Nash Walker

Back in May, we looked at Twins over/unders in an 82-game season. How about for the now-official 60-game season?Twins regular season games played: 59.5 Multiple players from multiple teams have already tested positive for COVID-19. MLB can plan as much as they want, but the virus remains a concern. The golden question looms: will the season be completed as scheduled? Twins regular season wins: 37.5 I’m a bit more optimistic than Bovada, where the Twins are pegged at 34.5 wins. We are still waiting on the official schedule, but we know the Twins will play the Royals, Tigers, Indians and White Sox 10 times each. They will play six games against the Brewers and 14 combined games against the Cardinals, Pirates, Cubs and Reds. Baseball is full of randomness. How many games will the Twins win? Ehire Adrianza plate appearances: 84.5 Adrianza got 1.47 plate appearances per game in 2019. In this 60-game season, that trend would give him around 87. How much rest will Rocco give Josh Donaldson, Jorge Polanco and Luis Arraez? Each game is worth 2.7 times more than in a normal season. Adrianza hit a solid .272/.349/.416 last year, but how much will he see the dish this summer? Eddie Rosario’s primary batting order spot: 5.5 Much has been said about Rosario’s replaceable numbers. Trevor Larnach, Alex Kirilloff, Brent Rooker and 15 others are chomping at the bit to play left field in Minnesota. This is a prove-it year for Eddie. Will he hit in the top or bottom half of Baldelli’s (somehow) improved lineup? Taylor Rogers appearances: 20.5 Rogers pitched in 60 games for the Twins last year. He was too often used on back-to-back days as the Twins’ only reliable reliever in the first half. I believe the bullpen will be managed with October in mind. By bringing in Tyler Clippard to an already strong group, Baldelli and Wes Johnson have the flexibility to rest Rogers more often. Will they actually do it? Where’s your money, Twins fans? Comment below! MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

“It’s really starting to kick in.” Marco Raya is only 17, but his repertoire and potential enticed the Twins to select him in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft. He signed Thursday for $410,000, just below the No.128 slot value of $442,900.The righty hails from Laredo, Texas and just finished up his senior year at United South High School, albeit with no baseball. “I was really disappointed I didn’t get to have a senior season," said Raya, who officially graduates Monday. Raya was committed to play college baseball at Texas Tech University, and while de-committing isn’t easy, playing professional baseball has always been the dream. “When I visited [Texas Tech], it really felt like home.” His mix on the hill includes a fastball that runs up to 94 MPH, two distinct breaking balls, and a changeup. “I’m pretty comfortable with all my pitches,” Raya said, “but I would say my slider is my most effective pitch.” High school pitchers from Texas are usually long, large and fire-breathing. Raya does not fit the bill. He’s listed at 6-feet tall and 165 pounds, taller but more slender than his favorite pitcher Marcus Stroman of the New York Mets. “For years, I’ve loved the way he [stroman] pitches,” Raya said, “I’ve studied his game and the intensity he brings to the mound.” Stroman, an All-Star in 2019, is known for his high energy and raw competitiveness. Raya feels like he possesses that mindset. “That mentality is definitely a big part of it,” he said, “I’m a great competitor and I’m ready for anything that comes my way.” Raya will work with a newer infrastructure in Minnesota. Derek Falvey has an aptitude for developing pitchers, a quality he displayed regularly in Cleveland. “I’ve heard so many great things [about the Twins],” Raya said, “over the last few years, the Twins have really been evolving into a great team. Raya says he has an elite ability to add new pitches, make tweaks, and generally improve on the mound. “I can adjust to be any type of pitcher I want to be,” he said, “any pitch I’m taught I can pick up quickly.” He also has a sense of trust in his stuff and knew that a MLB club was going to recognize his skill set on draft night. “I had a feeling [i was going to get drafted],” he said, “I didn’t know by who, but I knew whoever was getting me, that in three to five years, everyone is going to know my name.” High character individuals flood the Twins top-seven farm system. Raya is no different. “I love to work so now knowing that it’s my job and I get to do what I love everyday is a blessing,” he said, “I’m just excited to get to work.” Ted Schwerzler contributed to this article. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Absolute respect here. Thank you

I'm laughing

Good work, Ted. Also makes me wonder about Nelly’s FA market. 15 more teams will be interested. He wouldn’t dare (*gasps*) leave MN would he?

