Hunter McCall

I saw some "DFA Correa" tweets unironically posted on Twitter, so I thought I would waste my time writing about it. As I mentioned, he was also booed at home. Thought I'd attempt to provide a little optimism and ease some criticism.

Carlos Correa has struggled mightily to start the 2023 season. Is there cause for concern? Image courtesy of Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports In January, the Twins re-signed Carlos Correa to a $200M contract. A couple of weeks in, Correa has yet to exactly live up to the lofty expectations of signing such a lucrative deal. Through ten games, Correa is hitting just .182 with a .492 OPS. On top of that, Correa has missed several games with mid-back spasms. Many Twins fans have expressed their displeasure with Correa's early performance. He was even booed by home fans in the home opener following his third strikeout of the game in the top of the tenth inning. Should we be concerned about the star shortstop? The short answer? No. On April 27th, 2022, 16 games into the season, Correa was hitting just .167. He came up in many big spots and failed early in the season. Much was made of Correa's slow start at that time too, but he worked through his struggles, put together an excellent season, and earned every dollar (and one could argue more) given to him on his contract. So, what's the reason for Correa's early struggles? For starters, Correa is chasing out of the zone far too often. According to Baseball Savant, Correa is in the 22nd % in chase rate, which has resulted in him also being in the bottom fourth of the league in strikeout percentage. Correa is aware of the analytics and has often raved about his teammates' performances by referencing their Baseball Savant page. He knows he's struggling, and he knows the reason for it. As a player constantly looking for ways to perfect his craft, Correa will take every opportunity to fix this area and return to his usual superstar self. Another reason for his early struggle may have been the tightness in his back. Correa has been affected by back pain in the past, and while he stated this was a different part of his back than he has dealt with in the past, it is likely just as bothersome. When manager Rocco Baldelli announced Correa had been scratched from the starting lineup on Monday, he noted that Correa had been dealing with this minor injury for a few days, meaning it could've been hindering his play. How about the reasons for optimism? Going back to Correa's Baseball Savant page, there are some promising numbers to offset the negative numbers. Correa is in the 93rd percentile in max exit velocity, meaning when he hits the ball, he hits it harder than most players in the league. He is also above league average in average exit velocity and barrel percentage, inferring that he has been hitting the ball hard when he doesn't chase out of the zone and strike out. On top of hitting the ball hard, Correa has also shown improvement in the field in the small early-season sample size. Last year, Correa ranked in just the 18th percentile in outs above average, accounting for -3 OAA on the season. In the young 2023 season, Correa is in the 85th percentile in OAA and has accounted for +1 OAA. The sample size is small, but it is an encouraging sign that Correa could return to form as an elite defensive shortstop. To summarize, Twins' fans need to relax with the criticism of Carlos Correa. I understand the high expectations, but the guy gets booed enough on the road. He doesn't need to hear it at home too. He has been a slow starter at times, but as someone dedicated to studying the game and analytics, I am confident he will turn it around and produce at a high level. What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments! Go, Twins! View full article

Great point and another great story line to follow! Thinking back to last year's nightmare that was the rotation, injuries destroyed the entire unit. They all experienced injuries that led to time on the IL and forced starts in meaningful from guys like Aaron Sanchez, Josh Winder (who I think is a good player but was thrown to the wolves a bit soon), Louie Varland (same story as Winder), Devin Smeltzer, and more. Not to mention the continued use of Chris Archer and Dylan Bundy. This year's rotation is fascinating because coming into the season, on paper, none of them were considered "aces" (although Pablo Lopez is looking quite ace esque at the moment). Despite that, every one of them gives the Twins a realistic opportunity to win every night. I remember dreading the bottom of the rotation last year because I knew the Twins would have to score 8 runs to win and the bullpen would get abused. On top of the talent, the depth is also impressive. As I mentioned, the top five have dealt with their injuries, which is why the depth is so important. Bailey Ober has to be the best 6th arm in the entire league, but can't find a spot until someone goes on the IL. What a great problem to have! The guy who was supposed to be your 3rd best starter last year has to start the year in AAA!? On top of Ober, SWR, Varland, and Winder are all a year older, and there's hope that Chris Paddack eventually returns to help the 2023 Twins out as well. I kind of got on a rambling tangent there, but you're right! The outfield bounce backs are a great story to follow, but this team will go as far as their starting pitching (and for that matter bullpen) will take them. Thank you for your comment! It allowed me to get excited and type a bunch for no reason!

