CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGEI have said that the Chicago White Sox are the biggest surprise in all of baseball, but the Minnesota Twins might be willing to make a strong argument about it.This was a year that the Twins were supposed to be garbage and be more likely to trade people away (like they did last year) than they would be looking to make a move for the club.
I can't say it is entirely due to Byron Buxton, one of the names floated in trade rumors last year and in the offseason, but he is having a great campaign and has the Twins just five games below .500.Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins delivers a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians in the first inning at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minn., on June 21, 2022.(David Berding/Getty Images)One of the other guys that you can attribute the success of this year to is today's starter, Joe Ryan.
If the Twins do decide to take Ryan to the market, he will have many suitors and should bring back a big haul.Ryan has posted a 4-3 record with a 3.17 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP.
He has been slightly worse on the road than at home, but it hasn't been a significant issue.He was great in May, posting a 1.73 ERA, but June has seen him make three starts and allow eight earned runs, including four homers.
Rangers hitters have struggled significantly against him, hitting just .143 against him.The Texas Rangers are still in the mix for the American League West division.Before you say, "Well, yeah, it's only the middle of June." I bring this up because they are just two games back of the Mariners, and the Rangers really haven't played all that well this season.
I think there is a lot of potential for this team to add a bat, and he could make a major difference.If they added Buxton, for example, the Rangers might be the favorite to win the division given how everyone else is playing.Texas Rangers pitcher Jack Leiter delivers a pitch to the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas...