Every Wednesday, FOX Sports North takes a look at which athletes' stock is trending up and whose is trending down.
In other words, whose stock is making a meteoric rise, like one's caloric intake after eating a bucket of State Fair cookies, and whose is plummeting -- like your patience-level, after enduring a summer of Minnesota road construction.
With that in mind, let's "take stock" of the current sports scene in The Land of 10,000 Lakes, shall we? (Note: it goes without saying Miguel Sano is a red-hot, blue-chip stock right now, but we'll spread the wealth, just to diversify our site's headlines.)
Gorgui Dieng
The Timberwolves' young center enjoyed a stellar stretch during international play recently, and was named Tuesday to the AfroBasket All-Star Five squad. In a six-game stretch playing for his native Senegal, the 25-year-old averaged 22.9 points and 14.9 rebounds per game in the AfroBasket event; Dieng led the tournament in both stat categories. Dieng also shot 78.3 percent from the charity stripe (47 for 60) in the event.
Taylor Heinicke
The Vikings' rookie QB has opened eyes this preseason, and was especially sharp last Saturday night, in a 28-14 exhibition win versus Dallas. The 22-year-old went 11 for 11 passing for 83 yards against the Cowboys, good for a 98.1 rating. An Old Dominion product who passed for 132 TDs as a collegian, Heinicke went 12 for 16 for 103 yards two games earlier, against Tampa Bay.
Joe Mauer
Mauer, the pride of St. Paul, has been heavily criticized by Twins followers this season for his lack of run production. He has heated up of late, however; in the past week Mauer has gone 8 for 22 at the plate (.364). And, while his batting average (currently .270) won't be up to Mauer's historical standards this year, it shouldn't totally be overlooked that the former 2009 AL MVP has been solid defensively, with a .996 fielding percentage in 108 games at first base. Mauer has also played in 128 of Minnesota's 131 games this season.
Mike Pelfrey
Pelfrey's up-and-down season continued last Saturday, when he lasted just 3 2/3 innings in a loss to Houston, as he surrendered seven hits in a second straight short outing. Saturday's setback left Pelfrey with a 1-6 record since mid-June. The 31-year-old righty entered the week with 125 singles allowed this season -- third-most in the league.
Trevor Plouffe
Plouffe began this week by going 0 for 16 at the plate, continuing a lengthier overall slump. In his last eight games, the third baseman has hit .103 (3 for 29). And, he hit .196 in the month of August. A .245 career hitter, Plouffe is hitting .241 this year. It'll be interesting to see how the 29-year-old fits in Minnesota's plans moving forward, after the emergence of rookie Miguel Sano.
Torii Hunter
The summer months have been unkind to Hunter, who once earned nine straight AL Gold Gloves from 2001-09. While the 40-year-old hit .333 in May this year, he also hit .188 in July and then just .130 in August. Hunter began this week with an 0-for-12 stretch. His current .230 season batting average would be the worst of Hunter's accomplished MLB career, which began in earnest in 1999.
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