BREAKING: Twins Promote Top Outfield Prospect Gabriel Gonzalez

[Woof Bronzer]

37 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

You’re benching Clemens on his dad’s bobble head night? Ouch.

Who's his dad?

[DJL44]

8 minutes ago, terrydactyls said:

Larnach.

I would platoon Gonzalez with Larnach but I wouldn’t outright bench Larnach.

[Mortimerkenny21]

Alright...neato!!

[Major League Ready]

4 hours ago, WarPath1211 said:

Gonzalez has been overall disappointing so far in AAA in 2026, no doubt, but he's actually been substantially better against lefties than righties, as the article notes. It's something I noticed a bit ago, particularly with regards to slugging.

Against RHP, AAA 2026: 133 PAs, slashing .193/.278/.319, 85.5 avg. EV, 30.4% hard hit rate,

Against LHP, AAA 2026: 64 PA, slashing .263/.328/.544, 90.6 avg. EV, 40.0% hard hit rate

He just hits the ball way harder way more often against lefties. So I'd expect him to get the start tonight against the lefty Tolle, and then we go from there.

Where did you get those splits for a Milb player?

[Mike Sixel]

33 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I would platoon Gonzalez with Larnach but I wouldn’t outright bench Larnach.

If GG is up, he should play. 

[karcherd]

1 hour ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

Looks like Gonzalez in LF, Bell at 1B, Clemens in RF, Kreidler at SS, and Lee at 3B. Trying a lot of new things tonight. Wouldn't surprise me if the new SS/3B combination got a run to see how it works. Probably improves the defense... 

I don't believe Lee should move off short for Kreidler.  He hasn't played that poorly to move him for a utility player.

[IndyTwinsFan]

21 minutes ago, karcherd said:

I don't believe Lee should move off short for Kreidler.  He hasn't played that poorly to move him for a utility player.

Who's likely a better defensive shortstop than Lee and maybe about equal at 3rd?

I think it's at least worth a shot and get a sense of how it might play out in a longer run.

[karcherd]

Just now, IndyTwinsFan said:

Who's likely a better defensive shortstop than Lee and maybe about equal at 3rd?

I think it's at least worth a shot and get a sense of how it might play out in a longer run.

They made a decision to make Lee the every day shortstop at the beginning of the season.  While his play has not been spectacular, it has not been at the level that he should be displaced.  If you move him, it should be for another proven veteran shortstop or a top prospect, Kreidler is neither.  IMHO this is sending the wrong message to the player.  And this is my frustration with the Twins they appear to favor the vets over the younger players.  And these are not vets with a proven track record. And this happened throughout the Falvey tenure and appears to be continuing with Zoll.

[RpR]

29 minutes ago, karcherd said:

I don't believe Lee should move off short for Kreidler.  He hasn't played that poorly to move him for a utility player.

Lee should be where he is not a handicap, and Short Stop is not that spot.

Kreidler is a lot better at Short than Lee; Lee, in the past, was good at Third Base.

[karcherd]

4 minutes ago, RpR said:

Lee should be where he is not a handicap, and Short Stop is not that spot.

Kreidler is a lot better at Short than Lee; Lee, in the past, was good at Third Base.

He is not a handicap at short.

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

If GG is up, he should play. 

Why? He hasn't earned playing time over Larnach. I hate giving scholarships to minor leaguers who haven't earned playing time. He's hitting .216 in AAA, that's not someone I want to give at-bats to.

I can imagine the conversation Shelton would have with Trevor. "Hey Trevor, you're having a good season but Tristan Gray's wife had a baby so we're going to bench you in Fenway."

[C-Gangster]

Great news for Gabriel! Probably will be a quick stint! But I wish him well!

[IndianaTwin]

2 hours ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

Looks like Gonzalez in LF, Bell at 1B, Clemens in RF, Kreidler at SS, and Lee at 3B. Trying a lot of new things tonight. Wouldn't surprise me if the new SS/3B combination got a run to see how it works. Probably improves the defense... 

