Cody Christie

Dominoes are starting to fall in the Diamond Sports Group’s bankruptcy case. What does that mean for the Twins fans ability to consume games on Bally Sports North? Image courtesy of Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports Diamond Sports Group, the parent company of the Bally Sports regional networks, informed the Padres that it wouldn’t be making a scheduled payment to the organization. The payment was due to San Diego multiple weeks ago, but DSG had until May 30th to make the payment if they wanted to continue broadcasting games. This has created a chain reaction that can impact televised Twins games in the weeks ahead. Beginning on Wednesday, Padres games will be broadcast in-market games for free on MLB.TV. These games will also be free of blackout restrictions, and that portion of the deal runs through Sunday’s game. Starting on Monday, fans can purchase MLB.TV for $19.99 per month or $74.99 for the remainder of the season. San Diego also announced fans in-market can watch on DirecTV, Spectrum, Cox, Fubo and on MLB.TV. Adding these services opens Padres broadcasts to an additional two million fans. MLB announced, “By offering a direct-to-consumer streaming option on MLB.TV in the Club’s territory for the first time, MLB is able to lift the blackout for Padres games previously distributed on Bally Sports San Diego.” It’s a chance for MLB to test this type of distribution method with what might be a glimpse into the future of baseball viewing. DSG has missed payments to other teams this season, but they have always made up the debt during the grace period. The Padres are in the middle of a 20-year, $1.2 billion deal for Bally Sports San Diego that runs through 2032. Because of San Diego’s market size, it is not profitable for DSG, and they have decided not to fulfill their subsequent payment. In a statement sent to the Sports Business Journal, Diamond said, “While DSG has significant liquidity and have been making rights payments to teams, the economics of the Padres’ contract were not aligned with market realities. MLB has forced our hand by its continued refusal to negotiate direct-to-consumer (DTC) streaming rights for all teams in our portfolio despite our proposal to pay every team in full in exchange for those rights. We are continuing to broadcast games for teams under our contracts.” The Padres will keep their on-air broadcasting staff in the transition to a direct-to-consumer streaming option. There might be some changes to the pregame or postgame staff because of the switch to a different media outlet. Minnesota fans can see San Diego as an example of what can happen when DSG misses a payment. For the Twins, the Bally Sports saga is something fans have paid attention to for months. It must also be frustrating since the Twins are in the final year of their current television deal. Diamond has been paying a group of teams, like the Twins, at a lower rate since their bankruptcy proceedings began. DSG feels those contracts should be restructured to align more closely with their current market values. Conversely, MLB believes their clubs should be paid the total value of the originally agreed-upon deals. On Wednesday, a bankruptcy hearing will be held that Twins fans can follow with anticipation. According to multiple reports, MLB doesn’t expect a ruling on Wednesday. Still, it might be the first step toward the Twins getting a similar direct-to-consumer streaming options like the Padres will have to start this weekend. Would you prefer different methods for streaming Twins games? How do you feel the DSG situation will play out? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins might look back on the 2019 MLB Draft with some regret. Let's reflect on the team's decisions that year and how the players have performed so far in their professional careers. Image courtesy of William Parmeter (Headrick), Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports (Varland), Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports (Julien) Major League Baseball's 2023 Draft is scheduled to start on July 9, 2023. Each team prepares for the draft with a specific plan, and sometimes those plans play out better than others. To prepare fans for the upcoming draft, this series will examine recent Twins drafts and how those players have performed so far in their professional careers. First Round: Keoni Cavaco, Matt Wallner Minnesota sat in an interesting spot for the 2019 MLB Draft with the 13th overall pick. Teams and evaluators viewed Cavaco as a prospect with some steam entering the draft despite not being asked to participate in some of the high school national showcases. Since signing, the Twins have consistently moved Cavaco up the ladder, but he has struggled to find consistency at the plate. In over 200 career games, he has a .610 OPS while never having more than 34 extra-base hits in a season. His pick might have been a stretch at the time, and it looks even worse when considering who was taken shortly after him. After the Twins pick, the next high school player taken was Corbin Carroll by the Diamondbacks, with the 16th overall selection. He dominated the minor leagues on his way to being ranked as one of baseball's top prospects. Carroll has been worth over 2.5 WAR in his big-league career and isn't the only player the Twins passed over. Three other players taken after Cavaco in the first round have accumulated at least 1.0 WAR, including George Kirby (3.1 WAR), Anthony Volpe (1.1 WAR), and Drey Jameson (1.6 WAR). Minnesota may have redeemed themselves with a solid pick at the end of the first round. With the 39th overall pick, the Twins took Matt Wallner from the University of Southern Mississippi. Wallner, a Forest Lake native, has seen limited big-league action because of the left-handed sluggers ahead of him on the team's depth chart. He is the team's reigning Minor League Player of the Year after hitting .277/.412/.542 (.953) with 32 doubles, four triples, and 27 home runs in 128 games. On Twins prospect lists, he is the highest-rated player from this draft class, and there are higher expectations for him now than when the organization drafted him. Second Round: Matt Canterino The Twins took Canterino with the 54th overall pick from Rice University. He's shown flashes of being a dominant pitcher in the minor leagues with a 13.8 K/9, but he's been limited to 85 professional innings. Many pitchers from Rice have dealt with arm injuries after being drafted, and Canterino fits into this group. He underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2022, which might sideline him until 2024. It will be interesting to see if the Twins bring him back as a starting pitcher or if they switch him to a bullpen role when he returns from the