Ted Schwerzler

For whatever reason, it continues to get thrown out there that the Twins should explore trading Carlos Correa. While he is signed to a three-year contract, his opt-outs have always effectively made the deal a one-year pact. If they do want to move him at the deadline, what type of value are we actually talking about? First and foremost, let’s get this out there. The idea of dealing one of your top two players while leading the division seems asinine in and of itself, regardless of the tenure Carlos Correa was going to have with the Twins, Minnesota was able to bring him through a perfect set of circumstances, and he immediately makes their chances to win in the postseason this year that much better. Bad teams look to sign veterans on expiring deals in order to flip them for prospects. Minnesota is not a bad team, Correa’s contract is not a traditional one-year deal, and the chief purpose of bringing him in was always to win. Ok, now, let’s go down the rabbit hole of actually dealing him. The only reason to do this would be for Minnesota to recoup more future value than the absence of Correa would provide. However, given their positioning for the current postseason, they’d need to keep a similar level of overall talent on the big league roster. That means Minnesota’s front office would be hard-pressed to explain dealing Correa for a package filled with future prospects. There would have to be a current major-league asset included, and that would likely water down the overall value. Then there’s the reality that the Twins are trying to replace a guy that’s consistently put up at least 3.0 fWAR on an annual basis, and is again angling to do that. Of the more than 1,500 players to appear at the major-league level last season, 64 of them posted a 3.0 fWAR or better (roughly 4%). To summarize, a player worth 3.0 fWAR in any given season is an incredibly valuable asset. Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano were both considered uber prospects for the Twins in their time. Buxton has surpassed 3.0 fWAR in half of his eight big league seasons while Sano has never done so and has been worth a total of just 8.4 fWAR across eight seasons. Trying to nail a prospect, even the best ones, is an inexact science and could leave any potential return feeling light for years down the road. Looking at Baseball Trade Values, Correa himself is also not some juggernaut in terms of expected value. The simulator puts him at 15.4 at the median, which ranks just above prospect Spencer Steer’s 14. By comparison, the Nationals Juan Soto is at 176.8 as a median trade value. Getting a prospect like Yankees Anthony Volpe would require something like 52.6 in trade value, and even a big league ace in Luis Castillo would require something like 41.2 in median trade value. What we’re getting at here is that while Correa is ridiculously talented, and potentially one of the best players that could be had, his value is held down in being a current rental for any acquiring team as well. Although a new organization would possess exclusive negotiating rights to a new deal, Correa would still be looking for the long-term payday that takes him at least through his age 37 or 38 season. Arguably the best way to drive his price up is by finding multiple bidders on the open market. Whether a team believes they can sign him or not, they’d need some sort of guarantee from Scott Boras (unlikely) before giving up value assuming the player is more than a two or three-month hired assassin. All of this continues to turn back to the Twins. There are very few ways that dealing Carlos Correa would make them better immediately. The likelihood that dealing him makes them better in the long run is bleak as well. Sure, if he leaves, they lose him for nothing, but it was always assumed this was a one-year thing in which he could contribute during a postseason run. Why would you embark on that path at the beginning, and then deviate from it when it’s going so well? View full article

The Minnesota Twins zoned in on collegiate players through the first 10 rounds of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft. They didn’t deviate from that decision with either of the next two picks, but they went back-to-back with catchers and took Arizona State’s Nate Baez in Round 12. Nate Baez began starting in 2021 for the Sun Devils, and then drew starts in 55 of 57 games last season. He slashed .319/.403/.562 last season, and while the home run total jumped just from eight to ten, Baez pushed his doubles total from three to 21 last season. He’s seen as a decent receiver, and he has played some second base as well. Minnesota would certainly love to see him stick behind the dish, and catcher depth is something the system can use. Baez took the time to answer a few questions following his selection by the Twins. Twins Daily: Having worked a little on the infield and corner outfield, the Twins drafted you as a catcher and that's probably where you'd like to stick. What is your process and game behind the plate? What are some of your biggest strengths? Nate Baez: My game behind the plate is to do everything I can to help my pitchers succeed. Their success is my success. My biggest strengths behind the plate are my presence and toughness. Whatever I do I like to go all out and catching is no different. TD: With electronic strike zones still at least a few years away, what would you say about your game as a framer and receiver? Minnesota has been influential when it comes to a knee-down stance, is there something that makes you most comfortable behind the dish? NB: Framing and receiving are the better part of my game. Coming from the infield, the quickness of my hands has helped me to transition and have success early. I like doing a little of everything when it comes to what stance I’m in. The situation will dictate it but there are times when one knee is best and times when it’s not. I am open to everything. TD: At the plate, it seems like you tapped into more power this season. Was that intentional? How did you go about tweaking your swing? NB: I am always looking to add more power to my swing. I just need to do it with less swing and miss. I worked a lot on pitch selection and plate discipline which helped me to hit better overall, and in turn, added to my power. I didn’t really tweak my swing. I tweak my mentality and game plan when I hit. TD: What has been your process in the box? You've done a great job limiting swing and miss issues. Are you a big video or analytics guy? NB: This past year I worked completely off of feel. I never really looked at video or analytics. I know how my swing works and what it needs to feel like to be good. I do like watching video, It just wasn’t really something I did this past year. TD: What do you know about the Minnesota Twins? Have you ever been to Target Field? NB: I do not know much about the Twins, but I do know that they have a very good organization with great development and I’m honored to be a part of it. Never been to Target Field, or even Minnesota. TD: If there's something you want Twins Territory to know about you as a person or player, what would it be? NB: I'm just a kid from Tucson, Arizona, having fun, playing the game I love. View full article

It was in the middle of the article...but moved to the top so it's not missed...

