Minnesota Twins: Can Polanco’s return jumpstart the Twin’s offense?

Francisco Cervelli, C, Yankees (Age 27, 50 games, 8/5/13)  8 for 19, a double, 4 K´s, 3 walks, a passed ball, and caught 2 of 3 attempted base stealers in 6 games. Cervelli appeared in only 17 games in 2013, accumulating 52 at-bats, finishing with a .269 average and a .877 OPS.  Aside from the 6-game hot streak upon his return, he went 6 for 34.

Jhonny Peralta, OF, Tigers (Age 31, 50 games, 8/5/13)  An All-Star with a .303 average and .815 OPS with 11 home runs. 9-20 2 doubles and a home run when his 2013 season ended. In 2014, he returned to hit .263/.779, 21 HRs, and finished 14th in NL MVP voting.

Nelson Cruz, DH, Rangers (Age 33, 50 games, 8/5/13)  Was hitting for a .266 average with a .833 OPS and 27 HRs when dinged with his suspension. Cruz left with a bang in Texas, returned with a bang with Baltimore in 2014. His slash lines only slightly improved after coming back but he hit 40 or more HRs in each of the following 3 seasons. For the record, he became eligible on the final day of the Rangers’ season and went 0-4 with a K.

Manny Ramirez,  OF/DH, Dodgers/Rays (Age 37/39, 50 and 100 games, 5/7/09 and 4/8/11) Ramirez had a batting average of .348 with a 1.133 OPS at the time of his first suspension. .He went 6 for 18, 2 HRs, 2 K´s and 3 walks in his first 6 games back, and finished the season with a 290 average and .949 OPS. After a short retirement following his second suspension, Ramirez signed with Tampa Bay. The return on a $2 million dollar contract was one hit in 17 at-bats over 5 games.