Twins Organizational Depth Chart: Third Base

Major Leagues

Trevor Plouffe put together the best season of his big league career. At the plate, he hit .258/.328/.423 (.751) with 40 doubles, 14 home runs and 80 RBI. As important, he made some huge improvements defensively. He is arbitration-eligible for the second year (of four).

Eduardo Nunez and Eduardo Escobar both got time at third base when Plouffe was out of the lineup. Escobar is perceived by many as a utility infielder, though in 2014 he played most every day at shortstop. He played a lot of third base in previous seasons. In 465 plate appearances, the 25-year-old hit .275/.315/.406 with 35 doubles and six home runs.

Nunez played in 72 games with the Twins after being acquired from the New York Yankees. He hit .250/.271/.382 (.654) with seven doubles, four triples and four homers. He is arbitration-eligible and may be a non-tender candidate.

Minor Leagues

Doug Bernier played in 124 games in Rochester before his September call-up. He played all over the diamond including in the outfield. He played 44 games at third base. He was removed from the 40-man roster and became a free agent.

28-year-old Deibinson Romero had a very strong showing with his bat in big league spring training. He spent the season in AAA where he hit .265/.364/.406 (.770) with 31 doubles and eight home runs. He can become a minor league free agent again this year.

Miguel Sano is the big prospect. A year ago, he was a Top 10 prospect in all of baseball, but Tommy John surgery cost him the entire 2014 season. He’ll need to be brought along slowly and cautiously in 2015, but that doesn’t take away from his best tool, his power. He hit 65 home runs total in the last two years at three levels. He will turn 22 years old in May. Hopefully he can come back healthy and force the Twins to make some decisions on him and Plouffe.

Brandon Waring tied for the team lead in home runs in spring training. OK, he hit two, but the 28-year-old was sent back to AA. In 106 games, he hit .212/.311/.406 with 28 doubles and 13 home runs. He came to the Twins as a minor league free agent and will be the same following the World Series.

Nate Hanson split his season between New Britain and Rochester again in 2014. The 27-year-old who graduated from Eden Prairie High School and then went to the University of Minnesota and was the Twins 28^th round pick in 2008. In 2014, he combined to hit .256/.327/.369 (.696) with 33 doubles and six home runs. He can become a six-year minor league free agent following the World Series.

Stephen Wickens hurt his shoulder in spring training and missed a large chunk of the beginning of the season. The 25-year old rehabbed with the Miracle and then spent time playing various positions for the Rock Cats. In 72 games, he hit .242/.296/.301 (.598) with eight doubles. He played mainly 3B and 2B, but also got time in the outfield.

Niko Goodrum was the Twins 2^nd round pick in 2009 out of high school. He had been a good fielding shortstop until 2013 when he was moved to third base. Offensively, he hit .249/.337/.336 (.672) with 19 doubles, five triples and three home runs. He has very good speed and stole 35 bases in 39 attempts. Defensively he was a work in progress, adjusting to the hot corner where instincts are as important as range. He would be eligible for the Rule 5 draft this winter if not added to the 40 man roster.

Bryan Haar split the season between Cedar Rapids and Ft. Myers. He was the 34^th round pick in 2012 out of the University of San Diego. In 108 games with the Kernels, he hit .267/.319/.446 (.765) with 20 doubles, five triples and 14 homers. He moved up to the Miracle and played in just 10 games. He played the majority of his games at third base but also got into 19 games at first base.

Logan Wade is a 22 year old Australian who spent most of the season in Cedar Rapids playing second base and third. He missed extended time due to injury and struggled mightily in his return. In 75 games with the Kernels, he hit .233/.272/.380 (.652) with 12 doubles, four triples and seven home runs.

At 5-11 and just 155 pounds, Jonatan Hinojosa is certainly not your typical third baseman. He is more of a middle infielder, but in 2014 he played a lot of third base in Elizabethton and at Cedar Rapids when he returned there late in the season. He didn’t hit in E-Town, but when he got to Cedar Rapids, he hit .341/.378/.494 with seven extra base hits in 20 games. He missed 50 games this year due to a PED suspension.

Tyler Mautner was the Twins 14^th round pick in 2014 out of the University of Buffalo. At 21, he hit .210/.306/.383 with 13 doubles and five home runs in his 45 game professional debut in Elizabethton.

TJ White was the Twins 18^th round pick in 2014 out of UNLV. He signed quite late and played in just eight games in the GCL before finishing with five games at Elizabethton.

Ruar Verkerk signed as a 16-year-old in 2013 out of the Netherlands. The 6-3, 180 pound third baseman played in 25 games with the GCL Twins. He hit just .147/.216/.147 (.363) with no extra base hits in 68 at bats. As you would expect, he is quite raw and has much to learn about the game.

Nelson Molina was the Twins 11^th round pick in 2013 out of high school in Puerto Rico. The smooth-fielding shortstop actually played a little more at third base in 2014 (18 games). He hit .243/.305/.287 (.591) in 45 games. He added three triples and was 12-14 in stolen base attempts.

Rafael Valera is a 19-year-old who made his US debut with the GCL Twins in 2014 after spending two seasons toiling in the Dominican Summer League. In 47 GCL games, he hit .254/.370/.341 (.710) with eight doubles and two triples. He was also 13 of 15 in stolen base attempts. He also played in three games for the Miracle when they had a need for a body.

Roni Tapia signed as a 16-year-old in 2013 out of the Dominican Republic for $550,000. He made his professional debut in 2014 in the Dominican Summer League. In 50 games, he hit .269/.306/.386 (.692) with 15 doubles and four triples. In 25 games at third base, he committed 20 errors.

Jermaine Palacios also played as a 17-year-old in the DSL. In 49 games, he hit .270/.404/.399 (.802) with 11 doubles and six triples. In 40 games at third base, he committed 10 errors.

SUMMARY

Trevor Plouffe took a step forward in his offensive and defensive games in 2014. He certainly goes into 2015 with the third base job. Like one year ago, his hold on the job is still somewhat slippery due to the presence of Miguel Sano. Sano is the big prospect, one of the best (and literally biggest) in the game. He has elite power potential. The team, and Sano, need to be patient in his return from Tommy John surgery.

There are some other prospects worth watching at the position who will need to develop. Also, Travis Harrison played 15 games at third base at Ft. Myers in 2014, though it appears his move away from the position may be permanent.

Interested in learning more about the Minnesota Twins' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!