Cody Christie

Pace of play has been one of the major focuses during Rob Manfred’s time as commissioner. Timers have been added for between innings and when new pitchers take the mound. In the minor leagues, a 20-second pitch timer has been used at the Double-A and Triple-A levels since 2015. Major League Baseball wants to see some more changes to baseball’s highest level but the Players’ Association doesn’t agree with these changes.On Thursday, the Players’ Association rejected a proposal to add a 20-second pitch clock and limits on mound visits. These rule changes were proposed last season which means the commissioner’s office could implement the rules without the approval of the Players’ Union. A decision could come as early as the next owner’s meeting scheduled to start on January 30th. Even with attempts to shorten games, the average length of a nine-inning game increased by nearly four and a half minutes. In 2017, it took 3 hours, 5 minutes and 11 second to complete a nine-inning game. Just one year earlier, it was 3 hours and 42 seconds. During last year’s postseason play, the average game took three hours and 29 minutes. The amount of replays also decreased so that wasn’t a factor in adding to the time of games. At November’s quarterly owners’ meeting, Commissioner Rob Manfred made it clear that changes would be coming to the game. He said, “My preferred path is a negotiated agreement with the players, but if we can’t get an agreement we are going to have rule changes in 2018 one way or the other.” According to AP reports, MLB can implement the following changes: 30-second clock between batters20-second clock between pitchesHitters would be required to be in the batter’s box with at least five seconds left on the timerThe clock would start when the pitcher has the ball on the moundThe clock would reset when a pitcher steps off the rubber for a pickoff throwWarnings would be issued for a first offense and then a ball is called against a pitcher and a strike is given to a batterA team would be allowed one mound visit per pitcher each inningThe mound visit could be from a manager, coach or playerA second mound visit must result in a pitching changeWhat are your thought on the potential rule changes? Does MLB need to continue to focus on pace of play? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. Click here to view the article

During every season, there are players who figure something out and take the next step. It can be a pitcher finally gaining command of a third pitch. It could be a hitter making an adjustment at the plate. In 2017, Twins fans saw Byron Buxton put things together on both sides of the ball. He won numerous postseason awards for his defensive prowess and his bat started to come around in the second half. A couple of weeks ago, I identified three prospects to watch in 2018. At the big league level, what players have the chance to rise above the crowd in 2018? Here are three possibilities…Max Kepler, OF Tom wrote about Kepler’s possible breakout potential and I tend to agree with him. Over the last three seasons, Kepler has played 263 big league games while hitting .239/.310/.422 with 36 home runs and 52 doubles. For multiple years, Kepler was considered one of the team’s best prospects. In his last full minor league season, he compiled a .947 OPS on his way to winning the 2015 Southern League MVP. Left-handed pitchers have been the problem for Kepler in the big leagues. His OPS against righties is over .800 while being limited to .520 versus lefties. During the 2015 season, he combined for an .863 OPS against lefties. If Kepler can solve his lefty conundrum, the rest of the AL better watch out. Trevor Hildenberger, RP Hildenberger, the side-winding relief pitcher, made his MLB debut in 2017. In 37 games (42.0 IP), he posted a 3.21 ERA with a 1.05 WHIP and a 44 to 6 strikeout to walk ratio. Leading into the season, it looked like he was ready to join the big league team after winning back-to-back awards as the Twins Daily Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year. There are some areas of improvement. Throughout his minor league career, he averaged a 1.57 ERA with a 0.88 WHIP and a 10.5 SO/9. Hildenberger’s experience and deceptiveness have him poised to be a dominant late-inning relief pitcher. Even if Fernando Rodney and Addison Reed are getting the eighth and ninth, Hildenberger can be relied on for more than three outs after a starter has been removed. Jose Berrios, SP As a 23-year old, Berrios hasn’t seen everything click yet at the big league level. However, he’s shown flashes of the brilliance that made him one of the team’s top prospects. During his five minor league seasons, Berrios averaged 9.6 SO/9 and that number has dipped to 8.3 through his first two big league seasons. There were always questions surrounding his size and whether or not his strikeouts would translate to baseball’s highest level. When I wrote about Twins players’ resolutions, I though Berrios should focus on increasing his strikeout rate in 2018. Berrios has another gear to hit and 2018 might be the year for him to take the next step. If Minnesota wants to make it back to the postseason, Berrios needs to decrease his walks and command the strike zone. What players do you think have the chance to take the next step in 2018? Will Kepler, Hildenberger, and Berrios be key to the 2018 Twins? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. Click here to view the article

