nclahammer

I just completed my 24th annual baseball road trip with my buddies Steve-O and TJ, this past weekend we caught a trio of games in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, home of the Minnesota Twins High Class A team the Kernels.   The Beloit Sky Carp won the first game we saw on Friday, June 23, 11-9.  Cedar Rapids then won the next two days by scores of 10-6 and 8-3.  Sky Carp, in case you are wondering, is a not-so-flattering moniker for Canadian geese.  I am by no means a baseball expert, but rather just an avid fan who loves to go to baseball games, watching and observing.   With my scorebook in hand, I make notes throughout the game of what I see happening on the field (and sometimes inthe stands.)   Here's a summary along with some thoughts and observations on how players on the Twins Daily Top 20 prospect list faired, along with some of the other Kernels "popping" in the minors.  
Current Twins Daily Top 20 prospects (after mid-May rankings)
#3 prospect - OF Emmanuel Rodriguez   Over the three games we saw...10ABs/2H/HR/RBI/4SO/4BB/SB - Rodriquez played CF the first two games and DH the final one.   Good athleticism in CF.  In the first game he showed excellent range getting to a ball in the LF/CF gap and then he non-chalantly flipped his glove for the catch and the ball glanced off his glove for a three-base error.  The next night was windy and with a rocket hit to CF he hustled back to the ball in time, but it hit off his glove for a triple (we thought it could have been an error, but then again it was windy.)  Showed some patience at the plate with 4 walks to go along with 4 strikeouts.  Has some of that "Wow" factor going for him with his swing (he's got "pop"), presence, and confidence.   I hope he can continue to mature and improve, he is the youngest player on the Cedar Rapids Kernel roster.
#6 prospect - P Marco Raya - 4th round pick in 2020 out of HS - He pitched the first game we saw on Friday and got off to a quick start, retiring 7 of the first 8 batters he faced.   Then an error (Rodriguez) and two unearned runs later, the Kernels were down 2-0 after three.  Raya got the first out in the 4th, but never finished the inning after loading up the bases on three consecutive singles.  His stat line was 3 1/3IP/4H/3ER/2K/BB.   In ten Class High-A starts, Raya is 0-1, 3.19 ERA, 35K/6BB in 31 IP.  The word I would use to describe Marco Raya is "efficient."  He started out the game dealing strikes and going after the hitters and was getting outs.  Then after giving up three consecutive singles to load the bases in the 4th, the Kernels made a call to the bullpen, which let the game get away in the middle frames (see Jaylin Nowlin below.)  Nothing "Wow" about his stuff like when I saw Brusdar Graterol pitch here, but Raya did exhibit good control and confidence.   They seem to be bringing Raya along slowly with 31 IP in ten starts.
#12 prospect - IF Jose Salas    Also acquired in the Luis Arraez trade - 7ABs/R/H/RBI/2B/2K/2BB/2HBP/1SB.  He played 2B two games and 3B once, with a slick glove, great range, with no errors.  On the season batting .166 with 61 Ks in 193 AB.  He is the second youngest player on the roster.  The glove is there, the bat is not (yet?)   Good versatility and speed.
#13 prospect - SS Noah Miller - 1st round pick 2021 out of HS - 9ABs/R/2H/2RBI/SB/5Ks.  Miller played two games at SS and was part of 3 double plays.  His glove is MLB ready IMO.  He gobbled up anything hit his way and was smooth as butter with his glove & throws, but has much work to do with the bat.  Miller is a switch hitter batting .208 (not sure of his splits.)   He had two RBI singles late in the Friday night game, otherwise he had tough at bats.  Out of the regulars playing offensively, Miller is the third youngest behind Rodriguez and Salas.  
Preseason Top 20 Twins Daily prospects
#18 prospect - IF Tanner Schobel (2nd round pick 2022 out of Virginia Tech as a draft eligible sophomore)  In two games batting leadoff and playing third base, 9AB/3R/3H/5RBI/2HR/K.  Batting .279 on the season with ten HRs and tied for the team lead with 46 RBI.  He's only 6 months older than Miller, but has got the bat and is a solid fielder.  I was surprised he dropped out of the Twins Daily Top 20 in the mid-May updated rankings, while Miller climbed one spot.  I can see him earning a promotion to Wichita before long.  Good stick & solid glove.  Very comfortable at the plate.
#20 prospect - OF Misael Urbina (signed as MLFA in 2108, just turned 21) - 13AB/2R/4H/5RBI/(2)2Bs/HR/3K.  Played two games in LF and one at DH.  Had 3 hits in Friday's game.  Adequate fielder batting .192 on the season.  I heard a lot about a high ceiling with him, nothing to write home about at this point (yet), hasn't taken off.  Still A LOT to prove.
Best of the rest
Jorel Ortega IF - 6th round pick 2022 (signed out of Tennessee after his junior year) - recently promoted to Cedar Rapids.  12AB/5R/5H/2B/HR/BB.  Played 1B,2B, and DH in the 3 games we watched.  He catches your attention when playing.  Batting .400 in 5 games since his promotion from Ft. Myers.  I like his game, he hustles and does things positively that you notice.
Kala'i Rosario OF - 5th round pick 2020 - Yay, another Rosario in the Twins organization!   Played RF for 2 games.  7AB/5R/3H/2RBI/2B/HR/2K/3BB.  Drafted out of high school in Hawaii, currently leads the Kernels in doubles (14), batting average (.279), and tied for HR lead with 12.  41 BBs to go along with 71 Ks.  Nothing flashy defensively, but very solid at the plate.  Possible OF promotion to Wichita if an opening should arise?  On a side note, during a rain delay during the Saturday game, Rosario was the ONLY player from either team, on the side of the dugout signing autographs for kids (and some big kids too-see pic below) for over twenty minutes during a light (and sometimes not-so-light) rain.
Ben Ross Utility - 5th round pick 2022 out of Notre Dame after his junior year - A clear fan favorite who plays everywhere, big blonde mullet (see locks below.)  1B/SS/CF when we saw him.  12AB/2R/3H/5RBI/(2)2Bs/HR.  Batting .235 on the season with 11HRs.  Fun player to cheer for, goes all out.  Made an error while in CF otherwise was solid, but not spectacular on defense.  
Andrew Cossetti C - 11th round pick out of St. Josephs - Earned a promotion from Ft. Myers in May after a strong start.  3AB/R/2H/2B.  Played one game behind the plate last weekend and is built as solid as a brickhouse.  Not Ben Rortvedt solid, but a stocky 5'10/215 lbs.  Seemed to call a really good game in the final game we saw on Sunday, and showed really good hustle legging out his double, helmet flew off and everything (almost Willians Astudillo like.)
Other pitching prospect notes:
I was hoping to see pitchers Cory Lewis and Zebby Matthews, who have created a bit of buzz this spring, but Lewis & Matthews did not throw.  I heard pitcher Connor Prielipp (2022 2nd round pick) was at the Twins facility in Florida for evaluation, but someone was wearing his number 47 during Friday's jersey auction and they said it was HIS jersey in their online auction site.  Mmmm?   I did see Jaylin Nowlin pitch in relief Friday and he got lit up to the tune of 2IP/5H/4ER/3BB/noKs.  Matthew Swain closed out Sunday's win allowing 2HRs on 3H with a K & BB in one inning pitched.  Ironically, the best pitching performance of the weekend came from starter Orlando Rodriguez who threw 5 shutout innings on Sunday. earning the win and improving his record to 7-2 on the season.  As mentioned earlier in Twins Daily, he was released after the game on Sunday.  Rodriguez is 5-7 years older than most players in high-A ball and I guess they needed the roster space.  Tough break.
If you make the trip to Cedar Rapids, the players are pretty accessible after the games.  They walk right out of the clubhouse past you, as does the opposition on the way to their bus.  There was only one other person looking for autographs with me after Friday's game.  On Sunday, fans are invited to go on the field as ALL Kernel players sign on the field after Sunday games for 10-15 minutes or so.
The Cedar Rapids Kernels won the first half of the season standings and are loaded with talent, especially in the infield (with depth too.)  It will be interesting to watch some of the names above and follow their development during the second half of the season and beyond.  Thanks for reading.

Saint Paul, Minnesota - The temperature was not the only thing hot at CHS Field on Sunday afternoon. The Saints bats were once again on fire gliding past the Gwinnett Stripers 11-5 in front of 7,475. The Saints improved to 48-31 on the season. 
In the bottom of the first, Trevor Larnach hit his fifth homerun of the season. This one was to rightfield and gave the Saints a 1-0 lead. 
Joe Dunand started the second with a single. He stole second base, which was his first stolen base of the season. Next, Yolmer Sanchez doubled, which tied the game at one. 
A game changing inning would come in the bottom of the second for the Saints. Jair Camargo singled followed by walks from Anthony Prato and Elliot Soto. Next, Andrew Stevenson hit a grand slam to right field. The Saints took a 5-1 lead. 
In the third Gwinnett would plate two. Eli White walked and Forrest Wall singled. Vaughn Grissom doubled, which brought home White. Wall was unable to score because he was picked off first base by Saints pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson. Next, Dunand doubled, which allowed Grissom to score. The Saints still lead 5-3. 
In the bottom of the third, Chris Williams walked, and Jair Camargo doubled. This gave the Saints a 6-3 lead. 
Elliot Soto singled and Stevenson reached on a fielder's choice in the fourth. Trevor Larnach singled on a soft ground ball to second base, which allowed Elliot to score. The Saints took a 7-3 lead. 
Soto would continue his good day at the plate in the sixth. Soto doubled to lead off the inning. Gilberto Celestino walked. Larnach hit an RBI single which brought home Soto. 
In the seventh, Andrew Bechtold hit his seventh homerun of the season. This one was to rightfield. The Saints took a 9-3 lead. 
In the eighth, Sanchez walked followed by a double from Daniel Roberston. Roberston doubled allowed Sanchez to score. 
The Saints once again would answer. Giberto Celestino tripled, and Chris Williams hit a sacrifice fly. Mark Contreras hit a homerun to right-centerfield. This gave the Saints an 11-4 lead. 
Forrest Wall started the ninth with a walk. Grissom singled to put runners at first and second with nobody out. Dunand would ground out but both runners would advance. Luke Williams hit a sacrifice fly to center, which brought home Wall. St. Paul still led 11-5. Sanchez would fly out to end the game and the Saints would secure the 11-5 victory. 
Sunday was another very good day offensively for the Saints. Seven out of the nine players in the starting lineup collected at least one hit. Larnach, Camargo, Bechtold, and Soto all had multi-hit games. Also, each person in the starting lineup came around to score a run. Soto led the way, scoring three times. 
Simeon Woods Richardson picked up his first win of the season on Sunday. Woods Richardson worked 5.0 innings allowing three runs on six hits. Ronny Henriquez pitched 1.0 innings allowing one run on one hit. Brice and Murphy also pitched for the Saints. 
Luetge was the only pitcher for the Stripers who had much success. Luetge pitched 1.2 innings allowing zero runs on two hits. AJ Smith-Shawver started for Gwinnett. He is the top prospect in the Atlanta organization. He worked 3.1 innings allowing seven runs (six earned) on five hits. He took his second loss of the season. 
The Gwinnett Stripers and St. Paul Saints meet in game six of a six-game series on Monday night at CHS Field with first pitch scheduled for 6:07 p.m. Gwinnett will send RHP Allan Winans (6-3, 2.94) to the mound while St. Paul will counter with RHP Louie Varland (2-0, 6.66). The game can be seen on the Saints Broadcast Network, MiLB.TV, and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM. 

