Twins Minor League Report (6/17): Jay Signs, Duffey Shines

At Lookouts game last night; Burdi, Reed, Sano, you can thank them for the loss. IMO, in my amateur eyes, Sano is not ready, offensively and defensively.

From the Department of Ridiculous Video Game Stats Occurring In Real Life, Max Kepler is batting .485/.605/.758 (1.363) in his last 10 games and .647/.727/.941 (1.668) in his last 5 games.

Overall at Chattanooga he is batting .331/.393/.530 (.923) with 9 SB and 3 CS (75% success rate) and a 23 to 19 K to BB ratio. Also, crazily enough, he has not hit into a single double play in 201 PA. Just saying.

Inherited runners-scored: Burdi 2-2, Reed 3-3

 

Jacksonville Top of the 7th

Matt Juengel singles on a ground ball to left fielder Adam Walker II.

Viosergy Rosa flies out to center fielder Niko Goodrum.

David Adams singles on a line drive to right fielder Travis Harrison. Matt Juengel to 2nd.Pitching Change: Nick Burdi replaces Brett Lee.

Terrence Dayleg doubles (7) on a fly ball to left fielder Adam Walker II. Matt Juengel scores. David Adams scores.

Chadd Krist singles on a ground ball to third baseman Miguel Sano. Terrence Dayleg scores.

Kenny Wilson walks. Chadd Krist to 2nd.

Carlos Lopez singles on a line drive to right fielder Travis Harrison. Chadd Krist to 3rd. Kenny Wilson to 2nd.

Austin Nola walks. Chadd Krist scores. Kenny Wilson to 3rd. Carlos Lopez to 2nd.Pitching Change: Jake Reed replaces Nick Burdi.

Michael Morse strikes out swinging.

Matt Juengel hits a grand slam (12) to left field. Kenny Wilson scores. Carlos Lopez scores. Austin Nola scores.

Viosergy Rosa strikes out swinging.

 

Burdi gives up a double and clears the bases for Lee, and Reed comes in and gives up a grand slam to tag Burdi with more runs. These guys should be friends and stop doing that to each other!  How does a guy score from second on a grounder to third?

I'll tell you how: I saw the play. When the ball was hit, the runner was almost half way between 2nd and 3rd. Sano goes to his left to field it, the ball goes under his glove because he didn't bend over enough to reach it and the ball ends up in left field. That should have been an error charged to Sano but wasn't If he had done his job, he would have had the ball or at least stop the ball, check the runner at second and fire to first for the out.

Sano's line last night should have been 2 errors and 0 for 5. My Son in Law thought he seems disinterested at times when on the field. He has athleticism as there were 2 really nice plays he made where he got to show off his cannon but when the errors happened, he was playing stiff.

Kepler has been unbelievable since about 2 weeks after he came up to Chattanooga. He was player of the month for May (at Twins Daily, the Twins chose Trey Vavra, who was also terrific). He slowed a bit for a week or two in early June, but he has taken off again of late. Two straight 4-hit games will certainly help the numbers. But, he's got such a sweet swing and is a tremendous athlete.

He was clearly the best player on the field. He looks just like a young Justin Morneau. As Seth said, what a beautiful swing. He should have had 1 more RBI but the coach filling in for Doug M (who was thrown out in the 9th inning for arguing a bogus crappy call by the ump) held up the runner at 3rd who could have easily scored. I hope the Twins keep him at 1st.

Don't understand why we would want to waste Kepler's speed and athleticism at 1B, when he could be a plus corner outfield defender.  Yes, those things are valuable at 1B too, but not as much as they are in the outfield.  We've all seen how much of a difference strong outfield defense makes these last few weeks, especially with fly ball pitchers like Hughes, May, and Nolasco (and soon Berrios) in the staff. The Twins also have plenty of 1B candidates, from Mauer (hoping he returns to form) to Vargas, to whichever of Sano or Plouffe doesn't stay at 3B.  Obviously it would be great if Kepler has the defensive versatility to play 1B at times if necessary, but it seems ridiculous to focus him there. I think the main reasons he's been playing a lot of 1B this year are that Chattanooga until recently had 3 other outfielders, and to give him some time without the risk of reinjuring his wrist/forearm again in the outfield.  But he's a future left fielder, and the Twins would be shortsighted to switch him to 1B full time (not that I think they are doing that - I think they know his future is primarily as a strong defensive, average or maybe even above average hitting left fielder).

Don't understand why we would want to waste Kepler's speed and athleticism at 1B, when he could be a plus corner outfield defender.  Yes, those things are valuable at 1B too, but not as much as they are in the outfield.  We've all seen how much of a difference strong outfield defense makes these last few weeks, especially with fly ball pitchers like Hughes, May, and Nolasco (and soon Berrios) in the staff. The Twins also have plenty of 1B candidates, from Mauer (hoping he returns to form) to Vargas, to whichever of Sano or Plouffe doesn't stay at 3B.  Obviously it would be great if Kepler has the defensive versatility to play 1B at times if necessary, but it seems ridiculous to focus him there. I think the main reasons he's been playing a lot of 1B this year are that Chattanooga until recently had 3 other outfielders, and to give him some time without the risk of reinjuring his wrist/forearm again in the outfield.  But he's a future left fielder, and the Twins would be shortsighted to switch him to 1B full time (not that I think they are doing that - I think they know his future is primarily as a strong defensive, average or maybe even above average hitting left fielder).

