2020 Minnesota Twins Mid-Season Superlatives

Best Pitcher

Kenta Maeda

At the time of the offseason trade, many fans in Twins Territory questioned why the Minnesota Twins would trade away its prized 100 MPH hurling pitching prospect for a relatively unknown starting pitcher from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The move was extremely unheralded and didn’t receive national headlines as a big time addition for the Twins. The move, though, has worked out exceptionally well for the Minnesota Twins as Maeda has been pitching like one of the best starters in all of baseball. Through his first six starts, Maeda owns a 4-0 record with a 2.21 ERA and 0.71 WHIP (best among all MLB starting pitchers). Maeda has yet to allow more than 3 earned runs in a start, and leads the Twins with a 9.8 K/9. Maeda has been nothing short of incredible for the Minnesota Twins through the first half of 2020, and there’s little question that he has been the best pitcher for the 1st place Minnesota Twins up to this point.

Honorable mention: Randy Dobnak

Best Hitter

Nelson Cruz

Yes, he’s 40 years old. Yes, he is missing a tendon in his wrist. Yes, Nelson Cruz remains the best hitter on the Minnesota Twins. The man they call Boomstick hasn’t missed a beat since turning the page to his fourth decade of life as he currently owns an OPS of 1.050 and has crushed 11 home runs, second in the American League. In a Minnesota Twins season filled with struggling bats and a barrage of injuries, Cruz has led this offense through steady, patient, hitting and a violent swing that continues to send baseballs into orbit. Did I mention he’s 40?

Honorable Mention: Miguel Sanó

Most Improved

Team Defense

Heading into the 2020 season, one of the areas for the Minnesota Twins that was of the most concern was the team defense. In 2019, the Minnesota Twins ranked 4th from the bottom of the Majors with -17 outs above average. The offseason addition of Josh Donaldson and a healthy Byron Buxton was thought to help the defense get back to average, but there were still concerns over how good a defense with 3 below average infielders (Arráez, Polanco, Sanó) could be over the course of a season. Through the midway point of the 2020 season, the Twins defense not only hasn’t been a weakness, but it has been a strength. To this point, the Minnesota Twins rank second in all of baseball in defensive runs saved and both Jorge Polanco and Luis Arráez have made massive defensive gains. What has been the craziest part of the Twins fielding resurgence in 2020 has been that they have done it without Josh Donaldson and Byron Buxton for most of the season.

Honorable Mention: Eddie Rosario’s Plate Discipline

Biggest Disappointment

Mitch Garver

After his huge breakout season in 2019, Twins fans were excited to see Mitch Garver’s encore in 2020. He was coming off of a season in which he posted an OPS of .995, and was finally entering a season as the without-a-doubt starting catcher. Unfortunately for Garver, the 2020 season hasn’t gone the way that he would like. The right hander started off the season extremely poorly, posting a .154 batting average in 61 at bats and just 1 home run. His season got even worse on August 19 when Garver was pulled from the game after grabbing his side following a strikeout. Garver is currently on the injured list with an intercostal strain and has yet to resume swinging a bat.

Honorable Mention: Byron Buxton’s Injury Luck

Best Game

Twins vs. Brewers, 8/18/20

The Twins/Brewers game from August 18 had absolutely everything you could ask for in a baseball game. Kenta Maeda struck out eight consecutive batters, and then flirted with a no-hitter, only allowing a hit to the first batter of the 9th inning. Taylor Rogers blew a save in the 9th inning. The Twins got their first taste of the new extra innings rule, and ultimately ended up winning in walkoff fashion in the bottom of the 12th inning. It was an exciting game filled with drama, that ultimately ended with a Twins victory. What else could you possibly ask for in a baseball game?

Honorable Mention: Twins vs. White Sox, 7/26/20 (“The Nelson Cruz Game”)

Funniest Moment

Sergio Romo, “Keep Talkin’”

Biggest “I Wish There Were Fans For This” Moment

Kenta Maeda’s Hat Tip

https://twitter.com/betsyhelfand/status/1295920191638048768?s=20

Kenta Maeda provided the Minnesota Twins with a start for the ages in his near no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers. Throughout the course of the start, the buzz at Target Field would have been something to witness. After exiting the game, Maeda tipped his cap to the fan-less stadium, and one could only imagine that massive standing ovation that the Japanese right hander would received after such a memorable night on the mound. It was the first time all season that having no fans in the stadium was noticeable, and it was a shame that Twins fans weren’t able to give Maeda his proper due.

Biggest Surprise

Matt Wisler

There was no more of an under the radar move that the Minnesota Twins made this offseason than when they claimed Matt Wisler off of waivers last October. When the Twins picked up Wisler, he was coming off of a season in which he posted a 5.61 ERA. Wisler was widely available for any team to have for free, and he fell into the lap of the Twins. The acquisition has turned out to be a massive one as the Twins have turned Wisler into an asset in an impressive Twins bullpen. Through the first half of the 2020 season, Wisler has a 1.29 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP. Wisler has been called upon to start bullpen games and has consistently come through for the Twins when he’s been needed.

Honorable Mention: Jorge Alcalá

Biggest Storyline from the First Half of the Season

Injuries

It’s been a season with drama-filled games and exciting moments for the Minnesota Twins but the biggest storyline from the first half of the 2020 season has been injuries. Over the course of 30 games, the Twins have seen Byron Buxton, Josh Donaldson, Jake Odorizzi, Rich Hill, Homer Bailey, Cody Stashak and Zack Littell all forced to the injured list. The depth of the Twins has been tested all season, and injuries have kept the Twins from reaching their full potential at the plate. How the Twins recover in the second half of the season and how they respond when coming off of the injured list might very well be the key in how far the Twins can go in October.

What are some of your superlatives from the first half of the 2020 Minnesota Twins season? What are some of your predictions for the second half of the season? Leave a comment below and start the conversation!

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