Baldelli on offense: 'They've been incredible'

September 5th, 2019

BOSTON -- Each season is a blank slate. A manager can have a sense of a team’s potential, but nothing is guaranteed until the games are completed.

When it comes to Rocco Baldelli’s first year as manager of the Twins, the 86-52 club is hitting its way to the top of the American League Central standings.

“We thought we would have a good offense,” Baldelli said. “They’ve been incredible. Offensively, the team’s been pretty incredible.”

The Twins entered Wednesday's game with a Major League-leading 271 home runs, 10 more than the No. 2 Yankees. Their .273 batting average trails only the Red Sox and Astros, and they are averaging 7.39 runs per game since Aug. 15. Eight players have hit 20-plus home runs, including Nelson Cruz, who reached 35 for the sixth straight season in Tuesday's 6-5 win over Boston.

Baldelli also pointed to the work done on the mound. The pitching staff has allowed the fifth-fewest home runs in Major League Baseball.

“You see what those guys have done as well, both the starters and the bullpen; their numbers are really good, too,” Baldelli said. “You look around the entire roster, and guys have performed exceptionally well and been extremely consistent, too. It’s not like it’s been one month of great play followed by a month of ugly play. No. It’s been good all the way around.”

There are 3 1/2 weeks remaining in the regular season for the Twins to continue their momentum toward the playoffs. Baldelli didn’t know exactly how this year would play out, but the victories have added up to postseason contention.

“You have high expectations, but you don’t put specifics on it,” Baldelli said. “You don’t think about anything like that. Well, at least I did not, and I don’t know if anyone on our staff really did. I’ve been pleasantly surprised all the way around.”

Dyson (shoulder) returns to Minnesota
Reliever left Boston and returned to Minnesota early to have right shoulder soreness checked out at the Twins’ facilities. Dyson, who pitched a shutout inning on Tuesday, traveled back ahead of Minnesota's six-game homestand that begins on Friday against the Indians. He was on the 10-day injured list last month and missed nine games because of right biceps tendinitis.

Dyson is 5-1 with a 3.32 ERA over 62 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. He has a 7.15 ERA in 12 outings with the Twins, who acquired him from the Giants on July 31.

Baldelli lauds Thorpe's ‘fantastic outing’
had pitched more than three innings only once this season before he threw 3 1/3 frames and earned the win on Tuesday against the Red Sox. The left-hander made a positive impression on Baldelli with his four-strikeout, three-run performance.

“I thought it was a great outing,” Baldelli said. “And he’s facing one of the best offenses in baseball. If you give them an inch, they’re going to take it and a lot more. I was very happy and impressed with what we saw.”

Thorpe has pitched in seven games, including one start, this season for the Twins. He has 18 strikeouts and a 5.09 ERA in 17 2/3 innings.

Prospect Kirilloff pulled from AFL
Alex Kirilloff, the Twins' No. 2 prospect and No. 15 overall according to MLB Pipeline, was removed from the Salt River Rafters’ Arizona Fall League roster. The decision was made to forego extra wear and tear after Kirilloff appeared in 94 games for Double-A Pensacola.

Kirilloff and Royce Lewis hit back-to-back home runs Wednesday night as Double-A Pensacola rallied to score five runs in the ninth inning to take the lead, only to get walked off by Biloxi, 11-10, in 10 innings to open the best-of-five Southern League semifinals. Kirilloff hit a game-tying grand slam in the ninth and went 2-for-5 with two runs.

Did you like this story?
In this story:

Senior Reporter Jessica Camerato covers the Nationals for MLB.com.