Ted Schwerzler

Saturday, August 7, is officially National Baseball Card Day. Topps has reinvigorated the cardboard collecting hobby, and Minnesota has made its mark in the space through Real Breaks. Throughout the pandemic, card collecting saw a massive resurgence. The hobby has gone through some ups and downs over the past year, but the current period on the calendar may be the pinnacle. With The National Sports Collectors Convention having wrapped up just outside of Chicago last week and now the designated holiday this weekend, card collecting is again center stage. One of the most successful and prolific companies in the industry is none other than Minnesota’s Real Breaks. Owned by Ryan Holland and operated out of a storefront in Champlin, Minnesota, the company has become a juggernaut in the industry. I checked in with Holland on the state of the hobby, his store, and more. Here’s what he had to say: Twins Daily: We're now past attributing the explosion of interest in trading cards solely to the pandemic. What's your take on the state of the hobby and excitement surrounding it? Ryan Holland: This hobby is great because there is no WRONG way to enjoy it. Collectors can participate in the hobby purely for fun, as a side hustle for some extra income, or as a full-time gig, buying and selling cards. While the hobby certainly benefited from the boredom that set in over the pandemic for many sports fans, the industry has been experiencing amazing growth for the past decade. I believe the hobby has expanded significantly as a result of social media and the ability to participate in communities of like-minded collectors all over the world. It has never been easier to buy and sell trading cards as it is today, and this hobby is one of the few that can actually pay you back once in a while. TD: Having just gotten through The National, what have you seen in trading cards this year that excites you the most, and what do you see as the next innovation? RH: The National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago was the largest it has ever been, with nearly 50% of attendees visiting the show for the first time. There were many companies showcasing new technologies at the show, including grading companies, live-streaming platforms, and others. One of my favorite new apps is Loupe, a company that has created a smooth interface that allows collectors to easily purchase product from live-streaming dealers and watch a wide variety of products being opened in real-time. TD: Speaking to someone just getting back into the hobby, what are some tips and tricks you can share about breaks, buying cards, and collecting as a whole? RH: The most important thing in this hobby is to find someone you trust to learn from. Get plugged into some of the collecting communities out there on social media, whether it's Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. We run a community on Facebook called Real Breaks Marketplace, where collectors can ask each other questions and buy/sell/trade with each other in a safe environment. Take the time to watch group breaks or box breaks. Even if you decide that you don't like to participate in breaks and would rather open your own packs, it is a fantastic way to learn about new products to help you decide what you like. Also, find a local card shop that has embraced the modern hobby and isn't living in the past. The hobby has changed a ton in the past couple of decades, and you'll want to find someone who can help you navigate the current market. TD: As both a breaker and business owner, do you also collect cards? What are some of your favorite cards and products? RH: When I started my business, I had to change my collecting a bit. I used to love opening boxes and cases of cards for myself but had to dial it back since I'm surrounded by thousands of boxes in my store, and the temptation would be too great to open them every day. Now I only collect autographed memorabilia on which the player also inscribed their nickname. It's my way of finding a cool niche in the hobby, so I'm not just buying everything I see. My favorite brand of cards is definitely Bowman. Bowman is the brand that features all of the young prospects and minor leaguers before they make the big leagues. I love learning about these young guys and trying to predict who's going to be the next breakout star. TD: Your store is among the nicest I've ever been in. While it houses your breaking business, it's also a card emporium and combines a place of commerce with the relaxing feel of a local hangout. What were your goals when opening and putting it all together? RH: My vision for a modern card store was so different than traditional card shops that I wasn't sure if it would even work. I grew up going into card shops that were dirty and cluttered and full of old stuff. I wanted to open a card shop that appealed to modern collectors. My shop was designed to look more like a high-end art gallery and feel more like a perfect fan cave. We built a luxury sports lounge where you can relax in style while watching multiple big-screen TVs and drinking a Killebrew Root Beer while you open your packs and boxes in comfort. Our box and card prices are even on beautiful menus that we can bring directly to your lounging place so you can be served while you watch the big game. Our business started by creating an online community where members have quickly become friends even though they've never met in person. I wanted my card shop to facilitate the same kind of community experience. TD: What makes National Baseball Card day special for you? Do you celebrate in the shop, and what do you like about Topps making it an experience at big league stadiums? RH: National Baseball Card Day is a great promotion from Topps and a great opportunity to visit all the card shops in your area to get some FREE cards! This will be the first National Baseball Card Day since we opened, so I don't quite know what to expect, but I'm really hoping to see tons of kids come into the shop. The hobby has certainly gotten more expensive than when I was a kid, but we can't forget that getting youth excited about this industry will determine whether anyone cares about cards in 20 more years. We'll be giving away FREE packs of cards in our shop for National Baseball Card Day and also an exclusive Fernando Tatis Jr card. TD: One last one, relating specifically to the Twins, where are you at on the collectability of their youth. Kirilloff, Larnach, Lewis, and even the newly-acquired Austin Martin. Who are you most excited for, and who do you see having the best career? RH: There is no question that Twins fans have to count on the team developing its next great stars more often than they're going to go out and sign them. I'm really looking forward to Lewis getting healthy and ready to go for next season. I think he'll be a great addition to the lineup right out of spring training next year. The Jose Berrios/Austin Martin trade really got me excited. Instead of sitting on Berrios until next year when we likely wouldn't get much for him, the Twins made an aggressive move to go get a really talented Austin Martin. He was projected to be the #2 overall pick in last year's draft, and I think he'll be a great perennial All-Star for the Twins. Note: You can visit Real Sportscards in person at their store located at 12233 Champlin Dr, Champlin, MN 55316. Collecting options also exist through their Twitter and Facebook. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email View full article

