Cody Christie

Mitch Garver broke onto the scene in 2019 as he played in roughly half of the Twins games and that was still enough for him to win the Silver Slugger at his position in the American League. The 2020 season hasn’t come as easy to Garver as pitchers have honed in on some of his weaknesses and his production on the field has suffered. Minnesota’s line-up is deep, but fixing Garver could be a key for the team’s success this season.Last season’s breakout was supposed to merge into Garver being one of the team’s most potent weapons in 2020. So far this season, that hasn’t been the case. Garver has struggled at the plate. His exit velocity is in the 45th percentile, his hard hit % is in the 27th percentile, and his K% is in the 1st percentile. It’s tough to ignore those numbers, so what has changed with Garver. One of the biggest adjustments for opposing pitchers is the lack of fastballs Garver is seeing this season. Last year, he saw fastballs 56% of the time and this year the total has dropped to 51.2%. This means Garver is seeing a more frequent allotment of offspeed pitches. Last season, he saw offspeed pitches in 12.5% of at-bats, but now he is seeing them in 18.7% of at-bats. While Garver might be seeing a steady diet of offspeed pitches, breaking pitches seem to be the biggest issue for him this season. During the 2019 campaign, his Whiff % on breaking pitches was 34.1%, but that number has jumped to 58.3% so far in 2020. He has struck out less on offspeed pitches as his Whiff % has dropped by 15.1%. Garver is striking out at a much higher rate than his career numbers and that might be one of his biggest problems. Before this season, his highest K% in any full season was 24.2%. Entering play on Monday, he had a 45.5 K%, which ranked him in the first percentile among big-league hitters. He isn’t making consistent contact and that is certainly hurting his overall numbers. Another aspect impacting Garver this season could be the turnover in the pitching staff. A majority of the starting pitching staff is new and that can put extra pressure on the backstop. He needs to be the leader behind the plate and this likely means learning the new tendencies of the starting pitchers. Could this be impacting his offensive approach at the plate? There are some good signs among Garver’s offensive numbers. His exit velocity (91.7) and Sweet Spot % (33.3) are nearly identical to last year’s totals. He’s only put nine batted balls into play, so a bigger sample size could help to show that last year’s numbers weren’t a fluke. Garver might also be able to focus more on his role with the current Twins pitchers and then adjust his approach at the plate. So far this season, Garver has been ahead in the count in 12 of his 22 plate appearances (54.5%). Last season, he finished the year at 41.5% of his plate appearances where he was ahead in the count. If he continues to be patient, the results will follow, especially with his exit velocity and Sweet Spot %. How do you think Garver can break out of his early season slump? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Catching a home run during MLB game has certainly taken on a new life during the 2020 season. With no fans in the stands, team personnel can trot out to where the ball lands to retrieve it and get it back to the player who hit it. Dustin Morse, the Twins Senior Director of Communication, made it his mission to track down as many of the team’s home runs as possible. I caught up with him earlier this week to discuss what it means to be a Bomba Hunter.For Dustin Morse, collecting each of the team’s home run balls in Chicago was not “premeditated.” However, the first pitch of the season put in place some historic moments for the Twins in their first series of the year. Bomba 1: Kepler’s First Pitch Minnesota’s season started with a bang as Max Kepler took Lucas Giolito deep on the first pitch of the season. “Before I really even got my scorebook out, Kepler put one in the seats,” said Morse. “Being a little bit of a history buff, I knew it was going to be some type of record.” “I made a call to the White Sox and said, ‘Hey, how do I get that ball?’ and they said the best bet is probably just to go get it.” And so, the Bomba hunting journey began. Morse was in an unfamiliar ballpark amid a pandemic and that changed his path to the ball. “I took off for it and tried to navigate the right way to get out there. It wasn’t easy. There were doors that were locked and stairs that weren’t being used. I had to cut through some weird spots, parts of the ballpark I had never seen, kitchens and backdoors.” “I got out to right field and was able to track down the ball for Max or for the Twins. At the time, I didn’t know. I figured Max might want it. If not, the Twins would certainly take it.” Bomba 2: Kepler’s Second At-Bat Kepler wasted little time making Morse head out on another baseball hunting journey. In his second at-bat of the year, he hit another home run and Morse knew this had to be another historical moment. Time to track down another ball. “Then Max did it again,” said Morse. “I knew that was going to be historic. A guy to hit homers in back-to-back at-bats to start the season.” “At that point, I knew the process, so I could just go out and get it. It’s ours.” Kepler plans to keep the balls and give them both to his parents. Bomba 3: Cruz, the Ageless Wonder Minnesota’s second game in Chicago didn’t go exactly as planned as Dallas Keuchel stymied the Twins for most of the game. Before the bullpen imploded, Nelson Cruz helped to make the game a little closer by cranking his first home run of the season. “Nelson Cruz put one in the seats and I kind of thought to myself, ‘Well that’s Nelson Cruz. How many guys have home runs when they are 40?’ Might as well get it. It’s just sitting out there.” Morse continued, “At that point, I exchanged numbers with the [MLB] authenticator and he said, ‘Yeah, if you want to get it, I see it. So, then I was three-for-three and it kind of became a thing.” Bomba 4: Cave’s Grand Salami The Twins were clearly frustrated after Saturday’s loss and they took that frustration out on the White Sox pitching staff. Cave got the Bomba barrage started with a first inning grand slam. But this might have been the toughest home run for Morse to track down because of where it landed. “I thought, ‘All right, let’s do it.’ But that one was tricky, because it went into the White Sox bullpen and I just didn’t have the guts to go down there and ask those guys for a grand slam ball as we are piling on the runs.” “I ended up talking to my counterpart with the White Sox and he sent a text to one of the clubhouse attendants and one of the ball boys went down the line. He ended up getting it, bringing it in, and I met their PR guy in one of the back hallways and ended up getting the Cave ball.” Bomba 5: Cruz, the (Still) Ageless Wonder Before he was able get the Cave ball, Morse had already acquired Minnesota’s second home run of the day. Nelson Cruz hit his second home run of the year in the top of the fourth inning and luckily for Morse, that ball landed in a location that was a little more easily accessible. “I ended up getting the Nelson Cruz ball, which was a blast out into left field, prior to getting the Cave ball and I ended up getting on a hot streak.” Bomba 6: Still Cruzing Cruz wasn’t done for the day after his fourth inning blast. He ended up tallying two doubles, two home runs and seven RBI on his way to being named the American League Player of the Week. Because of his post-game duties, the eighth inning is getting a little late in the game for Morse to track down a ball. “The second Cruz ball, at that point, was just something to do and I was able to get it. I was settled on kind of six-for-six. Kind of a fun cool story.” But the story wasn’t done there. Bomba 7: Marwin Makes It Tough If Morse wanted to complete his perfect weekend, it would take a sprint out to the stands after Gonzalez hit the team’s seven home run in the series. “My postgame job is setting up for the media and we do it all through Zoom in the Zoom Room. So I was in a conference room down in the tunnel kind of off of home plate. Buried kind of deep in the ballpark.” “I looked up and I saw Marwin up and I said to a couple of our advanced guys, ‘If Marwin puts one in the right field corner here, I am going to have a hard time.’ And the next pitch, he did it.” “I set up the Zoom for post-game and I decided I need to at least give it a try. I didn’t know how to get out there, so I had to backtrack toward left field and go up a level to come back down to right field… And there it was, seven-for-seven.” More Bomba Hunting? Is Morse going to continue to try and hunt down all the home run balls for the Twins this season? “I don’t think I can keep up the pace,” he said. “I don’t think I will need to do it at home. We have a lot of good people and volunteers collecting balls at Target Field.” “The good news is as a team I think we will be able to collect most of them, but I don’t know how much longer I can bother the home team.” It certainly was exciting to follow Morse and his Bomba hunting escapades. Let’s home he has plenty more hunting to do throughout the rest of the 2020 season. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

With three games in the books, the Twins are off to a strong start to the season, but there are still 57 games remaining in the shortened season. A hidden aspect from this weekend’s series was the influence of three players that were projected to be bench players. Who are these players and how did they impact the series against Chicago? Let’s find out…Jake Cave, OF Byron Buxton’s injury is one of the biggest reasons Cave was given the opportunity to play in two of the team’s first three games. He certainly made his presence felt in Sunday’s game by cracking a first inning grand slam that put the Twins on the way to a blowout win. For the series, he finished 3-for-9 with six RBI. The argument can also be made that he is the best fourth outfielder in baseball. Defensively, Cave has been playing in centerfield, which could be viewed as an interesting choice by manager Rocco Baldelli. Max Kepler is the better defender in center as he played nearly 460 innings there last season and was worth 4 DRS and 3.6 DEF. Cave was worth -3 DRS and -2.1 DEF, so there is little question that Baldelli should put Kepler in center. However, Cave’s impact was felt in both of the team’s victories this weekend so maybe this formula works (for now). Ehire Adrianza, IF Adrianza played in one of the team’s games this weekend and it was the only game the Twins lost, but he still can impact the game. He went 1-for-4 and scored one of the team’s three runs that game. His biggest influence comes on the defensive side of the ball because he is the best defensive infielder on the roster not named Josh Donaldson. Last season, he played 59 innings or more at second base, first base, shortstop and third base. Looking at the regulars penciled in at those positions, it is going to be tough for Adrianza to get playing time at any of those spots this season. This means he will likely have to settle for being used sparingly unless an injury were to occur (knock on wood). Marwin Gonzalez, OF/1B Gonzalez entered the 2020 season in a different spot than last season. Miguel Sano started 2019 injured and this meant Gonzalez started the year as the team’s everyday third baseman. Sano isn’t injured this season, but his positive COVID-19 test kept him out of the start of Summer Camp, and he could have put his swing a little behind schedule. This allowed Gonzalez to start two games over the weekend and he went 2-for-8 with a homer. One of the most impressive things from Gonzalez this weekend might have been his professional approach at the plate. On Saturday afternoon, he faced off against former teammate Dallas Keuchel who was rolling through the early innings. Gonzalez did his best to mess with Keuchel’s timing and even Justin Morneau made note of it from the booth. He did the same thing on Sunday when Reynaldo Lopez was struggling early in the game. Out of players still on the Twins, Gonzalez had the fifth most plate appearances last season, so it will be interesting to see how the club finds him at-bats this year. Which player adds the most to the Twins depth? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Jose Berrios is key to the Twins success this season, but the club’s starting pitching depth is stronger than it has been in ages. Looking up and down the roster, there are impact players at every position. This can make it tough to differentiate the team’s most vital players. Who would get your vote as the team’s most indispensable player?Recently MLB.com ran through their most indispensable players for every MLB club and Jose Berrios was that writer’s choice for the Twins. However, Minnesota’s pitching depth might be stronger than ever, and this could lead Twins fans to have a different selection for the top spot. 5. Nelson Cruz, DH Cruz produced on and off the field for the Twins last season. His leadership might be unmatched among top-tier talent in the big-leagues. He helped to alter Miguel Sano’s approach last season and he will have a lasting impact on the Twins roster long after his last appearance in a Minnesota jersey. 