Can Harrison Bader Be the Heart and Soul of the 2025 Twins?

Bader can definitely give them a shot in the arm. But the Twins really need their best players - Correa, Buxton, Lopez, Ober, Ryan, Duran, and Jax - to start playing like it.

He’s being used as a platoon player. So…

Best chance at a salvaged season is Lewis being that guy…playing 120 games and being really good. Seems like pipe dream right now.

Well Rocco is certainly not providing 'the heart and soul' so applications are welcome from anyone associated with the team!

1 hour ago, DocBauer said:

I don't see Bader as the "heart and soul" of the team. I think that's clearly Buxton, Correa, and a healthy Lewis on the player side. But he can be a genuine "spark" for the team.

So far he's taken solid AB, and provided some hustle. His 3 HR have been exciting, and he's got some power, but I don't expect a continuing HR binge. I like his defense despite the big mistake in Sunday's game by throwing to 2B instead of Correa at SS, who probably would have gunned down the runner on 3rd heading home.

He's not a star player. But he's got value between defense, speed, some power, and a certain flamboyant, hustle persona. It's all about staying healthy and hitting RH pitching at an acceptable level. 

But I can see the potential as a fan favorite, good teammate, and sparkplug kind of player. He looks like he's having fun while playing.

At this point Lewis a National Enquirer headline at best.

I really appreciate how hard Bader is working at the plate and at an unfamiliar position in the field as well. According to BR this year is the first time Bader has played left field.

However, if a player signed to be your Buxton insurance policy and defensive outfielder is looked at as a central figure on the team, there may be some underlying issues with the roster.

There is no heart and soul on this team. It went away in mid Aughst last year and can't be found.  Bader is thr closest thing.  But he hits, leads the team in home runs and RBI and hustles which most of the other players don't do.  Therein lies the problem.  Rocco platooning perhaps his most productive player.  If ever a team needed a new manager it's the Twins.  They continue to play lifeless ball.

He sure has been fun to watch so far. This team needs guys like this that give 100 percent and play with energy. The rest of the team looks like they are just counting down the innings until they can go home and go to bed..... Too bad Eeles is hurt, I really thought he had a good chance of being a spark plug type guy this year. Is there any return timeframe for him yet?

11 minutes ago, Rod Carews Birthday said:

Harrison Bader is the current Dan Gladden clone on the team.  He does a lot of things pretty well and is a useful guy, but he’s not an all-star.  Gladden was a tiny bit better hitter, but Bader is better defensively and on the bases.  If Bader can keep hitting the way he is right now, he will be the best player on the team, but that’s not sustainable.  

What both of them seem to have is that rah-rah component that is in pretty short supply on the Twins right now.  Even without keeping the hitting going, Bader has the potential to be very valuable.  Hopefully that energy is contagious. 

Thanks for posting, Rod.  I have been thinking that he reminds me a lot of Gladden ever since that first game in St. Louis.  The similarities are there right down to his style of play and longer, wild hair.  

Considering I still miss the days of the Piranhas, I am looking forward to watching him this summer.