Twins 2023 Position Analysis: Center Field

[Nick Nelson]

Will this be the year Byron Buxton shakes off his perpetual injury woes and puts forth something approximating a full season?

He and the Twins can hope. In the meantime, the front office knew they needed to be proactive in planning for another year full of lengthy absences. They went above and beyond.

Image courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Projected Starter: Byron Buxton
Likely Backup: Michael A. Taylor
Depth: Joey Gallo, Nick Gordon, Gilberto Celestino
Prospects: Royce Lewis, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Yasser Mercedes, 

THE GOOD
Since 2019, Buxton ranks sixth among all MLB center fielders in fWAR, which is pretty amazing considering that he's played in roughly half of his team's games (51%) during that span. Even at half-capacity, Buxton is among the most valuable handful of players in baseball at a crucial defensive position.

Minnesota's utmost priority is finding a way to keep Buck on the field as much as possible, and they know that. New head trainer Nick Paparesta came aboard this past offseason knowing it would be his primary directive. 

The Twins are taking it slow this spring with Buxton, who has yet to appear in an exhibition game and may see very little action on-field until Opening Day despite being ostensibly healthy.

The Twins know how much Buxton means to their lineup. And while his bat is a game-changer, they also know that a big portion of his peak value derives from top-tier defense in center field. Even if he's lost a touch of speed and (tried to) cut back on hazardous risk-taking, Buxton remains one of the rangiest and overall outstanding defenders in the game when he's out there.

He takes away runs. Lots of them. Add that to all of the runs he's creating with his elite power and you've got the recipe for one of the most impactful players in baseball.

The Twins need to balance keeping him on the field as much as possible with adequately protecting his body and maximizing his chances of helping the team all season. This might mean adopting a usage model with built-in days for DH and rest. It's a luxury the club can more easily afford thanks to one of their most underrated offseason moves: the acquisition of Taylor from Kansas City.

Taylor is the closest thing you'll find to Buxton's equal defensively in center. He's a lightning-quick playmaker with great instincts and a big arm. Another human highlight reel covering the vastest expanse of the baseball field.

As Nash Walker pointed out, Taylor leads all MLB outfielders in Defensive Runs Saved since the 2020 season. Buxton ranks third on that list. Sandwiched between them? Gallo, whom the Twins also insist they're factoring in as CF depth even though he's played just one game there since 2019. 

Between those three, the Twins can be fairly confident they're fielding a great glove in center almost every night, setting the tone for what could be the best defensive outfield in the majors. 

This experienced and proven depth will hopefully prevent the Twins from needing to press players like Gordon and Celestino, who combined to make 98 starts in center field last year, beyond their means. Those two are now padding a robust depth chart, further bolstered by prospects like Lewis and Austin Martin who might eventually profile best in center.

THE BAD
The looming downside in center field, as it ever was: Byron Buxton's likelihood of missing significant time. Last year seemed to hammer home the inevitability of attrition for Buxton, who managed to make his first All-Star team while leading the team to a strong start before, once again, succumbing to multiple injuries that kept him off the field in September.

Is the knee issue that plagued his 2022 season behind him? For that matter, can we count on his right hip to hold up after sustaining serious strains in back-to-back years? 

Outside of those carryover concerns ... Is there any feasible preventative measure that can stymy the crimson tide of injuries relentlessly keeping Buxton off the field? 

These are the questions no one likes to ask, and Byron certainly doesn't like to answer. Unfortunately, they overwhelmingly control the team's fate. That's always going to be true. No one else can replicate or replace what a semi-healthy Buxton brings to the table.

What the Twins did do this offseason is work to ensure the table won't be bare without him present.

THE BOTTOM LINE
Last year, when analyzing the center field position for the Twins ahead of the season, I concluded: "Their immediate depth behind Buxton is questionable, which is quite troubling all things considered."

Questionable was being kind. Buxton ended up missing a ton of time – unfortunate but not unexpected – and the ill-prepared Twins were forced to give more than two-thirds of their center field starts to: Celestino, Gordon, Mark Contreras, Jake Cave, and one sadly unforgettable appearance from Lewis.

This has been a continuing trend for the Twins over the years, and a costly one. All the way back in spring training of 2017, while covering camp in Fort Myers, I wrote an article underlining the urgency of strong contingency plans for Buxton. Even then, when he was 23 and less than two years into his career, the writing was on the wall. He was never going to dial back the aggressive style that helps make him special.

