Alex Kirilloff will be optioned to Triple-A St. Paul, the Minnesota Twins announced. As reported by Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune on Thursday, Austin Martin was called up from Triple-A St. Paul.
The Toronto Blue Jays selected Martin, 25, with the fifth overall choice in the 2020 MLB Draft. In July 2021, he was eventually included in the José Berríos transfer package. Martin, who is hitting just.224/.289/.355 in 30 games with the Twins this season, will make his major league comeback. But in recent weeks, he has emerged as one of St. Paul’s most potent hitters, putting up a.449 OBP, two extra-base hits, and eight RBI.
Choice of Twins Kirilloff, Alex
The 26-year-old Kirilloff was a perfect fit for the Twins’ future. He was selected with the fifteenth overall choice in the 2016 MLB Draft and went on to emerge as one of the system’s best prospects. Although Kirilloff made his big league debut in 202, injuries have prevented him from establishing himself. His right hand was operated on twice, first in July 2021 and then again in August 2022. It was surgery on his right shoulder that was needed at the end of the 2024 season.
Kirilloff needs to get back on track because, since the start of June, he is just 2-for-21 with nine strikeouts. His season slash line dropped to.201/.270/.384 after 178 plate appearances as a result. In addition, he is striking out 26.4 percent of the time, a career-high that is higher than the 25.1 percent strikeout percentage from the previous season. After all three of the young batters struggled at the plate, Kirilloff has now been sent to Triple-A along with Edouard Julien and Matt Wallner. Kiriloff had been hitting.135 with 26 strikeouts in 82 plate appearances since May 3, along with three home runs and ten RBI.
Kirilloff needs to improve his game for the Twins.
Following Wallner’s promotion to the minor levels, Minnesota started using Kirilloff more frequently in left field. Carlos Santana and José Miranda splitting time at first base also didn’t help. Max Kepler and Trevor Larnach are the only left-handed hitters on the Twins roster following their roster transfer, along with Santana and Willi Castro, who are switch hitters.
Given Kirilloff’s severe difficulties and the Twins’ need for increased offensive output, he ought to concentrate on his game in St. Paul.
