Whether it be Randy Moss, Kevin Garnet, Joe Mauer, Kevin Love, Justin Jefferson, or Ricky Rubio, Minnesota has a storied history of iconic rookie seasons and performances. But in 2023, a new group of youngsters made their mark.
In a year that saw disappointing playoff runs, broken curses, and the emergence of a sleeping franchise, Minnesota rookies have made their presence felt. Here are the top names that brought us out of our chairs and screaming at our screens.
Jordan Addison
At this point, any wide receiver drafted by Minnesota is destined to have at least a decent career, but the emergence of Jordan Addison has been a pleasant surprise.
While most expected him to put together a strong rookie campaign, no one could imagine he’d be thrust into the number-one receiver spot after star wideout Justin Jefferson was sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Despite the immense weight put on his young shoulders, Addison stepped in to help, not only becoming one of Kirk Cousins’ favorite targets on a 4-1 stretch in Kirktober, which brought the team back to .500, but also helping the offense when Cousins went down, and a string of quarterbacks came in.
By week 14, Addison was fifth in the league in receiving touchdowns with seven. Among rookie wide receivers, Addison was third in yards with 686, with an average of 12.7 yards per catch.
After the exit of longtime Minnesota fan-favorite Adam Thielen, Addison has stepped up on an injury-riddled Minnesota offense.
Royce Lewis
Despite another injury-filled year, Twins rookie Royce Lewis had his “welcome to the big leagues” moment as he helped the Twins end a decades-long curse, winning in the postseason for the first time since 2002.
In 22 postseason plate appearances, Lewis smacked four home runs and five RBIs, helping the Twins earn their first series victory in 20-plus years against the Blue Jays.
Lewis, though injured, still made his presence felt when he suited up for the Twins this year, knocking 15 home runs and 52 RBIs in 58 games while batting .309.
While many doubted we’d ever get here, Lewis has become a powerhouse for the Twins, who should be here for the long run.
Broke Faber
It’s not every day that you trade away a star talent and, in return, get one of the best rookies in the past decade-plus, but that’s exactly what happened with Brock Faber.
Acquired by the Minnesota Wild in a deal that sent Kevin Fiala to the Los Angeles Kings, the Minnesota Golden Gopher captain wasted no time making his presence felt in the NHL after leaving college last fall.
Faber, who made his appearance at the end of last season and in last year’s playoffs, has hit a stride for the Wild rarely seen by rookies.
In 23 games played this year, Faber has 10 points, which is third among all rookie defensive skaters; a +6 rating, tied for first amongst all rookies; and is averaging more than 23 minutes of ice time, leading all skaters.
In a league where highly touted prospects often fall flat, Faber has made his mark on a Minnesota defensive core that needed him to step up. And he has.
Chet Holmgren
Okay, this one is somewhat related.
While Holmgren wasn’t drafted by the Timberwolves, the Minnehaha Academy grad claims his roots here and in his rookie season, he’s made a splash.
After injuries derailed him coming out of the draft last year, Holmgren has returned to the court with a vengeance, leaving fans and commentators alike surprised as he’s given 2023’s number one overall Victor Wembanyama a run for his money.
In 19 games for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Holmgren is averaging 17.6 points, 8 rebounds, 2.7 blocks, and just under 3 assists while shooting around 40% from three and 53% overall.
Matched up against other rookies, Holmgren is second to only Wembanyama in points and blocks. He’s third in assists and tied for second in minutes played.
While his numbers are impressive, remarks from players around the league speak even louder. Minnesota’s own Rudy Gobert talked about his talent following their matchup at the end of November.
“The sky is the limit for him,” Gobert said. “He’s going to write his own legacy, and I’m excited to witness that.”