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In 2016, Schwarber played a whopping two games for the Cubbies. Coming back from injury, he was handed five plate appearances to round out the regular season. Turning in zero hits, he was put on the shelf as somewhat of a secret weapon. Despite not playing in any other rounds of the postseason, Joe Madden turned him loose in the World Series. Across five games and 17 at-bats, Schwarber posted a .412/.500/.471 slash line in the Fall Classic. As the DH for over half the series (thanks to the American League hosting and having the sensible rule), Schwarber was able to make an impact on the series that was felt throughout the country. While at that moment, his value was at it's peak over his short time in the big leagues, it wasn't unsubstantiated either. A year prior, in his rookie season, Schwarber posted an .842 OPS for the Cubs. While not hitting for a glowing average, he showed he could get on base, and the power would play through his bat. Sixteen homers in his first 69 big league games was something to write home about, and Chicago obviously had something, even if it wasn't a catcher. Despite there being a hangover of excitement from the World Series, it immediately hit me that Schwarber wouldn't be best suited for any role he could play with the Cubs. Void of the designated hitter, Chicago would have to play him in the outfield, a position in which he posted a -9 DRS a season ago. Maximizing on his immediate success, and knowing Chicago was set to be needing pitching, it stood to reason that there was an opportunity. Obviously we know how that story played out. Schwarber is still a Cub, and Chicago will need some big pitching performances to regain their elite status atop the National League in 2018. With a .782 OPS a year ago, Schwarber has been documented as being in "the best shape of his life" this offseason due to a strenuous workout regimen. Although he still looks every bit an American League DH to me, that ship has probably sailed for the time being. Tying in Miguel Sano, it's been widely reported that his name has been floated in trade talks. There's no denying Sano is a game changing player for the Minnesota Twins. Coming off an All-Star appearance, and a trajectory that had him on pace for the team MVP through the better part of the year, Sano is one of the best young players in baseball. Despite having a rod inserted into his shin, I think the bigger question is what does he project as going forward? Finishing third in the Rookie of the Year voting following the 2015 season, Minnesota's slugging third basemen had a .916 OPS to hang his hat on. Through his first 310 big league games, he's already clubbed 71 homers, and his career .348 OBP is a clear message that you should stop worrying about his strikeouts. On paper, everything that Miguel Sano is lines up to a perennial all-star, and a game changing player for an organization (namely the Twins). What isn't determined on paper however, is what the future holds. A year ago, Sano posted a -5 DRS in just shy of 700 innings at the hot corner. Among qualified third basemen, that would've been 16th, ahead of only Mike Moustakas (-8), Jake Lamb (-13) and Nick Castellanos (-14). The caveat to those numbers, is that each of them played at least 1,090 innings in the field. Although Sano wasn't an abomination at third last year, the reality is that he's limited with his range, and his arm has to make up for a significant amount of what he lacks. Whether health or physical stature remains intact going forward, both the eye test and the analytics suggest that there's little room for error before a position change comes knocking. That ends up leading us to this point: Is a first base or designated hitting version of Sano worth moving away from in trade for an impact starter in an organization starving for them? That question is the one that both Thad Levine and Derek Falvey will have to answer. I do believe that Miguel Sano has a significant impactful big league career ahead of him. He's just 24 years old, has elite hard-hit rates, and posted the fifth best HR/FB (27.5%) rate in baseball a year ago. He's the first player in a long time who appears to be able to threaten Harmon Killebrew's records with Minnesota, and that's something to salivate over. In a vacuum, I'd argue that a power hitting corner infielder (or DH) is more replaceable than a front-line starter. By that measure, dealing Sano for something of fair market value is a proposition that's hard to ignore. My gut says that the Twins hold off making a move however, and the hope would be that years from now, we can look back and call it the right one. I'm not sure that there's any denying the Twins have a Kyle Schwarber opportunity on their hands however, and that the execution of a decision either way could be franchise altering. -
