Minnesota Twins’ Alex Kirilloff announces retirement

After nine seasons in professional baseball, I’m announcing my decision to step away from the game today. Baseball has always been a cornerstone of my life. Starting with my childhood in western Pennsylvania, where I grew up as the son of a baseball coach. Spending countless…

— Alex Kirilloff (@AKirilloff19) October 31, 2024

Alex Kirilloff full statement – via Twitter (X)

After nine seasons in professional baseball, I’m announcing my decision to step away from the game today. Baseball has always been a cornerstone of my life. Starting with my childhood in western Pennsylvania, where I grew up as the son of a baseball coach. Spending countless hours in the batting cages, hitting hundreds of balls daily, fueled my dream of playing Major League Baseball. Living that dream has been an absolute joy – and this journey has been filled with unforgettable moments, challenges that led to growth, and lasting experiences that have enriched my life beyond measure.

In my nine professional seasons, I’ve encountered numerous injuries, which led me to search for new ways to overcome the pain. These challenges have taken a toll on me mentally and physically; over time, I’ve realized that my passion for playing the game has shifted. Baseball demands an ‘all-in’ approach, something I’ve brought to every season. However, I can no longer give it the total commitment it requires. I’ve always believed that playing this game requires 110% effort, and anything less would not do justice to my teammates, coaches, fans, or the game itself.

I am deeply grateful for the support I’ve received from my wife, family, friends, teammates, coaches, staff, and fans throughout my career. There are so many people to thank, and I will personally thank them. Your belief in me made all the difference, and I will be forever grateful. I’d like to thank the Minnesota Twins for giving me an opportunity. The things I was able to experience, I’ll be able to take with me the rest of my life.

As I navigate the recovery process for my current lower back injury, I’m excited to focus more on my family and explore new opportunities. While this next chapter won’t take place on the field, my story is far from over.

With love and appreciation, Alex Kirilloff

What never was for Kirilloff, Twins

Last season the Minnesota Twins watched Alex Kirilloff come out of the gates scorching hot. Through his first 20 games he owned an .826 OPS with nine extra-base hits. Unfortunately he played in just 37 more games from that point forward, and did so while generating just a .535 OPS.

Kirilloff’s decision to retire comes after just four seasons spent at the major league level. His 88 games played in 2023 were a career high, and his tenure was marred by different maladies. As a prospect Kirilloff underwent Tommy John surgery. His nagging wrist issues caused a procedure that required the literal shaving of his bone. In 2024 a back issue put him on the shelf.

Alex Kirilloff has decided to retire from the game of baseball.

We thank him for his 9 years in the Twins organization and wish him nothing but the best on his future endeavors! pic.twitter.com/R7d1zQh8cD

— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) October 31, 2024

Related: 3 Prospects Minnesota Twins MUST Add to 40-Man Roster Before Rule 5 Draft Deadline

When Minnesota selected Kirilloff with the 15th overall pick during the 2016 MLB Draft, they did so while dreaming on the sweet swing of a Pittsburgh high schooler. He was going to hit for power, but there was high-average upside as well. Prior to his big league debut he was a mainstay on top prospect lists and appeared in the 2018 Futures Game.

When my son played on our travel teams, I didn’t keep anyone’s batting average, doubles, home run stats. The only thing that mattered to me was quality contact. well-hit rate! When we got into the van, and Alex was 0-4 with four well hit balls, I told Alex great job, you were 4-4 pic.twitter.com/REk3bLt3vY

— Dave KIRILLOFF / Hitting Advisor (@kirilloff19) May 4, 2021

Related: Former MLB GM Lists 10 Free Agent Fits for the Minnesota Twins

Ultimately Kirilloff finishes his career with just 249 games played, 198 hits, and 27 home runs. He leaves the game on his terms and gets to spend time doing whatever is next with his family.

Where do the Minnesota Twins go from here?

It was certainly plausible that the Minnesota Twins wouldn’t employ Alex Kirilloff during 2025. Retirement or not, performance had warranted a demotion prior to his injury. He had been shifted more towards the corner outfield than first base, and that made him a potential trade candidate.

It is still a reality that the Twins don’t have a clear answer at first base. Carlos Santana is a free agent, and internal options aren’t obvious. Edouard Julien could slide over to the position, but an external candidate may be a better fit. Obviously the Twins have an extra spot on the 40-man roster with Kirilloff’s decision, and they can fill that quickly.

Related: Byron Buxton is Still One of the Minnesota Twins Most Valuable Players

Derek Falvey gets the benefit of this move happening early during the offseason and he can now construct a path forward.

