Reusse: Twins Will Promote Prospects Soon

Patrick Reusse, in his blog at ESPN 1500, evaluates the Twins and concludes their rebound is on it's way, as opposed to the dry spell of the 90s. He has several optimistic tidbits, including:

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Oh, yeah, there's a shortstop the Twins love, too, in 21-year-old Danny Santana. The Santana-Rosario middle of the infield will be in place in 2014, if not sooner.

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He also says Sano will find some time in The Show in 2014. They all seem a little optimistic to me.

Reusse's Reality from Florida: Not a rerun of 1993-2000 - Minnesota Twins news | 1500 ESPN Twin Cities ? Minnesota Sports News & Opinion (Twins, Vikings, Wolves, Wild, Gophers) | Sportswire: Minnesota Twins

Interesting article -- thanks for posting it.

I hope that he is correct about Sano coming up in 2014. On the other hand, I worry that the Twins may decide to move Sano to first base or right field and that this will delay his ascent to the majors.

When I think of Reusse, I think more of his editorializing and not so much of his deep connections into the Twins front office.

Seven of the teams top ten prospects AND Santana AND Tonkin in a two year span? All of them could do it, but I doubt the organization will put themselves in a postion where everyone's on the same arbitration schedule.

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Originally Posted by nicksaviking

When I think of Reusse, I think more of his editorializing and not so much of his deep connections into the Twins front office.

Seven of the teams top ten prospects AND Santana AND Tonkin in a two year span? All of them could do it, but I doubt the organization will put themselves in a postion where everyone's on the same arbitration schedule.

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This. They are certainly wise enough to stagger their arb schedule over at least 3 years.

Reusse appears to be using his SOP of going against the "conventional wisdom" to stir the pot. I'd like to think that Santana and Rosario could be the opening day MIs in 2014, but it would require an extraordinary set of developments, both in on the field performance and breaking with Twins tradition for promotions.

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Originally Posted by glunn

Interesting article -- thanks for posting it.

I hope that he is correct about Sano coming up in 2014. On the other hand, I worry that the Twins may decide to move Sano to first base or right field and that this will delay his ascent to the majors.

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It could be argued that a move to First Base could possibly accelerate Sano's schedule, especially if Morneau is gone and Parmelee doesn't pan out. Sano could learn 1B on-the-job and be less a liability in the field than over at 3B.

The Twins have never been an organization that rushes up its prospects. I think 2014 would be alittle too soon for all of them. Sano 2015 at the earliest.

I doubt this is anything more than a puff piece trying to maintain excitement. You can't very well sell fans on the idea that it's going to take 3-4 yrs to see some of the top prospects because that starts to approach the 90's debacle in the minds of fans.

I'd say Hicks on Opening Day. Gibson by about May 15. Arcia by about June 25th. May and Rosario up in September 2013. Meyer up Opening Day of 2014. Sano and Tonkin probably June of 2014. Santana probably August of 2014, at the earliest. (all subject to change, of course, and all would be quickest case scenario.)

Wow, Seth. That would be remarkable timing, imo, for any team, let alone the Twins. I can see Sano on that path, IF they move him to 1B, but I can't see it at 3rd. I assume Tonkin is a reliever in that scenario, meaning maybe even sooner, if they just leave him there.

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Originally Posted by mike wants wins

Wow, Seth. That would be remarkable timing, imo, for any team, let alone the Twins. I can see Sano on that path, IF they move him to 1B, but I can't see it at 3rd. I assume Tonkin is a reliever in that scenario, meaning maybe even sooner, if they just leave him there.

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Like I said, it's probably best/fastest case at this point. Rosario is going to start the season and spend half of it in Ft. Myers, then the second half in New Britain (my guess), so he may get pushed into the Opening Day 2014 to June 2014 range too. Tonkin, at this point, should absolutely stay in the bullpen where he can be dominant with his two plus-pitches. I could see Sano sticking in Ft. Myers all year, and that would not at all be a bad thing. He would then start next season in New Britain where best case would have him up mid-season.

And, as with any and all prospects, not ALL of them will even get to the big leagues. You never know.

That's a pretty big leap to assume that Rosario will be manning second base for the Twins in 2014.

