The Minnesota Twins are known for their unique home-run celebrations, and this year they’ve taken it to a new level with a midwestern delicacy – the summer sausage. The tangy treat from Cloverdale Foods has been fueling the Twins’ impressive eight-game winning streak, and it all started during a game against the White Sox.
With the Twins trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning, hitting coach David Popkins brought the summer sausage into the dugout and encouraged his players to tap it before stepping up to the plate.
The result was a stunning display of hitting prowess, with back-to-back homers from Edouard Julien and Ryan Jeffers in the same inning. When Carlos Santana hit a homer in the eighth, Jeffers tossed him the sausage, and a new home-run celebration was born.
Since then, the sausage has been a constant presence in the Twins’ dugout, traveling with the team in a Ziploc bag tucked inside a shoe.
The team has been on a tear, sweeping the White Sox and then racking up an impressive 32 runs and 45 hits in a three-game sweep of the Angels. They continued their winning ways on Monday, beating the White Sox 3-2 on a tiebreaking single from Max Kepler in the ninth inning.
While the sausage has been bringing the Twins plenty of luck, there are some concerns about its perishable nature. Manager Rocco Baldelli joked that he’s worried about the package opening up and causing trouble for whoever touches it, while Jeffers quipped that they don’t want the Twins’ sausage to start a worldwide crisis.
Despite the potential risks, the Twins are embracing the sausage and the winning mindset it has brought to the team. Jeffers emphasized that it’s not just about the sausage itself, but the idea and meaning behind it. As the season continues, the Twins plan to learn more about the sausage and what it can provide for the team, all while having fun and enjoying the game of baseball.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.