Derek Falvey and Rocco Baldelli are both back. So is pitching coach Pete Maki. The hitting coaches were all let go, however, and we can expect a lot of change on the roster, too. Unfortunately, they won’t be spending money to make those changes happen, which means Falvey’s Thad Levine-less front office will look to the trade market.

The Twins are for sale, but the Pohlad family will still be in control this offseason. They have said that payroll won’t decrease further, but a $130 million budget leaves them with no additional money to spend.

Ranking the most likely Minnesota Twins to be traded this offseason

Based on each player’s combination of value, both in-terms of salary and on-field production, here are the ten most likely Twins to be traded this offseason, ranked from least (10) to most likely (1).

10. Randy Dobnak, Starting Pitcher

The story here is well-told. Dobnak did earn his way back to the big leagues last year and posted a 5.59 ERA in just 9 2/3 innings. The walks have been an issue, but he has seen a jump in strikeouts. Minnesota is still on the hook for $4.2 million of the contract, but they’d let him go anywhere else if a team was willing to swallow that for a dart-throw starter.

pic.twitter.com/5rYEvi39sf

— Randy Dobnak (@Dobnak_) July 30, 2024

9. Justin Topa, Relief Pitcher

Minnesota acquired Topa last season as virtually the only usable big league piece in the Jorge Polanco deal. He was supposed to be a high-leverage bullpen arm. That quickly fell apart when he was injured during spring training, and Topa contributed just 2 1/3 innings this season.

Related: Minnesota Twins May Add a Gardenhire to Their Coaching Staff

It makes more sense for the Twins to keep Topa if they believe his health has turned a corner. He is arbitration eligible this year and is projected for just a $500,000 boost to $1.3 million.

8. Matt Wallner, Outfielder

At multiple points last season it looked like the Twins would trade Matt Wallner. Opposing teams called on him at various points but they never pulled the trigger. He posted a 149 OPS+ and was arguably the Twins best hitter. It appears that Wallner is in line to replace Max Kepler in right field.

Those reasons all make it unlikely that he is dealt, but this could be the last chance for the Twins to sell high and get multiple pieces in return. He will make the league minimum in 2025.

Matt Wallner last season — .877 OPS
Matt Wallner this season — .885 OPSpic.twitter.com/AQqr4Zf3GD

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) July 24, 2024

7. Yunior Severino, Infielder

It has been a slow climb through the minors for Severino, but the 25-year-old is on the doorstep. Once an Atlanta Braves prospect before being declared a free agent, he has now flashed two years of power at Triple-A St. Paul.

Severino is limited to first base or designated hitter duties, and his glove isn’t great at the one spot he does play. There is plenty of swing and miss in his game, but he draws walks and hits dingers. Minnesota would deal Severino if they found a big league return in exchange.

6. Jhoan Duran, Relief Pitcher

This would be a big move, but not one the Twins will shy away from if the offer is right. Duran is coming off a down year that was likely impacted by his oblique injury. The Dodgers did call on him during the trade deadline, and Minnesota should ask for a haul.

Related: 3 Minnesota Twins Who Might Switch Positions in 2025

He’s first year arbitration eligible and projected to get a sizable boost up to $3.7 million. If Minnesota can parlay Duran into multiple big-league ready pieces, they probably have to consider it.

Jhoan Duran, Obscene 99mph Splinker. 😲 pic.twitter.com/QICuckfoF0

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 27, 2024

5. Jorge Alcala, Relief Pitcher

There was no arm used in a more confusing way this season than how the Twins deployed Jorge Alcala. He was options and recalled at breakneck speeds, and he was asked to throw plenty despite previous arm issues.

The reliever still posted a career year in spite of that. It doesn’t seem like Alcala is a guy that Minnesota will prioritize, and the easy out is just an unprecedented $55,000 buyout. If he is kept, it will be on a $1.5 million team option.

4. Willi Castro, Utility

If Kyle Farmer hamstrung the Twins unnecessarily last year, then Castro could be that guy this season. Farmer was given a $6.3 million contract through arbitration, something the market would have never produced. Castro, although named the Twins MVP, produced just a 102 OPS+ and is at $3.3 million.

He’s projected for a $6.2 million salary in 2025, and that may be a bit rich for a utility player. Minnesota can tender him a contract, go to arbitration, and try working out a trade in the interim.

3. Alex Kirilloff, First Base/Outfielder

Kirilloff may have sealed his fate with the Twins after disclosing a back injury only after being demoted. He has never stayed healthy, and just once produced an OPS better than league average. He isn’t a candidate to start at first base, as was evident when the Twins signed Carlos Santana.

