What is the Minnesota Twins’ shortstop depth behind Carlos Correa?

The Minnesota Twins made a calculated decision this offseason when they prioritized adding a first baseman in Ty France rather than securing a veteran shortstop behind Carlos Correa.

That move came with some risk, considering Correa’s recent injury history, and now the team’s shortstop depth remains one of the most significant question marks heading into the 2025 season.

Correa played at an All-Star level last season, hitting .308/.377/.520 (.896) with 16 doubles and 13 home runs in 75 games.

However, he was limited to 11 second-half games due to lingering plantar fasciitis issues, which also hampered his performance in 2023.

He remains a difference-maker offensively and defensively when on the field, but the Twins have to prepare for the possibility that his lower-body problems could flare up again.

Thankfully, the Twins seem optimistic about how Correa has looked this spring. “He looks great all the way around,” said Twins manager Rocco Baldelli.

“I think he’s one of those guys that just loves baseball, loves being at the ballpark, loves the work associated with baseball, it’s not just bouncing around the field and having fun during infield, when he can show all the great things that he does.”

Correa reiterated those comments to reporters. “I’ve been feeling really good. You know me. When you have those type of injuries, you spend the whole offseason, you have to focus every single day of the offseason on getting it right and talk to doctors. I saw a lot of people. We did a lot of PT. We found the right ingredients to get it right. I’m in a really good spot right now.”

If Correa misses time, the first man up is Willi Castro. However, the Twins likely prefer to keep him in a super-utility role rather than locking him in at shortstop for an extended stretch.

Last season, he played 56 games at shortstop, the most of any position.

He was graded as having a 3 OAA but SABR’s SDI had him as the league’s second-worst shortstop (-5.2 SDI).

Castro is a capable defender, but his defensive metrics at shortstop lag behind his play at other positions, and relying on him too heavily at the position could weaken the infield as a whole.

Beyond Castro, the picture becomes murkier. Brooks Lee, the organization’s top infield prospect entering last season, had a rough rookie campaign, battling injuries and inconsistent performance.

In 50 games, he hit .221/.265/.320 (.585) with 10 extra-base hits.

He is viewed as a stronger shortstop defender than Castro but posted a -2 OAA that could be tied to his injury issues.

The Twins remain high on his potential, and he will get every opportunity to prove himself this season.

Some evaluators believe his long-term future is at third or second base, making his viability as a Correa backup uncertain.

Complicating matters further, the Twins don’t have any other shortstops on their 40-man roster.

In the upper minors, players like Ben Ross, Will Holland, Rayne Doncon, and Danny De Andrade could be options at some point in 2025, but none are MLB-ready at this stage.

Kaelen Culpepper, a 2024 first-round pick, is the team’s top shortstop prospect, but he hasn’t played above High-A.

The minor league rosters won’t be finalized until later in spring training, so it remains to be seen which players will be positioned as the next in line should depth issues arise.

Given these uncertainties, it’s unsurprising that reports suggested the Twins had interest in adding a veteran shortstop earlier this offseason.

Ultimately, the front office determined that shoring up first base with Ty France was a greater priority, leaving them to roll the dice with their in-house shortstop options.

That gamble could pay off if Correa stays healthy, but if injuries resurface, the Twins could find themselves scrambling to patch one of the most critical positions on the field.

Minnesota will bank on Correa’s ability to stay on the field and Castro’s flexibility to fill in when needed.

But if 2025 unfolds like the past two seasons, don’t be surprised if the Twins are once again in the market for shortstop help before the trade deadline.

Did the Twins need more shortstop depth behind Correa? Leave a comment and start the discussion.