DocBauer

Yes, roughly 25% of all pitching is LH. That means 75% is RH. That means a RH bat still faces RH pitching a good 75% of the time. It's true that some RH hitters just aren't good enough against RH arms at the ML level and they really are just a platoon bat against LHP barring "emergency" action. But then again, how do you know if a RH hitter can actually hit ML RHP unless you let him try? I liked the idea of Martin getting an extended run against ALL pitching. He deserved it. So far, it hasn't worked out well. I hope Fedko gets the opportunity to face RHP and isn't immediately made a platoon bat. Again, he might be good, or he might not be good. But you need to find out what he can and can't do to find out if you have a solid #4-5 OF in your system, right under your nose....or not.

Good for him! He might be good, he might be decent, he might be bad. But at least the FO is giving him an opportunity.

I don't always agree with Law in regard to the draft or prospect rankings. But he's always pretty logical in his rankings and beliefs. But this BLOWS ME AWAY! The Dirty Sox have done some crazy things in the draft before, and might again. But to draft Lackey #1 would have to be some sort of $ game plan wouldn't it be? I mean, he's a great pick. But a catcher over a premium SS? I mean, I really love the Twins drafting Lackey even with a history of highly drafted catchers being a 50-50 proposition. But Lackey does seem to be the real deal. So IF this happens, it's the Dirty Sox saving another 1$M or so for their next pick. So would the Rays "cheap out" and take Emerson or Tyler Bell over Roch? Both fit their player profile for draft picks. I honestly can't believe the Dirty Sox would pass over Cholowsky. No matter how good Lackey is, I just don't see it. I still see Roch #1....how can you pass on this talent...Emerson #2 to the Rays because he not only fits their profile, but because he's just so damn good of a prospect. And that still leaves Lackey at #3 for the Twins, IMO. I think Law might have been a little tipsy when he posted that idea, lol. Unless the Dirty Sox just got stupid, or decided they were smart enough to outwit everyone else, I still think chalk makes sense. But as much as I really like Lackey, IF we were gifted Cholowsky SOMEHOW, my only complaint would be memorizing his name. Lol

A poorer version of Laweryson? This one confuses me, unless it's for AAA depth, but I guess he's already on the 40 man. I sorta get the idea of Klein bouncing around between AAA and the Twins, just to keep him stretched out for multiple innings, but where does it stop? Morris has been given a chance to be a late inning option and has started to show real promise there. (I still think him starting a BP game recently was a bad choice). But Klein, similar to Morris, and BOTH remind me of better versions of Jax at the same point in development. They have the stuff to be set up men, or quality 1-2 middle relievers at worst. Rashi will be around for a week or two. Laweryson is probably better once he gets another inning or two under his belt. There's really nothing to see here.

Only one comment. This sucks! I've still got faith he's a solid set up man.

IMO, the most logical conclusion is just ramping him up both offensively and defensively to be the MOST READY he can be. And I'm OK with that. Since Lewis was sent down, Lee was moved to 3B. That wasn't done as a temporary move. And since then, K-Pepper has been played exclusively at SS. While there is at least some slight concern about chase rate, I'd say that's true for about 80-90% of all rookies. Expecting him to be some sort of STUD offensively and defensively right out of the gate is a mistake. And that's why I object somewhat to the headline. He just has to continue being his normal self. There really shouldn't be that much pressure on him. Just be better than who you are replacing, but don't even think about that. Just be YOU. Lee is where he should be. He's just better at 3B overall, with a lot of tools to be a good 3B, even without a cannon. And his offense has improved, he just needs to find better consistency. And I'm not going to derail this OP in regard to Keaschall at 2B or any mention of Lewis. It's POSSIBLE that a year or so from now that Houston's bat is at least decent. And his glove is so amazing that he moves K-Pepper to a different spot. Dreams and bird in a hand folks. We have the absolute best SS prospect we've had in years sitting at AAA right now. I've stated very clearly even before the season began that the Twins would have a SPLIT season. The first part was just being competent enough with the bullpen and a strong rotation to keep the team around .500 before we got to see the young arms, and the young OF, and K-Pepper settling SS Alas, we've seen the young arms earlier than expected in some cases, and hopefully will see more. Injuries have set back almost the entire OF part of the "next wave". Luckily, we're still only approaching mid June, so there's still a real chance the build up for 2027 that I expected and hoped for will still take place. But K-Pepper is the ONE top prospect that has so far avoided "the curse", lol. I DON'T like pressure added to him. Again, all he has to do is be himself. The skills say he's a solid SS with the potential to be above average. That would be OUTSTANDING and help settle the left side of the INF. Should he, or we, care that MAYBE in a year, or year and a half that there might be an even better defensive SS ready to take over? Well he shouldn't, because he's got all the talent in the world to be a STUD 2B or 3B and things change over time. I really don't understand why he's not up yet considering the hot streak he's been on. But again, if they just think another week or two getting prepped makes sense, who am I to argue? I think he potentially changes the defense AND the lineup. I'm just not sure I agree with his shoulders bearing weight. I think it goes deeper than that.