Related: Minnesota Twins Utility Player a Surprise Finalist for Somewhat New Gold Glove Award

He’s not great in the outfield, and the bat has never lived up to draft projections. This could be a perfect change of scenery situation, and Minnesota probably isn’t jumping at the idea of paying him nearly $2 million in 2025.

Related: Minnesota Twins 1B Carlos Santana Keeps Gold Glove Hopes Alive

2. Chris Paddack, Starting Pitcher

When Derek Falvey dealt Taylor Rogers just before Opening Day in 2022, he did so with the hopes that Chris Paddack could regain his rookie form. We have seen glimpses of it, but he has also been consistently injured.

Paddack has $7.5 million left on his contract, and that’s a lot for a guy who should be a fourth option for the rotation at best. The Twins would willingly offload him to any franchise lining up to eat that salary. He probably isn’t going to return much, but it allows for financial flexibility.

Chris Paddack has a 1.02 ERA in three starts at Target Field this season.

April 10th vs Dodgers: 4.2 IP, 2 ER
April 22nd vs White Sox: 7.0 IP, 0 ER
May 3rd vs Red Sox: 6.0 IP, 0 ER pic.twitter.com/GhDp64D1Jt

— Twins Gems (@TwinsGems) May 4, 2024

1. Christian Vazquez, Catcher

If there’s a player Minnesota would love to move more than anyone, Christian Vazquez is it. Although his 60 OPS+ this season was a career-worst, the biggest problem is his $10 million salary. At half of that or less, the offense is fine with how good of a defender and clubhouse guy he is.

A team with no payroll flexibility can’t carry that number though. Because of his recent performance, the Twins will likely need to include a prospect in order to move Vazquez. This deal is probably going to hurt, but it has to be viewed through the lens of what happens to those dollars.

Am told that Christian Vazquez did turn down a larger offer to join the #MNTwins, thinks they can win.

Certainly hope Falvey and Levine can come through on the blueprint they sold him.

— Ted (@tlschwerz) December 14, 2022

What happens to Alex Kirilloff for the Minnesota Twins?

Taken 15th overall in the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft, he was the first pick made under Derek Falvey as President of Baseball Operations. Alex Kirilloff is now 249 games into his big league career. He hasn’t stayed healthy and his 99 OPS+ hasn’t been productive. The Athletic’s Aaron Gleeman thinks this may be where it ends for the two sides.

Alex Kirilloff coming alive would be so huge for the #MNTwins lineup.

Three-run homer to left-center field turns a 3-2 deficit into a 5-3 lead.pic.twitter.com/e6PCtdbs28

— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) May 25, 2024

“I’m not certain Alex Kirilloff is still part of the Twins’ plans. He’s projected to make $1.8 million in 2025 via arbitration, which is cheap enough to keep him around. However, he’s behind fellow left-handed hitters Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach on the corner-outfield depth chart, and last offseason the Twins signed Carlos Santana to avoid playing Kirilloff at first base.”

Aaron Gleeman on Alex Kirilloff (The Athletic)

At some point, the assumed upside for Kirilloff can’t be a hope any longer. Injuries and ineffectiveness have marred his career more than anything. Glimpses as to what initial projections pegged him for have been few and far between. It isn’t as though Kirilloff’s projected arbitration number is a hurdle, but he takes a roster spot that may be unwarranted.

Related: Penny-Pinching Minnesota Twins Still Expected to be Active This Offseason

Minnesota demoted Kirilloff for performance last season. He never made it to Triple-A, but that suggests he’s not necessarily guaranteed a spot on the big league roster out of the gate either. I’m not sure what another run through Triple-A will substantiate, and that isn’t going to prop up Kirilloff’s value either. He would appear to be a prime trade candidate over the offseason.

Related: 3 Minnesota Twins Who Might Switch Positions in 2025

It would be disappointing to see Kirilloff wind up as a non-tender candidate, but that’s not out of the question. There’s no denying that there will always be questions as to what could have been if he had stayed healthy.

Minnesota has 13 players due for arbitration salary raises. Players will need to agree to new contracts or be non-tendered and made free agents. Most of the Twins candidates are straightforward, but there is a foursome that could find themselves as surprise non-tenders.

Would the Minnesota Twins really drop All-Star Willi Castro?

Well, yes, maybe they would. Willi Castro was an All-Star last year for the Minnesota Twins. He replaced teammate Carlos Correa. Castro produced a career-high 3.1 fWAR and has had the two best seasons of his career with Minnesota. He is also projected to receive something north of $6 million in arbitration.

