Ryan Pressly grabbed Aaron Judge's one-hopper with ease Sunday, took a half-dozen steps toward first base, then underhanded the ball to Yuli Gurriel, officially clinching the Astros' fourth American League championship in six seasons. And in doing so, Houston's closer ensured that for the sixth consecutive year, a former Twins player will win a World Series championship.
Pressly's potential ring — or one for Kyle Gibson, whose Phillies face Houston beginning Friday — stands as one of the relatively few highlights in 2022 for an ever-expanding army of ballplayers who once played for Minnesota.