bunsen82

Marek Houston - I will tell you I really struggle with this pick. Defense is legit, hit tool I would say is average to above average (however major question marks at high A to end the season but only 12 games). I read some where in a normal ballpark Houston would have only had 3 home runs last year. Now he has the body type that he will continue to gain more power, but I just keep getting vibes of Noah Miller. If he can be a .270 hitter with 10-15 HR, speed and elite defense, he will be a decent MLB player. My issue is as of now I view him as a back up short stop. We will be picking SS this year, Houston last year, and Culpepper the year before. All 3 will have much more value at SS if they can play than 3rd base or 2nd. Lee will not be the long term option at SS. LeBron continues to rake. Sounds like he is struggling a bit with the glove 8 errors already this season and a costly one last night. I still think we will get an elite player in either him or Emerson.

So was there a triple play to end the game?

I still think his comments regarding 3rd is he knows his audience and he will say whichever is beneficial for him, if 3rd was open in Astros he will say something. If their shortstop gets hurt he will say he has the flexibility and ability to continue to play Short. As to Lee, I think he can be solid. Effectively similar to Kyle Farmer. Lee is a stopgap to Culpepper. Then we will see if he can handle it or if it will be Houston or the 2026 draft pick who will most likely be an elite SS.

Does Lee look quicker/faster/ more agile than last year Squirrel? He looks a bit more trimmed, just curious how he looks fielding and running. Running out a bunt is pretty impressive.

Culpepper has done everything right since joining the organization. The defense is better than advertised, the bat is better than advertised. At this point I am fine with seasoning Lee and seeing if he can either find a position at a different spot - maybe 3rd, utility. At this point I see Houston as a slightly better bat than Noah Miller unless he can improve like Culpepper did this last year. If Culpepper can play a legit shortstop and have an elite bat for the position we are onto something. I guess I am less concerned about his bat than most. Interesting fact - Stephen Hawkins worked out Lewis, Raya, Bradley and Culpepper this offseason. We will see we can see any improvements on the field with those 4.

Hendriks - topped out at 94 mph. Honestly all in all not bad. Not the 96 he topped out in 2023, or the 97 in 2022. But if he can gain 1 more mph, and get a feel for his stuff back, I think he is our most likely closer out of the bunch. Ober is going to pitch himself out of MLB if he can't top 89 mph. Yikes. Whats physically changed that has caused a 5 mph drop in his top velocity (use to top out at 94)? In his best years he average 92 mph - last year 90.4 , this start 88.8.

Culpepper - did quite well in this first test. It will be interesting to see how Lee does and how long the leash is before they bring Culpepper up.

We have had very few early/early draft picks and have not used them to pick a pitcher. Beyond that they have started picking pitchers at the end of 1st/2nd round 2021 - Petty 2022 - Priellip 2023 - Soto 2024 - Hill 2025 - Quick Those for the most part are our best prospects for pitching in the system. We do have a handfull of others. I have high hopes for the 2025 draft class that we will find some studs between Quick, Ellwanger, Reitz and Barr.

Taj outside of 1 bad outing has looked really really good. I don't think many are going to be complaining about that trade this year.

FYI your OPS calcs are wrong. OPS of .856 in SEC play. That's quite the misstatement. Appears you are more trying to confirm you view than give a factual review. https://overslotbaseball.com/articles/mlb-draft-justin-lebron/ SEC play began March 14 last season. From that point foward, Lebron slashed .278/.377/.479. Impressive numbers, but a step backwards from his torrid start.

They don't say he can't hit - the hit tool is just not elite - there is a massive difference. Debarge is still a decent prospect, defense and speed, need to see some improvements on the hit tool - even still Lebrons hit tool is better than Debarges so comparing them seems odd. Right now for the early season you have 4 still in that top conversation doing well in the early season. 1. Roch 2. Emerson 3. Lebron 4. Flora - 1.5 ERA appears to be taking the lead for the 1st pitcher drafted I still would not be suprised if the Twins end with Emerson who I think is their preferred pick. There is too much underslot picks ect. Lebron could very well be viewed as the 2nd best prospect. I think they would be fine with Lebron - as would I. Lebron Hit:50 Power : 60 Run: 60 Arm: 60 Field : 60 Overall 60 Chowolsky Hit 60 Power 60 Run 45 Arm 60 Field 60 Emerson Hit 60 Power 55 Run 55 Arm 60 Field 60 Overall 60 There is a reason Falvey was talking about at what point in the lottery would they start throwing stuff. 4-5 was effectively the number. Why - because they view this draft as 3 elite prospects, and those are the 3. I might also say, Chowlsky has the highest risk of declining athletic ability with his run already down to a 45 which could start effecting his fielding no different than Lee. Chowolsky is also more protected in his lineup with 4 players with OPS above 1.000. For Alabama you have Lebron and Neal with Lebron having the highest stats. Teams may be more willing to pitch around Lebron. Lebron is also 18-18 so far this year on stolen bases. You then have Emerson who is viewed as slightly less powerful Bobby Witt. Debarge Hit 45 Power 50 Run 60 Arm 50 Field 55 Overall 40 - (I think he was a 45 when drafted and hit tool 50). Also as a note - that 2024 class was extremely weak, Debarge was one of the last picks with the hope of a decent hit tool. - I find it amusing want to be upset about a draft pick when it appears they nailed their picks in Culpepper and Hill - Diaw looks like potential solid C prospect - If Debarge improves his hit tool at all he becomes a top of the order or 9 hole bat if the steals can be maintained. Amick hit tool looked better as well as his defense - but the power disappeared. If he can maintain the hit tool and power he becomes a legit prospect.

I didn't know Altavilla was in the WBC. Gave up a run. Against that lineup - not bad.

Erod isn't taking Outman spot (a backup) It would be Wallners or Larnachs.

Personally, I am ok with giving him a month. All the outfielders on the 40 man other than Buxton are question marks in my opinion. I am ok with at least trying him out for a month after the preseason. We will likely see more of the same - but you have the slim chance he figures it out similar to a Brent Rooker. I saws nothing last year that made me think he was camp fodder but so what if we send down Martin or Roden. Its not like its drastically going to change our outlook. I still think trading Larnach is our best option. I would prefer to have Rodriguez start in left field this year. If its a punt year, might as well give yourself a chance at getting an end of 1st draft pick if he could end up being rookie of the year. Honestly, I would puts his odds in the 10-20% range. He has the ability, he needs to remain healthy.

I should clarify, he is our only shot at getting a comp pick for rookie of the year.

Rodriguez is our only shot at the Rookie of the year, at that involves him being on the team to start the season. Unless we have a rash of injuries I see no spot to bring him up.

When you are getting into your 5th and 6th seasons I am not sure post hype prospect status still qualifies. At this point I won't even consider Larnach. For me it more comes into 2 groups - those with moderate skills that have had ok to average results and looking to consistently be average to slightly above average. 3. Martin - Martin I think is finally finding a niche. 2. Lee - Lee looks trimmer this spring. I expect the defense to be palatable and an improvement at the plate. 1. SWR - has provided pretty solid performances the last year and a half. He is maximizing the stuff he has to be the best he can be. Elite talents need improvement on the mental side - 4. Matthews - I am not sure Matthews is post hype - similar to Lee, but his ceiling is higher than Lee's in my opinion 3. Wallner - Wallner when he is on is one of the top hitters in baseball - when he is not he is a replacement level player. The Twins need more consistency 2. Lewis - I think some of Lewis's ceiling has been lowered by injuries - and some of his struggles at the plate have been a poor approach and the unwillingness to change or adapt. The org seems to want to coddle him more this year, and Lewis says he is improved his approach, we already had a setback on the injury front. Of the position players he still has the highest ceiling but he may be the one I am least confident can achieve it. 1. Bradley - Bradley has talent and ability - he comes in throwing harder, better pitches this spring. His performances have been a microcosm of his season good/great start, blow up, good great start. I think the stuff and coaching, and his mental approach will be better this year. He has to limit the bad outtings. Of these players I think he has the highest ceiling and the highest chance of achieving it.

I'll make a bet that fwar for Twins shortstops is top 20 - its still not above average but I am anticipating a pretty good year for Lee.

Its small sample sizes, and we have a long road to go - but the Varland trade as of this spring training is looking promising. Rojas - at the very least looks like a potential closer, with the upside to be a good starter. Roden is hitting everything right now. The question is can he continue this stretch at the big league level.

Potentially pitching a handful of games is meaningless Bean. He pitched 1 full season, he was injured most of last season, and this his is 3rd FULL season with the Twins.

He did throw in 2023 just not in a game like the Twins have done with the majority of the pitchers they draft each year. He has had 1 year of injury. 1 . . . let me say that again 1 year of injury. This isn't a Priellip situation. Personally I think Soto has the most upside of any pitcher in the system. As to 2024 - yes he did start off a bit slow, but in the 2nd half he had an ERA of 3.69. Last year he came out and appeared to have complete command of his pitches before he was shut down. With being off for the majority of the year, the 10 slot appears to be the right spot for his immense talent.

If they keep 3 catchers the decision isn't for this year, its for the next 2 years.

Ohl was the better of the 2. Even still I don't see either as cutting it.

Debarge isn't that far off in my opinion. If the contact increases back to his previous marks he is bordering on a top 100 prospect. The defense and steals are big bonuses. As to Elwanger, its tough making any assessment. He could be viewed as a top arm by the end of the season. Mendez I would have somewhere between 6-11. His bat is MLB level.

Bradley not on the list. 3 innings pitched, 1 run, the stuff looked very very good for 2+ innings. flattened a bit for the 3rd. The practice bullpen against Twins hitters he supposedly made several look silly. Priellip - thats still an effective outing if not inefficient. The Twins look like they will have several hard throwers coming up, Priellip 97/98, Rojas 98, Abel 98, Bradley 97. Martin has continued to bring a hot bat into spring training. I think he is only behind Rodriguez at this point. Other than the injury to Lopez which is a big development, the development of these young pitchers and hitters like Rodriguez, Martin and Roden looks very promising. Its early, its the preseason but the process and results looks good so far.