Article: TRENDING: Out of the Park

[Jeremy Nygaard]

It's been a mostly down start to the season. But there's still been plenty of - or at least a few - good things that have happened. Today's edition focuses on a big league hitter, a big league pitcher and a minor leaguer who, despite flying under the radar, could make an impact this summer.Byung Ho Park, designated power hitter

 

If you haven’t been paying attention and I told you that Byung Ho was on fire, you might think that I just ate some hot wings. And while you might not be wrong, that’s not what I’m talking about in this particular case.

 

Over his last seven games, Park is batting 8-for-25 (.320) and has increased his batting average from .216 to a more respectable .250. More impressively, though, is that we’ve started to see more glimpses of the advertised power. In his first 15 games, Park had six extra-base hits (two doubles, four home runs) and a slugging percentage of .532 (which would still lead the team). But since April 26, Park has erupted for two more doubles, a triple and three more home runs. He’s now run his slugging percentage up to .605 which is good for sixth in all of the American League.

 

And though you’ll typically get lots of strikeouts with power guys - and Park does have 25 - he has improved in that regard as well. In his first seven games, 13 strikeouts. In his last seven games, seven strikeouts.

 

Park is proving to be a legitimate middle-of-the-order masher who has risen to the top - at least for the time being - of Twins contenders for American League Rookie of the Year.

 

Fernando Abad, relief pitcher

 

There’s not even a specific time period to talk about with Abad. He’s been a filthwad to hitters all season. As a lefty-on-lefty guy, Abad has retired 15 of the 16 hitters he’s faced… and the only batter who has reached was on a walk. Right-handed hitters are batting .231 off of him, but all of the hits have been singles .

 

With Kevin Jepsen’s struggles and no return in sight for Glen Perkins, could Abad be the best internal option to fill the closer role? His ERA of 0.00 is backed strongly by a 1.47 FIP. His WHIP is 0.75 and his K/9 is over 9.0.

 

In the beginning of a season filled with sour grapes, Abad has been one of the lone bright spots. The 30-year-old Abad will remain under team control for 2017 as well, eligible for his third and final year of arbitration.

 

Juan Centeno, Rochester catcher

 

Way back in early December of 2015, the Twins claimed John Hicks off waivers from Seattle and he immediately became the “depth” of the catching position. With options remaining, he’d be sent to Rochester and whenever the need for a catcher popped up, Hicks would be recalled and on the major league team.

 

And then a funny thing happened. Despite batting over .300 (but having an OBP under .300) and outplaying the newly-acquired John Ryan Murphy, Hicks was sent to AAA and lost on waivers to the Tigers in late April in Retiregate.

 

But no one panicked. And Centeno is a big reason for that. Centeno crushed it in spring training, batting .375 and demonstrating extra-base power. He wasn’t going to make the team, but he made a lasting impression.

He’s continued to hit well after getting more regular playing time (.273 over his last ten games with a home run and three walks compared to two strikeouts) and could figure prominently into the Twins season if John Ryan Murphy continues to not hit a nine-year-old's weight let alone his own and/or Kurt Suzuki continues to get dinged and hits the disabled list.

 

Let’s just hope that in the event the Twins clear a roster spot to add Centeno that he doesn’t instead decide to retire.

 

Who’s impressed you?

 

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[DocBauer]

Nice comments on Centeno. He did show flashes in ST. He is off to a solid start in Rochester. And he may be able to contribute at some point as he is now the Twins 3rd catcher, probably. But I don't think it divides the handling and loss of Hicks.

 

I really wasn't sure what to expect from Park. In truth, I don't think anyone did. But we were all hopeful. There will be streaks I'm sure. But I've been impressed. I think he belongs and has been mostly impressive.

[Twigg]

If we don't call Centeno up soon and option Murphy we should try Dammann out. See if he can hit. Abad should stay where he is. May should be closing. I think I can speak for all of us that were happy to be seeing Park mash and not another Nishioka mess

[NoCal]

Who impresses me? Mr Mauer. His example cannot help but rub off on some of his younger teammates. 

[mikelink45]

I am going for a reach here because you are on to all the obvious ones (except for Tonkin who deserves some kudos).  I will say Sano.  He is not hitting with power - yet - but he is continuing to get on base with walks and hits at a pace that allows him to stay in the line up unlike Buxton and Rosario.  His power will come, his home runs are guaranteed, but his consistency is showing some maturity and that is appreciated.

 

We seen too many 100 hitters in this lineup the last couple years so 260 begins to look like something good.

[Platoon]

Park has pleasantly surprised me. I do think there is another chapter to be written. He feasts on hangers, and while they are inevitable, I still think he will see more and more hard stuff. I am pleasantly surprised by Arcia. He has changed his hitting style quite a bit. The results are subtle, but evident. He is never going to be a gold glove OF, but the effort is there. Last night on Altuve's (?) double he was covering backing up second base. But since the Twins don't believe in PH as a rule, really believe that Sano is an OF, and think Platoon was a war movie, I do think his future lies elsewhere.

[hybridbear]

Abad has been a surprise. But somewhere I read a comment by someone that indicated that his stats look better than they realistically are because of how he's been used. I don't know that much about how he's been used, but it was an interesting comment nonetheless. I hope to see him continue to excel.

[Monkeypaws]

Oswaldo - he's putting up pretty silmilar numbers to what he had last season before getting hurt. He is whiffing a ton, but he's had some decent at bats, and is geting some clutch hits. Like his potential as a lefty power bat in this Twins ineup.

[HitInAPinch]

One thing I've been noticing about Arcia: and maybe it's just me.

 

After Arcia makes contact, he stands in the batters box and watches it.  A couple games ago, it was a ball in play.  A single. 

 

I like the way he dedicated himself in the off-season and got into shape.  His AB's have been better.  Now he needs to work on the little things.  Like running his butt of when he makes contact!   

[Tibs]

I watched the highlights from the Berrios start in Houston. Holy cow he has some filthy stuff. When he gets the walks down he will start showing up on these updates.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

 

I watched the highlights from the Berrios start in Houston. Holy cow he has some filthy stuff. When he gets the walks down he will start showing up on these updates.

 

For sure. He'll be the best starter in the rotation by the end of the year (if not sooner... if he's not already).

[Jeremy Nygaard]

 

Oswaldo - he's putting up pretty silmilar numbers to what he had last season before getting hurt. He is whiffing a ton, but he's had some decent at bats, and is geting some clutch hits. Like his potential as a lefty power bat in this Twins ineup.

 

If I would have written the article today instead of yesterday, I may have went with Arcia. He's five for his last twelve, but hasn't hit for any power. I'll always think it's an approach thing with him too. When he's getting hits in bunches (like recently), he's not hitting for power or striking out much. When he's striking out in bunches, he's hitting home runs. And that's what he's been oscillating between this year. My personal opinion is that he wants to be a power hitter like Park and Sano, but just isn't. I didn't look at all the launch speeds of Twins hitters, but Arcia's is the lowest I saw (around 85 and MLB average is 89). The thing with Ozzie is that he was such a good hitter in the minors and put up decent power numbers too... but it seems (to me anyway) that he just really fell in the love with the longball and everything else suffered because of that. The good hitter, though, still shows up on occasion.

[Tibs]

 

For sure. He'll be the best starter in the rotation by the end of the year (if not sooner... if he's not already).

The pitch that got Murphy thrown out probably stunned the umpire. That was nasty