Sizemore says the team plans to continue pushing aggressiveness on the basepaths in 2026.
The Minnesota Twins finished 2025 with a 70-92 record and landed in fourth place in the AL Central, marking their worst season since 2016.
It was a year defined by a trade deadline fire sale and front office turnover, but one quiet development stood out as a positive.
Sometime last August, the coaching staff decided to change their approach on the basepaths, and the results were eye-opening.
Now, new first base coach Grady Sizemore wants to carry that momentum into the new season.
Sizemore Sets the Tone
When asked about the Twins' running game on Inside Twins, Sizemore laid out his philosophy clearly.
"The plan is to take opportunities and be aggressive," Sizemore said. "Building off where they finished last year... we're going to continue with that, push that, and have that be a big message coming into camp."
Sizemore was hired in November to serve as the team's first base, outfield, and baserunning coach under new manager Derek Shelton.
The three-time All-Star spent parts of two seasons with the Chicago White Sox's coaching staff before Minnesota brought him aboard to help reshape the team's identity.
His background as one of baseball's most dynamic players during his prime gives him credibility when talking about taking chances on the bases.
The Numbers Show Progress
The Twins totaled 114 stolen bases as a team in 2025, but the distribution tells the real story.
Over the first four months of the season, Minnesota had just 55 steals, which tied for 24th in baseball.
After the coaching staff changed their mentality in August, the bags started coming in bunches and the team nearly doubled their total in the final two months.
Byron Buxton was the headliner with 24 stolen bases and zero times caught stealing, making him arguably the most efficient base stealer in baseball.
Rookie Luke Keaschall added 14 steals in just 49 games before a broken arm ended his season, and utility player Austin Martin swiped 11 bags while hitting .282 down the stretch.
Those three players alone accounted for nearly half of the team's total.
Who Could Be Aggressive in 2026?
Sizemore made an interesting point about speed not being the only factor when it comes to good baserunning, saying that timing, footwork, and anticipation can make up for a lot of what raw speed might lack.
"There's a lot you can do on the bases, it's not all about speed and that kind of thing," Sizemore said. "There's different things you can do, no matter how fast or slow you are, you can be a good baserunner and look for any opportunity."
That's good news for a roster that didn't exactly get faster this offseason.
The Twins signed Josh Bell, Victor Caratini, and Eric Wagaman, none of whom are known for their wheels.
However, Buxton remains the centerpiece and Keaschall should be fully healthy after his standout rookie campaign.
Walker Jenkins, the team's top prospect who could debut later this season, also has the speed and instincts to contribute on the basepaths once he arrives.
Kaelen Culpepper stole 25 bases in the minors last year and could factor in at shortstop.
The aggressive approach made the end of last season more interesting for Twins fans watching a lost year, and if Sizemore can instill that same mentality from Opening Day, it could be a weapon that helps Minnesota score runs and compete in a division that saw the Guardians and Tigers finish ahead of them in each of the last two seasons.