Carlos Santana has been crucial for the Twins, delivering in high-pressure situations. With runners in scoring position and two outs, he’s hitting 9-for-33 with four home runs and 14 RBIs. As a pinch hitter, Santana is 4-for-7 with two home runs. Though not a flashy offseason signing, his performance, especially in June with a .340/.411/.600 slash line, has been vital for the Twins. If he maintains these stats, he will be remembered as one of the best Twins’ offseason acquisitions.
Griffin Jax, another key player, has shown significant improvement. Last season, he had a 3.86 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 0.7 WAR. This season, Jax boasts a 2.16 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and 1.1 WAR. His reliability in the bullpen has been essential for the Twins’ ability to close games despite overall bullpen struggles.
Joe Ryan has stepped up after the Twins lost Sonny Gray in the offseason, addressing concerns about the starting rotation. Ryan has an ERA of 3.13, leads the team with 95 strikeouts, and has a WHIP of 0.96, ranking seventh in MLB. If he continues at this pace, he might enter the Cy Young conversation and could be considered the ace of the Twins’ staff.
Despite cutting payroll, the Twins have managed to stay competitive by finding valuable free agents like Santana and developing their existing roster. This strategy has kept them in the postseason conversation for 2024, making the most of their resources and talent.
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