Nothing real special here...just some footage of Mauer from my seat at the Team USA vs. ChiSox exhibition game on March 5, 2013.

He went 0-3 in the game: GIDP, K, F8

To be considered a prospect that will be drafted in the top-20 of any MLB Draft is quite a feat. Nearly everyone cannot accomplish that on natural talent alone. It takes an extreme amount of sweaty labor that most people would not, or could not, endure. I want to hope beyond all hope that Aaron Hicks turns out just like Dennis Rodman.




I’m sure your blood is boiling after reading that last sentence. So, please, allow me to explain this nonsense. One of my favorite winners of all-time is Dennis Rodman. The Worm! He could dominate a basketball game without scoring. Who does that? Nobody really does that, its exceptional to Dennis. Check it out y’all: Dennis Rodman Career Retrospective - YouTube

What many casual Rodman fans may not be aware of, is that Dennis was a very late bloomer. Wikipedia says Rodman was 5’6 as a freshman in high school, but grew to be about 6’6 as a 20-year-old JUCO player. Amazing, eh? I am hoping Aaron Hicks resembles the entertainer and defensive-minded winner that Rodman was. But I hope not for the lifestyle and the wedding dress.

Hicks was drafted 14^th overall in 2008 out of a California high school. Another high school center-fielder, Torii Hunter, was taken 20^th overall in 1993. That is hardly where the comparison ends.



Torii was an ultra-toolsy 1^st rounder with everything a Puckett-replacement would need to navigate the minor leagues. But he struggled, and he spent three years at AA with very Hicks-like statistics (not much power). In fact, Hicks’ 2012 numbers were better than anything Hunter did in three seasons at New Britain.

I was just a little guy when Torii Hunter was drafted, but I still remember thinking, “Six years!” after reading how long the experts thought he would take to arrive in Minnesota. Back then, six years seemed like an eternity.

I wonder what type of MLB projections people had for Torii while he was struggling to figure out AA pitching? He may have been tabbed as a guy that would never hit .290 in a full MLB season. But Hunter surprised many by blossoming into a power-hitting 9-time Gold Glove Award winner.

Can we expect Hicks to follow suit as a late bloomer, a la Rodman and Hunter? Will he become the next Twins CF to possess a Gold Glove? We just don’t know right now. But Torii has proven that it can happen LATE for a 5-tool prospect. And Rodman has proven that high-level defenders can win and entertain at an elite level. Here’s to hoping the best for Hicks, and the Twins!

See Hicks here: http://www.milb.com/search/media.jsp...x=-1149&y=-218

As I look out any window, I am blinded by the results of several recent blizzards that have left Dakota Territory with an ultra-reflective blanket of glaring white snow. Nothing makes me miss baseball more. I close my eyes, but it’s not blackness. An orange-ish haze is all see, due to the sunlight attempting to breach my lightly-closed eyelids.

Despite the overflow of natural light, I am able to envision big things for the Twins in my mind’s eye. A Venezuelan outfielder, Oswaldo Arcia, appears to be a mighty storm of a player. He will be ready to blow through the American League soon. Just how intense will the “Blizzard of Oz” be?

The Twins signed Arcia as a 16-yr-old back in 2007. His numbers as a 17-yr-old in the GCL were very similar to Miguel Sano’s at the same age. He has duplicated that production successfully up to the AA level. He really has nothing left to prove at any level but AAA.

He has slow-cooked to perfection and will start his sixth year with the organization on the cusp of forcing a big-league call-up. Please take a look at the things he was doing in New Britain last year: http://www.milb.com/search/media.jsp...rcia&x=16&y=12

Arcia’s accomplishments label him as a pure baller, and he will be a nice addition to the big club very soon. There is no need to rush him to the Major Leagues. But we could see a path cleared for Oswaldo mid-summer in 2013. His arrival would feel like a “Coors Light Blizzard” during the swelter of July and August (refreshing). And that will feel like Venezuela in February.



This ain't HD, but listen to the wonderful sound Arcia's bat speed creates.

I caved and signed up for a free month of Netflix. I was duped by my curiosity to watch Ballplayer: Pelotero, but now that I'm hooked I need to find eight extra bucks a month. My main interest on Netflix is the documentaries. So let's stick to, and sift through, the facts on Miguel Sano...



I recently dogged Sano a little bit by predicting he would fall from the gracious #1 spot on the top-20 Twins’ prospect list following 2013. I felt bad about this, mainly because Sano is the type of guy to make me eat my words. So, let me gush about Miguel in this post, and imagine the possibilities for this rough, Dominican diamond.

