Cody Christie

Jose Miranda's 2021 season will be remembered as one of the most outstanding minor league campaigns in franchise history. Now he is getting the call to the big leagues, so let's look back at all he has accomplished so far. Minnesota drafted Jose Miranda in the 2016 MLB Draft out of high school in Puerto Rico. During that draft, he was the third straight high school position player taken by the club as the Twins also drafted Alex Kirilloff and Ben Rortvedt. MLB Pipeline didn't have him ranked among the top draft prospects by MLB Pipeline, but the Twins saw enough in him to take him with the 73rd pick. "He's a really good player and really skilled," said Twins scouting director Deron Johnson at the time. "We have him compared to a Mike Lowell-type. He's a really good defender with a good swing. He's a good-sized kid. He has a chance to have power for sure." Miranda made his professional debut in the GCL, and there were some early struggles as he transitioned to the pro level. In 55 games, he hit .227/.308/.292 (.600) with nine extra-base hits and a 36-to-19 strikeout to walk ratio. He was over 1.5 years younger than the average age of the competition at his level and only faced younger pitchers in 11 plate appearances. Entering the 2017 season, Minnesota was still aggressive with Miranda even though his pro debut wasn't perfect. He responded by raising his OPS by 224 points with 21 extra-base hits, including 11 home runs in 54 games. One of his most significant developments was his decrease in strikeouts, as he only struck out 24 times. Miranda was still young for his level, and he was showing some of the promise the Twins saw in him when they drafted him. During the 2018 season, Miranda made his full-season debut as he split time between Low- and High-A. In Cedar Rapids, he posted a .760 OPS with 22 doubles and 13 home runs. The Twins continued to be aggressive with him and moved him to High-A for the season's final 27 games. His OPS dipped by 115 points, but he was nearly 2.5 years younger than the average age of the competition at his level. It made sense for the Twins to send Miranda back to High-A in 2019 after he struggled to transition to that level at the end of 2018. He struggled with a .663 OPS in 118 games, but Minnesota still promoted him to Double-A at the end of the season. Clearly, the Twins believed in Miranda, but the results weren't showing up on the field. Following the season, the Twins left him unprotected from the Rule 5 Draft, which could have been one of the biggest mistakes in team history. Obviously, the non-existent 2020 minor league season impacted players in different ways. However, Miranda worked on multiple things during the downtime. The Twins wanted him to be more selective with the pitches he was putting in play. He has such good bat-to-ball skills that he can put a lot of pitches in play, but he had the potential to drive the ball if he started hunting for pitches in the zone. This recipe seemed to be the key to unlocking his full potential. Miranda started the 2021 season at Double-A, and his approach at the plate was evident. In 47 games, he hit .345/.408/.588 (.996) with eight doubles and 13 home runs. After being promoted to Triple-A, he didn't slow down as he posted a .960 OPS with 24 doubles and 17 home runs. Miranda dominated at the minor's highest level, and he'd wind up on two national top-100 lists (Baseball America and MLB.com). So far in 2022, Miranda has hit .256/.295/.442 (.737) with ten doubles and two home runs. He is part of the team's long-term plans after a tremendous 2021 season. What do you remember about Miranda's minor league career? Also, if you would like to look back at Miranda's career to this point, this link shows all articles he has been tagged in. View full article

Cole Sands made his big-league debut on Sunday, and he has come a long way since being drafted by the Twins. Here’s a look back at his professional career so far. Minnesota drafted Cole Sands in the fifth round of the 2018 MLB Draft out of Florida State University. In three collegiate seasons (228 1/3 innings), he posted a 4.73 ERA with a 1.32 WHIP and 210 strikeouts. His stock fell a little heading into the draft because of some injury concerns. However, he showed the ability to improve throughout his collegiate career as he limited his walk rate and increased his strikeout totals. The Twins waited for Sands to make his professional debut until the start of the 2019 season. If the team was cautious to start his career, they made up for it by pushing him through three levels in his first pro season. At Low-A, he started eight games (41 1/3 innings) and posted a 3.05 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP and a 49-to-11 strikeout to walk ratio. It was a great start to his career, but it improved after his promotion. Sands dominated after being promoted to High-A. Across nine starts (52 innings), he had a 2.25 ERA with a 0.83 WHIP. He struck out more than a batter per inning and only issued seven walks. He was also nearly two years younger than the average age of the competition at that level. Over 57% of his plate appearances came against older batters for the season. His final 2019 appearance came at Double-A, where he allowed two earned runs over 4.0 innings with six strikeouts. During the 2021 campaign, Sands pitched the entire year at Double-A, and he continued to establish himself as one of the organization’s top pitching prospects. In 19 appearances (18 starts), he posted a 2.46 ERA with 1.17 WHIP and 96 strikeouts in 80 1/3 innings. After an impressive season, the Twins rewarded Sands by adding him to the 40-man roster. His 2022 season started off well as he posted some impressive