"I can’t really be worrying about getting hurt out here," Buxton told me. "I'm focused on being myself between those lines instead of trying to be somebody I'm not."

His top backup that season was Zack Granite. In many years since, we've seen plenty of other flawed stopgaps in center, but never a player truly capable of substantially lessening Buxton's void.

At long last, the front office seems to have learned its lesson. Buxton's top backup is now a defensive whiz who's started 262 MLB games in center field over the past two seasons, and won a Gold Glove there in 2021. (That's in addition to Gallo, Gordon, Celestino, and the multitude of CF-capable prospects at all levels of the system.)

Michael A. Taylor is a joy to behold in center. Here's hoping we see very little of him there in 2023.

Catch Up On Our Position Preview Series:

• Position Analysis: Catcher
• Position Analysis: First Base
• Position Analysis: Second Base
• Position Analysis: Third Base
• Position Analysis: Shortstop
• Position Analysis: Left Field

View full article

[Karbo]

If he keeps up with his conditioning (as I assume he is) I see no real need to play in many spring games. I assume he will get in a few the last couple weeks now, but these early games (that don't matter a bit) would be moot.

[Trov]

I know he could play it, but after listening to Lewis' comments about his injury I would not want to put him back in CF.  He sounds like he will be very risk adverse defending CF in the future.  He basically said, I should have just let the double drop and save the risk of injury.  Although I would agree in many situations do not risk hurting yourself, in that play he was just running after the ball and jumped for it.  If he will not be willing to go all out and jump for balls without hitting walls, he will not be a good defender in CF.  Not saying he should not have such a mind set, but can you think if Hunter had that thought process?  

[Doctor Gast]

This is the best CF depth we've had for a very long time, maybe ever. Last year we finally had an adequate back-up to Buxton with Gordon & Celestino, after suffering for years with Cave. A decent cOF does not equate into an adequate CF. Also I'd like to state that Gallo's DRS was accumulated practically all  in cOF. 

Taylor is spectacular in CF, he's also having a good ST at the plate. Hoping that it carries over to the regular season. Hope is eternal so I hope Buxton can play plenty of CF while putting in the innings. Before Polanco was moved off SS, I thought CF would be Lewis's position. But after his ACL problem, I'm dead set against him playing anywhere in the OF. So anywhere I see anyone suggesting Lewis to play the OF, I will confront it.

The way he was running so fast & jump high to catch that ball, he cringed in pain when he came down before he hit the wall. With so few cases of ACL to really account for, yet I saw a study that states that OFers are more apt to tear an ACL than INFers. Yeah maybe you can tell Lewis to not run fast & don't jump for fly balls, be a regular OFer. But for Lewis that'd be impossible and you'd lose any edge you may have had. 

[The_Phantom]

“Will this be the year Byron Buxton shakes off his perpetual injury woes and puts forth something approximating a full season?”

 

no. 

[farmerguychris]

Can't get too critical of the f.o. on the potential talent we have in the OF this year.  We know Bux could miss some time - much better plan this year than in the past!  Excited to see how good we'll be - shouldn't be too many fly balls landing out there!

[JD-TWINS]

Buxton in CF 80 games……Taylor in CF 40 games v. LH pitching………Gordon in CF 40 games v. RH pitching. (120 games of excellence in CF & 40 games of best offense with average D with Gordon……….sandwiched between elite Gallo & Kepler!)

Buxton sits 30 games as needed & is DH 50 games. Hoping for maintained health.

[rv78]

1 hour ago, JD-TWINS said:

Buxton in CF 80 games……Taylor in CF 40 games v. LH pitching………Gordon in CF 40 games v. RH pitching. (120 games of excellence in CF & 40 games of best offense with average D with Gordon……….sandwiched between elite Gallo & Kepler!)

Buxton sits 30 games as needed & is DH 50 games. Hoping for maintained health.

