Carlos Santana, leadoff hitter?
That's what it sounds like, at least in certain situations, heading into 2024 for the Minnesota Twins.
Per a report in 'The Athletic:'
When facing right-handed pitchers, expect to see both Santana and Kirilloff in the lineup, typically with Santana at first base and Kirilloff at designated hitter. When facing left-handed pitchers, Kirilloff will likely often be on the bench in favor of a right-handed hitter, while Santana will remain in the lineup. In fact, based on spring usage, Santana may be the Twins’ leadoff man versus lefties.
Santana has been better against lefties than righties during his career, including hitting .273/.358/.408 off lefties the past three seasons
The 38-year-old isn't your usual leadoff hitter, given his lack of speed, but his ability to draw walks and work counts has to be see as a plus for manager Rocco Baldelli.
Lifetime, Santana is a .242 hitter with 301 homers across 14 years with the Indians, Phillies, Royals, Mariners, Pirates and Brewers.
Santana hit .240 a season ago with 23 home runs across his two stops with the Pirates and Brewers. He helped Milwaukee get to the playoffs after a midseason trade and did the same thing for Seattle in 2022. He is universally known as a good clubhouse presence.
He spent 10 years in Cleveland, helping them get to the World Series in the 2016 season. He was also an All-Star in the 2019 season, and he won a Silver Slugger that same year.
Santana signed a one-year deal with the Twins this offseason.
The Twins are coming off a season in which they won the American League Central but were eliminated in the ALDS by the Houston Astros.
More must-reads: