Trevor Plouffe

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #24 prospect in 2011
  The 20th overall pick in the 2004 draft and recipient of a $1.5 million bonus, Plouffe methodically has put himself into position to contribute in Minnesota and made his big league debut in 2010, getting two hits against the Brewers in his first game on May 21. He struggled for the most part, however, and spent most of his time in Minnesota as a pinch-runner and defensive replacement. Plouffe remains much the same player he's been since he was drafted. His best tool remains his strong arm, and he has become more consistent defensively as he has learned to take fewer chances with it. He doesn't have more than average range, but his arm allows him to make plays in the hole. Plouffe's hands are steady in the field and give him surprising power at the plate. He has earned comparisons over the years to Greg Gagne, Khalil Greene and J.J. Hardy for his average power and overly aggressive approach at the plate. He's a solid athlete and fringe-average runner. He could fit on Minnesota's bench for 2011, but the Twins' bid for Japanese infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka shows they aren't comfortable with Plouffe as Hardy's replacement. If he doesn't stick in Minnesota in 2011, Plouffe likely is out of the organization's future plans.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #24 prospect in 2010
  The Twins had six of the first 61 selections in the 2004 draft, and a group that included pitchers Glen Perkins and Anthony Swarzak, who have reached the majors. Plouffe was Minnesota's top choice that year, signing for $1.5 million as the No. 20 overall pick, but he has yet to make the big leagues. He was on the 40-man roster in 2009, but instead of getting a September callup, the Twins allowed Plouffe to play for the U.S. national team in the World Cup. Team USA won 14 straight games and the gold medal, and manager Eddie Rodriguez praised Plouffe's steady defensive play as a key to victory. His shortstop defense hasn't been good enough as a pro, despite a plus-plus arm that remains his best tool. He made 26 errors last year at Rochester, consistent with the 29 he made in Fort Myers in 2006 and 32 in '07 at New Britain. He was more of a utility infielder in 2008, but he lacks the energy or speed to play that role in the majors. His supporters in the organization believe in his power, and Plouffe made more contact while driving the ball with more regularity last year. He lacks the patience and the leverage in his swing, though, to ever hit for more than average power. Plouffe still could be a second-division regular, but now he's blocked by J.J. Hardy. He'll go back for another stint at Triple-A.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #13 prospect in 2009
  Scouts still remember Plouffe fondly as a prep pitching prospect, and he would have played both ways at Southern California had he not signed for $1.5 million as a first-round pick. He has grinded his way to the doorstep of the majors, reaching Triple-A for the first time in 2008. He played more third base there and added experience at second base in addition to playing shortstop. However, the Twins don't think of him as a utilityman, seeing him instead as a slugging middle infielder in the Khalil Greene mold. Plouffe's hands and throwing arm made him a first-round pick. He still has a cannon for an arm that plays well on the left side of the infield, and his hands work at the plate and in the field. He has the hand-eye coordination to get the barrel of the bat to the ball and has average power, especially to the gaps. Club officials project he could hit 15-20 homers annually in the majors once he learns which pitches to lay off and which to drive. As with Greene, poor pitch recognition continues to depress Plouffe's offensive production. He's an aggressive, early-count hitter who tries to hit the first fastball he sees, in part because he lacks confidence or a consistent approach when faced with offspeed pitches or two-strike counts. He's a fringe-average runner who's fast becoming below average. His power will determine whether or not Plouffe becomes a big league regular or not. He could fit sooner than later as a utility player in Minnesota but will have to play with energy to earn a spot on manager Ron Gardenhire's bench. More likely, he's headed back to Triple-A Rochester after being added to the 40-man roster in November.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #10 prospect in 2008
  The Twins have taken high school hitters with their first pick in seven of the last nine drafts, and with the exception of Joe Mauer, they've developed slowly. Plouffe finally made significant progress in 2007, setting career highs in most categories. When he's playing well, Plouffe shows four or five average tools. He has some feel for hitting and is developing power as he learns to use the leverage in his swing. A good prospect as a pitcher in high school, he has plenty of arm to make plays at shortstop and to handle third base if needed. He has average speed. His professional makeup serves him well. Plouffe doesn't stand out in any phase of the game. He figures to bat at the bottom of a big league order. An inconsistent defender, he made 32 errors last season and must improve his footwork to remain a shortstop. His quickness is below-average for his position. After starting his first Double-A season at age 20, Plouffe will consolidate his gains and go back to New Britain to start the season. He has similar tools but lacks the results of recently traded Jason Bartlett, and he could factor into Minnesota's shortstop mix in 2009 if he can become more consistent.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #19 prospect in 2007
