Cody Schoenmann

With the Twins annual end-of-season 40-man roster reconstruction on the horizon, they will be forced to make tough decisions on who to release and who to add. One of the more fascinating players who may be affected by the 40-man roster reconstruction is former top prospect Jordan Balazovic. What should the Twins do with him? Image courtesy of Kelley L Cox - USA TODAY Sports After thanking players, coaching staff, and fans, the first line of action the Twins front office makes upon the conclusion of the season is the annual 40-man roster cleanse or reconstruction. Typically, around five to seven players on the 40-man roster are placed on waivers. Upon being placed on waivers, these players can be claimed by a different organization, outrighted to Triple-A, or released. Around this time last season, the Twins placed Jake Cave, Jermaine Palacios, Caleb Hamilton, Devin Smeltzer, and Jhon Romero on waivers, removing them from the 40-man roster. Cave, Palacios, and Hamilton were eventually claimed by different organizations, and Smeltzer and Romero were assigned to Triple-A. Following the World Series, Smeltzer and Romero became minor-league free agents, and none of the five players listed played for the Twins in 2023. Organizations undergo these rather substantial roster purges to open up 40-man roster spots to add minor-league players they don’t want to subject to the Rule 5 Draft and because they need space to make trades or sign free agents. With Sonny Gray, Dallas Keuchel, Kenta Maeda, Tyler Mahle, Emilio Pagán, Donovan Solano, Joey Gallo, and Michael A. Taylor set to become free agents once the 2023 season officially concludes, the Twins will have eight 40-man roster spots opened up initially. Matt Canterino, José De León, Jovani Moran, Oliver Ortega, Jose Miranda, and Nick Gordon must also be activated from the 60-day IL once the 2023 season concludes. So, with eight players entering free agency and six being activated from the 60-day IL, the Twins will have two 40-man roster spots available before they begin their reconstruction. Having two roster spots available is a suitable start. Regardless, the Twins will need to open up more spots to add Rule 5 Draft-eligible minor leaguers to the 40-man roster to avoid the possibility of them getting poached by other teams. The Twins front office has been one of the more active groups in the last three offseasons, so they will need to make space to fulfill any future free-agent signings or trades. Waiving Cave, Palacios, Hamilton, Smeltzer, and Romero were relatively uncontroversial and obvious moves to make last season. Regardless, this season, the upcoming decision the Twins front office is tasked to make will be much more complex. To illustrate how the Twins will be forced to make complicated decisions, let’s look at which members of the Twins’ 40-man roster are potential candidates to be waived: Jorge Alcala, De León, Canterino, Brent Headrick, Ronny Henriquez, Moran, Ortega, Cole Sands, Josh Winder, Simeon Woods Richardson, Jordan Balazovic, Jordan Luplow, Andrew Stevenson, and Gordon The vast majority of players listed are relief pitchers who would fulfill the Twins’ eighth bullpen spot that tends to be given to a young pitcher who is a viable stretch relief option that can be used in an emergency to eat up innings. During the 2023 regular season, Sands, Headrick, or Winder often occupied this role. Though these types of pitchers are interchangeable and replaceable in theory, the pitchers listed above did an adequate job, and their spots on the Twins’ 40-man roster likely aren’t in jeopardy. That being said, there is a young pitcher on the 40-man roster who doesn’t fit that description, and that pitcher is once-prized Twins’ prospect Jordan Balazovic. Balazovic made his Twins debut in 2023, appearing in relief against the Detroit Tigers on June 18. In his debut, Balazovic faced 13 batters through 3 2/3 innings pitched and helped the Twins get through a blowout loss without unnecessarily expending their high-leverage relievers. Though Balazovic played the role of stretch reliever in his Major League debut, he quickly became part of the mid-to-high leverage short reliever mix, not throwing more than one inning of relief in his subsequent five appearances. Balazovic performed admirably during his first taste as a short reliever with the Twins. To add context to how well he performed, here are Balazovic’s numbers from June 18 to July 24. 14 innings pitched, 56 total batters faced, 1.29 ERA, 4.54 FIP, 4.46 xFIP, 12 hits, two earned runs, two home runs, four walks, ten strikeouts, 6.4 K/9, 2.6 BB/9, .250 BABIP, 100 LOB%, 13.3 HR/FB% On the surface, Balazovic performed very well, as shown by his impressive 1.29 ERA through 56 total batters faced, but his underlying metrics told a different story. Balazovic’s FIP, which, according to Fangraphs, illustrates what a player’s ERA would look like over a given period of time if the pitcher were to have experienced league-average results on balls in play and league-average timing, was 4.54 during that period of time. Combining Balazovic's high FIP, 6.43 K/9, and substantially below average HR/FB% of 13.3%, he was due for robust regression, which is precisely what happened. On July 27, Balazovic had a rather implosive relief outing in which he gave up three earned runs after facing just seven batters in 1 1/3 innings pitched against the Seattle Mariners. Many of Balazovic's future performances had similar outcomes, and from July 26 through August 19, Balazovic pitched to an 8.71 ERA, 8.00 FIP, and 21.4% HR/FB% before getting demoted to the Triple-A St. Paul Saints on August 19. Balazovic didn't make another appearance for the Twins in the regular or postseason and ended his rookie season with a lackluster 4.44 ERA and 6.01 FIP through 24 1/3 innings pitched. The season has reached its conclusion, and the Twins find themselves in a complicated position as they need to decide if they want to keep Balazovic on the 40-man roster or replace him with a Rule 5 Draft-eligible minor league player who has a greater chance of positively contributing to the team in the near-to-distant future, or a free agency or trade acquisition further down the line. Before we decide the best route the Twins could take with Balazovic and his future with the team, let's first identify which minor league players are Rule 5 Draft-eligible. Here are the noteworthy minor league players that could realistically get poached by a different franchise in the Rule 5 Draft: Austin Martin, Emmanuel Rodriguez, Yunior Severino, Jair Camargo, DaShawn Keirsey Jr., Jose Salas, Ricardo Olivar, Aaron Sabato, Anthony Prato, Michael Helman, Cody Laweryson, and Chris Williams Of the minor leaguers listed, the only players guaranteed to be added to the 40-man roster are Martin, Rodriguez, Camargo and, more likely than not, Severino. The "bubble" players who could realistically get added are Keirsey, Olivar, Prato, Helman, Laweryson, and Williams. Many of these players are already in Triple-A. The players listed could potentially contribute for the Twins immediately. Even so, there is the possibility that no other teams would claim them, meaning the Twins could keep them in the organization without using a 40-man roster spot. Salas and Sabato won't be added to the 40-man roster. Although Salas is too young and underdeveloped for any Major League team to add them to their 26-man roster, Sabato may get claimed by a non-contending team like the Oakland Athletics or Kansas City Royals. The Twins will find a way to get Martin, Rodriguez, Camargo and likely Severino and Keirsey Jr. on the 40-man roster. To get these five players on the roster, the Twins could part ways with relatively expendable players, and the once-prized prospect Balazovic could be one of the players. When deciding which three and potentially more players the Twins will waive, we must determine which players on the 40-man roster are more valuable than others, and much of that can be determined by opportunity and potential. Based on the opportunity given to them by the Twins and their potential, Woods Richardson, Headrick, Sands, Canterino, and Winder appear to be locks to be on the 40-man roster next season. So, after using deductive reasoning, that leaves us with Luplow, Stevenson, De León, Alcala, Moran, Henriquez, Ortega, Gordon, and Balazovic as the top candidates to be expunged from the 40-man roster. Of the nine players listed, here is where I believe they stand in likelihood of being waived to make room for Rule 5 Draft-eligible players: (*1 is most likely and 9 is least likely) Luplow Gordon De León Ortega Balazovic Henriquez Moran Stevenson Alcala With the Twins likely adding five Rule 5 Draft-eligible players to the 40-man roster and needing space to execute trades and sign free agents, it might be in their best interest to place Balazovic on waivers to make space. However, four or five players are seemingly more likely to be waived before him. Luplow, Gordon, and De León feel like the most obvious players the Twins could waive, but the two provide a veteran presence and potential to contribute to a playoff-hopeful 26-man roster. The Twins front office, known for valuing veteran depth pieces, could realistically keep the two, leaving Ortega, Henriquez, Moran, and Balazovic more susceptible. Stevenson contributed toward the Twins' postseason run and was a member of the 26-man playoff roster, so it appears the Twins are inclined to keep him around for the time being. Alcala seems to be part of the Twins rotation plans going forward, so he likely won't be waived either. Balazovic was once an MLB.com top-100 prospect on the verge of being a core member of the Twins starting rotation for seasons to come. Unfortunately, after undergoing unfortunate injuries, off-field issues, and poor performance at Triple-A and the Major Leagues, Balazovic has quickly become an expendable asset on the Twins' 40-man roster. The Twins' annual 40-man roster reconstruction will soon occur. With the Twins needing to create roster spots to add Rule 5 Draft-eligible players in prevention of them getting poached by other teams and the need to create roster spots to manufacture trades and sign free agents, the Twins could realistically waive Balazovic among other players to create the necessary space needed. What do you think of Balazovic's future with the Twins? Should the Twins waive him to create space on the 40-man roster? Comment below. View full article

why didn't the tralfamadorians warn us that Thielbar was going to give up a HR? lol

I've never understood people who think that when a pitcher gets pulled earlier than they think is appropriate, that pitcher is now angry enough to the point where they want to uproot their lives and leave an organization. This was the case with how a lot of people viewed Sonny Gray and Rocco's relationship during the 2022 and 2023 season too. A lot of people wanted Gray to hate Rocco and his "quick hooks" to the point where they created a reality that simply didn't exist. Sonny never hated Rocco, and it is highly unlikely Ryan is mad at the Twins as I am very confident that the Twins communicated the plan with Ryan before the game.

I agree. As I noted in the article, the Twins 4-9 hitters is what failed them in Game 4.

After Ryan gave up the home run, I feel like Twins fans and decision-makers could tell it would have gone how most of his starts went after coming off the 15-day IL toward the end of the season. It likely wouldn't have been a complete disaster, but there is a good chance the Astros would have scored more than the 3 runs they did if Ryan stayed in past the second.

Baldelli managed really well during the Wild Card Series and ALDS imo. From platooning to pitching decisions, I don't really have a gripe with any decision he made. Maybe they should have opted to bench or take Kirilloff off the roster with an injury designation sooner, but that's about it. No worthwhile manager would have kept Ryan in to face a team's lineup the second time through after already giving up a HR in an elimination game.

I agree with your perspective, Out of five relievers who pitched after Ryan left only one gave up a run(s) and it was Thielbar, who happens to be one of their best relievers. Thielbar simply didn't perform like he usually does in Game 4, and although that's unfortunate it's not like using Thielbar against the lefty dominant portion of the Astros lineup is a bad idea. The process was sound, it just didn't work out for one reliever out of five. The Twins pitching isn't what failed them in Game 4, and it is a near-guarantee Ryan would have given up more than just the one run he gave up if they had left him in longer.

