Cody Christie

The Twins have helped David Festa develop into a legitimate starting pitching prospect after selecting him with the 399th overall pick three years ago. How has this 13th-round pick developed into a potential mid-rotation starter? Let’s explore his journey. Image courtesy of Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports Festa’s baseball story started well before the Twins drafted him in 2021. Entering his senior year of high school, he had yet to be used as a pitcher and had committed to playing shortstop at a Division III school. His team needed an extra pitcher during a tournament, and his pitching journey began. He pitched well enough during his senior season (1.50 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 30 innings) that he decided to be a walk-on at Seton Hall University. During his freshman season, he pitched 53 innings and posted a 4.42 ERA with a 1.40 WHIP and 58 strikeouts. Seton Hall named him the school’s Freshman Male Athlete of the Year. His sophomore campaign started poorly (12 ER in 14 1/3 innings) before the pandemic ended the season. During his junior season, Festa put himself on the map with a 2.00 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP, including a 67-to-33 strikeout-to-walk ratio (72 innings). He had a five game stretch where he had three complete games and was named to the All-Big East first team. Festa took part in MLB’s first draft combine, where teams got an extended look at him. Despite his strong junior season, Festa fell to the 13th round, where the Twins selected him and signed him for $125,000. Minnesota had him get his feet wet with four appearances between the rookie ball and Low-A. He allowed four earned runs on three hits over 8 1/3 innings, so it was a small sample size to glean much information. During the 2022 season, Festa put himself on the prospect map. The Twins sent him back to Fort Myers, where he had ended the previous season. He put up video game numbers across five starts. In 24 innings, he posted a 1.50 ERA with a 0.75 WHIP and 12.4 K/9. On May 10th, he combined with Hunter McMahon and Jaylen Nowlin to throw the fifth no-hitter in Fort Myers history. In that game, Festa pitched six shutout innings with a career-high 11 strikeouts. The bulk of his innings that season came in Cedar Rapids. He made 16 appearances (79 2/3 innings) with a 2.71 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and a 23.1 K%. Twins Daily ranked him as the team’s 13th overall prospect following the season. Festa began the 2023 season at Double-A, where he struggled with inconsistent performance through his first 11 starts. In 46 innings, he allowed 26 earned runs on 47 hits, with opponents posting a .709 OPS against him. Over his next ten games, he posted a 3.44 ERA with a 48-to-13 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 34 innings. Minnesota and MLB still thought highly enough of him to send him to the MLB Futures Game as part of last year’s All-Star Week festivities. He ended the year with three appearances at Triple-A, allowing four earned runs in 12 1/3 innings. His strong end to the year established him as one of the organization’s top pitching prospects. The Twins sent Festa back to Saint Paul this spring, where he is over three years younger than the average age of the competition. He started the year well with a 2.18 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings, but the Saints limited him to fewer than four innings per start. His last eight starts have seen batters hit him harder with a .788 OPS, including seven home runs. In 39 innings, he has posted a 57-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His .354 BAbip is over 100 points higher than his batting average allowed, so an element of luck may be hurting him. During the offseason, Festa added strength to his frame, which will hopefully help him hold up to the rigors of pitching for a full season. He has averaged fewer than 100 innings pitched over the last two seasons. His prospect stock has risen because the Twins have helped him to get the most out of his 6-foot-6 frame. His fastball sat in the low 90s in college, but he averaged 95 mph last season and showed the ability to get to the high 90s. His slider sits in the high-80s but has a tremendous spin rate, resulting in a 41% miss rate last season. Festa also mixes in a changeup and a curveball that help him to keep batters off balance. Festa has shown strong strikeout ability as the Twins have continued to help him refine his mechanics. One of the biggest concerns has been his walk rate, which has fluctuated throughout his professional career. In the big leagues, he will need to continue to show that his adjustments can help him succeed at baseball’s highest level. What stands out about Festa’s professional career? What will you be watching for during his debut? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Marco Raya has been one of the Twins’ top pitching prospects since the team selected him in the 2020 MLB Draft. So, why does the team continue to handle him like a long reliever? Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge Developing starting pitching is one of the most complex and valuable jobs for a farm system. It can be one of the most significant factors that separate the perennial contenders from those looking to supplement their roster with pitching from outside the organization. The Twins hired Derek Falvey to run the team’s baseball operations department because of his track record of developing young pitching in Cleveland. Minnesota has started to see positive results on the drafting and development side with younger pitchers. The current Twins regime has shown an ability to target pitchers in the mid-to-late rounds of the MLB Draft and develop them into legitimate pitching prospects. David Festa, Zebby Matthews, and Cory Lewis were each drafted in the 8th round or later, and each ranks among Twins Daily’s top 20 prospects in the organization. Marco Raya is another prospect who ranks highly among the organization’s top pitching prospects, but the way the Twins are handling him is starting to be challenging to understand. The Twins drafted Raya in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft, from a Texas high school. At the time of the draft, Minnesota’s scouts praised him for his “strong mechanics” and “projectability.” Even though he is smaller in stature (listed at 6-foot-1), there was a belief that he could add more strength to his frame. The Twins have spoken highly of him since he was drafted, but it's been tough to understand his usage as a professional. Minnesota has aggressively promoted him, while also being very cautious with his workload. So, is there a method to their madness? 2022 Recap: 65 IP (3.42 IP/G) Highest Pitch Count: 79 pitches A shoulder strain kept Raya off the mound during the 2021 season, so the club was forced to wait until 2022 for him to make his professional debut. The Twins were cautious with him, and rightfully so, since he was returning from injury. He averaged fewer than 3.5 innings per game, and there were four games in which he pitched five or more innings. Still, it was hard to ignore the overall results. Raya posted a 3.05 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP and 10.5 K/9 while being three years younger than the average age of the competition in the Florida State League. 