Willi Castro – Minnesota Twins (11)
pic.twitter.com/GysyCSAMlG

— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) August 25, 2024

For a franchise threading the needle when it comes to spending, a near-doubling of his salary may be problematic. Austin Martin was used in a similar capacity this season. The rookie wasn’t as productive offensively, but also plays everywhere and could grow into that role.

Related: Former Minnesota Twins Infielder Undergoes Major Knee Surgery

A year after Kyle Farmer was a rich decision in arbitration, the Twins may opt against doing something similar with regards to Castro.

Jorge Alcala might be done with the Minnesota Twins

Last offseason the Twins signed Alcala to a two-year deal but brought him back at the same $790,000 figure he pitched on in 2023. He has a $1.5 million contract for 2025, but the buyout is a paltry $55,000. He was one of the best relievers in the bullpen at times, but Minnesota used him curiously and constantly shuttled him around.

Jorge Alcala (1.1IP 2H 0R 0BB 3K) was very strong in the @Twins win over the Rays yesterday. His slider won our Relief Pitcher Pitch of the Day pic.twitter.com/DLYqP0IXvb

— Baseball Prospectus (@baseballpro) September 3, 2024

It has been made clear for a while that the Twins don’t exactly value Alcala as a consistent member of their bullpen. The relationship may have run its course on both sides, and Minnesota may opt to change out some of their relief options. $1.5 million isn’t much for a reliever, but a $55,000 buyout is nearly unheard of.

Related: Free Agency Exodus Expected for Minnesota Twins

This could wind up being a situation where the Twins look back and regret seeing what Alcala becomes somewhere else.

The Twins might be sick of Alex Kirilloff

Minnesota made Alex Kirilloff their 1st overall pick back in 2016 out of Plum High School. The smooth swing was supposed to translate into both a high average and solid power. Thus far, neither of those things have taken place. His 116 OPS+ in 2023 is the only time he has produced above league average offensively. He was great in April, and then fell off a cliff during 2024.

Alex Kirilloff sends the @Twins home in #Walkoff fashion! pic.twitter.com/6SChLGmzjC

— MLB (@MLB) April 24, 2024

The storyline for Kirilloff isn’t just a lack of production, but it’s an inability to stay healthy as well. He has played more than 60 games in a season just once. Last year, following a demotion, he announced a back injury that kept him on the big league roster. It was beyond frustrating for Minnesota.

Related: Alex Kirilloff Forced to Shut Down Rehab Assignment Almost Immediately

Projected to earn just $1.8 million through arbitration, a non-tender would be more about needing to move on rather than being strapped for cash.

Justin Topa isn’t safe for Minnesota

When the Twins traded Jorge Polanco they did so in an effort to shuffle the roster. His salary was spread to acquire pitching, and they moved on from a constant injury concern. None of the big league acquisitions from that deal factored in last season, and Topa isn’t a certainty to be back in 2025 either.

Apologizing to Justin Topa as I was not familiar with his game #Filth pic.twitter.com/oaklnjmDik

— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) September 26, 2024

Topa was great for the Mariners in 2023 with a 2.61 ERA across 61 games. He pitched in just three games for the Twins after a spring training knee issue caused him to miss virtually the whole season. His knee issue could be enough reason to cause uncertainty as to what his ability will be going forward. A projected $1.3 million salary would be just a $500,000 bump from 2024, however.

Related: 3 Rich People Who Make Sense as New Minnesota Twins Owners

If the Twins think Topa can be healthy from the get-go, then he should be back with an opportunity to pitch high-leverage innings. If they aren’t certain about that, then Gabriel Gonzalez remains the only piece from the Polanco deal.

Multiple players will see contract boosts in 2025, and arbitration figures play a factor as well. That means there are 40-man roster players that won’t be around a year from now.

If the Twins want to make any moves of substance through free agency, it will cost them some names that they currently employ. The trade market was a significant avenue for Minnesota to improve last season, and that remains the case this year as well. Arguably the most impactful reality of the last 12 months was the Jorge Polanco deal. So who is on the outs this time?

Christian Vazquez has to go

When the Twins signed Christian Vazquez to a three-year deal for $30 million it couldn’t have made more sense. They needed to replace Mitch Garver and Ryan Jeffers wasn’t a consistent commodity. Vazquez has won a pair of World Series rings, and he is among the better defenders in the league.

