Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton made an unexpected decision.
The Minnesota Twins are continuing to experiment with their lineup early in the 2026 season, and Saturday’s matchup against the Baltimore Orioles brought a particularly surprising decision from manager Derek Shelton.
With the Twins looking to generate more offense against a tough Baltimore pitching staff, Shelton opted to shake things up at the top of the order. He placed Kody Clemens in the leadoff spot for Saturday’s matchup with the Orioles. This is the first time that Clemens has hit first in the batting order in his entire career (h/t Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic).
The move raised eyebrows, especially considering Clemens profile and the presence of more established hitters in the lineup, including superstar center fielder Byron Buxton.
Buxton is viewed as the team’s greatest offensive threat and has experience hitting near the top of the order, making the decision to slot Clemens ahead of him unexpected.
However, there is a strategic angle behind the choice. The Orioles are starting right‑hander Kyle Bradish, and Clemens has historically performed much better against right‑handed pitching. Last season, he posted a .219 batting average with a .286 on‑base percentage and .782 OPS against righties. All 19 of his home runs and 47 of his 52 RBIs came against right‑handed pitchers, highlighting his ability to produce in these matchups.
Even with that context, the decision remains unconventional. Clemens is not known as a traditional leadoff hitter, and this marks a significant shift from how he has been used throughout his career. Saturday’s game represents the 267th appearance of his MLB career, and in the previous 266 games, he had never been placed this high in the batting order.
Clemens is better known for his versatility than his bat. A true utility player, he has the ability to play both infield and outfield positions, making him a valuable chess piece for Shelton as he navigates different matchups and lineup combinations. His career numbers show he has not been a consistent offensive force, with a .206 batting average, .263 on‑base percentage and .665 OPS.
This will be Clemens second season with Minnesota after debuting with the Detroit Tigers in 2022 and later spending time with the Philadelphia Phillies before being traded to the Twins last April.
Ultimately, the Twins appear to be prioritizing matchup‑based decisions early in the season. Whether this experiment sticks or proves to be a one‑game adjustment remains to be seen, but it reflects a willingness to think outside the box as Minnesota looks to avoid dropping its first series of the year.