Gilberto Celestino Needs To Catch A Break

[Cody Pirkl]

Gilberto Celestino has had a rough few years, much of which has been out of his control. With news coming that he’s sustained an unfortunate injury, it’s fair to wonder when the hopeful future contributor will catch a break.

Image courtesy of Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Gilberto Celestino was acquired from Houston in the July 2018 Ryan Pressly trade. The Twins saw a raw but physically gifted outfielder who has steadily made his way up to the majors since. The fact that Celestino was able to do so speaks to his raw athletic ability above all else, as the last few years have included some difficult obstacles. Unfortunately, it appears he’s hit yet another significant roadblock this spring.

Celestino is a tiring topic for many fans. He hasn’t hit at the big-league level and has a history of mental mistakes, which has resulted in him being written off by some despite the fact that he’s still just 24 years old. As with all struggling players, there’s context.

It’s easy to look back and forget that Celestino was promoted directly from Double-A early in the 2021 season. He had played just 21 games at the level. Of course, that was after the 2020 season in which he played no games. And in 2019? He ended that season with eight games at High-A Fort Myers. 

The Twins had a need for center field depth, and Celestino was the best option available. For what it’s worth, he looked every bit the part defensively and has continued to do so. Unfortunately, he paired his defensive value with a .136/.177/.288 slash line in the MLB in 2021, which eventually led to a demotion to his first Triple-A stint. It was then that Celestino flashed his offensive upside, slashing .290/.384/.443. It earned him another shot in the big leagues to begin 2022. He started out hot before falling off a cliff at the plate. In 122 games, Celestino was 18% below the league-average hitter.

Despite his defense remaining pristine, the Twins had made up their mind that Celestino had to try to make up for lost development time not only from his rushed debut but from his missed 2020 COVID season in the minors. They traded for Michael A. Taylor to be the primary rigright-handedckup in center field. It was a welcomed development because of the prospect of Celestino finding his bat again in Triple-A and possibly developing into more of a solid future MLB player. 

Because of the development Celestino clearly needs, his recent injury hurts despite the fact that he had little to no chance to begin 2023 with the Twins. Taylor is a one-year rental and it was likely Celestino would again take over that role in the coming years. While this is still possible, Celestino will be behind to start the season after tearing the UCL in his thumb and likely missing 6-8 weeks. The hits just keep coming for the Twins young center fielder. 

Celestino may very well still play a role in the 2023 Twins season at some point. Injuries or just flat-out performance by the center fielder in St. Paul could force the issue down the stretch. The Twins are still hopeful that he can develop into a quality Major League player, but more seasoning is needed and the recent injury has put the possibility on hold. 

Before looking at his surface numbers and deciding Celestino isn’t a piece of the Twins future, just consider the path he took to get here and how much of a testament it is to his raw talent that he could still right the ship. Here’s hoping that Gilberto Celestino catches a break in 2023.

 

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[Dave The Dastardly]

"rigright-handedckup"   Sorry, not familiar with this position. Is it similar to the "lefrov-footedckup"? Just on the other side of the field?

 

 

[Doctor Gast]

I get more excited over the defensive play that Celestino made than a towering solo moonshot. Having Cave in CF those years made me a big Celestino fan. Besides his glove he proved that he can hit the 1st part of last season but not the stamina to sustain it at the MLB level, which will come. He'll still get plenty of time to tear up AAA, while maturing.

[mickster]

Hoping he rebounds and is part of a midseason trade package with Gordon

[twinstalker]

I think the injury might be the break he's needed.  The Twins can't seem to keep him off their bench.  With all the other injuries (and more to come), I could just see him breaking camp with them once again.  As is, he'll maybe get transferred to the 60-day at some point when the Twins need, say, Garlick.  He'll hang with the complex getting work in for a while, then have his 20 day rehab.  By that time, someone else will be eligible for the 60, they won't have to drop Garlick.  They can then drop GC to AAA.  But to GC, it will just be rehab and then AAA for most of the year.  He needs that.

[ashbury]

4 hours ago, Dave The Dastardly said:

"rigright-handedckup"   Sorry, not familiar with this position. Is it similar to the "lefrov-footedckup"? Just on the other side of the field?

