Infielder a-Palooza

[stringer bell]

Much discussion about which infielders should be playing and where they should be playing

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

I went with option #2.

I don't want Keaschall dealing with the extra stress of learning a new position - he's just starting to swing the bat better. 

[stringer bell]

We are at the first week of June and stability is gone from the Twins' infield. Supposed regular 3B Royce Lewis was optioned to St. Paul after about 30 games, supposed regular SS Brooks Lee has moved to third base, SS is currently being manned by utility players with the presumed successor (Kaelen Culpepper) waiting in the wings in St. Paul, three guys have started multiple games at first base with none of them being under 30 or having upside suitable to satisfy the TD faithful.

A poll has been posted accompanying this note and five choices were included. Ten more could have been added, especially if someone like Clemens would be added as the regular first baseman. 

A couple of notes to add: Tristan Gray has hit quite well, especially in RBI situations, but he  shouldn't be playing shortstop on a fairly regular basis. He might be acceptable at first, second or third, but he's overmatched at short. The Twins don't have faith that Ryan Kreidler can hit well enough to hold down a regular position (neither do I), but it's a shame because he's probably the only plus fielder the Twins have for shortstop above A ball. Orlando Arcia has gotten his hits, but has only played a few innings at short. I don't think he'll sustain the hitting and if he isn't really an option at shortstop, it's probably not worth keeping both him and Gray around. Kody Clemens is far and away the Twins best defensive first baseman and might also be their best defensive second baseman. He's hit acceptably and as long as he does, he should be on the roster.

The poll include four young-ish player (27 and under) to fill four infield spots. Culpepper is the darling right now and I expect at some time he'll be given a chance to see if he's ready to be a regular major league shortstop. Here is a thumbnail of each (in alphabetical order):

Kaelen Culpepper: He hasn't even made the 40-man roster, but he is the odds-on choice to be the 
Twins' shortstop by the end of the season. He has upside, perhaps 20 homer power and 20 stolen base speed. There have been questions whether he could be a major league shortstop, but he hasn't played his way off the key defensive position. Culpepper has enough arm and suffiecient range to be at least average at short and that is better than anyone else except Ryan Kreidler, who doesn't profile as a major league hitter. 

Luke Keaschall: Keaschall was last year's big addition. His 2025 season was limited by injury, but he showed a good bat and impressive speed. Keaschall has been the regular second baseman and had a poor April. He's been better since, but is lacking power so far. His defense has been below average at second and he probably hasn't totally recovered from arm surgery and has a relatively weak throwing arm. He could be a candidate for the outfield or first base.He played both first base and center field in the minors. Even with the lack of power, Keaschall can help the club by getting on base and running the bases well. He is probably the safest choice to be a major league regular for the Twins in the next 2-3 years.

Brooks Lee: After a rocky start with the bat, Lee has been a slightly above average hitter. It seems his time as a shortstop is over because he doesn't have the tools (arm and range) to be an acceptable major league shortstop. He has certainly improved as a hitter this year and he's produced a lot of runs. Lee has experience at second and third base. It would seem to me that his lack of foot speed would make him a liability at second and the Twins have played him exclusively at third since he was moved off shortstop. Lee has never played first base. I don't believe Lee has done enough to be written in as a regular at any position, but he's been the team's most consistent hitting infielder.

Royce Lewis: Wild ride this year. Lewis had a disappointing season in 2025, but finished the season healthy. Many, including myself, thought that if he could stay healthy, he would be solid if not much more than that, this year. Lewis started rather slowly, but was getting walks and extra-base hits, and then suffered a minor injury (10 days on the IL), but fell apart upon returning to the lineup. After a dreadful 9-68 slump, with only one extra-base hit (and 25 strikeouts) he was optioned to St. Paul. He's hit like Babe Ruth in Triple A, with a slash line in the stratosphere. What happens on his return and where does he play? To me, he's a total wild card. What is reinforced with Lewis' slugging at St. Paul is that he has tools to be more than a borderline major leaguer. He has more power and speed than Brooks Lee and has been a better defender at third base. However, Lee is now the incumbent. Maybe Lewis can move to second or first base. Wherever he plays, he needs to hit closer to his results in 2022-3 than what he's produced since. Lewis has complicated things by making some awkward statements that have many questioning his character, toughness and committment. I see a pretty substantial talent and want to give him a final chance.

[Linus]

I voted #1 but could be talked out of having Royce at second instead of Keaschall. I think this will be resolved by eliminating who can’t cut it with the bat. I like Keaschalls style of play and his hitting is starting to improve. However his defense is not good (which surprises me a little since he is athletic) and his arm is not good. In fact his arm is bad with no strength and a slow release and not all that accurate either. I feel confident Lee is the best defensive third baseman of the group but still has to prove he is going to hit enough to stick at a position where you need to get some offense. I’m glad they are moving guys around because we might actually come up with the best configuration sometime this season. 

[Vanimal46]

If Lewis finds his former self he has the power profile to play 1B. I think that’s his best route back to the majors and long term for his career. 

