SHOCKING UPDATES: Minnesota Twins Defanged as Injuries Have Created Major Cracks in the Defense

Injuries sustained early have weakened the Minnesota Twins lineup. But the effect of those losses has been felt on offence as well.

Byron Buxton never played outfield, but the Minnesota Twins nonetheless placed ninth in Major League Baseball in 2023 for Defensive Runs Saved (DRS). Although Buck returns in 2024 and appears to be playing at his best on the field, the team’s DRS of -10 to begin the season ranks them 27th in the league. How are the Twins being affected by defensive stress with guys like Willi Castro, Austin Martin, Manuel Margot, and Alex Kirilloff being forced into various defensive responsibilities as a result of injuries to Carlos Correa, Max Kepler, and Royce Lewis, as well as Matt Wallner’s demotion?

The 2024 Twins were predicted to coordinate defensively even better than the 2023 team. With the signing of defence-first outfielder Manuel Margot and Buxton’s return to the field, the loss of Michael A. Taylor was to be made up for. Plantar fasciitis, which had afflicted Correa in 2023, had disappeared, and Royce Lewis, a fellow infielder and star of the postseason, was well enough to assume third base responsibilities. Sadly, the team had to make adjustments after a wrench was put into this defensive alignment too soon.

The transition hasn’t gone smoothly up to this point. The Twins are, as I indicated, ranked 27th out of 30 in DRS. It has proven most challenging to replace Correa as a field player. In his absence, Castro has taken over as the starting shortstop and has played 92 innings with 4 DRS. Castro is not as productive at the position as the last Platinum Glove winner, despite having produced +1 Out Above Average (OAA), according to Statcast. Castro, the Band-Aid shortstop, has had difficulty playing out of position. He ought to be anticipating Correa’s comeback so he can resume his role as a utility man.

Austin Martin, a rookie, was also thrown into his season debut sooner than expected. Martin is still trying to establish himself in the field, even if he has shown more at ease at the plate. Martin has played in all three outfield positions thus far, accounting for -4 DRS and -1 OAA. Martin has outstanding athleticism and should be able to smooth out the wrinkles with experience under his belt, even though the defensive numbers aren’t the best. He’s already having an effect at the plate, and I’m betting his defence will get better as well. Martin has demonstrated enough, in my opinion, that I think the team can use him as a utility player for the balance of the year.
Although Carlos Santana exists, Margot has been one of the biggest disappointments of the 2024 season—if not the largest. Signed as an insurance policy for Buxton, Margot’s signing was motivated by his strong defensive background and league-average hitting. His talent level was comparable to that of Taylor, whom the Twins traded for before the 2023 campaign. But unlike Taylor, Margot hasn’t brought his bat or glove yet. Margot has a.521 OPS at the plate thus far, along with -2 DRS and -1 OAA.

The Twins haven’t even permitted Margot to regularly play centre field, which is the most unexpected development about him. He has only appeared in four innings at centre field, where he was most likely brought in to add much-needed depth. The Twins either don’t think highly of Margot or they prefer to give Martin playing time when Buxton needs a day off. It’s possible that they value Martin’s athleticism more than Margot’s deteriorating speed (her Statcast sprint speed has decreased by nearly 2 feet per second since the previous season).
In any case, the team’s poor defensive statistics are partly attributable to Margot’s inability to perform his usual defence, even in the corners. He would benefit from playing only as a platoon outfielder if he were to stay on the team for the whole season, but that also depends on other players recovering and playing as well as they can.

There are some people who can be held somewhat responsible for the early defensive difficulties. Although Kirilloff has some poor defensive statistics, he is regularly switching from the infield to the outfield, which is a difficult assignment for someone who probably didn’t spend much time getting ready for it in the winter. Being the team’s first-choice starting double-hunter, Kirilloff has been pushed to play more defence overall as well as more places than anticipated.

The good news is that the major ailments that have caused the Twins’ defence to become overly exposed are beginning to heal. Kepler’s recent return to the starting lineup has given the outfielders greater versatility, and Correa shouldn’t be far behind. We’re hoping that Lewis will be able to return in the first part of June, as he appears to be making good progress. In addition to being excellent players, these three players significantly alter the lineup and the field by reserving responsibilities that the team had intended for role players like Castro, Margot, and Martin.