If you’re like a lot of Minnesota sports fans, your adrenaline might still be pumping from the Vikings’ thrilling last second win on Sunday. Fans of the purple and gold have been tormented by heartbreak throughout the franchise’s history. The “Minneapolis Miracle” might be the first stop as the team tries to break what some have called a “curse.” There have certainly been some other dramatic moments in Minnesota sports history. For some of the franchises, it was tough to narrow down the list. Here are the moments I picked out. Feel free to disagree in the comments section below.Vikings Moment: Stefon Diggs’ Catch Blair Walsh’s shanked field goal. Brett Farve’s interception. Gary Anderson’s missed field goal. It looked like Sunday would be another addition to the Vikings run of poor postseason luck. With one tremendous catch and scamper into the end zone, Diggs might have rewritten Vikings lore. There are still multiple games left before the organization can fully reverse the curse but this was certainly the first step in the right direction. Twins Moment: Kirby Puckett’s Home Run There have certainly been some dramatic moments throughout Twins history: Jack Morris tossing 10 shutout innings in Game 7 of 1991, the up-and-down moments of Game 163 in 2009, and the last out of Minnesota’s first World Series in 1987. All of those moments are great but Puckett’s walk-off home run was certainly the franchise’s greatest finish. It was an iconic moment that allowed Morris to have his magical Game 7. Timberwolves Moment: Webber’s Missed Three-Pointer The Timberwolves’ playoff history has been almost non-existent. However, the 2004 season saw the club go on a run all the way to the Western Conference Finals. Minnesota matched up with Sacramento in the semifinals and the series went to Game 7. Kevin Garnett and the rest of the T-Puppies were headed where no Timberwolves team had been before and where no team has since returned. Wild Moment: Brunette’s Game 7 Overtime Winner Much like the Timberwolves, there hasn’t been much playoff success in Wild history. The 2002-2003 club went on a run all the way to the Western Conference Finals before falling to the Ducks. The Wild went to the brink of elimination in both the quarterfinals and semifinals. Without this goal, Minnesota might never have made it out of the first round. Lynx Moment: Moore’s Game 3 Buzzer Beater While the Wild and Timberwolves have struggled to find playoff success, the Lynx have been dominant in postseason play. Minnesota has won the WBNA title in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017. They’ve also lost two finals during that same stretch. The Lynx would need five games to finish off the Indiana Fever but it was still a shot that will go down in Minnesota sports history. How would you rank these moments? Did I miss any along the way? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. Click here to view the article

Addison Reed’s reported signing is putting the Twins in an interesting spot. Once Reed passes his physical, he is going to need a spot on the 40-man roster. This also holds true for any future free agents the club signs this off-season. If Yu Darvish ends up in Minnesota, he will need a 40-man spot as well. What players are floating at the back-end of Minnesota’s 40-man roster? Here are a few names that could be forced to pass through waivers in the coming weeks.Buddy Boshers, LHP Boshers has made 75 appearances over the last two seasons with the Twins. During that time he has a 4.56 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP and a 65 to 17 strikeout to walk ratio. Last season, the left-handed hurler held lefties to a .655 OPS while righties managed a .904 OPS. Boshers will be 30-years old this season and he has never posted an ERA under 4.00 in any of his three big league seasons. Dietrich Enns, LHP Enns joined the Twins organization last year along with Zack Littell as part of the Jaime Garcia trade. He only made two appearances and allowed three earned runs in four innings. However, he’s posted a 1.86 ERA with a 1.12 WHIP in 116.0 innings at Triple-A. Those numbers are hard to ignore. Enns will turn 27-years old in the middle of May. Minnesota’s new front office saw enough in him to include him in the trade so maybe that keeps him safe. Tyler Kinley, RHP The Twins just acquired Kinley from Miami during December’s Rule 5 Draft. Because of the rules associated with his acquisition, the club has to keep him on their 25-man roster for all of 2018 or offer him back to Miami. Between High-A and Double-A last season, Kinley had a 3.54 ERA with a 1.22 WHIP and a 72 to 22 