Hunter McCall

To add to this list, Jose Salas' ETA is 2024 and Emmanuel Rodriguez's ETA is 2025, so you could probably factor them in as high-end prospects reaching the majors in the not-so-distant future. For what it's worth, I do think if the Twins are competitive at the deadline (I think they will be), they should go all in on a trade by moving a top-tier prospect or two. Keep in mind the Twins also have the number 5 overall pick in the draft and they've had an affinity for college-age bats, so if that pattern holds true, they will likely add another bat to the "be here soon" list.

I like where your head's at! About a month ago I wrote an article about trading some of the wealth of talent in the upper minors for an ace To sum it up, if the Twins are in contention in July, I think they're great candidates to swing a deal for an ace! In here I mention Zac Gallen and Corbin Burnes as a couple potential targets. I do, however, believe the Twins will likely part with one of their more valuable prospects in the scenario. Unless Martin lights it up in the first half, he just doesn't have the value on the trade market necessary to headline a package for a difference making player, so the Twins may as well hold onto him and develop him. I think Lee, Lewis, and Salas (in order from most valuable to least valuable according to baseballtradevalues.com) are all possibilities to headline a deal. I am 1000% on board with something like this. Losing these prospects would be hard, but it is really tough to win in the MLB. If you have a chance to make a play at a deep playoff run, you have to take it. The Twins have put themselves in really good position with top-end minor league depth at a premium position (that's all without mentioning they have the number 5 overall pick in the 2023 draft), it might be wise of them to consider putting their chips in the middle of the table at the deadline! Thanks for the comment! It got me going on one of my fun little tangents!

The thought has always been that there's power in there to be tapped into. I agree with you, it's far too early to give up on it after one season in the system.

Let's not forget that 365 days ago the shortstop position was much less sure than it is now. It's easy to look back and say they should have moved Austin Martin off of shortstop, but at the time, Correa was on a short-term deal and Royce Lewis hadn't played since 2019 (and then tore his ACL again in May). They also didn't have Brooks Lee or Jose Salas. My point being, there was reason to believe if the Twins could make Austin Martin an average fielding shortstop, he would be the shortstop of the future. It's crazy how much has changed since then, but as I said in the article, that is why moving Martin around this year would be wise and valuable move for his future in the MLB!

Excellent analysis! Thank you for your post!

I just think he will struggle to find at bats if he isn't used as a super utility guy. In that role, he can be a plus defender all over and play three out of every four days. This role is so important, especially with a manager like Rocco Baldelli who values giving his players rest days. Martin is athletic and versatile enough to embrace this role. I don't think sticking him in right field and not letting him play anywhere else would be beneficial to him or the Twins. This is of course just my opinion. I do understand where you're coming from in the sense of mastering a position, and in most cases I would agree that that would be a wise path to take with a up-and-coming prospect. I just think Martin falls in a different category than most prospects.

You're absolutely correct! While Martin took a dip in some stats, he also added a ton in other departments. You mentioned the 35 steals which was massive, but he also cut down his strikeouts pretty dramatically as well. Martin's 2022 wasn't as disappointing as some people lead on. That is why it will be interesting to see how he performs in spring training!

It's going to be a massive spring for those two! Very excited to see how they perform!

You’re right, I think shortstop is out of the question. With Correa resigning, I think they take this opportunity to get him time just about everywhere else. He will be a valuable tool for the Twins when he arrives!

With his versatility, there’s a lot the Twins can do with him. I think they spend the next year playing him all over the diamond and try molding him into a super-utility type player. There’s going to be a lot of mouths to feed so I think Martin claims a role as a no-true-home kind of athlete. I think he will be a very good player for the Twins in coming years!

Exactly right! I still think very highly of Austin Martin and think the Twins will find a way to carve out a role for him in the future!

