Cody Christie

Joe Ryan is in his second full season with the Twins and continues to evolve as a starting pitcher. He's been a strike-throwing machine this season, so let's dive into the changes he's made so far in 2023. Image courtesy of William Parmeter Joe Ryan was always an intriguing pitching prospect because he has never fit the profile of a typical pitcher. His unique fastball has been discussed at length since joining the Twins organization, and that's what made him so successful in the minors. He releases the ball at a three-quarters arm angle, which can mess with how batters view the expected pitch. One of Ryan's most important focuses was developing his secondary pitches because he wouldn't reach his ceiling throwing fastballs over 60% of the time. Here's a look at his early season changes in 2023. Some of Ryan's early season success is tied to the high strike rate he has been able to accumulate in the season's first month. Inside Edge pointed out that he has thrown at least two strikes in his first three pitches to 78% of opposing batters this season. For reference, the league average is 65%. He has been ahead or even in the count in 111 out of 143 plate appearances this year (78%). Ryan is holding batters to a .342 SLG when he is ahead in the count with 27 strikeouts in 64 at-bats. One reason for Ryan's early season success has been a dramatic change in his pitch mix. During the 2022 season, he threw his fastball over 60% of the time while also relying on his slider (17.8%), changeup (12.1%), curveball (7.2%), and sweeper (2.8%). In 2023, he's using his fastball less than 60% of the time for the first time in his career, and his slider usage has dropped to 5.5%. His most significant increase in pitch usage has been a pitch that Baseball Savant categorizes as a split-finger (27.5%) and a sweeper (9.2%). His slider is getting hit the hardest (.625 SLG), up 85 points compared to last season. He has held batters to a .170 SLG or lower against his split-finger and sweeper. Seven of his eight extra-base hits have come against his fastball, but that is expected with how regularly he throws the pitch. Last season, his fastball was the only pitch with a negative run value for the season (-21 runs), and that total ranked among baseball's best. During the 2023 season, his fastball (-6 runs) and splitter (-5 runs) are both providing negative run value. It will be interesting to track those pitches throughout the season since he currently throws them over 85% of the time. Ryan's improvements this year have helped him post an extreme chase rate that will be tough to maintain for an entire season. Last year, his chase rate ranked in the 33rd percentile among MLB pitchers. To begin 2023, his chase rate ranks in the 96th percentile. There is some hope that his new pitching repertoire will help him continue to get batters to chase pitches, but there will also likely be some regression to his career mark. Unfortunately, not everything is positive for Ryan. He is giving up a lot of hard contact with a Hard Hit % that ranks in the 23rd percentile. He does a tremendous job at hitting his spots but has below-league-average velocity. Hitters can make solid contact on the occasions when his location fails to be perfect. He has given up a lot of ground balls this season, which puts extra pressure on the defense. The Twins' infield defense has ranked poorly to start the season, and he will likely see a few more ground balls find holes behind him in the coming weeks. What have been your impressions of Joe Ryan so far this season? Can he continue to pitch this well? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Pitching prospects can take years to develop through a team's minor league system. One pitching prospect has started to compile numbers that will be tough to ignore by the season's end. Image courtesy of McKenzie Short, Cedar Rapids Kernels Entering the 2023 season, the Twins wanted to make room on the roster for Jose Miranda to take over as the team's full-time third baseman. Gio Urshela had one year remaining of team control and was coming off a strong year where his WAR ranked in the top-5 among Twins players. Minnesota traded him to the Angels for Alejandro Hidalgo, a teenage pitching prospect. At the time of the trade, he ranked as the Angels' number 22 prospect per MLB Pipeline. Hidalgo is off to a good start in the Twins organization and might point to an even stronger performance moving forward. The Angels signed Hidalgo in July 2019 as a 16-year-old out of Venezuela. He wasn't highly sought after in that international class, and the Angels signed him for $30,000. Due to the pandemic, his professional debut didn't come until 2021, when he pitched seven games in rookie ball. In 27 innings, he allowed 14 earned runs on 26 hits, including six home runs. There were some positive signs, as he posted a 31-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio, but he gave up too many hits. He was nearly three years younger than the competition at his level, and he never faced a batter younger than himself. In 2022, the Angels continued to be aggressive with Hidalgo by sending him to Low-A. He made ten starts while posting a 4.62 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 39 innings. His home run rate dropped from 2.0 HR/9 in his professional debut to 0.7 HR/9. His strikeout rate jumped from 10.3 K/9 to 13.4 K/9, but he also saw an increase in his walk rate (3.0 BB/9 to 4.4 BB/9). Nearly 94% of his plate appearances came against older batters, so he remained young for his level. His innings were limited due to a rotator cuff strain that ended his season in June. Since joining the Twins, the club has focused on smoothing out his delivery. According to MLB.com, he attended the Twins' velocity camp in an attempt to get more velo from his delivery. He entered the season with a fastball that averages 92 mph