The Minnesota Twins ended 2026 with a league-high five Black players and a Black coach, a fact the team’s own final game notes skipped. Sports columnist Charles Hallman held exit interviews with all six.
Josh Bell
Four to watch
With Simeon Woods Richardson traded to Toronto, the Minnesota Twins now have four Black players on the roster: Josh Bell, Byron Buxton, Royce Lewis and Taj Bradley, all four of whom played in last Sunday’s win over St. Louis.
For Josh Bell, it all started in the backyard
Twins first baseman Josh Bell reflects on baseball, fatherhood and what it means to be part of a Minnesota roster leading the majors in U.S.-born Black players.