The Twins decision to pull Joe Ryan after facing just eight Astros hitters has sparked some level of controversy among Twins fans. Here is why it was the correct decision. Image courtesy of Matt Blewett - USA TODAY Sports As the game of baseball and those who consume the game on a day-to-day basis continue to progress, the symbiotic relationship between the two appears to be heading toward a collective understanding: It is okay to pull pitchers when they are struggling instead of keeping them in for the sake of keeping them in. Like most efforts of progression, there are those stuck in what the status quo once was unwilling to open their minds, usually due to a stubborn belief system or the desire to combat change, typically induced by fear of the future and its unknown nature. Regardless, we find ourselves in a situation where Twins manager Rocco Baldelli and the organization still get critiqued for their tendency to have a "quick hook." Despite this outdated narrative continuing to run rampant, the Twins ranked fourth in Major League Baseball for innings pitched for starters, with 895 out of 1451 1/3 (62%) innings pitched by Twins pitchers thrown by starting pitchers. False narratives like the one surrounding Baldelli, the Twins, and the nature of "quick hooks" will continue as long as people elect to neglect the reality of situations. Often, the neglect is intentional. So, when the Twins pulled starting pitcher Joe Ryan after pitching two innings and facing just eight Houston Astros batters, numerous fans were unsurprisingly hypercritical of the situation and pounced on the chance to fault Baldelli and his "quick hook." Ryan began his Game 4 start against the defending World Series champion Houston Astros by getting second baseman Jose Altuve to ground to Twins' shortstop Carlos Correa on one pitch, third baseman Alex Bregman to fly out to centerfielder Michael A. Taylor, and the ever-daunting left fielder Yordan Alvarez to fly out to left fielder Willi Castro. Ryan looked effective, and there was no reason to doubt he would return for the second inning to face the Astros four, five, and six hitters. The Twins used three of their middle-to-high leverage relievers in Emilio Pagán, Kenta Maeda, and Griffin Jax the game before, and with Ryan mowing through the first three hitters, there was no reason not to attempt to get as much quality usage out of Ryan as possible. Twins third baseman Royce Lewis hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first, and the crowd at Target Field lit up. Everything was looking up for the Twins in the do-or-die Game 4, and Ryan came back out the bottom of the second holding a 1-0 lead. Ryan got Astros star right fielder Kyle Tucker to strike out, and Target Field exploded. Ryan was dealing, and many started wondering if this was the beginning of another Pablo López-esque style start that could help the Twins survive Game 4 and present them the favorable opportunity of facing the Astros in Houston with López on the mound for a win-or-go-home Game 5. Then, Astros left fielder Michael Brantley hit a 399-foot home run to deep right-center field, and the game was tied 1-1. Ryan, who sported a 20.5% home run to fly ball ratio (HR/FB) since the All-Star Break, gave up yet another home run, and all the momentum the Twins had, if you believe in such a thing, had dissipated. Brantley's home run was followed by a relatively innocent infield single by Astros centerfielder Chas McCormick, and many began to worry if Ryan, like he did many times after straining his left groin while warming up to face the Atlanta Braves on June 27, was going to implode. Luckily, McCormick's infield single was followed by Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena ground into a fielder's choice to his predecessor Correa, and the Twins were able to get by unscathed and remained tied 1-1 going into the bottom of the second. Shortly after Ryan and the Twins entered the dugout, Twins reporters noted that reliever Brock Stewart was warming up in the bullpen. Soon after this was announced, FOX Sports cameras spotted Baldelli shaking Ryan's hand in the dugout, all but confirming his departure from the tied game. Stewart entered the game for the Twins at the top of the third inning, and Ryan's night was officially done after just 26 pitches. Admittedly, getting taken out of the game after throwing just 26 pitches and giving up one run would be a peculiar move to make by a manager in a traditional start. Emphasis on "traditional." Game 4 of the ALDS, where your team is down 1-2 in a five-game series, is in no way a traditional start. It would have been negligent for Baldelli and the Twins to treat it like one. López, Gray, and Ober were all unavailable, as they had all made a start or pitched in the previous four days, so the Twins' only options were to either start Ryan or have a pure bullpen game where Maeda, Chris Paddack, or Louie Varland could have started. The Twins elected to start Ryan and shift to a bullpen game after just two innings, so it was functionally the same thing. As noted earlier, Ryan has struggled since straining his left groin before his start against the Atlanta Braves on June 27. Going into the playoffs, I believed that Ryan had solidified himself as the Twins' third starting pitcher, but I was still cautious about his ability to perform at the level he had been before June 27. To add context, here are Ryan's numbers since returning from the 15-day IL on August 26: 4.79 ERA, 4.13 FIP, 3.57 xFIP, .345 BABIP, 1.77 HR/9, 16.3% HR/FB, 32.3% GB%, 75.3% LOB%, 149 TBF, 35 2/3 IP, 37 hits allowed, 19 earned runs allowed, seven home runs given up, nine walks, and 45 strikeouts. None of these statistics are particularly inspiring, but what stands out the most is Ryan's 1.77 HR/9 and 16.3% HR/FB. When Ryan was pitching injured from June 27 to July 31, he had a 4.13 HR/9 and 31% HR/FB, so he significantly improved his performance during the seven-game stretch from August 26-September 29, but he was underperforming nonetheless. To put Ryan's post-15-day IL stint performance into perspective, Fangraph deems any HR/FB of 13% or higher as "Awful," and Ryan had an HR/FB of 16.3%. So, despite the vast improvement, Ryan still gave up an awfully high amount of home runs. After Ryan gave up yet another home run to the Houston Astros before getting through their lineup just once, it is no surprise Baldelli and the Twins elected to take him out of the game after the conclusion of the second inning. Reliever Caleb Thielbar eventually gave up a two-run home run to Astros first baseman Jose Abreu in the top of the fourth, propelling the Astros to a 3-1 lead. The Astros held their lead, and the Twins eventually lost 3-2 and were eliminated from playoff contention, ending what was the Twins' best overall season since 2002. Though the Twins ended up losing and getting eliminated from playoff contention, their bullpen medley concocted of Stewart, Thielbar, Paddack, Jax, and Jhoan Duran gave up only two runs through seven innings pitched in a stellar performance. The Twins electing to go with what was functionally a bullpen game in Game 4 isn't what led to their demise. Instead, it was the Twins' four through nine hitters that went a combined 0-19 that let them down in the end. Pulling the home-run-prone Ryan was the correct decision for Baldelli and the Twins, and the bullpen's stellar performance is evidence. What do you think of the Twins pulling Ryan after the second inning? Was it the correct decision? Comment below. View full article

good call! I used the wrong word, that's my bad lol. I changed it.

I love describing López as an artist. I think that is the perfect way to describe how he pitches.

