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Minnesota Twins: The unbelievable start for Eddie Rosario

By John Geiger II

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 03: Eddie Rosario #20 of the Minnesota Twins hits a walk-off two-run home run as Yan Gomes #7 of the Cleveland Indians catches during the ninth inning to end the game on June 3, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Indians 7-5. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 03: Eddie Rosario #20 of the Minnesota Twins hits a walk-off two-run home run as Yan Gomes #7 of the Cleveland Indians catches during the ninth inning to end the game on June 3, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Indians 7-5. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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Although the Minnesota Twins have failed to live up to expectations so far during the 2018 season, there have been a few positives to focus on.

One of those positives has been Minnesota Twins left fielder Eddie Rosario. Through all of the injuries and inconsistencies, Rosario has been the one constant in the lineup for Minnesota.

Looking at the numbers

Although he limped out of the gate, batting .231 with only three home runs through the end of April, Rosario played in all 24 games during the seasons first month. He started 21 of those games and has helped this team stay afloat in the AL Central.

Eduardo Escobar has also been a key factor in the Twins successes through the first two months of the season. However, this team would be near the bottom of the division if it weren’t for the consistent play from Rosario. As the weather has begun getting warmer, so too has Rosario’s bat.

Rosario is hitting a scorching .378 since the calendar flipped to May. He has also chipped in 10 home runs and 28 runs batted in while working eight walks and striking out 19 times. For the season, Rosario is hitting .317 with 13 home runs and 40 runs batted in.

More importantly, he has played in every game for the Minnesota Twins during this season. Twins fans have watched as Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano and Joe Mauer have all spent time on the disabled list. However, Rosario has remained healthy and in manager Paul Molitor‘s lineup day in and day out. Without Rosario’s presence every day there really is no telling where this team would be in the standings.

Can Rosario maintain this production all season?

Last season was a breakthrough season for Rosario and he’s showing now that it was not a fluke. Since the start of the 2017 season, Rosario is hitting .295 with 40 home runs and 118 runs batted in. His on-base plus slugging percentage is a respectable .861 through his previous 206 games.

Rosario showed last season that he can maintain this level of play for the duration of a season. Minnesota needs Rosario to keep doing what he has been doing if they expect to challenge the Indians for the division.

Logan Morrison hasn’t lived up to expectations during the first two months of the season and Brian Dozier has taken a step back as well. Buxton has spent almost as much time on the disabled list as he has out in center field during this season. Escobar and Rosario have carried this team offensively to this point, but they’ll need more from the other players in the lineup to turn things around this season.

Next: What should the Twins do about Escobar's impending free agency?

Rosario has been the most important position player for the Twins for more than a full season now. There are still a lot of games left to play this season. As long as Rosario stays healthy, the playoffs will remain a possibility.

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