The Time for Alex Kirilloff is Now, or It's Never

[PatPfund]

7 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

I don’t get the hate/lack of respect? He played 88 games, starting late coming off wrist surgery. He tore up his shoulder late in the year and looked bad in the playoffs as a result………..Buxton & Correa were hurt and looked terrible nearly the entire season.

117 OPS+ - .348 OBP - hit .270 ………..hardly Larnach type numbers.

Why is he not playing every day, if he stays healthy (granted, his issue!), at 1B or at DH at a minimum?

No hate at all; I actually love him (and think his defense used to look pretty good, and is likely to improve now that he doesn't have parts falling off of him). Plus, I never said he was Larnach, but I do believe he needs to stay healthy and hit as he has flashed or he is in serious danger of being bypassed. Brooks Lee may force his way to 2B displacing Julien who has been healthier and has out hit Alex so far. If Miranda is recovered, his bat is likely to force playing time, as might Severino. I'd get rid of Santana first (I think he's this year's Joey Gallo), but if Kirilloff gets dinged up, and somebody produces in his absence, well... even Jorge Polanco found himself mostly on the outside looking in, and he had a far deeper record than Kirilloff. 

I'm pulling for him, but he needs to stay healthy and produce, because the team has better options than last year.

[RpR]

From FanNation:

The Minnesota Twins may be preparing to give veteran Carlos Santana an everyday job in 2024, per Aaron Gleeman of 'The Athletic.'

When the Twins signed Santana, I assumed he’d platoon with Kirilloff versus lefties and play sporadically versus righties, but I’m now convinced he’ll be the primary first baseman no matter the matchup. They think highly of Santana’s glove and seem to believe he’s still an everyday-caliber hitter at age 38.

[mikelink45]

It is up to Kiriloff to step up, but injuries behind and just knock the heck out of the ball and prove he is the player we all anticipated a few years ago. 

[JD-TWINS]

9 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

Gaurantee they put Buxton at DH far more then AK no matter how badly Buxton fails.

I agree it will be Byron’s spot for the majority of his starts - that’s why I think Kirilloff will play 1B at least 50% of the games……that’s 67% of RH pitchers.

[Aerodeliria]

10 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

He's going to have to hit really, really well AND stay healthy if he's going to be a DH only player. 

I wouldn't be surprised if he's moved before the season starts.

I agree with this...Nick really is getting to be a saavy king. (He can't be a Vikings fan, can he?)

[Aerodeliria]

His fielding is atrocious and this is really hurting his chances. I think his monstrous 'error' in the first inning against the Astros didn't sit well with anyone...despite the usual touting of the company line by the management. (Also, his response to his own fielding on that play was rather tepid, which probably didn't sit that well either.) His hitting will not matter much if he can't field because I doubt they are looking at him to become the DH.

[TL]

Best case scenario is Kirilloff has a hot first half and he can be used as the key piece in a trade to bring in a front line starter for the playoffs, instead of Julien, Lee or E-Rod.

[Jeff K]

21 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

I don’t get the hate/lack of respect? He played 88 games, starting late coming off wrist surgery. He tore up his shoulder late in the year and looked bad in the playoffs as a result………..Buxton & Correa were hurt and looked terrible nearly the entire season.

117 OPS+ - .348 OBP - hit .270 ………..hardly Larnach type numbers.

Why is he not playing every day, if he stays healthy (granted, his issue!), at 1B or at DH at a minimum?

I don't get the hate/dislike either.  I think Kirilloff has a reasonable chance of having a very big season for the Twins.  

[Twins33]

He should be starting against righties all the time if he’s healthy but Rocco’s comments make it sound like Santana is going to be playing a lot which I do not want/like