Twins Daily Minnesota Twins Hitter of the Month - July 2022

Although the record was under .500 for the second straight month, the Minnesota Twins remain atop the AL Central and continue to keep an eye on postseason play. Rocco Baldelli has needed more from both his pitching staff and lineup at times this season, but these guys have helped to hold serve in the batter’s box.

Honorable Mention 3: Jorge Polanco 22 G .206/.372/.480 2 2B 6 HR 13 RBI
If there’s a month in which a Twins player wanted to declare batting average dead, it was July for Jorge Polanco. He batted just .206 but had a top-4 OPS among teammates. His ability to draw walks and control the zone really shined in July as he put up an impressive 19/20 K/BB. While contributing just 15 hits in July, Polanco blasted nearly half of them out of the park. Settled in as one of baseball’s best second basemen, Polanco returned following injury in June and had himself a solid flip of the calendar.

Honorable Mention 2: Gio Urshela 14 G .304/.327/.522 4 2B 2 HR 9 RBI
Urshela missed the end of the month as he went on the paternity list due to the birth of a child, but he put up strong numbers at the dish for Minnesota. Much of Urshela’s contributions this season have come in the form of highlight-reel defensive plays, but he’s upped the OPS+ to 110 after a strong July. Urshela certainly doesn’t look like the slugger he was for the Yankees back in 2019, but he’s settled in as a reliable regular for Minnesota, and that consistency is valuable on a team that’s been so struck by injuries.

Honorable Mention 1: Luis Arraez 22 G .314/.352/.465 7 2B 2 HR 7 RBI
Arraez continues to seek his first batting title and owns a .333 average on the season. His overall month dropped that number, but he remains four points ahead of the Cardinals Paul Goldschmidt for the major-league lead, and is nine points ahead of Boston Red Sox Rafael Devers in the American League. It’s going to take a strong August for Arraez to remain out in front, but that’s hardly out of the question for the talented contact-maker.

Hitter of the Month: Jose Miranda 20 G .353/.405/.603 2 2B 5 HR 19 RBI
There was that brief moment that Minnesota optioned Miranda to Triple-A in order to make room for Royce Lewis. He never actually made the appearance and then immediately rejoined the Twins. He’s been on a tear since and July has been the best month as a big-leaguer. Miranda now has 10 homers this season, and while he won’t catch Julio Rodriguez in Rookie of the Year voting, an OPS north of .800 following such an abysmal start would be an amazing outcome.

The hope was that both Miranda and Alex Kirilloff could help to contribute in a big way for Minnesota this season. The latter’s wrist has continued to give him fits, but the former has provided a replication of his 2021 minor league number in a big way. If this is the opening act for Miranda in the majors, watch out.