Twins’ home-run summer sausage is fuelling winning streak

The Minnesota Twins are no stranger to unique home-run celebrations. Last season, the team introduced a fishing vest and toy fishing pole to the dugout, a nod to the state’s 10,000 lakes.

This year, it’s none other than a Midwestern delicacy — the summer sausage — fuelling the Twins’ eightgame winning streak.

In Thursday’s matchup against the White Sox, the Twins faced a 2-0 deficit in the bottom of the sixth inning. Then, hitting coach David Popkins brought a Cloverdale Foods tangy summer sausage into the dugout and beckoned his players to tap it before they hit.

The presence of the sausage ignited a flurry of hits, including back-to-back homers from Edouard Julien and Ryan Jeffers in the same inning. After Carlos Santana homered in the eighth, Jeffers tossed the sausage to the first baseman on his return to the dugout and the homerun celebration was born.

“It was a bad toss, I needed to get it a little higher,” Jeffers said. “So, we’ll work on our alley-oop skills.”

Since then, the sausage has been by the Twins’ side, and they have plenty of success to show for it. After sweeping the White Sox, Minnesota went to Los Angeles where they totalled 32 runs and 45 hits to win three straight against the Angels. When it comes to their upcoming games in Toronto, it’s unclear whether the sausage will make it through customs — though Jeffers is confident they can find a way.

In contrast to other MLB dugout celebrations, the Twins choice is unfortunately perishable. Jeffers said they’re working on locating a fresh sausage for every series.

“It’s bringing us a lot of hits and runs, so I’m all for it,” said Twins manager Rocco Baldelli.