Minnesota Twins Player Preview: Trevor Plouffe
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
Strengths
-Plouffe’s offensive output since 2012 has been perhaps the strongest of any Twins player. His numbers were so strong in fact the Twins decided to move Sano from third to the outfield this upcoming season.
-Defensively, Plouffe has continued to improve each year and has made it a top priority to become a better third baseman. With gold glove finalist Brian Dozier, an improving Joe Mauer and returning shortstop Eduardo Escobar, the Twins infield looks to be a solid defensive unit for 2016.
-Versatility is another huge advantage for Plouffe who has seen time at all infield spots aside from catcher and pitcher as well in left and right field. And while it would be difficult to see him play anywhere other than third or first, the fact that they could use Plouffe at most positions in case of an emergency just adds to his value for the Twins.
Weaknesses
-Consistency has been a struggle for Plouffe as his batting average has never exceeded .258. Plouffe figures to be no better than a .250 hitter for his career but also looks to be a solid power hitter so it really is a bit of a tradeoff.
-Plouffe’s strikeout numbers continue to climb and while he is not quite the free swinger Sano is, the hope is that his 124 strikeouts last season is the peak.
Next: 2016 Outlook
2016 Outlook
While Plouffe won’t be the entire focus this season, one thing to look out for will be the Sano outfield experiment, how the Twins’ season turns out and how this effects Plouffe. If one of the two previous scenarios begin to fail, the Twins may look to move Plouffe who was the topic of trade rumors this offseason.
Wisely, Ryan felt bringing his production back to this year’s squad was more important than any trade proposition.
Plouffe’s bat will be possibly one of the biggest keys to the Twins’ success. With a lineup loaded with talent and plenty of pop, there shouldn’t be as much pressure on Plouffe to come through with an RBI as he’ll be protected by a slew of big bats.
The ideal lineup – according to me – would have Plouffe batting cleanup while Sano hits third with Mauer hitting second and Dozier leading off. This should provide a nice opportunity for some strong offensive protection by the Twins top four to five batters.
Next: Carlos Quentin Making a Push
We shouldn’t expect Plouffe to hit 30+ homers but a season with 20-25 home runs with 80+ RBIs should be a strong compliment to Sano’s, admittedly high, expected output. However, the biggest question will remain whether Plouffe will be viewed as a long term piece for the Twins. We should get a lot of answers after seeing a full season of Sano in the outfield.