Many have predicted that eventually he will hit for average to go along with his platinum power. I will play along and believe what scouts are saying pertaining to Sano’s hit/at-bat ratio. I think .290 or higher would be a high batting average. For example, last year Albert Pujols hit .285 (25^th in the AL).

Sano’s 2012 batting average of .258 was below our mark, but not by much. He was a 19-year-old in a 21-yr-old’s league. Miguel is going to catch up to his peers (meaning people older than him), and it will be in a large way. In Pelotero, Sano was a tall, skinny, cheery teenager. He has since mutated into a 6’4 - 235+lb. beast.



The movie, Pelotero, was awesome. I have nothing but respect for Miguel Angel Sano, and his entire family. They had to prove their innocence to an MLB office that assumed Miguel and his family were guilty of age-fraud (because Sano was deemed "too good" to be 16). He passed each and every test or accusation. There is no question he was 16 when he signed.

In a weird way, Twins fans can thank the age-questioning fiasco surrounding Miguel for drastically lowering the eventual bonus amount to be paid to him. It was his first real media attack, but he kept his dream alive. He won’t give up, and the Twins never gave up on him.

After seeing Miguel go through so many different physical tests to prove he was not lying, you get the feeling this kid combines "Five-Star" talent with an attitude of “persistence through pain.” This kid will turn 20 in May, and can accomplish anything in the game. Watch out.

I remember Sano predicting 100 RBI for himself in his first full-season of minor league ball. Amazing. No matter what happens in 2013, Twins fans can have hope that there is an “Angel” on its way to Minnesota.

Please take a few moments, and imagine having your face caved in from the impact of a line-driven baseball. That's what our boy Eddie Rosario was dealing with mid-summer in 2012 after taking a batting practice rep to the face. How much can you expect from a guy after something like that?



Well, I'll tell ya. If you combine Eddie's winter league stats with his abbreviated 2012 regular season stats, you'll see a fierce line of numbers that hints at what a full, healthy season could produce for Rosario. Combine everything he did in 2012, and you get 136 games played, 544 at-bats, 168 hits, 44 doubles, 17 homers, 94 RBI, and a .308 batting average. His on-base numbers were adequate for a top-of-the-order guy.

I personally know a baseball coach that was struck in the face with a batting practice rep. His incident required emergency surgery, and was a very serious situation. I do not know if Eddie's meeting with a baseball was equally severe, but it's not prudent to expect him to hit like he did following such a confidence-shaking occurrence.

What do the numbers tell you about Rosario? I'll tell you what they tell me. The Twins have a guy that will hit, get on base, and slug in the top of a Major League line-up someday. It all hinges on how fast he can learn, and excel at, second base defensively.

How fast will Eddie get to Minnesota, and take over that pesky second base position? We just don't know right now. But one thing is certain, Eddie is floating down a "rosy river" of talent that will slowly bring him to the spotlight of Major League Baseball.

Two-way players are rarely seen in today’s Major League of Baseball. Though, there have been some incredible examples in our recent and ancient past. I’m talking about a player that can produce at a high level on both ends of the spectrum, and can be considered a legitimate pitcher and hitter in the Major Leagues.



The most revered legend of the game broke into the majors as a left-handed pitcher. His rookie stats were impressive with 18 wins and a 2.44 ERA. But he followed it up with two of the best seasons in the history of pitching a baseball. His two-year stretch of pitching dominance boasted a 1.88 ERA with 47 wins. Of course, I am writing about Babe Ruth.

1918 was the year Babe got more than 300 at-bats for the first time. In 1919, he introduced the “power-hitter stat line” to the universe while playing baseball as a full-time outfielder and spot-starter for the BoSox. The Babe’s pitching days had run their course after he hit 29 bombs and was sold to the Yanks. He made four starts for the Yanks over the final 15 years of his career.

Many other hitter-pitcher combo guys have come through the Major Leagues since Ruth’s days, but none dominated both arenas in such a fashion. A good list of the best hitting pitchers of all-time is online here. In today’s game, there are rarely opportunities for players to pitch and hit, even in college. This is a good article by Jonathon Mayo that typifies what happens to kids today. Eventually, someone else decides what position suits them best for the next level. It's basically a dying novelty at the highest levels.

The Twins recently drafted a two-way college player in Zachary Jones. It is clear that Zach will be a pitcher moving forward. Perhaps, the reason he was available to draft in the 4th round last year was because he was a two-way player projected to simply be a bullpen pitcher in the pros.