To be honest, I only skimmed the OP because I already know my answer is NO. The ONLY reason to send him down is because the coaching staff...who works with him and sees him DAILY in everything he does...believes he could benefit in some way with a little AAA time. His bat was actually really solid in May. He's not off to a bad start in June so far. If the Twins hitting coaches can't coax a little more pop/power from his bat, I'm really not sure what the AAA coaches could do differently. Personally, I still think he's been used improperly, especially after he got hot in May. With all worship and deference to Buxton hitting #1, I still prefer him hitting in the #2 spot with Keaschall being the #1 that he seems destined for. As to his defense, he's not good. But I've seen worse. I maintain this is the FIRST FULL SEASON he's played 2B for a couple of years. The hope is two-fold: 1] After TJ surgery and THEN a broken arm his arm will eventually be at least a little bit stronger. 2] He's got all the athleticism in the world to just be a "decent" if not good 2B. Again, he's really still getting adjusted again. Remember, he had BARELY began playing 2B again in 2025 before the Twins brought him up out of necessity. In a season that is CLEARLY a RE-TOOL...not a complete rebuild...why on earth wouldn't we give him the entirety of the 2026 season to work at 2B before we start to make harsh determinations that he simply can't be at least a viable 2B? We've already begun to debut arms, some of whom have been asked to perform earlier than hoped for and expected. Despite some lumps, there have also been some really good developments. With healthy luck, we may see a couple more settle in before the season is done to ready the staff for the future. Unfortunately, the player side of opportunity has been blown apart by injuries to a few top prospects. But it's STILL only June 10th. There's still a lot of season for K-Pepper, Roden, Jenkins, Rodriguez, Mendez, and maybe Gonzalez to debut and get experience. But one thing often discussed in various OP and Forums is how OTHER teams like the Guardians, Brewers, and Rays do things. They survive and do well often BECAUSE they give their prospects a CHANCE to succeed. My biggest issue with the Falvey, and now Zoll I guess, FO was being so obsessed with depth that they ignored poor depth decisions at times. THIS season, I would have had BOTH Roden and Rodriguez on the opening day roster. Unfortunately, Roden got hurt early. In theory, Rodriguez would still be healthy as he wouldn't have slid in to 1B in a Saints game. You know, the whole "sliding door" example of life. K-Pepper should be up really soon. His promotion doesn't affect Keaschall. We DON'T need THREE utility players, even if they're doing OK in their roles. Sometimes the best thing you can do for a young prospect is keep working with him, but keep playing him to LEARN through experience. If Keaschall's bat suddenly tanked, instead of being on an upswing, I might be inclined to give him a AAA reset to settle down and re-focus. But we're not seeing an offensive decline. We have problems, we have issues, but giving Keaschall a very long rope to develop is not one of them.

I believe he was signed for multiple reasons. While he brings a quality veteran presence to the locker room, the real reason was to be a DH and provide offense to a team that needed another couple of bats, with the HOPE his strong finish would mean a decent start this season. Alas, past the first few weeks, he's followed a general career path of starting slow. If he did/does follow hus career path of heating up around June, he's a big bat for a team in any kind of playoff race. But if the team isn't/wasn't in any kind of playoff race, he might be moved for a solid AA or A+ arm or bat with some potential. Especially with a number of top bat prosoects sitting at AAA. Bell wasn't on my personal radar this past offseason, but I didn't hate the signing. What I DIDN'T like was the overall roster construction with him plus Larnach, plus Wallner. But that's not Bell's fault. But as someone else stated, he's really not blocking anyone at this time, other than Wallner, who I'm guessing is still 2-3 weeks away from getting his next opportunity. That gives Bell another 2-3 weeks to see if he snaps back to being a hot bat or not. And really, who else do you play besides him? You might as well run with him for another 2-3 weeks and see what happens. No decision needs to be made until then. Somewhat contrary to those comments, Roden is on his rehab assignment and will probably be back with the Saints in a couple of days. With the amount of time missed, he's probably going to need a couple weeks with the Saints to get back in a groove. It's even possible he's brought up before Wallner. And SOMEONE needs to be up so Martin isn't playing daily. I 100% the right decision was to let Martin play daily. It hasn't turned out. He needs to face LHP and occasionally RHP. But he's not built for daily play. K-Kepper should be brought up very, very soon. Take your pick who goes down between Arcia, Kreidler, and Gray. They've all done fairly well. But we sure don't need all THREE of them. Jenkins wasn't quite ready to be brought up, even though he was on a hot streak. And he's not going to be ready in a few weeks either. Rodriguez is further out. You can debate Mendez is ready, but he's still damn young, and didn't even begin the season in AAA. And WHEN do you give Roden a shot, if not now?? And you still have the Wallner equation. I don't believe there is any reason for Bell to finish the season with the Twins. But again, he isn't blocking anyone for the next 2-3 weeks, so let's just see if he actually gets hot, and might be moved for something other than cash. Then we have another opening. As far as Sabato, I'm still not a believer. But slowly, painfully so, he has reached AAA at 26yo, and is actually performing well this season, just turning 27yo a couple days ago. I wouldn't dare compare him to another Muncy, but what IF he's actually turned a corner? I don't know about everyone...it's clearly a split decision...but I wouldn't mind a couple months of an audition to see if MAYBE he's a late bloomer or truly a 1st rounder that just didn't turn out.

I have been pleasantly surprised by Larnach this year. Almost as pleased by him as I've been disappointed in Wallner. Well, there's no room for both next season. Rodriguez has no more options. Roden is already ready, even if it's as a really nice piece of the puzzle, and not a daily regular. And there's still Jenkins and Mendez and Rodriguez to consider. So there might not be room for EITHER of Larnach or Wallner. So as far.as.the OP goes, yes to moving Larnach Yes to moving Rogers if you can actually get something foe him. Absolutely not on Gomez unless it's some crazy over pay. You hit the waiver lottery and got a good arm out of it. He's relatively young, cheap, and controllable. This is what we're trying to acquire, not trade off. I'm hesitant on Clemens. Frankly, I don't know if this is him raising his game as a late bloomer, or just a single good season. But his glove work is solid, especially at 1B, he can run at least a little bit, and the LH power is pretty good. Consider how cheap he is, he's a nice 12th or 13th man to have on the roster. I'm not in a hurry to give that up unless there's a decent over pay. Otherwise, I think he might be more valuable just being kept.

