In Appreciation of Donovan Solano

[Matt Braun]

The 35-year-old line drive machine we needed but could not have predicted.

Image courtesy of © Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

There was a sense of confusion when the news broke. Who? For How Much? Signed late—far late—into the off-season, Donovan Solano seemed unnecessary, a repeated infielder whose skills were niche. What will he bring? Don’t we have Jorge Polanco? Won’t Jose Miranda break out in 2023? Kyle Farmer is basically the same player; the Twins don’t need this guy.

It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for the Colombian ball player. Once a part of the strange failed Marlins revival of the early 2010s, Solano never crossed 400 plate appearances in a season with Miami, as his batting forced him into platoon/late-inning pinch-hitting duties—a position he did fine in, but never excelled. After 9 games on the forgettable 2016 Yankees team, Solanco could not claim overt youth at 28, and his play still hadn’t demanded playing time; the minor leagues beckoned.

And so he entered the desert, wandering for 40 years two seasons before the properly revived Giants gave him another shot. We didn’t know it yet, but these Giants were set to become a Mecca for the displaced player; a gathering space for those tall or short, skinny or wide, who could offer their unique, undervalued skills to a team hungry for developing them.

Solano thrived. He suddenly hit .330, earning the nickname “Donnie Barrels” for his ability to slash line drives across the entire field. His 2020 campaign secured a Silver Slugger award—an unthinkable achievement for a player once trudging in minor league mud just a few seasons prior.

It was this player—this excellent line drive master secretly in his prime—that the Twins appear to have found.

2023 has been Solano at his heights: a newly-found on-base ability in perfect harmony with a line-drive rate nearly at a career-high. High-leverage moments have no effect on him either; he’s hitting .333 in such situations. Perhaps his defense is more “capable of standing athletically at the position” than commanding respect for his glovework, but Minnesota has mainly played him at 1st base anyways, limiting the damage of potential gaffs.

And in a lineup desperately missing the breakout that never was in Miranda along with other odd fluctuations in assumed hitting ability, having a nearly daily presence in the lineup able to set up a table and clean it just as easily has been one of the few offensive positives. He may not fit precisely in the analytical dogma utilized by most successful teams this era, but Solano is a force, and the Twins are likely grateful to have him.

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[I wish the twins were good]

I'm sorry but, who cares?

[Nashvilletwin]

Hate to say it, but he’s probably our best trade asset at this year’s deadline when we finally realize we should be investing in our prospects (whether we are competing for the division or not), 

[Doctor Gast]

Solano is Twins anti thesis of moonshots. Instead of piling up HRs when we don't need them  & striking out when we do (thus winning blow outs & losing too many close games), Solano's line drives comes at clutch times, IMO we need more Solano type hitters.

[rwilfong86]

He's been an asset but last night his base running was a costly liability. 

[Doctor Wu]

I knew next to nothing about Solano prior to this season, but the guy seems to know how to hit. Which is more than you can say about some of the others in the starting lineup. Of course his fielding and baserunning can cause some headaches, but it sure is nice to see a player getting hits on a regular basis as opposed to striking out. 

[tony&rodney]

Solano has returned to hunting base hits recently after hitting some long fly ball outs earlier in the season. He is a consistently good bat who belongs at DH most of the time.

[jorgenswest]

I have appreciated Solano since watching him break out as a 31 year old with the Giants. He reminded me of Manny Mota then and it still fits.

At 35 he should be a short side platoon player and a valuable bat on the bench. He is a batter I would want up in the late innings and runners in scoring position.

[JD-TWINS]

Solano was my “assumed to be traded if he could hold on until Mid-July…” …….otherwise DFA to make room for Walner or Larnach or Polanco. He started great and then declined slowly over 5-6 weeks. Last 15 days or so he’s as good or better than anybody at the plate. Really need his veteran presence and performance, along with Farmer & Taylor, even though they were all slotted as platoon guys. Not getting much from Buxton - CC - Polanco………….none from Kepler - Vazquez - Gallo!!

Unless we collapse, Solano should be on the roster through the season. It seems to me that freeing up 3B for Miranda & trading for Lopez has taught fan base to not take hitters for granted (Urshella @ .298 & Arraez @ .395).

[wornsmooth]

42 minutes ago, jorgenswest said:

I have appreciated Solano since watching him break out as a 31 year old with the Giants. He reminded me of Manny Mota then and it still fits.

At 35 he should be a short side platoon player and a valuable bat on the bench. He is a batter I would want up in the late innings and runners in scoring position.

He should be full time dh.

