Minnesota Twins
The 2016 season was a disaster for Minnesota. But while the record was putrid, a solid foundation for the future was built.
Brian Dozier is a star. The Twins will also get Max Kepler’s bat for a full year. He’s a raw hitter but nailed 17 home runs in only 396 at-bats during 2016.
Magnificent, Max! #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/N04MVMWjGr
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 12, 2016
Byron Buxton and Jose Berrios were both disappointing in 2016. But Buxton is 23 and Berrios is 22. They are both young enough to think that 2016 might have been a learning experience instead of a bad omen of things to come.
Remember, these were two of the highest-rated prospects in baseball not too long ago. It’s not like their talents just disappeared.
In 2015, a lot went right for a young Minnesota team. Everything that went right in 2015 went wrong in 2016.
But the talent and promise is still significant. With an extra year of MLB experience to draw from, that talent isn’t quite as raw, either. The Twins can certainly surprise in 2017.