Which former Twins are in the postseason race?

Although the Minnesota Twins turned in a disappointing season, there are some notable former Twins that are reveling in the playoffs. Let’s take a look at how they are doing so far and if they are helping their team make a push towards the World Series.

Note: Stats are as of Saturday morning.

Brusdar Graterol

The Venezuelan was part of the 2020 trade between Minnesota and the Los Angeles Dodgers that included Luke Raley and, most notably, starting pitcher Kenta Maeda. He’s been starting off his career well, posting a 3.97 ERA/3.73 FIP across 56.2 innings of work in two seasons for the Dodgers. He earned a ring with L.A. last season and has pitched 1.2 innings in this year’s postseason, notching one strikeout.

Hansel Robles

The Twins traded away the 31-year-old to the Boston Red Sox for a minor league player around the trade deadline this season. He’s posted better numbers with Boston than he did while with Minnesota: 3.60 ERA/3.37 FIP in 25 innings, striking out batters at a 11.9 K/9 clip. He pitched in the A.L. Wild Card game against the Evil Empire and once in the Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, yielding a hit and getting three strikeouts in two innings of work so far.

Nelson Cruz

The much-beloved designated hitter has been doing work for the Tampa Bay Rays against the aforementioned Red Sox in the ALDS. He’s hit 2-for-7 with a solo homer and drawing a walk. Since moving away from the Twin Cities, he’s hit .226/.283/.442 (.725) with 13 homers and 36 RBI for Tampa Bay.

J. T. Chargois

Remember him? He was picked off of the waiver wire by the Dodgers prior to the 2018 season and was released after the 2019 campaign. He landed with the Seattle Mariners this winter and was traded near the deadline to the Rays. He’s pitched a clean postseason so far, going 1.1 innings and allowing only one hit.

Lance Lynn

The 34-year-old has turned in a career-best season with the rival Chicago White Sox for the 2021 season. A 2.69 ERA/3.32 FIP in 157 innings with a 10.1 K/9 helped propel him to All-Star honors and the White Sox to the A.L. Central pennant and into the playoffs. It didn’t translate well to the postseason so far, as he got schlacked for five earned runs on six hits and two walks against the Houston Astros in the ALDS.

Liam Hendriks

After establishing himself as a proven closer with the Oakland Athletics, he hit the free agent market after the truncated 2020 season and signed with the White Sox. He led the league this season with 38 saves after turning in a 2.54 ERA/2.34 FIP while putting up a 16.14 K/BB ratio and 14.3 K/9, earning All-Star recognition. He’s pitched one inning so far in the playoffs, striking out two Astros batters.

Zack Littell

After being granted free agency this winter, Littell signed on with the San Francisco Giants for the 2021 season. He pitched well this season, mostly as a receiver, putting up a 2.92 ERA and 3.87 FIP in 61.2 innings of work. A 9.2 K/9 and 2.63 K/BB ratio complemented his season, but has not appeared in the postseason with the Gigantes so far.

LaMonte Wade Jr

In hindsight, I personally believe the Twins shot themselves in the foot when they traded away Wade Jr to San Francisco. He didn’t put up inspiring numbers, but I would have taken him over Jake Cave: .253/.325/.482 with 18 homers and 56 RBI in 109 games. However, in small-sample-size fashion, he’s hit 0-for-3 with a strikeout against the Dodgers.

Matt Wisler

Wisler signed on with the Giants this season and then was traded in mid-June to Tampa Bay for a minor-leaguer. He turned in a 2.15 ERA in 29.1 innings of work for the Rays and did not have a good appearance against the Red Sox. He went an inning, allowing two earned runs and a strikeout with a home run.

Eddie Rosario

Rosie has fared well in 2021, being traded from Cleveland to Atlanta at the trade deadline. He went on to bat .271/.330/.573 with the Braves, hitting seven homers and 16 RBI, helping the team make the playoffs. He has hit 1-for-3 so far in the postseason.

Ehire Adrianza

Adrianza has also fared well with the Braves this season, playing in 109 games and batting .247/.327/.401 (.728). He hasn’t seen any time yet in the early part of the postseason, though.

Eduardo Escobar

Another Ed - maybe the more popular Ed - spent more than three seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks and was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers towards the trade deadline this year. He played in 48 games with the Brew Crew and hit .268/.342/.458 (.800) with six homers and 25 RBI. He’s batted 1-for-3 with two strikeouts against Atlanta so far during the playoffs.

Which former Twins player are you rooting for this postseason? Does one player make you root for a team more than another? Let us know in the comments!