Cody Christie

Minnesota's first draft under the current front office included a critical decision with the number one overall pick. However, that isn't the only player that has impacted the Twins from the 2017 draft class. 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: Royce Lewis, Brent Rooker The Twins had an intriguing choice at the top of the 2017 MLB Draft. Multiple players were in consideration for the top overall pick, including Hunter Greene, MacKenzie Gore, Brendan McKay, and Kyle Wright. Minnesota took Lewis and signed him to an under-slot deal which they could use on other picks in later rounds. Greene and Wright have provided positive value in the early years of their careers while the Twins are waiting on Lewis. Lewis was considered one of baseball's top prospects for multiple seasons, but now he is recovering from his second ACL surgery. At Twins Daily, the minor league writers had difficulty deciding whether Lewis or Brooks Lee should be the organization's top prospect. Lewis began his rehab assignment on Thursday, so he has a chance to rejoin the Twins next month. Minnesota's current front office has loved drafting college bats, and Rooker was the first player to fit this profile. The Twins selected him with the 35th overall pick, a competitive balance before the second round. He played 65 games for the Twins with a 96 OPS+, and the team included him in the Taylor Rogers trade with the Padres. In recent seasons, he's bounced around to a few different organizations before finding a home with the A's. Rooker is leading baseball in SLG, OPS, and OPS+. It didn't look like the Twins had room for him, so it's good he is getting an opportunity for a bad team. Second Round: Landon Leach The Twins used their second-round pick on Leach, a high school pitcher from Canada. He pitched fewer than 60 innings in the Twins organization and topped out in Low-A during the 2021 season. Last season, he pitched in the Braves organization and is currently a free agent. Minnesota passed over multiple players that have accumulated 2.4 WAR or more, including Griffin Canning and Daulton Varsho. Third Round: Blayne Enlow The Twins used some of the money they saved on Lewis to coax Enlow out of his commitment to LSU. He was one of two players in the third round to sign for $2,000,000. Enlow pitched well in the low minors with a sub-3.50 ERA and improving strikeout rates. Unfortunately, he underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2021. Since that time, Minnesota has added and removed him from the 40-man roster. Now in his age-24 season, Enlow is pitching well at Double-A with a 3.56 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and 11.0 K/9. If he continues pitching this well, he can put himself back into the team's long-term plans. 12th Round: Bailey Ober Ober has established himself at the big-league level, and he looks like a steal from the 12th round of the 2017 MLB Draft. He's accumulated more WAR than any other Twins draft pick from that class. Minnesota sent him to Triple-A to begin the season, but Tyler Mahle's season-ending injury firmly puts Ober into the rotation's fourth spot. He's made 35 big-league starts and has a 117 ERA+ for his career. Ober projects to be in the Twins' rotation for the better part of the next decade, which is an excellent value from a late-round pick. Other Notable Picks: Andrew Bechtold, Mark Contreras, Calvin Faucher, Charlie Barnes Bechtold and Contreras may never be significant contributors at the big-league level, but both have provided depth to the Twins organization. Contreras played in 28 games for the Twins last season and struggled with a .441 OPS. He's off to a solid start to the 2023 campaign with a .896 OPS with nine doubles and five homers at Triple-A. Bechtold is also a regular in the Saints line-up, and he has ten extra-base hits in his first 25 games this season. Two other Twins draft picks from the 2017 draft class have made their big-league debuts. Minnesota took Barnes in the fourth round and he pitched his way to Triple-A during his third professional season. He made nine appearances for the 2021 Twins and has pitched the last two seasons in the Korean Baseball Organization. Faucher was the team’s 10th round pick and he was included in the Nelson Cruz trade with Tampa. He’s bounced between Triple-A and the big leagues over the last two seasons with a 5.86 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP across 35 1/3 innings during his MLB stints. How should the Twins feel about the 2017 MLB Draft? Did they make the right pick at the top? Will Enlow impact the big-league roster? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. OTHER POSTS IN THE SERIES -2016 Draft Retrospective View full article

The Twins were hoping each of the four players below would be establishing themselves at the big-league level by now. However, some development roadblocks have hindered consistent success. Image courtesy of Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports In recent seasons, the Twins have seen some solid offensive seasons from players considered among the team's top prospects at the time. These four batters have been named the organization's minor league player of the year over the last five years. The Twins took all four players listed below in the second round or higher, and three of the four were considered top-100 prospects earlier in their careers. After some struggles at the big-league level, let's examine each player and their future with the Twins. Alex Kirilloff, 1B/OF: 2018 Twins Minor League Player of the Year MLB Career: .253/.307/.396 (.703), 96 OPS+, 0.4 WAR, 109 G Entering the 2019 season, Kirilloff was considered among baseball's Top 15 prospects by MLB.com and Baseball America. His rise on prospect lists was tied to a dominant 2018 season when he hit .348/.392/.578 (.970) with 44 doubles, seven triples, and 20 home runs. Projections had Kirilloff developing into a middle-of-the-order hitter that could powerfully spray the ball to all fields. Obviously, wrist injuries have slowed down his ability to produce at the big-league level. The Twins hope his most recent wrist surgery will put him back on a path to being the player many expected him to be five years ago. Trevor Larnach, OF: 2019 Twins Minor League Player of the Year MLB Career: .225/.319/.368 (.687), 93 OPS+, 1.9 WAR, 161 G Larnach followed Kirilloff's footsteps during the 2019 season with a breakout minor league campaign. At High-A and Double-A, he hit .309/.384/.458 (.842) with 20 doubles, one triple, and 13 home runs. It was easy to imagine Kirilloff penciled into the number four spot with Larnach following him in the five-hole. Larnach has yet to find nearly as much offensive success while climbing the