Minnesota Twins: 5 things that have defined the Twins season so far

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 28: Manager Rocco Baldelli #5 of the Minnesota Twins looks on during the eighth inning of the Opening Day game against the Cleveland Indians on March 28, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Indians 2-0. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MARCH 28: Manager Rocco Baldelli #5 of the Minnesota Twins looks on during the eighth inning of the Opening Day game against the Cleveland Indians on March 28, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Indians 2-0. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MARCH 28: Manager Rocco Baldelli #5 of the Minnesota Twins looks on during the eighth inning of the Opening Day game against the Cleveland Indians on March 28, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Indians 2-0. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MARCH 28: Manager Rocco Baldelli #5 of the Minnesota Twins looks on during the eighth inning of the Opening Day game against the Cleveland Indians on March 28, 2019 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Indians 2-0. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

The Minnesota Twins have been one of the biggest surprises in baseball, but their path in the first half was decided through a variety of factors.

The Minnesota Twins have been one of baseball’s biggest surprises in 2019. Starting the year with almost zero expectations from their fan base, the Twins charged out of the gate and held one of the best records in the American League through a majority of the first half of the season. Along the way, the Twins used an unprecedented display of power and a couple of nice surprises from within to find success.

As the Twins come out of the All-Star break, they’ve built a 5 1/2 game lead over the Cleveland Indians in the American League Central and Minnesota is thinking about competing in their first postseason series since being swept by the New York Yankees in 2010. Because of that, this team could drastically different in just a couple weeks, but have established its identity in the first half.

The October dreams for the Twins are still a long way away, but the break is a good time to see just how the Twins got to this point and how it could help sustain success in the future.