Inside the Twins Second Base Pipeline

[Cory Moen]

Depth is something every organization tries to create, whether through the draft, international free agency, or even minor-league free agency. Let’s take a look at how the Twins’ system stacks up at various positions. I’ve looked at catchers and first baseman and am working my way around to other positions. Second base is interesting because often, second baseman are former shortstops who have been moved over for one reason or another.

As mentioned, second basemen typically played shortstop and moved to the right side of the infield, whether that be due to arm strength, or because of it being a better fit due to team need. A few examples in Twins history who were known as second baseman who played other positions include Brian Dozier, Luis Rivas, and more recently, Jorge Polanco. 

Here is a list of second base prospects not on the Twins 40-man roster. I’ve included how and when they were acquired, along with the highest level they played this past season.

Jake Rucker
Acquired: 2021 Draft, 7th round
Highest Level in 2025: Double-A

A mid-round selection out the University of Tennessee, Rucker was a high OBP guy who showed a little more power in his final college season. Since being drafted, he has had limited power but walked at a decent clip and has cut down on his strikeouts over the past two seasons as well. He’s played the past three seasons at Double-A, and he will be playing his age-26 season in 2026, so he will have to make some improvements to avoid being relegated to organizational depth. He’s been tried all over defensively but has mostly settled into playing second base and third base over the past two seasons. He will need to hit to carve out a role for himself. 

Jorel Ortega
Acquired: 2022 Draft, 6th round
Highest Level in 2025: Double-A

Also, a mid-round selection out of the University of Tennessee, Ortega has taken a different path than Rucker since being drafted. He strikes out at a higher rate but also walks at a higher rate (11.4% in 2025). He has shown some defensive versatility since being drafted, playing in left field, center field, and all infield positions beside catcher. He’s mostly played second base but has extensive time at first base and third base as well. He’ll need to hit for a bit more power to make more noise. His OPS in 2025 was .667, so he will likely repeat Double-A for a third time, hoping to make a break through offensively. 

Kyle DeBarge
Acquired: 2024 Draft, Round 1
Highest Level in 2025: High-A

Another college bat, DeBarge was drafted 33rd overall in 2024 out of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he hit .339/.406/.699. While he hasn’t hit quite to that level in the minors, DeBarge has done quite well in his first taste of professional ball. At 21 years old, he hit for a .709 OPS over the first full season with High-A Cedar Rapids. While not very imposing at just 5 foot 9, 175 pounds, DeBarge started to show a little more power in 2025, hitting eight home runs over 121 games at High-A Cedar Rapids. While still a few years away, DeBarge is ranked #16 in the Twins Daily prospect rankings and will be an interesting prospect to keep an eye on how he develops. DeBarge has played the majority of his games at second base since being drafted, he has also been tried at shortstop and in center field, so that positional versatility will be a thing to keep an eye on as well. He is an exciting young prospect and if things go well, he will get his first taste of the upper minors in 2026.   

Jose Salas
Acquired: Trade, Miami Marlins, January 2023
Highest Level in 2025: Double-A

Acquired along with Pablo Lopez in the trade that sent Luis Arraez to the Marlins, Salas has slowly climbed up the minor league ladder, making his Double-A debut in 2025. Salas was injured at the beginning of the year, did a rehab assignment at Single-A and then was activated at High-A Cedar Rapids, where he hit for a .892 OPS over 16 games, earning him a promotion to Double-A. He didn’t hit quite to that level in Double-A but has shown pretty solid positional versatility. He has played all infield positions beside catcher, as well as getting time in the outfield as well. His defensive versatility could be what helps him carve out a role in the future. Salas is going to have to hit, but he is someone that many Twins fans will want to know how he does, since he was traded for a popular player in Arraez. 

Dameury Pena
Acquired: International Free Agency, 2023
Highest Level in 2025: Single-A

Pena was signed in 2023 out of the Dominican Republic, he played his first year of professional ball in the Dominican Summer League at 17 years old where he hit for a .949 OPS. A bat first prospect, he played at Single-A Fort Myers in 2025 at age 19. He played the majority of his games at second base but was also tried in left field as well this past season. He struggled a bit offensively, like many young players do, but he still has some upside and is someone to keep an eye on, as he is playing his age 20 season in 2026. 