I think when (and for God's sake hopefully it happens) the Twins are healthy enough to return most of their IL players, they will have to have Buxton play CF. If most of Kirilloff, Polanco, Lewis, Gallo, Kepler, Farmer, and Correa return, I would think they would have to move Buxton back to the outfield and Michael A. Taylor to the fourth outfielder spot. Unless they wanted to play Gallo or Kepler in CF, but I do maintain hope that Buxton will play outfield eventually even with his gut-wrenching base running mishap today. This seems like silly reasoning right now with the injuries stacking up, but one can hope! I agree with your whole comment and I appreciate your input!!

Exactly right! The frustrating part about Max Kepler is we see flashes of a very good hitter and it gives reason not to give up on him. You’re right though… the cavalry is coming! Prospects plus players getting healthy will be a fun story line to follow over the early parts of the season! Who stays on the roster and who goes? Is there a path for regular playing time for guys like Julien once everyone’s healthy? We’ll see! Thanks for the input!!

Joey Gallo is a two time gold glover, so yes his defense in the outfield is considered good. One of the best arms in the game, and runs fairly well. Played a lot of center field for the Rangers. Once he is getting full-time playing time out there I think we'll see him showcase his defense a little more. As you mentioned, he's also excellent defensively at first.

We should see Kepler in New York later this week according to all accounts, so fingers crossed there! Royce Lewis will certainly help the Twins all over when he does return. Health is definitely the key with this group! If this team is able to stay healthy and let guys like Solano and Farmer be the role player guys that they were brought in to be, this team will do great things. If they are forced to play every day like they have been, the team will need to continue to lean on their excellent pitching and hope to scrap runs together. I'm hoping for the healthy option!

Thank you for your input! I agree with all of it! Buxton and Larnach have ALWAYS played well... when they play. Their version of a bounce back season isn't necessarily performance, but rather staying on the field so they can showcase their talents. Kepler and Gallo are where things get interesting. They are both coming off down years for various reasons. Can the Twins get versions of them that produce at a high-level as we've seen in the past? If the answer to that question is yes, with the pitching the Twins have, they could be real contenders. As far as the lineup's subpar performance has gone so far, I think it's not something to worry too much about. Health is most important. Getting back any of Polanco, Kirilloff, Kepler, Gallo, or Correa will help a ton. Correa and Miranda are struggling right now, but both have started slow in the past, and both player's past profiles and performance suggest they are going to hit, it's just a matter of when. The fact that the Twins are winning important games against good teams with the injuries they have and the underwhelming starts by some of their studs is a VERY good thing. They have plenty of room for positive regression at the plate that I think will come rather soon. I appreciate the comment! Go, Twins!

Due to Rodriguez's age and inexperience, I would say he's well over a year away from being looked at to play in the majors. Buxton and Larnach's health is very important, but don't give up on Kepler and Gallo. If they come back from injury and maintain high-level defense, if they fulfill their potential at the plate, they will be more than key contributors for the Twins!

