David Youngs

The newly AAA-crowned Saints suffered their most lopsided defeat of the season courtesy of an Iowa Cubs team that did just about everything right both on the bump and at the plate. And while there were moments of brilliance from the Saints, the night on the field belonged to the I-Cubs. Results matter, don’t get me wrong. Yet the true winners of the night were the Twins organization, CHS Field, and the all-encompassing atmosphere of having fans back at one of the greatest experiences in the sport of baseball. I had the pleasure of taking it all in from the press box area, the concourse, and everywhere in between. Here’s what stood out to me. Fun is Gooder than Ever One of the primary concerns for baseball fans following the merger of the Saints and Twins partnership was that St. Paul would be saying hello to ‘traditional corporate baseball’ and goodbye to their ‘Fun is Good’ mantra. Tuesday night did a hell of a job proving that worry wrong. From the crazy promotions in-between innings to constant interaction between the PA announcer and fans to the genuine kindness of the Saints staff, it was impossible to be in a bad mood after entering the gates of CHS Field on Tuesday evening. By now you’ve probably seen the ‘crazy yet normal’ promotion schedule that the Saints have posted for the month of May. That’s great and all, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to fun at CHS Field. Whether you’re a senior citizen catching up with old pals or a parent taking your child to their first baseball game, there’s something for everyone. The Saints have remained committed to keeping ticket prices affordable and many are available for upcoming games given the recent expansion of capacity. The team may look different, but the organization has stayed true to it’s roots, creating one of the best summertime experiences in all of the Upper Midwest Fan Knowledge is Increasing Rochester proved to be a great organization for the Twins to partner with, yet many fans in Twins Territory were unfamiliar with core names at the AAA level until they arrived up with the parent club. That wasn’t the case with fans on Tuesday night. After a few innings, I ventured down to the concourse to observe the game from a different perspective and chat with fans of all ages. Conversations ranged from the resurgence of household names like Brent Rooker and Randy Dobnak to the organization brining up IF Yeltsin Encarnacion earlier that day. Bottom line? There were very few “Who the hell is that guy out there?” conversations. Part of this comes from having guys like Dobnak, Rooker, and Jeffers on the Saints squad. These three have each had their own fair share of success at the big league level and have been commonplace names for Twins fans. Yet there’s no denying that perhaps the biggest reason is that the Saints are indeed just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Target Field. As cliche as it sounds, fans want to get to see the next Byron Buxton’s, Max Kepler’s, and Nelson Cruz’s. When those guys are playing just down the road, there’s going to be a naturally tendency to invest in those players more than if they were still out in New York. It’s a beautiful thing. DSP and Falvey in the House As a disgruntled and lost young journalist I happened to cross paths with Twins President Dave St. Peter and Director of Baseball Operations Derek Falvey on the suite level of CHS Field (shockingly, the suite wasn’t for me). It may seem obvious that the big dogs would attend the home opener for a new club in their organization. Yet the gesture demonstrates the support that the Twins have shown towards the Saints in this time of transition. It would be easy for the Twins to command the Saints to abandon their old ways and take form as a typical AAA ballclub. Yet besides location, one of the best dynamics of this transition has been the hands-off, servant leadership that the Twins have shown to the Saints. Thoughts and Prayers to St. Peter, who has been drilled at least a hundred times with the question “Will the Saints still be able to have fun?” Each time he’s answered with grace, assuring fans that the Saints will continue to ‘be themselves’ and hey, the Twins might even learn a thing or two from them. Bravo, Dave, Derek, and company. Six Game Series Given the unique year that it is, the Saints season will consist of six game series. Tuesday marked the first of six games that the Saints will host against the I-Cubs. While unorthodox, the format gives fans more consistency when it comes to purchasing tickets. It also gives fans the opportunity to familiarize themselves with members of the Saints and their opposition. Tuesday brought in ‘old friend’ Andrew Romine and well-known players Cameron Maybin and Ian Miller. Similar to the Twins in the Central, it will be fun to see the Saints build rivalries with other Triple-A East squads. Shots, Shots, Shots! As Minnesota inches closer to having enough vaccinated to ‘move forward,’ the Saints are doing their part. The team offered COVID-19 vaccinations for fans two hours prior to Tuesday night’s home opener. As a reward for getting vaccinated, each individual who took part in the event was gifted four regular season tickets to any game of their choice during the Saints 2021 season. No-one wants the stands packed again more than the Saints, Twins, and every other team in professional baseball. Kudos to the Saints for taking the initiative to help reach that goal as soon as possible!

It isn’t rare to see Major Leaguers have unique skills outside the lines of the ballpark. Twins fans saw Trevor May showcase his gaming skills to the world. Mookie Betts channels his inner Pete Weber with strikes on the bowling ally. Make room for Twins prospect Griffin Jax. There’s no telling what Jax can do with a bowling ball or a joystick. Yet one thing’s for sure- the Air Force Academy alum and Twins pitcher is going to change the world whether it be on the diamond or as a future business leader in today’s society. Jax, 26, isn’t just dealing on the bump. He’s currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing and Data Analytics from Colorado State University. It’s not uncommon for professional athletes to pursue a degree following their career on the field. Jax’s situation is impressive, as he’s worn the dueling hats of graduate student and professional baseball player simultaneously the past two years. “I think I was going to do it (go to graduate school) eventually no matter what my career was going to be,” Jax said. “I’ve always taken school seriously and made it a priority growing up. A lot of that came from my parents and how they raised my brothers and I.” A native of Phoenix who grew up in Denver, Jax was drafted by the Twins in the third round of the 2016 draft. He’s worked his way up the Twins organization, going from a young boy eating burgers at Cherry Cricket in the Denver metro to posting arguably the best start at AAA Saint Paul for the Saints so far this year. And while his focus currently lies on baseball (and likely will for a long time), Jax understands that it’s important to have a vocation outside of the childhood dream that he’s currently living out. “At the end of the day, I’m not sure where baseball is going to lead. I’m putting all my chips in that corner and it’s an amazing opportunity and my dream, but I do understand that it’s not going to be there forever and when that comes I want to be ready to enter a new life and opportunity,” Jax said. School and Strikeouts While the thought of furthering his education was always an interest, a seed was planted in Griffin’s mind following graduation from the Air Force Academy in 2016. MLB clubs will oftentimes help pay for the tuition of draft picks if they chose to continue their education down the road. Since the Air Force Academy is a military institution, students are waived of tuition upon attendance. “The Air Force offered to help me out with a masters degree and that’s how I initially became interested in it,” Jax said. Online classes and the cancellation of last year’s minor league season helped streamline Jax’s studies in a program that he says will prepare him to bridge the gap between business leaders and analytic gurus. “You’ve got business decision makers and analytics departments and typically it's tough to get communication between the two because the business folks don’t always understand or adapt to analytics,” Jax said. “On the other hand, the analytics folks don’t always do a great job of sitting business leaders down and talking them through the process of the numbers. My role through this program is to be the middle ground between the two.” Jax has seen direct correlation between the content of his studies and his with work on the field with the Twins organization. With a focus on data analytics, Jax has dipped his feet into the coding puddle, something that the Twins scouting department uses on the daily. In fact, Jax has worked with the scouting department directly on a coding platform that both parties use. “One of the classes that I’m in, we’re learning about coding and we use a platform called ‘R’. I was getting ready for my Pittsburgh spring training start earlier this year and I bumped into one of the head scouting directors,” Jax recalled. “He was toying around with ‘R’ and building the team’s scout maps that we use against other teams hitters and pitchers." Fascinating. “Right there I was like ‘Wow,’ I didn’t know that this was being used in baseball. I ended up talking to him a bunch and have been leaning on him a lot this semester because it’s (the platform) brand new to me.” The correlation has helped Jax grow both as a pitcher and a student of the game, and in life. “It’s super interesting to see how that (coding and data analysis) directly translates to baseball and how the Twins are using it. It’s definitely peaked my interest.” Numbers Don't Lie It’s no secret that baseball has progressed into a sport reliant on advanced statistics and in-depth data analysis. As a high-level pitcher, Jax is no stranger to the recent evolution of stat-driven analysis. “When I was first drafted in 2016, we weren’t talking about this at all,” Jax said. “And now, I don’t throw a pitch on the mound without having it tracked, reported, and measured by a machine that will read us all of our reports. Seeing the progression is mind-blowing.” Jax credits the Twins organization for embracing the new trend in a world that has seen some tension between data-driven baseball and ‘old school feel-it out tactics.’ “The Twins have done a really good job of handling the analytics side of the game,” he said. “Our staff has done a great job teaching us how to enable this stuff to make the most of our careers.” Jax believes that the ‘new wave’ of baseball has boosted his performance as he guns for his childhood dream of making the majors. The 6’2 flamethrower was electric in his first start for the Saints last week, tossing five innings of one-run baseball. Griffin will graduate from his masters program this summer. And while it’s safe to say that he’s got a bright future on the bump, Jax will positively impact the world wherever life takes him.

Transactions Minnesota Twins recalled LHP Devin Smeltzer from St. Paul Saints. Minnesota Twins optioned LHP Lewis Thorpe to St. Paul Saints. Saints Sentinel St. Paul 3, Omaha 4 Box Score Caught in-between a starter and bullpen role in the bigs, Twins staple Randy Dobnak found his stride on the bump for the Saints on Thursday evening. The ‘Mustache Machine’ was stellar in his first start for St. Paul, shutting out Omaha in 4.0 IP. Despite Dobnak’s outing, the Storm Chasers were able to nip the Saints in 11 innings thanks to a bases-loaded Kevin Merrell single. Outcome aside, the Saints saw moments of brilliance both on the bump from Dobnak and at the plate from multiple players. Both Rob Refsnyder and Trevor Larnach tallied their second homers of the year. Refsnyder’s shot came in the first at-bat of the game and Larnach followed an inning later. https://twitter.com/StPaulSaints/status/1390462528191221761 The Saints recorded 11 hits on the night thanks to eight of the nine players in their starting lineup. Unfortunately, the club left 15 runners on base and were two for thirteen with runners in scoring position. Spring Training sensation Derek Law replaced Dobnak on the bump and had an excellent outing, striking out two in a scoreless fifth inning. Wind Surge Wisdom Wichita 6, Springfield 7 Box Score Twins fans know Aaron Whitefield for his important work in filling the ‘Byron Buxton-less’ Twins outfield last year. His name isn’t going away. Whitefield crushed a 7th inning grand slam to left-center field to give the Wind Surge a 5-1 lead. https://twitter.com/ChrisLillyKAKE/status/1390488061608398855 Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, as Springfield responded with five runs in the 7th and one more in the 8th to sneak by with a 7-6 win. Whitefield also added a double in the top of the 9th in a late-game effort to tie the game. Despite the loss, the Aussie is off to a stellar start, slashing .545/.615/1.182. Wichita was plagued with ‘ducks left on the pond,’ leaving seven runners in scoring position and batting one for nine with runners in scoring position. In addition to Whitefield’s grand slam, Wichita touted other exciting news off the field. The Wind Surge announced the debut of their official mascot, Windy the Pegasus. According to Senior Manager of Fan Experience Bob Moulette, Windy ‘came in with the Kansas winds’ and will sport the same red uniform that the team wears at home. https://twitter.com/WindSurgeICT/status/1390386183440642061 Windy was officially introduced this afternoon in front of students at Franklin Elementary School in Wichita. The sky blue horse with navy wings will join T.C. Bear, Mudonna (St. Paul), Mr. Shucks (Cedar Rapids), and Mussel Man (Ft. Meyers) as the newest member of the Twins organization mascot community. Reliable sources can confirm that a life-sized costume of the soft drink ‘Surge’ was a close second choice. Better luck next year, Tom Froemming. https://twitter.com/TFTwins/status/1389739076572508165 Kernels Nuggets Cedar Rapids 2, Peoria 7 Box Score Following a career-best night in professional baseball, Matt Wallner’s 4th inning triple was one of the only bright spots in a 7-2 loss to Peoria on Thursday night in Cedar Rapids. The Forest Lake, Minnesota native nailed a 1-2 pitch to left field for his fifth hit in the last two days. Wallner also punched a single up the middle in the first inning off Peoria starter Matt Chamberlain. The Force from Forest Lake Wallner, who is Twins Daily's #13 prospect in the organization isn't just getting hits. he's exercising ever possible way to get on base. In addition to his single and triple, Wallner reached on a walk (HBP) in the third. On Wednesday he drove a second inning inning 1-2 pitch over the right field fence and repeated the act on a 3-2 pitch in the seventh. Oh, and he punched a single in the ninth the advanced the eventual game-winning running runner. "He's a big-bodied kid who barrels up a lot of balls, two more of them tonight," skipper Brian Dinkelman said following Thursday's game. "He's learning about professional baseball and carries himself in a good way. He's been impressive so far and if he keeps doing what he's doing he'll