Ryan Jeffers Starting Rehab Assignment
Ryan Jeffers has been hitting before St. Paul Saints games all week, so we knew he was ramping up for a return from the injured list, just as his original timeline back from a broken hamate bone projected when it was diagnosed in mid-May.
As a catcher, not only does his repaired hamate bone have to feel good enough to swing a bat, but it has to withstand hundreds of 80-100 MPH pitches on a nightly basis behind the dish, as well.
But it seems that Jeffers and Minnesota Twins medical staff saw everything they needed the past few days, because on Friday, Ryan Jeffers officially began a rehab assignment.
And if you think he’s going down to Florida to slowly make his way up to the big leagues, you though wrong. Tonight, he will bat second in the Saints lineup as the designated hitter.
Ryan Jeffers enters MN Twins Triple-A lineup
Ryan Jeffers is starting a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul.
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) July 3, 2026
He'll be in the Saints' lineup at designated hitter tonight, about six weeks after surgery on a fractured left hamate bone.
The Minnesota Twins have been without their starting catcher since May 18. While the Twins are out east for a three-game series with the New York Yankees, Jeffers will get his first at-bats at Triple-A St. Paul since 2022. The six-game homestand against Cleveland and the LA Angels make sense for his possible return.
In the 37 games prior to injury, Jeffers was batting a career-best .295 with a .949 OPS and looked destined to make his first ever All-Star game. If he can get back to that guy, it would go a long ways toward the Twins’ chances of making the playoffs.
Jeffers has millions of reasons to get back and produce, as he prepares for his first-ever trip to free agency. While it’s unlikely the Minnesota Twins spend big money to re-sign the 29-year-old backstop, someone else most certainly will.
Decisions to make on Ryan Jeffers
Of course, it’s also possible the Twins trade him before the August 3, though owner Tom Pohlad remains hesitant to host another trade deadline fire sale this summer at Target Field.
Ryan Jeffers hit this foul ball and broke his bat.
— Ted (@tlschwerz) May 19, 2026
He then watched two balls and left the game. pic.twitter.com/JyhOyp4Pil
If the Twins are going to keep Jeffers, their last and only chance to recoup value would be handing him a qualifying offer. Even that is risky, however, since owners have proposed eliminating that as an option in recent CBA negotiations.
If it remains in place, Minnesota would be on the hook for something like $25 million, should Jeffers accept it. Knowing how this organization operates, that feels far-fetched. However, if another team signed him to a multi-year deal, the Twins would be in line for draft pick compensation.
No matter what happens, Jeffers returning for the Twins comes at a critical time, and he’s a linchpin to how the rest of their season plays out.
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