Stuart Turner

[nate10s]

Given name: Randy Stuart Turner
Born: December 27, 1991 in Eunice, LA
Position: Catcher
Bats/Throws: Right
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 230 lbs

Randy Stuart Turner was a 3rd round draft choice of the MN Twins in 2013 out of the University of Mississippi. He spent most of the 2013 season playing at Elizabethton (playing one game with class AA New Britain). In 2014 he was promoted to Ft Myers, where he spent the entire season there. This season he is back up at the AA level, this time with Chattanooga.

Turner's value is mostly from behind the plate. While in college he won the Johnny Bench Award, which is given to the best catcher in the NCAA. In his minor league career he has thrown out 32% of would-be base stealers, which seems somewhere between average and below average. For comparison sake, Pinto (minor league) is also at 32%, Brian Navarreto (Rookie ball & low A) is at 53%, and Kurt Suzuki's MLB career rate is 26%. So, Turner's defensive value must be tied to fielding percentage, pitch framing, and handling a pitching staff. As far as offense, Turner has seen his triple slash drop at each level. Through 26 games with Chattanooga, he is sitting at .191/.298/.258. The one thing Turner appears to do well offensively is draw walks.

The Twins appear to like Turner as they've moved him up a level each year in spite of his offensive production. My guess is that they expect him to fill a Drew Butera type role in which he is the backup backstop that can provide solid D and any offensive production is a bonus.

[nytwinsfan]

I would argue (and have argued) that the largest organizational weakness in the Twins' depth chart is at Catcher. Not to say that Suzuki isn't a decent major league catcher -- he is -- or that there aren't some decent minor league catching prospects -- there are -- (Pinto, Turner, Garner, J. Fernandez, Silva) but they don't appear to have the upside of the Twins' current major leaguers and prospects at pitcher, outfield, corner infield, and middle infield. (Pinto has that kind of upside as a hitter, but the Twins don't seem to trust his defense as anything beyond a catcher of last resort). So it is for this reason that I am even more excited about Stuart Turner's offensive uptick over the last 10 days and in May as a whole than I am about the uptick in production from other prospects like Buxton, Sano, and Kepler (and I am pretty excited about those).

 

Turner over the last 10 games: .235/.350/.471 (.821) with 6K/6BB and 2 HR.

Turner in May: .222/.364/.463 (.827) with 10K/12BB and 3 HR.

 

Turner Overall: .215/.320/.346 with 24K/16BB.

 

The story seems to be that Turner's K/BB ratio, which was already pretty good, has improved dramatically in May, and he has found some power.

 

Keep in mind that Turner doesn't even need to be a "good" hitter to be a valuable major league starting catcher. Because of his universally acclaimed defensive abilities, he just has to be serviceable (i.e., a step up or two from Drew Butera at the plate). It looks like he at least has the potential for that. Turner may never be a line drive hitter that makes lots of good contact, but if he continues to achieve a decent or good K/BB ratio and shows even decent power, he could be a real asset behind the plate for the Twins as early as 2016.

 

 

[drjim]

Catcher is probably the biggest weakness in 25 mlb organizations. Really hard position to fill and to build quality depth. Turner developing would be huge for the organization, and anyone else as well.

[awinter]

 

 

Turner over the last 10 games: .235/.350/.471 (.821) with 6K/6BB and 2 HR.

Turner in May: .222/.364/.463 (.827) with 10K/12BB and 3 HR.

 

Turner Overall: .215/.320/.346 with 24K/16BB.

 

The story seems to be that Turner's K/BB ratio, which was already pretty good, has improved dramatically in May, and he has found some power.

 

Keep in mind that Turner doesn't even need to be a "good" hitter to be a valuable major league starting catcher. Because of his universally acclaimed defensive abilities, he just has to be serviceable (i.e., a step up or two from Drew Butera at the plate). It looks like he at least has the potential for that. Turner may never be a line drive hitter that makes lots of good contact, but if he continues to achieve a decent or good K/BB ratio and shows even decent power, he could be a real asset behind the plate for the Twins as early as 2016.

Thanks for the update on the last 10 days. I was just thinking about posting something similar. I certainly am encouraged by the recent improvement at the plate, not to mention his walk rate continues to look good, but if his ML offensive production ends up like Butera's I will be disappointed. I'd much rather have a guy like Pinto (about average offensively and below average defensively) than have one of the worst offensive backstops but one of the better defensive ones. I'm not saying he can't get better offensively, but if he doesn't, I'd want someone else at the ML level. I'd be curious to know what others think.

[nytwinsfan]

 

Thanks for the update on the last 10 days. I was just thinking about posting something similar. I certainly am encouraged by the recent improvement at the plate, not to mention his walk rate continues to look good, but if his ML offensive production ends up like Butera's I will be disappointed. I'd much rather have a guy like Pinto (about average offensively and below average defensively) than have one of the worst offensive backstops but one of the better defensive ones. I'm not saying he can't get better offensively, but if he doesn't, I'd want someone else at the ML level. I'd be curious to know what others think.

 

Agreed, he needs to be better than Butera at the plate to make him worth more than a backup. But my point is that he doesn't have to be way better than Butera.

[awinter]

 

Turner over the last 10 games: .235/.350/.471 (.821) with 6K/6BB and 2 HR.

Turner in May: .222/.364/.463 (.827) with 10K/12BB and 3 HR.

 

Turner Overall: .215/.320/.346 with 24K/16BB.

 

June so far:  .109/.180/.109 with 11K/4BB

Overall:         .184/.280/.270 with 38K/21BB

His last extra base hit was a homerun on May 27. I think it's fair to say he's in a bit of a slump. Sure hope he comes out of it. What's most alarming to me about this slump is the K/BB rate (I know, small sample size though).

[awinter]

What has gotten into Turner lately? He's hitting .412 in his last 10 games with 8 walks and 6 strikeouts. I wonder if he's hoping to make a run at Fryer's job.

[drjim]

Good prospect. As expected...

[stringer bell]

 

What has gotten into Turner lately? He's hitting .412 in his last 10 games with 8 walks and 6 strikeouts. I wonder if he's hoping to make a run at Fryer's job.

Last year Turner came on late in the season. It looks like the same thing is happening. He's lifted his OPS to the mid-.600s and it is climbing. A .700 OPS for the year is not out of the question and would be acceptable for a 23-year-old.

[awinter]

 

Last year Turner came on late in the season. It looks like the same thing is happening. He's lifted his OPS to the mid-.600s and it is climbing. A .700 OPS for the year is not out of the question and would be acceptable for a 23-year-old.

If this late season surge is a trend, the Twins should bring him up now and take advantage of the hot streak (I'm only half joking).