The Minnesota Twins have recently announced the unconditional release of outfielder Carson McCusker, also known as “McCrusher,” as reported by Twins beat reporters Dan Hayes and Bobby Nightengale Jr. The 27-year-old slugger, who stands 6’8″ and weighs 250 pounds, is expected to pursue opportunities to play in Asia, aiming for the 2026 season.
McCusker quickly gained attention during the previous season with the Triple-A St. Paul Saints, where he showcased his remarkable power by hitting numerous home runs. He debuted in the major leagues midway through May when he was hitting an impressive .350 with 10 home runs, 36 RBI, and boasting a 1.061 OPS over 38 games. His extraordinary exit velocities and the distance of his home runs generated excitement among fervent Twins fans who keenly follow the minor leagues, adding a captivating narrative to his journey from being undrafted out of college to spending three years in independent baseball before joining the Twins on a minor-league deal.
Unfortunately, McCusker’s success did not translate into the big leagues. In his limited 30 plate appearances with the Twins, he managed just five singles and one walk, striking out 16 times for an OPS of .372 and a bWAR of -0.6. After a promising start, his performance in Triple-A declined significantly in the second half of the season, with his batting averages dropping to .176 in June, .179 in July, and .203 in August, resulting in a concerning strikeout rate of nearly 34%.
Despite hitting 22 home runs and driving in 70 runs in 106 games for the Saints, his overall season-long OPS fell below .800. The Twins’ decision to release McCusker opens a spot on their 40-man roster, providing them with additional flexibility as they prepare for the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.
Looking forward, while McCusker faced challenges in the major leagues, there is hope that he can leverage his impressive power and find success in leagues such as Japan’s NPB or South Korea’s KBO, which could offer him a better platform to showcase his talents. His journey serves as a reminder of the resilience and unpredictability of a career in professional sports.