strikeout to walk ratio (53.1 innings). It’s rare for Rule 5 players to be sent back to their clubs this quickly but the Twins might not have anticipated adding Fernando Rodney and Addison Reed. Gabriel Moya, LHP Originally signed by the Diamondbacks, Moya was dealt to Minnesota for John Ryan Murphy. He made seven big league appearances last year and allowed three runs in 6.1 innings. In the minors last season, he was almost untouchable. He compiled a 0.77 ERA while striking out 13.4 batters per nine innings. Moya was able to do this while being over two years younger than the competition in the Southern League. Kennys Vargas, DH Earlier in the off-season, reports had Vargas open to playing overseas. Vargas is out of options and would need to stick with the Twins next season. His lack of defensive flexibility makes it hard to pencil him into the team’s line-up on a regular basis. Players like Joe Mauer, Robbie Grossman and Mitch Garver might all need to see time at DH. At the big league level over the last four seasons, he has hit .252/.311/.437 including double digit home runs in each of the last two seasons. How would you rank the back end of the 40-man roster? Who will be the first to go? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. Click here to view the article

When it comes to baseball, there are plenty of parts of the game that are underappreciated. A nicely turned double-play, an assist from the outfield, or a play at the plate can all be exciting moments that make a difference in a game. Base running can be another very important part of the game for a team built like the Minnesota Twins. With a young core and some savvy veterans, the Twins might have been the best base running team in 2017. Can they continue this in 2018 or perhaps they will be able to get even better?According to FanGraphs, Base Running (BsR) is an all-encompassing base running statistic that turns stolen bases, caught stealings, and other base running plays (taking extra bases, being thrown out on the bases, etc.) into runs above and below average. It is a combination of Weighted Stolen Base Runs (wSB), Weighted Grounded Into Double Play Runs (wGDP), and Ultimate Base Running (UBR). The Twins were the top team in baseball when it comes to BsR as they ranked 1.3 runs higher than the Arizona Diamondbacks. Tampa Bay was the closest AL team and they finished 2.8 runs behind Minnesota. To rank this highly, the Twins needed help from some of the American League’s best runners. Leading the way for Minnesota was Byron Buxton, who might have been the best base runner in the big leagues. Buxton was the lone player in baseball to crack double-digits in BsR. His 11.7 BsR bested Billy Hamilton by 2.2 runs and Mookie Betts by 2.5 runs. When it came to raw numbers, Buxton was successful in 29 of his 30 stolen base attempts and he didn’t get caught in the second half. Buxton also ranked well on MLB Statcast’s new sprint speed leaderboard. Sprint speed is foot speed metric, defined as “feet per second in a player’s fastest one-second window.” As with BsR, Buxton ranked as the fastest player in baseball with a 30.2 ft/sec sprint speed. Hamilton was the only other player with a sprint speed over 30.0 ft/sec while Bradeley Zimmer finished just below at 29.9 ft/sec. Even with Buxton’s speed, other Twins players fared well on the bases. Jorge Polanco and Brian Dozier each ranked in the top 15 of the American League in BsR. Dozier’s 3.6 BsR only trailed Whit Merrifield and Jose Altuve among AL second basemen. Polanco finished just better than Dozier with a 3.7 BsR. Among AL shortstops, he finished fourth behind Xander Bogaerts, Francisco Lindor, and Elvis Andrus. Besides the Twins middle-infield combination, three other players scored above 3.0 BsR. Even while being limited to 70 games, Ehire Adrianza (3.6 BsR) finished tied with Dozier for third on the team. Max Kepler (3.1 BsR) and Eduardo Escobar (3.0 BsR) were the other two players to finish north of 3.0 BsR. The three lowest BsR totals on the team belonged to Joe Mauer (-6.2 BsR), Miguel Sano (-3.9 BsR), and Jason Castro (-6.0 BsR). As a team, Minnesota also ranked well with sprint speed. MLB’s average speed is 27.0 ft/sec. Only two qualified players on the team finished more than one ft/sec behind the league average and they were both catchers (Jason Castro and Chris Gimenez). Zack Granite ranked 18th in sprint speed and was one of 21 players to clock in above 29.0 ft/sec. Base running will be key for Minnesota in 2018 especially with a young core. Minnesota’s roster isn’t built on power-hitting sluggers so the team needs to be able to steal bases and take the extra base when the opportunity arises. The Twins saw a base running resurgence in 2017 and now it is time to push it to the next level. Did any of the base running numbers surprise you? Who can make the most adjustments on the base paths? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. Click here to view the article