with a solid change-up, which resulted in a 44% miss rate during the 2022 season. The Twins have also worked with him on developing a slider to replace a curveball he had thrown in the past. Minnesota assigned Hidalgo to Cedar Rapids to begin the 2023 season. For the first time in his career, he is over three years younger than the average age of the competition, but his performance hasn't suffered with this assignment. In his first four appearances, he has allowed two earned runs on 11 hits with a 17-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He has yet to allow a home run, but his sample size has been limited to 14 innings. His last appearance was terrific as he pitched 5 1/3 shutout innings with nine strikeouts and one walk while limiting batters to three hits. Hidalgo is only 19 years old and far from Target Field. Also, he has dealt with injuries during his first two professional seasons. The Angels' general manager Perry Minasian had glowing things to say about Hidalgo. "It's always tough to trade young players, especially a great kid with a good arm and a bright future," Minasian said. "But at the end of the day, you have to give to get. I think he's going to have a great career, and hopefully this trade works out for both sides." The Twins have seen positive results from Hidalgo so far, and the club hopes he can continue pitching himself into the team's long-term plans. What are your early impressions of Hidalgo? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

It's hard to believe that the first month of the baseball season has come and gone. With the calendar flipping to May, here were April's top offensive performances in the Twins organization. Image courtesy of William Parmeter, Fort Myers Miracle Before jumping into the top five hitters of the month, here are some honorable mentions. HONORABLE MENTIONS 2B/3B Jorel Ortega - Ft. Myers Mighty Mussels - 18-for-68, .265/.425/.412 (.837), 7 doubles, 1 home run, 13 RBI, 12 runs, 4 SB, 18 BB, 16 K. C/1B Noah Cardenas - Cedar Rapids Kernels - 13-for-50, .260/.373/.420 (.793), 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 5 RBI, 11 runs, 1 SB, 6 BB, 14 K. INF Ben Ross - Cedar Rapids Kernels - 17-for-60, .283/.318/.450 (.768), 4 doubles, 2 home runs, 7 RBI, 6 runs, 1 SB, 4 BB, 17 K. SS Brooks Lee - Wichita Wind Surge - 17-for-88, .279/.337/.443 (.780), 7 doubles, 2 home runs, 8 RBI, 17 runs, 1 SB, 6 BB, 17 K. OF DaShawn Keirsey - Wichita Wind Surge - 19-for-83, .250/.313/.421 (.734), 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 9 RBI, 12 runs, 8 SB, 5 BB, 18 K. 2B Edouard Julien - St. Paul Saints - 13-for-54, .241/.414/.426 (.840), 4 doubles, 2 home runs, 5 RBI, 14 runs, 2 SB, 15 BB, 21 K. THE TOP FIVE APRIL HITTERS Number 5- Fort Myers Mighty Mussels - UTL Dalton Shuffield - 12-for-39, .308/.378/.539 (.916), 1 double, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 10 RBI, 6 runs, 2 SB, 5 BB, 14 K. The Twins drafted Shuffield in the 10th round of the 2022 MLB Draft and played him at three different levels during his professional debut. His first full season is off to a strong start while being used at multiple defensive positions. Shuffield has hits in all but three games this season, and he's reached base in 11 of his first 12 games. He is 2.8 years older than the average age of the competition in the Florida State League, which means he is facing younger pitchers in most of his plate appearances. In 31 at-bats, he has a 1.045 OPS against younger pitchers, including getting on base over 43% of the time. At Hammond Stadium, he has gone 9-for-21 with a 1.335 OPS, with all his extra-base hits coming in home games. Number 4 - Saint Paul Saints - OF Matt Wallner - 15-for-56, .268/.453/.500 (.953), 5 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 10 RBI, 11 runs, 16 BB, 23 K. Wallner's minor league time has been more limited than others on this list because the Twins needed him for a brief six-game stint at the big-league level. One year after being the organization's minor league player of the year, he continues to perform well at Triple-A. His performance against left-handed pitching has been a positive development so far this year for the lefty slugger. He has gone 5-for-17 (.294 BA) with three extra-base hits and an 8-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Overall, his walk rate has increased this year, which can make him an even more dangerous hitter at the big-league level. Over 70% of his plate appearances have come against older pitchers, so it's been good to see him continue to build off his breakout 2022 season. Number 3 - Saint Paul Saints - OF Mark Contreras - 26-for-84, .310/.408/.524 (.932), 6 doubles, 4 home runs, 22 RBI, 19 runs, 12 BB, 27 K. In January, the Twins put Contreras on waivers, but he went unclaimed and stayed in the organization. He made his big-league debut with the Twins last season and has helped add organizational depth in St. Paul. He is tied for the team lead in doubles and home runs on the Saints. He posted an 11-game hitting streak from April 2-April 18, where he went 16-for-42 (.381 BA) with two doubles and three home runs. As a left-handed hitter, he has destroyed righties this season with a 1.031 OPS in 73 plate appearances. Four of his ten extra-base hits have come with two outs and runners in scoring position, so he's come up with some critical hits for the Saints. The Twins have outfield depth, but Contreras might be needed at the big-league level again later this season. Number 2 - Wichita Wind Surge - 3B Yunior Severino - 17-for-61, .279/.371/.590 (.962), 1 double, 6 home runs, 13 RBI, 13 runs, 7 BB, 28 K. Severino was one of 13 prospects the Braves were forced to forfeit as part of penalties from MLB. Minnesota signed him for $2.5 million in 2017, and he has steadily moved through the Twins system. In 2022, he posted an OPS above .900 for the first time in his career