PERSONAL COMMENTARY: I just find it fascinating that some fans can be so down on ownership and the build of the current team...not to mention the dive down following the end of the 2023 season...that they can't appreciate a little good news about a very talented prospect doing well. Dislike my comment, give me a thumbs down, whatever you feel like doing. It's just an observation that I don't understand. NOW, back to our regularly scheduled program: Prospect rankings are fun, but they are also fickle. How do YOU like to rank prospects is always an issue. IMO, Winokur is one of the Twins top prospects based on talent and projection. It took a big payday to keep him from going to college. But I actually like the college comp discussion. It's not a stretch at all, with his talent, that he might be a 1st round pick in the upcoming draft as a 21yo junior. And while he might go to A+ right away, he probably goes to A- for a couple of weeks to get an introduction, and then moves up to A+ to finish the season. Meanwhile, Brandon is off on a HEATER after a slow April, a great month of May, and might just be at AA July 1st barring something bad happening. I will admit to only seeing him a little bit at SS. What I have seen is a few clunkers where it looked too many body parts in motion all at once, and awkward missed plays. And then I see those parts work in unison and he makes a great snare and a rocket throw...many times off balance...straight to 1B. Reminds me of vintage Correa when it goes right. I just don't think that is his future, and I think the Twins agree. (BTW, the Twins philosophy is to keep someone at SS as long as possible as it will only help them be better 3B or 2B in the long run). He's now playing more 3B and CF. And that's where he belongs, and where his defensive chops should be honed. I've said this for a while now, I think he has the potential to be the next CF following Buxton. Rodriguez and Jenkins are FINE CF. But IMO, Winokur has not only good speed, but a long frame that could add a couple of pounds and still not lose any speed. I dare say he's at least as fast as Rodriguez and Jenkins, but might maintain his speed longer. But he's more than athletic enough to be a prime 3B prospect depending on how the Twins INF looks 2yrs from now. Does Lee continue to develop defensively at 3B? Does his improved but still somewhat inconsistent bat continue to develop as well? (And Lee HAS improved this season). Even if K-Pepper is as good of a SS as he seems to be...almost certainly better than we have currently...what if Houston's BAT is at least solid? His glove just might be special. So then there is a potential shift somewhere in the INF that I'm just not going to get in to right now. Some say Winokur is a "show me" since he's repeating A+ again. Really? That's a legitimate arguement? There aren't a ton of 20yo at A+ to begin with who perform well. And there's also not a lot of 21yo who produce the way he is currently at A+. As has been pointed out, for whatever reason, he had a bad and disappointing April. May came, and he has RAKED after a slow start to the season. While the K % is still higher than I'd like, it's also mitigated by a higher AVG, OB, BB numbers etc. I agree he's by no means a finished product. His April vs May splits indicate he's on the right track. I have no problem waiting to see what he does in June...same for Houston BTW...but I think he's about ready for AA come July 1st. And no matter his ramp up at AA, as a 21yo with his talent and potential, we should be encouraged by that promotion. He may NEVER be a good ML player. That would be a shame. Because based on pure talent, he's right up there with Rodriguez and Jenkins. For those who question if he's a wasted talent at 1B? It COULD happen. It's possible Lee or K-Pepper are established at 3B. And it's possible one of Rodriguez or Jenkins or Fountain of Youth Buxton is sitting in CF, and MAYBE his best opening is at 1B. Having a big, athletic 1B who can steal bases and crush HR is NOT a waste of athletic talent, as some have suggested. Imagine a 1B who can scoop everything, chase down foul balls and pop ups with the best of them, who can steal 20+ bases and crush 20-30 HR. Would that be a waste of talent? I think 1B is a "fall back" IF there isn't a staeting spot at 3B or one of the OF spots. Hmmm....unlikely...but it COULD happen. But NO, he wouldn't be a waste at 1B. The speed is there. The power is there. The athleticism is there. It's ALL about his BAT. And with apologies to some old school believers, if he can MAINTAIN a 30% K rate...NOT saying I wouldn't like it lower...but still HIT in the .250-.260 range and still have an above .300 OB% to go along with a good glove, a great arm, and power and speed, you have a potential All Star player. It all comes down to the BAT. He's got the other 4 tools. Can he just continue to HIT well enough to be a ML ballplayer. I'm very encouraged by his May after a surprisingly poor April. But this kid is a TALENT. And really, we should all be rooting for him as much as anyone in the system based on that talent.

I believe I'm the record previously for saying I like this general concept. If you have a good rotation...such as the Twins largely have had the past few seasons...you have a 1-3 that will almost always give you 6 IP and 7 every couple of starts. Most days. Your Lopez, Ryan, Ober/Gray types. Your #4 is good for 5 or 6 IP most days, and might sneak in a couple 7 inning games over the course of the year. And you want your #5 to be dependable every turn for 5 and occasionally 6 IP. Generally speaking, that's a pretty good rotation. If you're deeper than that, wonderful. But not every game is going to go your way. Some days a pitcher just doesn't have it, or they're battling a bug, or they suddenly have a cramp, or a blister, etc. Well if your bullpen are all 8 single IP guys, you could tire your pen out over a tight series if one of those games your starter had an issue. IMO, you want the best, most dominate 6 guys who usually only throw a single inning because most days that's all you need them to do. But how much more flexible is your pen if the 7th and 8th guys have solid stuff, and can go through a lineup even 1 time? Those 2 arms could give you 2-3 IP every 3 days. Not quite good enough to be a starter...or maybe a young arm breaking in...and maybe not someone you want in a 8th inning role...or not ready for it yet...but you "balance" the flexibility of your bullpen. While I'm not crazy about the 4 every 4 days the Twins are using with some of their MILB pitchers, it is a way to help set up future success for those types of arms. A pair of really solid, true middle men. As they develop, nothing says they can't move to a starting role, or set up role later on. If you recall, Santana and Liriano broke in in much the same way. Currently, that's pretty much how they've been working/breaking Rojas in. And it might be how they eventually use Prielipp later on, just to limit his IP. Now in some of these cases...and others sited in the OP...it's been a combination of 2+ IP as I've suggested, and some of the 3-4 IP as Tom has mentioned. But I don't believe Tom is necessarily saying that's how to BUILD a staff ordinarily. And I think a few people took it that way. What he's saying is that the way the Twins are situated CURRENTLY, they are SHORT starting pitching. So how do you cover that? Lopez, Ober, Abel, and Festa are currently OUT. Prielipp has really looked good despite a couple clunkers, but he's a rookie with questions about total IP. Rojas, who has been used EXACTLY as discussed, has been used for around 3-4 IP each time out every few days, but he's also currently out. But you NEED 5 SP. Right now we're running with only 4, and that includes Prielipp. So until/unless our rotation starts getting healthy later in June, how do you cover that? It's not great, it's not pretty, but Tom is correct that you need someone to cover those innings. Now, I'm not a fan of including Morris in to the discussion as I think he's got a real future as a short man, but like it or not, you need to cross your fingers and have arm like Adams, Klein, and Parades fill some bulk roles. The alternative is to bring someone like Gallagher, next in line, probably #14 when the season began, too early and then you'll probably still need bulk innings from someone when he proves he's not quite ready yet. And then we're right back to where this discussion started. The Twins have been obsessed with turn and burn for several seasons now regarding the 7th and 8th men in the bullpen. Why not build a BETTER BP with 2 arms that can throw 2-3 IP every 3 days. Doesn't that make a hell of a lot more sense? But that's not a luxury the staff has NOW. Right NOW, they need a formula or sorts to cover not only middle IP, but also to find SOME WAY to fill that 5th role until better health comes along.

