Cody Christie

The Saints have already kicked off their 2023 campaign, and other affiliates will follow shortly. Here is one hitter to watch for each Twins affiliate in 2023. Image courtesy of William Parmeter The Twins have accumulated depth in the upper levels of the minors, with many of their top prospects projected to play at the Double-A and Triple-A levels. Other prospects are further away from Target Field, but that doesn’t mean their development is any less important. Below are hitters to keep tabs on this season, even if they aren’t the top-ranked prospect at that level. Triple-A: Matt Wallner Saints Opening Day Roster Many fans will keep close tabs on Edouard Julien’s Triple-A performance based on a solid spring and WBC performance. Don’t forget about Matt Wallner. He’s coming off a tremendous 2022 season, hitting .277/.412/.542 (.953) with 32 doubles, four triples, and 27 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A. Twins Daily named Wallner the 2022 Minor League Hitter of the Year, but he dropped in the site’s prospect rankings from eighth to eleventh. He’s off to a strong start at Triple-A by going 4-for-12 with three extra-base hits and three runs. Wallner will impact the big-league roster at some point in 2023, but he will have to bide his time with the Saints until an opportunity is available. Double-A: Aaron Sabato Wind Surge Opening Day Roster Brooks Lee, the organization’s top prospect, will start the year at Double-A, where he ended the 2022 season. Like Lee, Sabato is a former first-round pick, but he is still waiting on a breakout season. Last season, he split time between High- and Double-A while hitting .215/.336/.438 (.774) with 17 doubles and 22 home runs. He’s averaged 38 extra-base hits per season in his professional career. Sabato turns 24 years old in June, which should be roughly the average age of the competition at his level. He’s played at two levels in each of his first two professional seasons, so he will be trying to power his way to Triple-A by the season’s second half. High-A: Misael Urbina Kernels Opening Day Roster The Kernels have four of Twins Daily’s top-10 prospects on their Opening Day roster, including Emmanuel Rodriguez, Marco Raya, Connor Prielipp, and Jose Salas. All eyes will be on Rodriguez based on his 2022 performance and emergence as a top-100 global prospect. Urbina is an intriguing name to follow. He was one of Minnesota’s top international signees back in 2018 and played parts of the last two seasons in Fort Myers. Last season, he hit .247/.323/.407 (.730) with 26 extra-base hits in 60 games. He continues to have the skills to be a five-tool player, but he needs to put it all together for an entire season. Low-A: Ricardo Olivar Mighty Mussels Opening Day Roster None of Twins Daily’s top 20 prospects are on the Fort Myers roster to start the 2023 season, but there are still hitters to watch. Danny De Andrade is the top-ranked prospect in the group, and he will be making his full-season debut. Olivar played most of 2022 at the rookie level but posted some solid offensive numbers. In 43 games, he hit .341/.433/.580 (1.013) with 12 doubles, three triples, and five home runs. Defensively, he is a catcher, but the Twins have been giving him more time in the outfield to keep his bat in the line-up. Can he build off his strong offensive showing with more playing time in 2023? Which hitters will you be watching at each level? Will any of the names listed above have a breakout season? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins would likely redo the Tyler Mahle trade if given the opportunity. As the 2023 season begins, Minnesota still hopes to gain some value from this trade. Image courtesy of Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports The Minnesota Twins front office did something fans have wanted for years. The team was in first place with some holes on the roster, and the club traded for a frontline starting pitcher and a high-leverage bullpen arm. It takes significant prospect capital to acquire these types of players, and many national outlets praised the Twins' aggressive approach at the deadline. However, Twins fans are starting to have buyer's remorse when following the prospects that were part of the Tyler Mahle trade. Twins Perspective The Twins thought they were trading for one and a half seasons of Mahle. That likely meant he'd provide the team with roughly 45 starts, but that number has likely dropped to 35 starts if he stays healthy for 2023. Shoulder issues limited him to four starts with Minnesota following the trade, and he has only made more than 30 starts in one big-league season. There is hope that his performance will improve with more innings outside Great American Ballpark, known for surrendering home runs. His fastball is critical to his success, and things could have gone better for him at spring training. Mahle had a rough spring. He allowed nine earned runs in five games (13 2/3 innings), including three home runs and 23 hits. He did post a 12-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio, but all eyes will be on the radar gun during his starts. His fastball was in the 89-93 mph range In his second-to-last spring start, but he improved to 92-94 mph in his last start. Mahle is in his last year of team control, so he is heading to free agency for the first time. He will want to prove that he is healthy, and that will allow him to sign a lucrative free-agent deal next winter. Reds Perspective The Twins knew they were surrendering nearly big-league-ready prospects, and that has come to fruition so far this spring. Spencer Steer earned the Reds starting third base job in his age-25 season. During spring training, he hit .271/.364/.500 (.864) with five doubles and two home runs in 18 games. Defensively, he struggled at third with four errors in his first 12 games this spring. Steer made his big-league debut in September 2022 and played in 28 games. His first taste of the majors had some struggles, as he posted a 72 OPS+ and a 26-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Through his first four games in 2023, he