Nash Walker

A pitching duel between ground-ball experts Randy Dobnak and Dallas Keuchel quickly turned into a power display by the White Sox lineup. Unlikely hero Leury Garcia hit two of Chicago’s five homers off the Twins bullpen as Minnesota lost 10-3.Box Score Dobnak: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K Home Runs: Cruz (1) Bottom 3 WPA: Littell -.244, Donaldson -.140, Smeltzer -.104 Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs): Download attachment: WinChart.png The Twins are in danger of losing their opening series to the White Sox. Chicago's starter Dallas Keuchel signed a three-year, $55.5 million deal this offseason, furthering the belief that the team could compete in 2020. His first start couldn’t have gone any better. He quieted the Twins’ potent offense less than a day after they posted 10 runs in a resounding victory. Keuchel is known to bite the edges of the zone with dipping changeups, forcing groundballs and thus, outs. The Twins fell victim to his deception Saturday, mustering only one hit through the first five innings. The Twins hit nine balls over 90 MPH off Keuchel in the form of four line-outs, two groundouts, a pop out, a single and an error. Randy Dobnak started for the Twins and pitched fairly well, allowing only one run in four innings. He handed the ball and a 1-0 deficit to Zack Littell, who impressed with a 2.68 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 37 innings in 2019. After such a dominant performance in Friday’s victory, the Twins’ bullpen was abysmal on Saturday. Littell allowed four runs on three homers in just one inning. Devin Smeltzer struck out five but allowed two longballs of his own, totaling five earned runs in 2 innings. It didn’t take long for Edwin Encarnación, who owns a .944 OPS in his career against the Twins, to start terrorizing them again. He hit a monstrous homer off Littell in the fifth. White Sox second baseman Leury García has 23 career homers in 463 games. He went deep twice Saturday afternoon, his first multi-homer game since 2017. Nelson Cruz trimmed the Sox lead to two with a three-run shot off Steve Cishek in the sixth inning. Cruz’s first homer of 2020 came off the bat at a sizzling 108 MPH. It wasn’t nearly enough to keep up with the Sox onslaught. The Twins will trot out Kenta Maeda in the opening series finale on Sunday against Reynaldo López. Maeda will make his first start in a Twins uniform while López seeks to improve upon his 5.38 ERA from 2019. First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. CT. Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet Download attachment: BullpenChart.png Postgame Pint Parker, Seth and John commiserated over the Twins' 10-3 loss to the White Sox, discussing the bullpen’s implosion, Dobnak’s start, some tricky umpiring and whether the White Sox are for real. Check it out below or download the podcast here. Click here to view the article

The fans were in cutout form, the pre-game intros were mostly mute, and each of the two games Thursday represented 2.7 times more importance than usual. Baseball is back in the weirdest way.There hadn’t been a real MLB game in 266 days. The long layoff created mounds of anticipation, excitement, and anxiety. How was it going to look? Would the players be ready to perform at a high level? Will it feel the same? It didn’t, and that’s okay. Nothing about this year has been rudimentary. Professional sports haven’t been any different. That MLB just made it to opening day is a massive feat. Now we’ll continue to cross our fingers that the league can sustain itself for 66 days and an expanded postseason. Despite the abnormality of no fans, a 60-game season, and playing amid a global pandemic, baseball was live. There was a feeling of relief, refreshment and content. Those are the feelings we have yearned for. Just hearing “what time is the game tonight?” is revitalizing. We always knew it might be the small things; filling out a scorecard, tracking pitch counts, etc. Those simple and beautiful things are back. We get to watch Mike Trout, one of the greatest ever, play baseball. We are treated to seeing Josh Donaldson as a Twin, a man who has more career MVP vote shares than Paul Molitor, Eddie Matthews, and Wade Boggs at third base. 2019 breakouts Luis Arráez, Max Kepler and Jorge Polanco are back for an encore. There is tangible excitement for what’s to come. It’s okay to feel apprehensive about baseball returning. It does seem out of place. Some may even feel like MLB should pack it up until 2021; that’s fine too. There is no wrong way to view this season. We are living through an unprecedented tragedy, repeating