Cody Christie

Walker Jenkins and Brooks Lee are returning from injury, while Emmanuel Rodriguez is slicing up the Texas League. Has Rodriguez done enough to surpass the other two players and rank as the organization’s top prospect? Image courtesy of William Parmeter (Photo of Walker Jenkins) Prospect lists have evolved, especially in an age with more data from the minor league level. Previously, the national outlets would reevaluate their lists once per year and release those lists during the offseason. Now, there are opportunities and platforms to update lists regularly. Some players get injured or perform poorly, while others graduate from prospect eligibility. At Twins Daily, the writers and readers vote on the team’s top prospects, and the site’s list shows how a player's stock has risen or fallen, with the list being updated earlier this week. The Twins had a consensus trio at the top of the organization’s rankings entering the 2024 season. Walker Jenkins was considered the team’s number-one prospect, with the three national outlets ranking him in the top 16. Twins Daily ranked Brooks Lee as the number two prospect, and MLB.com ranked him in their top 20. Emmanuel Rodriguez was a consensus top-65 prospect by the three national outlets, but there were still flaws that he needed to address as he climbed the organizational ladder. A lot has changed through the season’s early months, so how much have there been changes to these three players' rankings? Walker Jenkins, OF Level: Low-A Jenkins was the fifth overall pick in a loaded 2023 MLB Draft, and he didn’t disappoint in his professional debut. In 26 games, he hit .362/.417/.571 (.989) with 12 extra-base hits and a 13.3 K% with a 8.6 BB%. Minnesota sent the 19-year-old back to the Florida State League, the level where he finished last season. However, he strained his left hamstring while making a play in the outfield. Jenkins recently started a rehab, so he should return to Fort Myers shortly. Overall, he is at another level as a prospect, similar to Joe Mauer and Byron Buxton. Outside of the injury, there has been little to move his prospect ranking, so Twins Daily (and other national outlets) will continue to rank him as the team’s top prospect. Brooks Lee, IF Level: Triple-A Like Jenkins, Lee’s 2024 season has been stalled by an injury, but the two players started their rehab assignments together. He suffered a back injury toward the end of spring training that ended up being a herniated disc. Lee likely would have made his MLB debut with injuries at the big-league level this season. Last year, he hit .275/.347/.461 (.808) with 39 doubles and 16 home runs in 125 games between Double- and Triple-A. His OPS dropped 110 points after being promoted to the Saints, but he was over four years younger than the average age of the competition in the International League. Lee is the closest player to making a big-league impact, so there is less variance in his potential outcomes. Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF Level: Double-A Rodriguez is one of the organization’s most exciting prospects, and his hot start at Double-A will be hard for evaluators to ignore. In 32 games, he is slashing .262/.463/.561 (1.023) with 18 extra-base hits. He’s the third youngest position player in the Texas League and has yet to face a pitcher younger than himself. Rodriguez continues to walk at an extremely high rate (26.5 BB%), but his strikeout rate is also very high at 28.6%. There is some concern with his passivity at the plate, especially as he gets closer to the big leagues. He must balance being patient and attacking pitchers when he gets his pitch. Rodriguez has also shown the ability to stick in center field while being a threat on the bases, with nine steals in 11 attempts. His ceiling is extremely high and might be the highest of any Twins prospect. When evaluating prospects, looking into a player’s ceiling and floor is essential. For this trio, their ranking by highest ceiling would be 1. Jenkins, 2. Rodriguez, and 3. Lee. For the highest floor, it’s the exact opposite rankings. Jenkins can potentially be a future superstar, but there are no guarantees he will make it to the big-league level. Lee will most assuredly make his big-league debut, but his overall skillset is limited compared to the other two. Rodriguez has shown five-tool talent even when being pushed to the upper levels of the minors at a young age. Here’s how I ranked the team’s top three prospects entering June: Jenkins Rodriguez Lee How would you rank the Twins' top three prospects? Should Rodriguez be ranked ahead of Lee? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Frustrations started mounting for the players and manager, especially in some quotes to the media. Did a players-only meeting save the team from further disintegration? Image courtesy of Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports The Minnesota Twins have been Jekyll and Hyde this season, with a 7-13 stretch to open the season, followed by a 17-3 stretch, which quickly devolved into a seven-game losing streak. It was the team’s longest losing streak in six years. Following Monday’s 12-3 thrashing by the Nationals, Twins players held a players-only meeting to stop the team’s downward spiral. Minnesota’s bats woke up on Tuesday, and they blew out the Nationals by a final score of 10-0. Byron Buxton led the way with a pair of home runs, and the Rally Sausage made a return appearance in the nation’s capital. On Wednesday, the team secured a series victory with good pitching and more bombs, this time from Max Kepler and Carlos Correa. The aura around the team is far from being normalized, especially after some key events over the weekend pointed to internal trouble. On Sunday, the Twins lost on a walk-off home run, a tough pill to swallow, especially with the team’s star closer on the mound. Jhoan Durán threw a first-pitch curveball to Will Brennan, but stated after the game that he disagreed with that call. "It's not my decision," Durán told reporters. "I thought that [Brennan] wasn't good with fastballs. I'm an employee here, so whatever I need to throw, I need to throw it." So, who should get the blame for the pitch selection? Pitching coach Pete Maki and catcher Christian Vázquez held a mound visit with Durán before facing Brennan. Durán’s comments seemed like an out-of-character move from a typically reserved player. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli was asked about Durán’s comments before Monday’s game. "I think he's just frustrated and was looking for a way to vent," Baldelli said, "I thought it was unusual. I wasn't expecting it. I like to handle our stuff here with a conversation in the clubhouse." Durán took two losses in the Cleveland series, surrendering a go-ahead home run on Friday night against José Ramírez and the game-ender to Brennan Sunday. His curveball was the culprit both times. Durán has seen a drop in velocity this season, forcing him to adjust his pitch selection. Many fans love watching his triple-digit fastball, but his curveball has been his best pitch throughout his big-league tenure. Frustration was boiling over, and that came out of the manager on Monday. Minnesota’s offensive woes continued in the first game of the series against the Nationals and Baldelli was as frustrated as he will show the media on camera. “The guy just stood out there and threw off-speed pitches for like four straight innings,” Baldelli said. “We didn’t do anything about it. We continued to wave at them and look for fastballs, which today, they weren’t coming, especially the first five, six innings. In this stretch of games where we’ve been struggling, that’s been a common theme. “You can’t take three, four, five innings to adjust to what the starting pitch is doing to you. That’s not quality professional baseball.” “I’ve seen a lot of streaky baseball,” Baldelli went on to say. “We all have. This is next-level stuff.” It is interesting that Baldelli would make such harsh comments, especially after calling out his closer for not keeping the “conversation in the clubhouse.” Any team mired in an extended losing streak will have tension. Thankfully, the Twins ended their brutal losing streak and can focus on some positives surrounding the team. There is still a lot of baseball left to play in the 2024 season, and the Twins need to ensure that the team stays out of their own way. Whose comments were more surprising, Durán's or Baldelli's? Will the players-only meeting be a turning point for the season? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

The Minnesota Timberwolves are in uncharted territory, opening as favorites in the Western Conference Finals. Anthony Edwards, a 22-year-old, has led the team in the postseason. Since the Twins will be playing (figuratively and literally) in the shadow of the Wolves for the next week or more, we might as well ask: who are Twins history's best answers to Ant-Man? Minneapolis will be busy on Friday night, with the Twins facing off against the Rangers and the Timberwolves squaring off against the Mavericks. Anthony Edwards has become the face of the franchise during the team’s current playoff run. He’s only 22 years old, and has a phenomenally bright future ahead of him. Let’s look back at the history of the Twins to find the best players in their age-22 season. Recently, Twins Daily launched the Minnesota Twins Players Project. What is the Players Project? It's a community-driven, wiki-style project focusing on Twins players of all stripes. It's open to all Twins Daily users, and we've had contributions of current players, past players, and players who never made the major leagues but played in the Twins farm system. Some of the players from this story have already been added to the project, and you can add others. Honorable Mention: Miguel Sano (2.0 WAR), Byron Buxton (2.0 WAR), Luis Arráez (1.8 WAR), Rod Carew (1.7 WAR), Zoilo Versalles (1.5 WAR), and Butch Wynegar (1.5 WAR) 5. Chuck Knoblauch: 2.1 fWAR Knoblauch burst onto the scene during the Twins' historic run to the 1991 World Series. In 151 games, he hit .281/.351/.350, with 31 extra-base hits and 25 steals. He finished two votes shy of being the unanimous AL Rookie of the Year, beating out future Hall of Famer Iván Rodríguez. Knoblauch is one of the best on-field players in Twins history, with four All-Star appearances, two Silver Sluggers, and a Gold Glove. His tenure ended sourly in Minnesota, and his poor off-field behavior has been well-documented. He is, sadly, a reminder that great fame and success at such a young age can mask (or even engender) unacceptable decisions. 4. Tom Brunansky: 2.6 fWAR Brunansky had 138 big-league games under his belt before his age-22 season. He had been traded to the Twins in May 1982 with Mike Walters, for Doug Corbett and Rob Wilfong. In 1983, he hit .227/.308/.445 with 24 doubles, five triples, and 28 home runs. His 103 OPS+ was 26 points lower than his monster 1982 season, wherein he had a career-high WAR. He was an All-Star in 1985, when the Twins hosted the game at the Metrodome, including participating in the inaugural Home Run Derby. In 1987, he was a vital member of the team’s first World Series team. Unfortunately, the front office traded him to St. Louis for Tom Herr, in one of the most infamous trades in franchise history. 3. Carlos Gómez: 2.7 fWAR Gómez was part of one of the most famous trades in Twins history, too, when Minnesota sent Johan Santana to the Mets for four prospects. His age-22 season was his first year in Minnesota, when he posted a 77 OPS+ in 153 games. Gómez was known for his tremendous center-field defense, but struggled to find a consistent offensive approach with the Twins. He provided 20.1 defensive value and -14.4 offensive value in his rookie season. He was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for J.J. Hardy in November 2009. With the Brewers, he developed into a two-time All-Star, winning a Gold Glove and collecting two top-16 finishes for the NL MVP. 2. Kent Hrbek: 3.3 fWAR Hrbek has been a Twins legend since his rookie season, and was a critical component of the team’s 1987 and 1991 World Series teams. In 1982, he was a 22-year-old playing in his first full season at the big-league level. He hit .301/.363/.485, with a 128 OPS+. He made his lone All-Star appearance that season and finished runner-up for the AL Rookie of the Year, behind Cal Ripken Jr. He hit multiple important home runs in his career, including the game-winning home run in his MLB debut at Yankee Stadium and a grand slam in Game 6 of the 1987 World Series. 1. Joe Mauer: 3.4 fWAR Mauer flew through the minor leagues as MLB's top-ranked prospect, and made his MLB debut without playing a game at Triple-A. His rookie season was cut short by a leg injury, so his age-22 season was his first full season in the big leagues. In 131 games, he hit .294/.372/.411, with a 107 OPS+. He provided value on both sides of the plate, and it was just the start of what he would bring to the Twins. Mauer won the 2009 MVP, three batting titles, six All-Star appearances, five Silver Sluggers, and three Gold Gloves. He became only the third catcher to be elected as a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and his excellence started in his age-22 season. Of these players, Mauer is also the most directly comparable to Edwards, in that he, like Edwards, was the first overall pick and faced significant, immediate pressure to rescue a frustrated franchise. Of course, some of that pressure stemmed from his being a hometown kid, and Edwards doesn't have that extra burden or bond, but if he were to achieve anything akin to the long career and symbiotic relationship with the team that Mauer had with the Twins, Minnesota sports fans would have to count themselves among the luckiest in the country. For now, they'll just hope that Edwards gets the short-term on-field satisfaction (a championship) that eluded Mauer and his Twins teams. Do you agree with the rankings? Should one of the honorable mentions make the top five? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Twins fans love to see Jhoan Durán make his famous entrance at Target Field and throw triple-digit fastballs to secure a save. His velocity has declined in 2024, though, and that is forcing Minnesota’s closer to re-evaluate his pitch usage. Is it time to be concerned? Image courtesy of David Richard-USA TODAY Sports Jhoan Durán's season hasn't gotten off to a perfect start. In spring training, the team shut him down after he felt tightness in his right oblique while warming up for a live batting practice session. He began the year on the IL and missed the season’s first month. Since returning, his results haven't matched those he achieved in previous seasons. He has set multiple velocity records during his big-league tenure, including a 104.8-mph fastball that he immortalized on the back of his custom cleats. During the 2023 season, he had four pitches registered at 104.4 mph or higher. He’s known for his high velocity, but a drop in velocity has changed how he uses his pitches this season. Four-Seamer 2023 Average Velocity: 101.8 2024 Average Velocity: 100.6 (-1.2 mph) Fans sometimes vent frustration on social media when Durán doesn’t come out and throw his fastball regularly. However, there is a method to the madness. Big-league hitters can square up a fastball, even when facing one with Durán’s velocity. During the 2023 season, batters posted a .375 SLG and a .311 wOBA, the highest totals he allowed on any of his pitches. Last season, he threw his fastball nearly 45% of the time, but he’s dropped that to 34.3% so far this season. His fastball reached 101.6 during Sunday’s appearance, but averaged around 100 mph. Duran’s four-seamer gets the majority of the hype, but it’s his worst pitch when it comes to results. For his long-term success, an increase in the usage of his other pitches might help. Curveball 2023 Average Velocity: 87.7 2024 Average Velocity: 86.5 (-1.2 mph) Durán’s most significant change in pitch mix this season has been an increased reliance on his curveball. Last season, he used his curve 27.7% of the time; he's increased that to 35.2%. Unfortunately, that’s the pitch he threw to Cleveland’s Will Brennan, resulting in a walk-off three-run home run Sunday. After the game, he told reporters that he wanted to go after Brennan with a fastball, and that it wasn’t his decision to throw the curveball. Opponents were held to a .125 xBA and .207 xSLG against his curveball in 2023, making it arguably his best pitch. The hook has given up the hardest contact this year, including two home runs. It will be interesting to see if he turns to other pitches if his curveball continues to get hit hard. Splinker 2023 Average Velocity: 98.4 2024 Average Velocity: 97.2 (-1.2 mph) Duran’s splitter is also a record-breaking pitch, as it was the first off-speed pitch in MLB history to be clocked at over 100 mph. He has also seen an increase in splitter usage, from 27.3% to 30.6% this season. The pitch is used less often because of its low Whiff%. During the 2023 season, batters posted a 26.8 Whiff% against his splitter, nine points lower than his fastball and over 10 points lower than his curveball. So far this season, batters have yet to get a hit versus Duran’s splitter, but his 12.5 Put Away% doesn’t make it an effective weapon. Last season, it resulted in a 31.0 Put Away%, so he must find a way to use this pitch more effectively. That could mean tweaking its entire profile, though, which would need to wait until this offseason. As it's currently working, the "splinker" isn't going to miss many bats, because it works more like a sinker than like a true splitter. It could be a good way for him to get ground balls and avoid the hard contact that has plagued the curve, but it has to be used carefully against left-handed batters. Minnesota’s success this season relies heavily on having a solid bullpen to close out games. Durán is critical to that success, so he must find the best pitch mix to deal with his decreased velocity. Baseball is a game of adjustments, and now that he seems not to be Mr. 104.8 anymore, it’s time for Durán to find what works best for him. Can Durán’s pitch mix adjustments help his results? Are you worried about his drop in velocity? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

Defense can be the difference between winning and losing, and minor mental errors can cost a team the game. Mistakes in recent series highlight more significant defensive issues for the Twins. Image courtesy of John Leyba-USA TODAY Sports The Twins have been missing some of the team’s best defenders during the season’s early weeks, forcing players to play in secondary positions. Royce Lewis, Carlos Correa, and Byron Buxton have all been on the IL, which means the team turned to many of the players in these rankings. Correa and Buxton have recently returned, and that should help the team’s overall defense. Entering play on Saturday, the Twins ranked 27th in baseball in team defensive runs saved, with only the Marlins, Mets, and White Sox ranking lower. Minnesota has negative rankings in seven of the nine defensive positions. Left field (-6 DRS), shortstop (-5 DRS), and center field (-4 DRS) have been the team's top three worst positions, which makes sense considering the players are not available for some of those spots. No team has a lower DRS than the Twins in left field. Below are rankings for Fangraphs’ Defensive Runs Above Average (DEF), Outs Above Average (OAA), and Defensive Runs Saved (DRS). 5. Jose Miranda DEF: 0.0/ OAA: -1/ DRS: 0 The Twins weren’t comfortable playing Miranda at third base last season while he dealt with a shoulder issue. Entering spring, the team seemed to be taking a similar stance. However, Lewis being injured changed the team’s approach, and Miranda was fully healthy. His fielding run value (41st percentile) and OAA (30th percentile) rank below the league average. He hasn’t been a butcher at third base, but the club will see a significant defensive upgrade when Lewis can return. 4. Manuel Margot DEF: -2.1/ OAA: -2/ DRS: -3 Minnesota’s front office hoped Margot would fill the role vacated by Michael A. Taylor, but he has struggled on both sides of the ball. The Twins haven’t seemed comfortable using him in center field, which defeats the purpose of having him on the roster. His sprint speed and defensive numbers have taken a significant drop this season, and that’s one of the reasons the Twins have relegated him to a corner outfield spot. It will be interesting to see how long the team stays with him since he seems to be declining rapidly. 3. Alex Kirilloff DEF: -2.6/ OAA: -1/ DRS: -4 Last season, the Twins played Kirilloff more regularly at first base because of the team’s depth in the outfield. Carlos Santana’s presence has moved Kirilloff back to the outfield, but it hasn’t been a smooth transition. According to FanGraphs, he has provided a negative defensive value in left field (-1.3 DEF) and first base (-1.3 DEF). Kirilloff has played fewer than 50 innings at first base, so he has quickly accumulated a lot of negative value. It will be interesting to see if the team considers demoting Kirilloff during his current slump. 