Minnesota Twins 2025 Position Analysis: Second Base

[Nick Nelson]

As with first base, the starting job at second for the Twins is currently unsettled. But here we find a great deal more potential and promise in the cast of contenders.

Image courtesy of Chris Tilley, Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images

When longtime Twins second baseman Jorge Polanco departed via free agency a year ago, Edouard Julien looked to be heir apparent coming off a stellar rookie campaign. Julien had emerged as the team's leadoff hitter in 2023, and his improvement with the glove that season inspired hope he could entrench himself as Minnesota's fixture at second base for years.

Unfortunately, the 2024 campaign was an all-around flop for Julien, who posted replacement-level production and now finds himself trying to battle his way back into the picture, with current and former top prospects also making their cases in spring training.

TWINS SECOND BASEMEN AT A GLANCE

Starter: Brooks Lee
Backup: Edouard Julien
Depth: Willi Castro, Austin Martin, Royce Lewis
Prospects: Luke Keaschall (NRI), Kyle DeBarge, Tanner Schobel

Twins fWAR Ranking Last Year: 25th out of 30
Twins fWAR Projection This Year: 19th out of 30

THE GOOD
During his time as manager, Ron Gardenhire famously loved to place middle infielders at the top of the batting order, regardless of the suitability of their skill sets. He would be delighted by all the legit leadoff-type profiles comprising Minnesota's current group of second base options. 

Julien was a prototypical fit as lineup catalyst in 2023, thanks to his exceptional discipline and on-base skills. He eventually gave way last year to Willi Castro, who might be the default starter at second base coming out of camp if no one else proves ready. The speedy switch-hitter led all Twins in starts as leadoff man last year, with 48. He's a nice floor-setting option at second base. 

But the Twins are surely hoping that Brooks Lee can step up and plant a flag at second base this spring. Lee too offers a leadoff profile, with his switch-hitting ability, competitive at-bats and high contact rates. Enthusiasm around Lee's offensive potential made him a top-10 draft pick in 2022 and a top-20 global prospect last year ahead of his debut. He has an .841 OPS in the minors and slashed .308/.368/.606 at Triple-A last year, forcing the issue for a big-league call-up.

 

Lee flashed his A-game out of the gates after joining the Twins last year, driving in nine runs with a .950 OPS in his first eight contests before injuries and opponent adjustments stymied his production the rest of the way. While his prolonged second-half slump was concerning to a degree, Lee's season was promising overall for a 23-year-old and now he's primed to fully establish himself in the majors.

Even if his bat is still not quite living up to its potential, Lee's defensive chops should give him an edge. Unlike most former shortstops who are playing second, he isn't on the right side because he wasn't good enough for short. Some guy named Carlos Correa just happens to occupy that position for the Twins. Lee is probably Minnesota's second-best defensive shortstop and their best defender at second and third. 

This underscores why I believe Lee is very likely to make the roster, barring a completely barren offensive showing this spring. But it also underscores why I don't think he'll be an everyday second baseman, even if that's where he starts on Opening Day. To maximize the team's defensive strength, he should be the top choice to fill in at short or third when Correa or Royce Lewis need a break, or get hurt, and Lee himself will need days off. 

In other words, there should still be plenty of playing time available at second for Julien to claim, if he's up to the task. Personally, I'm bullish. The 25-year-old had an astonishingly consistent track record of hitting prior to last season; things really seemed to spiral and snowball on him over the course of the summer. I'm curious to see how he looks following an offseason to reflect and reset.

 

The clock is ticking on Julien to regain a foothold at second base, because Lee isn't the only impressive young infielder pushing his way into the team's plans. Top prospect Luke Keaschall, yet another leadoff prototype, is back from elbow surgery and participating in big-league camp, following a fantastic season in the minors that saw him slash .303/.420/.483 while reaching Double-A. He's played around the field but second base may be his most likely landing spot in the majors.

 

THE BAD
While there's more promise at second base than first, the same fundamental thing is true here: The Twins are counting on people to rebound from failure rather than build on success.