The Twins furthered their trend of targeting massive raw power in the 2020 MLB Draft.Slugger Sabato surprisingly falls Just prior to the start of the first round, Keith Law wrote that the Rangers had all but picked Aaron Sabato at No.14, a slugging first baseman from North Carolina. The Rangers instead chose Mississippi State second baseman Justin Foscue, whom Law ranked as the No.63 prospect on his big board. The Twins jumped on Sabato with the 27th pick, despite having a farm system that is loaded with hefty, slugging corner position players. Sabato hit .332 with a 1.158 OPS in 83 games at UNC. To put Sabato’s power into perspective, his ISO of .366 would’ve paced the majors in 2019. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 230 pounds, Sabato will be limited to first base or designated hitter, likely the reason he dropped to the bottom of the first round. Sabato was ranked as the No.2 shortstop in New York in 2017, graduating from the Brunswick School in Rye Brook. His time at the six would end there as he made the move to first base at Chapel Hill. Slight Soularie shocks in the second With the 59th pick, it was expected that the Twins would pick a college pitcher. Instead, they selected Alerick Soularie, an outfielder from the University of Tennessee. Soularie was not highly ranked even after hitting .357/.466/.602 with 25 extra-base hits in 2019. Soularie is said to be stretched in center and doesn’t have enough pop for a corner. The hit tool and quality of at-bats, however, stands out impressively. He walked (49) more than he struck out (47) in 76 games at Tennessee, and his .466 OBP ranked second in the SEC in 2019. The home run power isn’t beaming like Sabato as Soularie stands at six-foot-nothin’ and weighs more than 50 pounds less than his new teammate. Rounding it off with Rosario After taking prep pitcher Marco Raya in the fourth round, the Twins went back to the outfield with Kala'i Rosario from Waiakea HS in Hawaii. Rosario is lauded as being Hawaii's top prospect. He harnesses big boy power from the right side and projects as a corner outfielder with massive pop in pro ball. "Can you hit?" is the weighted question for Falvine If it wasn’t already, targeting bat-first college stars is now a staple of Derek Falvey and Thad Levine’s draft strategy. Sabato and Soularie join Alex Kirilloff, Trevor Larnach, Brent Rooker, and Matt Wallner in one of the most powerful systems in baseball. If Falvey and pitching coach Wes Johnson can develop consistent starting pitching, the Twins will be in elite shape. After setting the home run record with 307 in 2019, the Twins should be the odds-on favorite to lead the next decade in Bombas. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

I’m pretty over it, honestly. I’m just ready for some baseball. 50 games grosses me out but what better alternative is there? Opening day 2021?

I’m disappointed. I no longer trust the stakeholders, I fear for the players, and I am embarrassed for the league.After many weeks of public discourse and negotiations, the two sides are reportedly at an impasse. 40 million Americans are unemployed due to COVID-19, a deadly virus that has shaken our world up more than we could’ve ever imagined. MLB can’t be blamed for the terror and destruction caused by the virus. It’s not what happens to us, but how we respond that defines our character. The NBA and NHL have successfully formulated plans to return to action. They are objectively healthy. MLB’s true colors have shown. With an opportunity to become the first North American sport to return, a chance that still exists, Major League Baseball has floundered, unsettled and disgusted even their most passionate fans. Imagine a very real scenario where baseball isn’t played this summer. From the final inning of the World Series in 2019 to opening day in 2021, nearly 18 months will have passed without a real MLB pitch. The current CBA expires in December of 2021. These two sides are using current negotiations as a way to gain leverage for CBA talks. That’s a ridiculous mistake. While the possibility of a work stoppage or strike looms, this isn’t about the CBA or leverage. This is about uniting fans after tragedy. This is bigger than money. This is about *us*, the fans who have endured an unbelievable pandemic. Don’t they care? The owners, in the latest development, rejected a proposal from the players to conduct a 114-game schedule. MLB has argued that owners will lose money for every additional regular season game. Now Rob Manfred is considering forcing a 50-game season. In what world does a sports league want to play *less* games? I would say one where the league