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Updated: Projecting Your Minnesota Twins Opening Day Lineup

By Ted Schwerzler |
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The Minnesota Twins have been plenty busy this offseason, and while they haven’t made a ton of moves, the club has made a couple that should push them forward in 2015. A very real expectation of being games within .500 should be achievable, and now it’s time to take a look at the lineup that will get them there.

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When projecting the 2015 Minnesota Twins opening day lineup, the first Paul Molitor will write as the manager of the Twins, looking at past success and projected sensibility were all to be considered. Here at Puckett’s Pond, we know that opening day is still a ways away, but there’s no better way to get excited about the warmth of summer baseball than imaging who is stepping up to the plate.

Here we go:

Sep 21, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins shortstop Danny Santana (39) throws to first in the fifth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

1. Danny Santana SS: I think this one is all but guaranteed. Santana burst out of the gate last year and had one of the best rookie seasons that the Twins have seen in a long time. Yes he played a lot more often in center field than he should have, but the move to a more natural position of shortstop should be welcomed. I still believe Santana is one of the largest candidates for some significant regression at the plate, but he hit .319/.353/.472 a year ago so that is more than ok. Look for Molitor to use Santana’s speed (20 steals in 2014), to a bit further extent than Ron Gardenhire.

Sep 27, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier (2) hits an RBI single in the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

2. Brian Dozier 2B: Half way through the 2014 season, Dozier found himself amongst the league leaders in home runs, and even participated in the 2014 Home Run Derby at Target Field. His .367 on base percentage out of the second hole is something to be excited about. Some of the power numbers could regress, but despite a lower batting average, Dozier has shown he’s more than capable of handling his own at the plate.

Sep 21, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins first baseman Joe Mauer (7) at bat against the Cleveland Indians at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

3. Joe Mauer 1B: Enough about regression, give me Joe Mauer, breakout candidate, for all the money. Last season, Mauer was in his first as the full time first basemen for the Twins. A less documented caveat to his game is that he would have no handle of the current strike zone on a given day prior to stepping in the box. Hitting only .277/.361/.371 on the season, Mauer is a prime candidate for a bounce back year. The power numbers aren’t ever going to be there, but you could do a lot worse than Mauer in the third hole, and I’d expect him back over the .300 mark this season.

Sep 27, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Minnesota Twins designated hitter Kennys Vargas (19) hits a single in the fourth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

4. Kennys Vargas DH: After tearing up opposing pitchers following his call-up, Vargas somewhat cooled in September. That being said, he showed an extreme amount of power to all alleys at Target Field, and he could turn out to be one of the more-feared power hitters in the American League. The goal would be that 2015 would have Vargas striking out significantly less, but he should find himself announced as the opening day designated hitter out of the cleanup spot nonetheless.

Oct 5, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder Torii Hunter (48) at bat against the Baltimore Orioles during game three of the 2014 ALDS baseball playoff game at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

5. Torii Hunter RF: This is what Hunter was brought back to the Twins for, his bat, and selling tickets. Of course he can be a mentor to the young players in the organization, and while his defense has slipped considerably, Torii has proven that he can still hit. Slashing .286/.319/.446 last year for the Tigers, Hunter should slot in nicely behind Vargas. His 17 home runs in 2014 bring another power hitter to the Twins lineup as well. Should his hitting ability slip at all, look for Hunter to slide down into a lower spot in the lineup.

Sep 26, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Minnesota Twins right fielder Oswaldo Arcia (31) hits a two run home run in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

6. Oswaldo Arcia LF: Another guy that profiles as a much better hitting than fielding asset, Arcia rounds out the sluggers for the Twins. After batting .231/.300/.452 in 2014, Arcia showed signs of life the more he worked with Tom Brunansky. Like Vargas, Arcia strikes out far too much. If he can cut down on his strikeout numbers and put more balls in play, Arcia could easily surpass his 20 home run total of a year ago.

Aug 27, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Minnesota Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe (24) connects for a double in the fifth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

7. Trevor Plouffe 3B: Last season, Plouffe took advantage of Miguel Sano going down due to Tommy John surgery. With no one breathing down his neck, Plouffe turned out a .258/.328/.423 slash line while belting 14 home runs. His third base defense improved, and he was an offensive asset to the Twins. Sano will be healthy this season, and will likely push for playing time over the summer, but Plouffe has plenty of ability to earn his keep. Despite being thought of otherwise, the Twins lineup shows its depth with the placement of Plouffe at the bottom of it.

Sep 26, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Minnesota Twins catcher Kurt Suzuki (8) hits a two RBI single in the sixth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

8. Kurt Suzuki C: Back on the regression wheel, Suzuki looked the part of an All-Star last season, that probably won’t continue. After turning in a .288/.345/.383 line, it is almost certain that his numbers will regress. That being said, he is used to hitting at the bottom of the lineup, and if his numbers don’t slip too far, the run production could be expected to be in the same realm. After earning a contract extension in 2014, expect Suzuki to once again be relied upon both for his defense and offense by the Twins.

Sep 23, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins center fielder Aaron Hicks (32) at bat against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

9. Aaron Hicks CF: This may be the last chapter for Hicks, and it is entirely up to him as to how it is written. Byron Buxton is still a ways away and has battled injuries, and although Jordan Schafer is in the fold, Hicks has a much higher ceiling. Hitting only .215 isn’t going to get it done though, and Hicks needs to bring his .291/.387/.441 line from Double and Triple-A last season to the major league level. Hopefully the work ethic improves under the new regime, and Hicks ends up being part of the player the Twins expected him to be.

Looking at it from a top down view, the Twins organization can be commended to a certain extent. Despite being void of the nationally known big names, the Twins offense has plenty of pop, and after being amongst the best in the majors a year ago when it came to run production, this lineup has a chance to take another step forward. Paired with a better pitching rotation, look for the Twins to be somewhat of a revelation in 2015.

Next: 2015 Twins: Who Paces The Lineup?

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