Carlos Correa of the Twins gets one of his three hits, an RBI double in the third inning against the Royals in Thursday’s season opener.
According to the most recent injury reports, Major League Baseball is a treacherous voyage that combines “Lord of the Rings” with “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and, well, Homer’s voyage.
Between the start of spring training, which is largely a spa for big-league ballplayers, and the end of their first real game, the Twins lost three key relievers, a potential starting pitcher, one of their top prospects, possibly their right fielder, and a rising star of a third baseman to injuries.
Standout closer Jhoan Duran, top lefthanded reliever Caleb Thielbar, essential middle reliever Justin Topa, emerging prospect Brooks Lee, and potential fifth starter Anthony DeSclafani have all left Fort Myers due to injuries.
Royce Lewis started the season opener in Kansas City on Thursday with a home run and a single before injuring his right thigh while rounding second base. Max Kepler then fouled a pitch off his right knee, ending the at-bat but not returning to the field. Both had exams on Thursday.
Such injuries evoked memories of all the career-altering injuries that have plagued great Twins players and derailed promising seasons, but there were some good advances in terms of health during the Twins’ 4-1 victory over the Royals.
Carlos Correa recorded three or more hits four times during the 2023 season. Plantar pain slowed him down, limiting his speed and poisoning his hitting mechanics.
Correa had three hits Thursday, and in the ninth inning, he beat out a slow roller for an RBI single, racing past the bag at full speed and without a hitch or wince.
While Correa was making his usual spectacular fielding plays and driving in two runs, the other Twins star who was sidelined by injury last year was also looking spry.
Byron Buxton played center field for the first game since August 22, 2022. He moved well in the outfield, hitting a line-drive single to left in the eighth inning.
On a day when you could celebrate Pablo López’s outstanding pitching, Brock Stewart and Griffin Jax pitching scoreless innings to fill in for Duran, and Lewis’ ability to embrace big moments, there was one moment that should not be forgotten — one that could have turned the opener into a disaster regardless of the final score.
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In the third inning, Royals standout Bobby Witt Jr. shot a bloop to short center. Correa dashed with his back to the plate. Left fielder Willi Castro and Buxton collided. As Buxton raced past, the ball landed just out of Correa’s reach.
Twins fans’ injury concerns are valid. Perhaps Correa and Buxton avoiding injury on opening day and beyond can provide a glimmer of hope amidst the athletic tape and ice baths.
“I just feel healthy,” Correa remarked. “When I’m well, I don’t think about anything, and I don’t try to compensate. I am not trying to adjust my swing. When nothing hurts, I’m just a baseball player, an athlete out there wanting to play and be free.
“It feels great to be healthy. If I am well, I will take care of the rest.”
And there you have it: the Twins’ 2024 motto.
Lewis’ injury should have resulted in a call-up for Lee, the Twins’ most advanced top prospect. He could have slotted in at third base, allowing Kyle Farmer and Castro to continue in platoon and utility roles; both began on Thursday to get their righthanded hitters in the lineup against Cole Ragans, an excellent lefthand starter.
With Lee’s injury, the Twins may call up Austin Martin or José Miranda. Martin has more positional versatility, whereas Miranda played third base in the majors.
If Kepler is hurt, Matt Wallner will most likely take over as the starting right fielder, replacing the primary left fielder, who will be rested against certain lefthanded starts.
The Twins avoided serious injuries in 2023 by relying on a large bench and key contributions from minor league call-ups.
They’ve done it before, but that doesn’t mean they wanted to do it again.
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