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Wallner is expected to play everyday in right field and won't sit against left-handed pitchers early in the season, according to manager Derek Shelton via Matthew Leach of MLB.com.
Wallner has had problems against left-handed pitching (career .641 OPS against LHP), so this is a good sign for his playing time. He did improve to a .790 OPS vs. LHP last season. Wallner reduced his problematic strikeout rate below 30 percent for the first time in his career (29.1 percent) last season and had the best contact rate of his career (66.1 percent), so there are promising signs he could have a breakout season despite posting just a .775 OPS last year.
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Twins' Matt Wallner: Solid start to spring
Rotowire
Wallner went 2-for-3 in Friday's Grapefruit League loss to Boston. He's hitting .290 (9-for-31) with a home run this spring.
It's reassuring to see Wallner having a good spring as a terrible spring in 2024 resulted in a slow start to the regular season and an early demotion to the minors. Wallner looks set to start in right field and could have a breakout season after some bad luck last year. Wallner reduced his problematic strikeout rate below 30 percent for the first time in his career (29.1%) and had the best contact rate of his career (66.1%), but he had just a .775 OPS, with a .228 BABIP likely playing a factor.
The Twins placed Wallner on the 10-day injured list Friday due to a strained right oblique.
Wallner was removed from Wednesday's game with right back spasms and wasn't part of Friday's lineup due to the issue. He'll now head to the injured list with what's being called a right oblique strain. The Twins are eliminated from postseason eligibility, meaning Wallner won't be able to return in 2025. He'll end the season with a .202/.311/.464 slash line and 22 home runs across 392 plate appearances. DaShawn Keirsey was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul in a corresponding move.
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Twins' Matt Wallner: On bench Friday
Rotowire
Wallner (back) isn't in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Guardians.
Wallner was removed from Wednesday's contest due to back spasms, and despite a team day off Thursday, he'll be out of the lineup Friday. James Outman will fill right field in place of Wallner.
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