Seth Stohs

Yup, but Park is a guy they really like and have watched a lot and feel can add needed offense. And, his posting timeline was in early November.

I don't think anyone has said he would or could be a Gold Glove 3B, but we know Trevor Plouffe is the starting 3B, and he is one of the better defensive 3B in the league. There's no reason for them not to play Plouffe most every day at 3B. And, if he's just getting a day off every other week (pretty normal), then it's better not to alter everything else. Gives Nunez a start there once every other week. Utility guys need to play some, and Sano remains in RF.

Equally difficult to provide evidence that they believe he can't do it when they have a defensive 3B (who can hit a bit too) who is better defensively.

It wouldn't take very long, and they could throw him in there right away.

We all wanted to see him in 2015, but at some point - probably early - we will see him in the big leagues pitching for the Twins. LaVelle E Neal wrote up a nice article with fun exciting quotes from Rochester manager and pitching coach (Chattanooga last year) Stu Cliburn on what Berrios can be. Comparisons to Hudson/Mulder/Zito are fun to read. Tyler Duffey discussed what it's like watching Berrios pitch especially once he gets going. From Stu Cliburn: I don't know... I can't wait. I hope that he is up with the Twins making starts 12 days after the season starts!

Jim Souhan wrote a nice article highlighting many of the reasons that Byung Ho Park will not be the second coming of Tsuyoshi Nishioka. It's a well-done article.

Isn't that just another variable that can alter plans? There's nothing wrong with Kepler going to AAA and proving that he can handle that level for a couple of months. If he dominates AAA for the first two months, then it's OK to alter thinking and lineup again. Sounds like a good situation to have too much talent. That hasn't been the case with the Twins for a while.

I get the idea of positional value. It's a wonderful thing. But for the 2016 team at least for now (and things are always subject to change), the best thing for the team is Plouffe at 3B and Sano in RF(or maybe DH, but they also have Park and Arcia in the picture). Sano playing RF in 2016 (for however long) doesn't mean that they can't move him to 3B againt in 2017 or 2018 (or second half 2016). So those things from the first paragraph aren't out of the picture. They can still happen. Nothing is stopping that from happening.

Escobar's calling card for his whole career has been his versatility. That's why it's taken more than a couple of years to finally go into a season with a job that is his. I think it'd be important for Molitor to be clear that he is the team's shortstop at this point. Let's not forget that the players do read papers, or at the very least people tell them what is in the paper. Some of what is said is a direct message to the players. It may depend on the player. Obviously Molitor is talking to the players in person too, but maybe it takes reading it for the players to take it seriously.

My guess, and it's just a guess, is that if Plouffe is going to be on the DL for an extended period, that would change things. Maybe in that case Sano would move to 3B and they'd call up Kepler. Everything is subject to change at any time when there is a new variable. I would guess that the Twins have zero interest in Sano DHing at any point in the first four months of the season. His weight has been mentioned several times as a reason they don't want him DHing full time.

I can't imagine he's disappointed to have Plouffe and Sano on his roster, and in doing so, they just have to figure out what is best for the team in 2016. I know I'm big on prospects, but in 2016, it's not about anything but trying to win in 2016. That's his job.Obviously he gets the bigger picture, but they also have to do things and say things to promote confidence in their players. And, by playing a year in RF isn't going to hurt his ability to play 3B in the future. There are other factors (like his size and agility that may affect his ability to play 3B down the road, but I also think they're trying to push Sano to get in better shape.

I should have said that no one with the Twins has said that he can't play 3B. Some have alluded to that, including Gleeman's tweet used in the original post. I think it's an important distinction.

That would probably be for the best, but they speak to the media every day, and they probably get the same questions over and over, and they have to say something. There could be something about pushing Sano. Could be something about giving Sano the confidence or push or whatever that this is going to happen. Of course, everything is subject to change with any change of circumstances.

