Ryan Jeffers -- General News

Ryan Michael Jeffers is an American professional baseball catcher and designated hitter for the Minnesota Twins, wearing number 27. Born June 3, 1997, in Raleigh, North Carolina, Jeffers bats and throws right-handed. He made his MLB debut on August 20, 2020, against the Milwaukee Brewers, recording two hits and one RBI in a 7-1 Twins victory.

Jeffers attended Sanderson High School in Raleigh before going undrafted in the 2016 MLB Draft. He walked on to the University of North Carolina at Wilmington baseball team, where he developed into a prospect. As a junior in 2019, he slashed .315/.460/.635 with 16 home runs and 59 RBIs over 62 games, earning First-Team All-CAA honors for the second consecutive year.

The Minnesota Twins selected Jeffers in the second round (59th overall) of the 2018 MLB Draft. He progressed through the minor leagues in 2018-2019, appearing with the Fort Myers Miracle and Pensacola Blue Wahoos. In his 2020 debut season, he batted .273/.355/.436 with 3 home runs and 7 RBIs over 26 games. His career MLB statistics through May 8, 2026 show a .243 batting average with 73 home runs and 246 RBIs.

Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers has been a bright spot for the struggling franchise this season, entering Friday with strong offensive numbers including a .421 on-base percentage, .927 OPS, 4 home runs, and 20 RBIs across 24 games. During Thursday's game against Toronto, Jeffers hit a pop-up in the infield that the Blue Jays failed to catch. Blue Jays infielder Kazuma Okamoto threw the ball away attempting a force out at second base with Byron Buxton on first. MLB revised the official scoring on Friday, changing the play from a fielder's choice to a single, which directly impacted Jeffers' batting average, improving it from .291 to .304.

Jeffers, 28, is in his seventh season with the Twins organization after being drafted in the second round of the 2018 MLB Draft. He has become a respected veteran presence and clubhouse leader on a young roster, though he has only played 100+ games twice during his tenure. As the Twins sit at 14-18 and face a potential retooling year, Jeffers is entering his final year of team control, making him an intriguing trade candidate should the front office decide to capitalize on his value before he reaches free agency.

Ryan Jeffers will not be in the Minnesota Twins' lineup for Saturday's game against the Cleveland Guardians. The catcher is being given a day off following a productive two-game stretch in which he went 4-for-8 with a home run, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Victor Caratini will assume catching duties and bat seventh in Jeffers' absence. The rest appears to be a routine breather rather than related to injury concerns.

The Minnesota Twins are struggling through an early-season slump, having lost eight of their last nine games including four straight to the Tampa Bay Rays. The primary issue has been offensive inconsistency, with the team scoring two or fewer runs in three of their last four contests. Despite the poor performance, veteran catcher Ryan Jeffers expressed confidence in the clubhouse, stating "We're not worried about this group. It's the ebbs and flows of baseball." Jeffers himself has been a bright spot, posting a .267 batting average with a .405 on-base percentage and .889 OPS across 19 games, along with 3 home runs and 16 RBIs—exceptional numbers for a catcher. In his seventh season with Minnesota after being selected in the second round of the 2018 MLB Draft, Jeffers has evolved into a steady defensive presence and respected clubhouse voice. However, his future with the organization is uncertain as he enters his final year of team control before hitting unrestricted free agency, particularly with the Twins having signed veteran catcher Victor Caratini to a two-year deal this past winter. The team will attempt to avoid a sweep against Tampa Bay on Sunday.