All Things 2025 Minnesota Twins In-Season Thread

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BleedGopher said:
Spring training is upon us.

Hope springs eternal.

This is our year!

Win Twins!!
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I get that many are cynical abut the status of the Twins, broadcast disputes or MLB in general to the point of "why bother?!?"

I suggest the tonic to cure what ails you is listening to the late great Ernie Harwell for a few minutes.

The Definition of Baseball

 

Ope3 said:
I get that many are cynical abut the status of the Twins, broadcast disputes or MLB in general to the point of "why bother?!?"

I suggest the tonic to cure what ails you is listening to the late great Ernie Harwell for a few minutes.

The Definition of Baseball
Click to expand...
 



Apparently Headrick is DFA'd because they're signing Ty France for 1B. Not great, but I guess a decent platoon with Julien maybe?
 


First base, rookie contributors: Nine questions facing the Twins in spring training​

With the Twins opening camp this week, here are nine questions facing the club during spring training:

1. Who is on first?​

Ty France became the leader to start at first base when he agreed to a one-year contract with the Twins on Tuesday. He’ll be tasked with replacing Carlos Santana, who signed a one-year, $12 million deal with the division rival Cleveland Guardians. Santana led the Twins in homers (23) and RBI (71), and provided Gold Glove defense while playing 150 games.

France, an All-Star in 2022, hit .234 with 13 homers and 51 RBI in 140 games last year. If he doesn’t rebound from a rough 2024 season, the Twins don’t have much proven depth behind him. Jose Miranda, who has started 81 career games at first base, is a fill-in option, but his below-average defense works against him as an everyday starter.

The Twins mentioned Edouard Julien, who has played 19 big-league innings at the position, as a backup and manager Rocco Baldelli said he wouldn’t rule out Willi Castro, who has never played first base. Mike Ford, a non-roster invitee, adds to the camp competition.
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Jose Miranda is a candidate to play first base this season. (Jerry Holt/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

2. Are trades on the way?​

After trade rumors throughout the offseason, it appears starting pitcher Chris Paddack, catcher Christian Vázquez and Castro will make it to camp with the Twins. All three players will make at least $6 million this year and they’re free agents after the upcoming season.

The Twins discussed Vázquez in trade talks with the San Diego Padres in December, but those fizzled over the amount of money requested for paying down Vázquez’s $10 million salary. Derek Falvey, the Twins’ president of baseball operations, said trade talks have slowed compared to a few weeks ago, but he does have a history of completing deals during spring training.

3. Will last year’s collapse linger?​

The top question asked to players during Twinsfest related to their late-season meltdown that cost the team a playoff spot last year. The Twins finished with a 12-27 record over their final 39 games. It was an obvious source of motivation during the winter, but Baldelli said he wanted to implement some changes this spring, including giving veteran players noticeably more at-bats in camp.

4. What to expect from Royce Lewis?​

Lewis was starting to draw mythical comparisons when he hit 10 homers in his first 16 games last season. Until he faltered down the stretch, producing a lowly .474 OPS over his final 37 games, he performed like a superstar whenever he was healthy.
The Twins largely know what to expect from Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton when they’re on the field. Lewis wants to play more athletically this year, with more speed and better defense, and show he hasn’t reached his full potential.

5. Which rookies will contribute?​

A strong rookie class — Lewis, Julien and Matt Wallner — helped the Twins to a division title in 2023. Last year’s crop of rookies, outside of starting pitcher Simeon Woods Richardson, lacked the same type of impact once injuries hit the lineup and starting rotation.

Outfielder Emmanuel Rodriguez is a consensus top 50 prospect and hits the ball as hard as anybody in the organization, but he’s played more than 47 games in a season just once in the last four years. Marco Raya, an addition to the 40-man roster in November, needs more seasoning in Class AAA, but his slider makes him one of the team’s best pitching prospects. Second baseman Luke Keaschall is another highly rated prospect, but he’s coming off elbow surgery.

6. Will fans forgive the quiet offseason?​

The Twins shed $30 million from their payroll after winning their first postseason series in two decades, and they were off cable TV for the bulk of the 2024 season. It felt like they were out of sight and out of mind as attendance dipped from 1.97 million to 1.95 million.

Most fans should find it easier to watch/stream the Twins this year, but there were no splashy roster moves following an embarrassing end to last season. St. Peter said last month the Twins are targeting 2 million tickets sold this year.

