More than half of the Twins positional starters are basically set in stone, but we’ll take a look at the contenders where there is competition; many of the more interesting battles in camp will play out for backup spots as the spring progresses. And while even a strong camp will still mean relegation to the minors for a lot of these guys, they’ll be just an injury away from seeing time with the Twins at some point over the course of the season.

Last week, we ran down the catchers and first basemen in camp, and we took a look at second base on Monday. Today, we’ll look at the competition at third base as we move our way around the diamond over the course of Spring Training.

PROJECTED STARTER: Trevor Plouffe

September 25, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe (24) during the game against the New York Yankees at Target Field. The Twins deafeated the Yankees 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Plouffe went on a slugging spree after taking over the third base job from Danny Valencia in mid May of last season, hitting 13 home runs in his first month on the job. He never really hit much for average in the minors, but had a consistently high slugging percentage and the doubles have started turning into homer runs in the past few years. So while Plouffe’s epic month-long power surge may never be repeated, there’s every reason to believe that last season’s late-summer struggles were due to injury and that he will continue to develop into a legitimate right-handed slugger in 2013.

Until Plouffe played 95 games at third base last season, he hadn’t played at the hot corner with any sort of regularity since he logged 43 games there between two minor league levels in 2008. In fact, since being called up to the Majors for the first time in 2010, Plouffe had started at five other positions and DH before getting his first Major League experience at third base in a May 2^nd start of last year. Considering the circumstances, it’s not surprising that Plouffe was erratic defensively last season.

Still, he was drafted as a shortstop and came up to the Twins as one, so Plouffe is naturally athletic enough to make the plays at third. His arm is strong enough to make the throws across the diamond, too, but being consistently accurate with those throws has been an issue for Plouffe. After being thrust into the starting third base role last season, Plouffe’s defensive footwork could and should be much improved after an offseason of preparation.

PROJECTED BACKUPS: Jamey Carroll, Eduardo Escobar

Carroll started 30 games at the hot corner in 2013, and Escobar played the first 42 games of his career at third base last season. Both players are solid defensively at the position, and are discussed in more detail in my second base preview.

LONG SHOTS

Although Terry Ryan stated early on in the offseason that acquiring competition at third base was a priority going into 2013, the strongest contender brought in from outside of the organization is AAA Rule 5 draftee Mark Sobolewski. Sobolewski is reportedly a sure-handed defender with power, hitting 20 home runs and 21 doubles between AA and AAA last season, although he is only a .263 career hitter in the minors. Deibinson Romero was a middling prospect early on in his career, but fell off the radar for the most part until belting 19 homer runs at AA New Britain last year at age 25. Ray Olmedo, who signed this offseason as a minor league free agent from the White Sox, is also discussed in my second base preview.

CONCLUSION

Although Terry Ryan stated a desire to bring in competition at third base this offseason, the job is Plouffe’s to lose. The Twins would like some consistency moving forward at a position that has been in flux going back to Corey Koskie, and Plouffe would surely like to stop changing positions from year to year, or even month to month. If his defense improves and his power continues to develop, Plouffe could wrap up the starting job for the next few years.

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One note on my votes. Yes obviously means I’m voting for the player this year. If I say no, that means I don’t think the player should ever be in the team Hall of Fame. Maybe means that I might vote for him in the future, but not right now. I think if we choose more than one or two players per year, the HOF will fill up with some marginal players pretty quickly, so some of these guys will just have to wait.

Dave Boswell, P. 8 seasons with Twins, 67-54, 3.49 ERA. My vote: No.

Boswell was a very competent pitcher, and he had one very good year in 1969. But he was never the staff ace, and his stock fell fast, to the point that he was cut by the team at age 26. Also, it’s hard to vote for a guy who got in a fight with Bob Allison and his manager.

Tom Brunansky, OF. 7 seasons, .250/.330/.432, 163 HR, 432 RBI. My vote: Maybe.

Bruno’s 9th place standing on the Twins home run list is safe now that Michael Cuddyer, who was 22 behind him, has left the team. He was a key piece of the 1987 Championship team, and his trade to the Cardinals in 1988 ushered in a 19 year curse that prevented any Twin from topping 30 homers in a season. He’s on the cusp of the Twins HOF. If he can get Rochester to hit well, that’ll put him over the top. (more…)

First, as I’ve mentioned once or twice, Kaat and Tony Oliva are up for election by the Veterans Committee. The Committee will meet December 5th, the first day of the Winter Meetings, to give one more chance to Kaat, Oliva, and eight other previously-snubbed greats of the game. Ron Santo won our mock Veterans Committee vote, and I’d wager even money that he will be elected by the real veterans as well. Santo died last year at the age of 70, and for millions of fans that sad event served as an exclamation point on the injustice of his exclusion. Judging by their stats and careers, Kaat and Oliva would appear to be as deserving or more so than the other candidates on the ballot, but that certainly does not guarantee that anyone will vote for them. Kaat, at least, consoles himself by being the founding member of the Hall of Enjoyment. His positive attitude and admirable modesty further prove that the Twins need to retire his jersey number. (more…)