Call Culpepper up tomorrow… Long overdue.  

1B Lewis 2B Keaschall SS Culpepper 3B Lee UT Gray and Arcia 

[ashbury]

Among the choices given....  looking at their fielding fundamentals, Keaschall seems destined for first base (or a corner outfield spot).  Culpepper seems head and shoulders above both Lewis and Lee in the tools needed for the shortstop role.  Between those remaining two, I don't see enough difference in aspects of their defensive game to differentiate one as clearly the 3B or the 2B.  Lewis before the demotion seemed to have elevated himself to an average 3B, and Lee's not quite at the same level statistically (granting that the fielding stats I look at don;'t mean terribly much), so by default I'd install Lee at 2B and see how it all goes, but it's really a coin flip.

[Linus]

2 hours ago, ashbury said:

Among the choices given....  looking at their fielding fundamentals, Keaschall seems destined for first base (or a corner outfield spot).  Culpepper seems head and shoulders above both Lewis and Lee in the tools needed for the shortstop role.  Between those remaining two, I don't see enough difference in aspects of their defensive game to differentiate one as clearly the 3B or the 2B.  Lewis before the demotion seemed to have elevated himself to an average 3B, and Lee's not quite at the same level statistically (granting that the fielding stats I look at don;'t mean terribly much), so by default I'd install Lee at 2B and see how it all goes, but it's really a coin flip.

I think Lewis is more athletic than Lee which is advantageous at second more than third but it is a close call. 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Kreids!

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I was torn between 1 and 2, I agree to an extent on leaving Keaschall at 2b for consistency. I thought Royce would be a better 2B than Keaschall because of Lewis’ better mobility and arm. Went with 1

[Vanimal46]

41 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

I was torn between 1 and 2, I agree to an extent on leaving Keaschall at 2b for consistency. I thought Royce would be a better 2B than Keaschall because of Lewis’ better mobility and arm. Went with 1

My only issue with 1 is Keaschall profiles as less than ideal 1B. Feels like a repeat of Arraez at that spot. Which we had 1 good year of him there! Since then, Miami and San Diego didn’t have the same luck. San Fran moved him back to 2B this year 

[ashbury]

59 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

My only issue with 1 is Keaschall profiles as less than ideal 1B. Feels like a repeat of Arraez at that spot. Which we had 1 good year of him there! Since then, Miami and San Diego didn’t have the same luck. San Fran moved him back to 2B this year 

The scouting I look at (OOTP, I know, I know) thinks his fundamentals in left field could be pretty good.  Another Austin Martin with a little better power and a little worse eye for drawing walks, and similar defense or (maybe?) even a little better range if given the chance?  Beats me.  Anyway at 1B it suggests he could become pretty good eventually, but would be rough if put there right now.

If somebody has access to other 20-80 scale scouting reports, from reputable scouts, on things like range and arm strength, I'd love to know.  I think they're mostly behind paywalls.

[jaimedude]

If the objective is to win games and develop players Culpepper should be atarting at SS for the Twins by next week. 

[jaimedude]

Can we say every infielder on Twins current mlb roster is better than Royce Lewis. The answer is no. 

[stringer bell]

13 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

My only issue with 1 is Keaschall profiles as less than ideal 1B. Feels like a repeat of Arraez at that spot. Which we had 1 good year of him there! Since then, Miami and San Diego didn’t have the same luck. San Fran moved him back to 2B this year 

San Francisco didn’t move Arraez to second. Arraez wanted to play second base wherever he signed and he received assurance from the Giants that he would play second base. It has worked out well. Arraez has profiled as a top defender at second base and is hitting well over .300. He would be my pick today to win yet another batting championship with yet another team. 

[thelanges5]

Twins are 30th in defensive runs saved with a -25 on the season. I voted for number two, but it really needs to be about what makes the infield defense better.  
Keaschall at 2nd prob doesn’t help the D but like @Twins_Fan_in_NJ already stated, now is probably not the time for him to start learning a new position. 

[stringer bell]

Happy Birthday Royce Lewis! The polarizing Mr. Lewis is 27 years old today. I’ll expand on my earlier take and say that Lewis is currently the best third baseman defensively of the players being considered in this thread. If he can hit at an above average rate, he should get regular playing time for the Twins. He hasn’t done that at the major league level since Edouard Julien and James Outman were rookie sensations.

I honestly don’t know why a “building” team would move him off third base for a lesser defender with less offensive upside.

That said, it is good that he has accepted playing different positions for the Saints and it is also good that he has only missed ten games due to injury so far this year.

In my ideal projection for the current Twins, Brooks Lee is an infield Willi Castro, playing third, short, second and maybe first base and getting full-time at-bats without a full-time position, all of which could change due to injury or lack of productivity by a “starter”. I believe Lee’s best defensive position will be third base and if the way to get both Lee and Lewis in the lineup is for Lewis to play first base, well okay  

Keaschall needs to get better defensively, especially since he hasn’t t found the seats and the BA is below .250.

