KANSAS CITY -- Not every player gets a T-shirt day at the ballpark 103 plate appearances into his Major League career, but then again, not every player is Willians Astudillo.
Not only has Astudillo captivated Twins fans with his antics on and off the field, but he has also recorded the highest batting average in MLB history among players with a minimum of 100 plate appearances, at .371 (five points higher than Ty Cobb). Of course, it's not a very meaningful stat, especially in such a small sample size, but it has certainly contributed to Astudillo's rapidly growing fame in the social media world.
"You're telling me," Astudillo said through a translator. "I had no idea."
Astudillo said that he has continued to mature at the plate through those first 103 plate appearances, even as he has generated strong results with his career .371/.388/.546 line, three homers and six doubles.
"Just being patient when I'm up there," Astudillo said. "Usually, I swing at first pitches and things like that, but I think I'm maturing as a hitter up here at this level and just day by day, game by game.
"Regardless of the better pitching up here, and better, more quality pitches and stuff like that, I pay attention to that to prepare myself, but I think about myself first. I prepare myself to go out there and do the things I need to do to take care of the things I need to take care of, and so far, it's working out for me."
Such has been his success among the fan base that the Twins announced "An Evening with La Tortuga at Target Field" on April 26, featuring a special ticket package that includes an exclusive Astudillo T-shirt.
For what it's worth, Astudillo said that the gray T-shirts to be included in the giveaway are his favorites among the various shirts that have been generated with his likeness -- including the bright green "La Tortuga" shirts that his teammates still wear around the Twins' clubhouse.
"I feel really happy that people acknowledge the way I play and how I have fun," Astudillo said. "I think the results are there because I go out there and play hard, and I think the fans like that."
Injury updates
Though the Twins don't yet need bullpen reinforcements due to the generous distribution of off-days in their early schedule, both Matt Magill and Gabriel Moya continue to make strides in their recoveries, as both are throwing bullpen sessions in extended spring camp in Fort Myers, Fla., according to manager Rocco Baldelli.
"I think [Magill is] a little ahead of [Moya], where he's at right now, but both are throwing, throwing well, throwing bullpens," Baldelli said. "It allows us to start looking at what the next step might be for them."
Baldelli said that Magill (right shoulder tendinitis) is progressing more quickly than Moya (left shoulder tendinitis). Both are ahead of Addison Reed (left thumb sprain), who has prepared well for his eventual return to the mound in what the Twins hope can be a bounceback season from a difficult 2018, in which he allowed 11 homers and struck out a career-low 44 batters.
"He's obviously a veteran pitcher that's done this for a very long time and done it very successfully," Baldelli said. "I also think he's at a point where he's talked about doing things to help himself going forward that have a lot to do with his stuff, the way that he's using it, improving his stuff, improving his body and doing a lot of different things."
The Twins are using a seven-man bullpen that includes fifth starter Martin Perez for the time being, but right-hander Fernando Romero and the recovering relievers could be options to rejoin the Major League roster once Perez is moved to the rotation in mid-April.