injury. Other MLB Contributors Spencer Steer and Casey Legumina have made big-league debuts, but not with the Twins. Steer has played the 2023 season as the Reds starting first (and sometimes third) baseman after being included in last season's trade for Tyler Mahle. After a slow start, he has a 104 OPS+ and 19 extra-base hits in 45 games. The Twins traded Legumina to the Reds for Kyle Farmer heading into the 2023 season. As a reliever, he has made eight appearances (10 1/3 innings) and has a 4.35 ERA with a 1.65 WHIP and a 9-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. They are both earlier in their careers, so it will be interesting to see what they can do in the future. Impacts have been felt on Minnesota's 2023 roster by multiple other players taken in the 2019 draft. Louie Varland (15th round) and Edouard Julien (18th round) were two of the team's highest-rated prospects entering the season. Varland is the organization's two-time Minor League Pitcher of the Year and has jumped into the Twins' rotation with the repertoire to be a big-league-caliber pitcher. Julien had a breakout season at Double-A in 2022 while hitting .300/.441/.490 (.931) with 39 extra-base hits in 113 games. He continued his success in last year's AFL and this spring's WBC for Team Canada. Both players are entrenched in the team's long-term plans. Besides Varland and Julien, Brent Headrick is another player playing an essential role for the Twins. He was the team's ninth-round pick from Illinois State University. He has stepped into a vital bullpen role for the Twins and been forced into a late-inning role. Many relievers are previously failed starters, and Headrick can provide value as a bullpen option. OTHERS REMAINING IN THE ORGANIZATION Seth Gray (4th round): He posted a .726 OPS at High-A and Double-A last season. In 2023, he's primarily been used at first base for Wichita. Will Holland (5th): Holland combined for 28 extra-base hits and 32 steals during the 2022 season. His OPS has dropped over 150 points early this season, but he's 10-for-12 in steal attempts. Anthony Prato (7th): He hit .285/.383/.444 (.827) in 132 games between Cedar Rapids and Wichita last season. In 2023, he's been limited to one extra-base hit in his first 30 games. Sean Mooney (12th): Currently, Mooney is on the 60-day IL with right shoulder fatigue. He made 18 appearances (12 starts) in 2022 for Cedar Rapids with a 3.30 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Cody Laweryson (14th): He's pitching out of the bullpen in St. Paul this season. In his first 13 appearances, he's posted a 2.53 ERA with a 10.1 K/9. He has a chance to make his big-league debut this season. Owen Griffith (20th): Griffith is currently on the 60-day IL and hasn't pitched a professional inning since 2021. Matthew Swain (23rd): He's averaged over 35 relief appearances over the last two seasons for Low-A and High-A. In 2023, he's posted a 1.80 ERA in Cedar Rapids, where he is almost two years older than the average age of the competition. Alex Isola (29th): Isola has developed into a decent prospect while playing catcher and first base. He posted an .848 OPS in 2022 at Double-A, and the Twins sent him to the AFL. He's continued to have an OPS above .800 during the 2023 season with Wichita. Kyle Schmidt (33rd): He's been injured to start the 2023 season but just returned from the development list to the Kernels roster. Schmidt played at three different levels in 2022 and posted a .576 OPS. OTHER POSTS IN THE SERIES -2018 Draft Retrospective -2017 Draft Retrospective -2016 Draft Retrospective What are your impressions of the 2019 draft class? Will Cavaco make an impact at the big-league level? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Prospects signed on the international market can take time to develop because they are teenagers when they sign. One Twins farm hand is slugging his way into the top prospect conversation. Image courtesy of William Parmeter The Twins signed Carlos Aguiar out of Venezuela in September 2017 when he was 16 years old. Minnesota gave him a $1 million signing bonus and sent him to the Dominican Summer League for the 2018 season. In 33 games, he hit .228/.328/.416 (.744) with five doubles, four triples, and two home runs. Aguiar posted a 30-to-14 strikeout-to-walk ratio while also going 6-for-11 in stolen base attempts. There were some positive signs, but also room for improvement. Unfortunately, there were some bumps in the road in future seasons. In 2019, Aguiar came stateside but was limited to seven games played. He went 1-for-18 (.056 BA) with one double and 11 strikeouts. His 2021 season was also limited to 29 games and 107 plate appearances. Aguiar hit .217/.280/.495 (.775) with one double, one triple, and eight home runs. Through his first three professional seasons, Aguiar had never played more than 33 games with 121 plate appearances. The Twins hoped Aguiar would get back on track during the 2022 season, and he showed some of the power the organization hoped he'd develop when they signed him. In 46 games, he hit .240/.289/.541 (.830) with ten doubles, two triples, and ten home runs. He continued to strike out at a high rate, with 67 strikeouts in 156 plate appearances. Even with limited action, Aguiar faced older pitchers in over 75% of his plate appearances and posted an .852 OPS against them. Minnesota sent Aguiar back to Fort Myers for his age-21 season, where he is slightly younger than the average age of the competition. He's closing in on a career-high in games played, and there have been other improvements to his performance. His walk rate and strikeout rate have improved compared to his career numbers. Aguiar has also shown some strong abilities on the base paths with a career-high six triples. Aguiar added a signature game last week, going 3-for-5 with three home runs, three runs, and five RBI. Two of his homers came in the same inning as the Mighty Mussels powered themselves to a big win. It was his second game of the year with multiple home runs and his third game with multiple extra-base hits. He ranks first in the Florida State League in triples, and he's only one home run behind tying the league leader (Jared Serna- 8 HR). Defensively, he's played all three outfield positions at different parts of his career. Over the last two seasons, the Twins have been playing him regularly in right field, where he has the tools to be an above-average defender. His bat will be his ticket to move up the organizational ladder, and his power-speed combination will provide value, especially if he can continue to cut back on strikeouts and increase his walk rate. Aguiar won't appear on the Twins' top prospect lists because of his limited track record in his first five professional seasons. However, he has stayed healthy in 2023, and his production continues to improve. The Twins may promote him to Cedar Rapids later this season, where he will continue to be young for his level. Don't be surprised if Aguiar starts making his way onto top-30 lists for Twins prospects, especially in the second half of 2023. What are your impressions of Aguiar so far in his professional career? Do you view him as one of the organization's top 30 prospects? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. For more Twins Daily content on Carlos Aguiar over the years, click here. View full article