1. There's a good chance he won't be in Minnesota in 2014.

2. There's an even better chance that if he is, it won't be at second base.

Sano is not going to be a third baseman in the big leagues in 2014 and Rosario is very unlikely to be a second baseman in the big leagues in 2014. There's too much to learn defensively for Rosario, most likely. Now, IF the Twins pull another Span-Revere trade tandem with Morneau and Parmelee before next season (maybe for a third baseman, but certainly for pitching), then maybe we see Sano playing first base at New Britain next year to begin the season and then he gets promoted next year (Colabello, Mauer, Herrmann fill in at first until then).

I could see these guys (Sano, Rosario, Santana) making their debuts in 2014, but probably late in the season. I don't think delaying free agency or arbitration will be an issue, but the Twins will likely be very conservative in their promotions as usual.

It would be awesome if the Twins had a position player prospect legitimately fast-track it, and make a big jump (from single-A to the majors in a year). It's been awhile since we've seen one of those: Mauer, Knoblauch...

If being competitive in 2015 is the goal, I could see them pushing some of the guys in low A a bit if their performance merits it. In Sano's case, a lot of that may depend on how well Plouffe performs. In Rosarios case, there really isn't anyone blocking him, so if he's hitting well in FM, I wouldn't be surprised at all for a mid-season promotion.

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Originally Posted by Shane Wahl

Now, IF the Twins pull another Span-Revere trade tandem with Morneau and Parmelee before next season (maybe for a third baseman, but certainly for pitching), then maybe we see Sano playing first base at New Britain next year to begin the season and then he gets promoted next year (Colabello, Mauer, Herrmann fill in at first until then).

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I can see Parmelee blocking another 1B or OF about the same way I see Kubel doing it. Parmelee is a DH on the field...

Sano's biggest competition for 1B (which might actually push him to 3B same way Cabrera is playing 3B for the Tiggers) is his teammate Vargas (who was the best player at A last season; albeit couple years older.)

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Originally Posted by thrylos98

I can see Parmelee blocking another 1B or OF about the same way I see Kubel doing it. Parmelee is a DH on the field...

Sano's biggest competition for 1B (which might actually push him to 3B same way Cabrera is playing 3B for the Tiggers) is his teammate Vargas (who was the best player at A last season; albeit couple years older.)

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I bet Vargas will be a DH. It might come down to Arcia vs. Vargas for that role down the road.

I don't really think Vargas is a legitimate prospect at this point. He has a slow bat and will have to prove he can catch up to major league fastballs. Other than power, his other tools are pretty ordinary. He has some chance but I kind of think he will stall out at the AA level. It would be nice if I were wrong, but the Twins have had a lot of prospects like him over the years(Buchanon, Restovich and others). There is a lot of difference between Vargas and Sano beyond the age difference. Sano is a better athlete, and he has a much quicker bat, according to what I have read. It is possible Vargas could develop into a LeCroy or Pedro Munoz. Largely part time guys who do their best work against lefthanders or soft tossing righties.

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Originally Posted by Shane Wahl

I bet Vargas will be a DH. It might come down to Arcia vs. Vargas for that role down the road.

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Really? I always thought Oswaldo would be a lock in RF. Sano and Vargas could battle for DH, but we are all hoping Sano sticks at 3B, otherwise they are both 1B/DH's

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Originally Posted by thrylos98

I can see Parmelee blocking another 1B or OF about the same way I see Kubel doing it. Parmelee is a DH on the field...

Sano's biggest competition for 1B (which might actually push him to 3B same way Cabrera is playing 3B for the Tiggers) is his teammate Vargas (who was the best player at A last season; albeit couple years older.)

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Parmelee is awful in the OF but my understanding is that he has always been pretty good (at least average) at 1B. Like I said earlier Parmelee is just a place holder like Dougie Glove until a better player comes along. If that better player doesn't show up the Twins won't be hurt by Parmelee if he becomes that .750-.775 hitter I think he will.

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Originally Posted by kab21

Parmelee is awful in the OF but my understanding is that he has always been pretty good (at least average) at 1B. Like I said earlier Parmelee is just a place holder like Dougie Glove until a better player comes along. If that better player doesn't show up the Twins won't be hurt by Parmelee if he becomes that .750-.775 hitter I think he will.

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I agree if he can play at least average defense and OPS .775 or better at the league minimum then its hardly our biggest concern until we develop something better at the position.