaded situations ranks ninth in the Majors.
That’s how you rank in the middle of the American League pack in overall batting average (.236, 10th), on-base percentage (.317, ninth) and slugging (.386, ninth), but are in second in runs scored (284). The Twins load the bases more than anybody, and they make the most of it when they do.
“We grind through at-bats,” said manager Derek Shelton. “Because if you look at how we got there [on Monday], it was with walks, hits, a double. There were different things that happened. And then -- knock on wood -- our hitters have done a really good job in those situations of delivering and not trying to do too much.”
The Twins know they can’t count on getting bases-loaded opportunities all year, especially if they’re not near the top of the league in on-base percentage. But they may have one trait that will help them keep getting at least a decent number of chances.
When Minnesota gets runners on base, or runners into scoring position, its hitters have not gotten away from their standard approaches. They keep taking their walks, not forcing swings. Twins hitters rank fifth in the Majors in OBP with runners on base (.350) and tied for seventh in walks (108). With runners in scoring position, they’re third in OBP (.369) and tied for sixth in walks (73).
They keep the line moving.
"I think that's our team identity,” Gray said. “You obviously want to be the guy to make it happen. However, we know if they don't give us the right pitch, then there's nothing we can do about it, and we trust the guy to pick us up if we don't come through and/or if we come up walking."
On Monday, it started with Gray, who hit the first slam of his career in the 2026 home opener win against the Rays. With two outs in the fourth, he jumped a pretty decent 1-0 curveball from rookie David Sandlin and drilled it a Statcast-projected 384 feet into the seats in right field.
An inning later, they did it via steady drip rather than big blast. Two walks and a single loaded them up with nobody out, and Austin Martin and Victor Caratini each singled in a run. Luke Keaschall added a sac fly, and then Gray did the same, sending the Twins on their way. Martin scored the last run on a short foul popout from Gray, making an impressive slide to dodge the tag at home plate.
“We all trust each other in this locker room and you don’t really feel like when you’re in the box that you have to do it, like, ‘I have to get it done right now,’” Martin said. “As long as I can pass it to the next guy, I know he’s capable of doing the same thing. I think that’s pretty much been our approach all season -- try not to do too much. Just let the game come to us.”