In a year that the Minnesota Twins have been devastated and decimated by injury, two players are seeing their production creep back up thanks to a clean bill of health. Last season Mitch Garver was a non-factor at the dish for Minnesota. He played just 23 games in the shortened calendar but also posted a paltry .511 OPS. His expected on-base prowess had fallen off, and the power production was non-existent. Amid failed expectations, there was an intercostal injury that placed him on the shelf. In talking with Garver and through observation while he was active, there was an evident inability to uncork his traditional swing path. The muscle strain was hampering his typical swing and had him late and less than effective when making contact. While all players deal with injuries or fatigue during a season, this was something Garver couldn’t produce through. Fast forward to 2021, and we have seen the same stellar catcher that exploded onto the scene two seasons ago. Although he started slow and missed time due to a gruesome injury, he now has 50 games under his belt and is toting a .901 OPS. Since May 1, Garver owns a 1.060 OPS, and that number jumps up to 1.180 since returning from the Injured List. Blasting his way through opposing pitching staffs, Garver is working harder by carrying a 1.038 OPS against righties. Now 30-year-old and under team control through 2023, there’s not much reason to extend the backstop. However, it is worth making the argument that Mitch may be the best catcher in baseball, and that’s something that the Twins would love to have at their disposal when retooling for another run at the division and beyond. Joining him in this year of resurgence is none other than Jorge Polanco. After adding 22 dingers to the Bomba Squad tally in 2019, Polanco quite literally limped through 55 games and a .658 OPS last season. He was consistently bailing out on swings, revealing that his surgically-repaired ankle was never truly right. Like Garver and many Twins batters, for that matter, Polanco got off to a slow start in 2021. Even despite that, he’s now racked up 100 games worth of action and has an .811 OPS to show for it. It’s all but certain that a new career-high in homers is coming, and the move to second base has proven to be a successful if not welcomed change of scenery. Since July 1, Polanco owns a .963 OPS with a .325 average. He’s finding gaps, putting the ball over the fence, and looking like every bit of his swing exudes both confidence and power. Rocco Baldelli needed this version of Polanco back, and this is the guy Derek Falvey believed he extended before the 2019 season. There’s plenty of reason to be skeptical about the Twins chances in 2022. They had a clear retooling opportunity, but the trade of Jose Berrios is a significant blow to their need for immediate pitching help. The front office will set out to find a new group of supplementing talent, but this internal pair is one they should again feel confident in for the year ahead. Minnesota was seen as a contender coming into 2021 due mainly to the expectations placed on the holdovers. Many failed to reach those marks, and some have still had more questions than answers. For Garver and Polanco, though, it’s never been more clear what’s left in the tank. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email View full article

It was a big prospect night on the farm for the Twins. Aaron Sabato stole the show for the Mighty Mussels while Austin Martin walked things off for the Wind Surge. SAINTS SENTINEL St. Paul 12, Louisville 2 Box Score Andrew Albers took the ball for the Saints, and he twirled an absolute gem. Working seven strong, he allowed eight hits but limited the damage to just a single run on a solo shot. Albers also punched out five and walked just one batter. Trailing after the top half of the first, the Saints quickly erased the deficit on a Mark Contreras two-run blast, his 11th of the year. In the third, Damek Tomscha doubled with the bases loaded and brought everyone home, pushing the St. Paul lead to 5-1. Contreras wasn’t done adding for St. Paul as his sac fly in the 5th inning allowed Tomas Telis to scamper home. Jose Miranda then continued his hot hitting and contributed an RBI single to score Roberto Pena. Up 7-1 in the 7th inning, Jimmy Kerrigan blasted his 13th home run of the season and was followed by a Tomscha dinger making it back-to-back jacks. After a Louisville run scored in the 8th inning, the Saints added further distance. Gilberto Celestino crushed his second dinger for St. Paul, a three-run shot, and the final tally sat at 12-2. WIND SURGE WISDOM Wichita 7, Midland 6 Box Score On the mound for Wichita was Bryan Sammons. He lasted 4 1/3 innings and gave up four runs on four hits and four walks. Sammons struck out six in the contest. Trailing 1-0 after the top of the first inning, the Wind Surge answered in a big way. An Austin Martin double was followed by a B.J. Boyd single to plate Wichita’s first run. Andrew Bechtold drove in Boyd on a sacrifice fly before Jermaine Palacios sent a ball over the wall for his 14th home run of the year and pushed the lead to 4-1. Spencer Steer lifted his ninth homer for the Wind Surge (19th overall) in the 3rd inning and gave Wichita a 5-2 lead. After Midland took the lead in the 5th inning, Steer drove in Martin on a sacrifice fly in the 8th inning to tie the game at six. In the bottom of the 9th inning, the newly-acquired Martin stepped to the dish and drove in Leobaldo Cabrera with a single to right field to walk things off for the good guys. Martin had two hits in this one and was joined by the game’s designated hitter, Trey Cabbage. John Bonnes was also in attendance for this one. KERNELS NUGGETS Quad Cities 8, Cedar Rapids 5 Box Score Tyler Watson made the start for Cedar Rapids tonight and lasted just 3 1/3 innings. He gave up six runs on four hits while striking out two and walking two batters. It was a tough night for a guy who’s been great in 2021. Cedar Rapids got on the board first with Alex Isola recording his 12th double of the season to drive in Edouard Julien. A DeShawn Keirsey homer then answered a Quad Cities two-run blast in the 2nd inning to bring things back even. Getting down 8-2 by the the inning, Cedar Rapids had quite the hill to climb. Yunior Severino chipped away with a two-run double in the 6th inning, and Max Smith homered on a solo shot in the 7th inning. That three-run deficit was as close as they’d make it, however, and 8-5 is where this one ended. MUSSEL MATTERS Game 1: Dunedin 5, Fort Myers 4 (F/7) Box Score Scheduled for a pair of games Wednesday after a postponement on Tuesday, Casey Legumina took the mound in game one. He worked two innings allowing one run on one hit and one walk while striking out two batters. Fort Myers saw the bullpen give up a total of four runs in relief, but just a single run was earned. Ruben Santana gave the Mighty Mussels their first tally on a 3rd inning sacrifice fly to score Willie Joe Garry Jr. Trailing 5-1 entering the home-half of the 6th inning, Aaron Sabato blasted his fifth homer of the season, a three-run shot, to bring the Mighty Mussels back within one run. That’s where the rally ended, and Fort Myers came up short. Game 2: Fort Myers 6, Dunedin 5 (F/7) Box Score These two clubs tried making up for the weather issues last night, but a full second tilt wasn’t in the cards. Sean Mooney worked 2 1/3 innings and gave up two runs, just one earned, on a hit and three walks. He also struck out three batters. Down first again in this one, Sabato blasted his second of the evening, a two-run shot this time, to give Fort Myers the lead. Trailing 3-2 in the 3rd inning, Misael Urbina roped his fourth homer which scored Justin Washington and put the Mighty Mussels back on top. Sabato followed with a sacrifice fly to provide some breathing room. After the Mighty Mussels lead disappeared, Will Holland put them back on top for good with a solo shot, his seventh of the season, and the 6-5 lead held in the nightcap. COMPLEX CHRONICLES FCL Orioles Orange, FCL Twins Postponed - Rain TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day - Andrew Albers (St. Paul) - 7.0 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K Hitter of the Day - Aaron Sabato (Fort Myers) - 2-5, R, 6 RBI, 2 HR(6), 2 K PROSPECT SUMMARY Take note that we have finished our midseason update, so there is a new list! Here is a look at how the Twins Daily Midseason Top 20 Twins Prospects performed: #1 - Royce Lewis (rehab) - Out for season (torn ACL) #2 - Jhoan Duran (St. Paul) - Injured List (elbow strain) #3 - Jordan Balazovic (Wichita) - Did not pitch #4 - Matt Canterino (Cedar Rapids) - Injured List (right elbow strain) #5 - Jose Miranda (St. Paul) - 2-5, R, RBI #6 - Keoni Cavaco (Fort Myers) - 1-3, R, K #7 - Gilberto Celestino (St. Paul) - 2-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR(2), BB, K #8 - Josh Winder (St. Paul) - Did not pitch #9 - Aaron Sabato (Fort Myers) - 2-5, R, 6 RBI, 2 HR(6), 2 K #10 - Matt Wallner (Cedar Rapids) - 0-3, R, BB, K #11 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) - Out for season (Tommy John surgery) #12 - Bailey Ober (Minnesota) - Did not pitch #13 - Cole Sands (Wichita) - Did not pitch #14 - Brent Rooker (Minnesota) - 0-5, 2 K #15 - Misael Urbina (Fort Myers) - 1-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR(4), BB, 2 K #16 - Spencer Steer (Wichita) - 1-3, R, 2 RBI, HR(9), K #17 - Wander Javier (Cedar Rapids) - 0-4, 3 K #18 - Alerick Soularie (Complex) - N/A (foot injury) #19 - Edwar Colina (Rehab) - Injured List (elbow) #20 - Chris Vallimont (Wichita) - Did not pitch THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Louisville @ St. Paul (7:05PM CST) - RHP Drew Strotman (7-2, 3.73 ERA) Midland @ Wichita (7:05PM CST) - RHP Jordan Balazovic (3-2, 3.59 ERA) Quad Cities @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) - RHP Ben Gross (4-0, 2.48 ERA) Dunedin @ Fort Myers (6:00PM CST) - RHP Landon Leach (0-0, 3.38 ERA) Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Wednesday’s games! 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It’s been a few days since the Minnesota Twins allowed the dust to settle on their 2021 Trade Deadline moves. With some big names leaving the organization, and some big prospects entering, it’s time to take a look at the talent that moved places. The headliner was obviously the Jose Berrios move. As a fan, this one was always going to be hard to stomach. Berrios was drafted by the organization, developed, and became one of the best pitchers in Twins history. As it became increasingly evident that he would not sign a long-term extension with the club, moving him made more and more sense. Derek Falvey had to maximize the return on Berrios is there was going to be a deal, and he did absolutely that. I noted Austin Martin being my desired target should a swap with the Blue Jays be the plan of action. Still though, getting controllable pitching needed to happen considering Minnesota was moving an ace. To get both Martin and Simeon Woods Richardson was an absolute coup, and it was the strongest return any swap generated during the deadline. I wrote up the Cruz swap last week and getting Joe Ryan looks like a very strong return for a guy that’s an impending free agent and had limited suitors. While Nelson Cruz is great, there was never a point in which I thought he’d bring back much to work with. Instead, the Twins got Team USA’s game one starter in Ryan, and a flier that’s close to major league ready in Drew Strotman. No matter how Falvey organized this one, he did incredibly well. Flipping J.A. Happ to the Cardinals was impressive as well. I’ve kicked the notion that he could be seen as valuable to someone for weeks. That always was tongue in cheek with how poorly he’s pitched but leave it to St. Louis to make me look smart. John Gant is under team control in 2022, and that gives the Twins a veteran arm with a longer runway to decide a future on. He can both start and relieve, although he’s currently in Rocco Baldelli’s pen. Gant has pitched well above expectations this year, and his FIP suggests some massive regression is coming. That said, if the Twins can unlock another tier, they may have something to work with down the line. It wasn’t unexpected to see Hansel Robles moved, although I did think that Alex Colome may wind up being the more coveted reliever. Boston sent back a non-top 30 arm in Alex Scherff, but the 23-year-old has big strikeout numbers and is already at Double-A. Although he’s a reliever, that’s still a useful arm to add for an organization needing to develop pitchers for the highest level. There has to be some criticism directed at Falvey and Thad Levine, although none of it should be for what they did. Instead, not trading Michael Pineda or Andrelton Simmons looks like a missed opportunity. Both are impending free agents and serve no purpose to this club down the stretch. I’d like to see Pineda back next season, but that could happen on the open market anyways. There’s no reason for this team to hold onto any semblance of respectability and turning the results over to youth makes more sense than ever. Simmons has been fine defensively, but he’s non-existent at the plate and some contender could’ve parted with a bag of balls for a shortstop upgrade. When the bell run on July 31, we had seen the most exciting trade deadline in Major League Baseball history come to an end. The Minnesota Twins bettered their future, and made some high impact moves that both Falvey and Levine should be praised for. Now it’ll be up to the organizational infrastructure to develop and best position these talents in an opportunity to bear fruit and turn the tides of the big-league club. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

Jose Berrios’ time with the Minnesota Twins has come to an end. After being made the 32nd overall pick in the 2012 Major League Baseball draft, he’ll have been with Minnesota for just shy of 10 years. Maybe this story ends differently had 2021 gone as planned, but the Twins saw Berrios go from prospect to All-Star from within their reach. With virtually every top prospect, the intrigue surrounds what they’ll become at the next level. Berrios was a wiry kid from Puerto Rico. He became a workout warrior known for posting videos of flipping tires and pulling cars during winters on the island. There was not a consensus view on what type of pitcher he’d slot in as in the big leagues, but it’s hard to say he’s been anything but a success story for the Twins. He finishes his time in Minnesota having pitched 781 ⅓ innings across 136 games. His 4.08 ERA is weighed down by the 8.02 mark he put up during his rookie campaign, but he racked up 779 strikeouts and recorded 55 wins. Berrios pitched for some terrible Twins teams and some outstanding ones. He drew some huge Postseason starts, and his last turn against the Houston Astros in 2020 may have been his best. During his Twins tenure Berrios made two All-Star teams and could’ve been in line for another had this season been more competitive. He’s shown Gold Glove-worthy fielding prowess, and he’s revamped that workout routine seen so often in tweets to sustain effectiveness and increase velocity. Jose has always been a humble human being, but he’s grown maturity wise as well handling interviews with increasing confidence. Both on and off the field, Berrios has embodied a consistent and commendable amount of transformation. It’s hard to fault a player like Berrios for wanting to see that massive payday. He’ll enter free agency as one of the premier talents available, and pitching is always something that gets paid for. After playing through arbitration to this point, maximizing his value makes a lot of sense and is also an avenue the Twins may be right in avoiding. Although Minnesota won’t see the end of Berrios’ team control, it’s hard not to look at the life cycle of this player as a big win for them. He was drafted, developed, performed at or above expectations, and now has become a transferable asset. The hope would be that Derek Falvey executes a move bringing back a pitching-laden haul to help the club compete in 2022 and beyond. Maybe Berrios never became the ace that the Twins had hoped for, but he has been their number one starter for virtually the entirety of his time as an established big league veteran. Maybe there’s another step for him to unlock in the years ahead, and this is absolutely a guy that Twins fans can cheer for well beyond his time in the hometown threads. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email View full article

Probably back to the Twins before the year is done...