"Welcome to the big leagues, kid. See that big green wall in left? Good luck!"

 

[Danchat]

27 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Why? He hasn't earned playing time over Larnach. I hate giving scholarships to minor leaguers who haven't earned playing time. He's hitting .216 in AAA, that's not someone I want to give at-bats to.

I can imagine the conversation Shelton would have with Trevor. "Hey Trevor, you're having a good season but Tristan Gray's wife had a baby so we're going to bench you in Fenway."

They are going to play him over Larnach when a lefty is pitching, though.

[DJL44]

3 minutes ago, Danchat said:

They are going to play him over Larnach when a lefty is pitching, though.

That's fine. I want Larnach pinch hitting for him when Tolle leaves the game.

[Patzky]

37 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Why? He hasn't earned playing time over Larnach. I hate giving scholarships to minor leaguers who haven't earned playing time. He's hitting .216 in AAA, that's not someone I want to give at-bats to.

I can imagine the conversation Shelton would have with Trevor. "Hey Trevor, you're having a good season but Tristan Gray's wife had a baby so we're going to bench you in Fenway."

Tolle is a lefty cmon, and Larnach has looked horrible for a week. He's a big boy, he'll be ok.

[RpR]

49 minutes ago, karcherd said:

He is not a handicap at short.

Yes he is.

[mikelink45]

For me the key for young players is to put them in the lineup immediately and let them have at least a full week 

[DJL44]

27 minutes ago, Patzky said:

Tolle is a lefty cmon, and Larnach has looked horrible for a week. He's a big boy, he'll be ok.

Versus Tolle is fine, but Gonzalez should be pinch-hit for as soon as he's going to face a RHP.

[Patzky]

Batting practice. Or pinball.

[karcherd]

34 minutes ago, RpR said:

Yes he is.

Then put a real option out there, Kreidler is not an option to be an every day shortstop at this point in his career.  

[Mike Sixel]

10 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Why? He hasn't earned playing time over Larnach. I hate giving scholarships to minor leaguers who haven't earned playing time. He's hitting .216 in AAA, that's not someone I want to give at-bats to.

I can imagine the conversation Shelton would have with Trevor. "Hey Trevor, you're having a good season but Tristan Gray's wife had a baby so we're going to bench you in Fenway."

It's not a scholarship, it's learning. And he could dh.....

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

It's not a scholarship, it's learning. And he could dh.....

Giving someone playing time for “learning” is EXACTLY giving a scholarship. It means you’re valuing development of prospects over winning baseball games. That means the playing time is not earned.

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

Giving someone playing time for “learning” is EXACTLY giving a scholarship. It means you’re valuing development of prospects over winning baseball games. That means the playing time is not earned.

We'll just disagree. Not sure what he can do to earn it if he doesn't play. And every player needs to learn. 

[DJL44]

22 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

We'll just disagree. Not sure what he can do to earn it if he doesn't play. And every player needs to learn. 

He could hit better than .216 in AAA. Gonzalez is going to learn quite a bit in a few days. Then he's going to go back to AAA and learn some more.

[twinstalker]

The promotion means nothing, given the choice was between two OFers who aren't ready.  What he does with it does matter.  Tolle tried to get him to chase, and he didn't chase.  That was impressive, though it also could have been the mentality of "don't do anything stupid,"  meaning he was making sure the ball was going to cross the plate before swinging.  I think that made him late.

Maybe a short stint in MLB will propel GG to start hitting better at AAA.

[jkcarew]

The idea that Gonzalez will be a platoon player if/when he’s here for good is completely misguided. His full-season OPS last year against righties was 869 against  over 400 PA. His poor split this season comes with 134 PA and a microscopic BABiP way below his minor league norm. 

[Mike Sixel]

8 hours ago, DJL44 said:

He could hit better than .216 in AAA. Gonzalez is going to learn quite a bit in a few days. Then he's going to go back to AAA and learn some more.

He could ops over 1000, and not come up without an injury...