Cody Christie

The Twins announced that Royce Lewis would miss at least six weeks with his latest injury. Unfortunately, he is following a disappointing trend with the Twins' top prospects. Image courtesy of Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports There are high expectations for any player taken with the first overall pick. When the Twins selected Royce Lewis in 2017, he immediately rose into the conversation as one of baseball's top prospects and has stayed there throughout his time in the minors. Lewis has shown flashes of being a five-tool talent throughout his professional career, but injuries marred the start of his Twins tenure. Like other top prospects before him, injuries are preventing Lewis from reaching his full potential. Here's a look back at the last five Twins Daily top prospects and how injuries have impacted their careers. Austin Martin, SS/OF TD Top Prospect: 2022 Martin was the top prospect received from the Blue Jays in the Jose Berrios trade. Many evaluators viewed him as the best college bat in his draft class, and Toronto drafted him with a top-five pick. Martin struggled last year at Double-A by hitting .241/.368/.317 (.685) with 14 doubles, three triples, and two home runs in 92 games. Minnesota sent him to the AFL, and he posted a .936 OPS, which pointed to a potential turnaround in 2023. Martin entered spring training with a chance to impress the organization, but his elbow started bothering him, and the team shut him down. He was diagnosed with a UCL sprain, an injury that often leads to Tommy John surgery. Minnesota's medical staff decided to have him rehab to try and avoid surgery. He started rehabbing in early June but left his sixth start after colliding with another player in the outfield. Martin restarted his rehab in the last week, and the Twins promoted him to St. Paul. There is still a chance that he will need Tommy John surgery, but there is also an opportunity for him to help the Twins this season. Alex Kirilloff, OF/1B TD Top Prospect: 2021 Kirilloff was a hitting savant by hitting .322/.380/.520 (.900) in his minor league career. He missed the entire 2017 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He returned strongly and debuted with the Twins in the 2020 playoffs against the Astros. Wrist issues have haunted him throughout his big-league career, culminating in a unique wrist surgery last winter where he had an osteotomy procedure to shorten the ulna bone. The team delayed the start of his 2023 season while he worked his way back from this unique procedure. There have been some positive signs since he returned, with his walk rate increasing and flashes of power. In 52 games with the Twins, he has hit .277/.378/.403 (.781). Fans hoped Kirilloff would be a staple in the middle of the Twins' line-up by this point in his career, but there have been multiple bumps in the road. Royce Lewis, SS/3B TD Top Prospect: 2020, 2019, 2018 Lewis is one of the best prospects to come through the Twins organization since Byron Buxton, which makes his injury history even more frustrating for fans. His last two seasons have been cut short due to ACL surgery, and now he will miss around six weeks with a Grade 2 oblique strain. Lewis returned from his second ACL surgery in late May, providing a unique skill set to the Twins' line-up. In 26 games, he slashed .326/.354/.478 (.832) with four home runs. Last year, he provided similar production when he returned from his first ACL surgery. Lewis has a tremendously high ceiling, but injuries have stopped him from impacting the club long-term. Fernando Romero, RHP TD Top Prospect: 2017 Twins Daily made an aggressive selection at the top of the prospect rankings in 2017 because it looked like Romero had the skills to be a frontline starter. Tommy John surgery impacted his early professional career, and he missed the entire 2015 season. However, he returned strongly and posted a sub-2.00 ERA across 16 starts in 2016. He received national attention with Baseball Prospectus, and MLB Pipeline included him in their top-100 prospect rankings entering the 2018 season. His path to the big leagues ran into some struggles in the upper minors. He played parts of two seasons with the Twins but posted a 5.17 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. In 2021 and 2022, he played in Japan before appearing in the Angels organization this season. There were high hopes that Romero could join Jose Berrios at the top of the Twins' rotation, but that dream never became a reality. Byron Buxton, OF/DH TD Top Prospect: 2016 A novel could be written about how injuries have impacted Buxton throughout his career. However, there have been flashes of brilliance when the Twins find a way to keep him on the field. There has only been one season where he played over 100 games, so the Twins decided on a new approach for the 2023 campaign. His knee continues to be an issue, so the club moved him to a full-time DH role. A healthy version of Buxton is one of baseball's top players with his five-tool talent on both sides of the ball. Earlier this season, I argued that Buxton didn't live up to his prospect hype. However, only some players considered baseball's best prospects can become perennial MVP candidates. Injuries will define Buxton's career, and fans are left wondering what might have been. The names listed above are recent examples of top prospects struggling with injuries. Going further back, players like Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Francisco Liriano and Jason Kubel were prospects that suffered injuries in the early part of their careers that didn't give them a clear runway at the big-league level. It's an unfortunate trend and one the team can hope to avoid with the next generation of top prospects. What are your impressions of this disappointing trend for the Twins' top prospects? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Many national outlets took notice of Emmanuel Rodriguez during his breakout 2022 campaign. Don’t look now, but he might be on the cusp of an even better season in 2023. Image courtesy of Steve Buhr, Twins Daily The Twins signed Emmanuel Rodriguez during the 2019 international signing period for $2.5 million. At the time, MLB.com called him the “next Eddie Rosario,” which may have conjured up some mixed feelings for Minnesota fans. As a 16-year-old, Rodriguez showcased many skills that were comparable to Eddie Rosario . His powerful swing could spray the ball around the field, and he had a strong outfield arm. He was considered one of the top international players during his signing period, and the Twins hoped his advanced approach would help him during his professional debut. Unfortunately, the pandemic meant he didn’t debut until the 2021 season in the FCL. In 37 games, he hit .214/.346/.524 (.870) with five doubles, two triples, and ten home runs. His 23 walks helped improve his overall on-base percentage, and he went 9-for-13 in stolen base opportunities. His biggest issue was that he struck out 56 times in 126 at-bats, which was more swing-and-miss than an organization wants from a young player. It was a decent debut, but he hadn’t placed himself among the team’s top prospects. Minnesota sent Rodriguez to the Florida State League in 2022, where he was over two years younger than the