It was a tough day on the farm for the Minnesota Twins affiliates. Runs were at a premium and wins were nearly non-existent. The Saints came through with the drama. TRANSACTIONS There were no reported transactions today. SAINTS SENTINEL St. Paul 3, Indianapolis 2 (F/10) Box Score Veteran Matt Shoemaker continued his strong stretch with the Saints again in this one. He turned in seven strong allowing just two hits while striking out six and giving up just two walks. St. Paul scored first on a Keon Broxton solo shot in the bottom of the third inning. Jimmy Kerrigan then scored the second run on a wild pitch in the 7th. After an 8th inning homer knotted things up for Indianapolis, this one would see extras. In the 10th Tomas Telis drew a bases loaded walk allowing J.T. Riddle to waltz in for the game winning run. Kerrigan was joined by Jose Miranda as the lone batters to record two-hit games. WIND SURGE WISDOM NW Arkansas 12, Wichita 1 Box Score Northwest Arkansas came out with bats ready to go from the jump. Bryan Sammons was blitzed early for a four run 2nd inning but did well to rebound and complete four for Wichita. The Wind Surge were down 11-0 by the 8th inning, and Spencer Steer’s solo shot only brough them back within 10. The Naturals responded with a run of their own in the bottom half, and the deficit ended at 11. KERNELS NUGGETS Wisconsin 4, Cedar Rapids 1 Box Score Tyler Watson was great for the Kernels allowing just a single unearned run on four hits over five innings. He struck out two and walked just one on the evening. Cedar Rapids recorded 10 hits, including three from Wander Javier and two each from Michael Helman and Daniel Ozoria. They turned into just one run though, a Helman homer in the 9th. Trying to erase a four-run deficit, it just wasn’t enough. MUSSEL MATTERS Game 1: Clearwater 4, Fort Myers 2 (F/7) Box Score Brent Headrick took the ball for Fort Myers in the first game of their doubleheader today and worked four innings. He gave up four runs on four hits while striking out six and walking two. All four Threshers runs came in the 4th inning. Trailing going into the top half of the 5th, the Mighty Mussels pushed across their answer. Misael Urbina allowed Ruben Santana to score despite a double play, and then Nick Anderson drove in Justin Washington on a single. Both sides mustered just four hits on the day, and it was Anderson pinch hitting for Aaron Sabato that was the lone batter to record a multi-hit effort in this one. Game 2: Clearwater 3, Fort Myers 2 (F/8) Box Score Landon Leach was on the hill for game two and went four innings allowing two runs on four hits while walking one and punching out two. Fort Myers pushed across the game’s first run in the top half of the 1st. Charles Mack drove in Jeferson Morales with a liner to left and then Will Holland plated Mack with a single of his own. Unfortunately, and despite 11 hits in the game, that’s where the scoring ended for the Mighty Mussels. Things were even after the 3rd, and the Threshers pushed across the game winning run in the 8th. Mack and Jesus Feliz both recorded three-hit games in this one, while Ruben Santana had a pair of his own. COMPLEX CHRONICLES FCL Pirates Black 9, FCL Twins 6 Box Score Giovahniey German made the start today for the Twins and went three innings allowing just a single hit and one walk while striking out three. The bullpen struggled giving up nine runs (eight earned) on seven hits. Alexander Pena drove in the game’s first run scoring Emmanuel Rodriguez on a first inning single. From there though, the Pirates added eight before the Twins answered in the 7th. A Malfrin Sosa single scored Yonardy Soto bringing the deficit to six. After giving up another Pirates run, the Twins added four in a 9th inning rally that ultimately came up short. Luis Baez scored Nelson Roberto on a single before Rodriguez drove in Rubel Cespedes on a sacrifice fly. A Kala’i Rosario single scored Baez and LaRon Smith singled to drive in Rodriguez. The Twins outhit the Pirates 10 to eight, but it wasn’t enough in the runs column. Baez, Rosario, and Cespedes all recorded two hits in the game. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day- Tyler Watson (Cedar Rapids) – 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K Hitter of the Day- Michael Helman (Cedar Rapids) – 2-4, R, RBI, HR(10) PROSPECT SUMMARY Take note that we have finished our midseason update, so there is a new list! Here is a look at how the Twins Daily Midseason Top 20 Twins Prospects performed: #1 – Royce Lewis (Rehab) – Out for season (torn ACL) #2 – Jhoan Duran (St. Paul) – Injured List (elbow strain) #3 – Jordan Balazovic (Wichita) –Did not pitch #4 – Matt Canterino (Cedar Rapids) – Injured List (right elbow strain) #5 – Jose Miranda (St. Paul) – 2-3, 2 BB #6 – Keoni Cavaco (Fort Myers) – Did not play #7 – Gilberto Celestino (Minnesota) – No game #8 – Josh Winder (St. Paul) – Did not pitch #9 – Aaron Sabato (Fort Myers) – 0-0 (was removed in game one) #10 – Matt Wallner (Cedar Rapids) – 0-4, K #11 – Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) – Out for Season (Tommy John surgery) #12 – Bailey Ober (Minnesota) – No game #13 – Cole Sands (Wichita) –Did not pitch #14 – Brent Rooker (Minnesota) – No game #15 – Misael Urbina (Fort Myers) – 0-7, BB #16 – Spencer Steer (Wichita) – 1-3, R, RBI, HR(8), BB, 2 K #17 – Wander Javier (Cedar Rapids) – 3-4 #18 – Alerick Soularie (Complex) – N/A (foot injury) #19 – Edwar Colina (Rehab) – Injured List (elbow) #20 – Chris Vallimont (Wichita) – Did not pitch FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Indianapolis @ St. Paul (7:05PM CST) – RHP Griffin Jax (4-1, 3.32 ERA) Wichita @ NW Arkansas (7:05PM CST) – RHP Jordan Balazovic (3-1, 2.74 ERA) Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin (7:05PM CST) – RHP Ben Gross (4-0, 2.41 ERA) Fort Myers @ Clearwater (5:30 PM CST) – TBD View full article

To say the 2021 Major League Baseball season has not gone as planned for the Minnesota Twins would be an understatement. It’s been a catastrophic failure of expectations, but there are things to be learned in this smoldering mess. We still have a ways to go, and while there is no August waiver trade period in 2021, Rocco Baldelli’s roster should continue to get a shake-up over the next few weeks. Cycling in different hitters and pitchers when attempting to find future opportunities, this club can also look back on what has been and begin making assessments for 2022 and beyond. While not all the biggest storylines, here are five key takeaways from what we’ve seen to this point: Miguel Sano is inconsistently consistent Through 21 games to start the year, Sano owned a .119/.280/.209 slash line. Over his next 38 games from May 15 through June 30, he held a .233/.280/.549 slash line. Then, in July, he’s owned a .246/.325/.478 slash line across 20 games. He’s got a .737 OPS in 79 games this year and has paired that with 17 homers and a .291 OBP. If you’re looking for Miguel Sano to be the mega-prospect he once was considered, that’s probably on you at this point. The slash line still leaves plenty to be desired, but he’s got a 103 OPS+ and has not wavered on a solid sense of plate discipline. Timing continues to elude him for frustrating stretches, but he’s also capable of going on an absolute power tear. Should the Twins find themselves back in a position of strength throughout their lineup, a bat like that in the bottom half is hardly something to scoff