The Twins have young stars Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau,
players who should be fixtures at catcher and first base for many years. Their
starting second baseman, Luis Castillo,
has a contract that has vested for 2007. It is likely he will return for 2007
and probable that he may not return in 2008. The Twins have the option of
moving Nick Punto to second, however,
based on his stellar play this season they may prefer to keep him at third
base. They also have Luis Rodriguez on
the roster, however, he is viewed more as a utility player. Therefore, the
Twins need to develop a young player next year who will be a capable stepping in
as their second baseman in 2008.
The Rochester Red Wings (AAA) had
several players at second base during this season, including
Luis Maza, 25+, (#52/#10).
Following an excellent 2005 when he hit .291Ave with 11 home runs in 275 at bats
at Rochester and a very good spring training, Maza had one of the more
disappointing seasons in the organization hitting .207Ave with 10 doubles, 6
triples and 3 home runs with 35 rbi in 305 at bats. Another utility player who
played some games at second was Glen Williams, 28+, (#31/DL) who had an
excellent short stay with the Twins in 2005 prior to missing much of last year
on the disabled list. Williams also struggled this year following his recovery
from the injury, hitting .257Ave with 20 doubles, 4 triples, 7 home runs and 36
rbi in 370 at bats. It is unlikely that the Twins will consider either Maza or
Williams in their plans for the future although either could return to Rochester
for the 2007 season.
The New Britain Rock Cats (AA) had a
pleasant surprise at second with the play of
Felix Molina, 22+, (#16/#38)
who was an Eastern League All-Star second baseman. Molina was amongst those
players who improved their play significantly, batting .270Ave with 16 doubles,
4 triples, 9 home runs, 39 runs scored and 50 rbi in 385 at bats.
Matt Tolbert, 23+, (#15/#35)
is another player who improved significantly this season. Tolbert split his
season between New Britain, where he hit .258Ave with 15 doubles, 3 home runs
and 35 rbi in 248 at bats with 30 walks and 43 strikeouts, and Ft. Myers where
he was one of their leading hitters with a .303Ave with 6 doubles, 3 triples, 4
home runs and 24 rbi in 155 at bats with 14 walks and only 17 strikeouts.
Tolbert’s play this season earned him a spot in this fall’s Arizona Fall
League. Tolbert and Molina will be options the Twins look at for second base or
future utility players.
Until his promotion to New Britain at
mid-season, the starting second baseman for the Ft. Myers Miracle (Hi-A)
was **Alexi Casilla, 21+,
(#1/-) who was obtained from the Angels in the J.C. Romero trade.
Casilla, who played shortstop at New Britain, performed at a level matched by no
other player this season earning him a spot on the 40-man roster and a September
call up. While at Ft. Myers, Casilla hit .331Ave with 12 doubles, 6 triples, 0
home runs, 56 runs scored and 33 rbi in 323 at bats. Casilla is the ideal
lead-off hitter as he walked 30 times versus only 36 strikeouts and stole 31
bases in 37 attempts. After Casilla moved on to AA,
Luke Hughes, 21+, (#61/#30)
played mostly at second with a .231Ave, 15 doubles, 4 home runs and 37 rbi
in 333 at bats. Late in the season following a stint on the disabled list at
Beloit, Steven Tolleson, 22,
(#25/#45) joined the Miracle and was solid at second. Tolleson
hit .268Ave with 8 doubles, 4 home runs and 23 rbi in 157 at bats with 22 walks
and only 24 strikeouts for the Miracle. While at Beloit, Tolleson hit a strong
.287Ave with 8 doubles, 2 home runs and 16 rbi in 171 at bats with 27 walks and
34 strikeouts. Casilla, who has many similarities to
Luis Castillo, is the leading candidate
to take over for Castillo whenever he leaves. Tolleson is another player who
has played very well since being drafted in the fifth round of the 2005
draft.
The Beloit Snappers (A) were a team
that was decimated by injuries this season with their infield taking a hit at
each position. Their second basemen at the beginning of the year were
Tolleson and fellow 2005 pick who also is the son of a former major leaguer,
Andrew Thompson, 19, (#33/#31).
Thompson played very well, however, a series of injuries (blind sided in a bench
clearing brawl, hit in the head with a pitch upon his return to action and a
back injury that ended his season) affected his ranking as he was limited to 74
games and 283 at bats. He played very well when able, hitting .261Ave, 11
doubles, 7 triples and 3 home runs with 40 runs scored and 23 rbi.
Juan Portes, 20, (#66/#8)
played some second, third and left field, however, spent much of the season
on the disabled list and when playing was battling injuries and never got his
bat going which had earned him recognition as one of the top prospects in the
Appalachian League in 2005. Portes, who is in the Fall Instructional League as
an outfielder, hit .231Ave, 9 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs with 33 rbi in 268
at bats. Thompson, who is definitely a solid prospect at second base, was only
19 and will likely move up the system a step at a time with his double play
partner and co-2005 second round pick, Paul Kelly.
Portes has always struggled defensively in the infield and is being converted to
an outfielder in this fall’s Instructional League as the Twins want to see him
advance in the system because when healthy, he can be an electric offensive
player.
The Elizabethton Twins (Rookie) were
solid at second with their eighth round pick and NAIA Player of the Year,
Brian Dinkelman, 22, (#35/-)
who was one of their top hitters with a .298Ave, 11 doubles, 4 home runs
with 32 rbi in 188 at bats. Dinkelman was also solid defensively as evidenced
by his having only 3 errors in 46 games. Another second baseman who saw limited
action for the Twins was Michael Lysaught,
20, (#85/#79) who hit .160Ave with 5 doubles and 4 rbi in 81 at
bats. Dinkelman appears to have the talent needed to advance in the system.
The Gulf Coast League Twins (Rookie)
had two players share second this season. Matt Lawman, 18+, (#82/-) is a young Australian who
played well hitting .256Ave with 2 doubles and 4 rbi in 86 at bats. This
season’s 40th round pick, Thomas
Cowgill, 22+, (#78/-) hit only .185Ave with 6
doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs and 13 rbi in 119 at bats. Lawman is a very
young player who was playing his first baseball in America, a player whom many
believe could develop into an excellent prospect.
The second basemen in the system included
the highest ranked player in the system, Alexi Casilla. The thirteen players
playing second base this season had an average ranking of #44 out of 88 position
players. The top prospects in the system at second base include:
Alexi Casilla
#1 New Britain
Matt Tolbert
#15 New Britain
Felix Molina #16
New Britain
Steve Tolleson
#25 Ft. Myers
Drew Thompson
#33 Beloit
Brian Dinkelman
#35 Elizabethton
Unlike catcher and first base, the Twins may very well be looking for a starting
second baseman as early as 2008. Considering that Alexi Casilla was the top
ranked player in the system this past season and is now being exposed to major
league baseball as a September call up, there is no question that he is the
leading candidate to replace Luis Castillo whenever he leaves. Casilla is a
disciplined hitter with tremendous speed that would also be an ideal replacement
for Castillo at the top of the order. Matt Tolbert had a great season at Ft.
Myers and New Britain, especially with his bat. Tolbert will be playing in the
Arizona Fall League which is an indication that the Twins are also very high on
his potential. Molina had a breakout year as an All-Star at New Britain.
Although they won’t be ready for the major leagues in 2008, Steven Tolleson,
Andrew Thompson and Brian Dinkelman all have the potential of reaching the major
leagues.