make his way through the system and up to Major League Baseball." I had the chance to chat with Wallner about his journey to pro ball over the offseason. Pretty cool to see Wallner kick off the season like he is for the organization that he grew up cheering for! Back on the Bump Perhaps the greatest story of the evening revolved around reliever Zach Featherstone, who pitched for the first time since 2018 following Tommy John Surgery. "It was pretty cool, it's been like three years (since I last pitched)," Featherstone said. Despite his hiatus on the mound, the 2016 Twins draft pick viewed the past few years as a learning opportunity. "Obviously COVID was tough for everyone, but I really tried to use the time as an opportunity to watch big leaguers and dive into pitch sequencing. I focused on how I can attack hitters based off of that data (from pitch sequencing). That isn't something that I would have done (prior to the injury)." It's great to have you on the bump again Zach, we're rooting for you! Spencer Steer, Jair Carmargo, and Yeltsin Encarnacion also recorded hits for the Kernels, who are now 2-1 on the year. Kernels starter Blayne Enlow lasted four innings, giving up seven hits and two runs. Despite the hits, Enlow struck out six, and only one of his runs was allowed. Not a bad first rodeo for the 2019 draft pick! Mussel Matters Fort Myers 1, Bradenton 3 Box Score Despite a rock-solid start from RHP Sean Mooney, the Mussels were unable to get the bats going in a 3-1 loss to Bradenton. Mooney was electric out of the gate, striking out four of the first six that he faced. That ended when former Golden Gopher Eli Wilson homered off Mooney to put Bradenton on the board in the third. Mooney recovered by striking out the next hitter and drawing a popout but left the game with two outs in the third with an arm injury. https://twitter.com/SethTweets/status/1390439481065541635 The lone run for the Mussels came in the top of the 7th when second basemen Eduord Julien punched a one-out triple and later scored on a sac-fly from right-fielder Max Smith. Auburn product Julien is off to a hot start in 2021, slashing .444/.643/.778 in the first three games of the year. The only other Mussel hit came from the Twins Daily #7 prospect and 2019 Round 1 draft pick Keoni Cavaco. The Chula Vista, CA native knocked a liner to LF in the top of the fourth but was gunned down at second on the extra-base attempt. Cavaco is now slashing .417/.533/1.033 on the year. Twins Minor League Players of the Day Pitcher of the Day: Randy Dobnak (St. Paul) - 4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K Hitter of the Day: Aaron Whitefield (Wichita) - 2-for-4, 2 H, R, 4 RBI, BB, SO PROSPECT SUMMARY Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed: #1 - Alex Kirilloff (Minnesota) – Assigned to 10-day IL #2 - Royce Lewis (Rehab) - Out for Season (torn ACL) #3 - Trevor Larnach (St. Paul) – 1-for-5, 2 R, 1 RBI, HR(2) #4 - Ryan Jeffers (St. Paul) – 1-for-5, RBI, BB #5 - Jhoan Duran (St. Paul) – Did not pitch #6 - Jordan Balazovic (Wichita) – Injured List (back) #7 - Keoni Cavaco (Ft. Myers) – 1-for-4, K #8 - Aaron Sabato (Ft. Myers) – 0-for-3, BB 2 K #9 - Matt Canterino (Cedar Rapids) – Did not pitch #10 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) – 4.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K #11 - Gilberto Celestino (Wichita) – 0-for-4, BB, 3 SO #12 - Brent Rooker (St. Paul) – 1-for-3, 3 BB, 2 SO #13 - Matt Wallner (Cedar Rapids) – 2-for-2, R, 1 BB #14 - Misael Urbina (Complex) – N/A #15 - Cole Sands (Wichita) – 4.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 SO #16 - Edwar Colina (Rehab) - 60-Day IL (elbow) #17 - Ben Rortvedt (Minnesota) – Did not play #18 - Alerick Soularie (Complex) – N/A #19 - Jose Miranda (Wichita) – 1-for-5 #20 - Bailey Ober (St. Paul) – Did not pitch FRIDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS St. Paul @ Omaha (7:05PM CST) – RHP Griffin Jax Wichita @ Springfield (7:05PM CST) – RHP Austin Schulfer Peoria @ Cedar Rapids (6:35PM CST) – LHP Tyler Watson Fort Myers @ Bradenton (5:05PM CST) – LHP Brent Headrick

Rocco Baldelli sat in the Twins ‘Zoom Room’ on a beautiful, yet dreary night in Cleveland following his team’s fourth consecutive loss and ninth in ten games. Baldelli acknowledged the struggle and pain that the team has faced since plummeting to 7-15 after a 5-2 start. Yet what stood out most was a particular quote: “We haven’t played particularly well, it’s no secret. But I can’t be upset with the effort we’re getting from our guys or anything like that. And that’s the only thing that we can control right now. We can’t control our results, we can’t control any of that. We can control what we put into it, and we’ve done that.” https://twitter.com/BallySportsNOR/status/1387223941396279297 Rocco is spot on with his analysis. The only things that one can control in sport are effort, focus, and attitude. The Twins could go out and play their absolute best and still lose a baseball game because the opposing team, frankly, played better. Sports Psychology 101. And while playing excellent baseball correlates with strong effort, a positive attitude, and premium focus, the latter doesn’t always correlate with winning — hence the 2021 Minnesota Twins thus far. Insert pressure. This isn’t a piece on lack of bullpen outs, dry at-bats, or underperforming starting pitchers. It’s about one of the biggest symptoms that may be a cause of the lackluster product on the field. High Hopes While it’s no secret that the White Sox carried the clout of national media coverage in the Central this past offseason, the Twins knew that there was/is potential for the '21 ball club to be damn good. The Twins did and still do have every expectation to compete for an AL Central title and a deep run in the postseason. That’s a wonderful thing. Yet with it comes pressure, and lots of it. Twins fans know the team is supposed to be good, other teams know it as well, and yes, the Twins roster knows they have the talent to produce one of the best teams in franchise history. And when the team underperforms the way that it has the noises from critics only become amplified. Pressure is a privilege. And while it shows that teams have high expectations, pressure can cause athletes to play tight, make mistakes they typically wouldn’t, and lose focus. A combination of any of those three leads to a lack of consistency, something that has plagued the '21 Twins so far. There have indeed been moments of success sprinkled amongst the cloud of darkness that has covered the Twins season, but they’ve been few and far between. The Solution Despite criticism from some fans, Baldelli is taking the right approach towards getting his team out of this slump. He’s right in the fact that the team can truly only focus on what they can control. Dwelling on past losses, poor performance, and outside noise does absolutely nothing to solve the problem. Absolutely, I think that Rocco can make some moves in the bullpen that will not only benefit the team as a whole, but the confidence of individual players. Alex Colomé has proven he can be successful but clearly is struggling with his confidence. Putting him in true low-leverage situations will give him a chance to prove to himself that his cutter can be effective at a high level, just without the additional pressure of a close game. At the end of the day, it isn’t going to be major roster moves or acquisitions that will bring the Twins out of this rut. Playing loose, not worrying about results, and manufacturing some consistency will. I’m not a sports psychologist. Call me crazy if you want. But whether it’s high school tennis or Major League Baseball, the ability to play calm and free under pressure is what makes athletes great. So instead of criticizing coaching moves, blasting players for performance, or whining about where the club ‘should’ be, focus on small increments of improvement. Believe me, the Twins know the frustration that people are feeling. It’s ten times worse for them than it is for you. We can’t change the past, and complaining about it won’t do much. The 2019 Nationals pulled themselves out of an early-season slump, why not the 2021 Minnesota Twins? MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email