While I was a college baseball player, I had one season in which I was told I would not be a hitter or a catcher as I was accustomed to. This season, I would be a pitcher-only. I was frustrated at first, because I loved to hit. But, ultimately, the extra time spent working on the finer points of pitching really helped my total knowledge of the game. It also gave me a humble perspective, because I was filling a lesser role than full-time catcher.

Zachary will certainly become better as he devotes more time to becoming a pitcher-only, and he did this his junior year at San José State University. So, he has at least one year of pitcher-only experience. We are talking about some scary at-bats for opposing hitters if he keeps getting better. Jones struck out everyone and their brother last year in his professional debut at E-ton and Beloit. There are rumors he could become a starter someday with his intelligent make-up.



It is fun to imagine Jones as a normal-sized flamethrower in the Minnesota rotation (ditto for JO Berrios). But he may never become a high-innings guy, and his fastball could probably touch 100 if he is allowed to be a one-inning reliever. One thing is certain, Zachary’s future looks bright with all those K’s and a wealth of untapped potential. Hopefully, the more hitters he K's, the less he will want to be a hitter himself.

The Twins have a very intriguing prospect here.

What is the meaning of life? Why are we all here? When looking for meaning in life, it is important to stay away from the “meaningless” list of Twins top prospects on MLB.com. That brings up another burning question: Who is ranking the Twins’ prospects on MLB.com?


(Kennys Vargas)

In my opinion, a top prospect list should be a “fluid” collection of players with the highest perceived upside. If a player is not producing up to moderate expectations, then he should be dropped from the list and a productive player with high upside should be added in his place.

Because MLB.com had so many glaring issues, I boldly predicted what the top-10 should look like following the 2013 season. I will stick with this theme for my #11-20 Twins' prospects.

11. Nate Roberts – LF
12. Zachary Jones – RHP
13. Mason Melotakis – LHP
14. Josmil Pinto – C
15. Daniel Santana – SS
16. DJ Baxendale – RHP
17. A.J. Achter – RHP
18. Michael Tonkin - RHP
19. Kennys Vargas – 1B
20. Chris Colabello – 1B

Okay, here goes…

11. Nate Roberts – This guy is easily a top-20 prospect after tearing the AFL a new “one” last fall. He is the guy with the dirtiest jersey after most games. He is not a “toolsy” prospect. He relies on intelligence and proper execution of offensive fundamentals. I recently posted a blog entry predicting trade winds that could land Roberts in Minnesota by 2014. He is going to be a Lenny Dykstra-type of player (tough as nails).

12. Zachary Jones – Watch your lips when you step into the box vs. this right-hander. He isn’t a big, intimidating figure on the mound at 6’1”, but take a look at what Willihammer posted here concerning a pitcher’s height and effectiveness. Jones averaged 15.3 K’s per nine innings during his professional debut. He is going to be reeeeally good…may pitch in the Eastern League at the end of 2013.

13. Mason Melotakis – Here is another arm that could move multiple levels next summer. He sat hitters down nicely with Beloit, and could prove to be Minnesota-worthy quickly since our closer is a lefty and Duensing appears to be crappin’ out. He might cruise right up to Double-A this summer with the kind of stuff he possesses.

14. Josmil Pinto – We are starving for a catcher that can hit. We are starving for a catcher that can catch! Heck, we are just plain starving in Minnesota. Hopefully Pinto is the answer to this problem by 2014-15. He was impressive at A+ and AA, and should be making Hermann and Butera sweat following the 2013 season.

15. Daniel Santana – We are starving for a shortstop too! This kid is still a few years away, but he showed great speed the last two years in low-A and Ft. Myers. He hit .286 last summer with a little pop, and I really like his fielding percentage at SS (.950). This could be the guy that puts a stop in that revolving door we got in Minnesota.

16. DJ Baxendale – This ranking is based solely on what DJ did last summer during his rookie minor league season. The kid allowed hardly anyone to get on base, let alone score a run. He is said to be starting next year, and I cannot wait to find out what he can do in that role. He’s another college hurler with a chance to move up fast.

17. A.J. Achter – This dude was the minor league “Pitcher of the Year” for our favorite organization. Yet, he was absent from MLB’s list (as are a huge chunk of my top-20). Go figure, and then take a look at Achter’s stats. He belongs on this list, and he might even make it to Triple-A this next summer. He certainly dominated the FSL hitters last year.

18. Micahel Tonkin – Stud. Big, tall stud. How in the heck does he not make the top-20 after his stingy numbers on the mound in 2012. He struck out 12.6 per nine last year between low-A and Ft. Myers. He wasn’t giving up many hits or walks either. His appearance in the Arizona Fall League wasn’t bad. Tonkin can handle AA hitters, and should be within reach of Minnesota by the end of 2014.

