Kirilloff Preparing for Big-League Opportunity

[Seth Stohs]

Not many people get to experience making their MLB debut. Twins top prospect Alex Kirilloff has been able to experience two of them. The poised young man is now poised to make an impact on the Twins roster very soon.Last September, on the eve of the start of the Twins playoff series against the Astros, Alex Kirilloff received a late-night phone call from Rocco Baldelli. The Twins manager informed Kirilloff that he was going to be on the playoff roster.

 

In Game 2 of the series, Kirilloff became the first player in MLB history to make his Major League debut by starting in a playoff game. He was just the fourth player to debut in the playoffs. Kirilloff made a sliding catch in right field and recorded a line-drive single for his first career hit.

 

In spring, Kirilloff competed for a spot on the Twins Opening Day roster, but he struggled at the plate. He has been working out at the Twins alternate site at CHS Field in St. Paul. With a doubleheader on Wednesday, the Twins were able to add a 27th player to the roster for those games.

 

On Tuesday, Kirilloff said he was running some errands with his wife (Jordan) and his daughter (Penelope) when his phone rang. Toby Gardenhire, the Saints manager, called and gave him the news.

 

In Game 1 against the Red Sox, Kirilloff found his name on the lineup card playing in left field and batting sixth against Nathan Eovaldi. He went 0-for-2 in what was his regular-season Major League debut, his official big-league debut. It was actually his first regular-season game since the 2019 season.

 

He hadn’t thought of it, but he said it was great to play in front of fans again. “It was just nice to see people up in the stands again for sure. Even with a limited amount of people there at the game, you felt that energy a little bit again that fans bring. It was definitely good to see them back there.”

 

Unlike his playoff MLB debut, Kirilloff’s wife and daughter were able to witness his regular-season debut. He said, “They were happy they were able to make it, for sure. Jordan hasn’t seen me play a real game for awhile, so she was happy to come and do that. Penelope was able to play with some of the kids at the game. She hasn’t been able to do that a lot with the pandemic, so it was nice for them too.”

 

 

In Game 2, Kirilloff was used as a pinch hitter and was 0-for-1. As the rules of the 27th man dictate, Kirilloff returned to the Twins alternate site following the game. However, now he has one day of MLB service time under his belt.

 

There’s no question that Kirilloff will be back. It may be in a week or ten days. It could be in a month. But it will happen sooner than later.

 

Toby Gardenhire said of Kirilloff, “The kid just hits. He’s just a good hitter. He sprays the ball all over the field. He always puts together good at bats. He’s just a hitter. He’s going to be good in the big leagues. He’s going to be able to do it once they get him up there.”

 

The Twins have not received much production from left field, right field or first base so far this season. Where has Kirilloff been working while at CHS Field?

 

Gardenhire notes, “Right now, we’re trying to keep him ready in right field. We’re trying to keep him ready in left field. We’re trying to keep him ready at first base. I don’t know exactly what the plan is once he gets up there. That’s why I think it’s important to make sure that he’s good in all three of those spots. We’re getting him a lot of time out in right. We’re getting him a lot of time out in left, and we’re getting him plenty of ground balls at first base. So anywhere they need him when he gets up there, he’ll be able to play.”

 

Kirilloff understand the importance of him being ready at all three spots.

 

He said, “That’s just something Rocco and Toby have been stressing to me, to be able to play all three positions - left, right and first - and to just keep doing that. I think versatility is important on a team’s construction of the lineup and roster and stuff. So I just want to continue to do that and continue to work at all three positions so that I feel comfortable wherever they need me.”

 

The goal, of course, is for Kirilloff not just to get to the big leagues, but to stay in the big leagues and provide a big impact. That impact should come from his bat.

 

Gardenhire adds, “He’s such a good hitter. They’re going to want him in the lineup. I know Rocco’s going to want to put him out there, so the more positions he can play, the more versatility he has, the more spots they’re able to stick that kid in the lineup and let him swing.”

 

It would be fantastic if Kirilloff could come up and provide a spark to the Twins offense the way that a fellow Twins 2016 draft pick has in 2021.

 

Kirilloff was the Twins’ first-round pick in 2016 out of high school in Pennsylvania. With one of their two Competitive Balance picks after the second round, the Twins selected outfielder Akil Baddoo out of high school in Georgia. Kirilloff lost his 2017 season because of Tommy John surgery. Baddoo lost most of his 2019 season due to Tommy John surgery. Baddoo did not play at all in 2020. He wasn’t at the alternate site, and he then wasn’t protected on the team’s 40-man roster. The Tigers selected him in the Rule 5 draft and he has become one of the best stories in baseball in spring and early this season.

 

With so much in common, the two have remained in contact.

 

Kirilloff said, “Yeah, we’ve just texted a little bit. I’m just super happy for him. It’s just cool to see what he’s done. Obviously it’s very special, everyone can see that. Like you said, going through the same thing we both went through and realizing how much time you miss, and how difficult it is to come back and play. And for him to jump right into spring training, a big-league camp, when he’s never been to a big-league camp before, and to do what he did and continue that, it’s awesome to see, for sure. I’ll keep watching and keep rooting for him… except for when he’s playing us.”

 

Until that call comes, and he’s handed an everyday job with the Twins, he will remain in St. Paul, continuing to work, trying to improve.

 

“I feel like I’m ready. I’ve been preparing for a long time to be able to go up there and contribute. Some things are out of my control. Like I’ve said before, I just like to focus on what I can control, my routine on a daily basis and making the adjustments that I need to make and just going out there and doing my best. Whatever else happens from that, I’ll be alright with as long as I know I’m doing my best and enjoying baseball.”

 

The last week or so, Twins fans haven’t seen a lot of enjoyable baseball. With Friday night’s loss in Anaheim, the team has won just one of it’s last eight games.

 

It likely won’t be real long before fans will begin to enjoy seeing Kirilloff consistently in the Twins lineup. Hopefully Twins fans will be able to enjoy watching that for a long time.

 

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[glunn]

Good article. And I am rooting for this kid.

[jun]

A lineup of Arraez, Donaldson, Cruz, Buxton, Kirilloff, Kepler, Sano, Garver, Simmons should be good enough offensively.

[USAFChief]

If management was serious, given how this team has started, he'd be here already.

 

Saving a year 7 years from now is ridiculous.

[dxpavelka]

 

If management was serious, given how this team has started, he'd be here already.

 

Saving a year 7 years from now is ridiculous.

If he'd hit in the spring he might be here.  Expecting a kid who doesn't hit in the spring to make the big league club in April is ridiculous.

[wsnydes]

If he'd hit in the spring he might be here. Expecting a kid who doesn't hit in the spring to make the big league club in April is ridiculous.

I don't really disagree with you here, but when Rooker went down Kiriloff probably should have been called up instead of sitting around waiting for the minor league seasons to start. I know that he's not sitting around doing nothing, but he'd be better served by being put in game situations, IMHO.

[KFEY93]

 

A lineup of Arraez, Donaldson, Cruz, Buxton, Kirilloff, Kepler, Sano, Garver, Simmons should be good enough offensively.

Apparently its not. 

[cHawk]

 

Apparently its not. 

 

The Lineup was Garver, Donaldson, Cruz, Garlick, Arraez, Sano, Polanco, Kepler, Cave