Box Score: Pirates 6, Twins 2 Matt Shoemaker: 5.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K Twins Home Runs: Nelson Cruz (7) Pirates Home Runs: Gregory Polanco (3) Bottom 3 WPA: Kirilloff -.160, Stashak -.149, Cruz, Garver -.106 Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs): After his worst outing of the season against the A’s, Matt Shoemaker was stellar on Sunday against the Pirates. Despite some unlucky hiccups in the first, Shoemaker gave the Twins a quality outing, surrendering only three hits following the first inning. Yet Sunday's game haunted the Twins with woes that have been no stranger to the club in the past few weeks. Quiet bats and a shaky bullpen. https://twitter.com/CoryHepola/status/1386436568445984768 Bloop, There It Is Looking to rebound from a rocky start in Oakland, Shoemaker used his split-finger fastball and four-seamer to nail the zone. The only problem? Pirate hitters Adam Fraizer, Phillip Evans, and Bryan Reynolds were all able to get wood on the ball, resulting in three hits and a run to kick off the game. Colin Moran followed with a sac-fly to CF to give the Bucs a 2-0 lead. A 2-0 lead after the top of the first? Sounds like a bad start. Wrong. Shoemaker did an excellent job hitting the corner of the zone and was frankly just unlucky. Evans and Reynolds had exit velocities of 79 MPH and 74 MPH on their bloop hits, proving that Shoemaker was hitting his spots and that baseball is sometimes just a game of luck. The Twins responded with their own hitting in the bottom of the inning, relying not on bloopers, but quality opposite-field hitting. Luis Arraez continued his rock-solid 2021 campaign by slashing a single to left field to kick off the game. Josh Donaldson followed up by slicing a single to right field on a 1-2 count, pushing Arraez to third. Byron Buxton followed suit by roping a single to left, scoring Arraez to cut the lead in half. The single bumped Buxton’s slash line to .404/.446/.865, numbers that easily represent Buxton’s best start in his seven-year career. Bullpen Woes Despite Shoemaker’s solid start, the Twins bullpen was unable to keep the train on the tracks. After being recalled from the alternate site earlier in the day, RHP Cody Stashak had a rocky outing. Replacing Shoemaker in the sixth, Stashak recorded one out while facing five batters, giving up three runs on three hits. LHP Caleb Thielbar returned from the COVID IL on Sunday and replaced Stashak in the seventh with runners on the corners. Despite striking out two, Thielbar gave up a single to Adam Fraizer and a double to Bryan Reynolds, bringing in two more runs for Pittsburgh (both credited to Stashak). Jorge Alcala followed Thielbar, pitching the eighth and ninth innings. After giving up an eighth inning HR to Gregory Polanco, Alcala was perfect, striking out five. Water is Wet, Bats are Dry Given the potential of the Twins offense, surpassing six runs in a game doesn’t seem difficult. Yet as we’ve seen, the Twins offense has underperformed consistently and Sunday’s game was no exception. The entire offense posted a meager six hits on Sunday against a lineup that featured a starter with an ERA of 3.86 who registered under 50 strikes (81 total pitches) in the rubber match. Not great. And while an eighth inning Nelson Cruz homer (his seventh of the year) and two-hit showing from Luis Arraez demonstrate positives, the Twins will need to find some sort of consistency at the plate if they want to rid their losing ways. Postgame Interview Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet Click here to see the bullpen usage over the past five days (link opens a Google Sheet).

Each year thousands of elementary school teachers ask their students the million-dollar question that lives rent-free inside the mind of the common individual for an eternity. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” For most, dreams of becoming superheroes, Hollywood elite, and pro athletes evolve into 9-5 shifts and commonplace jobs in society. But for Eden Prairie native Adam Bray, the pursuit of the dream continues; and he isn’t far from it. "I would tell my teachers in class that I wanted to play in either the MLB or the NFL. I would tell them straight up, ‘I want to do it,’” Bray said. “I’m still working towards it, but hopefully one day it will happen, soon.” A standout pitcher for Eden Prairie High School, Bray is on the cusp of achieving his childhood dream. After being drafted by the Dodgers in 2015, the 27-year old was traded to his hometown organization following the 2017 season. And while Bray is destined to be a standout at AA Wichita, the RHP has his sights set on making the trip up I-35 to achieve the childhood dream. Courtesy of Dustin Nosler Common Man Adam Bray doesn’t strike you as a professional athlete to the eye. His down-to-earth demeanor and calming presence resonate with an old friend you’d grab a beer with, not a top-tier pitcher who struck out 83 batters in 2019. Perhaps it’s the fact that Bray’s roots began in his Eden Prairie cul-de-sac playing catch with his dad at age two. Like every other child with dreams of the 'Bigs', his days after school included a healthy tree and a Hit-A-Way. And when it came to college recruitment his looks came from South Dakota State and North Dakota State, not Vanderbilt or Arizona State. Bray grew up in the 612 idolizing names like Johan Santana, Torii Hunter, and Joe Mauer under the bubble at 900 South 5th St. in Minneapolis. “I remember going to the Metrodome and watching games with my family,” Bray recalled. “Once I had a birthday party there with five or six friends and we got to go down to the field and watch batting practice and get autographs.” Like most kids, Bray enjoyed hitting and throwing. Yet at the young age of 10, he knew that his calling was on the bump. Courtesy of Adam Bray “It came naturally to me,” Bray said. “I think I started pitching when I was 10 and it took off from there.” Talent Recognized Bray’s love of pitching helped him excel through youth baseball, travel ball, and high school. Yet it wasn’t until his junior year of high school that he realized that baseball was a potential option for his future. “I had a good (junior) year and realized that I had a shot to play some sort of college baseball,” Bray said. That talent took him to South Dakota State, the alum of current Twins reliever Caleb Thielbar. Bray was a staple in the Jackrabbits rotation, posting a 24-16 record over four seasons in Brookings. Bray's talents landed him a 33rd-round pick by the Dodgers in the 2015 MLB Amateur Draft, an experience he’ll never forget. “I made the mistake of listening to all three days (of the draft), I didn’t know when I was going to get picked,” Bray said. “I heard my name called in the 33rd round and it was an unreal experience, I enjoyed every moment of it.” The young draft-pick enjoyed his time with one of baseball’s hallowed organizations, posting solid numbers in the ‘Blue Crew’ system through 2017. Yet on a suspense-filled day during 2018 Spring Training, Bray’s path would change drastically. A week where players were