Few who have played for the Twins have possessed a presence like Pablo López, and him being the starting pitcher on the day the 18-game playoff losing streak ended is a form of poetic justice Twins Territory hadn't seen in quite some time. Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson - USA TODAY Sports In his short story titled "The Swan," author Roald Dahl wrote, "Some people, when they have taken too much and have been driven beyond the point of endurance, simply crumble and collapse and give up. Others however, though they are not many, who will for some reason always be unconquerable. You meet them in time of war and also in time of peace. They have an indomitable spirit. And nothing, neither pain, nor torture, nor threat of death will cause them to give up." Pablo López is one of those people. Through expressing a sense of wisdom, mental fortitude, and gratitude that few professional athletes, let alone people, possess, López has quickly become a beacon of light for the Minnesota Twins not only on the field but as a franchise itself. With professional sports being a market saturated full of false prophets, knowing which athletes to feel morally sound about trusting and supporting while watching and consuming sports content is becoming more complex nowadays. Luckily, Twins' fans can feel confident in López being an honorable person off the field and a force to be reckoned with on the diamond. López is a thoughtful, intelligent, and inspirational ace-level starting pitcher, which is an archetype the Twins have long yearned for. To show how López is a beacon of light that fell into the Twins' lap, let's look at his early life growing up in Venezuela. López's parents, Danny and Agnedis, were both doctors in Venezuela. After graduating high school at 16, López was accepted into medical school but opted to pursue a career in professional baseball after receiving an international contract offer from the Seattle Mariners. López rationale behind pursuing a professional baseball career over going to medical school was that as human beings get older, we dwindle physically. Yet, our minds get sharper and wiser. After weighing his options, López pursued a professional baseball career while his body was young, strong, and spry. López will likely eventually contemplate attending medical school once his playing career ends. After signing a four-year $73.5 million contract with the Twins at the beginning of the 2023 season, López could undoubtedly afford the cost of tuition out of pocket. The last face of the franchise-level Venezuelan-born Twins starting pitcher happens to be the greatest starting pitcher in Minnesota Twins history, Johan Santana. When López was traded to the Twins this past offseason, one of the first things he mentioned during his introductory press conference was how much he idolized Santana growing up. López, like Santana, was born and raised in Venezuela. López was born in Cabimas, which is roughly 383 miles away from Santana's hometown of Tovar. López idolizing Santana would essentially be the distance equivalent of a child from Warroad, Minnesota idolizing Twins pitcher Louie Varland, who is from Saint Paul. No matter the distance, the connection one can feel to a professional athlete from the same state, or in López's case, country, can be magnetically strong. After López sang his praises for Santana during his introductory press conference as a Twin, he decided to make a bold statement by ceremoniously wearing his jersey to Game 1 of the Wild Card Round nearly ten months later. A week before the beginning of the postseason, López said. "Pressure is a privilege. That means a lot of good things can be expected from you and it's all about embracing the opportunity, embracing the challenge and then at the same time, not trying to do too much." López, like any human, felt immense pressure before his Game 1 start, but one could be convinced otherwise seeing López dawning Santana's jersey. López followed up wearing Santana's jersey pre-game by pitching 5 2/3 innings, giving up only one earned run, and leading the Twins to their first playoff win since Santana started Game 1 of the 2004 ALDS against the New York Yankees. Later that day, Santana congratulated López while telling him that his jersey looked great on him. Being the starting pitcher in the Twins' first playoff game win since 2004 and then being congratulated and complimented by his childhood idol undoubtedly was the perfect ending to what was likely one of the best days of López's life. Now, we as fans are mere witnesses to López, his professional baseball career, and his relationship with Santana. We will likely never directly interact with López unless we get lucky enough to meet him at, say, Twins Fest or before a game while he is signing autographs. Though this is the case, it is an honor to be but a spectator and witness a player and person the likes of López pitch and represent our favorite team. Pablo Lopez being the starting pitcher who took the mound on the Twins' first playoff win in nearly 19 years is the divine summation of what was an incredible debut season with his new ball club, and his relationship with Santana adds another layer that further cements himself in the good graces of Twins faithful. Twins fans have long wished for a front-end starting pitcher who could face the pressure of formidable moments head-on, achieve success, and not crumble under the weight as many have in past postseasons. López, the indomitable spirit he is, answered that wish and will forever be a Twins icon for it. What do you think of López's Game 1 performance? Do you think his connection to Santana makes it more special? Comment below. View full article