Out since April 30, Minnesota Twins slugger Miguel Sano is set to return to the lineup. After suffering a knee injury which led to surgery repairing a meniscus injury, Sano completes his rehab assignment and rejoins a first place Twins club. In order to make room for Sano, the Twins optioned Gilberto Celestino to Triple-A. After owning a .359 average and .860 OPS through his first 28 games this season, Celestino has hit .202 with just a .503 OPS across 38 games since. Celestino looks the part of a legitimate big league defender, but he may benefit from a reset similar to what he experienced last season with the Saints. Needing a spot on the 40-man roster as well, given Sano was placed on the 60-day injured list, the Twins transferred reliever Danny Coulombe to the 60-day injured list. At the time of Miguel Sano's knee injury, the Minnesota Twins were 12-9 with a three-game lead in the American League Central Division. Sano himself was carrying a terrible .093/.231/.148 (.379) slash line that saw him record just a single extra-base hit in 65 plate appearances. Although it was cold and the ball wasn’t flying to start the year, Rocco Baldelli needed Sano to step up at first base with second-year player Alex Kirilloff dealing with a nagging wrist issue. Minnesota saw Sano as the only true first baseman on the roster, and it wasn’t until Luis Arraez was forced into action at the position that he emerged as an eventual All-Star and held down the fort. The Twins are now 52-44 with a three-game lead in the division, but both the Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Guardians continue to breathe down their neck. Horrible pitching performances have stunted the opportunity to expand on the lead over their competition, but far too often the lineup has gone dormant as well. Obviously, Sano would love to be returning to better numbers, but if you’ve been a fan of Minnesota for any amount of time, you know how quickly Sano can go on one of his hot streaks. He was making loud contact at the big league level prior to his knee injury, and the rehab stint has provided some room to hope. Across 12 games with the Triple-A Saints and FCL Twins, Sano owns a .333/.422/.795 line. He recorded three doubles and blasted five homers while compiling an 12/6 K/BB. Sano returns to somewhat of a crowded situation at first base with Kirilloff and Arraez now both being well established at the position. Rookie Jose Miranda has gone on a tear since a slow start, and while he's more suited at the hot corner, he too has provided value at first base. Sano will draw starts at designated hitter as well, and that role has become less crowded with the injury to Ryan Jeffers. In order to make room for Sano, the Twins optioned Gilberto Celestino to Triple-A. After owning a .359 average and .860 OPS through his first 28 games this season, Celestino has hit .202 with just a .503 OPS across 38 games since. Celestino looks the part of a legitimate big league defender, but he may benefit from a reset similar to what he experienced last season with the Saints. The Twins have just five games left in the month of July. They remain on the road until August 1st, at which point they return home to face a bottom-feeding Detroit Tigers team. Minnesota would love for Sano to parlay hit hot-hitting during his rehab assignment into renewed production at the highest level. It would seem to be a fair assessment that Minnesota would be open to dealing Sano should an offer come their way. He’s still due roughly $12 million even with his 2023 buyout, and opening up the roster spot rather than DFA’ing him for nothing could be a positive outcome. The Major League Baseball trade deadline in 2022 is on August 2nd. View full article

With the trade deadline just a week away, this is a massive stretch for the Twins minor league system. Opposing scouts will be doing final assessments, and players could find themselves moved to a new organization. While the expectation would be that talent goes from Single-A and above, the short-season leagues were on display today. Unfortunately, both got bludgeoned in a major way. Not eligible to play with the St. Paul Saints on Sunday due to the 20 days of rehab assignment time elapsing, Miguel Sano finished his stint playing in 12 games between the FCL and Triple-A. He slashed .333/.422/.795 with three doubles, five homers, and 11 RBI. It’s still tough to see a straightforward path to activation with an injury, but Minnesota must make a decision prior to their tilt with Milwaukee on Tuesday. Signed to a minor league deal over the weekend, veteran pitcher Michael Feliz joined the Twins organization. He has logged 250 Major League innings and pitched for the Red Sox this season. Should he debut for the Twins, Feliz would be on his sixth big league club. There isn’t a solid record of performance, although the strikeout numbers are substantial. COMPLEX CHRONICLES FCL Rays 6, FCL Twins 0 Box Score The good news is that Matt Canterino made a rehab start in this one and worked a scoreless inning allowing a single hit and generating one strikeout. Ben Heller then made his second appearance since signing with Minnesota, but allowed four runs, three