Front Page: Baseball Season is Here: 10 Reasons to Be Excited about the Minnesota Twins in 2020

[Matthew Taylor]

The Vikings did what the Vikings do and were knocked out of the NFL playoffs on Saturday. While their loss was extremely disappointing for Minnesotans everywhere, it did offer one piece of excitement — baseball season is officially here.Pitchers and catchers report to Fort Myers exactly one month from today and there is a lot to be excited about. Here are 10 reasons to be excited about the Minnesota Twins in 2020:

 

1. The Bomba Squad is back

After breaking the MLB record for home runs in a season in 2019, the Minnesota Twins retained all but two of their key batters (Cron and Schoop) — bringing back 244 of their 307 home runs from 2019. You should expect more bombas and more excitement as the Bomba Squad will be getting their encore in 2020.

 

2. Year 2 of Rocco Baldelli

Coming off of a season where he won Manager of the Year and pushed a lot of the right buttons in 2019, Baldelli will now be coming into 2020 with a year of experience under his belt. His bullpen usage was questioned by many, but he is beloved by the clubhouse and his experience should serve him well in 2020.

 

3. Byron Buxton is healthy

After spending 72 days on the injured list and getting shoulder surgery this past September, Buxton should finally be healthy again to start the 2020 season. After posting an .827 OPS in 87 games to start the year, Buxton was finally breaking out as the player who we all hoped that he could be as he topped the Twins’ prospect list for years. Now healthy in 2020, he should be one of the centerpieces of this team.

 

4. José Berríos in his age 26 season

I wrote last week about how history shows that 26 is the age that pitchers will typically reach peak velocity and strikeout age as they enter into their late 20s. Berríos has been a very solid pitcher up to this point, but there is plenty of reason to believe that he could have ace potential in 2020. Can he put up the same production in September that he puts up in April? That will be the million dollar question.

 

5. Jake Odorizzi and Michael Pineda are back

While the front office still hasn’t come through on their promise of bringing in “impact pitching” this offseason, the two biggest moves they have made this offseason have been bringing back Jake Odorizzi and Michael Pineda on excellent contracts. Odorizzi was an All-Star in 2019 who posted a career best 4.3 fWAR and Pineda who was outstanding for the Twins down the stretch last year with his 2.96 ERA over his final 14 starts. To bring back these two starters along with Berríos next season should provide the Twins will solid top end pitching again next season.

 

6. The Twins’ bullpen has potential to be excellent

In 2019 the Twins bullpen finished second in the baseball in fWAR, and from August 1 through the end of the season no bullpen had a better FIP than that of the Minnesota Twins. The Twins will be bringing back all of their core pieces from 2019, in addition to the veteran right-hander Tyler Clippard.

 

7. A full season of Luis Arráez

Luis Arráez was an unexpected revelation for the Minnesota Twins in 2019. After getting the call to the majors in May, Arráez never relinquished his spot on the 25-man roster. Instead, he flourished with the Twins to the tune of a .334 batting average and .838 OPS in 92 games with the Twins. The most disappointing thing about Arráez’s 2019 season was that he wasn’t called up to the club sooner. Being able to count on Arráez for a full season is just another reason to be excited about this ball club next in 2020.

 

8. Prospects will get a chance to shine

One of the most exciting things about the 2019 season for the Minnesota Twins was getting to see all of the prospects who were called up and contributed to the team. Devin Smeltzer, Lewis Thorpe, Cody Stashak, Brusdar Graterol and Luis Arráez, among others, all put a memorable stamp on the 2019 season for Minnesota. We should see a similar number of prospects coming up this season that are ready to contribute as well. I would expect Jhoan Duran, Travis Blankenhorn, Brent Rooker, Luke Raley and Nick Gordon to join the team in 2020 as well as potentially the long-awaited debut of Alex Kirilloff.

 

9. Opportunities to improve the team are out there

Twins Nation has understandably been frustrated with the front office and their lack of impact moves so far this offseason. Even still, the Twins have plenty of opportunity at hand to improve their team before the season or at the trade deadline. Minnesota has the financial flexibility to take on contracts as well as the prospect capital to go after whatever player interests them on the trade market. The roster the Twins bring into spring training might not be the roster they have come September or October.