[strumdatjag]

He is the number one Twins player who has exceeded expectations on a team full of players who are not even meeting expectations (Buxton, Correa, Kepler, Jorge Lopez, Maeda, Vasquez, Miranda, Gordon - I’m sure I missed some).  
Others exceeding expectations:: Castro, Farmer,Brock Stewart,  Duran, Gray, Ryan, Ober, DeLeon.   Again, I’m sure I’ve missed some, but I’m not including some who have met expectations (Kirilloff, Taylor, Lewis, Julien, Jeffers).   

[Matt Braun]

12 hours ago, I wish the twins were good said:

I'm sorry but, who cares?

It appears you cared enough to comment. Thank you! 

[Riverbrian]

5 hours ago, rwilfong86 said:

He's been an asset but last night his base running was a costly liability. 

Did you notice what the third base coach was doing? 

[Riverbrian]

12 hours ago, I wish the twins were good said:

I'm sorry but, who cares?

I do

[Riverbrian]

 

He's hitting the ball surrounded by a lot of people who are not hitting the ball. 

I'm under the impression that the posters who are attacking him are not watching the games. 

[rwilfong86]

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

Did you notice what the third base coach was doing? 

There was no way he would have scored on that play so I am not sure what your point is?

[Riverbrian]

37 minutes ago, rwilfong86 said:

There was no way he would have scored on that play so I am not sure what your point is?

There is a third base coach. He's involved. The throw, the relay, the ball is behind Solano. He is going to be completely reliant upon the third base coach because Solano would have to be an owl to see what is going on behind him. 

What was Watkins doing? This is what he is standing in that box for.

Did Solano follow his instructions or did Solano ignore him? 

I get that you have decided it's on the player but I'm asking... what was the third case coach doing?  

 

[rwilfong86]

1 minute ago, Riverbrian said:

There is a third base coach. He's involved. The throw, the relay, the ball is behind Solano. He is going to be completely reliant upon the third base coach because Solano would have to be an owl to see what is going on... or not running hard so he can see what is going on. That is what a third base coach is for. 

What was Watkins doing? Did Solano follow his instructions or did Solano ignore him? 

I get that you have decided it's on the player but I'm asking... what was the third case coach doing? 

 

Can you show me a clear image of Watkins sending Solano? 

[Riverbrian]

2 minutes ago, rwilfong86 said:

Can you show me a clear image of Watkins sending Solano? 

I can't but I'm not hanging Solano. 

[rwilfong86]

Just now, Riverbrian said:

I can't but I'm not hanging Solano. 

Pointing out he made a rally killing base running mistake is not "hanging Solano". It's just something he needs to do better next time. 

[Riverbrian]

1 minute ago, rwilfong86 said:

Pointing out he made a rally killing base running mistake is not "hanging Solano". It's just something he needs to do better next time. 

You called him a "costly liability last night"

This is what was written up in the Strib.

Donovan Solano followed Kirilloff's home run with a single off reliever Mason Englert. But two batters later, when Joey Gallo doubled to right field, Solano was waved home as he neared third base — then suddenly told to stop when right fielder Zach McKinstry's throw reached Báez at short with plenty of time to get him.

 

[rwilfong86]

Just now, Riverbrian said:

You called him a "costly liability last night"

This is what was written up in the Strib.

Donovan Solano followed Kirilloff's home run with a single off reliever Mason Englert. But two batters later, when Joey Gallo doubled to right field, Solano was waved home as he neared third base — then suddenly told to stop when right fielder Zach McKinstry's throw reached Báez at short with plenty of time to get him.

 

If you're gonna quote someone at least make the effort in getting the quote correct:

"He's been an asset but last night his base running was a costly liability." 

His base running was the costly liability, not the player himself. 

Again, show me visual evidence or let it go.

[I wish the twins were good]

15 hours ago, I wish the twins were good said:

I'm sorry but, who cares?

This team is a mess and we're talking about deck chairs

[Riverbrian]

1 minute ago, rwilfong86 said:

If you're gonna quote someone at least make the effort in getting the quote correct:

"He's been an asset but last night his base running was a costly liability." 

His base running was the costly liability, not the player himself. 

Again, show me visual evidence or let it go.

My original question was... Did you notice what the third base coach was doing? I meant no ill will at the time... I felt it was an important question because the 3B coach is the eyes. If Solano knew what was happening behind him... then you might be right because he shouldn't be looking behind him. 

No Ill will at the time but now... I've got some Ill Will. 

I get it... HIS base running was COSTLY. According to you. 

I understood what an asset means. 

He's been good but he sure screwed up last night. I understand what you are saying.  

Let's simplify --  We are talking specifically about what happened at 3B last night on the Joey Gallo Double.

You have clearly blamed Solano for it. I am not blaming anyone and you are asking me for video evidence? 

You provide the evidence. 

And yes... I will let it go. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[rwilfong86]

Just now, Riverbrian said:

My original question was... Did you notice what the third base coach was doing? I meant no ill will at the time... I felt it was an important question because the 3B coach is the eyes. If Solano knew what was happening behind him... then you might be right because he shouldn't be looking behind him. 