organizational ladder. He has posted a .769 OPS in 27 games at Triple-A, which has risen by over 100 points since his recent demotion. His biggest issue has been making consistent contact with offspeed and breaking pitches. Hopefully, he can rediscover his swing at Triple-A. Jose Miranda, 3B/1B: 2021 Twins Minor League Player of the Year MLB Career: .257/.314/.400 (.714), 102 OPS+, 1.1 WAR, 159 G Miranda entered the 2023 season with high expectations based on a rookie campaign where he posted a 114 OPS+. Also, his 2021 season was one of the best offensive campaigns in Twins' minor league history, with 32 doubles and 30 home runs. Unfortunately, his offensive performance has struggled to begin the season. In his first 34 games, he has hit .219/.275/.313 (.588) with three doubles, three home runs, and a 22-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio. According to FanGraphs, he has been worth -0.5 WAR, and the Twins decided to send him to Triple-A to regain his previous form. Matt Wallner, OF: 2022 Twins Minor League Player of the Year MLB Career: .200/.316/.338 (.654), 88 OPS+, -0.2 WAR, 24 G Wallner has the smallest sample size with the Twins compared to the other three players because the Twins drafted him more recently. He is the only player yet to appear on a Top 100 prospect list, because of his age and player type. He's been one of St. Paul's best hitters this season with a .857 OPS and nine extra-base hits in 21 games. Kirilloff and Larnach have been ahead of Wallner on the organization's depth chart, but there is a scenario where he can surpass them during the 2023 season. All the other players on this list have been given significant time with the Twins to work through struggles, and Wallner should get that opportunity sooner rather than later. Which player has the highest ceiling? Who still has the best chance to impact the big-league roster long-term? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins' offense has sputtered through much of the 2023 campaign. Would the team's top prospect be able to add some life to the line-up? Image courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports Entering the 2023 season, most national outlets ranked Brooks Lee as the top prospect in the Twins organization. In fact, he ranked in the 31-45 range among baseball's top 100 prospects. Minnesota drafted Lee with the eighth overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. Some surprising picks earlier in the first round allowed Lee to fall to the Twins. His impact on the organization was immediately evident. Coming from the college ranks, the Twins had Lee get his first taste of professional baseball in the Florida Complex League. He only played four games at that level but went 6-for-17 (.353 BA) with two doubles. Minnesota had him skip Low-A and move directly to High-A. With Cedar Rapids, Lee hit .289/.395/.454 (.848) with four doubles and four home runs. The Twins promoted him to Double-A for Wichita's playoff run, and he helped the Wind Surge qualify for the Texas League Championship Series. It was a whirlwind professional debut, but Lee had solidified his top prospect status. Lee was a non-roster invitee to spring training this season, and the team gave him plenty of opportunities to play and showcase his talents for the big-league staff. He played in 14 games this spring and went 7-for-44 (.159 BA) with two doubles and a 15-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Even with those numbers, Lee was happy to be with the major leaguers and starting to build a relationship with some of the team's core players. "He had what I would call a near-perfect camp -- because nothing's ever perfect, but he did everything and showed us everything that we would be hoping to see from him," manager Rocco Baldelli said. "… I'll bet on the kid." The Twins sent Lee back to Double-A to begin the 2023 season. In his first 27 games, he has hit .274/.333/.434 (.767) with 12 doubles and two home runs. Since the start of May, he has hit .243/.310/.378 (.688) while recently being named the Twins Minor League Player of the Week. His elite hit tool is starting to separate him from other prospects in the organization. He's also been facing older pitchers in all but four of his at-bats this season. Based on his strong start, some people have suggested that Lee might offer the Twins a solution to their offensive woes. However, he's played fewer than 40 games at Double-A and wasn't precisely destroying the ball versus big-league pitching in spring training. He may be able to move to Triple-A in the coming months, but there isn't a reason to rush him to the big leagues, even with Minnesota's struggles. Many players struggle in their first taste of the big leagues, including the organization's last four minor league players of the year (Alex Kirilloff, Trevor Larnach, Jose Miranda, and Matt Wallner). Edouard Julien is another prime example of a top prospect that struggled in his first taste of the majors. He destroyed the ball in spring training and the World Baseball Classic, but he went 6-for-27 (.222 BA) with nine strikeouts in his first eight MLB games. There are things for him to focus on at Triple-A, and hopes remain high that he can make a significant impact for the Twins this season. Lee has been joined in the Double-A line-up by Royce Lewis, the Twins' other top position player prospect. Lewis is rehabbing from his second ACL tear in as many seasons. Minnesota will have 20 days to evaluate Lewis before deciding whether or not to add him to the big-league roster or option him to Triple-A. He might be another candidate to help spark the Twins' offense, but he might have some rust to shake off before being an impact bat. The Twins hope Lee is part of the team's long-term core, but he should be looked at as something other than a savior to the team's line-up. For Minnesota to succeed, players like Carlos Correa, Byron Buxton, and Jorge Polanco must produce at a high level. Lee could supplement the line-up in the second half, but it's not the right time to push him to the MLB level. Do you think the Twins will call up Lee during the 2023 season? How much can a rookie impact the big-league roster? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins announced on Thursday morning that Tyler Mahle will undergo Tommy John surgery. Here’s what that means for the Twins and his future. Image courtesy of Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports Tyler Mahle was arguably the team’s biggest trade deadline acquisition last season, and now his Twins tenure is likely finished after only nine appearances. The Twins announced on Thursday that Mahle will have Tommy John surgery which will sideline him for the remainder of 2023 and a significant portion of 2024. For Mahle, a pending free agent, it’s a horrible development. The Twins also must look back with regret on the trade that brought him to Minnesota. Last August, the Twins sent a trio of prospects to the Cincinnati Reds for Mahle. He was under team control for the 2023 season via arbitration. It was a big swing by the front office to acquire a front-line starting pitcher for infielders Spencer Steer and Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and left-handed pitcher Steven Hajjar. Steer has been the Reds starting third baseman in 2023 while Encarnacion-Strand has hit well at Triple-A. Hajjar was traded to the Guardians organization earlier this season and has yet to appear in a game in 2023. If healthy, Mahle was likely headed toward a big pay day in free agency. The Twins could have offered him the qualifying offer to get draft pick compensation if he signed elsewhere. Unfortunately, both the team and the player miss out with an injury of this caliber. However, it doesn’t have to mean that Mahle’s time in a Twins uniform has come to an end. Previously, the current Twins regime signed Michael Pineda to a two-year deal while he recovered from Tommy John surgery. Earlier this year, the Twins agreed to a contract extension with Chris Paddack while he rehabs from Tommy John surgery. Minnesota signed him to a three-year extension to cover his final two arbitration seasons and his first free agent year. He is on track to return to the mound later this season. There is a chance the Twins could approach Mahle with a similar deal so he can rehab in the Twins organization. However, the club would likely want to buy one or two years of free agency. In hindsight, there is little question the Twins must regret making the initial trade for Mahle. The club knew about his injury history when they traded for him, but they were still willing to trade multiple prospects that ranked highly in the organization. His shoulder issues were frustrating last season because the team wasn’t able to specify the cause of the injury. Even Mahle himself became an unreliable source because he told the media that he felt fine and that he wouldn’t miss time after leaving starts early with diminished velocity. Some players will always say that they are fine, but Mahle hasn’t been healthy for much of the last two seasons. Now, the Twins are going to need to decide if they want Mahle for future seasons. The team has Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Louie Varland and Chris Paddack available for next year’s rotation. There are also young pitchers like Simeon Woods Richardson, Brent Headrick, Jordan Balazovic, and David Festa that might be ready for a starting rotation spot. The Twins can move on from Mahle if they are worried about his long-term health. Do you think the Twins should sign Mahle beyond this season? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Caleb Thielbar has been a vital component of the Twins bullpen in recent seasons. One pitching prospect might be on a path to serve in a similar role in coming seasons. Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge In recent years, the Twins have seen several solid late-inning options, including Taylor Rogers, Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, and Tyler Duffey. Relievers tend to burn bright for a few seasons and then fade away. This was the case with Duffey during the 2022 season, and Rogers has struggled since leaving the Twins organization. Minnesota hopes Duran and Jax are part of the team's relief core for multiple years, but teams will always need more pitching depth. Last week, MLB Pipeline identified one future closer for each organization. This identification process can be challenging for writers because many of the best relievers were failed starters at one point in their professional careers. MLB Pipeline identified Kody Funderburk as a potential future closer for the Twins, but that seems unlikely with his current projections. Let's examine the 26-year-old's professional career and why he'd be a candidate for a late-inning role with the Twins. The Twins selected Funderburk in the 15th round of the 2018 MLB Draft from Dallas Baptist University. He had been used as a two-way player in college, but the Twins wanted him to be a pitcher. His first two professional seasons saw him work his way from rookie ball to High-A by posting a 4.60 ERA with a 9.1 K/9 and some control issues (7 HBP and 14 WP). He was around the age of the competition at each level, but he had a tough time finding consistent success. The pandemic took away the 2020 season, and Funderburk has looked like a different pitcher over the last three seasons. In 2021, Funderburk split time between High- and Double-A while being used as a starter and a multi-inning reliever. In 11 appearances with Cedar Rapids, he posted a 3.18 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP and 11.7 K/9. He moved up to Double-A in July and pitched exclusively out of the bullpen for the first time in his career. Funderburk allowed three earned runs in 21 2/3 innings (1.25 ERA) with a 23-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Following the season, the Twins sent him to the Arizona Fall League, traditionally known as an offensive environment that favors hitters. He started six games and allowed 12 earned runs in 17 2/3 innings with an 11.2 K/9. Funderburk started the 2022 season in the Wind Surge bullpen, but the team needed him to return to the rotation by the season's end. By looking at his numbers, it's easy to see why the team had difficulty deciding which role would be a long-term fit for Funderburk. In the bullpen, he allowed eight earned runs in 36 1/3 innings (1.98 ERA) with a 1.40 WHIP and 6.4 K/9. His ERA rose to 3.44 in 17 starts, but he had a lower WHIP (1.29) and a better K/9 (9.8 K/9). Batter's OPS was only separated by 10 points in his two roles, but the Twins decided it was time to move him to the bullpen for 2023. He began the year at Double-A, where he was 1.3 years older than the average age of the competition. Across nine innings, he allowed one earned run with a 14-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He allowed too many walks and hits, but his strikeout rate jumped to 14.0 K/9. The Twins promoted him to Triple-A before the calendar turned to May, and he has seen limited appearances with the club. However, his strikeout rate continues to be at a career-high. His transition to the bullpen hasn't been flawless, but there have been some positive signs. When he started, Funderburk utilized a four-pitch mix that included a cutter, a two-seamer, a slider, and a changeup. His cutter is the pitch he throws most regularly, and it typically sits in the low-90s. His left-handed arm action is unique, and it helps his pitches have more east-west movement to keep batters off-balance. Seeing how his pitch mix evolves in his transition to the bullpen will be interesting. Minnesota may need another left-handed reliever later this season, and Funderburk is a prime candidate to get an opportunity. It seems unlikely for Funderburk to be Minnesota's closer of the future when the team's current closer is over a year younger than Funderburk. If he can continue adjusting to his new bullpen role, he can be a late-inning option for the Twins in the future. What are your initial thoughts on Funderburk? Can he help the Twins this season? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The 2016 MLB Draft would be the final draft with Terry Ryan serving as general manager. Which players from that draft have impacted the big-league level, and are others on the way? Image courtesy of Jeffrey Becker-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 (15th Overall): Alex Kirilloff Minnesota selected high school outfielder Alex Kirilloff with their first-round pick in 2016. He quickly became one of the Twins' best prospects and was a consensus top-100 global prospect from 2019-2021. His breakout campaign came in 2018 when he hit .348/.392/.578 (.970) with 44 doubles, seven triples, and 20 home runs in 130 games. He was named the Twins minor league player of the year and had the potential to be one of the best-hitting prospects to come through the organization in quite some time. Injuries have drastically altered Kirilloff's career. He had Tommy John surgery while still in the minor leagues, and he's dealt with wrist injuries over the last two seasons. The Twins recently ended his rehab stint and assigned him to Triple-A. Kirilloff hasn't been able to play every day since returning from his most recent wrist surgery, but he has posted terrific numbers when on the field. The Twins will continue to build him up slowly and monitor how his wrist handles an increased workload. Minnesota hopes Kirilloff can be part of the team's core moving forward, but he must prove he can stay healthy. Second Round: Ben Rortvedt, Jose Miranda, Akil Baddoo Minnesota selected Rortvedt with the 56th overall pick in 2016. He worked through the Twins system before debuting during the 2021 season. The Twins traded Rortvedt to the Yankees as part of the Josh Donaldson trade. He has dealt with injuries since the deal and has yet to appear in a big-league game for the club. Rortvedt is considered a strong defensive catcher with little offensive upside. Following Rortvedt, the Twins had two consecutive picks late in the second round, Jose Miranda (73rd overall) and Akil Baddoo (74th overall). Minnesota took Miranda out of high school in Puerto Rico and has put himself into the team's long-term plans. In 2021, Miranda hit .344/.401/.572 (.973) with 32 doubles and 30 home runs on the way to being named the organization's minor league player of the year. Last year, he had an up-and-down season but still posted a 115 OPS+ in 125 games. Based on this performance, Minnesota traded Gio Urshela to open third base for Miranda, and he has struggled to start the season. Baddoo never appeared in a big-league game for the Twins because the Detroit Tigers selected him in the Rule 5 Draft. He had a terrific rookie season in 2021 with 40 extra-base hits and a 112 OPS+ in 124 games. Over the last two seasons, he has struggled to replicate those numbers, with ten extra-base hits and a 66 OPS+ in 94 games. Initially, it looked like the Twins missed out on a solid outfield regular, but his flaws have become more evident over the last two seasons. Other Notable Picks: Griffin Jax, Jordan Balazovic, Tyler Wells Jax was drafted with the 93rd overall pick from the United States Air Force Academy. He was primarily used as a starting pitcher in the minors with mixed results, so the Twins shifted him to a bullpen role. Over the last two seasons, he has developed into one of the team's most reliable relievers. According to FanGraphs, Jax was the third most valuable reliever for the Twins last season behind Jhoan Duran and Caleb Thielbar. The team continues to use him in high-leverage situations, and he's vital to the bullpen's long-term success. Balazovic was one of the team's top-ranked pitching prospects entering last season, but a lot has changed over the last year. He struggled through much of the 2022 season before ending the year on a high note. In spring training this year, someone punched him in the mouth and broke his jaw. This incident set him back to start the year, but he has moved into a starting role at Triple-A. There is a good chance he will make his big-league debut this season since he is already on the 40-man roster. Like Baddoo, Wells was selected in the Rule 5 Draft and has accumulated more WAR than any other Twins draft pick from 2016. The Orioles used Wells in the bullpen during the 2021 season but shifted him to a starting role last season. In 103 2/3 innings, he posted a 4.25 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP and a 76-to-28 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He has performed even better in 2023 with a 132 OPS+ through his first six appearances, including drops in his hit and walk rates. It's interesting to think about how Wells would have fit into the Twins' pitching plan. Kirilloff and Miranda's performance connects to the club's long-term success at the big-league level. It seemed likely for both hitters to be penciled into the middle of the line-up for the next decade, but adjustments might need to be made to that plan. In this draft, the Twins clearly identified multiple players capable of providing value at the big-league level. Who makes the more significant long-term impact for the Twins, Kirilloff or Miranda? Should the team have left Baddoo and Wells unprotected in the Rule 5 Draft? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Joe Ryan is in his second full season with the Twins and continues to evolve as a starting pitcher. He's been a strike-throwing machine this season, so let's dive into the changes he's made so far in 2023. Image courtesy of William Parmeter Joe Ryan was always an intriguing pitching prospect because he has never fit the profile of a typical pitcher. His unique fastball has been discussed at length since joining the Twins organization, and that's what made him so successful in the minors. He releases the ball at a three-quarters arm angle, which can mess with how batters view the expected pitch. One of Ryan's most important focuses was developing his secondary pitches because he wouldn't reach his ceiling throwing fastballs over 60% of the time. Here's a look at his early season changes in 2023. Some of Ryan's early season success is tied to the high strike rate he has been able to accumulate in the season's first month. Inside Edge pointed out that he has thrown at least two strikes in his first three pitches to 78% of opposing batters this season. For reference, the league average is 65%. He has been ahead or even in the count in 111 out of 143 plate appearances this year (78%). Ryan is holding batters to a .342 SLG when he is ahead in the count with 27 strikeouts in 64 at-bats. One reason for Ryan's early season success has been a dramatic change in his pitch mix. During the 2022 season, he threw his fastball over 60% of the time while also relying on his slider (17.8%), changeup (12.1%), curveball (7.2%), and sweeper (2.8%). In 2023, he's using his fastball less than 60% of the time for the first time in his career, and his slider usage has dropped to 5.5%. His most significant increase in pitch usage has been a pitch that Baseball Savant categorizes as a split-finger (27.5%) and a sweeper (9.2%). His slider is getting hit the hardest (.625 SLG), up 85 points compared to last season. He has held batters to a .170 SLG or lower against his split-finger and sweeper. Seven of his eight extra-base hits have come against his fastball, but that is expected with how regularly he throws the pitch. Last season, his fastball was the only pitch with a negative run value for the season (-21 runs), and that total ranked among baseball's best. During the 2023 season, his fastball (-6 runs) and splitter (-5 runs) are both providing negative run value. It will be interesting to track those pitches throughout the season since he currently throws them over 85% of the time. Ryan's improvements this year have helped him post an extreme chase rate that will be tough to maintain for an entire season. Last year, his chase rate ranked in the 33rd percentile among MLB pitchers. To begin 2023, his chase rate ranks in the 96th percentile. There is some hope that his new pitching repertoire will help him continue to get batters to chase pitches, but there will also likely be some regression to his career mark. Unfortunately, not everything is positive for Ryan. He is giving up a lot of hard contact with a Hard Hit % that ranks in the 23rd percentile. He does a tremendous job at hitting his spots but has below-league-average velocity. Hitters can make solid contact on the occasions when his location fails to be perfect. He has given up a lot of ground balls this season, which puts extra pressure on the defense. The Twins' infield defense has ranked poorly to start the season, and he will likely see a few more ground balls find holes behind him in the coming weeks. What have been your impressions of Joe Ryan so far this season? Can he continue to pitch this well? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Pitching prospects can take years to develop through a team's minor league system. One pitching prospect has started to compile numbers that will be tough to ignore by the season's end. Image courtesy of McKenzie Short, Cedar Rapids Kernels Entering the 2023 season, the Twins wanted to make room on the roster for Jose Miranda to take over as the team's full-time third baseman. Gio Urshela had one year remaining of team control and was coming off a strong year where his WAR ranked in the top-5 among Twins players. Minnesota traded him to the Angels for Alejandro Hidalgo, a teenage pitching prospect. At the time of the trade, he ranked as the Angels' number 22 prospect per MLB Pipeline. Hidalgo is off to a good start in the Twins organization and might point to an even stronger performance moving forward. The Angels signed Hidalgo in July 2019 as a 16-year-old out of Venezuela. He wasn't highly sought after in that international class, and the Angels signed him for $30,000. Due to the pandemic, his professional debut didn't come until 2021, when he pitched seven games in rookie ball. In 27 innings, he allowed 14 earned runs on 26 hits, including six home runs. There were some positive signs, as he posted a 31-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio, but he gave up too many hits. He was nearly three years younger than the competition at his level, and he never faced a batter younger than himself. In 2022, the Angels continued to be aggressive with Hidalgo by sending him to Low-A. He made ten starts while posting a 4.62 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 39 innings. His home run rate dropped from 2.0 HR/9 in his professional debut to 0.7 HR/9. His strikeout rate jumped from 10.3 K/9 to 13.4 K/9, but he also saw an increase in his walk rate (3.0 BB/9 to 4.4 BB/9). Nearly 94% of his plate appearances came against older batters, so he remained young for his level. His innings were limited due to a rotator cuff strain that ended his season in June. Since joining the Twins, the club has focused on smoothing out his delivery. According to MLB.com, he attended the Twins' velocity camp in an attempt to get more velo from his delivery. He entered the season with a fastball that averages 92 mph with a solid change-up, which resulted in a 44% miss rate during the 2022 season. The Twins have also worked with him on developing a slider to replace a curveball he had thrown in the past. Minnesota assigned Hidalgo to Cedar Rapids to begin the 2023 season. For the first time in his career, he is over three years younger than the average age of the competition, but his performance hasn't suffered with this assignment. In his first four appearances, he has allowed two earned runs on 11 hits with a 17-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He has yet to allow a home run, but his sample size has been limited to 14 innings. His last appearance was terrific as he pitched 5 1/3 shutout innings with nine strikeouts and one walk while limiting batters to three hits. Hidalgo is only 19 years old and far from Target Field. Also, he has dealt with injuries during his first two professional seasons. The Angels' general manager Perry Minasian had glowing things to say about Hidalgo. "It's always tough to trade young players, especially a great kid with a good arm and a bright future," Minasian said. "But at the end of the day, you have to give to get. I think he's going to have a great career, and hopefully this trade works out for both sides." The Twins have seen positive results from Hidalgo so far, and the club hopes he can continue pitching himself into the team's long-term plans. What are your early impressions of Hidalgo? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

