leading man
Though he doesn’t profile as an old-school leadoff batter, it’s looking like that might be Matt Wallner’s role for Minnesota in 2025. The Southern Miss product, a corner outfielder/DH who goes 6 feet 4, 220 pounds, has been used there exclusively this spring, including in today’s Grapefruit League game, when he hit a three-run bomb off New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said putting Wallner atop the lineup is “a concept in action right now.” The lefty-hitting Wallner is just 2-for-20 this spring, both hits homers, with two walks, two HBPs and seven strikeouts. “He gets on base and hits balls hard,” Baldelli told The Minnesota Star Tribune. That he does. USM’s career homer king, Wallner hit .259 with 13 homers in 75 games for the Twins last season. He posted a .372 on-base percentage, having drawn 24 walks and been hit by a pitch 16 times. He joked in an ESPN interview today that Baldelli calls him “Cement Bones.” He has 29 career homers and 31 HBPs over 169 games. In an 82-80 2024 campaign, Minnesota reportedly used 10 different leadoff batters. Wallner hit there once. He told the ESPN crew that he’s fine with giving it more of a go in 2025.