27-year old righty swinging 3B Danny Valencia got his first shot at the full-time starting gig at 3B in 2011 and he was so-so. He played in 154 games for the Twins last year and he was 139 of 564 (.246 avg, .677 OPS) with 63 runs scored, 15 homers, 72 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Valencia has now played in 239 games in his first two years with the Twins and he is 232 of 863 (.269 avg, .720 OPS) with 93 runs scored, 22 homers, 112 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. He made 18 errors while showing awful range in his 147 games at 3B for the Twins last year. The Twins hope that Valencia produces a little more with the bat while improving his defense in 2012.

31-year old lefty swinging Sean Burroughs could win a job on the Twins’ bench this spring. He played in 78 games for the Diamondbacks last year and he was 30 for 110 (.273 avg, .626 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 1 homer, 8 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Burroughs has now played in 518 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 461 of 1,647 (.280 avg, .694 OPS) with 187 runs scored, 12 homers, 142 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. Burroughs only had 1 error in 20 games at 3B for the D-Backs last year while showing slightly below average range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 3B IN 2012: C+

The Twins signed 38-year old righty swinging Jamey Carroll over the winter to be their starting SS in 2012. Carroll played in 146 games for the Dodgers last year and he was 131 of 452 (.290 avg, .706 OPS) with 52 runs scored, 0 homers, 17 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. He has now played in 1,065 games in his first 10 years in the majors and he is 826 for 2,974 (.278 avg, .704 OPS) with 469 runs scored, 12 homers, 214 RBIs and 63 stolen bases. Carroll played in 66 games at SS for the Dodgers last year and he made 4 errors while showing pretty awful range. If Carroll can hit around .280 and make the plays he can get to, the Twins will be happy with him.

27-year old switch-hitting Tsuyoshi Nishioka was a complete bust as a rookie for the Twins in 2011. He played in 68 games for the Twins last year and he was 50 for 221 (.226 avg, .527 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 0 homers, 19 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Nishioka also made a stunning 10 errors in 60 games at SS for the Twins last year, but he did show pretty good range. He is going to have to have a good spring to ensure he doesn’t start the 2012 season in AAA.

25-year old righty swinging Trevor Plouffe had a rough time at SS last year for the Twins. He had 11 errors in only 45 games at SS last year while showing awful range. He is likely going to get most of his P.T. for the Twins in the outfield in 2012.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE SS IN 2012: C

27-year old switch-hitting Alexi Casilla will be the Twins’ starting 2B once again in 2012. He has not played in more than 100 games in any of his first six years in the majors, so the Twins are hoping he can stay healthy in 2012. Casilla played in 97 games for the Twins last year and he was 84 for 323 (.260 avg, .691 OPS) with 52 runs scored, 2 homers, 21 RBIs and 15 stolen bases. He has now played in 409 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 323 of 1,281 (.252 avg, .647 OPS) with 177 runs scored, 10 homers, 117 RBIs and 50 stolen bases. Casilla had 6 errors in 56 games at 2B for the Twins last year while showing off pretty good range. This could be Casilla’s breakout year if he can just stay healthy.

27-year old righty swinging Luke Hughes hurt his shoulder playing winter ball but he’s almost ready to start playing. He played in 96 games for the Twins last year and he was 64 for 287 (.223 avg, .627 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 7 homers, 30 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Hughes has now played in 98 games in his first two years in the majors and he is 66 for 294 (.224 avg, .636 OPS) with 32 runs scored, 8 homers, 31 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Hughes played in 37 games at 2B for the Twins and he only made 2 errors while showing good range. His versatility in the field might help him make the Twins’ roster.

28-year old lefty swinging Brian Dinkelman took over at 2B late last year and he played well. He played in 23 games for the Twins last year and he was 22 for 73 (.301 avg, .661 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 0 homers, 4 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Dinkelman also played in 127 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 114 of 469 (.243 avg, .640 OPS) with 54 runs scored, 3 homers, 41 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Dinkelman didn’t make any errors in 11 games at 2B for the Twins last year while showing off outstanding range. He will need a good spring to make the Twins’ roster when the 2012 season begins.

27-year old switch-hitting Tsuyoshi Nishioka played in 6 games at 2B for the Twins last year and he made 2 errors while showing pretty awful range there. He will likely be focusing on playing SS for the Twins this year.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2B IN 2012: C

Concussions have wiped out 30-year old lefty swinging 1B Justin Morneau’s last two years. The Twins hope he can make a full comeback in 2012. Morneau played in only 69 games for the Twins last year and he was 60 for 264 (.227 avg, .618 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 4 homers and 30 RBIs. He has now played in 1,017 games in his first nine years with the Twins and he is 1,055 of 3,749 (.281 avg, .851 OPS) with 550 runs scored, 185 homers, 709 RBIs and 4 stolen base. Morneau only made 1 error in 56 games as he continued to be a decent defensive 1B despite being a little foggy last year.

24-year old lefty swinging Chris Parmelee comes into this season as the Twins’ #9 prospect according to Baseball America. Parmelee played in 21 games in his first taste of the majors for the Twins last year and he was 27 for 76 (.355 avg, 1.035 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 4 homers and 14 RBIs. Parmelee made 2 errors in 20 games for the Twins at 1B last year. He also played in 142 games in AA-ball last year and he was 152 for 530 (.287 avg, .801 OPS) with 76 runs scored, 13 homers and 83 RBIs. If Morneau has a relapse, Parmelee will take over as the Twins’ starting 1B in 2012.

28-year old righty swinging Steve Pearce will be a longshot this spring to make the Twins. He played in 50 games for the Pirates last year and he was 19 for 94 (.202 avg, .515 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 1 homer and 10 RBIs. He has now played in 185 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 108 of 465 (.232 avg, .668 OPS) with 50 runs scored, 9 homers, 52 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. Pearce had 1 error in 16 games for the Pirates at 1B last year. He also can handle a corner outfield slot defensively, which should aid him in possibly making the Twins’ opening day roster.

27-year old righty swinging Aaron Bates played in 106 games in AAA-ball for the Twins last year and he was 113 of 358 (.316 avg, .847 OPS) with 57 runs scored, 7 homers, 37 RBIs and 1 stolen base. His only major league experience came back in 2009 with the Red Sox. Bates played in 5 games for the Red Sox in 2009 and he was 4 for 11 (.364 avg, .962 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 1B IN 2012: C+

The Twins don’t have any good alternatives behind the plate if Joe Mauer gets hurt again. He played in only 82 games for the Twins last year and he was 85 for 296 (.287 avg, .729 OPS) with 38 runs scored, 3 homers and 30 RBIs. Mauer has now played in 918 games in his first 8 years with the Twins and he is 1,096 of 3,388 (.323 avg, .874 OPS) with 545 runs scored, 84 homers, 502 RBIs and 35 stolen bases. Mauer played in 52 games behind the plate for the Twins last year and he had 4 errors and 4 passed balls. He threw out 10 of 40 (25%) base stealers last year and Twins’ pitchers had a 4.43 ERA with him behind the plate. The Twins need Joe Mauer to catch at least 125 games in 2012 or they are in trouble.

28-year old righty swinging Drew Butera has a good throwing arm but that’s his only really asset as he can’t hit a lick. Butera played in 93 games for the Twins last year and he was 39 for 234 (.167 avg, .449 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 2 homers and 23 RBIs. He has now played in 142 games in his first two years with the Twins and he is 67 for 376 (.178 avg, .481 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 4 homers and 36 RBIs. Butera played in 93 games behind the plate for the Twins last year and he had 5 errors and 7 passed balls. He threw out 20 of 70 (28.6%) base stealers last year and Twins’ pitchers had a 4.87 ERA with him behind the dish. Butera is going to have to beat out J.R. Towles and Rene Rivera this spring if he wants to remain the Twins’ backup catcher in 2012.

27-year old righty swinging J.R. Towles didn’t hit much better than Butera did last year. He played in 54 games for the Astros last year and he was 27 for 147 (.184 avg, .549 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 3 homers and 11 RBIs. Towles has played in 155 games in his first five years in the majors and he is 80 for 428 (.187 avg, .583 OPS) with 40 runs scored, 11 homers and 50 RBIs. Towles played in 51 games behind the plate for the Astros last year and he had 6 errors and 2 passed balls. Towles only threw out 6 of 46 (13.0%) base stealers and Astros’ pitchers had a 4.87 ERA with him behind the dish. Towles is going to need a big spring to win a job on the Twins’ roster when the 2012 season begins.

28-year old righty swinging Rene Rivera is a big time longshot to win the backup job to Joe Mauer this spring. Rivera played in 45 games for the Twins last year and he was 15 for 104 (.144 avg, .412 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 1 homer and 5 RBIs. He has now played in 98 games in his first four years in the majors and he is 49 for 254 (.193 avg, .514 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 4 homers, 15 RBIs and 1 stolen base. He is likely going to start the 2012 season in AAA-ball for the Twins.

30-year old righty swinging Ryan Doumit is going to be the Twins’ full-time DH in 2012, so they don’t want him catching if at all possible. Doumit played in 60 games behind the plate for the Pirates last year and he had 6 errors and 4 passed balls. Doumit threw out 11 of 54 (20.4%) base stealers and Pirates’ pitchers had a 4.78 ERA with him behind the dish.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CATCHERS IN 2012: B