 

10. This team is REALLY good

Finally, lest we all forget, this team is REALLY good. The Twins won 101 games last season and a +185 run differential, good for fourth-best in all of baseball. They led major league baseball in 2019 in home runs and were top five in baseball in doubles, SLG, OPS and wRC+. They have a formidable starting rotation (albeit without an “impact arm”) and a potentially great bullpen. This team will be good in 2020, and we should all be really excited about baseball season finally arriving.

 

Why are you excited about the Minnesota Twins in 2020? Leave a comment below and start the conversation!

 

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[mikelink45]

Most important reason to be excited - baseball is back

[IndianaTwin]

Most important reason to be excited - baseball is back

 

Bad day at game > Good day at office

[IndianaTwin]

Bad day at game > Good day at office

 

Oops. I forgot that there isn’t supposed to be any math.

[bobs]

11.  We've spent two months trying to answer questions for FO.  Two months we'll know what this team will look like.

12.  Spring Training means Opening Day is closing in which means winter ends!

13.  Green grass at Target Field

[Richard Swerdlick]

Baseball is back and we get to read TwinsDaily to follow it.

[TwinsFan268]

11. It will be those long summer days filled with Twins games and everything else that makes a summer day nice.

12. We have a few new players that will be fun to try out (Avila, Clippard, not quite as excited about Bailey, Hill)

[Aerodeliria]

I recorded both Vikings game. There is a channel called Gaora and they are showing all the playoff games live. My wife said to me, "Sorry about the Vikings," after the sun was setting on another Vikings playoff loss. I told her it was no big deal. Now the Twins ? That's a completely different animal. I've been ready for spring training since the Twins trudged back into their locker room after Game 3.

[Jeff A]

101 wins is not the team record.  They won 102 in 1965.

[rdehring]

Thanks for the upbeat beginning to my morning, Matt.  The most encouraging points to me are speculating what a full year of Buxton could mean to the Twins.  Now lets get his (and Berrios') extensions signed before opening day.  I expect that Arraez will be better defensively at second base knowing that is where he will be every day, rather than playing all over the field last year.  

 

And speaking about football.  Russell Wilson sure gave my Pack a scare in the second half last night.  Damn, he is impossible to contain.  Now we get our chance to play the 49ers.  Expect the results won't be that different from what you Viking fans saw Saturday...but we can hope for a pleasant surprise, can't we?

[RDLARK]

Two notes:

 

First, 101 wins is not the team record. The Twins won 102 games in 1965.

 

Second, when I look at Arraez, I'm not sure I see the star everyone seems to be sold on (at least everyone on Twitter and in the blogosphere). I see a guy who gets the bat on the ball, but without a lot of authority (35% hard hit rate, 24% FB-IFFB%)). He puts the ball on the ground (42% GB Rate) and last year he benefitted from a .355 BABIP. I guess I see him more as a solid placeholder until Lewis is ready to join the club and take over up the middle, not a reason to be excited about the team.

 

All of that said, I'm definitely excited about the team, and I think everyone is sleeping on how good Rich Hill can be when he's healthy. If Berrios takes a step forward and Hill comes back healthy, that's a 1-2 that can compete with anyone in the league come October.

[Matthew Taylor]

Thanks to those who pointed out error stating that 101 wins was a team record. This was a mistake and has been edited.

[PDX Twin]

Do we have evidence that Buxton is going to be fully recovered by ST, or even by opening day? I remember reading that there was some question about that.

[Matthew Taylor]

 

Two notes:

 

First, 101 wins is not the team record. The Twins won 102 games in 1965.

 

Second, when I look at Arraez, I'm not sure I see the star everyone seems to be sold on (at least everyone on Twitter and in the blogosphere). I see a guy who gets the bat on the ball, but without a lot of authority (35% hard hit rate, 24% FB-IFFB%)). He puts the ball on the ground (42% GB Rate) and last year he benefitted from a .355 BABIP. I guess I see him more as a solid placeholder until Lewis is ready to join the club and take over up the middle, not a reason to be excited about the team.

