Twins, Gophers, and Field of Dreams: Minnesota Sports News with Iowa Ties
Minnesota sports fans have plenty to watch this week, from the Vikings exhibition opener to the Twins' Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa. Here is a roundup of the latest developments with a focus on local connections and practical impact.
Vikings Rest Starters in Exhibition Opener
The Minnesota Vikings open their exhibition season Saturday against the New York Giants in New Jersey. Quarterback Kyler Murray is expected to play only a series or two, if at all, as the team prioritizes his health for the regular season. Most of the quarterback snaps will go to J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz.
Wide receiver Justin Jefferson is also unlikely to see the field Saturday for the same reason. Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell followed the same approach with former quarterback Kirk Cousins, keeping him out of exhibition games entirely.
Barring injuries, Murray will start the regular season opener against the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 13, with Wentz as the backup and McCarthy third on the depth chart.
Gophers Basketball: Cade Tyson's Return Could Boost NCAA Hopes
The Minnesota men's basketball team hopes newly-eligible guard Cade Tyson returns for a fifth season. Tyson, the team's leading scorer at 19.6 points per game, looked sharp in a recent summer practice, though he didn't dominate as he did last season. The 6-foot-7 swingman is seeking an extra year of eligibility after a recent legal ruling against the NCAA.
Tyson's pay-for-play market could exceed $1 million, more than he would earn in the NBA G League or overseas. One notable booster is reportedly eager to help with the cash if needed.
The Gophers are bigger this season with 7-foot-2 Michigan transfer Malick Kordel and 6-foot-11 freshman Chadrick Mpoyi. Freshman Nolen Anderson from Wayzata has impressed in practice. The team won eight Big Ten games last season with limited healthy players and now has a reliable bench and improved defense. They are a strong bet to finish in the top 10 of the 18-team Big Ten and reach the NCAA tournament.
Field of Dreams Game Brings MLB to Iowa
The Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies will play the Field of Dreams game Thursday in Dyersville, Iowa. Former Twins greats including Rod Carew, Joe Mauer, Jim Kaat, Tony Oliva, Dave Winfield, Bert Blyleven, and Jim Thome are among two dozen Hall of Famers expected to attend.
The Twins originally pitched the Field of Dreams series idea about eight years ago, citing their proximity to Iowa and their long-standing Class A affiliate in Cedar Rapids. The team is flying about 200 corporate sponsors, season-ticket holders, and executives to Dyersville for the game, which will include a tour of the historic movie site and a welcoming party with the Phillies.
Tickets remain available at $852.50 face value. The movie had a Minnesota connection through Moonlight Graham, a one-game New York Giants outfielder who became a respected physician in Chisholm.
Twins Catcher Ryan Jeffers Likely to Test Free Agency
The Twins did not trade catcher Ryan Jeffers before the trade deadline, reportedly because they didn't receive an adequate offer. The team is expected to extend Jeffers a qualifying offer within five days of the World Series end, worth nearly $24 million for one season. Jeffers, who is making $6.7 million this season, is expected to decline the offer and seek a multi-year deal worth more than $24 million annually.
If Jeffers declines, the Twins will receive a compensatory pick in the 2027 draft. There is also a chance the team re-signs him.
Twins TV ratings are up 10 percent over last year, reflecting the team's competitive play.
Gophers Football: Low Expectations, High Donations for Indiana
The Gophers football team opens the season with an over-under line of 3.5 conference victories, per BetOnline. Iowa and Wisconsin are at 4.5, while Indiana, Ohio State, and Oregon are at 7.5. The Gophers play at Indiana on Oct. 31.
Indiana's athletic department donations have doubled from $25 million to $50 million since the Hoosiers won the national football championship last season, according to an associate athletics director.
The Gophers are spending an estimated $23 million on name, image, and likeness (NIL) and revenue sharing for athletes, among the lowest in the Big Ten. Oregon and Ohio State are investing nearly twice that amount.
Other Notable Items
- Former Gopher Brett Bateman, 24, made his major league debut for the Toronto Blue Jays, hitting a double off Phillies ace Zack Wheeler and scoring a run in a 5-4 victory Friday night. The Mounds View grad also walked twice.
- Joe Honsa, a Gophers golfer, shot a record-tying 22-under-par to win the Northwest Amateur Championship in Spencer, Iowa.
- Christian Wiggins, last season's Minnesota Mr. Basketball at Wayzata, is out for his freshman season at Iowa State after tearing an Achilles' tendon.
- Top candidates for Minnesota Mr. Basketball this season include Nebraska-bound Ty Schlagel and Wisconsin-bound Baboucarr Ann.
- Former Gophers head coach John Anderson, who died at 71 of heart failure last week, will be honored at a celebration of life Monday at Maturi Pavilion. The event will be streamed on YouTube.
- Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell expressed trust in wide receiver Jordan Addison, who has had off-field legal issues, saying he has learned and matured.
For more sports news with Iowa connections, stay tuned to Just The News Iowa.