frankly doesn’t concern itself with anything more than money. I think I am a much better fan of the sport than most owners, if not all. I really do. It’s a business, I get that. But why own a baseball team if you don’t love baseball? Public perception and the future of the game have been pushed to the wayside. That hurts. The 2019 Twins helped bring me and so many others into buying in again. We expect a return of passion from the people who run the league, yet we have seen the opposite. I want to watch the Twins. I want to sit on my couch with my scorebook and watch José Berríos mow down the White Sox. I want to see Josh Donaldson rip piss missles in a Twins uni at Target Field. I want to see Nelson Cruz follow up his historic 2019 season. I long to marvel over Luis Arraez taking borderline pitches and shaking his noggin. Are the owners really gonna take that away from us? I host the Locked On Minnesota Twins podcast five days per week. I write on this platform weekly. I love baseball and I love the Twins. I don’t know if I would ever be able to forgive the league if the season is lost over money. That is unacceptable and unfathomable, yet here we are. Baseball is a *our* game, and they want us to consume less of it, all because their checks aren’t fat enough. I consider myself a hardcore fan. A lot of my thoughts are about baseball. If I’m saying I might not be able to forgive the league and stay engaged, how would a more casual fan feel? Not good, my friend. MLB could lose *millions* of followers. The league can very well come back in 2021 and say “hey! Here we are!” but how many people will welcome it back after such a head-shaking hiatus? I believe fewer than they probably think. We love this game. We crave it. Why doesn’t baseball love us back? MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Nick, I appreciate your push for the importance of speaking up. I do believe change will be had when we start to really understand the issues at hand. I also think it can be tricky to criticize those who don't speak up. We are all entitled to our own way of grieving, understanding, and communicating, even with blatant injustice. Max's post was especially unique and I agree that he didn't mean it maliciously or politically. It was bad timing, and he got ripped for it. Your stance that he could've acknowledged Floyd and police brutality is an intriguing one, and he eventually did, which is why I think some people are responding poorly to your article. None of this is easy. People are hurting. It shows valor that you chose to write your feelings. We can be the change we want to see in the world. If you believe that pushing others to speak up and calling them out when they don't is the best way to progress (it may be), that's your prerogative. That's your belief. There's nothing wrong with that. We need to better understand each other. This didn't have the best response, but sparking discussion is key. I'm proud, as always, to write about and cheer for the Twins alongside you Nick. Stay up brother.

Twins prospect Brent Rooker is looking forward to mashing his way to Minnesota if and when a season begins this summer.“With the way things are shaking out with negotiations, we may need to be ready to go at the drop of a hat,” Rooker said. Rooker, 25, whom the Twins drafted with the 35th pick in 2017, was tearing it up for Triple-A Rochester before injuring his groin last July, hitting .281/.398/.535 with 14 homers in 65 games. Less than three weeks after Rooker hit the IL, Byron Buxton crashed into the center field wall in Miami, effectively ending his season and opening up a spot in the outfield. Jake Cave filled that spot more than admirably. He hit a monstrous .361/.418/.705 with 11 extra-base hits in 21 games in August for the Twins. Another outfield spot opened in early September when Max Kepler missed significant time with a shoulder injury. 26-year-old LaMonte Wade Jr. was called up to the Twins and played in 24 games in September, hitting a measly .204/.338/.389. Rooker didn’t get his chance last summer, but he understands that he is quite literally a phone call away from joining the Bomba Squad. “I feel like I’m in a place where, when called upon and when the opportunity shows itself, I’ll be ready to come up and contribute and help the team win games.” The numbers back it up. Rooker was the 2017 National Player of the Year at Mississippi State after posting numbers you’re more likely to see in MLB The Show ‘20. He hit .387/.495/.810 with 23 homers in 67 games. In his final three months at Double-A Chattanooga in 2018, Rooker hit .264/.362/.498 with 40 extra-base hits in 81 games. “I want to