La Velle E. Neal III
Columnist
SportsA native of Chicago, La Velle has covered the Minnesota Twins since 1998. He also covered the Kansas City Royals for the Kansas City Star from 1995 through 1997. A graduate of the University of Illinois - Chicago, La Velle is a former president of the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Latest from La Velle E. Neal III
Neal: Twins alums have Home Run Derby memories — and advice
Justin Morneau won the thing. Brian Dozier didn’t come close. Both have suggestions for Byron Buxton.
July 13, 2025
Neal: Is it Terrence Shannon Jr. time? We’re about to find out.
It’s odd that Shannon Jr. will play in the NBA 2K26 Summer League, but the Wolves need to know if he’s ready for a bigger role come October.
July 10, 2025
Neal: Twins’ Joe Ryan isn’t an All-Star, even if he deserves to be
The righthander demonstrated his inventiveness again Sunday when he came up with a new pitch that surprised even his manager.
July 7, 2025
Neal: The Wild's leader, money in his pocket, remains set up to strike. Think trade deadline
The contracts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter that have hampered Bill Guerin are off the books. A change in the salary cap stymied him in free agency. His moment is coming.
July 6, 2025
Neal: As Aurora head to USL W League playoffs, goalkeeping mentor teaches 'little things' learned in extensive soccer travels
Cody Cropper, also an assistant with the St. Thomas men's team, encountered U.S. men's coach Mauricio Pochettino ahead of his fame.
July 3, 2025
Neal: Controversy aside, the U.S. team that won in U.S. Bank Stadium is the right group for the Gold Cup
The World Cup is a year away, plenty of time to build a roster. It’s not a crisis — maybe it’s a boon — that regulars are missing from the current crew.
June 30, 2025
Neal: Rocco Baldelli, with recent contract extension, is the right person to manage Twins
There is plenty of room to improve, but the team’s failures fall on the players.
June 28, 2025
Neal: No moves by Wolves’ Connelly indicates one thing — he’s not done yet
It’s easy to be disappointed in the team president after he drafted a project in Joan Beringer, but it’s hard to imagine such a dealmaker has finished his work on the roster.
June 26, 2025
Neal: As Aurora head to USL W League playoffs, goalkeeping mentor teaches 'little things' learned in extensive soccer travels
Cody Cropper, also an assistant with the St. Thomas men's team, encountered U.S. men's coach Mauricio Pochettino ahead of his fame.
July 3, 2025
Neal: Controversy aside, the U.S. team that won in U.S. Bank Stadium is the right group for the Gold Cup
The World Cup is a year away, plenty of time to build a roster. It’s not a crisis — maybe it’s a boon — that regulars are missing from the current crew.
June 30, 2025
Neal: Rocco Baldelli, with recent contract extension, is the right person to manage Twins
There is plenty of room to improve, but the team’s failures fall on the players.
June 28, 2025
Neal: No moves by Wolves’ Connelly indicates one thing — he’s not done yet
It’s easy to be disappointed in the team president after he drafted a project in Joan Beringer, but it’s hard to imagine such a dealmaker has finished his work on the roster.
June 26, 2025