Julien was a mess for almost the entire season last year, and looked more lost than ever in September, when he posted a .361 OPS with 16 strikeouts and one walk. He was unrecognizable in comparison to the dominating force we saw in 2023. His struggles against breaking balls worsened to the point where Julien had almost no chance of success at the plate against pitchers who were ready to exploit his tendencies.

Lee was an even worse hitter than Julien on balance, finishing with a .585 OPS that barely edged Christian Vázquez. The most concerning part of Lee's performance is that his most renowned offensive skills were actually on display — he controlled the strike zone, rarely struck out, squared the ball up frequently. He simply didn't make contact with any authority, producing an 85-MPH average exit velocity and managing only 10 extra-base hits in 185 plate appearances.

Sure, there are reasons to think either or both can rebound, but at last sight, these guys were awful hitters. If the Twins don't become convinced that at least one is ready to shake off his second half in short order, we could see Castro playing regularly at second in the early going. That's not the worst thing, but it takes away from the utilityman's value as a flexible piece to move around the field, and also, if Minnesota can't count on Julien or Lee to be an asset to their lineup, it's probably a bad sign for the club's offensive outlook.

THE BOTTOM LINE
I'm not sure I'd feel confident betting right now on which player will make the most starts at second base for the Twins this year, but I would in feel confident in betting that second basemen will lead the team in leadoff appearances. That speaks to the offensive prowess brewing within candidates like Julien, Lee and Keaschall, although all have their own hurdles and setbacks to overcome.

Castro is on hand as a fallback option (at second base and leadoff), with Royce Lewis evidently being kept ready as an emergency valve. The Twins should be able to avoid downright horrible production at second, but their middling projection reflects the lack of assurance within their collective mix. 

They need Julien or Lee to step up, because the team's drop-off at second base, from ranking No. 3 in fWAR in 2023 to 25th in 2024, was one of the most easily isolated culprits in Minnesota's overall regression. A swing back in the right direction would do much to bolster the Twins' fortunes.

Share your thoughts on the outlook at second base below and check out the rest of our Position Analysis series:

• Twins 2025 Position Analysis: Catcher
• Twins 2025 Position Analysis: First Base

View full article

[Karbo]

I think whoever starts the season there, they will be a place holder til Keaschall is ready. I would eventually like to see an IF of Lewis at 1st, Keaschall at 2nd, Correa at ss, and Lee at 3b. That's a fairly young and cost controllable group that may be a very good IF!

[chpettit19]

Jorge Polanco didn't depart via free agency...

[mikelink45]

I think we are all dreaming of Keaschall.  Hopefully he is going to be as great as we hope - he seems to have it all. 

[JD-TWINS]

58 minutes ago, Karbo said:

I think whoever starts the season there, they will be a place holder til Keaschall is ready. I would eventually like to see an IF of Lewis at 1st, Keaschall at 2nd, Correa at ss, and Lee at 3b. That's a fairly young and cost controllable group that may be a very good IF!

Keaschall & Lewis cover the right side, agreed. Not sure who fits at 2B & 1B at this point. Those 4 guys seem to create best offense with decent defense.

[DJL44]

I would probably start Willi Castro at 2B. Brooks Lee certainly hasn't earned playing time ahead of Castro. Castro and Lee will both be moved around as needed to fill in for injured players.

I think Keaschall could be a good fit long-term as the RH hitting OF they believe is a necessity.

Eeles doesn't get a mention. If they don't like him, they should trade him. No sense letting him rot in AAA for the rest of his career simply because he doesn't need to be added to the roster for years.

[Mark G]

If what Nick says is accurate, and there is no reason for me to doubt him, Lee is the best defensive player we have in the infield as a whole, not including CC of course.  He will sub out CC and Lewis, and need days off himself the article says.  Then why not let Willi begin the season at 2nd, filling in in the outfield when needed as well, and give Julien and Lee time to get their feet under them again and see if one of them grabs the job and runs with it.  Willi can handle the moving around the whole field and Lee can handle moving around just the infield.  That is, of course, Lee makes the roster at all.  If not.........I'll get back to you.  😉

[Rod Carews Birthday]

Second base right now is a little bit of a problem.  Castro is the easy solution, but that dilutes his value and effectiveness by tying him to one position.  Julien needs to re-discover how to hit, which may or may not happen.  Lee has to figure out how to hit, because you can't live off of hype forever.  Keaschall is the everyone's new favorite prospect to overhype, but he hasn't proven anything.