Justin Morneau hasn’t appeared in a big league game since 2016 and it sounds like he is officially ready to hang up his cleats. His 14-year MLB career seemed destined for greatness before multiple concussions limited near the end of his career. There was some talk of Morneau joining a club last season but that never came to fruition. Now it appears, the Canadian slugger is ready to move on to his next chapter in the baseball.Reports are that Morneau will officially retire and become a special assistant in the Twins. The team has yet to make the announcement official but that could come as Twins Fest approaches. Under the Twins new front office, the club has added former players like Torii Hunter, Michael Cuddyer and LaTroy Hawkins as special assistants. Morneau became a star in the Twin Cities on his way to being elected to four All-Star Games. From 2006-2010, he hit .298/.372/.528 (.900) while averaging 27 home runs and over 100 RBI per season. On his way to the 2016 AL MVP, he compiled many of the numbers voters like to see with 34 home runs, 130 RBI and a .934 OPS. In 2010 with the Twins leading the AL Central, Morneau looked well on his way to another MVP. He posted an eye-popping 1.055 OPS with 44 extra-base hits in 81 games. A slide into second base in Toronto resulted in a concussion that ended his season. Over the next two years, multiple concussions limited his playing time. Morneau had plenty of other memorable moments throughout his career. Josh Hamilton’s performance in the 2008 Home Run Derby was legendary but it was actually Morneau who took home the title that year. He returned to Target Field for the 2014 Home Run Derby and received a standing ovation from Twins fans. His 2014 season was also memorable for the fact that he won the National League batting crown. Over 135 games, he hit .319 and outlasted Pittsburgh’s Josh Harrison and Andrew McCutchen. During his time in Minnesota, he also took home two Silver Slugger awards (2006, 2008) as the top hitting first baseman in the American League. Morneau ranks very highly in multiple categories on the Twins all-time lists. His 221 home runs are third behind Harmon Killebrew and Kent Hrbek and one ahead of Tony Oliva. He ranks sixth in RBI, ninth in runs and third in slugging. What was your favorite Justin Morneau moment? Leave a COMMENT and join the discussion. Click here to view the article

One of the best parts of putting together the Twins Prospect Handbook is taking a deep dive into the players who will populate Target Field in the years to come. Projecting the future is one of the hardest parts of being a professional scout or being part of a baseball operations department. A look into the crystal ball can be a little cloudy but it can be a fun exercise to look at what is to come. Roughly a year ago, I took a stab at projecting the 2020 Twins Line-Up. Some things have certainly changed since that point with one player no longer in the organization and another dropping on prospect lists. During a recent mailbag, I took another stab at the 2020 line-up including a handful of the team’s recent top picks. Let’s look one year further into the future. Who will compromise the 2021 Minnesota Twins?C: Mitch Garver Garver could be a regular part of the Twins line-up as soon as 2018. He got a brief taste of the big leagues at the end of 2017. In 46 at-bats, he went 9-for-46 with four extra-base hits. His time in Rochester (88 games) was much better as he posted a .928 OPS with 17 home runs and 29 doubles. Pitchers throughout the system like the way he manages games from behind the plate. If he can hit anywhere close to his 2017 numbers at Triple-A, he will be a very valuable catcher. 1B: Miguel Sano Sano isn’t going to be able to stay at third base and Joe Mauer’s contract expires at the end of 2018. Even if Mauer wants to continue playing past 2018, I don’t know if he will still be in a Twins uniform by 2021. Before the recent allegations brought against Sano, a trade involving Sano might have been possible. For now, I think he sticks in Minnesota and he is going to have to find another home on the diamond. He could split time at first base with the other player I have penciled in as designated hitter. 2B: Nick Gordon There have been questions about Gordon’s defense since the Twins drafted him. He’s only started 16 games at second base in his professional career but I think that will change in the years to come. Minnesota might have drafted their shortstop of the future with last year’s number one overall pick. Gordon showed more power this season but his averaged suffered. In the end, I think he finds his comfort zone at second base and becomes a solid regular with the potential to be an All-Star. 3B: Brian Dozier This was the toughest spot to fill on the diamond. Like Mauer, Dozier’s contract expires at the end of 2018. However, I believe the Twins will find a way to keep Dozier in a Twins uniform. He is a veteran leader who the Twins will want to keep on the roster. Is he going to want to learn a new position later in his career? Time will tell. If Minnesota’s core continues to be made of young