at. He’s owed $9.25 million in 2022, and that’s an overpay but not to the extent of being ultimately damaging and acting as a primary designated hitter; that may be the role he’s always been destined for anyways. Nick Gordon has utility I was convinced that opportunity had passed the Twins former first-round pick by for quite a while. I knew he could play at the big-league level but wasn’t sure it would happen in a Minnesota uniform. Now I’m more convinced that it needs to continue. He’s still the same player he’s been throughout the minors. A soft-hitting speedster that will occasionally run into one, this is a singles hitter that has the instincts to swipe bases. Add in the utility he’s provided by learning centerfield on the fly, and there’s no reason he shouldn’t be on the Opening Day roster in 2022. Gordon may find a bit more success in year two when it comes to batting average; he’s made a career out of taking steps forward after acclimating to a level. Even if he doesn’t, though, speed on the bench is something Minnesota hasn’t had, and the combination of being a lighter version of Chris Taylor is a good thing for any roster to have. Mitch Garver can still mash To say that 2020 was disastrous for Mitch Garver would be putting it lightly. The Twins Silver Slugger winning catcher posted a terrible .511 OPS and hit just two homers in 23 games. Things started slow for him in 2021, with a .517 OPS being toted through 17 games. In his last 29 games since April 28, with a severe injury mixed in there, Garver has slashed .299/.449/.740 with nine homers and a 20/19 K/BB. The life-altering foul tip he took was incredibly scary, but as rehab progressed and healing took place, he’s been back behind the dish and picked up where he left off. Even after being plunked by a pitch on his hand recently, it’s fair to dream of the production that will soon return. Garver is a late-blooming prospect, so he’s going to age relatively quickly, but this is the anchor of a tandem behind the dish that Twins fans were hoping for. The pitching staff needs an overhaul Minnesota owns the fourth-worst pitching staff in baseball by fWAR in 2021. The starters rank 24th, and the relievers are 25th. The entire unit has been a complete abomination. With the uncertain status of Jose Berrios’ future and veterans like J.A. Happ and Michael Pineda being done this offseason, the rotation will be in flux. Taylor Rogers sapped his trade value with a finger injury just days ago, but whether he was dealt or not, the rest of the bullpen remains a complete question mark. None of the signings made by the front office have worked out, and while they were short-term pacts, a re-do is less exciting when considering just how many times they missed over the winter. Derek Falvey has long been lauded for his ability to develop and identify pitching. Minnesota has a farm system rich with names attached to arms, but none have begun to bear fruit, and plenty are currently injured. For this organization to thrive at the highest level, it’s going to need to start on the mound once again, and they’re going to be doing so from next to nothing for 2022. Corner rookies are real In a season where winning takes a back seat, the best way to prevent it from becoming lost is by watching your youth thrive. Alex Kirilloff is done for the year after having wrist surgery, but it’s pretty realistic to call his rookie campaign a success. The top prospect came up early and handled his own. He’s not an ideal fit in the outfield, but he’ll play at first base, and the bat is every bit as advertised. Trevor Larnach joined Kirilloff sooner than expected, but it’s hard to pick apart much of what he’s done this season. Even while slumping of late, the 24-year-old owns a .322 OBP and has shown plenty of power potential. He’ll run into more baseballs as his career progresses, and the discipline in the box has been a sight to behold. These are both pillar players that Minnesota needs to see as foundational cornerstones of future lineups, and early returns should suggest they are both capable of doing just that. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email View full article

Byron Buxton is quite arguably the most talented player in Minnesota Twins history. His athleticism is unmatched, and his production is unparalleled. Then there’s the caveat, when healthy. With the hometown nine looking at the doldrums of the division, and the 2021 Major League Baseball trade deadline looming, plenty of storms are brewing on the roster construction front. One of the most reported is that of Minnesota’s failed attempts at a contract extension with their star centerfielder. Currently shelved after being hit by a pitch, Buxton had rebuffed the latest seven-year, $80 million pact that would add addition earning opportunity through incentives. That deal was just a $7 million increase over the previous offer, and still nearly $20 million shy of where this front office paid another oft-injured 3rd basemen (who is five years older) just two seasons ago. The refrain regarding Buxton’s availability is a common one, he has been shelved often throughout his career. The reality though, is that it is through the injury history where the Twins find themselves offered grace. Because he’s been unavailable, Buxton’s $200 million or more payday is not going to happen. He would command plenty on the open market with more competition bidding on his services, but it’s the Twins who have the table and the realistic opportunity because of how his career has played out. Coming into 2021 the team was expected to be good. Unfortunately, the front office has watched each of its offseason acquisitions tie together career-worst seasons, as well as regression from plenty of holdover talents. Unless there’s an admittance of poor talent assessment virtually across the whole roster, then there should be reason to look at this season as an outlier. 2022 represents an opportunity to reload. If the core of this club was seen as competitive before, and that’s been proven through their track record of winning, an alteration of that belief shouldn’t be so swift. To suggest there’s an attempt at competing in the year ahead while dealing the team’s best player would be hollow at best. Certainly, both Jose Berrios and Buxton should command a haul when it comes to prospect capital in exchange for their services. The volatility of those players will always be high however, and you’d need at least two reaching something like the 95th percentile of their hopefully outcomes to feel good about what you gave up. Berrios would love a gaping hole in an already poor rotation, and Buxton’s presence would be missed on a nightly basis. Derek Falvey and Thad Levine have put in an infrastructure of sustainability and competitiveness. They should be commended for that. Bailing on that process at the Major League level rather than supplementing what they have fostered would be a hard pill to swallow, and one worthy of substantial criticism. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

