MLB Preview 2015: Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins 2014 Record: 70-92
Team Overview:
The Twins will go into 2015 with hopes of staying competitive and finding bright spots. They are not far removed from a playoff team and will try to get there while they still have their fan favorite Joe Mauer. Mauer is only 31 but has 10 years of MLB experience. After putting up one MVP, three gold gloves, three batting titles, and five silver slugger seasons, all while mostly going through the grind of being a catcher the star seems past his prime at this point. The team also brought back Torii Hunter, who made his name in Minnesota and he will start as much as possible as he is most likely entering his final season. Outside of those two the youth movement is on to find pieces to win with them. Josmil Pinto, at 25, will battle and more than likely edge out Kurt Suzuki for the starting catcher spot and that would make the oldest starter outside of the two vets 28. That is third baseman Trevor Plouffe and the Twins seem to know what they have in him as he a stopgap for Miguel Sano who waits in AAA. Up the middle is Brian Dozier who may be the oldest starter by seasons end at 27, and rookie Danny Santana. Santana got called up last season and put up a great average and on base and the team will hope to get that production as an everyday lead off hitter. Dozier had an incredible first half and came back to earth in the second but managed to have 23 home runs and 21 steals. They will need the two middle infielders to be key producers at the top of the lineup. Oswaldo Arcia is only 23 but had a good season of slugging and if he can maintain his strikeouts then he could be a viable future piece for the Twins in the outfield. Kennys Vargas is another piece on the opening day roster that will look to develop at age 24. He has a decent amount of hype as a future career DH, but he needs to show more production in the big leagues this season, as the team may be relying on him and Arcia to due some heavy lifting with little power else where.
The hitting may have some sorting out to do and sadly the pitching is in the same stage. Phil Hughes is by all intents and purposes a good pitcher. He brings an upside to be great on some nights. I would take Hughes on my team, but hopefully not in the situation of carrying a pitching staff. Behind Hughes there just isn’t enough to get excited about and that should worry Twins fans. Ervin Santana and Ricky Nolasco have been around and haven’t stuck as the most reliable pitchers. Kyle Gibson is an average pitcher and the Oakland As sold on Tommy Milone fast, which typically means he is not a player you want to buy. They have a few names in the pipeline but none will be here fast enough to save the day. The bullpen isn’t weak but isn’t so strong that it will carry the team in a significant way.
What to Watch For?
The Twins have a decent pipeline of talent and while there may be a few names to watch currently on the roster I will choose to follow Byron Buxton. Buxton is only 21 years old but has been heralded as top prospect since he was 18. He plays center field and was tearing low A ball apart in 2013. In 2014 he got himself to AA before a nasty on field collision sidelined him for the rest of the 2014 season. He will look to get back at it and should start 2015 in AA He has speed a strong arm and is a defensive star and if he can get back to hitting the way he did in 2013 then him being on the 2015 roster by seasons end isn’t crazy. The Twins may not be in a playoff race but to get the youngster MLB experience and at bats then it is a huge plus for the teams future going forward.
Where Do They Rank?
The Twins have a few possible bright spots and may be able to find themselves an identity this season. That being said they didn’t get considerably better at many key weaknesses and bringing in Torii Hunter is more of an off field decision than an on field addition. That is all without the mention that they are in a division where the other four teams will be making a run at a pennant and hope to get a large portion of wins against this team. It will be a tough road and this team ranks 5th in their division.
