Image courtesy of © Matt Kartozian-Imagn Images
Since Rocco Baldelli took over as Minnesota Twins manager at the beginning of the 2019 season, first base has been a revolving door. C.J. Cron patrolled the position in Baldelli’s first year, hitting .253/.311/.469 with 25 home runs and an admirable 101 wRC+. Miguel Sanó occupied the position for two seasons thereafter. Since Sanó’s departure, José Miranda, Alex Kirilloff, Donovan Solano, and Carlos Santana have rotated through the spot.
In mid-February, Twins decision-makers signed Ty France to a one-year, $1-million non-guaranteed contract to become the club’s next full-time first baseman. The 30-year-old veteran has already delivered value on that investment, with a sturdy 105 wRC+ in 145 plate appearances. Yet, given the significant spending restrictions this ownership group has placed on the front office and France’s shaky recent track record, France will likely depart Twins Territory after his 2025 campaign.
That being the case, the club will presumably be scouring the trade and free-agent markets to acquire another veteran first baseman on a short-term deal this offseason. While this method of roster construction has sufficed since Sanó’s departure and would be a sound approach, the organization would happily welcome a long-term solution at the position. Interestingly, Billy Amick could be just that.
Taken with the 60th selection in the 2024 MLB Draft out of the University of Tennessee, Amick performed well over 77 plate appearances at Low A last season, hitting .222/.351/.413 with 14 hits, three doubles, three home runs, 12 walks, and a 122 wRC+. The 22-year-old has built on that impressive inaugural campaign this spring, hitting .342/.475/.447 with 26 hits, six doubles, 15 walks, and a 168 wRC+ over 99 plate appearances at High-A Cedar Rapids. Contact and strikeout concerns exist in Amick’s hitting profile. Yet, he has hit well at every level he’s played at, lending weight to the idea that he could overcome these shortcomings as he progresses through the high minors.
Given that Amick was a high draft pick who played collegiate baseball at Clemson and Tennessee for three seasons, he is expected to perform well in the low minors. The former Volunteer could soon earn a promotion to Double-A. In the field, Amick has netted playing time at the following positions:
First base – 71 innings
Third base – 103 innings
Amick primarily played third base with Clemson and Tennessee, and was announced as a third baseman when selected by the Twins in the draft. It’s unsurprising that they’ve kept him at the hot corner most of the time. However, one of his most significant shortcomings in college was his defense at third base.
According to FanGraphs’s Eric Longenhagen, Amick is a “flub-prone third baseman with mixed arm and accuracy [whose] range and hands [are] both below average.” Minnesota already has promising third basemen Royce Lewis and Brooks Lee on the 26-man roster. Also, Carlos Correa could slide to the hot corner as his career progresses. Taking that into consideration, along with the fact that fellow young, defensively superior infield prospects Rayne Doncon, Kaelen Culpepper, and Brandon Winokur are also receiving opportunities at third, there is reason to believe the organization could eventually elect to move Amick off the position.
Moving off a position higher on the defensive spectrum would be a negative for Amick and his future value. However, like most organizations, the Twins don’t have a highly ranked first base prospect at any minor-league level. If Amick can continue to thrive at the plate while demonstrating adequate defense at first base, the former second-round pick could become the club’s first long-term solution at the position this decade.