being released, Bray suspected that his name might be next on the chopping block. But the news wasn’t that of a release; Bray was headed to the organization that he grew up following from his backyard. “It was a crazy day,” Bray said. “It was emotional, I had made a lot of friendships with the Dodgers but it was a really good opportunity for me to go the Twins.” Hometown on the Horizon Bray didn’t leave his talent behind on the West Coast when making the move to the Twins. The 6'3" righty appeared in 19 games for A+ Fort Myers in 2018, posting an outstanding 1.88 ERA. His 2019 numbers weren’t too shabby either, touting a 2.66 ERA and 4-4 record while bouncing between AA Pensacola and AAA Rochester. Bray was activated to the Twins new AA affiliate Wichita Wind Surge this spring. It’s likely that he’ll be a strong contributor to the Wind Surge pitching staff. Still, Bray’s goal lies 634 miles north on I-35. “It’s awesome that I work for the twins but at of the day I need to do my job. The end goal is to get to the big leagues and to do that with the Twins would be incredible.” Check out Seth Stohs' interview with Adam Bray on Twins Daily Offseason Live! MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email

The Los Angeles Dodgers are very good. Need proof? Look at their 2020 World Series crown and star-studded lineup with names ranging from Mookie Betts to Justin Turner. Add in Trevor Bauer and this team seems unstoppable on paper. Luckily, baseball isn’t played on paper, it’s played on the field. And the 23 writers on the Twins Daily staff didn’t necessarily see eye to eye on who will win the National League. Here’s a look at how the team stacked up on how each National League division will pan out followed by league championship predictions. NL West: Los Angeles Dodgers (23 votes) In this divisive time in our world, there’s one thing that most can agree on. The Dodgers are loaded on offense and defense and are the clear favorite to win the NL West. There are few folks out there who would state that the Dodgers don’t have the best lineup in the MLB, one through nine. Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger, Cory Seager, and company will propel the Dodgers to the top of the league both at the plate and in the field. Yet the only thing that makes the 2021 Dodgers more lethal than they were in 2020 is their pitching staff. Reigning Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer may now repeat on the award, but there’s no doubt that he’ll be a major contributor to a rotation that is already filled with Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler. David Price will also contribute to the rotation. Bottom line? Los Angeles has the ability to defeat teams on all three fronts and looks to be as strong as ever in 2021. NL Central: St. Lous Cardinals (14 votes), Milwaukee Brewers (8 votes), Chicago Cubs (1 vote) Just as it will in the American League Central, the NL Central will be one of the most intriguing divisions in the league throughout 2021. The addition of 3B Nolan Arenado certainly adds a jolt of talent to a Cardinals roster that already features an abundance of offense prowess and defensive stability across the board. And while things look bright at Busch Stadium, don’t sleep on our friends across the St. Croix River. Coming off a 2020 season where many say the club underperformed, the Brew Crew welcome in Jackie Bradley Jr., one of the premier outfielders across the league. JBJ will certainly provide a boost for Milwaukee at the plate, and defensively alongside Christian Yelich and Lorenzo Cain. The three could potentially be one of the strongest outfield tandems across the MLB. Yet with every foot comes its Achilles. While the Brewers have a strong case at the plate and in the field, their weakness comes on the bump. Brandon Woodruff has the potential to be a rock-solid MLB pitcher. Yet the 28-year old is ripe when it comes to MLB experience and his successful 2019 season (11-3) shouldn’t be overshadowed by his inexperience and sup-par 2020 season. Woodruff isn’t a bad pitcher by any means. He finished 3-5 in 2020. The righty even posted a better ERA in 2020 with 3.02 compared to his 3.62 average in 2019. Woodruff isn’t the point. A solid 2-3 pitcher in many rotations, Woodruff doesn’t have the caliber behind him to fulfill success on the Brewers’ pitching front. While the have been moments of beauty, supporting cast members Corbin Burns, Adrian Houser, and Brett Anderson (I’m sorry) haven’t produced consistently to complete the rotation that Milwaukee needs to win the division. NL East: Atlanta Braves (14 votes), New York Mets (8 votes), Washington Nationals (1 vote) I lied, the NL East is just as competitive as the NL Central, The Braves are equipped with household names like Ronald Acuña Jr., Freddy Freeman, and Mike Soroka. Yet the Mets have the most significant moves during the 2020-21 offseason. Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco join a team anchored by Pete Alonso, Jacob deGrom, and Noah Syndergaard. While these two teams saw eye and eye on paper, let’s not forget the dump that the Mets experienced in 2020. The Braves won the NL East with a record of 35-25. New York finished at the bottom of the division with a 26-34 record. Both teams have a strong case at the top of their rotations. Even though Noah Syndergaard is still recovering from Tommy John surgery, Trever Bauer will complete Jacob deGrom as one of the top one-two punches across the league. On the other side, Max Fried and Ian Anderson aren’t bad either, especially once ace Mike Soroka returns from the Injured List. Even though the Mets have the pitching edge, a lineup of young stars and seasoned players in Atlanta will rise up and take the division. Wild Card Teams: San Diego Padres (22 votes), New York Mets (11 votes), Atlanta Braves (7 votes), Philadelphia Phillies (2 votes), Washington Nationals (1 vote), Cincinnati Reds (1 vote), Chicago Cubs (1 vote) It’s safe to say that the Wild Card picks were a goose chase for the Twins Daily staff. Fernando Tatis Jr., and Manny Machado alongside the newlyweds of Yu Darvish and Blake Snell are sure to find a way into the playoffs. Yet it’s teams like the Reds and Phillies that make us wonder. Could the power of Joey Votto and the fire of Sonny Gray and Luis Castillo push them through? Would Bryce Harper, Didi Gregorious, and J.T. Realmuto be enough thanks to a lackluster Philly rotation? No. While the Padres are slightly pinched from an NL West crown by the Dodgers the San Diego crew easily racks up 90 wins to make the playoffs. And while the Braves nip the Mets by a game and a half, the up-and-coming New Yorkers also make the postseason easily with 90 games. It’s a tough year to be a “good, but not a great team.” The National League is as loaded as ever and the top dogs will prevail. NL Champions: Los Angeles Dodgers (16), San Diego Padres (3), Atlanta Braves (2), New York Mets (2) While four teams received votes, there’s one clear winner. Dave Roberts and his crew are destined to repeat as NL Champions in 2021. The club’s fielding stayed, offense stayed, and pitching increased more than any team in the league. What more do you need? Agree? Disagree? Be sure to drop your thoughts 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

