It's Time for Minnesota Twins to Give Mickey Gasper a Real Shot

[Matthew Taylor]

Image courtesy of © David Richard-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Twins offense has been a problem all season, and it’s only getting worse. At 4.15 runs per game, they rank 19th in MLB, and their .700 team OPS ranks 18th. Despite occasional outbursts, they’ve struggled with consistency and have scored more than four runs just twice in their last 10 games. With the rotation fragile due to injuries and the bullpen beginning to show its cracks, the need for this offense to step up has never been greater. Instead, the lineup continues to fall flat.

And that’s the heart of the issue. This lineup just isn’t working. It looks lifeless. There’s no spark, no thump, and no indication that anything is about to change. The Twins are in desperate need of someone who can inject energy and provide a jolt of production. Yet, instead of turning to a batter who is dominating Triple-A, they’re calling up players who have struggled at the plate at every level. Dashawn Keirsey Jr. is hitting .109 and hasn’t been trusted with consistent playing time. He doesn’t bring offensive upside, and the front office doesn’t seem to view him as anything more than a late-game pinch-runner or defensive sub. Yet, when Royce Lewis was placed on the injured list, it was the backup, glove-first outfielder who got the call.

You don’t fix a broken offense by adding a defensive replacement. You fix it by calling up someone who might actually hit. That’s where Mickey Gasper comes in.

The Twins don’t have to look far for a better option. Gasper is putting up incredible numbers at Triple-A with the Saints. His first stint with the Twins this season didn’t go well, as he posted just a .488 OPS in 39 plate appearances (the key there being just 39 plate appearances). But he has done everything possible to earn another chance. Last season, he posted a 1.062 OPS at Triple-A, and this year he leads the entire International League with a 1.106 OPS, along with 10 home runs and 25 RBIs in just 35 games. He's not just having a good stretch. He has been one of the most productive hitters in all of Triple-A baseball.

Even better, Gasper is a switch-hitter. That gives the Twins added lineup flexibility and the ability to create favorable platoon matchups, which could help a team still searching for the right offensive mix. With the way the lineup has struggled, the Twins should be willing to try anything. A switch-hitting bat with power and patience is exactly what they need right now.

Yes, Gasper might ultimately be a quadruple-A player. He is 28 years old and has logged 1,754 plate appearances in the minors, compared to just 62 in the majors. But the Twins clearly believed in his potential when they traded Jovani Moran to acquire him, and after he had a solid spring training, they gave him a spot on the Opening Day roster. The tools are there, and the production has followed. That deserves another look, especially for a team that cannot afford to keep letting its offense sleepwalk through games.

No, Gasper is not the most versatile defender, and he would likely spend more time at designated hitter than anywhere else. But this is not the time for the Twins to prioritize defense over offense, or to get picky about who they're calling up based on fit. They need bats. Keirsey doesn’t bring offensive value. Gasper, on the other hand, is tearing up Triple-A and brings a skill set that no one else on the bench offers.

The Twins literally have the OPS leader in the International League waiting in their own system. The offense is broken, and nothing they’ve tried so far has made a difference. Why not call up the guy who might actually give you what you’re looking for? Gasper didn’t do much in his first look, but plenty of players have struggled in their debut and figured it out later. He could strike out again, but then again, he could make a difference. Right now, the Twins need to try something new.

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Do you think Mickey Gasper deserves another shot? Leave a comment below and start the conversation!

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[CRF]

Ok...I'll go first. No. 

[MGX]

I'm not sure if Gasper is the answer, but can agree that Keirsey doesn't belong on a ML roster at this point in his career. 

[dxpavelka]

So, in other words, the season is over.

[TwinsDr2021]

Man it would be nice to have some 22 or 23 year old healthy prospect to give this opportunity. But I can't find one (Darn Schobels and ERod injuries)

It just sucks that other teams seem to have a young healthy guy to bring up and see what they have in them and the Twins prospects all need more time (because they aren't as good)

So Gasper it probably is and I wish him well.

 

[Otaknam]

It’s a fair point. Not sure where they would play Gasper, but this team needs an offensive jolt! Kiersey likely won’t provide it. Right now they look like they did for the last 41 games of 2024, lifeless and dead in the water. And they don’t have Lopez, making it even worse. 

[Eris]

Calling up Dashawn Keirsey Jr. was not a move made in isolation. Buxton exited Saturday’s game after being hit on the left elbow with a pitch. With Buxton’s availability uncertain, the Twins had only one OF who can play CF and had at least 3 players who could play 3B. 
 

Nice write-up on Gasper. If he keeps hitting like this he should be up soon. However, there is only limited space on the roster for players who profile as a DH. 

[thelanges5]

What have they got to lose? Agree that the offense needs something. He’s led the international league 2 yrs in a row and they traded for him so the must’ve liked something about him. 

If they bring him up, they need to give him a run. Only had 34 AB before they sent him back down.

These guys (McCusker, Keirsey, Gasper) play every day at AAA and then they come up to MLB and play once or twice a week and then we wonder why they aren’t good. That’s not really giving them a chance.

