MN Twins and St. Paul Saints to play on Field of Dreams

Wednesday, we got more details surrounding the event, which will take place on August 13, 2026. The field that was built for the Cubs vs Reds game back in 2022 is no longer there. Thus, a temporary one will be erected in its place.

We're playing in Iowa 😎 pic.twitter.com/lIvQdaJiAs

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) November 19, 2025

The Baltimore Orioles are in town to start the week of August 10th. When that series ends, the MN Twins will make the short trip south to Dyersville, Iowa for their novelty contest against the Phillies on August 13.

Neither team involved can get overly wrapped up in the history of that day, because it very much counts toward their regular season record. When it ends, the Twins and Phillies will both get a day off before resuming their three-game interleague set back at Target Field, in Minneapolis on August 15.

Minnesota went to Philadelphia in 2025, where they dropped their series against the 2025 NL East Champs two games to one. The Phillies project to be a formidable opponent yet again, as Bryce Harper and the boys look to make another postseason run through the National League in 2026.

St. Paul Saints marching into Iowa as well

It’s not just the local big league club that will get an opportunity to play on the Field of Dreams this summer. The Minnesota Twins Triple-A affiliate, the St. Paul Saints, are headed to Dyersville as well, where they will battle the Iowa Cubs (Chicago Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate) on August 11 at 7 p.m..

The Minnesota Twins High-A affiliate Cedar Rapids took on the Quad City River Bandits back in 2022 when the Field of Dreams site was last used. Tickets for both games will be on sale in the coming weeks.

A Dream Scenario: Saints and I-Cubs To Meet In MiLB At Field of Dreams in Dyersville On August 11

Information: https://t.co/DdizMeNrk3 pic.twitter.com/ZFi0y2In09

— St. Paul Saints (@StPaulSaints) November 19, 2025

This is an incredible opportunity for our organization and we’re thankful to Major League Baseball, the Minnesota Twins, the Field of Dreams filming location, the City of Dyersville, and everyone else involved that they asked us to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime game. To share the field with the Iowa Cubs, a team we’ve played more times than any other in the International League since we became the Twins affiliate in 2021, makes this perfect. We look forward to putting on an incredible show for baseball fans around the country.

Zane Heiselman – Saints EVP/GM

With 90 losses now on the ledger, and vacation plans booked, there is no benefit to winning games anymore. In fact, it would be more beneficial for the MN Twins to lose as many games as possible during this weekend’s season finale.

Draft lottery odds taking shape for MN Twins

Major League Baseball instituted the MLB Draft Lottery as part of the new CBA established in 2022. The first lottery took place in 2023, and the Minnesota Twins immediately benefitted, jumping up about 10 spots, from the mid-teens all the way to fifth, where they selected top prospect, Walker Jenkins.

Heading into Friday’s night’s action, the Twins have the third-best odds to land the top overall pick, but they can increase their position by finishing with a worse record than the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have the same 69-90 record. Doing so would give them a 5.6% better chance of landing the No. 1 overall pick in 2026.

The Colorado Rockies, Washington Nationals, and Los Angeles Angels are all ineligible for the top pick, due to rules in place that do not allow teams to get a top-six in consecutive drafts.

Minnesota’s opponent this weekend, the Philadelphia Phillies, hold the second-best record in all of baseball, at 94-65. They need a sweep, plus lots of help (Brewers get swept), to gain the No. 1 overall seed in the National League, but the possibility means they will be trying hard for a win, at least on Friday night.

Is tanking even worth thinking about for the Twins?

Pittsburgh is on the road against the Atlanta Braves, who may be motivated to improve their own MLB Draft Lottery position, but do not have a chance at the postseason. Ultimately, tanking can largely prove fruitless with the MLB Amateur Draft. It’s not like the NFL or NBA, where top talents make an impact immediately.

Last season the Twins picked 16th overall and went with college shortstop Marek Houston. He finished the season with High-A Cedar Rapids. The 2024 pick, at 21st overall, was Kaelen Culpepper. He was just named the Twins Minor League Hitter of the Year.

Kaelen Culpepper (@Twins' 2024 first-rounder) in 20 Double-A @WindSurgeICT contests after this two-run homer:

• .361 AVG
• .984 OPS
• 1+ hit in 17 G pic.twitter.com/CaKMwggys9

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 23, 2025

With that being said, all of the Minnesota Twins’ most exciting prospects in recent memory were indeed top 10 picks, including Royce Lewis, Walker Jenkins and Brooks Lee.

If you go a bit further back, the same can be said about Byron Buxton and Joe Mauer. If there is anything, outside of winning big league games, that can get this fanbase going, it’s top prospects. And at this point, losing doesn’t really hurt anything.

There has been no game at the temporary Field of Dreams stadium since 2022 when the Cincinnati Reds played the Chicago Cubs. That stadium has since been dismantled and the land was sold.

This entrance is everything. #MLBatFieldofDreams pic.twitter.com/ve6Q0Rmuff

— MLB (@MLB) August 12, 2021

With a new, permanent stadium in place, the Minnesota Twins will play against the Philadelphia Phillies to break it in during August 2026.

Minnesota Twins to play Phillies in Iowa

The temporary Field of Dreams stadium held a capacity of 8,000 fans. The new permanent site is expected to hold far fewer fans. That means tickets aren’t going to be cheap, and demand will far-exceed opportunity. Matt Gelb and Dan Hayes of The Athletic broke the news on Sunday.

For the first time in four years, Major League Baseball is returning to Iowa.

The Phillies and Twins will play a regular-season game sometime in August 2026 in a revival of the league’s Field of Dreams game held at Dyersville, Iowa, multiple major-league sources said. It will be a home game for Minnesota.

MLB will reveal its 2026 schedule Tuesday. The actual date of the Phillies-Twins game is to be determined.

The Athletic

It’s only fitting that Minnesota will be the home team given the location being within the geographical region of Twins Territory. The expectation is that the game will be nationally televised, so fans in Iowa shouldn’t be blacked out either.

Each team that has played at the Field of Dreams stadium has donned throwback uniforms. Hopefully the Twins won’t dip into the Washington Senators lore and instead can find an opportunity to bring back the powder blues.

Major League Baseball has made a habit of playing games at alternative sites. The Minnesota Twins were last included during 2018 in Puerto Rico. Of course they haven’t exactly been appointment viewing, but this is a game no one will want to miss.

The Phillies are also a team that Minnesota did work with at the trade deadline. Harrison Bader and his one-year contract likely won’t be there next year. However, closer Jhoan Duran is under contract through 2027 and will be in the Philadelphia bullpen.

Related: Report: Minnesota Twins Owners Still Plan to Sell

Minnesota started Mick Abel on Saturday against the Chicago White Sox. The former top prospect made his major league debut for the Phillies and could find himself pitching against them next season.

Once a date is revealed for the game, you can bet tickets will be among the hardest to come by across the entire league’s slate next season. Back in 2022 the cheapest get-in price on TickPick was $644.

Opposing clubs are already looking to the Twins when figuring out their own trade plans. They are being viewed as sellers, and the results haven’t done much to suggest that Derek Falvey should aggressively add for the first time in years.

There is a group of six impending free agents that the MN Twins should have no qualms about trading. The Philadelphia Phillies, and other teams, are looking at controllable talent as well. Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran are at the top of that list.

Minnesota Twins leverage arms drawing interest from Phillies

It wouldn’t take a ton for the MN Twins to part with Harrison Bader, Ty France, Danny Coulombe, Christian Vazquez, or Willi Castro. Those guys are all on the final year of their deal and should be the first to go. A team wanting to acquire either Jhoan Duran or Griffin Jax will have to pony up, and Matt Gelb of The Athletic suggests the Philadelphia Phillies are exploring that option.

“The Phillies have a specific interest in the American League Central; they began scouting the Minnesota Twins more heavily this week in anticipation of them being sellers, league sources said. Griffin Jax and Jhoan Durán will be prized targets if Minnesota makes them available. They’re expected to listen…Any of those relievers would cost the Phillies multiple top prospects. If the Phillies landed one, it would fill an immediate hole and also provide future bullpen stability.”

Matt Gelb – The Athletic

Griffin Jax is 30 years old and not a free agent until 2028. He is making just $2.37 million this season, and won’t see substantial raises through arbitration given the antiquated nature of the system. He has a 4.12 ERA but a 1.92 FIP and the highest K/9 of his career (14.6). Jax is among the best relievers in baseball and would immediately be the top of a bullpen pecking order for multiple teams.

Jhoan Duran is younger at just 27 years old, but is under team control until 2028 as well. After a 3.64 ERA last season, and declining velocity, he now owns a 1.52 ERA (2.29 FIP) and has been dominant enough to warrant All-Star Game consideration. He’s not the same fireballer he was in 2023, but this version might be a better, more complete pitcher.

The Phillies, and any other contending team, should come knocking for both bullpen arms. Mediocre or bad teams don’t need to worry about saving games. Rocco Baldelli’s bullpen would take a huge hit losing either of them, but both could be the most realistic path to a significant return.

Related: Minnesota Twins Open to Trading Joe Ryan…?

Whether or not the Minnesota Twins sell remains up in the air. That will be decided in the coming weeks. What will be interesting if they do, is what Derek Falvey askes for in return given his track record of not spending on relief. Losing two great arms, who cost very little, makes the rebuild that much more difficult.

What could the MN Twins get for their relief stars?

As Gelb noted, no team is getting Jax or Duran from the Minnesota Twins without including one top prospect. Although they aren’t starting pitchers, they are maybe the two best relievers that could be available on the trade market. That’s an area multiple postseason teams target to improve, and Falvey shouldn’t be looking to cut anyone a deal.

