The Twins looked like one of the "wurst" offenses in baseball through the first 20 games.
Players knew the bad times couldn't last forever, but something had to be done. Necessity is the mother of invention, so Minnesota adopted a rally sausage.
That might've been the missing link for the Twins, who scored at least five runs in 10 games during their 12-game winning streak from April 22 through May 4. That's a feat they accomplished just three times through their first 20 contests.
To be frank, while MLB teams play a long season, Minnesota needed a turnaround to boost players' confidence — and the sausage provided.
While the Twins have their fun, Sporting News is here to explain the rally sausage celebration, including when it started and whether the health department should get involved if the package is opened.
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Twins home-run sausage celebration, explained
As with many other funky baseball superstitions, the sausage was born when the Twins needed it. If you'd like to purchase one, the authentic version is a Cloverdale Tangy Summer Sausage in its original wrapping.
The home run sausage in all its glory. #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/p4wbeoMJxa
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) April 28, 2024
No one knows the reason for why that sausage made the cut, outside of the fact that Kyle Farmer was involved. The infielder had an endorsement deal with a meat company in 2023. Since the deal was apparently beneficial for both sides, they sent him a package as a thank you.
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli attempted to explain the trend on April 28. As expected, the skipper was fairly speechless in what became a hilarious exchange.
"It's bringing us a lot of hits and runs and stuff, so I'm all for it," Baldelli said. "For anyone that hasn’t been following, it’s a substantial packaged sausage that [Ryan] Jeffers has been carrying around in his bag and throwing at people when we score runs and hit homers. So I’m all for it."
Yes... we apparently have a HR Sausage now.
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) April 28, 2024
No... we don't know why. pic.twitter.com/KTFEzSsLsW
“I’m slightly concerned as — I’m not even an adult, but slightly concerned as more of an adult than maybe some of the people in the other room — that the package is going to open up," Baldelli added. "And the thing hasn’t been refrigerated in many days. And there’s no doubt that when that thing opens up, whoever’s touching it is in deep trouble.
"There’s no doubt in my mind that we are carrying around something that is very, very unhealthy to the human body."
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What is quite healthy for the Twins? Their complete turnaround at the plate since the sausage was introduced.
In particular, Carlos Santana has seen an uptick in productivity — hitting four homers in five games early in the streak.
Carlos Santana has homered for the fourth time in five games.
— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) April 30, 2024
Blessed to see the sausage toss in person for the first time. pic.twitter.com/u4L5vnuJpp
As a whole, the team notched 32 runs and 45 hits in its weekend series against the Angels. So perhaps there is something magical about the sausage after all.
According to Jeffers, it's not going anywhere, anytime soon.
That was the case even after the winning streak ended. While there was some fear the sausage would go away after a loss, the team resurrected the meat log during a May 6 win over the Mariners.
With the team struggling against starter Luis Castillo, Twins hitting coach David Popkins retrieved the summer sausage from the locker room and it ignited a rally, per The Athletic. The Twins went on to win the game 3-1.
"It's the idea of the sausage," Jeffers said early in the streak via MLB.com's Do-Hyoung Park. "It's the meaning behind the sausage. We're going to learn more about the sausage as the days go by."
Despite Baldelli's concerns, the summer sausage appears to still be active. And it appears to be the same sausage. That could end in mid-May when the team visits Toronto. Canada has a strict customs policy, and the team is worried the rally sausage could be confiscated at the border. If that's the case, don't expect the sausage to go away. The Twins are considering buying a new one and celebrating as if the original never left, per The Athletic.
The celebration is a stark contrast from the dugout fun in Minnesota during the 2023 season, when the team would hand out a fishing vest and pole for home runs. That was to pay homage to the state's 10,000 lakes. Considering the amount of success the Twins have seen with the magical brats, it's a wonder why the Brewers haven't given it a shot.
When did the Twins sausage celebration start?
The sausage made its Twins debut on Thursday, April 25, during their series finale against the White Sox. Minnesota was down 2-0 to Chicago in the sixth inning.
Then the home-run sausage appeared, according to Ryan Jeffers. He and Edouard Julien hit back-to-back home runs in the inning. The Twins would score in the sixth, seventh and eighth to win 6-3.
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What is summer sausage?
The positive for Baldelli and the Twins is that the sausage is designed for preservation. As long as the package isn't opened, they won't need to refrigerate it. The cured meat is semi-dry and typically has a long shelf life as a result.
The Twins' tangy summer sausage does not need to be refrigerated before opening, according to Cloverdale Foods. So as long as no one needs a dugout snack, Minnesota can keep their celebration with the original sausage as long as they want.