I just completed my 24th annual baseball road trip with my buddies Steve-O and TJ, this past weekend we caught a trio of games in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, home of the Minnesota Twins High Class A team the Kernels.   The Beloit Sky Carp won the first game we saw on Friday, June 23, 11-9.  Cedar Rapids then won the next two days by scores of 10-6 and 8-3.  Sky Carp, in case you are wondering, is a not-so-flattering moniker for Canadian geese.  I am by no means a baseball expert, but rather just an avid fan who loves to go to baseball games, watching and observing.   With my scorebook in hand, I make notes throughout the game of what I see happening on the field (and sometimes inthe stands.)   Here's a summary along with some thoughts and observations on how players on the Twins Daily Top 20 prospect list faired, along with some of the other Kernels "popping" in the minors.  
Current Twins Daily Top 20 prospects (after mid-May rankings)
#3 prospect - OF Emmanuel Rodriguez   Over the three games we saw...10ABs/2H/HR/RBI/4SO/4BB/SB - Rodriquez played CF the first two games and DH the final one.   Good athleticism in CF.  In the first game he showed excellent range getting to a ball in the LF/CF gap and then he non-chalantly flipped his glove for the catch and the ball glanced off his glove for a three-base error.  The next night was windy and with a rocket hit to CF he hustled back to the ball in time, but it hit off his glove for a triple (we thought it could have been an error, but then again it was windy.)  Showed some patience at the plate with 4 walks to go along with 4 strikeouts.  Has some of that "Wow" factor going for him with his swing (he's got "pop"), presence, and confidence.   I hope he can continue to mature and improve, he is the youngest player on the Cedar Rapids Kernel roster.
#6 prospect - P Marco Raya - 4th round pick in 2020 out of HS - He pitched the first game we saw on Friday and got off to a quick start, retiring 7 of the first 8 batters he faced.   Then an error (Rodriguez) and two unearned runs later, the Kernels were down 2-0 after three.  Raya got the first out in the 4th, but never finished the inning after loading up the bases on three consecutive singles.  His stat line was 3 1/3IP/4H/3ER/2K/BB.   In ten Class High-A starts, Raya is 0-1, 3.19 ERA, 35K/6BB in 31 IP.  The word I would use to describe Marco Raya is "efficient."  He started out the game dealing strikes and going after the hitters and was getting outs.  Then after giving up three consecutive singles to load the bases in the 4th, the Kernels made a call to the bullpen, which let the game get away in the middle frames (see Jaylin Nowlin below.)  Nothing "Wow" about his stuff like when I saw Brusdar Graterol pitch here, but Raya did exhibit good control and confidence.   They seem to be bringing Raya along slowly with 31 IP in ten starts.
#12 prospect - IF Jose Salas    Also acquired in the Luis Arraez trade - 7ABs/R/H/RBI/2B/2K/2BB/2HBP/1SB.  He played 2B two games and 3B once, with a slick glove, great range, with no errors.  On the season batting .166 with 61 Ks in 193 AB.  He is the second youngest player on the roster.  The glove is there, the bat is not (yet?)   Good versatility and speed.
#13 prospect - SS Noah Miller - 1st round pick 2021 out of HS - 9ABs/R/2H/2RBI/SB/5Ks.  Miller played two games at SS and was part of 3 double plays.  His glove is MLB ready IMO.  He gobbled up anything hit his way and was smooth as butter with his glove & throws, but has much work to do with the bat.  Miller is a switch hitter batting .208 (not sure of his splits.)   He had two RBI singles late in the Friday night game, otherwise he had tough at bats.  Out of the regulars playing offensively, Miller is the third youngest behind Rodriguez and Salas.  
Preseason Top 20 Twins Daily prospects
#18 prospect - IF Tanner Schobel (2nd round pick 2022 out of Virginia Tech as a draft eligible sophomore)  In two games batting leadoff and playing third base, 9AB/3R/3H/5RBI/2HR/K.  Batting .279 on the season with ten HRs and tied for the team lead with 46 RBI.  He's only 6 months older than Miller, but has got the bat and is a solid fielder.  I was surprised he dropped out of the Twins Daily Top 20 in the mid-May updated rankings, while Miller climbed one spot.  I can see him earning a promotion to Wichita before long.  Good stick & solid glove.  Very comfortable at the plate.
#20 prospect - OF Misael Urbina (signed as MLFA in 2108, just turned 21) - 13AB/2R/4H/5RBI/(2)2Bs/HR/3K.  Played two games in LF and one at DH.  Had 3 hits in Friday's game.  Adequate fielder batting .192 on the season.  I heard a lot about a high ceiling with him, nothing to write home about at this point (yet), hasn't taken off.  Still A LOT to prove.
Best of the rest
Jorel Ortega IF - 6th round pick 2022 (signed out of Tennessee after his junior year) - recently promoted to Cedar Rapids.  12AB/5R/5H/2B/HR/BB.  Played 1B,2B, and DH in the 3 games we watched.  He catches your attention when playing.  Batting .400 in 5 games since his promotion from Ft. Myers.  I like his game, he hustles and does things positively that you notice.
Kala'i Rosario OF - 5th round pick 2020 - Yay, another Rosario in the Twins organization!   Played RF for 2 games.  7AB/5R/3H/2RBI/2B/HR/2K/3BB.  Drafted out of high school in Hawaii, currently leads the Kernels in doubles (14), batting average (.279), and tied for HR lead with 12.  41 BBs to go along with 71 Ks.  Nothing flashy defensively, but very solid at the plate.  Possible OF promotion to Wichita if an opening should arise?  On a side note, during a rain delay during the Saturday game, Rosario was the ONLY player from either team, on the side of the dugout signing autographs for kids (and some big kids too-see pic below) for over twenty minutes during a light (and sometimes not-so-light) rain.
Ben Ross Utility - 5th round pick 2022 out of Notre Dame after his junior year - A clear fan favorite who plays everywhere, big blonde mullet (see locks below.)  1B/SS/CF when we saw him.  12AB/2R/3H/5RBI/(2)2Bs/HR.  Batting .235 on the season with 11HRs.  Fun player to cheer for, goes all out.  Made an error while in CF otherwise was solid, but not spectacular on defense.  
Andrew Cossetti C - 11th round pick out of St. Josephs - Earned a promotion from Ft. Myers in May after a strong start.  3AB/R/2H/2B.  Played one game behind the plate last weekend and is built as solid as a brickhouse.  Not Ben Rortvedt solid, but a stocky 5'10/215 lbs.  Seemed to call a really good game in the final game we saw on Sunday, and showed really good hustle legging out his double, helmet flew off and everything (almost Willians Astudillo like.)
Other pitching prospect notes:
I was hoping to see pitchers Cory Lewis and Zebby Matthews, who have created a bit of buzz this spring, but Lewis & Matthews did not throw.  I heard pitcher Connor Prielipp (2022 2nd round pick) was at the Twins facility in Florida for evaluation, but someone was wearing his number 47 during Friday's jersey auction and they said it was HIS jersey in their online auction site.  Mmmm?   I did see Jaylin Nowlin pitch in relief Friday and he got lit up to the tune of 2IP/5H/4ER/3BB/noKs.  Matthew Swain closed out Sunday's win allowing 2HRs on 3H with a K & BB in one inning pitched.  Ironically, the best pitching performance of the weekend came from starter Orlando Rodriguez who threw 5 shutout innings on Sunday. earning the win and improving his record to 7-2 on the season.  As mentioned earlier in Twins Daily, he was released after the game on Sunday.  Rodriguez is 5-7 years older than most players in high-A ball and I guess they needed the roster space.  Tough break.
If you make the trip to Cedar Rapids, the players are pretty accessible after the games.  They walk right out of the clubhouse past you, as does the opposition on the way to their bus.  There was only one other person looking for autographs with me after Friday's game.  On Sunday, fans are invited to go on the field as ALL Kernel players sign on the field after Sunday games for 10-15 minutes or so.
The Cedar Rapids Kernels won the first half of the season standings and are loaded with talent, especially in the infield (with depth too.)  It will be interesting to watch some of the names above and follow their development during the second half of the season and beyond.  Thanks for reading.

I just completed my 24th annual baseball road trip with my buddies Steve-O and TJ, this past weekend we caught a trio of games in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, home of the Minnesota Twins High Class A team the Kernels.   The Beloit Sky Carp won the first game we saw on Friday, June 23, 11-9.  Cedar Rapids then won the next two days by scores of 10-6 and 8-3.  Sky Carp, in case you are wondering, is a not-so-flattering moniker for Canadian geese.  I am by no means a baseball expert, but rather just an avid fan who loves to go to baseball games, watching and observing.   With my scorebook in hand, I make notes throughout the game of what I see happening on the field (and sometimes inthe stands.)   Here's a summary along with some thoughts and observations on how players on the Twins Daily Top 20 prospect list faired, along with some of the other Kernels "popping" in the minors.  
Current Twins Daily Top 20 prospects (after mid-May rankings)
#3 prospect - OF Emmanuel Rodriguez   Over the three games we saw...10ABs/2H/HR/RBI/4SO/4BB/SB - Rodriquez played CF the first two games and DH the final one.   Good athleticism in CF.  In the first game he showed excellent range getting to a ball in the LF/CF gap and then he non-chalantly flipped his glove for the catch and the ball glanced off his glove for a three-base error.  The next night was windy and with a rocket hit to CF he hustled back to the ball in time, but it hit off his glove for a triple (we thought it could have been an error, but then again it was windy.)  Showed some patience at the plate with 4 walks to go along with 4 strikeouts.  Has some of that "Wow" factor going for him with his swing (he's got "pop"), presence, and confidence.   I hope he can continue to mature and improve, he is the youngest player on the Cedar Rapids Kernel roster.
#6 prospect - P Marco Raya - 4th round pick in 2020 out of HS - He pitched the first game we saw on Friday and got off to a quick start, retiring 7 of the first 8 batters he faced.   Then an error (Rodriguez) and two unearned runs later, the Kernels were down 2-0 after three.  Raya got the first out in the 4th, but never finished the inning after loading up the bases on three consecutive singles.  His stat line was 3 1/3IP/4H/3ER/2K/BB.   In ten Class High-A starts, Raya is 0-1, 3.19 ERA, 35K/6BB in 31 IP.  The word I would use to describe Marco Raya is "efficient."  He started out the game dealing strikes and going after the hitters and was getting outs.  Then after giving up three consecutive singles to load the bases in the 4th, the Kernels made a call to the bullpen, which let the game get away in the middle frames (see Jaylin Nowlin below.)  Nothing "Wow" about his stuff like when I saw Brusdar Graterol pitch here, but Raya did exhibit good control and confidence.   They seem to be bringing Raya along slowly with 31 IP in ten starts.
#12 prospect - IF Jose Salas    Also acquired in the Luis Arraez trade - 7ABs/R/H/RBI/2B/2K/2BB/2HBP/1SB.  He played 2B two games and 3B once, with a slick glove, great range, with no errors.  On the season batting .166 with 61 Ks in 193 AB.  He is the second youngest player on the roster.  The glove is there, the bat is not (yet?)   Good versatility and speed.
#13 prospect - SS Noah Miller - 1st round pick 2021 out of HS - 9ABs/R/2H/2RBI/SB/5Ks.  Miller played two games at SS and was part of 3 double plays.  His glove is MLB ready IMO.  He gobbled up anything hit his way and was smooth as butter with his glove & throws, but has much work to do with the bat.  Miller is a switch hitter batting .208 (not sure of his splits.)   He had two RBI singles late in the Friday night game, otherwise he had tough at bats.  Out of the regulars playing offensively, Miller is the third youngest behind Rodriguez and Salas.  
Preseason Top 20 Twins Daily prospects
#18 prospect - IF Tanner Schobel (2nd round pick 2022 out of Virginia Tech as a draft eligible sophomore)  In two games batting leadoff and playing third base, 9AB/3R/3H/5RBI/2HR/K.  Batting .279 on the season with ten HRs and tied for the team lead with 46 RBI.  He's only 6 months older than Miller, but has got the bat and is a solid fielder.  I was surprised he dropped out of the Twins Daily Top 20 in the mid-May updated rankings, while Miller climbed one spot.  I can see him earning a promotion to Wichita before long.  Good stick & solid glove.  Very comfortable at the plate.
#20 prospect - OF Misael Urbina (signed as MLFA in 2108, just turned 21) - 13AB/2R/4H/5RBI/(2)2Bs/HR/3K.  Played two games in LF and one at DH.  Had 3 hits in Friday's game.  Adequate fielder batting .192 on the season.  I heard a lot about a high ceiling with him, nothing to write home about at this point (yet), hasn't taken off.  Still A LOT to prove.
Best of the rest
Jorel Ortega IF - 6th round pick 2022 (signed out of Tennessee after his junior year) - recently promoted to Cedar Rapids.  12AB/5R/5H/2B/HR/BB.  Played 1B,2B, and DH in the 3 games we watched.  He catches your attention when playing.  Batting .400 in 5 games since his promotion from Ft. Myers.  I like his game, he hustles and does things positively that you notice.
Kala'i Rosario OF - 5th round pick 2020 - Yay, another Rosario in the Twins organization!   Played RF for 2 games.  7AB/5R/3H/2RBI/2B/HR/2K/3BB.  Drafted out of high school in Hawaii, currently leads the Kernels in doubles (14), batting average (.279), and tied for HR lead with 12.  41 BBs to go along with 71 Ks.  Nothing flashy defensively, but very solid at the plate.  Possible OF promotion to Wichita if an opening should arise?  On a side note, during a rain delay during the Saturday game, Rosario was the ONLY player from either team, on the side of the dugout signing autographs for kids (and some big kids too-see pic below) for over twenty minutes during a light (and sometimes not-so-light) rain.
Ben Ross Utility - 5th round pick 2022 out of Notre Dame after his junior year - A clear fan favorite who plays everywhere, big blonde mullet (see locks below.)  1B/SS/CF when we saw him.  12AB/2R/3H/5RBI/(2)2Bs/HR.  Batting .235 on the season with 11HRs.  Fun player to cheer for, goes all out.  Made an error while in CF otherwise was solid, but not spectacular on defense.  
Andrew Cossetti C - 11th round pick out of St. Josephs - Earned a promotion from Ft. Myers in May after a strong start.  3AB/R/2H/2B.  Played one game behind the plate last weekend and is built as solid as a brickhouse.  Not Ben Rortvedt solid, but a stocky 5'10/215 lbs.  Seemed to call a really good game in the final game we saw on Sunday, and showed really good hustle legging out his double, helmet flew off and everything (almost Willians Astudillo like.)
Other pitching prospect notes:
I was hoping to see pitchers Cory Lewis and Zebby Matthews, who have created a bit of buzz this spring, but Lewis & Matthews did not throw.  I heard pitcher Connor Prielipp (2022 2nd round pick) was at the Twins facility in Florida for evaluation, but someone was wearing his number 47 during Friday's jersey auction and they said it was HIS jersey in their online auction site.  Mmmm?   I did see Jaylin Nowlin pitch in relief Friday and he got lit up to the tune of 2IP/5H/4ER/3BB/noKs.  Matthew Swain closed out Sunday's win allowing 2HRs on 3H with a K & BB in one inning pitched.  Ironically, the best pitching performance of the weekend came from starter Orlando Rodriguez who threw 5 shutout innings on Sunday. earning the win and improving his record to 7-2 on the season.  As mentioned earlier in Twins Daily, he was released after the game on Sunday.  Rodriguez is 5-7 years older than most players in high-A ball and I guess they needed the roster space.  Tough break.
If you make the trip to Cedar Rapids, the players are pretty accessible after the games.  They walk right out of the clubhouse past you, as does the opposition on the way to their bus.  There was only one other person looking for autographs with me after Friday's game.  On Sunday, fans are invited to go on the field as ALL Kernel players sign on the field after Sunday games for 10-15 minutes or so.
The Cedar Rapids Kernels won the first half of the season standings and are loaded with talent, especially in the infield (with depth too.)  It will be interesting to watch some of the names above and follow their development during the second half of the season and beyond.  Thanks for reading.

