What Can Twins Expect From Alex Kirilloff?

[JD-TWINS]

11 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Kirilloff needs to play for St. Paul until he proves he is fully healthy and forces the Twins to make a decision through his play. AK needs to earn his call up to MLB. He hasn't really proven anything with the Twins. 

However, AK does have the sweetest swing in the organization and can totally mash. He is a fair outfielder but a good first baseman.

It would sure be nice to see Alex work on his selectivity at the plate and lay off the high stuff. Similar to Miranda, Kirilloff thinks he can hit any pitch and MLB pitchers will take advantage.

The best arrangement possible puts AK at 1B, Buxton in CF, Kepler in RF, Gallo in LF, and Larnach as the DH. These guys can also rotate as well. There are plenty of bats to go around.

Gordon (once he proves he’s remotely capable at the plate) is the answer, along with Gallo, in CF v. RH pitching (75-80% of the time). Taylor has filled in great, but he’s a defensive specialist and a platoon RH bat against LH pitching.

I think Buxton starts 30-40 games in CF May - September.

Larnach & Gallo & Kepler can rotate through corner OF spots.

Again, Larnach is on pace to have 110RBI & he currently occupies Kiriloff’s spot in the roster. You are absolutely right, Kiriloff needs to show more in St. Paul before we start DFAing anyone. (i.e. Solano or Gordon)

[chpettit19]

I'd be fine with them DFAing Gordon to call up Kirilloff today. But my guess is, as someone else stated, Kirilloff's callup is more likely to coincide with Buxton starting to play the OF some. Means Gordon probably has 2 or 3 more weeks to show he can hit. Or someone gets hurt and Kirilloff takes their spot.

I think Kirilloff immediately becomes the best pure hitter on the team so I'd like to see him called up sooner than later, but I don't expect the Twins to suddenly break their very cautious take to injuries. I am very happy to finally have real decisions for the FO to make for both the rotation and position players. Been a long while since that was the case. I hope they really let play dictate decisions as we get into the heart of summer. It's still very early so I get not making big decisions on someone like Gordon (I'm just not a believer), but they're going to have to make some moves with this depth as they get into July, and make decisions based on who gives them the best chance to win baseball games now, and moving forward.

[TopGunn#22]

I'm all in favor of getting Kirilloff up YESTERDAY.  I expect big things from him this season.  They need his bat in the middle of their lineup.  It's going to come down to Gordon or Castro.  They really don't need Gordon for CF at all.  Taylor, Gallo and Buxton will have that covered.  Kepler should also be moved if a couple more outfielder injuries happen to teams and Max hits a little bit better.  We've been carrying dead weight on our roster for a long time.  With Kirilloff healthy and Julien, Lewis and Lee knocking on the door it's time to start integrating these young talents and cast off the dead weight.  

[Minny505]

23 hours ago, blindeke said:

Yes please. So long, Nick Gordon.

Maybe. I think it's more likely he replaces Castro on the roster. Castro's been better, but not so much that you dismiss Gordon's upside in his past. Plus, Castro has an option.

Kirilloff replaces Kepler in the lineup. Even the Twins' media mouthpieces are saying this. I hope it is with the purpose of prepping the general fan of a coming move.

[Major League Ready]

2 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Gordon (once he proves he’s remotely capable at the plate) is the answer, along with Gallo, in CF v. RH pitching (75-80% of the time). Taylor has filled in great, but he’s a defensive specialist and a platoon RH bat against LH pitching.

I think Buxton starts 30-40 games in CF May - September.

Larnach & Gallo & Kepler can rotate through corner OF spots.

Again, Larnach is on pace to have 110RBI & he currently occupies Kiriloff’s spot in the roster. You are absolutely right, Kiriloff needs to show more in St. Paul before we start DFAing anyone. (i.e. Solano or Gordon)

Let's hop Buxton can eventually play 50% of games in CF.  They have Gordon / Gallo / and Kepler who are all capable of a limited role and eventually Lewis should be the primary back-up.  

I am really on the fence in terms of when to bring Kirilloff back because we just don't have enough information.  With what we know today, it makes sense to option him until he can play 6 days a week.   

[Squirrel]

23 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Gallo's been ok at first, especially compared to Solano, and he is a big target to throw to, but I don't think he's as good a first baseman as Kirilloff and I think Gallo is probably a better outfielder than AK. 

I think Gallo is a talented player, that as he gets more reps at first, he will be as good as anyone there. I've been very impressed by his play there so far this year. However, he IS an OFer, and when AK comes back, I'm assuming we see more of him in the OF. Although AK plays both positions, too. There will probably be a lot of mix and match for both of them, especially if both are hitting.

[Squirrel]

19 hours ago, Nine of twelve said:

I know the bone that was removed was from a forearm bone (I think the ulna but I don't remember). I didn't realize that there was cartilage removed from the wrist, so that means the surgery involved both the wrist and the forearm.

Nitpick: the wrist is a joint involving forearm bones connecting to the hand, so it isn't incorrect to call it wrist surgery. It was the wrist area that was affected and the 'cure' was to cut out part of the forearm bone near the joint.

[LA Vikes Fan]

15 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Kirilloff needs to play for St. Paul until he proves he is fully healthy and forces the Twins to make a decision through his play. AK needs to earn his call up to MLB. He hasn't really proven anything with the Twins. 

However, AK does have the sweetest swing in the organization and can totally mash. He is a fair outfielder but a good first baseman.