Griffin Jax was looking to build off a tremendous 2022 season where he established himself as one of the team’s top relievers. There’s no question he has struggled in 2023, so what has accounted for his performance decline? Image courtesy of Dave Nelson-USA TODAY Sports The Twins drafted Griffin Jax in the third round of the 2016 MLB Draft from the United States Air Force Academy. He spent his first five professional seasons as a starter in the organization and made his way to the big-league level in that role. Entering last season, Minnesota shifted him to a bullpen role, and he had a breakout campaign. In 65 appearances (72 1/3 innings), he posted a 3.36 ERA with a 1.05 WHIP and a 78-to-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Outside of Jhoan Duran, he was the team’s most reliable reliever, and the Twins were hoping for a similar performance in 2023. Unfortunately, his 2023 season is not off to an optimal start. In his first 23 appearances (21 1/3 innings), he has allowed 12 earned runs on 25 hits with a 25-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His numbers don’t tell the whole story of how he has impacted the Twins this season. His -0.83 WPA is more than double any other reliever on the Twins, including Emilio Pagan. There is a small sample size involved with any relievers this early in the season, but Jax has the 11th-lowest WPA among AL relievers. So, what is wrong with Jax? Lacking Swings and Misses Relievers must miss bats to be effective, and Jax hasn’t been effective at avoiding contact in 2023. His Whiff% ranked in the 77th percentile during 2022, and he’s seen a drop to a 54 Whiff%. His strikeout rate has stayed the same (9.7 K/9), but batters continue to make consistent contact resulting in 10.5 H/9. Last season, Jax’s sweeper and changeup resulted in Whiff% greater than 30%. In 2023, his only pitch to have a Whiff% higher than 30 is his sinker, but he’s only thrown it nine times. Jax will have to increase his ability to miss bats to stop his struggles. Change in Pitch Mix One way Jax can increase his Whiff % is by reexamining his pitch mix. During spring training, Jax told reporters he was looking for ways to improve the numbers he compiled in the 2022 season. He was one of multiple Twins pitchers to go to Driveline and work on his pitching repertoire. His most noticeable change is using his sweeper as a primary pitch. Last season, he threw his sweeper 31.1% of the time, and batters posted a .260 SLG when facing that pitch. In 2023, he has thrown his sweeper over 60% of the time, and opponent’s slugging percentage has dropped by over 30 points. That is a solid improvement, but his other pitches are where the damage is done. Batters have pounded his fastball in 2023 with a .417 BA and a .583 SLG. Those numbers might seem extreme, but he’s decreased his fastball usage by over 22%, allowing a similar slugging percentage to 2022. His changeup is getting hit significantly harder this season, even though he has cut its usage in half. Last season, batters posted a .250 SLG versus his changeup, which has ballooned to .700 in 2023. It will be interesting to monitor the changes in his pitch mix as he tries to get back on track. Bad Luck Some of Jax’s poor performance might be tied to bad luck and a small sample size. His .391 BABIP is over 100 points higher than his career average. Only eight AL relievers have a higher BABIP, so bad luck might be associated with the balls put in play against Jax. FIP is another area that can be tied to pitchers underperforming. Jax has a 5.06 ERA in his first 23 appearances in 2023, but his 2.20 FIP points to a potential rebound. There have been games where Jax hasn’t done himself any favors when it comes to falling behind, but signs point to bad luck. Overall, the Twins need Jax to get back on track to add another layer to the bullpen. Minnesota’s lack of offensive production has resulted in many close games where relievers have no margin for error. Relievers can have ups and downs in any season, and the Twins need to see Jax take a step in the right direction. What do you think about Jax’s performance in 2023? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Reports surfaced earlier this week that the club has quietly extended Rocco Baldelli beyond the 2023 season, which isn't surprising but had never been made official. So, what does that mean for the organization's future? Image courtesy of Peter Aiken-USA TODAY Sports The Twins originally signed Rocco Baldelli to a four-year contract that covered the 2019-2022 season with club options tagged onto the deal's backend. Derek Falvey told reporters last September that the team was committed to Baldelli. "Rocco's our manager. He's my partner in this all the way through. That's never even crossed my mind, quite frankly... Rocco's a big part of our future. Not just next year, but beyond." At the time, it wasn't clear whether the Twins were exercising an option or committing to Baldelli for the long term. Earlier this week, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported the Twins quietly extended Baldelli before the 2022 season. He said the extension is for an "unknown period," but he is under contract through at least 2025. A manager entering a contract's final year is often considered a lame duck, so the club wanted to avoid that. Now, his future seems secure, with the front office committed to Baldelli's path for the team. Baldelli's Twins tenure has seen ups and downs in the team's performance. He won Manager of the Year in his first year at the helm when the team went 101-61 while setting the all-time home run record. During the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Minnesota won the AL Central for the second consecutive season with a 36-24 record. In the last two seasons, the Twins have finished below .500 while dealing with injuries and other concerns. Entering play on Tuesday, Baldelli has a .527 winning percentage for his managerial career. As a franchise, the Twins have stayed the course with managers, especially since the Pohlad family has been in the ownership role. Since 1987, the Twins have employed four managers (Tom Kelly, Ron Gardenhire, Paul Molitor, and