2023 Recap: 62 2/3 IP (2.85 IP/G) Highest Pitch Count: 54 pitches The Twins were even more cautious with Raya In his second professional season. He never made an appearance past the fourth inning, and topped out at 54 pitches in a game. Raya began the year in Cedar Rapids, posting a 2.94 ERA with a 0.92 WHIP and 10.4 K/9. Minnesota also continued to be aggressive with him, by promoting him to Double-A before his 21st birthday. He struggled with the initial transition to Wichita, allowing 15 earned runs in his first 12 innings. From there, he settled in and allowed one earned run on eight hits over his last 17 innings. With Wichita, he was the Texas League’s youngest pitcher and faced older batters in 88.3% of his plate appearances last season. 2024 Recap: 37 2/3 IP (3.14 IP/G) Highest Pitch Count: 60 pitches Minnesota sent Raya back to Double-A to begin the 2024 season, which is logical, since he struggled there in 2023 and is young for the level. Raya started the season well, with a 3.38 ERA over 18 2/3 innings pitched in his first six starts. His next six starts included more struggles, with 13 earned runs allowed in 19 innings pitched (6.16 ERA). Batters have hit .261/.369/.377 against him, with 22 strikeouts and 13 walks during his six-game slide. The Twins have increased his innings pitched per game, but he has yet to pitch past the fifth inning. Raya remains an intriguing prospect, because his stuff has improved since he joined the Twins organization. In fact, Baseball Prospectus thought so highly of him that they ranked him as the 53rd-best prospect entering the 2023 season. His command has improved, as he can land all his pitches for strikes. His fastball hits the mid-90s, with movement up in the zone. His slider has elite spin rates and can be used as a put-away pitch. Raya also rounds out his repertoire with a curveball and a changeup that can give batters a different look. At some point, the Twins must take the training wheels off for Raya, to see if he can handle a starter's workload. He must prove effective when going through a lineup more than twice. Raya is on pace to make his big-league debut by 2025, but the Twins would need a long reliever ready to piggyback with him when he starts. Minnesota must take the gloves off with Raya and see what he can do with a more significant workload. The only alternative would be to convert him to a reliever, outright, which might lead to an earlier debut--but would permanently cap his value somewhat lower than that of a mid-rotation starter. Will the Twins’ approach work for Raya? Is it time for him to see a higher workload? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

Big-league farm systems are full of players who get limited attention as they climb the organizational ladder. One Twins prospect fits this mold, and it's time to start talking about him. Every baseball player embarks on a different journey, from their amateur days until the day they hang up their cleats for the final time. Some players are drafted in the first round and go on to have a Hall of Fame career. Other players must circumnavigate the independent leagues before an affiliated organization takes a chance on their skill set. Organizations need depth, and sometimes that depth comes from unexpected places. Payton Eeles had zero Division I offers out of high school, and decided to begin his collegiate career at Cedarville University, a small Division II school in southwest Ohio. Some discounted him because of his 5-foot-7 frame, but he has been proving doubters wrong his entire career. "It definitely is something that's given me a chip on my shoulder," said Eeles. "Out of high school, I would say that was probably the big reason why I didn't get as many looks as I felt I deserved. A lot of coaches at some universities said I was too small. And so that always played a factor in motivation for me, just kind of proving people wrong in that area. But there's a lot of guys at the big-league level I saw performing at my size. Guys like José Altuve, Dustin Pedroia and Nick Madrigal. Some of those guys that really showed me 'Hey, this is possible,' and deep inside myself, I knew I could if I really wanted to." He played his first four collegiate seasons for the Yellow Jackets, before using his final year of eligibility to play at Coastal Carolina. In 63 games, he hit .374/.500/.492, with more walks (45) than strikeouts (34). He was 23 years old at the end of his college tenure, and no affiliated teams drafted or signed him, so he began his professional career in the independent leagues. Last season, he played 39 games for the Chicago Dogs, a member of the American Association. Across 174 plate appearances, he posted a .827 OPS with 13 extra-base hits while going 13-for-15 in stolen base opportunities. His 2024 campaign began in the Atlantic League for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. Eeles hit three home runs in six games, enough for the Twins organization to take notice. Minnesota signed him to a minor-league contract on May 7 and assigned him to the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels. Eeles began his Mighty Mussels tenure with a 10-game hitting streak, wherein he slashed .343/.457/.543 with four extra-base hits. After an 0-for-4 game, he promptly started a nine-game hitting streak with a 1.168 OPS and six extra-base hits. Overall, he hit .331 with a .965 OPS, 13 XBH, 26 RBI, 23 BB, and 13 stolen bases in just 34 games, before the Twins decided to promote him to Cedar Rapids. "He stands out as someone who comes out every day prepared," said Mighty Mussels manager Brian Meyer. "You don't have to worry about what you're going to get when you put his name in the lineup and what you're going to get out of the field. You know, he's always going to hustle. He's always going to compete." His unique baseball journey meant he was old for playing in the Florida State League. At 24 years old, Eeles was three years older than the average age of the competition at his level. Out of his 154 plate appearances, only 12 came against older pitchers, and all his extra-base hits were against younger pitchers. He will be closer to the age of the players in the Midwest League, but most of the pitchers he faces will continue to be older than him. His character has been praised at every stop on his baseball journey. Other players gravitate toward him, and that is a skill that the Twins organization values. He may never reach the big-league level, but he will help improve other players around him. His baseball journey won’t end in Cedar Rapids, so keep an eye on Eeles in the months ahead. What stands out so far about Eeles? Can he reach Double-A before the end of 2024? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

Last season, the Twins had three Gold Glove finalists, but none won top honors. So, which Twins players are putting themselves in the Gold Glove conversation in 2024? Image courtesy of Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports Defensive metrics have come a long way over the last decade. With Statcast tracking every batted ball, the amount of information available to fans is at an all-time high. One metric the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) developed is the SABR Defensive Index (SDI). According to SABR's website, the SDI "draws on and aggregates two types of existing defensive metrics: those derived from batted-ball location-based data and those collected from play-by-play accounts." Since 2013, SDI has been used as part of the process for selecting Gold Glove winners. The rankings below are through games played on Jun. 9, 2024. Pitcher (AL Ranking): Bailey Ober 0.8 SDI (9th), Pablo López -0.2 SDI (20th), Chris Paddack -0.6 SDI (22nd), Joe Ryan -0.7 SDI (23rd) Ober is the lone Twins pitcher to crack the top 10, and sits 2.1 SDI points behind Los Angeles’s Griffin Canning, the AL’s league leader. He is a large man to get moving off the mound to make defensive plays, so it will be interesting to see how he fares as the season progresses. López finished in the top three