Twins

Veteran Depth is Providing Stability for Paul Molitor, Minnesota Twins

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Fernando Romero’s debut was exciting for anyone who has followed the Minnesota Twins’ minor league system this year. The 23-year-0ld prospect went 5.2 innings, striking out five while only giving up four hits in a 4-0 shutout win over the Toronto Blue Jays. In some ways, the Twins No. 2 prospect had arrived and lived up to the hype.

The day before, however, John Curtiss had racked up a 40.50 ERA by giving up three runs on 18 pitches while only recording one out in a 7-4 loss to the Jays on May 1. Curtiss is the Twins No. 20 prospect, according to MLB.com, and has a 2.08 ERA in Triple-A. It was one particularly bad outing, not necessarily an indicator of how he will pitch in the majors.

But for a team that has lost two key players to injury, Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano, and started to slip well below .500 towards the end of April, sometimes veteran depth is preferable to youth with upside. Fans don’t tend to mark the arrival of Matt Magill, Gregorio Petit and Bobby Wilson on their calendars as must-see games, but having a reliever, a guy that can play second and short and a backup catcher is useful for a team that’s trying to make the playoffs in October.

In Bobby’s case it’s been on and off for a lot of years,” said Molitor of Wilson, who got the start on Sunday in place of the injured Jason Castro. “You know that they know how to handle situations. He’s good with his framing, he’s good with his pitch calling. I have no apprehension about trying to get him in here in the mix while Jason’s down.”

Wilson spent the first five years of his career with the Los Angeles Angels, and caught Ervin Santana’s no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians in 2011, but has bounced around since then. He spent 2014 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, 2015 with the Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers and 2016 with Texas, Tampa Bay and the Detroit Tigers.

“He’s a veteran guy,” said Molitor. “He’s certainly a really good receiver. He’s very mindful of the importance of game calling. We’ll try to mix him in when it seems to make sense.”

Apr 29, 2018; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Matt Magill (68) pitches in the fifth inning against Cincinnati Reds at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Magill was the reliever who came in after Curtiss on May 1 against the Jays and got the Twins out of the inning. He was called up during the Cincinnati Reds series, having previously played for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013 and Cincinnati in 2016. In fact, he showed up to Target Field with a Reds bag because that’s what he had packed his stuff in during a rushed departure from Triple-A Rochester.

Magill has made three appearances for the Twins this year and owns a 1.80 ERA, having given up only five hits in 5.0 innings pitched.

He’s been throwing it over for the most part well,” said Molitor. “Basically, a two-pitch mix. He’s got enough velocity to pitch up in the zone. Uses his breaking not only for attempted chases but to get back into counts with strikes.

“He’s kind of had a career where he’s had to deal with adversity, get a taste early and work his way back up. You definitely see the composure from him, the combination of experiences and the fact he’s not a young kid any more. He’s handled it well so far. Gives you two innings there (on Saturday), which picks up the pen.”

Finally, Petit has stepped in and played second and short, allowing Brian Dozier to take a rare day off when he got called up, and adding depth behind Eduardo Escobar and Ehire Adrianza with Jorge Polanco missing for 80 games due to suspension and Miguel Sano out indefinitely.

May 3, 2018; Chicago, IL, USA; Minnesota Twins shortstop Gregorio Petit (40) celebrates after scoring against the Chicago White Sox during the third inning at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

He’s a guy who’s been around,” said Molitor on the day Petit was called up. “He knows what professionalism is about. I actually originally had Doz out last Sunday, but with Miggy’s unavailability, we kept running him out there.”

Petit has delivered immediate results in the three games he’s played in. He’s made 12 plate appearances and is hitting .455/.500/.455.

There are other journeymen players who have made an impact on this year’s team — Ryan LaMarre, for example, has filled in for Buxton at center occasionally and hit well — and there may be others as the season progresses. While there’s less excitement for players in their 30’s that have made multiple stops in their major league careers, they play an important role for a team that’s trying to make a playoff push and needs players that have been on the big stage before.

And while the call-up of prospects is highly anticipated and can provide positive energy like Romero did in his start against Toronto, Minnesota’s use of veteran players to fill in depth this season is an indication that they are serious about making the postseason this year instead of being more focused on player development as they have been in the recent past.

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Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

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