And if there’s one thing you notice when tracking prospects in this game, it’s this: everyone starts at shortstop
Even Miguel Sanó was considered a shortstop when the Twins signed him. Teams routinely load their farm systems with athletic shortstops, knowing full well many of them will never sniff the big leagues at that position. Shortstop is where the best players go when they’re young. If they can’t stick there, because of size, speed, or arm strength, they get moved down the defensive spectrum. It’s a filtering system, and the Twins have several names working their way through the funnel
Here’s a look at how Minnesota might line things up at shortstop over the next five years.
Grade The Twins’ Trade Deadline.
2025-2026: Brooks Lee, The Heir Apparent
Lee’s path to Minnesota was methodical. After the Twins took him with the eighth overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, he tore through the minors in less than two seasons. A back injury slowed him earlier this year, but he’s healthy now and should see extended big-league time this fall. In 93 games, he has a 78 OPS+ with 10 home runs and 10 doubles. He doesn’t have the defensive chops of Correa (-2 OAA at SS), but he should be able to hold down the position until another prospect steps in to take over the spot.
Lee likely takes over the reins in 2025 and holds the job through at least 2026. That said, there’s always been speculation he’s better suited for third base or second long-term, depending on how his body ages and how much range he maintains. Still, his bat has always been his calling card, and the Twins will need more offensive output from him over the next two years.
2026-2028: Kaelen Culpepper, The Top Prospect in Waiting
Culpepper might be one of the most athletic players in the system right now, and that’s one of the reasons the Twins took him in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft. Among the team’s top prospects, he has seen his stock rise the most this year. In 82 games between High- and Double-A, he is hitting .315/.398/.503 (.901) with 15 homers, 13 doubles, and a 153 wRC+. There’s a strong chance he is the team’s minor league player of the year.
Culpepper might debut at second or third to get his feet wet, but long-term, he profiles as a potential everyday shortstop. His arm is so good that many believed that he would shift to the hot corner as he got closer to the big leagues. Many evaluators have changed their tune this season and believe he can stick at short. If Lee shifts off the position by 2026 or 2027, Culpepper could grab the job and run with it through the end of the decade. Keep an eye on his strikeout rate and ability to handle velocity up in the zone. If those develop, his ceiling is sky high.
2028-2030: Marek Houston, The Long-Term Bet
The Twins used a first-round pick in 2025 to land Marek Houston, a defense-first college shortstop with a high baseball IQ. He’s the kind of player scouts rave about in quiet tones: advanced footwork, internal clock, great first step, and a smooth, accurate arm. While the bat has a ways to go, there are signs of a quality contact profile and sneaky doubles power.
Houston is years away, but if Culpepper outgrows shortstop or shifts to third base, Houston could step in and become the steady, glove-first answer. He has a solid floor, low flash, but reliable as they come
A Position in Flux, But Not in Crisis
It’s strange to say goodbye to Correa just two and a half years into his massive contract, especially after his postseason heroics and leadership behind the scenes. But the Twins prepared for this. They drafted shortstops. And they’ll keep developing them.
In five years, we might look back and see that Correa was just the bridge between one era of Twins baseball and another. The names may change, but the pipeline is full. And odds are, the guy replacing Correa… was once a shortstop, too
Who is the team’s best long-term option at shortstop? Leave a comment and start the discussion.