Ramiro Dominguez
Acquired: International Free Agency, 2024
Highest Level in 2025: Complex League

Dominguez got his first taste of professional ball in 2024 at age 17 and played his age 18 season in 2025 in the Complex League. Dominguez was 1.5 years younger than the average player at that level and he held his own, hitting for a slash line of .248/.366/.414. Still early in his development, 2025 was a good launching point for his professional career and Dominguez has a change to make even more noise this coming year. 

Jose Barrios
Acquired: International Free Agency, 2025
Highest Level in 2025: Dominican Summer League

I know, seeing this name reminds you of a former Twins pitcher. Barrios was signed this past year out of Venezuela and, like many international signings, played his first professional games in the Dominican Summer League. Over 37 games played, Barrios hit for a slash line of .254/.352/.205. He’ll be just 18 in 2026, so seeing if he is able to develop as a hitter this next season.

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[DarrenPS]

Not a ton of upper minor talent, but plenty of lottery tickets lower down. Wouldn't mind seeing Schobel getting more chances at 2B over 3B unless his arm is really that good. I really would love to see DeBarge take a step forward this next year, he started really strong and just progressively fell off all season at the plate.

BTW Barrios slash line was .254/.352/.361. If you look by month it paints the whole picture, really struggled his first month but bounced back. Real test starts in the FCL.

[mikelink45]

How about dropping the pipeline nonsense and just give us a prospect ranking for each position.

We have watched the pipeline dribble out Julien - bust.  Keaschall - looks good so far but I see lots of questions about 2B

We dripped Martin but no one lists him at 2B any more. 

Miranda - gone 

We just had a big pipeline explosion in Pine COUNTY I thought it must belong to the Twins 

 

[Linus]

This is the third pipeline article and the talent level in each of the three has been underwhelming. 

[nclahammer]

Not one mention of Kyle Debarge winning a gold glove last year in Cedar Rapids?  Come on Twins Daily, he's one of the best defenders in the entire organization.  Y'all dropped the ball on that one.

[NYCTK]

Even the idea of this article is pretty misguided. Brooks Lee is in this "pipeline". Culpepper is in the "pipeline". Anyone playing SS is in the 2B "pipeline". Everyone except for diva #1 overall picks. 

[Elliot]

1 hour ago, NYCTK said:

Everyone except for diva #1 overall picks.

I thought you said Brooks Lee was included. 

[bean5302]

3 minutes ago, Elliot said:

I thought you said Brooks Lee was included. 

Brooks Lee was #8, and he's happy to play wherever.

The target of his ire is Lewis, who played 2B when he was told he was playing 2B. I mean, I can't see why a player wouldn't be excited for the opportunity to be forced to learn a new position during a playoff chase while playing injured and in a slump, right? 

Also, voicing concern when asked for an opinion = outright refusal around these parts.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

The definition of pipeline is very simple, but the implication and connotation of pipeline in sports is that there is a succession of quality players coming through it (think Iowa Hawkeyes Tight Ends).  Not sure where the Twins (or most teams for that matter) have a a pipeline at virtually any position.  The players highlighted seem very “average” and most will never sniff the majors, however, they are still professionals and are out there to win baseball games.  Calling them part of a pipeline sets unrealistic expectations and does them a disservice.

[Over The Hill Again]

I’m not offended or upset by the use of the term “pipeline “ but would observe that in the Twins context it seems more like a dented, partially collapsed culvert sometimes. 

[DocBauer]

While I have some hope that DeBarge is going to turn out to be an excellent super utility guy, actual 2B are pretty thin in the system. But as pointed out, Lee and K-Pepper could end up at 2B in the near future depending on Houston's development. (I understand the OP is about NON 40 man options).

But this is exactly why I think any chatter about Keaschall in the OF is a bunch of nonsense. First of all, how will he ever get better at 2B unless he's allowed to FOCUS on 2B. He's got the athleticism and range, his arm should be better this season, now it's getting the fundamentals back after playing so little there the past 2 years. Secondly, who do you have in mind to play at 2B on a consistent basis if you actually do play Keaschall in the OF? Clemens? He's part of the 1B mix and a utility player, not a regular starter. Thirdly, Buxton and Wallner are still around. We're not certain yet what we have in Martin or Roden, but they deserve a shot. And behind them is Jenkins, Rodriguez, Gonzalez, and possibly Rosario as well.