It would sure be nice to see Alex work on his selectivity at the plate and lay off the high stuff. Similar to Miranda, Kirilloff thinks he can hit any pitch and MLB pitchers will take advantage.

The best arrangement possible puts AK at 1B, Buxton in CF, Kepler in RF, Gallo in LF, and Larnach as the DH. These guys can also rotate as well. There are plenty of bats to go around.

This tells you that AK coming up is probably dependent on Buxton playing CF 3-4 times a week. Taylor plays CF when Buxton DHs or sits and one of the other 3 or Kepler sits when Taylor is in CF and Buxton is the DH. I think that's been the plan all along.    

[chpettit19]

Dan Hayes reporting that Kirilloff is set to play 9 innings again for the Saints today. First time playing 9 innings back to back days. Would think that's a significant step in his return.

[Major League Ready]

41 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Dan Hayes reporting that Kirilloff is set to play 9 innings again for the Saints today. First time playing 9 innings back to back days. Would think that's a significant step in his return.

Did Hayes report anything from the team in terms of how his wrist is responding?

[chpettit19]

4 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

Did Hayes report anything from the team in terms of how his wrist is responding?

I didn't see anything from Hayes, but Do-Hyoung Park said "Paparesta says with this, they've done what they've needed to do from a medical standpoint, and it just becomes a baseball decision soon."

[JD-TWINS]

No matter what Alex does (I think our roster is great - just a point of interest here) he won’t be able to touch Luis Arraez 2023 start to the season. Happy for Luis!!

As of 4/27 games:

.483 OBP

I he goes 0-20 in his next 20 AB’s, he’ll still be hitting .340! He’s 34-80 and currently batting .425 …….25 games into the season.

What a fantastic hitter!! Hope he wins another title this year in NL……only been done a couple times - Batting Crown in each league.

 

[JD-TWINS]

4 hours ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

This tells you that AK coming up is probably dependent on Buxton playing CF 3-4 times a week. Taylor plays CF when Buxton DHs or sits and one of the other 3 or Kepler sits when Taylor is in CF and Buxton is the DH. I think that's been the plan all along.    

You lost me. Kiriloff being tied to Buxton playing CF has no connection I can get behind.

Taylor plays CF v. LH pitching & when Buxton is unable to play and/or Gordon is struggling v. RH pitching. Gordon has been ice cold & Buxton has been designated to resting his body while DHing for the first 5-6 weeks of the season.

Kiriloff has to displace Larnach or Solano from the 26 man. One is leading team in RBI and the other has played pretty well and has no options to be sent down - we’d have to DFA Solano. Kiriloff has to be at a high level to displace either of these guys!

[Nine of twelve]

7 hours ago, Squirrel said:

Nitpick: the wrist is a joint involving forearm bones connecting to the hand, so it isn't incorrect to call it wrist surgery. It was the wrist area that was affected and the 'cure' was to cut out part of the forearm bone near the joint.

The wrist begins where the forearm ends. The wrist ends where the hand begins. It consists of 8 bones. It's clearly defined anatomically. Forearm bones simply are not part of the wrist. The "wrist area" is very vague terminology. Could be from the elbow to the fingertips if that's how someone wants to define it.

[Squirrel]

4 minutes ago, Nine of twelve said:

The wrist begins where the forearm ends. The wrist ends where the hand begins. It consists of 8 bones. It's clearly defined anatomically. Forearm bones simply are not part of the wrist. The "wrist area" is very vague terminology. Could be from the elbow to the fingertips if that's how someone wants to define it.

My apologies. I didn’t realize you were a medical doctor with an expertise in this field of medicine. Are you heezy’s intern?

[Nine of twelve]

14 minutes ago, Squirrel said:

My apologies. I didn’t realize you were a medical doctor with an expertise in this field of medicine. Are you heezy’s intern?

One needn't be an MD to know the anatomy. Similarly, I'm not a professional musician but I know how to tell the difference between a violin and a viola. (A viola burns longer.)

[LA Vikes Fan]

23 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

You lost me. Kiriloff being tied to Buxton playing CF has no connection I can get behind.

Taylor plays CF v. LH pitching & when Buxton is unable to play and/or Gordon is struggling v. RH pitching. Gordon has been ice cold & Buxton has been designated to resting his body while DHing for the first 5-6 weeks of the season.

Kiriloff has to displace Larnach or Solano from the 26 man. One is leading team in RBI and the other has played pretty well and has no options to be sent down - we’d have to DFA Solano. Kiriloff has to be at a high level to displace either of these guys!

My thinking is that Kirilloff won't be called up unless there is path to playing time roughly every day. There isn't now with Buxton at DH unless we're going to sit Larnach, Gallo, or Kepler regularly while Buxton is the DH. The only way to get all 5 in the lineup regularly - which should be the goal - is to have one of them in CF regularly with Taylor on the bench. Normally I would say bench Kepler but he has been our best hitter the last 7-10 games. I'm not ready to say that Kirilloff represents an upgrade over any of the 5 RF/LF/1B/DH options unless you take Buxton out of that mix but putting him in CF 4-5 times a week.  

Is he an upgrade over Gordon or Castro? Sure at the plate, but Kirilloff can't play in the IF outside of 1B os you sacrifice some depth and maneuverability if you drop one of those guys. Besides, Castro goes when Farmer comes back.  Solano? Tough one since hits better than Kirilloff has shown and he's RH and we need RH bats. Even if Kirilloff comes up for Solano or Gordon, there's no place to play him regularly unless we bench Taylor. That's why Buxton playing CF is the key to me.