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Twins first baseman/outfielder Alex Kirilloff began swinging a bat earlier this month, and is at the moment taking 50-60 swings a day based on Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com. Kirilloff underwent season-ending wrist surgical procedure in August final yr.
Kirilloff has lengthy battled wrist accidents, touchdown on the IL 4 instances for that causes since making his large league debut in 2021. The as soon as extremely touted prospect hasn’t hit a lot in his time within the majors, compiling a mixed .251/.295/.398 line with 11 house runs over 387 plate appearances. That’s a disappointing return for a bat-first participant, though it’s truthful to surprise simply how a lot these wrist points have hampered his output even when he’s been on the energetic roster.
The Twins have a crowded outfield image for the time being, significantly after buying Michael A. Taylor from the Royals, however the commerce of Luis Arraez has seemingly opened up first base for Kirilloff. Given the accidents and output up to now, there’s fairly a little bit of threat in counting on the 25-year-old as the first first baseman, however there’s additionally important upside too. Kirilloff was one of many prime prospects in baseball earlier than reaching the massive leagues, and if he can present he’s previous his wrist points and unlock a few of his potential that Twins might discover themselves with a useful middle-of-the-order bat.
Right here’s another notes from across the league:
- Sticking with the Twins to start with, starter Kenta Maeda is ready for a traditional spring coaching with no restrictions, based on Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Maeda missed the complete 2022 season as he recovered from Tommy John surgical procedure. Maeda, 35 in April, is coming into the ultimate yr of his contract and set to earn a modest $3MM wage. Given he underwent inside brace TJ surgical procedure which usually requires a barely shorter restoration time, and that originally been hope that Maeda can be accessible in direction of the backend of final season, so it’s not an enormous shock that he’s shaping up properly for 2023. Maeda’s most up-to-date pattern of labor got here in 2021, when he labored to a 4.66 ERA over 21 begins.
- As he works his method again from shoulder surgical procedure, Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed has begun hitting and throwing, per Nick Piecoro of AZ Central. Piecoro provides that Ahmed will not be anticipated to have any restrictions by the point spring coaching rolls round. Having been hampered by shoulder issues for the previous few years, Ahmed underwent season-ending surgical procedure in June final yr having been restricted to simply 17 video games in 2022. Ahmed has by no means been an enormous risk on the plate, however has been one of many sport’s finest defenders at shortstop, amassing 154 Outs Above Common since 2016, trailing solely Francisco Lindor’s 161 for finest in baseball in that timeframe. Ahmed, 33 in March, is coming into the ultimate yr of his contract and can take house a $10.375MM payday in 2023.
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