Twins Injuries Hit Catcher Ryan Jeffers and Outfielder Emmanuel Rodriguez with Surgeries

Minnesota Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll updated reporters on several injured players, confirming that catcher Ryan Jeffers will undergo hamate surgery and is expected to miss six to eight weeks. Outfielder Emmanuel Rodriguez will also have surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb.

Jeffers, who has been Minnesota’s primary catcher since the start of the 2023 season, has produced a .258/.346/.445 batting line with a 122 wRC+. His 2024 showing of .295/.408/.541 has been critical to the Twins’ playoff push, as they currently sit just half a game out of a Wild Card spot in the American League.

With Jeffers sidelined, the Twins will turn to Victor Caratini and Alex Jackson behind the plate. Caratini has a solid defensive reputation but is hitting just .192/.299/.231 in 2024. Jackson’s career line is even weaker at .153/.239/.288.

The injury also disrupts Jeffers’ breakout season, as he is an impending free agent and was shaping up to be one of the top available catchers on the market this winter. While the six-to-eight-week timeline is not overly long, players often see a dip in power output following hamate surgery.

Emmanuel Rodriguez’s surgery is no surprise, as the outfielder has been on the IL for several weeks due to the thumb injury. Rodriguez was on the Twins’ 40-man roster and could have been playing in the majors if healthy. His injury comes at a frustrating time, as he has dealt with recurring issues throughout his career, including knee, abdominal, and hip injuries. He has played fewer than 100 games in each season since joining the organization in 2022.

Rodriguez has shown elite potential, with a 21.6% walk rate and 30.2% strikeout rate in the minors. His bat has big power and speed potential, but his injury history has limited his playing time. He has only played 26 games in 2024 and is now facing another lengthy absence.

The Twins have already sent Matt Wallner and Royce Lewis to the minors, opening up at-bats in the outfield and at designated hitter. With Caratini and Josh Bell splitting time at first base and DH, the Jeffers injury could create even more opportunities for players like Wallner or Lewis to get big league reps.

Jeffers and Rodriguez will each be out for several weeks, adding to the Twins’ injury woes. Minnesota will look to keep its playoff hopes alive while managing a thinner roster. The team is next in action on Friday against the Chicago White Sox.