Ryan Jeffers is finally emerging for the Minnesota Twins. After an exciting debut campaign in the shortened 2020 season, his numbers dropped off while serving part-time duties in 2021 and 2022. This season, he leads the team in home runs, doubles, runs batted in, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage. Lately, he has become the vocal leader of the team.
Part-Time Catcher
Last season, the Twins signed catcher Christian Vázquez to be their starter. It appeared that Jeffers would once again be a part-time catcher due to his offensive struggles, consistency with plating runners in scoring position, and his lack of defense behind the plate.
Ryan Jeffers – Minnesota Twins (9)
pic.twitter.com/OG9NkiwEKU— MLB HR Videos (@MLBHRVideos) May 11, 2024
Injury Concerns for Ryan Jeffers
Another reason for the Vazquez signing was that Jeffers dealt with several injuries to his shoulder and knee. A shoulder strain kept him out of action for several weeks. That injury affected his throwing and overall catching abilities, and the Twins needed a reliable catcher.
Ryan Jeffers Making Adjustments
Ryan Jeffers is finally emerging after a disappointing 2022 season and has worked on altering his hitting approach to do it. In 2023, he adjusted his swing and modified his footwork at the plate. Defensively, he even adjusted throwing mechanics and changed the position of his glove for the pitchers. His hard work paid off and continues to do so this season.
Second Half
While Jeffers’ 2023 season started off slow, he found his stride over the last 45 games. He hit .294 with 10 home runs, emerged as the Twins’ starting backstop, and led all MLB catchers with an .858 OPS. In addition, he started all of their playoff games and was voted the Twins’ most-improved player.
Good Problem to Have
Having two good catchers is a good problem for the Twins to have. Despite a slow start for Vazquez this season, he is still regarded as an excellent defensive catcher. He has been one of the best in almost every defensive category this year.
Margot RF
Correa SS
Jeffers DH
Miranda 3B
Buxton CF
Castro LF
Farmer 2B
Santana 1B
Vazquez CRyan P
3:10pm
— Ted (@tlschwerz) June 1, 2024
Finding it increasingly difficult to keep Jeffers’ bat out of the lineup, manager Rocco Baldelli has been using him as a designated hitter when he’s not catching. This not only keeps him in the lineup but also keeps him from wearing down behind the plate. Hopefully, doing this will keep him a consistent and well-rounded hitter.
Catching Position
For years, the Twins’ catching position was the strongest area of their roster. Hometown Hall of Fame member in July, Joe Mauer went from the No. 1 overall pick to a three-time batting champion and 2009 American League MVP. Mitch Garver took over for several seasons and was one of baseball’s most consistent power threats. While he struggled to stay healthy, his offensive production was close to unmatched at the position.
Now, with Jeffers emerging, the Twins have found another solid catcher who can contribute both on offense and defense. At this point, he is having an excellent season and is one of baseball’s best catchers—and just might be the most underrated.
Discussion about this post