"Wallner’s defense has become a major problem this season, but there should be at-bats available in the DH spot now that Buxton is playing center field again. Josh Bell has posted a .635 OPS and has no chance of being a part of the Twins’ future. Either he turns things around and is traded, or the Twins cut bait at some point. Either way, there’s plenty of opportunity on the horizon for Wallner to get another shot." So IDK if he's ready yet or not. But this particular portion of the OP spoke to me. Before signings began, my plan was as follows: 1] Make Wallner the primary DH, 2] Give RF to Gonzalez as long as he's healthy coming out of ST, 3] Give Roden the job as primary LF, 4] Use Martin as a 4th/5th OF, 5] Go find a decent, ML caliber 1B instead of trusting Clemens to be a starter, 6] Find the best backup SS/utility player you can. IMO, this was the best usage for Wallner, let the young OF begin their tenure in the OF, and there would still be room in the near future for Jenkins, Rodriguez, and Mendez. They sort of did OK at the back up SS. They never did get the 1B I thought they really needed, but Clemens has been better than expected. The signing of Bell, and the injury to Roden screwed my personal plan for sure. And then, of course, both Rodriguez and Jenkins got hurt. I believe the hope is for Bell to follow his career path and get hot enough to have decent trade interest. Roden could be ready within 3-4 weeks if he begins his rehab as reported. Jenkins might be ready for promotion before Rodriguez, but with some luck they might both appear and finish the season strong. But it's fairly likely that if and when the Twins are ready to bring Wallner back, he might not be a full time OF much longer. We still might get to see 2 or 3...(4??)...of the young OF before the season is done. (And K-Pepper might be up by July 1st to settle SS). Whether he's kept or possibly traded, we should all be hoping for Wallner to return to previous norms. It's up to the Twins decide if and when he's ready for another shot. But regardless, I think his time as a STARTING OF in Minnesota will be coming to an end.

Fedko has a chance to be a good RH bat off the bench who can play 4 positions for help, and offer some power and speed. Maybe a RH Clemens? And he might be a better version of Martin. But the FO would prefer having 3 utility players vs giving Fedko a shot. He has a chance to be better than Martin. So why not give him an honest shot? It's almost ridiculous at this point how limited in thought the FO is. Houston is PROVING he has the ability to HIT, at least a little. His OB% is looking solid. He's flashing at least some power and he seems to run well. Does he have to be a power hitter to be a quality prospect? No. But he's at least showing some pop/power. He's ready for AA, and K-Pepper is ready for MLB.

THIS is a VERY IMPORTANT comment! In the history of baseball, it really wasn't THAT long ago when teams still had 10 and 11 man staffs. That meant 14 and even 15 man position rosters. The AL would usually fill 1 of those spots with a DH. The NL teams often had a PH specialist, and occasionally a PR specialist. But the point is BOTH leagues USED their 14 and 15 man player rosters. If you recall, from 1986-1989, MLB had a 24 man roster as a "cost saving move" that was really a shot toward the union. But my point ultimately is, ML teams had player rosters from 12-15 for DECADES. And they always found ways to USE all of their position player rosters in different ways. I know players on Kelly's teams and Gardy's teams always got to play, and for the same reason. As Kelly used to say, paraphrasing only slightly: "How can I expect someone to contribute when needed when he hasn't been playing". So TODAY, the way the game is played, why in the hell has the FO, with ONLY a 13 man position player roster decided the last couple of years that it's OK to play with a 12 man roster and just have a GUY who can be a late inning defensive player, and maybe an occasional PR?? It makes ZERO sense in roster construction with Keirsey last year and Outman this year. NOT attempting another "Free Fedko" debate, but wouldn't Fedko as a RH bat who could help platoon for Larnach and Wallner have made more sense than Outman sitting on his behind, gathering splinters, to ONLY play LF INSTEAD of CF which he was SUPPOSED to do? This is massive roster mismanagement, no matter how good or bad Fedko might actually be. Opportunity is lost based on the FO. Now is this TP not wanting the trade for Outman to reflect poorly? (Let's not forget the better player in Roden was also traded for). Or is this Zole being a Falvey clone, or too afraid to stand on his own. It sounds so simple, right? Giving a final chance to a one time prospect who had a single good season. But it's also even easier to look at how poor that player has been, the other players you have, the future of the organization, how important EVERY position player spot is, and not realize your GM is either scared or incompetent. OK, MAYBE I'm over reacting. And I KNOW Roden, Rodriguez, and Jenkins have been injured. I even accept Mendez being promoted so soon. But my "bitch" remains in regard to roster usage. IDC if Outman signed back for St Paul. What I CARE about is FINALLY having a 13 man player roster that makes SENSE. Love him or not Lewis is back to prove to everyone that he's SOMEHOW got his **** together. We'll see what happens. We hope for the best. But I'm also thankful we're beyond the 13th man being a NOTHING contributor. IDK if Lewis makes an error here or there. He HAS actually worked out at 2B before 2025, but was then told not to worry about it. So 2B is kinda new, but not totally. He should be fine with a little time at 2B and especially 1B. To Lewis, you CAN be a really good ML ballplayer. It's really ALWAYS been up to YOU to get your **** together. To Zole, be your own man or get out of the way. You could have easily had Roden make the roster over Outman. You could have easily added a RH OF in Fedko instead to see if he could be AT LEAST a RH bat to help platoon splits and some offensive potential vs holding on to a nothing player like Outman. Either be your OWN MAN, or get out of the way.

