Daniel Palka - 2017

[bluechipper]

Daniel Palka

DOB: 10/28/91, 25 years old

Corner Outfielder and 1B

Bat: L

Throw: L

 

Daniel Palka was acquired from the Diamondbacks in exchange for Chris Hermann in 2015.

 

In his first year with the Twins, Palka started in Chattanooga, hitting .270/.348/.547 (.894) with 21 HR in 79 games. After his promotion to Rochester, Palka hit .232/.296/.483 (.779) with 13 HR in 54 games.

 

2016 cumulative numbers: .254/.327/.521 (.848) with 34 HR and 90 RBI.

 

Palka was added to the 40 man roster after the season, and he will begin 2017 back in Rochester.

[ashbury]

Hope you don't mind a repurposed photo of Palka at the plate, from my spring training blog:

 

[bluechipper]

Palka hit his first 2 HRs of the season on Sunday, finishing up a great first week of the season.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Since then he has gone ice cold, 1-21 with a walk and 8 K's.

[ashbury]

Since then he has gone ice cold, 1-21 with a walk and 8 K's.

You were saying...?

[AlwaysinModeration]

I was saying that it is Sunday again, so time for another 2-homer game?

[bluechipper]

Palka had his second 2 HR game of the season today.

 

For the season, he's at .289/.357/.632 (.989) with 4 HR and 10 RBI.

[Oldgoat_MN]

I have to admit I had seen no MLB future for Palka based on some projections I had read. It's early yet, but if you are hitting well in AAA you can probably hit MLB pitching to some extent.

 

Of course, we sent the Diamondbacks Chris Herrmann who promptly posted an OPS of .845 in 166 PA, so we deserve something good to come of that trade.

[bluechipper]

Palka hit another HR tonight, his 5th of the season, and he's hitting .326.

[goulik]

His big concern last year was K%. He has 14 strike outs to 4 walks in 50 plate appearances according to baseball reference which is 28%. That is down from 33% last year (if my Math is correct).

[AZTwin]

I have him at 15 strikeouts in 63 plate appearances or 23%. If he can keep this improvement going, he's just about to get much more interesting and probably should get a call up as a DH/4th outfielder at some point this season

[bluechipper]

Palka has struggled a bit recently, bringing his line down to .256/.310/.474 (.784) with 5 HRs and 13 RBIs.

 

The good news is he's "only" striking out 23.8% of the time, but the bad news is he's only walking 7.1% of the time.

 

Hopefully he heats up as the weather does.

[bluechipper]

I'm sure this isn't the start to the season Palka was hoping for. He's hitting .083 in his last 10 games with 0 RBI.

 

Overall, .227/.286/.412 (.698) with 5 HR and 13 RBI.

[goulik]

I was really REALLY hoping he would force his way up by striking out less and keeping the slugging and OPS high...Is he struggling because he has changed his approach to reduce the K's?

[bluechipper]

Daniel Palka fractured his left index finger and is out indefinitely.

 

He's hitting .261/.316/.452 (.768) with 8 HRs and 22 RBI on the season.

[Mike Sixel]

Super bummer. Hope he heals well.

[bluechipper]

 

Super bummer. Hope he heals well.

Sure is. There's a deficit of hitters that are really considered prospects right now, especially with these injuries this year.

[bluechipper]

Palka finally got into a game on Saturday, rehabbing in a GCL game. He's been out since the end of May, but hopefully he can have a strong couple of months and salvage his season.

[bluechipper]

Daniel Palka has had a good run since his return from injury. In 24 games, he's hit .300/.357/.500 (.857) with 4 HR and 12 RBI.

 

Overall, he's at .275/.331/.470 (.800) with 12 HR in 65 games.

 

If he keeps up the good hitting, I wonder if we could see him spending some time at DH for the Twins in September.