numbers in his first two starts. In both games, he pitched five innings, and he only allowed one earned run, a home run, while striking out 12. His subsequent two appearances were disastrous as he combined to pitch 2 2/3 innings and allowed five earned runs in both outings. “He checks a lot of the traditional boxes that get you excited,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. “I mean he’s a big strong guy with some real arm strength and can spin the ball and can really find the strike zone and can pinpoint what he’s doing.” Minnesota will continue to allow Sands to start games, where he has the opportunity to be a back-of-the-rotation starter. His pitch mix and stuff may also make him an intriguing late-inning reliever if the team decides to go in that direction. His debut didn't go perfectly, but that doesn't take away from what he has accomplished so far in his professional career. What stands out to you about Sands? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

April weather can be tough on hitters and pitchers, especially in the minor leagues. Here are three starters that shined even when the weather can get in the way. Some might look at the Twins farm system and think this was an easy selection, but it turned out to be a two-person race. One starter didn’t allow a run the entire month, and it still wasn’t good enough to walk away with the top honors. Louie Varland, the reigning TD Minor League Pitcher of the Year, had a tremendous month but did crack the top three. Matt Canterino struck out 18 batters in 12 2/3 innings and didn’t receive a vote. Below you will find the top three finishers voted on by the Twins Daily writers. Honorable Mention #2: Brent Headrick Minnesota selected Headrick in the 9th round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of Illinois State University. Last season, he made 15 appearances at Low-A and posted a 4.70 ERA with a 1.58 WHIP in 61 1/3 innings. He posted a 12.6 K/9, but he gave up more than a hit per inning. Things have started significantly better for Headrick in 2022. In four starts (17 2/3 innings), he has posted a 2.55 ERA with a 28-to-4 strikeout to walk ratio. He has cut his H/9 rate from 9.3 last season to 4.6. His 14.3 K/9 is a total usually only seen by dominant relief pitchers, but he posted a 10.8 K/9 in his final collegiate season. All but 13 of his at-bats have come against younger pitchers as he is nearly a year older than the average age of the competition at High-A. Headrick is more than dominating the competition to start the year. Honorable Mention #1: Simeon Woods-Richardson The Twins acquired Woods-Richardson along with Austin Martin as part of the José Berríos trade. Last season, the Twins and the Blue Jays were aggressive with Woods-Richardson as he pitched the entire year at Double-A as a 20-year-old. He struggled with an ERA close to 6.00 and a 1.54 WHIP. It made sense for him to repeat that level in 2022, where he is still over 3.5 years younger than the average age of the competition. There was also a potential for him to be a breakout player, which looks to be coming true. Woods-Richardson made four starts in April and didn’t allow an earned run. In 21 2/3 innings, he posted an 18-to-7 strikeout to walk ratio with a 0.65 WHIP. He has faced a younger batter in only one game for two of his plate appearances on the year. In any other month, Woods-Richardson is the likely winner of this award, but one pitcher was able to outshine him. Starting Pitcher of the Month: John Stankiewicz Stankiewicz pitched three collegiate seasons at Fordham University, but he went undrafted even though he posted a sub-1.75 ERA over his final two seasons. Minnesota signed him last July, and he made seven appearances at Low-A with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. Those were outstanding numbers for a non-drafted player, but Stankiewicz wasn’t flying up any top prospect lists this winter. He may be getting a little more attention after his first month of the season. Stankiewicz made four April starts and finished with a 0.83 ERA and a 0.74 WHIP. He accumulated 31 strikeouts out of the 80 batters he faced. Before the month ended, Minnesota promoted him to Cedar Rapids. At the time of his promotion, he led the Florida State League in ERA, ranked second in strikeouts, and was third in IP and WHIP. It was a genuinely dominating month of April, and now he gets the opportunity to be one step closer to the big leagues. If you were to rank your top 3 for the month of April, are these the three you would have ranked? In the same order? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Carlos Correa has gotten off to a slow start during his Twins tenure, but his career track record points to him getting back on track. So, how can the Twins keep Correa long-term? Minnesota's front office recognized the opportunity they received when they signed Carlos Correa this spring. He's being paid the highest single-season salary for an infielder in MLB history, and he has the opportunity to opt out of his contract at season's end. Many viewed Correa's deal as a one-year contract so that he could test the free-agent market again next winter. However, he may be interested in staying in Minnesota long-term. Earlier this week, Ken Rosenthal reported that Correa is very willing to sign a long-term deal to stay in Minnesota. Correa said. "I love the people here. I love the way I'm treated here. If you guys see the value I bring to this organization and what I do for other people around me and the game that I bring, I would love to have a long-term relationship here if that's what you guys would like." Correa also pointed to how comfortable his family already feels in Minnesota, even