Saint Paul, Minnesota - Dallas Keuchel made his second appearance with the Saints on Saturday night and first appearance at CHS Field. The 35-year-old worked 4.1 innings allowing zero runs on three hits in a 10-6 Saints victory over the Gwinnett Stripers at CHS Field in front of 8,715. The Saints maintained a perfect 4-0 record in the second half of the season and improved to 47-31 on the season. 
Keuchel was not the only pitcher who performed well for the Saints Saturday evening. Keuchel lowered his ERA to 1.08 with the Saints over two appearances. Michael Boyle came into relief Keuchel in the fifth. Boyle worked 0.2 innings allowing no runs on no hits. He is credited with the win. Also, Cole Sands appeared in an MLB Rehab Assignment. His rehab assignment is from a right shoulder injury. Sands worked 2.0 innings allowing one hit while striking out five. He threw thirty-seven pitches of which twenty-two were strikes (60%). 
There would be no score until the fourth. Trevor Larnach singled on a soft ground ball to the pitcher Jared Shuster. Larnach flies down the baseline to beat it out. Jair Camargo doubled to rightfield. Finally, Chris Williams hit a sacrifice fly to centerfielder, Eli White. Larnach came into score and Camargo tried to go from second to third, but Camargo was caught. First baseman Joshua Fuentes cut off the throw White had intended to go to the plate and Fuentes threw the ball to Daniel Robertson at third to get Camargo. 
The Saints would have a big inning in the fifth. Anthony Prato hit his third homerun for the Saints. This ball went to right-centerfield. Elliot Soto would hit a homerun to centerfield. This was Sotos' first homerun of the season. Prato and Soto went back-to-back. This would give the Saints a 3-0 lead. Later in the inning with two outs, Kyle Garlick and Larnach singled. Next, Camargo hit a ground-rule-double down the leftfield line. Garlick scored and if it would not have been a ground-rule double Larnach would have scored, but due to the ruling Larnach was forced back to third. In the end it would not matter. Chris Williams doubled, which allowed Larnach and Camargo to score and the Saints took a 6-0 lead. 
The Saints would add on in the sixth. Prato walked and Soto singled. Both runners advanced on a passed ball. Gilberto Celestino singled, which brought home Prato. Garlick singled allowing Soto to score. Larnach hit a 2 RBI double, Celestino and Garlick scored, and the Saints have a 10-0 lead. 
In the seventh, Vaughn Grissom flies out to deep centerfield and Celestino made a running catch colliding with the centerfield wall. The catch saved multiple runs and ended the inning. 
Robertson walked in the eighth. Chadwick Tromp singled. This time it was the Stripers that would hit back-to-back homeruns. Joe Dunand hit his twelfth homerun of the season and right after that Yolmer Sanchez would hit a homerun to right-centerfield. St. Paul still leads 10-4. 
The Saints would run into a little more trouble in the ninth. Grissom is hit-by-the-pitch and Jesus Aguilar walked. Next, Robertson singled, which brought home Grissom. Later in the inning Sanchez grounded into a force out. Sanchez would pick up an RBI as Aguilar scored. St. Paul would close the game and secure a 10-6 victory. 
Eight of nine batters for the Saints collected a hit on Saturday evening. Prato went 2-for-3 and Garlick and Larnach both went 3-for-5. Overall, the Saints went 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position and left seven on base. The Saints collected sixteen hits. 
Jared Shuster started for the Stripers on Saturday. He is the number four prospect in the Atlanta Braves organization. He worked 4.2 innings allowing six runs on ten hits. 
The Gwinnett Stripers and St. Paul Saints will meet in game five of a six-game series at CHS Field on Sunday afternoon at 2:07 p.m. Gwinnett will send RHP AJ Smith-Shawver (0-1, 3.00) to the mound while St. Paul will counter with RHP Simeon Woods Richardson (0-5, 7.47). The game can be seen on the Saints Broadcast Network, MiLB.TV, and heard on KFAN Plus, 96.7 FM. 
 

I just completed my 24th annual baseball road trip with my buddies Steve-O and TJ, this past weekend we caught a trio of games in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, home of the Minnesota Twins High Class A team the Kernels.   The Beloit Sky Carp won the first game we saw on Friday, June 23, 11-9.  Cedar Rapids then won the next two days by scores of 10-6 and 8-3.  Sky Carp, in case you are wondering, is a not-so-flattering moniker for Canadian geese.  I am by no means a baseball expert, but rather just an avid fan who loves to go to baseball games, watching and observing.   With my scorebook in hand, I make notes throughout the game of what I see happening on the field (and sometimes inthe stands.)   Here's a summary along with some thoughts and observations on how players on the Twins Daily Top 20 prospect list faired, along with some of the other Kernels "popping" in the minors.  
Current Twins Daily Top 20 prospects (after mid-May rankings)
#3 prospect - OF Emmanuel Rodriguez   Over the three games we saw...10ABs/2H/HR/RBI/4SO/4BB/SB - Rodriquez played CF the first two games and DH the final one.   Good athleticism in CF.  In the first game he showed excellent range getting to a ball in the LF/CF gap and then he non-chalantly flipped his glove for the catch and the ball glanced off his glove for a three-base error.  The next night was windy and with a rocket hit to CF he hustled back to the ball in time, but it hit off his glove for a triple (we thought it could have been an error, but then again it was windy.)  Showed some patience at the plate with 4 walks to go along with 4 strikeouts.  Has some of that "Wow" factor going for him with his swing (he's got "pop"), presence, and confidence.   I hope he can continue to mature and improve, he is the youngest player on the Cedar Rapids Kernel roster.
#6 prospect - P Marco Raya - 4th round pick in 2020 out of HS - He pitched the first game we saw on Friday and got off to a quick start, retiring 7 of the first 8 batters he faced.   Then an error (Rodriguez) and two unearned runs later, the Kernels were down 2-0 after three.  Raya got the first out in the 4th, but never finished the inning after loading up the bases on three consecutive singles.  His stat line was 3 1/3IP/4H/3ER/2K/BB.   In ten Class High-A starts, Raya is 0-1, 3.19 ERA, 35K/6BB in 31 IP.  The word I would use to describe Marco Raya is "efficient."  He started out the game dealing strikes and going after the hitters and was getting outs.  Then after giving up three consecutive singles to load the bases in the 4th, the Kernels made a call to the bullpen, which let the game get away in the middle frames (see Jaylin Nowlin below.)  Nothing "Wow" about his stuff like when I saw Brusdar Graterol pitch here, but Raya did exhibit good control and confidence.   They seem to be bringing Raya along slowly with 31 IP in ten starts.
#12 prospect - IF Jose Salas    Also acquired in the Luis Arraez trade - 7ABs/R/H/RBI/2B/2K/2BB/2HBP/1SB.  He played 2B two games and 3B once, with a slick glove, great range, with no errors.  On the season batting .166 with 61 Ks in 193 AB.  He is the second youngest player on the roster.  The glove is there, the bat is not (yet?)   Good versatility and speed.
#13 prospect - SS Noah Miller - 1st round pick 2021 out of HS - 9ABs/R/2H/2RBI/SB/5Ks.  Miller played two games at SS and was part of 3 double plays.  His glove is MLB ready IMO.  He gobbled up anything hit his way and was smooth as butter with his glove & throws, but has much work to do with the bat.  Miller is a switch hitter batting .208 (not sure of his splits.)   He had two RBI singles late in the Friday night game, otherwise he had tough at bats.  Out of the regulars playing offensively, Miller is the third youngest behind Rodriguez and Salas.  
Preseason Top 20 Twins Daily prospects
#18 prospect - IF Tanner Schobel (2nd round pick 2022 out of Virginia Tech as a draft eligible sophomore)  In two games batting leadoff and playing third base, 9AB/3R/3H/5RBI/2HR/K.  Batting .279 on the season with ten HRs and tied for the team lead with 46 RBI.  He's only 6 months older than Miller, but has got the bat and is a solid fielder.  I was surprised he dropped out of the Twins Daily Top 20 in the mid-May updated rankings, while Miller climbed one spot.  I can see him earning a promotion to Wichita before long.  Good stick & solid glove.  Very comfortable at the plate.
#20 prospect - OF Misael Urbina (signed as MLFA in 2108, just turned 21) - 13AB/2R/4H/5RBI/(2)2Bs/HR/3K.  Played two games in LF and one at DH.  Had 3 hits in Friday's game.  Adequate fielder batting .192 on the season.  I heard a lot about a high ceiling with him, nothing to write home about at this point (yet), hasn't taken off.  Still A LOT to prove.
Best of the rest
Jorel Ortega IF - 6th round pick 2022 (signed out of Tennessee after his junior year) - recently promoted to Cedar Rapids.  12AB/5R/5H/2B/HR/BB.  Played 1B,2B, and DH in the 3 games we watched.  He catches your attention when playing.  Batting .400 in 5 games since his promotion from Ft. Myers.  I like his game, he hustles and does things positively that you notice.
Kala'i Rosario OF - 5th round pick 2020 - Yay, another Rosario in the Twins organization!   Played RF for 2 games.  7AB/5R/3H/2RBI/2B/HR/2K/3BB.  Drafted out of high school in Hawaii, currently leads the Kernels in doubles (14), batting average (.279), and tied for HR lead with 12.  41 BBs to go along with 71 Ks.  Nothing flashy defensively, but very solid at the plate.  Possible OF promotion to Wichita if an opening should arise?  On a side note, during a rain delay during the Saturday game, Rosario was the ONLY player from either team, on the side of the dugout signing autographs for kids (and some big kids too-see pic below) for over twenty minutes during a light (and sometimes not-so-light) rain.
Ben Ross Utility - 5th round pick 2022 out of Notre Dame after his junior year - A clear fan favorite who plays everywhere, big blonde mullet (see locks below.)  1B/SS/CF when we saw him.  12AB/2R/3H/5RBI/(2)2Bs/HR.  Batting .235 on the season with 11HRs.  Fun player to cheer for, goes all out.  Made an error while in CF otherwise was solid, but not spectacular on defense.  
Andrew Cossetti C - 11th round pick out of St. Josephs - Earned a promotion from Ft. Myers in May after a strong start.  3AB/R/2H/2B.  Played one game behind the plate last weekend and is built as solid as a brickhouse.  Not Ben Rortvedt solid, but a stocky 5'10/215 lbs.  Seemed to call a really good game in the final game we saw on Sunday, and showed really good hustle legging out his double, helmet flew off and everything (almost Willians Astudillo like.)
Other pitching prospect notes:
I was hoping to see pitchers Cory Lewis and Zebby Matthews, who have created a bit of buzz this spring, but Lewis & Matthews did not throw.  I heard pitcher Connor Prielipp (2022 2nd round pick) was at the Twins facility in Florida for evaluation, but someone was wearing his number 47 during Friday's jersey auction and they said it was HIS jersey in their online auction site.  Mmmm?   I did see Jaylin Nowlin pitch in relief Friday and he got lit up to the tune of 2IP/5H/4ER/3BB/noKs.  Matthew Swain closed out Sunday's win allowing 2HRs on 3H with a K & BB in one inning pitched.  Ironically, the best pitching performance of the weekend came from starter Orlando Rodriguez who threw 5 shutout innings on Sunday. earning the win and improving his record to 7-2 on the season.  As mentioned earlier in Twins Daily, he was released after the game on Sunday.  Rodriguez is 5-7 years older than most players in high-A ball and I guess they needed the roster space.  Tough break.
If you make the trip to Cedar Rapids, the players are pretty accessible after the games.  They walk right out of the clubhouse past you, as does the opposition on the way to their bus.  There was only one other person looking for autographs with me after Friday's game.  On Sunday, fans are invited to go on the field as ALL Kernel players sign on the field after Sunday games for 10-15 minutes or so.
The Cedar Rapids Kernels won the first half of the season standings and are loaded with talent, especially in the infield (with depth too.)  It will be interesting to watch some of the names above and follow their development during the second half of the season and beyond.  Thanks for reading.

I just completed my 24th annual baseball road trip with my buddies Steve-O and TJ, this past weekend we caught a trio of games in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, home of the Minnesota Twins High Class A team the Kernels.   The Beloit Sky Carp won the first game we saw on Friday, June 23, 11-9.  Cedar Rapids then won the next two days by scores of 10-6 and 8-3.  Sky Carp, in case you are wondering, is a not-so-flattering moniker for Canadian geese.  I am by no means a baseball expert, but rather just an avid fan who loves to go to baseball games, watching and observing.   With my scorebook in hand, I make notes throughout the game of what I see happening on the field (and sometimes inthe stands.)   Here's a summary along with some thoughts and observations on how players on the Twins Daily Top 20 prospect list faired, along with some of the other Kernels "popping" in the minors.  
Current Twins Daily Top 20 prospects (after mid-May rankings)
#3 prospect - OF Emmanuel Rodriguez   Over the three games we saw...10ABs/2H/HR/RBI/4SO/4BB/SB - Rodriquez played CF the first two games and DH the final one.   Good athleticism in CF.  In the first game he showed excellent range getting to a ball in the LF/CF gap and then he non-chalantly flipped his glove for the catch and the ball glanced off his glove for a three-base error.  The next night was windy and with a rocket hit to CF he hustled back to the ball in time, but it hit off his glove for a triple (we thought it could have been an error, but then again it was windy.)  Showed some patience at the plate with 4 walks to go along with 4 strikeouts.  Has some of that "Wow" factor going for him with his swing (he's got "pop"), presence, and confidence.   I hope he can continue to mature and improve, he is the youngest player on the Cedar Rapids Kernel roster.
#6 prospect - P Marco Raya - 4th round pick in 2020 out of HS - He pitched the first game we saw on Friday and got off to a quick start, retiring 7 of the first 8 batters he faced.   Then an error (Rodriguez) and two unearned runs later, the Kernels were down 2-0 after three.  Raya got the first out in the 4th, but never finished the inning after loading up the bases on three consecutive singles.  His stat line was 3 1/3IP/4H/3ER/2K/BB.   In ten Class High-A starts, Raya is 0-1, 3.19 ERA, 35K/6BB in 31 IP.  The word I would use to describe Marco Raya is "efficient."  He started out the game dealing strikes and going after the hitters and was getting outs.  Then after giving up three consecutive singles to load the bases in the 4th, the Kernels made a call to the bullpen, which let the game get away in the middle frames (see Jaylin Nowlin below.)  Nothing "Wow" about his stuff like when I saw Brusdar Graterol pitch here, but Raya did exhibit good control and confidence.   They seem to be bringing Raya along slowly with 31 IP in ten starts.
#12 prospect - IF Jose Salas    Also acquired in the Luis Arraez trade - 7ABs/R/H/RBI/2B/2K/2BB/2HBP/1SB.  He played 2B two games and 3B once, with a slick glove, great range, with no errors.  On the season batting .166 with 61 Ks in 193 AB.  He is the second youngest player on the roster.  The glove is there, the bat is not (yet?)   Good versatility and speed.
#13 prospect - SS Noah Miller - 1st round pick 2021 out of HS - 9ABs/R/2H/2RBI/SB/5Ks.  Miller played two games at SS and was part of 3 double plays.  His glove is MLB ready IMO.  He gobbled up anything hit his way and was smooth as butter with his glove & throws, but has much work to do with the bat.  Miller is a switch hitter batting .208 (not sure of his splits.)   He had two RBI singles late in the Friday night game, otherwise he had tough at bats.  Out of the regulars playing offensively, Miller is the third youngest behind Rodriguez and Salas.  
Preseason Top 20 Twins Daily prospects
#18 prospect - IF Tanner Schobel (2nd round pick 2022 out of Virginia Tech as a draft eligible sophomore)  In two games batting leadoff and playing third base, 9AB/3R/3H/5RBI/2HR/K.  Batting .279 on the season with ten HRs and tied for the team lead with 46 RBI.  He's only 6 months older than Miller, but has got the bat and is a solid fielder.  I was surprised he dropped out of the Twins Daily Top 20 in the mid-May updated rankings, while Miller climbed one spot.  I can see him earning a promotion to Wichita before long.  Good stick & solid glove.  Very comfortable at the plate.
#20 prospect - OF Misael Urbina (signed as MLFA in 2108, just turned 21) - 13AB/2R/4H/5RBI/(2)2Bs/HR/3K.  Played two games in LF and one at DH.  Had 3 hits in Friday's game.  Adequate fielder batting .192 on the season.  I heard a lot about a high ceiling with him, nothing to write home about at this point (yet), hasn't taken off.  Still A LOT to prove.
Best of the rest
Jorel Ortega IF - 6th round pick 2022 (signed out of Tennessee after his junior year) - recently promoted to Cedar Rapids.  12AB/5R/5H/2B/HR/BB.  Played 1B,2B, and DH in the 3 games we watched.  He catches your attention when playing.  Batting .400 in 5 games since his promotion from Ft. Myers.  I like his game, he hustles and does things positively that you notice.
Kala'i Rosario OF - 5th round pick 2020 - Yay, another Rosario in the Twins organization!   Played RF for 2 games.  7AB/5R/3H/2RBI/2B/HR/2K/3BB.  Drafted out of high school in Hawaii, currently leads the Kernels in doubles (14), batting average (.279), and tied for HR lead with 12.  41 BBs to go along with 71 Ks.  Nothing flashy defensively, but very solid at the plate.  Possible OF promotion to Wichita if an opening should arise?  On a side note, during a rain delay during the Saturday game, Rosario was the ONLY player from either team, on the side of the dugout signing autographs for kids (and some big kids too-see pic below) for over twenty minutes during a light (and sometimes not-so-light) rain.
Ben Ross Utility - 5th round pick 2022 out of Notre Dame after his junior year - A clear fan favorite who plays everywhere, big blonde mullet (see locks below.)  1B/SS/CF when we saw him.  12AB/2R/3H/5RBI/(2)2Bs/HR.  Batting .235 on the season with 11HRs.  Fun player to cheer for, goes all out.  Made an error while in CF otherwise was solid, but not spectacular on defense.  
Andrew Cossetti C - 11th round pick out of St. Josephs - Earned a promotion from Ft. Myers in May after a strong start.  3AB/R/2H/2B.  Played one game behind the plate last weekend and is built as solid as a brickhouse.  Not Ben Rortvedt solid, but a stocky 5'10/215 lbs.  Seemed to call a really good game in the final game we saw on Sunday, and showed really good hustle legging out his double, helmet flew off and everything (almost Willians Astudillo like.)
Other pitching prospect notes:
I was hoping to see pitchers Cory Lewis and Zebby Matthews, who have created a bit of buzz this spring, but Lewis & Matthews did not throw.  I heard pitcher Connor Prielipp (2022 2nd round pick) was at the Twins facility in Florida for evaluation, but someone was wearing his number 47 during Friday's jersey auction and they said it was HIS jersey in their online auction site.  Mmmm?   I did see Jaylin Nowlin pitch in relief Friday and he got lit up to the tune of 2IP/5H/4ER/3BB/noKs.  Matthew Swain closed out Sunday's win allowing 2HRs on 3H with a K & BB in one inning pitched.  Ironically, the best pitching performance of the weekend came from starter Orlando Rodriguez who threw 5 shutout innings on Sunday. earning the win and improving his record to 7-2 on the season.  As mentioned earlier in Twins Daily, he was released after the game on Sunday.  Rodriguez is 5-7 years older than most players in high-A ball and I guess they needed the roster space.  Tough break.
If you make the trip to Cedar Rapids, the players are pretty accessible after the games.  They walk right out of the clubhouse past you, as does the opposition on the way to their bus.  There was only one other person looking for autographs with me after Friday's game.  On Sunday, fans are invited to go on the field as ALL Kernel players sign on the field after Sunday games for 10-15 minutes or so.
The Cedar Rapids Kernels won the first half of the season standings and are loaded with talent, especially in the infield (with depth too.)  It will be interesting to watch some of the names above and follow their development during the second half of the season and beyond.  Thanks for reading.

I just completed my 24th annual baseball road trip with my buddies Steve-O and TJ, this past weekend we caught a trio of games in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, home of the Minnesota Twins High Class A team the Kernels.   The Beloit Sky Carp won the first game we saw on Friday, June 23, 11-9.  Cedar Rapids then won the next two days by scores of 10-6 and 8-3.  Sky Carp, in case you are wondering, is a not-so-flattering moniker for Canadian geese.  I am by no means a baseball expert, but rather just an avid fan who loves to go to baseball games, watching and observing.   With my scorebook in hand, I make notes throughout the game of what I see happening on the field (and sometimes inthe stands.)   Here's a summary along with some thoughts and observations on how players on the Twins Daily Top 20 prospect list faired, along with some of the other Kernels "popping" in the minors.  
Current Twins Daily Top 20 prospects (after mid-May rankings)
#3 prospect - OF Emmanuel Rodriguez   Over the three games we saw...10ABs/2H/HR/RBI/4SO/4BB/SB - Rodriquez played CF the first two games and DH the final one.   Good athleticism in CF.  In the first game he showed excellent range getting to a ball in the LF/CF gap and then he non-chalantly flipped his glove for the catch and the ball glanced off his glove for a three-base error.  The next night was windy and with a rocket hit to CF he hustled back to the ball in time, but it hit off his glove for a triple (we thought it could have been an error, but then again it was windy.)  Showed some patience at the plate with 4 walks to go along with 4 strikeouts.  Has some of that "Wow" factor going for him with his swing (he's got "pop"), presence, and confidence.   I hope he can continue to mature and improve, he is the youngest player on the Cedar Rapids Kernel roster.
#6 prospect - P Marco Raya - 4th round pick in 2020 out of HS - He pitched the first game we saw on Friday and got off to a quick start, retiring 7 of the first 8 batters he faced.   Then an error (Rodriguez) and two unearned runs later, the Kernels were down 2-0 after three.  Raya got the first out in the 4th, but never finished the inning after loading up the bases on three consecutive singles.  His stat line was 3 1/3IP/4H/3ER/2K/BB.   In ten Class High-A starts, Raya is 0-1, 3.19 ERA, 35K/6BB in 31 IP.  The word I would use to describe Marco Raya is "efficient."  He started out the game dealing strikes and going after the hitters and was getting outs.  Then after giving up three consecutive singles to load the bases in the 4th, the Kernels made a call to the bullpen, which let the game get away in the middle frames (see Jaylin Nowlin below.)  Nothing "Wow" about his stuff like when I saw Brusdar Graterol pitch here, but Raya did exhibit good control and confidence.   They seem to be bringing Raya along slowly with 31 IP in ten starts.
#12 prospect - IF Jose Salas    Also acquired in the Luis Arraez trade - 7ABs/R/H/RBI/2B/2K/2BB/2HBP/1SB.  He played 2B two games and 3B once, with a slick glove, great range, with no errors.  On the season batting .166 with 61 Ks in 193 AB.  He is the second youngest player on the roster.  The glove is there, the bat is not (yet?)   Good versatility and speed.
#13 prospect - SS Noah Miller - 1st round pick 2021 out of HS - 9ABs/R/2H/2RBI/SB/5Ks.  Miller played two games at SS and was part of 3 double plays.  His glove is MLB ready IMO.  He gobbled up anything hit his way and was smooth as butter with his glove & throws, but has much work to do with the bat.  Miller is a switch hitter batting .208 (not sure of his splits.)   He had two RBI singles late in the Friday night game, otherwise he had tough at bats.  Out of the regulars playing offensively, Miller is the third youngest behind Rodriguez and Salas.  
Preseason Top 20 Twins Daily prospects
#18 prospect - IF Tanner Schobel (2nd round pick 2022 out of Virginia Tech as a draft eligible sophomore)  In two games batting leadoff and playing third base, 9AB/3R/3H/5RBI/2HR/K.  Batting .279 on the season with ten HRs and tied for the team lead with 46 RBI.  He's only 6 months older than Miller, but has got the bat and is a solid fielder.  I was surprised he dropped out of the Twins Daily Top 20 in the mid-May updated rankings, while Miller climbed one spot.  I can see him earning a promotion to Wichita before long.  Good stick & solid glove.  Very comfortable at the plate.
#20 prospect - OF Misael Urbina (signed as MLFA in 2108, just turned 21) - 13AB/2R/4H/5RBI/(2)2Bs/HR/3K.  Played two games in LF and one at DH.  Had 3 hits in Friday's game.  Adequate fielder batting .192 on the season.  I heard a lot about a high ceiling with him, nothing to write home about at this point (yet), hasn't taken off.  Still A LOT to prove.
Best of the rest
Jorel Ortega IF - 6th round pick 2022 (signed out of Tennessee after his junior year) - recently promoted to Cedar Rapids.  12AB/5R/5H/2B/HR/BB.  Played 1B,2B, and DH in the 3 games we watched.  He catches your attention when playing.  Batting .400 in 5 games since his promotion from Ft. Myers.  I like his game, he hustles and does things positively that you notice.
Kala'i Rosario OF - 5th round pick 2020 - Yay, another Rosario in the Twins organization!   Played RF for 2 games.  7AB/5R/3H/2RBI/2B/HR/2K/3BB.  Drafted out of high school in Hawaii, currently leads the Kernels in doubles (14), batting average (.279), and tied for HR lead with 12.  41 BBs to go along with 71 Ks.  Nothing flashy defensively, but very solid at the plate.  Possible OF promotion to Wichita if an opening should arise?  On a side note, during a rain delay during the Saturday game, Rosario was the ONLY player from either team, on the side of the dugout signing autographs for kids (and some big kids too-see pic below) for over twenty minutes during a light (and sometimes not-so-light) rain.
Ben Ross Utility - 5th round pick 2022 out of Notre Dame after his junior year - A clear fan favorite who plays everywhere, big blonde mullet (see locks below.)  1B/SS/CF when we saw him.  12AB/2R/3H/5RBI/(2)2Bs/HR.  Batting .235 on the season with 11HRs.  Fun player to cheer for, goes all out.  Made an error while in CF otherwise was solid, but not spectacular on defense.  
Andrew Cossetti C - 11th round pick out of St. Josephs - Earned a promotion from Ft. Myers in May after a strong start.  3AB/R/2H/2B.  Played one game behind the plate last weekend and is built as solid as a brickhouse.  Not Ben Rortvedt solid, but a stocky 5'10/215 lbs.  Seemed to call a really good game in the final game we saw on Sunday, and showed really good hustle legging out his double, helmet flew off and everything (almost Willians Astudillo like.)
Other pitching prospect notes:
I was hoping to see pitchers Cory Lewis and Zebby Matthews, who have created a bit of buzz this spring, but Lewis & Matthews did not throw.  I heard pitcher Connor Prielipp (2022 2nd round pick) was at the Twins facility in Florida for evaluation, but someone was wearing his number 47 during Friday's jersey auction and they said it was HIS jersey in their online auction site.  Mmmm?   I did see Jaylin Nowlin pitch in relief Friday and he got lit up to the tune of 2IP/5H/4ER/3BB/noKs.  Matthew Swain closed out Sunday's win allowing 2HRs on 3H with a K & BB in one inning pitched.  Ironically, the best pitching performance of the weekend came from starter Orlando Rodriguez who threw 5 shutout innings on Sunday. earning the win and improving his record to 7-2 on the season.  As mentioned earlier in Twins Daily, he was released after the game on Sunday.  Rodriguez is 5-7 years older than most players in high-A ball and I guess they needed the roster space.  Tough break.
If you make the trip to Cedar Rapids, the players are pretty accessible after the games.  They walk right out of the clubhouse past you, as does the opposition on the way to their bus.  There was only one other person looking for autographs with me after Friday's game.  On Sunday, fans are invited to go on the field as ALL Kernel players sign on the field after Sunday games for 10-15 minutes or so.
The Cedar Rapids Kernels won the first half of the season standings and are loaded with talent, especially in the infield (with depth too.)  It will be interesting to watch some of the names above and follow their development during the second half of the season and beyond.  Thanks for reading.

