Can Trevor Plouffe reward the Minnesota Twins for keeping him around?
2016 Previews: Miguel Sano, Trevor May, Brian Dozier
Following an offseason that left some uncertainty regarding his future with the club, third baseman Trevor Plouffe once again finds himself on the roster for the Minnesota Twins.
With the emergence of outfielder Miguel Sano, many wondered if Plouffe would have a spot on the team in 2016 as trade rumors began swirling. In the end, general manager Terry Ryan made the decision to keep Plouffe and his 22 home runs from a year ago.
2015 Recap
Since his breakout season in 2012, Plouffe has been a consistent contributor to the team. Just last season, he set career highs in runs (74), hits (140) and RBIs (86).
Despite the strong numbers by Plouffe, it was his batting average that took a hit. His .244 average was the lowest for Plouffe since 2012.
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Offensive numbers aside, perhaps one of the biggest contributions he made was in games played. Plouffe proved to be a steady force appearing in a career-high 152 games, while committing just 11 errors and posting a .972 fielding percentage.
Overall, 2015 was a strong campaign for Plouffe and one the Twins would probably like to see repeated. After struggling to find any offensive consistency last season, the Twins are hoping a combination of Plouffe, Sano, second baseman Brian Dozier and designated hitter Byung Ho Park will add some pop to the lineup.
Next: Strengths & Weaknesses