average age of the competition. In 47 games, he hit .272/.493/.552 (1.044) with five doubles, three triples, and nine home runs. He continued to show an advanced approach at the plate and drew more walks (57) than strikeouts (52). His numbers are even more impressive because he only faced younger pitchers in four plate appearances for the season. His season was cut short when he tore the meniscus in his right knee while sliding into a base. It was a disappointing end to a season that put him in the conversation as a top prospect. Entering the 2023 season, Emmanuel Rodriguez was among baseball’s Top-100 prospects, according to the three major national outlets. Baseball Prospectus (42nd) and Baseball America (46th) had him among the Top 50, while MLB.com ranked him 88th overall. At Twins Daily, Rodriguez ranked as the third-best prospect in the Twins organization behind Brooks Lee and Royce Lewis. Different outlets value certain traits when it comes to ranking minor league players. Some prefer a player who has proven himself in the upper levels of the minors, and others prefer to consider a player’s overall ceiling. Clearly, Rodriguez was a player that evaluators would watch closely throughout the 2023 campaign. Rodriguez had an interesting start to the season with Cedar Rapids. In his first seven games, he went 5-for-27 (.185 BA) with 17 strikeouts in 34 plate appearances. All five of his hits went for extra bases, including three home runs which resulted in a .953 OPS. He was placed on the Injured List (IL) with a strained left abdomen and didn’t appear in a game from April 15th to May 6th. There were struggles at the plate when he returned from the IL. In 20 games during May, he posted a .572 OPS with three extra-base hits and a 30-to-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Core muscle injuries can linger, which might have been one reason for Rodriguez’s struggles. Rodriguez began to find his offensive stroke as the calendar flipped to June. In the month's first 20 games, he hit .315/.452/.589 (1.041) with three doubles, one triple, and five home runs. He posted a significantly improved 19-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio while being a perfect six-for-six in stolen base attempts. The Kernels continue to use him in center field regularly, but he has also made four starts in right field for the first time in his professional career. Even with time on the IL, he has played in more games than any other professional season, and he’s started to showcase all five tools. Royce Lewis recently graduatd from prospect eligibility, putting Rodriguez in the conversation as the organization’s top prospect. Rodriguez must prove that his hot hitting in June is not a fluke and that he can continue to thrive while facing older pitching. By season’s end, he has an opportunity to be among baseball’s Top 25 prospects, but there is still work to be done in 2023. What impressions do you have regarding Emmanuel Rodriguez over the last two seasons? Would you rank him as the organization’s top overall prospect? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Relief pitching is critical for any team to have consistent success. Here are June's top relief pitcher performances in the Twins' farm system. Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints One appearance can wreak havoc on a reliever's numbers for any given month. In the Twins system, some relievers continue to appear on the monthly award list—those players with the potential to have a long-term impact on the big-league club. Let's dive into some honorable mentions before we reveal this month's winner. RHP Oliver Ortega, St. Paul Saints Ortega joined the big-league club to end the month, but he compiled some strong numbers to start the month at Triple-A. He allowed four earned runs in six appearances (10 IP) and posted a 15-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio. RHP, Alex Scherff, Wichita Wind Surge Scherff made appearances in June for the organization's two highest affiliates. He posted a 2.84 ERA with a 1.50 WHIP with 17 strikeouts and ten walks in 12 2/3 innings. RHP Miguel Rodriguez, Cedar Rapids Kernels Batters went 5-for-29 (.172 BA) with seven strikeouts against Rodriguez in June. He didn't allow an earned run in eight innings and was credited with four saves. His innings were limited compared to others on this list. Now onto the top five: 5. RHP Alejandro Hidalgo, High-A Cedar Rapids Kernels, 10 1/3 IP, 28.6 K%, 2.61 ERA, 0.97 WHIP The Twins acquired Hidalgo from the Angels for Gio Urshela this winter. He began the season as a starter at Cedar Rapids, but the club has moved him into a bullpen role, where he has been more successful. He pitched two innings or more in every appearance for the month and allowed one earned run or fewer in three of his four outings. Hidalgo had a dominant relief appearance on June 8th when he struck out six of the 11 batters he faced over three innings. He's faced older batters in all but seven plate appearances this year, so there is time for him to continue to build off his successful month. 4. RHP Eduardo Soriano, DSL Twins- 15 1/3 IP, 30.8 K%, 2.35 ERA, 1.24 WHIP Soriano is in his third summer in the DSL, so he is over a year older than the average age of the competition at his level. He has yet to start a game but is pitching a starter's workload with three innings or more in every appearance. In his first three appearances (11 IP), he limited batters to one earned run on seven hits while striking out 19 batters. As part of this strong stretch, he pitched five shutout innings with 11 strikeouts. His final appearance of the month was his most challenging as he struggled with his command and allowed a season-high four walks. Will the Twins bring Soriano to the FCL Twins if he continues to pitch well? 3. RHP John Stankiewicz, Cedar Rapids Kernels- 13 1/3 IP, 25.0 K%, 2.03 ERA, 1.05 WHIP Following a poor month of April, Stankiewicz has been one of the best relievers in the Twins organization, including winning the TD Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Month in May. His June numbers looked even better before allowing three earned runs over his final five innings. He pitched two innings or more in all but one June appearance. In his first four appearances during the month, he pitched 8 1/3 scoreless with 12 strikeouts and one walk. On June 10th, he started a game for Cedar Rapids and pitched into the fourth inning without allowing a hit and striking out six. It's his first full season as a reliever, so it will be interesting to see if the Twins promote him in the second half. 2. RHP A.J. Labas, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels/Cedar Rapids Kernels- 13 IP, 36.2 K%, 2.08 ERA, 0.69 WHIP Labas entered June with a 6.62 ERA for the season after allowing 13 earned runs in his first 17 2/3 innings. He reeled off eight straight scoreless appearances to start the month, including three saves. His last appearance in Fort Myers was his worst, as he allowed three earned runs on three hits in 2/3rds of an inning while taking the loss. The Twins felt his overall stretch of strong appearances still warranted a promotion, and he made his first High-A appearance to end the month. With his college experience, Labas has been older than the average age of the competition at every professional level. Now fans can watch his performance and hope his recent hot stretch is a sign of good things to come. 1. LHP Kody Funderburk, St. Paul Saints - 12 1/3 IP, 38.5 K%, 2.92 ERA, 1.14 WHIP Funderburk ended the month of June on a high note at Triple-A. In his final seven appearances, he allowed one earned run on five hits over 8 1/3 innings. He posted a 14-to-2 strikeout-to-walk ratio during that stretch while holding batters to a .167/.242/.300 (.542) slash line. He pitched more than one inning in five consecutive appearances and even made a start as part of a bullpen game earlier in the month. For the season, he has posted a 13.6 K/9 between Double- and Triple-A. Funderburk has been a successful reliever in the upper minors over the last two seasons, and his big-league opportunity is on the horizon. What are your thoughts on the relief pitching performances in the Twins' minor leagues in June? How would you rank these pitchers? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

