Article: How Soon Could Royce Lewis Call Target Field Home?

[JaleelWhite FanClub]

As several posters have noted, the amazing thing with both Lindor and Correa is how both showed no drop in production when they hit the majors. Lindor has actually had better numbers in the majors then he did in the minors.

 

Contrast that to what Twins fans have seen recently from their own stud prospects. Buxton, who along with Correa was always 1A or 1B on prospect lists, has never approached his minors numbers except for the last two months last season. He has morphed into a .200 hitter with almost no power. Sano has basically lost his way and has become a historically-significant strikeout machine at the plate.

 

By the time Lewis debuts with the Twins, I'm think most fans will respond with tempered excitement given these two cases. It's fun to hope for our own Lindor or Correa, but I think we'd be happy with a debut anywhere better than Buxton's or Sano's. 

[slash129]

 

Anyway, just remember Admiral Poopooer Tapthebrakes from the Empire Strikes Back:

https://youtu.be/TvcYjQCJ8_o

 

Admiral Poopooer Tapthebrakes only exists to offset Lloyd Christmas.

 

[jkcarew]

 

People have to struggle in order to be successful. Right now, they look like the next great thing but many, many players have in the single A levels. It seems that AA is the true proving ground.

 

I know, nobody knows,

Where it comes and where it goes.

I know, it's everybody's sin

You got to lose to know how to win.

 

- Steven Tyler (Boston prospect of the very early 70's; went on to a HOF career)

Little know fact:  the original lyric included the phrase "development is not linear"...but he couldn't get that lyric to work with the riff.

 

I'd say Lewis's arrival will depend, in part, on how his development as SS goes...as it's possible his bat is ready before his glove is, in which case the CF/OF situation comes into play.

Nevertheless, my guess is June 2020.

[rileyroy]

A lot will depend if Paul Molitor is manager still.  If he is- when Lewis is called up- he will sit on the bench, get a token start or two- then sent back down- only to be brought up later- for a month playing sporadically then sent down again- with his timing and confidence shot- pushing back his progression a year or two.

 

I hate being a realist at times:(

[Mike Sixel]

QQ:

 

What if Buxton doesn't hit again next year.....do you move Lewis to CF?

 

does that answer change if Gordon turns it on next year, and Buxton isn't hitting?

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

Great offensive comparisons, Seth. How do the three young shortstops compare at arguably the most important defensive position on the field?

I left the word "defensively" out of my post. My bad. How do they compare defensively? Arm strength? Accuracy in throwing? Agility? Speed? Turning the double play? Probability of remaining at SS for 10 years? SS, like CF,  is such a key to a team's defense, which makes bad pitching better and good pitching great.

[ashbury]

Jose Ramirez has been a way better hitter in the majors too. I wonder what Cleveland knows about development that the Twins don't.

Ramirez is hugely talented. He was added to their 40-man and got a brief taste of the majors at age 20. He split his seasons in majors and AAA at both 21 and 22, and did better in the minors than in the majors in those years. He was then in the majors to stay at age 23, and his stats have continued to get better each season.

 

They've done a great job of developing him and he's done a great job of learning. But I see nothing anomalous about his progression. He's done better in the majors than in the minors because he was so good that he reached the majors at 20, before he was anywhere close to a finished product. In particular, his power has come in, as happens often with prospects in their early 20s.

[Linus]

Has anyone seen reports on his fielding? Some were saying he wouldn’t stick at SS. That would obviously play into this

[Doctor Wu]

As others have stated, players progress and develop differently. It would be foolish to expect every player to have the same trajectory. And in the case of a special talent like Lewis, it would be counterproductive to hesitate to promote him because of his age or relative lack of inexperience. Some players just have the extra special something. And if that's the case, I hope the Twins are unusually aggressive and promote players like Lewis and Kiriloff faster than usual. No, I don't want them to be taking a lot of unnecessary risks, but I think it's time that they DO take a few chances with this impressive talent we have and see how they perform at higher levels. .

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

 

Seth, thanks for the comparison article!!! Nice read!  Plus it gives us hope!!!!!

 

Now how about a similar article for Alex Kirilloff?  

...to Juan Soto;)

[jkcarew]

 

QQ:

 

What if Buxton doesn't hit again next year.....do you move Lewis to CF?

 

does that answer change if Gordon turns it on next year, and Buxton isn't hitting?

(channeling my inner Chief)....

 

Yes.

 

Good questions.  My absolute guess would be that they will leave Lewis at SS...almost no matter what...in the minors.  My speculative theory being that the cream of the athletic crop, such as Lewis, can almost immediately transition from SS to CF...but not the other way around.  And that when the bat is deemed ready, if SS is not an issue with the major league club, but CF is an issue...that they would not hesitate to make that move.

 

Said a different way....keep the development focused on SS.  Then when the bat is ready,...and or you get desperate because everyone else is hurt or failing...you (theoretically) would have both defensive options open.

 

All we're asking is that Lewis be like Robin Yount.

[Mike Sixel]

(channeling my inner Chief)....

 

Yes.

 

Good questions. My absolute guess would be that they will leave Lewis at SS...almost no matter what...in the minors. My speculative theory being that the cream of the athletic crop, such as Lewis, can almost immediately transition from SS to CF...but not the other way around. And that when the bat is deemed ready, if SS is not an issue with the major league club, but CF is an issue...that they would not hesitate to make that move.

 

Said a different way....keep the development focused on SS. Then when the bat is ready,...and or you get desperate because everyone else is hurt or failing...you (theoretically) would have both defensive options open.

 

All we're asking is that Lewis be like Robin Yount.

Agreed!