Emmanuel Rodriguez hits home run in MLB debut to lead Twins over Guardians

Emmanuel Rodriguez made a significant Major League Baseball debut for the Minnesota Twins, hitting a solo home run in his first career at-bat. The home run helped spark a four-run inning that led the Twins to a 4-3 victory over the Cleveland Guardians at Target Field.

Recalled from Triple-A St. Paul, the 23-year-old outfielder is considered a top-five prospect within the Twins organization. In addition to his home run, Rodriguez recorded his first MLB outfield assist by throwing a runner out at third base.

The Twins secured the win with relief pitching from Andrew Morris, Kody Funderburk, and Jeff Hoffman, while A. J. Minter earned his first save since May 2024. For the Guardians, Franco Alemán suffered a difficult outing, allowing four earned runs in two-thirds of an inning.