The Minnesota Twins have been a competitive team in the American League Central division for many years. With a strong core of young players and a promising farm system, the Twins are poised to continue their success in the coming years. One key aspect of any successful baseball team is a strong pitching rotation. In this article, we will take a look ahead and predict the pitching rotation for the Minnesota Twins in 2023.
First, let’s take a look at the current state of the Twins’ pitching staff. The team has a solid group of starters, including Jose Berrios, Kenta Maeda, Michael Pineda, and J.A. Happ. However, all of these pitchers are over 30 years old and will likely be nearing the end of their careers by 2023. The Twins will need to look to their younger pitchers to step up and fill these roles in the coming years.
One pitcher who is already making waves in the Twins’ organization is Jordan Balazovic. Balazovic is a 22-year-old right-hander who was drafted by the Twins in the fifth round of the 2016 MLB draft. He has shown great potential in his minor league career, posting a 2.69 ERA and striking out 10.9 batters per nine innings in 2019. Balazovic has a mid-90s fastball and a devastating slider, making him a top prospect for the Twins.
Another young pitcher who could make an impact in the Twins’ rotation is Jhoan Duran. Duran is a 23-year-old right-hander who was acquired by the Twins in the trade that sent Eduardo Escobar to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2018. Duran has a fastball that can touch triple digits and a developing slider that has shown promise. He posted a 3.76 ERA and struck out 10.7 batters per nine innings in 2019, showing that he has the potential to be a top pitcher in the majors.
Randy Dobnak is another young pitcher who could make a name for himself in the Twins’ rotation. Dobnak is a 26-year-old right-hander who was signed by the Twins as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He made his major league debut in 2019 and posted a 1.59 ERA in nine appearances. Dobnak has a sinker that induces ground balls and a slider that can generate swings and misses. He may not have the same high-end stuff as Balazovic or Duran, but he has shown that he can get outs at the major league level.
Finally, we have to mention Brusdar Graterol. Graterol was a top prospect in the Twins’ organization before he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020. However, he is still only 22 years old and has the potential to be a dominant pitcher in the majors. Graterol has a fastball that can reach triple digits and a slider that can be devastating when he’s on his game. If he can stay healthy and develop his secondary pitches, he could be a key piece of the Twins’ rotation in the coming years.
So, what will the Twins’ pitching rotation look like in 2023? It’s impossible to say for sure, but we can make some educated guesses based on the current state of the team. Here’s our prediction:
1. Jordan Balazovic
2. Jhoan Duran
3. Randy Dobnak
4. Brusdar Graterol
5. TBD (likely a veteran free agent signing or trade acquisition)
This rotation would feature four young pitchers with high ceilings and plenty of potential. Balazovic and Duran would be the top two starters, with Dobnak and Graterol rounding out the middle of the rotation. The fifth spot would likely be filled by a veteran pitcher who can provide stability and mentorship to the younger pitchers.
Of course, this is all speculation at this point. The Twins’ pitching staff could look very different in 2023 than it does today. However, if these young pitchers continue to develop and reach their potential, the Twins could have a dominant rotation for years to come.
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