19. Kennys Vargas – Whoa! Where did this guy come from? The island of Puerto Rico! I am not really sure what is going on with Vargas’ “games played” totals during his pro career. Maybe one of my readers can fill me in on that? But, I am scared when I watch him swing. And that is a great feeling! He hit 11 homers and walked 28 times in 41 games with Beloit in 2012. He bettered his numbers from Rookie ball to low-A. I see Big Papi when he swings. His short year in Beloit was so good he may need to be ranked much higher on this list. This 22-yr-old may be top-10 material right now.

You can brush up on your Español while Kennys scares you here: Conoce a tus Indios - Kennys Vargas - YouTube

20. Chris Colabello – If you are not rooting for this guy, shame on you! He is an un-drafted, NCAA Division-II corner infielder that can really hit. He plays for peanuts during a seven-year Independent League career, and finally gets a shot by being placed directly in AA with the Twins organization in 2012. He snaps off an eye-popping stat line during his first year with an MLB affiliate, then goes to the Mexican League and devours fastballs like fajitas. He earns a spot on my top-20. He and Vargas are reasons why a trade of Morneau and/or Parmelee wouldn’t be so bad. Colabello could be the bridge to 2015-’16 for the Twins at first-base starting in 2014.


(Vargas & Sano: they are big)

If your favorite prospect is not on this list, perhaps he will be losing his prospect status in 2013. Or...he may not be producing up to normal expectations, and does not belong in the top-20. As you can see, I dropped anyone that has been under-performing in the minor leagues. I also dropped players that I feel do not have a high enough ceiling to be a considered a top-20 prospect.

In particular, help yourself to the statistics of last season's Arizona Fall League. Just be careful of one stat line near the top, and make sure you're sitting down when you read it. Of course, I'm talking about Nate Roberts, the mysterious and intriguing on-base machine from High Point.



Mysterious, as in exactly when do the Twins trade Josh Willingham (a #4 hitter) for ______________ and start the 1-2 hitter-type (Roberts) in left-field? He is intriguing in his projection to re-produce his on-base numbers vs. better competition, like he did in the AFL. His gaudy numbers rely on getting beaned, a lot.

When the start of the 2014 season rolls around, Willingham will be in the final year of his Twins-friendly contract. This is a excellent chance for the organization to pull more pitching out of the sea of minor league talent, and give Willingham up to the wolves. Let us all hope for Josh to keep pinging balls off the upper-deck in Target Field throughout the course of 2013. That way our return in trade will be maximal, and the arrival of Oswaldo Arcia will make fans forget the powerful and undervalued Willingham.

Perhaps, Morneau will not be around in 2014 either. That would allow Chris Parmelee to play 1B and free up an outfield spot for Nate! Okay, now that I've predicted two enormous trades that will allow Roberts to start in Minnesota in 2014, let's look at Nate's numbers during full-season ball.

He couldn't stay healthy in Beloit in 2011 and 2012. So, he only totaled 144 games over the two-year span. However, he was absolutely frustrating for the opposition by posting a .437 on-base percentage when healthy enough to play. He also stole 27 bases during his fraction of 2012 (76 games). These numbers, coupled with the small sample of 2012's Arizona Fall League stats makes me think that Nate has exactly what it takes to put up similar numbers in Double-A this year.



Can we expect to be handed novelty mustaches as we enter the gates of Target Field in 2014? A Nate Roberts promotional night could be in your future. Are you man-enough to put that fake mustache on your upper lip?



Nate Roberts would make a great milk salesman, if he makes the majors.

Is it really 2013 already? Yes. And don't try to change the subject. We are talking baseball here, and no one cares that you've squandered all of 2012 worrying about doomsday prophecies. All we have is "right now." So lets live in the present for a moment, and assess the future of the Twins utility infielder role.



Every team's gotta have one. A guy that can play anywhere on the infield, and be placed in the outfield if need be. This is the guy you put behind the plate in a catcher emergency (like if Mauer, Doumit, and Butera all have to use the restroom, together). He is a bench guy, but would be a terrific regular if he is needed.

This club has had some dandy utility guys in years past. The first one that comes to mind is Denny Hocking. There have been many more, but none may have defined the job better than the recent Twin named Nick Punto.

"Nicky" could play outstanding defense anywhere, and come up with a big single late in the game. Then he'd steal second and later score. He was scrappy, and I really miss him. He could play 3B too: http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?co...61101&c_id=mlb

Most people I talk about baseball with hated Punto. Even my buddy who is a Giants fan bashed him constantly. In general, they hated his inability to hit. I tried to explain that his defensive ability is a highly valuable trait for a major league team to have. Evermore, they spewed hatred for his name (Punto is a nice name in my opinion).