It's hard to believe that the first month of the baseball season has come and gone. With the calendar flipping to May, here were April's top offensive performances in the Twins organization. Image courtesy of William Parmeter, Fort Myers Miracle Before jumping into the top five hitters of the month, here are some honorable mentions. HONORABLE MENTIONS 2B/3B Jorel Ortega - Ft. Myers Mighty Mussels - 18-for-68, .265/.425/.412 (.837), 7 doubles, 1 home run, 13 RBI, 12 runs, 4 SB, 18 BB, 16 K. C/1B Noah Cardenas - Cedar Rapids Kernels - 13-for-50, .260/.373/.420 (.793), 3 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run, 5 RBI, 11 runs, 1 SB, 6 BB, 14 K. INF Ben Ross - Cedar Rapids Kernels - 17-for-60, .283/.318/.450 (.768), 4 doubles, 2 home runs, 7 RBI, 6 runs, 1 SB, 4 BB, 17 K. SS Brooks Lee - Wichita Wind Surge - 17-for-88, .279/.337/.443 (.780), 7 doubles, 2 home runs, 8 RBI, 17 runs, 1 SB, 6 BB, 17 K. OF DaShawn Keirsey - Wichita Wind Surge - 19-for-83, .250/.313/.421 (.734), 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs, 9 RBI, 12 runs, 8 SB, 5 BB, 18 K. 2B Edouard Julien - St. Paul Saints - 13-for-54, .241/.414/.426 (.840), 4 doubles, 2 home runs, 5 RBI, 14 runs, 2 SB, 15 BB, 21 K. THE TOP FIVE APRIL HITTERS Number 5- Fort Myers Mighty Mussels - UTL Dalton Shuffield - 12-for-39, .308/.378/.539 (.916), 1 double, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 10 RBI, 6 runs, 2 SB, 5 BB, 14 K. The Twins drafted Shuffield in the 10th round of the 2022 MLB Draft and played him at three different levels during his professional debut. His first full season is off to a strong start while being used at multiple defensive positions. Shuffield has hits in all but three games this season, and he's reached base in 11 of his first 12 games. He is 2.8 years older than the average age of the competition in the Florida State League, which means he is facing younger pitchers in most of his plate appearances. In 31 at-bats, he has a 1.045 OPS against younger pitchers, including getting on base over 43% of the time. At Hammond Stadium, he has gone 9-for-21 with a 1.335 OPS, with all his extra-base hits coming in home games. Number 4 - Saint Paul Saints - OF Matt Wallner - 15-for-56, .268/.453/.500 (.953), 5 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 10 RBI, 11 runs, 16 BB, 23 K. Wallner's minor league time has been more limited than others on this list because the Twins needed him for a brief six-game stint at the big-league level. One year after being the organization's minor league player of the year, he continues to perform well at Triple-A. His performance against left-handed pitching has been a positive development so far this year for the lefty slugger. He has gone 5-for-17 (.294 BA) with three extra-base hits and an 8-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Overall, his walk rate has increased this year, which can make him an even more dangerous hitter at the big-league level. Over 70% of his plate appearances have come against older pitchers, so it's been good to see him continue to build off his breakout 2022 season. Number 3 - Saint Paul Saints - OF Mark Contreras - 26-for-84, .310/.408/.524 (.932), 6 doubles, 4 home runs, 22 RBI, 19 runs, 12 BB, 27 K. In January, the Twins put Contreras on waivers, but he went unclaimed and stayed in the organization. He made his big-league debut with the Twins last season and has helped add organizational depth in St. Paul. He is tied for the team lead in doubles and home runs on the Saints. He posted an 11-game hitting streak from April 2-April 18, where he went 16-for-42 (.381 BA) with two doubles and three home runs. As a left-handed hitter, he has destroyed righties this season with a 1.031 OPS in 73 plate appearances. Four of his ten extra-base hits have come with two outs and runners in scoring position, so he's come up with some critical hits for the Saints. The Twins have outfield depth, but Contreras might be needed at the big-league level again later this season. Number 2 - Wichita Wind Surge - 3B Yunior Severino - 17-for-61, .279/.371/.590 (.962), 1 double, 6 home runs, 13 RBI, 13 runs, 7 BB, 28 K. Severino was one of 13 prospects the Braves were forced to forfeit as part of penalties from MLB. Minnesota signed him for $2.5 million in 2017, and he has steadily moved through the Twins system. In 2022, he posted an OPS above .900 for the first time in his career while being younger than the average age of the competition at High- and Double-A. The switch-hitting infielder has seen most of his power from the left side this season (1.037 OPS), including all six home runs. Severino has struck out at a high rate this season, so seeing how he adjusts to tougher pitchers in the minor's upper levels will be interesting. And the Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Month is: Fort Myers Mighty Mussels - C/1B Andrew Cossetti - 17-for-52, .327/.471/.654 (1.124), 5 doubles, 4 home runs, 17 RBI, 12 runs, 11 BB, 11 K. The Twins drafted Cossetti in the 11th round of the 2022 MLB Draft from St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia, PA. He's making his professional debut in 2023, and he's been one of the most consistent hitters at any level. In his first 17 games, he reached base multiple times in eight games. His signature game was a 2-for-4 night where he drove in seven runs with a double and a grand slam. Even though he is a righty, right-handed pitchers have struggled to retire him. He has gone 13-for-38 (.342 BA) with four doubles and four home runs for a 1.210 OPS. Cossetti is 1.8 years older than the average age of the competition in the FSL, but nearly 43% of his plate appearances have come against older pitchers. Two-thirds of his defensive innings have been at catcher, so he might be developing into one of the team's best catching prospects. Join us in congratulating Mighty Mussels catcher Andrew Cossetti, Twins Daily's choice for Minor League Hitter of the Month for April 2023. Feel free to share your thoughts and ask questions in the comments. View full article

