The Twins' Next Star Shortstop Could Be in Cedar Rapids This Summer

[Otaknam]

It’s a good issue to discuss: which of these young shortstops, Miller or De Andrade, has the highest ceiling. Let’s hope one of the emerges as an excellent major leaguer defensively and offensively. 

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

28 minutes ago, Otaknam said:

It’s a good issue to discuss: which of these young shortstops, Miller or De Andrade, has the highest ceiling. Let’s hope one of the emerges as an excellent major leaguer defensively and offensively. 

Miller has the highest floor because of his defense.  As to ceiling hard to say.  I think at their peak, maybe De Andrade because of more power, but if so he will likely start having to move off of SS.  I think both need work with the bats still but they have a path to make it.  

As to Millers stats early in the year compared to later in the year it appears he became much more selective and got much more walks and also was able to increase his power a bit.  Having a better eye will play at all levels. I don't expect that to decline this year.  Yes if he comes out with 600 OPS again that will be disappointing.  If he can start coming out with a high .700 OPS or low .800 OPS as he did at the end of last year, that is a damn fine player with his defense.  Its a similar situation to Kepler, was the 2nd half a mirage or did something fundamentally change.  In both cases I think something fundamentally changed and I expect big things from both players.  

[DJL44]

He is progressing nicely. He has two more years before he has to be added to the MLB 40-man roster to make sure they don't lose him in the Rule 5 draft. That would make him out of options at age 25. That means he should spend a chunk of next season in Double-A to keep him in the long-term plans. I expect Miller will have difficulty hitting at Double-A which means there is likely to be a competition for playing time.

[jishfish]

Since this board seems to have evolved into a Noah Miller vs. DaAndrade debate, I'll add my two cents re: Miller.

I think one aspect that gets greatly overlooked with Noah Miller is that he's a switch-hitter from a cold weather state. He was on the older side for a high-school draftee, but in terms of baseball experience I'd reckon he's behind a lot of others. I'm sure he did the travel circuit as a high-schooler and was still doing something year-round, but it's nowhere near the same as living in FL, CA, TX, etc. Add on top of that being a switch-hitter, and he's going to be a slow burn.

I see Brandon Crawford as a 95th+ percentile outcome for Miller. Didn't debut until a little older (24/25) and even then took a few years to settle in. But provided outstanding SS defense right away before eventually popping for a few 100-110+ wRC+ seasons.

Maybe a 50th percentile outcome is he's a Nick Ahmed, who never pops offensively but still carves out a 10-year career with the glove alone.

[roger]

When thinking about Miller, I also think about his brother.  When drafted, many talked about his being a better prospect than his brother.  His brother went the college route and has now been in the big leagues for the past couple years with his bat as his best tool.  If Noah had gone to college, would he have been drafted last year?  Or this coming June?  There is lots Of time for his bat to develop, 

[tony&rodney]

The bat is a concern for Miller. He certainly has 3-5 years to get it together offensively. Those of you who have seen him play correctly laud his fine defense, but he really does look very weak when swinging the stick at this time. To be fair, i have only seen him a couple of dozen times and some of you would have a better idea on his swing potential. The Twins will be patient, that is true.

[TopGunn#22]

jishfish, that Brandon Crawford comp is a good one!  That would probably be the ceiling, but I'd take THAT in a heartbeat.