though it's very early into his Twins tenure. So, what will it take to keep Correa in Minnesota beyond 2022? Last winter, multiple shortstops signed multi-year free-agent contracts. Texas handed out the two highest free-agent contracts for shortstops to Corey Seager and Marcus Semien. Seager signed for 10-years and $325 million, while Semien got 7-years and $175 million. Boston gave Trevor Story $140 million over six years, and Detroit signed Javier Baez to an identical deal. Correa was ranked highly, so he was likely looking for a total similar to what Seager got from the Rangers. Next winter's shortstop class also has some superstar players. Outside of Correa, Trea Turner will be the top available shortstop, and he will likely get a higher contract than Seager. Other potential free agent shortstops include Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson. Correa is younger than all of these options, and teams will likely view this as a positive when negotiating a long-term deal. Minnesota has seen Correa's work on and off the field, which can open up the opportunity for more long-term discussions. He and his agency will likely want him paid like a top free agent. Taking out his $34 million for the 2022 season, he has $291 million left to reach what Seager got last winter. It seems like an eight-to-nine-year deal for $275-290 million would be the range. That would be a significant investment from a front office that loves payroll flexibility. Luckily, the Twins don't have a lot of contracts on the books in the years ahead, and much of their pitching will be young and cheap. A Correa-level deal fits with the team's current flexibility and future finances. Another aspect of signing Correa is his lack of ties to the Twins organization. Since signing, Correa has made it clear that the Twins are Byron Buxton's team. Buxton is off to a tremendous start that puts him into the conversation as one of baseball's best players. Is Correa satisfied being the Robin to Buxton's Batman, or does he want to be considered the best player on his team? A contract worth over $250 million will probably solve any of those concerns. Do you think the Twins will sign Correa to a long-term deal? What type of contract is fair for both sides? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Offensive production is down across baseball to start the 2022 season, and Minnesota has plenty of hitters that fit this mold. Max Kepler is showing signs that he may be poised to breakout. Many Twins sluggers had remarkable 2019 seasons, including Max Kepler. In 134 games, he hit .252/.336/.519 (.855) with 32 doubles and 36 home runs. Obviously, the baseballs used that season have come under question, which is undoubtedly the case with Kepler. He posted an OPS over 100 points higher than his career average, so how does that connect to his start to 2022? Since 2019, Kepler has hit .216/.315/.411 (.726) with a 101 OPS+ with 29 home runs in 185 games. So far this season, Kepler is getting on base at a higher rate (.361 OPS), but his slugging percentage (.300 SLG) is over 130 points lower than his career mark. With offense down across baseball, he still has a 103 OPS+, which puts him above the league average. There are some positive signs in his underlying numbers. For the first time in his career, Kepler has an average exit velocity of over 90 mph, putting him in the 67th percentile among MLB hitters. He has also done an excellent job of working counts in his favor as his BB% ranks in the 88th percentile. Kepler has also been able to avoid striking out, as his K% (77th percentile), Whiff% (88th percentile), and Chase Rate (87th percentile). While all of these numbers look good, some simple fixes might help him break out. One of Kepler’s previous issues has been his tendency to pop up weakly, which results in easy-outs. He is clearly focusing on this issue in 2022, which has resulted in a 5.5 launch angle. He has averaged a 15.1 launch angle for his career, and the MLB average is 12. His low launch angle has resulted in him hitting the ball on the ground over 50% of the time, which is over 12% higher than his career average. If Kepler can adjust his launch angle slightly, he may see better results that correspond to his increase in average exit velocity. Fastballs are one area where Kepler has the most offensive success, and his slugging percentage on those pitches is another area that points to him being close to a breakout. Last season, he posted a .462 slugging percentage when facing fastballs, which was his highest total on any specific pitch type. In 2022, his slugging percentage has dropped to .292 when facing fastballs, but his expected slugging is .513 on those pitches. His hard contact should result in a higher slugging percentage as the weather improves. Finally, Kepler’s batting average on balls in play (BAbip) is another sign of him turning it around in the weeks ahead. So far in 2022, he has a .256 BAbip, his highest total since 2017. His current .220 batting average is also significantly lower than his BAbip, and that may point to him being unlucky. If a few more of these hits fall in, all of his numbers look better to start 2022, but that seems to be a trend with Minnesota’s hitters not named Buxton. At this point in his career, one must wonder if Kepler can make significant changes to his offensive approach. He is in the prime of his career, but he has accumulated nearly 3,000 big-league plate appearances. He can make some minor changes in 2022 to get better results, but will he be able to make those adjustments in a depressed offensive environment? Do you think Kepler can breakout in 2022? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Minnesota locked up Byron Buxton to a long-term deal this winter, and it looks like the Twins made a brilliant investment. After a torrid start to the season, is he in the conversation to be baseball's best player? Fans have seen this game changing ability before from Byron Buxton. Last April, he started hot in the season's first month as he hit .427/.466/.897 (1.363) with eight doubles and eight home runs in 18 games. MLB named Buxton the American League Player of the Month, and he had arguably the best offensive month in team history. It was hard to imagine him playing at a higher level, and then the 2022 season began. Over the weekend, Buxton showed his value across multiple games, including some dramatic moments. On Saturday, he went 4-for-4 and reached base in all five plate appearances as the Twins won a blowout. Sunday's game was a nail-biter, and Buxton left the fans happy as he tied the game with a home run in the 7th before a massive three-run walk-off shot in extra-innings. One weekend series doesn't qualify someone to be baseball's best player, but plenty of other signs point to Buxton's greatness. His six home runs tie him for the MLB lead, and he has over 20 fewer at-bats than the other players at the top. His 1.361 OPS would lead all of baseball by close to 200 points, but he doesn't have enough plate appearances to appear on the leaderboard. Baseball's leaders in slugging percentage are tied at .727, but Buxton's OPS is .946 through Sunday's game. At the season's start, MLB Network counted down baseball's top-100 players right now. Buxton ranked as baseball's 39th best player on that countdown, a 52-spot jump from the beginning of the 2021 season. At that time, he was directly behind players like Nick Castellanos, Shane Bieber, and Brandon Woodruff. With his start to the season, he has to move up the list, but would it be enough to get to the top? Players at the top of the list include multiple former MVPs and other budding superstars. Shohei Ohtani, the reigning AL MVP, is coming off a season where he did amazing things as a two-way player. Mike Trout is widely considered the best player of this generation and a perennial MVP candidate. Bryce Harper is the reigning NL MVP, and he continues to live up to the hype surrounding him as an amateur. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Juan Soto are two of the other highly ranked players that have achieved a lot at a young age. So far this season, many of these top players haven't been able to do what Buxton has done on the field. Ohtani is hitting .206/.265/.397 (.662), and he's posted a 4.40 ERA in three starts. Trout was limited to 36 games last season, but he is back to his old ways so far in 2022. Out of qualified players, he leads the AL in OPS and SLG. Harper has posted an OPS of over 1.000 in his two MVP seasons, but this year he has a .766 OPS while still leading the NL in runs. As expected, Soto leads baseball in walks and gets on base nearly 43% of the time. All of these players are great, but none may be able to impact the game quite like Buxton. At this early juncture, Trout is the lone top player producing at his expected level. Other players off to hot starts include Manny Machado, Nolan Arenado, and Wander Franco. There is a lot of season left to separate one player from another, but it's clear that Buxton is playing at an otherworldly level. Do you think he is baseball's best player? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Relief pitchers tend to burn bright and die out quickly as the league adjusts to their pitching tendencies. Tyler Duffey and Caleb Thielbar fit this mold, and they are following a similar path as previous Twins relievers. Every team enters the season with a bullpen pecking order, but relievers can be inconsistent, especially in small sample sizes. In recent years, Duffey and Thielbar have been vital members of the Twins bullpen, but both have struggled this season. Here’s a look back at three former relievers that burned bright before falling on hard times. Pat Neshek Twins Peak: Neshek quickly became a fan favorite with his side-arm delivery and early success. During his first two big-league seasons, he posted a 2.68 ERA with a 0.93 WHIP while striking out 127 batters in 107 1/3 innings. He’d make two appearances with the Twins in the 2006 playoffs, but he struggled to find postseason success like many Twins pitchers. During the 2007 season, Neshek was one of five AL players included on the All-Star Final Vote ballot, but he’d fall short of making the team. Neshek established himself as a reliable late-inning reliever before he faced some big-league struggles. Twins Struggles: From 2008 to 2010, Neshek was limited to fewer than 25 big-league innings, and those innings were ineffective. During the 2008 season, he made 15 appearances and allowed seven earned runs before an injury shut him down. Minnesota tried having him rehab, but his 2009 season was wiped out as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. Neshek returned to the mound in 2010 and spent most of the season at Triple-A. His final 11 appearances for the Twins resulted in a 5.00 ERA with a 1.67 WHIP. Even with his Twins tenured ending, Neshek’s career was far from over as he made multiple All-Star appearances and pitched until the 2019 season. Juan Rincón Twins Peak: Rincón pitched parts of eight seasons in Minnesota, but his peak came from 2004 to 2006. He posted a 2.66 ERA during those three years with a 1.19 WHIP and 255 strikeouts across 233 1/3 innings. He was one of Ron Gardenhire’s most reliable late-inning options as the team won multiple AL Central titles. Rincón pitched in three different playoff series and posted a 5.19 ERA in 8 appearances, but four