Locked On Twins - Daily Podcast On The Minnesota Twins

Byron Buxton made his first All-Star Game in 2022, starting in centerfield and hitting the game-winning homer for the American League. Buxton's performance with the Minnesota Twins was a curious case as he battled through knee, hip and hand injuries. Buxton hit 28 homers but struck out in 30% of his plate appearances, bringing his season average to .224. Even then, the extremely talented Buxton was a four-win player for the second year in a row. What should we make of his 2022 season and what should Twins fans expect moving forward?

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Caleb Thielbar went from an awesome story to the Twins' best left-handed reliever in just a few seasons. Thielbar's second half of the 2022 season showed that he can be among the game's best left-handed bullpen weapons, with elite batted-ball data and expected results. Thielbar posted a sterling 1.50 ERA after the All-Star break, regularly coming in to put out early fires ahead of Jhoan Durán. Should the Twins pair Thielbar with another strong lefty in 2023? Or is that lefty already in the organization?

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

BetOnline

BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!

SimpliSafe

With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more.

Rhone

The Commuter Shirt can get you through any work day and straight into whatever comes next. Head to rhone.com/LOCKEDON and use promo code LOCKEDON to save 20% off your entire order.

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The Twins relied heavily on two first-year relievers during the 2022 season. Jhoan Durán and Griffin Jax both found themselves in extremely high-leverage situations and often answered the call. For Jax, his season was the complete opposite of 2021, when he posted a 6.37 ERA in his first 82 innings as a Major League pitcher. The Twins decided his role would be in the bullpen and Jax excelled, cutting his ERA in half and boosting his velocity, strikeout rates and swing-and-miss. Is there another gear for Jax in 2023 and beyond? I think yes! Here's why.

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

BetOnline

BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!

SimpliSafe

With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more.

Rhone

The Commuter Shirt can get you through any work day and straight into whatever comes next. Head to rhone.com/LOCKEDON and use promo code LOCKEDON to save 20% off your entire order.

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The Twins made a big splash at the 2022 trade deadline when they dealt multiple prospects for All-Star closer Jorge López. López was lights-out for the Baltimore Orioles before the first place Twins came calling to improve their bullpen hours before the deadline. With López and Jhoan Durán, the Twins hoped they had created one of the best backend duos in baseball. Instead, López struggled to throw strikes and prevent runs. López is under team control through 2024. What should Twins fans expect from the talented righty in 2023?

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

BetOnline

BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!

SimpliSafe

With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more.

Rhone

The Commuter Shirt can get you through any work day and straight into whatever comes next. Head to rhone.com/LOCKEDON and use promo code LOCKEDON to save 20% off your entire order.

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Jhoan Durán just completed one of the best rookie relief seasons in Twins history. Durán posted a 1.86 ERA with 89 strikeouts in 67 2/3 innings, regularly pitching against the opponent's best hitters in the tightest situations. Durán was a bright spot for a Twins bullpen that consistently blew games throughout the season. What does Durán's rookie year mean for the future of the Twins' bullpen?

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

BetOnline

BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!

SimpliSafe

With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more.

Rhone

The Commuter Shirt can get you through any work day and straight into whatever comes next. Head to rhone.com/LOCKEDON and use promo code LOCKEDON to save 20% off your entire order.

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Bailey Ober was a pleasant surprise in an otherwise treacherous 2021, putting together a solid rookie season and earning a prominent role in the 2022 rotation. Unfortunately, a lingering groin injury shortened Ober's season and he pitched only 56 innings. Ober was very good for many of those innings, posting a 3.21 ERA and 2.92 FIP in 11 starts. What can the Twins and fans expect from Ober in 2023? How many innings could he throw?

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

BetOnline

BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!

SimpliSafe

With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more.

Rhone

The Commuter Shirt can get you through any work day and straight into whatever comes next. Head to rhone.com/LOCKEDON and use promo code LOCKEDON to save 20% off your entire order.

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It was a somber day when the Twins traded fan favorite Nelson Cruz to the Tampa Bay Rays just days before the 2021 deadline. Cruz was the catalyst for the most powerful lineup in baseball history. Thankfully, it looks like the Twins got plenty in return. Joe Ryan threw 147 innings in a very solid rookie season in 2022, establishing himself as a building block for the future. Ryan is only 26 years old and under team control through 2027.

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

BetOnline

BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!

SimpliSafe

With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more.

Rhone

The Commuter Shirt can get you through any work day and straight into whatever comes next. Head to rhone.com/LOCKEDON and use promo code LOCKEDON to save 20% off your entire order.

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The Twins, for the third offseason in a row, have a gaping hole at shortstop. Carlos Correa is opting out of his three-year contract to enter free agency. The Twins have never handed out a contract at the level of Correa's demand and aren't likely to start now. Will they sign another stopgap to keep the position warm for Royce Lewis? Or is this finally the year to make a long-term commitment at one of the most important positions on the field? Let's break it down.

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

BetOnline

BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!

SimpliSafe

With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more.

Rhone

The Commuter Shirt can get you through any work day and straight into whatever comes next. Head to rhone.com/LOCKEDON and use promo code LOCKEDON to save 20% off your entire order.

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The Twins made a bold move when they traded their first round pick from 2021, Chase Petty, in a deal to land Cincinnati Reds' starter Sonny Gray. Gray, 32, pitched well in first season with the Twins but dealt with a nagging hamstring problem and a pectoral strain to boot. With one year and $12 million left on his deal, was year one a success for Gray in Minnesota? What should we root for in 2023? Let's break it down.

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

BetOnline

BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!

SimpliSafe

With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more.

Rhone

The Commuter Shirt can get you through any work day and straight into whatever comes next. Head to rhone.com/LOCKEDON and use promo code LOCKEDON to save 20% off your entire order.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Max Kepler is one of the longest-tenured Minnesota Twins, playing 837 games and logging over 3,000 plate appearances with the club. Kepler has one more year left on his contract with an option for 2024. With young outfielders on the rise and Kepler's offense declining, it's probably time for the Twins to deal him. Who would he bring back in a trade? Is Kepler viewed as a net positive with his contract and production? Let's break it all down!

Built Bar

Built Bar is a protein bar that tastes like a candy bar. Go to builtbar.com and use promo code “LOCKEDON15,” and you’ll get 15% off your next order.

BetOnline

BetOnline.net has you covered this season with more props, odds and lines than ever before. BetOnline – Where The Game Starts!

SimpliSafe

With Fast Protect™️ Technology, exclusively from SimpliSafe, 24/7 monitoring agents capture evidence to accurately verify a threat for faster police response. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. Visit SimpliSafe.com/LockedOnMLB to learn more.

Rhone

The Commuter Shirt can get you through any work day and straight into whatever comes next. Head to rhone.com/LOCKEDON and use promo code LOCKEDON to save 20% off your entire order.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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