while being younger than the average age of the competition at High- and Double-A. The switch-hitting infielder has seen most of his power from the left side this season (1.037 OPS), including all six home runs. Severino has struck out at a high rate this season, so seeing how he adjusts to tougher pitchers in the minor's upper levels will be interesting. And the Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Month is: Fort Myers Mighty Mussels - C/1B Andrew Cossetti - 17-for-52, .327/.471/.654 (1.124), 5 doubles, 4 home runs, 17 RBI, 12 runs, 11 BB, 11 K. The Twins drafted Cossetti in the 11th round of the 2022 MLB Draft from St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, PA. He's making his professional debut in 2023, and he's been one of the most consistent hitters at any level. In his first 17 games, he reached base multiple times in eight games. His signature game was a 2-for-4 night where he drove in seven runs with a double and a grand slam. Even though he is a righty, right-handed pitchers have struggled to retire him. He has gone 13-for-38 (.342 BA) with four doubles and four home runs for a 1.210 OPS. Cossetti is 1.8 years older than the average age of the competition in the FSL, but nearly 43% of his plate appearances have come against older pitchers. Two-thirds of his defensive innings have been at catcher, so he might be developing into one of the team's best catching prospects. Join us in congratulating Mighty Mussels catcher Andrew Cossetti, Twins Daily's choice for Minor League Hitter of the Month for April 2023. Feel free to share your thoughts and ask questions in the comments. View full article

Edouard Julien got his first taste of the big leagues, and now the Twins have sent him back to Triple-A to continue his development. Here’s what should be on Julien’s Triple-A improvement checklist. Image courtesy of Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports Edouard Julien was the talk of spring training after a tremendous 2022 season at Double-A and in the Arizona Fall League. He continued his hot hitting during the spring and posted tremendous numbers for Canada in the World Baseball Classic. Twins fans were excited to see what he could bring to the big-league roster, but he’d also never played a game at Triple-A. Julien started the year in St. Paul, even with Jorge Polanco and Alex Kirilloff on the injured list. Things went well for him at Triple-A as he went 9-for-31 (.290 BA) with two doubles and two home runs in nine games. He continued to show a strong eye at the plate with seven walks which helped him post an OBP of over 42%. With the Twins, he had two games with multiple hits, but there were struggles in the other five contests. It is a small sample size, and there are things he can improve before being called up again later this year. Gain Experience at Other Defensive Positions During his professional debut, Julien played over 100 innings at four different defensive positions, including first base, second base, third base, and left field. From 2021 through 2022, all his defensive innings have come at second base. On the big-league roster, the Twins are hoping Jorge Polanco is healthy enough to play second base for the remainder of the season, and the team has utilized Bryon Buxton as the primary DH. This doesn’t leave Julien with a clear path to earning another call-up. Julien can’t only be an understudy at second base behind Polanco on the depth chart. He needs to start playing other defensive positions like corner outfield and first base. His defense will not be strong at any position, but getting him experience at Triple-A can help make him a more logical option later in the season. The Twins might only trust him at second base and DH, but that likely means he is waiting for an injury to a key Twins player. Find More Success Against Offspeed Pitches For any player, the jump from Double-A to Triple-A can be challenging with increased competition. Julien had fewer than 40 plate appearances above Double-A before getting his first call-up, so it’s easy to see why he might have struggled with the pitchers he was facing at the big-league level for the first time. He faced offspeed pitches 16.7% of the time and failed to collect a hit. There were also many swings and misses while facing offspeed pitches as he posted an 81.8 Whiff%. Young hitters typically get a steady diet of offspeed offerings when they reach the big leagues. Some hitters like Trevor Larnach are still trying to find regular success versus those pitch types. Julien has the opportunity to go back to Triple-A and see pitchers that might not be throwing the best-offspeed pitches on the planet. Hopefully, he can continue to find success at that level and eventually transition that success to the Twins. Monitor Strikeout to Walk Ratio Last season, Julien posted a 125-to-98 strikeout-to-walk ratio while just missing 100 walks for the second consecutive season. He’s been known for his ability to draw walks and was the first Twins prospect with 100 walks in a season since Bobby Kielty two decades before him. Pitchers weren’t afraid to attack him during his first stint with the Twins, so he only drew one walk in 30 plate appearances. His Triple-A totals are better, with 12 walks through his first 12 games to go with 15 strikeouts. Julien has averaged over 134 walks in his first two professional seasons, so he has some swing-and-miss to his game. The Twins are hoping that his strikeout totals don’t take a big jump with the increased level of competition in the upper minors. Julien needs to get back to controlling the strike zone and showing an ability to draw walks with St. Paul. Should anything else be added to his Triple-A improvement checklist? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Many organizations have tried to emulate the Yankees because of their championship pedigree. Does this mean the Twins can win a championship with their newly updated core players? Image courtesy of Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports Every organization attempts to keep its winning window open as long as possible. Some teams can win multiple championships with the same core group. The Yankees won four World Series titles in five years with a core four that included Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, and Mariano Rivera. Minnesota’s two World Series titles include core players like Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbek, Greg Gagne, and Gene Larkin. In baseball, it takes more than four players to win a championship, but key players must perform at a high level to have sustained success. Last July, I identified players that comprised the team’s core four, but some pieces have changed over the last nine months. So, who are the current members of the Twins Core Four? Byron Buxton Contract Status: Signed thru 2028, 7 yrs/$100M (22-28) Earliest Free Agency: 2029 Twins fans may be frustrated with the team utilizing Buxton as a full-time DH, but he signed a team-friendly deal. According to FanGraphs, Buxton has provided the Twins with a value of $32 million or more in each of the last two seasons. Minnesota only pays him around $15 million per season, so he continues to be worth more than he is paid, even with time missed due to injury. There is some question about how long the Twins will keep Buxton in a full-time DH role, but Michael A. Taylor has performed well as the team’s starting center fielder. He’s one of the team leaders, and the Twins line-up is better with him batting on a daily basis. Carlos Correa Contract Status: Signed thru 2028, 6 yrs/$200M (23-28), 29-32 team option Earliest Free Agency: 2029 Correa wasn’t included on last season’s list because his initial Twins contract would likely be for one year. He opted out of his contract and went through one of the strangest free agent sagas in MLB history. The Twins were lucky to add Correa on a contract with multiple team options at the tail-end of the deal. He is arguably one of baseball’s top 30 players, and Minnesota’s winning potential is tied to his performance and long-term health. Correa can be under team control for the longest of any player on this list, so his long-term legacy will be connected to the Minnesota Twins. Pablo Lopez Contract Status: Signed thru 2027, 4 yrs/$73.5M Earliest Free Agency: 2028 Last season, Joe Ryan was the starting pitcher identified in the core four, and he continues to be part of the team’s long-term plans. Lopez wasn’t on the Twins last season, and now he is signed to a long-term deal that will keep him in Minnesota through his age-31 season. Before trading for him, the Twins identified Lopez as a pitcher who might not be meeting his full potential. The front office was forced to part ways with Luis Arraez, but Lopez has been terrific to start the year. He’s added velocity to his fastball, and he added a sweeper this spring that has stymied hitters early in the season. Lopez has dealt with some injury concerns, but he has found a better routine to stay healthy. The Twins are betting on his early season success translating to a top-of-the-rotation starter. Last season, Joe Ryan was the starting pitcher identified in the core four, and he continues to be part of the team’s long-term plans. Jhoan Duran Contract Status: Pre-Arbitration Eligible Earliest Free Agency: 2028 Duran has established himself as one of baseball’s most dominant relief arms. Minnesota transitioned him to a bullpen role last season, and he immediately became a force. During the 2022 season, he led the American League in win probability added and posted an 11.8 K/9. His strikeout rate has increased in 2023, and the Twins are using him in a more traditional closer role. Bullpen arms can be tough to evaluate long-term because they often burn bright for a season or two before fading away. The Twins moved Duran to the bullpen because of health concerns in the minor leagues. Now, he hopes to stay healthy and continue to perform as one of baseball’s best relief pitchers. What do you think the ceiling is for Minnesota’s Core Four? Would you put someone else in the group? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Yankees make their yearly appearance in Minneapolis this week, with the Twins looking to stay at the top of the AL Central. Let’s look back at the Josh Donaldson trade with the Bronx Bombers on their way to Target Field. Image courtesy of Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports Leading into the 2020 season, the Twins weren’t known for making a big splash on the free-agent market. However, the narrative changed with one big signing. Minnesota inked Josh Donaldson to a four-year, $92 million deal, including an $8 million buyout of a $16 million club option for a fifth year. At the time, the contract was the largest free agent deal in club history and the second-largest in MLB history for a player 33 or older. Minnesota was coming off a 2019 Central Division, where the club set the MLB record for home runs in a season. Donaldson was coming off a season where he was named the NL Comeback Player of the Year with a 126 OPS+ in 155 games. The Twins expected him to help the team continue to contend while also serving as a mentor to some of the team’s younger players. However, his time in Minnesota was filled with more downs than ups. The Twins won the division in 2020, but Donaldson was limited to 28 games in the pandemic-shortened season. He had a 132 OPS+ in limited action, but injuries greatly impacted him, and he wasn’t available for Minnesota’s playoff series with the Astros. In 2021, the Twins were a mess and finished at the bottom of the AL Central. Donaldson finished fourth on the team in the WAR with a 127 OPS+, but he played 34 games at DH to help keep himself healthy. Minnesota’s