In the entryway of the Twins clubhouse last week, third base coach Tommy Watkins looked like he would’ve rather been invisible.

After finishing up a practice session with superstar center fielder Byron Buxton, a reporter approached Watkins to talk about the upcoming Home Run Derby.

He agreed to answer a few questions while trying his best not to draw any attention to himself.

“Do I have to?” Watkins said. “This is supposed to be about Buck.”

That statement is only partially true.

Though the spotlight will indeed be on Buxton when he steps to the plate during the Home Run Derby on Monday night at Truist Park in Atlanta, Watkins will also play a starring role as the person pitching to him.

“It means a lot,” Watkins said. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Originally selected in the 38th round of the 1998 MLB Draft, Watkins has dedicated most of his life to the Twins.

He spent a decade in the minors leagues, developing into a fan favorite for the Fort Myers Miracle before finally reaching the major leagues. He eventually transitioned from player to coach, spending the better part of another decade in the minor leagues, before finally reaching the majors once again.

That Watkins will get to be a small part of All Star Weekend after such a long journey through the sport is a heartwarming wrinkle that everybody can get behind. Not that he wants to take any of the shine away from Buxton.

“I’m happy for him more than anything else,” Watkins said. “I’m excited to be a part of his moment.”

After accepting an invitation to compete in the Home Run Derby, which often serves as the most memorable part of All Star Weekend, Buxton said it was a no brainer that he was going to ask Watkins to share the stage with him.

It was an emotional exchange between Buxton and Watkins last week that left both of them tearing up.

“It’s pretty special,” Buxton said. “He’s somebody that’s been with me pretty much my whole career.”

They met more than a decade ago when Buxton was a prized prospect in the farm system and Watkins was the batting coach with the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

Though they weren’t together for long as Buxton tore up Single A and quickly rose up the ranks, they developed an unbreakable bond they maintained from afar until reconnecting in 2018 when Watkins was named first base coach for the Twins.

As much as Buxton and Watkins plan to enjoy the experience at the Home Run Derby, both made it clear they’re trying to win it. That explains why they had a few different practice sessions last week trying to figure out exactly where Buxton wants Watkins to put the ball.

“We’re working on it,” Watkins said. “We’re still trying to iron everything out.”

Is he any feeling pressure?

“A little bit,” Watkins said with a smile. “It should be a lot of fun.”

For the entire Twins organization.

“There are a lot of people around here very happy for Tommy and very excited to see his mug on TV,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “His smile is going to light up the screen at some point along the way. We’ll all have that image forever. What else could we ask for?”

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Cole Sands was cruising on Saturday. The Minnesota righty set down the first six Pittsburgh Pirates he faced after starting what would eventually be a 12-4 Twins win, and needed just 19 pitches to do so. Even though Sands was designated in an opener role, did the early success and low pitch count have Twins manager Rocco Baldelli considering giving Sands a third inning of work?

Not a chance.

“He hasn’t thrown, really, more than an inning and two-thirds or two innings is a rarity for him, so no, that wasn’t a consideration,” Baldelli said, looking back on a day that was dominated by Byron Buxton becoming the first player to hit for the cycle at Target Field.

But after a game in which practically no one was focused on the pitching, Baldelli singled out the men on the mound for their success in giving the Twins some momentum headed into the All-Star break.

“We’ve played well in every way. I would say we’ve pitched really well, and I think everything is going to start there, always,” he said. “You’re not going to beat good teams, and you’re not going to play consistently good baseball unless your pitchers are going out there and giving you a great chance.”

Baldelli noted that the Twins have won two bullpen games recently, and specifically praised pitchers like Sands for being willing and happy to take on the opener role, knowing that he was going to have two innings, tops.

“He’s pitched good when we’ve asked him to do it,” Baldelli said. “And I think part of it is the mental side of when you’re told that you’re opening, you’re up for it. You’re not just thinking negatively, because not every pitcher wants to do it.”

OK being overshadowed

With a big crowd on hand for Saturday’s meeting with the Pirates, Twins infielder Kody Clemens had himself a day. Clemens, who came over in a trade from Philadelphia early in the season, went 2-for-4 with his sixth multi-hit effort of the season, and just his second multi-hit game at Target Field.

In the second inning, Clemens brought the big crowd to life by turning the first pitch he faced into a three-run homer – his 12th of the season – to give Minnesota an early 3-0 lead. And on a day where Buxton’s heroics have his batting helmet being shipped to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Clemens’ early offense became an afterthought.

And Clemens was fine with that.

“I’m always down to watch somebody hit for the cycle. That was obviously extremely impressive and fun to be a part of,” said Clemens, who entered Sunday’s game after putting up a .308 batting average with five homers in his previous eight Twins home games. “(Buxton is) just so impressive to watch. He’s so dangerous when he gets in the box and he has a plan. And when he gets his pitch, he’s gonna do damage.”

Smoke not a factor

Soccer pictures for Baldelli’s young daughter were cancelled on Saturday due to the persistent smoke from Canadian wildfires drifting into Minnesota, which had some folks in the Twin Cities wearing facemasks to filter the unhealthy air.

The manager said it was maybe because they’re so focused on what’s happening on the field, but he and the players did not take note of the haze until they were done with work on Saturday.

“Mostly when I got out of the stadium is when I felt it, more than in the stadium,” he said, noting that none of the players or trainers expressed any concern or performance issues from the smoke.

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Minnesota United are negotiating the moves of two players to St. Louis City, the Pioneer Press confirmed Sunday.