2. Willi Castro DEF: -1.0/ OAA: -3/ DRS: -4 Castro’s defensive miscues were on full display over the last week, but Twins manager Rocco Baldelli stood up for his player during post-game interviews. Realistically, he shouldn’t be playing center field regularly, but Margot’s struggles have forced the team to use him. His defense at third base has been substantially better than the outfield, with a 1.2 DEF, the sixth-highest total for any Twins defender. Minnesota will continue to use him at multiple positions unless a long-term injury opens a regular defensive home. 1. Austin Martin DEF: -4.5/ OAA: -3/ DRS: -6 Martin has the lowest defensive runs saved total on the team. His DEF total in left field is the worst of any position player, and his time in center field is the team’s third-worst DEF total. He is a converted infielder, so there can be some struggles in the transition to the outfield. However, he is considered a good athlete with solid speed, which is why the Twins were comfortable changing his position. His Fielding Run Value and Arm Value are in the 9th percentile or lower. Minnesota demoted him to make room for Buxton’s return, so Martin needs to find his defensive footing to provide big-league value in the future. How would you rank the team’s defensive players this season? Do you agree with how the players are ranked above? Who was left off the list? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Brent Rooker was a toss-in to the Taylor Rogers for Chris Paddack and Emilo Pagán trade. He’s off to a tremendous start in Oakland one year after being an All-Star. Did the Twins (and multiple other teams) give up on him too soon? Image courtesy of Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports Every MLB organization has players that the team gave up on too soon. Some players need a change of scenery to unlock their full potential. Other players must switch roles or be allowed longer to stick at the big-league level. After starting their careers with the Twins, the Twins saw Liam Hendriks and Ryan Pressly become two of the most dominant relievers of the last decade. David Ortiz is the most famous example of a former Twin who went on to have success in another uniform, but there are plenty of others who followed his path. Brent Rooker is the latest player who has reached his full potential after the Twins moved on from him. The Minnesota Twins drafted Rooker in the 35th overall pick of the 2017 MLB Draft from Mississippi State University. After signing, Rooker, known for his power-hitting, destroyed the lower minors with a .930 OPS and 29 extra-base hits in 62 games. Minnesota sent him to Double-A for his second season, and his offensive production resembled a bell curve with low OPS totals early/late in the year and two months in the middle, averaging over a 1.000 OPS. Injuries limited him to 65 games in 2019 at Triple-A, but he was nearly three years younger than the average age of the competition and posted a .933 OPS. He was firmly established as one of the organization’s top prospects and on the cusp of the big-league level. Rooker made his big-league debut in 2020, during the pandemic-shortened season. In his first seven games, he went 6-for-19 (.316 BA) with two doubles and a home run. Unfortunately, he broke his wrist on a hit by pitch, causing him to miss the remainder of the season. Rooker's performance in 2021 was a mixed bag. He showed flashes of brilliance, especially with a .931 OPS at Triple-A. However, his big-league numbers dipped, and he struggled defensively in left field. In a competitive division, the Twins needed consistent production from their outfielders, and Rooker's ups and downs didn't fit the team’s long-term plans. Entering the 2022 season, Rooker had an opportunity to earn a roster spot during spring training, but there were multiple players ahead of him on the team’s depth chart. Instead of sending him back to Triple-A, the club included him in a questionable trade on the eve of Opening Day. Minnesota sent Rooker and Taylor Rogers to the San Diego Padres from Chris Paddack, Emilio Pagán, and Brayan Medina. Rogers struggled with the Padres and was dealt to the Brewers at the trade deadline. Paddack was quickly injured, and Pagán struggled in high-leverage situations with the Twins. The Twins released Medina in March after he failed to make it out of the rookie leagues. Rooker spent most of the 2022 season hitting well for the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate, but he was limited to two big-league games in San Diego. By August, they traded him to the Royals for Cam Gallagher. He played 14 games for Kansas City but struggled offensively, with a 38 OPS+ and a 7-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Royals were rebuilding, and they didn’t have room for him on their roster for 2023. Rooker was selected off waivers by the Oakland Athletics, who gave him his first long-term look at the big-league level. Oakland has been near the bottom of the AL for multiple seasons, so they have room to add a player like Rooker and give him an extended opportunity. He became a first-time All-Star last year while setting career highs in multiple offensive categories. In 137 games, he hit .246/.329/.488 (.817) with 20 doubles, 30 home runs, and a 126 OPS+. His 2024 campaign is off to an even better start with a 166 OPS+, seven doubles, and ten home runs in 35 games. Rooker is well on his way to being an All-Star for the second consecutive season. Ultimately, the Twins decided to trade Rooker because of the organization’s other outfield and DH options. Some argue that this move was premature. After all, Rooker was just 27 years old, and many players take time to adjust to the big leagues. His power potential alone makes him an intriguing asset for any team willing to take a chance. Fans can't help but wonder what could have been if Rooker had stayed healthy and received more consistent playing time. Perhaps a full season would have allowed him to find his groove and contribute significantly. However, multiple teams besides the Twins gave up on Rooker before giving him a chance. Should the Twins have tried to keep Rooker in the organization? What is your evaluation of the trade that sent him to the Padres? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Royce Lewis and Byron Buxton were expected to be critical contributors to the Twins roster this season. So, when can fans expect them and other key players to return from the injured list? Image courtesy of Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports Every team deals with injuries, and it’s easy for a fan base to be distraught by the number of players on the injured list at any given time. In 2022, the Twins were decimated by injuries, which forced the front office to renew its focus on roster depth entering the last two seasons. Minnesota has multiple key players on the injured list, but there might be light at the end of the tunnel. Here is a rundown of the Twins’ key injuries with expected return timelines. Royce Lewis, 3B Injury: Severe right quad strain Lewis started the year with a bang by hitting a home run in his first at-bat on Opening Day. However, the celebration was short-lived as he sustained a severe right quad strain while running the bases later in the game. Lewis was given a platelet-rich plasma injection last month to help him with the healing process. He has begun baseball activities, including hitting on the field and baserunning. Head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta told reporters that the team will better understand his return timeline when he does more extensive baserunning drills. The Twins initially expected Lewis to be nearing a return at the beginning of June, but a more extended rehab assignment likely pushes back that timeline. Expected Return: Mid-June Bryon Buxton, CF Injury: Right knee inflammation Buxton tested his knee on the field earlier this week, and the team felt comfortable enough with his progress to send him on a rehab assignment. He is scheduled to play at Triple-A on Wednesday and Thursday, which could put him on a path to return to the team by this weekend. Even at the time of the injury, the Twins expected Buxton to need a minimum stay on the injured list. In the 14 games before his injury, Buxton was hitting .304/.360/.522 (.882) with five doubles, a triple, and a game-tying home run. Hopefully, he can return to help the team for their crucial series against Cleveland starting on Friday. Expected Return: Mid-May Brock Stewart, RHP Injury: Right shoulder tendinitis Like other players on this list, Stewart received a PRP injection after an MRI revealed inflammation in his rotator cuff. Stewart had initially told reporters that he hoped to throw over the weekend, but that didn’t happen.“We have to get his arm strength where it needs to be,” Paparesta said. “We have to get his range of motion where it needs to be. … But we hope to see him throwing here in the short term.” Stewart has been one of baseball’s most dominant relievers over the last two seasons, but injuries have limited him to 41 innings. He adds depth to the bullpen, but the team can be patient with him because it’s more important that he is available in the season’s second half. Expected Return: Twins are waiting to set a timeline Justin Topa, RHP Injury: Torn left patellar tendon Topa was seen wearing a brace on his left knee because last week’s MRI revealed a 25% tear of his patellar tendon. He received a PRP injection and must continue to wear the brace for another week. Topa and the Twins decided on this recovery path over surgery because he hopes to help the team in 2024. He will not throw for another six weeks and then take time to ramp back up. Minnesota is attempting to salvage part of his season in what has developed into a brutal trade for both teams. Expected Return: After the All-Star Break The Twins have been playing well, but players returning from injury can help the team continue to be successful. Stewart and Topa can add depth to the bullpen, while Lewis and Buxton are dynamic bats for the lineup. Other injuries will happen in a 162-game season, so it's important for these players to return and provide value to the club. Which player will have the most significant impact on the Twins in 2024? Which injury is the most concerning? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Major League Baseball’s season is a grueling 162-game gauntlet with many challenges. Workload management might start becoming a concern for the Twins in the weeks ahead. Image courtesy of Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports In baseball’s current landscape, few players like Cal Ripken Jr. can play daily. Players get injured, wear down, or deal with poor performance. The Twins have a couple of players where workload management might become a more significant issue if the team doesn’t start managing playing time. Wins are great in the season’s early months, but it’s essential to be healthy in September and October. So, which players or position groups are most concerning regarding early season workload? How can the Twins strategically manage their workloads in the coming months? Ryan Jeffers Jeffers has been not only the Twins’ best hitter but also one of baseball’s best hitters this season. He’s near the top of the league in multiple offensive categories, which is remarkable for a catcher. The Twins have continued to use a two-catcher rotation, with Jeffers splitting time with Christian Vazquez. Last season, this worked well to keep both players healthy, as neither player needed time on the IL. Minnesota has used Jeffers regularly at DH this season to keep his bat in the lineup, which might cause his body to wear down throughout the season. He’s started 19 games at catcher and 14 at DH, with 40% of his plate appearances coming at DH. As the season progresses, there are ways for Jeffers to get more regular rest. Minnesota’s offense has been clicking with him in the lineup on a nearly daily basis. However, there are other options for the DH spot. Royce Lewis is scheduled to return in June, and the Twins might want to ease him back into a regular role with some time at DH. Other DH options include Byron Buxton, Jose Miranda, Trevor Larnach, and Matt Wallner. Miranda and Larnach have shown improved offensive improvement since returning to the Twins. Buxton is on the IL but should return shortly, while Waller has been destroying the ball for the Saints. Jeffers has been the team MVP, but they need him to be healthy in the second half. Chris Paddack During spring training, Paddack openly discussed wanting to be a workhorse this season but that is unlikely in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. He has averaged 5 1/3 innings in his seven starts while averaging 90 pitches per game. He had one clunker against Baltimore, allowing nine earned runs in 5 1/3 innings. Paddack bounced back in his next start with his best performance of the year, which included ten strikeouts in seven shutout innings. His fastball has been one of the most valuable in baseball, with a Fastball Run Value in the 82nd percentile with a 28.3 Whiff% and a 33.3 Put Away%. The Twins have already found ways to push back some of his starts this season by shuffling the rotation. It also wouldn’t be surprising for the team to skip some of his starts around the All-Star break so he gets a more extended period off. Last season, the Twins had to monitor Kenta Maeda’s innings since he was returning from Tommy John surgery. He combined for 104 1/3 innings in 21 appearances (20 starts). Paddack is already at 37 1/3 innings through seven starts. There can be some fatigue as his inning count rises, so he might need an IL stint to ensure he has innings left before finishing the