Data and analytics have become scary words across the land of Minnesota Twins baseball recently.  Rocco Baldelli gets criticized regularly for never lifting his head out of the spreadsheet or not trusting his players because the computer told him not to. Many say that the manager needs to go with his gut more often in order to win games or that he needs to take game situations to mind when making decisions.  Let’s dig in a little bit.
So what is this “data”?  Is data all those batting, pitching, and fielding statistics broken down into every conceivable combination and minute detail?  Of course it is.  That’s what we all think of.  How does Batter X perform against a particular pitcher?  Are there platoon advantages to be gained from Batter Y?  We need a home run, who is most likely to hit one right now?  We just need to advance the runner, is Batter Z the right guy to do that?  On the pitching side, how well does Pitcher A perform in his third time through the lineup?  What pitch should Pitcher B throw to Hitter W to get him out?  There are literally hundreds of different statistics out there to analyze and utilize.  The breakdown can go on forever and possibly to the point of silliness, like “What is Batter Q’s hitting line against a submarining lefty pitcher wearing a red uniform north of the Mason Dixon line on a windy Thursday during Lent?”
So that’s what we understand data to be.  It’s all about numbers right?  Well, maybe not.  The things we think of a data are merely numerically quantifying and confirming what is true (or disproving what is thought to be true). For example, in 1977, everyone knew that Rod Carew was the guy you wanted batting if you wanted to start a rally.  That was common knowledge.  Why? Well, because he seems to get a lot of hits and walks and doesn’t strike out a ton.  It’s a no brainer, right?  Yes.  That’s right.  However, to use a simple piece of “data”, his on base percentage that year was almost .450 (I guess that happens when you hit .388!).  Those numbers reinforce or “prove” that he was the guy that the Twins want batting in that situation.  Until they don’t.   Sometimes Rod Carew struck out.  In fact, in arguably the greatest hitting season in team history, he made outs 55% of the time.  Even so, he was still the best option in Gene Mauch’s and pretty much everyone else’s mind. 
What about that “gut feeling”?  It’s called anecdotal data.  It is a belief in something based on some evidence that the decision-maker values.  It’s “the eye test”.  He “looks like a major leaguer”.  “What a great pitch!”  Why do people say that?  Because they have seen things happen that confirm their feelings. Their brain is comparing it to other things they have seen and is making a value judgement based on their experiences.  We don’t realize it, but the personal computer in our head is keeping track and counting occurrences of how things play out on the baseball field.  The brain is analyzing the data that it sees and is coming to a decision.  We don’t think about it that way because we don’t think out loud and verbalize that we are analyzing.  We just “do it”.  No one needs to tell us to drive on the right side of the road, we just know (without knowing any numerical statistics) that driving on the left side would lead to very bad outcomes eventually. 
Back in days of old, when the 1927 Yankees came to town, managers (and pitchers) knew that they were in trouble getting through the heart of the order.  They probably knew Babe Ruth’s and Lou Gehrig’s batting average and the number of home runs they hit, but that’s about all they had.  The rest was just their gut – what they thought might be true based on what they saw in the past. As time went on, more and more ways to quantify those gut feelings came along and gradually came into broader use across the league.  Do you think that manager Bucky Harris of the 1927 Washington Senators would have liked to have some statistical analysis that would help inform his decisions when facing the Bronx Bombers?  I’m certain that he would have.  He would likely have tried to use any advantage he could come up with and knowing where Ruth and Gehrig’s weak spots in the strike zone were would have come in very handy.  Goose Goslin and Tris Speaker were good, but they were never going to keep up with the unchecked Bambino and Slambino. By the way, Bucky Harris was also the 2nd baseman in addition to being the manager that year who used whatever data he could conceive of to beat those damn Yankees.  It didn’t work.  The Senators were pretty good in 1927, but still finished in 3rd place.
So let’s return to 2023. Why do people think that Rocco Baldelli uses data and analytics too much?  Probably because he talks about it a lot and because the game across the league has changed more than fans of one team realize.  Rocco is a smart guy, and a numbers guy.  He’s playing the odds using as much actuarial science as he can in most of the baseball decisions he makes.  Spoiler Alert: This will not always result in decisions working out!  Just as with Rod Carew making outs 55% of the time in 1977, it is not an exact science. If Choice A has a 45% chance of success and Choice B has a 25% chance of success, I’m going with Choice A every single time, even if sometimes it will go the other direction.  This is what insurance companies do all the time when they set the rates that they charge for your insurance policy.  They know that sometimes they will be wrong, but the odds (informed by more statistical analysis than I want to think about or can comprehend) say that over the long term they will have made a good decision.  Add in the human element and those decisions get even more complex. 
But Rocco still uses too much data!  If you mean he takes all the information available to him and factors it into the decision, then yes, he uses too much data if that’s your definition.  Did Tom Kelly use all the information he had to make decisions?  Ron Gardenhire?  I’m pretty sure they did and I’m pretty sure they would like to use the additional information that’s available now as well.  Are they better or worse managers than Rocco Baldelli?  I’m not here to answer that, but I’m certain that the determining factor shouldn’t be whether they used the most complete information available to them to make decisions. Sometimes the data will lead you in the right direction and sometimes it will be wrong, but decisions have to be based on something!  What do you think?
 
 
 
 

Everyone knows that Byron Buxton is struggling with some sort of knee injury.  Some folks are happy with the Twins current plan of playing him at DH, some want him at CF regardless of injury, and some just want more information about the injury because whatever the Twins are doing it doesn’t seem to be working.  I am in the last group and I am personally growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of information coming from the team and derision from the media.

If you don’t agree with some on Byron Buxton’s situation you “don’t watch the games” or “don’t treat the players like humans” but after the latest media scrum from Rocco on this you “just don’t want to listen”.  I have actually “listened” to a lot of things about Buxton’s knee over the last 2 years.
I listened when Dan Hayes reported that Buxton knew all of 2022 that he needed a knee surgery and would be out for only 6-8 weeks.  He had that surgery in September and still isn’t in CF.

I listened when Do-Hyoung Park reported last September that Falvey said there are no tears or structural issues in the knee and it is no worse that what most folks have in their daily lives.  He had that surgery in September and still isn’t in CF.

I listened when Dan Hayes reported that Byron Buxton reported to camp in good shape and is not limited at all.  Despite the lack of limitations, he still isn’t in CF.

I listened when the Gleeman & the Geek Progrum said for the entirety of Spring Training that Buxton not playing in games was not concerning and that many modern front offices don’t use games to get ready for the season.  He still isn’t playing games in CF.

I listened at the beginning of the season when Dan Hayes reported Buxton would be starting the season at DH to avoid crappy weather in April but that Buxton feels great.  He still isn’t in CF.
And I am listening now they say he physically can't play CF, which I can also see with my own eyes.

At this point I have lost faith in listening to the Twins and their treatment plans for an injury they are choosing not to disclose.  I am also tired of the media not even trying to ask during the press scrums “What’s wrong with the knee?  Ligament, Cartilage, Meniscus, Arthritis, etc…”  I don’t need an X-Ray or MRI, just a basic injury declaration like hundreds of other MLB players have given in the past. 

At the end of May my wife and I made a trip to see the Wind Surge play. I didn't recognize most of the prospects but we quickly became fans of a young man named Yoyner Fajardo. That game Fajardo went 4/5 with a double, stole 2 bases and scored 2 runs. Fast forward to 2 weeks ago. We bought one of his MILB cards off eBay and figured we would take the chance and send it to him TTM to try to get an auto. And lo and behold today, look what showed up! How about that! Lifelong fans now!

Fun fact:  Eddie Rosario would be 3rd on the Twins in home runs.

I've mentioned my Jorge Lopez connection in several threads on this website and figured I would write it out if anyone is interested in reading it. I met the girl who became my wife in 2015, she is from Puerto Rico, lived in Chicago as a young adult and was a White Sox fan. She moved to the lovely state of Kansas in the summer of 2016 and one of our mutual interests was watching baseball. I spent a few months learning as much as I could about the history of Puerto Rican baseball and I gradually converted her to being a Twins fan, we both really liked Jose Berríos and started following his career during the summer of 2016 and started collecting his baseball cards. We were both excited to see the Cubs end their run of futility that season and as a former resident of Chicago she was able to see both of the Chicago teams win a World Series in her lifetime.
The following spring we were watching the World Baseball Classic, Puerto Rico was playing Mexico, I remember turning the game on and not really paying attention and she says to me, "The pitcher is Jorge Lopez, I went to school with him." My response was confusion, how did I not know about him before? She told me that they were childhood classmates in their hometown of Cayey, PR and he always liked playing baseball and volleyball and handball and ended up going to the military academy in Caguas and she lost touch with him after high school. We started following his career after that where he toiled in the Brewers organization through the summer of 2018 when he was traded to the Royals in the Mike Moustakas trade but quickly gained attention from baseball fans when he carried a perfect game into the 9th inning against our beloved Twins.
A couple months after that we were sitting in church when she gets a notification on her phone, Jorge had sent her a friend request on Facebook. That was when we found out more about him after they had lost touch and the challenges that his son had been experiencing. His son Mikael was born with a condition called "Familial Mediterranean Fever" which affects his digestive system; because of this Mikael wears a backpack that supplies nutrients to his body (eventually he will need an intestinal transplant). He quickly became one of our favorite players to cheer for, we were looking forward to getting to see him pitch for the Royals but in September of 2020 due to his ineffectiveness as a starter the Royals DFA's him and we were sad. Baltimore quickly picked him up and he struggled during the 2020 and 2021 seasons where they eventually moved him to the bullpen. Before the 2022 season we connected with him again on Instagram and we started keeping in touch with him there, we learned his son was doing better and hoped that with his bullpen role being more defined he would finally put it together. And he did! He made his first All Star game appearance and I remember staying up way past my bedtime to watch him come into the game to face one batter, Jake Cronenworth, and got him to ground out on 3 pitches. It was such a grand moment. His name came up in trade talks, a number of teams seemed to be interested, I hoped the Twins would make a move but I wasn't hopeful. I had just finished voting in a local election on August 2nd, and came home and turned the TV on when I saw the Twins had traded for Jorge Lopez! We were so excited that he was gonna be on our favorite team! He wasn't as sharp after the trade but we hoped after a full offseason with the team and the chemistry with the other Puerto Rican players and the stability of his sons situation he would be the Jorge Lopez he was before the trade and so far this season he has been much better, currently with a 1.71 ERA in 22 games. We still interact with him on Instagram and keep in touch as often as we can.
I think the biggest thing I've learned from Jorge Lopez is that we all are fighting battles the world may never know about. When he comes into pitch, you will always see that huge smile on his face, deep down he is just a Puerto Rican kid who loves playing baseball. Whether he continues to do well or struggles, he is a man who is easy to cheer for and I hope more Twins fans will show him some love and compassion 😊
Thanks for reading!

The top line is that the Twins are 9-4 and lead the AL Central by two games. They've outscored their opponents 58-34, the second-best run differential in the American League. 34 runs allowed is second-best in MLB while the 58 runs scored is 17th of 30 teams. Team batting stats are so-so at best--23rd in team BA and OPS, 17th in runs scored, 15 (T) in homers, 20th in walks and seventh (worst) in strikeouts. The pitching stats make up for the poor offense and then some: second in ERA, second in least walks, first in strikeouts, first in WHIP and a middling 19th in homers allowed. The defense has been very good--a few sparkling plays and very few forced or unforced errors. They have been charged with four errors total, about what the White Sox might do for a three-game series. 
Now for some thoughts on individuals:
Pablo Lopez--Dare I say 'ace"? Each start seems to be better. After having the first four hitters reach, with two in and two in scoring position for his last outing, Lopez got out of that inning without further damage and set down a total of 23 straight batters. He's going deep in games, striking guys out and making adjustments as the games develop. What's not to like? Yeah, he got traded for a guy hitting .500.
Sonny Gray--Two of his three starts were "meh", except he managed to keep the other guys from scoring. In between, he had a great start, fanning 13, and allowing only one run. The overall results are very good. He uses his entire array of pitches and gets outs, even when he doesn't have his best stuff.
Joe Ryan--In another year, we'd be raving at his effectiveness. He is 3-0 with an ERA below 3. Ryan seems to have picked up velocity and is using his secondary stuff effectively.
Jhoan Duran--Three for four in saves and the Twins won the game where he had a blown save. He allowed home runs in his last two outings, but mostly hitters don't have much chance against him. 
Donovan Solano--He's stepped in at first base for Joey Gallo and all he's done is hit, albeit without much power. Solano is hitting .342 with an OPS of .811 in 41 plate appearances. Remember when he was 2-25 in spring training? Neither do I.
Trevor Larnach--After being far and away the Twins' best offensive threat in the first week of the season, Larnach has cooled off substantially. His numbers are now a .260 batting average, .716 OPS, with only two extra-base hits. Larnach leads the club in strikeouts (19) and IMHO has been victimized a bit by sketchy called third strikes. He also leads the club in walks. I would expect some good things from Trevor in the coming week or so. He's due to bust out again. 
Christian Vazquez--He has been very effective as a hitter in the bottom of the order. Batting average is currently .379 with an OPS of .954. The offense is a bonus added on to his solid work behind the plate. The catchers probably deserve some credit for the outstanding work of the pitching staff. 
Jose Miranda--The results haven't been great or even okay for Miranda so far. Miranda has started all but one game at third base (DHed in that game) and performed satisfactorily in the field, but so far the hitting has been a disappointment. He's hitting just .212 with 5 RBI and only one extra-base hit (a double). The OPS stands at .512, with five walks and nine strikeouts. Miranda has too good of a hitting pedigree for his struggles to continue much longer.
Nick Gordon--Coming off last year's success for Gordon, many thought he deserved a regular role. Injuries have provided Gordon with regular at-bats, but so far the results aren't there. The batting average stands at .103 with a .253 OPS. Gordon has hit in tough luck and didn't strike out until his 32nd plate appearance, but if more players get healthy, Nick might see a lot of bench time. Gordon has played second base and left field defensively and done a nice job, especially at second, despite not having a good defensive reputation. 
The first 13 games have been very satisfying to this lifelong Twins fan. The pitching has been all that could be expected and more. They've managed a couple of late-game wins and looked like a solid defensive club. Certainly, the pitching will regress to the mean a bit and there will be some tough losses in the course of the long season. The club has managed well despite a lot of early-season injuries. It's my hope (and probably all Twins fans) that the injuries aren't as overwhelming as in the previous years and that this club can continue to do well. It should be fun!