The problem is that he has been a complete zero when it comes to offensive production in Minnesota. He posted a 99 OPS+ in 2022, just shy of league average, and carried and 85 OPS+ to that point in his career.

With Minnesota though, he has just a 62 OPS+. He has been a negative asset at the plate, and not short stint of production changes that. It’s too bad the brief changes didn’t stick.

christian vazquez 📈

+ added a toe tap in load
+ keeps him back, not out front chasing cb/sl

start of 2024-may ⬅️
.162/.182/.200
39% chase%
14% swinging strike
33% pull%

jun-present ➡️
.286/.327/.505
27% chase%
8% swinging strike
48% pull% pic.twitter.com/ji2d31yGds

— parker hageman (@HagemanParker) August 14, 2024

Related: Minnesota Twins Move On From Hitting Coach After Disastrous Finish

Minnesota is probably on the hook for part of his final $10 million. If they can find a contender looking for a defender though, the opportunity to offload him is too great. Ryan Jeffers and Jair Camargo aren’t an ideal combination, but the Pohlad’s aren’t opening their pocketbooks.

Former Twins 1st round pick Alex Kirilloff — See ya!

The Minnesota Twins have given Alex Kirilloff ample opportunities to produce. This season he bottomed out with a career-worst 81 OPS+. That came on the heels of the decision to deceive his team about an injury, and he was sent to the offseason early.

alex kirilloff struck out 4 times in a row tonight then hit an opposite field homer because baseball pic.twitter.com/db4GxfTinq

— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) July 20, 2023

He’s not a good defensive first baseman, and he’s not an ideal corner outfielder either. His wrist has been a problem for years, and there’s no reason to believe the front office has much trust in him.

Kirilloff is due for arbitration again this season, but there’s no reason not to let someone else pay that freight. He’s not going to command much of anything, but a swap for another failed prospect or someone needing a change of scenery makes sense.

Related: Aaron Gleeman Puts Minnesota Twins Owner on Trial in Epic Back-and-Forth

Almost any trade discussion the Twins have this offseason should include trying to dump Kirilloff, and talking him up with positive upside will be the goal.

Minnesota Twins don’t need Chris Paddack clogging a rotation spot

It was understandable to deal Taylor Rogers and Brent Rooker for a package that focused around Chris Paddack. Emilio Pagan could immediately impact the bullpen, and the starter had the makings of a cheap option for the rotation.

Paddack has never regained his form though, and paying him $7.5 million is something the Twins should be hoping someone else does in 2025.

Chris Paddack, Dirty 84mph Changeup. 👌 pic.twitter.com/F1u5TBvxHZ

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 9, 2024

It’s too bad that Rooker has become incredible, but it took two different teams for him to get there. Paddack has appeared in just 24 games for Minnesota over three seasons, and he has been ineffective when healthy. Sure, the underlying numbers are noteworthy, but they mean nothing when the actual results leave plenty to be desired.

Reliever: Is This the End for Chris Paddack in Minnesota?

Minnesota has developed a pitching pipeline that includes arms like David Festa, Simeon Woods Richardson, and Zebby Matthews. None of them should lose starts to Paddack next season.

Unfortunately, as is often the case with Twins top prospects, recurring injuries has led to a level of inconsistency that’s difficult for any baseball player to overcome. But, we got surprise good news Friday afternoon, when news broke Friday that Alex was starting up a rehab assignment, in St. Paul.

Alex Kirilloff’s rehab assignment shut down after one game

Later that same night, the former No. 15 overall pick went 1-for-5 with the Saints. His lone hit was a double, which drove in a run. He later scored, too. Usually, when Alex Kirilloff gets on base, good things happen.

One day later, however, the 26-year-old was not in St. Paul’s lineup. After the Saints lost to the Scranton Railriders, it was “announced” that Kirilloff was being shut down again, due to more back pain.

#MNTwins announced late last night that Alex Kirilloff’s rehab was shut down flare up/soreness in his back.

— DanHayesMLB (@DanHayesMLB) August 25, 2024

So, Alex Kirilloff’s rehab assignment lasted just one game and five at-bats. There is not any information yet, as to how long Kirilloff will be on the shelf. Brooks Lee, who has struggled with back issues of his own, this season, just started a rehab assignment in St. Paul too.

Brooks Lee goes deep for Saints – Rejoining Minnesota Twins Monday makes sense

He batted second for the Saints, on Saturday, and hit a 2-run homer. As long as his injured shoulder holds up, and no other problems arise, I’d imagine he will rejoin the Minnesota Twins as early as Monday or Tuesday.