All of that being said, someone will have to step up and do it, and each of them have potential to have a real impact.  I hope that Julien and Lee battle it out in spring training games and that one of them materializes as a good option. I think the Twins want it to be Lee, but I'm more in the Julien camp.  Wouldn't it be great if they both figured it out?  

[tony&rodney]

Realistically, Luke Keaschall is going to need some further game time in the minor leagues. Ideally, the Twins put him in the lineup right away and he rakes, winning ROY. The hope for Keaschall is magnified because of the factors noted by Nick Nelson in the article. The other choices have flailed away and need a couple of big weeks in ST to show worth, but even then the regular season will still be a challenge. We can only hope one of Lee or Julien steps up. One concerning issue for me is that Lee seems hesitant when he swings. Is this a lack of confidence or just a slow bat? Any time Julien's bat reverts to a steep angle he is toast. There is a genuine reason for people to be concerned at this point. I sure hope one of the two can emerge and hold down the position in a productive manner.

[LambchoP]

I think it will be Castro most days with Lee as a backup to 2nd SS and 3rd. He needs to play everyday though at this point. I think by the end of the year we see Keaschal. Long term, our best defensive alignment is probably 

1b - Lewis

2b - Keaschal 

SS - Correa

3b - Lee

Utility - Eeles, Castro. I think that's a pretty good looking infield.

[jmlease1]

For me, the best case scenario is a real competition between Julien and Lee and one of them goes out and wins it, rather than the other getting the job by default because one of them was still flailing badly at the plate. Either one has the ability to be a fine 2B for us: Julien has a higher ceiling as a hitter, while Lee is a much more advanced defender. I like Julien's ability to get on base, and he should be allowed to run more if he gets on. Lee's contact skills are excellent and presents a higher floor. I'm perfectly fine with either of them going out and winning the job.

I vastly prefer to have Castro as a bench player. he'll still get plenty of ABs, but he's overstretched as an every day player and his flexibility makes a real impact later in games. When you can pinch hit Castro in the 7th for so many positions and then not need to make another change to your defense, it's a big deal. His speed and baserunning can also be deployed more situationally when he's not having to start. He also gives you great coverage for when someone does pick up a knock and needs a day or three off.

feels like martin's days on the dirt are running out. He's ok at 2B, but is more of an emergency option now IMHO. Besides, if he doesn't improve as a hitter (and show he can handle the OF he's not on the roster anyways)

Keaschall is coming on strong, but let's see how he responds to the injury. He did a great job last season moving up levels and playing through the bum elbow for as long as he did, and position players usually respond faster and more consistently to that surgery it seems...but it's still a big one. We have enough depth to afford to give him time.

A little surprised to not see Eeles listed as a prospect? But he's very hard to judge right now. remarkable 2024, and smashed every challenge he faced. he's an awesome story. But it's also one season and a relatively small sample against advanced competition. but if he hits like he did last season in AAA, at some point you have to start taking him seriously, even if he's already 25. Happy to have him in AAA right now.

[Fred]

55 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I would probably start Willi Castro at 2B. Brooks Lee certainly hasn't earned playing time ahead of Castro. Castro and Lee will both be moved around as needed to fill in for injured players.

I think Keaschall could be a good fit long-term as the RH hitting OF they believe is a necessity.

Eeles doesn't get a mention. If they don't like him, they should trade him. No sense letting him rot in AAA for the rest of his career simply because he doesn't need to be added to the roster for years.

I really want to see what influence Eeles can have on the other guys with the "Charley Hustle" effort and attitude. I'm not wholly convinced that Baldelli can keep guys motivated.

[David Maro]

Let's be honest here the infield is a mess. You have no clue who will be playing 1st 2nd or 3rd. Everyone knows C4 has SS covered if healthy. The FO has allowed the infield to become a real problem as they did with LF. They have numerous players who have defensive issues at what ever position they play or weak offensively.

