Twins Daily Minnesota Twins Hitter of the Month - May 2022

[Cody Christie]

Minnesota's offense hasn't lit the world on fire so far in 2022, but the team has done enough to stay in first place. Here are the four hitters who most helped the club over the last month.

 

It may surprise some fans to learn how good the Twins' offense performed during May. Minnesota ranked second in the American League in wRC+, OPS, and OBP. Minnesota has been very effective at the plate, which has helped the club stretch its lead in the AL Central. Each player below played a role in helping the Twins win over the last calendar month.  

Honorable Mention #3: Gilberto Celestino
Gilberto Celestino quietly had a tremendous month at the plate. In 62 plate appearances, he hit .364/.426/.418 (.844) with a 153 wRC+. Byron Buxton struggled throughout May, and Celestino was a worthy replacement in center field. Minnesota has been getting a ton of production from the bottom half of the line-up, and Celestino has provided some dynamic moments when he is on the field. He would likely have been named the team's best hitter in many other months, but Minnesota's line-up was firing on all cylinders. 

Honorable Mention #2: Carlos Correa
Carlos Correa's first month with the Twins couldn't have gone much worse, as he ended April with a .633 OPS. Luckily, his bat began to turn it around in May. In 16 games, he hit .318/.384/.500 (.884) with a 159 wRC+. He was the only player on the team with over 60 plate appearances and a slugging percentage of .500 or higher. His entire slash line was higher than his career totals for the month, so the Twins are getting a better version of Correa than they could have expected. Unfortunately, he was hit by a pitch early in the month and spent time on the IL. Then COVID slowed him down at the month's end, or he might have been in the conversation for the top spot on this list.  

Honorable Mention #1:  Trevor Larnach
Since returning from the injured list, Trevor Larnach has been a man on a mission, and an actual argument can be made for him being the team's hitter of the month. In 50 plate appearances, he hit .333/.431/.646 (1.077) with a 209 wRC+. Those totals would lead the team, but he didn't appear in a game from May 6 to May 22. After struggling through much of his rookie season, he has rebounded nicely with a 162 OPS+. Larnach is developing into the type of hitter the team imagined when they drafted him in the first round out of Oregon State in 2018. If he continues to hit this well, Larnach will need to start moving up the team's line-up. 

Hitter of the Month: Luis Arraez
Fans have envisioned a scenario where Luis Arraez would be fighting for a batting title since he made his big-league debut in 2019. It's hard to fathom what Arraez was able to accomplish during May. He got on base over 48% of the time. Let that sink in for a minute. His batting average was close to .380, and his OPS only trailed Larnach for the team lead. Out of players with more than 60 plate appearances, his 187 wRC+ ranks seventh in the AL for May. Also, he ended the month with baseball's best OBP. He rarely strikes out, and he's putting up numbers that haven't been seen in a Twins uniform in quite some time.

 

Arraez or Larnach? That's a tough decision. By OPS and power production, Larnach might be the choice, but Arraez had 80% more plate appearances and a great on-base percentage

Do you agree with the rankings? Should someone else have been an honorable mention? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. 

 

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[twinssporto]

I agree with your rankings. I'm a huge Arraez fan and think he is capable of doing more.

I actually think he could be a player that flirts with the holy grail .400 BA someday...

[terrydactyls]

With Larnach "appearing" to have found his way, it's hard not to be a little excited about the years ahead.  If Correa decides to stay, that would be great news.  But even if he opts out after this season, Lewis is ready.  Urshela, Speer, and Miranda will battle for 3rd and super utility.  Polanco is still around for a few more years.  Arraez can stay at first, DH, and Utility.  The catching is adequate and the minors seem to have a couple of helpers on the way.  The outfield with Buxton, Celestino, and Kepler is outstanding on defense and has the potential of being very good offensively.  And if Correa leaves there will be a ton of available money for free agent starters and relievers if the Falvine pipeline doesn't come through.  I'm going into town from Maine for a Class of '65 golf trip and will be at Target Field on Sunday July 17th.  I hope there will be a few Twins still healthy enough to play.

[rwilfong86]

Arraez no doubt. Vamos regadera!

[MTV]

Luis Arraez placed 7th in WRC+ in May without hitting a single home run. That alone takes a ton of skill