Twins Minor League Report (8/5): Kaelen Culpepper, Walker Jenkins Go Back-to-Back Against Big Leaguer

[Steve Lein]

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (Photo of Kaelen Culpepper)

TRANSACTIONS
The Minnesota Twins system continues to be full of transaction activity as the fallout of trading 10 players on your Major League roster continues to be felt days later.

• In perhaps the biggest news, IF Luke Keaschall completed his rehab assignment and was returned to the Minnesota Twins where he certainly made his presence felt in Detroit. The Twins also selected the contract of RHP Darren McCaughan. OF DaShawn Keirsey Jr. and RHP Noah Davis were optioned back to Triple-A.
• The Saints assigned LHP Gabriel Yanez back to Wichita and received RHP John Klein in his place. Klein is a graduate of Burnsville high school, so he should bring some fans in when he pitches. 
• Down in the ICT the Wind Surge released RHP Joel Cesar and received RHP Eston Stull from Cedar Rapids. They also activated RHP Michael Martinez from the 7-day injured list and sent RHP Kyle Jones on a rehab assignment with Fort Myers. Jones had not pitched in a game in over a year. 
• On Monday the Kernels activated C Khadim Diaw from the 60-day injured list and received helium pitching prospect RHP Adrian Bohorquez from the Mighty Mussels.
• In the Florida State League, RHP Joel Garcia was promoted from the FCL, and 2B Ryan Daniels was placed on the 7-day injured list with a hip impingement.

SAINTS SENTINEL
Iowa 5, St. Paul 10
Box Score
The Saints utilized two four-run innings and a four-hit night from one of their several new players (though not one from a trade…), to take game one of their series with the Iowa Cubs on Tuesday night at CHS Field.

They jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second thanks to catcher Jhonny Pereda, who they claimed off waivers from the Athletics a few weeks ago. His first home run in a Saints uniform also scored Aaron Sabato, who had led off with a single.

The home team tacked on four more in the fourth to take a 6-0 lead behind walks from Jonah Bride, Anthony Prato, and James Outman, as well as a single from Pereda to score one and keep the bases loaded. Kyler Fedko added a sac fly, Payton Eeles clubbed a ground-rule RBI double, and Gabriel Gonzalez an RBI single to account for all of those runs. 

Starter Aaron Rozek went the first four scoreless frames, scattering four hits and a walk, while striking out three. John Stankiewicz added two dominant innings of relief, striking out five of the seven hitters he faced. Cole Percival came on for the seventh and had some trouble finding the strike zone, leading to four runs allowed. He walked three and gave up two hits in 2/3 of an inning. Jarret Whorff cleaned up the rest of that mess, and finished the game with 2 1/3 scoreless. He gave up an unearned run, but no hits or walks, and struck out two.

The Saints got all four of Percival’s runs back in the bottom of the seventh. Sabato reached on an error. Pereda delivered an RBI single. Prato added a single of his own as did Fedko to drive in their eighth run of the game. Eeles capped it off with a two-run single to make it 10-4

The Saints got multiple hits from Fedko (3-for-4, R, 2B, 2 RBI, 3 SB), Eeles (2-for-3, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB), Gonzalez (2-for-5, RBI, 2 K), and Prato (2-for-3, 2 R, 2 BB, K, SB). But Pereda led them all with a 4-for-4 night, falling a triple shy of the cycle. He had a double, home run, three RBI, and drew a walk.

WIND SURGE WISDOM
NW Arkansas 7, Wichita 8
Box Score
Pitching for the Naturals in the series opener in the ICT, was the rehabbing Michael Lorenzen who had pitched just shy of 100 innings for the Kansas City Royals so far in 2025. This meant top prospects Walker Jenkins and Kaelen Culpepper were going to see some MLB pitching experience to get the night started. 

They looked like minor leaguers in the bottom of the first, as Lorenzen struck them both out swinging.

But they also learned quickly.

In the bottom of the second Culpepper got the scoring started with a three-run shot to left on a 1-0 breaking ball from Lorenzen. Jenkins followed by blasting a 1-0 fastball deep into the right field seats for back-to-back bombs.

The Wind Surge also had an organizational debut on the mound from the recently acquired Sam Armstrong, who came over in the Willi Castro trade with the Chicago Cubs. He struck out the first batter he faced with his new team and began with three scoreless innings. In the top of the fourth the Naturals scored one, then tied the game at four in the fifth to finish his debut. He was charged with four earned runs on five hits and two walks in his five innings. He struck out six.

In the bottom of the fifth Wichita got him off the hook after Jenkins led off with a single. Kala’i Rosario then sent a liner into right, and Jenkins tried to go first-to-third. The throw hit him on his slide and got away from the third baseman, allowing him to get back up and beat the rushed throw home for a 5-4 lead. Rosario then scored on a wild pitch to put the home team up by two.

Michael Martinez came on in relief for the sixth inning, and gave up one earned run on two hits, while striking out one. The minor leagues preeminent win-vulture then came on for the seventh, in Mike Paredes, and you should never doubt his ability to tack on another win. Though he gave up the lead in the seventh, he stayed in to finish the game and in doing so improved his record to 11-0 on the season, which ties him for all the MiLB lead and set the Wind Surge franchise record. 

He was able to do so, as three consecutive singles to start the eighth from Hendry Mendez, Nate Baez, and Rubel Cespedes loaded the bases, a passed ball tied the game back up, and they took the lead on an RBI groundout from Jake Rucker.

In the win Wichita got multi-hit efforts from Jenkins (2-for-4, 2 R, HR, RBI, 2 K) and Mendez (2-for-4, R, 2 K). Despite their eight runs they finished just 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position, leaving five men on base.

KERNELS NUGGETS
Cedar Rapids 0, West Michigan 6
Box Score
The Kernels were held to just three hits in this one and they were all singles, with two of them not coming until the top of the ninth inning.

If you are looking for a silver lining, one of those singles in the ninth came from a new top prospect in the organization, as Eduardo Tait delivered a two-out single to right before the final out of the game was recorded. The other two hits came from Brandon Winokur and Kyle Hess. Tait also drew a walk among his four plate appearances. The only other perhaps notable thing on the offensive side of the ledger for Cedar Rapids, was Kyle DeBarge was caught stealing for only the fourth time on the season in 60 attempts. 

Starter Jacob Kisting went the first three innings and held the Whitecaps to just one run. He allowed three hits, walked one, and struck out three. Right-hander Matt Gabbert took on a “bulk” role and completed the next four innings, holding West Michigan scoreless in the middle frames. He gave up two hits and struck out two. Nick Trabacchi came on for the bottom of the eight with just a one run deficit, but it turned into the final six when he was done. He was charged with five earned runs on four hits and a walk. He struck out one.

MUSSEL MATTERS
Clearwater 7, Fort Myers 6 (10 innings)
Box Score
This matchup went back and forth throughout, with the Threshers scoring two in the first while the Mighty Mussels answered with one of their own and tied it up in the third.

Christian Becerra got the starting nod in the series opener and completed the first four innings. He was charged with three earned runs on four hits and a walk, while striking out three. He left the game down by one but Fort Myers would tie it up at two in the bottom of the third.

The home team got a leadoff single from Marek Houston in the bottom of the first, but was erased at second on a Dameury Pena grounder. Pena however, then stole second and third base, and scored on a Yasser Mercedes double to get them on the board. The 2025 first round pick led off the third with a single again, and Pena followed with a single of his own this time to move him into scoring position. Two batters later he came home on an Eduardo Beltre grounder to tie the game.

Relievers Kyle Jones and Tyler Stasiowski each got an inning after Becerra's removal. Jones walked two and struck out one in a scoreless frame. Stasiowski gave up one run on three hits in the sixth to put the Threshers up 4-2.

In the bottom half the Mighty Mussels tied it back up again. Enrique Jiminez drew a leadoff walk, and with two outs JP Smith II delivered his first home run as a professional to make it 4-4.

Brent Francisco came on for the seventh inning and recorded the next five outs. He allowed two hits and struck out two. 

In the bottom of the seventh Houston again made his presence felt, this time by leading off the inning with a double the opposite way. He proceeded to steal third base and scored his second run of the game on an error to put the Mighty Mussels up 5-4.

After two outs in the top of the eighth Julio Bonilla was brought in with runners on second and third, and got a groundout to end the inning. Back out for the ninth he got the first two outs, but then a single, walk, and RBI single tied the game back up at five and sent it to extras. Bonilla finished 1 1/3 innings and gave up one earned run on two hits and a walk. Anthony Narvaez got the top of the 10th, and a leadoff double put the Threshers up by one, and an RBI single that followed gave them a little breathing room.