On Wednesday, the Minnesota Twins announced that rookie Alex Kirilloff would undergo surgery on his ailing wrist. It looks to be virtually season-ending, but the return provides plenty of reason for promise. When initially coming back to the lineup from his stint on the Injured List, Kirilloff noted that he would be playing through pain, and it was all about tolerance. Surgery was never ruled out, and as can be the case with these types of injuries, it seemed like a matter of when, not if. Through 47 games back in the lineup, Minnesota’s rookie slashed .260/.316/.387. The first two numbers aren’t bad, but the slugging percentage leaves plenty to be desired from a guy who has shown so much more power potential. The “more” is why 2022 looks to be a really exciting opportunity for Kirilloff. Assuming surgery goes well, and rehab is straightforward, the inputs for substantially better outputs are already there. Kirilloff’s xwOBA in 2021 sits at .365, nearly 60 points higher than his .308 mark. His .288 xBA is more than 30 points higher than his .251 avg, and his xSLG at .532 is a far cry more impressive than the actual .432 mark he compiled. In the Statcast numbers, we can see what he can become, or maybe even should’ve been. Kirilloff crushed opposing pitching to a similar tune as teammate Nelson Cruz. The difference is that one has a healthier (Cruz dealt with a ruptured tendon in recent seasons) wrist, which enables strength through the point of contact. Looking at Kirilloff’s assessment of projected and actual outcomes, we can see a stark difference between what was and what is. Notably, the max exit velocity and hard-hit percentage are substantially lower than what you’d expect for someone with consistent exit velocity and a high barrel rate. It’s why, and you can gravitate towards any batter’s expected outcomes, there’s reason to believe that future reality skews more towards the expected than actual production. So, what does that mean for the Twins and their star rookie? If there’s a positive when it comes to such an injury, it’s that a cleaner bill of health should allow runway for a loftier set of expectations to be reached. I wouldn’t put it past Kirilloff to contend for a batting title; his swing is that pure. What should be a near-certain bet is multiple 30 homer seasons once settling in at the highest level. The Twins look to have played this timeline correctly. Kirilloff more than got his feet wet this season and was able to adjust to the opposition on the fly. He now has an entire offseason to rehab and get right while also understanding what lies ahead in terms of competition. The results aren’t where he’d have liked them to be, and surgery isn’t an ideal scenario, but he’s best equipped to attack the competition in the season ahead. Bet on Alex bouncing back well, and those expected outcomes should soon start to become a reality. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email View full article

Holy wow, catching up on the discussion very late here. Sorry about that. Glad to see so many comments and great discussion. In talking with Seth after writing this, I think my key takeaway is that the Twins greatest spending problem isn't related to an actual number. It's in using the right numbers, and then doing a better job pairing them with other pieces. Taking a step back this year post-pandemic made some sense, but they couldn't afford to do so substantially because of the window they are currently in. Happ and Shoemaker looked fine on paper, but by going that route your room for error is so small. Having spent big on Donaldson, it'd have been nice to see them aim a bit higher whether through trade or free agency. Same thing for the bullpen. You can't hand out money to one or two guys and think it will work. You also can't skimp on so many guys and hope you're going to be able to unlock something. I think they need to pay both Berrios and Buxton, but either way, that still comes with the caveats that other moves have to be their for supplementing. There was an article not long ago about this front office doing a mediocre job of self scouting. That's probably more true than I'd like it to be. They've also fared poorly in free agency, and that only highlights a greater need to retain the talent you know.

Tonight, the Twins farm system saw a few key hitting performances as well as a pair of shutouts. No matter your preference for a game type, there was something for everyone. TRANSACTIONS Minnesota Twins place C Mitch Garver on the paternity list, recall C Ben Rortvedt from St. Paul Minnesota Twins trade DH Nelson Cruz and RHP Calvin Faucher to Tampa Bay for RHP Joe Ryan and RHP Drew Strotman OF Kyle Garlick removed from MLB rehab, will have surgery to repair a sports hernia. SAINTS SENTINEL St. Paul 7, Omaha 5 Box Score Big league veteran Matt Shoemaker made the start in this one. He’s also worked in relief for the Saints, but he went five innings allowing four runs on seven hits while punching out six and walking one. After getting behind 2-0 in the 1st, St. Paul answered with two of their own in the 3rd. Solo shots from Roberto Pena and Jose Miranda put the good guys on top. Down again in the 6th, Mark Contreras singled to score Brent Rooker before Keon Broxton scored Tomas Telis on a fielder’s choice. Now knotted up at four, it was a brand new ballgame. Again, trailing by a run in the 9th, St. Paul plated Drew Stankiewicz after his double was followed by one from Pena to even it up at five. After further clogging up the bases, the Saints continue to be comeback kids with Tomas Telis driving in Miranda and Jimmy Kerrigan on a single to give them a 7-5 lead. Ian Hamilton came on and worked a flawless 9th in order to wrap up his third save and lower his ERA to 1.13 on the season. WIND SURGE WISDOM Wichita 5, Arkansas 0 (F/8) Box Score Starting tonight for the Wind Surge, Chris Vallimont went six innings allowing just three hits and three walks while punching out eight. He was nothing short of dominant for Wichita. Spencer Steer launched his sixth homer of the year to kick off the scoring in the first inning, and things were silent until Roy Morales and B.J Boyd drove in and additional three runs on a single and double in the 8th. Aaron Whitefield then drove in Morales on a sacrifice fly to push across the fourth run of the frame. Leading 5-0 with two outs in the bottom of the 8th, this game was called official due to a weather delay. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 1, Beloit 0 Box Score Jon Olsen recorded his first win of the season going 5 1/3 for the Kernels tonight. He struck out five and walked two while allowing zero runs on three hits. A fifth inning Michael Helman single drove in Seth Gray to score the game’s only run. Cedar Rapids batters combined for just five total hits in this one, and Alex Isola matched Gray as the only players to record extra-base hits, both on doubles. Breckin Williams and Zach Featherstone worked in relief to preserve the shutout. MUSSEL MATTERS Fort Myers 5, Daytona 0 Box Score Brent Headrick was on the bump to start this one and turned in three scoreless innings allowing just two hits while punching out six. He did allow four walks on the evening, but no damage was done against him. Fort Myers got on the board early with Misael Urbina scoring on a Jeferson Morales single in the first and Yunior Severino driving in Morales with a single of his own. Charles Mack singled in the 6th to score Severino before a Justin Washington single plated Willie Joe Garry Jr. With the inning ending, the Mighty Mussels lead was 4-0. Keoni Cavaco padded the score with an RBI single in the 8th scoring Garry Jr. again and Fort Myers hung on for the shutout. Yunior Severino had three hits on the evening as the lone multi-hit batter, while Zaquiel Puentes and Denny Bentley combined to preserve the shutout. COMPLEX CHRONICLES FCL Rays 9, FCL Twins 3 Box Score Develson Aria made the start and went three innings allowing just a single hit and punching out six. He was incredible in this one. Alexander Pena scored the game’s first run on a Rubel Cespedes force out in the 4th inning, but the Twins found themselves trailing 8-1 after the top half of the 6th inning. Gregory Duran drove in Luis Baez on a single in the 8th and Wander Valdez scored on a single from Frank Nigro in the 9th. The deficit was too much to overcome, however. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day- Chris Vallimont (Wichita) – 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K Hitter of the Day- Spencer Steer (Wichita) – 2-4, 2 R, RBI, HR(6), K PROSPECT SUMMARY Take note that we have finished our midseason update, so there is a new list! Here is a look at how the Twins Daily Midseason Top 20 Twins Prospects performed: #1 – Royce Lewis (Rehab) – Out for season (torn ACL) #2 – Jhoan Duran (St. Paul) – Injured List (elbow strain) #3 – Jordan Balazovic (Wichita) – Did not pitch #4 – Matt Canterino (Cedar Rapids) – Injured List (right elbow strain) #5 – Jose Miranda (St. Paul) – 2-5, 2 R, RBI HR(7) #6 – Keoni Cavaco (Fort Myers) – 1-5, RBI, 2K #7 – Gilberto Celestino (Minnesota) – 1-3, RBI #8 – Josh Winder (St. Paul) – Did not pitch #9 – Aaron Sabato (Fort Myers) – 1-4, BB, K #10 – Matt Wallner (Cedar Rapids) – 0-3, 2 K #11 – Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) – Out for Season (Tommy John surgery) #12 – Bailey Ober (Minnesota) – Did not pitch #13 – Cole Sands (Wichita) – Did not pitch #14 – Brent Rooker (St. Paul) – 1-5, R, 2K #15 – Misael Urbina (Fort Myers) – 1-5, R, K #16 – Spencer Steer (Wichita) – 2-4, 2 R, RBI, HR(6), K #17 – Wander Javier (Cedar Rapids) – 0-3, 2 K #18 – Alerick Soularie (Complex) – N/A (foot injury) #19 – Edwar Colina (Rehab) – Injured List (elbow) #20 – Chris Vallimont (Wichita) – 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K FRIDAY'S PROBABLE STARTERS Omaha @ St. Paul (7:05PM CST) – LHP Charlie Barnes (5-2, 3.88 ERA) Wichita @ Arkansas (7:10PM CST) – RHP Austin Schulfer (2-7, 4.38 ERA) Beloit @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) – LHP Tyler Watson (1-0, 1.88 ERA) Daytona @ Fort Myers- (6:00PM CST) – RHP Landon Leach (0-0, 0.00 ERA) Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Thursday’s games! 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Nelson Cruz is the newest member of the Tampa Bay Rays. This offseason Tampa was among the final suitors in contention to land his services. Minnesota ended up bring back the 40-year-old and he’s picked up right where he left off. Unfortunately for the Twins, their season has gone as anything but expected, and they find themselves as a clear seller. The best designated hitter in the American League stays in that role and gives Tampa another thumper in the middle of their lineup. Given Cruz’s advanced age and contract status, it was hard to fathom much of a return. Minnesota instead included Calvin Faucher as a throw in prospect and landed Joe Ryan and Drew Strotman, Tampa’s 10th and 17th best prospects per MLB pipeline. Both may be relievers, and are already past their 24th birthdays, but they have high velocity stuff and already are at Triple-A. For an organization needing arm talent as both starters and in the bullpen, this is a real solid get for a guy that wasn’t going to be around in a couple of months. Ryan will need to be added to the 40 man this winter, with Strotman already holding down a spot. Cruz leaves as a fan favorite, one of the most productive players in history, and having done so as a leading member of a record setting homer club. Here’s some instant analysis from industry experts: For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

For years, fans have complained about the payroll of the Minnesota Twins. You simply cannot spend your way to a World Series; ask the New York Yankees. That said, this organization may very well still have an allocation problem. No, the problem is not that the Twins don’t spend money, but rather that they don’t know HOW to spend money. Said another way, they don’t correctly know how to spend money. As we embark upon a quasi-deadline for homegrown talents like Byron Buxton and Jose Berrios, it seems the front office is faced with a decision to extend or deal both talents. Buxton would be looking at a payday north of $200 million as a free agent coming off a season of health. Jose Berrios wants to max out his value, and it seems he’s all but gone in this club’s mind. Those are problems, but only because they compound an already developing issue. Way back when the Twins paid Joe Mauer. He was worth every penny and was underpaid throughout his career. Nothing about his contract hamstrung a mid-market team without a salary cap. What prevented the hometown nine from winning was the lack of supplementation on the roster, both in youth and acquired talent. Fast forward to where we are now, and once again, the Twins are showing a lack of ability to spend wisely. This club paid Josh Donaldson nearly $100 million following one season with Atlanta. The Bringer of Rain posted a .259/.379/.521 slash line in 2019 while playing in 155 games. His first year in Minnesota was challenging in that the pandemic cut short any real season, but nagging leg injuries kept him to just 28 games and out of the most important during October. Look at what Donaldson has done for Minnesota, however, and it’s nothing short of what this club should’ve hoped. After his 124 OPS+ in Atlanta, Donaldson has posted a .244/.358/.485 slash and 135 OPS+ with the Twins. The slugging has slid a bit, but the ball has changed, and arguably the only knock has been losing a step defensively. After an injury-plagued season a year ago, he’s been one of the most consistently available Twins in 2021. So, here we are with a big contract given out to a free agent that’s performing, and Minnesota is looking at a teardown. Donaldson could be had for salary relief, Berrios could command prospects, and Buxton may be the most exciting asset the sport has seen in a long time. Once again, though, this club looks to have failed to spend. Over the winter, the thought process should’ve been acquiring talent to supplement this group. Alex Colome and Hansel Robles had appeal on paper, but neither is the impact arm the provides insurance for the group headlined by Taylor Rogers and Tyler Duffey. J.A. Happ and Matt Shoemaker were veteran starters with relatively decent floors, but neither would push Berrios or Kenta Maeda for the top of the rotation duty. When acquiring talent to raise the water level, this organization changed out oars and continued to tread water. Donaldson was a significant expense, and nothing was done to truly supplement him. Here we are now facing an awful result, and the outcome could be moving assets for hope in the future. Target Field was opened under the assumption that Minnesota would be able to retain its homegrown talent. Watching Buxton and Berrios be moved isn’t a reality that is supposed to take place. Suppressed payrolls for much of the past decade should pave the way for an influx of dollars to be utilized around a core that’s shown it can compete. Right now, it feels like that couldn’t be further from the truth. I don’t believe that Minnesota’s strategy should be to play in the pool near a $200 million mark. Acquiring top-tier talent only to keep them on an island and then piecing things out for another cycle when things go wrong looks like a misappropriated allocation of funds. Development isn’t linear and should be the focus internally. Still, it’s time this organization made financial commitments to those they’ve seen bear fruit and then continue to support the roster as a whole with acquired talent that makes more sense than just cents on the dollar. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email View full article