Careful there.  You were one transposition-error typo away from a month-long ban.

[ashbury]

Up the middle talent is hard to acquire.  I'd be very leery of trading him away for needs elsewhere on the diamond, and would hang onto him to see whether he can finish development into a solid player.

[jkcarew]

The biggest blow to Celestino's immediate future with the club was the signing of Taylor. These two are completely redundant (at least at this point in Celestino's development). You're not going to play both...just no way to justify that from an offensive standpoint. The best thing that can happen for Celestino in 2023 is for him to improve the hit tool in AAA. If he can, even a little bit, he has a decent chance of being back in that role in 2024.

 

[rwilfong86]

I was looking forward to seeing him play in AAA for a full season to develop, he's never really had a chance to learn and grow without his limitations under the spotlight in MLB games.

[stringer bell]

I am doubtful that there is much upside for him. However, as Ash mentioned, plus center of the diamond fielders have value. He should be back by the end of May at the latest, so he'll have a chance to develop this year barring more injuries. 

[DocBauer]

He's a 5 tool talent, with none of those tools ranking great. By that I mean he projects to being able to hit some, provide some pop/power, run and steal and advance, and play great defense with a good arm.

He projects as a wonderful 4th OF who can kinda do it all without being great offensively in any category. He actually grows here and there, he might be a starting OF who can contribute at the top and bottom of a good lineup.

The Twins, I have to say, have done him no favors. He NEVER should have been brought up in 2021. But he was literally something like the 5th CF option, due to injury, when even journeyman Refsnyder was hurt. But poor roster construction made him part of the 2022 roster when he should have been targeted for AAA. And remember, despite his skipping 2020 and all but a handful of games at AA in 2021, he looked really good when he actually got his first taste of AAA in 2021 when initially sent down.

This latest setback doesn't help him, or his development. In fact, he reminds me a lot of the way Polanco was rushed too early to MLB. But if the injury heals correctly, and the Twins are smart...which I think they generally are...he will spend most, if not all, of 2023 at AAA to work out kinks in his game, FINALLY be allowed to match talent to game experience and growth/development, and be ready for late 2023 and 2024.

Not a star prospect, but he's got the ability to be a really good depth piece. And the ML depth right now says he's got the opportunity to get his GAME together in 2023.

 

[PatPfund]

I'm glad for Gilberto that he'll get a chance to develop in the minors this year. I'm also glad for myself that I won't have to watch him in a Twins uniform. I get why he was jumped to the majors. I (and everyone else) saw he clearly was in over his head. Last year was disappointing because the Twins essentially did little prep for another Byron injury, and because Celestino was still clearly in over his head. 

His defense is okay, not great. He still struggles with fundamentals like where to throw the ball, and how to run bases. He gets the least out of his speed of any fast guy I've seen in recent times. And little of that is out of his control; he should have a better grip on the game by 24. Maybe he gets better, and earns his way back. Or maybe players like Martin, Lee, and Lewis, who are all better offensive threats, push Gilberto aside on their march to the majors (they can't all play infield), and he never makes it back to Mpls as his home field. 

I honestly don't know which it will be, but I'd lean a bit toward the last option. (If Martin has to have Tommy John surgery, that might be Gilberto's biggest break.)

[mikelink45]

I really like him and feel he has gotten some unjust criticism.  I hope he comes back healthy and is back on the roster next year. 

[old nurse]

The injuries start

[Rod Carews Birthday]

The Twins did him no favors when he was rushed to the majors (out of necessity), and that has slowed his development quite a lot.  What they did was find a guy seemed promising but needed two more years of school, hoping he could just skip those classes and succeed anyway.  Unfortunately, now it looks like he is being punished and sent back down (after he heals) when he is really just getting in the classes and hopefully finishing the degree before he comes back.  I understand why it had to be done, but now they are paying the price.

The Celestino situation is EXACTLY why I am NOT clambering for Julien or Lee to be called up to the majors anytime soon.  They are both incredibly promising but they need to put in the work and learn in a low pressure situation so that they can be called up, be successful, and stay up in the majors once they get here. Give them time to develop on the farm.  Don't waste service time while they try to figure it out on the fly.