DFA Bride if they think we need Keirsey for the OF defense. 

[Patzky]

26 minutes ago, TwinsDr2021 said:

Man it would be nice to have some 22 or 23 year old healthy prospect to give this opportunity. But I can't find one (Darn Schobels and ERod injuries)

It just sucks that other teams seem to have a young healthy guy to bring up and see what they have in them and the Twins prospects all need more time (because they aren't as good)

So Gasper it probably is and I wish him well.

 

Keasch.. aw rats.

[In My La Z boy]

6 minutes ago, thelanges5 said:

What have they got to lose? Agree that the offense needs something. He’s led the international league 2 yrs in a row and they traded for him so the must’ve liked something about him. 

If they bring him up, they need to give him a run. Only had 34 AB before they sent him back down.

These guys (McCusker, Keirsey, Gasper) play every day at AAA and then they come up to MLB and play once or twice a week and then we wonder why they aren’t good. That’s not really giving them a chance.

DFA Bride if they think we need Keirsey for the OF defense. 

DFA Clemens. Gasper plays 2nd, and we sadly need Bride to pitch.

[NYCTK]

I'm mostly struck by how shallow this team was originally constructed. 

The team, especially in position players, is relatively healthy. Bride and Clemens are both waiver pick up. And yet, both are safe on the current roster due to there being absolutely no one fighting for their jobs. 

 

[Parfigliano]

If Gasper is the answer then just tear it down and start over.

[NYCTK]

16 minutes ago, In My La Z boy said:

DFA Clemens. Gasper plays 2nd, and we sadly need Bride to pitch.

Gasper can't play 2B. The reason Gasper isn't a major leaguer is he can't really play anywhere. 

[Old Crow]

AI has probably informed the Twins brain trust that Gasper's  launch angle isn't quite up to major league standards.

[stringer bell]

Gasper has absolutely nothing to prove at AAA. Two straight years of putting up OPS north of 1.000 is more than 99% of prospects achieve. Clemens can be the third third baseman (behind switch hitters Lee and Castro) so there's really no real reason to keep Bride around at the expense of Gasper. 

I also know that Gasper has caught a handful of games for the Saints and I've watched a couple of those games. Much like a good home plate ump, he didn't do much that was noticeable, which tells me he could be acceptable behind the dish if he hit in line with his Triple A stats (subtract 200 OPS points). People who know baseball and catching much better than I do might have seen red flags in his receiving, but they weren't evident to me.

It's probably now or never for Mickey, at least in the Twins organization. 

[Nashvilletwin]

Is this a joke?

[Peter]

No !!! Great story but he’s not a major league player! Season is far from over!!! Just need to stay healthy and be over .500

[mike8791]

Don't think Gaspar would make much difference on Twins offensive futility.  After all, he has never succeeded at ML level.  More interested in what this current roster says about this FO's lack of development over 7 years.

The fact they have guys of the 26 man roster like Clemens, Keirsey and Bride attests to their abject failure to develop a farm system that can produce at least average ML offense.  Looking back over the Falvey regime, how many Twins all stars have emerged from their drafts/development?  Lewis, a #1 draft choice, has never made it.  You might blame injuries, but his past year in the majors does not bode well for any future selections.  Brooks Lee is, at best, likely an average offensive force in middle infield, way below at 3B.  Jenkins and Rodriguez are highly touted but injuries have thwarted any meteoric rise(what else is new).  And while Keaschall looked good in a very small appearance, he is hardly the cleanup hitter this lineup so desperately needs.  Overall, I give Falvey a D grade for providing offense.

And looking at his highly touted pitching pipeline, by far, his top two starters, Ryan and Lopez, were trade pickups.  No other home-grown product approaches any all star levels.  Ober is too erratic  and Festa and Matthews are still unproven, albeit promising.   He has done better on the bullpen side, with Jax, Varland and Sands,but can we say we have developed a shutdown closer who we can count on thruout the season.  Duran has likely passed his peak.  Who's next?  Why hasn't managment tried inserting someone else in the closer spot?  Let's give Falvey a C+grade on pitching development.

Summarizing, many of us on TD have consistently overrated our minor league prospects.  The continuing presence of the little 3 on a supposedly playoff contender is enough of an indictment on the FO's failure to lift this team to a realistic contender level.  Yes, ownership hasn't helped but neither has this FO.

[TwinsDr2021]

39 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Gasper has absolutely nothing to prove at AAA. Two straight years of putting up OPS north of 1.000 is more than 99% of prospects achieve.

But he is not a prospect and never has been one. He will be 30 in October, and has put those numbers you listed up while in his prime in the minors (which is basically what is required to stay in baseball) Gasper is the type of guy teams not even pretending to try play in hopes he does something and they can spin him for a prospect. Legit Major league teams don't play guys like him because there is no real future for him on the team, they would give the spot to their next up coming prospect. Like Boston did with Roman Anthony, or Baltimore tried last year with Holliday. Now in the Twins case they probably will have to play him because literally none of their prospects that they should call can stay healthy. I would rather see Miranda/Julien given one chance just to see if they are worth even protecting this offseason on the 40 (they probably aren't but Gasper isn't either so...)