continue to learn as much as I can.” Rooker’s hitting profile looked similar to Miguel Sanó’s in 2019 with massive pop, a considerable number of walks and, to a traditional baseball fan’s dismay, some strikeouts. “I never want to be pinned down to a certain profile,” Rooker said, “but power is going to be what allows me to have success.” The right-handed Rooker mashed same-side pitchers to the tune of a 1.010 OPS last year. Against lefties, his OPS dropped to .714. Why? “That’s a really good question,” Rooker said, “that’s something I really dove into last year.” “The splits aren’t as prominent in previous seasons,” he said, “but I do think there’s something about the way my swing is grooved that causes right-handers to fall more into my bat path.” Rooker said consistently beating lefties is something he’s been working on after seeing advanced statistics. “I’m hoping that whenever we get going, you’ll start to see that work pay off,” he said, “If I can get my OPS against lefties in the same ballpark [as against righties] that’s gonna be good news.” Yes, it will. Rooker flies under the radar in the Twins system, mostly due to the presence of top-100 prospect outfielders Trevor Larnach and Alex Kirilloff. Playing alongside Larnach, Kirilloff, top prospect Royce Lewis and breakout catcher Ryan Jeffers in spring training, Rooker hit .286/.400/.333 with a double. “All of those guys, plus several others, are really good players with a lot of upside, as well as being great people.” Rooker hasn’t yet played more than a few spring training games with his future Twins teammates, but he’s looking forward to it. “I’m excited to see all of those guys continue to progress.” Rooker is perhaps the closest of any Twins prospect to joining the team. In 259 minor league games, Rooker is hitting .267/.357/.505 with 54 homers. Larnach and Kirilloff are on their way, but the underrated Rooker is also on the verge of bringing his big bat to Minneapolis when play resumes. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

There were 6,776 homers in 2019, the most in baseball history. 58 players hit 30 or more bombs, but who hit them at the highest rate?5. C Gary Sánchez, New York Yankees Plate appearances: 446 Home runs: 34 HR/PA: 7.62% Sánchez’s odd reverse splits continued in 2019. He homered nearly 8% of the time against righties and 6.5% against lefties. He appeared in only 106 games due to head and groin injuries throughout the year. He homered in 29 of them. He punished the poor Orioles for 10 homers in only 14 games. Sánchez may potently hit homers, but his inability to consistently reach base is glaring. Since 2018, Sánchez has failed to reach base in 69.5% of his plate appearances. Out of 220 players with at least 700 plate appearances since 2018, Sánchez ranks 191st with a .305 on-base percentage. Among 17 catchers in that sample, he ranks 13th. 4. 1B Pete Alonso, New York Mets Plate appearances: 693 Home runs: 53 HR/PA: 7.65% The polar bear had a magical rookie season in 2019. He led baseball in homers and got on base at a respectable .358 clip. The right-handed Alonso had an identical .941 OPS against righties and lefties alike and homered at similar rates against both arms. Alonso ranked second in bWAR (5.2) among first basemen who played at least 100 games there, behind only Matt Olson of the Oakland Athletics (5.4). Alonso barreled up the ball in 9.5% of his plate appearances, tying him with George Springer for the 11th highest rate in the league. He showed off his sheer pop on May 11 when he hit a ball 118.3 MPH into dead center, the hardest hit homer of the year for any player. 3. 3B Miguel Sanó, Minnesota Twins Plate appearances: 439 Home runs: 34 HR/PA: 7.74% From June 28 on, Sanó homered in 8.17% of his plate appearances. He hit .271/.376/.618 during that span. He tied Milwaukee’s Keston Hiura for the 26th best on-base percentage, ahead of teammate Luis Arráez and Cubs star Kris Bryant. Sanó ranked eighth in slugging percentage and led American League third basemen in homers. The offensive expectations for first basemen, although closer in recent years, exceeds that of third basemen because of the defensive difficulty. In the final 3+ months of the 2019 season, Sanó would’ve ranked second among all first basemen in wRC+ (156), and homers (25), and fifth in on-base percentage (.376). 