earned, on four hits over two innings. Ricardo Olivar recorded the lone extra-base hit for the Twins, a double, and his two-hit game was the lone highlight with just one other hit being recorded. The Twins made four errors in this one. DOMINICAN DAILIES DSL Rockies 14, DSL Twins 5 Box Score The Twins got down 7-0 in the first two innings today. Bryan Acuna finally got them on the board with a line drive single to score Yasser Mercedes. Unfortunately, that's the only run they'd score until the 8th inning. Now down 14-1, Daniel Pena hit his first professional homer, in his 30th game. The Twins got an extra few runs in the 9th inning on a wild pitch and a Junior Marino single, but the 14-5 tally is as close as it got. Acuna had a solid 3-for-5 day and was joined by Pena in that effort. Harold Grant and Mercedes both had two hits. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Matt Canterino (FCL Twins) - 1.0 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER 0 BB, K Hitter of the Day – Daniel Pena (DSL Twins) - 3-4, HR(1), R, 2 RBI PROSPECT SUMMARY We will again keep tabs on the Twins top prospects. You’ll probably read about them in the team sections, but if they aren’t there, you’ll see how they did here. Here’s a look at how the current Twins Daily Top 20 performed: #5 - Matt Canterino (FCL Twins) - 1.0 IP, H, 0 R, 0 ER 0 BB, K TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Iowa @ St. Paul (7:07PM CST) - LHP Devin Smeltzer NW Arkansas @ Wichita (7:05PM CST) - TBD Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin (6:40PM CST) - TBD Tampa @ Fort Myers (6:00PM CST) - TBD Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Thursday’s games! It sure is exciting to have all four Twins full-season affiliates and the two Complex Season affiliates back and playing. View full article

Picking 8th overall in the 2022 Major League Baseball draft, the Twins were bound to wind up with a solid talent. After grabbing Brooks Lee, they found themselves in position to get another first-round talent when they took Alabama’s Connor Prielipp in round two. A lefty starter from Tomah, Wisconsin, Connor Prielipp was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in 2019 and tabbed as the state’s top draft prospect. As the Crimson Tide staff ace, Prielipp dominated to the tune of 21 scoreless innings with 35 strikeouts before the pandemic ended the 2020 season. He underwent Tommy John surgery last May, but showed well during the Major League Baseball draft combine. Prielipp has a devastating slider and can touch 95 mph on his fastball. He’s agreed to an over-slot deal with the Twins. His professional career will soon be underway, I caught up with him in the days following the selection. Twins Daily: Your draft status was talked about as an early pick, but having not pitched after surgery you had to have some uncertainty as to how things would go. What was the experience surrounding the draft and workouts for you? Connor Prielipp: Yeah, not pitching for a long time was really tough on me, but I never lost the confidence that I had while I was playing, and I always believed in myself. I was able to do the bullpen in Hoover and the [MLB] Combine and to be fortunate enough to give myself the opportunity to play professional baseball. TD: Your stuff was some of the best in the country prior to Tommy John surgery. How have you rebuilt following surgery and where do you feel like you’re at now? CP: My Tommy John surgery rehab has gone very well throughout the whole process, and I feel like I am just about back to my old self at the moment. TD: With such an impressive slider and the Twins being notable for loving the pitch, what are you most excited about developing with your offerings and repertoire? CP: I am very excited to start working with a professional staff, and I am not working on anything, in particular, to add to my repertoire at the moment. TD: Coming into professional baseball, what do you think is the thing that you as a pitcher can take the biggest leap? How do you feel about the pitch clock in the minors? CP: The biggest leap that I can take as a pitcher coming into professional baseball is to just become more polished and to be more consistent with all my pitches. The pitch clock doesn’t really bother me, and I don’t really have too big of an opinion on it. TD: What do you know about the Minnesota Twins? Have you ever been to Target Field? CP: Growing up close to the Twins and Target Field, I know a lot about who their best players were and some of their history, but I, unfortunately, grew up a Brewers fan and never made the trip to Target Field. TD: As a person or player, what is something you want Twins Territory to know about you? CP: Something that I would want Twins Territory to know about me is that I am going to do everything in my power to try and bring a World Series to Minneapolis. View full article