In recent weeks, many of the Twins' minor league affiliates passed the midway point in their season. Let's look back at the best starting pitching performances down on the farm during June. Image courtesy of Jean Pfiefer (aka, go4twinkies on Instagram) It was a rough pitching month for starters in the upper levels of the Twins system. Minnesota has needed to dig into Triple-A depth which can impact other levels too. However, some players are compiling numbers that will put them in the conversation to start showing up on top-30 prospect lists for the Twins. Let's dive into some honorable mentions before we reveal this month's winner. RHP Kyle Jones, Cedar Rapids Kernels Jones was limited to three starts in June but limited batters to a .216 BA. In 10 innings, he allowed two earned runs on six hits with 14 strikeouts and six walks. He allowed his first two home runs of the year in one June start; otherwise, his numbers would look even better. RHP Jack Noble, FCL Twins Noble is over two years older than the average age of the competition in the FCL, but he compiled some strong numbers in June. He averaged over five innings per start with an 11.5 K/9. Noble held opponents to a .543 OPS with only one extra-base hit against him. He was promoted to Fort Myers at the end of the month. Now onto the top five: 5. LHP Christian MacLeod, High-A Cedar Rapids Kernels, 17 IP, 26.7 K%, 2.12 ERA, 1.47 WHIP MacLeod has fared well since being promoted to High-A at the end of May. In four starts (17 IP), he posted a 2.12 ERA with a 1.47 WHIP and a 20-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He allowed one earned run in every appearance for the month and never allowed more than five hits. His best appearance for the month was an outing where he didn't start. Marco Raya started the game on June 9th and pitched four innings before giving way to MacLeod. He pitched the final five innings, allowing one earned run on four hits with nine strikeouts. MacLeod is slightly younger than the average age of the competition in the Midwest League, so it will be interesting to see what kind of numbers he can compile as he gets more comfortable at that level. 4. RHP Miguel Cordero, DSL Twins- 11 2/3 IP, 40.4 K%, 2.31 ERA, 1.11 WHIP Cordero is in his age-16 season, but he started strongly in his professional debut. He posted a 2.31 ERA in three starts with a 1.14 WHIP and 19 strikeouts over 11 2/3 innings. His first professional start is where batters did all the damage against him. In 3 2/3 innings, he allowed three earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts. In his other two starts, he has been nearly unhittable. Over eight shutout innings, he surrendered one hit and struck out 14 batters. Opponents are hitting .171/.277/.268 (.545) while striking out over 40% of the time. It's been a dominant start to his professional career, and he might be a player to watch in the coming years. 3. RHP Andrew Morris, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels- 23 1/3 IP, 22.8 K%, 1.93 ERA, 0.90 WHIP The Twins took Morris with their fourth-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, and he only pitched one inning during his professional debut. His 2023 season started slowly as he spent time on the IL with right bicep tendonitis and had mixed results on the field. Morris allowed an OPS above .800 in the season's first two months (three appearances) but lowered that to .527 during June. In five starts (23 1/3 innings), he posted a 1.93 ERA with a 21-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He is over a year younger than the average age of the competition in the FSL but has faced younger batters in over 60% of his plate appearances. Morris would likely have been the top pitcher on this list in other months because of his accumulated numbers. 2. RHP C.J. Culpepper, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels- 20 IP, 32.0 K%, 1.35 ERA, 0.95 WHIP Culpepper was the runner-up for this honor after four tremendous starts in Fort Myers. He's also been among the top-performing starting pitchers in the entire Twins system during the first half. Over 20 innings, he posted a 1.35 ERA with a 0.95 WHIP while averaging six strikeouts per appearance. Batters hit .177/.253/.265 (.518) against him, and he's held opponents to a .523 OPS or lower in every month of the season. Culpepper averaged a 62-game score across his four appearances, including two games with a 70 or higher. Minnesota can leave him in Fort Myers for the entire season, but it wouldn't be surprising for him to get a promotion at some point in the second half. 1. RHP Cory Lewis, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels/Cedar Rapids Kernels - 15 2/3 IP, 33.9 K%, 0.57 ERA, 0.96 WHIP The Twins promoted Lewis from Fort Myers to Cedar Rapids earlier in June, and he had no trouble adjusting to the higher level of competition. In his first start, he pitched five shutout innings with eight strikeouts while limiting Daytona to three hits. Six days later, he continued his strikeout barrage with nine strikeouts over five frames. He had 15 or more swinging strikes in each of those two starts. In his final start of the month, he pitched five innings and allowed no earned runs on three hits. Batters hit .146/.242/.182 (.424) against him for the month, his second straight month with an OPS below .500. He has yet to allow a batting average above .200 in any month, and he has one of the best strikeout-to-walk rates in the farm system. For the season, he has faced younger batters the majority of the time, but that will likely change as he pitches more innings in High-A. What are your thoughts on the starting pitching performances in the Twins' minor leagues in June? How would you rank these pitchers? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Nearly one year ago, Byron Buxton was the starting center fielder for the American League in the All-Star Game. A lot has changed in the last 365 days for Minnesota's superstar player. Image courtesy of Jayne Kamin-Oncea and Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports Byron Buxton must have been riding high entering the 2022 season after signing a seven-year, $100 million contract extension with the Twins. He knew that the Twin Cities would be his home for most of his professional career, and his family could establish roots in the community. Buxton was comfortable with the organization, and a healthy start to the year proved how valuable he could be to the Twins. Buxton compiled strong first-half numbers to put himself in the conversation for making his first All-Star Game. In 73 games, he hit .216/.293/.531 (.824) with 11 doubles, three triples, and 23 home runs. Some ups and downs were mixed into that performance, but he headed to Los Angeles for the Midsummer Classic. Eventually, he was named a starter because Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout was scratched with a back injury. Buxton hit a go-ahead home run for the American League, and it seemed like Buxton was at a high point in his career. Buxton's second half didn't go nearly as well as his first half. A knee injury that started bothering him in the first half continued to be a problem and limited his playing time. He only played 19 more games after the All-Star break, and his season ended in August. His 92 games played tied for the second-most in his career, but it's hard not to look at his second half with some disappointment. Buxton wasn't the only player hit by the injury bug, but the Twins lost the division lead in the second half and ended the season on a sour note. Buxton had season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in September to clean up an issue that had bothered him for most of the 2022 campaign. Derek Falvey told reporters that expectations for his recovery time to be only a few weeks and that he should be ready for the start of spring training. Unfortunately, Buxton's knee still wasn't 100% as spring training opened, so the Twins had to adjust their plans for the 2023 season. There has been plenty of discussion about the team's decision to move Buxton to full-time DH. During spring training, the club made the move to ensure Buxton could play on a more regular basis. There was likely hope that Buxton could return to center field later in the season, but there were no guarantees. In the season's first month, it looked like the strategy worked as Buxton hit .258/.324/.557 (.881) with six doubles, one triple, and seven home runs. Much like the 2022 season, it was a hot start that injuries would impact later in the year. Since the calendar turned to May, Buxton has been in an offensive slump while dealing with knee issues, back soreness, and missed time when a pitch hit him in the ribs. In 39 games, he has hit .172/.289/.373 (.662) with 13 extra-base hits and a 48-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli and Buxton both spoke candidly during the last homestand about Buxton's injury concerns this season. Some fans have pushed for Buxton to be playing center field, but the team doesn't believe his body would hold up to the daily grind associated with one of baseball's most demanding defensive positions. They hope he can play center field again, but it seems unlikely in the short term. The last year has been rough for Buxton, and much of the Twins' on-field success ties to his high performance. Injuries will continue to be a part of the equation with Buxton, so the team will continue to adjust their plan for keeping him on the field. Here's hoping the next 365 days go better for Buxton. What are your thoughts on Byron Buxton's last 365 days? Will he play center field again? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Marco Raya had a breakout season in 2022 at Low-A and ranked among the top pitching prospects in the Twins organization. Now in his age-20 season, he is looking to redefine himself as he climbs the organizational ladder. Image courtesy of McKenzie Short, Cedar Rapids Kernels The Twins drafted Marco Raya in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of high school in Texas. It was a strange draft year with limited rounds and no ability to scout players in the weeks leading into the draft. A player like Raya might have gained more steam with a strong spring season, but the Twins were happy to have him still available with the club’s penultimate pick. Drafting and developing high school pitchers can take patience, but the Twins might have a potential top-of-the-rotation pitcher in Raya. Minnesota pushed back Raya’s professional debut until the 2022 season because of a shoulder strain. Minnesota was still aggressive with him by sending him to Low-A, where he was three years younger than the average age of the competition in the FSL. It was also important to limit his innings because of the previous year’s shoulder issues, but he showed plenty of upside in his 65 innings. In 19 appearances (17 starts), he posted a 3.05 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP and a 76-to-23 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He faced older batters in 82.5% of his plate appearances and solidified himself as one of the team’s top starting pitching prospects. Following the season, Raya’s prospect stock was rising. Baseball Prospectus was the only national outlet to rank Raya among baseball’s Top 100 prospects, ranking him 53rd overall. At Twins Daily, he ranked as the fourth-best Twins prospect, ranking higher than any other pitcher. It was a meteoric rise for a player with fewer than 70 innings pitched in his professional career, but there were reasons to be excited about Raya entering the 2023 campaign. There were a few hiccups in Raya’s first two starts of the season. He allowed five earned runs on four hits over 5 2/3 innings, with opponents posting a .939 OPS against him. Raya ran off seven straight starts from there, allowing one earned run or less. In 22 innings, he posted a 1.23 ERA with a 27-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Twins continue to limit his innings as he has yet to pitch more than four innings or throw more than 54 pitches. Raya continues to improve his whiff rate and strikeout percentage. Raya’s elite-level spin rates on his two best pitches have helped him miss a lot of bats to this point in his career. His fastball can reach the upper-90s, and the high spin rate makes it a tough pitch for batters to make consistent contact. His slider sits in the low-80s and is his best secondary pitch. He typically features a four-pitch mix, but he continues to develop his curveball and changeup. Raya can throw all four pitches for strikes and is at his best when he pounds the strike zone and avoids walks. Marco Raya is an undersized player who MiLB.com lists at 6-foot-1 and 170 pounds. There is also some concern because the Twins have limited his workload because of his early career injury concerns. Minnesota has seen success from undersized pitchers, including Jose Berrios pitching at an All-Star level for multiple seasons. Raya’s future as a starting pitcher is tied to his ability to improve secondary pitches and increase his workload. He doesn’t turn 21 until August, so he has plenty of time to continue developing in the Twins system. According to MLB.com, the front office has “fielded plenty of calls from other teams asking about Raya.” That might be one of the team’s best signs to keep him long-term. How do you view Raya’s start to the season? What is his ceiling? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Every team makes bad trades, but some trades look even worse in retrospect. Here is a ranking of the five worst trades made by the current front office. Image courtesy of Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports MLB’s 2023 Trade Deadline is scheduled for August 1st, and the Twins will likely need to add pieces to keep themselves in contention. Before the deadline, looking at previous years and how this front office has approached the trading process is critical. This series will look at some of the best and worst trades made by the current front office. 5. Luis Arraez for Pablo Lopez, Jose Salas, and Byron Chourio Trade Date: January 20th, 2023 Many fans may view the Arraez for Lopez swap as a bad deal because of Arraez’s start to his Marlins tenure. However, the Twins wanted more starting pitching depth, and the Marlins wanted a hitter. Salas was the top prospect acquired by the Twins, and he started slowly in 2023. There is still time for the Twins to gain value from the Lopez-Arraez swap, but it’s hard not to imagine what Arraez could mean to Minnesota’s offense, which has struggled to make consistent contact. 4. Prelander Berroa, Kai-Wei Teng, and Jaylin Davis for Sam Dyson Trade Date: July 31st, 2019 Dyson was Minnesota’s key bullpen acquisition at the 2019 trade deadline, but poor performance and injury marred his Twins tenure. In 12 appearances (11 1/3 innings), he allowed nine earned runs with a 1.77 WHIP and 2.4 HR/9. Dyson eventually revealed that he had been pitching with some discomfort, and the Twins investigated what the Giants knew about the injury before the trade. There was no evidence that San Francisco had any knowledge of an injury. Dyson hasn’t pitched since his last appearance for the Twins, and MLB suspended him for the entire 2021 season for violating the league’s domestic violence policy. Overall, it was a bad trade from start to finish for the Twins. 3. Juan Nunez, Cade Povich, Juan Rojas, and Yennier Cano for Jorge Lopez Trade Date: August 2, 2022 Last season, Lopez was an All-Star in his first year as a reliever, and he was supposed to be the missing piece from the Twins’ bullpen. Following the trade, he posted a 4.37 ERA with a 1.63 WHIP and an 18-to-14 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 22 2/3 innings. His 2023 season started strongly as he didn’t allow an earned run in the first month, but his on-field performance declined in recent weeks, and the team put him on the IL to work on his mental health. Yennier Cano has been one of the AL’s best relievers this season, while Cade Povich has pitched well and is on the cusp of making his big-league debut. This trade has looked bad so far and might only look worse in the future. 2. Taylor Rogers and Brent Rooker for Chris Paddack, Emilio Pagan, and Brayan Medina Trade Date: April 7th, 2022 The timing of this trade will always be questionable. On the eve of Opening Day, the Twins shipped out their best late-inning reliever to the Padres in a five-person trade. Rogers was entering his final year of team control, and there was some value in the return package. Chris Paddack pitched well in five starts for the Twins, but he eventually needed Tommy John surgery. Emilio Pagan has been one of baseball’s worst relievers since the trade while posting a -1.60 WPA. Rogers and Rooker provided little value to the Padres, but it will always seem odd that the club made this move close to Opening Day. 1. Spencer Steer, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and Steve Hajjar for Tyler Mahle Trade Date: August 2nd, 2022 Interestingly, one of Minnesota’s best trades has been with the Reds organization, and their worst trade has been with the same club. Evaluating players is tough, and the Twins knew they were surrendering significant value to acquire a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher. Mahle struggled to stay healthy and was limited to nine starts with the Twins. He underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this summer. Spencer Steer started slowly for the Reds but has turned a corner and looks like an above-average big leaguer. Christian Encarnacion-Strand has been dominating Triple-A pitching and is on pace to make his debut later this season. This trade will only look worse in the coming years. Check out the Twins Daily forums for more trade discussion from the current front office. How would you rank the above-listed trades? Would you have different trades on the list? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Fans will quickly point out trades that end poorly, but the Twins' current front office has seen some good deals during their tenure. Here are the top five trades made by Derek Falvey and Thad Levine. Image courtesy of Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports MLB's 2023 Trade Deadline is scheduled for August 1, and the Twins will likely need to add pieces to keep themselves in contention. Before the deadline, looking at previous years and how this front office has approached the trading process is critical. This series will look at some of the best and worst trades made by the current front office. 5. Josh Donaldson, Isiah Kiner-Falefa , and Ben Rortvedt for Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela Trade Date: March 13, 2022 The Twins didn't gain significant value from this trade, but it might have been more about what the team could dump. Minnesota was ready to move on from Donaldson after two seasons, and the front office was lucky to find an organization willing to take on his salary. Urshela was a solid contributor in his lone Twins season, with Sanchez also providing minimal value. Dumping Donaldson gave the Twins financial flexibility to make other moves leading into the last two seasons. 4. Jermaine Palacios for Jake Odorizzi Trade Date: February 17, 2018 Only a few teams win trades with the Tampa Bay Rays, but the Twins have been successful in recent years. Tampa is known for having limited payroll resources, and Odorizzi was getting expensive through the arbitration process. After the trade, he posted a 4.01 ERA with a 1.28 WHIP and a 110 ERA+ from 2018-19. He was an All-Star during the 2019 season, and the Twins extended him the qualifying offer leading into the 2020 season. Odorizzi struggled during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign by allowing ten earned runs in 13 2/3 innings. Palacios never made it to the big leagues with the Rays, so it was a clear win for the Twins. 3. Chase Petty for Sonny Gray and Francis Peguero Trade Date: March 13, 2022 It's tough to trade a recent first-round pick, but the Twins might have found a way to maximize a player's value. The Twins took Petty with the 26th overall selection in the 2021 MLB Draft, but high school pitchers are one of the most challenging player types to draft and develop. Minnesota got two strong years from a veteran starting pitcher by trading Petty for Gray. Following the 2023 season, the Twins can extend a qualifying offer to Gray. The Twins receive draft pick compensation if he declines the offer and signs with another team. It's an opportunity for the Twins to replace Petty in their system with another high draft pick. Peguero is still in the Twins organization and pitching out of the bullpen at Double-A. Petty might develop into a strong starting pitcher, but the trade still looks good from the Twins' perspective. 