"Because of course. Because it's Brooks Lee!"

MLB's No. 16 prospect (@Twins) DEMOLISHES a 447 ft homer in his first rehab at-bat for the Triple-A @StPaulSaints. pic.twitter.com/DOKTFecWs7

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 25, 2024

Related: Carlos Correa Injury Update Reveals Prior Setback and More Delays

The Twins are scheduled to play their next seven games at the friendly confines of Target Field. The Saints are at home this weekend, too. But, they leave for a six game series in Omaha vs the Storm Chasers, on Monday (series starts Tuesday).

So, if Brooks Lee is feeling good after today’s game, a call up by the Twins tomorrow would make sense. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Alex Kirilloff, who is running out of 2024 season…

Minnesota Twins lineup is about to get healthier

Brooks Lee went on the injured list August 9th, with it being retroactive to August 8th. This wasn’t related to the back injury he dealt with to start the year, and right biceps tendonitis has kept him out for over two weeks. He will play for the St. Paul Saints over the weekend.

Alex Kirilloff will begin a rehab assignment at St. Paul today and Brooks Lee is scheduled to play Saturday, Rocco Baldelli announced.

— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) August 23, 2024

Alex Kirilloff has been out since the Minnesota Twins since June. He was told there would be a demotion to Triple-A, and after not showing up, made Baldelli aware that he had an injury. Instead going to St. Paul, the former first round pick wound up on the 60-day injured list. He too will return to action for the Saints on Friday.

UPDATE: Alex Kirilloff’s rehab assignment has been shut down — Read More

It remains to be seen what sort of a rehab assignment both players will need. Lee has been swinging from both sides for the past week, and recently settled back in on the dirt. His timeline would seemingly be much quicker.

Where do Brooks Lee and Alex Kirilloff fit?

Make no mistake, Lee and Kirilloff are not in the same situation. The former was promoted to play premium positions on the infield as Carlos Correa and Royce Lewis missed time.

Related: MLB Expert Believes This is the Minnesota Twins Greatest Asset, Come October

Kyle Farmer being activated took that spot, but there would seem to be room for him when he is ready to go. The greatest thing working against Lee is his .642 OPS in 26 games.

Brooks Lee crushes his first Major League home run! 👏 pic.twitter.com/VsZEkITf9C

— MLB (@MLB) July 6, 2024

The latter owns a .653 OPS and is nearly 1,000 plate appearances into his big league career. Kirilloff hasn’t lived up to his prospect promise. The decision to demote him also still plays a part. The rosters expand just two spots now, and that could make getting Kirilloff a locker difficult.

Related: Twins May Have Another Stud Pitching Prospect Up Their Sleeve Still

Minnesota needs a healthy trio of Byron Buxton (who was not activated on Friday), Correa, and Lewis. Both Lee and Kirilloff being options is a positive reality, but the lineup has held serve. It’s a sprint to the finish, and one the Twins need to win.

Now on the 10-day injured list, this saga doesn’t appear to be getting better, and that’s not a great reality for anyone involved. For weeks the Minnesota Twins had been aware of Alex Kirilloff’s reported back injury, but he had been receiving treatment and was playing through things with little reported issue.

Minnesota Twins not one the same page with Alex Kirilloff?

That’s why his revelation came as a shock to manager Rocco Baldelli, which led to the manager chiding his outfielder publicly for lack of communication.

Now, after receiving a second opinion on his back injury, there appears to be a divide on exactly what is going on, and what to do about it. Thursday, Darren “Doogie” Wolfson (KSTP, SKOR North) reported what sounds like a schism between the Twins and one of their former top prospects.

“On Alex Kirilloff, there is some… I don’t know if disagreement is the right word… but I don’t know if the Twins doctors and the second opinion he sought, I don’t know if that doctor and the Twins doctors, are exactly, like 100% completely on the same page. So, there’s some more conversations that need to take place there, on Alex Kirilloff’s back injury.”

Darren Wolfson on the Alex Kirilloff situation

When Phil Mackey posed the question about a possible return, asking if he is just “on the shelf indefinitely”, Wolfson goes on to report that there is “no definitive timetable.” I’m told there’s a “definite disconnect with the Twins medical staff”, which doesn’t sound like a positive development.

Alex Kirilloff may be done for the Minnesota Twins

Placed on the 10-day injured list on June 13, Kirilloff is already eligible to be playing, but still is not in St. Paul. Could this be the end of Alex’s time with the Minnesota Twins. We can’t tell the future, but at this point, it isn’t looking good, especially with the trade deadline looming.

The reality is that he has been unable to play through injury, and has tried to do so in recent seasons at a detriment to the team. He literally had his wrist broken and shaved down, and his career has not gone even close to a shred of what was hoped for from him.

Related: Minnesota Twins Calling Up Top Pitching Prospect

There is definitely a level of influence coming from Krilloff’s agent, Scott Boras. It seems obvious that both sides may have reached a place where a fresh start is inevitable. The problem for Minnesota is that they would be trading a 26-year-old, former first round pick, under team control through 2027… for peanuts.

Any return for Kirilloff, a Pittsburgh native, will be minimal. Best case scenario, the Twins can throw him into a deal that pushes a trade partner over the top on something they covet, before the July 31st trade deadline. That still requires AK to show up until then, presumably for St. Paul.

Kirilloff has a career 101 OPS+, and calling him a league average player while being below average offensively, and without a productive defensive position is pretty tough. Matt Wallner could have been a trade chip a few weeks ago, but moving him while getting nothing in the future from Kirilloff could be costly to the organization’s corner outfield depth.

When the Minnesota Twins sent Alex Kirilloff down to St. Paul, it was because he wasn’t good. A quick start in April faded quickly as the months went on, and needing to shake up the roster, Austin Martin was recalled to take the roster spot. Rather than head to Louisville and join St. Paul though, Kirilloff was M.I.A.

Alex Kirilloff tells the Minnesota Twins his back hurts

Then on Tuesday, prior to the Twins’ home game vs the Tampa Bay Rays, guess who showed up in the clubhouse? Kirilloff’s sudden appearance was curious considering he had been optioned to Triple-A five days prior. Rather than report, it seems he took nearly a week off, then developed a back injury. Now, he’s going on the 10-day injured list.

Alex Kirilloff is back in the Twins’ clubhouse, and it’s because he’s going on the Major League 10-day IL for a back issue on which Rocco said the communication from Kirilloff’s end needed to be better. So he won’t be optioned.

— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) June 18, 2024

In and of itself, playing through injury is something Kirilloff has made a terrible habit of. Dealing with wrist problems the past handful of years, he has looked like a shell of the prospect he was supposed to be, and plenty of that has been to his own detriment.

Batting just .201/.270/.384 in 57 games this season, Kirilloff has effectively admitted that his presence in Rocco Baldelli’s lineup was a negative. Not healthy, he continued to be ineffective and bring down the group as a whole. This is all assuming that there is, in fact, a real problem with Kirilloff’s back. The alternative is worse, much worse.

Did Alex Kirilloff just make it about him instead of the Minnesota Twins?

In suggesting he has a back injury, and never reporting to Triple-A, Kirilloff continues to accrue service time. Remaining on the major league injured list means he can continue accumulating the more than two years of service time he has already established.

That is important when working towards free agency, and blazing through the arbitration process. It’s something that an agent, namely his agent Scott Boras, could very conceivably be interested in doing, as well.

06/04/2024 Fastest Offspeed Strikeout Pitch: Luis Gil (NYY)

Batter: Alex Kirilloff (MIN)

Pitch Velo: 93.4 mph
Pitch Type: Changeup
Spin Rate: 1778 rpm
Result: Swinging Strike#RepBX #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/vKHwdTCjmZ

— MLB Statcast Feed (@statcastmlb) June 5, 2024

Related: Twins Pushed Disastrous Swing Change on Alex Kirilloff, Causing Massive Slump, Demotion

Rather than simply accept his poor performance cost him an opportunity, and use the change of scenery as an opportunity to get right, he will not be in game action anywhere. Of course, should he actually be injured, that’s what the plan of attack would be anyways.

The problem is that he played for the Twins on June 11th before being benched on the 12th. He was optioned on the 13th, and was reported on as healthy, before backdating an injury nobody knew about by a week.

The look can’t get any worse for Alex Kirilloff

Whatever amount of time the Minnesota Twins were going to make Kirilloff prove it at the minor league level now certainly has gotten longer. His manager wasn’t happy about the level of communication, and Derek Falvey certainly can’t be happy with Boras and Kirilloff should there be any level of manipulation involved.

How long Kirilloff remains on the injured list beyond the mandatory 10 days will be interesting. He can then immediately be optioned, and that would seem to be the most logical stance. Matt Wallner got passed over for a promotion in the place of Martin, and he may be (or may have been) a trade candidate, but the Twins must be rethinking that at this point.