Griffin Jax, K'ing the Side in the 8th. pic.twitter.com/VJVJbq6DKV

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 28, 2025

Philadelphia probably isn’t going to part with starting pitcher Andrew Painter (MLB #10) for a reliever, but they have six total prospects in the top 100. Aiden Miller (SS #22), Justin Crawford (OF #49), Eduardo Tait (C #63), Mick Abel (SP #87), and Aroon Escobar (2B #97) are all there as well. Tait is at Single-A but is just 18 years old. The rest of that group, save for Escobar, should be an MLB option this year or next.

It would be tough to see Jax or Duran pitch elsewhere. Both are development products for the MN Twins, and both went the failed starter route. Each has carved out a crucial role in relief, and neither should be someone the franchise wants to face regularly. Maybe a deal with a National League team softens the blow a bit.

No matter what, if the Twins do become full-blown sellers, it would be surprising to see them opt against moving any of their controllable assets.

The dynamic duo that I long ago coined, “Falvine” could soon be no longer. That’s right, General Manager Thad Levine could be leaving the Minnesota Twins to take the President of Baseball Operations job for the Philadelphia Phillies (per NY Post Columnist, Joel Sherman).

Hearing that #Twins GM Thad Levine is a significant player in the search for the #Phillies head of baseball operations job.

— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 4, 2020

Obviously, Levine hasn’t been offered the job yet but he’s clearly one of the favorites. Let me remind Twins Nation, that this is a good thing. If other teams aren’t coming for your team executives, it’s because you don’t have good team executives and you probably aren’t a very good team.

With that said, I hope the Phillies give the job to someone other than Thad Levine.

Bio:

According to MLB.com, Levine helps lead the Twins organization “in all facets”. Those areas include MLB operations, scouting, player development and player procurement. Thad isn’t all about baseball, though. He graced the Twin Cities Business’ list of “100 People to Know” in 2018.

I’m not sure what happened in 2019 that pushed him off this prestigious list, but the Phillies must be willing to look beyond that one resume flaw, if they’re going to eventually pull the trigger.

Thad Levine spent eleven seasons as the Texas Rangers Assistant GM, before Derek Falvey hired him for the Twins. He also spent 1999-2004 working his way up the Colorado Rockies organization.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

While everyone in Minnesota is getting primed and lubed up for the Final Four that will be in town this weekend, there are way more important things going on in a place that is much different than our own… and much worse. In the land of Philadelphia, where horse shit is what’s for dinner, the Twins will be playing 3 very important baseball games.

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Of course, it’s only games 6,7, and 8 of 162 and soon, this series will be long forgotten as we continue to trudge through the 2019 MLB season. However, for a team that will have to prove it’s for real all season long, this is the perfect series to play early on, and that is why this measuring-dick (not a typo) series has me stuck at midnight.

We get to watch our suddenly sexy pitching staff face off against one of the best lineups in the MLB. And tonight, Jake Odorizzi will be the first in line, looking to prove his first start was for real and that his 2019-self will be a much better version than his first season in the Twin Cities.

What to Watch For:

There are some very intriguing things to keep an eye on throughout this series. Obviously, everyone is going to be excited to watch Bryce Harper. I don’t give a fuck about old-school baseball anymore. There’s too much that needs to be fixed to worry about that. I hope I see a Bryce Harper bat flip that lands in the god damn press box. But, beyond Harper, here are some things I’ll be paying attention to:

1. We are about to see an offensive explosion – This could be the perfect time to play the Phillies. We might see some sparks fly all weekend long. Though the Twins are 4-1 and off to a great start, they’ve been suprisingly held together by good pitching and timely hits…. quite the opposite of what we expected coming into the season. The Twins have just 1 Home run through 5 games. That won’t last long. I’m waiting to see some BOMBS dropped by the away team over the next 3 days.
2. Can our pitching hold up? – The Twins currently rank 6th in ERA, 5th in WHIP, and 4th in H/9, throughout the entire MLB… Those are real facts… check the link. How long can they hold up. I can’t imagine they’ll remain in the top-5 or 10 all season but if they can hang in the top-half of the league, we should be in for a fun summer, as long as the boom-sticks get going on offense.
3. Does the Baldelli Touch Continue? – Everything Rocco Baldelli has touched so far has turned to gold. Fuck, he threw a college pitching coach into the clubhouse and now our same shitty pitchers from 2018 are sitting in the top-5 of most major stat categories…. it’s insanity.
4. Willians Astudillo Cont. – How do you take this guy out of your lineup? He is hitting over .600 with an OPS of over 1.6 on the season… and comes through EVERY TIME he is put into a clutch situation… plus, you can play him anywhere. We know Astudillo will be part of the catching rotation but where else will he play and what will the Twins do to make sure he gets at-bats IF he stays on his smolder-streak…

I’m so jacked for this series that I’m a bit depressed they are starting with a night game tonight, instead of these day-games you get so used to at the beginning of the season… Keep the hope alive. And if you need more Twins in your life today, the first half of our podcast episode was dedicated to them this week.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

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