2. DH Nelson Cruz, Minnesota Twins Plate appearances: 521 Home runs: 41 HR/PA: 7.87% Since 2013, Cruz leads the league in homers with 271. Among qualified hitters, Cruz is tied with teammate Josh Donaldson and Cardinals bopper Paul Goldschmidt in wRC+ (144) during that span. 168 hitters have had at least 2,500 plate appearances since 2013, and Cruz ranks 32nd in on-base percentage (.357). Nelly has been one of the games greatest sluggers for years, but 2019 was historic. Cruz hit .311/.392/.639, getting out in only 60.8% of his plate appearances, the ninth lowest in the league. Only Mike Trout posted a higher OPS than Cruz among qualified American Leaguers. He had a top five age-38 season in baseball history. 1. C Mitch Garver, Minnesota Twins Plate appearances: 359 Home runs: 31 HR/PA: 8.64% Are you not entertained? Yes, another Twin. Garver was miraculous in 2019, homering in 28% of games played. Only one catcher with at least 80% of games spent at the position has hit 30 homers in a season more efficiently than Garver: Javy López hit 43 homers in 495 plate appearances in 2003 (8.69%). In other words, no catchers in baseball history have hit 30+ homers in less plate appearances than Garver did in 2019. Garver’s insane rate stats are backed up well by deeper figures. He tied Hiura and Donaldson for the seventh highest hard-hit % (50%) among hitters with at least 200 batted-ball events. Garver caught a barrel in 9.7% of his plate appearances, the 10th most in baseball. Garver ranked behind only six players in average exit velocity on fly balls and line drives (97.2 MPH). It was a special year for the Sauce. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Commissioner Rob Manfred is confident that MLB and the MLBPA will strike a deal to start the 2020 season. The proposed agreement reportedly includes an 82-game season. Let’s look at some Twins over/unders in that scenario.1. Byron Buxton games played: 60.5 As has been pointed out all offseason, the Twins are simply better when Buxton is in the lineup. He was getting close to returning from labrum surgery as the league shut down in March, and he should be close to 100% by early July. In a normal 162-game schedule, manager Rocco Baldelli likely would’ve eased Buxton back into play with routine off-days throughout the year. In what is now a sprint, I expect him to play more regularly. Still, the injury risk remains. Are you taking the over or under? 2. Nelson Cruz home runs: 21.5 Cruz homered in nearly 8% of his plate appearances in 2019. The universal DH is all but implemented, so king Nelly will get to terrorize the National League on the road this summer. I have him pegged for 290 to 320 plate appearances. If the missing tendon in his left wrist doesn’t bother him too much, Cruz could easily push for the home run crown in 2020. An 8% home run rate in 300 plate appearances would give him 24 bombas, but I accounted for the long flyouts at Busch Stadium in St.Louis. Are you taking the over or under? 3. Luis Arráez batting average: .320 Arráez hit .334 in 92 games last year. In a smaller sample in 2020, the possibility of higher averages, on-base percentages, and slugging percentages skyrockets. I wouldn’t be surprised if Arráez matched or surpassed his numbers from 2019. I also wouldn’t be shocked if the league makes an adjustment and Arráez struggles to respond. When I say “struggles,” I mean hitting .290 instead of .334. This kid can hit. Are you taking the over or the under? 4. Twins Cy Young awards: 0.5 Bear with me here. I think Kenta Maeda has a very real chance to be the Twins’ best starter this year. His strikeout numbers are outstanding, his slider is disgusting, and he gets righties out better than any starter in baseball. Betsy Helfand reported Friday that Rich Hill says he’s ready for the planned opening day in July. When healthy, he’s among the best starters in baseball. José Berríos was a Cy Young contender at the break last year, and won’t have to deal with a 200-inning workload this summer. Are you taking the over or the under? 5. Mitch Garver OPS: .888 Garver posted a .995 OPS in 93 games last year. How many games he will play in a condensed season remains to be seen. Assuming he gets about a 75/25 split with Alex Avila, he may play around 61 games. Garver’s elite plate discipline and ability to destroy fastballs in the zone have propelled him to Mike Piazza-like heights. The reigning Silver Slugger winner is not close to done, and with some regression built in, should hover around the .900 mark in OPS this summer. Are you taking the over or the under? MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Yes. Just yes.

Love this, Coop. Even without games, Eloy Jiménez has recorded 17 errors in left field. The Brewers are stingy as hell. I could see them giving the powerhouses (Twins, Tribe, Cards) trouble this summer, but I hear you. I’m interested to see your perspective on the Cubs and Reds. Despite what others say, you’re okay, Cooper.