Hope springs eternal for some. The rest of us can see the writing on the wall that has been there for quite some time now. Buxton is a part-time player. Always has been and always will be. Even if he is healthy the plan now is to only let him play defense part-time. Settling for less is not a recipe for success. I hate scheduled rest for any player. There are off days. There is the voice of the player that can let his Manager know if he needs a day off. Is the communication between players and Manager that bad that they can't come to an agreement about this on a daily basis? There is no proof that days off prevent injury. So the Twins have the best defensive outfield in all of baseball. I will believe defense wins championships when it happens. Pitching and clutch hitting wins Championships. If you can't score, saving a run or two per game won't matter. Adding Gallo and Taylor who hit for a combined .210 clip last year does nothing to improve the offense, which was a huge sore spot due to the Twins inability to get a hit when they needed it. So far, in spring training the Twins are leading all of baseball in strikeouts. Doesn't appear they have solved anything offensively by adding the outfielders that they did. 

[joefish]

If Buxton is healthy, when he is healthy, play him. Play him.

[Bodie]

1 hour ago, JD-TWINS said:

Buxton in CF 80 games……Taylor in CF 40 games v. LH pitching………Gordon in CF 40 games v. RH pitching. (120 games of excellence in CF & 40 games of best offense with average D with Gordon……….sandwiched between elite Gallo & Kepler!)

Buxton sits 30 games as needed & is DH 50 games. Hoping for maintained health.

That, unfortunately, is probably the limit of Buxton's playing time even if he is healthy all season.

There is an adage, when dealing with pitchers, that they have a finite number of top-notch pitches in their arm before wear and tear (at best, injuries at worst, usually some combination of the two) ends the career.   Of course the actual number is unknown.

In Buxton's case he has a finite career span (as all do, except possibly Nolan Ryan...).  If he is hale and healthy he should play, and do so basically every day he is so.  I don't remember a single one of his injuries being attributed to him being tired or overplayed (aggravating something not included).  This would require two things that seem unlikely: 1) Buxton being utterly honest about his condition, no matter how minor something may seem, an 2) Baldelli being willing to play someone pretty much every day if healthy.

[Jocko87]

3 minutes ago, joefish said:

If Buxton is healthy, when he is healthy, play him. Play him.

I believe this is where they were wrong last year.  When he's hurt, don't.  I know he didn't want to go on the DL and there was no depth behind him, but his knee situation was horribly mismanaged last year.  Knee leads to hip and hip leads to more days off leads to shutting down for the same amount of time anyway.  With the benefit of hindsight, a 6 week knee cleanup in May would likely have worked out much better.  Hopefully the new trainer will make better decisions in these types of cases.  An injury prone player trying to push through injuries seems counterproductive to me.  The depth will help make those choices easier. 

[TwinsDr2021]

6 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

This is the best CF depth we've had for a very long time, maybe ever.

You are probably correct, but I would argue that between 1985 and 1989 was the best. Puckett played 161, 161, 157, 158, 159

That is 7 missed games over 5 years with 10 DH games tossed in, you didn't really need to waste a roster spot on a back up CF.

[joefish]

2 hours ago, Jocko87 said:

I believe this is where they were wrong last year.  When he's hurt, don't.  I know he didn't want to go on the DL and there was no depth behind him, but his knee situation was horribly mismanaged last year.  Knee leads to hip and hip leads to more days off leads to shutting down for the same amount of time anyway.  With the benefit of hindsight, a 6 week knee cleanup in May would likely have worked out much better.  Hopefully the new trainer will make better decisions in these types of cases.  An injury prone player trying to push through injuries seems counterproductive to me.  The depth will help make those choices easier. 

Yes. Play him when he is healthy. Rest him when he hurts. We have quality backup options that should perform better than Buxton if he is injured. I feel the same about Jorge. If a player is injured get him off of the field.

[DocBauer]

Still can't comprehend how it took the FO this long to cone up with a viable plan to back up Buxton in CF. And boy does it look good now that they've done it. I'm not sure high end role player move I like best, Farmer or Taylor. Both excellent moves that are greatly underappreciated.

Gallo can also play a solid CF. Gordon is pretty decent there. Celestino should get most of the season at AAA to get his game and confidence back together after being so rushed, using what he's experienced thus far as a learning tool. And Martin's future is almost certainly as a LF/CF.

That's a lot of depth now, some for the immediate future, and a few youngsters in the low minors that are part of the more distant future.

Right now, it looks like they got it right.

 

[terrydactyls]

2 hours ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

You are probably correct, but I would argue that between 1985 and 1989 was the best. Puckett played 161, 161, 157, 158, 159

That is 7 missed games over 5 years with 10 DH games tossed in, you didn't really need to waste a roster spot on a back up CF.

