The Twins manager likes what he sees from his versatile first baseman's swing.
Kody Clemens made a strong case for more playing time on Tuesday night.
The 30-year-old utility man went 2-for-4 with a double and a three-run home run as the Minnesota Twins rolled over the Texas Rangers 12-2 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, and his three RBIs helped fuel a 17-hit explosion that gave Minnesota back-to-back wins in the series.
The Twins improved to 35-40 on the year, while Texas fell to 35-38.
Shelton Sees Something
After the game, first-year manager Derek Shelton did not hold back when asked about what makes Clemens tick at the plate.
"He takes really aggressive swings and I mean, he does a really good job pull side in the air because of the way he can back spin the baseball," Shelton said.
That ability to generate backspin while pulling the ball is not something every hitter can do, and Shelton went on to explain why that particular skill matters when it comes to putting the ball over the fence.
"When you do that, balls will get out of the [stadium]," Shelton added. "Now, today it was just a line drive, but the ability to back spin the baseball on the pull side will lead to homers, especially when it warms up, you know, at home."
That last part is worth paying attention to.
Target Field in Minneapolis plays much differently once summer arrives, and Shelton clearly believes Clemens' natural pull-side power will benefit from the warmer conditions as the Twins push through the back half of their schedule.
Why Clemens Is So Important
Minnesota was not expected to compete in 2026.
Between low payroll, Pablo Lopez's season-ending surgery, and a roster full of question marks, most projections had them sitting near the bottom of the American League.
But this team has shown fight, and Clemens has quietly become a meaningful part of that.
In his second season with the Twins after stints with the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies, Clemens is hitting .251 with 11 home runs and 28 RBI.
Those numbers are not flashy, but his ability to play multiple positions and provide left-handed power in a lineup that already features Byron Buxton's elite right-handed pop gives the Twins a different dimension they badly need.
A Complete Night
Tuesday's performance was the kind of game the Twins have been chasing all season.
Trevor Larnach went 4-for-6 with a solo home run, Royce Lewis and Josh Bell each drove in a pair of runs, and Zebby Matthews locked things down on the mound.
For a club sitting in third in the AL Central at 35-40, it was a reminder that the talent is there when everything clicks.
And if Clemens continues to do what Shelton described, pulling the ball with backspin and getting it in the air, the Twins will have another weapon to lean on as the summer heats up in Minneapolis.