went 4-for-12 with a home run and four walks. The Reds hope he can continue to improve on defense while locking him into third base for multiple years. Christian Encarnacion-Strand was the other prospect sent to the Reds for Mahle, and MLB.com currently ranks him as the organization's seventh-best prospect. Last season, he hit .304/.368/.587 (.955) in 122 games between High-A and Double-A. During spring training, he put up impressive offensive numbers by going 15-for-26 (.577) with a 1.748 OPS. The start of his Triple-A career will be delayed because he suffered a slight disc herniation in his back. The Reds hope he can return to full-time action by the end of April. Like Steer, he will likely become a regular for the Reds in the years ahead. Steer and Encarnacion-Strand have provided the Reds with negative value at the big-league level, so giving this trade some time to see the full value for both teams is essential. Mahle has a chance to be one of the Twins' best pitchers this season, which will help the club get back to the top of the AL Central. Both prospects look poised to help the Reds in 2023, but there are no guarantees when it comes to young players transitioning to the big-league level. Mahle still has a chance to be a stud, and the Twins hope he can provide tremendous value in 2023. How would you grade this trade in hindsight? Will Steer and Encarnacion-Strand become above-average regulars at the big-league level? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Luis Arraez, the Twins' patent-made leadoff hitter, is gone, and Twins fans will see him up close the next three days. In the post-Arraez era, Minnesota's leadoff plan is full of mediocre options. Image courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports The Twins knew what they lost when they traded Luis Arraez to the Marlins. He was a fan favorite and high-contact hitter, an old-school throwback to a bygone era. Arraez fits nicely into the leadoff spot because he is a career .333/.384/.439 (.823) hitter against right-handed pitching. Last season, the Twins started him at leadoff in 91 games, and he got on base nearly 35% of the time. There are no perfect options to replace Arraez in the leadoff spot, so that the Twins may alter their plans in the coming weeks. Max Kepler served as the Twins' leadoff hitter during the opening series in Kansas City. Minnesota might have felt Kepler's spring warranted a shot in the leadoff spot because he went 13-for-34 (.382 BA) with three doubles, two home runs, and four walks. Also, the club faced three right-handed pitchers, but the left-handed hitter went 0-for-13 with a walk. However, there have been some positive signs among those numbers. Four of his nine batted balls have had an exit velocity over 95 mph, which might indicate more hits falling in upcoming games. During Rocco Baldelli's first season, he utilized Kepler as the leadoff hitter in 105 games. Kepler had a breakout season and combined for 28 doubles and 32 home runs from the leadoff spot. He was one of the multiple members of the Bomba Squad Twins that utilized a home run-friendly environment (aka, juiced baseballs) to post career highs in multiple categories. In recent seasons, Kepler has failed to replicate those totals, with MLB's baseball coming back down to earth, literally and figuratively. From 2020-22, Kepler hit .220/.314/.392 (.706) with a 98 OPS+. Kepler only started two games at leadoff in 2022 and 29 games in the first spot during the 2021 campaign. Arraez's emergence meant the Twins didn't need Kepler in the leadoff role, and the team might need to turn to other options if Kepler's hits don't start falling. The Twins gave Joey Gallo multiple starts in the leadoff spot this spring, so there was some discussion of him starting there against right-handed pitchers. Unlike Kepler, he struggled this spring by hitting .214/.298/.333 (.631) with two doubles and a home run. In nine big-league seasons, Gallo has never started a regular-season game in the leadoff spot, and that might have been another reason to pencil him into a different part of the line-up. If Gallo's bat heats up, the team might turn to him instead of Kepler with a righty on the mound. Minnesota is scheduled to face a left-handed starter for the first time on Wednesday, with the Marlins scheduled to start Jesus Luzardo. The Twins can go in multiple directions. Donovan Solano is a high-contact hitter that hit .301/.348/.422 (.770) versus lefties in 2022. Few players can match Arraez's contact skills, but Solano's nickname is "Donny Barrels" for a reason. Kyle Farmer might be an even better option, as he posted a .948 OPS versus lefties last season, including a .380 OBP. It wouldn't surprise me to see either name penciled into the leadoff spot on Wednesday. Moving Byron Buxton to the leadoff spot is also another option against lefties. He's been the team's most consistent hitter to start the season and has plenty of experience in the leadoff spot. During his career, he's started 83 games at leadoff and hit .240/.305/.521 (.825) with 23 doubles and 24 home runs. Buxton is a tremendous base runner, even if the club doesn't have him steal bases as regularly anymore. Putting him higher in the line-up also means he gets more at-bats per game. It will be tough for Twins fans to get a close-up view of Arraez on his new team this week, especially with questions about who should be batting in the leadoff spot. Baldelli has pushed many of the correct buttons to start the season, but the top of the line-up is something to watch. Who do you think will be the leadoff hitter versus left-handed starters? How long will Kepler stick in the leadoff spot versus righties? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

