The Minnesota Twins hit the quarter mark of the season on Sunday with a hard-fought series win in Cleveland—a ballpark that has historically been a house of horrors for them. Sitting at 18-23, they find themselves at the bottom of the tightly packed American League Central, a division that, as of now, has no clear frontrunner. So, how did they get here? A mix of promising starting pitching, a bullpen that ranks among the league's worst, and an offense that has seen its share of highs and lows. Let's break down who's been shining and who's been struggling at the season's first checkpoint.

Three Up: Players on the Rise

Ryan Jeffers – The catcher is making a strong case for a big payday when he hits free agency this offseason. Jeffers has embraced a heavier workload, starting 25 of the Twins' 41 games behind the plate—about 60 percent, a significant jump from his career norm of roughly 50 percent. When he's not catching, the team often slots him in as the designated hitter to keep his hot bat in the lineup. And hot it is: Jeffers is slashing .298/.403/.519 with a career-high OPS+ of 155, meaning he's 55 percent better than the league-average hitter. "I feel good pre-two strikes," Jeffers said. "I feel good in my two-strike approach. It’s a good feeling when you feel comfortable with two strikes because that gives you freedom to do more things pre-two K." He's also been a standout in ABS challenges, leading the league in strikeouts gained on challenges.

Byron Buxton – After a slow start in April—likely due to limited spring training at-bats after participating in the World Baseball Classic—Buxton has caught fire. Manager Derek Shelton never worried, and his faith has paid off. In Saturday's win over the Guardians, the Twins managed just two hits, both from Buxton: a leadoff home run to start the game and a double in the 11th inning that drove in the winning run. Buxton was named American League Player of the Week and leads the team with 13 home runs, all coming in a 23-game span, with five of those in May alone.

Austin Martin & Trevor Larnach – Why pick just one? These two have been platooning in left field to great effect. Larnach starts against righties, Martin against lefties, and both have gotten off to strong starts, giving the Twins a reliable presence in the outfield.

Three Down: Players to Watch

While the starting rotation has shown flashes of brilliance—especially Taj Bradley, who was 4-1 with a 2.87 ERA before landing on the injured list with pectoral inflammation—the bullpen has been a glaring weakness. Ranking among the league's worst, it has cost the Twins multiple games and put added pressure on the offense. The lineup, too, has been inconsistent, with several key hitters struggling to find their rhythm. As the Twins look to climb out of the division cellar, they'll need more from their entire roster—and quickly.