The Twins used their 29th round pick in 2015 on a catcher from Indiana University, Brad Hartong. At 6-3 and 225 pounds, he can pack a punch with the bat. However, he's a good athlete behind the plate and may spend more time out in the outfield. At Indiana, he teamed with Kyle Schwarber for a year behind the plate. Schwarber did a lot of the catching with Hartong in the outfield. In his pro debut, Hartong hit .292 with nine doubles and a triple at Elizabethton. He went to Instructional League primarily as an outfielder. He is most likely to start the 2016 season in Cedar Rapids. So today, let's get to know a little more about him. Find out if he's even the best athlete in his own family! Thank you to Brad Hartong for taking his time to respond to our questions.Seth Stohs (SS): Growing up in California, which was your favorite team to follow, and who were some of your favorite players? Brad Hartong (BH): Growing up my favorite team to watch was the Anaheim Angels. I grew up about 15 minutes from the stadium. Some of my favorite players growing up on those teams were Darin Erstad, Tim Salmon and Erick Aybar. Some people forget that Torii Hunter played with the Angels for about five years, and just like Minnesota, he was the fan favorite in Anaheim. People in Anaheim enjoyed watching him play. SS: You went to Cypress College for two years before spending two seasons at Indiana. What led to the transfer, and what were some of your favorite moments from your college years? BH: I started off at a junior college about 10 minutes from my house in Southern California. After two years there, I transferred to Indiana University. My junior college coach, Scott Pickler, had a huge role in helping me decide on becoming a Hoosier. Obviously at Indiana University, you're going to have great memories of the big plays you made and the bigger games you won. My favorite memory was the whole experience. Going to class and practice with your boys, then gearing up for Friday nights to start that weekend series. But one memory will stick out, in the first inning of the opening game in the Vanderbilt Regional, we got out of the jam with the old triple play. Never experienced a baseball play like that. SS: What was your interaction with scouts before the draft? Did you think you might be drafted or were you thinking to another career? BH: Before the draft, I had a feeling I would be chosen. I thought I played well enough, and showed enough people that I can play at the next level. However, I had a ton of help from the Indiana University coaching staff and Cypress College coaching staff to get my name out there with the draft. I never really lost sight of what I wanted to do. I made sure I got my degree from Indiana, but my eyes were on playing professional baseball since I can remember. SS: The Twins took you in the 29th round. How did you find out you had been drafted? BH: When the last day of the draft came around, I got a call early in the morning California time asking if I wanted to be drafted and after saying “yes, of course”, I was told to expect a phone call. The day continued to proceed and I was getting a little antsy when I finally got the call and found out I became a Minnesota Twin. SS: You had played at Target Field during the Big 10 Tournament. What were your thoughts on playing there, and did you get any sense that weeks later, the Twins might take you? BH: Yes, for the Big Ten tournament we got to play at Target Field this past year. When we had our first practice on the field, I tried to just soak everything in. What a beautiful ball field. In that one week in Minnesota, I saw the city, Mall of America, and of course had the privilege to play at Target Field. I had no idea I would become a Twin just a few weeks later. And after seeing Minnesota, it was almost like I took an official visit and got lucky enough to be drafted by the Twins. SS: What was the biggest adjustment you had to make, going from amateur/college season to the pro game, on or off the field? BH: Going from college to professional baseball, I would say one of the biggest difference is being able to handle your business like a true professional. In college, you have a set schedule for everything, meals at the hotel, a lifting schedule, getting your therapy in, and room checks on the road. In pro ball, you need to be able to make your own schedule by knowing your body, what you need to eat to fuel yourself, what you need to lift in the weight room to be ready to perform, and to make sure to get your therapy done if you need it. It is up to you in pro ball. SS: In your first year at Indiana, it appears that you and Kyle Schwarber split time behind the plate with the other playing in the outfield. With Elizabethton, you were primarily in the outfield but did some catching too. Where do you feel more comfortable and what do you prefer to play over time? BH: Yeah, my first year at Indiana University I split time with Kyle Schwarber behind the plate, but mostly played outfield. My senior year, I caught every game. To be honest, I am comfortable at both. In high school, junior college, and at Indiana, I was primarily a catcher. But after working a lot in the outfield, I feel comfortable at either corner outfield spot. In the long road, I will play wherever the organization tells me too, whatever the Twins need me to do. SS: In these very early stages of your career, what would you say are your biggest strengths as a player? BH: I would say some of my strengths would be experience coming from an up-and-coming college program. Played a lot of good teams with good arms, and played in a lot of big games. I think