Marek Houston Has Answered His Draft Day Question Marks

[DocBauer]

What I'm still encouraged about is a good eye. As he advances, his K% vs BB % might drop. So his OB% might also drop some. That's just reality facing better pitching. 

What I'm encouraged about is a decent contact % and a decent eye to be a decent hitter. I think he's got that. What I DON'T care about is power. He is NOT a small man. His NATURAL BAT is FINE with me, a DECENT AVG and solid OB% and a lot of Dbls power. While stealing a few bases along the way.

I'm 100% with him as a GOOD HITTER with a solid OB % and limited power. With his defense, he could be an All Star. In a couple of seasons , his natural power might make him even better, but let's stop looking at the future vs tomorrow. 

He's doing  OK at AA so far. How about we just STOP any comparisons and just enjoy his development 

[TJSweens]

21 hours ago, HarmonK03 said:

They cleared 2B when they moved Keaschall.  Clemens is a placeholder, he needs to be in a utility role if they hang onto him.

Is Clemmens a placeholder? His bat, to this point, is better than Lee's. Lee has been a bad fielder across the infield. Brooks might ultimately be best suited to DH if he can keep his production above league average.

As far as Houston, I'm glad the Twins decided against "unlocking his power". If his current level of production carries to the majors along with gold glove caliber defense, he is an all star.

[tony&rodney]

Maybe it is too early to project 2027 much less 2028. Keith Law put up his guess for the draft this weekend and he has the Twins picking .... Roch Cholowsky. If so, that ends Marek Houston discussions as the Twins shortstop of the future. Naturally we cannot know what will occur but keep an open mind. We also hear a ton of people screaming that the Twins must trade Joe Ryan now or before the 2027 season. Well ..... maybe he is not traded or maybe the transaction is a blockbuster that brings in a top middle infield prospect ready to play next season.

I have seen great improvement in Marek Houston this season at the plate from watching his games this season via milb.com. I'm very encouraged by his development and excited to see how he progresses going forward. I'm just not prepared to guess on next year much less two years from now.

[Possumlad]

7 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Maybe it is too early to project 2027 much less 2028. Keith Law put up his guess for the draft this weekend and he has the Twins picking .... Roch Cholowsky. If so, that ends Marek Houston discussions as the Twins shortstop of the future. Naturally we cannot know what will occur but keep an open mind. We also hear a ton of people screaming that the Twins must trade Joe Ryan now or before the 2027 season. Well ..... maybe he is not traded or maybe the transaction is a blockbuster that brings in a top middle infield prospect ready to play next season.

I have seen great improvement in Marek Houston this season at the plate from watching his games this season via milb.com. I'm very encouraged by his development and excited to see how he progresses going forward. I'm just not prepared to guess on next year much less two years from now.

Drafting Roch wouldn't end discussions of Marek Houston as the Twins shortstop of the future. Marek's glove is as strong as Roch's (both are potential Gold Glovers), but neither player projects as a strong middle-of-the-order bat. Roch's hit tool projects as average to slightly below average. Given his early showing in the minors, Marek's proven more at this point. I'll point out Cullpepper is a better prospect than either of them right now. 

From Fangraphs draft profile of Roch: 

"He identifies and adjusts to breaking stuff and moves the barrel around pretty well, but middling plate discipline and Cholowsky's lever length combine to keep his hit tool projection a little south of average. He should still be able to access pull-side power with regularity because of his style of swing and good (for a shortstop) power."

[tony&rodney]

18 minutes ago, Possumlad said:

Drafting Roch wouldn't end discussions of Marek Houston as the Twins shortstop of the future. Marek's glove is as strong as Roch's (both are potential Gold Glovers), but neither player projects as a strong middle-of-the-order bat. Roch's hit tool projects as average to slightly below average. Given his early showing in the minors, Marek's proven more at this point. I'll point out Cullpepper is a better prospect than either of them right now. 

My point is we are just guessing. Houston has been more steady  than spectacular in the games I have seen him player (well over several dozen games). Brandon Winokur has made a number of plays at shortstop that Houston could never pull off simply because of the difference in physical skills, but I believe Houston is a true shortstop and better by a fair amount over Winokur. I have not seen Cholowsky play so no real opinion but the experts say he is a true shortstop.  He was a consensus #1 pick since last July until a week ago - people are hedging now. I'm still hopeful the Twins get Lackey. The thing I love about Culpepper is his compete level. The injuries have cost him this season. I think he might have been called up but fate intervened. I'm just saying that we need to let it play out. Culpepper should be a really good MLB player. I'm high on him.