 

All of that said, I'm definitely excited about the team, and I think everyone is sleeping on how good Rich Hill can be when he's healthy. If Berrios takes a step forward and Hill comes back healthy, that's a 1-2 that can compete with anyone in the league come October.

Your points re: Arraez are fair. I'd argue that there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about him as a long term staple of this team, though. His near 30% line drive rate and excellent plate discipline (2.8% whiff rate and 27% chase rate) show that his 2019 was no fluke. The defense is the biggest knock against Arraez. We'll see how that progresses (or regresses) in 2020.

[Matthew Taylor]

 

Do we have evidence that Buxton is going to be fully recovered by ST, or even by opening day? I remember reading that there was some question about that.

Derek Falvey said in November that Buxton is ahead of schedule and on track for Spring Training.

[puckstopper1]

Sorry, but I'm a realist when it comes to the Bombas.

 

Losing Cron and Schoop (they hit 20+% of the dingers in 2019) AND the change to the ball will likely mean many less this season.  I'm hoping the Twins can adjust and "manufacture" some runs.

 

I totally agree with the statement that the Twins are a very good team, and should have a very good regular season.

 

Now if we just do something about those pesky postseason issues...

[Dantes929]

 

Your points re: Arraez are fair. I'd argue that there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about him as a long term staple of this team, though. His near 30% line drive rate and excellent plate discipline (2.8% whiff rate and 27% chase rate) show that his 2019 was no fluke. The defense is the biggest knock against Arraez. We'll see how that progresses (or regresses) in 2020.

No guarantees but that is true of everyone new and old alike.    Another nice indicator is that he is only 22 but has hit well over .300 at every level over a 6 year career.

[Dantes929]

No mention of Dobnak.  All he did was throw 160 innings of sub 2.00 ERA in 2019 over 163 innings between minors and majors.  

[Matthew Taylor]

 

No mention of Dobnak.  All he did was throw 160 innings of sub 2.00 ERA in 2019 over 163 innings between minors and majors.  

I'm super intrigued to see how Dobnak does in 2020. Now that there's "tape" out on him we'll see how teams adjust. He's definitely going to get a shot as our 4th (?) starter to open up the season!

[Darius]

Reasons to not be as excited as we could be about the upcoming season:

 

1). Knowing we aren’t as good as our direct competition for the World Series. We weren’t good enough to merely put up a fight in the playoffs last year....and we did nothing to improve this offseason after blowing hot air and making promises to sell season tickets.

 

I’m excited for the formality and/or process of baseball. Love having it on the radio in the garage while working, in the boat while fishing, etc. But, I have no expectation of a successful season. I already know that the best case scenario is losing in the division series. Hoping for anything beyond that at this point is delusional and about as futile as attempting to count every blade of grass in my yard.

 

I can tell you I’m not chomping at the bit to get to any games. If I had season tickets, I’d be pretty pissed off with the organization right now. I’m certainly not signing up for any season ticket packages. I can assure you I’m not alone. Massive wasted opportunity for this franchise to really kick the fan base into overdrive. It’s really a shame.

[Darius]

Two notes:

 

First, 101 wins is not the team record. The Twins won 102 games in 1965.

 

Second, when I look at Arraez, I'm not sure I see the star everyone seems to be sold on (at least everyone on Twitter and in the blogosphere). I see a guy who gets the bat on the ball, but without a lot of authority (35% hard hit rate, 24% FB-IFFB%)). He puts the ball on the ground (42% GB Rate) and last year he benefitted from a .355 BABIP. I guess I see him more as a solid placeholder until Lewis is ready to join the club and take over up the middle, not a reason to be excited about the team.

 

All of that said, I'm definitely excited about the team, and I think everyone is sleeping on how good Rich Hill can be when he's healthy. If Berrios takes a step forward and Hill comes back healthy, that's a 1-2 that can compete with anyone in the league come October.

