Shortstop Continues to Be a Revolving Door for the Twins

[Cody Christie]

Shortstop is one of baseball's most important positions, and the Twins have had minimal long-term stability at that spot. So, is there hope for the future?

Image courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports (Correa), David Berding (Polanco), Brad Rempel (Escobar)

 

Shortstop is a challenging position for any team to fill in the long term. Many teams rotate through players as younger and more athletic prospects reach the big-league level. However, calling the Twins' shortstop position a revolving door is not just hyperbole. Cristian Guzman was the last Twins shortstop to start on Opening Day in more than two consecutive seasons, and he hasn't worn a Twins uniform since 2004. 

There have been 13 Opening Days since Target Field opened in 2010, and the Twins have used nine different players as their starting shortstop. Jorge Polanco provided a brief respite for the revolving door as he made Opening Day starts in three seasons (2017, 2019, and 2020). Eduardo Escobar (2016, 2018) and Pedro Floirmon (2013, 2014) each made two Opening Day starts. Otherwise, the Twins have rotated through JJ Hardy (2010), Alexi Casilla (2011), Jamey Carroll (2012), Danny Santana (2015), Andrelton Simmons (2021), and Carlos Correa (2022). Minnesota fielded some sub-par Twins rosters during the Target Field era, but this list is tough to digest. 

Minnesota made other mistakes at shortstop during this stretch as well. Entering the 2011 season, the Twins signed Tsuyoshi Nishioka to play shortstop while trading away JJ Hardy for Brett Jacobsen and Jim Hoey. Nishioka only played 71 games in Minnesota while hitting .215/.267/.236 (.503) with a 41 OPS+. Hardy went on to be an All-Star and a three-time Gold Glove in Baltimore, averaging 136 games per season with a .700 OPS over six seasons. Moving on from Hardy is one of the biggest blunders in team history. 

Fans often look at a team's top prospect rankings to search for the team's long-term shortstop solution. However, this is only sometimes the best option because many prospects play shortstop during their minor-league career with little chance to stick at the position at the big-league level. Shortly after Derek Falvey took over the organization, three of the Twins' top six prospects were shortstops. Out of that group, Royce Lewis still has an opportunity to play multiple years at shortstop, but Nick Gordon and Wander Javier will see minimal time at the position. Also, Lewis is rehabbing from a second ACL surgery, so there are no guarantees he will play shortstop for multiple seasons. 

Minnesota's top prospect list currently contains multiple shortstop prospects, but there continue to be questions about whether each player can stick at the position. Brooks Lee had an impressive start to his professional career last season, but when the team drafted him, the Twins knew he would likely move to third base. Royce Lewis has played some outfield and third base, but his most recent ACL injury happened when he crashed into the outfield wall. Austin Martin was one of the key pieces acquired for Jose Berrios, and he's been playing other defensive positions. Outside of Lewis, Noah Miller offers some long-term hope for shortstop even though he is multiple levels away from making his big-league debut.

For now, Twins fans can put their hope in Royce Lewis being an above-average regular at shortstop. He showed plenty of promise during his big-league debut, even if he is limited at the position. If the season started today, Kyle Farmer is the likely Opening Day shortstop, and few would call him a long-term solution. There is a chance the Twins will trade for a starting shortstop, but it still seems unlikely for the revolving door to stop anytime soon. 

What player can stop the revolving door? Is it a good strategy for teams to rotate through shortstops? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

 

 

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[h2oface]

Seems like they draft SS after SS, and none of them stick. I wish we had Houston's ability to pick 'em!

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, h2oface said:

Seems like they draft SS after SS, and none of them stick. I wish we had Houston's ability to pick 'em!

It's somehow the FO fault Royce got hurt?

 

[LA VIkes Fan]

I agree that SS is the revolving door and I want to add one more possible solution - NIck Gordon. I like the idea of Gordon at SS since we didn't sign one of the big 4 - I think it's a much better idea that signing a retread like Andrus or Iglesias or playing Farmer at SS every day. Start out with a Gordon/Framer timeshare - Gordon 4 games a week, mostly against RH pitching with Farmer 2-3, mostly against LH pitching. See if Gordon can field the position. Farmer can get another game or two a week at 3B or 2B when Polanco and/or Miranda DHs or sits. Let's find out if Gordon can play SS at an average or above average level. If he stink after the first month, go to Farmer. We have half a season before there's any chance of Lewis being ready. Now's the time; let's find out if Gordon can play SS.