I'm disappointed as everyone is, and I'm not here to pile on Shelton ir any player in particular. But I really don't understand how this series has been played so far. On Tnursday, why in the world was one of our 2 best bullpen arms used as the opener? We might have won that game if Morris has been available in his now normal role as a late inning arm instead of using the recently added, and often wild Lawrence. That might have also allowed Morris to still be available for the 9th instead or Orze. And why in the world didn't Orze take the out at 1st? That is just basic, fundamental baseball. But THEN we pitch to one of the best baseball players on the planet in Witt?? No! Let someone ELSE try to beat you! And while he isn't a veteran, Kreidler is a 28yo experienced ballplayer who was involved in a miss play, dropped ball when he is supposed to make the INF calls on a pop up. And then, we had a collision in the OF because of poor communication that fortunately didn't lead to an injury. As the CF, it was up to him to "call" the play. Again, I'm really not interested in picking on anyone in particular. Crap happens. But there is a pretty distinct possibility that the Twins win both Thursday and today if someone else is the opener for Thursday. So unfortunately, I have to point a finger at Shelton right now for a really poor decision that might have cost both games.

I went with #2. And I did so not just for this season, but what makes sense going forward. Offensively and defensively, this entire INF is a work in progress. But even that being accepted, it's about the best FIT for everyone involved. So that's my abstract view. Everyone performing "decently" what are the right "fits". Lee has the hands and limited quickness to be a solid 3B. While only possessing an average arm, he makes a quick transition from glove to hand, and looks good making off balance throws. While his bat isn't yet where we hope it will be, he's definitely shown improvement. SS is now wide open for K-Pepper to take over. Even as a rookie, it will be HIS JOB to command the INF and make calls at times. Is a GOOD SS or just a decent one is TBD. But he's part of the future, his offense is tantalizing, and if he's not ready, he's damn close. Keaschall just "fits" best at 2B, even with a mediocre arm. He has the athleticism and experience. But due to his TJ and broken arm last season, this is the first time he's played extended time at 2B since 2023! Personally, I'm willing to give him the entire season to get comfortable again and improve. Lewis has proved he's not a bad 3B at all. But IF he gets his bat right...we can all cross our fingers...a move to 1B just makes sense for the REST of the INF. Nothing says he can't also play a little 3B and DH some as well. I'm fine with what Clemens is doing with the bat, and he can play some 2B as well as RF instead of Martin, while also being a part time 1B. After that, it's almost a tossup to me who sticks between Kreidler, Gray, and Arcia.

While I certainly haven't watched every game that Keaschall has played, I've certainly seen good and bad. I think what he's receiving is "patience" and not a "pass". Knowing he was going to need TJ surgery, he played a lot of 1B and DH and some OF in 2024 to allow his bat to gain experience with a damaged arm. He played ZERO 2B that season. In fact, he didn't even play 2B early in 2025 until he was sent to the MILB camp and only then did he start to play 2B. If you recall, the Twins promoted him early last season not because he was necessarily ready, but because massive injuries to the INF sort of made him "next man up". And then he had a broken arm from an errant pitch that cost him another couple of months. So he really is a rookie, overall, despite his service time. I've seen him make some really nice plays to both sides, and some good charging plays. I've also seen him boot some plays that a solid 2B should make. But his offensive profile says he fits best at 2B. Athletically, he should be able to be a decent 2B, though his arm will probably never be anything better than average. He quietly had a really good May with his bat. There's a ton of potential there. So IMO, "patience" is the right word, and not "pass". I have no problem with him being the daily 2B all season for him to get comfortable again and improve.

The whole OP kinda took off while I was at work today, so bear with me if I repeat a couple thoughts. I don't really care if Lewis is BB a ton. He wasn't sent to St Paul to work on coaxing BB from AAA pitchers. He's there to develop a better approach, and better swing. A hitter is supposed to hit when he can. However, I AM concerned about his K %. BB can show he's developing a better approach, and not just swinging at everything, but he's SUPPOSED to swing at strikes he can do something with. So while I'm not panicking, I do question his current K numbers. When he hit a double the other day, i was more encouraged by that than some if the HR he's hit. I have no problem with another week or two at St Paul for the organization to believe he's locked in to a better approach, and smoother stroke. This is about Royce's future, and the Twins, and I don't think he NEEDS to be up tomorrow. I think he can be a quality 2B. But I'm also not willing to just give up in Keaschall there just yet either. While there are nuances to playing 1B for sure, an athlete who has spent years fielding ground balls and chasing pop ups on the left side of the INF shouldn't have that difficult a time just fielding grounders and making solid scoop plays at 1B. He needs to prepare for the basics, and learn the subtleties as he goes. But it's all for naught if he can't get his approach and swing figured out.

Honestly, I'd be happy with any of the top 4. Two or three years from now, it's possible whoever grabs Lombard might end up with the best pick out of the top 10, but I digress Assuming the first 2 go according to chalk, it comes down to the #2 college bat vs the #1 college arm. Flora is tempting, but I think you go for the bat/position player that helps the lineup/team 4 days a week (being a catcher) instead of the arm. The fact that we added a couple of really talented teenage catchers to be excited about at the deadline last year should have no bearing on not adding a top catching talent like Lackey. Were he an OF or 3B or SS, I'm still in favor of drafting the best college bat available. It just so happens the best position player abailable ALSO fits an organizational need.