No Ill will at the time but now... I've got some Ill Will. 

I get it... HIS base running was COSTLY. According to you. 

I understood what an asset means. 

He's been good but he sure screwed up last night. I understand what you are saying.  

Let's simplify --  We are talking specifically about what happened at 3B last night on the Joey Gallo Double.

You have clearly blamed Solano for it. I am not blaming anyone and you are asking me for video evidence? 

You provide the evidence. 

And yes... I will let it go. 

All of us who played baseball competitively have made base running mistakes, you own it and work to make it never happen again. 

[jkcarew]

I’ve questioned his very existence from the moment he signed. Kinda still do.

But who knew his 777 OPS (well above career average btw)  would make him look like Rogers Hornsby in this lineup.

[Riverbrian]

15 minutes ago, rwilfong86 said:

All of us who played baseball competitively have made base running mistakes, you own it and work to make it never happen again. 

I suggest that you let it go because you are just digging a deeper hole.

All of us who have played baseball competitively (You went there) understand the role of the 3B coach in that situation. 

This started with a simple no ill will important question. Did you notice what the 3B coach was doing? 

I asked because it's important. You don't have that answer, you want me to provide it and you want Solano to own it.

Because I played and coached baseball competitively (You went there). I'm only going to go as far as what I saw.

Solano on 1B with one out. Gallo hits the ball into the RF corner.

The Tigers screwed up first. The 2B wasn't in position for a cut at 3B... he was setting up to be the first cut for a play at the plate. Javier went to cover 2B like he was supposed to do. The RF didn't throw to the cut... He just chucked it toward 2nd base. That was a mistake... you don't do that. You see the ball bounce twice... maybe three times before Baez who had to came off of 2nd base to field it... Baez had to become the cut when he wasn't the cut.

All of us who have played and coached baseball competitively (you went there) know that you don't want the ball to bounce when throwing to a cut so Baez wasn't the cut. Baez had to come off 2nd base to field the errant throw. 

I'm going to state this again because it's important... All of this is happening BEHIND SOLANO. 

I admit that I don't know if Watkins noticed that the cut wasn't in position (I assume he did because that's what 3B coaches are paid to notice when deciding to send a runner or not and I also assume that Solano wouldn't have seen it because he can't see behind him and is relying on his 3B coach like he is supposed to do).

All of us who coached baseball competitively (you went there) would have noticed a cut out of position, a throw from the outfield into open space and a ball that was going to bounce multiple times before anybody got to it. That sequence of events would have probably caused a quick reassessment of the situation. A situation that would have normally been a pretty easy routine standing up into third for Solano.

Based on what I saw and because I played and coached baseball competitively (you went there). I am more inclined to blame Javier Baez for making a great turn and throw with probable help from his catcher who was probably yelling cut 3. I admit that I assume the catcher instructed Javier where to throw because he was facing the other direction when he fielded the ball so he wouldn't have known that Solano and Watkins were having communication problems. 

Bad play by the Tigers that ended up being a great play by the Tigers. Kind of like chipping out of the sand trap straight into the cup. 

I stand here and say... I saw all of that but I didn't see what Tommy Watkins was doing. 

SO I ASKED THE QUESTION with no ill intent... Did you notice what the third base coach was doing. 

I didn't and you didn't either or you would have said... YEAH I DID.

But OMG... I hope Solano owns it. 

Do you want to triple down? Do you want to argue the stuff that I saw with stuff that you didn't? 

 

 

[ashbury]

[Rod Carews Birthday]

5 hours ago, I wish the twins were good said:

This team is a mess and we're talking about deck chairs

Deck chairs are what the Oakland A's talk about. Yes, the A's are a mess.  Would you prefer being them?  They would gladly take Donovan Solano on their team.  He would likely be one of their stars.  On this team he is a role player, and a pretty good one at that. Certainly beats Astudillo.  Are the Twins playing like the Rays?  Nope, but no one else is either.  That doesn't make them a mess. 

Solano was a bit of a surprise signing who at the time seemed unnecessary.  However, as the season has progressed, he has proven pretty useful, both for his flexibility (he can stand in a few places even if his defense isn't great) and his bat.  Downbeat Magazine (jazz music) has a category of award that is called "Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition" and it is given to somebody who is really good but relatively unknown.  On the Twins, that guy is probably Donovan Solano. 

[Joey Self]

14 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

Solano is Twins anti thesis of moonshots. Instead of piling up HRs when we don't need them  & striking out when we do (thus winning blow outs & losing too many close games), Solano's line drives comes at clutch times, IMO we need more Solano type hitters.

Yeah, if only they had kept the one they had last year...☹️