season. Bullpen There isn’t a specific player to target for managing the workload in the bullpen, but the entire group has been used regularly to start the year. Minnesota has found itself winning regularly in recent weeks, and those wins have included a lot of close games, putting increased pressure on late-inning arms. There have been some recent frustrating losses due to the best relievers not being available on a given night. The Twins bullpen looked great in the season’s early weeks. Still, injuries have already impacted the overall performance, with critical relievers Jhoan Duran, Brock Stewart, Caleb Thielbar, and Justin Topa missing time. Other relievers have been forced to take on higher leverage roles without these late-inning arms. The Twins rank 19th in innings pitched from the bullpen this season, but they have the highest K/9 and the second-highest LOB% in the American League. Since the start of last season, the Twins have been the best team in baseball when leading entering the 9th inning (90-1 record, .989 winning percentage). Twins manager Rocco Baldelli has also been more strategic in using his late-inning options, including having Duran enter in the eighth if the opposition has the heart of their lineup scheduled to hit. Besides Duran, five other players have earned a save this season, including Griffin Jax, Caleb Thielbar, Cole Sands, and Steven Okert. It’s been a recipe for success, but the team needs it to last all year. Minnesota has valued depth at multiple spots on the roster in recent years. As the season progresses, workload management needs to be part of the team’s plan. Jeffers and Paddack are critical to their position groups, while the bullpen needs to be effective for the team to have continued success. Every win is important, but it’s even more important to be healthy entering the playoffs. Which player or position group needs their workload managed the most? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Yankees are making their lone regular-season visit to Target Field this week. Last season, there was something strange in the neighborhood with the Twins taking the season series from New York. Here’s how Minnesota’s current team can avoid the previous generation's mistakes. Image courtesy of Greg M. Cooper, USA Today Sports It’s no secret that the Minnesota Twins have struggled against the New York Yankees. Since 2002, the Twins have had ten playoff appearances, and New York has knocked Minnesota out six times with a combined 16-2 record. Last season, the Twins won the season series against the Yankees for the first time since 2001. Now Minnesota will attempt to win back-to-back season series against New York for the first time since 1992. After beating the Yankees last year, it was clear that the vibe was different in the clubhouse because many of the current Twins have been part of the playoff defeats. “It's kind of like having that monkey on the back; I know we talked about it a lot over the past few years, about going to Yankee Stadium, playing the Yankees,” said Twins outfielder Byron Buxton. “It feels a lot like that monkey is off the back for sure now.” The Ghost of Alex Rodriguez Ghostbuster: Don’t let the Yankees stars take over the game. Alex Rodriguez is known for many things (good and bad), but he was a Twins killer during his time with the Yankees. In 2004, Twins fans witnessed the start of the team's record-breaking playoff losing streak, and Rodriguez was at the center of the damage. Minnesota took the lead at Yankee Stadium in the top of the 12th before the Yankees stormed back in the bottom half of the inning against Joe Nathan in his third inning of work. Nathan walked two batters before Rodriguez knocked a game-tying double. Five years later, the Twins and Yankees met again in the ALDS, and Rodriguez smacked a game-tying home run off Nathan in the ninth inning. Currently, the Yankees have multiple stars who can impact the game similarly to A-Rod. Aaron Judge and Juan Soto are among the best hitters of the current generation. Judge enters the series hitting .235/.369/.497 (.866) with ten home runs and a 145 OPS+. Soto joined New York this winter and is off to a tremendous start. In 42 games, he has a 171 OPS+ with 17 extra-base hits and more walks (28) than strikeouts (24). It’s hard to believe he is only 25 years old because he’s been an elite hitter throughout his young career. Twins pitchers must be cautious when pitching to this elite hitting duo. The Ghost of Mariano Rivera Ghostbuster: Find a way to get to the Yankee bullpen. Rivera dominated the Twins during his Hall of Fame career. In 72 2/3 innings, he posted a 1.24 ERA with a 0.80 WHIP and a 69-to-13 strikeout-to-walk ratio. It was his lowest ERA among teams he faced more than ten times, and no player has recorded more saves against the Twins than Rivera. He secured his record-breaking 602nd career save in a win over the Twins on September 19, 2011. Rivera was a legend in the playoffs, and the Twins found little success against him. Rivera didn’t allow a run in 16 2/3 innings pitched against Minnesota in the postseason. That was his most postseason innings pitched without allowing a run versus any team. New York’s new version of Rivera is Clay Holmes, one of the game’s best relievers since being traded to the Yankees in 2021. He has posted a 2.25 ERA in four seasons with a 1.04 WHIP and 10.0 K/9. Holmes has been nearly untouchable during the 2024 season. He has yet to allow a run in 17 1/3 innings with a 1.04 WHIP. There have been signs of kinks in his armor, with a 1.58 FIP and 7.8 H/9, higher than his career mark. Luke Weaver and Ian Hamilton have also posted strong numbers in relief. Minnesota has effectively scored runs against other teams' bullpens this season, and that must continue against New York. The Ghost of Didi Gregorius Ghostbuster: Avoid role players inflicting a back-breaking hit. Minnesota jumped out to an early lead versus New York in 2017 for the winner-take-all Wild Card Game. Brian Dozier and Eddie Rosario smashed first-inning home runs, and momentum favored the Twins, but that didn’t last long. Didi Gregorius cracked a game-tying three-run homer in the bottom of the first, and New York never trailed again. Two years later, Gregorius had another significant moment in Game 2 of the 2019 AL Wild Card Series. The Yankees loaded the bases in the third inning before Gregorius crushed a grand slam off Tyler Duffey. Another Yankee defeat haunted the Twins. Gregorius had a solid 11-year big-league career but was never a star player. He was a regular on some strong Yankees teams but posted a career 95 OPS+ while averaging a 2.7 WAR. Role players have keyed some Yankees rallies against the Twins, which the team should try to avoid in 2024. Multiple role players are off to solid starts for New York, including Alex Verdugo (107 OPS+), Jose Trevino (125 OPS+), and Anthony Volpe (118 OPS+). It’s easy to focus on the stars like Judge and Soto, but the other parts of the lineup can be just as dangerous. The 2023 Twins turned into Ghostbusters and found a way to remove the gorilla-sized monkey from their backs. New York has been one of the AL’s best teams this season, so it’s shaping up to be a good series. The current iteration of the Minnesota Twins has some positive signs against the dreaded Yankees; now it’s time to prove it wasn’t a fluke. It’s a new season, so how can the Twins avoid the ghosts that have haunted them from the past? 