Culpepper is unproven, but he’s the immediate future at shortstop unless the Twins acquire a shortstop at the trade deadline or they are very aggressive with Marek Houston. 

[stringer bell]

14 minutes ago, thelanges5 said:

Twins are 30th in defensive runs saved with a -25 on the season. I voted for number two, but it really needs to be about what makes the infield defense better.  
Keaschall at 2nd prob doesn’t help the D but like @Twins_Fan_in_NJ already stated, now is probably not the time for him to start learning a new position. 

I watch the Defensive Runs Saved pretty closely and around two weeks ago, the Twins were around 20th with single digits of negative runs saved (I think they were -7). The last several games have been pretty bad with obvious mistakes have been made. I don’t think it’s Shelton or Rocco. The Twins have assembled a team that is weak in the most key defensive positions (especially when Buxton is DHing) and the ball is going to find the weak defenders.

I’ve always felt that tesms can get away with weaker defenders at position low on the defensive spectrum, but catcher, shottsto and center field have to be very good. 

[thelanges5]

12 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

I watch the Defensive Runs Saved pretty closely and around two weeks ago, the Twins were around 20th with single digits of negative runs saved (I think they were -7). The last several games have been pretty bad with obvious mistakes have been made. I don’t think it’s Shelton or Rocco. The Twins have assembled a team that is weak in the most key defensive positions (especially when Buxton is DHing) and the ball is going to find the weak defenders.

I’ve always felt that tesms can get away with weaker defenders at position low on the defensive spectrum, but catcher, shottsto and center field have to be very good. 

Agreed, you have to be solid up the middle to start. C 2B SS CF

[thelanges5]

Just listening to the Skor North Twins show and it was mentioned that Keaschall was taking reps at 1B on Tues/Weds. 

Option 1 is taking form…

[Linus]

43 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Happy Birthday Royce Lewis! The polarizing Mr. Lewis is 27 years old today. I’ll expand on my earlier take and say that Lewis is currently the best third baseman defensively of the players being considered in this thread. If he can hit at an above average rate, he should get regular playing time for the Twins. He hasn’t done that at the major league level since Edouard Julien and James Outman were rookie sensations.

I honestly don’t know why a “building” team would move him off third base for a lesser defender with less offensive upside.

That said, it is good that he has accepted playing different positions for the Saints and it is also good that he has only missed ten games due to injury so far this year.

In my ideal projection for the current Twins, Brooks Lee is an infield Willi Castro, playing third, short, second and maybe first base and getting full-time at-bats without a full-time position, all of which could change due to injury or lack of productivity by a “starter”. I believe Lee’s best defensive position will be third base and if the way to get both Lee and Lewis in tge lineup is for Lewis to play first base, well okay  

Keaschall needs to get better defensively, especially since he hasn’t t found the seats and the BA is below .250.

Culpepper is unproven, but he’s the immediate future-at shortstop unless the Twins acquire a shortstop at the trade deadline or they are very aggressive with Marek Houston. 

This is reasonable. I think Lee is as good as Royce defensively at third - not as athletic but steadier. At the end of today there is a very good chance one of them doesn’t hit enough to be a starter and that will make the final decision. For whatever reason Lee doesn’t look as comfortable at second to my eye. 

[DocBauer]

I went with #2. And I did so not just for this season, but what makes sense going forward.

Offensively and defensively, this entire INF is a work in progress. But even that being accepted, it's about the best FIT for everyone involved.

So that's my abstract view. Everyone performing "decently" what are the right "fits".

Lee has the hands and limited quickness to be a solid 3B. While only possessing an average arm, he makes a quick transition from glove to hand, and looks good making off balance throws. While his bat isn't yet where we hope it will be, he's definitely shown improvement. 

SS is now wide open for K-Pepper to take over. Even as a rookie, it will be HIS JOB to command the INF and make calls at times. Is a GOOD SS or just a decent one is TBD. But he's part of the future, his offense is tantalizing, and if he's not ready, he's damn close.

Keaschall just "fits" best at 2B, even with a mediocre arm. He has the athleticism and experience. But due to his TJ and broken arm last season, this is the first time he's played extended time at 2B since 2023! Personally, I'm willing to give him the entire season to get comfortable again and improve. 

Lewis has proved he's not a bad 3B at all. But IF he gets his bat right...we can all cross our fingers...a move to 1B just makes sense for the REST of the INF. Nothing says he can't also play a little 3B and DH some as well. 

I'm fine with what Clemens is doing with the bat, and he can play some 2B as well as RF instead of Martin, while also being a part time 1B.

After that, it's almost a tossup to me who sticks between Kreidler, Gray, and Arcia. 

[stringer bell]

For now, Lee is a fixture at third base. Lewis will apparently get his reps at either second or first. Still waiting for a Culpepper promotion, but now there’s a roster spot available. 

[Steve J]

What does this plan do with Clemens? He's hitting better than anyone in that config.