Marek Houston is Creating a Very Good Problem for the Twins

[Trov]

You can never have too many guys that can play SS.  If Houston can field at elite level, and hit at average level, he will be SS.  If Culpepper can hit at above average to elite level, but average defense at SS, he will get moved off SS and play 3b assuming he is average to above average defender at 3b.  Lee is not good enough hitter or defender to force playing time.  He has shown some better hitting, but unless he steps up more he will get passed by.  Lewis, if he can bounce back to his offense he showed early in career, and so far after being sent down he has been crazy hot.  Keasahall is really the wild card in the mix over the years.  He has shown he could have a solid bat, not great this year, but his glove is just not there.  He does not have the power to slot in typical DH roll.  He could be the odd man out down the road, as Lee could slot into utility bench roll as a switch hitter and defense flexibility that has value. 

[Jeff K]

Marek Houston's season is very encouraging and I hope he gets moved to AA soon.  With all the discussion of which player should play which position long term, I need to weigh in that Royce Lewis ought to become a pretty good fielding first baseman and if his hitting continues, then I like him as the first baseman for the forseeable future.  Keaschall has to figure out 2nd base to be in the long term plans as I don't see a move to the outfield with all the young talent close to the bigs.

[stringer bell]

14 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Despite the gold glove award, Dozier was pretty average 

By the time he won a Gold Glove, Dozier was less than stellar. When he moved from short to second, he was pretty good. 

[stringer bell]

Projecting is tough. I actually think Brooks Lee could be the moving piece in a future infield, playing third, second and occasionally shortstop and perhaps getting full-time plate appearances without having a full-time position (see Castro, Willi). Royce Lewis is the superior athlete with the stronger arm (over Lee) and it appears that Culpepper will get a shot at short, but second or third will be his ultimate position. There will probably be twists and turns in who will play and where they play. I just hope we have some clarity on a couple of the players by the end of this season.

[twinstalker]

23.8% is a horrible number for a player with Houston's profile and who is old for his league, prospect-wise.  It's good that he's reduced it considerably

We'll see.  I didn't like the pick because his hitting in WF's park was not what it should be for a mid first-rounder.  He struck out way too much at low A, then finished strong in that area.  That he's hitting now is fine, but he should be hitting.  There's nothing special about a 22 yr old 1st round pick putting up those numbers in high A.