  After two full seasons, the Twins remain unsure about Plouffe, who garnered attention on the mound as well as at shortstop as a high school All-American. Organization officials remain optimistic about his bat, more than his statistics suggest they should. He had an upand- down season in high Class A but finished strong, hitting .299 with 13 of his 34 extrabase hits coming in his final 33 games. Plouffe also performed well in instructional league, and club officials don't think anything's wrong with his swing. Effort and competitiveness aren't the problem, and he's intense and works hard. He's fairly selective at the plate and was at his best when he was patient. Defensively, Plouffe has soft hands and an above-average arm. While his range isn't ideal, he's an average runner and he has retained his athleticism since high school, just not his performance. He's headed to Double-A for '07, but if his bat doesn't pick up soon he could get more work at second base and third base (where he played some in '06) in preparation for a future as a utility player.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #9 prospect in 2006
  A two-way star in high school, Plouffe didn't convince the Twins he was a better position player until March of his draft year. On the mound, he showed a four-pitch mix and could hit 91 mph with command. He went 25-2 his final two seasons, but area scout Bill Mele recommended Plouffe remain at shortstop. He accepted a $1.5 million bonus as the 20th overall pick in the 2004 draft. Plouffe gets the nod as the Twins best defensive infielder, slightly ahead of 2005 second-round pick Paul Kelly, a fellow shortstop. Plouffe's arm is a shade below Kelly's but still rates a solid 60 on the 20- 80 scouting scale. Plouffe showed soft hands and good power in 2005, continuing to draw comparisons to former Twins shortstop Greg Gagne. He has average speed. Plouffe got off to a miserable start at Beloit with the bat, struggling with timing because of late activity in his swing. He adjusted in the second half and became a threat at the plate, though he could use more strength on his smallish frame. Defensively, he needs to stay lower on balls and work to improve his balance. With Kelly and second-rounder Drew Thompson entering the system last year, Plouffe suddenly has lots of company at his position. He figures to open the year in high Class A.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #12 prospect in 2005
  Plouffe was a two-way star in high school, and the Twins didn't make the call on whether they liked him more as a pitcher or a hitter until last March. On the mound he had a four-pitch mix and could hit 91 mph with great feel and command. He went 25-2 his final two seasons and reminded Minnesota of Brad Radke, but area scout Bill Mele saw enough of Plouffe to recommend he be drafted as a position player. Plouffe accepted a $1.5 million bonus as the first of five Twins picks before the second round. He has special hands both offensively and defensively and projects to hit 15-20 homers a year in the majors. As a position player, he draws comparisons to Greg Gagne from some Twins officials. Plouffe has a plus arm and his advanced makeup and work ethic should push him along quickly. However, none of his tools blows scouts away. He's an average runner and his smallish frame is somewhat of a concern. In the field, he doesn't go as strong to his right as to his left. His power for now is strictly to the pull side. But when Minnesota threw him into the Appalachian League against mostly older foes, Plouffe more than held his own. He should start 2005 in low Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Midwest League #12 prospect in 2005
  The Twins drafted Plouffe ahead of all those pitchers in 2004, and he drew the best reviews among the MWL's crop of teenage shortstops that also included Bush, Southwest Michigan's Reid Brignac, Wisconsin's Matt Tuiasosopo and Asdrubal Cabrera. Plouffe's statistics, like his tools, aren't eye-catching but he has solid tools across the board and showed a lot of perseverance this year. He went 1-for-20 to open the season and was batting .168 at the end of May, but he made adjustments and was an RBI threat in the second half of the season. Plouffe's strong wrists allow him to drive pitches to all fields, and he grasps the strike zone better than most young hitters. The consensus is that he'll bat .260-.270 with 15 homers in the majors. He's an average runner with solid range and plus arm strength. He's more steady than flashy in the mold of Greg Gagne, or J.J. Hardy.
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  Ranked American League #6 prospect in 2004
  The second of two Twins first-rounders on this list, Plouffe showed smooth shortstop actions that reminded some managers of former Twin Greg Gagne. He displayed good hands, an above-average arm and excelled at charging balls and fielding those to his right because of his quickness. Plouffe also showed the aptitude and attitude to respond to instruction. He still needs to work on his first-step quickness and positioning. Offensively, Plouffe authored a 17-game hitting streak and demonstrated a fluid swing. He uses the whole field and is patient at the plate, though his swing gets long at times. "He's a special guy," Elizabethton manager Ray Smith said. "During the 16 years I've been in this league, I've seen only a handful of top shortstop prospects, and he's one of them."

• December, 2009 Scouting Report
  The Twins had six of the first 61 selections in the 2004 draft, and a group that included pitchers Glen Perkins and Anthony Swarzak, who have reached the majors. Plouffe was Minnesota's top choice that year, signing for $1.5 million as the No. 20 overall pick, but he has yet to make the big leagues. He was on the 40-man roster in 2009, but instead of getting a September callup, the Twins allowed Plouffe to play for the U.S. national team in the World Cup. Team USA won 14 straight games and the gold medal, and manager Eddie Rodriguez praised Plouffe's steady defensive play as a key to victory. His shortstop defense hasn't been good enough as a pro, despite a plus-plus arm that remains his best tool. He made 26 errors last year at Rochester, consistent with the 29 he made in Fort Myers in 2006 and 32 in '07 at New Britain. He was more of a utility infielder in 2008, but he lacks the energy or speed to play that role in the majors. His supporters in the organization believe in his power, and Plouffe made more contact while driving the ball with more regularity last year. He lacks the patience and the leverage in his swing, though, to ever hit for more than average power. Plouffe still could be a second-division regular, but now he's blocked by J.J. Hardy. He'll go back for another stint at Triple-A.