The composition of the Minnesota Twins’ projected beginning lineup caught my eye whereas I used to be perusing Roster Useful resource through the Winter Conferences. Not solely had been all however two of the 9 place gamers homegrown: every of these seven was drafted in both the primary or second spherical. Byron Buxton (first spherical in 2012) is the oldest of the bunch, whereas Luke Keaschall (second spherical in 2023) is the youngest and most up-to-date.
The place do the Twins rank amongst MLB golf equipment when it comes to homegrown position-player starters taken within the first two rounds? In line with Jon Becker, who together with Jason Martinez retains Roster Useful resource operating like a well-oiled machine, the Minnesotans prime the record. Furthermore, whereas the Baltimore Orioles have six, and three different golf equipment have 5, the remaining have notably fewer. Absolutely half of the 30 groups have not more than three, together with the Houston Astros, Miami Marlins, and Toronto Blue Jays, who’ve none.
My colleague supplied me with another roster-construction breakdowns as effectively, however earlier than we get to these, let’s hear from Minnesota’s president of baseball operations. I requested Derek Falvey what the aforementioned seven-of-nine says about his group.
“What I believe it says is that we’ve had a run of men that we’ve recognized within the draft, close to the highest,” he replied. “Nobody goes to bat 1.000 within the draft — everyone knows that — however now we have a lot of [picks].. who’ve discovered a option to contribute on the massive league degree. It speaks so much to our improvement course of, too.
Once you go searching our subject, Royce [Lewis] was a first-overall choose [2017], however Matt Wallner was slightly bit deeper [39th overall, 2019],” continued Falvey. “Luke Keaschall [49th overall, 2023] was a terrific discover from our beginner guys. He wasn’t essentially high-profile popping out of Arizona State, so a great job by our scouting group, and by our improvement crew to make him higher. Ryan Jeffers [59th overall, 2018] has been a really regular catcher for a very long time. He got here up by means of our system. So, what I believe it means — hopefully what it means — is that it’s a reflection of a great course of, and partnership, between participant improvement and scouting.”
On the opposite facet of the coin is a present scarcity of impression bats that aren’t homegrown. Solely Josh Bell, a latest free-agent signing, and Austin Martin, a 2021 commerce acquisition, came visiting from different organizations (and the latter could quickly be usurped by 2023 first-rounder Walker Jenkins, or by Emmanuel Rodriguez, whom the Twins signed as a young person out of the Dominican Republic in 2019.
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Various different groups — I introduced up the Los Angeles Dodgers for instance — have had success whereas being largely transactional. Whereas the defending World Sequence champions have undeniably drafted and developed effectively, they’ve additionally made themselves higher by way of trades and the free agent market (having deep coffers — ditto a willingness to spend — clearly helps).
“I don’t assume there may be one-size-fits-all for any workforce,” stated Falvey. “You have to have some homegrown gamers. There have been stretches of time the place we’ve had a bunch of [acquisitions] on our workforce. Two of the pitchers on the prime of our rotation had been traded for, Pablo [López] and Joe [Ryan], at totally different phases of their careers. Jhoan Duran was a commerce, however he was in A-Ball and we grew him up by means of the minor leagues.
“You don’t wish to shut off any valves to doubtlessly get expertise into your system,” Falvey added. “Most likely the most effective groups general, over time, discover a option to mix all of that. They get their prime draft picks, they pick a number of guys later within the draft — in our case, that’s a Bailey Ober [346th, 2017], or a Griffin Jax [93rd overall, 2016] changing himself from an up-and-down starter to a great reliever. We’d like extra of that.”
Again to Becker and our Roster Useful resource projected 2026 lineups (as of this previous Monday).
Whereas the Twins have probably the most homegrown first- and second-rounders presently slated to start out, they don’t have probably the most homegrown gamers general. That distinction belongs to the St. Louis Cardinals, who’ve eight (seven draft picks and one worldwide signing). In the meantime, Minnesota is joined by half a dozen different groups in having seven gamers who had been both drafted by the group or signed as amateurs out of the worldwide ranks (this excludes gamers coming over from NPB or the KBO). The six are the Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Guardians, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, and Kansas Metropolis Royals.
On the alternative finish of the spectrum are the Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates with two every, the San Diego Padres with one, and the Miami Marlins who don’t have any.
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RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Wee Willie Keeler went 12 for 30 towards Pete Dowling.
Pee Wee Reese went 12 for 29 towards Artwork Fowler.