When did he get his mandatory days off?  😀

[djvang]

At the risk of being the old man yelling at kids to get off his lawn, players don't seem to want to play anymore unless they're 100% healthy. Are they afraid their numbers will suffer? Is it too painful? I remember Dan Gladden saying that he never wanted to sit out because he might lose his job. Wally Pipp Syndrome. That seems to have disappeared. Instead of asking a player if they want to play, they should ask them CAN you play?

[Monkeypaws]

Credit to Falvine for bringing in Taylor and Gallo on relatively cheap deals.

Best kind of insurance, with some potential offensive upside as well.

 

Wow would I love the Twins to become a pitching defense speed team.

[Nick Nelson]

2 hours ago, djvang said:

At the risk of being the old man yelling at kids to get off his lawn, players don't seem to want to play anymore unless they're 100% healthy. Are they afraid their numbers will suffer? Is it too painful? I remember Dan Gladden saying that he never wanted to sit out because he might lose his job. Wally Pipp Syndrome. That seems to have disappeared. Instead of asking a player if they want to play, they should ask them CAN you play?

When Buxton doesn't play, it's not his decision. I can tell you that much confidently. Dude would go out and play with broken bones. (And has.)

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Speaking of trading for Taylor to be Buxton's caddy, and signing Gallo, who is basically just a guy, add the 2023 salaries of Taylor and Gallo together and it's more than Buxton's base salary in 2023. Think about it.  

[Schmoeman5]

40 minutes ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

Speaking of trading for Taylor to be Buxton's caddy, and signing Gallo, who is basically just a guy, add the 2023 salaries of Taylor and Gallo together and it's more than Buxton's base salary in 2023. Think about it.  

That's not a fair comparison. Buxton got about half of the market value of players that are hes compared with ability wise. Players like Betts, Trout, Judge, etc. If Buxton had 3 or 4 seasons where he played 140 or more games, he wouldn't be a Twin now. And if Buxton is out for a considerable amount of time this year, the caddy may be a bargain in comparison. As for Gallo being just a guy, I hope he does well. Maybe he couldn't handle the bright lights of LA or NY. But I'm not holding my breath. And if Gallo is jag, what is Kepler? He's making nearly as much as Gallo

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

39 minutes ago, Schmoeman5 said:

That's not a fair comparison. Buxton got about half of the market value of players that are hes compared with ability wise. Players like Betts, Trout, Judge, etc. If Buxton had 3 or 4 seasons where he played 140 or more games, he wouldn't be a Twin now. And if Buxton is out for a considerable amount of time this year, the caddy may be a bargain in comparison. As for Gallo being just a guy, I hope he does well. Maybe he couldn't handle the bright lights of LA or NY. But I'm not holding my breath. And if Gallo is jag, what is Kepler? He's making nearly as much as Gallo

Maybe this is the year Buxton plays the entire season. If not, I'd like to see him come into camp next year with the mindset and determination of being an everyday player, like 150+ games (not including playing spring training games). You hear the phrase all the time but I think this year is a make or break year for Buxton. He turns 30 next year already. I'm rooting for him as well. How can you not?!?

[Schmoeman5]

17 minutes ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

Maybe this is the year Buxton plays the entire season. If not, I'd like to see him come into camp next year with the mindset and determination of being an everyday player, like 150+ games (not including playing spring training games). You hear the phrase all the time but I think this year is a make or break year for Buxton. He turns 30 next year already. I'm rooting for him as well. How can you not?!?

I'm rooting for him too. I hope all of them can play at the top of their game. Injury free. Too tier players like Buxton at his best is why I love baseball. 

[JD-TWINS]

10 hours ago, rv78 said:

Hope springs eternal for some. The rest of us can see the writing on the wall that has been there for quite some time now. Buxton is a part-time player. Always has been and always will be. Even if he is healthy the plan now is to only let him play defense part-time. Settling for less is not a recipe for success. I hate scheduled rest for any player. There are off days. There is the voice of the player that can let his Manager know if he needs a day off. Is the communication between players and Manager that bad that they can't come to an agreement about this on a daily basis? There is no proof that days off prevent injury. So the Twins have the best defensive outfield in all of baseball. I will believe defense wins championships when it happens. Pitching and clutch hitting wins Championships. If you can't score, saving a run or two per game won't matter. Adding Gallo and Taylor who hit for a combined .210 clip last year does nothing to improve the offense, which was a huge sore spot due to the Twins inability to get a hit when they needed it. So far, in spring training the Twins are leading all of baseball in strikeouts. Doesn't appear they have solved anything offensively by adding the outfielders that they did. 