But let's get back to "right now." Jamey Carroll is the guy most likely to fill the utility role this coming season. After 2013, its anybody's guess. So, the search for a new solution should begin now. Let me introduce my first choice to be a long-term solution for the club's utility role...my #9 prospect, Jorge Polanco.


Check out Jorge in the Appy League: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrgvU-gUVwo

I know. He is still at least three years away. But he played every position save for pitcher, catcher and first-base in 2011, including 10 error-free games in the outfield. His infield defense in 2012 was outstanding at 2B, and adequate at SS.

Unlike Punto, Polanco can hit! The Domincan switch-hitter out-slugged fellow Twins prospects Adam Walker and Travis Harrison (and most of the Appy League) in 2012. Not bad at all for a guy listed at 5'11 165 lbs. If he reproduces numbers like 2012 at the higher minor league levels, then we could be talking about an everyday guy in Minnesota.

In order to pertain to my title, I am going to predict that Polanco breaks in with the big-league club as a utility infielder in 2016. He will be playing behind Eddie Rosario at 2B and Daniel Santana at SS, but will find plenty of AB's by spelling any infielder that needs a breather. Imagine that Twins fans...a utility guy with a mind to do damage offensively!

Is anyone else as excited as I am about the Twins 3rd-round-pick last June? I am talking about the 97th overall selection named Adam Walker. This guy barely made the top 100 players drafted in 2012, but his initial return showed immense power promise. So much so, that I wanted to upset some people (and bring joy to others) by comparing him favorably to Giancarlo Stanton. Dang right people.



Even for a casual baseball fan, Stanton is a recognizable figure. He stands 6'5 at a healthy weight and hits baseballs several city blocks at a time. Walker has him matched in height and could someday match Giancarlo in hitting power as well. Adam did not waste his time at Jacksonville in the weight room. But he is two years younger than Stanton at 21, and can be projected to get even stronger. He signed quickly with the Twins and flexed his muscle with 14 HR's in 58 games of Rookie ball.

Yes, as a 21-yr-old, Stanton hit 34 bombs for the Marlins. So we cannot expect Walker to be the type of special talent that Stanton was and is. But we do have a special rightfielder in Walker. This is a player that will combine elite power with great speed at his spot in the lineup. He merely stole four bases last summer, but he also hit four triples. So, one can see how his speed will show up in his stat line.

Adam may never match the production of the superstar that is Giancarlo Stanton. But, if Walker progresses from his pro-debut season by getting his strikeouts under control....he could be a 30 HR guy in a full season. That would get him moving towards Minnesota in a hurry!

However, his strikeouts at the plate were definitely out-of-control last summer. So there is the chance that Walker will not make the necessary adjustments to keep hitting for power at the low-A level. But I want to believe in this guy! It sounds like he will get a fair shot alongside Max Kepler in Cedar Rapids next spring.

Can Walker hit enough bombs to cover up his unsightly strikeout totals and meager batting average? Hope and projections are what we have.

Check out Adam's long levers at work here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoNzgFd3Zvg

My cousin's boyfriend is the weather man! Long story...but my family did get him to say "unicorn" on the air. His mastery of meteorology inspries me, and I felt like taking a novice stab at forecasting something I enjoy talking about: Twins Prospects! Here is what I predict MLB.com's Twins prospect list will look like after this coming minor league season (Top 10 anyway)...


(Eddie is moving on up)

1. Byron Buxton - CF
2. Alex Meyer - RHP
3. Eddie Rosario - 2B/CF
4. Miguel Sano - 3B/DH
5. Trevor May - RHP
6. Jose Berrios - RHP
7. Max Kepler - OF
8. Corey Williams - LHP
9. Jorge Polanco - 2B/SS
10. Travis Harrison - 3B

1. Byron Buxton - Byron is like a Corvette, as long as you don't push it too fast with him he will perform beautifully with flash. Buxton as the Twins #1 prospect isn't too much of a stretch. He will probably go "bananas" at Cedar Rapids, even if he doesn't begin the season there. After being the best prospect in the rookie circuit last summer, Byron will most likely continue to leave impressive impressions on any league he graces in 2013. Some may freak out at the thought of Sano moving down on this list. This is just the start of Sano's descent. So just sit back and let go, while I present my case for these next few gentlemen.