of his five earned runs were in the 2004 ALDS against the Yankees. As he entered his age-28 season, things started to go south for Rincón. Twins Struggles: During his final season and a half in Minnesota, Rincón hit a performance wall. In 2007, his ERA jumped from 2.91 to 5.13 while his strikeout rate dropped and his walk rate increased. Things went even worse during the 2008 season as his ERA was north of 6.00. Minnesota granted him his free agency at the end of June, and he signed with Cleveland two days later. After leaving the Twins, he pitched 93 more big-league innings for the Indians, Tigers, and Rockies, but he never posted an ERA lower than 4.50 with any of the teams. José Mijares Twins Peak: Mijares surprised many during the 2008 season as he made ten appearances and allowed one earned run with a 0.29 WHIP. In the 2009 season, he took on an even more prominent bullpen role. Over 61 2/3 innings, he posted a 2.34 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP with a 55-to-23 strikeout to walk ratio. Mijares, a left-handed pitcher, was particularly effective against lefties as they hit .155/.228/.252 (.481) against him in 2009. He was very successful in an era where left-handed specialists played vital bullpen roles. Twins Struggles: Some of his struggles started during the 2009 ALDS as he couldn’t make it through one full inning without allowing a run. Mijares saw his ERA rise by over an entire run for the 2010 season, and then it went up to 4.59 for the 2011 season. He was never a strikeout machine, but his K/9 dropped from 7.7 to 5.5 in his final Twins season. Mijares made three appearances during the 2010 playoffs and didn’t allow an earned run. After leaving Minnesota, he pitched parts of two seasons with the Royals and Giants while helping San Francisco win the 2012 World Series. Are you worried that Duffey and Thielbar will follow the path of these former relievers? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins had a player to be named later included in the trade for Taylor Rogers and Brent Rooker. On Thursday, Minnesota announced the prospect as right-handed pitcher Brayan Medina. It can certainly be intriguing when a trade includes a player to be named later. Jeremy tried to identify which player might be included in the deal, which can be a tough task. Chris Paddack and Emilio Pagan were the first two pieces of the trade, but here’s a little about prospect the team just added to the deal. Brayan Medina was considered the top Venezuelan pitching prospect when the 2019 international signing period opened. San Diego signed him for $700,000, and he was set to make his debut during the 2020 season. Unfortunately, the pandemic canceled the 2020 season and pushed his pro debut to the 2021 season. Last year, the 18-year-old started in the Dominican Summer League. In 28 2/3 innings, he posted a 4.71 ERA with a 1.50 WHIP and a 42-to-21 strikeout to walk ratio. Medina’s last three appearances came in the Arizona Complex League, where he struggled in limited action. He allowed four earned runs in two of his appearances as he surrendered three home runs. On a positive note, he struck out seven batters in five innings. Still a teenager, Medina has room to add to his 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame, which may increase his velocity in the years ahead. He currently has a three-pitch mix, including a fastball, slider, and changeup. According to MLB Pipeline, his fastball grades as a 60 as it sits in the mid-90s, but he can occasionally pump it up into the high-90s. His slider is his best secondary pitch as it currently grades as a 55, which is above average. His changeup has shown the most improvement since he signed and currently grades as a 50. MLB Pipeline ranked him as the 14th best Padres prospect. FanGraphs isn’t relatively as high on Medina as MLB Pipeline as they ranked him as San Diego’s 29th best prospect. They grade his fastball as a 45 with a future grade of 55. FanGraphs identifies his best secondary pitch as a curveball instead of a slider, but some of that is due to his vertical slot delivery. His curveball currently grades as a 45 with a future grade of 55. Both of these pitches would rank as above average. One of his most significant issues last season was a high walk rate, as he surrendered 24 walks in just under 34 innings. Some of this comes from a violent delivery, but it can also be attributed to the limited amount of innings he has accumulated as a professional. His release point is from a vertical slot, which helps his secondary pitches to be more effective. As a player to be named later, Medina has plenty of potential. His ceiling looks like a mid-rotation starter, but his top two pitches also make him an intriguing bullpen option. In the Twins system, he’d likely rank in the back half of the team’s top-30 prospects. What do you think about Medina’s scouting reports? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Early seasons numbers need to be taken with a grain of salt. There is plenty of season left for players to find their rhythm, but here are three surprises from the team’s early action. Dylan Bundy Strong Starts When the Twins signed Dylan Bundy, he looked like a veteran pitcher that would add depth to the back of the starting rotation. He was coming off a terrible season for the Angels, where he posted a 6.06 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. It was easy not to get too excited about what he could mean to the Twins based on his previous performance. However, he has faced two potential playoff teams, and his season couldn’t have started much better. Against Seattle, he pitched five shutout innings while only allowing one hit. On Monday in Boston, he pitched into the sixth inning while racking up six strikeouts and limiting a potent Red Sox lineup to one run. This year, his most significant improvement is a big jump in chase rate as he ranks in the 92nd percentile. His slider, which he uses against righties, resulted in a 60 Whiff%. Bundy is also using his changeup more regularly, so these will be trends to watch in his future starts. Carlos Correa’s Cold Bat Carlos Correa is coming off a tumultuous winter where he tested free agency for the first time, changed agents, and arrived at spring training after other players. Maybe all of those aspects impact his on-field performance, or he is just in the middle of a rough patch. Either way, he is off to the worst start of his career with a .595 OPS with three extra-base hits in the team’s first nine games. Minnesota was certainly expecting more from Correa, and he was likely expecting more from himself. His cold start also brings up another intriguing aspect for the years ahead. Minnesota signed him to a three-year contract with opt-outs at the end of each season. Correa was likely hoping to hit the free-agent market again next winter as he entered his age-28 season and cash in on an even more lucrative deal. If he has a poor performance in 2022, he may reconsider staying with the Twins for 2023. That decision is a long way off at this point, and Twins fans hope his bat warms up as the weather improves. Jhoan Duran’s Strikeout Totals Fans were excited to see what Jhoan Duran could add to the Twins bullpen, especially those that have followed his minor league career. His appearances have turned into must-watch TV with his triple-digit fastball and his already famous splinker. Duran has racked up some strikeout numbers in limited action. Across six innings, he has 11 strikeouts which rank second among all relievers in baseball. The only pitcher ahead of him has appeared in three more games than Duran and pitched one more inning. It will be interesting to see how the Twins use Duran throughout the rest of the season. Minnesota will likely watch his innings pitched and his time between appearances with his previous injury history. Duran has already made appearances in close games during the late-innings. He will likely serve in a closer role at some point in the future, but will he get those opportunities in 2022? Which of these surprises stands out most to you? Are there other surprises on the team? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Emilio Pagán was brought back as part of the Taylor Rogers trade to give the Twins a late-inning bullpen option. Unfortunately, some signs and projection systems point to him being a potential bullpen bust. Are they right? Pagán is entering his age-31 season, and he has bounced around MLB over the last six seasons. His first two seasons were in AL West as he pitched in relief for Seattle and Oakland. In 112 1/3 innings, he posted a 3.85 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP and 9.5 K/9. Tampa Bay added him for the 2019 season, and he posted career-bests in nearly every statistical category, including 20 saves. Like many relievers, the Rays were able to get the best out of him before shipping him away. His time in San Diego pointed to a few concerning trends as he posted a 4.75 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP in 85 1/3 innings. In Tampa, he was able to keep the ball in the park, avoid hard contact, and miss enough bats to be effective. There's a reason the Padres were looking for a different late-inning reliever, and Minnesota is searching for the 2019 version of Pagán. During the 2021 season, there were plenty of things that went wrong in San Diego, and Pagán may have played a role in the team's downfall. His Hard Hit % and Barrel % ranked in the 7th percentile or lower, which resulted in him allowing one of baseball's worst average exit velocities. Batters posted a .538 SLG against his fastball last season, so changing his pitch mix may be something the Twins examine with him. Giving up that much hard contact also results in more home runs. Last season, he posted a career-worst 2.3 HR/9 after posting a 1.6 HR/9 for his career. His 13 home runs allowed in 2021 may have been higher had he not been pitching with San Diego's spacious outfield behind him. Home run rates can be unstable, especially for relievers, but it will be something to watch this season. Another concern from 2021 was his lack of first-pitch strikes, which tends to increase a pitcher's walk rate. Last season, he posted a 2.6 BB/9, which was slightly above his 2.3 BB/9 for his career. Many projection systems viewed his walk rate as an area of concern for the 2022 campaign. If a reliever can't throw first-pitch strikes, there is a good chance he will allow more base runners, which is a recipe for disaster. FanGraphs’s ZiPs projection identified Pagán as a potential bust candidate. According to them, “A bust is a player who will step down a tier in performance or who is in a down cycle and has passed the window to get back to what they used to be. None of the players involved are literally without value, and some of them are still really good.“ There is still an opportunity for Pagán to provide value to the Twins this season. In limited action this season, the Twins have already attempted to make some changes with Pagán. His fastball usage has decreased while his cutter has stayed the same. So, what's the most significant change? For the first time in his career, he is using a split-finger pitch. Relievers tend to have such a small sample size throughout a season, but it will be interesting to see his success in adding this pitch to his repertoire. Even with some struggles last season, Pagán showcased some strong areas on which the Twins can capitalize. His fastball spin ranked in the 91st percentile, even with MLB cracking down on the use of sticky substances. His Whiff% ranked in the 74th percentile, his K% ranked in the 67th percentile, and his xBA ranked in the 65th percentile. If Minnesota trusts Pagán in late-inning situations, he needs to continue to improve in these areas. Do you think Pagán is destined to be a bust this season, or do you think he can be a reliable option in the back of the Twins' bullpen? Leave a COMMENT and join the discussion. View full article