Despite undergoing extended shaky stretches during the regular season, reliever Griffin Jax effectively held an eighth-inning lead in back-to-back playoff games. With the lights shining bright, Jax confronted the pressure of the moment head-on and passed with flying colors. Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson - USA TODAY Sports A week before the Major League Baseball playoffs started, Twins ace and impending Game 1 starter Pablo López said. "Pressure is a privilege. That means a lot of good things can be expected from you and it's all about embracing the opportunity, embracing the challenge and then at the same time, not trying to do too much." The pressure was looming for López and the Twins as they were on track to yet again attempt to end the daunting 18-game postseason losing streak that has been a ubiquitous dark cloud hanging over Twins Territory's head since October 5, 2004. Fast-forward to Tuesday night, where the Twins own a 3-1 lead through seven innings. The starter, López, pitched a respectable 5 2/3 innings, Louie Varland got the Twins out of a jam (with help from Michael A. Taylor), and Caleb Thielbar pitched a flawless top of the seventh inning. Then, in stepped Jax for the eighth. Jax began his first career postseason relief appearance by giving up a hard-hit opposite double to Blue Jays right-handed hitting first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Instantly, those who follow the Twins got flashbacks of how Jax's outing would implode during the regular season. A leadoff double would lead to a run-scoring bloop single, which would then be followed by a dribbler down the third base line that had somehow found a hole, and the opposing team had scored two runs in less than five minutes. After watching what felt like a new iteration of a tragic story that has played out many times, it was nearly impossible not to begin ruminating on worst-case scenarios. Luckily, this outing for Jax and Twins faithful was different. Jax's response to giving up a double to Guerrero Jr. was aggressively going after Blue Jays star shortstop Bo Bichette. Jax attacked the zone, throwing two straight 89 mph sweepers for strikes. During an episode of The Athletic Baseball Show, baseball analytics writer Eno Sarris of The Athletic stated that an elite velocity for a sweeper is any pitch that is thrown over 86 mph, so Jax was throwing what could be deemed an elite offspeed pitch. Jax, who threw his sweeper 52.8% of the time during the regular season, threw another 89 mph sweeper on the outside corner to Bichette and struck him out on three pitches. After striking out Bichette, Jax was set to face Blue Jays second baseman Cavan Biggio with one out and a runner on second in Guerrero Jr. During the plate appearance, Biggio's bat didn't leave his shoulders, and Jax struck him out looking on three straight sweepers. After the double to Guerrero Jr., Jax struck out Bichette and Biggio on six straight pitches. Jax was through the nepotism trio and was set to face Alejandro Kirk, hoping to get out of the inning and hold the Twins' 3-1 lead. Jax started Kirk off with a first pitch 96 mph sinker that led to Kirk grounding out to Twins first baseman Donovan Solano and ending the Blue Jays' late-game comeback attempt. Jax was able to rebound from Guerrero Jr.'s leadoff double and steer them closer to winning their first playoff game in nearly 19 years. The Twins went on to win 3-1, with Royce Lewis's two home runs and a dominant performance from López and the bullpen, including Jax, being the talking points from Game 1. Heading into Game 2, many wondered if the Twins would use the same bullpen arms as the only reliever to throw more than 10 pitches was closer Jhoan Duran, who threw 14. Game 2 started similarly to Game 1, with starting pitcher Sonny Gray throwing five innings of shutout ball, helping the Twins get out to an early 2-0 lead. Varland once again was the first reliever out of the bullpen but was subsequently replaced by Thielbar as he gave up two hits over only 1/3 of an inning pitched. Thielbar finished the inning by coaxing Matt Chapman into a double play. The Twins' bullpen got out of the sixth inning without giving up a run. Brock Stewart, who was arguably the Twins' best reliever while healthy in the regular season, dominated in the seventh, getting the Blue Jays' hitters out in order while having to throw just 13 pitches. Then, just like the day before, Jax began warming up to pitch the eighth inning with a two-run lead prepared to bombard the Blue Jays' lineup with his elite sweeper. Like the day before, Jax began the eighth inning facing Guerrero Jr. Rather than giving up a double, Jax got Guerrero Jr. to line out to Twins' centerfielder Michael A. Taylor. Jax followed up Guerrero Jr. by getting Bichette to ground out to Twins shortstop Carlos Correa and Biggio to ground to himself. Although Biggio's weak dribbler was a relatively routine play, Jax took a football-esque hit from Biggio but held on to the ball, leading to the Twins holding their 2-0 lead into the ninth inning. *It should be noted that Yahoo Sports is technically wrong as Garth Jax played for only the Arizona Cardinals in the 1990s, not the Dallas Cowboys. As noted by Yahoo Sports, Jax's father, Garth Jax, was a linebacker who played in the National Football League from 1986-1995. Evidently, Jax knew how to take a hit. The Twins beat the Blue Jays 2-0 and advanced in the playoffs for the first time since beating the infamous "Moneyball" Oakland Athletics in the 2002 ALDS. To further emphasize how well Jax pitched, here are Jax's standard and Statcast numbers from his first two postseason appearances: Seven Total Batters Faced (TBF), .143 BA, two strikeouts, zero walks, zero home runs given up .298 xBA, 29% K%, 80% HardHit%, 95 MPH average EV, -10 average LA, 145 ft distance (average distance of balls put in play off Jax), 108 MPH MAX EV, 394 ft MAX Distance Admittedly, Jax's numbers are the culmination of a small sample size. Nonetheless, given the extra weight of postseason baseball, his standard and Statcast numbers are impressive and align with when Jax performs at his best during the regular season. Many factors went into the Twins sweeping the Blue Jays, but the Twins pitching dominance, particularly from the bullpen and Jax, was arguably the leading cause. Despite posting a respectable 3.86 ERA to end the 2023 regular season, his season was a story of ups and downs. To illustrate Jax's fluctuating performance, here are his month-by-month ERA and FIP numbers: March/April - 4.63 ERA, 2.18 FIP May - 5.56 ERA, 2.73 FIP June - 0.00 ERA, 2.04 FIP July - 2.61 ERA, 4.80 FIP August - 9.00 ERA, 6.06 FIP September/October - 2.45 ERA, 2.53 FIP Jax struggled to begin the 2023 season ERA-wise, but, as his FIP suggested, his underlying numbers indicated that his performance would turn around quickly. Jax's performance dramatically shifted in June, and he became one of the best relievers in Major League Baseball, winning the Twins Daily Pitcher of the Month award for June over fellow dominant reliever Stewart. Jax followed his June dominance with a respectable July but again fell off a cliff in August before rebounding again in September. Regardless, Jax confronted the immeasurable pressure of postseason baseball and played a crucial role in helping the Twins end both their playoff game and series losing streak and contributed to bringing a sense of happiness to Twins Territory that has been absent for quite some time. As we advance, Jax will need to continue this form of dominance if the Twins dare to beat the defending World Champion Astros, advance to the ALCS, and potentially reach the World Series for the first time since 1991. What do you think of Jax's Wild Card Round performance? Do you trust him to pitch the eighth inning in the ALDS? Comment below. View full article

The first Twins game i went to was at the Metrodome in 2008 i believe. They were playing the Nationals, and I think Wily Mo Peña hit a home run if i’m remembering it right. Either way, going to games at the Metrodome are my first Twins memories as well. I remember the inaugural season at Target Field in 2010 being a huge deal. The first time I went to Target Field was the game where Denard Span hit three triples against the Tigers. Crazy that all of this and much more could happen without a playoff win occurring. What a season 2023 has been!