Baldelli). The team remained committed to these managers even when the team's performance suffered for multiple seasons. Consistency at the top of an organization can have its pros and cons. Players know what to expect if the same manager calls the shots, which can help deal with the multitude of personalities and egos on a roster. On the other hand, one voice year after year can lose some of its effectiveness. Some former Twins managers likely faced this situation at the end of their tenure. Every manager will face criticism throughout their tenure. When the team plays well, others besides the manager get the bulk of the credit. If a team struggles, the manager can get blamed for line-up construction, bullpen usage, and removing starters too early. Unfortunately, a manager can only work with the players on the roster, so many of the team's flaws are out of his control. Baldelli has been forced to be creative with the team's line-up construction during the 2023 season. The Twins don't have a traditional lead-off hitter, so the club has used players like Joey Gallo and Max Kepler. Injury concerns have pushed Byron Buxton into a full-time DH role, which has also drawn some scrutiny from fans. Even with this switch, Buxton is on pace for a career-high in games played while leading the Twins in multiple offensive categories. Baldelli is doing his best to compile his line-up pieces on any given night. In 2022, Dylan Bundy and Chris Archer comprised two-thirds of the Twins' starting rotation. Neither pitcher could pitch beyond five innings regularly, and Baldelli took the brunt of the blame for removing starters too early. However, the results might have been worse if the starters were allowed to face a line-up for a third time. Fast-forward to 2023, and Minnesota has a revamped rotation near the top of MLB's leaderboard in innings pitched and ERA. With the right rotational pieces, Baldelli can leave his starters longer into games, helping the team sit atop the division. Bullpen usage can be even more fickle when tied to managerial performance. Relievers are typically pitching in some of the highest-leverage situations. The manager's decisions will be questioned if the bullpen blows a lead. Jhoan Duran has been fantastic, but Baldelli has also been forced to use other relievers with worse track records. The Twins' front office has yet to invest in the bullpen for multiple off-seasons, forcing Baldelli into tough late-game decisions. For better or worse, Baldelli is tied to Derek Falvey and Thad Levine for the foreseeable future. The current front office moved on from Molitor to bring in someone that fit their mold. Results could have been better during Baldelli's managerial career, but he has helped bring the Twins into the analytical age, an improvement needed from previous managers. There is only so much a manager can control in a game, so he must help build a winning culture throughout an organization. What are your thoughts knowing Baldelli will be at the helm through at least 2025? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins removed Blayne Enlow from their 40-man roster this winter after he struggled in his return from Tommy John surgery. He's out to prove he belongs back in the Twins' long-term plans. Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge The Twins drafted Blayne Enlow in the third round of the 2017 MLB Draft out of high school in Louisiana. Minnesota had to be strategic when working to sign Enlow since he was committed to playing for Louisiana State University. With the number one pick, the Twins took Royce Lewis and signed him to an under-slot deal, so the team could use that money to sign picks in later rounds. To coax him away from LSU, the Twins made Enlow one of two players in the third round to sign for $2,000,000. Enlow made his professional debut with the GCL Twins shortly after signing with the organization. In 20 1/3 innings, he allowed three earned runs on ten hits with a 19-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Minnesota moved him up to Low-A for 2018, where he was nearly three years younger than the average age of the competition. Enlow posted a 3.26 ERA with a 1.37 WHIP with 71 strikeouts in 94 innings. He only faced younger batters in 13 plate appearances, so it was an impressive first full season. In 2019, Enlow split time between Low- and High-A while pitching over 110 innings for the first time in his career. His first eight appearances came in Cedar Rapids, and his strikeout rate jumped from 6.8 K/9 in 2018 to 9.6 K/9. Minnesota promoted him to Fort Myers at the end of May, and his final 13 appearances came in the FSL. In 69 1/3 innings, he posted a 3.38 ERA with a 1.21 WHIP, but his K/9 dropped to 6.6 with the bump in competition. Enlow was solidifying himself as one of the organization's top pitching prospects, and the 2020 season had a chance to be a breakout year. Unfortunately, the pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season, and Enlow's 2021 season was also cut short. He started the season well as he limited batters to three earned runs (1.84 ERA) on 13 hits with 23 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings. But he underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2021 and missed the rest of that season and the beginning of the 2022 campaign. Minnesota still valued Enlow enough to add him to the 40-man roster that winter, even though he would miss time during the following season. Enlow returned from Tommy John surgery in May 2022, less than 12 months after the team announced his surgery. Many pitchers see ups and downs in their return from Tommy John surgery, which was the case for Enlow. Batters posted a .968 OPS against him during his first five starts, but his OPS allowed dropped by over 300 points in June and July. In the second half, batters started to find success against him again, and the team moved him to the bullpen to control his innings total. He ended the year with a 4.20 ERA, and the Twins removed him from the 40-man roster. Thankfully, Enlow cleared waivers, and the Twins kept him in the organization. This season, he's made eight starts at Double-A with a 3.02 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and a 48-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His control has improved this season, which can take time following Tommy John surgery. In 2022, he posted a 4.7 BB/9 and allowed nearly ten hits per nine, and this year his walk rate has dropped to 2.2 BB/9 with 8.0 H/9. He's allowing his career's highest home run rate (1.1 HR/9), but it's a limited sample size to this point. The Twins will likely need more starting pitching depth at the big-league level, especially with injuries to Tyler Mahle and Kenta Maeda. Enlow has been surpassed by other pitching prospects on the organization's depth chart, but his numbers this season are hard to ignore. He is on pace to be promoted to Triple-A, and then he is only a phone call away from making his big-league debut. What have been your impressions of Enlow in 2023? Will the Twins need him at some point this season? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins front office made an intriguing decision this winter to keep Emilio Pagan on the roster. Is he the latest in a line of players that this front office can't quit? Image courtesy of Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports Every team's front office makes hundreds of decisions each season. Some turn out better than others, while some make fans shake their heads. On last Friday's episode of Gleeman and the Geek, Aaron and John discussed the possibility that the Twins' front office has difficulty admitting when they are wrong about a player. Teams can't let a player go after one poor performance, but there can be a point where the process and results aren't aligned with the organization's best interests. Emilio Pagan might be the epitome of the team being wrong about a player, especially since the Twins didn't need to offer him arbitration this winter. In his first season with the Twins, he posted a 4.43 ERA with a 1.37 WHIP, but the numbers don't tell the whole story of what he has cost the team. His -1.26 WPA is the lowest among Twins relievers over the last two seasons, which ranks him down with Jharel Cotton and Trevor Megill. Among AL relievers, he has the fifth-worst WPA since the start of the 2022 season. The Twins trusted the process with Pagan and believed his stuff would provide value during the 2023 season. Pagan's metrics point to him being above average, but he tends to leave pitches over the plate at the most inopportune times. Even great relievers have bad stretches, but Pagan has never been a great reliever, so the front office will have to decide soon on whether or not he stays on the roster. Joe Smith, a 38-year-old at the time, was the Twins long free agent relief signing entering the 2022 season. He started the season well with a 1.59 ERA and 0.694 WPA in his first 21 appearances. Unfortunately, things went south from there, and he allowed 11 earned runs over his final 13 appearances while being worth -0.217 WPA. The Twins released him in early August, and he has yet to appear in another professional game. The Twins realized they had made a mistake and moved on when he started to struggle. Another example of the team admitting they were wrong was trading away Josh Donaldson with multiple years remaining on his contract. Minnesota signed Donaldson with the hope he could push an emerging team over the top and help the organization to more playoff success. Injuries and poor performance marred his time with the Twins. Thankfully, the front office found a trade partner, and Donaldson has been worth 2.2 WAR over the last two seasons in New York. It was a move where the Twins had to admit they were wrong, but it gave the team financial flexibility to make moves over the last two seasons. In 2021, the Twins signed a group of veteran free agents that struggled to perform. Alex Colome had a disastrous first month of the season and almost single-handedly put the Twins out of contention. He improved in the second half, so the team kept him on the roster for the whole season. The team signed Andrelton Simmons as a shortstop stopgap, but he posted a 57 OPS+ in over 130 games. Both players cost the Twins wins during the season, and the team could have gone in a different direction. The front office also targeted J.A. Happ and Matt Shoemaker entering the 2021 season with some disastrous results. Shoemaker made 16 appearances and posted an 8.06 ERA with a 1.66 WHIP. Minnesota sent him to Triple-A to attempt improvements, but the team eventually admitted they were wrong and released him in early August. Happ's performance was only slightly better with a 6.77 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP in 19 starts. The Twins traded Happ to the Cardinals at the trade deadline for Evan Sisk and John Gant. His numbers improved after the trade, but it was his last taste of the big leagues as he retired in May 2022. There have been countless other examples of players the Twins have kept despite declining performance while also moving on from some players mentioned above. Front offices have to be patient when making decisions because every player will struggle at some point during a 162-game season. Sometimes the process and results don't match, and that's when the team needs to say sayonara to players hurting the team's chances to win. Do you think the Twins' front office has difficulty admitting when they are wrong? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Four members of the 2018 Twins draft class have already made their big-league debuts. Will other players join them in the coming years? Image courtesy of Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports Major League Baseball's 2023 Draft is scheduled to start on July 9, 2023. Each team prepares for the draft with a specific plan, and sometimes those plans play out better than others. To prepare fans for the upcoming draft, this series will examine recent Twins drafts and how those players have performed so far in their professional careers. First Round: Trevor Larnach The Twins drafted Larnach with the 20th overall pick after a strong college season where he helped Oregon State win the College World Series. Three players taken behind Larnach (2.0 WAR) have accumulated more WAR so far in their MLB careers, including Nico Hoerner (8.1 WAR), Shane McClanahan (7.4 WAR), and Jake McCarthy (2.6 WAR). Larnach quickly impacted the Twins organization by winning the organization's Minor League Player of the Year award in his first full season. His most significant issue at the big-league level has been making consistent contact with offspeed and breaking pitches. He's part of the team's young core, and the Twins hope he can be a number-five hitter in the lineup for most of the next decade. Second Round: Ryan Jeffers Some were surprised the Twins drafted Jeffers this high because he was seen as a bat-first catcher with little defensive value. His outlook has changed significantly since signing with the Twins. He is a tremendous pitch framer and has improved his throwing arm this season. Jeffers has accumulated more WAR than any other second-round pick from the 2018 MLB Draft. Over the last two seasons, he struggled to find his swing with an 84 OPS+. His 2023 campaign started strongly with a 126 OPS+, ranking sixth in WAR among AL catchers. Minnesota lost their third-round pick in 2018 after signing Josh Donaldson. He had declined a qualifying offer by the Atlanta Braves, so draft pick compensation was tied to his signing. It is likely one of the reasons the Twins were able to sign him because some other teams would have had to forfeit a higher draft pick. His free-agent market didn't meet his expectations, and the Twins had to pivot from their plans to sign a free-agent starting pitcher. Other MLB Contributors: Cole Sands, Josh Winder The Twins took Sands with their fifth-round pick, and Winder was selected in the seventh round. Both players were starting pitchers throughout their minor-league careers but have shifted to a long-relief at the big-league level. Sands has posted a 2.96 ERA with a 1.40 WHIP in 11 relief appearances over the last two seasons. Winder made 15 appearances (11 starts) for the Twins in 2022, so he has less experience in a relief role. He dealt with a shoulder injury during spring training, and the team hopes a bullpen role will help him to stay healthy and improve his performance. Other Notable Picks: Michael Helman, Kody Funderburk, DaShawn Keirsey, Chris Williams Helman was taken in the 11th round and reached Triple-A last season. He's posted a .763 OPS with the Saints while playing multiple infield and outfield positions. Last season, he accumulated 20 home runs and 40 stolen bases between Double- and Triple-A. His best chance at a role with the Twins is being a super utility player, but he is currently on the IL with a dislocated left shoulder. Minnesota took Funderburk in the 15th round, and he's developed into an intriguing left-handed reliever. He has a chance to be the next Caleb Thielbar, especially if he can continue to post a strikeout rate above 13 K/9. He's given up too many hits in the upper minors, but he has been able to avoid home runs. The Twins will likely need bullpen replacements later in the season, and Funderburk is a prime candidate to add relief depth. Keirsey, a fourth-round pick, has played the last two seasons at Double-A. In 2022, he hit .271/.329/.395 (.724) with 36 extra-base hits and 42 steals in 121 games. He has ten extra-base hits in his first 31 games in 2023 while going 16-for-19 in stolen base attempts. His defense is strong in center field, so he could fill a backup outfielder role at the big-league level. Also in the Organization Regi Grace: He shifted to a relief role last season and is currently pitching for Cedar Rapids. His K/9 rate has been higher than 11.0 over the last two seasons. Charles Mack: Mack is in his second season with Cedar Rapids, being used as one of the team's primary catchers. Last season, he had 15 extra-base hits in 57 games. Willie Joe Garry: Over the last two seasons, the organization has used him at all three outfield positions, with most of his defensive innings coming in center field. He has a career .625 OPS across five professional seasons. Andrew Cabezas: After the pandemic, Cabezas shifted to a relief role. In 2022, he posted a 3.31 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP at High- and Double-A. Austin Schulfer: Last year, he pitched in relief for the organization's two highest affiliates, striking out nearly ten batters per nine with a 1.04 WHIP. He's in the Saints bullpen this year and has a sub-3.00 ERA to begin the year. Zach Neff: He is currently on the 60-day IL and hasn't pitched in the organization since 2021. Denny Bentley: In 2022, he posted a 3.56 ERA with 1.37 WHIP and 11.8 K/8. The Twins sent Bentley to the AFL last season to build off a strong 2022 campaign. He has yet to pitch in 2023. OTHER POSTS IN THE SERIES -2017 Draft Retrospective -2016 Draft Retrospective What are your impressions of the 2018 draft class? Who will have the most significant impact on the Twins? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins regularly used Michael A. Taylor and Nick Gordon in center field so far in 2023. With injury concerns for both, how does the organization’s depth look at one of baseball’s most important positions? Image courtesy of Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports Minnesota’s front office had a clear roster plan when addressing the team’s center field depth. The club traded for Michael A. Taylor this winter to provide depth and defensive flexibility in the outfield. Expectations were for Nick Gordon and Joey Gallo to have the ability to play in center depending on the pitching match-up. Gordon went on the IL earlier this week after fouling a pitch off his leg. He fractured his right shin and will be sidelined for multiple weeks. It’s a tough break for Gordon, who was looking to build off a strong 2022 season where he posted a 111 OPS+ in 136 games. His 2023 season was off to a slow start (.143 BA in April), but he had raised his batting average by over 50 points in May. Now, the Twins will need to look at other center-field options. Gordon had been getting more playing time in center because Taylor was dealing with a sore back. In his age-32 season, Taylor has seen some ups and downs with his performance. Through April, he hit .244/.294/.419 (.712) with three doubles and four home runs. Since May 1, his OPS has dropped to .583 as he’s been limited to one extra-base hit. His back has been an issue recently, likely tied to his decreased offensive production. The Twins can hope his back improves, but that seems unlikely if he is forced to play more regularly with Gordon on the IL. Byron Buxton is the other elephant in the room. When healthy, Buxton is one of baseball’s top defenders in center field. He has yet to play a defensive inning because the club wants him in the lineup as much as possible. He’s played in 40-of-44 games to start the year while posting a 128 OPS+ and ranking sixth in fWAR among DHs. He may play in center field later this season, but Buxton and the team have to be happy with his abundant availability so far in 2023. Gallo and Willi Castro are the only players on the big-league roster who have seen time in center field. Center field isn’t the optimal defensive position for either of these players. Castro can play nearly every defensive position, but he’s stretched in center field. The Twins needed Gallo at first base while Alex Kirilloff was returning from injury, and he’s won Gold Gloves in both corner outfield spots. Like Gordon, Gallo left Wednesday’s game after fouling a ball off his shin, but he didn’t suffer a fracture. Minnesota would likely call someone up before giving either of these players significant innings in center field. Royce Lewis is rehabbing at Triple-A in the minor leagues, but the team plans to use him at shortstop and third base. Also, he can't be activated from the 60-day IL until the last day of the May. Also, last season, he tore his ACL for the second consecutive season when playing center field. It doesn’t seem out of