Austin Martin’s Not-So-Clear Path to the Twins

LF or 2B or CF were always the option for him. No idea why he kept playing SS.

As for surgery, as with any human, the goal is to avoid it if possible. We'll see.

I feel bad for the young man. He's not had any good luck (health wise) in 2 years.

He's not going to help the Twins in 2023. Too long of a road to MLB coming off injury and getting roughly half a season in which to do so. But he can prepare for 2024.

The reason he stuck at SS for as long as he did, from what I heard many month ago, was simply to get more time and more chances playing in the dirt, and just work on the basics of fielding and throwing. From there, he could take that experience and slide easily to 2B/3B, positions he's more familiar with and played in college.

The Twins weren't wrong in trying to increase his power. You have to realize, working to increase power isn't about turning everyone in to a 20+ HR slugger. More power also means doubles and triples if you have speed. Low power from a hitter means pitchers can challenge more, with less fear, and even good contact and good BB rates doesn't equal production if a quality ML pitcher can just overpower you. There are very few Arraez types who have limited power and can succeed. And even he has developed a little more pop over time. You end up with Ben Revere with little or zero pop in the bat. Virtually every single team will look to make adjustments for more power to make a batter more dangerous. Doesn't mean you are trying to develop a slugger. Such is the case with Martin. 

If his arm holds up, or recovers well after any potential surgery, I think it's very possible he still plays 2B as well as 3B on a utility basis. Depth is a good thing. But he never has to, or should, play SS again. And he doesn't have to with Correa, Lewis, and Lee sometime in 2024. Heck, Farmer will likely still be with the Twins next year as well.

Someone commented months ago from the Twins that they felt Martin to slide to the OF "tomorrow" and be just fine, and that he was a natural out there. Hence part if the reason they kept him in the INF for as long as they did.

And that's where he's going to end up. I DO think he could be a RH Gordon, and that's not a bad thing. It just means he could cover 2B/3B as well as the OF, not that he'd necessarily be a "reserve", just versatile.

If and when he reaches MLB, he's going to be a LF and/or CF. Not sure about RF as I believe that's going to be Larnach or Wallner, unless Lewis moves out there. Then again, I wouldn't be shocked if Royce still ends up in CF either. 

Is Martin going to be a starter somewhere? Potentially yes. He has the bat and OB skills and speed and athleticism to be a fine OF with top of the order potential, even with mostly doubles kind of power. (I think he has enough natural strength to settle in as a "teens" HR hitter naturally). But it's up to him to get healthy, and prove he can hit and get OB and run at the ML level. It's not like there isn't competition. 

He could be the Twins starting CF or LF fairly soon if his close to 2022 and AFL performance is legit. He'll play both, but other players might determine where he slots in best. He and Julien could make a hell of a 1-2 to get the offense going! 

He could also be a daily player who moves around. He might also end up a really good and versatile veserve.

Said it before and will again, NOBODY with the Twins is ruling Buxton out of CF in the future. Even as a part timer out there. But the simple truth is his body might never allow him to be a fixture out there again and you're hoping he pulls a "Molitor" and finds ways to stay prepared and engaged to being a successful DH. That means CF might be open. 

I could see, potentially, Taylor brought back for 2024. I could also see someone else brought in via FA or trade for a short term solution. It's really unfortunate that BOTH Celestino and Martin had lingering injuries this year as BOTH might be solid options to be primary CF in 2024. Let's not forget that Celestino is still quite young and has some good tools. In the short time he's been at AAA...after his too soon, emergency promotion...he's raked there.

The best thing that could happen for both of them is to be healthy and ready for AAA ASAP, and get ready for 2024. But I do like Martin better as a possible long term solution there. He just needs to be healthy. If he needs surgery, it doesn't eliminate him from the future, but it continues to delay and possible future. 

26 minutes ago, jimbo92107 said:

If avoiding surgery impedes his positional flexibility, then he should have opted for TJ earlier. His value as a pro will not go up as is. A fringy sub is not where Martin belongs. 

The goal of everyone is to avoid cutting into the human body if possible....

If Martin can stay healthy and produce, I have no doubt that the team will find a place for him.  There are openings there to be had, Martin simply needs to stay healthy and take advantage of that and take one of them.

Back to the surgery, it makes sense to wait. He can play, hopefully, thru August, have the surgery, and be ready for April. It makes sense to use the season to work on hitting (and fielding at 2B?) and use the off season for recovery. IMO.