Twins 7, Red Sox 4 Box Score JetBlue Park may not be Fenway Park. That didn’t stop Twins slugger Josh Donaldson from mashing a second-inning two-run HR over the left-field wall to propel the Twins to a 7-4 win over Boston. The ‘Bringer of Rain’ wasn’t the only offensive threat for the Twins on Thursday. Byron Buxton kicked off the game by knocking a bases-loaded double to left field to put the Twins up 3-0 in the first. The sequence wouldn’t have been possible without a Donaldson double to kick off the base-filling tirade. The Twins tormented Perez in his four-inning outing, knocking five hits and five runs off of their former teammate. Fear the Fu Manchu While the Twins offense showed up early, the real treat of the night was the smorgasbord of a night that Minnesota pitcher Randy Dobnak displayed. The Fu Manchu machine pitched five innings, striking out five and giving up one run. Randy Dobnak is no stranger to Twins fans at this point. Yet his electric spring training has proven that Dobnak is more than just a “feel-good story.” He’s here to stay. https://twitter.com/Nashwalker9/status/1375226537528721409 While Maeda, Berrios, and Pineda lock up the top three spots in the Twins rotation, Dobnak has a strong argument to be a consistent force in the 4-5 spot. As the Red Sox play-by-play analyst said, “There are not too many guys out there like Dobnak. He doesn’t just have a slider, but he’s got a funky one.” Dobnak’s success in spring training has earned him a spot on the Opening Day roster. What is his potential? We’ll just have to watch and see this year. https://twitter.com/AaronGleeman/status/1375235671401455618 Twins News The Twins made several moves today in addition to their win against the Red Sox. Lewis Thorpe was optioned to the alternate training site on Thursday. In addition, LHP Andrew Albers, and RHPs Luke Farrell, Ian Hamilton, Juan Minaya, and Glenn Sparkman were all optioned to minor league camp. Catcher David Bañuelos was also optioned to minor league camp. Twins utility man Andrew Romine took the out in his contract following Thursday evening’s game. He has been released from the organization. Tickets! The Twins put single-game tickets on sale Thursday morning at 10 am CST. They went quickly. Within a number of hours the home opener series against Seattle was sold out. Tickets for games throughout the season can be found at https://www.mlb.com/twins/tickets. A reminder that a maximum of 10,000 fans is allowed at each game and tickets must be purchased in pods of two or four. Fans in the stands are back and Twins fans are excited! Around the League Perhaps the biggest news in the MLB on Thursday took place in the White Sox organization. The Sox announced that star outfielder Eloy Jimenez will miss 5-6 months from a ruptured pectoral tendon that he injured on a home run-robbing effort against the A’s on Wednesday. Jimenez was expected to be a key contributor to a stellar White Sox offense in 2021. We wish him nothing but the best and a safe recovery. Hear the names Lucas Giolito, Max Fried, and Jack Flaherty, and the words “Opening Day Starter” come to mind. But what if I told you that they all went to the same high school? That’s right, all three aces are alumni of Harvard-Westlake high school and are slated to kick off the 2021 season on the bump for their respective teams. Pretty cool. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email

Twins Talk Left Field Debacle While the Twins weren’t on the field Thursday, speculation around left field duties was still fluid in the air. Barring something crazy, it’s safe to say that Byron Buxton, Max Kepler, and Jake Cave will hold spots on the Opening Day roster as outfielders. And while many assume Alex Kirilloff will hold the fourth spot and role as starting LF on Opening Day, there are contributors that are making a strong push. Twins MLB.com beat writer Do Hyoung-Park laid out a rock-solid analysis of the outfield debacle on Thursday evening. Park laid out a case for Kirilloff, Brent Rooker, and new Twin Kyle Garlick. While Kirilloff and Rooker are now commonplace names in Twins Territory, the veteran Garlick has made his presence known in Fort Myers. In 19 plate appearances, Garlick has batted .368 with three home runs. The 29-year-old’s power is no secret, but his consistency at the plate has been a pleasant surprise. https://twitter.com/TwinsDingers/status/1371917279282225160 Following an unfortunate ending to 2020 and a wrist surgery on top, Rooker has also put on excellent spring numbers. The Mississippi State alum has batted .389 with a homer and two doubles in 18 plate appearances. Rooker also has experience at first base, an asset that Garlick lacks. Yet perhaps the biggest story is the lack of production from Kirilloff thus far. Kirilloff has the most plate appearances of the trio with 25. Yet the #2 Twins prospect has only batted .120 with eight strikeouts. Speculation from the fan/writer side of baseball is inferior to the decisions made by managers and front offices. And even most fans perhaps agree that despite his rocky spring training debut, Kirilloff deserves his spot. Even though his Sunshine State numbers aren’t stellar, Alex Kirilloff is a stellar ballplayer. And as Park stated in his piece, it’s unlikely that Kirilloff’s lack of production will result in a demotion. Twins on TV For only the fourth time in franchise history, all 162 Minnesota Twins games will be televised in 2021. Balley Sports North (formally Fox Sports North) will carry 156 games, Fox Sports 1 (FS1) will carry six, ESPN will cover four (preliminary), and FOX national and YouTube will each carry a game. Byron Buxton Hates Root Beer On their off day, the Twins decided to mic-up Brent Rooker. Great idea! No hurt in hearing from one of the team’s strongest prospects and favorite personalities, right? Wrong. In a delightful two-minute clip of banter from Rooker and other Twins players, there was only one troublesome spot. Midway through the video, you can make out the phrase ‘Buck’s anti Root Beer?” from Jake Cave. https://twitter.com/Twins/status/1372549498816315395 Buxton has yet to further comment on the controversial statement (if true). If it is true, here are three beverages that are worse than Root Beer. 1. Busch Light 2. Hamm’s 3. Diet Dr Pepper Around the League Lester Debuts Jon Lester is the epitome of an MLB veteran. Yet even the old-timers get the heevy-jeevys when pitching for a new organization for the first time. The 37-year-old Lester made his debut with the Nationals on Thursday where he pitched two innings. Lester tossed 31 pitches, 21 of which were strikes, allowing one run on one hit and one walk. Lester may be old but there’s potential for him to be a resourceful addition to Washington’s top-heavy rotation of Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg. Carrasco to IL Former Cleveland pitcher Carlos Carrasco was hit with unfortunate news on Thursday. The Mets pitcher tore his hamstring while running sprints and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. Carrasco has faced mountains of adversity through his time in the majors and we wish him nothing but the best for a healthy 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