Photo credit: © David Richard-USA TODAY Sports On his 27th birthday, let’s review Miguel Sanó’s up-and-down Twins career. The past: Sanó, a shortstop at the time, was widely regarded as the top free agent teenage prospect in Latin America in 2009. At just 16 years old, Sanó signed for $3.15 million with the Twins and began his trek to Minnesota. Sanó thrived in rookie ball. As an 18-year-old, he hit .292/.352/.637 with 20 home runs and 18 doubles in 66 games for Elizabethton. Gaining strength and power, Sanó bashed 28 more homers in 129 games for Single-A Beloit in 2012. Sanó began his age-20 season in Fort Myers and hit .330 with a 1.079 OPS before being moved to Double-A New Britain in June. MLB Pipeline ranked him as the No.3 prospect in baseball in 2013. Sanó was quickly moving toward his MLB debut when he suffered an elbow injury in spring training 2014. The injury required Tommy John surgery and he was forced to miss the entire season. He returned to Chattanooga in 2015 at Double-A to hit .274/.374/.544 with 15 homers in 66 games. After a dominant 10-for-15 stretch, the Twins deemed him ready for the bigs. Sanó made his major league debut on July 2, 2015 in Kansas City. In his first four games with the Twins, he went 6-for-15 (.400). Sanó hit .261 with a .913 OPS (149 OPS+) and 18 homers in the final 76 games of his rookie season. While leading the Twins in homers and RBIs to start the 2016 season, Sanó hit the IL with a hamstring injury in early June. He missed a month and hit 14 more home runs upon recovery, finishing with 25 bombs in 116 games. He struck out 178 times and led the league with a 36% strikeout rate, just ahead of teammate Byron Buxton (35.6%). Sanó had a tremendous first half of 2017. He hit .276/.368/.538 with 21 homers and was voted into his first All-Star game. On August 18, he fouled a ball off his shin and played only four more games the rest of the year. Sanó strained his hamstring again in April of 2018 and missed 24 games. In the 17 games after his return, he hit an abysmal .191/.247/.353 with 30 strikeouts in 73 plate appearances (41% K-rate). The Twins moved him to Single-A in mid-June, then Triple-A a month later. He finally flew back to Minnesota in late July and hit .195 with a .684 OPS and 49 strikeouts in his final 136 plate appearances (36% K-rate). The present: His career at a crossroads, Sanó fully bought in prior to the 2019 season. He played in the Dominican Winter League and suffered a freak injury at the championship parade. He missed the first 42 games of the season. He hit .253 with a .948 OPS and seven homers in his first month back. The next chapter wasn’t as rosy. Sanó underwent a truly horrifying stretch, going 5-for-42 with 23 strikeouts (55% K-rate). With fans calling for him to be sent down again, Sanó overhauled his swing with James Rowson and made the haters bite their tongues. From June 28 on, he led all American League third basemen in homers (25) and hard-hit rate (54.1%), and finished second to Alex Bregman in OPS (.994), wRC+ (156), and offensive fWAR (20.8). He was monstrous. The Twins rewarded him with a shiny extension this winter, locking him up through 2023. Sanó excitedly moved over to first base to make room for Josh Donaldson, making up a potentially historic duo at the corners. The future: So, what can we expect from Sanó moving forward? Well, more homers and strikeouts. Sanó leads baseball in strikeout rate among players with at least 1,500 plate appearances since 2016. In 2019, Sanó finished second to Aaron Judge in average exit velocity (94.4 MPH). Sanó led all of baseball in hard-hit percentage (57.2%) and barrel percentage per batted-ball event (21.2%), finishing ahead of Judge, Nelson Cruz, Gary Sánchez, and Mike Trout. In other words, his insane home run numbers weren’t fake. Regression has been a hot-button word for the Twins after setting the home run record last year, but Sanó’s insane 2019 numbers are backed and confirmed by almost every metric. This may surprise you, but Sanó is actually a very disciplined hitter. His 26.2% chase rate is below league average, but his contact rate is also far below league average. He has a lot of swing-and-miss in his profile, but he chases at an admirable rate. When he makes contact, he smashes it. He owns the Statcast record for hard-hit percentage in a single season among qualifiers since they started tracking it in 2015. His 12.5% walk rate in 2019 was over 50% higher than league average. Yes, Sanó strikes out a lot. He also walks a lot. The “strikeout or home run” tag, while not a terrible one to be pegged with, is simply incorrect. His approach is well-constructed and one that should continue to provide results. He lays off poor pitches well and punishes strikes, a formula for success. The fan base is incredibly hard on Sanó. His mistakes off the field and his slumps on it have turned many fans away. The strikeouts, especially among baseball traditionalists, are super unattractive. His majestic homers make up for some of it, but there will always be a fraction of the fan base that simply doesn’t like him. That’s fine, but as he continues to destroy baseballs, it’s going to get more and more difficult to not love his game. It’s time to embrace Sanó for what he is, an imperfect baseball player and human, just like everyone else. Whether you like it or not, he is a franchise mainstay and expressed his desire to remain in Minnesota for the long haul. How he will fare defensively at first remains to be seen, but his bat is going to play. The future is very bright for Mr. Miguel Sanó. His prime is upon us. Happy birthday, Miguel!