[DJL44]

20 minutes ago, LambchoP said:

Utility - Eeles, Castro. I think that's a pretty good looking infield.

Eeles doesn't have much utility. Similar to Austin Martin, he can play 2B and LF.

[RpR]

3 minutes ago, David Maro said:

Let's be honest here the infield is a mess. You have no clue who will be playing 1st 2nd or 3rd. Everyone knows C4 has SS covered if healthy. The FO has allowed the infield to become a real problem as they did with LF. They have numerous players who have defensive issues at what ever position they play or weak offensively.

Last year, outside of Farmer, Martin was the only glove that was decent at 2nd base; this year if they do not play Martin there, maybe Lee, but he was Good at 3rd.

Julien should not even be on the 40 man; Eeles it will be interesting if he gets a chance.

Infield as of now is a clouded question.

 

[Doctor Gast]

Frankly, I'm very concerned defensively on the right side. Baldelli is determined to have France at 1B, normally I'm not concerned at 1B defensively if he can provide average-ish defense & you have a decent 2Bman with plenty of range. But France is an established hack at 1B & Baldelli is determined to play Julien at 2B. When I watched, too many GB got through the right side of the INF while Julien was playing there even with Santana & Correa playing beside him. With France it'll be a nightmare.

Julien & Lee both had very good OBP at the MiLB level, which is a very good quality for a leadoff hitter. But last season they had trouble hitting & neither have shown to be a terror on the bases, which is another valuable leadoff trait. Unlike Julien, Lee has a solid glove, yet besides not hitting I'm concerned about his chronic back problem. I would not depend too much on him to anchor any position & would limit the amount of games played. 

Julien is stretched at 2B, both Julien & Lee should be sent down to AAA to work on their hitting & Julien, his learning 1B. Martin has been moved all around the field & stretched at SS & CF. Now they want to groom him in CF. IMO this is super redundant. They have (RH) Buxton & Bader, (LH) Keirsey (MLB) Emma (AAA) on the 40 man with (BH) Cerda (MLB) on a MiLB contract all accomplished CFers plus others. Martin isn't needed in CF. Martin is better served at 2B, his natural position. Settled at 2B, he can focus on his hitting & getting on base. Martin is also a better candidate for the leadoff hitter position. In MiLB he also had a very good OBP & he was a terror on the base path. IMO Martin is our solution at 2B & as the leadoff hitter.

[sweetmusicviola16]

Sure we can hope that Julien rediscovers how to hit. But what is ignored in the article is that he has always been an awful 2B. This is actually a guy without a position. 

[sweetmusicviola16]

41 minutes ago, RpR said:

Last year, outside of Farmer, Martin was the only glove that was decent at 2nd base; this year if they do not play Martin there, maybe Lee, but he was Good at 3rd.

Julien should not even be on the 40 man; Eeles it will be interesting if he gets a chance.

Infield as of now is a clouded question.

 

Correa is not a question mark. Except, can he play 145 games? Lee I believe will be a very good 3B. Except, his bat doesn't profile at third. If his bat would play as solid I'd most like Lee at 3B and I don't really care if he isn't a 30 plus HR hitter.  I for one am willing to use Martin at 2B. But in ST he is only being used in the OF. This is a mistake imo. Lee 3B, Correa SS, Martin 2B. Where does that leave Lewis then? 

[TopGunn#22]

Surprised there is no mention at all of Peyton Eeles.  With Eeles already set to open the season at St. Paul, he's far more likely to get a shot than DeBarge and Schobel and I'm not sure how much 2B Martin will be playing as opposed to OF.  So the omission of Eeles is glaring to me.

It's Lee's job to lose.  He's the better glove and and a switch hitter with good minor league splits from either side.  Last year, outside of his first 9 or 10 games Lee really fell short of expectations.

To me, Julien's 2nd half of 2023 and his entire 2024 have put him in a deep hole.  He was so bad last season that despite hitting .300 early in spring training so far, in my opinion, he's got to go to St. Paul and just clobber AAA pitching for April, May and June at a minimum.  With all the options at 2B the Twins have, if Julien is even just so-so I would look to package him in a trade.  He's getting passed by too many guys on the depth chart to continue with him.

