Week Two spring training stars

The second week of spring training has highlighted several more players who have put up solid preseasons. (Stats listed are cumulative through the entirety of spring training.)

Brent Rooker, OF
7 G, 15 AB, 6 H, HR, 2 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB, 5 K, .400/.412/.733

After his strong 2020 cameo, Rooker has continued to swing a hot bat in spring, rapping a sextet of hits while showing power at the plate, three of his hits going for extra bases. Rooker and Alex Kirilloff remain the two top candidates for the left field job, and while Kirilloff is considered the higher prospect, Rooker has done plenty to keep his name afloat.

Willians Astudillo, C
5 G, 12 AB, 5 H, HR, 2B, 3 R, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K, .417/.500/.750

While he has played in fewer games than other Twins this spring, Astudillo is making a case to break camp with the major league club as the third catcher, continuing to regularly put bat on ball. Astudillo additionally provided the winning margin on Saturday with a solo homer.

Randy Dobnak, SP/RP
2 G, 1 GS, 5.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 4 H, 0 BB, 8 K

Dobnak is considered the odd man out when it comes to the starting rotation, with Kenta Maeda, José Berríos, Michael Pineda, J.A. Happ, and Matt Shoemaker considered near-locks for the cycle of five moundsmen (Maeda and Berríos have already been announced as the team’s respective Nos. 1 and 2.) But after an earlier long relief outing, Dobnak got the hill on Saturday and responded with three innings of one-hit, six-K ball.

Kenta Maeda, SP
3 G, 3 GS, 9.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, H, BB, HBP, 12 K

Speaking of Maeda, the newly-named Opening Day starter is one of three Twins to appear on the mound in three spring training games and not allow a run. (More on the other two below.) Maeda has averaged three innings, one baserunner, and four strikeouts per start. No wonder he’s been minted Minnesota’s ace.

Luke Farrell, RP
Derek Law, RP
3 G apiece
Combined: 1-0, 5.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 2 H, BB, 8 K

While the two are considered training depth, neither being on the 40-man roster, Farrell and Law have each made a trio of relief appearances and have kept opponents off the scoreboard throughout. Whether this develops or is limited to the spring, only subsequent mound outings can tell.