Correa takes home 5 of Twins' annual Diamond Awards

MINNEAPOLIS -- If there’s was any question as to how much Carlos Correa meant to the 2022 Twins, consider the results of the club’s annual Diamond Awards as a strong endorsement of the impact that the superstar had on the organization in what could end up as his only season with Minnesota.

Correa was named the recipient of five awards in Thursday’s announcement: The Most Valuable Twin Award, the Bob Allison Award for leadership, the Jim Kaat Award for defensive player of the year, the Mike Augustin “Media Good Guy” Award and the Carl R. Pohlad Outstanding Community Service Award.

Two other current Twins -- Nick Gordon and Jhoan Duran -- earned ‘22 Diamond Awards, while former infielder and two-time World Series champion Al Newman received the Kirby Puckett Award for Twins alumni community service. Here are this year’s winners.

Most Valuable Twin: Carlos Correa
Last year’s winner: Jorge Polanco

Signed to a stunning three-year, $105.3 million deal with opt-outs after each year of the deal, Correa lived up to the hype with a 5.4 WAR season, per Baseball-Reference, by far the highest on the Twins and well ahead of the 4.4 WAR put up by his closest competitor, Luis Arraez. Correa’s 140 wRC+ (indicating that his offense was 40 percent better than average) led all MLB shortstops.

Correa offensive performance speaks for itself through the .291/.366/.467 line with 22 homers and 24 doubles in the second-most plate appearances on the team, and that’s not to mention his steadying defense and his unquestioned leadership both on the field and in the clubhouse, with his situational awareness and game knowledge.

Bob Allison Leadership Award: Correa
Last year’s winner: Nelson Cruz

The Twins needed someone to step into the leadership void brought on by the departures of Cruz and Taylor Rogers before the start of the ‘22 season, and Correa answered the call. The center of the clubhouse’s sizable Latin American contingent, Correa was a measured voice to help fellow star Byron Buxton endure the challenges of another injury-hampered season, a mentor figure for young Puerto Rican rookie Jose Miranda and a bringer of perspective honed from his plethora of playoff experience.

Joseph W. Haynes Twins Pitcher of the Year Award: Jhoan Duran
Last year’s winner: José Berríos

When Duran arrived in Fort Myers for Spring Training, he had only 16 Triple-A innings under his belt, and he thought he was still going to be a starter. That’s when the team told him he’d be moving to the bullpen -- and, well, he isn’t going back.

A surprise addition to the Opening Day roster, it took a matter of weeks before Duran took over the highest-leverage innings, and the rookie was one of few stalwarts of stability in a shaky first-half bullpen, finishing his season with a 1.86 ERA, 89 strikeouts and 16 walks in 67 2/3 innings -- along with the 95 hardest-thrown pitches in recorded Twins history.

Bill Boni Twins Outstanding Rookie Award: Duran
Last year’s winner: Bailey Ober

Miranda and Joe Ryan also put forth very admirable and productive rookie campaigns, but here’s some more context for what Duran accomplished this year: His 1.86 ERA marked the lowest in Twins history among rookie relievers (minimum 65 innings), and the 10th-best mark among all rookie relievers in MLB since the turn of the century. His 5.56 strikeout-to-walk ratio is the third-best among all reliever seasons in club history (again, minimum 65 innings), behind only Rogers (2019) and Joe Nathan (2006). Decent company.

Carl R. Pohlad Outstanding Community Service Award: Correa
Last year’s winner: Rogers

The Correa Family Foundation focused its impact on pediatric cancer patients and their families in ‘22, hosting a Hero of the Month each month at Target Field, through which a child battling cancer and their family had the chance to meet Correa and enjoy the game from the Target Field Champions Club. He also worked with the Minnetonka Baseball Association in September on a fundraiser that encouraged kids to help other kids.

Jim Kaat Defensive Player of the Year Award: Correa
Last year’s winner: Andrelton Simmons

Correa had an unusually down year in the field according to advanced defensive metrics, with 1.0 UZR, 3 Defensive Runs Saved and minus-3 Outs Above Average, per Statcast, but his eight errors also matched the second-fewest committed by all qualified shortstops, and his on-field awareness and leadership in helping his teammates play their positions and understand game situations made a difference all season.

Charles O. Johnson Most Improved Twin Award: Nick Gordon
Last year’s winner: Polanco

As recently as last spring, Gordon’s career seemed in jeopardy as the No. 5 overall selection in the 2014 MLB Draft struggled with chronic gastritis and a brutal bout of COVID that limited his physical capabilities and pushed him to the fringe of the roster.

Gordon got a chance after posting a .647 OPS in 73 games for the ‘21 club, and spurred by renewed health and strength, he was a valuable contributor to the team in ’22. He hit .272/.316/.427 with a .743 OPS, nine homers and 28 doubles, playing out of position in the outfield out of necessity to help an injury-plagued roster.

Mike Augustin “Media Good Guy” Award: Correa
Last year’s winner: Josh Donaldson

A largely young team needs a spokesman, and Correa answered that call from Game 1 to Game 162, always candid and generous with his time to offer key insights and perspective when the moment called for it -- and it did, often, throughout a challenging season.

Dick Siebert Upper Midwest Player of the Year Award: Daulton Varsho, D-backs
Last year’s winner: Jared Walsh, Angels

Varsho’s first full season in the Majors was a very productive one during an otherwise challenging year for Arizona, as the native of Marshfield, Wisc., and former student-athlete at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee hit 27 homers and stole 16 bases with a .745 OPS in 151 games.

Kirby Puckett Alumni Community Service Award: Al Newman
Last year’s winner: Joe Mauer

After playing on both the 1987 and ‘91 World Series championship teams, Newman remained in Minnesota and established “Newmie Rewards LLC” in 2008, aimed at raising money for local teams, while serving as a coach in the area. After coaching at Apple Valley High School and in the Northwoods League, he was recently appointed to the St. Joseph Park Board to help continue the development of diamond sports around Minnesota.