Ranking the Twins Top-5 Speed Tool Prospects

Where do they rank with Byron Buxton?  I love speed and SB, as well as Hit and Run.  Baseball has diminished as they have been reduced.  I think a speed team puts a lot of pressure on the opponent both on base and in the field.  I hope some of these make it through the minors and let us see speed in MN. 

24 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

Where do they rank with Byron Buxton?  I love speed and SB, as well as Hit and Run.  Baseball has diminished as they have been reduced.  I think a speed team puts a lot of pressure on the opponent both on base and in the field.  I hope some of these make it through the minors and let us see speed in MN. 

Byron's speed and acceleration are at/near the top of the scale in the majors, so I don't really think that these guys would rank up there with him, myself.

24 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Lewis claims to have run a sub-4.00 second home to first this spring which would put him as faster than Buxton. I'm not going to take that as 100% truth, but even if he's in the low 4s he's got elite speed and is touching Buxton speed. Just depends if you believe his claims. Hopefully we get a glimpse of it today as he's starting at SS and hitting leadoff!

I'm with you there, I don't think that Lewis is quite up there with Buxton, especially coming back from the ACL tear. 

I'm surprised that Cavaco was so high and some of our newer other prospects like Noah  Miller and Emmanuel Rodriguez wasn't rated before Cavaco

2 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

Where do they rank with Byron Buxton?  I love speed and SB, as well as Hit and Run.  Baseball has diminished as they have been reduced.  I think a speed team puts a lot of pressure on the opponent both on base and in the field.  I hope some of these make it through the minors and let us see speed in MN. 

Buxton is a 75 or 80 in speed.  I love the way he runs.  It doesn't even look like he runs, he just more glides it's so smooth.

Question...I keep seeing people say Lewis can't handle short. What's his limitation? The speed should give him range. Does he lack reflexes? Glove? Arm? If the arm isn't an issue is 3rd base an option? Some details, please 

2 hours ago, The Mad King said:

Question...I keep seeing people say Lewis can't handle short. What's his limitation? The speed should give him range. Does he lack reflexes? Glove? Arm? If the arm isn't an issue is 3rd base an option? Some details, please 

Speed isn't what's most important for shortstop. It's quickness, accleration and reaction time. Speed is definitely valuable and helps with range, but it's rare you'd see a shortstop reach top speed playing a ball.

A strong arm is more important at the position, and more than just a strong arm, high velocity with a quick release and short windup. Pitchers can throw very fast, but they have a huge windup with it. The biggest criticism I've seen with Royce Lewis' arm is his throwing technique having a long windup and slow release to generate the high velocity. The Twins supposedly had Lewis working on that hard in 2020.

Aside from that... there's focus and and fielding technique. A good shortstop needs to be a reliable fielder. Air mailing balls or rock hands leads to high error rates and unplayable defense. This appears to be Nick Gordon's achilles heel, but we'll never know since the Twins won't play him at SS.

Royce Lewis has 70+ speed from the reported home to first times and many scouting sources. Baseball America, Prospects Live, Roto Wire all have him at 70+

21 minutes ago, Cody Christie said:

He was at that level prior to his injury last year. The drop in his projection is related to him not playing in a game since 2019. He may be able to get back to a 70, but he has also added more muscle mass which can slow a player down. 

I believe it was just recently Lewis reportedly ran another timed sub 4.0sec to first base. That's faster than Buxton. Baseball America reports Lewis can flash 80-grade speed. You're selling him dramatically low

I think Royce is top, Mlb.com had him at 70 speed on the newest rankings. He might slow down, but he learned about mechanics in his recovery, so I could see him being a student of running like Buxton. Buxton works out with a track coach to keep him fast, I hope Royce is invited next year.

I know this is about speed, but I can't look away from those Cavaco swings. Yikes. I know he is supposed to be athletic, but I hope he begins to harness that with a refined approach. Even on his 3 for 4 day, there was some wild, unhinged stuff going on there. 

6 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Speed isn't what's most important for shortstop. It's quickness, accleration and reaction time. Speed is definitely valuable and helps with range, but it's rare you'd see a shortstop reach top speed playing a ball.

A strong arm is more important at the position, and more than just a strong arm, high velocity with a quick release and short windup. Pitchers can throw very fast, but they have a huge windup with it. The biggest criticism I've seen with Royce Lewis' arm is his throwing technique having a long windup and slow release to generate the high velocity. The Twins supposedly had Lewis working on that hard in 2020.

Aside from that... there's focus and and fielding technique. A good shortstop needs to be a reliable fielder. Air mailing balls or rock hands leads to high error rates and unplayable defense. This appears to be Nick Gordon's achilles heel, but we'll never know since the Twins won't play him at SS.

Just wanted to add, I've seen just enough of him in hilights and a few ST games that I don't believe range is any kind of issue. I don't believe arm strength is any kind of issue. I can fully appreciate your comments, and others I've read, that being more efficient with his throws is something to work on. I've also read where he just needs to work on general positioning and footwork needed to make the normal plays consistently. 

I would respond yes to all of this, but aren't these general fundamentals that pretty much every young SS has to work on and develop? I might be an optomist, but I believe the athletic package is there, the arm is there, the work ethic is obviously there as well, and all he really needs is time to play and refine himself. I'm not predicting GG defense...though that would be awesome...but I think he's got everything to become at LEAST a solid ML SS just given a little more time to refine.

Would you agree?

1 hour ago, DocBauer said:

Just wanted to add, I've seen just enough of him in hilights and a few ST games that I don't believe range is any kind of issue. I don't believe arm strength is any kind of issue. I can fully appreciate your comments, and others I've read, that being more efficient with his throws is something to work on. I've also read where he just needs to work on general positioning and footwork needed to make the normal plays consistently. 

I would respond yes to all of this, but aren't these general fundamentals that pretty much every young SS has to work on and develop? I might be an optomist, but I believe the athletic package is there, the arm is there, the work ethic is obviously there as well, and all he really needs is time to play and refine himself. I'm not predicting GG defense...though that would be awesome...but I think he's got everything to become at LEAST a solid ML SS just given a little more time to refine.

Would you agree?

This right here.  Agreed on all accounts.

On 3/18/2022 at 3:56 PM, awmonahan said:

I know this is about speed, but I can't look away from those Cavaco swings. Yikes. I know he is supposed to be athletic, but I hope he begins to harness that with a refined approach. Even on his 3 for 4 day, there was some wild, unhinged stuff going on there. 

I'd have to think Cavaco will be released by mid year at this point.