• Pickin' Berrios

    by
    mnfanforlife
    Published on 11-10-2012 08:13 PM
    110 Comments Comments
    Most every hardcore Twins fan is well aware of the Puerto Rican 18-year-old we picked up in last June's draft (Jose Orlando Berrios! for the rest of you). After dominating both rookie levels in 2012, this kid is screaming fast-track potential. Where can we expect this guy to finish the 2013 season?



    J.O. is what they are gonna call him. And he should certainly get to pick his nickname after averaging 14.4 K's/9 innings as a minor-league-rookie.
    That is ridiculous, and 2013 will show if he can keep those numbers up as a starting pitcher. He pitched 30.2 innings with 49 K's in 2012, and opponents hit .140. Holy moly!

    This guy is only 6-foot-nothing, a-hundred-eighty-nothing (short and scrawny). But he generates tremendous force behind his pitches. Before the draft, the numbers and reports the Twins had on him were this: 90-93 fastball with 3/4 arm slot creating tail...78 on the slurve with hard break down and away from RHH...79 on the Change-up with heavy action in to a RHH. He was praised for his command of the off-speed stuff, especially the change-up.

    After checking out a few videos on youtube, I see that this kid really has an electric fastball. A low 90's fastball isn't all that impressive by itself. But J.O. has a very deliberate motion toward the plate and hides the ball extremely well, making that low 90's heat feel like mid 90's to the hitter. His breaking ball is "as advertised" and shall be an out pitch for the talented right-hander. The change-up looks like filth to me, and should prove to keep many pro-hitters from guessing on the fastball.

    So the real question now is this: Will the organization fast-track this kid in 2013, and allow him to move multiple levels? I am sure his performance will determine this, but the guy will only be 19. So, perhaps the organization will play it safe and limit his innings and appearances? Berrios has been described as physically mature beyond his age (whatever that means), so maybe he gets a heavier workload than someone else his age.



    I predict: Berrios shows how his hard working attitude can produce crazy good numbers. Reports from the end of last summer had him hitting 94-96 on the gun, so he's got serious MLB potential. He may start in Elizabethton, but I see him definitely playing A ball before the season ends. If it was up to me, I would start him in Cedar Rapids and play it by ear from there. He is oh-so-ready for the low-A level, and you know it.

    Please leave your opinion on Berrios below. Thanks!
    This article was originally published in blog: Pickin' Berrios started by mnfanforlife
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    1. mnfanforlife's Avatar
      mnfanforlife - 01-17-2013, 09:53 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by nicksaviking View Post
      Nope, the Twins make nearly all HS players stay a full year at low A. Arcia got to skip out after half a season but he was a hitter. Berrios will get no higher than CR this year.
      I don't like it, but I agree that is the wisest course of action for Berrios. We need pitching NOW in Minnesota, but its not worth risking guys like J.O. before they are ready for a big-league workload
    1. kab21's Avatar
      kab21 - 01-17-2013, 10:06 AM
      prospects need time. you don't rush a prospect because of need. Plus the Twins have Gibson, May and Meyer in AA/AAA.
    1. mnfanforlife's Avatar
      mnfanforlife - 01-17-2013, 10:09 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by kab21 View Post
      prospects need time. you don't rush a prospect because of need. Plus the Twins have Gibson, May and Meyer in AA/AAA.
      And a ton of college arms that are not even on the Top 20 list by MLB.com
    1. mnfanforlife's Avatar
      mnfanforlife - 01-17-2013, 10:10 AM
      How about a future rotation of:

      1. Meyer
      2. May
      3. Berrios
      4. Gibson
      5. Boyd/Baxendale/Hendriks/Mata/ whoever is good
    1. nicksaviking's Avatar
      nicksaviking - 01-17-2013, 10:37 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by kab21 View Post
      prospects need time. you don't rush a prospect because of need. Plus the Twins have Gibson, May and Meyer in AA/AAA.
      You don't want to push a guy who's not ready, but if he is proving himself, a quick advancement is not necessarily rushing a young player. Had the Twins been fortunate enough to have gotten their hands on Felix Hernandez or Clayton Kershaw, would those players still have reached the majors at the young ages of 19 and 20 years old? No one can say, but i suspect not.
    1. mnfanforlife's Avatar
      mnfanforlife - 01-17-2013, 11:02 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by nicksaviking View Post
      You don't want to push a guy who's not ready, but if he is proving himself, a quick advancement is not necessarily rushing a young player. Had the Twins been fortunate enough to have gotten their hands on Felix Hernandez or Clayton Kershaw, would those players still have reached the majors at the young ages of 19 and 20 years old? No one can say, but i suspect not.
      There is absolutely NO WAY the Twins EVER start a 19-yr-old at ANY position in the big-leagues. Mauer was a rare exception at 20. No one will ever get to Minnesota that quickly ever again.
    1. kab21's Avatar
      kab21 - 01-17-2013, 11:52 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by nicksaviking View Post
      You don't want to push a guy who's not ready, but if he is proving himself, a quick advancement is not necessarily rushing a young player. Had the Twins been fortunate enough to have gotten their hands on Felix Hernandez or Clayton Kershaw, would those players still have reached the majors at the young ages of 19 and 20 years old? No one can say, but i suspect not.
      The thing is that Berrrios isn't Kershaw or Felix. If he's dominating at the all star break then he should be promoted. I am expecting him to be good but not great next year.
    1. ThePuck's Avatar
      ThePuck - 01-17-2013, 12:55 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by kab21 View Post
      The thing is that Berrrios isn't Kershaw or Felix. If he's dominating at the all star break then he should be promoted. I am expecting him to be good but not great next year.
      No Berrios isn't Kershaw or Felix, but when those two were that young, did everyone know they'd turn out exactly how they did? I wonder who people were saying those two weren't when they were that young...

      Berrios' numbers in rookie ball were better than Kershaw's...arguably better than King Felix's...at least stat-line wise. We could really have something here.
    1. mnfanforlife's Avatar
      mnfanforlife - 01-17-2013, 01:31 PM
      Great point! And yes, we could really have something special in Berrios
    1. kab21's Avatar
      kab21 - 01-17-2013, 08:51 PM
      I think you need to reign in your expectations a little.
    1. righty8383's Avatar
      righty8383 - 01-17-2013, 11:44 PM
      Quote Originally Posted by kab21 View Post
      I think you need to reign in your expectations a little.
      Perhaps, but when an 18 year old dominates a notorious hitters league, it is worth getting excited about.
    1. kab21's Avatar
      kab21 - 01-18-2013, 08:07 AM
      I agree that it is worth getting excited about but it's a small sample. He was a supplemental pick, he is not ranked in top 100 lists and most scouting reports say he has #3 upside. Kershaw was the #7 pick, ranked about #25 overall and had #1 upside. Berrios is a very good prospect but I am going to wait untilhe has at least played full season ball to suggest that he will dominate and get promoted to FT Myers.
    1. mnfanforlife's Avatar
      mnfanforlife - 01-18-2013, 08:34 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by kab21 View Post
      I agree that it is worth getting excited about but it's a small sample. He was a supplemental pick, he is not ranked in top 100 lists and most scouting reports say he has #3 upside. Kershaw was the #7 pick, ranked about #25 overall and had #1 upside. Berrios is a very good prospect but I am going to wait untilhe has at least played full season ball to suggest that he will dominate and get promoted to FT Myers.

      For sure kab21, I think we all agree he should not be rushed. But let's detach ourselves from the #3 starter projections, and become enchanted with the mystery of what Berrios could become. We should never pigeon-hole a prospect with dominant numbers, and say ,"well, he is only gonna be a 2nd tier guy in the bigs. So we can reign in our expectations and not expect anything great from him."

      I suggest we imagine what is possible, rather than downplay whatever summit a player may reach.

