MINNEAPOLIS -- Through the first 26 games of the season, opposing teams have tested the strength and accuracy of the Minnesota Twins' outfield arms. It's a bit of a feeling out process as teams determine how successful they can be at running on balls hit to the outfield.
If Minnesota continues to build its reputation as a team that can throw runners out, that might not be the case for very long.
Entering Tuesday's game against Oakland, the Twins are tied for third in the majors with seven outfield assists. Only Toronto (10) and the Cubs (8) have more. It's an aspect of the game that can sometimes go overlooked, but the Twins' group of outfielders have thrived in that area so far in 2015.
"Guys are confident they can make the play on the run and go ahead and make an accurate throw," said Twins manager Paul Molitor. "You've got 27 outs in a game. If you can find ways to get a couple extra by your outfielders making good plays, that's a good thing."
The Twins have had several instances already during their current homestand where their outfielders have saved a run. Shane Robinson has done it three times already this season -- tied for seventh-most in the majors -- from multiple outfield spots.
One occurrence came last Monday when Robinson, playing left field, threw out Detroit's Jose Iglesias at the plate after Victor Martinez flew out to left field. That double play ended the inning and kept a Tigers run off the board. Though the Twins wound up losing that game 5-4, it was a sign of things to come for Robinson.
Three days later while playing center field, Robinson threw out another runner at home plate without the aid of a cutoff man. After a single to center by Melky Cabrera, Robinson fired home to get Alexei Ramirez at the plate for the second out of the inning. Chicago failed to score in that first inning and Minnesota went on to win 12-2.
"Guys that test you, you obviously want to win the competition," Robinson said. "I take pride in having an arm that's good enough to throw people out. It's part of the game of being an outfielder. It's a good feeling when you throw somebody out. It's fun."
The season is still young, which means opposing teams may still be trying to size up the arms of Minnesota's outfielders, some of which are new or unfamiliar faces. That includes Robinson, who joined the Twins this offseason after playing for the St. Louis Cardinals. Minnesota has also used Eduardo Escobar in left field on occasion despite the fact that Escobar has been an infielder for most of his career. Even center fielder Jordan Schafer hasn't played a lot of games with the Twins since they acquired him last season.
"It takes a while. We have a lot of guys that have two or three years maybe, if that, that's in the outfield," said right fielder Torii Hunter, who is still looking for his first outfield assist. "Coaches don't know them and don't know us at all. I think they try a little more. Some players don't know. They go on their own as well. After a while, if we keep doing what we have to do in that outfield, I think that's going to stop."
To see the success Minnesota's outfielders have had in throwing runners out is a far cry from how things were the first week of the season. Seemingly nobody on the Twins could play sound defense, including the outfielders. Players were missing cutoff men or otherwise misplaying balls hit to the outfield.
That's been less of an issue lately, and it's provided those outfielders the chance to try to throw opposing runners out.
"We don't take it personally. We're actually happy so we can try to throw you out," Hunter said. "If the shoe was on the other foot, if I was on base, I'm taking an extra 90 feet. You have to throw a strike to get me out. If it's low or away from the bag, I'm going to be safe. But you have to do that sometimes and take that extra 90 feet. You can't be scared."
Several factors go into a good throw from the outfield to home plate or whichever base is the target. Of course, a strong and accurate arm is a big piece of the equation. But there's more to it than that, said Robinson, whose three outfield assists already equal a career high he set back in 2012 with the Cardinals.
"I think just being able to stay in control moving fast, I think that's the hardest thing to do is being able to charge the ball and come get it as fast as you can but under control," Robinson said. "I think that's the main key, because if you're out of control as you're coming to get the ball then everything follows suit and you're not going to have an accurate throw. I guess a controlled intensity is what you need to have success throwing people out."
As for building a reputation? That might already be happening for the Twins as they start to face teams a second and third time throughout the season. Perhaps Oakland already got the memo. The A's didn't try to take any extra bases against Minnesota's outfielders in Monday's 8-7 Twins victory.
Perhaps the reputation of the Twins' outfielders has already preceded them.
"They're going to test them and see how consistent they'd be. Shane, after a while he's going to get that name that he has a pretty good arm," Hunter said. "If you're known as a team that throws guys out, you won't have any assists. I always thought if you have less assists, less guys run on you. When they do, those guys will throw you out."
Follow Tyler Mason on Twitter
