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1. Will Nick Gordon have a role on the 2022 Twins?
The former first-round pick has finally found his way to the majors and is getting a chance to show what he's got ... but not much of a chance. Gordon's playing time has been sporadic at best; in the past calendar month, he's appeared in 11 of 24 games, starting only seven.
Personally I'm a little skeptical of Gordon having a stong fit on a contending MLB roster, and his production hasn't exactly forced the issue – he's slashing .167/.222/.262 in his last 45 plate appearances – but it hurts nothing to give him an extended look in the second half and see if he can find some traction.
There are some intriguing skills here, from the standout speed to the emerging defensive flexibility, but Gordon turns 26 in October and it'll tough to hold onto him anymore as a development project. He needs to prove he can play a valuable role in the immediate future, and the Twins should give him that chance.
2. What's up with Randy Dobnak?
Unlike Gordon, Dobnak's spot in the organization is secure. He signed a five-year extension in the spring and while the total money involved is not going to keep the Twins attached to him for the duration, it'll definitely keep him in the mix as a factor next year.
So... can he pitch in the majors?
The answer seemed to be a resounding yes through his first 15 big-league appearances, when he posted a 1.69 ERA through 58 ⅔ innings. Since then he has allowed 53 earned runs in 60 innings (7.95 ERA) along with 86 hits. He's been tagged with a 2-9 record in 17 outings during that span. Will the real Randy Dobnak please stand up?
It bears noting that the right-hander has dealt with challenging circumstances this year, from an uncertain role out of the gates to a fingernail injury to an unrelated finger strain that currently has him on the Injured List. Hopefully the second half will help the Twins get a handle on whether those circumstances are primarily responsible for his drop-off, or if the former undrafted pitcher's magic has simply run out.
Their conclusion will dictate whether they can count on him to help fill out a needy rotation in 2022.
3. Can Bailey Ober be penciled into next year's Opening Day rotation?
Speaking of filling out a needy rotation, Ober is another potential plug. With a juiced-up fastball that suddenly touches mid-90s, the 6-foot-9 right-hander has quickly shifted from middling prospect to the makings of a legit MLB starter. There are promising signs in his performance as a rookie – especially the 37-to-11 K/BB ratio in 33 innings.
But Ober's performance, which includes a 5.45 ERA and nine home runs allowed in eight short starts, hasn't been good enough to assert himself as a clear option for next year's rotation. As I pondered in the latest Week in Review column: "Can he solve the long-ball woes in the second half? And how much opportunity will have to do so, as the Twins carefully manage his workload coming off the lost season?"
If the Twins ultimately determine they can count on neither Dobnak or Ober to be one of their five guys out of the gates next year, the front office will face a major uphill climb in filling out the rotation with limited spending power during the offseason.
4. Is Brent Rooker a major-league player?
He doesn't have much left to prove in Triple-A, from an offensive standpoint anyway. Rooker has been absolutely crushing for the St. Paul Saints, with a 1.073 OPS in his past 30 games. He launched three home runs on Tuesday night, then added another on Wednesday to move ahead of Nelson Cruz for the organizational lead in home runs on the season, with 19.
That's the kind of power you seemingly want to find a spot for ... but the Twins have been unable to do so. Amidst all their injuries and depth issues, Rooker's gotten only 30 MLB plate appearances this year. The biggest barrier is his defense – it's clear the Twins don't trust him anywhere in the field, even first base.
That should cease to be an issue by the end of the month. Nelson Cruz will be traded to a contender, opening up the DH spot. From there, Rooker will need to make a case that he's going to hit enough in the majors to be a viable full-time option at the position next year. Or, he'll have to make the most out of whatever chances he gets in the field to show he's at least usable.
As a no-glove slugger, the bar for hitting is extremely high for Rooker to be a valuable big-leaguer. His 18-to-1 K/BB ratio with the Twins up to this point doesn't offer much promise on that front. He's got some work to do.
5. What's salvageable in this bullpen?
Tyler Duffey, Taylor Rogers (assuming he's not traded) ... what else is there to build on here as Minnesota tries to pick up the pieces from a disastrous relief corps? Caleb Thielbar will likely be in the picture next year, although he's struggling mightily here in July. Jorge Alcala will remain in play, although his home run proneness has severely diminished his shine.
The Twins need to take advantage of the outcome-agnostic nature of this second half to take deeper looks at anyone with a hint of intrigue or potential to factor in next year.
Keep running out Derek Law and give him some looks in leverage. Call up Beau Burrows and Ian Hamilton for auditions. Hopefully guys like Luke Farrell, Cody Stashak, and Lewis Thorpe get healthy enough that you can give them some run. Maybe even consider promoting legit relief prospects like Yennier Cano and Jovani Moran, if they're deemed ready.
Throw it all against the wall and see what sticks.
6. What's the plan for the middle infield?
Right now it is anyone's guess. With Andrelton Simmons likely to be shipped out ahead of the deadline, the Twins will have some flexibility to try out different alignments during the second half. Getting Jorge Polanco regular looks at shortstop may help the team assess if they'd be comfortable moving him back there full-time next year. The same goes for Luis Arraez at second. Feeding Gordon a healthy amount of playing time will be instructional as well. Could Rob Refsnyder re-enter the mix once he gets healthy again?
The Twins will want to get a firm grasp on what they have in the middle infield so they can make informed plans for the offseason. With Simmons gone and last winter's offseason shakeup reset, they'll basically be back at square one.
Let's hear from you. Which questions do you think will be most important for the Twins to answer during the second half of this season?
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