Minnesota Twins Depth: First Base
Sep 22, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins first baseman
Joe Mauer(7) doubles in the third inning against the Cleveland Indians at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Puckett’s Pond looks at the Minnesota Twins’ First Base depth
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The Minnesota Twins have Joe Mauer as their primary first baseman currently but what depth is there at the position in the unfortunate event of injury? We’ve gone through the organization to analyze every option the Twins have available. For every injury, there’s a ripple effect throughout the entire system. X moves up to the majors but who takes X’s place in AAA? In AA? And so on and so forth. We also want to highlight the up and coming prospects at the position.
The first contingency in the event of an injury to Mauer would be for Byung-Ho Park to step into his shoes. Park played first for most of his KBO career and can handle himself there. He was awarded two Gold Gloves in Korea. But Park moving to first would necessitate a call up who could back up first. There had been some talk of moving Miguel Sano to first base earlier this offseason but he’s only played 5 games at the position over his entire professional career. Trevor Plouffe has played 23 MLB games at first, and quite effectively, but moving him would create a hole elsewhere on the diamond.
AAA:
–Kennys Vargas is number 1 on the speed dial for first base call ups. Vargas had a successful stint with the Twins in 2014 and a…less successful one in 2015. With no room on the active roster, he’ll begin 2016 in AAA. He has a -0.8 dWAR and -1 DRS in the Majors. In 34 games at first, he has a .988 fielding %. Offensively, he’s slashed .259/.299/.408. In the minors that year he put up a .283/.414/.496 line between AA and AAA. The switch hitter has a huge frame and tons of power potential. He’s improved defensively to where he’s now viewed as an average first baseman.
–Reynaldo Rodriguez was primarily a first baseman in the Red Sox organization but after coming to the Twins, Rodriguez has split his time almost evenly between first and outfield. He’s a solid fielder and has a .991 fielding percentage at first. He spent all of 2015 with Rochester and had a .753 OPS. The right handed hitter figures to split time at first with Vargas at AAA this upcoming year.
– Buck Britton has played 69 games at first in his minor league career but will only be relied upon there in a pinch. The super utility fielder will mostly be used at 2B, 3B and in the outfield.
–Max Kepler can play first base but really should be focussing on developing as an outfielder. His athleticism would be wasted at first.
Next: AA/A /A/Rk First Base Depth
Mar 3, 2015; Ft. Myers, FL, USA; Minnesota Twins catcher
Mitch Garver(82) poses during photo day at Hammond Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
AA:
– Daniel Palka has played the majority of his career at first but in 2015 played more in the outfield. With no other true first base prospects slotted for the AA level in 2016, Palka figures to see a lot of games at first. The lefty has a .857 OPS in his minor league career and has developed a good base running game. The Twins need another first baseman for the AA level if they want to continue developing Palka in the outfield. It would be a good idea to get another regardless.
– Alex Swim has 34 games at first under his belt. The Twins have yet to figure out clearly what direction they want him to go in. He’s seen more time at catcher and right field. First is his weakest position. Swim has a .705 OPS in his minor league career.
– Mitch Garver has played a handful of games at first but should be considered a catching prospect.
A+ (At the lower levels, coaches, and players themselves, are often still trying to figure out where they belong on the diamond. Positions are often fluid—especially first base)
– Trey Vavra has 92 minor league games under his belt and has played first for 43 of them. He committed 7 errors in that time. He has a .891 OPS in very young career.
– Chris Paul played his first pro season in 2015. He suited up for 33 games between Rookie league and single A. He played eleven games at first base and committed one error. He posted a .785 OPS.
A:
– Lewin Diaz spent 2015 in rookie ball and played first mostly. He’s a defensive work in progress with 10 errors in 72 games. He had a .693 OPS.
– A.J Murray played most of his first professional season as a catcher in Elizabethton. He played 14 games at first and committed one error. He had a .774 OPS.
Rk:
– Amaurys Minier struggled both defensively and offensively in 2015 between the GCL Twins and the Elizabethton Twins. He had just a .562 OPS and committed 4 errors at first base in 30 games. His bat was drastically better in 2014 with a .925 OPS
First base is now one of the Twins’ weaker positions from top to bottom. The should fill out the middle levels with one or two more first basemen. Second base depth article coming soon