AL Central-Leading Minnesota Twins Need These Three MLBbros To Produce Down The Playoff Stretch

AL Central-Leading Minnesota Twins Need These Three MLBbros To Produce Down The Playoff Stretch

by | Jul 28, 2023 | THE THREE SPOT

The Minnesota Twins are currently 54-50, two games ahead of the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central. They are in a great position heading into a weekend series against the lowly Kansa City Royals. However, the Twins will not be able to make a sustained playoff push without their MLBbros contributing to the cause.

 

MLBbro Michael A. Taylor On the Move From Kansas City To Minnesota In Offseason Deal

 

Michael A. Taylor

Micheal Taylor has been enjoying his best month of the season in July. With a batting average of .268 and OPS of .821, Taylor has helped the Twins go 13-8 so far this month (as of July 27).  Providing stability at the bottom of the lineup, the MLBbro has been a welcome addition to the Twins in his first year. His solid play in the outfield has also allowed the team to use the injury plagued Buxton at the DH position.

 

Buxton Struggles Post All-Star Break 

 

Buxton Busts Out

 

The Twins are hoping that some of the recent struggles that have plagued their slugger, MLBbro Byron Buxton, will go away. Post All-Star break, Buxton has batted only .091, tallying only three hits in 33 at-bats. There are some concerns with his lower-than-normal OPS (.702). He still has significant power, evidenced by 30 of his 57 hits being extra-base hits. Eliminating some of the strikeouts will go a long way in helping Buxton to get back to himself down the stretch.

Boasting an exit velocity that ranks in the 77th percentile shows that he is hitting the ball hard, just not in the right spots, so a breakout is almost inevitable.

 

The Bro Show In Minnesota Has The Twin Cities Shaking | Big Bux, Nick The Quick, Web Master M.A.T. On The Job

 

Nick Gordon Injury Update 

 

MLBbro Nick Gordon has not played since May 17th. He fractured his right shin and has been on the IL ever since. He is slated to resume baseball activities as early as next week. His versatility will be a welcome addition, especially as a playoff stretch piece that comes from inside the clubhouse, rather than via a trade. The Twins will need all hands on deck to keep their playoff hopes alive and to fend off the pesky Guardians. The return of another solid young player like Gordon, could help them in many ways.

“I Just Want To Be A Part Of The Team” | 2017 No.1 Overall Pick Royce Lewis Hopes To Make Way Back To Twins Roster After Second Torn ACL

“I Just Want To Be A Part Of The Team” | 2017 No.1 Overall Pick Royce Lewis Hopes To Make Way Back To Twins Roster After Second Torn ACL

by | Apr 27, 2023 | THE THREE SPOT

When the Minnesota Twins called up 2017 No.1 overall pick Royce Lewis last May, the belief was the talented shortstop was finally ready to contribute to the team that surprisingly chose him with the top overall pick five years earlier. Upon being called up, Lewis played in the outfield because the team has former Houston Astros star Carlos Correa at shortstop.

 

 

Dynamic Shortstop Royce Lewis Has To Change Positions To Play For Minnesota Twins

As Lewis began to show the tools that made him the top pick, with 12 hits in 40 at-bats, two homers and five RBI, he crashed into the centerfield wall, tearing his ACL for the second time in as many seasons.

 

 

Since then, Lewis has been working tirelessly to get back on the field and hopefully back onto the Twins 26-man roster.

 

Lewis Has Been Cleared To Run Bases

 

Prior to leaving the team’s spring training facility in Fort Meyers, Florida, Lewis was cleared by team trainer Nick Paparesta to partake in live batting practice sessions and run the bases. He was also added to the 60-day injured list, meaning he’s on the fast track to get back on a daily basis. Paparesta also says the hope was to have Lewis playing minor league games by Mid-April, while that hasn’t happened, his time to return to the field is days away.

  

 

Lewis spoke of a mix of anxiety and patience during his rehab process.

 

 

“I just want to be part of the team. Just cracking this roster — this roster is amazing. If you can crack this roster, it says a lot about you as a player and how good you are,” Lewis told The Athletic in a recent interview. This team is really good, and I think my main goal is just to make the team. I think it’d be a tough year for me if I’m stuck in Triple A all year or Double A or injured again. Those are my goals: stay healthy and make the team.”

 

 It’s been about 10 months since Lewis tore his ACL, and the Twins are taking their time and making sure MLB Pipeline’s 39th-ranked prospect is fully healthy when he returns to field.

  

 

 

 

 

Team Had To Pump Brakes On Lewis Rehab

 

Lewis is young, strong and vibrant and has been able to avoid serious injury, which made him believe he could get back faster than doctors projected. While that’s the type of attitude you want to see, Twins brass stepped in and slowed him down a bit. During his interview in late March, Lewis also told The Athletic that he felt 90-100 percent healthy with the hope of getting to 120 percent.

 

But the aforementioned Paparesta, along with team doctors Keith Meister and Chris Camp, devised a plan that’s working to get Lewis back at full strength.

 

“It’s going to be a month-long progression of moving him up through his at-bats and into his time in the field and then we’ll look at a rehab assignment at that point in time,” Paparesta said. “All of that has been explained to Royce up front. Royce, I’m very excited that he’s excited and that he’s ready.”

 

 

The hope is that Lewis can return to the majors in the middle of the summer, and no matter how well he seems to be progressing, they’re sticking to that plan. Lewis says he understands that he has to approach his injury maturely, despite his desire to get back out there.

 

 

What Position Will Lewis Play When He Returns To Majors?

 

 

Lewis will continue to take most of his work at shortstop despite Correa being there, and as of now there’s been no plan to move him elsewhere. That could change, especially if the Twins who are currently (14-10) and in first place in the AL Central continue to gel into a strong playoff contender.

 

Lewis is only 23, with such a bright future ahead of him and this is just a minor setback, the nature of sports.