The Defensive Future of Royce Lewis

This. If he can’t stick at short his prospect value halves. If your assessment tells you he isn’t likely to stay at short trade him immediately for the best pitching deal you can get

I don't agree. He looks like he could be an elite CF.......

I have no idea what his future is. None.

I think a lot of comments are selling Lewis short, no pun intended.

I don't see where Steve, or anyone really, is saying he can't play SS. Only 19yo and played in AA ball and didn't embarrass himself. Nobody is saying he can't or won't potentially displace Polanco. But Polanco is also young and continues to improve, and should continue to improve. There is room for both of them. The point Brian was making was an excellent one. If you have Polanco, Arraez and Sano as quality fixtures, and have more than a couple 1B options getting really close, (plus a potential move of Sano to 1B), and have a dynamic OF, when together, and a couple other really nice kids on the way up, what on earth is so wrong with Lewis playing other positions in his ML promotion?

That's like saying Marwin's value is limited because he doesn't play a single position. Maybe more to the point, examine Arraez. While a natural 2B, and possibly a fixture there for some time, he contributed at 2B/SS/3B/LF. Was that a mistake in his usage? I would say a resounding NO.

And Lewis is a far greater athlete with greater potential. Where he ultimately fits on a daily basis is yet to be determined. But when he is ready to come up, why not use him in similar fashion?

And I find debates about his offense humorous. A year ago he looked so good some thought/hoped he'd be ready early 2020. Now, he struggled a bit as a 19yo in his second full season. But he's flashing in the AFL.

We agree here, just think you're getting lost in the details. You started by responding to my comment that I think he could be better than Polanco eventually, so why waste his development time at SS.

 

I wasn't at any point saying you do what they're doing with him in the AFL moving forward. You definitely focus on SS. You are correct in saying this is the low-risk path and that transitioning from SS to elsewhere is easier.

 

All I'm saying is that this venture and experience in the AFL helps open that door when it gets to the point where you need to play him somewhere, but Polanco is still the (better) guy at SS. I definitely think this is a possibility, and the more likely scenario at this point. 

 

Maybe you play him at a different position a few times a month, but certainly not a scenario where you siphon significant development time.

Exactly... Things don't have to be all or nothing. 

I don't know anything about Lewis defensively but I'm willing to lay down a bet with anyone that when he hits the major leagues. It will be close to a mid-season ... and... and...  the odds are that he will debut at position other than SS so I will be comfortable taking that bet as well. 

If that's the case and it probably is... Let him play multiple positions, he can still play the majority of time at SS if you so desire.  

And who knows... maybe in the process of doing so. A different SS comes around who can REALLY pick it. A different SS that also starts figuring it out at the plate because he now gets the chance to figure it out at the plate because Lewis isn't playing every possible inning at SS.

So, now you have given opportunity to multiple SS's and may the best man win . You increase your production by a 2 to 1 margin instead of locking into one and saying we will live or die with you and you alone. Production is increased, options are increased... these are good things. 

I don't think these games mean a damn thing about where the Twins will have him develop. Exihibition games, managed by people not in his orginization, to get the kid some more at bats, and hopefully confidence after a very mediocre season at the plate. Where he is playing during the short AFL season means absolutely nothing about his future.