2. Alex Meyer - With the Twins needing to find someone better than Vance Worley to lead their MLB rotation, Meyer is gonna smell blood in the waters of the Eastern League. The Twins may start this stud at A+, but once he gets his shot at Double-A...clear the way. I predict a big season for Alex with lots of innings, a sub-3 ERA, and a ton of strikeouts. He was fantastic in his pro debut last year, and was a steal in trade for the "above average" Denard Span.

3. Eddie Rosario - Yeah, yeah...He might not stick at 2B. His value is dependent on where he plays defensively. Well, the same can be said for Sano. But nobody is talking about how Eddie's body-type will prevent him from playing 2B. Both Eddie and Miguel can hit for power, no doubt. But Sano's strikeouts were out of control last year, while Eddie's were not. Eddie also hit more doubles than Sano in far fewer games played. If Rosario would have been able to play the entire season, he may have hit 15-20 homeruns to go along with 40+ doubles. I predict he sticks at 2-bag, and rakes at A+ next year.

4. Miguel Sano - Since I moved him down, this must be all bad news. Well, not really...I do feel that Sano will continue to strikeout like crazy in 2013. However, I also want to point out that our farm system is going to look very strong with a guy like Sano at #4 in the organization. No one is silly enough to predict that Sano will not mash (.500+ SLG%) in A+ next year. I am simply predicting that Rosario will outshine Sano at the same level. I'm a big Sano fan however, so it will be fun to track his progress towards becoming a monster in Minnesota.

5. Trevor May - May keeps his #5 ranking after Hicks, Arcia, and Gibson lose their prospect status by getting extended time in Minnesota next summer. What do we have in May? We are gonna find out quick. May has more upside than his trade buddy Worley, but his ERA was not so hot at AA last summer. However, he was striking dudes out and not giving up many hits. There is no reason to move May down, but there "may" be reason to move him up following 2013.

6. Jose Berrios - Does anyone really believe this guy has anything to prove at the Rookie level? I can understand the case for keeping him down south until the weather in Cedar Rapids more closely resembles that of Puerto Rico. But come on now, we don't need him to pitch for ELZ and take up a spot that could go to a lesser guy with something to prove at that level. I predict Berrios dominates again in the (insert league here) . He will be knocking on the big door following the 2014 season.

7. Max Kepler - That's right, Max Kepler! You might be thinking: Travis Harrison. But here is my case for Kepler: the German kid was 19 at Elizabethton and hit better than the 20-yr-old California kid. How can we not expect more out of Kepler as a prospect than Harrison? I understand that Harrison plays 3B, and Kepler is a mere CF-type. Ridiculous. Kepler has better numbers at a younger age at the same level, and he deserves more recognition. I predict he gets it following 2013.

Check it out (Maximilian): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL1OxzlhmhE
If you didn't already know, that is a beautifully powerful swing by a 19-yr-old.

8. Corey Williams - This guy did not have a sparkling ERA after a full season of A-ball last year. But he has nasty stuff, and allowed fewer hits than innings pitched. He also K'd more guys than innings pitched, which makes me want to believe in what he can do at A+ next summer. Left-handed guys with good stuff are not out walking around on the street, so let's all give some support to this tough kid that could end up in Minnesota by 2014.

Give it up for Corey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nle8-1K-wTw
P.S. I am assuming Corey does not hang em like this anymore.

9. Jorge Polanco - Okay, okay...most fans have no idea who this guy even IS. And none of my readers will agree that he belongs in the Top 10! But let me state my case (please and thank you): He hit .318/.388/.514 at Elizabethton last summer. He is a switch-hitting second-baseman, but did play 15 games at SS. He will turn 20 next July. How is this guy not making waves among prospect junkies?! Well, this aggression will not stand: you are my #9 Jorge!

Check it out (Jorge batting): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrgvU-gUVwo
Great bat speed. Great foot speed.

10. Travis Harrison - I like Travis, I really do. But something about him holding out after being drafted #50 overall in 2011, and not playing at all his 19-yr-old summer really bothered me. He did hit well in his pro-debut, amid concerns about his defense at 3B and his future at that position. BUT, he was out-slugged by 165 lb. second-baseman Jorge Polanco, and Kepler, and Walker. I was considering dropping Harrison from the Top 10, but I think Joe Benson will lose his prospect status. So Travis is in, by the hair on his chin.

T. Harrison: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=192XhRctXuI
(meh) He has a lot to prove this year.

Pop quiz! What do you do when you've run out of fuel, in a tour-bus, in rural Siberia, with your in-laws?? This is the metaphor for how I see the current situation with the Twins starting pitching rotation. Our characters are all familiar: the fuel = Pohlads' payroll; the bus = shiny new Target Field; Siberia = Minnesota; the in-laws = our gallery of failed starting pitchers. So...what DO you do?



