Tag: Jonathan Schoop

How can you not like Luis Arraez

Luis Arraez – Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Since being recalled back to Minnesota on June 18, Luis Arraez is hitting .389 (28-for-72) with four doubles, one home run, four RBI, 10 runs scored, seven walks, a .443 on-base percentage and a .929 OPS. Among all rookies with a minimum of 70 plate appearances since that date, he ranks first in batting average, second in on-base percentage and tied for third in hits. Arraez has 37 hits through his first 30 career games, tied for fourth most in Twins history through 30: Kirby Puckett (42 in 1984), Kennys Vargas (40 in 2014), Chuck Knoblauch (38 in 1991), Danny Santana (37 in 2014).

His AB this past Tuesday was certainly one of the best ever seen by Twins fans. The Twins were down 3-2 to the New York Mets going into the bottom of the ninth against Mets closer Edwin Diaz. Diaz struck out Miguel Sano swinging for out one and then had to face Jonathan Schoop and on his second pitch Schoop grabbed his ribs and was removed from the game. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli brought in Luis Arraez to face the hard-throwing Diaz with an inherited 0-2 count. Arraez fouled off four pitches while working the count full before taking a walk bringing the Target Field crown to its feet. Mitch Garver singled but Jorge Polanco struck out for the second out of the inning. Marwin Gonzalez reached first base loading the bases on an infield single and Nelson Cruz stepped to the plate with the bases loaded but on a full count he popped up to the Mets third baseman in foul territory retiring the Twins and giving the Mets a 3-2 victory. The Arraez AB is an AB that will go down in Twins lore as one of the best ever.

Looks like second base is all his (Arraez) but he may have to wait until next season. Jonathan Schoop is a streaky hitter but I think he deserves to keep his job at second through this year and having a player like Arraez on the bench is a real luxury.

Did you Know?

NOTES FROM REMARKABLE, FROM INSIDE EDGE:

Kyle Gibson
Jonathan Schoop
Byron Buxton

 

 

 

 

 

(Click on images to make them larger)

The Twins have used a defensive shift 245 times in 426 plate appearances (57.5% shift rate) vs right-handed batters this season — highest in MLB; League Avg: 22.5%.

Kyle Gibson has induced opposing right-handed batters to ground into 21 double plays in 83 opportunities (25.3%) since the start of last season — best among qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: 12.1%.

Kyle Gibson has walked 3 of 75 left-handed batters (4.0%) this season — 4th best among qualified SPs in MLB; League Avg: 9.0%.

Kyle Gibson has recorded 10 of his 15 strikeouts (66.7%) vs right-handed batters with his slider this season — 7th highest in MLB among starting pitchers with at least 16.0 IP; League Avg: 26.2%.

Jonathan Schoop has not drawn a walk in his last 72 PA’s against a RHP dating back to April 13th — Manuel Margot has the longest active streak at 97.

Byron Buxton has 16 Extra-Base hits out of 22 total hits (72.7%) against RHP this season — best in MLB; League Avg: 39.0%

Source: Twins GameNotes 05/08/19.

Did you know?

That in the Twins GameNotes there is all kinds of good information for you Twins fans that you are missing out on if you fail to check them out. Here are some things you missed out on if you did not check them today. The Twins do a great job on these notes, don’t miss them.

The Twins enter today with the third best winning percentage in baseball at .609, trailing only Tampa Bay (.640, 16-9) and Seattle (.621 – 18-11). Their 14 wins through the first 23 games is their best start through 23 since going 15-8 in 2010, additionally, the Twins have gone 6-4 at home this season.

The Twins have seen 3.68 pitches-per-plate appearance this season, the lowest ratio in baseball; the highest in baseball is Seattle at 4.12…they have also seen the fewest number of total pitches at 3,212, the next closest being Pittsburgh with 3,412 Jonathan Schoop ranks second in baseball in fewest pitches-per-PA with 3.11. The Twins have struck out 166 times this season, only the Angels (158) have struck out fewer.

The Twins have hit 42 home runs so far through 23 games, tied for most in club history through their first 23 – also 42 in 1964. The Twins are on pace to hit 295 home runs, which would pass their club record of 225, set in 1963. The MLB record is 267, done by New York-AL last season. The Twins rank tied for fifth in baseball in home runs, despite playing in the fewest games, they rank third in at-bats-per-home run (18.79).

Jonathan Schoop now a Minnesota Twin

Jonathan Schoop

The Minnesota Twins confirmed yesterday that they have signed free agent second baseman and Curacao native Jonathan Schoop to a one year deal. Reports state that Schoop will get $7.5 million plus incentives but there is no mention of any player or team option. 

Schoop was signed as an amateur free agent by the Baltimore Orioles in August 2008 and made his big league debut with the O’s on September 25, 2013 and was 2 for 3 with a home run, three runs scored and a RBI.

The Orioles traded Schoop to the Milwaukee Brewers at the July 31 trade deadline last year to help the Brew Crew in their playoff run but Schoop was not the player the Brewers hoped for and he hit just .202 in 46 games. The arbitration eligible Schoop was not tendered by the Brewers and thus became a free agent.

Jonathan Schoop has played in 681 big league games and has a career batting average of .258 with 110 home runs playing most as a second baseman but he has also played at short and at third base in the big leagues. Although he has no Gold Gloves on his resume he is regarded as a good second baseman. 

I think the 27 year-old Jonathan Schoop who goes by the nickname of “Mamba” is a very nice addition to the Minnesota Twins and should help the team in 2019. I tend to think that Schoop will be more like the Oriole player he has been versus the Brewer player he was in the second half of last season in the National League. If worse come to worse and the Twins are playing terrible baseball in 2019 he can always be traded but I don’t see that happening as I think the Twins will be one of the big surprises in 2019.

Ronald Torreyes

The Twins also announced that they had signed free agent infielder Ronald Torreyes. The 26-year old Venezuela native has played parts of four seasons in Major League Baseball with the Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting .281 (162-for-576) with 30 doubles, six triples, four home runs and 56 RBIs in 229 career games.

 Fancred’s Jon Heyman adds that the deal will be with $800k if Torreyes makes the Major League team. Dan Hayes of The Athletic further clarifies that it’s a split Major League contract for Torreyes, who does have a minor league option remaining.