Yesterday, Nick Burdi was profiled as our #10 Twins prospect. Today, we continue working through our Top 20 Minnesota Twins Prospects Rankings with our choice for the #9 prospect. When the Twins used the fourth overall pick of the 2013 draft on Kohl Stewart, they were getting a tremendous athlete with a big arm. He was raw, a project with big potential. Now 21 and entering his third full season, Stewart is looking to turn some of his amazing tools into consistent skills. It’s a big year for the right-hander, but his upside remains high. Yesterday, Nick Burdi was profiled as our #10 Twins prospect. Today, we continue working through our Top 20 Minnesota Twins Prospects Rankings with our choice for the #9 prospect. When the Twins used the fourth overall pick of the 2013 draft on Kohl Stewart, they were getting a tremendous athlete with a big arm. He was raw, a project with big potential. Now 21 and entering his third full season, Stewart is looking to turn some of his amazing tools into consistent skills. It’s a big year for the right-hander, but his upside remains high. Age: 21 (DOB: 10/7/94) 2015 Stats (High-A): 129.1 IP, 7-8, 3.20 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 71/45 K/BB ETA: 2018 2014 Ranking: 4; 2015 Ranking: 4 National Top 100 Rankings BA: NR | MLB: NR | BP: NR What's To Like The Minnesota Twins used the fourth overall pick in the 2013 draft on Texas prep pitcher Kohl Stewart. Of course, he was drafted for his potential, but he was very raw. As a senior in high school, he threw just 40 innings. Stewart, however, is a great athlete. He was one of the top quarterbacks in the country and had committed to Texas A&M. The Twins coaxed him to give up football with a signing bonus just north of $4.5 million. At 6-3 and 210 pounds, Stewart is a great athlete with a big arm. He is blessed with a fastball that is capable of reaching 96 mph. He is known to have very good breaking pitches, both a curve ball and a slider. He also has a change-up that can be very good. Many scouts believe that each of these pitches have the potential to be plus pitches. Though he hasn’t missed many bats the last couple of seasons, reports indicate the he does not give up much hard contact. He gets more than two groundouts for every fly out. He also gave up just two homers in 129.1 innings in 2015 and has given up just six homers in 236.1 professional innings. What's Left To Work On While Stewart has all the tools to be a top-of-the-rotation type of starter, there are definitely some things that needs to be monitored. His first two seasons both ended with Stewart on the disabled list with shoulder issues. Though he spent three weeks on the DL in April, he remained healthy the remainder of the 2015 season making his starts every six days. It’s hard to look at Kohl Stewart’s stat line without noticing a couple of numbers that are both going in the wrong direction. His strikeout rate has gone from 10.8 in rookie ball, to 6.4 in the Midwest League in 2014 to a minuscule 4.9 last year in Ft. Myers. Couple those decreasing strikeout totals with increasing walk rates. In his debut season, he walked just 1.8 per nine innings. That was followed with 2.5 per nine in Cedar Rapids and 3.1 per nine in Ft. Myers. While we often note that his fastball can touch 96 mph at times, it is also fair to note that he was very inconsistent with his delivery. From start-to-start and often even inning-to-inning, his mechanics could get out of whack enough that many times he would sit 89 to 91 with the fastball and other times it would be 94 to 96. What's Next While Stewart posted a nice ERA in Ft. Myers, his increasing walk rate and decreasing strikeout totals make it likely that spending another half-season in the Florida State League would be beneficial. It could provide an opportunity to work on things (especially more consistent mechanics) he learned last year and in the offseason at a level he’s already had some success in. It is very possible that Stewart will end the season in Chattanooga. Considering that he does not need to be added to the 40-man roster until after the 2017 season and then would have three option years, the Twins can afford to be very patient with Stewart’s development. If that means that he sticks in Ft. Myers the entire season, that is what needs to be done. Be sure to check back tomorrow when we unveil our choice for Twins Prospect #8. View full article

No one has said he can't play 3B.

Also a possibility of course. My main point would just be that with Plouffe and Sano on the same roster, they are only saying that Plouffe is a better 3B option than Sano, not that they don't think that Sano can play 3B.

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. The 3B trade market (Freese still available, A's return for Lawrie, Reds return for Frazier)meant that the Twins would not get a great return for Plouffe, so they're wisely keeping a very good defensive SS who can hit 20 HR and drive in runs. No one is saying Sano is better at third base than Plouffe, so Sano moves. We didn't hear much about that possibility until around the Winter Meetings which is when we started hearing that the Twins would keep Plouffe.

They've never said that he can't play 3B. I'm sure they believe he can. But we also know that he can't play it as well as Plouffe. It's really that simple.

Yup, they definitely need some games. I don't feel like this is news. For the foreseeable future he is a RF. The Twins are committed to that... It says nothing about their belief in his ability to play 3B. Guys can come up playing one position, but at the end, it's about finding an opportunity. For Sano right now that's right field. If Plouffe were to be traded in July, the situation changes. But if Sano is going to be the right fielder, he needs as many reps and as much time out there as they can get him.

But he wasn't... for whatever reason. He walked too many. He got hit when he did throw strikes. He learned that throwing 100 isn't enough, even in A ball. They're all different.

Just saying, he's young. If it's not this year, then he still comes up at 24 next year and is in the organization until he's at least 31. That said, I'd expect him up soon. Felt like he figured some things out late last year and in the Fall League.

It'd be hard to call it a good draft for the Twins. Hicks was a solid pick and will likely continue to be solid. But, when Tonkin is the only one there, that's not good. They didn't sign Aaron Barrett, Kolten Wong and George Springer out of high school, but that clearly tells that they have the eye for good players. They also had a lot of guys get well beyond where they should have relative to their draft position. They had a couple of busts. Kind of a typical draft.

What's embarrassing is I only got 20 out of 39!

Correct... unless he has just a brutal spring training and looks completely lost, he'll be the DH. He may split time with Arcia early, and we'll see what happens there, but no question Park will be the guy... ... Unless he's not.