IMO, the problem is the FO and internal scouting. While they are WAY closer to the organization than us, they seem blind at times to INTERNAL talent. A recent example might be Laweryson. He had a great MILB career, but was IGNORED as a BP piece for a potential re-build late in 2025. Instead of bringing him up immediately for a SHOT, they ran with "used to be's" to flesh out the roster. Laweryson only got a couple weeks late...looked solid...and then was released. THEN, they picked him back up and he threw well enough to make the opening day roster this season. It's one thing to have a guy from independent ball like McCusker who had obvious questions about holes in his overall game being given an opportunity. But IMO that is VERY DIFFERENT from having an INTERNAL project that YOU drafted, and stuck with! At age 25 Fedko SUDDENLY seemed to put all together. Unlike McCusker, for example, he's always maintained a solid OB% and a solid defensive profile. At 25yo, he wasn't exactly ancient for a prospect. After a slow debut in '26 due to limited AB, he's basically exploded to show '25 wasn't an illusion. He's HITTING, he's getting OB, he's slugging, he has a .933 OPS. He can play a solid OF at the corners, an acceptable CF...we're currently playing Clemens in CF for goodness sake...and has 1B experience. Meanwhile, we're playing with a 12 and 1/2 roster with Outman. Someone tell me WHY? And this is what confuses me and pisses me off. Not that long ago, the roster was 25. For a couple of seasons in the 90's management forced teams to play with 24. But until fairly recently...maybe a decade or two ago...teams still played with a 10-11 man pitching staff. Again, fairly recently overall, teams had 14 or 15 position players. Before the universal DH came in to affect, NL teams might carry a true veteran PH, or a PR. In the 80's and 90's, just for reflection purposes, Tom Kelly used to play EVERYONE once in a while to make sure their head was in the game, and they'd be prepared to hopefully perform when called on. So tell me when in the hell did the Twins decide that playing with 12 and 1/2 players actually made sense??!! In today's game, EVERY position player is important. It's ridiculous that we are committed to a roster with less than that. We often debate about bringing up a prospect to take over the Outman role. But that's the PROBLEM! There SHOULDNT be an OUTMAN ROLE, in the same way there never should have been a Keirsey role in 2025. 162 games, 13 position players, 2 who are always catchers, leaves 3 other spots to fill. It's incompetence for a FO to not fill those final 3 spots with players who might contribute. And THEN, it's up to the manager to field the best lineup. So there should NOT BE an "Outman" role to fill. It would be HARD for Fedko to be worse than Outman. But it would be up to Shelton to actually PLAY him, which he should. Especially with the offense struggling at times. Any DECENT manager would use his entire 13 man roster. The fact that Shelton isn't using Outman says all you need to know. If Fedko comes up and is given a REAL opportunity to play, he may swim or sink. But this lineup needs HELP. And you DON'T KNOW if you have a potentially solid 4th OF UNLESS you give him an honest opportunity. And you don't know if you have a solid ballplayer or not until you give them that honest chance. It's on Zole to prove he's not a Falvey clone. And then it's on Shelton. Remember when Castro joined the Twins as a 26yo FA? He turned out pretty good after a very mediocre career with the Tigers. So why doesn't Fedko get legitimate consideration at the same age, exploding as a 25yo, and seemingly ready for an opportunity at 26? For that matter, Ben Ross, a fairly early draft pick, now 25yo, exploding at AA and still producing very well at AAA, does HE get consideration going forward? Or do the older Arcia, Kreidler, and Gray take precedence over a younger player with more upside?

To be clear, I've been hopeful for Martin for some time. I was pleasantly surprised by how well he improved in 2025 with his bat and glove. I think he might have been up sooner last season if it wasn't for injury that slowed him down. He finished strong and his early 2026 demanded he get more of a full time role, especially with Wallner struggling, and injuries to Roden and other prospects. No, a couple weeks of poor hitting doesn't necessarily mean he's been EXPOSED. At least, not completely. But the long standing debate about a lack of power, or even just XB POP, is coming home to being accurate. Pitchers aren't really afraid of him, but appreciate his zone control, and are attacking him differently. He recognizes that, which is a good thing. Now, he has to learn how to adjust. Hitting about league AVG against RHP is NOT a poor bat. But with little power, and a game built on speed and hustle, he should be batting 9th against RHP to provide a "leadoff" type hitter for Buxton. He's got a role on this team with improved defense, speed, and contact and OB ability. But not only does he need to be hitting in a spot that makes sense, but his future "fit" is in question in regard to the OF talent behind him. He IS a ML player. And he's not a bad ballplayer. And he can help the Twins in 2026...#9 against RHP, higher against LHP...but he might not be a good fit in 2027 depending on injury recovery and development of other prospects. But he's absolutely not DONE as a ML player and 2026 Twins contributor.

Various comments: AAA: I haven't completely given up on Royce yet. But as @Trovposted, how can just look so utterly lost at the plate with the Twins and then be so tremendously good at AAA almost like a switch was flipped? He looked so awful that even mediocre AAA arms could have gotten him out the way he was NOT hitting for the Twins. I'm starting to believe more and more it was mental. I'm still in to rush to get him back as I want the Twins to really feel he's got a good approach and balanced swing. But I'm betting another week, two at the most, and he's back up. He's working out at 1B now. And that makes a ton of sense to me. Hisnsize plays at 1B, his bat plays there IF he really has turned a corner, Lee is a better fit at 3B, K-Pepper is just about ready to lay claim to SS, so it's always made sense Royce would move to 1B. It's just the best option for the makeup of the INF. Gallagher was pushed hard to AA by the Cubs in his debut season. And he was pushed earlier than probably wanted by the Twins to AAA this season. But he keeps answering the bell and keeps getting better. While the injuries to Roden, Rodriguez, and Jenkins have been disappointing/frustrating, Mendez continues to look outstanding. I can see his power slowly coming around. Call me crazy, but he reminds me very much of Arraez with more power and at least a little more speed. They're going to have to find room for him soon. AA: Just seeing Cory Lewis healthy and on the mound again makes me happy. A lot of things have gone wrong for him the last year plus. And maybe I'll be proven wrong, but I see a real future for him in the Twins bullpen as a 2 IP arm throwing as hard as he can, just his best stuff, and making batters look silly on 2 strike counts with his crazy knuckleball. A+: I don't think we pay enough attention to Diaw. His only obstacle so far is staying healthy. While the hope is a little more power will come eventually, he can flat out HIT. I'm certain he needs more polish as a receiver, but he's a great athlete with a good looking bat. It's no wonder the Twins selected him as high as they did. He stays healthy, he's going to be part of the Twins catching group in a couple of years. While he's been a little slow adapting to A+, Mercedes keeps flashing his potential. And he's still quite young. Tait had a good April, and then a horrible May. Is it my imagination, or has he been BB more recently? His OB% is .90 higher than his AVG. That's a good sign to me. Hopefully he has a good June. He's off to a good start. Hill has a tremendous arm. All the potential in the world. Not a huge surprise to see a young HS arm struggle with control early. No need to panic. But I do wonder if skipping a turn and just working on the side for a week might give him a little mental break to just give his head a short "breather". A-: Just seeing Soto back on the mound is a win, no matter the results. But damn near 100mph on his FB? Crazy! I know rumors have the Ft Myers gun running hot, but that is impressive as hell. Now, he just needs to stay healthy and finish out the season. Honestly, I can't recall...in recent memory...the last time the organization had a pair of HS arms with as much pure STUFF as they have in Hill and Soto. Might have to go all the way back to the 80's, and I'm not joking. What a great start for Reitz after being slowed by an early injury that set him back initially. The Twins did a tremendous job helping Ober iron oit his mechanics to become a quality MLP. Reitz has a long way to go, obviously, but he's off to a good start in SSS. I'm betting he's at CR before long. As a college arm, I'd expect that. Lastly, I'm with @Dman regarding the 2025 pitchers drafted. There have been some setbacks, and a few bad days, but those recently drafted arms are looking really good so far, including the late rounders. And while the organization hasn't ignored college arms early in the draft, they've usually focused more on position players early. And I sorta get their philosophy. You can refine arms with talent, but it's harder to teach BAT to BALL hitting. I'd like to see a couple more early P drafted, as they did in 2025. You CAN'T ignore the player side, of course, but if you're good at identifying arms and developing them, just a couple more early selections like Quick and Ellwanger early can make a big difference.