knowing the game of baseball is a strength of mine. It helps me process what is going on throughout a game and what decisions to make based on the situation. It helps put me in a position to help my team win. I am never surprised on a baseball field. SS: What are the things that you feel you need to improve over the offseason and going forward? BH: As a young professional baseball player, I think I have to work on every aspect of my game. Obviously the fundamentals are a must to work on, as well as strength and conditioning. But also the mental aspect to where I show up in Fort Myers for spring training I am so locked in and ready to perform. I have no distractions. SS: What are your plans for the offseason? (When do you start preparing for the 2016 season, but also what do you enjoy doing away from the game of baseball?) BH: This offseason, I have been working out at a workout facility down the street from my house, as well as another local LA Fitness. The junior college I went to is about 10 minutes from my house, and that is where I will be doing my baseball work. I plan on catching an uncountable amount of bullpens before I arrive in Fort Myers. Away from baseball, I enjoy being home with my family after not seeing them for a while. Except my twin sister is pursuing her professional volleyball career in South Korea, so I have not been able to see her. Don't hop on the bandwagon now, but she and Club Hyundai are in first place in their group. Also great being around my good friends and seeing how well they are doing with their lives. Who are some of the coaches and others who have helped you get to this point in your career? BH: To get where I am today, I have had great coaching along the way. My Dad introduced me to the game, and growing up always would help me with whatever I needed. All those days with him on the diamond really made me love playing baseball. After high school, once I got to Cypress College, I think that is where I made the most strides as a baseball player. Coach Pick, Pink, and Mahoney really turned me into a solid player. Then at Indiana University, I got help from every coach, but my last year with Coach Lemonis, Bunn, Cheeseboro and Roof, that was a really a great staff and they turned me even more. Thanks again to Brad Hartong. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to write in the forum below. Click here to view the article -
Seth Stohs (SS): Growing up in California, which was your favorite team to follow, and who were some of your favorite players? Brad Hartong (BH): Growing up my favorite team to watch was the Anaheim Angels. I grew up about 15 minutes from the stadium. Some of my favorite players growing up on those teams were Darin Erstad, Tim Salmon and Erick Aybar. Some people forget that Torii Hunter played with the Angels for about five years, and just like Minnesota, he was the fan favorite in Anaheim. People in Anaheim enjoyed watching him play. SS: You went to Cypress College for two years before spending two seasons at Indiana. What led to the transfer, and what were some of your favorite moments from your college years? BH: I started off at a junior college about 10 minutes from my house in Southern California. After two years there, I transferred to Indiana University. My junior college coach, Scott Pickler, had a huge role in helping me decide on becoming a Hoosier. Obviously at Indiana University, you're going to have great memories of the big plays you made and the bigger games you won. My favorite memory was the whole experience. Going to class and practice with your boys, then gearing up for Friday nights to start that weekend series. But one memory will stick out, in the first inning of the opening game in the Vanderbilt Regional, we got out of the jam with the old triple play. Never experienced a baseball play like that. SS: What was your interaction with scouts before the draft? Did you think you might be drafted or were you thinking to another career? BH: Before the draft, I had a feeling I would be chosen. I thought I played well enough, and showed enough people that I can play at the next level. However, I had a ton of help from the Indiana University coaching staff and Cypress College coaching staff to get my name out there with the draft. I never really lost sight of what I wanted to do. I made sure I got my degree from Indiana, but my eyes were on playing professional baseball since I can remember. SS: The Twins took you in the 29th round. How did you find out you had been drafted? BH: When the last day of the draft came around, I got a call early in the morning California time asking if I wanted to be drafted and after saying “yes, of course”, I was told to expect a phone call. The day continued to proceed and I was getting a little antsy when I finally got the call and found out I became a Minnesota Twin. SS: You had played at Target Field during the Big 10 Tournament. What were your thoughts on playing there, and did you get any sense that weeks later, the Twins might take you? BH: Yes, for the Big Ten tournament we got to play at Target Field this past year. When we had our first practice on the field, I tried to just soak everything in. What a beautiful ball field. In that one week in Minnesota, I