 

I see your point. From my eyes, Kepler was a nice target at 1st, being 6'4, had good reach, fielded grounders cleanly. There was 1 play he couldn't reach the ball due to an errant throw by the 2nd baseman trying to complete a double play, so I couldn't pin that on Kepler. Just seemed like a natural fit, so smooth and athletic. Like I said, he looks like Morneau at 1st.

 

I actually thought our Outfield defense last night (Harrison, Goodrum, Walker) was not too shabby, better than Jacksonville's, as there were a number of hard hit balls on both sides.

Thanks for acknowledging the point.  I have no doubt Kepler would be an excellent defender at 1B. I just think the Twins would get comparatively more value out of that defense in a corner outfield spot. From accounts I've read he can play CF more than adequately, and someone like that in a corner spot would make a plus outfielder, just like Rosario has been a plus corner outfielder. I think Kepler probably has more power potential than Rosario too, once he fills out his giant frame a little more.

So Kepler can man 1B if and when one of these options claims that third OF spot fully. He doesn't have to be the Twins 1B of the future, but I'd say there are way more OF options available than 1B options at this point.

Think Erstad with more power and a little less speed.

I agree that Kepler would be valuable as a 1B, and that it is great that he has the versatility to play there if needed. But I do think he probably has more value playing mostly corner outfield.  I don't think we disagree on this, I just think drivlikejehu's statement was a little too strong in saying that Kepler couldn't ever have value as a 1B. 

I guess I don't see Hicks or Harrison being a better option in the corner. Harrison doesn't have the same defensive upside as Kepler, and Hicks, while a potential platooner against lefties, doesn't have the offensive upside of Kepler. Walker, if he cuts down on his strikouts and continues to hit the way he is, could potentially make more sense than Kepler, but even then, it might make more sense to move Walker to DH, Vargas or Sano/Plouffe to 1B (assuming Mauer isn't there - but if Mauer is still there this whole debate is sort of moot anyway), and Kepler to the corner.  My understanding is that Walker's outfield defense is decent for a man of his size, but that Kepler is faster. Let me know if someone disagrees based on in person experience of watching them play defense.  Plouffe and Arcia would be disasters in the outfield on defense. I don't know enough about Sano, and I hear he is athletic and fast for his size, but I have a hard time seeing him as an outfielder. So count me as skeptical of that.

Isn't that going to be the main issue for Kepler going forward?  He simply hasn't been able to avoid the injury-bug,  seems like he's always been on and off of the DL or rehabbing something.  The most games he's played so far in one season was 102 last year in Ft Myers.

Yeah, well let's wait and see. Buxton certainly had the "injury bug" all last year. But he's recovered as well this year.

You guys know Kepler's "natural position" is 1B, right? q:)

 

He didn't play OF until the Twins drafted him. As mentioned, he's more than athletic enough to do it though, so why wouldn't they develop him at multiple spots?

 

I think he'd take offense to being called a "waste" at his best position.

First, it is his "natural position" according to who? Second, they didn't draft him, they signed him as an international free agent . . . at 16 -- an age when it is hard to know what it would even mean for a player to have a "natural position." Are you saying because a couple of German middle and high school baseball coaches put him at 1B for reasons that probably have nothing to do with his potential long-term development, he should play that position 6 years later when he reaches the majors?

Yes, I agree he is more than athletic enough to play 1B, as I noted above, and I am fine with them giving him time there, and it is great that he has defensive versatility, but as I and others have noted above, what matters is where they plan to have him play most of the timewhen he gets to the majors, which I think should be corner outfield. Sure, things could change.  Mauer could retire or be benched, Vargas could continue to flounder at the plate, Plouffe might be traded, and Walker could continue to hit and cut his strikout rate. Anything is possible. Under those circumstances, sure, Kepler might make sense at 1B. But under the most likely circumstances, as I discussed above, I've made an argument for why I think Kepler fits in the corner outfield.

I've made my case above, and in other threads, as has SD Buhr. How about making an argument to the contrary, rather than just asserting in conclusory fashion that his "best" or "natural" position is 1B. Based on what? Even if that were true, it might be an even "better" or "more natural" position for someone else, like Mauer, Vargas or Sano. I don't think Kepler would be offended at all to be told that his talents would be wasted at a less demanding defensive position. I'm not saying 1B defense isn't important or demanding (that's another straw man), I'm saying it isn't as important or demanding as corner outfield.

If you look thru the system, we have a shortage of quality 1st baseman. Sure, you can plug guys in but sooner or later, you have to have someone who knows the nuances, makes the routine plays, holds runners, be a big target, scoop balls out of the dirt, etc. and can hit. That's why I hope Kepler continues to play 1st. He already is a good outfielder. That combo with his bat is perfect for the Twins. His role could be similar to Cuddyer's with the Twins - Rf & 1st

As mentioned, at last night's game, he was clearly the best player. If it was me, I'd send him up to AAA for a Fall call up.