Walker JenkinsBrooks LeeEmmanuel RodriguezDavid FestaMarco RayaAustin MartinCharlee SotoLuke KeaschallBrandon WinokurYunior SeverinoNoah MillerSimeon Woods RichardsonDanny De AndradeDaShawn Keirsey JrTanner SchobelKala'i RosarioJose RodriguezCory LewisAndrew CossettiCJ Culpepper

from 0-18 to a 2 game win streak!!!! WOOOOO

this is an Auld Lang Syne deserving moment lol. 18 is enough! beautiful

The Twins found multiple everyday contributors in arguably the best rookie class since 1982. Although various rookies caught our attention, one stood out among the rest. Congratulations to Twins Daily 2023 Rookie of the Year Award recipient Royce Lewis. 2023 was a challenging year to select just one Twins Daily Rookie of the Year Award recipient, but before we announce the winner, let's give the runner-ups their flowers. Many years, the Twins (and most other organizations) may not have five rookies on the roster all season. Even if they do, the odds of all of them finding success is not high. Three rookies especially are often credited with providing a spark and extended quality play. Two other pitchers have come up as rookies and contributed in whatever role they have been given. Fifth Place: LHP Kody Funderburk In fifth place is Twins relief pitcher Kody Funderburk. Beginning the season with the Double-A Wichita Wind Surge, Funderburk skyrocketed through the upper levels of the Twins organization and made his Twins debut on September 4 against the Cleveland Guardians. Funderburk sprung onto the scene and quickly became a dependable reliever for the Twins in the middle of a division title pennant race. Congratulations to Funderburk on a successful first month in the big leagues. He was also Twins Daily's choice for Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year. Fourth Place: RHP Louie Varland In fourth place is rookie pitcher and Minnesota native Louie Varland. Beginning the season as a rotation fill-in for the injured Tyler Mahle, Varland quickly became one of the Twins' best and most reliable young starting pitchers alongside Bailey Ober and Joe Ryan. Unfortunately, Varland developed a problem giving up too many home runs and was demoted to Triple-A St. Paul in late June. Varland provided quality starts at the beginning of the season before developing into a lights-out reliever in September. Varland will be a key fixture for the Twins bullpen in their upcoming Wild Card series against the Toronto Blue Jays. Congratulations on a promising 2023 season, Louie. Third Place: OF Matt Wallner Twins corner outfielder and fellow Minnesota native Matt Wallner comes in third place. After getting recalled from Triple-A St. Paul with the Twins for the third time this season in mid-July, Wallner became an everyday corner outfielder who could mix his immense power with a strong eye at the plate, leading to a high on-base percentage. Wallner had an encouraging 2023 season and looks to be in the Twins' corner outfield plans for the foreseeable future. Second Place: 2B/DH Edouard Julien In second place is the pride of Québec City, Edouard Julien. Admittedly, I voted for Julien to win Twins Daily Rookie of the Year, but Twins Daily participates in a democracy, so the majority wins. Although the player I voted to win didn't, this is nonetheless a fair and healthy process. Thank you, John, Seth, Nick, Brock, and Parker. Okay, sorry, back to baseball. Julien had an incredible inaugural season and was arguably the Twins' best hitter for much of the season. Julien was one of the rookies that signified the Twins' turn-around in offensive production post-All-Star break and deserves as much credit as anyone for essentially saving the Twins' season. Congratulations to Julien on an incredible rookie season, and although he didn't win the Twins Daily Rookie of the Year Award, he came incredibly close. It was as close a vote as we have had in the decade of handing out these awards. First Place: 3B Royce Lewis Varland, Wallner, and Julien put together impressive rookie seasons, but the Twins Daily Rookie of the Year Award winner is Royce Lewis. In his first extended run as a Major League Baseball player, Lewis has met every expectation of being the first overall pick in the 2017 Major League Baseball draft. Let's see how Lewis got there. Lewis's Return From His Twice Torn ACL Lewis's start of the 2023 season began on May 29, when Lewis returned to the Twins lineup against the Astros in Houston. Returning exactly a year after tearing his ACL for the second time in as many seasons, Lewis instantly lit a spark under the Twins, hitting a three-run home run in just his second at-bat back from the 60-day IL. Lewis followed the home run with a game-tying RBI single in the ninth inning. Lewis's heroics propelled the Twins to a 7-5 win and signified the beginning of great things to come. Lewis followed his May return by hitting .322/.351/.444 (.795) with 29 hits, two doubles, three home runs, and a 122 wRC+ over 94 plate appearances from May 30 through through July 1. Unfortunately, Lewis was placed on the 10-day IL on July 1 with a grade-2 oblique strain and stayed there for 36 days before returning on August 15. Lewis's Second Return and the Dawning of "Mr. Grand Slam" Returning from an extended absence on August 15, Lewis immediately jumped back into the Twins lineup as their everyday third baseman, and the grand slam barrage began. Grand Slam #1: Arrival On August 27, the Twins were trailing the Texas Rangers 5-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning when Lewis stepped up to face reliever Chris Stratton with the bases loaded and one out. After falling behind 0-1, Lewis saw a hanging breaking ball deep to straight away center field, trimming the Twins deficit to 5-4. Lewis's home run was the spark for a Twins comeback, and the Twins beat the Rangers 7-6 in 13 innings. Grand Slam #2: Sacrifice Fly? NOPE The next day, Lewis stepped up to the plate in the 2nd inning with the bases loaded against the Guardians. Rookie pitcher was Xzavion Curry on the mound, and the Twins were down 4-2. Lewis again fell behind 0-1, and just like the day before, he drove a breaking ball over the wall in left center field, propelling the Twins to a 6-4 lead. Lewis's grand slam ignited a Twins comeback, and they were able to defeat the Guardians 10-to-6 and increase their division lead to seven games. Grand Slam #3: The Day Twins Territory Stood Still Lewis's third grand slam came on September 4. If you don't recall, one of the most stressful days in recent Twins history occurred just four days earlier, The Guardians, who were just two games back of the Twins, claimed Lucas Giolito, Matt Moore, and Reynaldo López off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels. The first time the Twins could do something about it came the next Monday when they began a three-game series in Cleveland. Giolito made his Guardians debut in Game 1 of the series. The Twins began the scoring with a Jorge Polanco leadoff home run in the top of the first inning. With two outs in the second frame, Polanco walked with the bases loaded to give them a 2-0 lead. That brought Lewis to the plate. On a 2-0 count, Lewis got a middle-middle fastball and crushed it deep into the left field bleachers to give the Twins a 6-0 lead. The Twins went on to win 20-6. CATHARSIS! Grand Slam #4: The Fourth Kind Last but not least, Lewis's final grand slam of the 2023 season came on September 15 against another divisional foe, the Chicago White Sox. On a 3-1 fastball from Jesse Scholtens, Lewis destroyed his fourth grand slam. It gave the Twins an early 4-0 lead and propelled the team to a 10-2 win in Chicago. After hitting his fourth grand slam of the 2023 season and fifth of his career, Lewis, as Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic noted, found himself tied for the eighth-most grand slams in Minnesota Twins history. Although his 2023 regular season came to an unfortunate end on September 19 when he strained his hamstring during an at-bat against the Cincinnati Reds, Lewis's grand slam propensity is an incredibly improbable and impressive feat. 2023 was the first season that Lewis, a traditional shortstop, began playing third base on an every-game basis in his professional career. Although he initially struggled some, he quickly began refining his craft. He became a respectable defensive third baseman. Lewis ended the 2023 season hitting .309/.372/.548 (.920) with seven doubles, 15 home runs, 8.4% BB%, 23% K%, .240 ISO, and 155 wRC+ over 239 plate appearances. Lewis had an incredible 2023 season, even if his time was still limited. Watching him in his first extended run in the big leagues was enjoyable. Congratulations to Royce Lewis for winning the Twins Daily 2023 Rookie of the Year award. How would you have voted for the Twins Top Rookie? Lewis or Julien, and how close should Wallner be to the top of the list? Comment below. Final Voting Points Tally Royce Lewis: 64 Edouard Julien: 62 Matt Wallner: 36 Louie Varland: 16 Kody Funderburk: 1 View full article

