Minnesota Twins: 5 Potential Replacement Options for Eddie Rosario
Minnesota Twins Eddie Rosario Replacement No. 1: Alex Kirilloff
One of the top two prospects in the Twins organization along with Royce Lewis, the former 2016 first round pick made his big league debut in the Wild Card Series last season. He only played one game, but looked confident at the plate, even racking his (unofficial) first hit at the major league level.
Alex Kirilloff has shown he can hit for both power and contact, along with providing the Twins more balance hitting, as he hits from the left side. Through action in A and AA ball, he used his beautiful swing to slash an impressive .317/.365/.498.
While he might not have the cannon arm that Rosario has, Kirilloff can hold his own out in left field. It’s clear the Twins think he can play right now and take this lineup to another level, something they proved by calling him up for the playoff roster and starting him despite no big league experience .
If I were to put money on it, the 23-year-old Kirilloff is the the left fielder of the future for Minnesota. The only way Kirilloff isn’t the guy is if Twins could decide to play the service time game. keep him in St. Paul for the first handful of games, and gain another year of team control with him down the road.
Minnesota Twins Eddie Rosario Replacement No. 2: Kyle Schwarber
This one is fun for me to think about. It was reported earlier in the offseason that the Twins have reached out to Schwarber’s camp. While that doesn’t mean a deal is close, it does mean the Twins aren’t afraid to get a big name for the position.
Kyle Schwarber is the definition of a “boom or bust” hitter. In 6 seasons with the Cubs, the former top prospect hit 121 home runs while averaging close to one strikeout per game. He’s only a career .230 hitter, but he came off the best season of his career in 2019.
Schwarber’s claim to fame is his role in the World Series with the Cubs a few years back. He was arguably one of the best prospects in the loaded Cubs farm system that came up right before the 2016 playoffs. Schwarber especially was key, hitting .412 in the World Series win, helping bring a championship back to Wrigley Field for the first time in over a century.
This would be a HUGE addition to a Minnesota Twins team who hasn’t won a playoff game in their last 18 games and hasn’t won a playoff series in 16 years. He does have his issues, as he’s truly terrible against lefties and his defense is questionable at best.
With all that in mind, Schwarber doesn’t sound like a full time left fielder, but more of a guy who could play left-field part-time and fill a designated hitter role, especially if the team doesn’t re-sign slugger Nelson Cruz.
Minnesota Twins Eddie Rosario Replacement No. 3: Trevor Larnach
Another option from down on the farm, Trevor Larnach was the Twins first round draft choice in 2018 and is the third Top 100 player behind Kirilloff and Lewis in the Twins farm system rankings. To put it simply, he can hit.
In just under 170 games in the minors, he slashed .307/.385/.468. That’s really good, and the fact that he’s got a little bit of power potential makes his bat a must watch. The Twins could use a hitter that could do both.
With that in mind, Larnach isn’t perfect. He’s still a prospect for a reason, and similar to Schwarber, strikeouts are high for the 23 year old. He is also limited as a fielder, but that bat may be too good to keep down.
Larnach’s other advantage is his playoff experience. The Oregon State product left Corvallis with a College World Series ring in hand thanks in large part to his clutch hitting, something the Twins could use come playoff time in November. Noticing a pattern here?
It would be a bit of a gamble for the Twins to bring up Larnach over Kirilloff, who’s already made a big league debut of sorts, but with the ways he’s been in control at the plate, it’s hard to see him sitting in the minor leagues for much longer.
Minnesota Twins Eddie Rosario Replacement No. 4: Jake Cave
This one may be a bit out of left field (See what I did there?), but Jake Cave has been a valuable utility outfielder for the Twins, giving Manager Rocco Baldelli a solid option to give outfielders a day off or fill in for a longer period of time if someone goes on the injured list.
What if he kept that role going? Cave might not light the world on fire, but in his three seasons in a Twins uniform, he’s hit a respectable .772 OPS and been a solid player with his glove, giving the lineup a bit of flexibility as someone you can put at the bottom of the order.
Let’s be real: he’s not a long term starter. Everyone knows that. He was miserable in a large role in 2020, and the Twins don’t have any expectations for him. That said, if the Twins want to be patient with guys like Kirilloff and/or Larnach, Cave is a decent stopgap.
If the team wants to spend money elsewhere, protect service time for Kirilloff and Larnach, and trusts LaMonte Wade wit the fourth outfielder role, Cave could be the guy who fills the Eddie Rosario role for the first month or two of the 2021 season.
Minnesota Twins Eddie Rosario Replacement No. 5: Enrique Hernández
Wouldn’t an Enrique Hernánedez move be fun? This is another “home run” type of option, similar to Kyle Schwarber, but the Twins have actually checked in on the 29 year old, making it seem a possibility.
Hernández is only available as he is just finishing up a six season stay with the Dodgers as a super-utility player. Kiké was used as a Swiss army knife in Los Angeles, playing just about every position, including left field, but he also can hit the baseball.
Hernández isn’t great against righties, but is was terrific against lefties, helping the Twins fill a gap in their lineup, providing the team with another left handed bat to balance their righty-heavy group.
To continue the pattern, Hernández has LOADS of playoff experience as well. Over six years and 58 games, he’s racked up lots of clutch hits and even helped bring a World Series back to Chavez Ravine. That’s the key for the Minnesota Twins.
Similar to Schwarber, a Hernández signing feels more like an option to split time in left rather than a full time spot. Regardless, it could give the Minnesota Twins more balance on offense and a strong veteran presence in the outfield to help bring along some of the young guys as they develop.
All of these guys would be great additions (or internal promotions) to a team looking to end it’s playoff drought. Hopefully one of these guys can be the one to turn the tide and bring a title back to the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
Next. Minnesota Twins: Finding the Falvine Duo’s Batting Average as GM. dark