The Minnesota Twins season is all but over. They currently sit at 67-89 with just six games remaining. It’s all but guaranteed that they will lose 90-plus games for the first time since the 2016 season. Their attendance and interest reflects that with fans turning out in the lowest number over the last quarter-century.
That doesn’t mean the final week of games can simply be skipped over though. Though the Texas Rangers will miss the playoffs, the Philadelphia Phillies are vying for the National League’s top seed.
Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
Minnesota is going to put its best foot forward to end the year from a talent perspective, and that means returning both of their starting catchers.
Advertisement
Related Headlines
Vazquez and Jeffers return for Minnesota Twins
Christian Vazquez has been out since early August after undergoing emergency surgery due to an infection. Ryan Jeffers hit the concussion injured list just over two weeks ago. Now both are back to handle the final six games of the season.
The Vazquez move, made on Monday, seemed logical for at least a week now. He had trended towards returning, and spent the final games of Triple-A St. Paul’s season with the team in Memphis on a rehab assignment. Jeffers returning from his concussion was less certain.
For the past two seasons the Minnesota Twins exclusively used Jeffers and Vazquez behind the plate. It wasn’t until this year, when both Jhonny Pereda and Mickey Gasper assumed catching duties at times, was there a different backstop. That level of continuity is largely unprecedented at such a physically demanding position. Now the tandem will get to end the season together.
Advertisement
On Tuesday night against the Rangers both Jeffers and Vazquez are in the lineup. The former is playing as the designated hitter and batting third, while the latter catches and bats ninth. As they have done the majority of their time with Minnesota together, the expectation should be that the pair rotates the final games evenly.
Vazquez has played in 61 games this season and owns a .174/.251/.247 slash line. His 39 OPS+ is a career-low, and he has provided next-to-nothing offensively over the course of his three-year $30 million deal. He has been a clubhouse asset and a good defender behind the dish. Showing a level of health during this final stretch could land him suitors for a new deal over the offseason.
While Jeffers has a better .262/.353/.394 slash line across 114 games, his power was sapped to the tune of just nine home runs this year. His 107 OPS+ is well off the career-best 134 OPS+ in 2023, and he may be a trade candidate for Minnesota this offseason.
Advertisement
Both players returning to the lineup and active roster is more about finishing the season on a positive note, rather than any reason to worry about production. It’s good to see both get clearance to be back, and their presence can at least help a sagging lineup during the final six games.
Related Headlines