Minnie Minoso went 12 for 28 towards Sid Hudson.
Roy Smalley went 12 for 27 towards Milt Wilcox.
Dick “Dr. Strangeglove” Stuart went 12 for 26 towards Chris Brief.
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Common readers of this column could recall that I’ve questioned (criticized is perhaps a greater phrase) Crimson Sox supervisor Alex Cora’s determination to often pencil Ceddanne Rafaela’s identify into the beginning lineup at second base, which he did 14 occasions in 2025. Whereas Cora’s choices had been considerably restricted as a result of accidents, taking part in baseball’s finest defensive centerfielder out of place was arguably a misguided transfer.
In line with the workforce’s president of baseball operations, that’s unlikely to occur once more in 2026. Craig Breslow stated the next when he met with the Boston media over Zoom earlier this week:
“We’ve seen the way in which that Ceddanne can impression the sport in heart subject. The remainder of the league took discover — clearly, he was awarded a Gold Glove there — and I believe we’re a greater workforce with Ceddanne in heart subject. We’ll attempt to hold him there as a lot as we presumably can.”
A followup query appeared so as: Was the younger outfielder’s offensive improvement hindered by his’ shuttling forwards and backwards between positions (from mid-July by means of August)?
“His routine when it comes to offensive preparation didn’t change in any respect,” replied Breslow. “However I can’t actually converse as to if or not including one other variable — that being no matter place he was taking part in and the defensive prep — had an impact on him. The extra stability we will present, and positively he’s an elite defender in centerfield, the higher off we’re going to be, and the most definitely he’s going to be.”
As I’ve written beforehand (sure, I’m possibly beating a lifeless horse right here) Rafaela had a 114 wRC+ earlier than being taken out of his consolation zone, and by season’s finish that quantity had slid to 91. Furthermore, he had a minus-21 wRC+ over 79 plate appearances whereas being stationed at second base.
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A quiz:
The Orioles have performed in Baltimore since 1954. Since that point, solely two O’s have recored 200 or extra hits in a single season greater than as soon as. Cal Ripken Jr is one in every of them. Who’s the opposite? (A touch: he additionally had one 200-plus-hit season with one other workforce.)
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NEWS NOTES
Albert Corridor, an outfielder who performed for the Atlanta Braves from 1981-1988, and for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1989, died on December 16 at age 67. A local of Birmingham, Alabama who logged 202 big-league hits, Corridor was ceaselessly utilized as a pinch-runner. All instructed, he swiped 67 bases, together with 33 in 1987.
Andy Kosco, an outfielder who performed for seven groups throughout the 1965-1974 seasons, died on December 19 at age 84. Initially with the Twins, the Youngstown, Ohio native noticed most of his motion with the Dodgers, with whom he hammered a career-best 19 house runs in 1969.
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The reply to the quiz is Miguel Tejada. The erstwhile All-Star shortstop had 203 hits in 2004, and 214 hits in 2006, throughout his Orioles tenure. He additionally had a 204-hit season with the Oakland Athletics.
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A random obscure former participant snapshot:
Joe Roa performed the smallest roles on back-to-back Cleveland Indians golf equipment that gained 100 and 99 video games respectively earlier than occurring to lose within the postseason. In 1995, the right-hander made one look (his first within the majors) and surrendered 4 runs over six innings. He then made one look in 1996 and allowed two runs over one-and-two-thirds innings. The Southfield, Michigan native then went west. Roa was the PTBNL within the December 1996 commerce that despatched Jeff Kent and others to the San Francisco Giants in alternate for Matt Williams.
Roa went on to play for 5 groups throughout the 1997-2004 seasons, with that physique of labor comprising 120 video games and a 4.94 ERA over 266 innings. His most intensive expertise got here with yet one more workforce that performed October baseball. In 2004, Roa made 48 reduction appearances for the Twins, incomes a pair of wins and registering a 4.50 ERA over 70 frames. As was the case with Cleveland, he didn’t pitch within the postseason.
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FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Jaylin Rae is slashing .400/.443/.544 with a pair of house runs in 101 plate appearances for the Australian Baseball League’s Sydney Blue Sox. The 24-year-old Sydney-born infielder/outfielder performed collegiately at each Charleston Southern and Western Kentucky.
Bobby Dalbec has signed with NPB’s Yomiuri Giants. A fourth-round choose by the Boston Crimson Sox in 2016, the College of Arizona product left the yard 25 occasions in 2021 — his first full big-league season — solely to then have his profession go south. Dalbec heads to Japan having batted .222 with 47 homers over 1,065 MLB plate appearances.