Austin Martin still has a chance to cement himself as a top prospect alongside Royce Lewis and Brooks Lee. Don't give up on him just yet. Image courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports When Austin Martin was drafted fifth overall by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2020 MLB First-Year Player Draft, it was considered one of the steals of the draft. Martin was viewed as the best pure hitter in the draft, and most people thought he would go number two overall behind Spencer Torkelson. Fast forward to July 2021. The Twins were having a disappointing season at 43-61 and decided to sell off some talent at the deadline. They accomplished this task by trading starting pitcher Jose Berrios to the Blue Jays in exchange for Simeon Woods Richardson and Martin, the number 16 overall prospect then, according to MLB.com. When Martin entered the organization following the trade, he immediately became the Twins top prospect, jumping everyone in the farm system including Royce Lewis. Martin was considered by all an elite prospect as recently as last spring, so it’s difficult to give up on him following just one down year. Martin's ups and downs are well documented, and he has tumbled off most top prospect boards, but does he have the ability to re-enter the conversation of future Twins infield studs with Lewis and Brooks Lee? Can he use spring training to prove that he belongs? For the most part, we won't talk much about the past, but Martin did finish 2022 on a high note, attributing an .827 OPS in September. Another encouraging area for Martin happens to be an eerily similar high note experienced by Lewis in 2019 when he was seen as a failing prospect, which was his performance in the Arizona Fall League. The Arizona Fall League takes place after the standards season in the minors wraps up and allows prospects to get extra games before the winter. In 2019, Lewis participated in the AFL and won the league MVP award with a slash line of .353/.411/.565 (.975). His performance was exciting for Twins fans because he struggled at the plate in the minors that season. As he started to slide down top prospect boards, there was worry that the once number-one overall pick might be a bust. In the AFL, Lewis experimented with eliminating his high leg kick, and the results were promising. With the 2020 minor league season canceled and Lewis tearing his ACL in 2021, the AFL was the last action we saw from him leading into the 2022 season. Although Lewis was limited to 46 games due to another tear in the same ACL, he mashed in 2022. Whether in Triple-A or the MLB, Lewis was explosive at the plate, putting to rest the doubt that he could live up to the lofty expectations that come with being drafted number one overall. In 2021, Martin experienced similar success as Lewis once had in the AFL. In 21 games, Martin put together a .374/.454/.482 (.936) slash line and added 10 stolen bases. He adjusted his approach at the plate and hitting mechanics, and although the sample size was small, the results showed immediately. Martin is undoubtedly riding some positive momentum heading into spring training. Still, a quick look at the future outlook of the Twins' defense shows a rather crowded group that may make it difficult for Martin to find a permanent spot. His top two positions are shortstop and center field, but those two spots are held down at the major league level by Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton for the next six years. Lewis, Lee, Jose Miranda, Trevor Larnach, and Alex Kirilloff also have to have assumed roles in the Twins' plans, but there is something that Martin possesses that could make him more valuable to the team and give him a place should he prove he belongs. Martin is a phenomenal athlete with enough versatility to play anywhere on the field. If he can get himself back on track and force the Twins to find a role for him, he would excellently fit the mold of a super-utility man, just as Marwin Gonzalez did for the Twins in 2019 and 2020. Finding a defensive home for Martin may be easy, as he possesses the athleticism and versatility to play almost anywhere on the field. Spring Training 2023 will be a very interesting and important one for Austin Martin. He is a supremely talented baseball player with plenty of tools that could make him an above-average everyday player at the MLB level. Martin has the opportunity over the next two months to prove that his adjustments in the AFL were legitimate and that he possesses defensive versatility. If he can do so, he could force himself back into the Twins' plans and re-enter the conversation of top prospect with Royce Lewis and Brooks Lee. View full article

I like this idea, especially when rosters expand in September. Could also be possible if one of the guys you mentioned is dominant in AAA. I think we see some of those young guys out of the pen at some point this year with the intention on keeping them starters in the long run.

He can be a headache! Still, to keep him around with the experience he has to take on a lower leverage role, I think he’ll perform adequately.

This is how I see things as well! Thank you for your comment!

Yes, that's the point. By leaving him in that middle relief, low-leverage role, he can be a valuable asset to the team. He was effective there which is why I like that they kept him. I never suggested that I thought he would regain his closer role, just that he found a role he could be successful in last year.

I think the over utilization will be much less of a factor this year for that exact reason. Without Bundy and Archer in the rotation, the Twins have starters that should push to give six innings every day. Plus, I like the depth of the pen much more this year. You’re absolutely right!

I think since he’s been an effective starter and has plenty of team control they want to keep him there. He just doesn’t fit in the rotation to start 2023. That’s why St. Paul is the best place for him to start.

Nice post! Yes, I agree with most everything you said. The Twins did say yesterday they don’t plan to convert any starters to bullpen arms, and expect all of them to build up as starters. I think that’s a good thing as I don’t think any have shown a need to transition to the pen. Jordan Balazovic could be an option if he disappoints again this year, but that would be likely in 2024. There’s a lot more promise to this pen than last year when we had a battle between Alcala and Duffey for the closer job!

Except for the fact that the Twins have 5 guys better than him and he’s coming off a season in which he threw 56 innings and has never thrown more than 92 innings in a season in his life. I understand the want to have him in the majors right away, but it may be good to let him slowly work up. Maybe they can preserve him a little longer that way.

I agree that he’s the odd man out. I think he starts in AAA. Might be a good place for him anyhow. Let him get his legs under him. The rotation has injury issues (Ober not being exempt from that) so if the need arises, Ober would be among the best 6th rotational arm in the MLB. We’ll see how the Twins play this but they’ve already said he’s not going to the bullpen and they aren’t going with a 6 man rotation, so I really don’t see another option.

I agree! As far as Thielbar is concerned, I’m still a believer. His statcast page remains very solid, and even when he was seemingly struggling his underlying numbers indicated positive regression which eventually came. I do agree that the depth feels more promising and lessens the chance of overusing some guys!

Agreed! I think Jorge Lopez bounces back big time and gives the Twins a phenomenal 1-2 punch with Duran!

I personally think it’s a much better pen than the Twins have had. I think the top four is really solid and they have a litany of solid middle relief options behind them.