Let's tell Gordon NOW - you can be the Opening Day SS if you show us you can field the position. Spend the off season working on your SS defense, show in Spring training, and we'll give you a shot. If he fails, Farmer is the short term answer and we can hope for Lewis, Lee or someone else to be the long term answer. If he succeeds, all kinds of good things and possibilities open up. Give this a shot and do it now. 

[mickster]

A lot of teams draft SS as they are often the most athletic player on teams and then move them around.   I think one playoff team, not sure who, had 7 in their starting lineup last year that were drafted as SS's.

[jrod23]

The Minnesota Twins is to SS as the Minnesota Vikings are to QB?

[TownBallGuy]

Here is a worthwhile listen regarding this topic - every Twins defensive position broken down with an emphasis on SS.  27 minutes.  

 

[danielp19653]

1 hour ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

I agree that SS is the revolving door and I want to add one more possible solution - NIck Gordon. I like the idea of Gordon at SS since we didn't sign one of the big 4 - I think it's a much better idea that signing a retread like Andrus or Iglesias or playing Farmer at SS every day. Start out with a Gordon/Framer timeshare - Gordon 4 games a week, mostly against RH pitching with Farmer 2-3, mostly against LH pitching. See if Gordon can field the position. Farmer can get another game or two a week at 3B or 2B when Polanco and/or Miranda DHs or sits. Let's find out if Gordon can play SS at an average or above average level. If he stink after the first month, go to Farmer. We have half a season before there's any chance of Lewis being ready. Now's the time; let's find out if Gordon can play SS.

Let's tell Gordon NOW - you can be the Opening Day SS if you show us you can field the position. Spend the off season working on your SS defense, show in Spring training, and we'll give you a shot. If he fails, Farmer is the short term answer and we can hope for Lewis, Lee or someone else to be the long term answer. If he succeeds, all kinds of good things and possibilities open up. Give this a shot and do it now. 

I completely agree, especially with Kepler still on the roster. It sure feels like he'll be gone but if not, Gallo and Kepler are going to get most of the starts out there with their defense so Gordon would be down to only a couple games a week at best when Buxton needs rest. I'd rather give him the chance to prove he can be an everyday player before Lewis is back and either have a super valuable trade piece in him or the ability to ship someone else out and have Gordon take the spot.

[bloomwcjkl]

Funny how Lewis was called up (ready enough) and then had to play OF because we spent $35 million on Correa.

Maybe he still tears his ACL playing SS, but just interesting how the cookie crumbles sometimes.

Adrianza played solid defense and didn't hit much worse than Correa.

[Doctor Gast]

Right now we have only Farmer but we have to continue to go outside to find a platoon to pair w/ him. Lewis is our best chance but we'll have to see coming mid '23 season how long his reign will last. Polanco never profiled as a SS. If Gordon had to rely on his SS skills he should be still in AAA or gone, keep him in the OF where he excels. Javier & Holland is in the same boat that Gordon was in, IMO Lee won't start at SS & Martin won't stick, Miller could stick but he's still far away, Let's see if Lewis can reign that long.

[chpettit19]

23 minutes ago, bloomwcjkl said:

Adrianza played solid defense and didn't hit much worse than Correa.

Based on what metric? 

Those are their career numbers. Not seeing a single one that suggests Adrianza wasn't "much worse than Correa."

There's the top 25 shortstops, with at least 250 PAs, in baseball last year by wRC+. Ehire's career best year was 2019 with the Twins when he had a 102 wRC+ in 84 games. He was at 95 wRC+ in 109 games in 2021. Never topped 90 in any other season.

Not wanting to pay Correa $35 million a year, or even 25 a year, is a reasonable take. But suggesting he's not night and day better than Ehire Adrianza is pretty far fetched.

 

[Major League Ready]

I wonder if there is any chance they give Martin a shot after a great fall league.  I am not advocating, just wondering.  I could see Gordon holding down that spot until Lewis is back.

