Twins Daily Hitter of the Month: June 2023

[Steven Trefz]

A Twins hitter of the month article sounds about as exciting as a list of favorite trips to the dentist. For those who dare to peek inside, a treasure awaits. It's name is hope, and it springs from some surprising sources as the Twins season "begins now."

Epic legends will be written about the abyss that was "The Twins Offense in June 2023." Twins Territory used the month to clamor for the jobs of the hitting coach, manager, anyone holding a bat, front office, hot dog vendors... it was that bad. The Twins had 897 plate appearances in June, and struck out 275 times. 31 percent of the time. In nearly a third of all plate appearances, a Twins batter strode to the plate and walked back to the dugout three strikes later. The symptoms of a terrible offense were visible in May, and became unbearable in June as they got worse despite the calls for accountability. Thankfully, the calendar now displays "July." 

There were surprising bright spots for the Twins lineup in June, however, if one is able to look past the emotions of the day-to-day drama and dig into the actual numbers. No better example of this is the first name up for honorable mention in the month of June.

Honorable Mention
Max Kepler - 5 HR, 11 RBI, .453 SLG, .728 OPS, 100 WRC+
Believe it or not, Kepler paced the Twins in home runs, and generated weighted runs created near the top of the roster. In only 69 plate appearances, he managed to achieve run production above his station. Do his .219 batting average and .728 OPS strike fear into the hearts of opposing pitchers? No. But don't be surprised if the guy everyone wanted to trade in July finds himself at the top of this list next month.

June Hitters of the Month
#4. Donovan Solano - 3 HR, 10 RBI, .444 SLG, .842 OPS, 143 WRC+
There is a case to be made that Solano was the best Twins hitter in June. That case will not be made by me, but I can't ignore the weighted runs created, OPS, and OBP which all led the team in June. He was the only hitter to bat above his weight in Tampa Bay, carried that momentum into Toronto, and tried to bring the team victories with surprising and timely power at home. The problem with Solano, is that he's a platoon bat that ultimately is stealing opportunities from younger and potentially more potent hitters in the organization. The Twins needed heroic outings in June to generate wins, and that's not Solano's game.

I have no doubt that each month for the remainder of the season Solano has the chance to be in the top four. If he doesn't, that means that the Twins are winning more, and the players that were counted on to produce this season have finally stepped up to the plate without just turning around and marching back to the dugout after strike three.

#3. Carlos Correa - 5 HR, 13 RBI, .467 SLG, .735 OPS, 100 WRC+
Why would Correa make this list? Why would Rocco Baldelli put Correa in the lead-off spot against Baltimore? I don't have answers that will satisfy anyone reading this article, other than this: Correa needs to be the leader of this team if the Twins have any chance of winning playoff games.

In June, Correa started the slow climb out of a terrible April and May, and began to provide glimpses of the superstar that could carry a team. Because it was only glimpses, he sits at number three on this list. Correa led the team in plate appearances at 97, but most importantly he led the team in the front office's favorite metric, with a .467 SLG percentage. Correa also led the team with 12 runs scored, and 13 RBI. And he did this at a time that it was desperately needed:

#2. Edouard Julien - 0 HR, 1 RBI, .407 SLG, .788 OPS, 125 WRC+
These stats don't pass the eye test. But to anyone who was watching the Twins in June, Julien at the plate was one of the few hitters worth paying attention to. He has "it," and the plate discipline, team-leading six doubles, elevated WRC+ factor, and .296 BA speaks to a hitter that doesn't let Baldelli's quick hook get the best of his attitude and approach at the plate. 

This video wouldn't be a highlight on many websites, but when the Twins struggled like they have with the bases loaded, a disciplined approach rises to the top of the list.

Winner: Royce Lewis - 3 HR, 11 RBI, .452 SLG, .816 OPS, 131 WRC+
In the month of June, Lewis took on the role of Twins' heartbeat. The only times they had an offensive pulse were when the top prospect was running the bases or stinging a ball into or over the outfield in a clutch situation. He ran the bases, swung like he hadn't yet been corrupted by a hitting spreadsheet, and shared a hope and charisma that carried the team through its darkest stretches.

As recently as yesterday, Lewis called out the coaching staff and argued that putting the ball in play might be an actual way to win baseball games. For that statement alone he should win June twice.

I admit that one could argue that Solano beat Lewis in most offensive categories. When you tune in specifically to watch Solano bat, see Solano call out what everyone knows to be a problem and then walk up to the plate and do something about it, he can slide up to the top spot on this list. Until then, the spot belongs to Lewis, and his .333 BA, .452 SLG, 131 wRC+, and the promise that this summer might still contain many magic moments like this:

Congratulations to Lewis on a stellar month of June, and hopefully, his continued improvement and performance will continue for the rest of the 2023 season. The Twins are going to need it. 