Red Sox 5, Twins 4 (8 innings) Box Score Former Twin Marwin Gonzáles proved to be the difference-maker on Thursday as the Red Sox snuck past Minnesota thanks to two homers from Gonzáles. Marwin’s first HR came as a solo shot in the first off starting pitcher Matt Shoemaker, yet his most deadly was the three-run shot he clocked off Devin Smeltzer in the fifth. Yes, it stings to be beaten by the player that polarized Twins fans that past two years, but more importantly, it’s spring training and the Twins had more pros than cons after Thursday’s contest. Twins Takeaways Matt Shoemaker made his second appearance on the bump for the Twins on Thursday. He didn’t disappoint. The 34-year-old righty tossed four innings of solid baseball, giving up only three hits and one earned run. The outing echoed Shoemaker’s spring training debut with the club, where he struck out two and was perfect through two and a third innings. While names like Simmons and Colomé may snatch the headlines, it wouldn’t be crazy to say that Shoemaker could be one of the most valuable offseason acquisitions of the '21-22 Twins. The split-finger hurler has the potential to be a rock-solid bottom of the rotation asset to the rotation and his results thus far back that up. Young Blood Twins fans have known the name Alex Kirilloff for a few years now. Yet many hadn’t seen his power until the 23-year-old absolutely parked a ball to the ‘405 mark past center field to log his first HR of the 2021 season on Thursday. https://twitter.com/Twins/status/1370085440745771010 Kirilloff’s offensive potential has the capacity to bring back the ‘Bomba Squad.’ Yet it’s also nice to note that the ‘outfielder by trade’ can hold his own at first base as displayed today. And while it’s obvious that Kirilloff will stay towards the front of the minds’ of Twins fans, another young talent made his big league debut for the organization on Thursday. Flamethrower and top prospect Jordan Balazovic made his spring training debut, tossing a perfect eighth inning. The young Canadian has the chance to be a force for the Twins if continued spring training appearances go as they did today. With a fastball that can touch the upper 90’s and a solid slider and changeup, the door is open for the 22-year old Balazovic’s breakthrough would be monumental on a variety of fronts. If he makes it to the big leagues, Balazovic would join Mike Soroka as the only drafted Canadian pitcher to crack the MLB in the last decade. And while he may not be young, new Twins addition Hansel Robles had his best spring training outing on Thursday, striking out three batters in the 7th inning. Thursday’s game marked Robles’ fifth outing at The Fort this year. Regardless of results, it’s clear that the Twins will look to use Robles often this year given his surplus of spring training outings. Other News Byron Buxton is elite. And after an upcoming root canal surgery, hopefully, the face of the organization will be invincible. Buxton reportedly cracked a tooth while eating a steak this past week. While we are not sure if the steak was cooked rare or very well-done, we wish Buxton nothing but a successful procedure. The wait is finally over! After arriving in Florida earlier this week, the defensive legend is expected to make his Twins debut at SS tomorrow afternoon against the Braves. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email

Defensive miscues and stranded baserunners plagued the Twins Thursday afternoon as the ball club dropped a 5-2 contest to Tampa Bay. Even though both teams recorded three errors, the Twins’ share just happened to occur accordingly with Rays’ runners in scoring position. In addition, Minnesota left a total of 12 men on base, including nine in scoring position. FINAL: Rays 5, Twins 2 (7 innings) Box Score | Baseball Savant Twins Takeaways Mountains and Valley’s of Pitching The Twins saw both bright and dark spots on the pitching spot on Thursday afternoon at the Fort. Ace Kenta Maeda made his 2021 debut and was nothing short of stellar. The righty was perfect, tossing two scoreless innings with zero hits and three strikeouts. It will be interesting to see if King Kenta’s stupendous 2020 season translates to a full 162-game 2021 season. Nonetheless, Maeda started 2021 out with a bang and there’s nothing to indicate that his dominance is stopping soon. On the other hand, Hansel Robles had a rough outing in his second spring training appearance. The 30-year-old gave up three runs on four hits in the third innings of the game. The heat-hurler has yet to strike out a batter in his young career with the Twins. However, not all of the blame can be placed on Robles, as the last of his three runs was due to a throwing error by Ryan Jeffers in which nobody covered second base on a stolen base attempt. Still, the new Twin has been south of impressive and hopefully, he will be able to hit his stride down the road in Fort Myers. Young Alex Highly-touted Twins prospect (if we can still call him that) Alex Kirilloff did not disappoint in his third spring training game of the season. Kirilloff smacked two hits on Thursday, included a double to right field in the second inning (to Red Wing, Minn. native Ryan Bolt). The Plum, Pa. native has a greater chance to start the year on the grass of Target Field given the recent announcement that minor league play has been suspended a month. Today’s performance doesn’t hurt that cause, to say the least. Getting the Call Up With the bases loaded and Keon Broxton at the plate with a chance to tie the game, Twins skipper Rocco Baldelli made an interesting yet delightful move. Second base occupant Alex Kirilloff was removed from the game for pinch runner Frankie Padulo, one of the Twins’ advanced scouts. Nothing came to fruition, as Broxton grounded out to end the game. Yet the move was a fun reminder of how unique baseball can be. Padulo played college ball at Cornell and fulfilled the role with perfection. The Los Alamitos, Calif. native made sure his jersey was tucked in, got a solid secondary lead, and didn’t get picked off. Not a bad MLB debut! https://twitter.com/DanHayesMLB/status/1367580492497883136 In all seriousness, what a cool moment for someone who has dedicated his life to growing the game of baseball. Spring training may not have the intensity and significance of regular season baseball, but it sure creates an opportunity for some life-changing moments! Around the League Thursday was a monumental day for the league more so off the field than on. Major League Baseball announced that going forth, June 2 will be recognized as Lou Gehrig day. One of the greatest to play the game, Gehrig suffered and passed away from ALS in 1941 at the age of 40. The “Iron Man” join the ranks of Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente as the only players to have a day of the season dedicated to them and the impact they had on the game. How does this pertain to the Twins? Twins president Dave St. Peter was one of the trailblazers of the league who helped make the milestone possible. St. Peter sent an email this past fall to all teams who hadn’t already jumped on board the cause. The email included the following quote. "This disease chose baseball. When you think about it, I think we have a responsibility and an obligation to continue to pay it forward. I can't imagine there's a franchise in the game that hasn't been touched by ALS. For us, it's personal. Other teams share that view. Certainly, we all share the connection to Lou Gehrig and what he stood for and represented. Finding a way to celebrate his legacy and the class and dignity he found in his darkest hours is something that's truly worthwhile." Bravo Dave. St. Peter’s efforts prove another example of why the Twins have some of the finest leadership in baseball, both on and off the field. JBJ to ‘Sconnie Former Red Sox standout Jackie Bradley Jr. has found his next home. The slugger and stellar outfielder signed a two-year, $24 million contract with the Brewers on Thursday. https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1367437680557105152 Bradley is a career .239/.321/.412 hitter who had a stellar 2020 season. Brewers’ skipper Craig Counsel stated that Lorenzo Cain will remain the club’s CF. Yet there’s no doubt that the addition of Bradley Jr. as a corner outfielder will beef up the Brew Crew as they look to knock the Cardinals off the NL Central pedestal. SEE ALSO What if Alex Kirilloff is THE One? Max Kepler Has to Get Aggressive Early Celestino Looking to Impress this Spring, Debut this Summer(?)

