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  • Should Twins Fans Be Worried About Designated Hitter Production in 2022?


    Cody Christie

    Nelson Cruz, Josh Donaldson, and Mitch Garver are no longer with the Minnesota Twins. Does that mean Twins fans should be worried about DH production this season?

    Image courtesy of Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

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    In recent years, Nelson Cruz was penciled in as the team's primary designated hitter, and he performed at a high level in this role. Throughout the offseason, the Twins planned to rotate through various players in the DH role, but there has been a roster turnover since the lockout ended. Here are some of the names expected to fill the DH role in 2022. 

    Gary Sánchez
    2021 Stats: .204/.307/.423 (.730), 13 2B, 23 HR, 121 K, 117 G

    It seems likely for Sánchez to get the majority of his at-bats in the DH role this season because he is atrocious behind the plate. Sánchez has played 74 games as a DH for his career while hitting .224/.306/.469 (.775) with 11 doubles and 19 home runs. If Ryan Jeffers misses time or struggles, Sánchez will be pressed into service behind the plate. He's also in his final year of team control, and he likely wants to hit the market known for being a catcher and not just as a DH. There is an outside chance that Minnesota will include Sánchez in a trade before Opening Day, and then the team will have to turn to other DH options. 

    Miguel Sanó
    2021 Stats: .223/.312/.466 (.778), 24 2B, 30 HR, 183 K, 135 G

    Expectations were for Sanó to be used more regularly at the DH spot this season with Cruz out of the picture. Since switching to first base, he's made marginal defensive improvements, but SABR's SDI ranks him as the second-worst defensive first baseman. Also, Sanó isn't a stranger to the DH position as he's played nearly as many games at DH (155) as first base (195). He has a .753 OPS as the DH for his career, which is lower than when he plays a defensive position. Minnesota has a $14 million team option attached to Sanó with a $2.75 million buyout for next season. That's a steep price to pay for someone that has shifted to a more regular DH role. 

    Brent Rooker
    2021 Stats: .201/.291/.397 (.688), 10 2B, 9 HR, 70 K, 58 G

    Rooker has run out of things to prove in the minor leagues as he has a .932 OPS in nearly an entire season at Triple-A. The 27-year-old was used sporadically at the big-league level in 2020-21, and a DH role might be his best shot to earn a permanent role. Last season, he lost out on an Opening Day roster spot because the team was concerned with his defensive ability in the outfield. Those concerns likely remain, but Rooker is already behind the aforementioned names, and he may be relegated to a bench role this season. 

    Other Options
    All three players mentioned seem to fit the prototypical DH mold, but others on the Twins roster will have the opportunity to fill the DH spot. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli has preached a mantra around giving players adequate rest, including moving a regular position player to the DH role for the day. Four outfielders currently project to make the Opening Day roster, so one of those players could fill in at DH on any given day

    Besides the outfielders, Luis Arraez and Jorge Polanco have played through in-season injuries in the past. A day at DH may take some of the wear and tear off their knees (Arraez) and ankles (Polanco). Jose Miranda is also coming off a tremendous season, but he doesn't have a clear roster spot this spring. Would the team consider bringing him up to get at-bats in a DH role? Some other powerful prospects like Matt Wallner and Aaron Sabato are also working their way towards Target Field

    Minnesota's DH plan seemed much clearer at the beginning of the offseason, but those plans have changed. Now, these options seem worse than the Twins' production out of the DH spot with Cruz. Should Twins fans be worried about production from the DH spot? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. 

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    I'm not usually a fan of rotating DH's.  I really believe that players play better when they have a defined role, and that includes DH.  But since we don't have Cruz, or anyone like him, I understand this situation.  Yet I still think that Kirilloff should get the majority of starts at 1B, with Sano getting the majority of starts at DH.  Sanchez can spell Sano if (or when) he goes into one of his deep freeze streaks.  I think Arraez is our best trade bait for pitching and if not he would not get enough at bats at 2b or 3b.  Those starters should play 5 days a week, leaving only 2 days a week for Arraez, which makes him more valuable as a trade chip.  Will be interesting how this all plays out, but we do need at least one more quality starter and 40 man roster spots are tight.  Someone has to go.

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    If you are expecting any DH on this team to produce like Cruz did then you will be disappointed.  As long as we can get some production from the DH I am good, I am not asking for Cruz number from last couple of years with both the power and the average.  

    I am not sold on Sanchez, but I am willing to give him a shot with new place to play and new coaching staff in his ear, maybe that will help him.  With hitting being a very mental game, sometimes just a change will do.  We have plenty of bat first guys we can rotate in if Sanchez fails.  Many struggled last year, but hopefully they took the offseason to work on those issues. 

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    Nope, not worried about DH, and NOT because of Sanchez in any way. A full time DH is only a ONE MAN spot, usually,  when you have an Ortiz or Cruz who is a special hitter. When you have a deep and versatile roster, as we potentially do, you need to find room for everyone. And who says your DH spot can only be manned by a power hitter?

    Until another OF is added, or a prospect grabs the LF spot and makes it his, AK is going to initially play there a bunch, but he will also cover 1B until he can make the move there more permanently. 

    Sano is going to play 1B and DH when not at 1B.

    Arraez needs to be in the lineup almost daily at the top of the order. He will play 2B, 3B and DH. Whoever he replaces in the field can take the day off, or a half day and DH.

    Sooner or later, if not immediately, Larnach and Miranda are going to be ready for daily action, in the field or even in the DH mix. They also mean more time at 1B for AK, more time at DH for Sano, etc, as things expand and trickle down.

    As far as Sanchez at DH on a regular basis? I doubt it for all the options listed above, plus the fact you generally hate to play both your catchers, plus he doesn't hit well enough to be in the lineup daily despite his power.

    Sanchez, despite defensive limitations, provides experience, power, and an OB above .300, if only barely. Hopefully he will raise that OB to around .320 and raise his AVG up beyond the Mendoza line and around the .225-.230 range. That's enough to make him valuable as the backup catcher, starting around 1/3 of the games. But there are far better options at DH than Sanchez unless he suddenly resembles his previous Silver Slugger self, which seems unlikely at this point. 

    There is no need or good arguement for Sanchez to see primary AB at DH. If he's there a lot, we have some serious issues, or, a serious reward.

    But I'm not worried at all about DH. I can easily see 10-11 guys that can/should be playing daily.

     

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