Matt Wallner Has Been Better Than You Think, in More Ways Than One

He absolutely crushed the ball when he makes contact. With that cannon of an arm and improving defense I think he's a real good option for the everyday right field job next year, even against lefty pitchers. If Wallner can just keep his strikeout numbers within reason, like under 30 percent, I think he'll be a good power threat in the middle of our lineup. If he can stay healthy all year I think a line of .250 BA with 25-30 HR is well within his ability. Wallner, Buxton and Larnach/E Rodriguez/ Keirsey or Martin/Castro looks like a legit OF on paper. I still hope they sign a true CF as Buxton insurance. Someone who can hold down the OF for another year until we're sure Rodriguez and/or Rosario are ready for everyday big league at bats.

Last season I opined early on that Wallner had good speed and a pretty good eye at the plate while improving as a fielder. Those comments only returned piles of down votes, scorn, and sarcasm.

Now that Wallner has been resurrected in the minds of Twins fans it is worth a reminder that he is still learning. He is not an excellent outfielder, but rather one who is still learning and close to average. He has become much better at reads and catching the ball on the run. A big weakness, which I traitorously shared with a NL base coach friend last season, was Wallner's slow transfer of ball to throwing hand; you could run on Matt last year. This has been effectively cleaned up and now his arm is actually very useful. 

I think the Twins should consider one of two options this offseason, one of them could begin now: 1) let Wallner play a full season (150+ games as a starter) to see once and for all what the guy can do on both sides of the ball against all pitchers .... or 2) find a team acutely in need of a power left-handed bat who has a really good right-handed bat/glove/wheels to exchange in a trade. I don't think #2 happens and I can't think of a guy right now. 

If Kepler is less than 100%, the time has come to just slide Matt Wallner into RF and into the middle of the lineup to see what ensues. There are 24 games left. I'm hoping he gets 100 more plate appearances by October.

He's exceptionally well-suited to play RF, where his cannon of an arm plays up and his range is less of an issue. His speed is more than enough to cover the area, but it does take him a while to get going, so he's not going to do as well on those balls where you need a great jump to get there. that's not as important in RF, though. he'll handle the balls that he can get under just fine, and has the ability to play balls effectively off the wall and keep runners from freely advancing.

It's going to be interesting to see how he manages at the plate. He's right in his physical prime so it shouldn't be a surprise that a player who has always crushed baseballs is absolutely crushing baseballs. He's hitting the ball hard, he's hitting it in the air, and it goes a long way. If he makes enough contact, he should be able to do this, for as long as he's able to catch up to fastballs. I think where things fell apart for Sano was when the injuries started to take their toll and he couldn't catch up to the good fastball up in the zone any longer, but YMMV.

nothing wrong with having a player with a unique profile. Wallner has a full season's worth of MLB games under his belt now and has put up an OPS+ of 140. He's improved at the plate every season, despite the Ks. Maybe he's just a different guy?

Uh huh. The same comments about how much better Julien and Kirilloff were defensively have been made too. I will say that he has played better. If he improves that jump on the ball he'll be fine. The fact that he does have a strong arm helps overcome some of his shortcomings. And as long as he's a Twin and Rocco/Falvey are running the lineup he'll never be given that opportunity to play 140 or 150 games. This righty lefty bull has been in place for several years. If they do a 180 and change course it would signal they were wrong. So they'll continue throwing the Margot Martin and Garlick types out there. Even though I believe that's a crazy strategy 😳 

1 hour ago, Karbo said:

I don't think the Twins gave up on him this spring, I think they recognized his struggles and sent him down to get out if the bright lights of the MLB. Looks like they made the right move to me. I would like to see him get more at bats facing lefties though, to see if he can be a true regular, instead of a platoon player.

Sending Wallner was absolutely the right move. It wasn't a putdown, he needed to adjust & that was where he needed to do it & he did. I've been frustrated by his development in the OF but he came back improved not only in his hitting but also his fielding. There's still improvement in his fielding & SOs that can be made but I'll take what he has to offer.

I’m willing to pencil in Wallner for RF next year. I’m not worried about the strikeouts as long as he obliterates the ball when making contact. You can’t have many guys with his profile but one or two is not a problem 

He's the only player on the active roster that for me has "must watch his at bat" during the game.  Arraez used to be that.  Buxton when he was younger and healthier.  Thome when we had him.  Kirby.

It isn't because you are certain something good is going to happen.  It's just because you know you there is a chance you might see something special.

3 hours ago, Linus said:

I’m willing to pencil in Wallner for RF next year. I’m not worried about the strikeouts as long as he obliterates the ball when making contact. You can’t have many guys with his profile but one or two is not a problem 

They could bring back Joey Gallo and put him in left.

His early season slash: .080/.273/.240.

Half the batting average and 2/3 the slug were due to hitting a home run off a position player lobbing the pitch to him.  That's how bad he was.

His numbers may spin up nicely, but Eye'm not yet convinced of anything other then he still reminds me of Gallo. 

Hope.