I like Klein's future more than Adams. But Adams has been so yo-yo'd that I actually have ZERO idea if he's a keeper or not. He stinks, then he's good for a couple of appearances, and then he stunk this day. At some point, the Twins have to decide who has potential and who doesn't. But yo-youing arms doesn't BUILD a solid BP. Gray is NOT a great ML player. But he's proven to be a solid 12th or 13th man option. It's awesome though that he's had some good clutch moments so far. A great and much needed win!

I love these monthly awards and breakdowns. There's a lot of young Latin kids doing really well at Ft Myers. Were we too quick to panic over poor luck/bad signings? I don't recall when the new foreign head of scouting took over, but it was just last year wasn't it? So are any of these kids the new regime's signings? Regardless, a number of them look exciting. WINOKUR: I knew he had been hot, but I didn't realize he'd been THIS hot. He's doing exactly what he should be as a super talented 21yo repeating A+. He's PROVING he has the ability to actually HIT. Even with a slow start to 2026, his current AVG/OB/SLG are ALL roughly. 50 points higher at this point that his final 2025 numbers. He's ready for AA. MENDEZ: Man, this kid can HIT! He actually might be Arraez with more power. I still like the idea of turning him in to a 1B who can cover the OF, because I don't know where to play him daily, other than DH, with Rodriguez and Jenkins being better defenders. But they ARE going to have to find room for him because he looks special. BUT ON TO THE TOP FIVE: OLIVAR: Again, I didn't realize just how HOT he's really been. It looks like he's finding a little more power these days as well. As a prospect though, his issue seems to be that he's a LF and #3 catcher. EVEN if he can receive decently and call a solid game...which I'm still uncertain of until I hear otherwise...he's just horrible in the running game. But he's got a chance to be a #5 OF who can be a quality RH bat with some power the Twins have lacked for a LONG time. And he brings additional value as a #3 catcher. He's got a shot. K-PEPPER: He's doing everything right for the second straight season. He's proving how good he is. The only reason to keep him at AAA a little longer is just that little more development time, just a little more confidence in everything he's doing, so that when he comes it it's hopefully for GOOD. SS has already been opened for him. ROSS: I believe he's about to turn 25yo, but has really FOUND himself as a hitter in his age 24/25 season. He sure isn't old. He's got a really good glove wherever you play him...similar to Kreidler...with pop/power and speed and a BAT that I think the Twins were waiting to catch up to his talent. He DESTROYED AA pitching, and has been doing VERY well at AAA. He's actually, potentially, an even better version of the beloved Castro. I think he needs to maintain what he's doing a little longer just to "make sure" the corner he's turned is for real. But in no way should he be blocked by Kreidler, Gray, or Arcia. I can see him getting a taste of MLB this season, and possibly be the primary Super Utility player for 2027 and a few years beyond. But having options will offer additional value. He was a 5th round pick, for goodness sake, and not a late round flyer. The talent is just starting to catch up with experience. We might have something here. FEDKO: I'm going to say this yet again: you draft a kid, you STICK with a kid, and you FINALLY get REAL results from said kid in his age 25 season. I can almost guarantee other mid and small market teams would see his development as a possible WIN and give him a shot. And he might wash out as nothing. But he might be a 4 position 4th OF with speed and pop and decent defense that could be a useful player. He actually reminds me somewhat of Lew Ford. And he wasn't even drafted or initially developed by the Twins. SO WHY NOT GIVE HIM A CHANCE? I'm SO FRUSTRATED by the past and current FO for IGNORING "on hand" late developing prospects. I am also INCREASINGLY FRUSTRATED by having a limited roster. It wasn't that long ago when teams had a 25 man roster, even a 24 man roster briefly in the 90's, when pitching staffs were only 10 or 11. Teams had a 14 and even 15 man player roster. The AL had a DH. The NL found room for great PH. But the UTILIZED their roster! Tom Kelly usually had a 14 man player roster back in his day. But he found a way to play EVERYONE at least here and there. And now we only have a 13 man player roster and we play it as a 12 1/2 man roster. WHY? It's just RIDICULOUS to have some 13th man on the roster who barely plays, and doesn't even FIT defensively where he's supposed to be. And we're doing this for at least the 2nd straight season. Outman should have already been gone. But his replacement shouldn't be used the same way. It's lineup suicide. Larnach is probably not back next season. I'm willing to give Martin a lot of rope even though he's been sliding with daily duty. To be blunt, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE by promoting a kid YOU drafted and developed who TURNED A CORNER and should get a legitimate shot at playing at the ML level? You simply replace a NOTHING player with someone who MIGHT turn out to be a solid 4th OF and backup 1B. BUT, that ONLY happens if you give him legitimate time to actually PLAY. What do you have to lose? The current OF is a slumping Martin, a solid but not great Larnach, and Buxton in CF when healthy again. In the meantime, we have CLEMENS in CF just to get his bat in the lineup? And Outman, who's SUPPOSED to help the defense and be a CF option STILL is only a PR and whatever. Talk about a cluster frak! Zole is really disappointing me! Have some guts, make changes. STOP the 13th man being a BS specialist and TRY someone who has some talent and might actually help the roster. ESPECIALLY because your top 2 OF are out, along with Roden, who might also help. This is almost a spinning wheel of how bad of a lineup can we produce. Just give the talent on hand a chance to see if you have SOMETHING to build on. Fedko may or may not be ML quality. But how do you know when you limit the roster with a nobody that your manager doesn't even want to play? SABATO: Good for him. He seems to have worked hard to get to this point. He had a nice 2025 at AA, went to AAA, and then sunk again. He barely played to open 2026...and I was surprised he was even kept...and then he got to play more after Wagaman was released. (I NEVER understood that acquisition to begin with). But his "breakthrough" took place in a series in the PCL where numbers are HIGHLY inflated. But damn if he didn't just take that as a "liftoff" point as he really continued to produce. Good for him to be #1 on this list. He's earned it. But I'd have to see a June that echoes his May before I will believe in any future for him. For those who want to be rid of Bell, you need to recognize it's not the 1st time he's started slow and then got his game together in June or July and started mashing. So he's NOT going to gone for at least a month or so. HOPEFULLY, he gets on a tear that not only helps our Twins, but maybe brings back at least a solid prospect at the deadline. By that time, hopefully, we're also seeing the return of Rodriguez and Jenkins and Roden. Perhaps Larnach and maybe Wallner brings something back. But the FUTURE of 1B would seem to be Lewis, Gonzalez, and Mendez. But there is the possibility of 1B/DH/OF between those 3. Can Sabato continue to produce the way he's been doing for another month or so, I guess you have to give him a shot with Bell probably gone. There is nothing wrong with a team who's season has run off the rails giving a chance to young and young-ish hitters while they've also been giving chances to young arms, sometimes earlier than expected, while waiting for OTHER top prospects to be healthy again. A SMART FO would recognize this opportunity.

