The Greatest Twins Rookie Class in History

[Ted Schwerzler]

Last season, the Minnesota Twins ran Jose Miranda onto the field for 125 games. He put up a strong rookie season and was someone to look at in the years to come. In 2023, Minnesota has a rookie class that could be the best group in franchise history.

 

Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Prospects rarely develop at the same rate, and the path is almost never linear. Twins fans have seen that with everyone from Joe Mauer to Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano. Rocco Baldelli was not around for the development of those three, but he has a front row seat for Royce Lewis, Edouard Julien, Matt Wallner, and Louie Varland.

None of those four players began the 2023 regular season on the Twins 26-man roster. Varland isn’t currently on it, and has pitched just 56 major-league innings this year. That said, each of them now have contributed in substantial ways, and that taking place during a run toward the postseason has been huge.

Edouard Julien stepped in early this year when Jorge Polanco went down with injury for Minnesota. He came up in April and immediately posted a .720 OPS across his first eight big league games. A month later, he was recalled, and he hasn’t gone back since. Julien has an .875 OPS for Minnesota across 72 games since his last recall, and he’s been the regular starter at second base. Polanco was bumped off the starting spot, and Julien has consistently hit atop the lineup with a strong on-base prowess.

Minnesota saw just a glimpse of Royce Lewis last year before a fluke knee injury ended his season. He has dealt with plenty of setbacks during his professional career, but he has continued to prove doubters wrong. With concerns about his swing being too long on the farm, his leg kick has been muted, and his production has taken off. In just 37 games this year, Lewis has a 1.2 fWAR, which puts him on an all-star trajectory over the course of a full season. He owns an .858 OPS and has blasted seven homers. Moving to third to accommodate of Carlos Correa playing shortstop, he could find himself in centerfield for 2024.

The cry for Matt Wallner grew loud this summer. With Max Kepler getting off to a slow start, and Joey Gallo never got going, there was a desire to see the slugger tearing up St. Paul. As a Minnesota-native, Wallner has the benefit of playing in front of familiar faces on a nightly basis. He forced his way into the action with incredible Triple-A numbers, and he has continued to do big things for Minnesota. There was an 18-game cameo last year, but in 47 games for the Twins this season, the lefty owns a .229/.336/.496 slash line. He has hit for power, destroyed right-handed pitching, and played a solid corner outfield.

Varland may be the overlooked name here, but has doubled the five starts he made a year ago. He has been snake-bit by the home run ball in 2023, but has shown better results at Triple-A. Although the Twins starting rotation is strong, the bullpen will need to be supplemented during the postseason and Varland should find himself in that mix. Pablo Lopez and Sonny Gray are guarantees to start, but from there it may be all hands on deck. Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober could use the help of Dallas Keuchel and Varland alongside them. Kenta Maeda has previously worked in relief, and could factor in similarly as well.

For players like Lewis and Wallner, production should be expected given their draft position. That doesn’t guarantee success through development, but the investment and belief in their abilities is substantial. For guys like Julien and Varland, Day 3 draft picks, Minnesota has established some very big come-ups with regards to their big league success.

Due in part to the performances of players like Gunnar Henderson, Luke Raley, and Josh Jung, Minnesota won’t have a rookie of the year winner. None of the Twins players have had enough of a runway to generate the same level of production. However, in their experience this year, each has shown an ability to be counted on as an established regular going forward. 

The more Derek Falvey and Thad Levine can churn out quality big leaguers prior to arbitration, the better the organization can supplement the roster as a whole. With four players producing to this caliber, it’s fair to wonder if Minnesota has ever had a group so talented come into the league together at the same time.

The Twins should remain near the top of the AL Central for years to come, but just how far they push the competition will largely lie on the shoulders of this group. Starting things off as well as they have, it’s anyone’s guess what the end result may be.

Looking back at previous Twins rookie classes, with notable years being 1982, 1999, and 2004, what are some groups that would contend with this foursome for you? Have we ever seen this many players step up immediately, together, and make an impact?

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[Mike Sixel]

If only they trusted Martin. But then, they didn't really want Julien or Wallner up this year. Both came up and were sent down again. They're only up due to injury. I don't get not trusting your own organization.....

Julien is surely legit as is Lewis. It's all about health for the latter. I think Wallner is also. I'd have Varland in the pen right now, to see if he's ready for the playoffs, but nope. 

[Trov]

It is hard to compare the rookie classes because of where the team is at.  In 82 they called up a ton of young guys together that grew to be WS champs in 87.  None of them were HOF but some great players of their time.  In 99 it was a similar movement, I believe they had like 17 rookies play at in that season.  None had good years, but again laid ground work for years of fighting for division.  Of the rookies that year Ortiz, who played 10 games, is HOF, sadly not for Twins because we wanted Matthew LeCroy to DH because he was right handed, ugh why do we put so much on those things? The 2004 class had the M&M boys, who would carry team for years, as well as Cuddyer.  Pretty good three. Luis Rivas was in that group too, not so good. 

This class similar to 2004 had rookies supplement the vet lineup.  Hopefully we can get future production similar to that rookie class, and hopefully we can get 1 or 2 HOF from them as well, but that is asking a lot.  

[nicksaviking]

I like this group, but it's going to be tough to top 1982 with Hrbek, Gaetti, Brunanski, Viola, Laudner and Bush. Jim Eisenreich played too but didn't exceed rookie thresholds.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Larnach says hi. Wallner should be in right field, not left, to maximize his strong arm. Buxton should be in center (I’m open to Martin) or Lewis who should be at a premium position. Varland has promise but is still a work in progress. I’m not ready to crown Julien anything yet. There are parallels to Miranda there and that should be a lesson. 

Those other rookie classes were better, in my opinion, but no this one is not bad.

With Mike Radcliffe sadly no longer with us, lets hope the right people are in place to keep the talent pipeline going. 

[FlyingFinn]

If Lewis was healthy at the start of the season, he sure looks like he would have got rookie of the year. I really think Lee will be pushed next year in hopes that he will get rookie of the year and that draft pick.

[Mike Sixel]

2 minutes ago, FlyingFinn said:

If Lewis was healthy at the start of the season, he sure looks like he would have got rookie of the year. I really think Lee will be pushed next year in hopes that he will get rookie of the year and that draft pick.

Nah, this FO loves its veterans. Also, where are you playing him? Lewis has third and Julien 2nd. If they'd just put Lewis in CF and get Buxton to retire.....then Lee could man third. But I have no idea where Lee plays. First, if AK is hurt again?

[Fire Dan Gladden]

Some context for this article would have been nice.  How can you have an article discussing this group maybe being the best ever without doing any actual research and comparison?

[Shaitan]

Misleading headline. I was expecting Twins history.

[Teflon]

I'm sorry, they're not going to compete with the '82 class. Hrbek and Gaetti both finished in the top 5 of ROY voting. Laudner, Hrbek, Gaetti, Brunansky and Bush played in nearly 6000 games for the Twins and compiled 86 career WAR. They also played in a combined 71 postseason games and 5 all-star games as Twins. Add to that 4 Gold Gloves. (All Gaetti -Hrbek should have 1 or more)

On the pitching side, Frank Viola pitched in 260 games for Minnesota and another 5 postseason games. He pitched in an All-Star Game, won the '87 World Series MVP award and the '88 Cy Young award. He posted 27 career WAR for the Twins. Pitcher Pete Filson was another '82 Twins rookie and would appear in 130 games with a total WAR of 3.5. Gaetti, Brunansky, Viola and another Twins rookie, Jim Eisenreich, would all go on to add significantly to their career totals outside of Minnesota.

I don't see this year's group matching those totals. - especially as sticking with the Twins for as many seasons as the '82 group isn't as likely for players in the current era.

[Road trip]

Willie Norwood, Rob Wilfong, Hosken Powell, and especially Bombo Rivera, c.a. 1978 😁

The Twins management was in full rebuild and advertised this crew as the next great hope!  None of them really developed, but the names.... just great names!

(I didn't include Butch Wynegar, as he actually was a pretty good player, and already was a grizzled 3rd year veteran of 22 years old when the rest of this crew got started)

Little wonder Rod Carew was ready to leave town...

[Jocko87]

Clickbait headline aside, it’s a pretty good group and not limited to this years rookies.

Bookmarking this article for Ted’s next fire the FO piece. 

[BsuNemo]

8 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Nah, this FO loves its veterans. Also, where are you playing him? Lewis has third and Julien 2nd. If they'd just put Lewis in CF and get Buxton to retire.....then Lee could man third. But I have no idea where Lee plays. First, if AK is hurt again?