"Remember kid, there's heroes and there's legends; heroes get remembered, but legends never die. Follow your heart kid, you'll never go wrong"That iconic line spoken by "Babe Ruth" to Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez, moreso than any line truly encapsulates what The Sandlot is all about. 
Benny befriends the new kid. We all have either been a Benny or Scott Smalls, trying to fit in, make new friends,waiting for someone to reach out with a warm smile and a friendly hand.
In 2018, for the 25th Anniversary of The Sandlot, I had the amazing privilege to interview the writer, director, and narrator of that film; David Mickey Evans.
We talked about a variety of topics including how the origin of the film was based on a true experience, what our favorite scenes are, how the swimming pool scene was filmed, what the movie means to people, and much more. 
The Sandlot transcends baseball films. Yes, on its surface it's a baseball film, but underneath its more. It's about commoradarie, friendship, coming of age, struggling to be accepted, and much more that kids throughout time have battled with. 
I have included time stamps below so you can see what we talked about. If you love baseball and baseball movies, this is an interview you absolutely CANT miss.
As always, my sincerest thanks to David Mickey Evans for taking 31 minutes to be on the show.
https://youtu.be/z2ak0H5rrvE
You can find The Show About The Show on my YouTube Channel (MLBTheShowPodcast) and follow me on Twitter @Devlin_Clark84.
           3:08
Origins of The Sandlot, where the idea came from and growing up in the CA valley and also details how Hercules was a real neighborhood dog.  7:00 - 
Did they know that they were making something special? How special the movie was.  9:00 - 
Why they decided to shoot in Utah? 10:34 - 
Why the friendship between Benny and Smalls is so relatable. Was Benny always the one who was going to be the good guy? 13:02 - 
How great the adult cast was and what it was like working with James Earl Jones,how he was added after a few weeks of filming and how all his scenes were shot in a single day.  16:20 - 
How the swimming pool scene happened, how it resonated with most teenage boys. Based on real life experience. The hilarious "advice" he gave Squints, what Squints asked him about the scene.  21:04 - 
Fourth of July scene is both of our favorite scenes. He talks about that scene, how it went down. He shot that entire scene in 2 hours.  24:30 - 
How the iconic last PF Flyers came about.  The slogan played into the scene.  26:40 - 
How often does he keep in touch with the kids from the movie? 28:30 - 
What ever really happened to Bertram? He got really into the 60s and nobody ever saw him again, plus his favorite line from the movie.  If you like more interviews about baseball movies, comment down below and I will keep making them and sharing them. The Sandlot is much more than a movie: it's magic. 


 

My 6-4-3 on Sundays Twins Game
Sunday was the game many Twins fans were hoping for. After two consecutive close games, both by 2-0 wins, the Twins were able to put up seven runs today. four of them coming off the bat of off-season free agent signed Joey Gallo. He was 3-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI. 
The Twins start the season 3-0. They start a three-game series against Luis Arraez and the Marlins on Monday, but before that let's look at what happened today:
Max Kepler drew a five-pitch walk to start the game. Maybe this will be what gets him going and allows him to relax at the plate. He was left stranded. He had a hard hit out to end the third inning with runners on. He's been hitting more hard line drive outs than weak ground balls and fly outs.  Jose Miranda stays hot and extended his hit streak in the second with a single to center. He's really seeing the ball well.  Ryan Jeffers in his 2023 debut shot a broken bat single through the infield in the second for an RBI and 1-0 lead for the Twins. He had another RBI single, this time to center, in the fourth, scoring Gallo. RISP The Twins have done a nice job of getting guys around to score, when they were on base in scoring position. compared to the Royals who were 0-18.  Joey Gallo had his first three extra base hits of the season today, including a massive home run into right field of 431 feet. Hard contact in back to back at bats. Great sign for Gallo. His second one of the season and day was in the seventh and extended the Twins lead to 6-1.  Joe Ryan was absolutely dealing today. Other than a solo home run, which was the first run of the season for the Royals, it was Ryan's day. He was changing speeds, but also got his velocity up to 95.7 in the first inning. His final line is 6IP, 3H (1HR), 1ER, 2BB, 6Ks. The home run came on a 3-2 pitch. Ryan had Olivares 1-2 and missed the outer corner the next two pitches. It was extremely close.  4 Things I liked to see
Byron Buxton continues to get on base at the DH position.  Trevor Larnach continues to reach base with a single in the seventh and an RBI single (two outs) in the eighth.  Joey Gallo and the offense getting going. Three extra base hits, two home runs and four RBI. He can be the key off-season signing if he hits 40 home runs. They need him to be at his All-Star and Gold Glove level.  Seven of the hits the Twins had today were with two outs. Other than one of the Gallo home runs, every other Twins run was scored with two outs.  3 stats about the series
Twins were 9-for-26 (34%) and Royals were 1-for-20 (5%) with RISP.  The Twins were also patient, drawing 11 walks in three games. Twins pitchers recorded 25 strikeouts (8.3/game) over the series with game totals being 11, five and nine.  This wasn't the cleanest game for the Twins, but it was a stark contrast to the close pitchers duels we saw the first two games. The Twins escaped with a win and ended up 3-0 to start the season. Ryan and Gallo carried the team today as they embark on a road trip to Miami. Your first place Minnesota Twins take on the Miami Marlins tomorrow with Tyler Mahle making his 2023 debut against Johnny Cueto. 
 

2-0. That's been the theme of the 2023 season so far, for the 2023 Twins. Two days after defeating the Royals 2-0 behind two runs in the 6th inning, and some very timely infield defense, the Twins managed to scrape across runs and turn it over to the bullpen. Sound familiar?

Here is my 6-4-3 on Saturday's 2-0 victory. Six things or players who stuck out to me, during today's game. Four things I really liked to see, and updates on three former Twins who had a good day!

• Byron Buxton remains hot at the plate. Buxton doubled to left in the first, a hustle double that resulted in Twins fans collectively holding their breath after he had the wind knocked out of him and was slow getting up. After a walk by Larnach, Jose Miranda singled to center to score Buxton. In the sixth, Buxton singled to right, and advanced to second on a passed ball by Perez, Miranda grounded into a fielders choice, advancing Buxton to third, he scored on a shallow sac fly which was made possible by a great piece of base running by Miranda who faked like he was going to tag, which caused the ball to be cut off, rather than have a play at the plate. Through two games as DH, Buxton is slashing .444/.444/.778. I love to see him pulling the ball, taking extra bases, being aggressive on the base paths and you've seen what the results are through the first two games.
• Christian Vazquez collected two more hits today and is batting .571 on the season. After calling an outstanding game two days ago with Lopez, and having seen Gray struggle after a seven-pitch first inning, Vazquez hasn't had any issues at the plate. Given he's in a timeshare with Jeffers, I have to think we will see Jeffers tomorrow in the series finale, as the Twins try to remain unbeaten. Having that veteran bat in the catcher position, usually a weak spot on offense, has been a pleasant surprise so far through two games.
• Sonny Gray-- Gray wasn't as sharp as he normally has been, issuing four walks in five innings. He's been trying a two-seam fastball and Morneau on the broadcast said he's trying to get a feel for it and see where he can be effective. Three of those four walks were in the third inning, yet he was able to hold the Royals off the scoreboard. Gray had his defense help him in the fourth with two guys on and one out. He got Nicky Lopez to ground into an inning-ending double play. He got the win but wasn't as sharp as he has been. His final line was (W-1) 5IP, 3H,0R,4BB, and 1K on 81 pitches, just 53 strikes.
• Twins bullpen-- For the second game in a row, the Twins bullpen pitched outstanding and was the highlight of the game. After Gray threw his five innings, the Twins bullpen consisted of Alcala, Jax, Thielbar, and J. Lopez. The bullpen pitched well and gave up just one hit and struck out four combined. Alcala, Jax, and Thielbar all recorded a hold, while Jorge Lopez recorded his first save of the 2023 season.
• Twins infield defense-- Once again, the infield defense, save for a Miranda error early in the game, was spectacular, showing range of motion, quick releases, and an awareness of the situation(which the Twins haven't had in recent years on defense) this was a welcome sight. They were aided again by two HUGE double plays by Lopez in the fourth and Isabel in the sixth, both of which ended any hopes of KC scoring. If the infield defense continues to generate double plays at this rate, (four in the first two games; and in BIG situations to get out of potentially dangerous innings) it will be another boost to the pitching staff.
• Strike rate of 49%. The Twins pitchers combined, continued to throw strikes, with the exception of Gray, whose command was hit and miss all day, the Twins threw 86 of 132 pitches overall for strikes and 20/35 (57.1%) first pitch strikes. The bullpen threw 34/49 pitches for strikes, a whopping 69.3%. Not issuing free passes and managing to get double plays, will continue to be crucial for the Twins bullpen as we get deeper in the season.

4 Things I really liked seeing

• Timely hitting--More clutch hits in the middle to later parts of the game, getting insurance runs for the Twins.
• Aggressive baserunning-- Buxton turned a single into a double, and later scored today and was also aggressive on opening day. The Twins being able and willing to be aggressive and take chances on the bases has paid off so far and gotten them extra runs.
• Continued to get out of jams-- The Twins have gotten out of two potential jams per game, via ground ball double plays. These have been huge for them as it's really handcuffed the Royals to a few extra-base hits and no real threats after.
• Bullpen success-- Through two games, the Twins bullpen has pitched 7.1, 1H,0R, 2BB, 4K. They've entered in the middle of the game both days and have been lights out after that. Given last season's struggles, this has been the brightest spot so far in the 2023 season so far, in my view.
3 Former Twins who had a good day:

• Mitch Garver-- The former Twins catcher hit a pair of 3R HRs today in a 16-3 win over the Phillies. He was two for four with 3R scored, 2HR, 6 RBIs and is hitting .500 in this young season.
• Josh Donaldson- Hit his first HR of the season in a 7-5 loss to the Giants. That was his only hit,
• Gio Urshela-- He was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI in a 13-1 routing of the Athletics.

The Twins have looked good so far and have yet to allow a run on the season, Gray wasn't as sharp as Lopez was, but he made enough pitches to get himself out of jams and keep his team in the game. The Twins will go for a series sweep tomorrow with Joe Ryan on the mound.

Since 1961 the Twins have had some huge Home Runs hit against them (looking at you Didi Gregorious and Tom Lawless), but they've also hit their fair share of big ones. Most have come in the World Series, but two in particular in my mind, have been huge regular-season home runs. Below, I outline all of them and the reasons why I ranked them where I did. If you have any comments, please let me know below!
• 6. Brian Dozier--July 10, 2015 vs Tigers
The Twins came into this game 42-40 and were set up for a mid-July battle with the division rival Tigers. The Twins trailed six to one going into the bottom of the ninth, then the Twins bats came alive off Tigers closer Joakim Soria. After a two-run single by Danny Santana brought the Twins back to within a run at six to five, Brian Dozier stepped up and cranked the first pitch, with two runners on, into the LF bleachers for the win. The win, erased a 6-0 Tigers lead in the 8th inning, to this writer, is the most dramatic walkoff HR ( second biggest regular season HR in Twins history), in Target Field history. Listen to Dick Bremers call on this if you haven't, I can listen to it over and over. 
https://youtu.be/5denizzi9yg 
• 5. Jacque Jones--April,1, 2002 vs Royals
After an entire off-season of contraction rumors from MLB, Bud Selig, and many news media outlets, Jacque Jones took the 2nd pitch of the season from Jeff Suppan and deposited it over the fence. Statement made. The Twins were here to stay, and it was a perfect way to kickoff what would be a special, but heartbreaking, season for the Twins and their fans. This HR, by extension the season, showed everyone nationally that the Twins deserved to be in MN, in MLB and weren't going to roll over and move to NC. Still one of my favorite HRs. It makes this list due to the statement it made after an off season of controversy and an unknown future. 
https://www.mlb.com/video/jones-goes-deep-twice-in-opener?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share
• 4. A.J. Pierzynski--October 6, 2002 vs A's
The Twins were tied with the A's at two games each with a deciding game five, to determine who faced the Angels in the ALCS. With flamethrower Billy Koch on the mound, AJ Pierzynski stepped up and took the first pitch he saw over the RF fence to give the Twins a 4-1 lead. (Ortiz later homered to extend it to five to one). This wasn't the game-winner, but it was the most important as it extended the lead and gave the Twins the ability to win the game in the ninth, even if they gave up runs (which they did). It's the HR that's become synonymous with that series, and in my view, is the 4th most important one in Twins history, given the situation, and who it came off of. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5denizzi9yg 
• 3. Dan Gladden--October 17th, 1987 vs Cards
One of the most iconic HRs in Twins history is also one of the most important. The Twins, in their second WS in franchise history, had the Dome field advance. The crowd of 55,171 were waiving Homer hankies and waiting for something to cheer about, in the fifth inning, (newest) Twins HOFer Dan Gladden gave them just that. He deposited the second pitch from right-hander Bob Forsch over the LF fence into the bleachers. This lands at number three on the list because it took place in a WS game, it was Game one and for all intents and purposes, sealed the win for the Twins. It's one of the biggest and most iconic HRs in Twins history, but it's not even the most important one from this series by a Twin, what are the two above it? 
https://youtu.be/G3vPnlkBrog
• 2. Don Baylor,Kent Hrbek--October 24th, 1987.
This is kind of a cheat to add two guys to this spot, but honestly, they both deserve it, given the circumstances. With the Twins down five to two going into the bottom of the fifth, they scored a run on a Gaetti rbi, and then Don Baylor came up with the Twins down 5-3, and promptly hit a two-run home run off lefty John Tudor to tie the game at five. The Twins scored again that inning and made it six to five. In the sixth, Hrbek hit a GS to centerfield to give the Twins a 10-5 lead at the time. The Twins don't win this game, and therefore the series, without either of these two gigantic home runs, in the most clutch spots, with their season on the line. These land at two on the list because when I asked TK once at Twinsfest where ranked these he replied "behind Kirby, in front of everyone else". That was good enough for me!
https://youtu.be/r6tPmCoVVNI
https://youtu.be/bGqlEL54hr8
• Kirby Puckett--October 26,1991 vs Braves
What else was it going to be? In the 11th inning, after telling Chili Davis he was thinking about bunting, to which Davis replied "bunt my a**", Kirby took a Charlie Leibrandt changeup on the outer half of the plate, into the LF bleachers, sending all 55,155 Twins fans into exuberant cheers, and giving the Twins new life in the series, after getting absolutely destroyed in ATL and coming back to MN down three games to two. It wasn't just that it was an extra-inning game. It was just that it was the World Series. It wasn't just that the Twins won the WS the next day, this comes in at number one because...it was Kirby. The best player, a fan favorite and a player that I, and many many other fans in the Twins Cities and all around Twins Territory idolized, just hit the biggest HR in team history. In the eyes of this (at the time 7-year-old)fan, it made Kirby something even more than a player, and almost larger than life. There wasn't anything he couldn't do on the field, this proved it. This was also the moment that I became a Twins fan and is the one lasting memories from my childhood that I will never forget. That day, Kirby went from a man to something more. A hero in all Twins fans eyes, it is also the day my love affair and undying fandom (and a lifetime of heartbreak, apparently) began.
https://youtu.be/Dig7fkSg6EY
 

