MINNEAPOLIS — Alan Roden waited approximately 341 days for this.The first player to arrive in the Minnesota Twins clubhouse after last year’s trade deadline bloodbath, Roden produced a long-awaited big moment Wednesday night.Making his 2026 debut after months of setbacks, including a labrum tear, Roden came through with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth with a base hit that lifted the Twins to a 6-5 comeback victory over the Cleveland Guardians in front of 14,901 at Target Field.Roden, who finished the 2025 season on the injured list, was left off the Opening Day roster in a numbers crunch, then missed 6 1/2 weeks with the shoulder injury. He rejoined the club Tuesday when Byron Buxton was placed on the injured list, and in his first game back, Roden went 2-for-5 with two RBIs as the Twins won for the 14th time in 21 games to climb within a game of the .500 mark.That his 104.5-mph laser slammed off the right-center-field fence just days after the Toronto Blue Jays’ Louis Varland — the player for whom Roden and Kendry Rojas were traded — was named an All-Star made the heroic occasion that much more satisfying.“It’s really exciting,” Roden said. “I’m so happy to contribute to the team and this organization, to win us a game. It means a lot. … I’m really happy to be here. Finally feeling really happy to get the call. It’s awesome.”
Twins’ Alan Roden earns a long-awaited moment, clinches series win over Guardians
Roden has been beset by setbacks since arriving at last season's trade deadline, but he finally got his due on Wednesday night.
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