the question for the Twins to reevaluate whether he can be used in center field in the future, but third base might be his best chance for regular playing time at the big-league level this season. Austin Martin, one of the team’s top prospects, would be a prime candidate to see time in center field. However, the team shut him down during spring training with a UCL sprain. He has yet to resume baseball activities, and there is a chance that he will need surgery. Like Martin, Gilberto Celestino injured himself this spring, or he might be in the center field conversation. He ruptured the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb, which has a recovery period of 6-8 weeks. It has been over eight weeks since his surgery, and he hasn’t begun a rehab assignment. At Triple-A, Andrew Stevenson and Mark Contreras have seen the bulk of playing time in center field. Stevenson is a 29-year-old signed with the Twins this winter after playing eight seasons in the Nationals organization. The former second-round pick is hitting .276/.372/.391 (.762) with seven extra-base hits and 12 stolen bases in 31 games. Contreras played 28 games for the Twins in 2022 and posted a 22 OPS+ with 21 strikeouts. He’s off to a strong start with the Saints this year with ten doubles, five home runs, ten steals, and an .888 OPS. Contreras might be the best option from Triple-A if the Twins need a center-field replacement, especially because he hits left-handed. Many fans will call for Buxton to start getting reps in center field, but that seems unlikely. Will the Twins need more center-field depth in 2023? Who is the next best option? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Trevor Plouffe made his first appearance on the Bally Sports North team this week. Let's look back at his playing career and how he's helped build a media empire. Image courtesy of Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports The Twins drafted Trevor Plouffe with the 20th overall selection in the 2004 MLB Draft out of high school in California. He moved quickly through the Twins' system and reached Double-A in 2007, where he was over four years younger than the average age of the competition. Offensively, he never posted an OPS higher than .740 until his third season at Triple-A. In his age-25 season, he finally seemed to put it all together in 2011 when he hit .313/.384/.635 (1.019) with 11 doubles, three triples, and 15 home runs Plouffe's big-league debut came in 2010 when he struggled through his first 22 games. He went 6-for-41 (.146 BA) with three extra-base hits and a 14-to-0 strikeout-to-walk ratio. In 2011, he got his first extended look at the big-league level and posted a 91 OPS+ in 81 games. Over most of the next decade, he became a regular in the Twins' line-up. Plouffe posted an OPS+ of 102 or higher in three out of four seasons from 2012-2015, including two seasons with 20+ homers. His most valuable season was in 2014, when he finished with a 4.2 WAR, which ranked third on the Twins behind Brian Dozier and Phil Hughes. He bounced to four organizations over his final two seasons, including Oakland, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, and Texas. He played 100 games in 2017 for the As and Rays but struggled offensively by hitting .198/.272/.318 (.590) with 16 extra-base hits. His final seven big-league games came in a Phillies uniform, where he went 3-for-12 with one home run and six strikeouts. His final home run was a 16th-inning walk-off home run versus Dodgers' Kike Hernandez. In 2019, he was a non-roster invitee to Phillies spring training and informed them that he planned to retire instead of toiling at Triple-A. Plouffe searched for his place in the baseball world in his post-playing career. The Twins and Bally Sports North initially approached Plouffe about a television role before the 2020 season. Unfortunately, the pandemic changed many plans for baseball that year, and Plouffe found a different media avenue. He started collaborating with Jomboy Media because of the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal, and his role grew from there. He has become a regular on Talkin' Baseball to give insights into a former player's perspective on issues (sign stealing, labor negotiations, etc.) while also interviewing current players about the game. Jomboy has over 1.75 million subscribers on YouTube and is regularly ranked as the most downloaded baseball podcast. Media has continued to evolve in recent years, with baseball fans searching for other avenues to consume content. Jomboy is one of those outlets, and Plouffe has helped to continue the company's growth. Plouffe's role with BSN will continue to evolve throughout the season. While the Twins are in California, he will provide on-field insights similar to what fans have seen in the Dodgers series. BSN also plans to use him for spots after the Twins leave the West Coast. These appearances could be part of the pre- and post-game shows or for in-game insights. Hiring Plouffe is a forward-thinking move for BSN that can bring a new lens to analyzing Twins games. He has kept his pulse on baseball since retiring, and how fans consume the game will continue evolving in the coming years. It will be interesting to see what he can bring to the broadcasts for the remainder of the season. What have your initial impressions been regarding Plouffe? What is your favorite Plouffe memory from his time with the Twins? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins had confidence that Jose Miranda was ready to become the team’s full-time third baseman. Now the team has to wonder what the future of third base looks like for the organization. Image courtesy of Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports Jose Miranda looked like he was naturally progressing to becoming a regular in the Twins’ line-up. He posted a breakout season in the upper minors during the 2021 season on his way to being named the TD Minor League Hitter. Last season, he made his big-league debut and posted a 114 OPS+, even with a late-season slump. During the offseason, he worked to get himself in better shape, and plenty of buzz surrounded him at the season’s start. The Twins hoped he was ready to bat in the middle of their line-up for multiple years. Miranda struggled at the big-league level before the team demoted him last week. In 35 games, he hit .220/.275/.318 (.593) with four doubles, three home runs, and a 23-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Miranda has to hit very well to bring value to the club because his defense is below average, and he is slow on the bases. His struggles have been well documented, and now his future at third base is cloudy. Miranda would never stay at third base for the long term, so let’s reevaluate