Miller: Don't count Ben Paulsen out of DH/1B mix

[Seth Stohs]

http://www.startribune.com/don-t-count-ben-paulsen-out-of-twins-dh-first-base-mix/414765683/?utm_campaign=buffer&utm_content=buffer45c0c&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com#1

 

Phill Miller writes that Ben Paulsen, who has spent parts of the last three years with the Rockies, is one to watch for the Twins 1B/DH spot. Joe Mauer will be the primary 1B but Kennys Vargas, Byungho Park and maybe Paulsen fit into the competition.

 

 

“It doesn’t matter who you’re playing behind, you’ve still got the ability to earn a spot and help the team. Every time you wear the uniform, you’ve got an opportunity,” said Paulsen, a third-round pick in the 2009 draft out of Clemson. “I wouldn’t say [i’ve been] blocked — I’ve been fortunate to be around a lot of great first basemen who have helped me.”

 

Though he's played behind some very good 1B in his career, he had just a limited opportunity to be a starter.

 

 

 

Actually, he was projected to be Colorado’s first baseman of the future since the day he was drafted, and when Morneau suffered a neck injury and a concussion in 2015, Paulsen appeared to be stepping into that role. He was batting .300 a week into August, and making all the plays at first base.

“It was one of those situations where you hate for a guy to get hurt, but you’ve got to be ready,” said Paulsen, who finished the season with a .277 average, 11 home runs and frontrunner status for a starter’s job on Colorado’s depth chart for 2016.

It never happened. Colorado signed veteran Mark Reynolds, and Paulsen became a part-time player again.

 

[Doomtints]

He has looked good so far. It would seem daft for the Twins to block two guys for him, though. He's not THAT good, at least not at the moment.

 

If he does not stick with the Twins he will get a job somewhere.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I love this time of year. "Don't count out (insert name of player you can almost certainly count out)"

 

Paulsen is 29 years old, career 89 wRC+ in over 500 MLB PAs, and 105 and 102 in his last 2 AAA seasons. His only 2 notably above average seasons in his pro career were both in the PCL with .360+ BABIPs. And his minor league peak was 133 wRC+ -- by comparison, Vargas's *lowest* figure since rookie league is 128. Oh, and no defensive value.

 

Should be a fine Rochester guy, but the Twins would be nuts to put him on the MLB roster this April, barring some perfect storm of injuries.