[chpettit19]

4 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

I wonder if there is any chance they give Martin a shot after a great fall league.  I am not advocating, just wondering.  I could see Gordon holding down that spot until Lewis is back.

I think the plan is Farmer as the fulltime shortstop, but if Martin tears it up in St Paul for the first month, and they have him playing SS there, it'll be interesting to see if he becomes an option to spell Farmer. I'd guess at this point Gordon is the primary backup to Farmer. But the Twins have been real stubborn about playing Martin at short.

[Linus]

It’s time to find out what Lewis can do. He was the first player taken in the draft so he has some level of ability.  It’s also important from the standpoint of maximizing an asset. If he plays a position other than short then his value is substantially less. 

[sweetmusicviola16]

Reaquire IKF from NYY.

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

Reaquire IKF from NYY.

Why?

[tony&rodney]

4 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

I wonder if there is any chance they give Martin a shot after a great fall league.  I am not advocating, just wondering.  I could see Gordon holding down that spot until Lewis is back.

This is a realistic plan in conjunction with using Kyle Farmer as well. Why not?

[Major League Ready]

10 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

This is a realistic plan in conjunction with using Kyle Farmer as well. Why not?

I know I am hoping the kid lights it up at AAA to start the season and takes over by mid-May.  He might actually be an exciting player.  Let Gordon and farmer split it for the 1st 6 weeks.

[mikelink45]

I am fine with using Farmer to begin.  I think Lee will eventually take over and Lewis will be at a different position - those are difficult injuries that have long term repercussions.   I think Polanco is a likely trade candidate along with Kepler (and not because of Gallo).  Gordon has been written off for SS by the team - a shame, and now the OF is getting too crowded.  Sometimes the FO over thinks things.

[Linus]

1 hour ago, tony&rodney said:

This is a realistic plan in conjunction with using Kyle Farmer as well. Why not?

Martin wasn’t even the starting SS on his college team. No scout says he has a chance to play short in the bigs. Why our FO continues to play him there is another of the many things I don’t understand. 

[DocBauer]

Interesting and a bit sad when you look at the history...especially recent history...of the Twins that they have had so few SS that were truly great/very good players. When I was a kid growing up and learning baseball and falling in love with the Twins, Smalley was the SS. And he was pretty damn good. The next really good SS was Gagne, who never won ANYTHING, but was damn good with the glove and OK with the bat. Heck, even Pat Mears was pretty good for a few years, as was Guzman. Since then it's been poor production, glove only, promising but traded away, etc. 

I am in the camp that wanted Correa because he would change all of that. I think, despite probably retiring with enough $ to make his great grandkids rich, he's so damn smart he could make a fine manager one day if he wanted to stay in the game. But, alas....

Unless something with Lewis is just "wrong" or chronic with his knee going forward, I believe he's our SS at some point in 2023 and going forward. Maybe I'm just a super optimist, but I believe in him 100%. My wanting Correa back wasn't about a disbelief in Lewis, but to add someone special to the organization and let Lewis be great somewhere else, probably 2B, allowing Lee to play 3B, Miranda sharing 1B and 3B and DH, etc.

I've seen enough of Lewis at SS in milb highlights, ST games, and his brief 2022 at the ML level to know he can handle the position. Can he become a Gold Glover at SS one day? Who knows? That's like trying to predict a top pitching prospect to challenge for or win a Cy Young. With his bat potential, do we care if he's GG worthy? Who knows, with time he might be. But how about just really good defense, making all the normal plays, a few great ones, and let him learn and develop and see how good he might be?

Reminder, he's an amazing athlete who lost nothing athletically after his last surgery. This latest setback was only a partial tear with the new re-inforcement techniques being used. IMO, he's going to be fine. And even if he loses a half step of elite speed and quickness, he's still got plenty left.

[tony&rodney]

34 minutes ago, Linus said:

No scout says he has a chance to play short in the bigs.

Actually, that should be corrected to many scouts. The Twins have played him there quite a bit and now they need to reap what they sowed. Farmer will get time too. The plan is to ease Royce Lewis back into the lineup by mid June. Lewis did not have a full tear and should be good to go by mid May or June 1, making him ready by the first day of Summer. If the Twins won't sign the big boys they need to give the kids a shot. I also am not opposed to the team being open to using either of Nick Gordon or Brooks Lee. 