The first two hitters of the bottom half went down via strikeout, but the Mighty Mussels put up a fight with an RBI single from Ryan Sprock, and a walk to Shai Robinson that put the tying run in scoring position. Smith II went down swinging to end the game, however.

Houston led the offense out of the leadoff spot finishing 3-for-5 with two runs scored, and a double. Smith added two hits in five plate appearances, including the home run.

DOMINICAN DAILIES
Monday: DSL Twins 7, DSL Miami 12
Box Score
The Twins jumped out to a 6-0 lead after the top of the third inning, but the Miami squad responded with five runs in the bottom of the third, and four in the bottom of the sixth to win this one.

Despite just five hits as a team, the Twins put up those seven runs thanks to home runs from Joyner Perez (two-run) and Jamesson Val (three-run), who actually entered the game for Perez to start the bottom of the second inning. They scored one run in the second inning thanks to a pair of errors, and their final run in the ninth after Yovanny Duran led off with a walk, stole his 22nd base of the season, and ended up on third after an errant throw. He came home on a groundout from Gerardo Cardona.

Omar Montano started on the bump and was charged with five earned runs in 2 1/3 innings. He was clean for the first two until the Miami bats came alive in the third. He allowed five hits, walked one, and struck out one. Relievers Jensi Infante (2 2/3 IP, H, ER, 2 BB, K), Agustin Campusano (2 IP, 5 H, 6 ER, 2 BB, K), and Brandy Ceballos (1 IP, BB, K) finished off the rest of this one for the Twins.

Tuesday: DSL Miami 3, DSL Twins 4
Box Score
The Twins got some revenge on Tuesday, as Miami took an early 3-0 lead only to fall late thanks to a four-run inning from the home team who had been held hitless to that point.

Starting pitcher Rey Pacheco gave up four singles in the top of the first that led to those three Miami runs but went on to retire the final 10 hitters he faced to finish four innings. He struck out three. The bullpen trio of Nestor Cafe (1 IP, 3 BB), Juan Figaro (1 IP, BB, K), and Jeicol Surumay (3 IP, 2 BB) held Miami hitless the rest of the way as well.

Without yet recording a hit through seven innings, the Twins finally got their first knock in the bottom of the eighth when Jose Barrios led off with a double. Christian Bonifacio got them on the scoreboard two batters later with an RBI single before two walks, an error, and multiple wild pitches allowed the Twins to take the 4-3 lead and steal the win.

TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY
Pitcher of the Day – John Stankiewicz, St. Paul Saints (W, 2 IP, H, 5 K)
Hitter of the Day – Jhonny Pereda, St. Paul Saints (4-for-4, 3 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB)

PROSPECT SUMMARY
Check out the Prospect Tracker for much more on our Twins Top 20 prospects after seeing how they performed on Tuesday.

#1 – Walker Jenkins (Wichita): 2-for-4, 2 R, HR (6), RBI, 2 K
#2 – Luke Keaschall (Minnesota): 2-for-4, R, HR (1, first of career), 3 RBI
#3 – Kaelen Culpepper (Wichita): 1-for-5, HR (7), 3 RBI, 2 K
#8 – Gabriel Gonzalez (St. Paul): 2-for-5, RBI, 2 K
#10 – Marek Houston (Fort Myers): 3-for-5, 2 R, 2B, K, SB (2)
#11 – Brandon Winokur (Cedar Rapids): 1-for-4
#14 – Kyle DeBarge (Cedar Rapids): 0-for-3, BB, K
#17 – Khadim Diaw (Cedar Rapids): 0-for-3, K
#19 – Eduardo Beltre (Fort Myers): 1-for-5, 2 RBI, 2 K, SB (1)
#20 – Ricardo Olivar (Wichita): 1-for-4, K

WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS
Iowa @ St. Paul (1:07 PM CDT) - RHP Taj Bradley (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
NW Arkansas @ Wichita (7:05 PM CDT) - RHP C.J. Culpepper (0-1, 2.78 ERA)
Cedar Rapids @ West Michigan (5:35 PM CDT) - RHP Adrian Bohorquez (0-0, -.-- ERA)
Clearwater @ Fort Myers (6:05 PM CDT) - RHP Jason Doktorczyk (3-5, 5.25 ERA)

Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Tuesday’s games!

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[FlyingFinn]

Anyone want to guess how Outman did? Yep, 0 for 4 with 3 K's and one BB. Sure wish he would prove everyone wrong. So far, no.

[SaberNerd]

Jenkins now hitting .336/.437/.569 (1.006) in the 2nd half (31 games).  Really starting to look like the guy scouts were raving about on draft night, and like he'll be in the majors by this time next year.

[jmlease1]

Jenkins and Culpepper keep rolling at AA, and it's awfully nice to see. Prospects that bring hope; pair that with new ownership and maybe the fanbase won't entirely walk away for a generation.

Marek Houston looks like he's passing the lemon test at Ft. Myers; he's got more K's than maybe you'd like, but he's also piling up the hits, so it's a perfectly fine start for a legit shortstop.

Fedko is doing great so far at AAA; GG might need a little more adjustment (he's managed to have a higher BA than OBP so far, which isn't easy) but he's holding his own after another promotion. Would like to see the Twins clear out some of their Quad-A guys at Saint Paul to ensure that real prospects get enough playing time, but they might not get the assessment and sorting done for sure until the offseason.

minor league reports are going to probably be a Twins highlight for the rest of the season. In conclusion, Eff the Pohlads and Sell the Team!

[tarheeltwinsfan]

The top draft selections of the Twins for the last 3 years all had good games. Get rid of the old deadwood and let the Wichita youngsters  learn with on the job training at AAA. It makes no real difference whether Wichita wins the  regular season conference and/or the conference tournament. 

[Old Twins Hat]

1 hour ago, SaberNerd said:

Jenkins now hitting .336/.437/.569 (1.006) in the 2nd half (31 games).  Really starting to look like the guy scouts were raving about on draft night, and like he'll be in the majors by this time next year.

Watching that clip of him running around the bases, I would say, "Yeah, he's got a major league body at... what... 20 years old"? 

Couple more years, he's strong like a mule.

[Major League Ready]

Looking very forward to Jenkins and Culpepper joining the Twins.  My over/under is July 1, 2026.  The new core will be Buxton/Lewis/Jenkins/Culpepper/Keaschall.  That's a lot more exciting group to watch.  

[Steve Lein]

35 minutes ago, Old Twins Hat said:

Watching that clip of him running around the bases, I would say, "Yeah, he's got a major league body at... what... 20 years old"? 

Couple more years, he's strong like a mule.

This one is weird for me. I think he looks leaner this year than he did last season.

[madtowntwin]

1 hour ago, Old Twins Hat said:

Watching that clip of him running around the bases, I would say, "Yeah, he's got a major league body at... what... 20 years old"? 

Couple more years, he's strong like a mule.

 

1 hour ago, Steve Lein said:

This one is weird for me. I think he looks leaner this year than he did last season.

"Strong like bull."

[Mike Sixel]

Only 2 for 6? That would be a league leading batting average.....

Exciting that the top prospects are looking very good. There's hope. 

[Senior Softball Guy]

I met Walker after a game last year. Yikes! This dude is a put together. The game he played he layed f

down a perfect, bunt and stole second and third. Don't let Rocco near this guy. Steal third base? Horrors!

[rdehring]

Add me to those with overflowing excitement regarding Jenkins and Culpepper.  Also see that Mendez had another nice night as well.

Great seeing the start Houston is having with his bat considering he is a glove first guy.  Have been pleased with how Lee looks at shortstop but would love to see a decade of one of the best in the game at short for the Twins.

[bunsen82]

Our top of the minors hitters are hitting the absolute crap out of the ball.   I don't know if there is a trio of top 100 elite hitters in any other minor league system hitting as well as Gonzalez, Jenkens and Culpepper.   Had you left Gonzalez down in AA,  I really think a lot of games get out of hand, even still I think that lineup is going to crush a majority of the teams they face.  Mendez has come over and filled the hole well very well.   

Keaschall 🤩  A-men he looks like the real deal for the Twins

Houston is doing everything he is suppose to do and then some.  Maybe just a tad more power.  Call up to A+ ball may be incoming.  Tait, got a hit.  So far nothing explosive yet,  but holding his own in a new system.   

Lastly whats the story on Pereda.   Looks like he has hit well in the minors  .300 BA at AAA  but struggled in call ups for Marlins and A's in 86 at bats.  Does anyone know if he is a solid defensive catcher.   Likely a 1 night wonder.  Even still he might get an opportunity.  