      Its a lot more fun anyway. And with all these teenagers in the Twins system, there are a whole lot of summits that will be reached far in to future seasons.
    1. ThePuck's Avatar
      ThePuck - 01-18-2013, 08:58 AM
      John Sickels scouting report:

      Minor League Prospect Note: Jose Berrios, RHP, Minnesota Twins

      One of my favorite pitchers from the 2012 draft is Jose Berrios (sometimes referred to as J.O. Berrios), a high school pitcher from Puerto Rico drafted in the supplemental first round by the Minnesota Twins. Berrios has been outstanding in pro ball. He threw five shutout innings for Elizabethton in the Appalachian League on Friday, allowing two hits, walking nobody, while fanning 11.


      Overall, in 25.2 innings split between Elizabethton and the Gulf Coast League, Berrios has allowed two runs (0.70 ERA), just 10 hits, only four walks, while fanning 43. That's right, 43/4 K/BB in 25.2 innings with 10 hits allowed.


      Standing 6-0, 190, the 18-year-old Berrios is showing a mid-90s fastball, and both his breaking ball and changeup are exceeding his pre-draft scouting reports. The breaking ball is variously described as either a hard curve or a slider, depending on which source you're talking to, but either way it is effective. His changeup is advanced for his age. He also tinkered with a cutter and a slow curve as an amateur. Although he doesn't have much physical projection remaining in terms of size, he is athletic, repeats his mechanics well, and has mature mound presence.


      The Twins used him in relief at first in the Gulf Coast League to get him acclimated to pro ball, but he's starting now and has the arsenal to stick there. His control has been very sharp, and obviously his performance has been outstanding so far. I like him a lot and he could end up being one of the best pitchers in the draft class.
    1. ThePuck's Avatar
      ThePuck - 01-18-2013, 09:00 AM
      From The Scouting Book

      Drafted as a teenager from Puerto Rico to open 2012's compensation round, Jose Orlando Berrios is a smallish righthander with good arm strength from a compact but strong frame. His short delivery bodes well for mechanical soundness, with a fastball that can pop at 96mph and a breaking ball that looks like a real plus offering. He'll slow-cook in Minnesota after signing, but if he stays healthy, it won't be long before he's seen as a TOP-FLIGHT PHENOM in a system good at maximizing pitcher value.
    1. mnfanforlife's Avatar
      mnfanforlife - 01-18-2013, 09:18 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by ThePuck View Post
      He'll slow-cook in Minnesota after signing, but if he stays healthy, it won't be long before he's seen as a TOP-FLIGHT PHENOM in a system good at maximizing pitcher value.
      Thats right, get out your crock pots. We are cooking up an ACE.

      Great info about Jose's progression!
    1. ThePuck's Avatar
      ThePuck - 01-18-2013, 09:33 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by mnfanforlife View Post
      Thats right, get out your crock pots. We are cooking up an ACE.

      Great info about Jose's progression!
      Heck, if he ends up being a decent #2, or a very good #3 (and I don't mean decent #2 or very good #3 based on current Twins value), it's still very good. I don't see any reason not to be high on him.
    1. kab21's Avatar
      kab21 - 01-18-2013, 10:23 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by ThePuck View Post
      Heck, if he ends up being a decent #2, or a very good #3 (and I don't mean decent #2 or very good #3 based on current Twins value), it's still very good. I don't see any reason not to be high on him.
      Who is not hi
    1. kab21's Avatar
      kab21 - 01-18-2013, 10:26 AM
      Quote Originally Posted by ThePuck View Post
      Heck, if he ends up being a decent #2, or a very good #3 (and I don't mean decent #2 or very good #3 based on current Twins value), it's still very good. I don't see any reason not to be high on him.
      Who is not high on him?
    1. mnfanforlife's Avatar
      mnfanforlife - 01-18-2013, 10:40 AM
      Yeah, I think we all agree a good #3 starter would be a miracle for the Twins rotation. Shoot, if Meyer, May, and Berrios can develop into good #2's, we got something tasty in that slow cooker. Might have to make a trip to Iowa this August, assuming Berrios will still be in low A.
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