Manager Rocco Baldelli said Thursday that Jeffers will operate as more of an everyday catcher going forward, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Jeffers and Christian Vazquez each made 81 starts behind the plate last season, and they've had a fairly even split of playing time early in 2025 with 14 and 11 starts, respectively. Vazquez's continued offensive struggles (career .581 OPS with Minnesota) will finally prompt a strategy change, with Jeffers now poised to operate as more of a clear No. 1 catcher. The 27-year-old hasn't been particularly productive through 67 plate appearances this year with a .254/.343/.339 slash line, but he had a .732 OPS in 2024 with more upside than Vazquez and could benefit from more consistent opportunities.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Taking seat Monday
Rotowire
Jeffers is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Mets.
Jeffers returned to action Sunday following a two-game absence with a swollen thumb, but he's now back on the bench for Monday's series opener. He has not had any known setback, so this appears to be a routine day off for Jeffers. Christian Vazquez will do the catching and bat ninth for the Twins.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Back in action Sunday
Rotowire
Jeffers (thumb) will start at catcher and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Tigers.
Jeffers will return to the lineup after being on the bench for the last two games due to a swollen thumb. Christian Vazquez will exit the lineup to make room behind the plate for Jeffers, who has gone 7-for-32 (.219 average) with zero home runs, four RBI and one run through his first nine games.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Sitting out Saturday
Rotowire
Jeffers (thumb) is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against Detroit.
Jeffers ended Friday's contest with a bloody thumb that later began to swell, per Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic, so he'll take a seat Saturday while Christian Vazquez picks up a second consecutive start behind the plate. Manager Rocco Baldelli said Jeffers may still be available off the bench Saturday, so it doesn't seem like the 27-year-old will need to spend time on the injured list.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Heading to bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Jeffers is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals.
Jeffers will take a seat for the second time in the series as he and Christian Vazquez continue their pattern of alternating starts behind the dish. Through seven games this season, Jeffers is hitting .222 with zero home runs, three RBI and one run.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Out of Saturday's lineup
Rotowire
Jeffers isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Houston.
Jeffers will take a day off after going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts during a loss in Friday's series opener. His absence will allow Christian Vazquez to start behind the dish while batting ninth.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Getting breather Wednesday
Rotowire
Jeffers is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox.
It's a routine day off for Jeffers, who has now been in the lineup for four of the first six contests of the season. The Twins will roll with Christian Vazquez at catcher and in the ninth spot in the batting order for Wednesday's game.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Reaches base thrice Monday
Rotowire
Jeffers went 1-for-2 with two walks in Monday's 9-0 loss to the White Sox.
Jeffers took a break from catching duties Monday to serve as the designated hitter, and he was responsible for one of the Twins' two hits Monday. The 27-year-old is looking to improve on a 2024 campaign in which he logged career highs in home runs (21) and RBI (64). Jeffers will likely return behind home plate for Tuesday's contest.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Serving as DH on Monday
Rotowire
Jeffers will start at designated hitter and bat third in Monday's game against the White Sox.
With the Twins kicking off their three-game series in Chicago with a day game, Jeffers will get a break from catching duties after he was behind the plate for eight innings in Sunday's 9-2 loss to the Cardinals. However, the Twins will keep Jeffers' bat in the lineup by using him at DH, while the lefty-hitting Matt Wallner takes a seat against White Sox lefty Martin Perez.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Getting Wednesday off
Rotowire
Jeffers is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins.
He will take a seat while he and Christian Vazquez continue to alternate starts behind the plate. Jeffers has gone hitless in 12 at-bats over his last four games, bringing his slash line down to .224/.300/.430 for the season.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Rests for second game of twin bill
Rotowire
Jeffers is out of the lineup for the second game of Sunday's doubleheader with the Red Sox.
Jeffers will rest for the second game of the day after he played all eight innings behind the plate in the Twins' 8-1 loss earlier Sunday while going hitless in four at-bats. Christian Vazquez will draw the start at catcher in the nightcap.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Not in Friday's lineup
Rotowire
Jeffers is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Red Sox.
Jeffers is mired in a 4-for-32 slump and will take a seat for Friday's series opener in Boston. Christian Vazquez will step in behind the plate to catch for right-hander David Festa.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Getting rest Wednesday
Rotowire
Jeffers is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Angels.
Jeffers will receive a breather for the series finale after he made starts in each of the last four games, with both of the last two coming at catcher. Christian Vazquez will step in behind the dish Wednesday.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Sitting Friday
Rotowire
Jeffers is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Royals.
Jeffers will get what looks like a routine breather after three straight starts, including two starts behind the plate in the past three days. Christian Vazquez will catch for starting pitcher Zebby Matthews.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Taking seat Saturday
Rotowire
Jeffers is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Blue Jays.
Christian Vazquez will step in behind the plate to catch for starting pitcher Zebby Matthews. Jeffers has enjoyed a productive month with a .926 OPS and five homers, and for the season he's been a top-10 fantasy catcher.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Back on bench Monday
Rotowire
Jeffers is out of the lineup for Monday's game against Atlanta.
After leaving late in Friday's 6-1 loss to the Cardinals due to a right hand injury, Jeffers returned to the lineup for the series finale Sunday, catching all nine innings of the Twins' 3-2 loss. The Twins haven't indicated that Jeffers emerged from the contest with any sort of setback, as his absence from the lineup a day later is likely just a result of him being in a near-even timeshare behind the plate with Christian Vazquez, who draws the starting nod Monday.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Clean X-rays on right hand
Rotowire
X-rays on Jeffers' injured right hand were negative, MLB.com reports. He did not play in Saturday's game after being removed late in Friday's game due to the injury. "He was having a little trouble gripping the bat downstairs, so we got him out of the game," manager Rocco Baldelli said. "That was why he came out. But he should be OK going forward."
Jeffers was lifted for a pinch hitter in the ninth inning of Friday's loss to St. Louis due to a sore hand. He took balls off his hand twice while behind the plate but was able to continue playing defense. It sounds like he could return to the lineup Sunday, but he may need another day or two off.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Taking seat Wednesday
Rotowire
Jeffers is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game in San Diego, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Jeffers and Christian Vazquez continue to alternate catching duties for the Twins, as Vazquez will be behind the plate for Wednesday's series finale after he caught the series opener Monday. The last time either player started at catcher in consecutive games came when Jeffers did it Aug. 7 and 9, and that latter game was the first of a doubleheader.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Sitting Monday
Rotowire
Jeffers is out of the lineup for Monday's game against San Diego.
Jeffers will give way to Christian Vazquez behind the plate Monday against Michael King and the Padres. Jeffers is slashing .231/.311/.464 with a career-high 19 home runs in 367 plate appearances.
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Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Does damage early
Rotowire
Jeffers went 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk and three RBI in Sunday's 6-5 extra-inning loss to the Rangers.
Jeffers made an impact early in the contest, hitting a two-run homer in the first inning and an RBI single in the third. The catcher has hit safely in five of his last six games, going 6-for-20 (.300) with three homers and five RBI in that span. That constitutes a warm spell for Jeffers, and it's come at a good time, as fellow catcher Christian Vazquez entered Sunday on an eight-game hitting streak before snapping it with a strikeout as a pinch hitter. The Twins continue to evenly split the playing time for their catchers. Jeffers has offered more power with 19 homers, 18 doubles and a .464 slugging percentage while batting .231 with 57 RBI, 45 runs scored and three stolen bases over 94 contests this season.
