Twins vs Tigers Game Stopped After Ryan Jeffers Nearly Got His Head Taken Off

By Eric Strack |

Updated: Jul 4, 2024

Ryan Jeffers, Minnesota Twins — Credit: Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Twins vs Detroit Tigers game Thursday didn’t go nine innings, thanks to a rain delay in the bottom of the 7th inning. With the Twins leading 12-3 and weather expected to be poor throughout the afternoon, waiting it out wouldn’t have made sense.

Enough of the game was played for it to count as the Twins’ 49th official win, mostly thanks to an offensive explosion that included a 5-for-5 day (three doubles) from Jose Miranda.

Minnesota Twins win; Ryan Jeffers loses head helmet via fastball

But how the game finished was, in the moment, terrifying. Even once you knew Ryan Jeffers escaped unscathed, the slow motion replay of his near run in with Shelby Miller’s fastball is pretty shocking, no matter how many times you watch it.

#MNTwins vs Tigers went into a rain delay after Ryan Jeffers' h̵e̵a̵d̵ helmet was taken off by a high fastball pic.twitter.com/pFHAGS66Jw
— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) July 4, 2024

Jeffers had just hit a home run in the plate appearance before this one. But he wasn’t the only hero. Minnesota was all over Tiger pitching early and often. What happened above was Miller’s attempt to disrupt the Twins’ timing with something high and tight. A pitch he was hoping would back the 27-year-old Twins catcher off the plate a little bit.

When conditions are as sopping wet as they were at Target Field today, however, those 90+ MPH heaters can be difficult to aim. Nobody knows that better than Ryan Jeffers, after his close call today.

Immediately following this HBP, the game went into a rain delay. Nothing like a near-death experience to realize things are getting dangerous. Luckily, everyone got out of Thursday’s contest healthy, that we know of. Other than the psyche of Detroit Tiger pitchers…

Have yourself a day, Jose Miranda!! #MNTwins #MLB pic.twitter.com/LnJzCnF3O7
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) July 4, 2024

𝗥𝗬𝗔𝗡 𝗝𝗘𝗙𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗟𝗬𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗦! 🎆🎆🎆#MNTwins #MLB pic.twitter.com/5UXVJBmEEE
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) July 4, 2024

About 10 minutes after the delay began, this game went official. Miranda still gets his fifth hit, even though the inning didn’t finish. And luckily, Ryan Jeffers gets to go home with his head still in-tact. His helmet? Well… that can be fix/replaced.