Kody Clemens kept the Twins offense in high gear with a three-run homer in Tuesday night’s win over the Rangers. (Photo/Jim Cowsert / Imagn Images)
ARLINGTON, Texas — These days, Kody Clemens is enough of a threat at the plate for the Texas Rangers to intentionally walk him to load the bases.
Far removed from his designation as a player acquired for cash last April, Clemens continues to flourish for a Minnesota Twins club that provided him an opportunity his previous clubs couldn’t.
Clemens continued a red-hot June on Tuesday night by hitting a three-run homer, pacing his team’s offense as the Twins erupted for a 12-2 win over the Rangers at Globe Life Field.
An inning after Clemens’ homer and with the game not yet out of reach, Texas manager Skip Schumacher intentionally walked him to get a preferred righty-righty pitching matchup and set up a potential double play. The strategy backfired as Royce Lewis continued his hot streak with a two-run single. The Twins went on to rout the Rangers behind a season-high 17 hits, including two from Clemens.
Just about everyone in the Twins clubhouse recognized the sign of respect given to Clemens — everyone but Brooks Lee, Clemens’ brother in trash talk.
“I was super surprised,” Lee said with a grin. “He only (weighs) a buck-65. I was surprised they were that scared of him.”
Perhaps opposing pitchers should fear Clemens, who on Tuesday belted his 30th home run in 617 plate appearances with the Twins. Though he started slowly this season when it seemed as if the Twins were facing every left-handed starting pitcher in the league between March and April, Clemens has been on a tear for the better part of seven weeks.
Entering Tuesday, Clemens carried an .862 OPS since April 27. But he’s been even better in June for a Twins offense that finally feels as if it’s firing on all cylinders.
Facing Texas pitcher Kumar Rocker, who had a 2.16 ERA in his past six starts, Clemens broke open a game in which the Twins desperately needed big showings from the offense and starting pitcher Zebby Matthews — who allowed two runs over seven efficient innings — to relieve an overworked bullpen.
With the Twins already ahead 2-0 and two men on base in the second inning, Clemens got a 1-0 changeup and hit a screamer that just cleared the wall in right. Following the walk and a late double, Clemens is now hitting .308/.345/.673 with five homers and 10 RBIs in 55 June plate appearances.
“I feel like I’ve just been trying to lock in on certain tunnels and stuff like that,” Clemens said. “I’m trying to make some good swing decisions and make sure I’m swinging at good pitches. Trying to stay within myself. Sometimes I get too big, and that’s when I’ll swing and miss or foul one off or hit it in the air or whatever. But I’m just trying to stay consistent and go day by day.”
Clemens is so hot that even his music selections are coming up winners. During the team’s brief homestand last weekend, Clemens suggested Lewis change his walk-up song to Nelly’s “E.I.”
Lewis made the switch Friday night and went on to blast a game-tying homer in the eighth inning. He declared after the game that he’d stay with the song.
One of the more popular players on the club, Clemens is appreciated by teammates for his ability to talk trash, his clutch play and the sound advice he provides from a life spent in big-league clubhouses. He spent his childhood watching the late stages of his father Roger Clemens’ playing career.
Clemens was little more than a lottery ticket when he joined the Twins in late April 2025, an able-bodied, experienced player joining a club depleted by infield injuries to Lewis, Willi Castro and Luke Keaschall.
Clemens had been designated for assignment by Philadelphia. The Twins felt fortunate that he was available and acquired him in exchange for cash considerations.
The Twins liked the skill set possessed by Clemens, a third-round draft pick in 2018 who’d been a Golden Spikes finalist at the University of Texas. But like any team trading for a player who’s recently been DFA’d, the Twins didn’t know what to expect after Clemens had played sparingly in parts of four seasons with Detroit and Philadelphia.
Seven days after he joined the Twins, Clemens hit a two-run homer at Fenway Park in front of his father to put his new club ahead for good. It was a sign of things to come: 12 of the 30 homers he’s hit since joining the team have either tied the game or put the Twins ahead.
This season, Clemens has taken the confidence gained in 2025 and is building on it.
A second baseman by trade, Clemens was asked to move to first base earlier this season. He’s excelled defensively, producing 4 DRS (defensive runs saved). Now that Lewis is back and often playing first, the Twins continue to move Clemens around. He’s played 38 innings in center field, spent time in right and left, has returned to first base occasionally, and would likely catch if they asked.
“Regardless of where you put him, he seems to really produce,” Twins manager Derek Shelton said. “Grinder, baseball player, say what you want about him. Regardless of where he goes on the field, in big moments, nothing gets too big for him.”
After struggling in limited opportunities, Clemens is hitting well enough against left-handed pitchers that Shelton rarely removes him in favor of a pinch-hitter. Entering Tuesday, Clemens carried a .697 OPS against lefties this season, up from a sub-.500 mark for his career.
Though Lee likes to kid, his respect for Clemens runs deep. The two push each other and dissect game plans, especially when they’re facing a right-handed pitcher like Rocker.
“He’s locked in at the right time,” Lee said. “With runners on base, he’s been good. He always has a big swing. Eventually, if he hasn’t had a hit, he’s going to get one and it’s going to be in a key situation. We were both thinking the same thing (Tuesday): ‘Up, out, over,’ and he got a few pitches to hit and really got them. Pretty cool to see. He has that swing, though. Anything up in the zone, he’s hitting it deep to right field.”
Clemens scoffed when he learned of Lee’s 165-pound description. Even though his Longhorns were eliminated from the College World Series minutes before he spoke, Clemens was smiling as he reflected on his time with the Twins.
“I trust myself,” Clemens said. “Even when I wasn’t playing a lot, I was hitting four or five homers in 100 plate appearances. I always thought, ‘Damn, if I got a chance, I could do this.’ Obviously, I’m grateful that Rocco (Baldelli) gave me the chance to do that last year. Kickstarted my career. I’m a late bloomer, but I knew I was capable. I’m just so glad.”
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