As we move closer to the 2020 season, who are MLB's top 15 teams?15. San Diego Padres The Padres look incredibly exhilarating. Fernando Tatís Jr. hit .317/.379/.590 with 22 homers in 84 games in 2019. Manny Machado is bound to bounce back without the pressure of free agency. Eric Hosmer slugged a paltry .425 last year and must earn his way in 2020. He's an X factor for the Friars. Right-hander Chris Paddack was outstanding in his rookie season, dazzling to a 3.33 ERA and 153 strikeouts in 140 2/3 innings. A full season of The “Sheriff” will be fun to watch. Lefty Joey Lucchesi is a serviceable No.2, and offseason acquisition Zach Davies is a solid mid-rotation arm. The Padres are close, and this could be the start. 14. Milwaukee Brewers The Brew Crew, led by the illustrious Christian Yelich, figures to be good again this summer. The rotation is conducted by 2019 All-Star Brandon Woodruff and newly acquired lefty Brett Anderson. Righty Josh Lindblom, the 2019 KBO MVP, will look to continue his excellence from overseas. The trade for Mariners catcher Omar Narváez was a thrifty one. Narváez hit .278/.353/.460 with 22 homers last year for Seattle. Keston Hiura looked legit in his 84-game debut as well. Still, the Brewers farm system ranks dead last in baseball and they middled in most categories last year. 13. Chicago White Sox The offseason champions added 2015 Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel, outstanding catcher Yasmani Grandal, lefty veteran Gio González, Twins killer Edwin Encarnación, and former top prospect Nomar Mazara, among others. They supplemented a talented core that once occupied their minor league system and is now breaking through. Two spots in the White Sox rotation are held by two of the worst pitchers from 2019 in Dylan Cease and Reynaldo López. The White Sox ranked second in ground ball rate and dead last in strikeout-to-walk ratio last year. Tim Anderson and Yoán Moncada posted historically high BABIPs and José Abreu’s ability to hit righties is declining quickly. The upside is there, but plenty of things will need to go right. 12. Los Angeles Angels The Angels have learned that they need more than just the best player on planet Earth. Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon, and Shohei Ohtani make up the most impressive trio you'll find. Justin Upton played in only 63 games last year after hitting 30 home runs in 2018. There’s another boost to the lineup. Their weak pitching staff sticks out like a sore thumb. Ohtani is easing his way back after Tommy John and will help a ton, but there’s nothing of impact behind him. They signed Dylan Bundy and Julio Teheran this winter to help mitigate some of the expected damage. Still, that lineup is nasty. 11. Chicago Cubs Everyone seems to love ripping the Cubs for being “old” and “washed” after missing the playoffs in 2019. Javier Báez, Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Willson Contreras make up one of the more talented infields in baseball, and they just won the World Series in 2016. Yu Darvish had himself a stellar second half last summer, posting a 2.76 ERA and striking out 118 in 81 2/3 IP. Kyle Hendricks is a solid No.2, but Jon Lester and José Quintana will need to bounce back for the Cubs to return to form. Craig Kimbrel, whom the Cubs signed in June, needs to be better too. 10. Cleveland Indians Everything went wrong for the Tribe to start 2019. The Twins quickly emerged as a powerhouse, José Ramírez was ice cold, and Corey Kluber struggled and then got hurt. They still won 93 games and pushed the Twins until late September. They’re still very daunting. Ramírez woke up and hit .327/.365/.739 with 16 homers in his final 44 games. Francisco Lindor is the best shortstop in baseball. Carlos Santana continues to be underrated and Shane Bieber and Mike Clevinger lead a strong rotation. Their outfield is a bit of a mess, but Franmil Reyes has big-boy power. The Indians have won 380 games since 2016, third most in MLB. 9. St.Louis Cardinals The Cards have a clear identity. Their defense is the best in baseball, and they can bloop you to death on offense. St.Louis ranked 21st in OPS and 24th in homers last year, but they still won the NL Central and made the NLCS. They’re a legacy franchise that knows how to win. Jack “The Slayer” Flaherty posted the second lowest second half ERA since the expansion era in 2019. Only Nolan Ryan in 1986 allowed a lower opponent batting average after the break. Flaherty is an ace and the bullpen was the seventh best in the league last year. 8. Washington Nationals The defending champions lost Anthony