The primary competition I see for Lee is Keaschall and Eeles.  Playing Castro at 2B extensively limits his overall value.  Keaschall and Eeles will both be in St. Paul to begin the season and if one or both continue to build on what they did last year, THEY will be the guys pushing Brooks Lee.   

[tony&rodney]

The Twins simply don't place a real value on defense. In a spirit of being hopeful Twins fans (me) will pray that our catchers, first basemen, second basemen, third basemen, left fielders, and right fielders are ok and don't cost the team too many games. While Byron Buxton is no longer a superior centerfielder, he is still good and Carlos Correa still plays a very steady shortstop. This is the current reality.

The position players will need to hit enough above an average rate to cover for the glove deficiencies, This is the plan as far as I can determine that there is one.

Looking through the options at 2B we have different choices. Austin Martin might be an option but the Twins are working him solely in the outfield. Willi Castro is a favorite of some but he seems best suited as a true utility player. Castro has been ok as a leadoff hitter and decent when the count favors him. Mostly he has hustled his way into value but his consideration as a starting second baseman relies strictly on the other choices being failures. Julien was a mess last year post April and his herky jerky awkwardness creates visual alarm amongst viewers to the point that his actual performance is panned unfairly. Julien needs 2023 results or he is likely gone sometime this season. Brooks Lee has been bathed in a favorable light but his bat and body look slower than two years ago. Back problems? Eeles is in minor league camp with zero attention or mention of him from media. He would need to light up St. Paul for two months and have everyone else fail before someone in the organization notices him. Luke Keaschall then becomes the dream savior. Yah, second base may be a concern.

[tony&rodney]

30 minutes ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

Sure we can hope that Julien rediscovers how to hit. But what is ignored in the article is that he has always been an awful 2B. This is actually a guy without a position. 

I'm waiting for the Twins to find a Lou Whitaker or Frank White or even a Chuck Knoblauch. Until then the Twins will need to play the guy who offers the most value overall to winning games.

Julien is certainly an odd looking player but I will simple offer several plays observed just recently. On ground balls nearly identical where the second baseman had to go to his left, I watched all of Lee, Castro, and Gasper just miss several balls while i saw a minor league player get to the ball but take too long getting the ball out of the glove to nab the runner at first. In two similar plays, looking as awkward as usual Julien gloved those balls and converted the outs. The choices are not tenderloin at this point but ground beef. I'm still hoping Brooks Lee suddenly becomes what we all hoped he could be, a good glove with a steady consistent bat. There are still 3 weeks of Spring Training left for one of these guys to step forward but people should keep their eyes and minds open for the best available option.

[sweetmusicviola16]

1 hour ago, tony&rodney said:

I'm waiting for the Twins to find a Lou Whitaker or Frank White or even a Chuck Knoblauch. Until then the Twins will need to play the guy who offers the most value overall to winning games.

Julien is certainly an odd looking player but I will simple offer several plays observed just recently. On ground balls nearly identical where the second baseman had to go to his left, I watched all of Lee, Castro, and Gasper just miss several balls while i saw a minor league player get to the ball but take too long getting the ball out of the glove to nab the runner at first. In two similar plays, looking as awkward as usual Julien gloved those balls and converted the outs. The choices are not tenderloin at this point but ground beef. I'm still hoping Brooks Lee suddenly becomes what we all hoped he could be, a good glove with a steady consistent bat. There are still 3 weeks of Spring Training left for one of these guys to step forward but people should keep their eyes and minds open for the best available option.

I for one don't mind ground beef. Love it, as long as it is 90% lean. 

[Nick Nelson]

Lots of comments about Eeles. I thought about invoking him in this discussion but honestly I'm not sure what to make of him and how the team perceives him. Seems very odd to me he didn't get a camp invite as a 25-year-old coming off a really good season at Triple-A.

[Linus]

11 minutes ago, Nick Nelson said:

Lots of comments about Eeles. I thought about invoking him in this discussion but honestly I'm not sure what to make of him and how the team perceives him. Seems very odd to me he didn't get a camp invite as a 25-year-old coming off a really good season at Triple-A.