every day. Simply: this season is historic. We will look back on the 2020 MLB campaign as an unbelievable event. If you lived under a rock for the last 6 months and then turned on your TV to a game with no fans, what would your explanation be? Why in the world would there be no fans at games? Why would coaches be wearing masks? Why would there only be 60 games? I definitely would not have answered with “oh, must be a global pandemic.” Sometimes there are no words to describe the last four-plus months. We are naturally going to compare this baseball season to the past. We will scope the 2020 Twins in comparison to the 2019 Twins. We’ll compare the World Series champion to years prior. It’s a built-in caveat of any season. Sports are all about comparison, but this year is like no other. Embrace the conflicting feelings. Embrace the 60 games. Embrace the runner-on-2nd in extras rule. Embrace the expanded postseason. Embrace baseball. Let’s go! SEE ALSO Minnesota Twins Opening Day Roster 20 Twins Predictions for the 2020 Season Swinging Sixty: Minnesota Twins 2020 Season Preview The 2020 Preseason All-AL Central Team Who Are the Twins Best 60 Game Sprinters? Ranking Minnesota’s Top-5 Indispensable Players Click here to view the article

Yes, it happened again. Byron Buxton suffered a mid-foot sprain just days before the Twins’ opener. Despite the optics, Buxton said he’s going to play on opening day.First, you feel for Buck. He’s worked tirelessly to rehab from labrum surgery in order to prepare himself for the 2020 season. The Athletic’s Dan Hayes quoted him last week as “having no limits.” Even if he is out there on opening day, he will likely have limits. The response to Buxton’s latest injury was expected, but disappointing. Twins fans hit Twitter to drop the tiring lines “you can’t make this up” and “we should have traded him when we had the chance.” Buxton, a once top prospect, is not solely responsible for his injuries. There is an immeasurable amount of bad luck involved, too. He’s a super-athlete playing at the highest speed imaginable. Injuries happen. Still, he’s only 26 years old and will be in Minnesota through at least 2022. His best days remain ahead. Did you know that in 2019, Buxton had a higher average exit velocity (89.3 mph) than Gleyber Torres, Anthony Rizzo, and Carlos Correa? He did. Did you know that since 2017, Buxton has more bWAR (7.8) than Nationals star Juan Soto in 11 less games? He does. Did you know that on August 1, 2019, Buxton was tied for 39th in all of baseball in fWAR (2.7)? He was. Buxton, on August 1, ranked 15th among outfielders in fWAR, above the likes of Bryce Harper, Austin Meadows, and Whit Merrifield. Everyone is sick of the precursor “when Buxton is on the field…” because *when* feels like it never happens. We can’t pretend we know that he will stay healthy. But let’s go down this rabbit hole again. When Buxton is on the field, the Twins are more prolific. When Buxton is on the field, he gets MVP votes. When Buxton is on the field, the Twins go from a really good team to a great team. That should be enough to continue to dream on what could be. His adjustments at the plate are good enough reasons, too. Buxton played in 140 games in 2017 and hit a lukewarm .253/.314/.413 with only 36 extra-base hits. Since then, his average exit velocity has increased by more than 4 mph. His launch angle has increased almost eight degrees. His hard-hit rate has jumped 6.4%. He’s a different, much more dangerous force at the plate these days. The kind of force that is almost unfair hitting ninth. Buxton slugged .513 in 2019, ranking 21st among outfielders who played at least 80 games. Oh, and he’s *outstanding* on the grass. His defense in centerfield is second-to-none. His Ultimate Zone Rating per 150 innings is 13.0, the highest of any centerfielder with at least 2,000 innings at the position since 2017. Buxton saved 23 runs in 2017, second to only Mookie Betts’ 30 among all outfielders. The disappointment and discord Twins fans have with Buxton is rooted in impatience. Success at the highest level is almost never linear. Buxton is presumably entering his physical prime and should be producing, yes. That he hasn’t shouldn’t result in a fan base throwing in the towel. He’s an extremely special talent and has the sole ability to transform this club into one of the best in recent memory. He’s that influential. We must continue to dream on Buck’s potential. He’s still a key piece of the Twins’ immediate and long-term future. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Yes. You’re right. I had no idea. I took the piece about Vázquez out. Thank you.