As is the case with most Major League Baseball drafts, teams need to look at the pitching across their organization and provide an influx of talent. Minnesota did that over the course of their 20 selections, and one of the names comes from Cal Baptist. In the 13th round, the Twins selected C.J. Culpepper. A native of California, C.J. Culpepper stayed home when going to college. After appearing exclusively out of the bullpen in 2021, he compiled 69 innings as a starter this past year. Culpepper posted a solid 3.26 ERA and allowed opposing hitters to bat just .216 off of him. A righty that averaged more than a strikeout per inning, he’s certainly hoping to take another step with the Twins. Before his professional career gets going, he was kind enough to answer a few questions. Twins Daily: Working as a starter for the first time in your collegiate career this season, how did that change your process in attacking lineups and going through games? C.J. Culpepper: I knew that changing from a closer to a starter I needed to get through lineups multiple times. So not falling into a pattern was huge for me. Trusting every pitch that coach calls I put all of my trust into that pitch. Execute every pitch to the best of my ability. TD: Give us an idea of your repertoire. What do you feature? What's your best pitch? Is there an offering you're looking to improve? CC: I feature a four-seam fastball with natural cut, a slider, curveball, and a change-up My best pitch is my slider, I have become very comfortable throwing it where and when I want! I can always look to improve all my pitches but one above all is my change up, has really good bite and depth to it, just need it more consistent. TD: The .216 opponent batting average against last season is impressive. What do you think best sets you up for success on the mound? CC: Attacking hitters, stay on the attack whether I am way ahead in the count, or way behind in the count, attack the hitter! Finish the hitter as fast as I can and let the defense work behind you. Soft contact and finishing hitters early is where I think I find most of my success. TD: Obviously you took steps forward in development throughout school. What has been the biggest leap and how do you think you got there? CC: The biggest thing I did to grow each semester of school was to watch and learn from the older guys, ask questions, and watch how they held themselves up and composed themselves. Listening to coach, and not doing my own thing. Coach has been so good to me and what he says is the best way for me to succeed! TD: What do you know about the Minnesota Twins? Have you ever been to Target Field? CC: The Twins have a good farm system and are very good at developing their players! When they bring someone up, they are good, and better than when they started. I have never been to Target Field, but it is definitely on my bucket list to go visit though! TD: What is something you want Twins Territory to know about you, either as a person or player? CC: I am kind, caring, and wouldn’t be where I am without the grace of God! I am a hard worker I know what I am capable of and I won’t stop until what I want is done! I am excited to get to work and start this thing up! Go Twins! View full article

When you have the best college baseball team in the country there’s going to be more than a handful of draft picks selected from it. The Minnesota Twins dipped into the Tennessee Volunteers roster when they selected infielder Jorel Ortega with their 6th round pick in the 2022 Major League Baseball draft. As a collegiate player, Jorel Ortega has already had to deal with adversity after Tommy John surgery kept him out for a year and his career has amounted to basically the 2022 season. Clearly, he is not someone to allow that to define him, however, as Ortega broke out with power production this year and posted more extra-base hits than strikeouts. His bat often produces loud contact, and he was certainly fun to watch as the Volunteers often trounced their opponents this season. Now eyeing an opportunity at the next level, Ortega answered a few questions before he gets going. Twins Daily: Talk about a massive rise from Tommy John and then just 27 ABs in 2021 to a breakout year last year. What helped you get there both mentally and physically? Jorel Ortega: Physically, I was just trying to be in the best athletic shape I could. Working on my craft, stronger, faster, more explosive, etc. Mentally, I just changed the way of looking at things. Worry only about things that I can control and only have positive thoughts. Kinda like the saying “fake it until you make it." Just worry about things in my control and enjoy everything I’m doing. Be myself and that really helped me a lot. I knew the skill set was there I just needed to make a change mentality-wise. TD: The power really jumped last season. Was there a swing adjustment you made or what was your process playing into that growth? JO: I didn’t really change anything in my swing. That’s why I like Tennessee so much. They don’t try to mess with your stance, instead, they help you maximize your potential within that stance. I was just more concentrating on doing damage on pitches I can and drive the ball using the whole field. TD: Nearly a .400 OBP and compiling fewer strikeouts than extra-base hits, what makes you so successful from a contact perspective at the dish? JO: Honestly, what I think helps me so much is the fact that I hate striking out. But also, I’m not afraid to hit