in last season’s final SDI rankings, and much like his pitching performance, he’s off to a slow start this season. Overall, Minnesota’s starters don’t rank highly, but 12 other qualified pitchers rank behind Ryan in the initial standings. MVlENDRfWGw0TUFRPT1fVUFkUkFnY0JBQUVBRGxFRFVBQUFCd05SQUZoWFZBSUFBbGNIQ0FVRkJBUmNDVkVB.mp4 Catcher (AL Ranking): Christian Vázquez 3.3 SDI (6th), Ryan Jeffers -1.0 SDI (16th) Vázquez has been one of the Twins’ worst offensive performers, but his defense continues to be strong. He’s 0.2 points away from matching his SDI total from all of 2023. Vázquez ended last season on a high note as he more than doubled his SDI total in the season’s final six weeks. There is a strong trio of catchers with more than 5.0 SDI at the top of the rankings, so Vázquez will need to play well to be in the Gold Glove conversation. Jeffers finished in the top 10 for SDI last season, but his defense is down to start the year. His pop time (71st percentile) and CS Above Average (66th percentile) have taken massive jumps this season and should help him improve the rankings. First Base (AL Ranking): Carlos Santana 2.8 SDI (2nd) Santana is only 0.1 SDI point behind Vinnie Pasquantino for the AL’s top spot. Both players are significantly ahead of other first basemen, so it might be a two-person race for the Gold Glove. His Outs Above Average (95th percentile) and Fielding Run Value (88th percentile) are also near the league's top. His bat has also come around, making it more evident that the Twins’ front office was correct in targeting him this winter. Surely, though, Santana would rate more highly, were the SDI to factor in Takes it Himself Rate. Second Base (AL Ranking): Edouard Julien -0.8 SDI (6th) Julien made significant improvements with his defense last season, moving from below average to slightly above average. However, he struggled on both sides of the ball to start this season. He sits one spot behind former Twins second baseman Jorge Polanco, and three players are behind Julien. In future updates, he will fall out of the rankings since he was demoted to Triple-A. Third Base (AL Ranking): José Miranda -2.6 SDI (10th) Royce Lewis was injured on Opening Day, opening a spot at third base for Miranda. Last season, the Twins were hesitant to play Miranda at the hot corner as he dealt with a shoulder issue. He got regular time there with Lewis on the IL, and only three players ranked lower than him, according to SDI. Miranda will get more time at first base and DH with Lewis back in the infield mix. Shortstop (AL Ranking): Carlos Correa -0.4 SDI (11th), Willi Castro -1.3 SDI (13th) Last season, Correa was a Gold Glove finalist despite not ranking well by many defensive metrics. His plantar fasciitis likely impacted his defensive ability during the season, which was the biggest reason for the drop in his performance. Correa has previously compiled some strong SDI totals, so he’s a candidate to move up the rankings throughout the season. Castro is slightly overmatched at shortstop but was able to fill in when Correa was on the IL. Javier Báez, Bo Bichette, and Paul DeJong are the only players behind Castro in the rankings. Left Field (AL Ranking): No Twins Players Qualified The Twins have seen four players start 14 or more games in left field including Alex Kirilloff, Austin Martin, Willi Castro, and Trevor Larnach. Minnesota will likely continue to rotate players through the position, so no single player may accumulate enough innings to qualify for the SDI rankings. Center Field (AL Ranking): No Twins Players Qualified Like left field, the Twins didn’t have anyone qualify for the rankings. However, Byron Buxton has now started 45 games in center and played over 400 innings. He should qualify for future updates, and it will be interesting to see how he fares compared to the rest of the league. His Fielding Run Value and Outs Above Average are both in the 92nd percentile or higher. Buxton has a chance to be a Gold Glove finalist if he can stay healthy. Right Field (AL Ranking): Max Kepler 2.3 SDI (5th) Kepler finished the 2023 season with 2.5 SDI, nearly matching that total in the first two months of the 2024 campaign. He has been known for his strong defense throughout his time with the Twins. Kyle Tucker is one spot ahead of him but is on the IL, so he won’t qualify at the next update. His arm strength ranks in the 70th percentile and his Outs Above Average and Fielding Run Value are on the 83rd percentile or higher. It would be fun to see Kepler win a Gold Glove in what could be his final season in Minnesota. dk1BM0tfWGw0TUFRPT1fVkZKWlUxWUVVUWNBRFZjS0JRQUFBRmRUQUZnR1ZGTUFVUVFDQmdwWEJBTUhVUXRX.mp4 Are you surprised by any of these defensive rankings? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

In recent weeks, Trevor Larnach and José Miranda have reinserted themselves into the team’s long-term plans. It can be easy to discount top prospects who struggle, but patience is required when developing big-league talent. Image courtesy of Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports Every team would love for their top prospects to make a splash during their big-league debut and go on to have a 15-year Hall of Fame career. Unfortunately, multiple obstacles can hinder a player’s development throughout their professional career. Fans want players to be instant superstars, but organizations must be patient in helping players overcome obstacles put in a player’s path. Twins fans are getting an up-close-and-personal view of this playing out in the organization. Minnesota expected the trio of Edouardo Julien, Matt Wallner, and Alex Kirilloff to be contributing to the big-league roster. Instead, all three players are at Triple-A, trying to rediscover their offensive approach. Two other young hitters have seen their fair share of struggles in recent seasons, but positive signs in 2024 have them trending back in a positive direction. Trevor Larnach, OF The Twins drafted Larnach with the 20th overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft from Oregon State University, where his powerful swing helped his team win the College World Series. It was the first time since 1969 that Minnesota selected a collegiate outfielder with their first pick in the MLB Draft. At the time, the Twins had plenty of positive things to say about him as they were drawn to him by his high exit velocities in college. "He's definitely a corner outfielder and we think he throws enough and moves enough to play right," scouting director Sean Johnson said. "This is really about an offensive player with upside and power." Previous Obstacles: Larnach has dealt with multiple injuries during his professional career, including a turf toe, a double core muscle injury, a wrist injury, and groin soreness. His time at the big-league level continued to be interrupted by injuries while mixing in some poor performance. Injuries played a part in his lackluster overall production because he attempted to play through bumps and bruises, impacting him on both sides of the ball. 2024 Recap: Historically, Larnach struggled to hit offspeed and breaking pitches which caused the Twins to demote him last season. In 2024, he is seeing fastballs less regularly (down 8%) and offspeed pitches more often (up 10%). Last year, he posted a .150 SLG against offspeed pitches and raised that to a .321 SLG so far this season. He’s also dropped his Whiff% on breaking pitches (down 21.9%) and offspeed pitches (down 7.8%). Larnach will likely never be an above-average hitter versus non-fastballs, but he’s made incremental improvements. Pitchers can’t throw him slop and retire him as easily as in previous seasons. José Miranda, INF The Twins drafted Miranda in the second round of the 2016 MLB Draft (73rd overall) out of high school in Puerto Rico. MLB Pipeline didn’t have him ranked among the top available prospects in the draft, but the Twins were happy with the signing at the time. "He has a really good swing," Twins scouting director Deron Johnson said. "He's aggressive. We're going to send him out as a shortstop, but realistically, he's probably a third baseman. But he's a really good player and really skilled." Previous Obstacles: Miranda was set to be a regular for the 2023 Twins before a shoulder injury in spring training slowed him down. He attempted to play through the injury and struggled to produce offensively. In 40 games, he posted a 57 OPS+ with a 15.8 K%. Defensively, the Twins couldn’t use him at third base because of his shoulder issues. Other players passed him by on the organizational depth chart, so he had much to prove for the 2024 campaign. 