players, a veteran voice is going to be needed inside and outside of the locker room. SS: Royce Lewis Gordon is going to get to Target Field before Lewis so he will get the first shot at shortstop. Lewis is a better defender so he will force Gordon to move to second. Minnesota was already aggressive with Lewis in his professional debut as he quickly moved to Cedar Rapids. If that trend continues, there’s no doubt he will be quickly moving towards making his debut. Young shortstops like Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa have done well in recent years so Twins fans have to hope Lewis can outshine these other top players. LF: Alex Kirilloff Kirilloff, Minnesota’s 2016 first round pick, missed all of 2017 as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. Luckily, it shouldn’t hold him back in 2018. Kirilloff’s bat is his calling card which could make him a dangerous option in the Twins outfield. During his professional debut, he hit .306/.341/.454 with 17 extra-base hits in 216 at-bats. Even with his injury set-back, he should be able to debut by 2020 and become a regular part of the line-up by 2021. CF: Byron Buxton If the 2017 season was a sign of things to come, the future will be bright for Mr. Buxton. In the second half of the season, he hit .300/.347/.546 with 24 extra-base hits in 207 at-bats. Not to mention that he was arguably the best defensive player in the league for the entire season. Buxton will be in his late 20s by 2021 so he should be in the midst of the prime of his career. Will he be on track to be the American League’s Most Valuable Player? Let’s sit back and enjoy the ride. RF: Max Kepler As Tom wrote about last week, Kepler might be poised for a breakout season in 2018. In the minor leagues, Kepler was able to figure out how to hit left-handed pitching. I think he will do that in 2018 and that could be a scary proposition for opposing pitchers. Kepler may never be a MVP candidate but he certainly has the ability to make an All-Star team. With Buxton and Dozier at the top of the line-up, Sano and Kepler can continue to hit in the middle of the order. DH: Brent Rooker If you’ve picked up a copy of the 2018 Twins Prospect Handbook, you’ve no doubt seen that I am high on Brent Rooker. Minnesota’s supplemental first round pick destroyed the baseball in his professional debut. If he continues to hit that well, there’s a good chance he will make his debut in 2018. He can play first base or in a corner outfield spot, so this gives him some flexibility when other players need a day at designated hitter. Rooker is going to be good and he might have been one of the most important pieces of the 2017 MLB Draft. What do you think the 2021 line-up will look like in Minnesota? Check back later this week as Tom tries to pick-out the 2021 rotation. Until then, leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. Click here to view the article

It’s hard to believe that spring training is around the corner with icy cold weather throughout chunks of the United States. The Twins Caravan will soon be starting their routes and Twins Fest will follow shortly afterwards. You also have the opportunity to join Twins Daily at the 2018 Diamond Awards. Baseball is close to being back and with it comes the hope of a new season where anything is possible. There have been a few Twins stories swirling around this week. Here are a few updates on meeting with Darvish, the fallout from Sano, and a look at the “Hot Stove” that has been pretty cold.Minnesota Meeting With Darvish Yu Darvish and his team certainly seem to be doing their due diligence. The top free agent pitcher on the market has already met with multiple clubs as he looks for his next team. Minnesota has not been one of those organizations. It’s hard to know if he is avoiding the Twins or if he’s actually familiar with the organization’s front office so a meeting isn’t necessary. He might also be trying to avoid the cold in Minnesota. For those worried about Darvish not coming to the Twin Cities, local baseball writers have also chimed in. It sounds like he might already know everything he needs about Minnesota. This might be enough to sway his decision. In the meantime, fans will have to sit back and wait for more news from the Darvish camp. Sano Fallout Miguel Sano was in the news for all of the wrong reasons last week. Major League Baseball started its review process of the situation as soon as the allegations were brought to their attention. It’s hard to know how long the process will take. This is the first major allegation against an MLB player since the #MeToo movement has come to light. In 2016, Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman was suspended 30 games for allegedly choking his 22-year-old girlfriend and firing eight shots in the garage of his home. He was never prosecuted by law because there were conflicting account and not enough evidence. Will the Chapman suspension be the baseline for Sano’s potential punishment? Ice Cold Stove There hasn’t been much action on the free agent