Celestino's Strong Second Impression

It was more than evident last season that Gilberto Celestino was in over his head. The Twins were incredibly depleted and needed to call up Celestino despite having played just 21 games above Single-A. He had a .725 OPS for Wichita and looked like he had the chops to command the outfield defensively, but there was no denying it was much sooner than desired.

As you may expect, and remember, that didn’t go well. Celestino played 23 games at the Major League level and posted a .466 OPS. On August 1, he was jettisoned back across town and would remain there for the duration of the season. As you may not remember, that went extremely well. In 49 games with the Saints last season, Celestino posted a .290/.384/.443 line with 18 extra-base hits, of which five were homers. He took what didn’t work for the Twins and got rid of it while looking both comfortable and confident at Triple-A.

This season Celestino started out at Triple-A once again but made just two starts before needing to be used as insurance for Minnesota. This time though, he was ready and it’s shown.

In that January article, I said this about Celestino, “Handing him the fourth outfielder role on Opening Day may be a bit soon, but a repeat of the Triple-A numbers should suggest he’s ready. This could become an option sooner rather than later.” In two games, he didn’t get much of a chance to repeat the Triple-A numbers, but he’s done more than enough to substantiate them for the Twins.

Now having played in 31 games this season, Celestino has been used across the outfield and as a regular fourth outfielder to replace Buxton and others. His bat has been among Minnesota’s best at times, and his .324/.398/.378 slash line is all but a continuation of what he found in St. Paul. Without being a traditional power hitter it’s understandable that he hasn’t displayed the power stroke working against an altered baseball. He’s got just four doubles to his credit, but the plate discipline has taken a step forward. While he wasn’t a strikeout machine a season ago, he’s now drawing walks at a much more consistent rate as well.

The way the game is being played in 2022 does tend to benefit guys who lack power. Despite having zero home runs and just four extra-base hits, Celestino owns a 134 OPS+. With power production down across the board, his moderate power potential from Triple-A not coming with hasn’t stopped him from being a competent hitter.

Knowing that it was the right thing for Minnesota to do in signing Buxton, having someone who could mitigate the impact felt when he was off the field was also a must. When it looked like that may need to come from outside of the organization, the Twins' front office never wavered in their belief and Celestino continues to pay dividends. He’s probably never going to be an All-Star, but there’s no denying multiple teams would covet him as a regular. With a roster leaning heavily towards left-handed bats on the grass, this fit couldn’t be more perfect.

How impressed with Celestino are you this season, and what do you hope for his future in Minnesota?