with two strikes because I can be just as dangerous of a hitter with two strikes. I want to give a really good quality AB and put the ball in play. TD: You played on one of the best college baseball teams we've ever seen last season. What was that experience like and how does it prepare you for the next level? JO: It was an awesome experience being part of it. I don’t think I’ll experience something like that for a while. Team chemistry was insane and we just wanted it bad. Grinding on and off the field together. And I think that helps me for the next level because being around so much talent and being able to pick some of the guys' brain's for me to learn. TD: What do you know about the Minnesota Twins? Have you ever been to Target Field? JO: I know that they take really good care of their players since I have a couple of old friends in their organization. It’s a great organization and I’m excited to get started. And I have never been to Target Field. TD: If there's something you want Twins Territory to know about you as a person or player, what is it? JO: As y’all know, Tennessee fan base is crazy and the best in college. How’s the fan base for the Twins? Certainly sounds like a response is needed at the end Twins fans. I think Jorel Ortega is a guy Twins Territory needs to get behind! View full article

After the first 10 rounds of the 2022 Major League Baseball draft were complete, Minnesota had selected all college players and they either played up the middle infield spots or were pitchers. In the 11th round, they deviated for the first time, taking Andrew Cossetti, a catcher from Saint Joseph’s. As a backstop, Andrew Cossetti became a pillar of health in his final two collegiate years. He started 92 games and drew starts in 149 of the 150 he played in for St. Joseph’s. Last season Cossetti put up the best power production of his career with 19 bombs translating to a .714 slugging percentage. Not a traditional slugger, Cossetti also drew more walks than he tallied strikeouts. Minnesota needs an influx of catching talent in the system, and Cossetti is eyeing an opportunity to be among that. First I caught up with him for a few questions. Twins Daily: As a hitter, it seems like the power production really broke through for you the past two seasons. What led to that and what is your approach at the plate? Andrew Cossetti: I have always been a hitter with some power, but in the past two years, I really turned myself into a power hitter. It was the result of getting stronger in the weight room and refining my swing mechanics to make me a more consistent hitter and allow my newfound strength to carry the ball over the fence. A combination of this and growing maturity as a player in the game brought my abilities to new heights. As a hitter, my approach at the plate became more mature as well. I used to swing hard every pitch hoping for something to happen. I have since learned to trust my mechanics and my preparation so the only thing I'm focused on at the plate is seeing the ball and making solid contact. I have found the simpler you make your approach, the more you will trust your abilities and the more success you will find. Baseball can be a complicated game so when in doubt just simply everything. TD: Even while hitting for power, you're a big on-base hitter. How much does what you do behind the dish translate to how you attack a pitcher when up to bat? AC: The most important thing in baseball is runs because runs win games. As a hitter, I am not always going to be the one putting the ball over the fence to score the runs which is why it is just as important to get on base and allow the guys behind you in the lineup to hit you in. I definitely have an advantage as a catcher because my mind is constantly thinking about how to get hitters out. Seeing this from a pitch-calling standpoint and knowing what the umpire is calling balls and strikes allows me to understand how the opposing pitcher will try to get me out. TD: As a catcher, tell us about your style defensively? Are you an adept framer and solid receiver or is blocking something you see yourself better at? AC: As a catcher, I have recently adopted the knee-down approach the past two years, and it has transformed my game. The Twins have been advocates of this style and were one of the first teams to allow their catchers to do this consistently which excites me because I can see myself improving even more with the coaching of the organization. I first got put behind the plate because I had a good arm and I would say that continues to be my best trait as a catcher. TD: When transitioning to pro ball, what is the thing that you think can most be advanced about your game? AC: I think the biggest advancement I can make in my game is becoming an all-around great defensive catcher. I am confident that I can hit and hit for power but what I am most excited about is being part of an organization that does a phenomenal job at developing catchers. I think it is the perfect scenario for me and cannot wait to get started on this journey. TD: What do you know about the Minnesota Twins? Have you ever been to Target Field? AC: Being from the Philadelphia area, I cannot say that