6 crucial moments that helped the Twins win the AL Central
For the first time since 2020 and the third time in the past five seasons, the Minnesota Twins are American League Central Division champions.
While there are plenty of questions (and an 18-game postseason losing streak) heading into October, there are also plenty of moments that helped them return to the postseason.
1. The Twins trade for Pablo López
Twins fans weren't happy when they traded fan favorite and reigning AL batting champion Luis Arráez to the Miami Marlins, but López has been worth the cost as an arm that stabilized the Twins starting rotation.
López hasn't seen a big jump in his stats, going 11-8 with a 3.61 ERA this season compared to 10-10 with a 3.75 ERA in his final season with the Marlins. But the Twins have unlocked him in other areas including a 34.3 percent chase rate and a 29.2 percent strikeout rate.
While those numbers helped López make his first career All-Star appearance, it also added a legitimate hurler to the rotation and gave the Twins a top-tier starter to take the ball in Friday's division-clinching win over the Los Angeles Angels.
López, Joe Ryan and fellow All-Star Sonny Gray have given the Twins their deepest stable of starters in recent memory and should provide a chance for a deep run in the playoffs.
2. The Twins trade for Michael A. Taylor
The Twins traded minor league relievers Evan Sisk and Steven Cruz to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Taylor last January and it seemed like an insurance plan for Byron Buxton. As it turned out, Taylor became the everyday centerfielder and provided enough in the field and at the plate to be a key contributor.
A former Gold Glove winner, Taylor is known for his defense with several highlight-reel catches and eight outs above average (13th among all centerfielders this season), but he also stepped up at the plate with a career-high 20 home runs in 334 at-bats.
Ideally, the Twins would like to have Buxton return to the outfield at some point in his career but Taylor was an under-the-radar move that provided big dividends.
3. The Twins acquire Willi Castro and Donovan Solano
Speaking of under-the-radar moves, the acquisitions of Castro and Solano didn't draw much excitement but both players have played key roles in the Twins' success.
Castro signed a minor league deal with the Twins last December and was coming off an inconsistent four seasons with the Detroit Tigers, but he went on to have his best full season in the majors (excluding 2020) hitting .252/.326/.413 with nine homers, 34 RBI and 32 stolen bases while serving as a utility player.
Meanwhile, Solano was a late addition to the Twins, signing a one-year, $2 million deal in February. "Donnie Barrels" lived up to his nickname with his 6.6 percent barrel rate and a 43.8 percent "sweet spot" rate which ranked in the 99th percentile of major league hitters while also holding down first base.
Both players wound up providing the Twins with the type of depth the team lacked one year ago and could play pivotal roles in October.
4. Max Kepler and Jorge Polanco's resurgence
When the Twins were struggling in late July, it seemed like Kepler and Polanco's days in Minnesota were numbered. But both veterans showed they have plenty left in the tank during a late-season resurgence.
Polanco battled a hamstring injury for the first couple of months but hit his stride once he got on the field. While a case could have been made for Edouard Julien to take over the second base role, Polanco responded by hitting .270/.375/.467 with eight homers and 31 RBI in 200 plate appearances in the second half.
While Polanco's return to form has been impressive, Kepler's has been staggering considering most Twins fans wanted him off the team last June. After hitting .188/.262/.361 in 39 games on June 9, Kepler erupted to hit .281/.352/.519 with 16 homers and 45 RBI over the final 85 games.
There's no indication of how long this fountain of youth will last but Kepler and Polanco have once again become staples for the Twins' lineup.
5. The Guardians' Fire Sale
No team wins a division by themselves and the Twins had a little bit of help when the Guardians sold most of their assets at the trade deadline despite being two games back of the division lead on Aug. 1.
The Guardians began their purge by trading Amed Rosario to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Noah Syndergaard on July 26. The moves continued when they traded Aaron Civale to the Tampa Bay Rays on July 31 and Josh Bell to the Miami Marlins on July 31.
Syndergaard was later designated for assignment by the club and Bell has a .792 OPS in 46 games with the Marlins. The Guardians backtracked by claiming Matt Moore, Reynaldo López and Lucas Giolito off of waivers on Aug. 31 but the Twins punished those moves by tagging Giolito for nine runs in three innings in a 20-6 win over Cleveland on Sept. 4.
The Guardians probably wouldn't have won the division had they kept these players but the decision to tear it down certainly didn't hurt the Twins' chances.
6. The Twins' Youth Movement
This isn't so much a moment as much as it is a new direction but the arrival of several new faces catapulted the Twins over the top in the final weeks of the season.
Julien was the first rookie to make an impact, hitting .266/.380/.455 with 14 homers and 32 RBI over 102 games. Then, Royce Lewis made his return from a torn ACL at the end of May and hit .309/.372/.548 with 15 homers, 52 RBI and six stolen bases in 58 games.
The final piece was Matt Wallner, who obliterated baseballs for a month at Triple-A St. Paul until the Twins finally threw in the towel on Joey Gallo. The Forest Lake native has endured a recent slump but has still posted solid numbers, hitting .245/.367/.484 with 12 homers and 35 RBI in 69 games.
Although Lewis is racing to return from a strained hamstring, these three players played a huge role in leading the Twins to a division title and could be the nucleus for a bright future.