Going in reverse order: A-: With Fang making an appearance, I believe the entire pitching group are all on the mound now, with the unfortunate injury to Ellwanger. Really hoping it's a rest and rehab situation! 3/4 of a season is better than none, or half, etc, for the class draft class of '25. With all due respect and hopes for the ENTIRE class, I'm especially excited about seeing what Reitz and Barr can accomplish. They're really different arm types, but both are very exciting. A+: Quick got a short start. Maybe he needed that. But he seemed to throw a lot better than his last time out. How many starts and how many innings IDK, but I'm still betting he finishes with a taste of AA before the season is done. Winokur had a quiet 1-4 day Saturday, but he's been on a tear. 3B or CF, or MAYBE 1B as an electric and athletic player there, I still love this kid's potential. If he doesn't suddenly slump, he's about ready for the challenge of AA. And while I'd like to see more of the "zone control" Houston showed in college...a few less K's and a few more BB...it's really hard to argue with a quad slash line of .297/ .354/ .417/ .771 with 14 XBH and 13-1 in SB for a defense first SS. Again, I'd REALLY like to see the OB% 10-20 points higher, but can we really be disappointed in what he's doing? He and Winokur both at Wichita come July 1st? AAA: Despite some ugly numbers when you look at his record, Hildago is someone to pay attention to. He's a high K arm with great stuff who never knows where it's going. Seriously, he's a real life "Nuke laLoosch" kind of arm. I'm actually surprised that the Twins promoted him to St Paul at this point. Maybe because there was nobody else? But if the St Paul staff can help him corral his stuff, we might have a great young arm that could surprise. Glad to see Klein back up. Big and strong with good velocity and a SP mix, I think he's part of the bullpen's future. HOPEFULLY he's on a 1-2 IP plan to ACTUALLY make the conversion to the pen, and not some BS "innings eater" idea "just because". I think that would be a major mistake. He's probably going to need some tweaks to his arsenal, but that's what Maki and Hawkins are there for. Like Morris, DON'T screw around. Get him ready to be ONLY a 1-2 IP with good velocity and get him ready for the rest of 2026 and the future. He was a GIFT signing out of nowhere. DON'T waste the opportunity. K-Pepper is on an upswing, similar to Houston, even if his AVG is lower than wanted. He's almost ready for a promotion to MLB. Lee has already been moved to 3B on what seems to be a permanent move. I applaud that. I think that's his best spot. His bat is still inconsistent, but moving in the right direction. And the FO can no longer just "expect" that Lewis will "figure it out". Bird in the hand, you just can't run a team based on hopes. Lewis somehow figures it out, you deal with it later. But K-Pepper is SO CLOSE, and a 40 man spot is open for him. What frustates the hell out of me is the baseball gods just loving to pick on the Twins. Why? Before the season began I stated the Twins were playing a split year. The 1st half was trying to be in contention, sit around .500, I NEVER expected losing Lopez for the season. I thought an offseason would get Ober right with his hip and velocity, only to see him pitch masteriously before coming down with an injury of his own. I never saw SWR becoming a "who the hell are you"? But I also never saw Bradley and Abel being this good. And I never saw Prielipp and Rojas debuting this soon and being this good early. (Matthews I had confidence in). And I really thought Festa was going to be OK, move to the BP, and probably lead the team in saves. But here we are today. A rotation of injury and MASSIVE potential. A bullpen that is SLOWLY starting to work towards competence. (It still needs work, of course). And now Ober is down. So we're scraping the bottom of the cupboard now with Ober and Rojas both down. What's REALLY frustrating is that there's almost NO ROOM at the ML level IF our top prospects were healthy. Sorry I'm on a divergent opinion, but Lewis is down, Wallner is down. The SP staff has been wrecked. And the baseball gods are laughing because the Twins HAVE trusted in their young arms, and have been mostly rewarded. But the FO is ONLY looking at changes in the staff due to injuries. And it's FAIR if they want to give K-Pepper a little more time. And it's also FAIR that Roden, Rodriguez, and Jenkins have also been injured and not available. Hopefully that will change soon. But the wonder is what happens a month from now? There isn't room for all of Rodriguez, Jenkins, Gonzalez, and Mendez in the OF. Do they continue the Gonzalez/Mendez experiment at 1B. It seems lacking at this point. The reason I'm so PISSED OFF at the proverbial baseball gods...and illusion I know...is that 2026 was ABOUT what we have, and what's coming up. This was a team built to MAYBE play .500 ball until the young talent took control. Well, we've already seen the whole potential of young arms already flashing. And we're seeing K-Pepper doing well, Gonzalez getting hot, Mendez making AAA look simple, but there is NO Rodriguez, Jenkins, or even Roden available. My "expected" 2nd half has been seriously delayed. MAYBE it comes in to play yet. But until we see a few more changes come June or July, I think the ML roster is just running out of room for improvement.