I've gotten to watch a lot of Twins baseball, but I know that it will not be easy to fill the shoes of Joe Mauer who is one of the greatest catchers of all time. He was one of my favorite catchers to watch growing up because he was so consistent with the bat and defensively, he did everything right and played the game the way it should be played. I have never been to Target Field, but I remember watching the Homerun Derby there in 2014 and thinking to myself that this would be a great place to hit bombs in. The Twins have a lineup with a lot of power now and they're only getting better. It'll be exciting to see what the organization has in store this season and in the coming years and I'm hoping I can be a part of their future success. TD: If there's something you want Twins Territory to know about you as a person or as a player, what is it? AC: I want Twins Territory to know that they're getting a player who will play every game like his hair is on fire and do whatever it takes to win a ballgame. My dad taught me to play baseball hard because you never know when your last time stepping on the field will be and when it is all said and done you want to be able to look back and know that you gave it everything you had. So that's what you'll get in me as a player and a person. Someone who gives it everything he has and just wants to win. View full article

Entering the All-Star Break the Minnesota Twins own a two-game lead in the AL Central Division and currently have a 47.3% playoff probability per Fangraphs. They’ve been carried by the likes of Byron Buxton, Luis Arraez, and Jhoan Duran thus far. Who are the players that can help them capture another division title the rest of the way? Both Byron Buxton and Luis Arraez were named first-time All-Stars for the Minnesota Twins this season. At 2.9 and 2.3 fWAR respectively, they currently pace the club and are certainly deserving. As Buxton angles himself towards MVP votes and looks to reign in his production as a whole, while Arraez tries to capture a batting title, both players should remain important cogs in the second half. For a team that took on water during the final week against Chicago, and clearly needs some help, that pairing has to have players within the clubhouse step up. Right now Max Kepler is the only other teammate to hit the 2.0 fWAR mark, while Sonny Gray, Joe Ryan, and Dylan Bundy have each accumulated at least 1.0 fWAR on the mound. That puts the foursome into a territory of usefulness to this point, but Rocco Baldelli will need second-half surges from somewhere. Here are three names that could become incredibly impactful down the stretch. 3. Bailey Ober Having spent separate stints on the injured list this season due to a groin issue, Ober has made just seven starts and hasn’t appeared for Minnesota since June 1. He will need to take multiple turns prior to getting back on the bump, but the hope would be that he can provide a stabilizing rotation presence by August. While Josh Winder and Devin Smeltzer have taken turns, and Cole Sands has been sprinkled in, Ober’s presence is clearly missed. His 4.01 ERA this season is backed by a 2.79 FIP. The strikeout numbers are slightly down, but he has been stingy with home runs to this point. Ober looked the part of a solid mid-rotation piece last season, and there’s no denying that Minnesota could use that right now. It’s not about Ober coming back and throwing like an ace, but if he can spell the bullpen usage and give consistent turns, that’d be a massive boost to a unit that needs a lift. 2. Alex Kirilloff The former top prospect was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul when the wrist issues clearly weren’t working out. 10 games into the season Kirilloff owned a .398 OPS and his process at the plate was broken. Fast forward to where we are now and Kirilloff owns an .808 OPS across his last 28 games. He has 10 extra-base hits and while just three of them are homers, it’s clear he can once again drive the ball. Kirilloff isn’t likely a massive power hitter in the vein of 40 home run potential, but he should run into plenty of extra-base hits utilizing the gaps at Target Field. He’s also a solid defender at first base and isn’t out of his element in the outfield. This is a pure hitter, and when the swing is going right, it’s as pretty as it gets. A stretch of an OPS around .900 isn’t inconceivable, and that’d be a massive boost to a lineup that has gone dormant far too often this season. 1. Carlos Correa The guy you spent the money to bring a splash should show up biggest when the stage is the brightest. Correa hasn’t been bad by any means this season. His 1.7 fWAR is 5th among Twins hitters. To date, Correa owns an .803 OPS which equates to the same 131 OPS+ when he posted an .850 OPS one season ago. This is a guy with game-changing offensive potential, however, and more can be expected from that type of leader. Through the first month, Correa posted just a .633 OPS. In 51 games since he owns an .867 OPS with 20 extra-base hits, 10 of which have left the yard. Correa has looked the part of a superstar in the field, and he’s flashed that at the plate, but it’s time for another level to be reached. It seems all but certain he’ll opt out of his deal with the Twins, and whether he re-signs with Minnesota or not, there’s an opportunity to make himself a few extra bucks the rest of the way. Who are you hoping breaks through with a big performance down the stretch? Any sleeper candidates? View full article