[Mike Sixel]

3 minutes ago, bunsen82 said:

Our top of the minors hitters are hitting the absolute crap out of the ball.   I don't know if there is a trio of top 100 elite hitters in any other minor league system hitting as well as Gonzalez, Jenkens and Culpepper.   Had you left Gonzalez down in AA,  I really think a lot of games get out of hand, even still I think that lineup is going to crush a majority of the teams they face.  Mendez has come over and filled the hole well very well.   

Keaschall 🤩  A-men he looks like the real deal for the Twins

Houston is doing everything he is suppose to do and then some.  Maybe just a tad more power.  Call up to A+ ball may be incoming.  Tait, got a hit.  So far nothing explosive yet,  but holding his own in a new system.   

Lastly whats the story on Pereda.   Looks like he has hit well in the minors  .300 BA at AAA  but struggled in call ups for Marlins and A's in 86 at bats.  Does anyone know if he is a solid defensive short stop.   Likely a 1 night wonder.  Even still he might get an opportunity.  

Houston is likely facing lesser competition than he did in school, so I'm glad he's doing well!

[DocBauer]

6 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

Looking very forward to Jenkins and Culpepper joining the Twins.  My over/under is July 1, 2026.  The new core will be Buxton/Lewis/Jenkins/Culpepper/Keaschall.  That's a lot more exciting group to watch.  

Agreed.

But how about if we let Rodriguez join them and find a quality 1B from somewhere? 

(P.S. Don't forget Wallner and hopefully a continuing to improve Lee.)

[jmlease1]

2 hours ago, bunsen82 said:

Houston is doing everything he is suppose to do and then some.  Maybe just a tad more power.  Call up to A+ ball may be incoming.  Tait, got a hit.  So far nothing explosive yet,  but holding his own in a new system.   

I think it's perfectly fine to let Houston get acclimated to professional baseball in Ft. Myers for the rest of the season. he can start in Cedar Rapids next year if he continues to look ok with the bat and try and set himself up for advancement to AA if his numbers support it, but the Twins have a more robust system in place at Ft. Myers which makes it a good place for him right now. (besides, Winokur & De Andrade are still in Cedar Rapids right now and need reps too)

[Mike Sixel]

16 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

I think it's perfectly fine to let Houston get acclimated to professional baseball in Ft. Myers for the rest of the season. he can start in Cedar Rapids next year if he continues to look ok with the bat and try and set himself up for advancement to AA if his numbers support it, but the Twins have a more robust system in place at Ft. Myers which makes it a good place for him right now. (besides, Winokur & De Andrade are still in Cedar Rapids right now and need reps too)

IMO, Winokur will never play SS for MN. He should be in teh OF or first base at this point. Unless you think he'll beat out Culpepper and Houston, which would bode poorly for them......

DeAndrade? I like him a lot more than the Twins seem to, but he's barely playing SS.

Challenge Houston at high A. He's not young, he's played against about that level already......

[jmlease1]

4 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

IMO, Winokur will never play SS for MN. He should be in teh OF or first base at this point. Unless you think he'll beat out Culpepper and Houston, which would bode poorly for them......

DeAndrade? I like him a lot more than the Twins seem to, but he's barely playing SS.

Challenge Houston at high A. He's not young, he's played against about that level already......

will 15 games or so at Cedar Rapids tell us anything more? It ended up working out ok for Culpepper last year, but he struggled at the plate when he jumped to High A after only 4 games in Ft. Myers. (they're basically the same age) Not sure it would cause any harm either way except in the court of public opinion, but if he puts up an OPS of .650 in Cedar Rapids we'll be seeing meltdown city around here. I guess I wouldn't mind having more of the Twins instructional staff around him from the jump, since his bat is likely to need a little work...

He's not young, but he's also not old: at 21 he's bang-on average for the FCL. I guess I just don't like a "4 good games? promote 'em!" on him.

[Mike Sixel]

3 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

will 15 games or so at Cedar Rapids tell us anything more? It ended up working out ok for Culpepper last year, but he struggled at the plate when he jumped to High A after only 4 games in Ft. Myers. (they're basically the same age) Not sure it would cause any harm either way except in the court of public opinion, but if he puts up an OPS of .650 in Cedar Rapids we'll be seeing meltdown city around here. I guess I wouldn't mind having more of the Twins instructional staff around him from the jump, since his bat is likely to need a little work...

He's not young, but he's also not old: at 21 he's bang-on average for the FCL. I guess I just don't like a "4 good games? promote 'em!" on him.

I mean, I'd have put him in high A to start.....but you are likely right. I'm not a fan of how they move prospects....