The schedule is out. What should you expect from the Twins' foes this summer?Cleveland Indians Games: 10 - July 30, 31, August 1, 2, 24, 25, 26, September 11, 12, 13 The Indians’ strength is in the top of their roster. Shane Bieber and Mike Clevinger offer both consistency and upside in the rotation, and Carlos Carrasco, while a wild card, was once an ace, too. He wasn’t as great last year as he was in 2018, but Francisco Lindor is a superstar entering his true prime. Only Alex Bregman and Nelson Cruz had a higher wRC+ in the A.L. than José Ramírez after the break in 2019. Since 2016, Carlos Santana ranks 19th in on-base percentage (min. 500 games). In that span, he hit 115 homers, tied with Josh Donaldson for 21st in all of baseball. He’s underrated and quite a force at the plate. The Indians should be good. They have too many stars not to be. Will their lack of depth and clearly inept outfield pull them down like it did in 2019? Chicago White Sox Games: 10 - July 24, 25, 26, August 31, September 1, 2, 14, 15, 16, 17 The talk of the offseason, the White Sox feel poised to break through at some point. The question is: when? Their lineup is led by Yoán Moncada, who hit .315/.367/.548 with 25 homers in 2019. The former top prospect is a special talent, but probably not as good as White Sox fans will tell you he is. Yasmani Grandal was a big pick up for a few reasons, but mainly, he actually walks. The White Sox ranked dead last in walk rate in 2019 (6.3%) and return a similar core. Grandal walked in 17.2% of his plate appearances last year, second to only Mike Trout. The pitching staff has loads of question marks. Promising flame-throwers Dylan Cease and Reynaldo López had ERAs well above 5 in 2019. Dallas Keuchel remains effective, but benefitted from pitching in front of a strong infield defense in Atlanta. All-Star Lucas Giolito broke out with a nasty changeup and looked like an ace at times. There aren’t enough certainties on this roster to draw conclusions. They could win 40 games, they could win 25. That, in itself, makes the Sox fascinating. Kansas City Royals Games: 10 - August 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22, 23 The Royals, unlike the Tigers, have a major league core to build around. Hunter Dozier had more bWAR than Manny Machado, Mike Moustakas, and Gleyber Torres in 2019, yet no one talks about him. Dozier hit 25 homers, 10 triples, and 29 doubles in 139 games. Jorge Soler led baseball with 70 barrels and the American League with 48 homers last summer. Whit Merrifield has 398 hits since 2018, the most in MLB. In fact, the difference in hits between Merrifield and the 2nd-placed Freddie Freeman (31) is more than that of Freeman and the 18th-ranked Starlin Castro and Anthony Rendon. The Royals’ top two starters, Danny Duffy and Brad Keller, had ERAs firmly below league average in 2019. The problems reside in the back of the rotation. Jakob Junis, Glenn Sparkman, and Jorge López were mostly abysmal on the hill last year. However, in a shortened campaign, a team built like the Royals could surprise. The Twins will need to show up and play them tough in August. Detroit Tigers Games: 10 - August 27, 28, 29, 30, September 4, 5, 6, 7, 22, 23 The Tigers have to pay Jordan Zimmermann $25 million for only one more season. The right-hander gave up 19 homers in 112 innings and finished with a 6.91 ERA in 2019. Promising left-hander Matthew Boyd struck out 30.2% of the team-leading 788 batters he faced a year ago. The Tigers’ lineup is presumably spearheaded by Victor Reyes, who hit .304/.336/.431 in 69 games last year. However, their two best hitters by OPS+ in 2019 are old friends Jonathan Schoop and C.J. Cron. The offense should produce more than the *one* above-average hitter they had last summer, but not much more than that. The upside is in Tigers’ young arms. Casey Mize is one of the more talented pitchers in Minor League Baseball. Tarik Skubal struck out 17.4 per nine innings in Double-A in 2019. Matt Manning had a 2.56 ERA and 10 strikeouts per nine there, too. If they pitch in Detroit in 2020, they could spoil a few “cupcake” games for the contenders. Milwaukee Brewers Games: 6 - August 10, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20 The Brewers surprisingly have every form of star. They have a true superstar in 2018 MVP Christian Yelich, a future star in second baseman Keston Hiura, and an underrated star in starter Brandon Woodruff. Milwaukee had a fascinating offseason. They lost Grandal to the Sox and Moustakas to the Reds, but added an intriguing piece. Catcher Omar Narváez was quietly great in Seattle in 2019. Only Willson Contreras had a higher OPS+ (120) among 24 catchers who started at least 100 games. The Brewers traded for Narváez in early December. Woodruff, on average, throws his fastball 96.3 MPH. He struck out 143 in 121 ⅔ innings before suffering an oblique injury in July. He’s reportedly ready to go for 2020. If you faced closer Josh Hader in 2019, there was a 53% chance you either homered or struck out, displaying both his dominance and volatility. The Brewers have some really strong players and a lot of average-ish contributors as well. Yelich and Woodruff raise their floor, and Hiura and Hader push the