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One of the Minnesota Twins’ most frustrating traits last season was the club’s propensity to strike out. Flash forward to 2024, and their punchout rates have dropped dramatically. What’s changed, and can it continue? Image courtesy of Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports For baseball fans, strikeouts can be one of the game’s most frustrating aspects. Pitchers throw with ever-higher velocity and more movement on their pitches, which beget higher strikeout totals. Teams also encourage batters to hit for more power, and when swinging for the fences, strikeouts can be part of the equation. Offense is down across baseball to begin the year, but the Twins have found their offensive stroke in recent weeks after a disastrous start. On the heels of a record-breaking season, many fans might be wondering: “Where have all the strikeouts gone?” Last season, the Twins set an all-time record with 1,654 strikeouts at the plate, which shattered the previous record of 1,596 strikeouts, held by the Chicago Cubs. That record only stood for two seasons, indicating an increase in strikeouts in recent years. Last season, the Seattle Mariners finished second in team strikeouts with 1,603, which also would have broken the all-time record. Minnesota had seven players accumulate 100 or more strikeouts last season, with a top four who all struck out more than 125 times (Joey Gallo, Carlos Correa, Michael A. Taylor, and Edouard Julien). In early September, Correa struck out against Cleveland, marking the team’s 1,431st strikeout of the year and breaking the team's all-time record. After the game, Correa was asked about the dubious record. "Nobody wants to strike out, but it's part of the game," he shrugged. "Strikeouts happen." The Twins took a different approach to their roster construction this winter, and it came with some addition by subtraction. Joey Gallo (142 strikeouts) and Michael A. Taylor (130 strikeouts) were replaced by Carlos Santana (16.5 career K%) and Manuel Margot (17.9 career K%). Donovan Solano also struck out 100 times last season, and his spot on the roster is being filled by players with great contact skills, like José Miranda and Austin Martin. There are slight shifts in approach that impact the entire team. Minnesota entered play on Sunday tied for 11th in MLB for team strikeouts, trailing the league-leading Mariners by 73. Julien leads the Twins with 49 strikeouts and a 34.3 K%. Other players with high strikeout totals and poor K% include Willi Castro (39, 26.7%), Byron Buxton (32, 32.0%), and Alex Kirilloff (27, 23.3%). Last season, Minnesota led the league with a 26.6 K%; the club has lowered that total by 3.0% in 2024. The Twins rank 17th in Chase% and have improved their Whiff% from 28.4% last season to 27.2% this season. These incremental improvements will be something to track for the remainder of the season. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli has previously been vocal about the team’s offensive approach, especially when the club struggles with runners in scoring positions. “Just hit the ball forward,” he's been known to say, because this type of approach puts pressure on the defense, and sometimes the ball finds a hole. Luck certainly plays a role in some teams stringing together hits, but that can’t happen if a team doesn’t put the ball in play. Many Twins fans will wonder whether or not the lineup can sustain these improvements. The Twins were never as bad as their strikeout totals last season, but not all strikeouts are the same. In the playoffs, teams have to hit for power to win games, because the game’s best starters won’t surrender a string of hits to push across a run. Home runs win playoff games, and the team will accept more swing-and-miss if the offense scores runs at a rate higher than the league average. Can the Twins continue their current strikeout pace? Have you noticed a change in the team’s offensive approach? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

I wrote about that in the article. It’s still a valid question because he is younger than some of the pitchers in the organization who are still prospect eligible.

Simeon Woods Richardson is off to a tremendous start to the 2024 season after a terrible finish to last year. Has he improved enough to be considered the Twins’ top pitching prospect? Image courtesy of © Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports Twins Daily regularly updates the team’s top prospects throughout the regular season, allowing for constant evaluation of players. Some prospects are off to hot starts, while others have seen their prospect status drop because of injuries or poor performance. Simeon Woods Richardson is one player who will rise in the rankings, but how much has he helped his stock during the season's early months? Early in his professional career, he had been considered one of baseball’s top-100 prospects, with Baseball America and MLB.com ranking him at the backend of their lists in 2020-21. However, Woods Richardson entered the 2024 season with his prospect stock lower than it ever had been in his career. His fastball velocity dropped significantly last year, sitting in the low 90s with the Saints. Woods Richardson also struggled to generate swings and misses with a career-low 19.3 K%. The International League is a hitting-friendly environment, but SWR’s drop in velocity was concerning enough that the Twins needed to address it during the offseason. Minnesota’s coaches worked with Woods Richardson to tweak his delivery by slightly lowering his arm slot. "It was from both parties," Woods Richardson told Twins Daily's John Bonnes at spring training this year. "I wanted to change for the better, and why not? And they said, 'OK, let's sit down. Let's talk about this.' And we came up with a couple of things, working on mechanical stuff. Let's see if we can drop the slot a little bit and see where it goes." This minor tweak is closer to where he was when he joined the Twins organization, and it is a more natural and athletic position for the pitcher. His fastball is averaging nearly 93 mph this season, which doesn’t make him a flamethrower but is much improved from last season. Twins Daily ranked Woods Richardson as the organization’s 19th-best prospect based on his struggles in 2023. Seven pitchers were ranked higher than him, with the four names below being in the conversation as the team’s top pitching prospect. How have the other pitchers performed in 2024? Has SWR passed them to be ranked at the top? #9. Cory