"THE TWINS WERE NOT WHAT WE EXPECTED" BY JEFF CROYLE

Minnesota Twins player on base during a baseball game.

ON THE OFFENSIVE

Entering today's game, the Minnesota Twins were in a place not many expected. First place. Not only first place in the American League Central, but first place in the entire American League. With a record of 11-7 after Tuesday night's 6-0 win over the Boston Red Sox, Minnesota is the top tier of team stats. The Twins offense had homered fourteen times in the last six games and twenty-four on the season. Minnesota has scored ninety-eight runs on the season (second-most in the American League - Houston 102). So, what has changed? A combination of young talent (hitting & pitching), a new manager, and the chemistry throughout the team. The expectations were low and on paper were not supposed to be this good; but they are. Can this team sustain this production over a full season? We shall see.

Baseball player from the Twins sliding into a base during a game.

Young TALENT IS THE KEY TO THE TWINS SUCCESS

Many expected the team veterans to be good if healthy, but what about the young talent that has been consistently being productive? Luke Keaschall, Brooks Lee, and Kody Clemens have all contributed to this team's success. You add Tristan Gray and Ryan Kreidler to that production, then the team's odds of a win dramatically increase. This is the result of good team chemistry. Hitting is contagious and it has been showing early here in the season. The question about these young players are can they stay healthy and can they be consistent? These young players are fun to watch and worth the price of admission.

Baseball pitcher Bradley in mid-pitch, wearing a white uniform with number 26.

PITCHING WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE THIS GOOD

Entering the season there were a lot of question marks around the pitching staff. The Twins and their fans took a huge hit when the news was released that Minnesota's ace Pablo Lopez's season was over before it even started. Then came the news of Joe Ryan's back issues and of course the bullpen that was depleted in trades. The bullpen has been shaky at times, but have held it together for the most-part. It is shaping up to be Cole Sands as the team's primary closer moving forward. The surprise so far this season is the success of Taj Bradley (who they received in a trade with Tampa Bay for Griffin Jax). Already 3-0 on the season with a 1.25 ERA, this trade is looking like a steal for the Twins organization. Mick Abel has been another pleasant surprise after blanking the Red Sox last night for seven innings allowing only four hits and zero runs. Bailey Ober has been the inconsistent pitcher in this rotation so far this year. He hasn't seemed comfortable and has been laboring trying to get back to being the pitcher the team needs him to be. It is still early and there is hope for a better season than many thought they would not be seeing.