7. Will anybody seize second base?​

The Twins have a lot of candidates for their starting second baseman, but it remains up for grabs. Brooks Lee is a good defender, but the switch hitter needs to show more offensive consistency. The Twins don’t want to use Castro in center field or shortstop, so he could have more of a regular home at second. It is Julien’s natural position if he can hit like he did two years ago. Austin Martin could carve out a role at second base, too.
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Edouard Julien is a possible fit for the Twins this season at first base or second base, depending on how he hits. (Jeff Wheeler/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

8. Has the pitching pipeline finally arrived?​

The Twins have seven starting pitchers they feel comfortable using in their rotation, including David Festa and Zebby Matthews, who filled in during the final couple of months last year. Their Class AAA rotation to begin the season could include prospects Raya, Andrew Morris (2.37 ERA in 133 innings), Cory Lewis (2.51 ERA in 79 innings) and Travis Adams (3.90 ERA in 127 innings).
The Twins hired Falvey in part because of his role in Cleveland’s pitching pipeline, and now the Twins need to keep churning out young starters.

9. Will new coaches make a difference?​

The Twins scored the 10th-most runs in the majors last year, cut down on strikeouts and rated around the league average in hard-hit balls, but Baldelli wants to see more consistency after dismissing all the major league hitting coaches at the end of the season.
Matt Borgschulte, who previously worked on the Twins’ player development staff, was hired from the Baltimore Orioles as the lead hitting coach. His biggest task will be taking some of the boom-or-bust approaches out of the Twins offense, particularly with runners in scoring position.

www.startribune.com

First base, rookie contributors: Nine questions facing the Minnesota Twins in spring training

The Twins open camp hoping their pitching pipeline and new hitting coaches can make a difference.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com

Win Twins!!
 





Breakin' The Plane said:
Marlins signed Ronny Henriquez after the Twins DFA'd him. I'd have much rather hung onto him than bring back junkballer Tonkin.
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Agreed.

I always thought he could be a legit bullpen arm and thst they never developed him/gave him enough innings.
 


Pablo Lopez has gotten the nod to be the Opening Day hurler for the third consecutive season.

Whom is the last Twins’ pitcher to achieve this feat?
 



Gopher_In_NYC said:
Pablo Lopez has gotten the nod to be the Opening Day hurler for the third consecutive season.

Whom is the last Twins’ pitcher to achieve this feat?
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My best guess, and it is purely a guess, is Johan.

If not him I'm going to guess Brad Radke
 





Gopher_In_NYC said:
Pablo Lopez has gotten the nod to be the Opening Day hurler for the third consecutive season.

Whom is the last Twins’ pitcher to achieve this feat?
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I'm going with a very uninformed guess of Brad Radke with a Dave Goltz desperation heave if I'm wrong.
 

Gophers1992 said:
Looks like 7 in a row from 1999 to 2005. He also started 1996 and 1997 so 9 in 10 years.
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It looks like they year he didn't start they saved him for the home opener instead. Tewksbury started on Opening Day in 1998 instead.
 

From what I can tell, Hrbek has Twins record for most consecutive starts on Opening Day at the same position. He did it 10 years in a row from 1982 to 1991. Gaetti, Hunter and Carew all did 8 consecutive seasons at the same position.

Killebrew started 13 years in a row at different positions and the first two years were Washington. Carew did it 12 years in a row, all as the Twins (9 at 2B, 3 at 1B).

Fun to look at:

www.baseball-reference.com

Minnesota Twins Opening Day Starters | Baseball-Reference.com

Minnesota Twins Opening Day Starters
www.baseball-reference.com www.baseball-reference.com
 

GophersInIowa said:
From what I can tell, Hrbek has Twins record for most consecutive starts on Opening Day at the same position. He did it 10 years in a row from 1982 to 1991. Gaetti, Hunter and Carew all did 8 consecutive seasons at the same position.

Killebrew started 13 years in a row at different positions and the first two years were Washington. Carew did it 12 years in a row, all as the Twins (9 at 2B, 3 at 1B).

Fun to look at:

www.baseball-reference.com

Minnesota Twins Opening Day Starters | Baseball-Reference.com

Minnesota Twins Opening Day Starters
www.baseball-reference.com www.baseball-reference.com
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My all-time favorite, Tony-O, started in RF 8 years in a row from 64 - 71.
I still remember the 1st game in 61 against Yankees. Listened to the last inning walking home from grade school on my transistor radio. Pedro Ramos beats Bronx Bombers 6 - 0.
 
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TNGophfan said:
My all-time favorite, Tony-O, started in RF 8 years in a row from 64 - 71.
I still remember the 1st game in 61 against Yankees. Listened to the last inning walking home from grade school on my transistor radio. Pedro Ramos beats Bronx Bombers 6 - 0.
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Ah good catch
 


Slim Tubby said:
I traded his baseball card to another kid in daycare for a Carl Yastrzemski card and a Garanimals outfit to be soiled later.
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Shady you seldom disappoint and you went back, back, back for an obscure Garanimals reference🤗.

Always heartening to meet another JC Penny’s refugee!
 

Gopher_In_NYC said:
Shady you seldom disappoint and you went back, back, back for an obscure Garanimals reference🤗.

Always heartening to meet another JC Penny’s refugee!
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As a toddler in the 70's, an overabundance of plaid outfits left me medically cross-eyed until I was 12.

Eff you, Penny's and Montgomery Wards.
 

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