As Byron Buxton slid into second base, all of Twins Territory collectively held their breath. Thankfully, his knee injury doesn’t appear to be serious, but the Twins may need to shift Buxton’s role when he returns to action. There’s no way that it happened again. Most fans had to be thinking after watching Buxton slide into second base at Fenway Park. He slapped the ground in frustration and walked off the field under his own power, but it would mean more missed time for Buxton with an offense that has struggled to start 2022. So, what can the Twins do with their star center fielder? Injuries have been part of Byron Buxton’s story throughout his professional career. Minnesota has already tried various techniques to keep Buxton healthy, including altering his jumping technique at the wall and positioning him deeper in the outfield. Those strategies may have helped him avoid some injuries, but every game he misses is value he isn’t providing to the Twins. Shifting Buxton to a more regular designated hitter role is a unique idea that deserves some exploration. Alex Fast is a VP at Pitcher List and he creates content for ESPN and MLB Network. He has over 26.1 K follows on Twitter, so he is certainly a voice that many listen to in the baseball world. However, many Twins fans may have been a little stunned by his suggestion over the weekend. Buxton doesn’t have any structural damage to his knee, and the team hopes he can avoid an IL trip. One way to get him back into the line-up is to have him serve as DH. Minnesota utilized this strategy in recent years with Josh Donaldson and his aging legs. Nick Gordon is undoubtedly a defensive downgrade, but Buxton in the line-up is more valuable than having him on the bench. On the surface, this might seem like a logical solution, but many of Buxton’s recent injuries have occurred while on offense. His knee injury resulted from him stretching a single into a double. Last season, he broke his hand on a hit by pitch and suffered through some hamstring issues. While his hamstrings may benefit from less time in the outfield, these other injuries are still likely to occur when he serves in a DH role. Buxton has never played a game at the DH position in his career. It may seem easy to slide a player into that spot, but it can be a difficult transition for some hitters. Not playing on the defensive side can take focus off the game and make it harder for a hitter to lock in when it is time to step into the batter’s box. Buxton may be able to handle the transition, but he’s passionate about his defensive ability and the value he provides the team in center field. While Buxton’s bat is elite, he provides so much value on the defensive side of the ball. This season, even in limited action, he ranks in the 95th percentile for Outs Above Average (OAA). Since 2016, he has compiled 60 OAA even with his time missed due to injury. He is arguably baseball’s best defensive center fielder. Gordon has showcased some defensive versatility during his big-league career, but he is a significant downgrade in centerfield, especially since he just started playing the position in 2021. Playing centerfield is one of baseball’s most taxing defensive positions, so allowing Buxton a respite from the outfield may get him back into the line-up. However, this seems like a short-term solution while the Twins are looking for a long-term answer for Buxton’s injury woes. When on the field, Buxton plays with an all-out effort that separates him from many other big-league players. Unfortunately, this has resulted in a myriad of injuries, and it might be time for the team to take a new approach. Do you think shifting Buxton to a more regular DH role would keep him in the line-up? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

In 2019, the Twins had CJ Cron and Miguel Sanó on the same roster and a decision needed to be made. Minnesota extended Sanó and let Cron walk, but hindsight might point to that being a poor decision. The 2019 season was one of the most memorable Twins seasons in recent memory. After nearly a decade of irrelevancy, Minnesota’s Bomba Squad was born, with the team clubbing an MLB-record 307 home runs. Five Twins hitters combined for 30 or more home runs, and the team won over 100 games for only the second time in franchise history. During the 2019 season, Miguel Sanó became a first-time member of the 30 home run club. For the season, he hit .247/.346/.576 (.923) with 34 home runs and a 139 OPS+. He set career highs in nearly every offensive category but so did a lot of other Twins players. MLB’s baseballs from that season were flying out of parks at tremendous rates, so many players accumulated hollow stats that season before the baseballs returned to normal. Following the season, the Twins signed Sanó to a three-year, $30 million contract that would keep him in Minnesota through the 2022 season. Since signing his extension, Sanó has frustrated fans with his record-breaking strikeout totals and offensive inconsistencies. In 197 games, he has batted .213/.302/.459 (.761) with a 109 OPS+ and 283 strikeouts. His slow start to the 2022 season was