front office went into the offseason looking to make moves to keep the team’s winning window open. On March 12th, the Twins traded Mitch Garver to the Texas Rangers for Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ronny Henriquez. One day later, Minnesota packaged Kiner-Falefa with Josh Donaldson and Ben Rortvedt for Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela. The trade got the Twins out from under the Donaldson contract, and it helped free up the payroll space that Minnesota eventually used for Carlos Correa’s first Twins contract. Twins Acquisitions Entering the 2022 season, the Twins expected Sanchez to split catching duties with Ryan Jeffers, but one injury changed the plan. Jeffers broke his finger, and Sanchez ended up playing 128 games for the Twins. He hit .205/.282/.377 (.659) with 24 doubles, 16 home runs, and an 89 OPS+. His barrel % and hard hit percentage ranked in the 92nd percentile, so there were some positive offensive signs. Defensively, he improved his framing by moving from the 17th percentile in 2021 to the 50th percentile last season. Sanchez remained unsigned for most of the offseason before signing a minor league deal with the Giants. Urshela finished fourth in WAR on the 2022 Twins after hitting .285/.338/.429 (.767) with 27 doubles, three triples, and 13 home runs. His defensive numbers were poor through the season’s first half, but he made one of the most significant in-season improvements for the Twins. Minnesota wanted to open third base for Jose Miranda, so the Twins traded Urshela to the Angels for right-handed pitching prospect Alejandro Hidalgo. Urshela has a 93 OPS+ in his first 18 games for the Angels, while Hidalgo has allowed one earned run with an 11.1 K/9 in 5 2/3 innings this season. Yankees Acquisitions Donaldson’s first Yankees season was filled with ups and downs. In 132 games, he hit .222/.308/.374 (.682) with 28 doubles and 15 home runs. He posted an OPS+ below 120 for only the second time since 2012. He ranked second among AL third basemen in SABR’s Defensive Index but wasn’t a finalist for the Gold Glove. Donaldson started the 2023 season by going 2-for-16 (.125) with one home run before a hamstring strain pushed him to the IL. Reports this weekend said he would likely miss several more weeks because of the injury. The Yankees planned to use Kiner-Falefa to bridge the gap to some of their young shortstop prospects. Last season, he hit .261/.314/.327 (.642) while playing regularly at shortstop. In 2023, New York handed shortstop to Anthony Volpe, with Kiner-Falefa moving to a utility role. He’s played third base and center field while starting the season going 5-for-31 (.161) at the plate. Kiner-Falefa is entering his final year of team control, so the defensive flexibility might help him land a job for 2024. Rortvedt was the third piece the Twins traded to the Yankees and has been limited by multiple injuries over the last two seasons. He had an oblique injury at the time of the deal, and then he underwent left knee surgery last May. Eventually, he appeared in 42 Triple-A games and hit .218/.311/.394 (.705) with nine doubles and six home runs. During spring training in 2023, he had surgery on an aneurysm of the posterior artery near his left shoulder, causing circulation issues. He’s started a rehab assignment at Low-A, and the Yankees are waiting for him to debut with the big-league club. Winners? Losers? Somewhere In-Between? There are a lot of layers to the Donaldson trade. Minnesota was ecstatic to get out from the remainder of his contract for multiple reasons. Donaldson’s age and injury history will continue to impact him, and teams that sign free agents typically get the best performance in the contract’s early years. The Twins had to acquire some players that weren’t needed in New York, but their performances were hardly the reason for the team’s struggles last year. Trading Donaldson also allowed Minnesota to get creative in the club’s first contract offer to Correa. If Donaldson was on the team, that signing likely doesn’t happen, and then the Twins aren’t in the running to re-sign him this winter. Because of these factors, the Twins scored a rare win against the Yankees. Do you think the Twins won the trade? 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Major League Baseball instituted multiple new rules at the beginning of the 2023 campaign. How have those rules impacted the Twins? Image courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports MLB’s new rules will impact every organization in different ways. Some teams can steal bases at a higher rate, or their hitters may perform better with added shift limitations. Here’s how the new rules have impacted the Twins. All statistics are through games played on Tuesday, April 18. Pitch Clock Minnesota has seen slight gains from pitch clock violations this season. Twins pitchers and batters have not been charged with a pitch clock violation, while opponents have surrendered two balls to the Twins. FanGraphs projects the Twins as gaining 0.2 runs from those violations, which ranks in MLB’s top-15. Currently, Pittsburgh leads MLB with 0.7 runs gained from pitch clock violations. Only three American League teams (Toronto, Chicago, and New York) have more runs gained through violations. MLB’s most prominent reasons to add a pitch clock were to decrease the game length and increase downtime during the game. Last season, games averaged over three hours, making it tougher to enjoy for families with younger children. Through 17 games, the Twins have averaged 136.5 minutes per game, including three extra-inning games. Only one game has gone over three hours (4/18 versus Boston), and four games were less than two hours and 15 minutes. Steals Minnesota added Christian Vazquez this winter to upgrade their defense behind the plate. Ryan Jeffers has been known for his receiving ability but has