Buxton played 140 games in 2017……92 games last year is his 2nd highest total over a 7 year career. Tired of hearing how DHing & scheduled time off is wasteful & won’t/can’t  help. It’s certainly time to try something different!! Having no plan & playing him & hoping for the best hasn’t worked 6 of 7 years.

Agreed that we need runs to win. Taylor is above average v. LH pitching. That helps. Buxton sporadically hits for power and in clutch situations, so they need him around for more than 3-4 months. Gotta think that would help.

Gallo is a reach on offense, agreed. Gotta make the best out of him being in the roster. Some LF - some RF - some 1B.

Gordon is above average v. RH pitching.

Gallo - Gordon - Kepler won’t be bad offensively v. RH pitching.

Our pitching & defense won’t hurt us…….if guys stay healthy, we’ll score plenty of runs. Will strike out too much as well!

[Jocko87]

I'm also very curious how they plan to use Taylor off the bench.  I could see him being a late inning weapon in a couple situations.

-New extra inning rules finalized hopefully means they will be focusing on getting this damn run in with a purpose.  Taylor should be a very good pinch runner with the ability to steal 3rd if needed.  Maybe not quite Terrance Gore but he still has a lot of speed and always been a pretty good base runner.

-Having the rest of the outfielders being solid at worst defensively will limit his chances as an automatic replacement in late innings and that's good as it keeps him free for the pitch running option.  I am, however, kinda infatuated with the Gallo shift and what the Twins can do with a Buxton, Taylor, Kepler outfield alignment.  Buxton can cover left and half of center (safer, covers more ground, less collisions) while Taylor and Kepler do a shallow/deep right field? 

I'm pretty sure they have more in mind for Taylor than just Buxton insurance and interested to see what it will be when the real games start. If they can use Lewis and Farmer as RH outfield options they may want to keep him in a more flexible role.

[rv78]

9 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Buxton played 140 games in 2017……92 games last year is his 2nd highest total over a 7 year career. Tired of hearing how DHing & scheduled time off is wasteful & won’t/can’t  help. It’s certainly time to try something different!! Having no plan & playing him & hoping for the best hasn’t worked 6 of 7 years.

Agreed that we need runs to win. Taylor is above average v. LH pitching. That helps. Buxton sporadically hits for power and in clutch situations, so they need him around for more than 3-4 months. Gotta think that would help.

Gallo is a reach on offense, agreed. Gotta make the best out of him being in the roster. Some LF - some RF - some 1B.

Gordon is above average v. RH pitching.

Gallo - Gordon - Kepler won’t be bad offensively v. RH pitching.

Our pitching & defense won’t hurt us…….if guys stay healthy, we’ll score plenty of runs. Will strike out too much as well!

Sounds like you are on the HOPE bandwagon with Buxton. How has it worked so far. Maybe trying something different should be.... trading him for a durable player that can play everyday. Then having 4 different options to "back him up" when he gets hurt wouldn't be a priority and the FO could concentrate on making the entire roster better. Gallo and Taylor were definitely brought in to be options in CF for him. Neither one brings much of anything offensively as I already pointed out. With the additions of those 2 players Gordon, who was the best hitting outfielder the Twins had last year, will get even fewer at bats. "if guys stay healthy, we’ll score plenty of runs" How?? Losing Arraez puts the offense in an even deeper hole. Where are the hits going to come from? An outfield of Gallo, Buck/Taylor, and Kepler who can't keep their batting averages above a combined .225? Most of these guys can't put the ball in play much less get a hit. Yes. they'll hit a few HR, mostly solo shots. Rocco doesn't know how to manufacture runs so you can rule that option out. Scoring a few runs won't be "plenty" and most of the time it also won't be enough. 

[wabene]

@Doctor Gastsaid "So anywhere I see anyone suggesting Lewis to play the OF, I will confront it."

Sorry but I'm thinking quite the opposite. Last year when they had Correa locking up SS, Lewis was looking like the real deal and Buxton was already hobbled they should've put Lewis on a crash course of center field reeducation in St Paul. The guy has played center field before and has the tools to be very good there. 