2024 Recap: Miranda entered play this weekend with a 124 OPS+, ten points higher than his OPS+ from his rookie season. He makes consistent contact with a Whiff% and K% in the 70th percentile or higher. There have been multiple areas of growth for him in 2024, including career-high totals in Barrel % (7.4), Barrel/PA (5.9), and Launch Angle (15.7). His base running value has also made significant jumps despite being a slower runner. During his rookie season, his base running value sat in the 34th percentile, and he’s increased that to the 72nd percentile this season. Miranda is finding ways to be an above-average regular, which adds tremendous value. Miranda and Larnach might never become All-Stars, but both have an opportunity to be above-average regulars at the big-league level. Teams need players like this to stay competitive and complete a roster. They were once viewed as top-100 prospects, and their path to regulars has seen some obstacles. Still, they are positively contributing to the 2024 Twins, and other players can follow in their footsteps. How have expectations changed for Larnach and Miranda? Which player will have the most significant impact on the club in future years? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Driveline Baseball has helped multiple Twins players improve in recent offseasons. However, they are wrong to think Griffin Jax should shift back to a starting role. Image courtesy of Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports Baseball is a game that is constantly evolving, with teams looking for a way to gain a slight advantage over the opposition. One trend in recent years is turning elite bullpen arms into starting pitchers. Players like Jordan Hicks, Garrett Crochet, and Michael King have made the transition during the last two seasons with varying levels of success. Many relievers, including those on the Twins, served as starters before shifting to a relief role because of performance or injury concerns. Some of the best relievers in Minnesota history were “failed starters,” including Joe Nathan, Glen Perkins, and Taylor Rogers. Shifting to a bullpen role usually allows pitchers to add velocity and limit their pitch selection to improve their ability to get outs. Previously, teams didn’t consider shifting players back to starting if they provided value out of the bullpen, because why would they fix something that isn’t broken? Former Twins pitcher Zack Littell is another example of a reliever who has shifted back to a starting role, and he thinks others will follow that same path. “I think you’re starting to see it more and more,” Littell said. “There’s some indicators like you look at the bullpen guy and he throws a lot of strikes. He punches out a good amount of guys. He doesn’t walk guys. He might give up some more hits in the bullpen, but as a starter you can kind of get away with that.” Griffin Jax is one of those “failed starters” who has found renewed life as a dominant late-inning arm. Earlier this week, Driveline Baseball posted a video from Chris Langin, their Director of Pitching, explaining why Jax should be the next reliever to jump from reliever to starting pitcher. To get a complete picture of Jax, it’s essential to look back at his time as a starting pitcher and see how he has developed during his bullpen tenure. Jax spent most of his minor league career as a starter in the Twins farm system. He made 56 minor league appearances, and 50 came in a starting role. He posted a 3.24 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP and 6.8 K/9. His results as a starter at the big-league level were less successful. In 14 games, he allowed 47 earned runs on 68 hits in 69 1/3 innings. Jax struggled to get swings and misses as his K/9 dropped to 7.0, and batters posted a .842 OPS against him. His stuff wasn’t working as a starter, so the team moved him to the bullpen. Jax has traits that are different compared to other relievers. Many bullpen arms focus on throwing two or three pitches in relief, but Jax has continued using a starter's repertoire with a four-pitch mix. His sweeper is his most regularly used pitch (41%), so he’d likely need to increase his fastball usage (27%) if he moved back to the rotation. In 2024, his fastball has allowed a .171 SLG, but the xSLG is .400, which is a sign that he might be getting lucky. His increased velocity in the bullpen is a sign of some mechanical adjustments, but there is no guarantee that he would sustain these changes with a starter’s workload. Moving Jax to a starting role can’t happen in the middle of the season, so this is likely something he would need to prepare for in the offseason. Looking ahead to next season, every current member of the Twins starting rotation will still be under contract. There is also organizational depth, such as Louie Varland, David Festa, Zebby Matthews, Cory Lewis, and Marco Raya. Injuries can always impact a team’s depth, but the Twins seem to have more than enough starters for 2025. For now, Jax can concentrate on being one of the game’s best relievers and not worry about switching back to a starting role. Should the Twins consider making Jax a starter? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Fans across the baseball landscape remember Willie Mays as the greatest baseball player ever after his sudden passing earlier this week. His baseball journey had multiple stops, one of which was a brief stint with the Minneapolis Millers. Image courtesy of © Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports The Minneapolis Millers were a charter member of the American Association in 1902 and were purchased by the New York Giants in 1946. Twin Cities baseball fans would have to wait until the 1960s for a major league team, so the Millers offered a chance to witness greatness. Willie Mays had been playing professionally since he was a teenager, with a stint on the Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro American League. In 13 games, he went 6-for-43 (.233 BA) with three extra-base hits. After graduating high school, he signed with the Giants and played his first professional season in the Class B Interstate League. His tenure with the Millers began in 1951. Fact 1: The Giants had two Triple-A teams, so it wasn’t guaranteed that Mays would play in Minneapolis. New York’s other Triple-A team played in Ottawa but the field and facilities were sub-par. Mays was considered a top prospect, so sending him to Minneapolis made sense. Fact 2: Mays helped the Millers win 13-of-19 spring training games by dominating at the plate. He posted a .408 batting average with five home runs and 29 RBI. He seemed more than ready to help the team when the regular season began. Fact 3: The Millers started the season with 13 road games to avoid some of the cold spring weather in Minneapolis. Mays posted a .352 batting average on the road trip, making Minneapolis fans even more excited about seeing him in person. Fact 4: Mays’ defense would become legendary at the big-league level including his famous catch in the World Series. There were already signs of his strong defense with the Millers. The Minneapolis Tribune wrote, “His throwing for power has lived up to reputation. … His throws are not ‘arches.’ Rather, they are power-laden, even when he throws to put the ball into the hands of a receiver on the ground.” They couldn’t have been more accurate in their scouting report of Mays. Fact 5: Halsey Hall wrote about Mays as the Millers prepared for their home opener. He had a simple statement that would stand the test of time. “We think you’ll like Willie.” For generations of baseball fans, this was a mantra to live by. Fact 6: Mays lived and played in Minneapolis before the Civil Rights Movement, so that meant he lived in an area called “one of the centers of black life in the Twin Cities in the 1950s.” He rented a room at 3616 4th Ave, which was close enough to walk to Nicollet Park, home of the Millers. Fact 7: Over 6,000 fans attended the Millers' home opener despite rainy conditions to get a first-hand view of Mays. The game was halted in the seventh inning but not before the star outfielder collected three hits and made tremendous defensive plays. Fact 8: During the homestand, Mays made “one of the greatest catches you will ever see.” He tracked down a line drive hit to the way and leaped to make the catch. Mays doubled off the runner at second base to finish the incredible play. The batter put his head down, assumed he got a double and didn’t believe the umpire when he was told that the ball had been caught. Fact 9: Poor weather in the early part of the season meant few Minneapolis residents attended Millers games. The team played at home for a three-week stretch and averaged fewer than 2,700 fans per game. Many hoped to watch Mays when the weather warmed up, but the Giants had other plans. Fact 10: Mays dominated during his time in a Millers uniform. In 35 games, he slashed .477/.524/.799 (1.323) with 20 doubles, eight triples, and four home runs. Mays also had more walks (42) than strikeouts (34). On May 24, New York decided it was time for their young phenom to get the call. Bonus Fact: Some fans were upset that Mays left before they could see him in person. Giants President Horace Stoneham released a quarter-page ad in the Sunday edition of the Minneapolis Tribune to explain the decision. “We appreciate his worth to the Millers, but in all fairness Mays himself must be a factor in these considerations. Merit must be recognized. … Mays is entitled to his promotion, and the chance to prove that he can play major league baseball.” Mays was more than ready to play major league baseball even with some early struggles. His big-league career has been well documented and relived in recent days so there is no need to rehash those accolades. However, his career as one of baseball’s giants can be traced back to Nicollet Park in downtown Minneapolis, even if not many people were there to see it. Who do you view as the greatest baseball player of all time? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Multiple powerhouse teams in the American League have failed to live up to expectations. What players could be available at the trade deadline as these perennial contenders switch from buyers to sellers? Image courtesy of Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports Each of the four teams below was in the playoffs last season, with two of the teams facing off in the ALCS. Unfortunately for these fan bases, things haven’t played out as expected in 2024, putting the front offices in a challenging situation. Should they be buyers and hope for a second-half surge into a Wild Card spot? Or is it time to build for the future and trade away some big-league assets? There is no perfect path, and each team has until next month to decide how the trade deadline will play out. Toronto Blue Jays (35-39 record, 4.3% to make the postseason) Current Situation: The Blue Jays are 15 games behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East, so a Wild Card spot is their only chance of making the playoffs. Currently, Toronto is below .500 and sits 5.5 games behind Kansas City for the final playoff spot. It seemed like the Blue Jays were in the middle of a strong winning window with their current core pieces, and that’s how the front office has treated the team in recent years. However, they have stalled and watched other AL East teams pass them in the process. Players to Watch: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be one of the top names shopped at the 2024 trade deadline. He is making $19.9 million this season and has one year remaining of arbitration eligibility. He has a 130 OPS+ for his career, and has made three straight All-Star appearances. Adding a slugger of Guerrero’s caliber can upgrade any contender’s lineup. Toronto can keep him for one more year, or try to cash in while his value is higher. Yusei Kikuchi is another intriguing name to watch. He is in the final year of his three-year, $36-million deal. Over the last two seasons, he has been one of the AL’s most consistent starters, with a 3.80 ERA, a 109 ERA+, and 9.5 K/9. The Twins have seen some inconsistencies with their starting rotation, and Kikuchi could add much-needed depth. Tampa Bay Rays (36-39 record, 0.2% to make the postseason) Current Situation: Tampa Bay has been the poster child for how organizations can be successful on a small budget. Unfortunately, some of their luck has run out this season, with their pitching underperforming and (until recently) their power bats slumbering. The Rays sit at the bottom of the AL East and are 5.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot, with three teams ahead of them. Over the next month, the Rays might be able to battle back into contention, but it seems likely that the club will be sellers in July. Players to Watch: Many contending teams want to add reliable relievers for the stretch run, and the Rays are known for their ability to get the most out of the bullpen. Garret Cleavinger, a left-handed reliever, is a name teams should be calling about. He has the highest strikeout rate in the Rays bullpen, and will be arbitration-eligible for the first time next season. Minnesota has had Steven Okert step into the bullpen’s number-one lefty role, but Caleb Thielbar has struggled to start the year. Adding Cleavinger will boost a contending team for some of the tough lefty hitters heading to October. Houston Astros (35-40 record, 17.1% to make the postseason) Current Situation: The Astros have been a junior-circuit powerhouse for the last decade, with seven straight appearances in the ALCS, four AL pennants and two World Series titles. Every dynasty must end, though, and the team’s slow start will make it hard to recover in 2024. Houston is just half a game ahead of Texas for second place in the AL West, and 8.5 games behind Seattle. The Wild Card race is a little closer (6.5 games back), but the focus needs to be on getting to .500 before worrying about a playoff spot. Player to Watch: The Twins traded Ryan Pressly to the Astros in 2018 for Jorge Alcalá and Gilberto Celestino. He quickly became one of the game’s best late-inning relievers as the Astros had him focus on more regular usage of his breaking pitches, especially his curveball. His 2024 performance hasn’t matched his career track record, though, as he has struggled with control, including a league-high six wild pitches. He has a $14 million vesting option for 2025 that becomes guaranteed if he reaches 50 appearances this season. Houston