[DocBauer]

49 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Actually, that should be corrected to many scouts. The Twins have played him there quite a bit and now they need to reap what they sowed. Farmer will get time too. The plan is to ease Royce Lewis back into the lineup by mid June. Lewis did not have a full tear and should be good to go by mid May or June 1, making him ready by the first day of Summer. If the Twins won't sign the big boys they need to give the kids a shot. I also am not opposed to the team being open to using either of Nick Gordon or Brooks Lee. 

The reality is he played mostly 3B and 2B in college but is a great athlete so the Jays decided they should try him at SS. And the Twins have carried on this idea. And it's not a stupid idea. He's a wonderful athlete with at least a decent arm. It's sort of the reverse draft idea where you draft and sign a bunch of SS knowing most will transition to a different spot eventually, with some turning out to be solid utility players.

I've always stated that if there is any chance a prospect could play SS, you play them there as long as you can in hope they just might STICK. And let's be honest, except for some truly GREAT glove SS, most still struggle a little at the ML level initially. So I wouldn't abandon Martin still being a SS. But this kid has been behind the 8 ball since drafted.  He's drafted, sits out a whole year, then goes straight to AA and is asked to play a different position. 

I'm encouraged by Martin after his AFL performance not because it's a mostly hitter friendly league, but because he continued his upward trend in the last month or so what he did in AA, reportedly healthy again. He can play 3B a d 2B. The Twins have stated he's a "natural" in the OF. But at some point, despite all of his athleticism, you have to come to the conclusion he's just not a starting ML SS. And that's OK. 

I've compared him many times to Alex Gordon of the Royals. He was a top 3B prospect who just didn't turn out to be the 3B that they thought he would be, for whatever reason. And I would never say DON'T continue to play him at SS as he could be a viable backup there, but at some point you have to  be smart enough as an organization to realize what you have. Martin is a LF/CF, top of the order hitter who can cover 3B/2B and  be an emergency SS. Deal with it and watch him explode as a hitter and producer, potentially. 

I hate to compare greatness with a prospect, but Lee is a Ripken, Correa type of SS. Great intelligence, instinct, hands and arm. He could just settle in at SS and never look back. But I think we agree that Lewis has the ability to be a quality SS. And he doesn't have to be great.  And who knows, very good to great only happens with time. 

I don't know if Lewis is ready June or July. I think the Twins will be somewhat guarded. But he's their guy moving forward.

My thought is, for the immediate future, maybe they should grab an Iglesias or Andrus short term to allow Farmer to be a solid super-utility option. 

 

[ashbury]

His botched toss of an utterly routine double play grounder in the AFL is etched onto my retinas, so even though it says nothing about his range and arm my one game of scouting Martin leaves me in the Not A Shortstop camp.

Some other time, remind me to tell you why Jake Cave is dead to me....

[Mike Sixel]

Martin is not playing short in the majors. Lewis and Lee are already off him. Put him in left or center or at second. They are not seeing him up for success this way. Put your players in the best possible position for success. 

[Linus]

10 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Martin is not playing short in the majors. Lewis and Lee are already off him. Put him in left or center or at second. They are not seeing him up for success this way. Put your players in the best possible position for success. 

This the mantra I’ve been beating to death. Put players in their best long term position so they can develop into the best fielder possible. Martin could be a plus player in the bigs but probably at 2nd or left field. Just play him there right now. 

[Daniel Anderson]

I hope the Twins are checking with SD on what a trade for seemingly extra infielder Kim would cost them. With the upcoming rules changes I think it's important that they become athletic, and Kim at SS with a Martin-Buxton-Lewis outfield by the end of the year would be a major step in that direction.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

2 minutes ago, Daniel Anderson said:

I hope the Twins are checking with SD on what a trade for seemingly extra infielder Kim would cost them. With the upcoming rules changes I think it's important that they become athletic, and Kim at SS with a Martin-Buxton-Lewis outfield by the end of the year would be a major step in that direction.

Great post! Welcome to TD!