The 28-year-old shortstop shared his thoughts on the experience of getting to play against the team he grew up watching--the Athletics.
Monday night was one that Ryan Kreidler will never forget as he stepped into the batter's box for the Minnesota Twins at Sutter Health Park against the ball club he grew up rooting for--the Athletics.
Not only was the 28-year-old shortstop surrounded by his teammates, but he also had his family and friends rooting for him in the stands. Additionally, the Twins came out with a 9-6 win to open the series and cap off a heartwarming experience.
As a Davis, California native, Kreidler recounted memories of attending A's games with his family and his passion for baseball that arose following lengthy batting sessions with his father.
"I came here growing up and watched the A's a lot as a kid at the Coliseum, getting to have some friends and family here is pretty special," he said in a postgame interview with MLB.com. "I'm kind of emotional thinking about it, thinking about all the backyard whiffle ball games and batting cage sessions with my dad growing up."
Kreidler was crucial in the Twins' victory, launching a solo home run in the fifth inning that put the team ahead 3-1 after the Athletics spoiled a potential shutout in the third when Henry Bolte reached home off an infield single by Lawrence Butler.
Even then, it was clear that Minnesota had firm control of the driver's seat from the get-go when Josh Bell struck early, driving in Byron Buxton for a first-inning lead that the team never gave up.
After Kreidler's big hit, Kody Clemens continued the barrage with a one-run single to score Buxton once again.
Minnesota kept their foot on the pedal in the sixth despite holding a commanding lead, piling on three more runs when Luke Keaschall brought home rookie Kaelen Culpepper and Brooks Lee with an RBI double. Kreidler scored as well off a sacrifice fly from Bell.
Buxton scored for the fourth time of the matchup in the eighth off an RBI single by Clemens while Bell reached home on an infield single by Culpepper.
Still, the Athletics refused to go down without a fight when Tommy White hit a sacrifice fly to bring Bolte home. The A's then erupted for four runs in the ninth to bring the game within three, but their efforts proved insufficient as White lined out to end the rally.
With the win, Kreidler is now batting .227 while recording a .661 OPS and .279 on-base percentage. Furthermore, he has knocked in 26 RBI and launched six home runs during his first season with Minnesota.
Prior to that, Kreidler spent a brief stint with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2025 following his designation for assignment by the AL Central rival Detroit Tigers where he spent his first three full major-league seasons.
Kreidler will look to contribute once again tonight at 9:40 p.m. EDT as the Twins face off against left-hander Gage Jump who has posted a 4.83 ERA while striking out 88 batters in 82 innings pitched.