well, you can win a World Series in October which the Twins have done twice, so it's not all bad, right?

The Twins have one of the most versatile infields in Major League Baseball. How will they construct it during the postseason? Image courtesy of Kamil Krzaczynski - USA TODAY Sports Headlined by experienced veterans and prized young players, the Minnesota Twins infield is a blend of youth and experience. While there is uncertainty about how the Twins infield will be aligned for Game One of the upcoming three-game Wild Card series beginning October 3, the Twins infield options provide a sense of steadiness that is ever so important come playoff time. Let's begin by looking at how the Twins align behind the plate. Christian Vázquez - .221/.278/.321 (.599), 65 wRC+, 0.8 fWAR - Catcher We begin analyzing the Twins' infield by focusing on catcher/first baseman Christian Vázquez. Signed to a three-year, $30 million contract this prior off-season, Vázquez was expected to be the Twins' primary catcher for the 2023 season, but early season struggles at the plate ceded Vázquez's playing time to fellow catcher Ryan Jeffers. While Vázquez has been demoted to backup duties, he is still a more-than-serviceable catcher, and while he was never able to catch his footing offensively, he has been an elite defensive catcher all season. Vázquez will almost certainly serve as Jeffers' backup in Game 1 of the upcoming three-game Wild Card series, though a recent development has many wondering whether that will be the case. It will be interesting to see if Vázquez starts Game 1 or Game 2, and if the Twins advance past the Wild Card round, it will be fascinating to see how the Twins divvy up playing time at catcher. Ryan Jeffers - .270/.367/.474 (.841), 134 wRC+, 2.5 fWAR - Catcher The second member of the American League Central-winning Minnesota Twins infield comes in the form of catcher Ryan Jeffers. As noted earlier, Jeffers began the second playing second fiddle to initial starting catcher Vázquez but quickly supplanted him as the Twins' best catching option. Highlighted by an offensive resurgence, Twins' Comeback Player of the Year candidate Jeffers has solidified himself as one of the Twins' core young players for seasons to come. Jeffers, who has hit 13 home runs this season in 321 plate appearances, has added a jolt from a traditionally offensively deprived position that had been missing since Mitch Garver's departure after the 2021 season. Jeffers will make a start at catcher during the three-game Wild Card series, but whether it is in Game One or Game Two has surprisingly become unclear. If Jeffers doesn't start Game One at catcher, expect him to be used as a pinch-hitter if the opposing team elects to use a left-handed relief pitcher. Alex Kirilloff - .268/.346/.446 (.792), 119 wRC+, 0.8 fWAR - First Baseman Since being the last first-round selection of the Terry Ryan regime in 2016, Twins fans have been entranced by the idea of Kirilloff and the potential that comes with him. Unfortunately, due to a nagging wrist injury that effectively sidelined Kirilloff for two straight seasons, Kirilloff has existed more as an idea rather than in actuality. Luckily, Kirilloff, despite missing the month of August with a right shoulder strain, is back and healthy just in time for the 2023 postseason. Kirilloff will likely start every game at first base and bat toward the top of the order for the Twins as long as the opposing team's starting pitcher is right-handed. Whether manager Rocco Baldelli would bench Kirilloff during the postseason in favor of platooning a right-handed hitting dominant lineup if an opposing team's starting pitcher is left-handed is yet to be seen. However, it is an interesting proposition nonetheless. Kirilloff is the type of talent whose play can lead a team during the postseason, and his mere presence in the Twins lineup creates a great sense of confidence that the daunting 0-18 playoff streak may finally end this October. Donovan Solano - .286/.371/.401 (.772), 119 wRC+, 1.2 fWAR - First Baseman, Second Baseman, Third Baseman, Designated Hitter The next player on this list is 35-year-old platoon utility player Donovan Solano. Despite being labeled a utility player, which he was during the regular season, Solano will likely either start at first base or designated hitter if the opposing team's starting pitcher is left-handed or will work as a pinch hitter whenever a left-handed relief pitcher comes in. Solano's role is cemented for the most part, but it will be interesting to see if he is the first or second pinch-hitter used when a left-handed hitting relief pitcher comes in. As noted earlier, when the opposing team's starting pitcher is left-handed, it will be interesting to see if Baldelli elects to start Solano over Kirilloff at first base or if he elects to start Solano at designated hitter. Solano's value comes from his bat, but he can be used as an emergency second or third baseman if the Twins find themselves lacking infield depth later in a postseason game. Jorge Polanco - .258/.339/.461 (.800), 121 wRC+, 1.5 fWAR - Second Baseman, Third Baseman Fan favorite Jorge Polanco will play a vital role for the Twins and whether or not they can find any form of success this postseason. Polanco hit a first-inning home run against the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the ALDS at Yankee Stadium, so it appears that Polanco is not one to crumble under the immense pressure that is postseason baseball. Expect Polanco to start every game at second base, as he is both a plus defender and a switch-hitter, making him immune to platooning. Once again, it cannot be overstated how crucial of a role the traditionally underrated Polanco will play for the Twins and their postseason success. Polanco has long been an underrated core member of the Twins, and hopefully, he can provide a signature