The Rundown The Designated Hitter was arguably the hottest topic in the baseball world during the 2020-21 offseason. Coming off a shortened season with the position represented in both leagues, there was speculation that 2021 could pioneer the age of the universal DH. Yet for a variety of reasons, that won’t be the case. We won’t get into that, but it’s tough to deny that the decision is the biggest reason that ageless wonder Nelson Cruz will be returning to Target Field this spring. The renewal of Cruz and the Twins isn’t the only big news at the position in the Central. Will Franmil Reyes be able to step up to cover ground lost at the plate in Cleveland? Will a young prospect get a chance to fill the role for the Southsiders despite only having experience in Class-A ball? And what are the chances that future Hall of Famer Miguel Cabrera will put up solid numbers in the final stages of his career? Here’s how things will stack up. Kansas City Royals With the acquisition of Andrew Benitendi from Boston, Royals slugger Jorge Soler will almost certainly continue to fill the full-time DH role for the Royals. The 28-year old Cuban was electric for Kansas City in 2019, slashing .265/.354/.569 with a league-leading 48 HR. Like many players, 2020 was a down year for Soler. In addition to a variety of injuries, Soler posted a meager .228 AVG with only eight HR. It’s unlikely that Soler will be able to put up numbers that rival those of 2019, a year where he played in all 162 games. Yet it is reasonable to expect a bounce-back from the strikeout-prone slugger IF he can stay healthy. At the end of the day, health will determine Soler’s fate in 2021. Injuries have plagued him since the start of his career with the Cubs in 2012. In fact, he’s only played over 100 games in two of his six major league seasons (we won’t count 2020 on this one). Yet with health comes production, which Soler proved in 2019 and in 2015 (101 games played) with the Cubs. Expect Soler to produce if he can stay on the field. Chicago White Sox There’s no doubt that the White Sox were huge winners over the offseason. Holes were filled in the outfield and pitching rotation with the additions of Adam Eaton and Lance Lynn. Perhaps the biggest question remaining surrounds filling the DH role that Eloy Jimenez (who will now play LF) occupied last year. Some clarity surfaced on the question when skipper Tony La Russa listed a few players that could potentially fill the role in a Zoom press conference on Tuesday. The most notable? Andrew Vaughn, the organization’s top prospect and first-round draft pick in 2019. Vaughn made it to Class A Advanced ball in 2019 but had little chance to prove himself in the bust of a 2020 minor league season. The lack of experience hasn’t stopped Baseball Prospectus and Baseball America from ranking the Cal Golden Bear as the #14 prospect in the country. Making the jump from any level of minor league baseball to the bigs is tough, let alone just 55 games in A-ball. Yet if Vaughn has something going for him, it’s that he doesn’t have to be ‘the guy’ at the plate for the Sox. There are benefits to having one of the game’s most electric offenses and the plethora of power and contact will certainly ease some of the pressure for Vaughn when he makes the transition. Cleveland Baseball Team Franmil Reyes is young, can hit the ball very far, and has also been able to hit for contact. Reyes also strikes out a lot, has been inconsistent in recent years, and hasn’t produced the HR power that we saw from him in San Diego. It’s clear that Reyes has the potential to be very good. In fact, Reyes had a very solid 2020 season, slashing .275/.344/.450. Those numbers would have been even better if Reyes didn’t start the first dozen games of the season with a .163/.182/.256 line. 2020 was a small sample size and one bad skid had the ability to tarnish end of the year numbers. That’s not to say that Reyes will have an electric 2021, but the young power hitter has an upside that has yet to be tapped in the AL Central. Detroit Tigers Miguel Cabrera enters his 19th season in the MLB under his fourth manager in Detroit. And while Miggy is far from the player he used to be, there will be an essence of beauty in the air as the future Hall of Famer chasings various milestones in 2021. With 2,866 career hits, Cabrera is on the cusp of surpassing names like Babe Ruth, Rogers Hornsby, and Barry Bonds on the all-time leaderboard. 134 hits will tie him with the great Roberto Clemente at the magical number of 3,000. New manager A.J. Hinch says that he’ll still play Cabrera at first base a few times a week to retain his “kid spirit” and to free up availability at the DH spot. Cabrera will likely put up 15-20 HR and 60-80 RBI in 2021 if he can stay healthy. Yet perhaps his biggest role at this point in his career is mentoring young players like Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene, and Isaac Parades as the organization opens a new chapter. Minnesota Twins In contrast to fellow division grandfather Miguel Cabrera, Nelson Cruz has performed much better in the second half of his career than in his younger days. Truly an ageless wonder! Perhaps one of Cruz’s strongest feats was his total offensive value to the Twins in 2020. Cruz posted an incredible .411 wOBA (Weighted On Base Average) in 2020, only second at the position to Marcell Ozuna. What’s special about this statistic is that wOBA measures the value of a player’s offensive production in relation to projected runs scored. To put it simply? Cruz gets the job done in the right place at the right time. Following back-to-back seasons about the .300 AVG mark, it’s unlikely that the 40-year-old will post numbers that high again. But then again, if there’s anyone to do it, it’s Nelson Cruz. Grade ‘Em White Sox: C- Andrew Vaughn has as much potential as any prospect in baseball. Yet seeing is believing, and the 22-year old with little pro ball experience will have to prove himself early on to stay up. Detroit Tigers: C+ Miguel Cabrera is one of the greatest players of this generation but it’s okay to recognize that he isn’t the massive threat that he was 5-10 years ago. Miggy’s contributions will be valuable, but not significant enough to move the Tigers out of the division cellar. Kansas City Royals: B- Jorge Soler has a high ceiling but a low floor. A stellar year at the plate bumps him up to an A, but another injury-plagued season puts him at a C-. It won’t be 2019, but Soler will have a solid season for the up-and-coming Royals Cleveland Baseball Team: B 2021 could be the make or break year for Franmil Reyes. The organization has lost key pieces Reyes is one of the few offensive components remaining. Don’t expect Reyes to put up 40 HR, but don’t be surprised if he posts a ~.265 AVG with 20 HR. Minnesota Twins: A- Nelson Cruz is the perfect fit for the Twins on and off the field. There’s no doubt that he’ll continue to lead the team in the clubhouse and it’s likely that Cruz will have another solid year at the plate. FanGraphs Projections FanGraphs put out their annual projections (Steamer) for DH production in 2021. Take a look. The Voice of the People A pool of (unbiased) fans voted on who they think is the best DH in the AL Central. Do you agree? https://twitter.com/twinsdaily/status/1364765231885414406 MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email