might want to dump his contract, and the Twins can use his playoff experience if he gets back on track. Texas Rangers (34-40 record, 3.0% to make the postseason) Current Situation: Like the Astros, the Rangers sit well below .500 and are clinging to small playoff odds. Last season, Texas struggled at the end of the regular season but qualified for the playoffs and ended up with the World Series title. The Rangers had a clear plan for this season, which was to survive the first half while waiting for their top pitchers (Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, and Tyler Mahle) to return from injury in the second half. It seemed like a good idea on paper, but they have dug themselves a hole where it may be impossible to escape. Players to Watch: Max Scherzer is a first-ballot Hall of Famer and a free agent at season’s end. There are only so many bullets left in his arm after 15 years at the big-league level. He wants to win in October, and his best chance of doing that this season is outside of Texas. Scherzer would still be owed over $12 million for the season’s final two months, and the Twins likely don’t have that kind of payroll space. He must prove that he’s healthy over the next month, and the teams must find a way to make the money work. In the bullpen, Kirby Yates has been outstanding, while taking over the closer’s role for the Rangers. He’s posted a 1.07 ERA, with a 0.95 WHIP and a 33.3 K%. Yates is on a one-year deal, so he will likely be one of the hottest trade commodities before the end of July. Will the Twins pay a high cost for a reliever on an expiring contract? Which player discussed above is the best fit for the Twins? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

Fans have clamored for the Twins to build a pitching pipeline since the organization hired Derek Falvey away from Cleveland. Recent draft picks highlight Minnesota’s ability to target pitchers in the mid-to-late rounds and turn them into legitimate pitching prospects. Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (Zebby Matthews) Mid-market teams like the Twins must hit on their draft picks to have a successful organization. Younger players are needed to supplement the big-league roster and keep the team’s winning window open as long as possible. The Twins hired Derek Falvey to help in this endeavor, especially with his background in pitching development. Every fanbase wants their team to have a starting rotation full of homegrown playoff-caliber starters, but that is an unrealistic expectation. You need a process for drafting and developing pitchers who can make meaningful contributions at the big-league level. It’s easy for fans to focus on early-round picks, likely the result of the instantaneous impact of NFL Draft picks. MLB’s Draft is an intricate combination of talent evaluation with players’ personalities, while making projections for the future. On paper, this might seem like an impossible task, but the Twins have built up their farm system with mid-to-late-round draft picks in recent years. Let’s examine those picks and where they rank as prospects in the Twins system. 2022: RHP Zebby Matthews 8th round pick, 234th overall Matthews has been one of the biggest risers among Twins prospects this season. Entering the year, he wasn’t ranked among Twins Daily’s top-20 prospects and jumped to 14th during the latest update. He’s been a strike-throwing machine this season with an eye-popping 70-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 58 1/3 innings. Opponents have been limited to a .459 OPS against him. His velocity has also continued to rise as he threw his fastest pitch of his career (98.6 mph) over the weekend. The Twins have shown the ability to add velocity to late-round picks, and Matthews' ability to do this might result in him being a top-100 prospect by the season’s end. 2022: RHP Cory Lewis 9th round pick, 264th overall Lewis began the year on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement but has worked his way back into the Double-A rotation. Lewis was one of last season’s biggest surprises as he flourished during his professional debut. In 101 1/3 innings, he posted a 2.49 ERA with a 1.06 WHIP and 10.5 K/9. His pitching repertoire is unique because he has a knuckleball that is part of his five-pitch mix. The Twins have limited his innings in his return from the injured list, so it will be intriguing to see what he can do as he gets stretched out in the second half. 2021: RHP David Festa 13th round pick, 399th overall Festa is developing into one of the biggest draft steals in recent memory. The Twins have helped him turn into a borderline top-100 prospect by posting dominant numbers, and he is on the cusp of making his big-league debut. He has the highest K% in Triple-A (minimum of 50 IP) and is also the youngest player to record double-digit strikeouts three different times this season at Triple-A or above. His changeup has baffled hitters with a 43.6 Whiff%. Festa will pitch for the Twins this season and is part of the team’s long-term pitching plans. 2019: RHP Louie Varland 15th round pick, 449th overall Varland might have lost some of his prospect shine with his poor start to the 2024 campaign. However, he bounced back nicely in recent weeks with two strong appearances back with the Twins. Minnesota might need to shift him back to a relief role for the stretch run, but the team is committed to keeping him stretched out as a starting pitcher for the time being. Picks from the 15th round are not guaranteed to make the big leagues. Varland is one of two players to make the big leagues from his draft round in 2019. No matter his role moving forward, Varland has been able to make improvements to alter his prospect outlook. The 2024 MLB Draft takes place next month, and the Twins will attempt to identify players like those mentioned above. Not all of these players are going to turn into top-of-the-rotation starters, but it speaks volumes that this front office has identified pitchers with moldable arms to build the farm system. Can the Twins continue to find pitchers in the mid-to-late rounds of the Draft? Which pitcher will have the most significant impact on Minnesota’s future? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Alex Kirilloff and Joe Ryan are supposed to be part of the Minnesota Twins core, but both players have hidden injuries from the team over the last two seasons. Playing through injury is part of baseball culture, but it must change moving forward. Image courtesy of Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports Alex Kiirilloff was off to an underwhelming start to the 2024 campaign. In 57 games, he hit .201/.270/.384 (.653) with a 86 OPS+ and a career-high 26.4 K%. He provided the team with uncompetitive at-bats and racked up negative value on the field. FanGraphs pegs him at -0.3 WAR, while Baseball Reference has him even lower with a -0.4 WAR. Something needed to change, so the Twins decided to option him to Triple-A to try and rediscover his swing. Unfortunately, the story gets murkier from here. Kirilloff never reported to St. Paul and was in the Twins’ clubhouse before their series started against the Rays. He’s going on the Major League 10-day IL for a back issue. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli told reporters before the game that communication from Kirilloff’s end needed to be better about the injury. Kirilloff has dealt with injuries, including nagging wrist problems, resulting in multiple offseason surgeries. Kirilloff, Baldelli, and Derek Falvey have been asked about Kirilloff’s health throughout his prolonged slump and the answer was always that the player was healthy. Now, the optics look bad as the player heads to the IL instead of trying to fix his approach at Triple-A. Baseball is a game unlike many other major sports because there is less contact, and the season is stretched over 162 games. In every sport, the culture of playing through injuries has been lauded for decades. Old-school managers like to throw around the phrase “rub some dirt on it” and send the player back out there to suffer through an ailment while providing the team with poor performance. Minnesota saw some of this last season with Carlos Correa as he dealt with a plantar fasciitis injury that caused him to have the worst season of his career. He was playing poorly, but the Twins knew about the injury, and there was a conscious decision to continue playing him regularly. It’s unclear when Kirilloff’s back began bothering him, but his offensive performance took a significant downturn at the beginning of May. Over the last 31 games, he went 11-for-77 (.143 BA) with six extra-base hits and a 27-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Some of his home runs came in critical spots for the team, so his WPA was positive during this stretch. However, a batting average below .150 is unsustainable for a corner outfielder. He was becoming unusable to the line-up, and hiding an injury was hurting himself and the team. In recent memory, Kirilloff isn’t the only young player to hide an injury from the Twins. Last season, Joe Ryan took the mound in Atlanta after tweaking his groin muscle during warm-ups. He tried to pitch through the injury, but the Braves teed off on him for six earned runs on nine hits in three innings. Instead of telling the team about the injury, he continued to pitch in the coming weeks, but the results continued to be poor. In a seven-game stretch, he posted an 8.63 ERA, with opponents posting a 1.137 OPS with 17 home runs. Ryan was worth a -1.12 WPA before telling the team his groin was bothering him. Minnesota was in the heart of a pennant race, and there’s no question that Ryan’s performance hurt the team’s chances of winning. Baseball is a game that takes pride in its storied history, but it also means that it takes generations for meaningful change to impact the game. Kirilloff and Ryan's decision to hide injuries from the Twins is part of a deeper baseball culture that needs to be remedied throughout an organization. Players shouldn’t sit out every time they have a bump or bruise, but players need to disclose injuries to their team to avoid prolonged slumps that can cost the team significant wins. No player will have a Cal Ripken Jr. streak of consecutive games played in the modern game. Players must make a concerted effort to seek medical attention even if they feel like it is a minor issue. There needs to be a culture shift from the “rub some dirt on it” days to a clubhouse doing what is best for the team. How can the Twins foster this culture change in their players? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Wrote a little bit about him in a story this morning

The MLB Draft offers franchises an opportunity to alter their future by selecting players who will have a long-term impact. Unfortunately, the Twins have seen some poor draft picks since the current front office took over. Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (Aaron Sabato) The Twins hired Derek Falvey and Thad Levine in late 2016, to overhaul the baseball operations department. Over the last seven years, there have been a bevy of good and bad draft picks, a trend that would be true for any front office. Baseball’s draft differs from that of other major sports leagues, because there is rarely an immediate impact at the highest level. It takes time and patience as players develop in a team’s farm system. We're now deep enough into the Falvey-Levine regime, though, to do some close study of their picks and the resulting impact. The MLB Draft is a pivotal event for every team, offering a chance to secure future stars and bolster organizational depth. Recent drafts for the Twins have yielded some promising, esciting talent, but also included selections that fell far short of expectations. Since 2017, the Twins have made several picks that, in hindsight, did not pan out as hoped, impacting the team's roster and organizational depth. 5. RHP Matt Canterino 2019 MLB Draft: 2nd Round Pick (54th Overall) Canterino hasn’t pitched a professional inning since 2022 and began the 2024 season on the injured list with a right subscapularis strain. He missed all of the 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, which he had in August 2022. The Twins felt comfortable enough in his progress to add him to the 40-man roster entering the 2023 season, and the team has yet to drop him, even with his injury struggles. Canterino has put up video game numbers when he is healthy (1.91 ERA, 13.8 K/9), so he must get healthy to provide value in the high minors. 4. RHP Landon Leach 2017 MLB Draft: 2nd Round Pick (37th Overall) Leach might be an unfamiliar name to Twins fans. He was in the first draft class under the current regime and topped out at Low-A in the Twins organization. His time with the Twins was limited to 24 appearances due to injuries, and the Twins released him after the 2021 campaign. He posted a 4.39 ERA with a 1.46 WHIP in 69 2/3 innings. Leach signed with the Braves organization for the 2022 season and made 17 appearances before electing free agency. Out of the players on this list, he is the only one out of baseball, and he never pitched above High-A. 3. RHP Connor Prielipp 2022 MLB Draft: 2nd Round Pick (48th Overall) Any drafting process has risk and reward, and the Twins knew they were making a risky selection with Prielipp. During his sophomore season, he was viewed as a potential top-10 pick in the MLB Draft, but he dropped to the second round after having Tommy John surgery while at the University of Alabama. His time in the Twins organization has been limited to two appearances, as he underwent a second UCL surgery last summer. When healthy, he has a fastball-slider combination that wowed talent evaluators and the Twins front office. He still has a chance to impact the big-league roster, but arm concerns have followed him since he was an amateur. 2. 1B Aaron Sabato 2020 MLB Draft: 1st Round Pick (27th Overall) The 2020 MLB Draft was unique, because the pandemic shut down high school and college seasons. Looking back, the first round of this draft has been a mess, as teams struggled to identify potential talent. Three of the top six picks have negative WAR at the big-league level, with the No. 1 overall pick, Spencer Torkelson, accounting for -1.7. Many evaluators viewed Sabato as a stretch as a first-round pick, because he was projected to provide little defensive value. He would need to produce big power numbers in the minors to live up to his first-round billing. In four professional seasons, he has posted a .776 OPS, while striking out more than 30% of the time. There have been flashes of his prestigious power but insufficient contact to be considered a top prospect. 