TRENDING: Out of the Park

Byung Ho Park, designated power hitter

If you haven’t been paying attention and I told you that Byung Ho was on fire, you might think that I just ate some hot wings. And while you might not be wrong, that’s not what I’m talking about in this particular case.

Over his last seven games, Park is batting 8-for-25 (.320) and has increased his batting average from .216 to a more respectable .250. More impressively, though, is that we’ve started to see more glimpses of the advertised power. In his first 15 games, Park had six extra-base hits (two doubles, four home runs) and a slugging percentage of .532 (which would still lead the team). But since April 26, Park has erupted for two more doubles, a triple and three more home runs. He’s now run his slugging percentage up to .605 which is good for sixth in all of the American League.

And though you’ll typically get lots of strikeouts with power guys - and Park does have 25 - he has improved in that regard as well. In his first seven games, 13 strikeouts. In his last seven games, seven strikeouts.

Park is proving to be a legitimate middle-of-the-order masher who has risen to the top - at least for the time being - of Twins contenders for American League Rookie of the Year.

Fernando Abad, relief pitcher

There’s not even a specific time period to talk about with Abad. He’s been a filthwad to hitters all season. As a lefty-on-lefty guy, Abad has retired 15 of the 16 hitters he’s faced… and the only batter who has reached was on a walk. Right-handed hitters are batting .231 off of him, but all of the hits have been singles .

With Kevin Jepsen’s struggles and no return in sight for Glen Perkins, could Abad be the best internal option to fill the closer role? His ERA of 0.00 is backed strongly by a 1.47 FIP. His WHIP is 0.75 and his K/9 is over 9.0.

In the beginning of a season filled with sour grapes, Abad has been one of the lone bright spots. The 30-year-old Abad will remain under team control for 2017 as well, eligible for his third and final year of arbitration.

Juan Centeno, Rochester catcher

Way back in early December of 2015, the Twins claimed John Hicks off waivers from Seattle and he immediately became the “depth” of the catching position. With options remaining, he’d be sent to Rochester and whenever the need for a catcher popped up, Hicks would be recalled and on the major league team.

And then a funny thing happened. Despite batting over .300 (but having an OBP under .300) and outplaying the newly-acquired John Ryan Murphy, Hicks was sent to AAA and lost on waivers to the Tigers in late April in Retiregate.

But no one panicked. And Centeno is a big reason for that. Centeno crushed it in spring training, batting .375 and demonstrating extra-base power. He wasn’t going to make the team, but he made a lasting impression.

He’s continued to hit well after getting more regular playing time (.273 over his last ten games with a home run and three walks compared to two strikeouts) and could figure prominently into the Twins season if John Ryan Murphy continues to not hit a nine-year-old's weight let alone his own and/or Kurt Suzuki continues to get dinged and hits the disabled list.

Let’s just hope that in the event the Twins clear a roster spot to add Centeno that he doesn’t instead decide to retire.

Who’s impressed you?