GiveMeSport said winger/wingback Sang Bin Jeong is expected to leave on a permanent move to St. Louis, in exchange for an undisclosed amount of cash, while defender Devin Padelford will head out to the Western Conference foe on a loan.

A source emphasized to the Pioneer Press emphasized that the deals were not final.

Neither player were on the 20-man team for MNUFC’s 4-1 win over San Jose at Allianz Field on Saturday and this move appears to be groundwork transactions heading into the summer transfer window, which opens July 24.

Jeong, a 23-year-old South Korean who recently acquired his U.S. Green Card, has struggled in front of goal this season. He hasn’t gotten on the scoresheet in 319 MLS minutes this year; he started but was mostly ineffectual in 45 minutes during the Loons’ 3-1 win over Chicago in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Jeong was linked in a move to Malmo, but reports had the Swedish club declining United’s $2 million transfer fee. The fast winger also drew interest from at least one MLS club in the Eastern Conference earlier this year.

In his first season after a transfer from Grasshopper in Switzerland in 2023, Jeong had two goal contributions (one goal, one assist) in 962 minutes for Minnesota. He more productive in 2024 with six goals and one assist in 2,171 minutes last season.

Jeong has bounced between wingback and his preferred position of forward during his last two years in Minnesota and that factored into his inconsistency.

Padelford, a homegrown player from Maplewood, has struggled to crack the first team this year.

The 22-year-old received 1,589 minutes a year ago, but in a switch from left wingback to center back, he has found himself buried on the depth chart in 2025 and has played only 105 minutes across four matches this season.

GOVERNMENT

Sean Ercan-Fang

The Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs announced the appointment of Dr. Sean Ercan-Fang as chief medical officer. Ercan-Fang most recently practiced at the Minneapolis VA Healthcare System serving as a staff physician in the Extended Care and Rehabilitation Department.

EDUCATION

Junior Achievement announced that two teams of teen entrepreneurs from Minnesota high schools will compete in Atlanta for the title of Junior Achievement Company of the Year against other student-run business: Green Garden Bakery, a maker of vegetable-based desserts, was created by a group from various north Minneapolis high schools through the nonprofit Urban Strategies; and EARTHA, which creates fashion accessories from recycled glass beads, was started by a team of female entrepreneurs from Mounds View High School. … The Goddard School, a national early childhood education franchise, announced plans to open a campus at 2364 Valleyhigh Drive NW, Rochester, in September; the franchise owner is Callie Voelz.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

TopLine Financial Credit Union, Maple Grove, announced the opening of a branch at 7015 Alvarado Lane North, Maple Grove. … Holmes Murphy, an Iowa-based insurance brokerage, announced the following shareholder additions in Minneapolis: Abby Zipoy, Annie Bushey, Erin Velo, Michael Roane, Nathan Cassin and Nick Karls. … Merrill Lynch Wealth Management announced that Minnetonka-based financial adviser Krystal Julius was named to Forbes‘ 2025 “Top Women Wealth Advisors”, Forbes’ 2025 “Top Women Wealth Advisors Best-in-State”,  Barron’s “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors”, and Financial Planning’s “Top 40 Brokers Under 40” lists.

HEALTH CARE

Health insurer UnitedHealth Group, Eden Prairie, has promoted Mike Cotton to lead the company’s Medicaid insurance segment; Bobby Hunter, head of the Medicare insurance division, will take on an expanded role as chief executive officer of government programs, overseeing both Medicaid and Medicare. In UnitedHealth’s Optum unit, Dhivya Suryadevara, a former chief financial officer at General Motors, becomes CEO of Optum Insight, and Roger Connor, who previously held that role, is now CFO of the broader Optum division. The changes were reported by Bloomberg News. … MNsure, the Minnesota state health insurance exchange, announced the appointment of Yusra Arab to its board of directors and the reappointment of Dr. Daniel Trajano to a second term.  Arab previously served as a policy aide for the Minneapolis City Council. Additionally, the board elected David Fisher as chair and Trajano vice chair.

LAW

Janet Dorr has been elected secretary/treasurer of the Minnesota State Bar Association’s Labor and Employment Section. Dorr is a shareholder at Fredrikson, Minneapolis, which announced the election.

MEDIA

Minnesota Public Radio, St. Paul, announced two additions to its board of trustees: Sarah Karon, board president of the Library Foundation for Sarasota County, Fla., and District 5 Town Commissioner in Longboat Key Fla.; and Brian Harrison, political scientist and author, who most recently taught at the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.

NONPROFITS

Old School by Steeple People, a thrift store, announced that it will take over the former Huge Improv Theater/Art Materials space at 2728 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis, with an expected opening date of July 18. … Project for Pride in Living, a Minneapolis-based affordable-housing and employment services provider, announced Pauleen Le has joined as the director of communications and marketing. Le most recently was a news anchor and reporter at WCCO-TV.

REAL ESTATE

HomeServices of America, a Minneapolis-based Berkshire Hathaway franchised real estate agency, announced the appointment of Renee Gonzales as vice president-core services integrations, a newly created role. Gonzales will remain as CEO of Long Realty, Tucson, Ariz.

UTILITIES

Xcel Energy, Minneapolis, announced the appointment of Ryan Long as executive vice president and chief legal and compliance officer, succeeding Rob Berntsen. Long will continue is his current role as president of Xcel Energy – Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. Long previously served as interim general counsel in late 2023 and early 2024.

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