Twins first baseman/outfielder Alex Kirilloff started swinging a bat earlier this month, and is currently taking 50-60 swings a day according to Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com. Kirilloff underwent season-ending wrist surgery in August last year.
Kirilloff has long battled wrist injuries, landing on the IL four times for that reason since making his big league debut in 2021. The once highly touted prospect hasn’t hit much in his time in the majors, compiling a combined .251/.295/.398 line with 11 home runs over 387 plate appearances. That’s a disappointing return for a bat-first player, although it is fair to wonder just how much these wrist issues have hampered his output even when he’s been on the active roster.
The Twins have a crowded outfield picture at the moment, particularly after acquiring Michael A. Taylor from the Royals, but the trade of Luis Arraez has seemingly opened up first base for Kirilloff. Given the injuries and output to date, there’s quite a bit of risk in relying on the 25-year-old as the primary first baseman, but there’s also significant upside too. Kirilloff was one of the top prospects in baseball before reaching the big leagues, and if he can show he’s past his wrist issues and unlock some of his potential that Twins could find themselves with a valuable middle-of-the-order bat.
Here’s some other notes from around the league:
- Sticking with the Twins to begin with, starter Kenta Maeda is set for a normal spring training with no restrictions, according to Dan Hayes of The Athletic. Maeda missed the entire 2022 season as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. Maeda, 35 in April, is entering the final year of his contract and set to earn a modest $3MM salary. Given he underwent internal brace TJ surgery which typically requires a slightly shorter recovery time, and there had initially been hope that Maeda would be available towards the backend of last season, it’s not a huge surprise that he’s shaping up nicely for 2023. Maeda’s most recent sample of work came in 2021, when he worked to a 4.66 ERA over 21 starts.
- As he works his way back from shoulder surgery, Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed has begun hitting and throwing, per Nick Piecoro of AZ Central. Piecoro adds that Ahmed is not expected to have any restrictions by the time spring training rolls around. Having been hampered by shoulder problems for the past few years, Ahmed underwent season-ending surgery in June last year having been restricted to just 17 games in 2022. Ahmed has never been a huge threat at the plate, but has been one of the game’s best defenders at shortstop, amassing 154 Outs Above Average since 2016, trailing only Francisco Lindor’s 161 for best in baseball in that timeframe. Ahmed, 33 in March, is entering the final year of his contract and will take home a $10.375MM payday in 2023.
Kiriloff starting to take swings is great news for the Twins. Hopefully this surgery will keep him in the lineup in 2023.
Kirilloff.
And we found our editor-in-waiting!
Krillofff.
Killrillfoff?
Just call me “Alex.”
I don’t mean to be *that* guy, but there’s an error in the 2nd paragraph, and that 1st bullet is written in a very confusing manner. Look, I know it’s a free site, and I love it. But, I’m sure Tim could get one of us to be en editor for next to nothing if he chose to do so. These guys are sometimes writing in a hurry, so they need some help. I’ll continue to love the site no matter what!
So many articles today lack basic grammar usage… It’s frustrating. And I am terrible at English.
“Sticking with the Twins to begin with”… What?
You are terrible at English; starting a sentence with “and” proves that!
@dorothy got eeem
Capitalizing “It’s” after an ellipsis is also poor grammar.
People love complaining. We all know what they are saying, they communicate the story adequately. If you turd goblins say “hire me as an editor”, then you should rewrite the entire article in the comments better than the original with perfect grammar. If you won’t do that, then you send us your writing samples so we can take a steaming dump on them.
For a guy named Jesus, that wasn’t very God-like of you. But the irony of your post is that you’re complaining about complaining. Anyway, I have the right to my opinion, and I don’t care what you think. Go back to hiding in your mommy’s basement moron.
I really like Ahmed in Jeff Dunham’s ventriloquist skit.
Yes! Much better than this one Clip.
I keel you!
Ahmed’s OPS+ increased every year from 2016-2020 before his shoulder starting acting up. A RH bat providing gold glove defense and an OPS+ of 90+ would be invaluable to the 2023 D-backs compared to what they got at SS in 2022.
they’re hoping perdomo will follow his developmental track, he plays good enough d
Ho hum, another guy to play in St. Paul. I don’t think the celeb pigs care who’s in the outfield.
