Chin Music w/ Roy Smalley, LaVelle E. Neal III & Jim Souhan - Minnesota Twins Podcast · Talk North Podcast Network

Future Twins' infield?

·34 min·2 clips

Byron Buxton has stayed healthy and productive for most of the year.

1. Chin Music w/ Roy Smalley, LaVelle E. Neal III & Jim Souhan spends this episode on the Twins' future infield. 2. Roy Smalley is a former Twins star and announcer, LaVelle E. Neal III is a Star Tribune baseball columnist, and Jim Souhan is a Star Tribune and TalkNorth.com host who frames the roster debate. 3. The episode asks what the Twins' infield could look like by next August and whether the club needs to add a first baseman. 4. The discussion starts with catcher, where Ryan Jefferson is treated as the next year's starter and the backup spot is considered unsettled. 5. Lavelle says the Twins traded for catchers because they needed to improve their catching inventory, then suggests a free-agent backup in the $4 million to $5 million range. 6. Jim and Lavelle talk about Twins catching prospect Tate, who is projected to arrive in the majors around 2027 or 2028. 7. Mickey Gasper comes up as a possible emergency catcher, but both hosts doubt he can handle 40 games behind the plate. 8. The conversation shifts to the team's celebration habits, including the former Roman warrior helmet and the current crop of home-run props around baseball. 9. Roy Smalley says he prefers a quiet home-run trot, citing a Chris Bryant homer at Wrigley Field and Bryant's line that he did what he was supposed to do. 10. The hosts compare modern celebrations with older moments like Randy Moss's mooning gesture in Green Bay and Steve Smith rowing the boat against the Vikings. 11. Smalley says the Twins have four infield candidates for three spots: Royce Lewis, Brooks Lee, Luke Keaschall, and Kaelen Culpepper. 12. He says Keaschall looks like a lock to be a solid big-league player and projects him in the infield, probably at second base. 13. Smalley also says Culpepper could reach the majors after the All-Star break or trade deadline next year. 14. Both hosts identify first base as the biggest problem, and Smalley says he is not sold on Edward Julian there. 15. Lavelle notes Julian is hitting .188 since his early-August call-up and has been working on covering the bag and bunt plays at first. 16. Smalley and Souhan say the Twins may need to buy a first baseman and want a thumper in the middle of the lineup. 17. Jim Souhan argues that Royce Lewis could move to the outfield, with right field mentioned as a realistic fit. 18. The tone is conversational and opinion-driven, with long back-and-forth stretches, sponsor reads, and frequent detours into baseball culture. 19. Fans who follow Twins roster construction and prospect paths will get the most from it. 20. Listeners wanting game recaps or national baseball analysis may skip it.

As heard by us

A blunt look at the Twins' infield picture, with first base still the clearest hole.

Chin Music spends this episode on the Twins' infield and, more specifically, on who might settle at first base if the club keeps moving pieces around. Roy Smalley, Lavelle E.

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Get the Twins' near-future infield picture without the usual haze.

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