Maybe your intrepid reporter John Bonnes could, you know, ask someone about Eeles 😂

[Rod Carews Birthday]

22 minutes ago, Nick Nelson said:

Lots of comments about Eeles. I thought about invoking him in this discussion but honestly I'm not sure what to make of him and how the team perceives him. Seems very odd to me he didn't get a camp invite as a 25-year-old coming off a really good season at Triple-A.

Since he’s not on the MLB side, he’s probably not worth talking about at the moment.  If we’re worried about the limited success Lee and Julien have had and whether they can make it, then Eeles pretty much has no track record to build on.  I would venture to believe that he’s in minor league camp because he has so little experience, even if he did have helium last year.  Let him prove he belongs at AAA for awhile before we anoint him the latest shiny object in the room.   

[jmlease1]

3 hours ago, TopGunn#22 said:

To me, Julien's 2nd half of 2023 and his entire 2024 have put him in a deep hole.  He was so bad last season that despite hitting .300 early in spring training so far, in my opinion, he's got to go to St. Paul and just clobber AAA pitching for April, May and June at a minimum.  With all the options at 2B the Twins have, if Julien is even just so-so I would look to package him in a trade.  He's getting passed by too many guys on the depth chart to continue with him.

Julien was excellent in the 2nd half of 2023. OPS of .829 and showed marked improvement defensively.

i won't deny that he had an awful 2024, but it's not like Ed Julien's 2023 was based on just a fast start that vanished (a la Gallo). Julien was legitimately good in 2023 and deserved his finish in the AL RoY rankings. If he's figured out his problems and made real adjustments, and shows he's ready again there's no reason he can't be the Twins starting 2B. How much is he going to gain in AAA? even in a rotten season of 2024 he had an OPS of .803 in AAA. (which isn't exactly amazing, but for a guy trying to get his head on straight after flailing dreadfully in MLB?)

I'm really surprised how many people have quit on Julien after 1 bad season.

[RpR]

10 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

 If he's figured out his problems and made real adjustments, and shows he's ready again there's no reason he can't be the Twins starting 2B

Lead glove is still there, probably, forever.

[Linus]

34 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

Julien was excellent in the 2nd half of 2023. OPS of .829 and showed marked improvement defensively.

i won't deny that he had an awful 2024, but it's not like Ed Julien's 2023 was based on just a fast start that vanished (a la Gallo). Julien was legitimately good in 2023 and deserved his finish in the AL RoY rankings. If he's figured out his problems and made real adjustments, and shows he's ready again there's no reason he can't be the Twins starting 2B. How much is he going to gain in AAA? even in a rotten season of 2024 he had an OPS of .803 in AAA. (which isn't exactly amazing, but for a guy trying to get his head on straight after flailing dreadfully in MLB?)

I'm really surprised how many people have quit on Julien after 1 bad season.

2023 babip = 373

I have not quit on him but he certainly has to prove himself before he gets the job.

[tony&rodney]

29 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

I'm really surprised how many people have quit on Julien after 1 bad season.

Perception has become reality for some when it comes to Julien. Seeing the worst of Julien, particularly the called third strikes last year,  has made a few totally irrational about anything he does. Julien and Correa were the two best bats for the Twins versus Houston in 2023. Nobody can dispute that Julien fell apart after April last year, but the nonsense of some folks about releasing him/ doesn't belong on the 40 person roster destroys all credibility of those who post such comments. Julien was exposed by MLB pitchers, the Twins were pretty quick to demote him, and Edouard simply did not make the adjustment needed to reclaim a position. The situation as of today requires Julien to show he deserves a position on the 2025 team. 

[Nashvilletwin]

Is it too late to sign some washed up vet to a minimum deal to take the reps in the field and at the plate from our prospects? Clearly none of the usual suspects are worth investing in and/or seeing if they are actually suitable for the job. That seems to be the modus operandi around here.

Btw, as an aside, how’s that Wallner leading off experiment going?  lol.  I’d bet Wallner’s mentality has always been about driving in runs and/or hitting a long ball.  Now he’s being pressured into thinking like an on-base guy.  Messing with his head.  Rocco will ruin him yet.