3 Twins Players With Something to Prove Down the Stretch

[Cody Christie]

The Twins are fighting to stay in the playoff race, and players up and down the roster must find a way to re-energize themselves after a long season. Here are three players with something to prove down the stretch.

Image courtesy of © Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier this week, MLB.com had their beat writers identify one player on each team with something to prove down the stretch. That phrasing can be left open to interpretation, and teams are at very different points regarding their chances of making or missing the playoffs. Some teams are trying to get their superstar back on the field for the stretch run, while non-contending teams might be looking for a young player to step up into a more important role. Minnesota’s ability to win games will be critical down the stretch, so there is more than one player with something to prove. 

In the MLB.com article, Do-Hyoung Park identified Carlos Correa as the Twins player with the most to prove for the stretch run. Correa is a natural choice after being an All-Star in the first half and the team’s highest-paid player. He has been sidelined since the All-Star break with plantar fasciitis, the same injury that cost him that plagued him last season. Correa has proven his playoff value to the Twins and Astros throughout his big-league career, so the Twins need a productive version of Correa on the field in October. Besides Correa, what other players have something to prove before the season ends?

Byron Buxton, CF
Something to Prove: Can he get healthy before October?
Like Correa, Buxton has been sidelined for a chunk of the second half with an injury issue. He started a rehab assignment at Triple-A (including getting tossed from a game) before his hip started to bother him again. Buxton is having a resurgent season on both sides of the ball with a career-high 138 OPS+ while providing Gold Glove caliber defense. He had a chance to play over 100 games for only the second time in his career, but that might be out of the window due to his recent setback. Injuries have been part of Buxton's story throughout his career, and he’s shown the ability to quickly return to form when rejoining the lineup. The Twins need Buxton to be an offensive weapon for a team that has struggled to score runs with two of its best hitters on the injured list. 

Royce Lewis, 3B/2B
Something to Prove: Can he carry the offense while learning a new position?
A lot has been made of Lewis and his defensive switch to second base. Lewis was vocal about the transition because he doesn’t want to cost the Twins an important game because of bad defense at a position where he is unfamiliar with all the nuances. From the Twins' perspective, they need Lewis to have more defensive flexibility so he isn’t limited to third base and designated hitter. At the plate, Lewis has slowly been working his way out of the biggest slump of his career, posting a .625 OPS since August 11th. With injury questions surrounding other key bats, the Twins need Lewis to carry the offense to the playoffs while learning a new defensive position on the fly. 

Simeon Woods Richardson, SP
Something to Prove: Can he be the team’s third starter in the playoffs?
There is no question that Woods Richardson has been a savior to a Twins starting rotation that has seen injuries to Joe Ryan, Anthony DeSclafani, and Chris Paddack. In the season’s first half, SWR posted a 3.51 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP with a 71-to-24 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 82 innings. He’s regressed in the second half with a 4.89 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP in 38 2/3 innings. Pablo López and Bailey Ober are clearly the team’s top two starters for the playoffs, leaving the team needing one more starter for the Wild Card round. Has Woods Richardson done enough that the team feels confident giving him the start? Or will the club go with someone like David Festa, who has pitched better in the second half? 

Which Twins players have the most to prove in the season’s final month? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. 

 

View full article

[jkcarew]

Get ready for DH Buxton.

Not that the results can’t be better than the 2023 version of DH Buxton.

[Twinsgypsy]

a sad, but all to true ugly reality.

[Brandon]

He is a better 3rd starter then Les Straker was in 87.  So we have that going for us.

 

[Parfigliano]

2 hours ago, jkcarew said:

Get ready for DH Buxton.

Not that the results can’t be better than the 2023 version of DH Buxton.

I dont want DH Buxton.  I want CF Buxton.

[Doctor Wu]

Only three players? Seems to me that there could be a few more with something to prove, or show they are either healthy and/or can play like they are expected to; players such as Duran, Thielbar, Margot, and the long-missing Correa. Even Farmer, who has played very well the past two weeks, would seem to still need to prove himself to many fans.

[Riverbrian]

I downloaded this news ap on my phone. My intentions were good. I Wanted to be informed if anything major happened. 

It sends me stuff like "5 best pizza places in North Dakota". 

I click on it... and it's somebody who listed 5 pizza places in North Dakota. 

I often wonder what happened to "News" on my newsfeed. 

It's my fault... I clicked on it. 

[big dog]

1 hour ago, Doctor Wu said:

Only three players? Seems to me that there could be a few more with something to prove, or show they are either healthy and/or can play like they are expected to; players such as Duran, Thielbar, Margot, and the long-missing Correa. Even Farmer, who has played very well the past two weeks, would seem to still need to prove himself to many fans.

Yeah, I was thinking this article could be something like "21 Players With Something to Prove".

RB, are all 5 pizza places actually in North Dakota? My news feed usually includes a three-state area in articles like that. I guess at least this didn't include any Brewers with something to prove.

[Riverbrian]

2 minutes ago, big dog said:

Yeah, I was thinking this article could be something like "21 Players With Something to Prove".

RB, are all 5 pizza places actually in North Dakota? My news feed usually includes a three-state area in articles like that. I guess at least this didn't include any Brewers with something to prove.

All 5 places were inside the walls of North Dakota. 

The other 12 pizza places in North Dakota not included in the list are wondering why. 

[old nurse]

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

All 5 places were inside the walls of North Dakota. 

The other 12 pizza places in North Dakota not included in the list are wondering why. 

Are those Pizza places serve what would better be described as **** on a shingle than pizza?

[Whitey333]

Regarding Royce Lewis.  He complained about having to play second base and did it publicly.  That was unprofessional.  He's kind of cocky for a guy that hasn't played much for three years yet complains in public of being worn out.  Rocco uncharacteristically blasted his whole team in public but he's the manager.  He was trying to motivate a sleepy team.  Lewis whining in public shows a lack of professionalism and maturity.  He needs to finish strong.  Buxton?  Who knows?  He's very undependable.  Anything positive we get from him the rest of the year will be a bonus.  People shouldn't expect him to just step on the field and carry the team to the playoffs.

Correa??  Carlos Correa?  Who's that?

[Riverbrian]

44 minutes ago, old nurse said:

Are those Pizza places serve what would better be described as **** on a shingle than pizza?

You have to question the necessity of ranking pizza in North Dakota when the Minot Pizza Hut came in 4th. 

Grand Forks has some good pizza places. A shout out to Rhombus Guys, Up North, Slap Shot, Deeks and Popolino's.  

[Parfigliano]

18 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

You have to question the necessity of ranking pizza in North Dakota when the Minot Pizza Hut came in 4th. 

Grand Forks has some good pizza places. A shout out to Rhombus Guys, Up North, Slap Shot, Deeks and Popolino's.  

4th?  Rigged election.  

[LambchoP]

I'm wondering if that's why the kept Keirsey on the roster over Martin. They know Buxton's going to need to DH a lot so they want a true center fielder on the roster. I like Keirsey, but Buxton is a whole different player and hitter when he's in CF. We need him and Correa back. Not just in the lineup but I'm the field too 

[Twodogs]

12 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

I dont want DH Buxton.  I want CF Buxton.

The Twins don't need DH Buxton, they NEED CF Buxton!!

[Twodogs]

47 minutes ago, LambchoP said:

I'm wondering if that's why the kept Keirsey on the roster over Martin. They know Buxton's going to need to DH a lot so they want a true center fielder on the roster. I like Keirsey, but Buxton is a whole different player and hitter when he's in CF. We need him and Correa back. Not just in the lineup but I'm the field too 

Makes sense? I mean Martin has more positional flexibility, but with Farmer playing better, Lewis learning some 2B, Julien, etc.... it would seem they just need a straight up CFer to spell Buxton?  

[Rosterman]

Buxton fulltime DH. So we will be weak in center.

Let's learn a new position. Okay, if Lee is now the regular shortstop, it is spring training in the final two weeks of the season up-the-middle with three guys.

Will be interesting to see what names are kept on the roster if the Twins go to the playoffs. Rotation arm #3 will be multiple guys in one game. Maybe even an opener!

[Need4speed99]

To be honest,I'm tired of buck. He's ALWAYS hurtat some point. Don't count on him. I'm all for younger guys playing but if the pohlads weren't the cheapest owners alive, maybe they wouldn't be in this mess. I get after the wild for never playing prospects but that's all the twins wanna do( in a legit playoff push) when the team had a shot... they are so cheap I'm pretty sure a pohlad picked up the pennies I dropped.

Edited September 14, 2024 by Richie the Rally Goat