2. Eduardo Escobar for Jhoan Duran, Gabriel Maciel, and Ernie De La Trinidad Trade Date: July 27, 2018 Escobar was a fan favorite during his time in Minnesota, so it was tough to see him traded away. However, he was on an expiring contract, and the Twins received three prospects in return. Duran has become one of the game's top relievers, and the Twins have him under team control through the 2027 season. Maciel and De La Trinidad are no longer in the Twins organization, but Duran has provided more WAR for the Twins than Escobar did in the final months of the 2018 season. Duran is arguably one of the team's top-5 most valuable players, and that's why this trade gets ranked so high. 1. Nelson Cruz and Calvin Faucher for Joe Ryan and Drew Strotman Trade Date: July 22, 2021 There have been some strong trades in the Twins' history, but this has the potential to be one of the best. Cruz had been the heart and soul of the Twins line-up for multiple seasons, but he was on an expiring contract, and the club wasn't in contention. The Rays had been interested in Cruz for multiple seasons but couldn't make a deal. Ryan was a highly-ranked pitching prospect in the Rays organization, but many evaluators believed his ceiling was limited because he relied on his fastball. He has continued developing his secondary pitches and is a borderline All-Star in 2023. That's not too bad of a swap for two months of an aging Cruz. Check out the Twins Daily forums for more trade discussions from the current front office. How would you rank the above-listed trades? Would you have different trades on the list? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Entering the 2023 season, the Twins signed Joey Gallo to attempt to rediscover his All-Star form. There have been brief glimpses, but the reclamation project has been a failure. Image courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports The Twins signed Joey Gallo to a one-year, $12 million deal because of his defensive versatility and offensive potential. He won Gold Gloves at two different outfield positions, and the Twins knew they might have a need at first base while Alex Kirilloff ramped up for the season. Twins bench coach Jayce Tingler worked with Gallo in Texas and believed in Gallo’s ability. The team hoped Gallo could put the 2023 season behind him and return to his All-Star-level form at the plate. For Gallo, the 2022 season was an unmitigated disaster. He began the year with the Yankees and hit .159/.282/.339 (.621) with four doubles, 12 home runs, and 106 strikeouts in 82 games. New York can be a harsh environment for players to find success, especially players struggling at the plate. The Yankees traded him to the Dodgers at the deadline, and his OPS increased by 50 points, but it was still over 120 points lower than his career average. It was a disastrous season from start to finish, and Gallo was looking for a new opportunity this winter. The Twins provided him with that opportunity while also having coaching and front-office connections to the Rangers, where Gallo had the most success. Minnesota liked that he could shift between multiple outfield positions and fill in at first base while the team waited for Kirilloff. During spring training, the Twins also experimented with him being a leadoff hitter as the team tried to find the best fit at the top of the line-up. Few would look at Gallo as a leadoff batter, but he has shown solid on-base skills and takes a lot of pitches during his at-bats. The Twins entered the season with high hopes for Gallo, and there were some positive early returns. Gallo was one of the team’s best hitters in the season’s first month. In 19 games, he hit .236/.354/.709 (1.063) with three doubles, one triple, and seven home runs. His 22 strikeouts were high, but any team will take them if it comes with a slugging percentage above .700. He also ranked among the league leaders at first base according to SABR’s Defensive Index. Gallo provided critical hits in the first month and helped the team sit atop the AL Central. It looked like the Twins had solved Gallo’s offensive woes and had him back on track. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that Gallo’s hot start indicates a significant overhaul to his offensive profile. He has struggled mightily since the season’s first month by hitting .157/.284/.306 (.590) with four doubles and four home runs in 36 games. That’s a lower OPS than he had during the 2022 season. Strikeouts have always been an issue for him, but his recent stretch has been even worse than his career totals. He has 51 strikeouts in 108 at-bats since May 2. If the power doesn’t accompany his strikeouts, there’s little reason to continue penciling him into the line-up. Gallo’s hot start masks his overall season numbers. Many fans have been calling for Max Kepler to be designated for assignment, but Gallo has been equally as bad in recent weeks. He isn’t the root of the team’s offensive woes but is quickly becoming the poster child for what’s wrong with the team in 2023. Strikeouts continue to be an issue, and Gallo is an aging veteran that looks past his prime. Tough decisions are on the horizon for the Twins, and the team might have to consider moving on from Gallo. Has Gallo’s Twins tenure been a failure? Should the team move on from him? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins have made nine first-round picks since Derek Falvey and Thad Levine took over at the top of the organization. How do those players rank at this point in their careers? Image courtesy of William Parmeter MLB draft analysis from one year to the next can be challenging because franchises rarely draft in the same position from one year to the next. Also, some draft classes are stronger than others, and teams can try to save money with their first-round pick to use in later rounds. Derek Falvey and Thad Levine have tended to prefer specific player types with their first-round picks, and some of those players have fared better than others to this point in their professional careers. There is a hierarchy in the Twins front office that might cloud who is responsible for drafting players. Falvey is ultimately responsible for everything in the organization. Still, his role in the draft is minimal, other than setting the team's focus on what they look for as an organization. The men at the organization's top can get the credit or blame for drafts while having minimal to do with the process. The team's scouting director Sean Johnson has the ultimate say on who they take in the draft, and the credit/blame should reside with him. 9. Keoni Cavaco, IF 13th Overall Pick in 2019 Evaluators viewed Cavaco as a reach when the Twins picked him, and the club's faith in him has yet to be rewarded. He began his career as a shortstop, moved to third base in 2022, and has only played first base this season. He's been slightly below the average age of the competition at each level, but he has never put it together on either side of the ball. In over 220 minor-league games, he has hit .217/.273/.338 (.610) with a 318-to-55 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Earlier this week he was placed on the developmental list. 8. Aaron Sabato, 1B/DH 27th Overall Pick in 2020 The pandemic greatly impacted the 2020 MLB Draft, with clubs unable to scout players in the months leading into the draft. Minnesota took Sabato because his power was seen as a superior tool, with a .698 SLG in college. Sabato has posted a .776 OPS in three professional seasons with over 140 strikeouts per season while never hitting more than 22 home runs. He provides little to no defensive value and has been inconsistent at the plate. This pick looks like a swing and a miss by the Twins. 