The Twins have a lot of outfielders. Texas needs outfielders and has had 6 top 100 prospects for a year and a half or so. Acuna, White, and Duran for Krilloff and Johan Duran would help quite a bit. White would be sold high, but so would Johan. Besides, it’s a Duran for Duran deal. How could either team say no to a Duran deal (Not a serious comment)?
You really want to get rid of Duran and White!
One does not simply trade for Duran without trading away Duran.
Jhoan Duran is already producing elite numbers and being paid next to nothing (pre-arb) with one of the filthiest pitches in MLB. I wouldn’t do that pkg for him alone.
I had Kepler in my head when I was thinking of this. How about those just for Kirilloff? I keep forgetting they just signed Correa and aren’t rebuilding, in spite of their outfield rumors.
I do not think or believe the Twins would accept this offer, dGTR.
This has to be a joke
I think Kirilof should play COF as it may be less strenuous on his wrist and May better keep him healthy
Well yeah but they don’t have another first baseman.
Don’t trade Kepler and plug him at first, or Gallo.
I’m new to this – can anyone see my comment (just checking). Thanks
Don’t worry if Samuel does not respond to your request, baseballlteam. It just means he has already muted you. 🙂
And if Kirilloff isn’t able to cut it as the regular 1B??
Who’s on First ??
Abbott or Costello ??
Gurriel or Voit to the Twins makes too much sense. Twins need insurance in case Kiriloff isn’t ready/can’t make it through the season
Kirilloff was just starting to mash in 21 when he got hurt. Hopefully he gets past the injuries he seemed like a fun player for MLB.
If Maeda has a good ST, April, and May, I’d love to see a nice extension offer
Krilloff/Miranda/Lewis/Lee. Change of guard coming in Minnesota. This the year they can stay healthy ?
Do you understand irony? You complain about an article, I pointed out the stupidity of the complaint.
You do have a right to your opinion. Just like how I have a right to point out your opinion can suck a fat one.
The “mom’s basement” joke has pretty much become the standard for morons, it’s played out. Especially, for a poster that is “ummm actually…” with grammar.
Let us know when you start a baseball news site, I want to give my opinions of your work.
Not that it matters, but here’s another irony: I’ve been a professional sportswriter since 2000.
You block me after you respond to me? Are you that desperate for the last word?
That’s not another ironic statement. That’s the first ironic thing mentioned, you being a sportswriter mocking other sportswriters.
Even though it’s grammatically correct, saying “here’s another irony” sounds like you’re a five year old.
“Oopsie, I made an irony”.
That’s you. That’s what you sounds like.
For someone complaining about this site while being a sportswriter, maybe you should link some content?
Let’s see how your work compares. Or are you content throwing those stones from your glass house? Let’s see your quality sports pieces.
Maybe, like me, he was a “great” sportswriter when there wasn’t computers and little active evidence exists. Posters are weakly educated or in too big of a hurry to use proper grammar,punctuation and sentence structure. USA Today taught us in the 80s to be “conversational” in our use of the language. That’s not an excuse, but there’s no style guide for forums.
StanK = B.S. in journalism, reporter, editor, publisher, graphic designer, writing coach and sub school teacher.
So what if these guys aren’t perfect, I get what they are saying. Great site!!!
So what if these guys aren’t perfect, I get what they are saying. Great site!!!!
Dreaming on this line-up (all of these guys will be perfectly healthy all year long):
1. Buxton DH
2. Polanco 2B
3. Correa SS
4. Kirilloff 1B
5. Miranda 3B
6. Kepler RF
7. Gallo LF
8. Vazquez C
9. Taylor CF
Bench:
Gordon – UTIL
Jeffers C
Larnach OF
Lewis UTIL
Lee 3B/SS
That’s not too shabby. Lots of versatility with multiple guys, and lots of high end talent. They’ll probably add a veteran infielder while they wait for Lewis/Lee.
Having Taylor and Buxton in CF makes their pitching staff better.
By the end of 2023, this could be their top position players.
Forgot about Farmer!