Article: Draft Prep: Twins Corner Infield Depth

[Seth Stohs]

The MLB Draft is less than three weeks away, and Twins Daily is the place to be for some great draft coverage in the coming weeks. Before considering the draft possibilities, it is nice to take a look around the organization and see what kind of depth the Twins have at each position.

 

Now, unlike the NBA or NFL drafts, players drafted this year will not immediately jump to the big leagues. Because of this, drafting Best Available Player is always the best thing to do. It is impossible to know with any certainty what the situation will be in two years much less five or six years down the line.

 

That said, as the draft gets to the 15th or 20th round, organizations can focus on certain needs in the organization and fill out rookie league rosters with guys with talent.

 

After reviewing the Catchers in the Twins organization yesterday, today we look at the corner infielders.Today, we continue this series by reviewing the corner infielders in the organization:

 

Minnesota Twins: Joe Mauer (1B), Trevor Plouffe (3B), Eduardo Escobar (UT), Eduardo Nunez (UT)

 

Joe Mauer was moved to first base after a decade of catching in the big leagues. Though his offensive game is not the prototype for first base, he still gets on base at a good clip and has greatly improved his defense. Speaking of greatly improved defense, Trevor Plouffe certainly fits into that category. He has become a consistent offensive contributor as well. Plouffe can’t be a free agent until after the 2017 while Mauer was signed through the 2018 season. Eduardo Escobar and Eduardo Nunez have both played a lot of third base in their careers as well.

 

Rochester Red Wings: Brock Peterson (1B), Reynaldo Rodriguez (1B), Nate Hanson (1B/3B), Jose Martinez (3B), Ryan Wheeler (3B/1B), Kennys Vargas (1B/DH)

 

Aside from the recently-demoted Vargas, it would be fair to call this a veteran group. The youngest player in this group, the recently-signed 26-year-old Ryan Wheeler, is the youngest in the group. He has spent parts of three seasons in the big leagues. 32-year-old Brock Peterson was the Twins 49^th round pick in 2002 out of his school. He gradually worked his way up the system and spent over two seasons with the Red Wings before leaving via free agency. He played some independent ball before the Cardinals signed him and gave him his first big league opportunity. Jose Martinez was at big league spring training. Rodriguez and Hanson were two of the top hitters at New Britain last year. We have seen what Kennys Vargas has the potential to be in the big leagues.

 

Chattanooga Lookouts: Miguel Sano (3B), Stephen Wickens (UT), Dalton Hicks (1B), Mike Gonzales (1B), Max Kepler (1B)

 

Miguel Sano missed all of the 2014 season after Tommy John surgery. As expected, he started the season slowly this year, but he has been very good since the beginning of May. Some question his ability to play third base. Dalton Hicks got off to a great start. Twins Daily named him the Hitter of the Month for April. Kepler can play all three outfield positions as well as first base. Wickens has shown the ability to play all over the diamond and hit near the top of the order. Gonzales, like Sano, is a big man. He became a free agent after last season, but he re-signed with the Twins.

 

Ft. Myers Miracle: Niko Goodrum (3B), Bryan Haar (1B/3B)

 

Goodrum returned to the Miracle this year and is hitting near the top of the order. He has the tools, but to this point, it hasn’t translated with the bat. He has the potential to hit for some power, but that hasn’t happened yet. He has very good speed. He does have a good glove and strong arm too. Bryan Haar played mostly third base in Cedar Rapids last year but moved across the diamond this year. He made the same move in college where he moved from third base to first base to make room for Kris Bryant.

 

Cedar Rapids Kernels: T.J. White (3B), Blake Schmit (1B/3B), Trey Vavra (1B), Tyler Kuresa (1B)

 

Trey Vavra has been one of the top offensive performancers in the system. He has hit for average and power while playing first base, left field and DH. He has split time at first base with left-handed power bat Tyler Kuresa who has struggled to start the season but has a great glove. T.J. White has played nearly every day at third base. The UNLV alum has been a good doubles hitter, but he has potential to add more power. He’s very good with the glove. Schmit is an Eden Prairie native who was just recently promoted to the Kernels. He can play all four infield positions.

 

Extended Spring Training: Jack Barrie (1B), Tyler Mautner (1B/3B), Lewin Diaz (1B), Luis Arraez (3B), Ruar Verkerk (1B/3B), Roni Tapia (3B)

 

Lewin Diaz was the Twins big international signing two years ago from the Dominican Republic. He is a big man with a lot of power potential. Jack Barrie is a raw talent. He is big and strong and has a lot of power. He’s still learning the game. Tyler Mautner was a late-round pick last year out of the University of Buffalo. Verkerk is from The Netherlands. Tapia was signed at the same time as Diaz from the Dominican.

 

Top 5 Prospects: 1.) Miguel Sano, 2.) Max Kepler, 3.) Lewin Diaz, 4.) Niko Goodrum, 5.) Dalton Hicks

 

The Draft: Traditionally, the Twins will draft athletic high school and college middle infielders. They will pick some college corner infielders in the mid-to-late rounds. The idea is the middle infielders are athletic enough and can be more versatile, allowing them to move to the corners as needed.