7. Brent Rooker, DH 35th Overall Pick in 2017 Rooker looked like a big-league bust before a hot start in Oakland this year. In 64 games, he is hitting .255/.356/.491 (.846) with 12 doubles, 13 home runs, and a 142 OPS+. Minnesota included Rooker with Taylor Rogers in the trade for Chris Paddack, Emilio Pagan, and Brayan Medina. The Padres dealt him to the Royals last season, and the A's claimed him off waivers this winter. Now in his age-28 season, he's getting an extended look at the big-league level for the first time in his career. Following his hot start, he has cooled off significantly in recent weeks. 6. Noah Miller, SS 36th Overall Pick in 2021 Miller is still very early in his professional career, so there is time for him to move up this list eventually. The Twins took Miller with their second pick in the 2021 MLB Draft out of high school in Wisconsin. In three professional seasons, Miller has been more than two years younger than the average age of the competition at his level. He's been used almost exclusively at shortstop with a half dozen appearances at second base. Across 186 games, he has hit .212/.323/.288 (.612) with 33 extra-base hits. During the 2023 season, Miller has faced older pitchers in all but two plate appearances. The Twins have faith that he will eventually be able to hold his own against older competition. 5. Chase Petty, SP 26th Overall Pick in 2021 Petty made two appearances in the Twins organization before the team traded him to the Reds for Sonny Gray. In 2023, Petty is pitching at High-A, where he is over three years younger than the average age. He has allowed four earned runs (1.50 ERA) through six starts with a 26-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He's a long way from the big leagues, and a lot can go wrong with a pitching prospect before their debut. The Reds have seen some success stories in developing hard-throwing high school pitchers, and they hope Petty can join this group. 4. Trevor Larnach, OF 20th Overall Pick in 2018 The Twins drafted Larnach after he was one of the critical hitters on a powerhouse Oregon State team that won the College World Series. He posted tremendous numbers during his first full professional season between High-A and Double-A on his way to being named the Twins Minor League Player of the Year. In 126 games, he hit .309/.384/.458 (.842) with 30 doubles and 13 home runs. He was a consensus top-100 prospect entering the 2020 and 2021 seasons, but he hasn't put it all together at the big-league level, with a .690 OPS in 177 games. He crushes fastballs but struggles with breaking pitches, so he's struggled to stick with the Twins. 3. Matt Wallner, OF 39th Overall Pick in 2019 Wallner fits the type of player this front office typically targets in the draft with college experience and strong power potential. He is the team's reigning Minor League Player of the Year after posting a .953 OPS between Double-A and Triple-A last season. During the 2023 season, the Twins have left him in the minors despite solid numbers with the Saints. In 49 games, he is hitting .298/.414/.547 (.961) with 17 doubles, two triples, and eight home runs. Wallner's offensive profile has a lot of swing and miss, but when he makes solid contact, the ball travels a long way. Minnesota must make room for him at the big-league level at some point in 2023. 2. Royce Lewis, SS/3B 1st Overall Pick in 2017 Lewis can provide the most value out of any player on this list, especially now that he is finally healthy. He's missed parts of the last two seasons due to ACL surgery. Since returning, he has provided some critical hits for the Twins while also learning a new defensive position. In 16 games, he went 16-for-57 (.281 BA) with a .709 OPS and 20 strikeouts. It will be interesting to see how the Twins utilize Lewis in the coming years. Carlos Correa will likely get most of the reps at shortstop, and Lewis prefers to play infield. Is second base his eventual home if the team moves on from Jorge Polanco? 1. Brooks Lee, SS 8th Overall Pick in 2022 Lee entered the season as a consensus top-50 prospect after a pro debut where he posted an .839 OPS in 31 games. During the 2023 season, the Twins sent him back to Double-A, the level he finished at last season. He's hit .270/.348/.425 (.773) with 23 doubles, four home runs, and a 48-to-27 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 57 games. He seems unlikely to play shortstop at the big-league level, but he continues to play there in Double-A. Even with a slow start, Lee still has the potential to be a middle-of-the-order bat for the Twins for a long time. How would you rank the team's first-round picks since 2017? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Kenta Maeda's 30-day rehab window is closing, and the Twins have a few options to add him back to the rotation. Switching to a six-man rotation is possible, but it's unclear if that would be the team's best course of action. Image courtesy of William Parmeter The Twins expect Kenta Maeda to rejoin the club this week after missing nearly two months with a right triceps strain. He is in his age-35 season while also in his first year back from Tommy John surgery. Maeda is among a group of veteran players without ties to the Twins beyond this season. The team plans to continue to use him as a starter, but they may cut ties with him if his performance dictates an alternate direction. Maeda's rehab appearances at Triple-A have been a mixed bag. In his first starts, he pitched two scoreless innings while striking out four and walking one. He tossed three innings in his next appearance and allowed two runs on five hits with four strikeouts. His third appearance was his best, with four shutout innings, including five strikeouts. On Friday, he started and pitched into the fifth frame (4 1/3 innings) and was charged with one earned run. However, he struggled with control and walked four batters while topping out in the low-90s with his fastball. Maeda's performance isn't screaming that he's ready to face big-league pitching, but his rehab window is quickly closing. Since spring training, the Twins have discussed the possibility of moving to a six-man rotation. In camp, the Twins had Maeda, Sonny Gray, Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, Tyler Mahle, and Bailey Ober fighting for five spots. The Twins made it clear to Ober that he'd head to Triple-A to begin the season if the other five pitchers made it out of camp healthy. However, Ober dominated during spring action, opening the possibility of a six-man rotation. Minnesota decided to send Ober to St. Paul for various reasons, but there was a possibility of reevaluating the rotation later in the season. Injuries have impacted the Twins roster, making a six-man rotation slightly more intriguing. There are some benefits to adding another starter to the current group. This move would