New Jersey’s Devin Smeltzer Has High Hopes to Become a Twins’ Starter
MLB fans are gearing up for 2020’s regular season to get underway in March. This spring training preseason has been an interesting one, to say the least. Some teams have proved that they are a force to be reckoned with, some falling disappointingly short. As the teams jump the last few hurdles of the preseason, players are looking to prove their worth and are fighting hard to be in the starting rotation for the regular season.
Amongst these players showcasing their talent is N.J’s homebred hero, Devin Smeltzer. Since debuting with the Twins last season, Smeltzer has had a successful career under their watchful eye.
He has made six starting appearances and wowed the crowd with 6 shutout innings against Kansas City in August. He’s Hoping that his history of performances plus this year’s spring training will put him ahead of the competition to gain the no. 5 spot in the Twins’ starting rotation this season.
Other Contenders
Smeltzer is up against some stiff competition for his spot in the team. The likes of Jhoulys Chacin, Randy Dobnak, and Lewis Thorpe are also fighting for the opportunity.
Other big names in the game are also returning to the Twins ballpark in time for the 2020 regular season, such as Michael Pineda, who is expected to return in May after a drug-related suspension and another ex-Yankee Rich Hill, after elbow surgery.
Manager Rocco Baldelli has a tough decision on his hands to build the perfect roster. It is rumored that he may simply make the players share the position and swap them around as deemed appropriate across the season, but who takes the starting position is still just as important to the Twins Players.
How Smeltzer Shapes Up
Smeltzer has had a tough start in life after being diagnosed with cancer at an early age. After going into full remission in 2012, he hasn’t let anything hold him back from achieving his goals. The 24-year-old was drafted straight out of high school; he is a young and promising athlete with years of Baseball ahead of him. The Twins should be wise enough to stand behind this talent.