I think Lee plays primarily second. Julien is more of the utility guy and both Lee and Julien can get some first base in too and DH if Buxton gets his ass into the outfield. AK can get some outfield. We will find a place for his bat. (I hope) 

[Rod Carews Birthday]

They're interesting. They're good.  They're promising.  They're exciting.  BUT, they're really not in the same category as the 1982 group.  The Twins brought up about half of the team that would go on to win the WS in 1987 that year, and while they weren't all good right away, several had very substantial and long MLB careers.  Let's hope they play long enough and well enough to make it a good debate a few years from now.

[dxpavelka]

1975.  Disco Danny Ford hit .280 with 15 home runs and Lyman Bostock hit .282.  Nobody really noticed them as Fred Lynn & Jim Rice finished 1, 2 in the ROY race and nobody else got votes and Lynn & Rice also finished 1,3 in the MVP voting that year.  Jim Hughes won 16 games as rookie SP, besting Bert Blylevin by one for the team lead.  If you're not old you won't remember any of that.

[Dave Borton]

16 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

But I have no idea where Lee plays.

With a .958 compiled at short this year, maybe he goes to 2nd with Julien as an awfully young DH. I am afraid Polanco's wheels are finished. Let's see what rest of year brings.

[Fatbat]

This is a nice rookie class but way too early to say maybe the best. The team still has holes to fill next year.  Lee, Austin, Festa and company could be a nice rookie class as well. 

[Karbo]

10 hours ago, BsuNemo said:

I think Lee plays primarily second. Julien is more of the utility guy and both Lee and Julien can get some first base in too and DH if Buxton gets his ass into the outfield. AK can get some outfield. We will find a place for his bat. (I hope) 

Don't write off Polo. He's still one of the Twins best hitters. Either Lee or Lewis would play OF or 1st depending on AK's health.

[dxpavelka]

2 hours ago, davidborton said:

With a .958 compiled at short this year, maybe he goes to 2nd with Julien as an awfully young DH. I am afraid Polanco's wheels are finished. Let's see what rest of year brings.

I remember a few years back when we felt that Eddie Rosario was finished.  Now all he does is win.

 

[TwinsAce]

2 hours ago, dxpavelka said:

I remember a few years back when we felt that Eddie Rosario was finished.  Now all he does is win.

 

The same Eddie Rosario who has been worth -0.3 WAR since being with ATL?  He had a great hot streak in 2021 of 33 games that then led to an amazing postseason and NLCS MVP against the Dodgers.  But outside of that, I would argue he looks exactly like we would expect.  Roughly league average batting with decent pop and declining defense as he gets older.

I would expect Polanco to have decent offensive stats around league average or slightly above at times, some injuries, and declining defense in the years to come.

The bigger issue when you move on from a league average player (and long-time vet and fan favorite) is to replace them with a younger player who can perform at league average with upside for more OR find a vet who is better than the one you replaced.  The issue for the Twins with Rosario was that the replacements struggled after he left.

[Morland]

I expect that Polanco will be traded this winter. Then second base will be fought over between Julien and Lee. At least one of the left handed outfielders will be traded as well. Pitching and a right hander who does well against left handed pitching will be the trade targets.

[dxpavelka]

9 hours ago, TwinsAce said:

The same Eddie Rosario who has been worth -0.3 WAR since being with ATL?  He had a great hot streak in 2021 of 33 games that then led to an amazing postseason and NLCS MVP against the Dodgers.  But outside of that, I would argue he looks exactly like we would expect.  Roughly league average batting with decent pop and declining defense as he gets older.

I would expect Polanco to have decent offensive stats around league average or slightly above at times, some injuries, and declining defense in the years to come.

The bigger issue when you move on from a league average player (and long-time vet and fan favorite) is to replace them with a younger player who can perform at league average with upside for more OR find a vet who is better than the one you replaced.  The issue for the Twins with Rosario was that the replacements struggled after he left.

MIGHT a good idea to not move on from a guy until you are certain that the replacement(s) can perform at a level at least the same as the fella you're moving on from.  Three years out on Rosario and our LFs are nowhere near what he's done since or before he left.  On a positive note, at least Gallo has missed enough time with injuries that he likely won't break the team strikeout record.  Unless he goes on a surge.