ceiling. Milwaukee won’t be a necessarily easy opponent for Minnesota. St.Louis Cardinals Games: 4 - July 28, 29, September 8, 9 The Cardinals’ way revolves around phenomenal defense and utilizing the pitcher-friendly confines of Busch Stadium. They went 50-31 at home last year and that’s no accident. Kolten Wong was solid at the plate with a 106 OPS+, but his gold glove defense at second is the headline. Power-hitting shortstop Paul DeJong has just a .316 OBP since 2018. Paul Goldschmidt is coming off the worst offensive season of his career. Jack Flaherty posted a 0.91 ERA after the break in 2019. He works with a phenomenal fastball-slider combo and emerged as a true ace down the stretch. The rest of the rotation is less-than-stellar. Miles Mikolas and Adam Wainwright were just average last year, and Dakota Hudson’s inefficiencies were masked by a tremendous defense behind him. Giovanny Gallegos has a devastating slider that helped him to a 2.31 ERA out of the bullpen last year. The Cardinals ‘pen produced the 7th most fWAR (4.7) in baseball and hopes to get former-superstar Andrew Miller back to form in 2020. The Cardinals are stingy. They don’t really mash at the plate, ranking 24th in homers (210) and 21st OPS (.737) in 2019. They don’t strike out the world either, finishing 17th in K/9 (8.72). What they will do is display tough, gritty defense and play to their strengths. That’s dangerous in itself. Chicago Cubs Games: 3 - September 18, 19, 20 Anthony Rizzo has hit .284/.388/.513 with 179 homers and 199 doubles in 911 games since 2014. He still has an elite bat. Kris Bryant is a premier on-base threat with serious pop, even without great defense at third. The swag monster that is Javier Báez is Eddie Rosario-esque in his aura and aggressiveness and also carries big-boy power and a winning mantra. The rotation will now be without José Quintana initially after he cut his thumb washing dishes. Yu Darvish utilized his outstanding cutter and nearly sliced his ERA in half after the break in 2019. The soft-tossing Kyle Hendricks ranked 20th among 61 qualified starters in ERA (3.46) last summer. Darvish and Hendricks are a solid 1-2 punch, in either order. Jon Lester was just average with an ERA+ of 100 in 2019. The bullpen was agonizing for much of last summer. The group ranked 22nd in Win Probability Added (-1.74) and 20th in fWAR (1.3). Craig Kimbrel had a 6.53 ERA in 20 ⅔ innings and blew three saves, including a crucial loss to the Cardinals at Wrigley on September 21st. He needs to be better. The Cubs have tons of talent. There’s no doubt they could put it all together in a 60-game stretch. Will they? Cincinnati Reds The Reds snatched away both Mike Moustakas and Nick Castellanos from their divisional foes. Castellanos was a menace at the plate in Chicago, hitting .321 with a 1.002 OPS in 51 games. He’ll go to a ballpark that ranked 8th in home run factor in 2019. Moustakas hasn’t been overly great with just 6.9 combined bWAR in 443 games since 2017, but he adds more power. Eugenio Suárez slugged a career high .572 with 49 homers a year ago. He returns to the heart of the lineup with future Hall-of-Famer Joey Votto, who is coming off a season in which he posted a .357 OBP. That broke a four season streak of a .400 or better OBP for the first baseman. The Reds have three potential aces in Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray and Trevor Bauer. Castillo works with a fastball in the 91st percentile for velocity and a truly disgusting changeup. Gray resurged in 2019, pitching to a 2.87 ERA and 5.6 bWAR in 175 ⅓ innings. Bauer allowed 40 runs in his first 56 ⅓ innings for the Reds, but is only two years removed from being an ace in 2018. The Reds’ bullpen ranked 12th in fWAR last year even with a poor campaign from closer Raisel Iglesias, who posted an ERA of 4.16 in 68 games. Two-way phenom Michael Lorenzen was outstanding with a 2.92 ERA and high 90s stuff in 83 ⅓ innings. The Reds have some legitimate weapons. If Bauer can return to form and Castellanos and the newly acquired Shogo Akiyama hit out of the gate, they can run away with the N.L. Central. Pittsburgh Pirates Games: 4 - August 3, 4, 5, 6 The Pirates’ lineup isn’t bad on paper. Josh Bell emerged as an All-Star last year with 37 home runs. Bryan Reynolds hit the ball hard and slashed an incredible .314/.377/.503 with 37 doubles in 134 games. Utility infielder Kevin Newman hit .308 with Luis Arraez-like patience and not much else. When healthy, and he is now, Gregory Polanco can do serious damage at the dish. This lineup is much better than Detroit’s. Not a single Pirates starter was average or better in 2019. Joe Musgrove, who moved to Pittsburgh in the Gerrit Cole trade, has a 4.28 ERA since joining the Bucs. The Pirates have more major league talent than the Tigers but reside in a much tougher division. The N.L. Central has had four competitive teams, compared to two (now three) in the A.L. Central. The Pirates aren’t good, don’t get me wrong, but if the Twins have trouble with their lineup in early August, don’t be surprised. Note: A passage about Pirates closer Felipe Vázquez was deleted after learning that he has been in jail since September. He isn't expected to pitch this season. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Here we are. The Twins will open their season in less than three weeks. My feelings on their lineup change almost daily. This is my current winner. For the sake of this article, let’s say the Twins open with the White Sox or Indians. That means they will see Shane Bieber, Mike Clevinger, or Lucas Giolito. All right-handers. Here we go.1. Luis Arraez, 2B Since 1950, three rookies with at least 350 plate appearances have hit .320 or higher in their age-22 or younger season: Luis Arraez hit .334 in 2019. Albert Pujols hit .329 in 2001. Mike Trout hit .326 in 2012. Batting average can be misleading. A player who hits .330 with a .350 on-base percentage is less valuable than a player who hits .280 with a .375 on-base percentage. A walk is just as good as a single. Arraez passes the test. In the A.L., only Trout, Alex Bregman and fellow rookie Yordan Álvarez had a higher on-base percentage than Arraez (.399) in 2019. He should lead off. 2. Josh Donaldson, 3B In a shortened campaign, your best hitters should see the plate as much as possible. In 2019, Donaldson tied Nolan Arenado for the 19th highest OBP (.379), tied Kris Bryant for 37th in slugging % (.521), and finished seventh with 100 walks. Since 2013, Donaldson ranks seventh in walks (541), 15th in OBP (.376), and 11th in extra-base hits (430). He primarily hit second during his three-plus seasons in Toronto. 3. Nelson Cruz, DH This one is set in stone. Nelly was a monster in the three-hole last year, hitting .311/.392/.639 with 41 homers in 120 games. Only Edgar Martinez, Victor Martinez, David Ortiz, Frank Thomas and Travis Hafner have posted a higher OPS+ at DH than Cruz (166) did in 2019. He had a historic season. Hitting behind two OBP-gods in Arraez and Donaldson will give Cruz plenty of opportunities to drive in runs. King Nelly should be a terror again in 2020. 4. Max Kepler, RF Kepler had a breakout season in 2019. He hit leadoff for the most powerful club in MLB history while slugging 36 homers of his own. Kepler tied Todd Frazier at 79th with a .336 OBP, casting doubt whether hitting first is the wisest avenue. He slugged .519, higher than Anthony Rizzo and Carlos Santana. Cleanup feels right. Kepler has the pop and the patience to hit behind Donaldson and Cruz, and I’ve concluded that Arraez is just too good not to lead off. 5. Jorge Polanco, SS Polanco was statistically the most valuable Twin in 2019. His 4.8 bWAR paced the club and he played in a team high 153 games. At the dish, Polanco came out sizzling. He hit .335 with a 1.002 OPS and 28 extra-base hits in his first 50 games. He was the starting shortstop in the All-Star Game and slotted in the two hole for most of the season. Polanco was cold in June and his OBP was an abysmal .291 in 23 games in July. He bounced back in August and hit .309/.397/.482. His OPS+ of 120 on the season ranked him fourth among all shortstops. This spot says more about the Twins’ historic lineup than it does Polanco. 6. Miguel Sanó, 1B There is an incorrect assumption that because Sanó strikes out a lot, he is undisciplined. Sanó’s chase rate has been well below MLB average for his entire career. His whiff rate, or swing-and-miss, is very high. Those two categories are mutually exclusive. Sanó also walks at a very favorable rate. He walked in 12.5% of his plate appearances in 2019, over 4% more than the league average. Sanó’s hard-hit rate is in the 100th percentile. His barrel rate is in the 100th percentile. He’s on the cusp of becoming a truly elite slugger. 7. Mitch Garver, C Garver homered more often than any player in baseball last year. He slugged .630, the highest for a catcher since Javy López (.687) in 2003. He shouldn’t be expected to repeat his .995 OPS from a year ago, but I wouldn’t bet against him. Garver has elite plate discipline. His chase rate was a whopping 11% below league average in 2019. He hit .341 against fastballs, continually forcing pitchers to come in with heaters. He will have adjustments to make against breakers and offspeed, but again, I’m not betting against him. 8. Eddie Rosario, LF Aaron Gleeman said it best when the Twins signed Donaldson in January. “Someone good is going to be hitting eighth,” he said. Rosario’s .300 OBP in 2019 was the lowest for a qualified Twin since Torii Hunter in 2015 (.293). He probably doesn’t deserve to hit much higher than eighth in this lineup. Whether Baldelli actually slots him this low is a completely different question. The lack of approach has surfaced more and more in recent seasons. Rosario’s chase rate jumped almost 7% from 2017 to 2019. Rosario is a prime example of how zero discipline can hurt a really great hitter. His exit velocity is sopped and his hard hit rate is weakened. He may have to earn his way up the lineup. 