Twins Place Matt Wallner on Paternity List, Promote Carson McCusker

The Minnesota Twins just wrapped up a wild 24 hours that mixed baseball excitement with a huge personal milestone. On Friday night, outfielder Matt Wallner crushed his 16th home run of the season in a big win over the Kansas City Royals.

Not even 12 hours later, he and his wife, Sydnie, welcomed their first child—a daughter named Elliotte Bryn. With the arrival of their newborn, Wallner stepped away from the diamond for a bit, making space for someone else to jump into the lineup.

Matt Wallner’s Big Weekend

Wallner’s Friday performance really made a statement. Facing the Royals at Target Field, he blasted a 434-foot opposite-field homer that padded the Twins’ lead in their 9-4 victory.

That shot brought a jolt of energy to a clubhouse still adjusting after the trade deadline. It’s the kind of spark every team wants during a long season.

A Season of Power and Production

The 26-year-old outfielder has provided steady power all year. In 74 games, Wallner is hitting .218 with 27 RBI and has a strong .821 OPS.

His latest home run just highlights how dangerous he is in the middle of the order. The batting average isn’t flashy, but his ability to change a game with one swing? That’s something the Twins really need as the season gets serious.

Welcoming Baby Elliotte Bryn

Just hours after his Friday night fireworks, Wallner turned his attention from baseball to family. The Twins put him on the paternity list, giving him a few days to be with his wife and meet their newborn daughter.

Finding Balance Between Baseball and Family

It’s always a balancing act for pro athletes—juggling a packed schedule with major life moments. For Wallner, the timing of Elliotte’s birth brought some real happiness in the middle of the MLB grind.

Carson McCusker Gets the Call

With Wallner out for a bit, the Twins moved quickly to shore up their outfield. They called up Carson McCusker from AAA St. Paul.

The 27-year-old has been on a tear in the minors this season, putting up:

• 19 home runs
• 61 RBI
• 87 games played for the Saints

McCusker, who’s hard to miss at the plate, had a short stint in the majors earlier this year—he went 1-for-6 over five games with the Twins. Now, he’s got another shot to show what he can do and maybe carve out a bigger role.

McCusker’s Opportunity

Filling in for a teammate on paternity leave might be temporary, but it can open doors. If McCusker brings his AAA power to the big leagues, who knows—maybe he’ll stick around even after Wallner returns.

Twins’ Clubhouse Morale on the Rise

Wallner admitted that the days right after the trade deadline felt a bit unsettled. The Twins said goodbye to some familiar faces, and the vibe shifted.

But as things have settled, players say morale’s back up, and the energy in the clubhouse feels good heading into the final stretch.

Looking Ahead in the Royals Series

The Twins and the Royals will meet again Saturday evening at 6:10 p.m. This series feels huge for Minnesota’s postseason chances.

With Wallner out for now, the rest of the lineup needs to step up. Can McCusker keep the energy going at the plate like Wallner did Friday night? That’s the big question.

Off the field, the Twins have a lot happening—new life, new stories. Wallner gets to focus on family for a bit, while McCusker suddenly finds himself with a shot he probably didn’t expect.

—

If you’d like, I can also provide a **SEO keyword set** for this blog post so it performs stronger in baseball and Minnesota Twins search rankings. Would you like me to do that?
 
Here is the source article for this story: Twins put Matt Wallner on paternity list, call up Carson McCusker