While the All-Star Game festivities were taking place in Los Angeles, the Major League Baseball draft was also underway. Minnesota had Matt Wallner participate in the Futures Game on Saturday, and then they selected another Golden Eagle on Tuesday. Ben Ethridge was taken in the 15th round out of Southern Mississippi. A Mississippi native, Ethridge didn’t need to travel far for college. Two years ago he worked his way into the starting rotation for Southern Miss and posted a 3.25 ERA including two complete game shutouts. This past season saw Ethridge as somewhat of a hybrid arm pitching both in the rotation and out of the bullpen. His 147/25 K/BB over the course of his college career highlights the type of strike thrower he can be. Now looking to begin his professional career, I had the opportunity to touch base before his Twins development gets started. Twins Daily: Moving from a starting role last season to more of a bullpen spot this year, what have you learned about yourself as a pitcher and the way you attack hitters? Ben Ethridge: Either way whether it’s starting or relieving I look to just fill up the strike zone. When I get to that strikeout count I will try and throw a plus pitch to get the swing and miss. Most hitters go into an at-bat looking for something so my goal is to try and keep them off balance so that they can’t do that. TD: Talk about your arsenal, what works, and what are your best pitches? BE: I throw a four-seam, slider, curve, and split change. My fastball and slider are my more dominant pitches in the fact of better movement, and also are easier for me to locate. My curve and changeup have started to come along greatly, to where I am comfortable throwing them for get-me-over pitches or swings and misses out of the zone. TD: If there's something you're looking to tweak in professional baseball to take your pitching to another level, what is it and what tools do you utilize to get yourself there? BE: Gaining some velocity and working on getting the great third pitch as well. A lot of time needs to go toward velo training. I also need to work on throwing more of my changeup to try and figure out how to develop that better and make it elite. TD: What do you know about the Minnesota Twins? Have you ever been to Target Field? BE: I know they are winning the AL Central right now, and I know a couple of players on the team. One is Matt Wallner, who is from Southern Miss, and has been doing very good! I have never been to Target Field, but I am looking forward to going there! TD: If there's something you want Twins Territory to know about you as a person or player, what is it? BE: That I’m easy going and going to give it everything I got to help the Twins win! View full article

Over the past three days, major-league teams have had the opportunity to improve their farm systems through the amateur draft. The Twins found themselves near the top of each round because of their last-place finish a year ago. With their 9th-round selection, they took right-handed pitcher Cory Lewis. Cory Lewis went through a UC-Santa Barbara program that also produced current Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber. Lewis is a big-bodied thrower at 6’5” and uses an analytical background to get the most from his stuff. He has a plethora of offerings and also mixes in a knuckleball that can be usable at the big league level. This type of talent is one that should turn heads for Twins fans. I caught up with the Gauchos' former Friday starter, and he had a lot of great insight to offer. Twins Daily: As a California kid, how much of a priority was it to stay in your home state and play college baseball? Cory Lewis: I would say it was pretty important to me because I knew that I wanted my parents to be able to come to most of my games. Going to Santa Barbara was perfect for me because it was just far enough away for me to feel away from home but also it gave me the opportunity to play at a place where my parents were able to attend the games. TD: You pitched as one of UCSB's best starters over the past two years, what helped you to be so successful at that level? CL: I would definitely say how my fastball and curveball paired up, as well as throwing five pitches for strikes most of the time really helped me be successful. The vertical break of my fastball really helped me be able to pitch up in the zone and miss barrels. My curveball tunneled perfectly with my fastball so it was a great 1-2 punch. When I had all five pitches around the zone, the hitters were usually in trouble. TD: Predominantly a fastball/curveball pitcher, what's your total arsenal look like? CL: The full arsenal would probably go in order of fastball, knuckle curveball (12/6), changeup, knuckleball, and slider. The slider has always been a work in progress as it has been pretty inconsistent, but I have been pretty confident in my other