Don’t look now, but the St. Paul Saints just might be the most likable team in town.
They’re leading the International League West division by two games, and currently find themselves 22 games over .500 with just a few weeks remaining. The enigmatic squad boasts a plethora of young talent and rehabbing veterans. The only thing more impressive than the talent on the field is the charisma brought off it.
The vibes are different east of the river, and it’s showing in the team’s play. Now, fans are starting to tune into the storylines surrounding this rag-tag group, and seeing them rightfully as their own entity instead of just the Triple-A farm squad for the big-league club.
For those who are late to the party, here are some storylines to keep an eye on as the Saints season heads into its home stretch.
Young Guns Getting a Shot
One of the most fascinating aspects of a Triple-A ballclub is the cocktail of players in different stages of their careers who come together to create a unique atmosphere. MLB veterans such as Hernan Perez and Tony Wolters find themselves next to young top prospects such as Brooks Lee and David Festa, who were at Double-A Wichita just a few weeks ago.
But Lee and Festa aren’t alone in that regard. Other notable names that the Twins have promoted to Triple-A include Yunior Severino (No. 29 ranked prospect in the Twins’ system according to FanGraphs), DaShawn Keirsey Jr. and Blayne Enlow. All five are getting their first taste of Triple-A action, and they hope their momentum keeps them and the club pushing forward.
Lockdown Lou
Louie Varland, the local kid, is one of the main contributors to the pitching staff’s success. He made a handful of starts for the Twins after Tyler Mahle and Kenta Maeda went down with injuries, but they sent him back down to St. Paul when the latter returned to the rotation. Varland took it all in stride. While his season has hit a couple of speed bumps, he has put together a rock-solid campaign at the top of St. Paul’s rotation.
In 56 innings at Triple-A, the righty has a 3.97 ERA with a 25.1% strikeout rate and just a 7.4% walk rate. But with the big-league club looking for answers in their bullpen, they have decided to prep Varland to be a relief pitcher. It started with a four-inning appearance on Thursday night, where he gave up just one run on three hits and a walk, striking out four along the way. Even more enticing was the that he could pump his fastball up to 100.2 MPH.
Keep an eye on Varland’s usage down the stretch. If he’s not a key contributor for the Twins as they make their playoff push, he surely will be a headliner for the Saints as they do the same.
Rehabbers Getting Their Groove Back
St. Paul has the benefit and responsibility of hosting a handful of major league mainstays as they try to return from the injured list. Superstar Byron Buxton (hamstring) made his season debut in the outfield on Wednesday night, playing seven innings in his first game back on the field after hitting the shelf with a hamstring injury in July. The Twins have still classified his usage in centerfield as an experiment at the moment, and his return to the outfield at Target Field is still uncertain. But for now, the Saints are happy to have him aboard for the next few weeks as he gets his legs back under him.
The same can be said for Alex Kirilloff (shoulder). However, his time with the Saints could feasibly be much shorter depending on how his swing is looking. He’s on a less-restrictive plan than Buxton, but the club will surely do their due diligence before returning him to the Twins’ roster.
Willi Castro (oblique) could be called up any day now, but for now he will get his cuts in with the Saints. Others who haven’t been cleared to start their rehab assignments include Brock Stewart (elbow) and Jorge Alcala (forearm). They will likely need to make at least a few appearances in St. Paul before even being considered to return to the big-league bullpen.
Planning For Playoffs
As stated, the Saints lead their division as the calendar flips to September. They’ve been well above average for virtually the entire season, and they’re hitting a roll as they enter the final few weeks of the regular season. winners of seven of their last 10 games, the Saints have the second-best run differential on the year with a whopping 125 more runs scored than allowed on the season.
They’re scheduled to face clubs with a winning record in 12 of their final 21 games, so while they find themselves in a great position to land one of the remaining playoff spots, they’ll need to stay on their feet for the remaining three weeks. Health will be a key determinant in this success, as the raw talent alone has enough firepower to do something special.
