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Will KC Royals Win The AL Central in 2016

By Scott Dillon

Will KC Royals retain their crown as division champs? - Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
Will KC Royals retain their crown as division champs? - Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 6, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; A general view of the Minnesota Twins logo in a game between the Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles at Target Field. The Minnesota Twins beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 6, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; A general view of the Minnesota Twins logo in a game between the Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles at Target Field. The Minnesota Twins beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

Minnesota Twins

The Twins shocked everyone last year by hanging around a lot longer than they were supposed to. It wasn’t until the final series of the year, against the Royals no less, that the Twins were eliminated from post-season contention.

The Twins got a rough break after recently signed Ervin Santana received a 50 game suspension before throwing his first pitch in a Twins uniform. He will most likely be their opening day starter in 2016 although the rest of the rotation is full of question marks. Glen Perkins also faltered with injury as he hadn’t been quite the lock down performer he’d been in recent seasons.

He crushed 18 home runs in half a season and he’s capable of 40 home runs. His power is real. Just ask Franklin Morales.

As Tori Hunter, played his last season in the city that got him started, he welcomed in some new faces to the Twins organization. Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano are sure to give the Royals headaches for years to come. While Buxton didn’t put up the numbers you’d expect from the top overall prospect, his defense is already there. When his bat catches up he could be one of the premier players in the league, if he can stay healthy.

Sano wasted no time making himself known. He crushed 18 home runs in half a season and he’s capable of 40 home runs. His power is real. Just ask Franklin Morales.

The Twins also signed highly touted KBO player Byung-Ho Park this off-season. PArk has amassed 105 home runs in his past two seasons and while the KBO is known as being very hitter friendly, that’s still an impressive feat. Jung Ho Kang, who plays for the Pirates, hit 40 home runs in the KBO the year before transitioning to the MLB. Park has more power and is probably capable of 20 home runs right away.

If the Twins young members can sustain some of their 2015 success and Joe Mauer can hit like he used to, even a little bit, the Twins may be the dark horse in the AL Central this year. They appear to be a team on the brink, but perhaps like the Cubs and Astros last year, they can arrive sooner than expected.

Look for prospect Jose Berrios, their top pitching prospect, to make his debut early to mid-season. He could have a big impact on how this season turns out for the Twins.

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