Hotshot shortstop prospect Jorge Polanco started Wednesday's game against Kansas City.
Polanco, who was called up in an emergency situation last year when the Twins were shorthanded in Texas, is up this time while Eddie Rosario is away on paternity leave. Rosario will be back Friday when the Twins play at Texas, and Polanco will be optioned to Chattanooga after going 1-for-3 and committing an error in Wednesday's 7-2 loss to the Royals.
But is Polanco really the Twins' shortstop of the future?
He's made a lot of progress at the position in recent years. He was batting .312 with four home runs and 26 RBI at Class AA Chattanooga with 11 stolen bases and 12 errors when he was called up. But Twins officials are split on if he should remain at shortstop.
"I'm not sure that debate is totally over," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "I think a lot of people have bought into the fact that what he's done in terms of improving both footwork and arm strength, and believe he has a chance to stick at that spot. I don't think that's unanimous, but I think it's a greater percentage than it used to be.
"Those are the biggest things. As he's gotten bigger and more athletic, his footwork has followed that. He used to get tangled up a little bit, get in between [and] not have a good base when he fielded the ball. Arm strength was a little suspect in the hole when he was younger. Always caught the ball fairly well, and I think it was a matter of him growing into his body and understanding how to make it work the best way."
His bat is not the problem. Twins assistant general manager Rob Antony was in Chattanooga last week and returned with praise.
"He was taking the best at-bats of anyone on that team," Antony said.