 

@rv78said "Hope springs eternal for some. The rest of us can see the writing on the wall"

There is no writing on the wall. Kyle Rudolph was injured very frequently his first three years in the NFL and was starting to be labeled injury prone. He then went on a 6 year injury free iron man run to finish out his Vikings career. You don't know the future. You can choose to be optimistic or pessimistic, your choice. If you are ever going to have a moment of optimism, spring is the season baby! 

[Doctor Gast]

10 minutes ago, wabene said:

@Doctor Gastsaid "So anywhere I see anyone suggesting Lewis to play the OF, I will confront it."

Sorry but I'm thinking quite the opposite. Last year when they had Correa locking up SS, Lewis was looking like the real deal and Buxton was already hobbled they should've put Lewis on a crash course of center field reeducation in St Paul. The guy has played center field before and has the tools to be very good there. 

As I stated before there is no doubt that Lewis can excel at CF, that's not the reason why I balk at the idea of him playing in the OF especially going forward. I don't care how good Lewis looks on paper, playing the OF, When he gets hurt playing the OF, he no good to us anywhere & you endanger a young's man career.

Last year after Lewis got hurt, they brought up Miranda. Miranda got a lot of playing time & he didn't play a lick in CF. They could have put Lewis at 1B & he'd have been better than Miranda & Arraez, plus be able to give Polanco, Urshela & Correa much needed time off, to keep his bat in the line up.

[Minny505]

On 3/15/2023 at 8:30 AM, JD-TWINS said:

Buxton in CF 80 games……Taylor in CF 40 games v. LH pitching………Gordon in CF 40 games v. RH pitching. (120 games of excellence in CF & 40 games of best offense with average D with Gordon……….sandwiched between elite Gallo & Kepler!)

Buxton sits 30 games as needed & is DH 50 games. Hoping for maintained health.

Yes!!! I'll take it!

[jmlease1]

3 hours ago, rv78 said:

Sounds like you are on the HOPE bandwagon with Buxton. How has it worked so far. Maybe trying something different should be.... trading him for a durable player that can play everyday. Then having 4 different options to "back him up" when he gets hurt wouldn't be a priority and the FO could concentrate on making the entire roster better. Gallo and Taylor were definitely brought in to be options in CF for him. Neither one brings much of anything offensively as I already pointed out. With the additions of those 2 players Gordon, who was the best hitting outfielder the Twins had last year, will get even fewer at bats. "if guys stay healthy, we’ll score plenty of runs" How?? Losing Arraez puts the offense in an even deeper hole. Where are the hits going to come from? An outfield of Gallo, Buck/Taylor, and Kepler who can't keep their batting averages above a combined .225? Most of these guys can't put the ball in play much less get a hit. Yes. they'll hit a few HR, mostly solo shots. Rocco doesn't know how to manufacture runs so you can rule that option out. Scoring a few runs won't be "plenty" and most of the time it also won't be enough. 

It's very easy to say "trade him for a durable player", and much harder to actually to do it. There's now guarantees whomever we would get back in a Buxton deal would be any healthier. but we certainly won't get back anyone as talented, and frankly it's unlikely we'd get back anyone who provides as much overall value even with Buxton's limited games. Buxton put up 4 bWAR in 92 games...and definitely had stretches where he was struggling due to the knee even when he was playing.

The hits will come for the Twins offense if they have average health instead of disastrous health, but even with last year's injury problems the Twins were MLB average in runs scored last season, 11th in hits, and 10th in walks. The offense died last season after everyone got hurt, not because of Buxton's batting average. i love Nick Gordon, but on no planet was he the Twins best hitting OF last season: his OPS+ was 117, and Buxton's was 135. he was healthier, not better. (the the problem with Kepler is he puts the ball in play too often with weak contact and doesn't barrel the ball up nearly often enough to make up for all those bounce outs to 2B)

Our depth was tested last season and we failed, which is why we signed Gallo & Taylor. We literally started guys like Jake Cave and Mark Contreras in the OF last Sept. (along with Celestino, Wallner, Billy Hamilton...we churned through 12 OFs last season! 12! And that's without counting Royce Lewis' unlucky start. In 2019 it was like 8.)

[Tyler from Oregon]

As long as we aren't watching Contreras or Celestino play 50+ games in the OF in 2023 this team is going to be dominating. The depth is great, but I still have zero faith in that next tier of guys.