[DJL44]

53 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

I'm mostly struck by how shallow this team was originally constructed. 

The team, especially in position players, is relatively healthy. Bride and Clemens are both waiver pick up. And yet, both are safe on the current roster due to there being absolutely no one fighting for their jobs. 

Can you imagine how much worse they would be if they hadn't signed Bader and France?

[Maybebaby]

Give him a shot, nothing to lose, but that means play him for a dozen games straight and see what he brings to the team.  Do not bring him up if he's just going to shine the bench.  We need hitters!

[terrydactyls]

21 minutes ago, Peter said:

No !!! Great story but he’s not a major league player! Season is far from over!!! Just need to stay healthy and be over .500

In order to "stay healthy", I believe you first have to BE healthy.  And the Twins aren't healthy.  To say that Gasper is "not a major league player!" (and with an exclamation point for emphasis) is only true because he hasn't been given much of a chance.  One of my favorite players of all time hit barely over .200 in his first 100 MLB at bats and struck out 26 times.  But Willie Mays did okay.  And all this complaining that he's over 30?  I would rather have someone hitting the ball who's thirty and not a prospect than someone much younger but can't hit.  The Twins are needing help now, not next year.

[NYCTK]

6 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Can you imagine how much worse they would be if they hadn't signed Bader and France?

I can't wait for Keirsey to further show why the Twins didn't need Bader. 

[Wedman13]

48 minutes ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Is this a joke?

I honestly wondered the same thing.  Still do

[NYCTK]

Just now, terrydactyls said:

And the Twins aren't healthy. 

The Twins ARE relatively healthy. 

Looking only at position players, Royce is hurt? Shocker. Austin martin? Or darn. The #2 and #3 prospects? That sucks. 

And pitching? Pablo is the big injury and really sucks. Bullpen is fully healthy? One more starter down for a minute. 

So, one bad injury. Look around the league and you'll see the Twins are probably one of the more enviable teams as it relates to health. 

[Parfigliano]

8 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

The Twins ARE relatively healthy. 

Looking only at position players, Royce is hurt? Shocker. Austin martin? Or darn. The #2 and #3 prospects? That sucks. 

And pitching? Pablo is the big injury and really sucks. Bullpen is fully healthy? One more starter down for a minute. 

So, one bad injury. Look around the league and you'll see the Twins are probably one of the more enviable teams as it relates to health. 

So team health isn't the problem.  Team lack of talent is.  I agree.

[mnfireman]

9 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

The Twins ARE relatively healthy. 

Looking only at position players, Royce is hurt? Shocker. Austin martin? Or darn. The #2 and #3 prospects? That sucks. 

And pitching? Pablo is the big injury and really sucks. Bullpen is fully healthy? One more starter down for a minute. 

So, one bad injury. Look around the league and you'll see the Twins are probably one of the more enviable teams as it relates to health. 

You're forgetting Keaschall, though he was due to cool down after such a hot start. And Matthews isn't "down for a minute" based on researching the type of injury.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

Based on his past performance, Gasper has no defensive position.  That means that he needs to be the DH, which means he needs to be among the very best hitters on the team in order to justify his existence as a full-time DH.  When teams don’t have that guy, they generally rotate the position in order to give guys 1/2 days off — most teams are like this (as are the Twins).  It generally works pretty well. 

If given a full season of run at DH, he MIGHT be close to a league average hitter, something like a 95 OPS+.  That doesn’t represent DH numbers.   There is a reason that TWO major league teams have looked at Mickey Gasper and decided that he’s probably not a major league bat.  

Could they catch lightning in a bottle, like they did with Kody Clemons?  Of course the answer is maybe, but he showed pretty much nothing in his first go around with the Twins.  (And Clemons is quickly turning back into Kody Clemons, not quite a major leaguer).  At this point, I really don’t see the point of giving Gasper an extended run.  YMMV

[LambchoP]

What have we got to lose? Keirsey and Bride can't hit. Call up Gasper and let him play second. Clemens has come back to earth. Lee can cover third. At least until Keaschal is back why not try it. May e with everyday playing time like he's getting in St Paul, he could start to provide some offense for this pathetic lineup.

[NYCTK]

9 minutes ago, mnfireman said:

You're forgetting Keaschall, though he was due to cool down after such a hot start.

#3 prospect! I don't dislike him, but agreed that he was going to really slow down. He should be viewed as a prospect still and not as a player that has graduated and can be counted on, like Lee. Definitely a loss, but wasn't really expected to be on the team in the first half. Only got called up because 2 players on the major league roster fully **** the bed. 

13 minutes ago, mnfireman said:

And Matthews isn't "down for a minute" based on researching the type of injury.

Boo! That's a bummer. Was assuming it was gonna be a 4-6 week thing. Point still stands though.