Kody Clemens’ Unexpected Turnaround Has Led to a Major Award Nomination

Kody Clemens was not supposed to become one of the Minnesota Twins’ most important players when the club acquired him from Philadelphia in April 2025. At the time, he had appeared in just 153 major league games across parts of four seasons, and his arrival was largely tied to an injury elsewhere on the roster.

Now, Clemens has a chance to be recognized as the American League’s best-hitting second baseman.

The Twins infielder was named a Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger finalist Thursday after putting together the most productive season of his career. Clemens was Minnesota’s MVP in 2026, finishing with 27 home runs and 81 RBIs across 145 games. He also posted a .239/.298/.460 slash line and a 108 wRC+.

The nomination carries a different kind of significance considering how recently his major league future looked uncertain. The Twins acquired Clemens from the Phillies after Luke Keaschall fractured his forearm early in the 2025 season. Philadelphia had designated Clemens for assignment days before the trade, leaving Minnesota with an opportunity to bring in a player who had not yet established himself as an everyday major leaguer.

Clemens has since made himself difficult to leave out of the lineup. Although he is a finalist at second base, he also appeared at first base and all three outfield positions this season. That versatility gave Minnesota a way to keep his bat in the lineup even when he wasn't playing his primary position.

His production was particularly valuable with runners in scoring position. Clemens hit .307 with a .368 on-base percentage and .559 slugging percentage in 147 plate appearances in those situations. His most memorable moment came July 30 against Kansas City, when he hit a grand slam on an 0-2 count with two outs to give the Twins a 4-3 walk-off victory at Target Field.

There is still competition for the award, though. Chicago White Sox second baseman Chase Meidroth is the other AL finalist, and his overall offensive profile makes the voting less straightforward than Clemens’ home run total might suggest.

Clemens led Meidroth with 27 home runs and 81 RBIs compared with 16 and 63, respectively. Meidroth, however, finished with a higher batting average, on-base percentage and wRC+, while also recording nine more doubles. Clemens led all AL second basemen in home runs and also topped the league at the position with seven triples.

The winner will be announced Nov. 17. Regardless of the result, Clemens has already changed his standing in Minnesota. A player acquired after being designated for assignment has become a finalist for one of baseball’s top offensive honors, and the Twins now have a legitimate reason to keep him in their plans at second base heading into 2027.