Updated: Projecting Your Minnesota Twins Opening Day Lineup
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.