2018 Twins Highlights: Super Rosario and La Tortuga

I absolutely love Rosario, and will positively live with a few gaffes once in a while for all he does and all of his production. Despite an occasional bad play in the OF...remember be was playing on a bad wing in 2017 as well...he is a fine OF. I am NOT tooting my own horn, but I remember a couple years ago when some were talking about Rosario as a bust who should be moved, or how he was no better than a nice 4th OF. I cautioned patience, and stated that if I were another team looking to make a trade with the Twins, Rosario would be at the top of my demands. And look now what he has become, and is still developing in to. Just a shame he didn't get to finish out the season.

Off target slightly, but I feel exactly the same about Kepler. This young man was behind other kids his age when signed. He practically skipped AAA ball. He has a good eye, makes good contact, oozes athletic ability, and hits laserbeams off his bat with solid contact. If he balances his weird splits from years 1-2 and year 3, he could be poised for a real breakout in 2019.

Astudillo, as I've said before, is not just a great story, though he certainly is. There is just no way to know who and what he is, or could be. But isn't that really the story of his career thus far? Primarily a catcher with some decent positional flexibility, he was known as the super high contact don't SO but don't BB high average hitter who had some memorable no look pick off throws to 1B. Even the Twins, like his previous employers, didn't know what they had. How can a short, squatty receiver with positional flexibility and no true offensive profile they are used to measuring be a real prospect? They used him at catcher, then moved him off the dish to audition someone else after the Castro injury and Wilson promotion. When they brought him up, it was for his flexibility and a contact bat off the bench. FINALLY, they put him behind the plate again and gave him a chance.

And what did they find? SSS I grant. But they actually found a guy, with budding power at age 26, who could actually make contact and hit at the ML level just like he has done his entire milb career. He could also actually catch, and fill in here and there at other positions solidly.

Sometimes, a player just doesn't fit an arcitype a team wants or expects. And then that player gets an opportunity to show what they really can do. I have no illusions Astudillo will suddenly earn a starting job behind the plate, or elsewhere, and emerge as a batting leader or All Star candidate. But the Twins may have stumbled on a very good role player who can bring a lot of value. To not protect him, to not take him seriously at this point, would be a big mistake.

Great story, Tom, thanks.  And I for one am looking forward to Astudillo being part of this team in 2019 and beyond.  There is so much about him that reminds me of Kirby Puckett, fireplug body type, excitement, outgoing personality, and results.  And he can do an acceptable job at three positions, in addition to catcher.  Gotta love him.

I have been a big fan of Rosario since he and Sano battled for the HR championship back in Elizabethton...a battle Rosario won.  Have continued to like and support him while many here and elsewhere were, to say it kindly, more than down on him.  So I look forward to him signing that big extension this winter so God willing, I can continue to watch him for the next four or five years.

A fan of both players to be sure.