This is part one of a three-part series, detailing and previewing the Minnesota Twins’ 2018 roster. The three segments will be broken into outfield, infield, and pitching.
The Twins’ outfield should be a very good group in 2018, but placing them with the Red Sox (Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Andrew Benintendi) or a team of that caliber would be absurd.
At least for now.
Minnesota will have the same trio take the field Opening Day consisting of Eddie Rosario, Byron Buxton, and Max Kepler. Other outfielders that will field as back-ups will be Robbie Grossman and either Zack Granite or Jake Cave. Here is a look at each player’s outlook for the upcoming season:
Left Field Starter: Eddie Rosario
Last season was perhaps a breakout year for the Puerto Rico-native. Rosario entered the season with some uncertainty if he could handle a starting job in the majors, as his bat proved to be inconsistent in the minors and his defense was surely a question mark. Being a free-swinger, Rosario struck out 106 times, about 18 percent of his plate appearances. To put that into better terms, he struck out 26 percent of his plate appearances in 2016, and 25 percent in 2015. He also had a career-high in at-bats last year, making heavy improvements on his pitch selections.
Now, the good stuff: Eddie recorded career-highs in nearly every category in 2017. Through 151 games, he hit .290/.328/.507, while hitting the third-most home runs (27) on the team. He also was second in hits (157) and RBI (78), trailing only Brian Dozier. The 26-year-old is yet to hit his prime, and the Twins may have their best left-field option since Shannon Stewart, but with more power.
When addressing the defense, it’s not as exciting as seeing him in the batter’s box. The Twins have seen worse in their franchise’s history (see Delmon Young, if you dare). If Rosario does an adequate job fielding and sustains a heavy bat in the middle of the lineup, it’s safe to say the Twins will be just fine with that production.
Center Field Starter: Byron Buxton
The biggest question with the Twins’ speedster is if he can sustain the kind of performance he showed for three months, for an entire season. His defense is the best in the American League (2017 Gold Glove), as the #NothingFallsButRaindrops movement was started by the 24-year-old. There is a lot to credit for Buxton when talking about the improved pitching, too. Simply a spectacle to watch in the field, 2018 will hopefully see more consistency in his offense as well.
Ever since he entered the league as a 21-year-old, Buxton has shown improvement in the batter’s box by making better contact. He did strikeout 150 times last season, but there is more to that stat. Before the All-Star break, the center fielder was hitting a weak .216/.288/.306. He also had 87 strikeouts in 255 at-bats. After the All-Star break, he exploded. He had a .300/.347/.546 line through 207 at-bats, striking out 63 times. Buxton was one of the bigger threats in the Twins’ postseason push. Getting on base should be the name of the game for Buxton, as his speed used on the bases is crucial to how the Twins can dictate games. The Georgia-native will have to continue to improve his vision at the plate,
as his walk totals have suffered because of it.
“Exceptional.”
There is no other word to describe Buxton’s defense. He finished second in the entire league in Wins-Above-Replacement (WAR), only trailing the Angels’ Andrelton Simmons. The coaching staff stuck with Buxton in the first half for the most part due to his defense. If Buxton can put together his entire game, he could potentially one of the best in the league.
Right Field Starter: Max Kepler
Many expected a breakout year last season for Kepler, and the outcome was somewhat disappointing. Not by any means was he unproductive, but the ceiling remains untouched for the 25-year-old. His production in the batter’s box against right-handed pitchers has always been great, as he his weighted on-base average against them was over .300 the past two seasons. Hitting against lefties has been the issue for Kepler, as he hit in the mid-.200’s against them in 2016, but saw that number drop below .200 in 2017, according to Fan Graphs. The Twins would certainly like to see Kepler as their everyday right fielder, but if his struggles continue he could be more of a platoon player.
Kepler saw his first full season last year, and he produced at a decent level. He hammered out 19 home runs, with 69 RBI. His final line of the season was .243/.312/.425, and yet most of his numbers were similar to 2016 when he had 155-less at-bats. Time will tell if this will be the year the right fielder breaks out. In 386 at-bats against right-handed pitching, Kepler hit .272, with 17 home runs and 57 RBI. In 125 at-bats against left-handed pitching, he hit a mere .152, with 2 home runs and 12 RBI. 40 of his 114 strikeouts came against lefties as well.
Kepler is a defensive plus in the outfield, as he can play center field if the Twins ever need him. His 6’4” frame has the athleticism to cover most of the field. The Germany-native is only a step or two away from becoming the Twins’ starting right fielder for hopefully a long time. Better approaches to lefties need to happen for success to follow.
The Back-Ups: Robbie Grossman, Zack Granite… and some notes on Jake Cave
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| Robbie Grossman |
The fourth outfielder that will be on the Twins’ roster Opening Day will be Grossman, and Granite will fill out the last roster spot, barring any late acquisition. Ehire Adrianza has been doing some outfield work in Spring Training, and Eduardo Escobar is able to as well. But with starting shortstop Jorge Polanco failing a drug test and suspended 80 games, the plan has changed. Escobar will be the starting shortstop, with Adrianza likely his back-up. That opens the door for Grossman and Granite, as both should not see anyone else pick up their at-bats.
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| Zack Granite |
Grossman saw his numbers dip last season in comparison to 2016, but his value as a fourth outfielder stays true. The 28-year-old hit a .246/.361/.380 line in 382 at-bats. 2016 was a career year for the switch-hitter, so it remains unlikely Grossman could continue to improve from what he has already displayed. He fared better against right-handed pitching last season, hitting 8 home runs and batting .250. He did score 62 runs despite being a part-time player.
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| Jake Cave |
Grossman’s defense is still a liability, and the recent acquisition of Jake Cave may be something to follow as the season trickles along. Cave, who was dealt to the Twins from the Yankees in exchange for right-hander Luis Gil on March 16, presents a cheaper and younger (25-years-old) option if the Twins want to explore that route sometime during the season. Cave will begin the season in Rochester but could get a call up at any time. He can play all outfield positions and in the last couple of seasons, his power display has increased significantly. Cave has three minor league options left so his usage could be stashed on the 40-man roster until needed.
The 25-year-old Granite provides some speed off the bench, as well as a good eye at the plate. Through a small sample size last season, Granite showed he could hit for solid contact. His power is almost non-existent, however, and he is yet another left-handed bat on the Twins’ roster. His defense provides good range, but his arm might be the biggest liability in terms of his abilities. Counting Cave, the Twins’ outfield consists of four left-handed bats.
Stay tuned for the next Twins preview, when the infield is highlighted.
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