Ranking the Top 5 Twins Performances in the Wild Card Round

[Matthew Taylor]

You don’t win a playoff round without big performances from players in big moments. Let’s look at the five best performances from Twins players in the Wild Card Round.

Image courtesy of © Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Plenty has already been written about the incredible Wild Card series victory by the Minnesota Twins over the Toronto Blue Jays. There were countless great moments, clutch hits, big throws, and game-saving pitches. So many great moments were provided by so many different players. Let’s count down the biggest performances from an unforgettable Wild Card round.

5. Griffin Jax
Griffin Jax had an up-and-down season for the Minnesota Twins all year. Posting months like May and August with sky-high ERAs while also showing lights-out potential in other months, like June and September.

In the Wild Card round, Jax was given one of the toughest assignments that you can ask of a relief pitcher. Come into the eighth inning of a two-run game with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, and Cavan Biggio due up. And he had to do it twice.

Jax survived a leadoff double from Guerrero Jr. in game one and escaped with no damage before a 1-2-3 appearance in game two. Both times, Jax protected a close lead against the Blue Jays best players, allowing the Twins to deploy Jhoan Duran in the ninth inning to win both games.

4. Sonny Gray
Fourth on the list is Sonny Gray, who started Game 2 trying to match Pablo López’s excellent start in Game 1. Gray didn’t disappoint as he was able to complete five shutout innings and five strikeouts. against the usually-potent Blue Jays lineup.

Several times Sonny Gray found himself in trouble, like when he survived runners on second and third in the second and fifth innings, managing to strand runners even when he might not have been perfect on the mound.

And of course the pickoff.

Sonny Gray was the Twins’ best starting pitcher all season and he proved his worth once again in game one with an excellent start in a game where the Twins needed it, only scoring two runs all game.

3. Pablo López
Pablo López might not have gone scoreless like Sonny Gray went in Game 2, but his start ranks ahead because of the stakes that Pablo was going up against. 

López embraced the role of the pitcher who was finally going to break the Twins streak. In fact, he showed up to Game 1 wearing Johan Santana’s jersey, the starting pitcher who threw in a playoff game that the Minnesota Twins won.

Pablo thrived under the immense pressure that was on him and delivered an unforgettable performance in game one, lasting 5 2/3 innings and only allowing one run. 

2. Carlos Correa
Number two on the list is the man that the Twins brought onto the team because of his ability to perform when the lights shine the brightest, and that is exactly what Carlos Correa did in the Wild Card round.

Correa provided three moments that played a huge role in delivering the Twins first playoff series win in twenty years. In game one, Correa made the defensive play of the game when he bailed out a misplayed grounder from Jorge Polanco to drill Bo Bichette at home plate. Then in Game 2, Correa delivered the game-winning RBI before orchestrating the momentum-swinging pickoff play that killed the Blue Jays best rally of the series.

Carlos Correa was paid $200 million to make big plays in the biggest moments and that was exactly what he did in the Wild Card round. But he ended up in second place to…

1. Royce Lewis
What more can be said about Royce Lewis. The man who almost single-handedly ended Minnesota Twins fans’ 19 years of misery when he delivered home runs in the first and third innings of Game 1 which counted as all three runs that the Twins scored in the game.

What makes the effort even more impressive is that Lewis did it on an injured hamstring, where it was no guarantee that he would even make the playoff roster at all.

Lewis is just 24 years old but became a forever legend after his performance in Game One. A performance that allowed Twins fans to believe again and a performance that set the tone for what has the potential to be a magical playoff run.

Do you agree with the list above? Leave a comment below and start the conversation!

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[PDX Twin]

Can't really argue with any of these. But I really feel like Lewis brings something special to the Twins beyond just hitting key homeruns. He just has that confident attitude and smile that can carry the team. First player the Twins have had with that kind of charisma since Kirby!

[Trov]

One thing I would add to Lewis also took a walk in game 2 that led to Berrios being taken out.  If he does not draw that walk, and it was an 8 pitch walk, so was a good at bat with ball 1 and 4 being close pitches.  Had he not walked I bet Berrios stays in there. He may not have had a hit in game 2, but his good 2nd time up helped as well. 

[Ryan Atkins]

I would not argue with these choices. Jax was clutch. Before I opened the article, I came up with this list:

1. Royce Lewis
2. Carlos Correa
3. Pablo Lopez
4. Sonny Gray
5. Michael Taylor (can't discount his defensive contributions)

But, no doubt, pitching was the story of that series so you could easily have Jhoan Duran, Jax, or Thielbar on that list.

The offensive needs to bring the lumber vs. the Astros because I'm not sure you're going to get away with all that traffic on the bases vs. Houston (Blue Jays - 18 LOB, 3-14 RISP).

[minman1982]

I would probably say:

1a: Royce Lewis: he put the team on his back in Game 1 with his two homeruns. If the Twins lose game 1, they are probably cleaning out their lockers after Game 2.

1b: Carlos Correa: simply for the two defensive plays he made that prevented runs from scoring. The throw home in Game 1 was a thing of absolute beauty. The pickoff in Game 2 showed great game awareness, understanding of what the Blue Jays wanted to do, and skill at his position. You pay a shortstop $30M/year for these types of plays.

Can't really argue with 3 through 5. Maybe Duran as an honorable mention. He struck out five over two innings pitched and looked almost unhittable. It is nice to have someone who can slam the door shut in the ninth.

[Logi_Clevs]

Honorable Mentions:

Duran

Michael A Taylor

Pete Maki

John Schneider

[USAFChief]

Honorable Mention: sold out crowds brought the energy 

[minman1982]

6 minutes ago, USAFChief said:

Honorable Mention: sold out crowds brought the energy 

Definitely!!!! Correa said in a post-game interview that he knew the pickoff play would be open because Blue Jays runners could not hear the 3rd base coach telling them to go back. He just needed to decide when to attempt the play. Two outs, full count, runners on 2nd and 3rd is the ideal time to try that play.

[Blyleven2011]

Top 5 performances ...

Game 1 , 

Correa throwing out runner at home ...

Lewis hitting 2 run homerun and a solo homerun  ...

Lopez pitching 5 plus innings ...

Game 2 ,

Pickoff play at second base  , Correa and gray  ...

Sonny Gray pitching 5 bulldog innings ...

[JD-TWINS]

Duran deserves more praise - he’s so talented & because of that he makes it seem easy. Back to back days with 2 run lead in his first national game - first playoffs - CLUTCH!

I do feel the same about Jax - the difference between Thielbar or Jax, if they struggle, somebody else comes in the game. Duran is on an island in the 9th.

[Aerodeliria]

I think the sentimental favorite is Lewis, but Correa saved both games with his defense and won Game 2 with his bat, so he gets the nod.