https://www.mlb.com/twins/video/lopez-on-starting-opening-day?partnerId=web_video-playback-page_video-share
The new rules regarding larger bases, pitch clocks, and banned shifts didn't seem to bother the Twins on Opening Day. Baldelli's bunch pieced together a sparkling 2-0 win behind 5.1 very solid innings by off-season trade acquisition Pablo Lopez. (Although he wasn't the only Lopez who pitched well).

The Twins didn't hit any home runs, they didn't resemble the 2019 Bomba Squad. But they did resemble a team built with depth and bench players who can give you quality, MLB level at bats, and not give them away.

I will be highlighting my 6-4-3 below, what is it? 6 things or players who stuck out to me during today's game, 4 things I really liked seeing, and updates on 3 former Twins, who have had a pretty good Opening Day!

So sit back, read your 2023 Media Guide (or Twins handbooks from previous years), pour yourself a drink in your Twins Winter Meltdown glass, and enjoy:
6 Things or Players who really stood out to me:
Pablo Lopez-- It always starts with your starter. When you get a good strong quality start (or better!), you keep your team in the game, and especially on Opening Day, you give your team a chance to get you runs and win, and that's what he did. His line was pretty stellar: 5.1 IP, 2H, 3BB, 8Ks. In a sentence: Pablo shoved. He was in control all day, and when he did get into a jam I'm the 5th, he managed to stay calm and induce your standard 3-2-4 double play. Byron Buxton-- What can I say about this guy that hasn't been said? He is the engine that makes this team go. You saw it when they needed a spark and he hit an oppo triple to RCF that the KC CF missed and Buxton made third (He later scored on the very next AB on a single up the middle by Larnach, but more on that later). He really makes this lineup longer and better, even as the DH. He was 2-4 today with a single in the 1st and a triple and run scored in the 6th. His run scored put the Twins ahead 1-0, and was the first run scored of the season. More of this all year please! Trevor Larnach-- Larnach had maybe the best day of any Twins hitter, as an oft injured player with a very high ceiling, 2023 was seen as a crucial season for him, some even saying a make or break. He drove in Buxton with a single (up the middle, which is great to see him taking the ball back up the middle) giving the Twins a 1-0 lead. After a Buck Farmer walk gave the Twins runners on 1st and 2nd with 1 out, newly acquired Donovan Solano came up a single to RF to score Larnach and give the Twins, and Lopez all the insurance and runs they'd need. 2-0. Very encouraging start for Larnach as 2023 is an important season for him and he remains a HUGE bat for the Twins if he stays healthy. Twins infield defense. They got two HUGE Double Plays, both off the bat of MJ Melendez, at important times. None more so than the beautiful Gallo to Vasquez to Gordon, 3-2-4 Double Play to get the Twins and Pablo off the field, and out of trouble, after the Royals had mounted their only threat of the day. If the Twins infield defense, led by Correa, can continue to be solid, reducing errors, mental mistakes and taking advantage of ground balls hit at them(and producing 2 puts from them), that is a HUGE benefit for Twins pitchers this season. It will be something to monitor as the season progresses. Twins Bench-- After Farmer and Solano (combined 2-3 with a walk and RBI) replaced Nick Gordon and Joey Gallo (combined 0-4 with a K) at the plate, the Twins scored their two runs, one coming off the previously mentioned single from Solano. This is the kind of bench depth the Twins have lacked in past years, real, quality depth. Guys who give you good, smart, MLB ABs and don't get overwhelmed by the moment. (See not Jake Cave, Gilberto Celestino, etc, the last few years). If the Twins bench can continue to produce like they did, next man up, so to speak, that will be a big advantage for the Twins, and for Rocco, especially in late inning games when he's going based on match ups. Twins Bullpen-- Just because they're last on the list doesn't mean they're last in my heart. The Twins bullpen was one word today: outstanding! After Thielbar replaced Pablo Lopez in the 6th inning with 1 out, the bullpen went 3.2 hitless innings. That's right, no hits allowed by the pen. They struck out 2. It seemed like whoever Rocco brought in was always in control, and the Twins minimized any damage. This was, to me, the best part of the game today, especially given the issues the bullpen faced last year. The 3.2 innings were thrown between Thielbar, Lopez Jax, and Duran. All of them, except Duran, getting a Hold, while Duran recorded his first save of the 2023 season. 4 things I really liked seeing:
Offense never gave up. They were mostly shut out for the first five innings by Grienke, but the bats came alive in the 6th and produced 2 runs without a home run. One of them by a non starter (Solano). Good to see. Quality start by Lopez in his Twins debut, 5.1 IP 2 H, 3 BB, 8 Ks. Not much to say that I didn't say earlier. Today was his day. Buxton kickstarting the offensive scoring with an opposite field triple. He's such a difference maker for this team. Let's hope he stays healthy. Rocco's decisions, I liked his call to pull Lopez at 81 pitches and turn the game over to the bullpen, especially given how good they were (and can be) against a lowly KC team. He also made the right call to pull Gordon and Gallo for Farmer and Solano, which ended up securing the Twins an insurance run! 3 former Twins who had a good day on Opening Day:
Robbie Grossman (the human OBP machine) hit a big 3R HR in the Rangers game to tie it at 5, and help them later to secure the win after a very shaky start by DeGrom. Spencer Steer-- Former Twins prospect Spencer Steer hit a HR on Opening Day for the Reds, it was his 3rd career big league Home Run. Congratulations, Spencer. Luis Arraez, in his first AB as a Marlin, he roped a single down the LF line in typical Arreaz form. He later had a run producing 2B and finished 2-4 as the Marlins fell to the Mets 5-3. This was a great win for the Twins, a team win. One of the few wins in the last 3 years where I never really felt the Royals were going to make a run or tie the game, or where the Twins would give up the lead. They were in cruise control from start to finish. If the Twins continue this style and level of crisp, solid play, throughout the summer, it will be a VERY fun summer at Target Field.
 

The Twins come into the year with a lot of guys that can play at the major league level, but with such a logjam at certain positions, it might be hard for some players to distance themselves. These are 5 guys that I think will have potentially huge roles to play if everything goes right for them. In no particular order...
1. Jorge Alcala 
This is a pretty common breakout pick and yet I also feel like Alcala is not talked about enough for whatever reason. Alcala, 27, was one of the pieces sent to the Twins in the Ryan Pressely trade back in 2018, Alcala was decent during the COVID season with a 2,63 ERA in 24 innings and a 3.92 ERA in nearly 60 innings in 2021 before a injury to his throwing shoulder sidelined him for the majority of last year. Outside of Duran, Thielbar and Jax, the twins have a lot of uncertainty in the bullpen that was fairly middle of the pack in the MLB last year. Alcala has touched 98 with his fastball this spring and I truly believe he might have a Duran type full breakout depending on his role. The Twins didn't do much this offseason to address the bullpen, so they clearly have a lot of belief in what they have already. I feel like Alcala has the tools already to etablish himself for a long time in the bulpen. 
 
2. Royce Lewis. 
We already saw a small sample size of Royce last year, which for the most part showed a ton of promise. In just 12 games, he batted .300 with a grand slam as his first big league homer, and also made some plays out in center. Unfortunately, he suffered another torn ACL that ended his year and will keep him out for at least half of this year. When he eventually goes come up though around the middle of the summer, Royce should provide a great amount of depth in the middle infield and potentially the outfield. Maybe even get reps at SS when Correa has an off day. I thought Royce was going to have a ROY like campaign, but alas that never happened. However the true test for Royce is probably 2024, where I really think he'll start to become an everyday starter for the Twins. 
 
3. Trevor Larnach
Trevor Larnach just had a 4-4 day against Boston in a spring training game today, falling a triple shy of the cycle. I've always liked Larnach, despite relatively mediocre stats in 130 games in two years. With Alex Kirloff starting the year most likely on the IL, it gives more of an opportunity for Larnach, who has a .951 OPS and 3 home runs this spring. With injuires to Polanco as well, it pretty much secured Larnach his spot on the opening day roster for the beginning of the year. If he continues to play like this at the beginning of the regular season, expect Larnach to lock down a lot of playing time, whether that's in a corner outfield spot or as a DH. 
 
4. Bailey Ober
I've always been a fan of Bailey, and this year I think he'll really get a chance to shine in the rotation as the 5th/ maybe even 6th starter. He's thrown 6 shutout innings this spring and has shown that he is at 100% before the year, especially after he struggled to stay healthy last year and only made 11 starts.  Still, teams struggled against Bailey when he was on the mound, with only a .227 average and only 4 home runs hit off of him in 56 innings. I'm not going to be too worried if we do suffer an injury in the rotation, because I genuinely believe Bailey has the tools to be a full-time guy in an MLB rotation. If he has to start at AAA, I'm excited to see how he improves before inevitably getting a call up at some point. 
 
5. Austin Martin 
This is a wildcard pick for me. Lots of infield prospects could have big breakouts in the majors or at the minor league level this year. I've always liked Austin, his start to last year was rough and the torn UCL didn't help either. His Arizona fall league performance was very promising, as a elite level contact hitter with great discipline, it shouldn't take long for him to rake at AA and get a fast call up to AAA. If he impresses in the minors this year, a 40 man spot might open up, making this year a big audition year for the 24 year old former top 5 draft pick. 

After a long, harsh Minnesota winter, Spring Training offers and a glimpse of green grass and the hope of a successful Twins season. The Twins’ time in Florida is like any trip to the Sunshine State—some visitors leave with a golden tan, others depart with bad sunburn. As the team prepares to head north, here are my winners and losers from the Twins’ Spring Training. Let’s start with the guys who got burned.
Losers
1. Kenta Maeda
Spring Training stats should never weigh heavily in player evaluations, but when a veteran pitcher like Maeda returns from 19 months of Tommy John rehab, his performance will be scrutinized. Despite a solid outing today, Maeda’s spring has been mediocre. He has posted a 4.91 ERA in 14.2 innings, issuing 10 walks, striking out 14 batters, and showing inconsistent fastball velocity. These numbers aren’t awful, yet with Bailey Ober, Louie Varland, and Simeon Woods-Richardson all seeking a spot in the rotation, Maeda’s grasp of the fifth starter role grows looser. King Kenta will need to regain his pre-injury form quickly or risk being relegated to a diminished role.
2. Trevor Megill
Megill’s arm talent is undeniable. His fastball consistently touches 100 MPH and advanced metrics show that his breaking pitches are competent. Unfortunately, the on-field results never seem to match the underlying metrics (much like his bullpen mate Emilio Pagán). Megill entered the spring with a shot at a bullpen role with the Twins, then struggled to a 10.80 ERA and 2.10 WHIP before being demoted to Triple-A on March 19. Twins fans will probably see Megill again this season as he will be one of top relief options available in St. Paul, yet it’s fair to wonder how many second chances Megill will receive.
3. Gilberto Celestino
2023 is the most important season of Gilberto Celestino’s career. That is a strange statement considering Celestino played 122 games with the Twins last season and will likely spend most of 2023 in Triple-A. However, given Celestino’s limited minor league experience (only 75 career games above High-A), this season at Triple-A is critical for his maturation as a player. The thumb injury Celestino suffered early in camp required surgery, putting his development plan on hold while he is out until late April. Missing one month isn’t catastrophic, but finger injuries can linger. If Celestino rushes back or suffers a setback, his long-term development will pay the price.
Winners
1. Edouard Julien
Despite all the praise that top prospect Brooks Lee garnered in Fort Myers, Julien is undoubtedly the Twins prospect whose stock has risen the most this spring. Across seven games with the Twins and four games with Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic, Julien is hitting .394 (13 for 33) with five homeruns and six walks. His advanced approach at the plate looks MLB-ready, mixing patience with power. The Twins’ infield depth and questions about Julien’s defensive home created a roster crunch that resulted in Julien being optioned to Triple-A on March 14, but Julien’s performance this spring shows that he is ready to contribute at Target Field.
2. Kyle Farmer
Farmer’s solid Spring Training—an OPS of 1.052 and four homeruns—has flown under the radar as health questions about Alex Kiriloff, Jorge Polanco, and Jose Miranda have dominated Twins infield storylines. The 31-year-old Farmer is a six-year veteran, so a good month of March doesn’t change his projected upside, but he is a “winner” here because he will leave Fort Myers poised to parlay his hot bat into important at-bats for the Twins. His infield counterparts Polanco and Kirilloff are starting the season on the Injured List, meaning Farmer will play a critical role in the Twins’ early-season success. If Farmer keeps hitting, the Twins offense will get a massive boost and Farmer could become a valuable trade chip to fill an everyday role on another team.
3. The Twins Front Office
There are plenty of valid questions about the Twins’ offseason moves. Will Joey Gallo rebound from his terrible 2022 season? And did the team need another left-handed hitting outfielder? How will the offense replace the bat-to-ball skills of Luis Arraez? etc. Regardless, one thing is clear this spring: this Twins roster is deep. Yes, Jorge Polanco and Alex Kiriloff are starting the season on the IL, however the Twins have starting-caliber replacements in Kyle Farmer, Donovan Solano, and Nick Gordon. Typically, exclusively DH-ing a Platinum Glove winner like Byron Buxton would wreck a team’s defense, but the Twins adding recent Gold Glove winners in Michael A. Taylor and Joey Gallo minimizes the defensive decline. And Bailey Ober, probably the odd man out of the Twins’ early-season starting rotation, has yet to allow a run this spring and continues to look like a fourth starter in a competent MLB rotation. Not to mention the prospect reinforcements waiting at Triple-A. All said, Spring Training has shown that this front office deserves credit for building the deepest Twins roster in recent memory.
...
Thanks for reading! I'm interested to hear your thoughts and your winners/losers of the spring.