market so far this year. In fact, it’s the coldest “hot stove” over the last half of a decade. Eric Hosmer, a former AL Central foe, has been offered seven year deals by the Padres and the Royals. The St. Louis Cardinals are also rumored to be interested in Hosmer’s services. As one of the top available free agent bats, his signing could set-off a series of other signings. The Rockies have been busy signing multiple pieces for their bullpen. A “super bullpen” might be the wave of the future. One has to wonder if the Twins will be able to improve some of their relief pieces for 2018. Young players like Trevor Hildenberger and John Curtiss could figure prominently in Minnesota’s plans. Tyler Jay continues to lurk in the minors and could be the team’s wild card in the second half of 2018. Do the Twins need to meet with Darvish? How fast will the Sano situation be resolved? Will the hot stove ever heat up? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. Click here to view the article

If you haven’t heard yet, the 2018 version of the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook is now available. It’s hard not to get overwhelmed when we are compiling over 160 profiles on almost every player in the Twins farms system. That being said, it fun to pick out players to focus on for the up-coming season. Some players might be coming back from injury. Some players might be new to the organization. Here are three players I will be watching in 2018 with a little background on what I think they can accomplish in the coming year.Brusdar Graterol, RHP Graterol has seen a bumpy start to his professional career. As a 16-year old in 2015, he made his professional debut in the Dominican Summer League. He was limited to four starts and was forced to undergo Tommy John surgery. It cost him the rest of 2015 and all of 2016. Last season, he returned to action in the GCL and the Appy League, where he was still over 2.5 years younger than the competition. In the GCL, he posted a 1.40 ERA and a 0.72 WHIP while averaging 9.8 K/9. With the E-Twins, he saw increases to both his ERA (3.92) and WHIP (1.21). However, he was Elizabethton’s youngest pitcher this season and his K/9 increased to 10.5. Looking ahead to 2018, it’s not hard to imagine that Graterol could make appearances with Cedar Rapids before he turns 20 in late August. His fastball can consistently hit in the high 90’s and he has shown the ability to rear back and hit triple digits. If he can continue to develop his secondary pitches, his stock could continue to rise in 2018. Jacob Pearson, OF Minnesota acquired Pearson this off-season in a deal that sent international bonus money to the Los Angeles Angels. Pearson was taken by the Angels in the third round of the 2017 MLB Draft. He signed for $1 million, an over-slot deal, to keep him from committing to LSU. Pearson made his professional debut in the Arizona Rookie League and saw some ups and downs. Over 155 at-bats, he hit .226/.302/.284 with eight extra-base hits and five steals in 40 games. He ended the year with hits in eight of his final ten games including a .317 OBP. All but 30 of his plate appearances came against older pitchers so there are still some adjustments to be made as a pro. As a sophomore in high school, Pearson had labrum surgery on his throwing shoulder. This currently means his arm is below average but he could strengthen it as he works through the Twins system. Baseball America touted Pearson’s quiet confidence and work ethic in an article this past November. He could eventually be a 20-20 type of player. He will start 2018 in extended spring training but he could make his way to Cedar Rapids before season’s end. Lewis Thorpe, LHP Thorpe burst on the scene as a 17-year old in the GCL back in 2013. He dominated hitters with a 2.05 ERA, a 0.86 WHIP, and 64 strikeouts in 44.0 innings. Baseball Prospectus even included him in their top-101 prospects leading into 2014 and 2015. Thorpe did not pitch in 2015 and 2016 as he recovered from Tommy John surgery and then from mononucleosis. He’d return in 2017 with the Miracle where he posted a 2.69 ERA while striking out nearly 10 batters per nine. In late August, he made a spot start with the Lookouts and picked up the victory. He allowed four runs, struck out seven and pitched through the sixth frame. It was a big year back for Mr. Thorpe. Since he is multiple years removed from TJ surgery, 2018 could end up being an important year in Thorpe’s development. He will likely pitch the entire year in Chattanooga but he will still be roughly two years younger than the competition. With an arsenal that includes three pitches, he has the opportunity to prove he should be reconsidered as one of the best pitching prospects in the Twins system. What minor league players will you be focused on during the coming season? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. Make sure to pick up a copy of the 2018 Twins Prospect Handbook if you'd like to identify your own prospects to follow in the Twins farm system. Click here to view the article