allow the Twins to give their starters an extra day of rest between appearances. It also allows the club to leave starters in the game longer because their arm is fresher. Minnesota's rotation was among baseball's best in the season's early weeks, but the performance of the team's starters has regressed in recent weeks. There is certainly no guarantee of better performance from the starters when switching to a six-man rotation. There are also bullpen ramifications when adding another starter to the mix. Twins fans have witnessed the club's reliance on the bullpen this year, and that was with eight available arms. Pitchers at the back end of the bullpen have been shuttled between St. Paul and Minneapolis, while other arms have struggled in late-inning situations. Moving to a six-man rotation would limit the Twins to seven arms in the bullpen, which might be something other than what the club wants to do now. As we learned on Tuesday, Louie Varland is headed to Triple-A and Maeda will make a start soon. In his first seven starts (41 innings), Varland posted a 3.51 ERA with a 39-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He has struggled in his last three appearances, allowing 17 earned runs in 15 innings. His biggest issue has been his tendency to give up home runs, which might be one reason the Twins want him to get more time at Triple-A. It would be a tough decision to demote Varland with his early season production, but recent starts make that decision a little easier for the front office. A six-man rotation is undoubtedly something the Twins can consider but now isn't the best time. Minnesota needs arms in the bullpen, especially since there is no guarantee of starters pitching longer, even with more rest. Varland seems to be the odd man out, but his future is still bright, even with a return trip to St. Paul. Should the Twins consider a six-man rotation? How long of a leash does Maeda get when he returns? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Jordan Balazovic’s path to the big leagues included some tumultuous moments, and now he can showcase his skills at baseball’s highest level. Let’s review his professional career, including the ups and downs. Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints The Twins drafted Jordan Balazovic in the fifth round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of secondary school in Canada. Minnesota identified plenty of big-league talent in that draft, and Balazovic is the latest from that class to make his debut. Balazovic was seen as a projectable starter at the time of the draft because of his body type and pitch mix. Scouting high school players from cold weather climates can be challenging, but the Twins saw enough in Balazovic to sign him for $515,000. He spent his first two professional seasons pitching for the GCL Twins, making 18 appearances (72 1/3 innings). He posted a 3.61 ERA with a 1.36 WHIP and a 45-to-25 strikeout-to-walk ratio. During the 2016 season, he never faced a batter younger than himself, and he faced older batters in 80% of his plate appearances in 2017. While his numbers don’t stand out, he added strength to his frame to help him move up the organizational ladder. Balazovic got his first taste of full-season ball during the 2018 season when the Twins assigned him to Cedar Rapids, the organization’s Low-A affiliate at the time. He made 12 appearances (11 starts) and posted a 3.94 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP in 61 2/3 innings. His most significant improvement was in his strikeout rate. He posted a 5.6 K/9 in the rookie leagues, but that total jumped to 11.4 K/9 in his first season with the Kernels. He also continued to be young for the level, as he was 2.4 years younger than the average age of the competition in the Midwest League. In the 2019 season, Balazovic put himself on the prospect map, including being named the Twins’ representative in the Futures Game. He began the year in Cedar Rapids and dominated hitters by limiting them to five earned runs in 20 2/3 innings with 14.4 K/9. He continued his strong pitching performance after being promoted to High-A. In Fort Myers, he posted a 2.84 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP and 11.8 K/9 in 73 innings. Following the season, Baseball America and MLB Pipeline included him in the backend of their top-100 prospect lists. After the pandemic, the Twins added Balazovic to the 40-man roster and sent him to Double-A. His start to the 2021 season was delayed until June because of a back issue. Across 20 starts (97 innings), he combined for a 3.62 ERA with a 1.40 WHIP and 9.5 K/9. He allowed more hits per nine (9.1 H/9), his highest rate since rookie ball, but he was still young for his level, with nearly 82% of his plate appearances coming versus older batters. His fastball averaged 96 mph, and there was hope he’d still develop into a middle-of-the-rotation starter at the big-league level. Balazovic struggled with his on-field performance for the first time in his career during the 2022 season. A knee injury during the spring kept him from pitching until May. He never seemed to put it all together after the injury, but the team continued to use him regularly. With the Saints, he pitched 70 2/3 innings while allowing 58 earned runs (7.39 ERA) with a 1.94 WHIP. His average fastball velocity also dipped to 94 mph. During September, Balazovic had his best month of the season. He posted a 3.43 ERA in five starts with 30 strikeouts and ten walks in 21 innings. The Twins hoped it was a sign of bigger things to come for Balazovic in 2023. Entering this season, Balazovic reported early to Twins camp to get work in before the scheduled reporting date. However, his early arrival led to an altercation. On the evening before the players reported, he went to a local bar, and someone punched him in the face. He broke his jaw, requiring surgery and an overnight hospital stay. In interviews, he told reporters that he didn’t know the person and he didn’t throw a punch of his own. It was shaping up to be an important spring for Balazovic, and this incident put him behind at the season’s start. The Twins were clearly frustrated with the Balazovic situation, making him the first cut during spring training. At Triple-A, he began the year as a reliever, with the team using him sparingly as a spot starter. In 35 2/3 innings, he posted a 4.79 ERA with a 1.60 WHIP and a 5.3 K/9. His performance wasn’t pushing him to the big-league level, but he was on the 40-man roster, and the Twins needed a reliever. Balazovic’s MLB debut showcased what he can do out of the bullpen with 3 2/3 scoreless innings while throwing a lot of strikes. It will be interesting to see how Balazovic adjusts to a bullpen role. He used his fastball and curveball over 32% of the time in his debut. His slider is another option, but he didn’t get a lot of swings and misses. It might be best for him to focus on those three pitches and ditch his changeup since that pitch gets hit the hardest. Few pitchers follow a linear development path, and Balazovic has dealt with some issues on the way to his debut. However, he can provide future value for the Twins. How do you view Balazovic at this point in his career? What is his ceiling? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article