Rendon, but Juan Soto, Stephen Strasburg, Max Scherzer, Patrick Corbin, and Howie Kendrick are back. The Nats added former Astro Will Harris to their bullpen and re-signed second-half star closer Daniel Hudson. Eric Thames hit .247/.346/.505 with 25 homers for Milwaukee and signed a one-year deal with Washington this winter. He is another high-character individual on a roster filled with them. While less alarming, don’t discredit the still-powerful Nats. 7. Oakland Athletics Matt Chapman has saved 64 runs at third base since 2018. Nolan Arenado has saved 25. Chapman not only dominates the hot corner, but he hit 36 homers last year and ranked fourth in bWAR, ahead of Trout. If only the Twins would’ve drafted Chapman with their first-round pick in 2014. Shortstop Marcus Semien ranked one spot ahead of Chapman in bWAR after a breakout season. First baseman Matt Olson hit 36 home runs and led his position in bWAR. The A’s outfield flashes the talented Ramon Laureano in center and a committee of average bats in the corners. Exciting lefty Jesus Luzardo should lead the rotation soon. 6. Atlanta Braves Ronald Acuña Jr. represents the next wave of young stars. He hit .280/.365/.518 with 41 homers and 37 steals in his age-21 season last year. The record-breaking duo of Donaldson and Freddie Freeman is broken (go Twins), but Freeman, Albies, and Dansby Swanson make up a formidable infield. Road warrior Mike Soroka went 7-1 with a 1.55 ERA outside of Atlanta last year. Lefty Max Fried went 17-6 with a 4.02 ERA and 9.4 strikeouts per nine.The bullpen should be better with Will Smith and Chris Martin, and outfielders Christian Pache and Drew Waters lead a strong Braves farm system. They are my favorite to win the talented NL East. 5. Tampa Bay Rays Charlie Morton, Tyler Glasnow and a healthy Blake Snell should fuse together for a premier rotation. Their bullpen, led by former Twin Nick Anderson, paced baseball in fWAR last year. The offense will be bolstered with the additions of José Martínez, who hit .329/.397/.600 off lefties last year, and Yo****omo Tstusugo, who hit 139 homers in his last four seasons in Japan. I’m so bullish on Austin Meadows as a superstar that I predict he finishes second to Mike Trout for MVP. 4. Minnesota Twins Our Twins didn’t get the bona fide ace they longed for, but it’s hard not to view this offseason as anything other than a success. The Twins are projected to have 10 above-average hitters, the most in baseball. They bashed 307 homers last year, and then added Josh Donaldson, who has the second most bWAR in baseball since 2013. 2019 All-Stars José Berríos and Jake Odorizzi welcome Kenta Maeda, who held right-handed batters to the lowest batting average among starters last year (.158). The Twins bullpen ranked first in fWAR after the All-Star break in 2019 and added veteran Tyler Clippard, the BABIP god. They’re gonna be goooooood. 3. Houston Astros This may be the last year where the Astros find themselves among the elites of baseball. George Springer will enter free agency next winter, Justin Verlander just turned 37, and Zack Greinke will match his age in October. Their core of Alex Bregman, Yordan Álvarez, and José Altuve will remain intact through at least 2024. Their farm system, though, after trading three top prospects for Greinke, is widely regarded as the worst in the American League. The Astros are looking at being more good than great after 2020. 2. Los Angeles Dodgers 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts and 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger join forces on an elite Dodgers club. Walker Buehler posted a 3.26 ERA with 10.6 strikeouts per nine in 2019 and assumes the “ace’’ role. Top prospects Gavin Lux and Dustin May lead an outstanding farm system. Future Hall-of-Famer Clayton Kershaw was much better than advertised last year. 2014 Kershaw is long gone, but what remains is a solid No.2 starter behind Buehler. The Dodgers are deep, poised, and should emerge from the National League this fall. 1. New York Yankees The Yankees miraculously won 103 games last year after setting the MLB record for most players on the IL. Gio Urshela completely broke out, hitting .314/355/.534 with 21 home runs in 132 games. From 2016 to 2018, Urshela hit .225 with a .589 OPS and eight combined homers. No matter how you cut it, Aaron Judge is a superstar. If he can stay healthy, the Yankees are my clear-cut favorite to win the World Series. Gerrit Cole, Gleyber Torres, and DJ LeMahieu join Judge as MVP-caliber pieces. What do you think? MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article