Related: Alex Kirilloff Demoted; Minnesota Twins Call Up Another 1st Round Pick

If this is how Kirilloff and Boras are going to operate, the Twins might be better off without him. Of course, trading the former first round pick at next month’s trade deadline would be near the bottom of his value, but both sides cutting ties may be the only way to move forward.

Getting anything of substance for a 26-year-old with a career 101 OPS+ and defensive limitations will be tough, but he could be paired with another prospect to generate more interest. We aren’t going to know the final result of this for some time, but right now Alex Kirillof made himself public enemy number one.

Much of that inconsistency reflects that of the batting lineup, which has been shuffling guys in and out all season, for one reason or another. Some have gone in and out due to injury. Royce Lewis sits at the top of that list. Others, like Edouard Julien and Alex Kirilloff just haven’t produced.

Normally, when Kirilloff struggles, it’s due to injury. Over the last few years, his injuries have been wrist related, an issue that was supposed to be fixed with surgery this past offseason. Earlier this week, Alex was demoted to Triple A, after hitting .201 with .653 OPS through 57 games in the big leagues this season.

Minnesota Twins pushed disastrous swing change on Alex Kirilloff

Initial reports said nothing about an injury, and spoke only of performance issues for Alex Kirilloff. Local insider Darren “Doogie” Wolfson (SKOR North, KSTP) confirmed that notion, reporting that the 26-year-old lefty is fully healthy.

So… if health isn’t the problem, what has caused one of the best hitting prospects in recent Minnesota Twins history to suddenly forget how to hit? Well, sources inside Kirilloff’s camp told Doogie that the Twins pushed a swing change on Alex — one that was supposed to ease stress on his wrists — and it has been an absolute disaster.

“[Alex] Kirilloff, healthy. My understanding is [his demotion] is not health-related. The numbers were decent in April, maybe even better than decent. Since then, nothing. He underwent a swing change. Now, this was recommended by Twins coaches mid-July last year.”

“It was more about using his hips, less about his wrists. You think about Alex’s wrist history, right, so the Twins were trying to tweak his swing. Well, outside of a mini run in April, and maybe a little bit of a run at different points last year. Really, his numbers since mid-July of last year, until now, are very pedestrian.”

Darren Wolfson – Mackey & Judd (SKOR North)

Related: Royce Lewis Knows What We Know, What Twins Know, What Everybody Knows

And now that this swing experiment seems to have failed, there are “people close to Alex” telling Doogie that it’s time to go back to the old swing, which was one of the more beautiful left-handed strokes to come through the organization since Joe Mauer.

“So, there are some people close to Alex just wondering, ‘okay, we understand from the Twins standpoint, but it’s time for Alex to go back to his old swing’… I do sense there’s some frustration from some people close to Alex going back to last July”

Darren Wolfson – Mackey & Judd (SKOR North)

I guess it doesn’t really matter whether or not tweaking Kirilloff’s swing was the right thing to do. Do the MN Twins still not fully trust his wrists? Either way, this change isn’t working.

If I’m Alex Kirilloff, it’s probably time to risk my health to go back to the old swing too because hitting .201 with a .653 OPS isn’t going to do him any good, no matter if he stays on the field or not. This isn’t the first time Twins hitting coaches have pushed a swing change that has failed miserably on an individual player.

They tried to tweak Austin Martin’s cut a couple years ago, in order to add more power. He dropped from a top-50 MLB prospect to someone nobody cared about. Finally, he gave up on their dreams and went back to what he knew, leading to a quick rise through the organization. On Thursday, he was called up to replace Kirilloff. Ironic, huh?

MN Twins’ inconsistency follows that of their lineup

This is a team that went 6-12 to start the season, before winning twelve straight games and surging back into playoff contention. They followed up that stretch, one of the longest winning streaks in franchise history.

At one point, the Twins stretched their record all the way to 24-16. The AL Central crown suddenly felt achievable again. Then, they lost seven straight and dropped back to one game above .500 (24-23). Then, another hot stretch pushed them back to 32-25, before another losing streak chopped them down to 33-31.

Related: Ranking the MN Twins 2024 Uniforms

Most recently, the Twins have heated back up and won four of their last five games, including the opener of a four-game series vs the Oakland Athletics on Thursday, which has them sitting at 37-32 entering Friday night’s game at Target Field.

The Minnesota Twins need guys like Alex Kirilloff, not just to figure things out, but to stay healthy too. If healthy and on his game, Kirilloff would be one of the best hitters in this lineup. Throw him in with a smoking hot Carlos Correa and a healthy Royce Lewis, who knows how many runs they could score and games they would win. But… that’s yet to happen.