Minnesota Twins Shortstop Carlos Correa - Twitter/Unknown
The Minnesota Twins heard an unfamiliar sound emanating from the home crowd at Target Field. It was their final game before the All-Star break, and they wanted to end the first half of the season on a positive note.
But as they were getting crushed by the Baltimore Orioles. a cascade of boos rang from every corner of the stadium. This was a sound generated by fans who could feel a once-promising season slip away.
And it was small consolation to these fans that even after getting swept in the series by the Orioles, they remain only half a game back of the division-leading Cleveland Guardians. The Twins fans booed because this season has been full of wasted quality starts, poor clutch hitting, and breakdowns of an unreliable bullpen. They registered their frustration at an organization that does not win enough games and is in search of an identity.
Twins Start Season with High Hopes
It wasn’t supposed to be this way. The Twins entered the 2023 campaign with high hopes. They had assembled a major league quality rotation that was led by Sonny Gray, Joe Ryan, and the recently acquired Pablo Lopez. Their best hitters, Carlos Correa, Byron Buxton, and Jorge Polanco were returning to the lineup healthy, and in the prime of their big-league careers.
And, they had a group of young ballplayers who were ready to take the next step up in their careers. This was the year that Alex Kirilloff, Trevor Larnach, Jose Miranda, and eventually Royce Lewis, would live up to the hype that had followed them since they started their professional careers. Their bullpen would be led by Mr. 100 mph, Jhoan Duran. And he would be complemented by the steady Caleb Thielbar and veteran Jorge Lopez.
In retrospect, maybe we were all too optimistic. The starting pitching has been everything it was advertised as and more. The aforementioned starters and Bailey Ober have given the team a chance to win just about every ballgame. Add Kenta Maeda and possibly Dallas Keuchel to the mix and the Twins have one of the stronger rotations in all of baseball.
Some Disappointing Performances
However, Correa, Buxton, and Polanco have been disappointments. Polanco has been on the injured list for the majority of the season. Buxton is dealing with rickety knees and is only batting .208 and has already struck out 89 times. Correa has hit the ball better as of late but has stranded too many runners for a player of his caliber.
And the youth movement has fizzled so far this season. Larnach and Miranda have both been ineffective in their time with the team. Because of this, they have been up and down between the Twins and the Triple-A St. Paul Saints all season.
Kirilloff has played well, but lately, his surgically repaired wrist appears to be bothering him. And worst of all Lewis, who was playing extremely well, is now on the injured list with an oblique strain. This injury will keep him out of the lineup for at least six weeks.
Twins Bullpen has been Shaky
And the bullpen has been shaky and inconsistent. While Duran, Griffin Jax, and the surprising Brock Stewart have been assets, Lopez and Emilio Pagan have struggled all season. And Thielbar’s contributions have been limited due to injuries.
On the bright side, an unsung hero has been journeyman infielder Donovan Solano. The Twins are Solano’s fifth team in his ten-year career, but he has been a breath of fresh air for the team. He has played all around the infield and he has been the team’s most consistent hitter all season.
Hope for the Future?
What are the prospects for an improved second half of the season for the Twins? Fortunately for the team, they will continue to be a contender for the division title due to the sorry shape of the AL Central. Also, healthy second halfs from Buxton, Polanco, Lewis, and Thielbar would be a lift. And a couple of additional bullpen arms to lock down the later innings would lead to some more wins.
And hopefully, the Twins starting pitching continues to shine and the quality starts continue. Oh, and one more thing. Bring Matt Wallner up now!!!
