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Fort Myers, Fla. – Eduardo Escobar flew to Fort Myers from Venezuela last week. Last Friday morning, three days before the Twins' first workout for pitchers and catchers and more than a week before he would be required to take the field, Escobar was the first to arrive at the Twins' spring training clubhouse.
He greeted clubhouse manager Rod McCormick with a hug, then took a seat in front of his locker, wearing street clothes. Escobar had no reason to be in the clubhouse at all, or at that hour, but he couldn't wait to see his teammates.
Perhaps more than in any other major sport, baseball players speak of their love of the game as if it were a close relative, but they don't all love it for the right reasons. Some love the money, or the ego fulfillment, or the lifestyle. Escobar has proved in his four seasons with the Twins that he loves the game and his teammates, which is why he has become one of the most popular people in the organization.
This year, he will be more than that. After two seasons as a utility player and two seasons in which he won the shortstop job during the season, Escobar is for the first time entering camp as a starter.
This is not what the Twins had planned. Danny Santana was supposed to be the prototypical multitalented, athletic shortstop who could bat leadoff, steal bases and provide defensive range. Escobar beat out Santana last season, and now Santana is considered a utility player.
Jorge Polanco or Nick Gordon could be the next prospects to challenge Escobar for the job, but the Twins have learned to appreciate Escobar for what he is rather than fret about what he isn't.
"People talk about what he can't do, but how about what he can do?" Twins General Manager Terry Ryan said. "If you compare his numbers to most shortstops around baseball, he looks pretty good. He can take a good at-bat, he can drive the ball, he handles himself well at short, and he's got plenty of arm."
As the steroid era has waned, there have become fewer power-hitting shortstops. Escobar lacks range but produced an OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) of .754, the second-highest among Twins regulars last year behind only power phenom Miguel Sano (.916).
At 27, Escobar seems to be improving yearly, and seems to perform better the more he plays. His OPS has increased every year he's been with the Twins. His OPS the second half of last season was a star-quality .816.
"I love it in Minnesota," he said. "I want to stay here all my career. I love it here. Good coaching, good organization, good people. Everything is great."
He'll form a double-play combination with Brian Dozier, his best friend on the team. "Dozier is my brother," he said. "He's a funny guy. I love him."
No matter what the team plans, performance wins out. Eddie Rosario was considered the team's second baseman of the future until Dozier started producing. Aaron Hicks was supposed to be the starting center fielder and future right fielder until he convinced the front office that he didn't have what it takes to be a winning player. Kennys Vargas won the DH job, then lost it. Trevor Plouffe was going to lose the third base job to Miguel Sano, and then he played well enough to bump Sano to right field.
Santana was the shortstop of the future, and Escobar was a likable utility player, until the games started last season.
Front offices plan. Players decide.
Jim Souhan's podcast can be heard at MalePatternPodcasts.com. On Twitter: @SouhanStrib. • jsouhan@startribune.com