Sure, Rich Hill can be good when healthy. But, expecting anything out of him is a huge mistake, IMO. He’s never pitched over 135 innings in a season in his career. For whatever reason, he seems to always be having blister issues. He’s over 40, and is coming off of an elbow surgery.

 

It’s more likely Rich Hill doesn’t throw an inning as a Twin than becomes a postseason horse.

 

Decent back-up plan/flier. Awful plan A for a team desperate for starting pitching.

[joefish]

Are we better than last year's one-game playoff exit?

[dex8425]

 

Are we better than last year's one-game playoff exit?

 

 

Nope! At least on paper. The rotation is worse and so is the lineup. 

[IndianaTwin]

 

Are we better than last year's one-game playoff exit?

 

By “one-game playoff exit,” which of the three games are you referring to? 

[ashbury]

By “one-game playoff exit,” which of the three games are you referring to? 

The exit one, presumably.

[USAFChief]

The exit one, presumably.

I read it as "game one playoff exit," because we all knew it was over when the Twins curled into the fetal position about halfway into game one.

[DocBauer]

Personally, nothing is dampening my enthusiasm. I mean, real Twins baseball is a month away! All the world is better when it's baseball season!

 

I love the offense, minus only Cron, if you really look at. Sure there could be some regression, but I also think we haven't seen the best of some guys, notably Sano and Buxton. I really like the pen, so much better than how last season began, and depth to continue to maintain and improve. I feel Berrios has another level, and I'm actually excited about some of the kids already "here" and a couple more that could make an appearance before the year is over.

 

I am NOT excited about still needing one more bat and not knowing who it's going to be or where it's going to come from. Holding out hope for Donaldson...I'm starting to think we have at least a shot of making that happen...but I'm getting really tired of this waiting game.

 

I am NOT excited about the rotation to begin the season. IMO, the Hill move is like a mid season acquisition that could prove big. But only Bailey still has me bummed and burning. A month away and we still need another good, decent, solid arm if not a really good one. The FO can't be that sold on the kids can they?

 

But I remain hopeful and excited. Cold, rainy, dreary day here in Omaha, but spring and ST are on my mind.

[IndianaTwin]

 

Personally, nothing is dampening my enthusiasm. I mean, real Twins baseball is a month away! All the world is better when it's baseball season!

I love the offense, minus only Cron, if you really look at. Sure there could be some regression, but I also think we haven't seen the best of some guys, notably Sano and Buxton. I really like the pen, so much better than how last season began, and depth to continue to maintain and improve. I feel Berrios has another level, and I'm actually excited about some of the kids already "here" and a couple more that could make an appearance before the year is over....

...

But I remain hopeful and excited. Cold, rainy, dreary day here in Omaha, but spring and ST are on my mind.

 

I’m with you. I’ve heard folks talk about regression, but the fact of the matter is also that a whole lot of guys are on the right side of the career progression curve as well. 

 

Oh, and I just arrived in eastern Iowa on business. Keep the rainy and dreary out there, will you? 

[jrod23]

Show me a season where Buxton stays healthy, and I'll maybe...maybe believe that Arraez isn't capable of maintaining a +.300 average.  I just want Arraez to do what he's been doing all his career.  Hitting and playing very serviceable defense.  And I want Buxton to do what he's been projected to do all his career, which is play unparalleled defense and have game changing speed on the bases with some pop in the bat...ALL. SEASON.  LONG.  Too much to ask?

[specialiststeve]

 

Nope! At least on paper. The rotation is worse and so is the lineup. 

 

? How would the rotation be worse... we have top 3 back .. Gibson and Perez were Okay before the all star break and AWFUL after. Bailey and Hill are "at least" their equal and with Dobnak showing he belongs we are clearly better... not as good as the big boys but better than last year. 

 

As far as the lineup Cron was pretty good I admit but still have time to hopefully sign Donaldson which imporves our lineup. Shoop barely played after Arraez signed. Arraez will only get better ..... 

 

Love the top ten assessment! Please bring on the spring soon!!