saw the city, Mall of America, and of course had the privilege to play at Target Field. I had no idea I would become a Twin just a few weeks later. And after seeing Minnesota, it was almost like I took an official visit and got lucky enough to be drafted by the Twins. SS: What was the biggest adjustment you had to make, going from amateur/college season to the pro game, on or off the field? BH: Going from college to professional baseball, I would say one of the biggest difference is being able to handle your business like a true professional. In college, you have a set schedule for everything, meals at the hotel, a lifting schedule, getting your therapy in, and room checks on the road. In pro ball, you need to be able to make your own schedule by knowing your body, what you need to eat to fuel yourself, what you need to lift in the weight room to be ready to perform, and to make sure to get your therapy done if you need it. It is up to you in pro ball. SS: In your first year at Indiana, it appears that you and Kyle Schwarber split time behind the plate with the other playing in the outfield. With Elizabethton, you were primarily in the outfield but did some catching too. Where do you feel more comfortable and what do you prefer to play over time? BH: Yeah, my first year at Indiana University I split time with Kyle Schwarber behind the plate, but mostly played outfield. My senior year, I caught every game. To be honest, I am comfortable at both. In high school, junior college, and at Indiana, I was primarily a catcher. But after working a lot in the outfield, I feel comfortable at either corner outfield spot. In the long road, I will play wherever the organization tells me too, whatever the Twins need me to do. SS: In these very early stages of your career, what would you say are your biggest strengths as a player? BH: I would say some of my strengths would be experience coming from an up-and-coming college program. Played a lot of good teams with good arms, and played in a lot of big games. I think knowing the game of baseball is a strength of mine. It helps me process what is going on throughout a game and what decisions to make based on the situation. It helps put me in a position to help my team win. I am never surprised on a baseball field. SS: What are the things that you feel you need to improve over the offseason and going forward? BH: As a young professional baseball player, I think I have to work on every aspect of my game. Obviously the fundamentals are a must to work on, as well as strength and conditioning. But also the mental aspect to where I show up in Fort Myers for spring training I am so locked in and ready to perform. I have no distractions. SS: What are your plans for the offseason? (When do you start preparing for the 2016 season, but also what do you enjoy doing away from the game of baseball?) BH: This offseason, I have been working out at a workout facility down the street from my house, as well as another local LA Fitness. The junior college I went to is about 10 minutes from my house, and that is where I will be doing my baseball work. I plan on catching an uncountable amount of bullpens before I arrive in Fort Myers. Away from baseball, I enjoy being home with my family after not seeing them for a while. Except my twin sister is pursuing her professional volleyball career in South Korea, so I have not been able to see her. Don't hop on the bandwagon now, but she and Club Hyundai are in first place in their group. Also great being around my good friends and seeing how well they are doing with their lives. Who are some of the coaches and others who have helped you get to this point in your career? BH: To get where I am today, I have had great coaching along the way. My Dad introduced me to the game, and growing up always would help me with whatever I needed. All those days with him on the diamond really made me love playing baseball. After high school, once I got to Cypress College, I think that is where I made the most strides as a baseball player. Coach Pick, Pink, and Mahoney really turned me into a solid player. Then at Indiana University, I got help from every coach, but my last year with Coach Lemonis, Bunn, Cheeseboro and Roof, that was a really a great staff and they turned me even more. Thanks again to Brad Hartong. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to write in the forum below. -
As the Twins traveled to Pittsburgh in May, both Ricky Nolasco and Mike Pelfrey were subjected to the silliness that is a league without a DH. Nolasco fared worse flailing through three different at-bats on route to a three-strikeout game, while Pelfrey totaled two base hits raising his career average to a paltry .105. After hosting the Brewers at Target Field, it was again in St. Louis that Twins pitchers would be forced to brandish a bat. This time it was Trevor May and Kyle Gibson at the plate. The pair combined to go 1-3 (the hit being Gibson's) with a strikeout (being May's). While first year manager Paul Molitor got creative and batted his pitchers eighth this time around, the offensive production from the position remained a black hole. On the flip side, fans at Target Field have and will get to see the beauty of a National League team playing