moment that will cement himself in Twins lore infamy. Edouard Julien - .259/.379/.442 (.821), 131 wRC+, 2.4 fWAR - Second Baseman, Designated Hitter, First Baseman The next Twins infielder is Twins Rookie of the Year Candidate and proud French Canadian Edouard Julien. The kid from Québec City jumped onto the scene for the Twins this season and instantly won the hearts of Twins fans from International Falls down to Lanesboro. Julien is a left-handed hitting infielder who primarily played second base and designated hitter for the Twins, with first base sprinkled in occasionally. When the three-game Wild Card round begins on October 3, expect Julien to bat leadoff as the Twins designated as long as the opposing team's starting pitcher is right-handed. Julien is susceptible to platooning, so if a left-handed relief pitcher comes into the game, don't be surprised if he is pinch-hit for. Whether Julien can step up to the moment is yet to be seen. Still, he has already shown he can perform well on the world's brightest stage after putting together an admirable performance during the World Baseball Classic for Team Canada this past March. Julien and his unfathomable walk-rate will be the straw that stirs the drink for the Twins at the top of their order, and expect Julien to be the first Twins hitter to make an appearance in the batter's box come October 3. Royce Lewis - .309/.372/.548 (.920), 154 wRC+, 2.4 fWAR - Third Baseman, Shortstop, Designated Hitter Clouded with uncertainty due to a grade "one-and-a-half" left hamstring strain, it is unknown whether star young plater Royce Lewis will be on the Twins Wild Card series roster. It is too soon to speculate, but everything that has come out about Lewis appears to indicate that he will be active come October 3. If Lewis is active on the Twins Wild Card 26-man roster, it would be reasonable to think he would be the Twins' starting third baseman. However, there is also the possibility that the Twins activate Lewis but limit him to designated hitter or pinch-hitting duties. Whether Lewis will be on the Twins Wild Card roster is yet to be seen. Regardless, he is undoubtedly the type of player who is built for October, and it would be a shame if Lewis, the Twins, and Twins fans were deprived of experiencing his potential postseason greatness. Kyle Farmer - .254/.316/.411 (.727), 101 wRC+, 1.7 fWAR - Second Baseman, Third Baseman, Shortstop Farmer is the type of player who is incredibly important at playoff time. It would be absurd to suggest his postseason roster spot be taken by someone who never played in a Major League Baseball game before, right? Combining veteran leadership, a stable locker room presence, versatility, and a steady bat, Farmer is set to play a crucial role for the Twins this upcoming October, even if it is still being determined exactly how he will do that. If Lewis cannot play during the Wild Card round, Farmer could seamlessly slot in as the Twins starting third baseman. If Lewis can play, which we all hope is the case, Farmer could slot into a pinch-hitting and defensive substitution role, which he has done all season. Nonetheless, whether Farmer shows up in the Twins starting lineup or in the sixth inning of a close game, expect him to contribute positively to the Twins and their playoff aspirations. Willi Castro - .251/.326/.412 (.738), 104 wRC+, 2.1 fWAR - Second Baseman, Third Baseman, Shortstop To label Castro as an infielder is controversial, but it feels appropriate to do so with Lewis's availability for the Wild Card round still up in the air. If Lewis cannot play come October 3, there is a chance that Castro could start Game 1 at third base, though Farmer still feels like the more likely option. Castro's value in the postseason will come from his positional flexibility, pristine base-running ability, and ability to provide heroics in crucial spots. If Lewis is healthy, Castro will likely exclusively play in the outfield. Regardless, with Lewis's status up in the air, it would be negligent not to mention Castro as an infield option. Carlos Correa - .230/.312/.399 (.711), 96 wRC+, 1.1 fWAR - Shortstop The final Twins infielder on this list comes from postseason legend and World Series champion Carlos Correa. Here are Correa's past postseason numbers with the Houston Astros: .272/.344/.505 (.849), 79 total games, 334 plate appearances, 82 hits, 16 doubles, 18 home runs, 30 walks, 79 strikeouts Now, Correa's World Series championship with the 2017 Astros comes with a very obvious caveat, but he has a ring nonetheless. Correa has battled plantar fasciitis in his foot all season. While the injury has led to him putting together his worst offensive season in his Major League career, a recent development in Correa's bout with plantar fasciitis has led to fans developing a newfound sense for Correa and his potential offensive contributions for the Twins come October. On September 20, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com announced that Correa suffered a "full-thickness tear to the central cortex of the area (his foot)" and that the tear "has helped others facilitate the healing process." While much is still up in the air regarding Correa's health, expect him to be the Twins starting shortstop come Game 1 of the Wild Card series on October 3. Although Correa has an immense amount of postseason experience under his belt, this will be his first postseason experience as a member of the Twins. Hopefully, Correa can provide the same level of play he provided for the Astros. Heading into their first postseason appearance since 2020, the Twins are a versatility team that effectively blends young talent with experienced veterans, and the infield is a prime example of that phenomenon. What do you think of the Twins postseason infield? Do you have faith in them stepping up to the occasion? Comment below. View full article