The Twins' 2023 season could be made or lost depending on the performance of these outfielders coming off disappointing 2022 seasons. Image courtesy of Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports There is much promise centered around the Twins' 2023 outfielders. Adding Joey Gallo to the group brings high upside to an outfield already very talented on paper. The problem is most of the players the Twins will be relying on to play the outfield in 2023 are coming off down or injury-plagued years. How they respond in 2023 could make or break the playoff hopes of this talented squad. Byron Buxton Stop me if you've heard this before: Byron Buxton is coming off a season shortened by injury. When Buxton is on the field, there are very few players on the planet who can match his skill set. However, Buxton played only 92 games in 2022 and has only played more than 92 games just once in his career. The Twins have tried different methods to keep the uber-talented Buxton healthy, but so far, to no avail. In 2023, the team will try a new method that they hope can get Buxton to play more games and be healthy for a playoff push at the end of the season. Buxton is starting the year as the team's primary designated hitter. Through the first couple weeks of the season, we have seen a steady dosage of Michael A. Taylor out in center field due to this approach. If the Twins' plan works and Buxton can play 120+ games in 2023, this alone could push the Twins over the hump into contender territory, making this one of the most important storylines to watch this season. Joey Gallo The newly-acquired Joey Gallo has played well to start the season, which is an excellent sign for the left-handed slugger. Entering the season, Gallo is coming off the worst year of his career in 2022, but there is plenty of hope for a bounce-back year in 2023, as shown by his early flashes. He is still only 29 years old, Gallo should have a lot left in the tank. He plays excellent defense and has excellent plate discipline, allowing him to take walks at a higher clip than 90% of the league. While Gallo strikes out as much as almost anyone, he rarely chases pitches out of the zone and adds a ton of power potential to the lineup. Gallo has already mashed three home runs in the young season, a feat which he didn't accomplish until early May last season. The limitations placed on the shift may also help Gallo improve his consistently low batting average. Gallo was an all-star as recently as 2021 and blames his poor 2022 on being in an environment that was mentally straining. Gallo has already noted this spring that he feels much more comfortable with the Twins in a smaller market than with the Yankees and Dodgers, where he felt far more pressure to perform. If Gallo can rebound in 2023, the Twins may have snagged the steal of the offseason. Max Kepler In 2019, Max Kepler looked like one of the young st ars in baseball. Since then, he has shown flashes of greatness but has been unable to put it together consistently. In what could be his last go around with the Twins, Max Kepler will look to return close to the form that saw him hit 36 home runs with a .855 OPS in 2019. Though his 2019 season looks like the outlier in his statistical history, Kepler could find a median ground between 2019 and his seasons since. Like Gallo, Kepler should benefit from new shift limitations since he is a dead pull-hitter who was shifted on in 90% of his at-bats in 2022. Even though his numbers were discouraging at the plate, Kepler's StatCast page was bright red in 2022, suggesting that he may have been slightly unlucky. Kepler also adds elite-level defense from his right field spot, making him a valuable asset no matter how badly he struggles at the plate. Kepler has already landed on the IL early in the season, but the injury appears minor and should require just a short stint. If Kepler can get back in the lineup and provide more offense this season, he could be one of the Twins' most valuable contributors. Trevor Larnach When Larnach was healthy last season, he looked like a young star in the making. Before getting injured, Trevor Larnach mashed the ball and played great defense. The problem is multiple injuries led to him only playing 51 games in 2022. The current hype around Larnach is at an all-time high due to a massive spring performance where he produced an OPS of 1.130. Injuries to Alex Kirilloff and Jorge Polanco, as well as his spring performance, have cemented Larnach in the heart of the Twins' lineup, and he has proven he belongs. The season is early, but through the ten games, Larnach has reached safely in every game. He has a current batting average of .308 and a .849 OPS. If he can continue to carry his momentum from the last couple of months and stay healthy, Larnach could be one of the Twins' most valuable players in 2023. The four guys mentioned above won't be the only contributors in the outfield in 2023, but they have the most to prove. There is reason for optimism behind every one of them, and if they can bounce back to have big years, the ceiling for this Twins team rises significantly. The Twins should be a good team in 2023, but the season's fate may hinge on whether or not these four players can rebound from a disappointing 2022 season. What is your favorite storyline to follow early in the 2023 season? Let me know in the comments! Go, Twins! View full article

I should’ve mentioned he’s a gold glove fielder and much better base runner than Sano!

There is none. As you said, just like any player, talent can either be drafted or acquired!

Maybe I should’ve used different descriptors😂

I appreciate it! I agree that it’s unlikely that Lee gets traded, but he’s the most valuable trade chip in a crowded crop of high end infield prospect talent, so if the Twins decided to let it all hang out, Lee would make sense. I don’t consider it too much of a stretch, especially with the Twins also possessing the number 5 pick in the draft this year. As far as adding Gallen to a pretty solid rotation, I’ll say this; good is good, better is better. When it comes to chasing championships, any major improvements that can be made at the deadline should be made. I’m not saying the Twins will be in position to sell out at the deadline, but if they are, they have the pieces to make something like this happen and really go for it. Again, thank you for the comment and support!

Gotta love Jim Mora😂 great comment!

Is that why I was so sleepy when I returned!?😂 Optimistic? Yes. Dumb? Maybe. I just gotta have faith in my Twinkies!