with the designated hitter. The Cardinals were able to use slugger and everyday shortstop Jhonny Peralta as their designated hitter for the day. The bigger prize for both National League lovers and Twins fans is yet to come however. Over the weekend, the Twins will play host to the Chicago Cubs. Never mind the parallels that connect the Twins and Cubs as two franchises trending in very similar directions, but the Cubs bring plenty of intrigue on their own. Already promoted this season, top prospects Kris Bryant and Addison Russell will be on full display in front of Target Field. On top of that, and because of the DH, Twins fans will get an early glimpse of another phenom, Kyle Schwarber. During the same week that Byron Buxton was promoted by the Twins, Chicago decided to bring Schwarber up from Double-A Tennessee in order to serve as their designated bat through interleague play. Schwarber trails Twins prospect Adam Brett Walker in minor league home runs with 13, but he brings a .320/.438/.579 power stick to the show. Although Theo Epstein has insisted that the Cubs will send him packing after the tour is over, it is the DH that makes it all possible. Rather than digress too far into why the DH should be universally accepted (and it should) I will instead point you to this article. Whether for or against the designated hitter, the argument seems clear. A flailing pitcher who may provide a manager with some tougher decisions is still less beneficial for the sport than a player who can accomplish the set goal at the plate, to hit. Minnesota will welcome the Cubs over the weekend, and then head to Milwaukee and Cincinnati the following week before wrapping up interleague action. When the dust settles though, it will be hard to argue that the clash with the NL Central in 2015 wasn't for the betterment of the season, and that interleague play didn't provide some fun. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz -
The Minnesota Twins are in the midst of interleague play for the second time this season. Instead of cramming all of the fun into a designated week or two over the summer, Major League Baseball reconstructed the scheduled to allow American and National League teams to clash throughout the season. As Minnesota has now traveled to and hosted National League teams, we have seen both the beauty and brokenness of the tradition.As the Twins traveled to Pittsburgh in May, both Ricky Nolasco and Mike Pelfrey were subjected to the silliness that is a league without a DH. Nolasco fared worse flailing through three different at-bats on route to a three-strikeout game, while Pelfrey totaled two base hits raising his career average to a paltry .105. After hosting the Brewers at Target Field, it was again in St. Louis that Twins pitchers would be forced to brandish a bat. This time it was Trevor May and Kyle Gibson at the plate. The pair combined to go 1-3 (the hit being Gibson's) with a strikeout (being May's). While first year manager Paul Molitor got creative and batted his pitchers eighth this time around, the offensive production from the position remained a black hole. On the flip side, fans at Target Field have and will get to see the beauty of a National League team playing with the designated hitter. The Cardinals were able to use slugger and everyday shortstop Jhonny Peralta as their designated hitter for the day. The bigger prize for both National League lovers and Twins fans is yet to come however. Over the weekend, the Twins will play host to the Chicago Cubs. Never mind the parallels that connect the Twins and Cubs as two franchises trending in very similar directions, but the Cubs bring plenty of intrigue on their own. Already promoted this season, top prospects Kris Bryant and Addison Russell will be on full display in front of Target Field. On top of that, and because of the DH, Twins fans will get an early glimpse of another phenom, Kyle Schwarber. During the same week that Byron Buxton was promoted by the Twins, Chicago decided to bring Schwarber up from Double-A Tennessee in order to serve as their designated bat through interleague play. Schwarber trails Twins prospect Adam Brett Walker in minor league home runs with 13, but he brings a .320/.438/.579 power stick to the show. Although Theo Epstein has insisted that the Cubs will send him packing after the tour is over, it is the DH that makes it all possible. Rather than digress too far into why the DH should be universally accepted (and it should) I will instead point you to this article. Whether for or against the designated hitter, the argument seems clear. A flailing pitcher who may provide a manager with some tougher decisions is still less beneficial for the sport than a player who can accomplish the set goal at the plate, to hit. Minnesota will welcome the Cubs over the weekend, and then head to Milwaukee and Cincinnati the following week before wrapping up interleague action. When the dust settles though, it will be hard to argue that the clash with the NL Central in 2015 wasn't for the betterment of the season, and that interleague play didn't provide some fun. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz Click here to view the article
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