The most runs saved by a defender is Lorenzo Cain with 6 runs... Danny Santana has saved the fewest at -6.

 

I realize it's still a small sample, but what are everyone's thoughts on his defense so far? Still kicking off the rust?

To be honest, it's been as expected. It's what he has always been in the minor leagues, inconsistent. Everyone can see the tools, the speed and the big arm... 

 

That said, it's way too small of a sample at this point to worry about it much or to make any drastic changes.

In two or three more years, we may look back and say that Molitor was moving the wrong man all over the field (Escobar).  Santana will break out offensively, I think.  I don't think he'll be a defensive asset at short.

The sample is too small to project. It does describe well what our eyes have seen in the first two weeks. Combine that with reports from his minor league career and there is reason to continue to question whether he can be a regular SS.

 

A year ago, we might have hoped for a Bonifacio type career. I am not sure much has changed since then. He does have the upside of a regular SS and it is well worth investing a good portion of this season to try to realize that upside.

It's going to be interesting when Polanco is ready to come up full time.  I still think Polanco is the better SS. 

Way too early to tell if Santana will become an excellent SS at the mlb level. He's got all the physical tools. I'd like to see him there for another month, see if he doesn't stabilize his defense. It's his hitting that concerns me more. Almost like he forgot what he was doing last year. Are pitchers doing something different? Have the fielders adjusted? Doesn't seem like the same guy a the plate.

Even though I've never been high on Santana's defense, I'm with most here that's it's still just too early. While he's not a rookie, he kind of is at this position, so I'm willing to give it some good time as long as I see improvement.

As I posted on the thread about Souhan's column, there will be no room in the outfield for Santana when Buxton, Rosario, Arcia (and, if we're really lucky, Hicks) are all on the 25-man. He is the SS of the near future and he needs to play there regularly in order to develop his skills. Very few people expected him to play consistently good defensive at this stage, and it's just not a worrisome matter now as long as there is improvement over the course of this season.

I seem to remember the same things being said about Bartlett at one point and he turned in some pretty good seasons at SS (albeit some with the Rays).  Let's give him some time to work out the kinks. 

It's definitely too early to say, but I wouldn't doubt that there might be a little "rust" factoring into the equation. Santana obviously has all of the tools, but after playing in the out field last season, he just needs to get the reps in and try and get into a groove. It may take a couple of months or it may take a couple of years or it may not happen at all. I think the most important thing is to just give him time and a lot of reps and see how things go for him this year.

 

Playing SS is a mental challenge just as much as it is a physical/skill/ability factor. Considering he seems to miss "easy" ones once in a while, he may be battling some mental demons out there. I really hope the coaches and his teammates are talking to him about the mental aspect. It's huge.

Edited April 20, 201511 yr by Reider

As I posted on the thread about Souhan's column, there will be no room in the outfield for Santana when Buxton, Rosario, Arcia (and, if we're really lucky, Hicks) are all on the 25-man. He is the SS of the near future and he needs to play there regularly in order to develop his skills. Very few people expected him to play consistently good defensive at this stage, and it's just not a worrisome matter now as long as there is improvement over the course of this season.

. Concur. He can go back to the outfield or utility player anytime, but if you are going to see if he is your future shortstop, now is the time. By next year you need a plan, who goes where, and stick with it. Or else the Twins will be in this morass forever.

Escobar is better right now. Santana has the ability but is inconsistent.