Kody Clemens makes history with walk-off grand slam

Minnesota Twins right fielder Kody Clemens. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Kody Clemens becomes Twins' hero, makes history with walk-off grand slam

By Mike J. Asti | Last updated Jul 30, 2026 10:17 PM ET

2026 has been an up and down season for the Minnesota Twins, but Derek Shelton's team enjoyed a bright moment on Thursday night.

Minnesota fans left Target Field happy despite watching their team trail all game long thanks to one swing of the bat from Kody Clemens.

Because after entering the bottom of the ninth inning down 3-0, the Twins managed to stack the bases in front of Clemens, who then delivered in heroic fashion as Minnesota beat the Kansas City Royals 4-3.

Kody Clemens was the Twins' hero for the day

Clemens, the son of legendary pitcher and seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens, belted a walk-off grand slam off an 0-2 count and with two outs on the board. Clemens' epic blast made history in multiple ways.

Of the 17 walk-off grand slams down three runs since pitch counts started being tracked (1988), Clemens' is the first to occur off an 0-2 count.

A GRAND WAY TO END THE HOMESTAND!!! pic.twitter.com/aeuGSfqAc9
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 30, 2026

Also, Clemens became the third player to hit a walk-off grand slam after his team fell to a three-run deficit and had two outs against it with nobody on in that inning. He joins Brian Giles from when he did it for a Pittsburgh Pirates team that was in a seven-run hole on July, 28, 2001 and Ryan Roberts of the Arizona Diamondbacks from Sept. 27, 2011.

Clemens' walk-off grand slam became a birthday present for Derek Shelton

And to top off the day, Clemens' game-winning grand slam even occurred on his manager's birthday, marking only the second such occurrence ever. Jose Altuve doing it on Dusty Baker’s 72nd birthday for the 2021 Houston Astros was the only to precede Clemens' walk-off grand slam on Shelton's 56th birthday.

With Kody Clemens’ walk-off grand slam on Derek Shelton’s birthday, the Twins are the second team in MLB history with a walk-off grand slam on the manager’s birthday, joining:

Jose Altuve on Dusty Baker’s 72nd birthday in 2021 (June 15)

Birthdays are important@EliasSports https://t.co/U6F2FTyd7Y
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) July 30, 2026

Clemens has already made 2026 into a career-best season

With 19 home runs on the season, Clemens, 30, is now one away from setting a new career-high. He recorded 19 last season, hitting all 19 with in his 112 games with the Twins after an early-season April trade from the Philadelphia Phillies.

In addition to his 19 home runs, Clemens has 53 RBI, which is already a new personal best, 51 runs scored and 20 doubles in 95 games and 349 at-bats. His slash line stands at .244/.300/.493.

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

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