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The Twins have rattled off 5 consecutive wins, pushing themselves a season-high six video games above .500. Paired with the Guardians dropping eight of their final 10, Minnesota has stretched their lead within the AL Central to five.5 video games. Unexpectedly, solely the Braves have a bigger cushion on the prime of a division.
That’s considerably a mirrored image of an in any other case dismal AL Central, in fact. But Minnesota has a 19-12 document because the begin of June and the sixth-best run differential general (+53) amongst American League golf equipment. They’re enjoying like a authentic playoff staff.
Among the many causes for Minnesota’s improved manufacturing of late: a considerably quiet constructing case for Rookie of the 12 months consideration. Edouard Julien owns a .299/.389/.512 batting line by way of his first 235 plate appearances. Among the many 43 first-year gamers with 200+ journeys to the dish, none is reaching base at the next clip. Solely Corbin Carroll, Matt McLain, Yainer Diaz and Luke Raley have a greater slugging mark.
Julien has solely performed 65 video games, roughly three-fifths of the motion logged by the likes of Josh Jung and Gunnar Henderson. He’d be behind that duo in Rookie of the 12 months consideration if the season ended as we speak. There’s an opportunity for Julien to shut that hole within the season’s ultimate couple months (significantly with Jung set to miss six weeks because of a thumb fracture that’ll require surgical procedure).
Award consideration apart, the extra significant improvement is the introduction of a middle-of-the-order caliber bat into Minnesota’s lineup. That didn’t come out of nowhere. The lefty-swinging Julien had been considered one of many extra gifted offensive gamers within the minor leagues earlier than making his MLB debut. There’s some quantity of uncertainty with any prospect earlier than they get publicity to huge league pitching, although, and Julien has solely 38 video games of Triple-A expertise below his belt.
The 24-year-old hasn’t had any points in opposition to MLB pitching to date. His ends in the minors had been constructed on energy and a particularly affected person plate strategy. He’s exhibiting the identical profile on the MLB stage. Julien virtually by no means chases pitches off the plate; his 18.9% swing charge on choices outdoors the strike zone is lowest amongst all MLB hitters with 200+ plate appearances. Julien is swinging at pitches inside the zone at a roughly common clip. That’s typically the strategy one would wish to see from a hitter, significantly a rookie — affected person with out getting too passive.
Julien’s consolation working deep counts is of course going to return with a good variety of strikeouts. There’s additionally just a few swing-and-miss in his recreation; he’s made contact on 72.2% of his swings, roughly 4 share factors under the 76.4% league common. Julien will most likely strike out too typically to be a .300 hitter. His .410 common on balls in play is sure for some regression.
There’s no want for Julien to run a near-.300 common to be a productive participant, although. He’s going to work loads of walks to maintain his OBP ground excessive. Prospect evaluators have credited him with above-average to plus energy potential. Julien has proven that on the MLB stage, connecting on 10 homers with a top quality 42.9% onerous contact share.
The remaining concern in Julien’s offensive profile might be his restricted monitor document in opposition to same-handed pitching. The Twins have shielded him in opposition to southpaws, maintaining him to 29 MLB plate appearances to date. In 2022, he had marked platoon splits in Double-A. Julien hit .332/.465/.566 in opposition to righties within the minors final season in comparison with a .210/.373/.276 exhibiting versus left-handers.
For now, the Twins are proud of a rookie who’s mashing right-handed pitching. The Twins have struggled as a staff in opposition to southpaws, however they’ve Donovan Solano, Kyle Farmer and switch-hitting Willi Castro readily available as righty-capable infielders who can take some stress off Julien within the quick time period.
Transferring ahead, the larger query is the place Julien matches greatest defensively. Scouting studies have lengthy pegged him as a properly below-average defender at second base, the place he’s spent nearly all of his skilled profession. Public metrics have panned his work over his first 366 MLB innings on the keystone.
The Twins have lived with the subpar center infield glove to inject extra life into the offense. Julien’s two promotions have been in response to accidents to Jorge Polanco. The latter is now wholesome, however the Twins reshuffled their infield to maintain Julien within the lineup. Polanco has began 4 instances at third base since being reinstated from the IL on July 28, his first work on the sizzling nook in seven years.
Whether or not Minnesota feels that’s a long-term possibility stays to be seen. The Twins may welcome Royce Lewis again from an indirect pressure throughout the subsequent couple weeks. The previous first general decide has battled myriad damage points all through his profession however been a productive participant every time wholesome. Lewis might be ticketed for normal run on the sizzling nook when he returns. That might push Polanco again to the keystone and maybe transfer Julien right into a main designated hitter capability.
That’d allow Minnesota to chop into the enjoying time of Joey Gallo, who’s hitting .156/.276/.349 since a superb first month. Past this season, Julien’s emergence figures to solely increase extra questions on the opportunity of subtracting a left-handed bat so as to add extra lineup steadiness. Gallo’s impending free company will take away one participant from the group, whereas the membership can have a web $9MM possibility determination on Max Kepler.
In the event that they’re comfy with Julien as a tolerable (if fringy) defender at second base, that would result in an fascinating query on Polanco’s future. Minnesota can carry the veteran infielder again on a $10.5MM possibility. That’s stable worth — earlier than this yr’s injury-plagued season, Polanco was one of many league’s higher offensive second basemen — however may make him a possible commerce candidate. The Brewers, as an example, exercised an possibility on Kolten Wong earlier than dealing him to Seattle final offseason.
These are selections the Minnesota entrance workplace may weigh three months from now. Within the interim, they’ll be thrilled with Julien’s glorious begin to his profession. Wherever he performs, he seems to be like an affect piece within the lineup, at the very least in opposition to right-handed pitching. The Twins are in pole place for a division title after a disappointing 2021-22 stretch, partly due to their hot-hitting rookie.
Picture courtesy of USA Immediately Sports activities.
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