7 Triple-A Players Who Can Still Help the 2023 Twins

After suffering through tonights game I would just swap the Saints for the Twins.

Can help? Or could be expected to help? Because there's a huge difference not only in readiness, but opportunity as well as 40 man issues. 

NO:

Celestino and Martin have lost over half their seasons due to injury. Celestino has 132AB and Martin 114. I haven't given up on either, though I like Martin better. Celestino actually has talent and has been used poorly 1st with a desperate promotion, and then sticking with him too long when he needed AAA time, and didn't exactly have a ton of AA time. Lack of options hurts any Twins potential. 

Lee just got promoted to AAA last week and just had his 1yr pro anniversary. I like Prato a lot, but still him as another Castro super utility type, with a slighty different skill set. And that's not an insult or saying he can't be better. He started to come in to his own in 2022 and I thought he had a real shot to begin this year at AAA. Which made his poor start this season at Wichita so surprising. He's not on the 40 man, though room could be found. But if Lewis comes back OK, and Solano is OK, I just don't know I see room this year, unless it's LF and maybe 1B. I think they are tied more to the veteran Luplow for now, for better or worse. Check back next year.

And I say no to Henriquez. Very young, some great stuff, and I like his future. But he hasn't had a good season, partially due to some injury, and is behind Winder, Sands, Balazovic, and Ortega. Again, check back next year.

YES:

Funderburk has made the transition to the pen and has performed at the highest milb level. I can see him getting a shot and helping. 

I object to the statement in the OP that Varland pitched poorly. I don't have his game by game info in front of me, but he was pretty solid when he came up, had perhaps his best couple of turns as a ML before the wheels seemed to come off. He didn't look so good when sent down, but he's been better of late and the potential is still there.

A mediocre Larnach is already better than Gallo. But he doesn’t play 1B, and that's a huge miss by the FO. They are playing Garlick at 1B but not even trying Larnach there? Huge missed opportunity there to see. But yes, good chance we see him again. 

MAYBE:

I appreciate the fact that Gallo plays a good 1B. But he's also amongst the very worst hitters in all of MLB for months now. Williams as a RH batter would almost have to try to be worse. He should be up yesterday to play 1B and get an audition. He might even help with some of the LHP ineptitude this team faces. 1 for 1 40 man swap right there.

Like others, I've been so impressed with what Stevenson has done at St Paul this year. And at 29yo, I have no illusions he's some older, breakout player. (Though he hasn't been totally inept in his brief ML career). It's just hard not to wonder what he might do as a running mate with Taylor in CF. How much of his offense could he bring from St Paul to the Twins? He might actually surprise a little and help spark some. But besides the 40 man issue, who does he replace on the 13 man roster? He doesn't play 1B..which might be the biggest issue right now...so does he replace Polanco, who's looked nothing like his previous self at all? But if Lewis comes back soon, that creates a whole different issue. Just not sure I see a place for Stevenson at this time, which sees a shame to a small degree.

Don't laugh, but look out for Dobnak. Personally, I've had little faith in Keuchel. I appreciate his effort. I appreciate the Twins taking a look at him as a late season rotation filler who might offer up a few good IP to help rest the rotation some. And even after 1 solid turn, and a horrible one against the Phillies tonight, I could see him getting another shot. Hopefully, Ryan is back soon. And Varland is the talented youngster waiting for his next shot. But if anyone else goes down, or there is any need for a fill in type, the Dobber is next. It's been a long road back for him, but he has experience, and has looked at least decent his past few turns. He's probably up next after Varland. 

1 hour ago, FlyingFinn said:

Hey Doc, I know you are a big proponent of Helman as well. What are your thoughts of Prato vs Helman next year making it to the Twins, assuming both are healthy? Martin is probably in this super utility mix as well with Castro already on the Twins. Gordon will probably be gone next spring IMO.

I hadn't really thought to pit Helman against Prato directly, but you're right they are very similar players by skill set and position ability. I like that Prato is younger, but as of now, I think Helman has more power and can actually be used as a legitimate CF, and Prato appears stretched there as he has less than a dozen games played there, IIRC. 

Unfortunately for Helman, he had a hamstring issue in ST, then a concussion, and then a shoulder issue and has lost almost the entire season while Prato is on the upswing.  Next year is a whole new season for both of them. I like Helman's ability to cover CF, but it's no deal breaker or maker.

May the best man win.

When I look at Martin, I'm not 100% convinced yet what he might become. His college career and draft pedigree had some calling for him to be playing with the Twins in 2022, straight from AA in 2021, which was straight from college and no pro ball after being drafted due to covid. I just never understood the eagerness for someone clearly not ready. And now, we have a strong finish to last year, a strong AFL, and approximately half a season this year to declare him...once again...the next big thing. 

I'm very encouraged, but a couple months at AAA, even good ones, doesn't convince me he's going to be a star. 

He could be a fine utility player, and there's value in that, and possibly better than either Helman or Prato. He could also be a super utility player simply because he can be used at 3-4 spots and play 5 days a week at the tip of the order. An excellent everyday player, just not a fixed spot. He could even be a full time, starting CF/LF.

I'm just not sure what to make him of him at the moment.