9. Byron Buxton, CF One of the silver linings for the 2020 Twins is that Buxton is said to be 100%. Buxton is a true X-factor, capable of turning a really good Twins team into a great team. He is elite in center and finally seemed to figure it out at the plate last year, hitting .262/.314/.513 in 87 games. Buxton is an ideal fit for the nine hole in this lineup. He isn’t a consistent on-base threat, but hitting in front of Arraez is picture perfect. When Buxton reaches first, Arraez can single him to third, setting up a great situation for Donaldson and Cruz. It makes even more sense than it did in 2019. Buck will be slotted at ninth on July 24th. What do you think? What should the Twins opening day lineup be? MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Back in May, we looked at Twins over/unders in an 82-game season. How about for the now-official 60-game season?Twins regular season games played: 59.5 Multiple players from multiple teams have already tested positive for COVID-19. MLB can plan as much as they want, but the virus remains a concern. The golden question looms: will the season be completed as scheduled? Twins regular season wins: 37.5 I’m a bit more optimistic than Bovada, where the Twins are pegged at 34.5 wins. We are still waiting on the official schedule, but we know the Twins will play the Royals, Tigers, Indians and White Sox 10 times each. They will play six games against the Brewers and 14 combined games against the Cardinals, Pirates, Cubs and Reds. Baseball is full of randomness. How many games will the Twins win? Ehire Adrianza plate appearances: 84.5 Adrianza got 1.47 plate appearances per game in 2019. In this 60-game season, that trend would give him around 87. How much rest will Rocco give Josh Donaldson, Jorge Polanco and Luis Arraez? Each game is worth 2.7 times more than in a normal season. Adrianza hit a solid .272/.349/.416 last year, but how much will he see the dish this summer? Eddie Rosario’s primary batting order spot: 5.5 Much has been said about Rosario’s replaceable numbers. Trevor Larnach, Alex Kirilloff, Brent Rooker and 15 others are chomping at the bit to play left field in Minnesota. This is a prove-it year for Eddie. Will he hit in the top or bottom half of Baldelli’s (somehow) improved lineup? Taylor Rogers appearances: 20.5 Rogers pitched in 60 games for the Twins last year. He was too often used on back-to-back days as the Twins’ only reliable reliever in the first half. I believe the bullpen will be managed with October in mind. By bringing in Tyler Clippard to an already strong group, Baldelli and Wes Johnson have the flexibility to rest Rogers more often. Will they actually do it? Where’s your money, Twins fans? Comment below! MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

“It’s really starting to kick in.” Marco Raya is only 17, but his repertoire and potential enticed the Twins to select him in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft. He signed Thursday for $410,000, just below the No.128 slot value of $442,900.The righty hails from Laredo, Texas and just finished up his senior year at United South High School, albeit with no baseball. “I was really disappointed I didn’t get to have a senior season," said Raya, who officially graduates Monday. Raya was committed to play college baseball at Texas Tech University, and while de-committing isn’t easy, playing professional baseball has always been the dream. “When I visited [Texas Tech], it really felt like home.” His mix on the hill includes a fastball that runs up to 94 MPH, two distinct breaking balls, and a changeup. “I’m pretty comfortable with all my pitches,” Raya said, “but I would say my slider is my most effective pitch.” High school pitchers from Texas are usually long, large and fire-breathing. Raya does not fit the bill. He’s listed at 6-feet tall and 165 pounds, taller but more slender than his favorite pitcher Marcus Stroman of the New York Mets. “For years, I’ve loved the way he [stroman] pitches,” Raya said, “I’ve studied his game and the intensity he brings to the mound.” Stroman, an All-Star in 2019, is known for his high energy and raw competitiveness. Raya feels like he possesses that mindset. “That mentality is definitely a big part of it,” he said, “I’m a great competitor and I’m ready for anything that comes my way.” Raya will work with a newer infrastructure in Minnesota. Derek Falvey has an aptitude for developing pitchers, a quality he displayed regularly in Cleveland. “I’ve heard so many great things [about the Twins],” Raya said, “over the last few years, the Twins have really been evolving into a great team. Raya says he has an elite ability to add new pitches, make tweaks, and generally improve on the mound. “I can adjust to be any type of pitcher I want to be,” he said, “any pitch I’m taught I can pick up quickly.” He also has a sense of trust in his stuff and knew that a MLB club was going to recognize his skill set on draft night. “I had a feeling [i was going to get drafted],” he said, “I didn’t know by who, but I knew whoever was getting me, that in three to five years, everyone is going to know my name.” High character individuals flood the Twins top-seven farm system. Raya is no different. “I love to work so now knowing that it’s my job and I get to do what I love everyday is a blessing,” he said, “I’m just excited to get to work.” Ted Schwerzler contributed to this article. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Absolute respect here. Thank you

I'm laughing

Good work, Ted. Also makes me wonder about Nelly’s FA market. 15 more teams will be interested. He wouldn’t dare (*gasps*) leave MN would he?

