Why Marek Houston is the Twins’ Most Underrated Prospect

[Chembry]

Baseball America released their August in season update today.  Marek Houston is now on their top 100 list at #90.  Culpepper started at #74 in January and now up to #26 in this most recent update. 

The 5 Twins prospects are:

Walker Jenkins (#10)

Vaugh Lackey (#23)

Kaelen Culpepper (#26)

Emmanuel Rodriguez (#45)

Marek Houston (#90) 

Prielipp was on the list but graduated in their July update.  Not Twins related anymore, but Dasan Hill was up to #86 in the May update, but dropped off the list by July.

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, Chembry said:

Baseball America released their August in season update today.  Marek Houston is now on their top 100 list at #90.  Culpepper started at #74 in January and now up to #26 in this most recent update. 

The 5 Twins prospects are:

Walker Jenkins (#10)

Vaugh Lackey (#23)

Kaelen Culpepper (#26)

Emmanuel Rodriguez (#45)

Marek Houston (#90) 

Prielipp was on the list but graduated in their July update.  Not Twins related anymore, but Dasan Hill was up to #86 in the May update, but dropped off the list by July.

I'll say that's too low for Houston!

[DataNerd]

1 hour ago, DocBauer said:

I hear a lot of talk about K-Pepper becoming the next Twins 3B. And I have no doubt he could be good there. But I've been pleased by Lee's play at 3B and it should only get stronger. Wouldn't we prefer the more athletic KC at 2B to create a great DP combo with Houston?

With his arm, he would be a better 3B than 2B; however, KC at 2B and Lee at 3B is much better than switching them around, and KC would be an above-average 2B.

[DataNerd]

35 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I'll say that's too low for Houston!

Incredibly low.  Publications in general are way too low on recently drafted players and are hesitant to rank them highly until they hit well in the minors, and are slow to move up the guys who really hit well.

Marek Houston is pretty much repeating what Culpepper did, and is a higher draft pick and better fielder, but Culpepper is 26 and Houston is 90.  IMO, I have Houston above Culpepper (and I really like Culpepper)

[Mike Sixel]

8 minutes ago, DataNerd said:

With his arm, he would be a better 3B than 2B; however, KC at 2B and Lee at 3B is much better than switching them around, and KC would be an above-average 2B.

Agreed. If I'm the Twins, Houston and Culpeper are in ST Paul playing those positions there right now.. and starting with the Twins day one next year..

[old nurse]

2 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Always an excuse for not calling up rookies. 

Always myopic people who can’t see the bigger picture 

[Mike Sixel]

4 minutes ago, old nurse said:

Always myopic people who can’t see the bigger picture 

How has signing awful veterans worked out? I see the whole picture just fine. 

[DocBauer]

4 hours ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

I could really find myself liking a Houston/Culpepper double play combination.   Right now we have the defensively square peg Keaschall and the question is where are we going to find a home for him.  Ultimately I think 2nd will be his home.   I have always been a big Lee fan and I think as a depth piece that plays 50/60% - I think thats the role he will fill out to.  

Here are your options by mid year

3rd Lee,  SS Houston,  2nd Culpepper 1st Lewis/Clemens

or 

3rd Culpepper  SS Houston 2nd Keaschall/Clemens/Lee  1st Lewis

I'm not saying Keaschall can't work really hard on his 2B defense and end up there still. In fact, I hope he puts in a TON of work there in the offseason. If nothing else, it just makes him more "usable" there going forward. 

But my current belief is the Twins are done with him at 2B as his primary position. Despite obvious growing pains, I really like what I've seen from him in the OF, even if he's making some mistakes and learning on the fly, some MILB time in the OF not withstanding.

I've sort of adopted the thinking of Gleeman that a Super Utility player is someone who plays SS, like Kreidler. While a Utility player is someone who can play multiple positions solidly, just not SS.

With the improvement he's made with his bat and glove, I'm liking Lee more and more at SS and the more athletic Culpepper at 2B. And Lewis as the primary 1B. Clemens can provide solid play at 5 spots, and Keaschall potentially the same, as he's also played a little 1B in the minors. It wouldn't hurt if he was a 3rd option at 1B just for roster/lineup flexibility.

That's a really good looking INF with a trio of SU and U players backing up, filling in, all capable of playing some OF as well. 

[DataNerd]

7 hours ago, TJSweens said:

It would have taken a lot more than Culpepper to get the kind of pitcher you are describing. The Twins need a whole new infield. Lee is not the answer at 3B, Culpepper could be. 

Lee has a 1.5 fWAR, 99 wRC+ and -0.7 runs DEF, has been average at 3B and is 25.  I'm nowhere close to giving up on Lee, he's a cheap average player.

[jkcarew]

The most overrated prospect would get more clicks. 😀 Just say’in.