On the Opening Day roster, the Twins have seven veteran players heading to free agency. Since the team doesn't have a long-term commitment, how long of a leash will the Twins give each player in 2023? Image courtesy of Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports Minnesota has an interesting dynamic on the 2023 roster. The front office focused on accumulating veteran depth, but there is also roster flexibility because many veterans aren't under team control beyond 2023. Many of the Twins' top prospects are in the high minors, and the team expects them to be knocking on the door to the big-league level. How long will the Twins stick with underperforming veterans if younger players are ready? Michael A. Taylor, CF Leash: Long Byron Buxton will start the year in a primary DH role, which means Taylor will get regular center field reps. The Twins brought him in because of his defensive reputation, and anything he provides offensively will be a bonus. Taylor is only due $4.5 million for the 2023 season, so he will get plenty of opportunities even if his offensive output is below average. Donovan Solano, UTL Leash: Medium Minnesota signed Solano to a one-year, $2 million deal at the end of February. Jorge Polanco is starting the year on the IL, so Solano figures to get regular infield reps at second base. Over the last four seasons, he has posted a 109 OPS+, so he has been slightly better than the league average. Solano should continue to get playing time even if a prospect is ready to take on a starting role with the Twins. Sonny Gray, SP Leash: Long It takes a lot of starting pitching to make it through a 162-game season, and the Twins expect Gray to continue to be a veteran presence in the rotation. During his first season in Minnesota, Gray posted a 3.08 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP in just under 120 innings. Gray's performance would have to drop significantly for the Twins to cut bait in the middle of the season. He likely has the longest leash of anyone on this list. Joey Gallo, OF/1B Leash: Medium The Twins invested $11 million in Gallo because they believe he can return to being an All-Star caliber hitter. He struggled in 2022 with a 79 OPS+, 30 points below his career average. Minnesota has multiple power-hitting corner outfield prospects, so Gallo isn't guaranteed a spot for the entire season. If he's hitting poorly in the first half, he can be expected to lose at-bats to a younger player. Tyler Mahle, SP Leash: Medium Minnesota invested significant prospect capital in acquiring Mahle, and he dealt with shoulder issues following the trade. He struggled in spring training by posting a 5.93 ERA, including 23 hits (three home runs). His fastball velocity fluctuated during his spring starts, but the team hopes he can put his injury woes behind him. Bailey Ober, Louie Varland, and Simeon Woods Richardson will be waiting at Triple-A for a return trip to the majors. Kenta Maeda Leash: Short The Twins have Maeda penciled into the rotation's fifth spot, and his leash is the shortest among the starters. He is 35 years old and returning from elbow surgery. The Twins have steadfastly said he is a starter, but they have no commitment to him beyond this season. He seems likely to start in the rotation and move to the bullpen if/when there are struggles. He's been an effective reliever, which might be the best way to extend his big-league career. Emilio Pagan Leash: Short Pagan should have the shortest leash of anyone on this list, but the Twins might think more highly of him than fans. He improved in the season's second half but hasn't been a good reliever in multiple seasons. Minnesota will need him to pitch in some crucial spots during the season's first month, and the team might need to move on if he struggles again. Last season, the Twins moved on from someone like Tyler Duffey in the middle of the season, so there is some precedent with the current front office. Who do you think has the shortest leash among the players listed above? Who has the longest leash? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Many national outlets are publishing their predictions for the 2023 season, which can give fans an overarching view of the hometown nine. So, how do national outlets view the 2023 Twins? Image courtesy of William Parmeter Minnesota hasn’t won the AL Central since 2020, and the team has undergone an overhaul the last two seasons. Many veteran pieces that helped the club win back-to-back division titles are gone, so there are questions about how the team will perform during the upcoming campaign. Here’s what national writers say about the Twins, which naturally includes some good and some bad. The Athletic The Twins received votes in the category of being one of baseball’s most underrated teams, but the White Sox and the Guardians were also on the list. When picking the division winner, the Twins finished with 29% of the vote in second place behind the Guardians (54.8%). This position seems like an appropriate spot for the Twins, with Cleveland coming off a season where they won the division by more than ten games. Dan Connolly thinks Carlos Correa will be playing with “a monumental chip on his shoulder,” which could be exciting for Twins fans to watch. ESPN Fifteen of the 28 ESPN writers believe the Guardians will win the AL Central. Chicago finished with the second most votes (7 votes), and Minnesota was third (6 votes). Their write-up focused on how the White Sox can catch the Guardians in the division and didn’t mention the Twins, even though they finished one vote behind Chicago. Minnesota received two votes to be an AL Wild Card team, one more than the White Sox. It seems unlikely that any AL Central teams will accumulate enough wins to earn a Wild Card spot, so the Twins will need to win the division to qualify for the playoffs. Sporting News The Sporting News uses a projection model to predict the standings of every MLB division. According to their model, Cleveland projects to win the division with an 84-78 record. Minnesota is second with an 82-80 record, and the White Sox finish one game behind the Twins. SN said, “It’s hard not to see the upside in Minnesota.” They believe in the starting pitching staff and some young position players that will be added to the current core. Like many outlets, predicting how injuries will impact the Twins is hard. Their writers believe Cleveland will significantly outperform their projected win total, which might make it hard