Twins Call Up Ben Ross, Garrett Acton as September Roster Expands
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MINNEAPOLIS — Ben Ross didn’t have a locker in big league camp this spring. He started his season at Double-A, a level he had first reached in 2023. Making the majors this year was a dream, but when the season opened, it felt more like a long shot than a certainty.
“The second you look too far forward and try to do too much, it kind of goes downhill,” Ross said.
But Ross, 25, turned that perspective into a rocket ride. He opened the year in Wichita, hitting .424 with a 1.325 OPS and five home runs across 16 games. That hot streak earned him a promotion to Triple-A before April ended. There, he kept producing: a .249 batting average, .353 on-base percentage, .458 slugging percentage, 15 home runs and 55 runs batted in over 102 games. On Tuesday, as rosters expanded, the Twins called him up.
“I’m honored,” Ross said. “It was cool that they kind of looked at me as an all-around guy, baserunning, defensively. And the bat kind of came around this year, too, which was super exciting for me personally, but for everybody involved.”
Ross’s path to the big leagues is anything but typical. He played college ball at Notre Dame College in Ohio, a Division II school that has since closed. It was the only college offer he received. Selected in the fifth round of the 2022 draft, he credited his power surge this season to staying true to his approach and “not trying to do too much.”
As September 1 approached, rumors swirled around the clubhouse about potential call-ups. Ross tried to focus on his game, not the speculation. When he finally got the news and shared it with his family, he described the moment as emotional.
“It was something that I dreamed of: the conversation with my parents and getting to share that with them,” Ross said. “I think I got three words out, and then I started to get choked up. And then my mom started crying, and my dad got teary-eyed. It was amazing.”
A right-handed utility player, Ross has seen time at shortstop, center field, third base, second base, and even left field this season. Manager Derek Shelton highlighted the value of that versatility.
“I had a couple scouts just talk to me, scouts not from our organization, about his versatility and his ability to do different things,” Shelton said. “I think as an organization we continue to emphasize being a better defensive club, being a better baserunning club, and being versatile. Right now, he just kind of fits that mindset or role for us in September.”
Also joining the active roster is reliever Garrett Acton, 28, who made four appearances for the Twins earlier this season before a shoulder strain sidelined him from late April through most of the summer. He returned from the injured list on August 1 and was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul, where he’s been pitching since.
“I was down for quite a bit of time. Just grateful to be healthy and back playing again more than anything,” Acton said. “There were a lot of people involved in helping me get back on the field and get back to a spot where I can be here and hopefully help the team compete and find a way into the postseason.”
Because Acton was already on the Twins’ 40-man roster, no corresponding move was needed for him. To add Ross, however, the team designated injured outfielder Kyler Fedko for assignment. Fedko, 26, briefly reached the majors earlier this season but went 0 for 16 with eight strikeouts. After being sent back to St. Paul, he suffered a knee injury during a Triple-A game, requiring anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with medial and lateral meniscus repair earlier this month. Recovery is expected to take nine to ten months.
In other roster news, the Twins announced that Dean Kremer (2-5, 5.60 ERA) will start Wednesday’s series finale against the Detroit Tigers, opposite Drew Anderson (4-5, 3.87 ERA). Manager Shelton said the team used Andrew Morris as an opener on Tuesday partly because of the Tigers’ platoon-heavy lineup and the need to manage rookie starter Connor Prielipp’s workload. Meanwhile, Matt Canterino, once a top pitching prospect in the organization, is beginning a rehab assignment with High-A Cedar Rapids. Canterino, 28, hasn’t pitched in a minor league game since 2022 due to a string of injuries. He is currently on the Triple-A injured list, having never thrown a pitch at that level.
Article commentary
The Twins’ September roster moves reflect a deliberate emphasis on versatility and depth as the team navigates the final stretch of the regular season. Ben Ross’s promotion is a compelling story of perseverance and self-discipline, but it also serves a tactical purpose. Ross has played five positions this season, including shortstop, center field, and third base, offering manager Derek Shelton a flexible piece for late-game substitutions, pinch-running, or spot starts. In a playoff race where every matchup matters, having a player who can slot into multiple defensive roles without a significant drop-off can be a quiet differentiator. Ross’s journey from a Division II program that no longer exists to the major leagues is a reminder of the scouting and development work that often goes unnoticed. His ability to adjust his approach at the plate after a torrid start in Double-A—maintaining solid on-base skills and power at Triple-A—shows a maturity that should serve him well against big-league pitching. The Twins’ decision to designate Kyler Fedko, who underwent ACL surgery, is a pragmatic move. Fedko’s brief MLB stint was a struggle, and his long recovery timeline makes him a non-factor for the remainder of the season. Clearing a 40-man spot for Ross, who has a clearer path to contributing immediately, makes sense. Garrett Acton’s return adds a fresh arm to a bullpen that has been taxed by injuries and inconsistent performances. His shoulder strain wiped out most of his summer, but he has been healthy since early August and has a chance to prove he can be a reliable option in middle relief. The Twins have leaned heavily on their bullpen all year, and any additional depth—especially from a pitcher with prior big-league experience—is valuable. The broader context here is the Twins’ push for a postseason berth. Every roster spot counts, and the September expansion allows teams to carry extra arms and versatile position players. The decision to use Andrew Morris as an opener on Tuesday, rather than forcing Connor Prielipp into a traditional start, underscores the organization’s careful management of young pitchers. Prielipp, a highly touted prospect, has been on an innings limit, and the opener strategy helps preserve his arm while still leveraging his stuff against a platoon-heavy Tigers lineup. Matt Canterino’s rehab assignment is a quieter but notable development. Once viewed as a future frontline starter, injuries have derailed his career. At 28, this is likely his last chance to regain form. If he can stay healthy, he could provide a late-season boost, but the Twins are right to take a cautious approach. Overall, the Twins are balancing immediate competitive needs with long-term asset management. Ross and Acton may not be household names, but their call-ups represent the kind of depth that can make a difference in a tight division race. The team’s focus on versatility and defensive improvement suggests a thoughtful, data-driven approach to roster construction, one that could pay off in the coming weeks.