Minnesota Twins: Tyler Austin reaching his potential
By Jason Evans
The Minnesota Twins sell off at the trade deadline may have netted them a big future piece in first baseman Tyler Austin.
After losing in the Wild Card game last year, the Minnesota Twins thought they were going to continue their ascend in the American League and perhaps challenge for a division title this year. This year has not gone as planned and at the non-waiver trade deadline, the club shipped one of the free agents they signed, Lance Lynn, to the New York Yankees for first baseman Tyler Austin and a minor leaguer.
Austin has always been regarded as a top prospect within the Yankee organization but their depth in some positions and need for some more starting pitching and international money, led them to ship Austin to the Minnesota Twins.
In Minnesota, Austin has gotten a chance to play, something he did in spurts with the Yankees, but injury would hold him back. Not the case thus far in the Twin Cities.
Austin is hitting .333 with a 1.155 OPS and six homers in just 12 games as a Twin. In 34 games as a Yankee, he had just eight homers and a .751 OPS.
He’s found himself in a nice spot with the Minnesota Twins. Longtime Twin Joe Mauer will be a free agent after the season as will Logan Morrison who is on the DL.
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Sometimes young players need more of a chance to play or even a change of scenery. For Tyler Austin, becoming a member of the Minnesota Twins may be the best thing that happens to him in his career. At just 26 years old, he might be starting to reach his potential and the Twins may have found a building block. If this continues, it wouldn’t surprise me if Austin is the starting first baseman next March in Minneapolis.