 

Sometimes it’s pretty clear that the player will eventually move. For instance, when the Twins signed shortstop Miguel Sano, it was clear he was not going to stay at shortstop. The Twins drafted prep shortstops Michael Cuddyer (1997) and Trevor Plouffe (2004) and eventually moved them.

 

With Trevor Plouffe looking more and more like a foundation piece and Miguel Sano in the picture, there may not be a need at third base for the Twins for a while. Mauer will likely be at first base for the next few years. Kennys Vargas is in that picture, somewhat. Kepler, and eventually Lewin Diaz, fit into the category as long-term first base options. With the start he’s off to in his pro career, Trey Vavra has put himself into the discussion as well.

 

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[kellyvance]

If Sano can't play 3B, he cant't play outfield. I could see a future infield of Sano/Plouffe, Santana (Gordon), Dozier and Mauer/Vargas. OF of Plouffe/Rosario, Buxton and Hicks.

What I'd like to see is the Twins draft the best catcher available as soon as possible.

 

[tobi0040]

 

If Sano can't play 3B, he cant't play outfield. I could see a future infield of Sano/Plouffe, Santana (Gordon), Dozier and Mauer/Vargas. OF of Plouffe/Rosario, Buxton and Hicks.

What I'd like to see is the Twins draft the best catcher available as soon as possible.

 

I don't neccesarily agree about 3B and OF.  3B is almost 100% first step, footwork, and reflexes.  Reflexes are important in the OF, but so are angles to balls in the air and flat out speed.  My understanding is Sano runs pretty good but the footwork at 3B is a work in progress.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

All of the importance of getting Sano into a lineup is tied up into his bat. If he ends up being a DH, that's not the worst thing in the world.

[clutterheart]

 

All of the importance of getting Sano into a lineup is tied up into his bat. If he ends up being a DH, that's not the worst thing in the world.

Disagree

If plays at 3B and can handle the Defensive side of it he is very valuable and if he hits, he becomes one of the best players in baseball.

If he is in the OF/DH/1B role he must hit really really really well to be as worthwhile.

[Mike Sixel]

Not sure why 1B and 3B are grouped, but it doesn't hurt anyone, because there aren't many guys.......

 

Big believer in Sano, at 1B or DH or OF, mostly believe he can be a good 3B (counting hitting, since as posted above, it would make him even more valuable). Sort of a believer in Kepler, but I need a full year of productivity to really believe he has taken the step of translating all that talent to productivity.

 

No idea how I feel about any of the others that aren't already 28ish.......just not enough data*

 

*well, I am relatively sure a few won't make it, but not naming names.....

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

Is it possible that Pinto, and possibly Arcia end up 1B/DH? Seems as though that is where both of those two best would fit defensively. Failed corner OF's and bad catchers move to 1B next, then DH if they can't make it there either.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I think the problem is that the Twins have a few too many DH types in Arcia, Sano, Vargas, etc. and guys like Mauer already holding down a corner position. Sano really does need to stick at 3rd, just as Arcia needs to get a lot better at defense in RF/LF.

[cmb0252]

Would it be ideal to have Sano play 3rd? Definitely! Is it a deal breaker if he has to play DH? Definitely not! If we have to move Vargas and/or Arcia so Sano can get every day bats that's cool with me.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

 

Disagree

If plays at 3B and can handle the Defensive side of it he is very valuable and if he hits, he becomes one of the best players in baseball.

If he is in the OF/DH/1B role he must hit really really really well to be as worthwhile.

 

If he doesn't hit, he doesn't play.

[Seth Stohs]

As I was looking at my chart of player names this morning, I realized I left out Ruar Verkerk and Roni Tapia, third basemen at Extended Spring Training, who are definitely intriguing prospects in 2015. I've added them to the lists above.

[tobi0040]

 

If he doesn't hit, he doesn't play.

 

I have little doubt Sano will hit enough to be an above average MLB DH. I looked up the top DH and 3B in the AL right now.  Surprisingly to me, the difference in offense between the two was much closer than I thought.

 

There are 11 qualified DH's in the AL right now.  Here are the top 8 by OPS, Victor Martinez is in the other group of three.

 

1. Nelson Cruz   1.121 OPS

2. Fielder             .906 OPS

3. A-Rod              .900 OPS

4. Bautista           .847 OPS

5. Morales            .812 OPS

6. Ortiz                  .761 OPS

7. Encarnacion     .757 OPS

8.  Laroche           .735 OPS

 

Here are the best qualified 3B in the AL (for apples to apples)

 

1. Donaldson      .911 OPS

2. Moustakas      .900 OPS

3. Machado        .820 OPS

4. Plouffe            .812 OPS

5. Longoria         .784 OPS

6. Sandoval        .758 OPS
7. Valbuena        .738 OPS

8. Beltre             . 720 OPS

Edited May 21, 2015 by tobi0040

[Seth Stohs]

 

I have little doubt Sano will hit enough to be an above average MLB DH. I looked up the top DH and 3B in the AL right now.  Surprisingly to me, the difference in offense between the two was much closer than I thought.

 

 

While I agree with this, I also would have told you that Brandon Wood would have been at least a league average DH when he was crushing minor league pitching too. I totally believe in Sano and think he'll be very good, but can't just assume that.