Edouard Julien got his first taste of the big leagues, and now the Twins have sent him back to Triple-A to continue his development. Here’s what should be on Julien’s Triple-A improvement checklist. Image courtesy of Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports Edouard Julien was the talk of spring training after a tremendous 2022 season at Double-A and in the Arizona Fall League. He continued his hot hitting during the spring and posted tremendous numbers for Canada in the World Baseball Classic. Twins fans were excited to see what he could bring to the big-league roster, but he’d also never played a game at Triple-A. Julien started the year in St. Paul, even with Jorge Polanco and Alex Kirilloff on the injured list. Things went well for him at Triple-A as he went 9-for-31 (.290 BA) with two doubles and two home runs in nine games. He continued to show a strong eye at the plate with seven walks which helped him post an OBP of over 42%. With the Twins, he had two games with multiple hits, but there were struggles in the other five contests. It is a small sample size, and there are things he can improve before being called up again later this year. Gain Experience at Other Defensive Positions During his professional debut, Julien played over 100 innings at four different defensive positions, including first base, second base, third base, and left field. From 2021 through 2022, all his defensive innings have come at second base. On the big-league roster, the Twins are hoping Jorge Polanco is healthy enough to play second base for the remainder of the season, and the team has utilized Bryon Buxton as the primary DH. This doesn’t leave Julien with a clear path to earning another call-up. Julien can’t only be an understudy at second base behind Polanco on the depth chart. He needs to start playing other defensive positions like corner outfield and first base. His defense will not be strong at any position, but getting him experience at Triple-A can help make him a more logical option later in the season. The Twins might only trust him at second base and DH, but that likely means he is waiting for an injury to a key Twins player. Find More Success Against Offspeed Pitches For any player, the jump from Double-A to Triple-A can be challenging with increased competition. Julien had fewer than 40 plate appearances above Double-A before getting his first call-up, so it’s easy to see why he might have struggled with the pitchers he was facing at the big-league level for the first time. He faced offspeed pitches 16.7% of the time and failed to collect a hit. There were also many swings and misses while facing offspeed pitches as he posted an 81.8 Whiff%. Young hitters typically get a steady diet of offspeed offerings when they reach the big leagues. Some hitters like Trevor Larnach are still trying to find regular success versus those pitch types. Julien has the opportunity to go back to Triple-A and see pitchers that might not be throwing the best-offspeed pitches on the planet. Hopefully, he can continue to find success at that level and eventually transition that success to the Twins. Monitor Strikeout to Walk Ratio Last season, Julien posted a 125-to-98 strikeout-to-walk ratio while just missing 100 walks for the second consecutive season. He’s been known for his ability to draw walks and was the first Twins prospect with 100 walks in a season since Bobby Kielty two decades before him. Pitchers weren’t afraid to attack him during his first stint with the Twins, so he only drew one walk in 30 plate appearances. His Triple-A totals are better, with 12 walks through his first 12 games to go with 15 strikeouts. Julien has averaged over 134 walks in his first two professional seasons, so he has some swing-and-miss to his game. The Twins are hoping that his strikeout totals don’t take a big jump with the increased level of competition in the upper minors. Julien needs to get back to controlling the strike zone and showing an ability to draw walks with St. Paul. Should anything else be added to his Triple-A improvement checklist? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Many organizations have tried to emulate the Yankees because of their championship pedigree. Does this mean the Twins can win a championship with their newly updated core players? Image courtesy of Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports Every organization attempts to keep its winning window open as long as possible. Some teams can win multiple championships with the same core group. The Yankees won four World Series titles in five years with a core four that included Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, and Mariano Rivera. Minnesota’s two World Series titles include core players like Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbek, Greg Gagne, and Gene Larkin. In baseball, it takes more than four players to win a championship, but key players must perform at a high level to have sustained success. Last July, I identified players that comprised the team’s core four, but some pieces have changed over the last nine months. So, who are the current members of the Twins Core Four? Byron Buxton Contract Status: Signed thru 2028, 7 yrs/$100M (22-28) Earliest Free Agency: 2029 Twins fans may be frustrated with the team utilizing Buxton as a full-time DH, but he signed a team-friendly deal. According to FanGraphs, Buxton has provided the Twins with a value of $32 million or more in each of the last two seasons. Minnesota only pays him around $15 million per season, so he continues to be worth more than he is paid, even with time missed due to injury. There is some question about how long the Twins will keep Buxton in a full-time DH role, but Michael A. Taylor has performed well as the team’s starting center fielder. He’s one of the team leaders, and the Twins line-up is better with him batting on a daily basis. Carlos Correa Contract Status: Signed thru 2028, 6 yrs/$200M (23-28), 29-32 team option Earliest Free Agency: 2029 Correa wasn’t included on last season’s list because his initial Twins contract would likely be for one year. He opted out of his contract and went through one of the strangest free agent sagas in MLB history. The Twins were lucky to add Correa on a contract with multiple team options at the tail-end of the deal. He is arguably one of baseball’s top 30 players, and Minnesota’s winning potential is tied to his performance and long-term health. Correa can be under team control for the longest of any player on this list, so his long-term legacy will be connected to the Minnesota Twins. Pablo Lopez Contract Status: Signed thru 2027, 4 yrs/$73.5M Earliest Free Agency: 2028 Last season, Joe Ryan was the starting pitcher identified in the core four, and he continues to be part of the team’s long-term plans. Lopez wasn’t on the Twins last season, and now he is signed to a long-term deal that will keep him in Minnesota through his age-31 season. Before trading for him, the Twins identified Lopez as a pitcher who might not be meeting his full potential. The front office was forced to part ways with Luis Arraez, but Lopez has been terrific to start the year. He’s added velocity to his fastball, and he added a sweeper this spring that has stymied hitters early in the season. Lopez has dealt with some injury concerns, but he has found a better routine to stay healthy. The Twins are betting on his early season success translating to a top-of-the-rotation starter. Last season, Joe Ryan was the starting pitcher identified in the core four, and he continues to be part of the team’s long-term plans. Jhoan Duran Contract Status: Pre-Arbitration Eligible Earliest Free Agency: 2028 Duran has established himself as one of baseball’s most dominant relief arms. Minnesota transitioned him to a bullpen role last season, and he immediately became a force. During the 2022 season, he led the American League in win probability added and posted an 11.8 K/9. His strikeout rate has increased in 2023, and the Twins are using him in a more traditional closer role. Bullpen arms can be tough to evaluate long-term because they often burn bright for a season or two before fading away. The Twins moved Duran to the bullpen because of health concerns in the minor leagues. Now, he hopes to stay healthy and continue to perform as one of baseball’s best relief pitchers. What do you think the ceiling is for Minnesota’s Core Four? Would you put someone else in the group? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Yankees make their yearly appearance in Minneapolis this week, with the Twins looking to stay at the top of the AL Central. Let’s look back at the Josh Donaldson trade with the Bronx Bombers on their way to Target Field. Image courtesy of Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports Leading into the 2020 season, the Twins weren’t known for making a big splash on the free-agent market. However, the narrative changed with one big signing. Minnesota inked Josh Donaldson to a four-year, $92 million deal, including an $8 million buyout of a $16 million club option for a fifth year. At the time, the contract was the largest free agent deal in club history and the second-largest in MLB history for a player 33 or older. Minnesota was coming off a 2019 Central Division, where the club set the MLB record for home runs in a season. Donaldson was coming off a season where he was named the NL Comeback Player of the Year with a 126 OPS+ in 155 games. The Twins expected him to help the team continue to contend while also serving as a mentor to some of the team’s younger players. However, his time in Minnesota was filled with more downs than ups. The Twins won the division in 2020, but Donaldson was limited to 28 games in the pandemic-shortened season. He had a 132 OPS+ in limited action, but injuries greatly impacted him, and he wasn’t available for Minnesota’s playoff series with the Astros. In 2021, the Twins were a mess and finished at the bottom of the AL Central. Donaldson finished fourth on the team in the WAR with a 127 OPS+, but he played 34 games at DH to help keep himself healthy. Minnesota’s front office went into the offseason looking to make moves to keep the team’s winning window open. On March 12th, the Twins traded Mitch Garver to the Texas Rangers for Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ronny Henriquez. One day later, Minnesota packaged Kiner-Falefa with Josh Donaldson and Ben Rortvedt for Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela. The trade got the Twins out from under the Donaldson contract, and it helped free up the payroll space that Minnesota eventually used for Carlos Correa’s first Twins contract. Twins Acquisitions Entering the 2022 season, the Twins expected Sanchez to split catching duties with Ryan Jeffers, but one injury changed the plan. Jeffers broke his finger, and Sanchez ended up playing 128 games for the Twins. He hit .205/.282/.377 (.659) with 24 doubles, 16 home runs, and an 89 OPS+. His barrel % and hard hit percentage ranked in the 92nd percentile, so there were some positive offensive signs. Defensively, he improved his framing by moving from the 17th percentile in 2021 to the 50th percentile last season. Sanchez remained unsigned for most of the offseason before signing a minor league deal with the Giants. Urshela finished fourth in WAR on the 2022 Twins after hitting .285/.338/.429 (.767) with 27 doubles, three triples, and 13 home runs. His defensive numbers were poor through the season’s first half, but he made one of the most significant in-season improvements for the Twins. Minnesota wanted to open third base for Jose Miranda, so the Twins traded Urshela to the Angels for right-handed pitching prospect Alejandro Hidalgo. Urshela has a 93 OPS+ in his first 18 games for the Angels, while Hidalgo has allowed one earned run with an 11.1 K/9 in 5 2/3 innings this season. Yankees Acquisitions Donaldson’s first Yankees season was filled with ups and downs. In 132 games, he hit .222/.308/.374 (.682) with 28 doubles and 15 home runs. He posted an OPS+ below 120 for only the second time since 2012. He ranked second among AL third basemen in SABR’s Defensive Index but wasn’t a finalist for the Gold Glove. Donaldson started the 2023 season by going 2-for-16 (.125) with one home run before a hamstring strain pushed him to the IL. Reports this weekend said he would likely miss several more weeks because of the injury. The Yankees planned to use Kiner-Falefa to bridge the gap to some of their young shortstop prospects. Last season, he hit .261/.314/.327 (.642) while playing regularly at shortstop. In 2023, New York handed shortstop to Anthony Volpe, with Kiner-Falefa moving to a utility role. He’s played third base and center field while starting the season going 5-for-31 (.161) at the plate. Kiner-Falefa is entering his final year of team control, so the defensive flexibility might help him land a job for 2024. Rortvedt was the third piece the Twins traded to the Yankees and has been limited by multiple injuries over the last two seasons. He had an oblique injury at the time of the deal, and then he underwent left knee surgery last May. Eventually, he appeared in 42 Triple-A games and hit .218/.311/.394 (.705) with nine doubles and six home runs. During spring training in 2023, he had surgery on an aneurysm of the posterior artery near his left shoulder, causing circulation issues. He’s started a rehab assignment at Low-A, and the Yankees are waiting for him to debut with the big-league club. Winners? Losers? Somewhere In-Between? There are a lot of layers to the Donaldson trade. Minnesota was ecstatic to get out from the remainder of his contract for multiple reasons. Donaldson’s age and injury history will continue to impact him, and teams that sign free agents typically get the best performance in the contract’s early years. The Twins had to acquire some players that weren’t needed in New York, but their performances were hardly the reason for the team’s struggles last year. Trading Donaldson also allowed Minnesota to get creative in the club’s first contract offer to Correa. If Donaldson was on the team, that signing likely doesn’t happen, and then the Twins aren’t in the running to re-sign him this winter. Because of these factors, the Twins scored a rare win against the Yankees. Do you think the Twins won the trade? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article