The beginning of a new year means a chance to reflect on 2017 and look for improvement for 2018. You and your loved ones might have sat down over the long weekend to plot out your own resolutions. Maybe you want to lose some weight. Perhaps you want to plan a vacation. Or maybe you want to try and get to Target Field as much as possible in 2018. How can the Twins improve on their playoff appearance in 2017? Here are five Twins players who have some resolutions for 2018.Jose Berrios Resolution: Increased strikeout rate in 2018 Berrios has pitched over 200 innings at the big league level. During his five minor league seasons, he posted a 9.6 strikeout per nine rate. At the MLB level, that total has dipped to 8.3 strikeouts per nine. His base on balls has also increased from 2.5 to 3.7 and his hits per nine has gone from 7.3 to 9.0. Berrios has shown flashes of dominance in the big leagues but he needs to find some more consistency. If he is able to find a consistent out-pitch, he should see some improvement in all of his numbers in 2018. Byron Buxton Resolution: Avoid a slow start As a Georgia native, Buxton might not get along with the cold Minnesota springs. His struggles at the beginning of last season were well documented as he was striking out at a historic rate. After hitting under .250 through the season’s first three months, Buxton hit over .320 in July and August while averaging a .973 OPS. For the entire second half, he hit .300/.347/.546 with 24 extra-base hits. It might be tough to keep that pace to start 2018 but it should be easier for Buxton to avoid duplicating his slow start from 2017. Stephen Gonsalves Resolution: Earn a rotation spot Gonsalves was close to making his debut in 2017 but he wasn’t on the 40-man roster. One hurdle is over as he was add to the 40-man this off-season. There’s plenty of rumors swirling about the Twins looking at adding a top of the rotation starter. Plenty of players sit ahead of Gonsalves on the team’s current depth chart. If he has an impressive spring, he could make it hard to send him to Rochester. Gonsalves will debut in 2018 and he has the opportunity to win a rotation spot. Joe Mauer Resolution: Go win that Gold Glove Mauer watched Byron Buxton and Brian Dozier walk away with the hardware in 2017. Mauer was robbed of even being a finalist when his numbers clearly put him near the top of the American League. Mauer’s defense was strong and his offensive numbers also improved in 2017. He hit over .300 and had an OPS above .800 for the first time since 2013. Only two players, Darin Erstad and Placido Polanco, have won a Gold Glove at multiple positions. Mauer should join that small group in 2018. Jorge Polanco Resolution: Solve Minnesota’s revolving door at shortstop It’s been a long time since Minnesota has seen some consistency at shortstop. The position has seemed to be a revolving door dating all the way back to the Metrodome days. In 133 games, Polanco batted .256/.313/.410 with 13 home runs and 30 doubles. As a prospect, there were questions about his defense but he seemed to be able to hold his own at the big league level. Other prospects like Nick Gordon and Royce Lewis are moving towards Target Field. Polanco needs to show his value to the club. What other players have resolutions for 2018? Do you have a resolution for the Twins? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. Click here to view the article

When a team has the number one overall pick, it’s imperative to make an organizational shifting selection. This might seem like an obvious statement but teams are rarely in position to select at the top of the draft. If the front office makes a wrong choice at the top, there can be reverberating effects for multiple years into the future. Minnesota’s minor league system has been strong for multiple years but many top players have graduated from the prospect ranks in recent years. Minnesota needed an influx of talent to give the farm system a shot in the arm. Lucky for Twins fans, the early returns are in and the results are quite promising.Make sure to order a copy of the 2018 MINNESOTA TWINS PROSPECT HANDBOOK if you want to know more about Minnesota’s recent draftees and other players in the minor leagues. This book provides over 170 profiles on players throughout the Twins’ farm system. It is a must own for any baseball fan. New Front Office As the Twins were searching for a new regime, the ability to draft at the beginning of every round in the 2017 draft had to be an intriguing selling point. After being hired, Derek Falvey and Thad Levine had to be licking their chops to dive into the draft process. There is also pressure on the front office to make the right pick. It will be multiple years before the Twins know the results of the 2017 draft. Prospects can have lots of bumps in the road before becoming regular at the big league level. Not every prospect is Mike Trout or Bryce Harper. Even recent top Twins prospects like Byron Buxton and Jose Berrios went through some growing pains. The new front