1. SS Keoni Cavaco 2019 MLB Draft: 1st Round Pick (13th Overall) Cavaco was a unique player heading into the 2019 MLB Draft, because he was a late bloomer. He hadn’t been featured on many of the summer showcase circuits leading into his senior season, which gave teams less opportunity to see him against top competition. Some viewed him as a potential five-tool talent, but he has failed to showcase those skills since signing with the Twins. He has slid down the defensive spectrum from shortstop to third base and now to first. Offensively, he hit .212/.267/.335 with little power and a high strikeout rate across parts of five seasons. The Twins released him Monday, imperiling his future in affiliated baseball and sealing his status as the biggest disappointment of the current regime's Draft record. Picking Cavaco also feels especially egregious, because of the players taken shortly after him. Bryson Stott (7.1 WAR), Corbin Carroll (7.0 WAR), and George Kirby (6.4 WAR) were taken in the next seven picks. Second-guessing a draft pick is common among fans, but it's tough to see these solid MLB regulars thriving, as Cavaco departs the organization. The Minnesota Twins' draft history since 2017 includes several selections that have yet to live up to expectations. From top picks like Cavaco and Sabato to promising pitchers like Canterino and Prielipp, the Twins have encountered challenges developing their draft talent into impactful major-league contributors. These selections illustrate the inherent risks and uncertainties of the MLB Draft, where even top prospects can face unforeseen obstacles on their path to professional success. While setbacks are inevitable in any draft process, learning from past selections can help the Twins make more informed decisions and build a stronger foundation for sustained success in the competitive landscape of Major League Baseball. Should any other players be added to the rankings? Should the order change? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

The 2024 MLB Trade Deadline is at the end of July, which means teams are self-evaluating to decide the proper next steps. Here are five questions the Twins must answer over the next month. Image courtesy of © Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports MLB’s trade deadline has taken on a different vibe in recent years, with more playoff spots in both leagues resulting in more teams being in contention. According to FanGraphs’ updated playoff odds, fourteen teams have over a 30% chance of making the playoffs, with 11 teams having better odds than 50%. One way to increase those odds is to fill holes at the trade deadline, and the Twins will have that opportunity in the coming weeks. Let’s look at the questions facing the front office as they decide on an appropriate trade deadline approach. Are the Twins buyers or sellers? Minnesota entered play this weekend with over a 60% chance to make the playoffs and a 22.2% chance of winning the AL Central. Projection models clearly view the team as a playoff contender even with the team’s up-and-down first half of the season. In baseball, the key is to make the playoffs because that is when anything can happen, as fans remember with the 1987 and 1991 World Series teams. Playoff baseball can be very inconsistent, with the best regular season team rarely winning the World Series. The Texas Rangers stumbled into the playoffs last season and got hot enough to win the title. The Los Angeles Dodgers won 111 games in 2022 and failed to make it out of the divisional round. Atlanta had the fifth-best record in the NL during the 2021 season and bunched together wins when it mattered the most. The Twins have flaws; the trade deadline allows the team to be buyers and fill those holes. Does the team need to add a playoff-caliber starter? Joe Ryan and Simeon Woods Richardson have been the team’s top-performing starters this season, but it is yet to be seen if the team will trust them in October. Ryan performed well in the first half last season before a groin injury significantly impacted his performance. The Twins didn’t trust him to start a playoff game until it was completely necessary, and even then, he was only allowed to go through the lineup once. Wood Richardson has shown plenty of positive signs this season and is on an upward trend, but relying on a 23-year-old rookie in October can make a team pause. Pablo López needs to return to his previous form to be ready for the playoffs, and his peripheral numbers point to him being better than he has been in 2024. López fits into a group of starters that the front office has traded for in recent years while preferring that the players have multiple years of team control. Front-line pitching comes at a high cost, so the front office must balance the current and future value of all players involved in a deal. Where does the lineup need to be upgraded? The Twins have three positions that have seen below-average production this season, including second base, designated hitter, and first base. Edouard Julien, the team’s primary second baseman, posted a 95 OPS+ before being demoted to Triple-A earlier this month. Minnesota has turned the position over to Willi Castro, with top prospects Brooks Lee and Austin Martin as options for the second half. Royce Lewis recently returned from the injured list, and his addition has helped multiple spots in the lineup. He pushes Jose Miranda to first base and/or DH, while Lewis will need time at DH, too. Minnesota can target some of the best available bats to slide into first base, designated hitter, or a corner outfield spot. Pete Alonso is a name that will garner plenty of interest at the trade deadline since he is a pending free agent. The Twins and Mets might have a unique way to match up on a trade agreement. Some other potential bats that could be available include Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Christian Walker, Josh Bell, and J.D. Martinez. The Twins aren’t going to overspend on a rental player, but their need should be easy to fill with the available options. What needs are there in the bullpen? Minnesota used a unique strategy last season when preparing the bullpen for October. Instead of overspending on expensive trade deadline relievers, the team focused on internal options to join the bullpen. Louie Varland shifted from starter to reliever, and Chris Paddack joined the bullpen after returning from Tommy John's surgery. It was a strategy that worked well in a small sample size at the end of the year. Teams need multiple high-leverage relief options in October, and the Twins could always use an upgrade. Jhoan Durán and Griffin Jax are locked into late-inning roles, and the team hopes Brock Stewart can join them in the second half. Varland is an option to switch back to a bullpen role, where he looked dominant last season. Caleb Thielbar has been a mess, but nothing is stopping him from making adjustments in the weeks ahead. Over the next month, the team can decide their level of trust in Steven Okert, Jorge Alcalá, and Cole Sands. There are questions with the team’s bullpen, but adding to this group shouldn’t be a priority at the trade deadline. What prospects can the team trade? The Twins’ front office must surrender prospect capital to acquire top trade targets, and there are clear prospect tiers for the organization. Players like Walker Jenkins and Brooks Lee are considered untouchable in potential deals. Other names like Emmanuel Rodríguez and David Festa are likely only available in blockbuster deals. Some prospects have seen their stock rise this season, which is the type of player other organizations target. If the team follows the trend from recent trades, Luke Keaschall, Brandon Winokur, and Zebby Matthews might have their names connected to trade rumors. During the 2023 season, the Twins decided to stand pat and not make any moves before the trade deadline. There were places on the roster that could have been upgraded, and the front office made calls on deals, but nothing came to fruition. It seems likely that the team will follow a similar plan of attack this season. If a deal develops, the club will pursue it, but it doesn’t seem likely that the front office will go all in on the 2024 campaign. How will the Twins’ front office answer these questions? Are there any other questions to add to the list? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article