American League Central Preview
After a close race in late August, the AL Central looks to be a competitive division this time around. Here’s a look into the AL Central.
Cleveland Guardians (92-70)
The Guardians were the only team with a winning record last season and were the only team to make it to the postseason from the division.
Shane Bieber remains one of the best pitchers in the game and posted a 1.54 ERA in five games in Spring Training.
The Guardians also signed free agent Josh Bell in the offseason, and in his first outings with Cleveland, hit .234 with four home runs and 10 RBI.
Additionally, star second baseman Andrés Giménez and the Guardians agreed to a seven-year, $106 million contract extension that was announced on March 28.
With the Guardians signing their best players and playing in the free-agent market, they’re ready to take the division by storm once again.
Chicago White Sox (81-81)
Can someone check on Dylan Cease? I think his back hurts from carrying the entire White Sox roster on it for an entire season.
The White Sox didn’t have the best performance in the world, but not the worst, either. They were perfectly average.
Cease, however, was the standout player from that season and a Cy Young candidate. Though he didn’t have the best Spring Training outing, he struck out 17 batters over five games.
The White Sox also signed free agent Andrew Benintendi, who has played in both AL Central and East competition over the past few years.
Additionally, they also signed free agent Mike Clevinger, who was playing in San Diego.
Alongside Cease, Bentindenti and Clevinger, Tim Anderson, Yoán Moncada and Lucas Giolitio look to lead the White Sox past the favorite Guardians.
Minnesota Twins (78-84)
The Twins made arguably the biggest steal of the offseason when they took the San Fransisco Giants’ New York Mets’ shortstop, Carlos Correa, back.
Correa was supposed to sign with the Giants and then the Mets, but both teams backed out over concerns about Correa’s leg injury.
Joining Correa is the oh-so-talented Byron Butxon, who’s been a defensive legend in Minnesota.
The Twins also signed free agent Michael A. Taylor in the offseason, who played stints in Washington and Kansas City previously.
With Correa back in the mix, the Twins are serious contenders to take the AL Central title.
Detroit Tigers (66-96)
The Tigers put on a sub-par performance last season, and the only real highlight was Miguel Cabrera’s 3000th hit.
Other than that, they need a serious rebuild.
The Tigers brought in Javier Báez last season after a brief and hated stint in Queens, and he put up prime-like numbers in Detroit.
Riley Greene also had a stellar rookie season and hit .308 with 14 RBI, and he looks like he’s going to have a great sophomore season in Detroit.
Kansas City Royals (65-97)
Yikes. These guys have won a World Series in this decade?
They finished dead last in the division, but they’re trying to undergo a successful rebuild.
Young guns Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino look to lead this team, alongside long-time Royal Salvador Perez.
Zack Greinke will lead the pitching staff in his second season in Kansas City, and Aroldis Chapman will start his first season with the Royals.
In a few years, Detroit and Kansas City will be the teams to look out for.
Adrianna Gallucci is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, please email amg7989@psu.edu.