In this case we defer to the NBA. No, we're not trading in our love of baseball to go "sell out" and become faithful followers of the Timberwolves' Love, Kirilenko, Pekovic, and Rubio (although its getting more tempting with Rubio getting healthier) NO! We need to focus on baseball, and in the Twins' case, NBA = Next Best Action.

With the Cubs over-paying for Baker and Feldman, the flame of the Twins' hope at signing a guy with any proven, successful experience gets dimmer and dimmer (like the sun on a cold, Siberian evening). Without any news on the trade front, we'll have to hunker down for a long night (off-season). We should all be assuming things will heat up in the Winter GM Meetings, but what if other GM's are unwilling to part with their pitching? What exactly is the next, best step that the Twins could possibly take?

Desperate situations like this one should be viewed as opportunity for certain men. Men with fortitude, and determination to survive. Sure the Pohlads are sitting on a huge oil field, but its crude stuff and won't help us survive the night, or the next day for that matter.

We need to make a big fire. Then, we need to throw some of these guys in it. Surely some of them will burn and pass away, but others could be refined by the flames and provide warmth (production) to a frigid fan populace.

In order with NBA, we must determine which men to risk first with a toss into the inferno. Who are the (my) top candidates to play the role of heroes in the unforseen wilderness of the AL Central?



1. Kyle Gibson - what a prospect he was after being drafted in 2009!? As a minor league rookie, he flew right up to AAA as a 22-year-old. Now that is a fast-track, even for a college guy. Yes, he had TJ surgery on old trusty. But, he looked like good fuel for our fire during his six fall-league starts. And with his former "top-propsect" status, we will all be looking for Kyle to fight off the frost-bite of this, so far, bitter off-season. I say we build our bon fire around Gibson, and see what colors he produces.

2. Liam Hendriks - Oh dear. What do we have in Hendriks? When he signed as a 17-year-old outta the Outback, the organization took the standard approach and slowly developed him into a guy that dominated AAA as a 23-year-old. Thats great! But we have real issues here, and we need to find out right now if Liam can provide some warmth to our extremities. Minor League numbers are fun, but they don't keep you warm in Siberia. Even with his MLB struggles, I vote to see if he burns in the Twins' 2013 rotation.



3. Samuel Deduno - As a 20-year-old minor league rookie, the Colorado Rockies had good reason to believe in what Deduno could become. Sammy made the Pioneer League All-Star team with 118 K's in 76.1 innings (13.9 per 9). Since then, not so much. He walked too many guys in A, A+, AA, and AAA. So, the Rockies let him sign with San Diego where he walked a bunch of guys again. Now, the Domincan Deduno does not seem like the type to help us survive in the upper Mid-west (Siberia). But, he does have a career 3.43 ERA in AAA, despite all those free passes. Last year, he showed us all in Minnesota how he is able to have success while walking everyone (and their in-laws). He's got really great "stuff" (the walks even make him more flammable), which is perfect for the fire we're building.

4. Esmerling Vasquez - I know what you're thinking: "This guy stinks!" Wrong! Well maybe he does smell a little bit. But this guy did great in AAA last year (and had terrrible control in Minnesota). He had an opposite season with Arizona's organization in 2011, as he walked too many in AAA while pitching just fine with the D-Backs. Hey, its getting colder by the minute here and there isn't much else for us to burn. Time to throw him in and see where it gets us. Hopefully, Esmerling prolongs the heat that keeps us hoping to be far away from our current sufferings.



Is there anyone you'd like to throw into the fire? What is the Twins' NBA in your opinion?

When I look at how fortunate the Twins were last June in the draft, it’s hard to imagine this organization not returning to some level of major league competency soon. The organization picked up two teenagers.....



...with high ceilings with their first two picks of 2012, and both showed extreme promise after signing quickly and making their pro debuts. Byron Buxton was somewhat of a surprise to be available to the Twins at #2 overall. I feel the need to analyze what kind of player landed in the Twins lap with Buxton.

Now, the real Georgia Peach was Ty Cobb, who was a “snarling wildcat” by his own admission. Cobb was a true gem of a player, and posted a career .367/.433/.512 during a legacy played mostly in the “dead ball” era. Buxton is a gem of a prospect, and the fact that both Ty and Byron are from Georgia and play centerfield is where the comparison ends. But we all know the Twins have a 5-tool-potential guy here that was called a hybrid of the talented Upton brothers. So its safe to say, Minnesota got a “peach” of a player in the Georgia high-school senior.