4. Bryon Buxton, CF No one can deny the impact Buxton has on both sides of the ball. When running on all cylinders, he is the true definition of a five-tool player. He can impact the game in ways few players have the skills to reach. He needs to prove he can stay healthy and a shortened season gives him the opportunity to prove his full value. 3. Josh Donaldson, 3B He’s the only player on the roster with an MVP in his closet and his defense is going to alter the Twins entire approach on one side of the ball. Minnesota won over 100-games without Donaldson last season so his addition will likely help to deter some of the expected regression from other young Twins players. MLB.com picked him as a dark-horse candidate for the AL MVP and this might not be that big of a stretch when you consider how good the Twins should be during the 2020 season. 2. Jose Berrios, SP Since he joined the Twins rotation, Jose Berrios has had the highest upside of any Twins starting pitcher since Francisco Liriano. If the Twins are going to meet their goals this season, Berrios will have a large part in making that happen. He has traditionally struggled through a late season slump, but that should be less of an issue in a shortened season. Even with Jake Odorizzi and Kenta Maeda, he is the ace of the staff on a team expected to contend for the pennant in the American League. 1. Jorge Polanco, SS Think about the rest of the Twins line-up. There are players available to fill-in at nearly every other position, but shortstop continues to be a tough spot for the Twins. Polanco was the AL’s starting shortstop in last year’s All-Star Game, and he might still have room to meet his potential. If Polanco wasn’t available, the Twins would like turn over a pivotal position to the likes of Ehire Adrianza. He is more than capable of handling the position but the certainly isn’t up to the caliber of Polanco. How would you rank the top-5 players? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

The Twins will be taking the field in Chicago later this week for their long-awaited first game of the season. With a shortened 60-game season, there is little room for error. This will put added pressure on the team to stay healthy and for the active roster to perform at their optimal level. There are only days remaining until Opening Day so let’s take a look at the final roster prediction for the Twins 30-man roster.Catchers (2) Mitch Garver, Alex Avila It would have seemed likely for Willians Astudillo to make the team’s Opening Day roster as a third catcher and a back-up player at other infield positions. His positive COVID-19 test and lengthy absence from Summer Camp means he will likely miss the beginning of the season. With Garver and Avila getting the bulk of the catching time, he likely wasn’t going to get many innings behind the plate. He will be available if Garver or Avila suffer any kind of injury or if the team needs another replacement level player on the roster. Garver is going to play more than people think and Avila is better than Twins fans expect. Infielders (7) Luis Arraez, Josh Donaldson, Marwin Gonzalez, Jorge Polanco, Miguel Sano, Ehire Adrianza, Travis Blankenhorn Miguel Sano has been limited so far in Summer Camp due to the coronavirus, so it becomes next man up when it comes to the team’s roster. Marwin Gonzalez will likely start the season at first base which means the Twins could use another infield option. Travis Blankenhorn is versatile, and he is already on the 40-man roster. He might not get much playing time but having him on the roster will be a benefit to the team in the early going. Outfielders (5) Byron Buxton, Jake Cave, Max Kepler, Eddie Rosario, LaMonte Wade There are some questions about how ready Byron Buxton will be for Opening Day and that means the Twins will likely carry a couple extra outfielders to start the year. Jake Cave has proven himself as a viable big-league option. LaMonte Wade saw his rookie year cut short by an injury, but he has all the skills to be a viable back-up outfielder. Kepler needs to prove last year wasn’t a fluke and Rosario needs to prove he is worth what the Twins would have to pay him in arbitration next year. That could result in a scary outfield duo. Designated Hitter (1) Nelson Cruz He’s 40-years old and he’s still going to mash the ball. It doesn’t matter how many games are in the season. Starting Pitchers (5) Jose Berrios, Jake Odorizzi, Kenta Maeda, Rich Hill, Homer Bailey A Twins rotation hasn’t gotten me this excited since Johan Santana and Brad Radke occupied spots at the top. Rich Hill wasn’t expected to be part of this team at season’s start so adding him in is a huge bonus. Jhoulys Chacin would have likely played for the Twins if Hill wasn’t available, but Hill is ready and that means the Twins released Chacin over the weekend. These five pitchers will start games, but the Twins have bullpen options to pair with their starters and absorb early season innings. Relief Pitchers (10) Taylor Rogers, Sergio Romo, Tyler Duffey, Trevor May, Tyler Clippard, Zack Littell, Matt Wisler, Cody Stashak, Randy Dobnak, Devin Smeltzer The Twins might be setting up to use younger starters like Stashak, Dobnak, ad Smeltzer as the first options out of the bullpen. This could allow the team to pair up lefties and righties to make it tough on line-up construction for the opposition. Taylor Rogers has already proven he can go multiple innings and the late inning combination of Romo, Duffey and May could be lights-out. Add in Clippard and Little in the middle innings and it’s tough to think of a contending bullpen with the same firepower as the Twins. Do you think this will be the final 30-man roster? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Twins fans have a right to be excited about the 2020 season after the club is coming off a tremendous 2019 campaign. Additions of players like Josh Donaldson and Kenta Maeda make the team even more intriguing and we’ve waited months to finally see this line-up take the field. With Opening Day scheduled to be right around the corner, how good can this Twins team be?MLB.com annually ranks the top line-ups, starting staffs and bullpens. While Minnesota didn’t crack the top-10 in the starting pitcher rankings, the club did rank as the second-best line-up in all of baseball. To some, this might have been a surprise and others might have expected it. So, let’s dive in and see if the Twins have MLB’s second-best line-up. Weighted Runs Created MLB.com main statistical focus for their article was on weighted runs created (wRC). If you aren’t familiar with this statistic, wRC helps to quantify hits and times on base while also considering park effects and the current run scoring environment. League average is 100 so if a team/player is above 100, they are better than the league average. For fans looking at the Twins and wRC, it can be a bit overwhelming, because FanGraph’s Steamer projections paint the team in a very good light. Before Buxton’s injury, the Twins had ten players projected to play in 35 games or more and post a wRC above league average. Minnesota’s top five in projected wRC are Josh Donaldson (137), Nelson Cruz (135), Miguel Sano (122), Max Kepler (118), and Eddie Rosario (111). Weighted On-Base Average Another statistic fans might be unfamiliar with is weighted on-base average (wOBA). According to FanGraphs, wOBA “combines all the different aspects of hitting into one metric, weighting each of them in proportion to their actual run value.” Batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage have flaws and wOBA helps to alleviate some of those discrepancies. A typical hitter will finish the season with a .320 wOBA. Guess what? The Twins are projected to very well when it comes to wOBA as well. Every player scheduled to be a regular has a wOBA north of .320. Even Willians Astudillo in a short 10-game stint falls into this category. Minnesota’s top-five in projected wOBA include Donaldson (.379), Cruz (.375), Sano (.356), Kepler (.350), and Rosario (.340). Offensive Runs Above Average (OFF) There is no perfect measure of offensive performance and Offensive Runs Above Average (OFF) attempts to combine a player’s batting runs and base running runs compared to the league average. This results in a combination of the weighted stolen base runs, weighted double play runs, and ultimate base running. League average ends up being set to zero and 9-10 runs results in one win of value according to FanGraphs. Josh Donaldson and Nelson Cruz rank well above the rest of the Twins line-up when it comes to OFF. Donaldson’s 10.6 OFF ranks as the best on the team and he’s two points higher than Nelson Cruz (8.6 OFF). Max Kelper (5.8 OFF), Miguel Sano (4.6), and Eddie Rosario (3.7) have the other top five OFF totals for the Twins. Sano is likely starting the year out of the line-up as he has failed to pass the league mandated COVID-19 protocols since summer camp opened. Do you think the Twins have baseball’s second-best line-up? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Baseball is certainly going to look different in 2020 and this will force managers to be creative in how they approach in-game strategy. From pitching changes to line-up construction, managers are facing an unprecedented 60-game schedule where decisions will be scrutinized at every turn. In this unique season, the Twins seem to be lining up a two-starter system as Opening Day approaches.Like many managers, Rocco Baldelli isn’t always forthcoming with specific information in relation to the strategies his team is employing. However, a picture of Minnesota’s rotational strategy seems to be emerging from the information available. Starters won’t likely be able to pitch late into games when the season starts, so pairing pitchers makes strategical sense. Let’s examine the team’s potential pitcher pairings. RHP Jose Berrios/RHP Randy Dobnak Jose Berrios had already been named the team’s Opening Day starter back in spring training, so it makes sense for him to get that opportunity when the shortened season commences. Randy Dobnak was fighting for a rotation spot in the spring, but his pairing with Berrios is intriguing. He surprised a lot of people last season as he pitched at three different minor league levels before making his debut. Berrios and Dobnak were two of the team’s starters during last season’s playoff series with New York and they could help the team get off to a strong start. RHP Jake Odorizzi/LHP Lewis Thorpe Jake Odorizzi accepted the Twins’ qualifying offer this winter and now he has fewer games to prove he is worth a potential long-term deal. There was a lot of buzz surrounding Lewis Thorpe back in spring training, but he left to deal with some personal matters and was eventually sent to minor league camp. With those issues behind him, he has a good chance to be back on the pitching staff. Odorizzi, a right-handed pitcher, and Thorpe, a left-handed pitcher, could make it tougher for opposing teams to create an optimal batting order. RHP Kenta Maeda/LHP Devin Smeltzer Kenta Maeda, Minnesota’s big off-season trade acquisition, has something to prove as a starter after being used as a starter and reliever with the Dodgers. Like Maeda, Devin Smeltzer started his professional career in the Dodgers organization. Smeltzer found success last season even though his pitching repertoire would hardly be called overpowering. He relies on a fastball that ranks in the 6th percentile for velocity and in the 86th percentile for spin. As with Odorizzi and Thorpe, this pairing gives the Twins another righty-lefty pitching combo. LHP Rich Hill/RHP Homer Bailey Following off-season surgery, Rich Hill wasn’t scheduled to be available to start the season. However, the delayed start means he’s ready to join the rotation. A shortened season might be just what the doctor ordered for Hill. He turned 40-years old in March and he’s averaged less than 110 innings pitched over the last four seasons. Over that stretch, he has a 3.00 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP and 10.6 SO/9. Homer Bailey is coming off a bounce-back season where he had a 4.57 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP over 163 1/3 innings. Together, they would comprise the team’s third right- and left-handed duo. RHP Jhoulys Chacin/RHP Sean Poppen Both Jhoulys Chacin and Sean Poppen were on the outskirts of the team’s original rotation plans, but expanded rosters to start the season allow for alterations. Chacin struggled last season in Milwaukee and Boston by posting an ERA north of 6.00. From 2015-2018, he posted a 3.97 ERA with a 1.28 WHIP, so he could be a good candidate to bounce-back in 2020. Poppen was the Twins 19th round pick back in 2016. Last season he made his big-league debut, but most of his innings came at Double- and Triple-A. Across 20 minor league appearances, he had a 4.01 ERA with a 10.7 K/9. Minnesota’s two-starter strategy could be key for the team getting off to a good start going into a shortened season where the Twins already have a great chance to win their first championship since 1991, according to the World Series odds we found at SBD. What do you think about this potential strategy? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