So I'm not certain putting Keaschall in the OF at this time does anything more than muddy the whole roster. Just let him play 2B for 2026 and see how it goes. That's best for him, and for the Twins. 

[NYCTK]

2 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Brooks Lee was #8, and he's happy to play wherever.

The target of his ire is Lewis, who played 2B when he was told he was playing 2B. I mean, I can't see why a player wouldn't be excited for the opportunity to be forced to learn a new position during a playoff chase while playing injured and in a slump, right? 

Also, voicing concern when asked for an opinion = outright refusal around these parts.

Complaining to the media about being asked to play 2B. Complaining to the media about the hitting coaches attempts at coaching. 

No, I'm the problem. Royce is just fine. 

You people will keep making excuses for Royce until the cows come home. 

[DataNerd]

2 hours ago, DocBauer said:

While I have some hope that DeBarge is going to turn out to be an excellent super utility guy, actual 2B are pretty thin in the system. But as pointed out, Lee and K-Pepper could end up at 2B in the near future depending on Houston's development. (I understand the OP is about NON 40 man options).

But this is exactly why I think any chatter about Keaschall in the OF is a bunch of nonsense. First of all, how will he ever get better at 2B unless he's allowed to FOCUS on 2B. He's got the athleticism and range, his arm should be better this season, now it's getting the fundamentals back after playing so little there the past 2 years. Secondly, who do you have in mind to play at 2B on a consistent basis if you actually do play Keaschall in the OF? Clemens? He's part of the 1B mix and a utility player, not a regular starter. Thirdly, Buxton and Wallner are still around. We're not certain yet what we have in Martin or Roden, but they deserve a shot. And behind them is Jenkins, Rodriguez, Gonzalez, and possibly Rosario as well.

So I'm not certain putting Keaschall in the OF at this time does anything more than muddy the whole roster. Just let him play 2B for 2026 and see how it goes. That's best for him, and for the Twins. 

The main reason to give Keaschall some OF time is more to help with future roster construction rather than just this year.  He's seemed fine as a 2B, and he played his entire college career in the IF with half of that at 2B.  Having him also be able to play LF (which with his speed he should be well above average there) would be really helpful for dealing with injuries, and 3 years from now who knows if we feel better about the IF or OF.

[Cris E]

Lessee:

- Pipeline is the whole system, so it should include everyone including the 40 man guys that may or may not be moving out of the way to let the kids play. The series should be an organizational look at each position that lays out the various deep and shallow places in the landscape and which players may need to change lanes to reach the majors.

- Spring training is for messing around with positional changes, not the regular season. Keaschall can run around in left field in March while Larnach spends some time in RF and 1B and Wallner gets acquainted with his new glove at the slow corner on the dirt. 

- Salas seems to have already moved, so are we expecting any other SS to take ten steps to their left and go to second? 

[Alien]

I simply do not agree with the use of the word 'beside,' which connotes addition, (e.g. "There were 3 girls besides my cousin" means 4 girls.) as opposed to 'except,' which means subtraction, (e.g. "I like all citrus fruit except lemons" means I don't like lemons.) So, if these guys play all infield positions PLUS catcher, use 'besides;' if they don't play catcher, use 'except.'

[Doctor Wu]

On 1/26/2026 at 4:47 AM, Linus said:

This is the third pipeline article and the talent level in each of the three has been underwhelming. 

I could do without more pipeline articles. 

[ashbury]

On 1/27/2026 at 3:02 AM, Doctor Wu said:

I could do without more pipeline articles. 

Plenty more of them still in the pipeline.

[tony&rodney]

I worry about tree roots growing into the pipes. That's a big problem.

[Linus]

Well it we are going by position numbers 3rd base is next which ought to be a real knee slapper. 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Whenever I read 'pipeline' in connection to the Twins' minor league talent, I instantly lose all hope.