Buxton was named the top prospect (by Baseball America) in the Gulf Coast League last summer. After he “graduated” and played a lil bit in Elizabethton (with our other gem J.O. Berrios), Buxton was awarded with the #1 prospect billing in the Appalachian League as well! How did he accomplish that after hitting just .248 in 48 games at both levels, and struggling mightily out-the-gate? Look closer, and we see that he had a .344 OB% and a .448 SLG%. Not bad at all for a guy that is supposed to be more speedy than powerful on offense (he also stole 11 of 14 bases). No wonder he was BA’s top pick in every league he played in 2012.

I saw a grading scale that was out before the last draft that had each players current rating/potential rating listed in the following categories: Hit, Power, Speed, Field, Arm (the five tools on a 20-80 scale). Buxton was rated the following: 45/60, 45/60, 70/75, 55/70, 70/75. Those projections sound a lot more like B.J. than Justin Upton to me. Let’s just conclude that his upside is outstanding.

If you haven't already, check out a nice video of the prize of the 2012 draft taking some BP for the E-Twins here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWNgAUT0xSY



I predict: Buxton is going to have more power than B.J. (like Justin), but be able to cover ground and stick in CF the way B.J. has. I earlier predicted that Buxton would hit 10-15 home-runs in a full season at Cedar Rapids next season, but I just have this feeling that he could mature into power quickly. Maybe he hits 20 HR’s during a full season at the low-A level, or at least keeps his SLG% near .500. Anyhow, Bux should continue to be productive and maintain his status as the “best of the best” prospect at every level he graces within the Minor Leagues. What are the chances he uses those tools to be a 20 HR/50 SB guy with Gold-Glove style CF defense in Minnesota? He most certainly will not get a look until 2015 or later. Your thoughts…

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!

With names like Buxton, Rosario and Sano cruising through the Gulf Coast League in recent years, have the Twins got any big-time-pitching prospects cooking in the tropics? Has anyone flown under the radar (perhaps flying through the near-by Bermuda triangle), that us Twins fans should expect to possibly contribute someday in Minnesota? I've got names and numbers, so enjoy this ride through the electric-fog wormhole that is Twinsdaily.com.....


(Montanez)

1. Josue Montanez - LHP This guy was a 2011--15th round pick as a junior college starter out of Miami Dade CC, where he put up solid numbers (66 innings, 70 K's, 2.59 ERA). He struggled a bit in his first season in the GCL after signing, but turned things around in a big-left-handed-way in 2012. He pitched 25 innings and had 30 K's with only 13 hits and 8 walks surrendered. Josue gave up one earned run last year and held opponents to a .149 average. Major potential for the 20-year-old. Check him out in the Puerto Rican league this winter.

2. Randy Rosario - LHP He's a skinny lefty that was signed in 2010 as a 16-year-old outta the Dominican Republic. "Rosario 2.0" showed he has the pitching production to be able to move up the minor league ranks after a very effective year as a 17-year-old in the Domincan Summer League. As an 18-year-old in the GCL in 2012, Randy played pro-ball in the USA for the first time and posted awesome numbers overall. He gave up only 19 hits in 38+ innings and K'd 42 with a 1.64 ERA (.147 BAA). Look for him to start in Elizabethton and hopefully finish in A ball, over the course of 2013. But hey, as a 19-year-old, he may get a short season and then a long break over the following winter.

3. Felix Jorge - RHP This kid is also ridiculously young and playing at a high level as a rookie in USA-pro-ball. While 18, and playing in the GCL last year, the D.R. product posted above-average numbers with his low-90's gas and plus breaker. He kept his ERA down to 2.34 in 34.2 innings. His 37/12 K/BB ratio was just fine, and his upside is crazy considering he looks like he is about 15. Look for this guy to make big Caribbean waves moving forward and maybe end up on the top 20 prospects list in 2-3 years.


(Jorge)

4. Kuo Hua Lo - RHP Take a look at what this Taiwanese 20-year-old did in the GCL last year. He didn't necessarily overpower hitters with mid to upper-90's stuff, but he is said to be able to sit in the low-90's with excellent command. His numbers sure were dominant-looking, even if he isn't going to be a dominant type moving forward. His WHIP was 0.78...!! and his BB/9 innings is at 1.59...! The best stat for me is this: 1.13 ERA in 39.2 innings. I think about baseball a lot, and ERA is the MOST important stat for a pitcher in my opinion. Your starter's ERA is what you're facing, on average, as an offense (until or if the starter exits, obviously). So Lo's 1.13 ERA is outstanding, to say the least.


(Lo)

There are plenty of other arms that had great seasons in the GCL for the Twins. Check em out and let us know why they should be on this list.