The Twins 2020 schedule was only released last week and now MLB has released the 2021 schedule with the thought that teams will be able to play 162-games. This might be a big assumption on the part of MLB because it will like only happen, if there is a widely available COVID-19 vaccine. The current season is in jeopardy because of the current state of our nation. However, let’s take a dive into the 2021 season and see what it could mean for your potential 2020 World Series Champions and their chances for a repeat.Minnesota is scheduled to start the season on a six-game road trip with three games in Milwaukee and Detroit. This allows for the Twins to open at home as part of a three-game series versus Seattle on April 8. The Twins than face off against the Red Sox for four games before heading to the West Coast for six games split between the Angels and the Athletics. From there the Twins have a tough stretch in June with a back-to-back series with the Yankees and the Astros from June 8-13. Some other important series include the an interleague series with the Reds from June 21-22. Then in June, the Angles and Mike Trout, the best player of all-time, come back to Minneapolis for three games (July 22-25). The end of August also provides a critical part of the schedule against National League foes. After starting the year in Milwaukee, the Twins will face-off with the Brewers for three games in Minnesota. Milwaukee is going to be a strong team in 2020 and this could continue in 2021. At the end of August, Minnesota is scheduled to play the Cubs at Target Field. Obviously, there are plenty of important series against other AL Central squads. That being said, there are plenty of questions about what the future might hold for baseball. Will Cleveland continue to trade away pieces? How will the White Sox adjust to being contenders? Are the Royals and the Tigers going to rise in the years to come? 2021 Important Dates: Opening Day: April 1 at Milwaukee Home Opener: April 8 vs. Seattle Trout Visits MN: July 22-25 Milwaukee at MN: August 27-29 Cubs at MN: August 31- September 1 Last Home Series: Tigers from September 28-30 Final Series: Twins @ Royals on October 1-3 Do you think the Twins will play a full schedule in 2021? What could change for the Twins before the 2021 season begins? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Attending MLB games has been a summer ritual for baseball fans, but the 2020 season could mark the first year where no fans will be able to attend games. The sights, sounds and smells of the ballpark are an integral part of the baseball experience. Twins fans have been lucky to spend the last 10 years roaming Target Field, one of the best ballparks in all of baseball.Recently at the Athletic, 9,000 fans were surveyed to decide what was MLB’s best ballpark. Target Field finished in third place behind Oracle Park (Giants) and Petco Park (Padres). The areas ranked in their survey included location, overall quality, atmosphere, amenities, sight lines, and aesthetics. There is a lot to love about Target Field and here is what the Twins Daily writers love most about Minnesota’s ballpark. John Bonnes: I love how they keep reinvesting in the park. It gets better every year. Several of my favorite places to hang out there literally didn't exist when it opened, including Minnie and Paul's, Bat & Barrel and the Gate 34 craft beer taps. I love that Sue the organist plays in a bar behind home plate and is approachable (and interacts, including selfies) with fans. I love the sandstone on the outside. I love the view of the skyline from the left field side. I love that the footprint is small. It's a lie to say there are no bad seats (some with limited outfield views), but there aren't too many bad seats. When I'm asked by visitors where they should sit (which is pretty often), I tell them they really can't go wrong. I love that they stay open after the game for a while, especially Bat & Barrel, to sort of wind down after the game. I really think an underrated aspect of the park is the attention they paid to the art. I'm not talking about the statues, which I can take or leave. But throughout the part, there are touches that we overlook. Check out the parking garage wind sculpture, some of the murals on the outside along the rail line, the enormous Kirby picture in the Delta Sky Club or the S Preston stuff (and MLB bat sculpture) near the parking garage entrance. I love that all the awards, including the World Series trophies, are available for fans to enjoy in Bat and Barrel. Seth Stohs: There are so many things to like about Target Field. There are the statues and the Gate Numbers. There is the breathtaking architecture. There is the giant screen towering beyond left field. There is history of the organization throughout the stadium, from large photos of Twins greats to the Carew and Puckett Atriums in the Legends club. The concourses are wide, and you can watch the game while standing in line. There are photo ops all over the ballpark. There is the smell of brats. Tom Froemming: I love how small it is. Even the cheap seats are still right on top of the field, much closer to the action than most other MLB parks. I also appreciate how many common areas there are where you can stand and watch the game. There have been many games where I never actually ventured to the seat my ticket was for. The view from along the third-base line is gorgeous. Being able to go see Sue Nelson play organ in 2 Gingers Pub adds a unique experience. Cody Christie: Minnesota’s ballparks have followed the trends that stretch back to their first park in Bloomington. Met Stadium and the Metrodome had their quirks, but Twins fans have found a perfect home in Target Field. A perfect downtown location, amazing views of the skyline, and a plethora of local food and beverage options help to set the ballpark apart from many others in baseball. The Twins have also made annual changes to the park to improve the fan experience. Hopefully, Target Field because a place that can one day be thought of in the same light as some of the other legendary ballparks across baseball. Nate Palmer: I will start with I never understood the hate for the Metrodome until I walked into Target Field. (That may be more a reflection of how little other ball parks I had been in than anything) To this point, everywhere I have sat inside the stadium provides a tremendous view of the game. The ability to walk the open concourse and still know what is going on is also tremendous. The skyline view, especially when sitting on the 1st base side, is also