Gilberto Celestino Demonstrating Big-League Value

I liked him last year when he struggled to grow into the challenge, but he kept at it and this year is the result of his determination.   He has assets that Rooker, Garlick, and Cave combined did not have - speed and a glove.  Now his bat is playing big and I hope he is here to stay.  What better back up is there for Buxton?

When Larnach went on the IL, I figured Gilberto would play everyday.  I wish he would.  Rocco seems to want to play Gordon against the righties.  Gilberto offers more at the plate.  Plus, Kepler hasn’t had to play CF, which I think has helped Kepler avoid nagging injuries in the early going

I hope he keeps it up.  Almost every article on T.D. speaks of his ability to be a role player/4th outfielder.  I don't understand this thinking.  That should be his absolute floor.  His age and minor league track record seem to show he could be a good to very good outfielder.  Keep it up young man!

I think calling him a 4th outfielder sells him short on both his prospect pedigree and production. He was never a global top 100 guy but as a big bonus international signing with good success in the minors he projected somewhere between a glove first back up CF if he couldn't keep up hitting to an either average or above average CF starter depending on his hitting. He should be treated as the primary back up CF to Buxton when he's out but one that also plays regularly against LHP in the corners with Garlick to give Max and Trevor an occasional day off. That should give him plenty of PA to maintain his hitting approach and be successful contributing to the team.

FO delay of getting a legit CF sub, kept me waiting for Celestino to come up. Now as he has come accustomed to MLB, his bat has come alive and he has excelled in defense but not quite acheived Buxton level.We can now finally quit wasting our time with Cave & Garlick type and cut them loose. 

Agreed that now with Celestino & Gordon able to play CF we can keep Kepler in RF. That has made our OF so much better. IMO we can't have enough CF caliber OFers if there isn't room at CF they can play somewhere else not vise versa. TB has 4 CF caliber OFers, that plus their pitching has kept them successful.

44 minutes ago, ashbury said:

Concur on Cave, but Garlick doesn't even belong in this sentence.  The only CF he ever played in the pros was 22 innings at the major league level last year, for some unearthly reason I choose to forget but surely was dire.  True, he played CF in college (baseball at Cal Poly Pomona must be a laid-back affair), but the Dodgers in their wisdom did not invest one inning of his five-year development with them in center.

I never once mentioned that Garlick played CF at anytime, Garlick isn't  good at the corner OF spots much less CF. What I'm against is that OFers are judged solely by their bat, IMO Garlick isn't that good even facing primarily LHPing. Therefore it's ridicious to keep him on the 40 man.

44 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

I never once mentioned that Garlick played CF at anytime, Garlick isn't  good at the corner OF spots much less CF. What I'm against is that OFers are judged solely by their bat, IMO Garlick isn't that good even facing primarily LHPing. Therefore it's ridicious to keep him on the 40 man.

Garlick is better in left field than Larnach, and can hit left hand pitchers much better than most of the team, we still do not have a a left fielder as good there as Buxton and Kepler are in center and right.

Larnach does have better numbers in right field and can make a good back-up for Kepler.

I don't think anyone has ever stated he's a 4th OF and that's all. I just think it's been accepted as being his floor and his role for now. I mean, healthy, pretty sure Kepler, Buxton and Kirilloff/Larnach will be the primary starting OF. I am so surprised this kid has come on as strong as he has. And not because of his inauspicious debut last year, but just being as young as he is and a half year at AAA...even though he looked good...I just figured he'd need a little more time to develop before settling in to a ML role. It's a little hard to gain experience and confidence sitting on the bench after all. But he's responded wonderfully. 

The defense is there, and his milb numbers suggest a solid bat and OB. The question as to his future as a starter, IMO, is how much pop/power does he really have? And while he has speed, is it transferable to SB? Answers to these questions will determine if he's eventually a starter or not. A good balance of everything but nothing exceeding "norms" would keep him as an outstanding and versatile 4th OF.

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

I never once mentioned that Garlick played CF at anytime, Garlick isn't  good at the corner OF spots much less CF. What I'm against is that OFers are judged solely by their bat, IMO Garlick isn't that good even facing primarily LHPing. Therefore it's ridicious to keep him on the 40 man.

I'll agree Garlick is not good defensively, but saying he can't hit lefties is not supported by facts. The guy flat out hits southpaws.  Whether it makes up for his flaws is another debate.

At minimum I think he needs to stay up at the MLB level.  He is best possible defense replacement when Buck is hurt or needs his rest.  He is not an auto out like he used to be.  Even if he does not start he can come in to cover LF if needed for late inning defense. 

I think we all need to remember he is still young and should keep getting better. 

1 hour ago, PNW twins said:

I'll agree Garlick is not good defensively, but saying he can't hit lefties is not supported by facts. The guy flat out hits southpaws.  Whether it makes up for his flaws is another debate.

I didn't say he can't hit lefties my point is that he's overrated about his performance facing lefties and that I'd expect much better from him in those situations since that's the reason why we have him on the 40 man.

3 hours ago, RpR said:

Garlick is better in left field than Larnach, and can hit left hand pitchers much better than most of the team, we still do not have a a left fielder as good there as Buxton and Kepler are in center and right.

Larnach does have better numbers in right field and can make a good back-up for Kepler.

Who's better in LF Garlick/ Larnach defensively is debateable but the point is that Celestino is so much better than either of them. His ability to also to play a good CF plus his hitting is coming alive and his ability to stay healthy there's no contest in my book.

I like the young man's talent. His fundamentals not so much but that's on Rockhead and his staff to straighten out.

Celestino is the perfect backup for a team with Buxton.  Buck will always have nagging injuries due to his style and intense style of play, so we need a reliable player who give quality time in CF and have good starts in LF.  

6 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

I didn't say he can't hit lefties my point is that he's overrated about his performance facing lefties and that I'd expect much better from him in those situations since that's the reason why we have him on the 40 man.

 

I guess you could argue small sample size vs lhp, but in 120 some plate appearances he has 10hr and .950 ops. What's overrated about that?

On 5/14/2022 at 8:25 PM, PNW twins said:

I guess you could argue small sample size vs lhp, but in 120 some plate appearances he has 10hr and .950 ops. What's overrated about that?

I was going to put this here as well. Of all the hitters the Twins have had on the roster since 2019, only Nelson Cruz has hit LHP better. 

Garlick would be firmly planted as a top 10 hitter in MLB if he could put that up for his total line. As a bench player though, on a team where the primary corner outfielders hit left handed, his role is about as secure as anyone.