2024 season: Eradicated on Sept. 27, 4th in AL Central
Let’s check out the season that was for the 2024 Minnesota Twins, the questions the staff should tackle this winter and the early outlook for 2025.
Learn extra:2024 MLB offseason previews: What’s subsequent for the White Sox, A’s, Cubs and extra?
Issues that went proper
The Twins stayed within the postseason race till the ultimate weekend of the season by way of a staff effort. This was a membership that posted a profitable document regardless of having no place participant log an .800 OPS over a minimum of 110 video games and no pitcher document a sub-3.50 ERA over greater than 100 innings. Moderately, there have been a number of Twins who offered helpful contributions.
Nobody on the Twins’ roster will end the season with greater than 25 homers, 75 RBI or 20 stolen bases, however Matt Wallner, Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton have been the highest offensive contributors and will every end with an OPS within the higher .800s or low .900s. 4 extra Twins — Jose Miranda, Trevor Larnach, Ryan Jeffers and Carlos Santana — will end with an OPS within the mid-.700s whereas enjoying in additional than 110 video games.
In the meantime, the pitching workers was anchored by Pablo López, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober and Simeon Woods Richardson, who all logged a sub-4.20 ERA throughout a minimum of 130 innings. Additionally, Griffin Jax emerged because the staff’s most dependable reliever, producing spectacular ratios whereas rating second on the membership in saves and main the staff in appearances and holds.
Issues that went unsuitable
Minnesota stayed within the postseason race primarily as a result of its letdowns had been all comparatively minor. Royce Lewis continued a sample of struggling to remain wholesome, as he was capable of play in roughly half of the staff’s video games. The 25-year-old was a strong offensive participant however not fairly as efficient as he was in 58 video games the earlier yr (.921 OPS). Edouard Julien was a much bigger disappointment. After producing an .839 OPS throughout 109 video games in 2023, Julien struggled offensively to the purpose that he spent roughly two months of the summer time within the minors.
Minnesota is much from the one staff that struggled to discover a fifth starter, however that was actually an space of disappointment this yr. Louie Varland and Chris Paddack each endured disappointing seasons after opening 2024 within the rotation. Kids David Festa and Zebby Matthews gave their greatest effort to make a late-season influence however didn’t have a lot success. The shortage of rotation depth was particularly notable when the staff was with out Ryan down the stretch.
Total, although, the whole lot was going fairly effectively in Minnesota till the ultimate weeks of the season. On Sept. 5, the Twins had been sitting at 74-62 with a 95.4% probability of qualifying for the postseason, per FanGraphs. Then the Twins had been swept in a pivotal sequence with the Royals, which kicked off a stretch wherein Minnesota went 6-14 from Sept. 6 to Sept. 27. The Twins received simply one in all six sequence throughout that span and fell to 82-78 with their loss to the Orioles on Sept. 27, which eradicated them from the postseason. Throughout that dismal stretch, Lewis, Miranda, Jeffers and Julien all posted an OPS below .500, and Lopez, Festa and Woods Richardson every logged an ERA over 4.50 whereas making a minimum of three begins.
Offseason plans
Many of the Twins’ roster stays below staff management for 2025 and past, however the infield is perhaps the least settled a part of the staff. Jeffers is locked in behind the plate, Correa will play shortstop, and Lewis can man the new nook. Julien and former high prospect Brooks Lee are choices to play second base, and Lee may be a high quality utilityman. First base is the one vacant spot, with Santana heading to free company as a 38-year-old. Alex Kirilloff is a potential alternative, however he has handled accidents all through his profession and posted a lowly .653 OPS in 57 video games this yr.
The outfield is anchored by Buxton in middle and has terrific choices in opposition to right-handed pitchers in Wallner and Larnach. Manuel Margot suits effectively as a right-handed hitter who can begin in opposition to lefties, however he’s unlikely to have his $12 million possibility for 2025 picked up. The staff will probably lose Max Kepler to free company, however he isn’t a fantastic match as one other left-handed hitter alongside Wallner and Larnach. There are additionally elite outfield prospects on the best way (extra on that later).
The rotation is in good condition, because the Large 4 of López, Ober, Ryan and Woods Richardson are all set to return. Festa, Matthews and Varland can compete for the final spot. The staff’s key relievers — Jax, Jhoan Duran, Cole Sands and Jorge Alcala — can even all return. The first lefty within the aid corps, Caleb Thielbar, is heading to free company and can have to be changed.
Minnesota may use a celebrity in the course of its lineup, however these gamers are dear and dangerous on the free-agent market. For instance, Pete Alonso can be a splashy signing at first base however may not match a plan for regular, sustainable success. Nonetheless, the Twins added Correa to a huge, $200 million free-agent contract two years in the past and is perhaps prepared to make one other daring transfer.
Prospects on the horizon
Minnesota’s farm system loved a significant leap this season and ranked second in baseball by August, in accordance with MLB Pipeline.
Emmanuel Rodriguez may very well be the member of the bunch who greatest combines elite expertise and MLB readiness. The 21-year-old rose by way of 4 minor-league ranges this yr, ending the marketing campaign at Triple-A and displaying unbelievable plate self-discipline alongside the best way. He profiles as a real five-tool participant who may be part of the Twins’ outfield early in 2025.
The group has two extra elite position-player prospects who may attain the majors late in 2025. Walker Jenkins, the fifth total choose within the 2023 MLB Draft, is nineteen years previous and has already reached Double-A. He’s thought-about by some publications to be a top-five prospect in baseball and can finally patrol Minnesota’s outfield alongside Rodriguez. Luke Keaschall is one other Minnesota prospect who has an thrilling mix of energy, pace and on-base abilities. He primarily performed second base in faculty however has additionally gained expertise at first base and middle within the minors.
The ceilings aren’t as excessive for the Twins’ pitching prospects, however there are two starters within the minors who ought to contribute subsequent season. Andrew Morris loved a terrific 2024 (2.37 ERA, 133:32 Okay:BB ratio) throughout which he rose all the best way to Triple-A. He ought to debut with the Twins early in 2025. Marco Raya has an equally excessive ceiling however was much less constant this yr and can probably spend the primary half of 2025 engaged on his management within the minors.
This embedded content material just isn’t obtainable in your area.
Subscribe toBaseball Bar-B-Forged onApple Podcasts,Spotify,YouTube orwherever you hear.
Targets for 2025
The Twins are actually not a dynasty, however they’d a strong run of success, with 4 postseason appearances previously eight seasons. Nonetheless, the failure of this yr’s staff to earn key victories in September or return to October, significantly after being effectively positioned to take action, will likely be speaking factors all through the offseason.
The group may make minimal adjustments this winter and nonetheless have an honest probability of profitable the AL Central in 2025. However except they make a minimum of one notable transfer, the Twins will probably proceed to lag behind the American League powerhouses. The entrance workplace might want to determine if being good is sweet sufficient, versus actually taking a run at reaching the World Collection.
MLB playoffs 2024 tracker: Comply with alongside because the postseason image comes into focus
Fantasy focus
Fantasy managers will initially goal the Twins’ beginning pitchers on draft day. Ryan, Ober and López will all be coveted as No. 2 mixed-league starters, with Ryan and López having the potential to be seen by some managers as fantasy aces. Assuming he stays within the nearer’s function, Duran can even be a useful participant in 2025 drafts.
Minnesota’s greatest hitters profile as mid-round picks, together with Correa, Wallner and Buxton. Lewis is the one Twins place participant who may vault into the early rounds, as managers dream about his potential to remain wholesome and publish game-changing numbers throughout a full season.
