Twins spring training includes many new faces, and perhaps none stick out more than Carlos Gomez. The lighting fast center fielder has already shown how electrifying he can be both in the field and on the basepaths. Gomez's range and arm have already drawn comparisons to the man he is trying to replace, Torii Hunter. Defense is a skill coveted by the Twins and is an ability that Carlos has shown in spades. However, it may not be his best attribute. Blessed with elite speed, Gomez has already swiped 2 bags this spring and has created havoc whenever he has gotten on base. He is undoubtedly one of the fastest players in baseball and 50 steal potential combined with strong defense will certainly endear him to Manager Ron Gardenhire.
At the plate Gomez is still fairly raw. His minor league numbers are rather pedestrian (.278/.339/.399), although the Mets rushed him through their system so his raw numbers should be taken with a grain of salt. He also batted .232 in 125 AB's with the Mets in 2007 as a 21 year old rookie. Despite modest production, there is still a lot to like. Gomez has a line drive swing that allows him to hit the ball to all fields and use the gaps well. He does not project as a serious power threat, but at 6'4 he has a frame to work with and could develop decent pop as he gets older and stronger. His plate discipline is less than ideal. He has only drawn 82 walks in 1,291 minor league at-bats and is a bit of a free swinger. He will have to improve in that area if he is to become the big-time leadoff hitter the Twins were looking for when they traded for him. The tools are there, it is just a matter of Gomez getting more at-bats under his belt and learning how to approach each plate appearance.
Gomez is the fan favorite to win the center field job, if only so they can see an immediate return on the Johan Santana trade. But he will have to beat out a couple other youngsters to earn the gig. 2003 1st rounder Denard Span has been a bust up to this point, but he enters Spring Training with renewed optimism after seeing a path cleared in front of him. Much like Gomez, Span has struggled with his bat, posting a .283/.350/.348 career line in the minors. Also like Gomez is a speedy and rangy player whose athleticism is an asset, although he is inferior to Gomez in both those areas. So far in his career, Span has shown nothing that suggests he can handle every duties. He will need a great spring if he wants to man the cavernous outfield at the Metrodome come Opening Day.
A more veritable option center may be Jason Pridie. He had a breakout campaign in 2007, hitting .318/.375/.539 at Triple A Durham. The organization has liked him for awhile. They selected him in the 2005 Rule-5 draft, only to send him back to Tampa Bay after he narrowly missed making the club. The Twins once again went after Pridie as part of the Matt Garza-Delmon Young trade and now view him as a serious candidate to replace Hunter. Pridie is not as physically gifted as the other two, but he has shown the most acumen with his bat thus far. The 24 year old has the most experience of the group and that may help set him at part for at least the early stages of the '08 season.
Gardenhire has already stated that whomever wins the center field job will bat leadoff, meaning they will have every chance to make an early impression. Gomez has the advantage of being right-handed. In a predominantly left-handed lineup, Gardy may be looking for more balance and Gomez offers that. Carlos would likely be overmatched at the plate initially, but the Twins have already shown a willingness to sacrifice offense for speed and defense, as evidenced during the treacherous Nick Punto experiment. The left-handed swinging Span and Pridie will have their say in the biggest position battle in camp, but as of now Gomez has the clubhouse lead.
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