Lewis, RHP 2024 Stats (N/A): Has Not Pitched The Twins selected Lewis in the ninth round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of the University of California, Santa Barbara. The Twins named him the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year last season after posting a 2.49 ERA and a 118-to-33 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 101 1/3 innings between Fort Myers and Cedar Rapids. Lewis was scheduled to start the year at Double-A but was placed on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement. Shoulder injuries can be complicated for pitchers to navigate, so the Twins will be cautious about his return to the mound. #8 Charlee Soto, RHP 2024 Stats (A-): 4.95 ERA, 20.0 IP, 26 K, 9 BB, 1.50 WHIP Minnesota’s current front office has tended to focus on college pitchers in the draft, which makes Soto an anomaly. As an 18-year-old, he is over four years younger than the average age of the competition in the Florida State League. The Twins have been careful with his workload, a strategy similar to what the organization has utilized with other young pitching prospects. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in five of his six starts, with one poor start (6 ER in 3 1/3 innings) impacting his overall numbers. Soto has the highest ceiling of anyone on this list, but he’s far from Target Field. #6. David Festa, RHP 2024 Stats (AAA): 3.75 ERA, 24.0 IP, 38 K, 14 BB, 1.58 WHIP Festa, who is six months older than Woods Richardson, rose prominently on Twins prospects lists this winter after a strong 2023 season. Some outlets rank him as the top pitching prospect in the organization, and he has shown some positive signs at Triple-A this season. Festa is striking out batters at a career-high rate (14.3 K/9), but he’s also seen an increase in his walk rate from 3.7 BB/9 for his career to 5.3 BB/9 in 2024. Minnesota will likely need Festa at some point this season when a rotation spot opens due to injury or poor performance. His career high in innings pitched is 103 2/3 back in 2022, so the Twins will also watch for fatigue in the season’s second half. #5. Marco Raya, RHP 2024 Stats (AA): 3.07 ERA, 14.2 IP, 19 K, 5 BB, 1.30 WHIP Raya has become one of the gems of the pandemic-impacted 2020 MLB Draft after the Twins selected him in the fourth round. He has showcased a dominant pitch mix, but the Twins have significantly limited his workload while aggressively promoting him. This year, he has averaged fewer than three innings per start, with only two starts of more than 50 pitches. As a 21-year-old, he is over 3.5 years younger than the average age of the competition in the Texas League. He is an interesting case study in what might be the future of starting pitching because the lines are starting to blur between starters and multi-inning relievers. Here are my current rankings of the team’s top-five pitching prospects. David Festa Marco Raya Simeon Woods Richardson Charlee Soto Cory Lewis Woods Richardson's breakthrough in velocity had propelled him up my list. However, his prospect eligibility is running out as he continues to pitch innings at the big-league level. By next month, he may not even be eligible for this list anymore. More importantly, he is only 23 years old and continues to show the ability to make adjustments, which should put him into the team’s long-term pitching plans. How do you rank the team’s top pitching prospects? How have your rankings changed since the season began? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Max Kepler is the longest-tenured Twins player, having played in the organization for nearly half his life. He will be a free agent at the end of the season, but there are some records he can break before his departure. Image courtesy of Nick Wosika - USA TODAY Sports Players who play for an organization for a significant amount of time can become polarizing figures for a fan base. As a prospect, there is hope that a player will become a star at the big-league level, but that is rarely the case. There can be freezer burn when fans hear about a player from the time they are 16 years old to when they become an established regular. Organizations hope a player can develop into an above-average regular with skills on both sides of the plate. Max Kepler has only known the Twins organization since he was a teenager, and he’s quietly climbing the team’s leaderboard in multiple categories. Home Run Records During his career, Kepler hasn’t been known as a home run hitter, but he’s shown flashes of power during the 2019 campaign and the second half of 2023. After a recent IL stint, he has been on fire at the plate, which has vaulted him up the team’s home run list. Kepler is one home run away from tying Brian Dozier (80 HR) for the most home runs in Target Field history. Kepler needs seven home runs to tie Miguel Sanó (162 HR) for 11th on the Twins all-time list. He likely has a chance to move into ninth place by passing Tom Brunansky (163 HR) and Brian Dozier (167 HR). However, reaching eighth place likely won’t happen, with Gary Gaetti sitting 46 home runs ahead of Kepler. Hit Records During his big-league career, Kepler hasn’t been known as a contact hitter with a career .237 BA. However, he improved offensively in the second half of last season (66 games) while hitting .306/.377/.549 (.926) with 17 doubles and 12 home runs. Joe Mauer (637 hits) and Brian Dozier (459 hits) are the only Twins players with more hits at Target Field. Keper can certainly catch Dozier if he continues to hit well this season. Also, he recently passed Zoilo Versalles (188 doubles) and Jacque Jones (189 doubles) to move into 14th on the Twins all-time list. He needs two more doubles to tie Cesar Tovar, with Brian Dozier sitting 11 doubles ahead of him. RBI Records RBI has become a divisive statistic in the battle between old-school and modern sabermetric fans. Older fans will point to the all-time best Twins hitters at the top of the team’s RBI records, including Harmon Killebrew, Kent Hrbek, Kirby Puckett, Tony Oliva, and Joe Mauer. Kepler won’t be able to move into the Twin's top 10 this season, but he has an opportunity to crack the top 12. He needs eight RBIs to tie Roy Smalley (485 RBI) for 13th place on the Twins all-time list, with Dozier sitting with six more RBIs than Smalley. At Target Field, only Joe Mauer has collected more RBI, and Kepler needs 24 RBI to tie him. One thing is clear: Kepler’s longevity with the Twins has put him as a lock to make the team’s Hall of Fame when he retires. His defense has been among the league’s best in right field for most of the last decade. He was critical to the team’s playoff run in 2023 with a tremendous second-half performance. Kepler is also setting himself up for a nice payday in what will likely be his lone chance to cash in on the free-agent market. Are you surprised by how high Kepler ranks in the Twins' history? Which record is most likely to fall? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article