The 2021 Minnesota Twins have been terrible, there’s no denying that. Where blame lies is debatable, but the manager is dealing with a deck missing plenty of cards. He’s no absolved from any wrongdoing, but a “Fire Rocco” campaign is also shortsighted. Instead, 2022 is shaping up to be a defining act. Through his first two seasons as the Twins skipper, Baldelli posted a 147-85 record. He led the club to back-to-back AL Central Division titles, and he took a team underperforming to new heights. After navigating a pandemic stricken season that included plenty of uncertainty, the only thing certain is that 2021 requires a reset. In April, this club seemed to be dealt a good amount of bad luck. They were 9-15 despite a plus-two run differential. From there injuries and ineffectiveness took over, rendering most managerial decisions a moot point. This club wasn’t supposed to be bad, and they don’t have to be in the year ahead, but how their leader directs them could be somewhat of a career defining turning point. Rocco is young, just 39-years-old, but was he a beneficiary of a team that blasted a boatload of homers and played a shortened season? Maybe he was snakebit by a team that couldn’t stay healthy and get out of its own way. No matter what the Twins have been with their new manager, 2022 has the opportunity to allow him runway for a new mark to be made. I’d argue the Twins would be silly to rebuild. Plenty of this core was seen as impact players coming into the season. Unless that evaluation by the front office was completely misguided, shuffling in new parts makes a lot of sense. Allowing youth to get their feet wet in 2021 should benefit them in more substantial roles going forward. Even in a rebuild though, there’s opportunity to shine. The Detroit Tigers were abysmal out of the gate and have since played a much stronger brand of baseball. A.J. Hinch was brought in as a replacement for Ron Gardenhire with the hope of leading a young roster back to relevance. He’s not going to do that this season, but they’re trending in the right direction, and it seems as though the Astros former skipper wasn’t just a by-product of a talented environment. Rocco Baldelli doesn’t need to be defined by a record or banners in his first few seasons, but what he’ll have to prove in the year ahead is that process is driving results. We can throw away the present season and provide a pass given the circumstances, from there, a need to see more impact and growth resonating from the man in charge is a must. Derek Falvey and Thad Levine will do plenty to outline the future’s course over the next week prior to the trade deadline. From there, Baldelli will have a clearer directive on what in front of him and showing an ability to navigate the path forward is his next challenge. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

The reality for the Minnesota Twins is that they’re facing a selloff come the 2021 Major League Baseball trade deadline. That’s because they’ve been a bad team to this point. In an effort to become more interesting down the stretch, who should get some at bats? Yesterday we looked at how the Minnesota Twins can shuffle their pitching in order to figure out what's left for 2022 and beyond. Today we turn to Rocco Baldelli's lineups and question where at bats can be doled out amongst the organization, and what players should be in line for a look. On the hitting side, here are some names to consider: Before doing individual deep dives here, it should be all but guaranteed Brent Rooker is on his way to take over Nelson Cruz’s at-bats when the veteran is ultimately traded. Rooker has to prove it at the big league level, but it’s clear he’s mastered Triple-A. Teammate Jose Miranda should also be heavily considered to be a lock for a big-league promotion at some point down the stretch as the jump to St. Paul has done nothing to slow down his torrid 2021. This is in conjunction with a continued run for players like Nick Gordon and Gilberto Celestino. Drew Maggi If there’s an organizational type of guy you want to reward in 2021, then Maggi might define that. He joined the Twins system in 2019 and has played over 1,000 minor league games without a big-league debut. At 32, he’s having a career year with an .806 OPS for the Saints. A true utility man who can play all over the diamond, this would be a hat tip type of move more than anything. Mark Contreras Selected in the 9th round of the 2017 MLB draft, Contreras is now 27 and at Triple-A. In 36 games for St. Paul, he owns an .852 OPS while playing a solid defensive outfield. There’s not much in the form of on-base skills here, but the bat has plenty of pop, and there’s some modest stolen base ability. Contreras probably isn’t the first choice for a fourth outfield spot, but he could certainly factor into the mix and is worth getting a look at. Andrew Bechtold Minnesota took Bechtold in the 5th round of the 2017 draft from Chipola College. His calling card was the bat, and it’s taken some time to get going. At Double-A now as a 25-year-old, Bechtold owns a .781 OPS in 55 games this season. He’s got the first double-digit homer tally of his pro career, and there are some solid walk skills for a power guy. Across his last 34 games since June 1, Bechtold owns a .906 OPS. Bumping him up a level makes sense from a progression and age standpoint. There’s not an immediate reason to make a big-league debut, but finding out what the bat can do may bring enough intrigue. Jermaine Palacios A light-hitting infield prospect, Palacios was flipped to the Tampa Bay Rays for Jake Odorizzi. After re-signing with the Twins this offseason, he’s having a breakout season at Double-A to the tune of a career-best .802 OPS. His 10 homers this year account for nearly one-third of his career total across more than 550 pro games. Palacios is just 24, and if this season is to be believed, a late-blooming guy up the middle is never a bad development. Aaron Whitefield Playing in three games for the Twins a season ago after spending time at the Alternate Site, Whitefield has spent all of 2021 at Double-A. His .761 OPS is a career-high, and it comes bolstered by average and on-base skills. Capable of playing a good center field, his bat-to-ball skills make him an ideal bench outfielder type. Given how many bodies the Twins have gone through in center alone, it’s somewhat surprising we haven’t seen his name called yet. Ernie De La Trinidad The other piece of the Eduardo Escobar trade, De La Trinidad is having a career year. The 25-year-old is at Double-A, and his .905 OPS will play just fine. In 40 games and 167 plate appearances, De La Trinidad has struck out just 29 times while batting .319. Power isn’t his forte, but this is another guy that could factor into an additional outfielder situation. With what Minnesota has run through this season, there’s little harm in getting him a step closer and seeing what translates. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email View full article