Right field up for grabs, versatility preached

Ron Gardenhire debunked early lineup predictions by announcing publicly that veterans, Josh Willingham and Dernard Span, will start the season at their natural positions of left field and center field. Young speedster, Ben Revere, will need to prove he can play right field to play everyday, more likely serving as a pinch runner and defensive replacement.

Traditionally, the Twins prefer top prospects to start either at the major or minor league level, although Revere has already proved he can hit minor league pitching, with a .326 average over five years. His arm is his only weakness, making him a deficiency in long-tossing right field. It was thought that the team would start him in left or center, forcing Span or Willingham to right.

In the end, Gardenhire chose to respect his veterans, playing them in their natural positions. It also means that the team may want a bat like Plouffe or Parmelee in right, both former minor league infielders with strong arms.

The Twins already have three speedy slap hitters in the starting lineup with Dernard Span, Jeremy Carroll and Alexi Castilla. Putting Revere on the bench gives the team something they haven’t had in a long time, a first-class pinch runner late in the game. It would also allow a defensive replacement for the liable Willingham, likely who Reverse would be running for anyway. Sending Revere to the minors for more at-bats is still possible, but unlikely given that he is the only viable back-up for injury-plagued Dernard Span.

Chris Parmalee is trying to force the Twins' hand, who would much rather prefer him to start the year in AAA. He has never played a full year above AA, and has respectable but not quite eye-popping numbers, batting .287 with 14 HR and 83 RBI in 530 at-bats for AA in 2011. However, he came out of nowhere to hit .355 with 4 HR and 14 RBI in only 76 at-bats as a September call-up, and is hitting well this Spring. He can play right field or first base, making him an attractive option if the team needs to protect Justin Moureau at DH. It may be his time to shine, by virtue of playing two vulnerable positions.

Standing in Parmalee’s way are Trevor Plouffe and Sean Burroughs, who has begun to play first base this spring and is another possible outfield option. Plouffe finally showed some pop in 2011, with a Babe Ruthian .635 slugging percentage at AAA, and is also one of the only players that can also back-up shortstop, now that Nishioka has been sent to AAA.

If the team truly intends to win now, a veteran like Burroughs would be nice to have on the bench. He hit a whopping .412 in 102 AAA at-bats after being out of the game for five years, and is a career .280 hitter in 1647 major league at-bats from 2002-06 and 2011. He also gives a push to starting third baseman and Miami playboy, Danny Valencia, who has been prone to possible complacency and lack of focus, particularly late in the season.