some of the team’s long-term options at third base. Carlos Correa As Correa ages, he will eventually need to move from shortstop to another defensive home. Many of baseball’s all-time best shortstops moved to third base later in their careers. Minnesota hopes Correa’s health (and ankle) can keep him at shortstop into his early 30s, but father time is undefeated regarding player performance. There is no immediate need to move Correa, but it’s certainly something the team has to consider when completing long-term outlooks. Royce Lewis Correa’s presence at shortstop means Lewis doesn’t have a defined defensive home as he returns from his second ACL surgery. The Twins have said he will primarily play shortstop and third base during rehab appearances. When back in the big leagues, he can serve as the Twins’ shortstop when Correa needs an off-day, but third base might be his best opportunity for regular playing time. During the 2019 Arizona Fall League, he played over 100 innings at third base but has fewer than 30 innings with a Twins affiliate. Brooks Lee Lee seems the ideal fit to be the Twins’ long-term third baseman. He’s played shortstop throughout his professional career, but many expect him to move off the position as he gets closer to the big leagues. Some have wondered whether Lee might solve the Twins’ offensive woes, but calling him up seems a little premature. If he continues to hit well, he can be promoted to Triple-A before midseason and make his big-league debut in the second half. Minnesota fans can envision a future infield that includes Correa at short, Lee at third, and Lewis at second base. Edouard Julien Julien might be a dark horse candidate for third base with the Twins. Nearly all of his professional career has been spent at second base, with just over 20 starts each at first and third base. In college, he was primarily used as a third baseman, so he’s had plenty of reps at the position in the past. It seemed likely for the Twins to give him reps at other defensive positions following his demotion to Triple-A, but he has only played second base this season. Minnesota’s front office might believe that he is best suited for that position, which means third base might not be in his future. Who is the correct answer at third base for the long term? Will Miranda get another look at third? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

During the 2022 season, multiple Twins prospects put themselves on the prospect map with breakout seasons. Now is the time to jump on the Yunior Severino hype train. Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge Names like Edouard Julien, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Marco Raya separated themselves as prospects last season. Julien made his big-league debut in 2023 and projects to be part of the organization’s long-term plans. Rodriguez and Raya are further away from Target Field, but both players have some of the most significant upside in the farm system. Another player hopes his 2023 season will help him rise on prospect lists as he continues to climb the organizational ladder. The Braves originally signed Yunior Severino, a native of the Dominican Republic, for $1.9 million in 2016. He played the 2017 season in the rookie leagues for the Braves, but then MLB stepped in. Atlanta was penalized for circumventing international signing rules during three different signing periods, and 13 players, including Severino, became free agents as part of the club’s penalty. He agreed to a $2.5 million deal with the Twins while being able to keep his initial signing bonus too. The Twins sent Severino to Elizabethton during the 2018 season, where he was over two years younger than the average age of the competition. In 49 games, he hit .263/.321/.424 (.745) with eight doubles and eight home runs. He only faced younger pitchers in six at-bats for the entire season. A thumb fracture cut short his 2019 season in April, and he was limited to a .657 OPS in 100 at-bats. He likely wanted to prove the thumb injury made his performance suffer, but the pandemic took away the 2020 season. In 2021, the Twins had Severino split time between Low- and High-A, where he was still younger than the average age of the competition. In Fort Myers, he posted a .740 OPS with 23 extra-base hits in 63 games. His performance took off after his promotion to Cedar Rapids. In 35 games, he hit .321/.414/.493 (.907) with 12 doubles, one triple, and three home runs. Now in his early 20s, he was proving the Twins were correct to invest in him. Last season, Severino started the year in Cedar Rapids and continued to showcase his powerful swing. In 46 games, he hit .283/.398/.572 (.970) with nine doubles, two triples, and 11 home runs. The Twins promoted him to Wichita in August, and he was over two years younger than the average age of the competition. He held his own in the season’s final 37 games with an .837 OPS, eight doubles, and eight home runs. As a switch hitter, his OPS was only separated by one point from the right and left sides. For the second time in his career, he missed time with a thumb injury, but this time he could return and not have any long-term effects. Severino was Rule 5 eligible this winter, but no team took a chance on him. Minnesota assigned him to Double-A, the level where he finished the 2022 season. His season got off to a good start as he went 18-for-65 (.277) with two doubles and six home runs in April. Things have improved in May, with seven extra-base hits and a 1.053 OPS across the first ten games of the month. Nearly all his damage this season has been from the left side, where he has a .404 OBP and a .706 SLG. His opportunities against lefties have been limited, with 21 plate appearances. He’s been one of the organization’s hottest hitters over the last week, but he is also proving that the numbers he posted in 2022 were not a fluke. Defensively, the Twins have primarily used Severino as a second baseman with experience at third base and two games in the outfield. During the 2023 season, Wichita has only used him at third base, which may provide a better opportunity to impact the big-league roster. He has been known for a strong arm, which can help him at the hot corner. Offensively, he continues to strike out at a high rate which can limit his upside when climbing the organizational ladder. Over the last two seasons, Severino has played at multiple levels, so he will likely have an opportunity to play at Triple-A before the season’s end. It's been more than one hot week for Severino. His power has continued to improve, and he might be putting it all together in 2023. Are you ready to jump on the Severino hype train? What is Severino’s long-term upside? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article