struggled to control the run game. He worked to improve his throwing technique this winter and has shown improved results by throwing out three-of-six (50 CS%) potential base stealers. Vazquez has successfully thrown out one-of-six (17%) base runners, which is half his career average (34%). It will be interesting to see if Jeffers can continue his strong start to the season and if Vazquez can get closer to his career mark. During spring training, the Twins brought in former manager Paul Molitor to serve as a base running guru. Unfortunately, Minnesota’s roster isn’t built to steal bases, and the team has MLB’s lowest stolen base total. Michael A. Taylor is the lone Twins player with a steal, while Willi Castro and Matt Wallner have been caught stealing once. According to FanGraph’s baserunning metric (BsR), the Twins have been worth -2.3 runs on the bases, which ranks 24th overall. Carlos Correa (-1.8 BsR) and Christian Vazquez (-1.3 BsR) have been the team’s worst base runners so far in 2023. Shifts The Twins have used defensive shifts at a higher rate than any other team, even with MLB limiting shifts this season. MLB’s average sits just under 20% of plate appearances with a shift, and the Twins have shifted on over 45%. No team has shifted more against left-handed hitters than the Twins, who have shifted over 80% of the time versus lefties. Minnesota’s pitchers have been strong to start the season, and shifts might be assisting them in recording more outs. Right-handed batters have a .287 wOBA against the Twins, while left-handed batters have posted a .235 wOBA. How do you feel the rules changes have impacted the Twins? Will there be more impacts throughout the season? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Minnesota’s current front office regime has tended to shy away from long-term commitments to starting pitchers. What makes Pablo Lopez different, and what does this mean for the future of the Twins? Image courtesy of © Dave Nelson-USA TODAY Sports Word broke early on Monday morning that the Twins and Pablo Lopez were putting the finishing touches on a four-year, $73.5 million contract extension. Lopez was under team control through the 2024 season through the arbitration process, but this deal will buy out his final arbitration year and give the Twins an additional three years of team control. It’s a substantial deal for a franchise that has tended not to sign pitchers to long-term deals. Minnesota’s current front office has avoided long-term deals, especially for pitchers. In 2018, the Twins signed Addison Reed to a two-year, $16.75 million contract. He had been one of baseball’s most consistent relievers but struggled with the Twins. In 55 appearances, he posted a 4.50 ERA with a 1.43 WHIP and a career-low 7.1 K/9. He failed to make an appearance with the Twins in 2019. Other multi-year deals for pitchers include Michael Pineda and Chris Paddack under the current regime. In both cases, the player was returning from injury, which can make it easier to agree to a team friendly deal. Pineda signed for two-years, $20 million leading into the 2020 season after pitching in 2019 in his first year back from Tommy John surgery. Earlier this year, the Twins and Paddack agreed to a three-year, $12.5 million extension. The deal bought out his final two years of arbitration eligibility and what would have been his first free agent season (2025). There is a chance that Paddack pitches for the Twins in 2023, and the extension puts him in the team's plans for the next two years. Before Lopez, the Twins had an opportunity to work out a long-term deal with Jose Berrios. It seemed like an opportunity for Minnesota to extend a homegrown pitcher that had performed at an All-Star level for most of his career. Instead, the Twins traded him to Toronto for Austin Martin and Simeon Woods Richardson. The Blue Jays signed Berrios to a seven-year, $131 million contract entering his final year of team control. He’s struggled over the last two seasons with a 5.45 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP, so it appears the Twins avoided a declining player. So, what makes Lopez different in the eyes of the Twins? Minnesota’s starting rotation will have plenty of holes to fill next season, with Sonny Gray, Tyler Mahle, and Kenta Maeda scheduled to be free agents. Lopez’s deal is significantly shorter than Berrios, which doesn’t put as much risk on the team. He will be under team control through his age-31 season, which still allows him to cash in on the free-agent market, especially if he continues to pitch well. Lopez has pitched like an ace since the Twins traded for him this winter. In 26 innings, he has posted a 1.73 ERA with 33 strikeouts. Entering the season, Lopez was known as a fastball and changeup pitcher, but he added a sweeping slider to his pitching arsenal this spring. His new pitch has helped him increase his strikeout rate from 8.6 K/9 to 11.4 K/9. He will be at the top of Minnesota’s rotation in 2024 with Joe Ryan and Chris Paddack. He has fought through injuries throughout his career, so there is some risk from the Twins’ perspective. Previously, he missed time with a shoulder strain and right rotator cuff strain. During the 2022 season, he pitched a career-high 180 innings, but he had never pitched more than 111 innings before that breakout performance. By all accounts, Lopez has been a great addition to the Twins clubhouse. He’s a team leader and provides a positive attitude for other players, coaches, and media members. The Twins named him the Opening Day starter and many consider him the team’s best pitcher, especially with how well he has performed so far in 2023. The Twins are betting on Lopez to continue his breakout performance while staying healthy. Do you feel the Twins should hand out more long-term contracts for pitchers? Is Lopez a good long-term investment? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Kenta Maeda is entering his final year of team control and has pitched well in his return from Tommy John surgery. Let's look back at the trade that brought him to Minnesota. Did the Twins win the trade? Image courtesy of Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports Kenta Maeda returned triumphantly to the mound last week after nearly 18 months between starts while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He looked dominant in his first start with nine strikeouts across five innings, including Whiffs on 45% of opponent's swings. The Twins skipped his third start after he dealt with some fatigue. Like his return from injury, his acquisition by the Twins was filled with some bumps. Let's look back at the trade that brought him to Minnesota. Initially, the Twins were part of a monster three-team deal that included the Twins, Red Sox, and Dodgers. That deal looked like the Dodgers receiving Mookie Betts (BOS) and David Price (BOS), the Red Sox receiving Alex Verdugo (LA) and Brusdar Graterol (MN), and the Twins receiving Kenta Maeda (LA). Boston expressed concerns over Graterol's medicals and wanted the Twins to include another high-ranked prospect. Minnesota pulled out of the deal after that request. Eventually, the Dodgers and Twins were able to put a similar deal in place without including the Red Sox. Los Angeles received Graterol, Luke Raley, and the 67th selection in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Note - MLB draft picks cannot be traded, with the exception of the Competitive Balance picks.) Minnesota acquired Kenta Maeda, Jair Camargo, and cash considerations. It's been over three years since the two teams agreed to the trade, so both organizations have a clearer picture of the results. Dodgers Trade Acquisitions At the time of the trade, Graterol was considered a top-100 prospect, but his time as a starter was ending. Graterol has pitched in the Dodgers bullpen for the last four seasons with mixed results. In 120 total innings, he's combined for a 3.83 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP and a 95-to-28 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His fastball has always been his calling card, averaging triple digits during the 2022 season. However, big-league hitters can hit that velocity, especially since it is pretty straight, and his 7.1 K/9 could (maybe should?) be better for a reliever. Graterol has filled a role for the Dodgers but has yet to develop into a dominant bullpen arm. Raley came to the Twins from the Dodgers in the Brian Dozier trade, so Los Angeles wanted him back. He broke into the majors with LA during the 2021 season and posted a .538 OPS in 33 games. The Dodgers traded him to the Rays leading into the 2022 season, and he's found a role with one of baseball's best organizations. To start the 2023 season, he's gone 4-for-15 (.267) with three home runs and a .867 SLG. The Dodgers used their draft pick from the Twins to select Clayton Beeter in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft. He's spent most of his professional career pitching at Double-A. For his career, he has a 4.04 ERA with a 1.31 WHIP, and a 14.4 K/9. During the 2022 season, he was traded from the Dodgers to the Yankees for Joey Gallo. He's posted a sub-2.15 ERA since joining the Yankee organization, so they may have solved some of his former issues. Twins Trade Acquisitions Maeda's first season with the Twins couldn't have gone much better. After posting a 2.70 ERA with an MLB-leading 0.75 WHIP, he finished runner-up for the AL Cy Young. His performance declined during the 2021 season (4.66 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP), but he was fighting through elbow issues and never had his command. Maeda underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2021, and it took him over 18 months to pitch in another game for the Twins. He's in his last year of team control and turns 35 on April 11th. During the 2023 season, he's trying to prove he is healthy and can continue to be an effective starter. Maeda wasn't the only piece with value to the Twins. Jair Camargo is coming off a solid season, hitting .262/.310/.483 (.793) with 11 doubles and 18 home runs in 77 games between High-A Cedar Rapids and Double-A Wichita. Catcher is his primary defensive position, but he has had some at-bats at first base and DH too. He became a free agent last offseason but very quickly re-signed with the Twins and received his first invitation to big-league spring training. Camargo is starting the 2023 season by getting his first taste of Triple-A, where he is over three years younger than the average age of the competition. Every organization needs catching depth, and there is a chance the Twins will need him at the big-league level. This trade would be an easy win for the Twins if Maeda stayed healthy. His 2023 season started well, but there are no guarantees with 35-year-old pitchers coming off major elbow surgery. Which team won the trade? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins have accumulated depth in the high minors, and fans will see multiple pitching prospects throughout the season. Brent Headrick looks to become the first pitching prospect to debut in 2023. Image courtesy of William Parmeter The Twins drafted Brent Headrick in the ninth round of the 2019 MLB Draft from Illinois State University. He spent three years as a starter in college with a 4.55 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. In 205 2/3 innings, he posted a 193-to-70 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Even without overall outstanding numbers, Twins scouts felt that he had the potential to be even better after getting into the organization and working with the minor league coaches. Headrick’s pro debut came in limited action with the Elizabethton Twins. He made three appearances (two starts) while