2022 Minnesota Twins

2022 Minnesota Twins / Franchise: Minnesota Twins / BR Team Page[edit]

Record: 78-84, finished 3rd in AL Central Division (2022 AL)

Coaches: Packy Casey, Hank Conger, Nate Dammann, Tony Diaz, Bill Evers, Wes Johnson, Pete Maki, David Popkins, Luis Ramirez, Colby Suggs, Jayce Tingler and Tommy Watkins

Ballpark: Target Field

History, Comments, Contributions[edit]

The 2022 Minnesota Twins bounced back at the start of the season, after a highly disappointing 2021 season that saw them finish in last place in the AL Central after making the postseason each of the previous two years. The Twins made a number of changes before the season, including a pair of big trades immediately after the conclusion of the 2021-2022 lockout: on March 12th, they traded C Mitch Garver to the Texas Rangers in return for SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa and minor leaguer Ronny Henriquez, then the next day sent Kiner-Falefa, 3B Josh Donaldson and C Ben Rortvedt to the New York Yankees for C Gary Sanchez and 3B Gio Urshela. They then completed the re-shaping of their starting line-up on March 22nd by signing free agent SS Carlos Correa to what amounted to a one-year deal.

The moves paid immediate dividends as after a 3-6 start, Minnesota reached first place on April 24th after completing a three-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox, and then quickly built a cushion. They finished April at 12-9 with a three-game lead in the division race, then spent all of May in first place, going 18-12 for the month. They slowed down a bit in June, as their five-game lead began shrinking and they were briefly caught and passed by the Cleveland Guardians On June 22nd. However, they reacted by winning four of their next five games to re-claim first place. It was in the middle of that last streak that pitching coach Wes Johnson made a surprise announcement on June 26th, stunning the team by telling them he was leaving the Twins because he had accepted a job as pitching coach at Louisiana State University and would be leaving in a matter of days. Bullpen coach Pete Maki replaced him on an interim basis, and Colby Suggs was promoted from the minor league coaching ranks to assist him.