What do you think? How would you rank your top Twins hitters of June? Comment below.

 

View full article

[dxpavelka]

Twins haven't had a "heartbeat" since Rosario, Cruz & Sano left town.

 

[D.C Twins]

Just reading 'Twins Hitter of the Month' made be giggle a little bit if I'm being honest

[glunn]

This reminds me of an article about the best basketball players who are less then 5 feet tall.

[terrydactyls]

Those are your top "pitchers" for June?  I think they might be hitters (sort of).  However, I do agree that the life Lewis brings to the Twins give him the edge over everyone else,

[FlyingFinn]

I was thinking it would be Matt Wallner just because he never got out (even if he last played in May!).

[Steven Trefz]

17 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

Those are your top "pitchers" for June?  I think they might be hitters (sort of).  However, I do agree that the life Lewis brings to the Twins give him the edge over everyone else,

Oops!  Castro has the best chance of making that list from the pitching/fielder perspective 😀

Watching Lewis leave the game today made me cry inside...hoping that its a "see you in Oakland after the All-Star Break" move, and that Miranda can bring the fire and energy that he's capable of.

[Steven Trefz]

17 minutes ago, FlyingFinn said:

I was thinking it would be Matt Wallner just because he never got out (even if he last played in May!).

You have no idea how tempted I was to put him in at #2...but that's why the TwinsDaily creators give us the MiLB hitter of the month.

But yeah...he would have been on the list.

[strumdatjag]

And now Royce is on the IL with an oblique strain. 

[Steven Trefz]

2 hours ago, dxpavelka said:

Twins haven't had a "heartbeat" since Rosario, Cruz & Sano left town.

 

Where would you put Arraez on this list?

A pitcher can't be a "heartbeat" for a team, and it's obvious when it isn't there.

I do believe Correa can be the Twins' heartbeat. It's going to look different than Kirby or Jacque Jones or Rosario...but its possible.

[ashbury]

Can you please stop putting jinxes on our good hitters?  Thanks in advance.

[Steven Trefz]

26 minutes ago, ashbury said:

Can you please stop putting jinxes on our good hitters?  Thanks in advance.

Sorry...

June's New Top 4:

4. Ryan Jeffers

3. Ryan Jeffers

2. Christian Vazquez

1. Christian Vazquez

(they have to play anyways, so the jinxes won't matter as much and will stay contained to one spot in the lineup)

[dxpavelka]

1 hour ago, Steven Trefz said:

Where would you put Arraez on this list?

A pitcher can't be a "heartbeat" for a team, and it's obvious when it isn't there.

I do believe Correa can be the Twins' heartbeat. It's going to look different than Kirby or Jacque Jones or Rosario...but its possible.

A pitcher can't be the heartbeat but if we hadn't made that  trade we'd be screaming for a similar pitcher now.

 

[silverslugger]

And the winner is ... wait for it ... wait for it ...

[JD-TWINS]

Hoping Kepler - Buxton - Gallo - Kirilloff are somewhere on the July list!!!!

[JD-TWINS]

12 hours ago, strumdatjag said:

And nii on w Royce is on the IL with an oblique strain. 

We have plenty of infield coverage with Farmer - Julien - Castro - Solano……..get Wallner up for the 6 games at home prior to Break! He can start in RF once & DH a couple times. Great opportunity!

[gman]

I hope Kepler has attracted the attention of someone who might trade for him.

[Fred]

16 hours ago, dxpavelka said:

Twins haven't had a "heartbeat" since Rosario, Cruz & Sano left town.

 

Sano is a four letter word that starts with S. Teams are not lining up for a chance to sign him.

[Fred]

1 hour ago, gman said:

I hope Kepler has attracted the attention of someone who might trade for him.

I was thinking that exact thing

[Danchat]

16 hours ago, dxpavelka said:

Twins haven't had a "heartbeat" since Rosario, Cruz & Sano left town.

 

Sano? The guy who hadn't hit well since 2019?

[dxpavelka]

6 hours ago, Fred said:

Sano is a four letter word that starts with S. Teams are not lining up for a chance to sign him.

And we're not lining up Hall of Famers (or All Stars) to replace him.  Take a look at our last few season with and without him in the lineup.

[dxpavelka]

6 hours ago, Danchat said:

Sano? The guy who hadn't hit well since 2019?

And who on this team has?