not allowing an earned run over 3 2/3 innings. There were some struggles with control, as he had five walks compared to two strikeouts. He was coming off a collegiate season where he pitched nearly 100 innings, so there might have been some fatigue in the rookie leagues. The Twins sent Headrick to Fort Myers after the non-existent 2020 minor league season. He was over a year older than the average age of the competition with the Mighty Mussels. In 63 innings, he posted a 3.71 ERA with a 1.59 WHIP and an 88-to-35 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His strikeout rate had jumped from 8.4 K/9 in college to 12.6 K/9, a sign of even better numbers during the 2022 season. Headrick began last season at High-A and dominated for the Kernels. In 15 starts (65 1/3 innings), he had a 2.34 ERA with a 0.89 WHIP and a 77-to-13 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Twins promoted him to Double-A, where he was younger than the average age of the competition for the first time in his career. He allowed 23 earned runs in 43 innings but increased his strikeout rate from 10.6 K/9 in High-A to 12.3 K/9. The Twins were impressed enough with his performance to add him to the 40-man roster this past offseason. Since joining the Twins organization, Headrick has increased his fastball velocity from 88 mph in college to the low-90s during the 2022 season. His slider resulted in a 48 percent whiff rate after being promoted to Double-A last season. Headrick continues to work on his changeup, and he can miss bats with the pitch when he throws it consistently for strikes. At Triple-A, he pitched nine innings and allowed six earned runs on 12 hits with 12 strikeouts and two walks. It remains to be seen how the Twins will utilize Headrick in 2023. He’s been a starter throughout his professional career, but he seems more likely to be utilized out of the bullpen. Cole Sands is no longer on the roster, so Headrick can serve as the long man. Headrick’s ceiling might be limited at the big-league level, but his fastball and slider combination makes him an intriguing bullpen option. What do you think Headrick’s ceiling is at the big leagues? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins' minor league seasons are underway, and there are top prospects to follow at every level. Here are Minnesota's most and least aggressive prospect assignments in the farm system. Image courtesy of William Parmeter Earlier this week, MLB Pipeline examined minor league rosters across baseball and found the most and least aggressive prospect assignments. Player development only sometimes follows a linear path. Some players need to repeat a level to prove their performance was legitimate. Other players must repeat a level because they struggled in the previous campaign. Here's a look into the Twins farm system and some of the most and least aggressive assignments. Most Aggressive Danny De Andrade, Low-A Age: 19 De Andrade is the only teenager on the Fort Myers roster, and he's two years younger than any other player on his team. Last season, he played 48 games with the FCL Twins, where he was nearly two years younger than the average age of the competition. In 204 plate appearances, he hit .242/.333/.371 (.704) with nine doubles, one triple, four home runs, and a 34-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He's young for his level, but the Twins believe he can find success while facing older competition. Emmanuel Rodriguez, High-A Age: 20 Eyes across the baseball world will be on Rodriguez this season after a breakout 2022 campaign. In 47 games, he hit .272/.493/.552 (1.044) with five doubles, three triples, nine home runs, and more walks (57) than strikeouts (52). His season ended early after injuring his knee on a slide into second base, so the Twins could have sent him back to Low-A, where he'd still be young for the level. Instead, he's among a handful of top prospects on the Cedar Rapids roster. Connor Prielipp, High-A Age: 22 Entering the season, Prielipp had yet to throw a professional inning after being drafted by the Twins in the second round last June. He had the potential to be a first-round pick, but some teams avoided him because he was returning from Tommy John surgery. The Twins could have let him get his feet wet in Fort Myers, but the club has confidence that he is one of the organization's top pitching prospects. He's over a year younger than the average age of the competition in the Midwest League, so he should pitch the bulk of his innings at High-A in 2023. Least Aggressive Brooks Lee, Double-A Age: 22 Lee is considered the top Twins prospect by many national outlets. The Twins were very aggressive with him after taking him in the first round last year. He played at three different levels and finished the season in Wichita. Twins fans saw a lot of Lee during spring training as he played in 14 games and had 47 plate appearances. An argument could have been made for Lee to begin the year at Triple-A, but the Saints roster has more veteran players ahead of Lee on the depth chart. If Lee continues to perform well, he should reach Triple-A in the season's second half. Edouard Julien, Triple-A Age: 23 Julien is looking to build off a breakout season between Double-A and the Arizona Fall League. He came to spring training with a chance to break camp with the big-league club. He posted a 1.114 OPS this spring and was impressive during the World Baseball Classic while serving as Canada's lead-off hitter. Jorge Polanco's injury could have opened an opportunity for him to make his big-league debut. Still, the Twins thought getting some experience at the Triple-A level was more important. Author's note: Julien was called up earlier this week to take Joey Gallo's roster spot. Should the Twins have been more or less aggressive with these prospect assignments? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article