for the Twins to keep pace at the top of the division. MLB.com MLB.com doesn’t mention the Twins in their division winner predictions because their writers believe the division belongs to Cleveland. Their writers feel that the Guardians will use the same formula as 2022, with strong starting pitching and a high-contact offensive approach. Minnesota also doesn’t figure into their AL Wild Card discussion, with Seattle, Toronto, and Tampa projected to qualify for those spots. In MLB.com’s awards preview, Rocco Baldelli received votes as a candidate for AL Manager of the Year. However, nearly every contending team’s manager received some votes. CBS Sports CBS Sports might have the highest view of the Twins from any national outlet, with three of their six writers picking them to win the division. All six of their writers have the Twins in first or second place in the division. Maybe this is more of a sign of them not believing in the White Sox, who finished third on every ballot. Only one of their writers has the Twins as a Wild Card team, but that has more to do with much of the group believing they will win the division. FanGraphs Out of 27 FanGraphs writers, 12 picked the Twins to win the AL Central with 12 votes going to the Guardians and three going to White Sox. The Twins also received two votes as the final AL Wild Card spot, so 14 of their writers believe they will qualify for the postseason. Surprisingly, four of their writers believe the Twins will be the number two overall seed in the American League. USA Today Only one USA Today writer has the Twins making the playoffs. Jesse Yomtov lists the Twins as his third AL Wild Card team behind the Rays and the Mariners. Five of their seven writers have Cleveland winning the division, with the other two voting for Chicago. Who’s projections will be the most accurate? What do the Twins need to do to beat the odds? Is there a chance for an AL Central team to qualify as a Wild Card? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

No Twins pitcher had more than nine saves during the 2022 season. Will that trend change in 2023, and who are the candidates for late-inning opportunities? Image courtesy of Dave Nelson (Jax), Joe Nicholson (Pagan), Aaron Josefczyk (Duran)-USA TODAY Sports Bullpen usage continues to evolve, with some teams not relying on one player to fulfill a traditional closer's role. The Twins had nine players earn at least one save last season, including Emilio Pagan (9 saves), Jhoan Duran (8 saves), and Jorge Lopez (4 saves). All three players are back on the Opening Day roster, so who will lead the Twins in saves during the 2023 season? The Projected Closer: Jorge Lopez Lopez was an All-Star closer with the Orioles before being acquired by the Twins at the 2022 trade deadline. He struggled after being acquired by the Twins with a 4.37 ERA and an 18-to-14 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 22 2/3 innings. Ideally, the Twins likely want him to be used in a more traditional closer role because that gives the team more flexibility with their usage of other bullpen arms. If Lopez leads the team in saves, many things have gone right for the Twins. It likely means his performance is closer to what he did with Baltimore before the trade. Lopez made three scoreless appearances in the World Baseball Classic, so the Twins hope he is back on track for an improved 2023. The Weapon: Jhoan Duran Duran will get save opportunities, especially if the opposition's best hitters are due up in the ninth inning. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli told reporters that he daydreams "about [Duran] closing big games for us." During the 2022 season, he showcased why he is one of baseball's best relievers. In 67 2/3 innings, he posted a 1.86 ERA with an 89-to-16 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He collected more than three outs in 14 of his 57 appearances, with ten appearances lasting two innings. It will be hard for him to replicate those numbers, but he continues to refine his pitches and get more comfortable at the big-league level. The Proven Closer: Emilio Pagan Entering last season, the Twins traded Taylor Rogers to the Padres for Emilio Pagan and Chris Paddack. Pagan was included in the deal to give the Twins another late-inning option. He struggled in the first half when being used in a closer role. In 34 games (32 2/3 innings), he had a 5.23 ERA with a 1.38 WHIP and a 48-to-16 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Twins moved him to lower leverage roles in the second half, and he dropped his ERA to 3.56, but his strikeout rate dropped from 13.2 K/9 to 10.7 K/9. It seems unlikely for Pagan to get many save opportunities in 2023, but he has accumulated 31 total saves in his six-year big-league career. The Wild Card: Griffin Jax Duran wasn't the only young pitcher to transition from a starter to a reliever in 2022. Jax was among the few bright spots in the Twins bullpen with a 3.36 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP, and 9.7 K/9. He was one of a handful of Twins pitchers that went to Driveline Baseball this winter to work on new pitches and refined mechanics. Jax added a cut-fastball, and the results have been outstanding this spring. He has allowed one run in six scoreless appearances and struck out nine batters. He also believes he can add more velocity this season to his fastball, which averaged just over 95 mph in 2022. Jax used his slider over 48% of the time in 2022, but a fastball closer to triple-digits is a scary proposition for opposing batters. Who do you think will lead the Twins in saves this season? Will any players have more than ten saves? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Spring training can allow players to showcase new pitches, swing changes, or improved health. Here are three spring training stat lines that will matter for the 2023 Twins. Image courtesy of William Parmeter Fans should take spring training stat lines with a grain of salt. Sometimes pitchers are working on one specific pitch, and there are times when batters are honing their swing. There can still be signs that a player will have a breakout season or start the season on a hot streak. As spring training ends, three Twins players are setting themselves for breakout seasons. Stats are through games played on March 26th. Jose Miranda, 3B/1B Spring Stat Line: 10-for-36, 3 2B, 5 HR, 5 BB, 3 K Miranda fought through an injury this spring with a sore shoulder that prevented him from playing defensively for multiple weeks. His swing didn’t suffer, with eight of his ten hits being for extra bases. Miranda entered camp after spending the winter slimming down and getting into better playing shape. He tired at the end of the 2022 season, and his on-field results suffered in the season’s final weeks. His improved results speak for themselves, as his five barrels were more than any other Twins player in camp. He had the highest percentage of hard-hit balls among Twins players, with over 100 pitches. The Twins are hoping Miranda can take over the full-time third base job, and his spring training may point to a strong 2023 campaign. Trevor Larnach, OF Spring Stat Line: 12-for-32, 2 2B, 4 HR, 3 BB, 5 K Larnach wasn’t a guarantee to make the Opening Day roster, but injuries to other key players and his spring performance have him poised to head north with the club. He has shown stretches of being a strong hitter during his first two big-league seasons, including a 1.077 OPS last May. MLB.com believes his breakout could be real because his 96.4 mph exit velocity this spring ranks seventh among the nearly 300 hitters with ten or more batted balls. Larnach is getting an opportunity on the Opening Day roster due to injuries to other players. He needs to prove he can stay healthy, which should help him continue producing at a high level. Otherwise, plenty of young hitters will be fighting for a big-league spot in St. Paul. Bailey Ober, SP Spring Stat Line: 4 G, 10 IP, 3 ER, 2 HR, 9 K, 3 BB Ober won’t start the season at the big-league level despite a tremendous spring training. When the Twins traded for Pablo Lopez, Ober became the sixth starting pitcher in what was expected to be a five-man starting rotation. When the Twins drafted Ober, his velocity topped out in the high-80s, but he’s made multiple improvements since 2017. So far this spring, his fastball has reached 94 mph, which helps his other pitches to increase his strikeout totals. His 6-foot-9 frame also helps him to release the ball closer to the plate, which gives batters less reaction time. Ober will have to bide his time in St. Paul, but he is one injury or poor performance from breaking back into the major league level. Which spring performance is much more likely to transition to the 2023 season? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Every team needs things to go right to succeed throughout a 162-game season. Here are four bold predictions that can help the Twins return to the top of the AL Central. Image courtesy of William Parmeter Many baseball writers will make predictions in the coming weeks as Opening Day continues to creep closer. There is a fine line between what one person views as bold and what another person views as reasonable. Every year, weird things happen that go against logic and previous trends. Here are four predictions about the 2023 season, and I will let you decide on their level of boldness. Jhoan Duran Named to AL All-Star Team Duran was among baseball’s best relief pitchers last season while leading American League relievers in Win Probability Added (WPA). There is always a chance that Duran suffers some kind of sophomore slump, and previous injuries are one of the reasons he moved to a bullpen role. If healthy, it’s hard not to imagine Duran being a weapon for Dusty Baker to utilize in any inning of the Midsummer Classic. Duran has shown the ability to add even more velocity when amped up for an appearance, so one inning in the All-Star Game could be a scary proposition for NL batters. Duran would join a growing list of Twins All-Star relievers, including Taylor Rogers, Glen Perkins, Joe Nathan, Eddie Guardado, Rick Aguilera, and Jeff Reardon. Joey Gallo Hits 30 Home Runs Gallo has hit over 30 home runs in three previous seasons, including 38 home runs as recently as 2021. However, Gallo is coming off his worst big-league season, where he hit .160/.280/.357 (.638) with eight doubles, two triples, and 19 home runs in 126 games. Twins hitting coach David Popkins has been able to adjust the swings of players like Carlos Correa and Nick Gordon. There will always be plenty of swings and misses to Gallo’s offensive profile, but he can hit at an All-Star level. He may never be a 40+ home run hitter like he was in his early 20s, but Gallo is poised for a resurgent season in the middle of the Twins lineup. Joe Ryan Finishes Top-5 for the AL Cy Young Cy Young contenders pack the American League, including Gerrit Cole, Jacob deGrom, Shohei Ohtani, and Shane McClanahan. Joe Ryan could join their ranks this season if his improved breaking stuff baffles batters. In his rookie season, Ryan posted a 3.55 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP and a 151-to-47 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 147 innings. He has used his fastball over 60% of the time in his big-league career, but he worked on his other pitches this winter, which has him ready to break out. Ryan will have one of the best seasons by a Twins starting pitcher in quite some time, so make sure to enjoy the ride. Byron Buxton Plays in 115 Games Some fans will shout that 115 games are too much for Buxton, while others will be disappointed if that is all he can’t reach the century mark. Buxton’s injury history has been well documented, and it’s one of the reasons the Twins were able to sign him to a team-friendly extension. His lone season with over 100 games was back in 2017 when he played 140 games and earned the Platinum Glove in center field. Since then, Buxton has been a completely different weapon at the plate, and the Twins will attempt to keep him healthy by using him more regularly as a designated hitter. Buxton must be available throughout the year to win the division, and 115 games seem like a reasonable goal. Do you consider these predictions to be bold? What predictions do you have for the 2023 season? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins sat atop the AL Central for over 100 days during the 2022 season, but injuries and poor roster construction were the team’s downfall. Last season’s roster flaws are even more evident as the 2023 season begins. Image courtesy of Darren Yamashita (Archer), Kiyoshi Mio (Bundy), David Richard (Sano)-USA TODAY Sports One year ago, the Twins began the 2022 season with high hopes of bouncing back from a terrible 2021 campaign. Minnesota added veteran pitchers like Chris Archer, Dylan Bundy, and Joe Smith to fill out the pitching staff. The team also cleared Josh Donaldson off their books by dealing him to the Yankees for Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela. As the 2023 season begins, all four players are still searching for big-league opportunities. Chris Archer, SP 2022 Stats: 25 G, 102 2/3 IP, 4.56 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 84 K, 48 BB, 85 ERA+ Minnesota signed Archer to a one-year, $3.5 million contract late last offseason after the end of the lockout. The hope was he would add depth to the rotation, but he was coming off two seasons where he had pitched limited innings. Before signing, Archer sent data to prospective teams to show he was ready for the season, and the Twins liked that he was close to ready to start the season. Minnesota hoped Archer could continue to build up his innings throughout the season, but that never came to fruition. He pitched five innings or fewer in every appearance. His name has recently been tied to the Toronto Blue Jays, but he had yet to sign when this story was written. Dylan Bundy, SP 2022 Stats: 29 G, 140 IP, 4.89 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 94 K, 28 BB, 79 ERA+ Minnesota had plenty of rotation spots to fill in 2022, and Bundy became the first veteran signing before the lockout. The Twins signed him to a one-year, $4 million option worth an extra $1 million when they bought out his club option this winter. Bundy’s 2022 performance was underwhelming, but he made the most starts on the Twins last season. The Twins needed someone to cover innings, and Bundy could take the ball every fifth day, even if the results were subpar. Like Archer, his name has been tied to the Blue Jays, but he has yet to sign a deal. Gary Sanchez, C 2022 Stats: 128 G, .205/.282/.377 (.659), 24 2B, 16 HR, 89 OPS+ After trading Mitch Garver, the Twins needed catching depth to pair with Ryan Jeffers. Sanchez took on a more full-time role when Jeffers suffered a fractured thumb. The Twins worked to improve Sanchez’s defense, and he saw marginal improvements. He played with the Dominican Republic during the World Baseball Classic and went 0-for-5 with three strikeouts and a walk. The 2019 season was the last time he had an above-average OPS+. Sanchez is one of few free-agent catchers remaining on the market, and Oakland or Boston might be a potential landing spot for the backstop. Miguel Sano, 1B/DH 2022 Stats: 20 G, .083/.211/.133 (.345), 1 HR, 3 OPS+ Sano’s Twins tenure ended on a sour note after missing time with a pair of right knee injuries. He didn’t appear in a game after July 29th. There were up and down moments throughout Sano’s professional career as he tried to live up to his billing as a top-100 prospect. He struck out 119 times or more in every full season and led baseball with 90 strikeouts in 2020. Sano had some highs with the Twins, including an All-Star Game appearance, four seasons with 25+ home runs, and a 116 OPS+ for his career. In early February, he held a workout for interested clubs but remains unsigned. When healthy, he will likely need to accept a minor league contract to prove he is 100% or head to a foreign league for the 2023 season. Will any of these four players return to the big leagues this season? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

In coming years, bigger bases and fewer pick-off attempts might change a team's base-stealing tendencies. Here are five Twins prospects to watch during the 2023 season because of their speed tool. Image courtesy of Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports The Twins have been a poor base running team in recent years, which projects to stay the same in 2023. Last season, Minnesota ranked last in baseball with 38 stolen bases, and FanGraphs ranked the team second to last in BsR, an all-encompassing base running statistic. Some of Minnesota's best base running prospects could help the team's running game in 2023 and beyond. Scouts and front office personnel use a 20-80 scale to evaluate players' tools. This ranking system also projects how those tools will change as the player develops. Speed is one tool that tends to decline as players age, and that reflects in the projections. Below are the top five Twins prospects regarding current and future speed potential. 5. Yasser Mercedes, OF Current Speed/Future Speed: 55/50 Mercedes quickly impacted the 2022 Dominican Summer League after signing with the Twins for $1.7 million out of the Dominican Republic. Born in Puerto Rico, he hit .355/.421/.555 (.975) with 13 doubles, three triples, and four home runs in 41 games. Even more impressively, he stole 30 bases in 35 attempts. He turned 18 in November, so he projects to become more physically mature. All his defensive innings came in center field last season, and the Twins hope he can stick at the position for the long term. Mercedes is a five-tool talent, and speed might be his worst tool when he reaches Target Field. 4. Ben Ross, UTL Current Speed/Future Speed: 60/55 The Twins took Ross with their fifth-round pick in last June's draft out of Notre Dame College (Ohio). Ross was a tremendous hitter in college as he batted .405/.471/.758 (1.229) and showed to be a baserunning threat. He played 22 of his 24 games at Low-A during his professional debut and went a perfect 6-for-6 in stolen base attempts. Since turning pro, the Twins have adjusted his swing, and he has added muscle to his frame. His speed can help him stick at shortstop, but he will likely move around the diamond to multiple defensive positions. He will likely begin 2023 in Fort Myers and is a prospect to watch during the 2023 campaign. 