The Twins furthered their trend of targeting massive raw power in the 2020 MLB Draft.Slugger Sabato surprisingly falls Just prior to the start of the first round, Keith Law wrote that the Rangers had all but picked Aaron Sabato at No.14, a slugging first baseman from North Carolina. The Rangers instead chose Mississippi State second baseman Justin Foscue, whom Law ranked as the No.63 prospect on his big board. The Twins jumped on Sabato with the 27th pick, despite having a farm system that is loaded with hefty, slugging corner position players. Sabato hit .332 with a 1.158 OPS in 83 games at UNC. To put Sabato’s power into perspective, his ISO of .366 would’ve paced the majors in 2019. Standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 230 pounds, Sabato will be limited to first base or designated hitter, likely the reason he dropped to the bottom of the first round. Sabato was ranked as the No.2 shortstop in New York in 2017, graduating from the Brunswick School in Rye Brook. His time at the six would end there as he made the move to first base at Chapel Hill. Slight Soularie shocks in the second With the 59th pick, it was expected that the Twins would pick a college pitcher. Instead, they selected Alerick Soularie, an outfielder from the University of Tennessee. Soularie was not highly ranked even after hitting .357/.466/.602 with 25 extra-base hits in 2019. Soularie is said to be stretched in center and doesn’t have enough pop for a corner. The hit tool and quality of at-bats, however, stands out impressively. He walked (49) more than he struck out (47) in 76 games at Tennessee, and his .466 OBP ranked second in the SEC in 2019. The home run power isn’t beaming like Sabato as Soularie stands at six-foot-nothin’ and weighs more than 50 pounds less than his new teammate. Rounding it off with Rosario After taking prep pitcher Marco Raya in the fourth round, the Twins went back to the outfield with Kala'i Rosario from Waiakea HS in Hawaii. Rosario is lauded as being Hawaii's top prospect. He harnesses big boy power from the right side and projects as a corner outfielder with massive pop in pro ball. "Can you hit?" is the weighted question for Falvine If it wasn’t already, targeting bat-first college stars is now a staple of Derek Falvey and Thad Levine’s draft strategy. Sabato and Soularie join Alex Kirilloff, Trevor Larnach, Brent Rooker, and Matt Wallner in one of the most powerful systems in baseball. If Falvey and pitching coach Wes Johnson can develop consistent starting pitching, the Twins will be in elite shape. After setting the home run record with 307 in 2019, the Twins should be the odds-on favorite to lead the next decade in Bombas. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

I’m pretty over it, honestly. I’m just ready for some baseball. 50 games grosses me out but what better alternative is there? Opening day 2021?

I’m disappointed. I no longer trust the stakeholders, I fear for the players, and I am embarrassed for the league.After many weeks of public discourse and negotiations, the two sides are reportedly at an impasse. 40 million Americans are unemployed due to COVID-19, a deadly virus that has shaken our world up more than we could’ve ever imagined. MLB can’t be blamed for the terror and destruction caused by the virus. It’s not what happens to us, but how we respond that defines our character. The NBA and NHL have successfully formulated plans to return to action. They are objectively healthy. MLB’s true colors have shown. With an opportunity to become the first North American sport to return, a chance that still exists, Major League Baseball has floundered, unsettled and disgusted even their most passionate fans. Imagine a very real scenario where baseball isn’t played this summer. From the final inning of the World Series in 2019 to opening day in 2021, nearly 18 months will have passed without a real MLB pitch. The current CBA expires in December of 2021. These two sides are using current negotiations as a way to gain leverage for CBA talks. That’s a ridiculous mistake. While the possibility of a work stoppage or strike looms, this isn’t about the CBA or leverage. This is about uniting fans after tragedy. This is bigger than money. This is about *us*, the fans who have endured an unbelievable pandemic. Don’t they care? The owners, in the latest development, rejected a proposal from the players to conduct a 114-game schedule. MLB has argued that owners will lose money for every additional regular season game. Now Rob Manfred is considering forcing a 50-game season. In what world does a sports league want to play *less* games? I would say one where the league frankly doesn’t concern itself with anything more than money. I think I am a much better fan of the sport than most owners, if not all. I really do. It’s a business, I get that. But why own a baseball team if you don’t love baseball? Public perception and the future of the game have been pushed to the wayside. That hurts. The 2019 Twins helped bring me and so many others into buying in again. We expect a return of passion from the people who run the league, yet we have seen the opposite. I want to watch the Twins. I want to sit on my couch with my scorebook and watch José Berríos mow down the White Sox. I want to see Josh Donaldson rip piss missles in a Twins uni at Target Field. I want to see Nelson Cruz follow up his historic 2019 season. I long to marvel over Luis Arraez taking borderline pitches and shaking his noggin. Are the owners really gonna take that away from us? I host the Locked On Minnesota Twins podcast five days per week. I write on this platform weekly. I love baseball and I love the