amazing. Especially on the nights when the sun does its work as well! Lastly, I would add the move to adding the "family friendly" priced options in the concessions was great for this father of 2. Next step is to take a page out of the Brewer's stadiums playbook (Whatever insurance field it is now) and allow fans to bring in unopened bottles would be great! Ted Schwerzler: Target Field is very much like Minneapolis itself. It has all the amenities of a larger stadium while being on a smaller scale. The skyline view behind the outer edges is amazing, and the standing viewing options may be some of the best in baseball. Seats are incredibly close to the action, but you also can’t go wrong taking a walk around the park and enjoying the action somewhere new every few innings. Matthew Taylor: Nothing beats the MPLS skyline view beyond the right field wall. Watching a game on the third baseline while taking in the skyline from our beautiful city is as good as it gets! Matthew Lenz: Target Field has so many great options and experiences where you can watch the game from. The balcony in CF, the porch in RF, a bar behind home plate or in LF. There’s really not a bad seat in the house. Idk how many times I’ve bought tickets to the game but never made it to my seat Nash Walker: Minneapolis mostly has brutal winters. It ends up being worth it when you’re watching the Twins at Target Field in the summer. The skyline is beautiful and being there makes me proud to be a Minnesotan. Cody Pirkl: Definitely the food and the friendly atmosphere. The whole park is basically a big piece of art too. Matt Braun: Well as someone who mainly frequents Safeco, the thing I like most about Target Field is that I don't feel like I'm being suffocated by a giant movable roof. In all seriousness, the atmosphere of the game is absolutely tremendous and has yet to be topped by any other stadium I've been at. The tiles mixed with the plants in the stadium give it such a fresh feel that makes it feel like a ballpark just happened to grow from the spot rather than being built there. Rena: Where do I even begin. I think the parking is extremely manageable and generally affordable at Target Field. To me, that’s huge. Even though it’s brand new, you can see a hint of history and Minnesota everywhere, from the Sheboygan brats to its proximity to the historic Warehouse District, and the gorgeous skyline. You’re not going to a game, you’re having an experience at Target Field. Plus, the refillable water bottle stations everywhere sponsored by Ecolab are neat. I had a heat stroke at Wrigley last summer and ended up spending almost $50 on water. Wouldn’t have happened here. Steve Lein: The Minnie & Paul sign in center is the best such team and in-game monument in the league, in my opinion. I've also sat nearly everywhere Target Field has to offer, and while sight lines get dinged in the upper decks of the outfield, you're still right on top of the action everywhere. There is not a more intimate setting for a game in Major League Baseball. While I do wish they'd bring back the Brat Dog at Hrbek's, there is still more than enough other fantastic local food and craft beer options throughout the stadium. My favorite stops are the Red Cow out on the upper deck concourse in center for a 60/40 burger, and the Minnesota Beer stand on the third base line for my favorite local beer. The Bat & Barrel and bars in left were great additions as well. The best thing they did in the design as far as watching the game goes, is the open concourses. You literally can watch the game from everywhere, and that is a major gripe of mine at many other stadiums, including the one with McCovey Cove that ranked number 1 in the survey (that place is a maze). What do you love most about Target Field? What are you going to miss this season? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

There have been plenty of question marks surrounding the 2020 MLB season and there are some that still wonder if sports should be happening at all during a pandemic. However, MLB is going to continue moving forward with their plan for each team to have a 60-game schedule with Opening Day slated for July 23-24. Every team’s full schedule was released on Monday night and here is what that means for the Twins.Here’s a breakdown of what was known about the schedule going into Monday’s release: All teams will play 10 games against each team in their division, so 2/3rds of their schedule will be against division opponents.The other 20 games will be played against the corresponding regional division in the National League. For the Twins, this means playing teams from the NL Central.Out of those 20 games, six will be with the closest natural rival. For the Twins, this means playing the Brewers six times.Every team has six total off-days throughout the season.Before the full schedule was released, fans learned the Twins would be opening the 2020 season on the north side of Chicago against the White Sox. This likely means a pitching match-up of Jose Berrios versus Lucas Giolito starting at 7:10 Central. Chicago is expected to be better this season after adding some key pieces, but most prognosticators have them slated to finish third in the AL Central. After three games in Chicago, the Twins have an eight-game home-stand that includes two games with the Cardinals, four games against Cleveland, and two games versus the Pirates. Minnesota’s next eight games are on the road with two games at Pittsburgh, three games in Kansas City, and three game in Milwaukee. Next on the schedule is seven home games against the Royals (4 games) and Brewers (3 games). From there, the club goes on the road for 10-games with three in Kansas City, three games in Cleveland, and four games in Detroit. Following this, the club heads home for seven games with three against the White Sox and four against the Tigers. Also included in Minnesota’s final month of the schedule is two games in St. Louis, before coming home to face Cleveland in what could be a pivotal series in deciding the division winner. Minnesota’s last road trip includes four games against the White Sox and three games against the Cubs. This allows the team to end the year at Target Field with two games versus Detroit and three games versus Cincinnati. Notes on the schedule: The Twins get seven home games against Cleveland which means the Twins will only play in Cleveland for three games.Minnesota’s inter-league schedule includes six games against Milwaukee, four against Pittsburgh, four against St. Louis, three against the Cubs, and three against the Reds.In September, 15 of their 23 games are against AL Central opponents.August might be their easiest month with 18 of their 29 games against the Pirates, Tigers, and Royals.What are your thoughts on the team’s 60-game schedule? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Minor League Baseball announced the cancellation of their 2020 season on Tuesday. Outside of the top prospects included in the team’s 60-man roster, there are plenty of players who fans and scouts won’t get to see for all of 2020. Here are three Twins prospects that are most hurt by there not being a 2020 campaign.Keoni Cavaco, SS Cavaco was the Twins first round draft pick in 2019 and he struggled in his first professional season. Over the course of 25 games, he hit .172/.217/.253 with five extra-base hits and 35 strikeouts. Entering the draft, he was seen as a player on the rise because of his toolset, but it’s hard to gauge a player after less than 92 professional plate appearances. The 2020 campaign would have allowed for Cavaco to repeat with the GCL Twins or take the jump up to Elizabethton. His age-19 season is going to be a wash so the Twins are going to have to hope he makes significant progress in the years ahead to live up to his status as a top-10 prospect in the Twins loaded farm system. Jordan Balazovic, RHP This was the year for Jordan Balazovic to make his mark and it could have provided him the opportunity to move all the way to the big-league level. Instead, he isn’t even included on the Twins current 60-man roster and he will be left wondering what could have been in 2020. For those that don’t know, Balazovic is widely considered the Twins best pitching prospect and Baseball America and MLB.com included him in their top-100 prospects entering the 2020 season. Last season, Balazovic dominated with most of his starts coming at Fort Myers where he was nearly three years younger than the average age of the competition. He struck out 12.4 batters per nine innings and his WHIP was an unheard of 0.98 over 93 2/3 innings. The 2020 season could have catapulted him into the upper echelon of pitching prospects and that might have put him on track to be a September call-up. Wander Javier, SS/2B Javier had 50 professional games under his belt entering last season and there was little he did to improve his stock in 2019. As a 20-year old at Cedar Rapids, he hit .177/.278/.323 with 11 home runs and nine doubles in 80 games. It was his first season at a full-season affiliate, and he was coming off a 2018 campaign that saw him miss the entire year due to shoulder surgery. If there was any prospect that needed to show his potential in 2020, it was certainly Javier. Even with all his struggles, he is still considered one of the Twins top prospects because of the tools he showed as an amateur. He’s only played 110 games during his professional career and that has amounted to fewer than 500 at-bats. Minnesota left him off their 60-man roster and maybe this will be motivation for him to comeback and be an even stronger player in 2021. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Minor League Baseball announced the cancellation of their 2020 season on Tuesday. Outside of the top prospects included in the team’s 60-man roster, there are plenty of players who fans and scouts won’t get to see for all of 2020. Here are three Twins prospects that are most hurt by there not being a 2020 campaign.Keoni Cavaco, SS Cavaco was the Twins first round draft pick in 2019 and he struggled in his first professional season. Over the course of 25 games, he hit .172/.217/.253 with five extra-base hits and 35 strikeouts. Entering the draft, he was seen as a player on the rise because of his toolset, but it’s hard to gauge a player after less than 92 professional plate appearances. The 2020 campaign would have allowed for Cavaco to repeat with the GCL Twins or take the jump up to Elizabethton. His age-19 season is going to be a wash so the Twins are going to have to hope he makes significant progress in the years ahead to live up to his status as a top-10 prospect in the Twins loaded farm system. Jordan Balazovic, RHP This was the year for Jordan Balazovic to make his mark and it could have provided him the opportunity to move all the way to the big-league level. Instead, he isn’t even included on the Twins current 60-man roster and he will be left wondering what could have been in 2020. For those that don’t know, Balazovic is widely considered the Twins best pitching prospect and Baseball America and MLB.com included him in their top-100 prospects entering the 2020 season. Last season, Balazovic dominated with most of his starts coming at Fort Myers where he was nearly three years younger than the average age of the competition. He struck out 12.4 batters per nine innings and his WHIP was an unheard of 0.98 over 93 2/3 innings. The 2020 season could have catapulted him into the upper echelon of pitching prospects and that might have put him on track to be a September call-up. Wander Javier, SS/2B Javier had 50 professional games under his belt entering last season and there was little he did to improve his stock in 2019. As a 20-year old at Cedar Rapids, he hit .177/.278/.323 with 11 home runs and nine doubles in 80 games. It was his first season at a full-season affiliate, and he was coming off a 2018 campaign that saw him miss the entire year due to shoulder surgery. If there was any prospect that needed to show his potential in 2020, it was certainly Javier. Even with all his struggles, he is still considered one of the Twins top prospects because of the tools he showed as an amateur. He’s only played 110 games during his professional career and that has amounted to fewer than 500 at-bats. Minnesota left him off their 60-man roster and maybe this will be motivation for him to comeback and be an even stronger player in 2021. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Minor League Baseball announced the cancellation of their 2020 season on Tuesday. Outside of the top prospects included in the team’s 60-man roster, there are plenty of players who fans and scouts won’t get to see for all of 2020. Here are three Twins prospects that are most hurt by there not being a 2020 campaign.Keoni Cavaco, SS Cavaco was the Twins first round draft pick in 2019 and he struggled in his first professional season. Over the course of 25 games, he hit .172/.217/.253 with five extra-base hits and 35 strikeouts. Entering the draft, he was seen as a player on the rise because of his toolset, but it’s hard to gauge a player after less than 92 professional plate appearances. The 2020 campaign would have allowed for Cavaco to repeat with the GCL Twins or take the jump up to Elizabethton. His age-19 season is going to be a wash so the Twins are going to have to hope he makes significant progress in the years ahead to live up to his status as a top-10 prospect in the Twins loaded farm system. Jordan Balazovic, RHP This was the year for Jordan Balazovic to make his mark and it could have provided him the opportunity to move all the way to the big-league level. Instead, he isn’t even included on the Twins current 60-man roster and he will be left wondering what could have been in 2020. For those that don’t know, Balazovic is widely considered the Twins best pitching prospect and Baseball America and MLB.com included him in their top-100 prospects entering the 2020 season. Last season, Balazovic dominated with most of his starts coming at Fort Myers where he was nearly three years younger than the average age of the competition. He struck out 12.4 batters per nine innings and his WHIP was an unheard of 0.98 over 93 2/3 innings. The 2020 season could have catapulted him into the upper echelon of pitching prospects and that might have put him on track to be a September call-up. Wander Javier, SS/2B Javier had 50 professional games under his belt entering last season and there was little he did to improve his stock in 2019. As a 20-year old at Cedar Rapids, he hit .177/.278/.323 with 11 home runs and nine doubles in 80 games. It was his first season at a full-season affiliate, and he was coming off a 2018 campaign that saw him miss the entire year due to shoulder surgery. If there was any prospect that needed to show his potential in 2020, it was certainly Javier. Even with all his struggles, he is still considered one of the Twins top prospects because of the tools he showed as an amateur. He’s only played 110 games during his professional career and that has amounted to fewer than 500 at-bats. Minnesota left him off their 60-man roster and maybe this will be motivation for him to comeback and be an even stronger player in 2021. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

It came a day later than expected, but the Twins announced their 60-man summer camp roster on Tuesday morning. This is the player pool from which the Twins will select players to be included on their 30-man Opening Day roster. Many teams, like the Twins, included top prospects on their 60-man roster even some top-prospects that aren’t currently on the team’s 40-man roster. Here’s some quick notes on each of the organization’s top prospects on the roster and how they could impact the team during the 2020 campaign.Each prospect below was ranked on a scale from Unlikely to Possibly to Probably to Definitely. Things considered were inclusion on the 40-man roster, prospect status, and 2019 performance. Royce Lewis, SS Twins Prospect Ranking: 1 Lewis is widely considered the team’s top prospect and he is coming off a season with some mixed results. He might have redeemed himself with a strong performance in the Arizona Fall League. Overall, he’s only played 33 games above High-A, so the Twins might have to be in a pinch to call him up. His speed is elite so he could be an intriguing pinch running option if the team needed him for that role. 2020 Impact: Unlikely Alex Kirilloff, OF/1B Twins Prospect Ranking: 2 If the 2020 season had played out as planned, Kirilloff seemed like a lock to make his big-league debut even if it came as a September call-up. He dealt with a wrist injury last season, but he was still able to play over 90 games, all at Double-A. With a healed wrist, he should be back to mashing like he did in 2018 when he was the team’s minor league hitter of the year. 2020 Impact: Possibly Trevor Larnach, OF Twins Prospect Ranking: 3 Larnach is coming off a tremendous first full season in the Twins organization. He relied on his college experience to mash the ball at High- and Double-A. Unfortunately for him, there are quite a few players standing in the way of him making his debut. Players like Alex Kirilloff and Brent Rooker seem more likely to get a chance before Larnach. 2020 Impact: Unlikely Jordan Balazovic, RHP Twins Prospect Ranking: 4 Balazovic is the team’s best starting pitching prospect, but he has only thrown 73 innings above the Low-A level. He had a tremendous 2019 season with a 2.69 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP, but it was probably a stretch for him to make his debut in 2020 even if there were 162 games. If the Twins need him as a starter this season, that might be bad news for the big-league squad. 2020 Impact: Unlikely Jhoan Duran, RHP Twins Prospect Ranking: 5 Duran takes Brusdar Graterol’s role as the big flame thrower in the Twins system. However, many believe Duran has a better shot to stick as a starting pitcher. For the 2020 season, Duran could be used in a similar role to Graterol last year. Enter late and throw gas out of the bullpen. 2020 Impact: Probably Ryan Jeffers, C Twins Prospect Ranking: 6 Jeffers is coming off a tremendous 2019 season where he established himself as not only the top catching prospect in the Twins system, but also one of the team’s best overall prospects. Minnesota already has Mitch Garver, Alex Avila and Willian Astudillo penciled into the 30-man roster, but an injury could mean he debuts this season. 2020 Impact: Possibly Lewis Thorpe, LHP Twins Prospect Ranking: 8 Heading into spring, Thorpe had a chance to make the Twins starting rotation. The only thing that prevented that was some time away from camp as he dealt with some personal issues. He is the best left-handed starting pitching prospect in the organization and he already has big-league experience so it’s a no brainer that he will impact this year’s team. 2020 Impact: Definitely Gilberto Celestino, OF Twins Prospect Ranking: 9 Celestino is an elite defensive outfielder and that might be his best chance at impacting the Twins this year. He’s already on the team’s 40-man roster so that could put him ahead of players like Kirilloff, Larnach and Rooker. His offensive skills set might not be big-league ready, but there’s no question he could impact the game on the defensive side of the ball. 2020 Impact: Possibly Other Pitching Prospects 2020 Impacts Dakota Chalmers, RHP: Possibly Randy Dobnak, RHP: Definitely Sean Poppen, RHP: Possibly Fernando Romero, RHP: Possibly Devin Smeltzer, RHP: Definitely Cody Stashak, RHP: Definitely Other Hitting Prospects 2020 Impacts Travis Blankenhorn, UTL: Probably Nick Gordon, SS/2B: Possibly LaMonte Wade Jr, OF: Probably Brent Rooker, OF: Probably Which top prospect will have the biggest impact on the Twins this season? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article