Records and Milestones for Twins Players to Reach in 2023

[Theo Tollefson]

The start of Spring Training is only a month away and as the Minnesota Twins look forward to the upcoming season, there are some team and personal records that Twins players can set in 2023.

Image courtesy of Jordan Johnson, USA TODAY Sports

The Easy and Obvious
Byron Buxton and Jorge Polanco both sit at exactly 98 career home runs, and it likely won’t take them many games to both reach the 100 career home run mark. Once they do, they’ll become the 25th and 26th Twins ever with 100 career home runs in franchise history.

Based off their 2023 ZiPS projections by FanGraphs, Buxton is expected to hit 30 home runs this season and Polanco 20. If either of them meets these projections, they’ll surpass the likes of Corey Koskie (101), Jason Kubel (105), Roy Smalley (110), and Eddie Rosario (119) on the franchise history home run list.

A Stretch, But Could Happen
Fielding percentage is always a difficult stat to project, and rarely is it ever included in any pre-season projection systems. Even if fielding percentage isn’t calculated into a player's projected stats, the Twins single-season record for fielding percentage by a shortstop could very likely be broken in 2023.

The single-season record for a shortstop’s fielding percentage was set by Leo Cardenas in 1971, with a .985 fielding percentage in 153 games. Carlos Correa’s fielding percentage for the Twins was .983 in 136 games in 2022.  Correa is already a Platinum Glove winner, and, if last year is any indication, he could set a new record for the best defensive season by a Twin at shortstop.

The Bizarre Fools Dream
Only 23 pitchers in Twins franchise history have at least 25 career saves with the team. The last reliever to enter this mark was Taylor Rogers in 2019, but three Twins relievers may reach this mark this season: Jorge Lopez, Emilio Pagan and Jhoan Duran. However, it’s also possible none of them will.

Lopez only recorded four saves after being acquired from the Orioles at the trade deadline. FanGraphs ZiPS projections currently project’s him to record the most saves for the Twins in 2023 with 20. 

While it’s likely Lopez will have save opportunities with the Twins this season, Rocco Baldelli has never kept a pitcher in the designated closer role for an entire season in his four years as manager. 21 saves is a stretch for Lopez, but it isn’t out of the realm of reality for him to get to 25 career saves as a Twin.

Duran will likely have a few save opportunities here and there in 2023, like he did with the Twins last season. The expectation for his role out of the bullpen right now is to be the same as it was all last season, taking various high-leverage roles. FanGraphs ZiPS projects Duran to record 11 saves for the Twins this year, and if so, it would put him at 19 for his career, only six short of the 25-save threshold. 

Pagan would have to be an entirely different pitcher from 2022 to reach this mark, and be trusted in save situations. While he remains on the roster, it is highly unlikely he will get the 16 saves he needs to get to this mark in a Twins uniform. 

There are many more records that could be set in 2023 by the Twins but only when the season begins will we know what other records will be surpassed. If there’s a record you believe will be broken by a Twin in 2023 that wasn’t mentioned here, leave a comment below on which it will be.

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[Doctor Gast]

It'd be a nice friendly competition between Polanco & Buxton to hit those milestones. It'd be nice if they both hit that 100 HR milestone the 1st week.

[Fatbat]

Another milestone is Buxton starting CF the most times ever in a season in his career.  We can only dream….

[Fatbat]

8 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

It'd be a nice friendly competition between Polanco & Buxton to hit those milestones. It'd be nice if they both hit that 100 HR milestone the 1st week.

Im saying, same game, same inning. 

[Brazilian Twins Fan]

I hope we don't even give ONE save opportunity for Pagan, let alone 25 opportunities.

[jmlease1]

3 hours ago, Brazilian Twins Fan said:

I hope we don't even give ONE save opportunity for Pagan, let alone 25 opportunities.

seriously. I can't remember the last time I wanted the Twins to trade away a player this much.