Harold Castro will reportedly be a part of the KBO’s Kia Tigers subsequent season. A local of Caracas, Venezuela who has performed each place however catcher, “Hittin’ Harold” was with the Detroit Tigers from 2018-2022, and the Colorado Rockies in 2023.
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Junior Caminero had a stupendous first full big-league season with the Tampa Bay Rays. The 22-year-old (he celebrated that birthday in July) slugger bashed 45 house runs whereas logging a 129 wRC+ and 4.6 WAR. However whereas the bat is what stood out, Kevin Money made it some extent to deliver up his glove when requested in regards to the third-sacker through the Winter Conferences.
“What we don’t speak about sufficient is that popping out of spring coaching there was authentic concern about his protection,” stated the Tampa Bay supervisor, who admittedly wasn’t absolutely assured in that facet of Caminero’s recreation. “I give him a lot credit score. After a couple of month in, actually engaged on his protection with Brady Williams and Rodney Linares, he turned an excellent defensive participant to the place when the sport was on the road, and there was a floor ball hit [to] third base, we felt actually good about it.”
The numbers don’t precisely agree with Money’s “excellent defensive participant” evaluation — Caminero completed with 18 errors, in addition to a minus-5 DRS and a minus-3 OAA — however he nonetheless did present enchancment. Given his potential to punish pitchers, Caminero doesn’t must be Brooks Robinson with a view to present All-Star-quality worth.
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LINKS YOU’LL LIKE
At The Athletic, Jayson Stark’s Unusual However True 2025 compilation highlights performs and moments that stood out for being… effectively, unusual however true.
Voros McCracken has began a Substack. The eponymously-titled first entry is I Guess You’re Questioning How I Bought Right here.
CBS Sports activities’s Matt Snyder wrote about how Manny Ramirez is fading quietly into the sundown in his last 12 months of BBWAA-ballot eligibility.
Purple Row’s Renee Deshert wrote about how new Colorado Rockies president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta is constructing belief and, a lot to her approval, a workforce of nerds.
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RANDOM FACTS AND STATS
Pete Fairbanks, who has reportedly agreed to a free-agent contract with the Miami Marlins, has made 15 profession appearances towards the workforce he’s slated to affix. Over these outings, the 32-year-old righty reliever has tossed 15 scoreless frames whereas holding batters to 5 hits in 50 at-bats. He’s 1-0 with 5 saves versus the Fish.
Los Angeles Dodgers batters have mixed to attract 5,702 walks over the previous 10 seasons, probably the most within the majors. Kansas Metropolis Royals batters have mixed to attract 3,983 walks over the previous 10 seasons, the fewest within the majors.
Mike Mussina went 270-153. He allowed 3,460 hits and 1,559 runs.
Andy Pettitte went 256-153. He allowed 3,448 hits and 1,572 runs.
The Toronto Blue Jays signed Frank Catalanotto on in the present day’s date in 2002. Beforehand with the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers, “The Cat” proceeded to play 4 seasons north of the border, placing up a 111 wRC+ and 6.1 WAR. He had a two-homer recreation towards the Tigers in 2003, and a 6-for-6 recreation towards the White Sox in 2004.
The Chicago White Sox signed Darrin Jackson as a free agent on in the present day’s date in 1993. Beforehand with 4 groups, together with the crosstown Cubs, Jackson went on to bat a career-best .312 with 10 house runs and a 114 wRC+ for the South Siders in 1994. The personable former outfielder has been a broadcast analyst for the White Sox since 2000.
Gamers born on in the present day’s date embrace Myles Jaye, a right-hander from Fayetteville, Georgia whose MLB profession comprised 5 appearances with the Detroit Tigers in 2017. His first two outings had been a stroll within the park — a mixed five-and-two-thirds scoreless frames — whereas his remaining three had been a veritable prepare wreck. Over seven innings, Jaye was jolted for 15 runs. All instructed, his ledger features a file of 1-2 and a 12.08 ERA.
Additionally born on in the present day’s date was Depend Sensenderfer, an outfielder who batted .299 whereas coming to the plate 234 occasions whereas taking part in for the Nationwide Affiliation’s Philadelphia Athletics from 18971-1874. Per his B-Ref bio web page, Sensenderfer holds the file for many profession at-bats with no stroll by a non-pitcher.