3. Jose Salas, SS Current Speed/Future Speed: 60/55 Salas was the top-ranked prospect acquired from the Marlins as part of the Luis Arraez-Pablo Lopez trade. In 2022, he went 33-for-34 in stolen base attempts between Low-A and High-A. He is a very athletic player that projects to add more weight to his body, which will likely take away from his speed before he reaches the big leagues. For now, he's considered a shortstop, but he might lose some quickness and shift to second base, third base, or the outfield. Salas was over three years younger than the average age of the competition in the Midwest League, so the Twins can have him start the 2023 season in Cedar Rapids. 2. Will Holland, SS/OF Current Speed/Future Speed: 70/65 The Twins selected Holland in the fifth round of the 2019 MLB Draft from Auburn University. His speed helps him on both sides of the ball, and that's one reason the Twins have used him at shortstop and in the outfield. Last season, he went 32-for-36 in stolen base attempts between High-A and Double-A. For a player with limited power, he doesn't make consistent contact (.227 BA in 2022), and he strikes out a lot (137 K in 116 G). His numbers did improve when he got to Double-A, so there is hope he can continue to develop at that level in 2023. 1. Royce Lewis, SS/OF Current Speed/Future Speed: 70/65 Evaluators have praised Lewis' speed since he was an amateur, but that was before two major knee surgeries. He returned strongly from the first surgery and is on pace to return to action later this year. His rehab work from the first knee surgery strengthened him and increased his speed. Lewis averaged 25 steals per season in both years, where he played over 50 games. Last season, he went 12-for-14 in stolen base attempts at Triple-A. Overall, he is a smart base runner with the speed to cause havoc for the opposition. Who do you think has the best speed tool in the Twins system? Should someone else make the list? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. OTHER POSTS IN THE SERIES -Power Tool -Hit Tool View full article

Injuries have reared their ugly head with the season’s start quickly approaching. Here are four non-roster invitees who can make the Twins’ Opening Day roster. Image courtesy of Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports Over the weekend, Derek Falvey told reporters that Jorge Polanco is behind on his preparation for Opening Day. The team has other options to take his spot at second base, but he isn’t the only injury concern. Alex Kirilloff recently started playing in minor league games, and there is still a chance he will start the year on the IL. Here is a look at some players that still have a chance to come north with the Twins next week. Kyle Garlick, OF/DH Twins fans are familiar with Garlick since he has played over 100 games for the club in the last two seasons. He missed some time with a wrist injury in 2022, but the Twins signed him to a one-year, $750,000 contract that will pay him significantly more than the Triple-A minimum salary. Over the last two seasons, Garlick has hit .233/.283/.446 (.728) with 11 doubles and 14 home runs. Those numbers don’t tell Garlick’s entire story. The Twins were forced to use him regularly last season because of mounting injuries. He should only bat against left-handed pitchers, where he had an .805 OPS in 82 PA. The Twins like Garlick, and there is a good chance he will be back in the big leagues in 2023. Jeff Hoffman, RP The Twins signed Hoffman at the end of February to a minor league deal that includes multiple incentives if he’s on the big-league roster. Last season, he made 35 appearances for Cincinnati with a 3.85 ERA and a 45-to-23 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Hoffman has the inside track to the final bullpen spot after the Twins optioned Trevor Megill to the minors and placed Dennis Santana on waivers. In four spring appearances, he has an 8-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio with increased velocity and the ability to pitch more than one inning. Hoffman has previously started games, and Rocco Baldelli has discussed his desire to have a long-man in the bullpen. Hoffman can serve multiple purposes for the Twins, so he will make the Opening Day roster. Willi Castro, UTL Castro has played multiple positions for the Twins this spring and posted some impressive offensive numbers. Through his first 11 games, he went 9-for-29 (.310 BA) with five extra-base hits and a 1.049 OPS. Over the last two seasons, Castro has been a regular for the Detroit Tigers, playing six different defensive positions. He has hit .230/.278/.359 (.637) with an 80 OPS+ since the start of the 2021 season. With multiple injury concerns, the Twins might like his defensive versatility as a bench option. However, his offensive numbers this spring might be a mirage, and Minnesota might want someone with a different offensive skill set on the roster. Tyler White, 1B White hasn’t played at the big-league level since 2019, but the Twins might want that streak to end so he can add first-base depth. Entering play on Tuesday, he is hitting .250/.382/.429 (.811) with three extra-base hits in 34 PA this spring. Last season, he split time at Triple-A for the Brewers and the Braves. In 103 games, he hit .230/.357/.412 (.769) with 13 doubles, two triples, 16 home runs, and an 88-to-70 strikeout-to-walk ratio. White had an .819 OPS against left-handed pitching in 2022, so the Twins could use him in a similar role to Garlick, with him filling in at first base. Will any of these players be on the Opening Day roster? How would you rank their chances of coming north with the club? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

In the article, I linked to the grades that I used for their current rankings (MLB.com). For future grades, I used a combination from multiple sites (Baseball America, FanGraphs, etc.).