When the Minnesota Twins signed Korean slugger Byung-Ho Park, fans believed he was the next "big thing" and that he was the player they needed to compete. But what happened to Byung-Ho Park? 
Park was a huge superstar in the Korean Baseball Organization with the Nexen Heroes. In five seasons with the Heroes, Park led the KBO in home runs five times, RBIs four times, slugging percentage twice, a 2X MVP of the KBO, and was a five-time Gold Glove winner. In the KBO, Park had two consecutive seasons with 50 home runs (2014–2015) and was the home run title winner for four consecutive seasons (2012–2015). He holds the KBO record for RBI during a single season, with 146 RBI in 2015. With those numbers, the Twins gave the highly wanted Park a four-year, $12 million contract. With those numbers in the KBO, you would think It would be a steal of a contract; the only problem is that Park wasn't a very good MLB player.
The move for the Twins made sense as he dominated pitching in the highest league in South Korea, and many teams were after him. It was exciting when the Twins won the bidding war for Park because things like that usually don't happen to Minnesota. It was initially very exciting to see what he could do in America, but ultimately it was another disappointing move. When Park arrived with the Twins, he only played 62 games, hitting .191/.275/.409 with 12 homers before he was sent to Triple-A Rochester. The only real hope Park had at the time of his demotion was his 12 homers, which had him on pace for 31 homers if he had played the whole season. After spending an entire season with the Rochester Red Wings, Park asked to be released and returned to the Heroes for the 2017 season. He performed well in Park's first year back in the KBO League. Park batted .345 with an OPS of 1.174 with 43 HR in 113 games. Currently, Park is on the KT Wiz in the KBO. He is slashing .275/.349/.556 with 35 HRs. He has only been incredible since he went back to the KBO. This leads me to wonder what went wrong for Park in the majors and why he did not perform up to expectations.
In 2016, Park's only season in the MLB, he had a strikeout rate of 32.8%. He struck out in nearly one-third of his plate appearances. Whereas in 2016, the league average strikeout rate was 21.1%, Park's strikeout rate was over 10% more than the average. The following reason for his struggles: Park's batting average in 2016 was .191. This was well below the league average of .255. On-base percentage, Park's on-base percentage (OBP) in 2016 was .275, which was also below the league average of .321. Park struggled to hit the breaking pitches. In 2016, he had a batting average of just .111 against curveballs and a batting average of .125 against sliders. Park also had difficulty staying on the field, suffering a knee contusion and a wrist injury that ended his season. Park also had issues with the front office and how they handled his injury. Park believed little treatment was given to him during his injuries which slowed down getting him back on the field. 
I wish the Twins would have kept Park on their roster, it's very possible that his performance would have improved in the Major Leagues, he just needed to be given more playing time and consistent at-bats. However, it's a possibility that he would have continued to struggle and been demoted or released. In 2016, Byung Ho Park's rookie season with the Twins, he played in 62 games and had 244 plate appearances. He hit .191 with 12 home runs, 24 RBI, and a .658 OPS. In comparison, the Twins' starting DH in 2016, Robbie Grossman, played in 99 games and had 380 plate appearances. He hit .280 with 11 home runs, 37 RBI, and a .386 OBP. If Park had been given consistent playing time and more at-bats, it's a real possibility he could have improved his numbers and been a good player for the Twins. However, it's also possible that he simply wasn't built for the MLB and would have continued to struggle.
I wonder what would've happened if Park would have had more time to adjust to MLB pitching and his injuries didn't keep him off the field. We know he had the potential but sadly couldn't piece it together. Byung-Ho Park's career would have been an interesting one for sure. Sadly, Twins fans will have to live with the disappointment of Park not panning out quite as we hoped.

As you have likely seen at this point, the Twins signed Infielder Donovan Solano to a 1 year, $2 million dollar deal. When you first look at this deal, you may have thought that Solano is a similar role to Kyle Farmer and seems to be redundant. While there may be some overlap, I think there are a few reasons where both guys still get a good amount of at bats this year, especially against lefties. 
So let's compare Solano to a few other guys that I saw many people mention as targets for the Twins, Luke Voit and Yuli Gurriel. One reason the ladder two guys were brought up was their ability to hit lefties, so let's look at that first. 
Luke Voit versus lefties in 2022 had the following line: .174/.298/.271. I will concede that these stats are lower than his career .236/.329/.439 line against lefties. 
Yuli Gurriel versus lefties in 2022 had the following line: .265/.298/.441. These are slightly lower than his career .282/.333/.474 line against lefties as well. 
As for the Twins most recent acquisition, here are his stats versus lefties: 
Donovan Solano had a slash line of .301/.348/.422 line versus lefties in 2022. His career line is .282/.322/.389. 
The next thing I wanted to compare these players on was their Walk%, K% and their projected WAR going forward. 
Walk %: 
Voit: 10.2%
Gurriel: 5.7%
Solano: 5.7%
K %: 
Voit: 28.5%
Gurriel: 11.2%
Solano: 18.0%
Projected WAR (using ZiPS): 
Voit: 0.8 WAR
Gurriel: 1.5 WAR
Solano: 1.2 WAR
Seeing these stats, you might try to say that Gurriel would be the best choice of the three for a fit. The reason I think this is not the case can be summed up in one word: versatility. 
Donovan Solano can not only play 1B, but can also play 2B, 3B, and will likely get some ABs as a DH as well, against lefties specifically. Gurriel at this point in his career is a 1B with the ability to DH of course as well. Voit is a 1B/DH as well. 
Not to overlook Solano's ability to hit against righties as well. He doesn't hit righties super well, but can at least give you a good AB if needed. He has a career slash line of .276/.329/.367 against RHP.
One thing to remember is Solano is a depth piece who, similar to Kyle Farmer, will play mostly against LHP with occasional starts coming against RHP. Solano's versatility will also be helpful in case someone gets dinged up (which will happen at some point) and as a potential defensive replacement depending on who is in the game as well. Solano hits a lot of line drives, as evidence by his career .332 BABIP. 
I'd like to make this clear, I don't think Donovan Solano is an all star level player, but I think he's a solid depth piece that gives manager Rocco Baldelli another option this coming year. The Twins depth is much different than the past years, and hopefully this means they learned their lesson regarding not being too top heavy on the roster and not having as much depth. 
Let me know what you all think of the Solano signing. Who do you think this bumps off the roster? My gut reaction says Larnach, but maybe things change before opening day (perhaps a trade?). 

The St. Louis Cardinals non-tendered their once top prospect; since then, there has been little news regarding Alex Reyes. The former all-star has seen a lack of reported interest so far in free agency and could be a fit for any team looking for relief help, meaning every team. There are several reasons to and not to sign Alex Reyes. I want to examine his current outlook to see if he is a fit for the Minnesota Twins. 
Feature Image Via Jeff Curry - USA Today Sports 
The first thing you notice about Alex Reyes when you look at his career is injuries, injuries, injuries. And more injuries. Health has not been a blessing Reyes’ has received in his career and was likely the reason the Cardinals gave up on him. Reyes crossed the 20-inning threshold just twice in his career, in 2016 and 2021. Most recently, he missed all of 2022 due to a shoulder injury. His injuries prior to 2021 didn’t seem to impact his stuff much, but every injury is different. It is unknown whether or not he can be the same pitcher he was two years ago. Given his health track record, it is more likely he doesn’t pitch at all than he gives you innings, and it is very valid that teams are concerned about this. 
The other major concern with Alex Reyes is his control. His raw stuff can compare with the best in baseball but where it’s going is a different story. In his lone full season in 2021, he had the second-highest BB% and second-highest BB/9 in all of baseball. He also had 10 wild pitches in 2021, which would have ranked fifth among qualified starting pitchers. Alex Reyes, a reliever, pitched over 100 fewer innings than his counterparts in that category. His command issues track back to his early minor league days, so it’s likely this problem never goes away. 
So what about the good stuff? He walks everyone, and we have one season to base our entire case to bring him in; what’s the upside? As mentioned before, Reyes was an all-star in 2021, and for good reason. According to Baseball Savant, he was 95th percentile in xBA, 94th percentile in xSLG, 91st percentile in Barrel%, 95th percentile in whiff%, and 87th percentile in K%. Reyes is effective against both left-handed and right-handed hitters as well. Versus lefties, he had a .155 batting average against and a 26.9% K%; versus righties, he had a .195 batting average against and a 33.1 K%. He served as the Cardinals’ primary closer and recorded 29 saves for a team that won 90 games.
His fastball routinely crests triple digits, but I want to focus on his best pitch, his slider. Reyes has maybe the best slider in all of baseball. In 2021, among pitchers with 100 PA against, his slider generated the lowest RV/100 (run value per 100 pitches*) in all of baseball at -3.8, just ahead of Jacob deGrom. It finished top ten in batting average against (3rd .089), SLG against (9th .222), wOBA against (7th .196), swing and miss% (2nd 55.8%), and K% (2nd 56.9%). This is one of the most devastating pitches in all of baseball. 
Alex Reyes is about as big of a risk as you can take on a player. With his persistent command issues and colossal injury history, this could blow up as much as any reliever signing could (shoutout Joel Zumaya). Fortunately, Reyes isn’t set to make much, his arbitration projection, according to MLB Trade Rumors, was just under three million, so a one-year deal for two to three million would make sense. If the Twins were to pull this off, they would likely have a second-year option attached to it. Reyes might have the best stuff out of any Twins reliever, including Jhoan Duran. If Alex Reyes can stay healthy, he could be one of the most dominant relievers in Major League Baseball. 
 
*Run Value: http://tangotiger.com/index.php/site/article/run-values-by-pitch-count
 
 
 

On December 10th, it was announced that a few Twins had changed their jersey numbers. Trevor Larnach from 13 to 9, Emilio Pagán from 12 to 15, Kyle Farmer from 17 to 12, Bailey Ober from 16 to 17, and Griffin Jax 65 to 22.
This is nothing out of the ordinary; a few players each offseason on any team will request a number change for one reason or another. However, this time, something peculiar happened shortly thereafter.
Joey Gallo was signed less than a week later, and he claimed the 13 number, his number in Texas and New York, which had conveniently been vacated by Larnach. Is this a coincidence? My money is on no; it's incredibly meaningful.
I did exactly what you have come to expect from old Gregg--I've scoured the list of remaining MLB free agents to see what this might mean for the rest of the offseason, and it leaves more questions than answers. Here are my findings:
#9 (Taken by Trevor Larnach)
The only remaining free agent who wears 9 is Dee Strange-Gordon, Nick Gordon's half-brother. Might there be a rift between Larnach and Gordon now that he's preventing his big brother playing for Minnesota? Probably. It's a good thing that Correa is back to try to help keep the locker room intact. Between this and fighting over left field playing time, things could get ugly.
#12 (Vacated by Emilio Pagán; Taken by Kyle Farmer)
Farmer really stepped on Pagán's toes here. It looks like Emilio may have been trying to open the door for Rougned Odor to don a Twins jersey, which makes sense given his history of sucker-punching opponents who homers off his pitchers. Having Odor at second base would definitely help keep Pagán's homerun numbers in check. Watch for a rift between these two teammates as well.
#15 (Taken by Emilio Pagán)
It's been a rough 24 hours in Twins territory with the last two #15 free agents signing elsewhere in Raimel Tapia and Brian Anderson. When will the team finally pull the trigger on the guys they really want?
#16 (Vacated by Bailey Ober)
This was the spot that showed the most promise, though with Trey Mancini coming off the board this week, the remaining pool is thin in Cesar Hernandez and Travis Jankowski. I would bet that the Twins were more in on Mancini than suggested, given that they clearly forced Ober to change numbers to attract him.
#17 (Taken by Bailey Ober)
Ober apparently looked Chris Archer in the eyes and said "This town ain't big enough for two five-and-dives" and took his number, preventing his return. Go get 'em, Bailey!
#22 (Taken by Griffin Jax)
Learned men like me know that there was no shot of the Twins getting Andrew McCutchen with this stunt pulled. Think of the team, Griffin!
This also rains on Jeremy Nygaard's hopes to bring back Miguel Sanó. Surely the big man wouldn't come back if he couldn't get his number back from a relief pitcher. To make matters worse, this also eliminates Robinson Canó from contention. Sure, he switched his number for Roger Clemens in New York, but Jax is no Rocket; he's Air Force, not Space Force.
This also removes Luis Torrens as an option. Sad day for those of you with Luis Torrens on your offseason bingo card.
#65 (Vacated by Griffin Jax)
There isn't even a potential free agent with Griffin's old number. So selfish.