Twins. I don’t know if I would ever be able to forgive the league if the season is lost over money. That is unacceptable and unfathomable, yet here we are. Baseball is a *our* game, and they want us to consume less of it, all because their checks aren’t fat enough. I consider myself a hardcore fan. A lot of my thoughts are about baseball. If I’m saying I might not be able to forgive the league and stay engaged, how would a more casual fan feel? Not good, my friend. MLB could lose *millions* of followers. The league can very well come back in 2021 and say “hey! Here we are!” but how many people will welcome it back after such a head-shaking hiatus? I believe fewer than they probably think. We love this game. We crave it. Why doesn’t baseball love us back? MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Nick, I appreciate your push for the importance of speaking up. I do believe change will be had when we start to really understand the issues at hand. I also think it can be tricky to criticize those who don't speak up. We are all entitled to our own way of grieving, understanding, and communicating, even with blatant injustice. Max's post was especially unique and I agree that he didn't mean it maliciously or politically. It was bad timing, and he got ripped for it. Your stance that he could've acknowledged Floyd and police brutality is an intriguing one, and he eventually did, which is why I think some people are responding poorly to your article. None of this is easy. People are hurting. It shows valor that you chose to write your feelings. We can be the change we want to see in the world. If you believe that pushing others to speak up and calling them out when they don't is the best way to progress (it may be), that's your prerogative. That's your belief. There's nothing wrong with that. We need to better understand each other. This didn't have the best response, but sparking discussion is key. I'm proud, as always, to write about and cheer for the Twins alongside you Nick. Stay up brother.

Twins prospect Brent Rooker is looking forward to mashing his way to Minnesota if and when a season begins this summer.“With the way things are shaking out with negotiations, we may need to be ready to go at the drop of a hat,” Rooker said. Rooker, 25, whom the Twins drafted with the 35th pick in 2017, was tearing it up for Triple-A Rochester before injuring his groin last July, hitting .281/.398/.535 with 14 homers in 65 games. Less than three weeks after Rooker hit the IL, Byron Buxton crashed into the center field wall in Miami, effectively ending his season and opening up a spot in the outfield. Jake Cave filled that spot more than admirably. He hit a monstrous .361/.418/.705 with 11 extra-base hits in 21 games in August for the Twins. Another outfield spot opened in early September when Max Kepler missed significant time with a shoulder injury. 26-year-old LaMonte Wade Jr. was called up to the Twins and played in 24 games in September, hitting a measly .204/.338/.389. Rooker didn’t get his chance last summer, but he understands that he is quite literally a phone call away from joining the Bomba Squad. “I feel like I’m in a place where, when called upon and when the opportunity shows itself, I’ll be ready to come up and contribute and help the team win games.” The numbers back it up. Rooker was the 2017 National Player of the Year at Mississippi State after posting numbers you’re more likely to see in MLB The Show ‘20. He hit .387/.495/.810 with 23 homers in 67 games. In his final three months at Double-A Chattanooga in 2018, Rooker hit .264/.362/.498 with 40 extra-base hits in 81 games. “I want to continue to learn as much as I can.” Rooker’s hitting profile looked similar to Miguel Sanó’s in 2019 with massive pop, a considerable number of walks and, to a traditional baseball fan’s dismay, some strikeouts. “I never want to be pinned down to a certain profile,” Rooker said, “but power is going to be what allows me to have success.” The right-handed Rooker mashed same-side pitchers to the tune of a 1.010 OPS last year. Against lefties, his OPS dropped to .714. Why? “That’s a really good question,” Rooker said, “that’s something I really dove into last year.” “The splits aren’t as prominent in previous seasons,” he said, “but I do think there’s something about the way my swing is grooved that causes right-handers to fall more into my bat path.” Rooker said consistently beating lefties is something he’s been working on after seeing advanced statistics. “I’m hoping that whenever we get going, you’ll start to see that work pay off,” he said, “If I can get my OPS against lefties in the same ballpark [as against righties] that’s gonna be good news.” Yes, it will. Rooker flies under the radar in the Twins system, mostly due to the presence of top-100 prospect outfielders Trevor Larnach and Alex Kirilloff. Playing alongside Larnach, Kirilloff, top prospect Royce Lewis and breakout catcher Ryan Jeffers in spring training, Rooker hit .286/.400/.333 with a double. “All of those guys, plus several others, are really good players with a lot of upside, as well as being great people.” Rooker hasn’t yet played more than a few spring training games with his future Twins teammates, but he’s looking forward to it. “I’m excited to see all of those guys continue to progress.” Rooker is perhaps the closest of any Twins prospect to joining the team. In 259 minor league games, Rooker is hitting .267/.357/.505 with 54 homers. Larnach and Kirilloff are on their way, but the underrated Rooker is also on the verge of bringing his big bat to Minneapolis when play resumes. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article