MLB has limited defensive shifts, making putting the ball in play even more critical in the coming years. Here are five Twins prospects to watch during the 2023 season because of their hit tool. Image courtesy of William Parmeter In recent years, the Twins have been lucky to have some strong hitters come through the farm system. Minnesota expects Alex Kirilloff and Jose Miranda to be key contributors to the 2023 roster, while former Twin Luis Arraez is coming off the AL Batting Title. Will any of the prospects below be the team's next batting champ? Scouts and front office personnel use a 20-80 scale to evaluate players' tools. This ranking system also projects how those tools will improve as the player develops. Below are the top five Twins prospects regarding current and future hit tool potential. 5. Edouard Julien, IF Current Hit/Future Hit: 45/55 MLB Pipeline gives other Twins prospects a 50-hit tool, but it's hard to have a top-5 list and not include Julien. Last season, he hit .300/.441/.490 (.931) with 39 extra-base hits in 113 Double-A games. The Twins sent him to the Arizona Fall League, and he went 28-for-70 (.400) with five doubles and five home runs in 21 games. Julien has been tremendous for Canada in the World Baseball Classic, but the Twins have already optioned him to Triple-A. The only question that remains is how much he can help the Twins in 2023. 4. Austin Martin, SS/OF Current Hit/Future Hit: 50/55 Martin is coming off a tough 2022 season that saw him fall from a consensus top-100 prospect to needing to prove himself in 2023. He finished the year on a high note by hitting .277/.392/.431 (.823) in September. The Twins sent him to the Arizona Fall League, and he continued his hot hitting. In 97 plate appearances, he hit .374/.454/.482 (.936) with seven extra-base hits and more walks (8) than strikeouts (7). Minnesota worked with Martin on his swing to get more power, but that approach didn't work, and he was feeling more like himself this spring. Unfortunately, a UCL sprain in his right elbow will cause him to miss the start of the 2023 season. 3. Bryan Acuna, SS Current Hit/Future Hit: 55/60 Acuna is the younger brother of Braves superstar Ronald Acuna Jr., and they have very similar swings. The Twins signed him as part of the 2022 international class for roughly $870,000. He debuted professionally in the Dominican Summer League last season and hit .310/.409/.393 (.803) with 12 doubles. He has grown up around baseball and is known for his ability to make solid contact. Entering his age-17 season, he will come stateside, where the Twins can get an even closer look at the younger Acuna. He projects to be smaller than his brother, but that doesn't mean he can't have a better hit tool. 2. Danny De Andrade, SS/3B Current Hit/Future Hit: 55/60 De Andrade has fewer than 100 games played, but he has already made his mark on the Twins organization. MLB.com ranked him as the 14th-best prospect in 2021, and the Twins signed him for $2.2 million. He's known for his bat-to-ball skills, but he can chase pitches out of the zone. De Andrade showed improvement last season in laying off balls and hit .284/.393/.453 (.846) with nine extra-base hits from July 4- August 16. All but five of his plate appearances came against older pitchers, which makes his performance even more impressive. He should get his first taste of Low-A this year in his age-19 campaign. 1. Brooks Lee, SS Current Hit/Future Hit: 65/65 Many evaluators considered Lee the top college hitter in the 2022 MLB Draft, so the Twins were ecstatic that he fell to them with the eighth overall pick. In three collegiate seasons, he hit .351/.426/.647 (1.073) with more walks (64) than strikeouts (63). He played well in wood-bat summer leagues throughout college, which helped increase his draft stock. He played at three levels during his pro debut and hit .303/.389/.451 (.839) with six doubles and four home runs. He's a switch hitter with tremendous bat-to-ball skills that help him generate power. Lee will likely start the year at Double-A, but there's a chance he will make his debut in 2023. Who do you think has the best hit tool in the Twins system? Should someone else make the list? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article