As a sports book connoisseur, I sure do wish I had this answer😂 great comment!

Thanks for the read and comment!

The Gallen trade is more so a fun little dream of mine that I insist on keeping alive! It’s unlikely to happen, but if it does some people might actually think I’m smart!😂 Kepler bounced back nicely! Not quite 2019 nicely, but he found a middle ground!

He was! And he bounced back rather nicely! (Not 2019 nice, however😉)

I agree it’s unlikely….. however….. never say never. The Cubs traded Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease for Jose Quintana in 2017. This was a case of big prospect package for big arm in hopes of winning another World Series. Big prospects get traded all the time and with the depth of middle infield prospects the Twins have, none of them should be untouchable if they’re competitive at the deadline.

I visited the future, and you won't believe what I saw! Image courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck, Jeff Hanisch, Jordan Johnson – USA Today Sports After reading one article on quantum physics, I decided I was prepared to build the first-ever functional time machine. I should have waited and watched how the 2023 Minnesota Twins season played out, but I just had to know now! I worked tirelessly constructing a device that could vault me to October to get a peak at how the season shook out. What I found may surprise some, so without further ado, here are five headlines from the Minnesota Twins 2023 season. Joey Gallo Receives MVP Consideration One of the more highly criticized moves of the offseason was the Twins signing Joey Gallo to a one-year contract. Despite being a two-time all-star for the Texas Rangers in 2019 and 2021, Gallo's career .199 batting average has turned off many of the more "traditional" style Twins fans. However, I am here to tell you that in 2023 Joey Gallo will exceed all expectations and find himself receiving MVP votes at the end of the season. With the new limitations of shifts, Gallo's batting average climbs to .234, and he continues to draw walks at a clip higher than 90% of the league-leading to a .398 OBP. Gallo also belts 38 home runs which are ... second most on the team? Buxton Hammers 40 Bombs Byron Buxton's health has been his Achilles heel throughout his career, playing in more than 92 games only once. However, Buxton's fortune changes in 2023, as he appears in 126 games for the Twins. Even though only 85 of those games are in center field, Buxton has a massive impact on the club, contributing 8.4 WAR. Buxton improves his 97th percentile rank in average exit velocity in 2022, bumping up to the 99th in 2023. Buxton remains one of the most elite power hitters in the game, belting 41 home runs. Pablo López Flashes Ace Potential When the Minnesota Twins acquired López for Luis Arraez in a trade with the Miami Marlins, the thought was that López would best fit the rotation as a number two or three pitcher. Throughout the offseason, he worked on making adjustments to his pitches. He reshaped his slider to become more of a sweeper and worked on his cutter. Both these pitches work very well in 2023 and accompany his elite changeup nicely. His new pitch mix eventually leads López to posting a 12-4 record with a 3.24 ERA. I'm sure this news is music to Twins' fans' ears, but the following headline may be a bit more controversial. Twins Go All in on Gallen at the Deadline When the Minnesota Twins enter the trade deadline in first place in the AL Central for a second straight year, they have to choose an aggressive push, similar to last year, or mainly standing still as they did in 2019. This time, the Twins push every last chip in the middle of the table in pursuit of a championship. On July 31st, they acquire Zac Gallen from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Brooks Lee and Bailey Ober. The Twins use the depth they've built in the rotation and in the infield to acquire the ace they have been waiting for. Gallen gives the Twins a powerful arm they can lean on throughout the playoff push, plus team control through 2025. A Star is Born While the Twins' injury situation in 2023 is much less drastic than in 2022, they still experience some bumps and bruises. This causes prospect Edouard Julien to be called up to the major league club as an extra utility man. Julien continues to display a high-level OBP skill while adding extra power to his profile. He has a stellar campaign and comes in third place in the AL Rookie of the Year voting behind Gunnar Henderson of the Oriels and Oscar Colas of the White Sox. Unfortunately, due to my lack of knowledge and experience, my time machine only brought me to October 1st, so I could not see how the Twins fared in the playoffs. I can tell you they exceeded regular-season expectations, going 94-68, winning the American League Central, and securing the number three seed in the AL behind the Astros and Yankees. One thing is sure; I am very excited to watch the 2023 Minnesota Twins! What are your bold predictions for 2023? Let me know below! Go, Twins! View full article