office entered the draft process and made their best selections. Top Picks Royce Lewis wasn’t the consensus number one pick but there might not have been a consensus top prospect as the draft approached. Lewis quickly made an impact in his professional debut. In fact, he cracked a home run in his first professional at-bat. In 42 games between the GCL and the MWL, he hit .279/.381/.407 with 15 extra-base hits. He was over three years younger than the competition in the MWL. With their second pick in the draft, the Twins selected a familiar name. Brent Rooker had been the team’s 38th round pick in 2016 as a redshirt sophomore. He returned to Mississippi State and the decision paid off. Rooker split time between the Appalachian League and the Florida State League while combining for a .930 OPS. Other top draft choices like Landon Leach, Blayne Enlow, Charlie Barnes and Andrew Bechtold are also going to figure into Twins top prospect lists this offseason. Be Aggressive Prospects can be a fickle bunch. Not every prospect is going to live up to the hype that is bestowed on him at such a young age. However, there are players in every organization who will blossom into the next wave of talent. John Mirabelli, the Cleveland Indians Senior Director of Scouting Operations, said, “If you have a core of guys on the cusp, it’s important to get that next group and move them along as quick as you can. If you can see that coming… When you see that coming, it’s imperative to be aggressive to get them seasoned.” The Twins were aggressive with Lewis and Rooker in their first professional season and that trend will likely continue. There are plenty of young pieces ready to contribute at the big league level. Other pieces from the 2017 draft could make it to Target Field as early as the 2018 season. Drafting top talent is important but drafting the right pieces, that fit an organization, can make a world of difference. Don’t forget to pick up your copy of the 2018 MINNESOTA TWINS PROSPECT HANDBOOK. Click here to view the article

Every team is looking for that one piece that will push them to the next level. It can be an ace pitcher at the front of the rotation or a relief pitcher to help solidify the back-end of the bullpen. Other veteran players can provide a voice in the locker room that might have been missing in previous years. Minnesota is rumored to be interested in veteran first baseman and designated hitter Mike Napoli. Could he be Minnesota’s missing piece in 2018?The Napoli Connection Derek Falvey and Thad Levine both got to know Napoli during his time in Cleveland and Texas. There were rumors of the Twins being interested last off-season but he decided to return to Texas. During the 2017 campaign, he hit .193/.285/.428 with 29 home runs in 124 games. While these numbers don’t exactly stand out, Napoli is known for more than his offensive production. The Star Tribune was told by a source that “the Twins’ interest in him extends nearly as much to the clubhouse as to the batter’s box.” If Napoli were to come to Minnesota, he would serve as a part-time first baseman and designated hitter. Current players Joe Mauer and Miguel Sano will both see time at designated hitter so Napoli could help to bolster the bench. Current Veteran Pieces Minnesota currently has Brian Dozier and Joe Mauer to serve in a leadership role. Dozier has clearly become the team’s vocal leader in recent years. Mauer’s quiet nature often makes fans call for him to take on more of a leadership role. Napoli has been part of winning team’s throughout his career. This gives him a different perspective than the Dozier-Mauer combo. During the 2015 campaign, Torii Hunter returned to Minnesota and helped the club back to respectability. In manager Paul Molitor’s first year on the job, Hunter provided a veteran voice as the club was surprisingly in the playoff race until the season’s last weekend. Napoli might not provide the same kind of fire (see Hunter ripping his jersey off on the field) but he could still fill a role sinilar to Hunter's in 2015. Houston’s Blueprint As the Astros were heading toward their first World Series title, it was clear they had found the right mix of veteran pieces to complement their young core. Players like Brian McCann, Josh Reddick,and Carlos Beltran were added to the Astros roster to provide a voice and leadership in the locker room. There’s no doubt that young players like Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman and Lance McCullers Jr. all relied on those veteran pieces at some point in the season. In Houston, it took multiple veteran pieces to bolster the roster. Like Napoli, Beltran wasn’t an every day player by the end of his career. In fact, the Astros’ players had a funeral for Beltran’s glove during the 2017 season. Napoli might just be the first veteran piece of the puzzle to help Minnesota in 2018. Can Napoli be the missing piece for the Twins? What do you think he can add to the locker room? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. Click here to view the article