[jmlease1]

5 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I mean, I'd have put him in high A to start.....but you are likely right. I'm not a fan of how they move prospects....

I feel like they're doing better, guys are getting moved up a bit more aggressively...but based more on performance than scholarship?

I know there are a lot of people questioning his power potential, and I feel like if there's some swing re-tooling that needs to happen, it might more sense to work on it in Ft. Myers while developing an off-season program for him. But I might be overrating the impact of the more expansive Ft. Myers facility/staff. Still happy to see Houston passing the Lemon Test so far.

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, jmlease1 said:

I feel like they're doing better, guys are getting moved up a bit more aggressively...but based more on performance than scholarship?

I know there are a lot of people questioning his power potential, and I feel like if there's some swing re-tooling that needs to happen, it might more sense to work on it in Ft. Myers while developing an off-season program for him. But I might be overrating the impact of the more expansive Ft. Myers facility/staff. Still happy to see Houston passing the Lemon Test so far.

well, I"m likely under estimating it! 

[bunsen82]

45 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

IMO, Winokur will never play SS for MN. He should be in teh OF or first base at this point. Unless you think he'll beat out Culpepper and Houston, which would bode poorly for them......

DeAndrade? I like him a lot more than the Twins seem to, but he's barely playing SS.

Challenge Houston at high A. He's not young, he's played against about that level already......

The only reason you keep Winokur at shortstop is someone thinks they can keep him as a shortstop and you get immensely more value for him than an outfield in a trade.  I think we will start to see a few more trades in the offseason, using our prospect capital.  Winokur would be one I would be willing to trade.  He is a large athletic man with some power, but a lot of swing and miss.  He could make it all work but I think we have more than enough options.  My guess is he has a lot more value than when we drafted him,  wonder what he would bring back in return.  

[DJL44]

I like that Winokur can play on the dirt and in the OF but I think that means he's a corner utility: 1B/3B/LF/RF.

[Major League Ready]

4 hours ago, DocBauer said:

Agreed.

But how about if we let Rodriguez join them and find a quality 1B from somewhere? 

(P.S. Don't forget Wallner and hopefully a continuing to improve Lee.)

I have posted a few times that I am pulling hard for Rodriguez because he is just what we have been lacking.  He hits both handed pitching, very good defender, and he can back-up Buxton in CF.   Rodriguez stepping up would be huge.  That would be an incredible OF.  Walner would DH a lot but that's OK.  The offense has a very realistic chance of being much improved over this year's team by the half-way point next year.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Of all the players in the Twins organization, which player would be the best fit at 1B, and hit accordingly with some power, the next 5 to 8  years at the major league level? I  think it could be Brooks Lee. Who  do you think it could be?

[Mike Sixel]

43 minutes ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

Of all the players in the Twins organization, which player would be the best fit at 1B, and hit accordingly with some power, the next 5 to 8  years at the major league level? I  think it could be Brooks Lee. Who  do you think it could be?

Not Brooks Lee.

Wallner. 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

29 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Not Brooks Lee.

Wallner. 

I could see Moose at 1B. But right now I would rather have Brooks Lee at bat, rather than Wallner at bat, when the game is on the line. But with Wallner at 1B, the OF would have Buck, Jenkins and E-Rod or G. Gonzales?  Not bad. Lewis, Culpepper, Keaschall and Wallner in the IF. Jeffers at C, backed up by ? at catcher. Brooks Lee at Utility? 

[Major League Ready]

11 hours ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

Of all the players in the Twins organization, which player would be the best fit at 1B, and hit accordingly with some power, the next 5 to 8  years at the major league level? I  think it could be Brooks Lee. Who  do you think it could be?

Lee would have never entered my mind.  He is a below average hitter and that makes absolutely no sense at 1B. I like Mike's idea for Wallner in concept but he would have some work to do..  They have a bunch of OF prospects who are all better fielders but Wallner definitely does not impress me as having goods hands or footwork.  They should come up with an off-season program to see if it looks feasible in spring training.   

[ashbury]

35 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

Wallner definitely does not impress me as having goods hands or footwork. 

A pair of attributes you'd never want in a first baseman.  😜

[Major League Ready]

4 minutes ago, ashbury said:

A pair of attributes you'd never want in a first baseman.  😜

It would be great if he could make that move given our abundance of outfield prospects, but I seriously doubt he has the physical tools other than being tall.  That's why I say give him the entire winter with a coach executing drills on an ongoing basis.