also concerning, but fans have seen his streakiness in the past. It’s also very early into the 2022 campaign, and all of Minnesota’s hitters have struggled so far. CJ Cron was another member of that Bomba Squad roster, but he fell just shy of the 30 home run plateau. In 125 games, he hit .253/.311/.496 (.780) with 25 home runs and a 104 OPS+. It was disappointing to see Cron post an OPS+ that was eight points below his career mark in a heightened offensive environment. He missed time during the season with a thumb injury, and there were concerns that the injury could linger into the 2020 campaign. Minnesota non-tendered him during the offseason, and he hit the free-agent market. Since leaving the Twins, Cron has provided tremendous value when he has been on the field. A knee injury limited him to 13 games in 2020, but he posted an .894 OPS with seven extra-base hits. Cron headed to Colorado in 2021 and posted one of the best seasons of his career. In 142 games, he hit .281/.375/.530 (.905) with 31 doubles and 28 home runs. Over the last three seasons, FanGraphs ranks Cron as the 13th most valuable first baseman. Sanó is 25th on the list and ranks only ahead of three players with a minimum of 600 plate appearances. Cron’s overall value comes from how much better defensively he is at first base compared to Sanó. According to SABR’s Defensive Index, Cron posted a 1.2 SDI last season, which ranked seventh in the National League. Only one AL first baseman, Bobby Dalbec, posted a lower mark than Sanó’s -5.6 SDI. Cron was also worth five more outs above average than Sanó during the 2021 season. Overall, Cron might not be elite defensively, but he is a step up compared to Sanó. Many teams will look at the Cron versus Sanó situation with the same lens as the Twins. Sanó was multiple years younger and coming off a season where he had a 139 OPS+. That same winter, the Twins added Josh Donaldson to play third base, which pushed Sanó over to first. Cron was a solid player during his time in Minnesota, but he never fit into the team’s long-term plans. Now, that might look like the team took a swing and a miss. Do you think the Twins made the wrong choice at first base? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Luis Arraez entered the season as a bench bat, but it has to be hard to keep his name out of the line-up. So, does Luis Arraez deserve a full-time starting role? Arraez has quickly become a fan favorite during his four seasons as a big leaguer. His energy at the plate and ability to spit at pitches on the edges of the strike zone make him exciting for even casual fans. It's hard to believe he just turned 25-years-old over the weekend. Fans would be thrilled to have him take over a starting role, but there may be a method to the team's madness. On the team's depth chart, Arraez is the backup defender at second base, third base, and designated hitter. He's played outfield in the past, but the team spoke about not using him in the outfield this spring. His defensive starts have come at third base this season, which is his best defensive position. Last season, he finished fifth among the AL's third basemen according to SABR's Defensive Index. Minnesota may have a natural platoon at third base with Arraez and recently-acquired Gio Urshela. For his career, Arraez, a left-handed hitter, has hit .332/.380/.441 (.820) versus right-handed pitching. His platoon splits are significantly different as his OPS is 152 points higher when facing lefties. Urshela, a right-handed hitter, doesn't have the extreme splits as Arraez, but his OPS is 39 points higher against left-handed pitchers. There's a scenario where the Twins can continue to rotate through these two players, allowing Arraez to get regular at-bats. Arraez's bat is also valuable in a pinch-hitting role as he is 5-for-15 (.333 BA) in his career. His MLB debut was as a pinch hitter, and he has already been used as a pinch hitter this season. "His special skills, I think, are the same skills that make him a good hitter in general," manager Rocco Baldelli said. "… His feel in the box as a hitter, his ability to see the ball, his hand-eye coordination. He's not going up there, generally ever, swinging and missing, almost ever. He's putting good swings on the ball always. That's kind of who he is." An argument can also be made for giving Arraez regular time off. He has missed time with knee issues throughout his career, including stints on the IL last season. He has only played more than 120 games in one season in his big-league career. His career-high for games played is 146 games during the 2019 season, when he played 92 MLB games and 54 games in the minors. Rocco Baldelli has advocated for giving players regular rest during his tenure, so giving Arraez time off may be best for his problematic knees. Opportunities may arise during the season for Arraez to take on a more regular role. One injury to a regular starter may cause the team to need Arraez to be a starter. Many of the team's top prospects at Triple-A are infielders, so it seems likely that Jose Miranda and Royce Lewis will make their debuts in 2022. If a player gets injured, the Twins may keep Arraez in his current role and promote a top prospect to become the everyday starter. Arraez provides value to the Twins no matter his role on the team. It's critical for the team to keep him healthy this season, and that might mean keeping him out of the line-up when there is a tough left-handed pitcher on the mound. Arraez provides a spark to the team, but he has to be healthy, and that is on the field less than some fans would like him to be. Do you think Arraez has earned a starting role? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article