Watch: Matt Wallner kicks off rehab assignment with pair of homers for Saints

Wallner hit a solo homer in his second at-bat for St. Paul Thursday night.

Minnesota Twins right fielder Matt Wallner hits a single against the New York Mets in the first inning at Target Field in Minneapolis on April 15, 2025. | Jesse Johnson / Imagn Images

Rain may have pushed it back a day, but Matt Wallner started his rehab assignment with the St. Paul Saints with a bang.

The Minnesota Twins outfielder hit a solo homer in his second at-bat of the Saints' game against the Norfolk Tides Thursday night at CHS Field in St. Paul, Minn. Wallner sent a fastball from Tides pitcher Thaddeus Ward 362 feet into right-center field — his 37th homer for the Saints, just 11 off the franchise record — which came off his bat at 95.8 mph.

Throw a fastball to @Matt_Wallner at your own peril. #MNTwins fans knows what he does with those. Clubs a solo shot to right-center in his second Major League rehab at bat. 37th homer as a Saint, 11 shy of tying the franchise record. He could do it by the end of the weekend pic.twitter.com/f7RzGZlIff

— St. Paul Saints (@StPaulSaints) May 22, 2025

Then Wallner one-upped that with a monster 409-foot, two-run shot in the seventh inning that came off his bat at 112.4 mph. It was quite the return overall as he went 2 for 4 with the two homers, three RBIs while striking out just once. He was responsible for all three Saints runs in their 8-3 loss to Norfolk Thursday night. At least Wallner put on a show for the fans.

Make it 2-4 with 2 BOMBS by @Matt_Wallner. He crushes this change up to straightaway center. Now just 10 shy of the franchise record. You scoffed when we said he could get it by the end of the weekend. He's BAAAAAACK pic.twitter.com/hsKvIzpmBy

— St. Paul Saints (@StPaulSaints) May 23, 2025

Wallner said he was on track to begin his rehab assignment on Wednesday, but that matchup with Norfolk was postponed due to rain as was Tuesday's — the Saints and Tides are playing a doubleheader Thursday and will have another Saturday. Wallner has been out for the Twins since April 15 after suffering a hamstring strain that day against the New York Mets.

Before going down with the injury, Wallner played 18 games for the Twins and was slashing .263/.474/.847 with five doubles, two triples, a homer and three RBIs.