pitches. I have thrown fastball, curveball, knuckleball, change-up to lefties and fastball, curveball, knuckleball, slider mostly to righties. TD: As a taller pitcher and someone that may benefit from spin rates and advanced analytics, how much do numbers play into your process? CL: I would say they play a pretty big role in my process mainly with my fastball. Without advanced analytics on my fastball, I do not think that I would have known how well my fastball plays up in the zone. The induced vertical break usually hovers around 23-25 on average and has gotten up to 29 at its top. As for my off-speeds, they typically have less spin than expected. My curveball and slider do not spin at crazy high numbers, but they still tend to work well with my fastball. TD: What do you know about the Minnesota Twins? Have you ever been to Target Field? CL: Honestly, I don’t know much! But I am excited to learn much more about the history and current team. I would say most of my knowledge has come from MLB the Show whenever they release Twins legends like Joe Mauer, Kirby Puckett, Justin Morneau, and many others. I have never been to Target Field, but it looks great on TV. TD: If there's something you want Twins Territory to know specifically about you, what is it? CL: Something specifically about me would be that I love to golf in my free time, although I’m not the best, but I have a good time on the course. I also want to get into fishing a little more because I know there are a ton of lakes in Minnesota. I’ve mainly only been fishing in the ocean so I know freshwater fishing can be a lot different. View full article

The Minnesota Twins didn’t have a good season in 2021 and they were rewarded with the 8th overall pick in the 2022 Major League Baseball draft. After a few seasons of later picks, they were in a position to draft a prospect of impact. When Cal Poly’s Brooks Lee fell into their lap, there’s no denying the organization’s excitement level reached unparalleled proportions. Brooks Lee was considered to be a contender for the first overall pick at different points during the draft cycle. An elite hitter with incredible bat-to-ball skills, Lee could’ve helped any number of teams making a selection at the top of this draft. He was an incredible talent for Cal Poly, and he replicated the success in Cape Cod action. Playing for his dad, Larry, at Cal Poly always seemed to be part of the plan, but there was never any doubt that he’d be a top-tier big league prospect. He has now agreed to an over-slot deal with the Twins, checking in at roughly $5.6 million. He still needs to sign the paperwork, but his big league career is set to begin. Before it does, I had the opportunity to check in with him. Twins Daily: As someone that came into the draft looking like a top pick, how was the leadup and anticipation to draft day for you? What was the experience like? Brooks Lee: It was a pretty different experience, unlike the one I had in high school, because in high school I was still deciding whether I wanted to go play for my dad or not. This draft I was already past that and super excited to see where I would land. TD: You got to play for your dad in college and have been around a high level of baseball for quite some time. How has that shaped you as a player? BL: I think it was super beneficial that I got to be around the game at such a young age. I feel like I see the game from a different perspective at times, in a good way. For much of my life I have been involved with college baseball so I believe it’s really helped in the areas of dealing with failure and learning how to create a winning culture. TD: Every publication has written about your elite bat-to-ball skills. What about your preparation and process make you so good at the plate? BL: I have a unique way of hitting and have always been this way. I think the bat-to-ball skills is something that was developed from a really young age. I was forced to swing at every pitch no matter where it was in batting practice which later on helped hitting different pitches in certain areas, especially with two strikes. I love to hit and talk about that part of the game, so it’s super enjoyable to prepare in this area and learn ways to be more advanced. TD: When looking at the next level, what are things about your game that you think will help ease the transition, and what areas are you most looking to develop? BL: I think my understanding of the game is what will help in the biggest way. I will never say I know everything about the game but being around coach and dad who knew so much will definitely help. The areas I want to get better at are speed and arm strength. TD: What do you know about the Minnesota Twins? Have you ever been to Target Field? BL: I know that the Twins are in 1st place in the AL Central and I’m excited to help them keep trending in the right direction whenever that time may be. I played summer ball in Minnesota a couple of years ago and loved it, so I can’t wait to be back doing what I love there. TD: As a person or player, what do you want Twins Territory to know about you? BL: I am a hard-working, selfless kid from California who just wants to win. View full article