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The Twins needed a spark a few months into the 2023 season, and after a surprising lack of change a few months into the season, a few players found themselves with an opportunity in the big leagues. Who might we see filling these same roles in 2024?
2023 Louie Varland: David Festa
Varland was buried on the depth chart to start the season, but was eventually called upon to help fill the rotation. He did reasonably well, but was returned to the minors when other arms got healthy. He was recalled down the stretch as a reliever, playing a valuable role in the bullpen during the final few weeks. He even made the postseason roster.
David Festa is similarly buried, but is the Twins’ closest pitching prospect to MLB. Should the injury bug bite the team again, it’s likely we see Festa debut in 2024. It’s hard to count on him being an immediate impact starter, but his high-90s fastball and plus slider would play up in short stints if the Twins need another starter to transition to the bullpen at the end of 2024. It’s easy to see a scenario in which he follows the same path as Varland.
2023 Bailey Ober: Louie Varland
Ober was stuck in Triple A to begin this season. It didn’t take long for him to get his shot, though, and there were points after his callup when he was one of the Twin's best starting pitchers. After a while, the Twins decided they couldn’t send him back down to St. Paul.
Varland is expected to be stuck in Triple A to begin 2024, assuming the Twins add another starting pitcher. It’s reasonable to think he’ll be their first call when they need a starter, assuming he hasn’t moved to a full-time bullpen role by then. With a proper four-pitch mix, it’s easy to see Varland becoming an asset for the rotation if given another shot.
2023 Matt Wallner: Yunior Severino
Wallner was stuck in St. Paul for too long in 2023, largely because of his swing-and-miss issues. It didn’t matter how much he punished opposing pitchers; the Twins refused to allow him to earn a job in MLB until they had no remaining alternative. Wallner, of course, was a huge reason the lineup eventually turned around.
Severino plays the corner infield spots, instead of the outfield, and he walks a good bit less than Wallner. Like Wallner, his power is legit, as evidenced by the 35 homers he hit between Wichita and St. Paul in 2023. He struck out over 35 percent of the time in St. Paul, but the Twins protected him from the Rule 5 draft, making it likely he will debut sometime in 2024. While he has a volatile offensive profile, the damage his bat is capable of makes him a candidate to make a significant impact immediately.
2023 Edouard Julien: Brooks Lee
Julien may not have had top-100 prospect pedigree, but he was highly thought-of heading into 2023. When the infield injuries piled up, Julien made his debut, and eventually, it became apparent that they couldn’t afford to send him back to St. Paul. He became a top-of-the-lineup hitter and established himself as a special player and a piece of the Twins' core.
Lee has been playing shortstop, but can move all around the diamond. It’s likely he’s the first call should there be an opening, and the former No. 8 overall pick can perform at a level that keeps him from ever being sent back down. Lee would profile well as a No. 2 hitter in the order, and watching the first three at-bats of any given game go to Julien, Lee, and Royce Lewis should be an exciting thought. Lee will almost certainly get a chance in 2024, and he may perform too well ever to be demoted again.
Are there any minor leaguers who could play the 2024 version of other players who burst onto the scene in 2023? Let us know below!
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