MLB power rankings: Twins hitters are on pace to shatter history

The Minnesota Twins haven't won 100 games since 1965, but they're looking like a good bet to reach that milestone this season.

Through Sunday, the Twins led baseball in batting average (.275), slugging percentage (.515), OPS (.857) and home runs (137) and to put those numbers in context, we need to look at them through a historical lens.

They're on pace to break the team record for home runs in a season (267). Their slugging percentage is the highest of any team in history. Only nine other teams have ever finished a season with an OPS above .850.

Minnesota is 47-23 in their first 70 games and their 10-game lead in the AL Central may get even bigger as the year goes on.

Jorge Polanco and Byron Buxton celebrate a win. (Photo: Raj Mehta, USA TODAY Sports)

Here's how USA TODAY Sports' eight-person panel voted this week:

RANK (movement from last week)

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (–)

  • Corey Seager (hitting .425 in June) heads to the IL with a hamstring injury.

2. Houston Astros (–)

  • Yordan Alvarez hit four homers in first five games.

3. Minnesota Twins (–)

  • Jorge Polanco leading the AL batting title race.

4. Tampa Bay Rays (–)

  • Charlie Morton's first loss came in his 15th start of the year.

5. New York Yankees (–)

  • Giancarlo Stanton set to make his return this week.

6. Atlanta Braves (+3) 

  • They're on fire, starting June with 12 wins in 15 games.

7. Chicago Cubs (-1)

  • They haven't played Brewers since May 10 and won't again until July 26.

8. Milwaukee Brewers (-1)

  • Christian Yelich making a run at a 40-40 season.

9. Philadelphia Phillies (-1)

  • Looking up in the NL East for the first time since April.

10. Boston Red Sox (–)

  • With plenty of room to upgrade, they're a team to watch at the deadline.

11. Texas Rangers (+1)

  • 36-year-old Hunter Pence leads the team in RBI.

12. Colorado Rockies (-1)

  • Charlie Blackmon went 21-for-37 with three four-hit games last week.

13. Arizona Diamondbacks (+3)

  • The price for Zack Greinke (8-2, 2.65 ERA) just keeps going up.

14. St. Louis Cardinals (–)

  • Paul DeJong now has 19 extra-base hits in 20 games against the Mets.

15. Cleveland Indians (+3)

  • Twins' dominance should make it an easier decision for the Indians to sell.

16. Oakland Athletics (+1)

  • Prospects A.J. Puk and Jesus Luzardo both impressive in their first minor-league outings of 2019.

17. San Diego Padres (-4)

  • Hunter Renfroe on pace to be Pads' first 50-homer man since 1998.

18. New York Mets (-3)

  • Edwin Diaz has blown three of his last six save attempts.

19. Washington Nationals (+1)

  • Quietly won 14 of 21 games from May 24 to June 16.

20. Los Angeles Angels (+1) 

  • Shohei Ohtani becomes first Japanese-born player to hit for the cycle.

21. Chicago White Sox (+2)

  • Big road trip starting Tuesday: at Cubs, Rangers and Red Sox.

22. Cincinnati Reds (–)

  • Scooter Gennett getting a rehab stint underway after missing nearly three months.

23. Pittsburgh Pirates (-4)

  • First All-Star voting update has Josh Bell leading at first base.

24. San Francisco Giants (–)

  • Only a matter of time before the strip-mining of this team begins.

25. Seattle Mariners (+1)

  • With Edwin Encarnacion gone, who will be the next Mariner traded?

26. Detroit Tigers (-1)

  • Manager Ron Gardenhire leads the majors with five ejections in 2019.

27. Toronto Blue Jays (–)

  • Cavan Biggio playing in Houston was a cool thing to see.

28. Miami Marlins (–)

  • Sixto Sanchez, the big piece in the JT Realmuto trade, looking sharp in Class AA.

29. Kansas City Royals (–)

  • Adalberto Mondesi could be the first since 1990 to steal 50 bases with 100 RBI.

30. Baltimore Orioles (–)

  • Top pick Adley Rutschmann wins the Golden Spikes Award as nation's top amateur.

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