The Minnesota Twins entered the 2016 offseason with big needs on offense.
Minnesota surprisingly finished above .500 in 2015 despite being one of the worst-hitting squads in the league. The Twins lived by the long ball, finishing with 156 home runs (16th), which hid the fact they posted a .247 batting average (26th) and a .305 OBP (28th). The club’s big issue wasn’t necessarily that they didn’t score runs, but that they had trouble getting on base.
General manager Terry Ryan did little to upgrade the club’s offense this summer, aside from signing KBO power hitter Byung-ho Park and upgrading at catcher, trading for John Ryan Murphy. Ryan was betting his team, led by youngsters Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano, would improve year-by-year and Minnesota’s offense would rebound. So far, the Twins offense, which largely remains the same, has struggled big time through 12 games.
The Twins (3-9) currently sit near the bottom of the league in multiple offensive categories. Minnesota has scored the fewest runs in the league with 28 (30th) and hit just seven home runs (26th) to go with a .224 average (22nd) and a .301 OBP (17th). What’s really killed the team is their putrid numbers with runners in scoring position, which can’t possibly last all season. The Twins haven’t hit a home run with a man in scoring position and are last in the league in both average (.168) and runs scored (21) with RISP. It’s hard to win games when your players can’t deliver in big situations.
CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 30: Miguel Sano #22 of the Minnesota Twins rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on September 30, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio during game two of a doubleheader. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
While it’s early, the Twins players who have struggled the most are the youngsters. Sano and Buxton were expected to take the next step towards stardom, but instead have really scuffled at the plate.
Buxton and Sano have a combined 11 hits so far with 30 strikeouts in 65 at bats and no home runs, batting a rancid .154 and .179 respectively. Sano’s struggles have been especially disappointing after he was flat out great in 80 games in 2015, hitting 18 home runs while getting on base at an excellent .385 clip. Buxton’s struggles are less surprising considering he hasn’t hit at the Major League level in his career, but disappointing nonetheless.
The duo aren’t the only Minnesota youngsters to struggle. Fellow outfielder Eddie Rosario is hitting just .146. Murphy, who was supposed to step in for the offensively challenged Kurt Suzuki, only has one hit so far in 18 at bats. Younger players experience plenty of peaks and valleys throughout the season, but the Twins haven’t seen many positives so far in the first 12 games. All of Minnesota’s less experienced players have struggled right out of the gate.
The Twins offense has been kept afloat by its veterans. Joe Mauer (.472 OBP), Eduardo Nunez (.619 OBP), and Trevor Plouffe (two home runs, .302 average) have all had excellent starts, but beyond those three, the Twin’s offense has been flatlining.
Minnesota’s patience might be running thing, as the outfield might have a different look very soon. Veteran David Murphy was recently signed to a minor league contract by the club and he could find his way up soon. La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports one of Sano, Rosario, or Buxton could find their way to AAA in Murphy’s place if their struggles continue.
Ideally, Minnesota would like to have all the youngsters in the lineup to get a chance at everyday at bats at the major league level, but the Twins don’t want to do that at the expense of wins. Minnesota’s offense has been awful and it’s largely due to the kids. It’s unlikely they continue to struggle this badly all year, but it’s not encouraging to see all of Minnesota’s youngsters come up this empty early in the season.
