Three Twins takeaways: All-Star Carlos Correa, Wallner’s next chance, Paddack’s big test

MINNEAPOLIS – Carlos Correa was announced Sunday as the Minnesota Twins’ sole All-Star Game representative, earning a spot on the American League team as a reserve.

This is the third All-Star honor of Correa’s career, and his first with the Twins, having previously made the AL team in 2017 (as the starting shortstop) and 2021 (as a reserve) with the Houston Astros. .

“This is my home in Minnesota now,” Correa said. “And to get my first All-Star Game here with this team is really special.”

Correa has batted .305/.376/.508 with 11 homers, 18 doubles/triples and 45 RBI in 71 games, posting a 147 OPS+ that ranks eighth in the AL and his 155 OPS+. Second best mark of career. In 2017. Tossed his usual stellar shortstop play and Correa was my pick as the Twins’ first half MVP, leading the team to a win above replacement and Win Probability Aided.

However, he faced extremely stiff competition among the AL shortstops, with voted-in starter Gunnar Henderson of the Baltimore Orioles and reserve Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals having to choose between MVP-caliber first innings. . Correa’s candidacy came down to being the third shortstop on the AL roster, making him an easy choice for that spot.

Correa said, “This time it will be extra special because it’s the first time I’ll go as a father.” “My two sons will stay with me there. I’ve always seen it on TV when players go with their kids, and I think it’s the coolest thing ever. I told my wife before the season, I really wanted to make it so I could take the boys and hang out with them and meet some of their favorite players.

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About four hours before MLB officially named Correa an All-Star, he left Sunday’s walk-off win over the Astros after being hit on his right arm by a 96.2 mph fastball. According to the Twins, initial scans were negative for a fracture and Correa has been diagnosed with a finger injury, but he may have to undergo further testing.

“I’ll play (Monday),” Correa said matter-of-factly after the game.

Assuming no other Twins are named as last-minute replacements, this will be the team’s first season – excluding 2020, when the Midsummer Classic was canceled – with only one All-Star since 2018. With the player, when Jose Berrios went alone.

The Twins have no shortage of All-Star-caliber first-half players at their respective positions, including Willie Castro, Joe Ryan, Jose Miranda, Byron Buxton, Ryan Jeffers and Griffin Jacques, so it’s still possible they could be a sophomore. days before the July 16 game at Texas.

Matt Wallner’s next chance

Matt Wallner looked so helpless at the plate after being on the Opening Day roster that the Twins demoted him to Triple-A St. Paul just three weeks and 25 at-bats into the season.

They wanted to give Wallner an extended chance to smooth out his swing mechanics and get a “complete reset” mentally, and the 26-year-old slugger has now returned after the toughest stretch of his career. After some early struggles following the demotion, Wallner hit .331 with 14 homers in his last 33 games for the Saints and won the International League Player of the Month award for June.

“Wally has made real adjustments and real improvements,” manager Rocco Baldelli said. He said, “His batting is very good. He is swinging the bat very well. He is impacting the ball. That’s happening on the basis. Whatever he was challenged to do, he took it to heart and got to work. He is looking good right now. And he’s earned his opportunity to get back to the big leagues.”

Called up Sunday as a related move for Austin Martin, who joined the injured list due to a right oblique strain, Wallner anticipates he will be a regular against right-handed pitchers as part of a corner outfield and designated hitter mix. Will play properly. This is a chance for the Twins to add some left-handed thump to the lineup in the absence of Edouard Julien and Alex Kirilloff.

It’s also a chance for Wallner to prove that his three bad weeks this season won’t overshadow his three good months for the Twins last season or his three good years in the Minors before that. He batted .249/.370/.507 with 14 homers in 76 games for the Twins last year, finishing second on the team in OPS behind Royce Lewis, and had a career high .267/.374/.374 in Triple A. Is a .515 hitter.

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Wallner throws a lot of offense and often looks clumsy in the outfield, but he has top-notch raw power and arguably the best outfield throwing arm in baseball. Giving up on a player with game-changing skills because of 25 ugly at-bats would be a mistake in any situation, but especially when Wallner has previously shown he can produce against big-league pitchers.

Now he just needs to show it off again, and show that the adjustments he made in the Minors are sustainable and effective at limiting his swing-and-miss rate, which has become necessary to consistently utilize his 30-homer power. is enough for. Wallner is too good for Triple-A competition and has already had more big league success than most so-called “Quad-A” players, but the burden of proof is on him.

Chris Paddack’s big test

Chris Paddack is expected to rejoin the Twins rotation against the White Sox on Monday night in Chicago after coming off the IL and taking two weeks off due to right shoulder fatigue.

Fill-in David Festa struggled mostly in Paddack’s place, allowing 12 runs in 10 innings, but Twins officials indicated that their plan was always to make only two starts for the rookie, giving Paddack relief in midseason. Because he returns from another Tommy. John Surgery.

Paddack’s first 15 starts following surgery were mixed. He had some encouraging performances, including some legitimately impressive starts, but his velocity varied wildly and he gave up 13 homers in 78 1/3 innings on his way to a bloated 5.20 ERA (and only a slightly better 4.69 xERA). Served.

Here’s a game-by-game graph of Paddack’s average fastball velocity, which often fluctuated from 94 to 96 mph in one start to 90 to 92 mph in the next:

This will be a significant stretch for Paddack, who has already had his biggest innings since 2021 and needs to show the Twins that he can rely on them in the second half and possibly in the playoffs. He also has a $7.5 million contract for next season in 2023 as part of an extension signed during the rehab, a risk the Twins were willing to take due to his perceived upside.

Paddack is set to make two starts before the All-Star break, and coming out of the break he’ll likely make one or two more starts before the July 30 trade deadline. If he looks good, the twins can feel comfortable with him walking around. If he struggles, they could pursue a veteran starter to boost the rotation who ranks 24th in MLB with a 4.52 ERA.

Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober aren’t going anywhere, and rookie Simeon Woods Richardson has fared well above expectations. But can the Twins rely on Paddack (and Woods Richardson given their limited track record) in August, September and October? And can they rely on Festa and Louis Varland as front-line starter depth?

(Photo of Matt Wallner and Carlos Correa: Brace Hemelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)