Article: Minnesota Twins Top 20 Prospects in Review

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Originally Posted by rickyhawaii

Jorge Polanco should definitely be raising some eyebrows this season. He's hitting more than I imagined and he's doing well drawing walks and making contact. The power although won't ever be a big part of his game as it would seem, has been nice. 4HRs now and he's been getting plenty of doubles. When he was signed the reports said he was a slick defender who should be able to stay at short. If he develops like he's doing he could be a very good player. He should be in the top 20.

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He wasn't a Top 50 guy for me coming into the year, but he'll certainly be in consideration between 30-40 probably. He's been solid.

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Originally Posted by Seth Stohs

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Originally Posted by rickyhawaii

Jorge Polanco should definitely be raising some eyebrows this season. He's hitting more than I imagined and he's doing well drawing walks and making contact. The power although won't ever be a big part of his game as it would seem, has been nice. 4HRs now and he's been getting plenty of doubles. When he was signed the reports said he was a slick defender who should be able to stay at short. If he develops like he's doing he could be a very good player. He should be in the top 20.

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He wasn't a Top 50 guy for me coming into the year, but he'll certainly be in consideration between 30-40 probably. He's been solid.

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Yeah I did a top 50 for fun and I have Polanco at 36.

Just curious Seth.. Are you high on Baxendale like I am? And do you have any idea if they plan to make Melotakis, Chargois, Duffey, or Zach Jones starters next year?

No way I would have Polanco that low when Niko Goodrum is ranked higher. Polanco is absolutely higher in any ranking I do than Goodrum.
Jorge is a full year younger & while playing in the same league.....has blown Niko away offensively.

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Originally Posted by JP3700

Just curious Seth.. Are you high on Baxendale like I am? And do you have any idea if they plan to make Melotakis, Chargois, Duffey, or Zach Jones starters next year?

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I saw Baxendale pitch one inning in relief in Beloit and he struckout the side. As I watch him and his delivery, I thought, "How was this guy a starter in college?" I liked what I saw, but I wouldn't make anything out of his numbers this year as a one-inning reliever. Summers and Boer had good K numbers as relievers last year, and this year as starters, their K-rates are pretty pedestrian. Don't get me wrong, I like Baxendale, especially as a 10th round pick!

I dont know what the plans are, but I think we've heard that Chargois and Duffey are likely relievers only. Melotakis really didn't impress me in his one inning (which of course means nothing). I bet he could start. Jones just throws gas. At the same time, I see no negative in giving some of these guys some starting opportunities next year to see if that is a possibility. Worst case, they can stretch out and work on secondary pitches.

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Originally Posted by mediocre

What Hermsen's been doing this year with such a low strikeout rate is incredible (incredibly lucky?). Have to imagine he would be making a few more Top 10 lists were he striking more guys out. Still think he can be a serviceable #4/#5 in the show, but I'm curious if he can maintain this success into next season.

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I think he scares many, myself included, as being a Nick Blackburn type.

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Originally Posted by Seth Stohs

I saw Baxendale pitch one inning in relief in Beloit and he struckout the side. As I watch him and his delivery, I thought, "How was this guy a starter in college?" I liked what I saw, but I wouldn't make anything out of his numbers this year as a one-inning reliever. Summers and Boer had good K numbers as relievers last year, and this year as starters, their K-rates are pretty pedestrian. Don't get me wrong, I like Baxendale, especially as a 10th round pick!

I dont know what the plans are, but I think we've heard that Chargois and Duffey are likely relievers only. Melotakis really didn't impress me in his one inning (which of course means nothing). I bet he could start. Jones just throws gas. At the same time, I see no negative in giving some of these guys some starting opportunities next year to see if that is a possibility. Worst case, they can stretch out and work on secondary pitches.

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Ah okay. How did his stuff look? And what was wrong with his delivery? Too much going on?

And yeah they both have been dissapointing. Boer more so. But I read that Boer's fastball drops from high 90's as a reliever to low 90's as a starter. That's why the huge drop off.

1. Miguel Sano
2. Oswaldo Arcia
3. Eddie Rosario
4. Aaron Hicks
5. Byron Buxton
6. J.O. Berrios
7. Max Kepler
8. Kyle Gibson
9. Joe Benson
10. Travis Harrison
11. Hudson Boyd
12. Chris Herrmann

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Originally Posted by JP3700

Ah okay. How did his stuff look? And what was wrong with his delivery? Too much going on?

And yeah they both have been dissapointing. Boer more so. But I read that Boer's fastball drops from high 90's as a reliever to low 90's as a starter. That's why the huge drop off.

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The delivery was really busy, lots of movement. I just thought that it would be tough to maintain that over 7-8 innings. Stuff-wise, he showed a good fastball (92 maybe) with movement, and a terrific breaking ball. He's a starter and he'll start next year, for sure.

As for Boer, I like the idea of giving them a chance to start, if nothing else to try to develop more pitches. I just think that the floors for these guys are pretty high and they can be very good relievers. I actually think that Matt Summers has pitched very well. The only concern is the lack of strikeouts, which is strange.

Thanks Seth got it now!

Obviously the Twins system is short on top-tier pitching prospects, but where would the system rank if we considered only hitters? It seems like we have a ton of solid, high-upside bats, with 2-3 at practically every level AA and lower. Given our preponderance of offense, particularly in the outfield, should we be talking to the Mariners about one of their top pitching prospects?

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Originally Posted by greengoblinrulz

No way I would have Polanco that low when Niko Goodrum is ranked higher. Polanco is absolutely higher in any ranking I do than Goodrum.
Jorge is a full year younger & while playing in the same league.....has blown Niko away offensively.

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Completely agree. Polanco was supposed to be a pretty slick defender as well while Niko was a good athlete that could stick in the MI. The funny thing is that Goodrum has actually been awful for July/August but everyone only remembers his incredible June. the same can be said of Harrison and he carries very little defensive value. I also think that both Harrison and Goodrum have some big issues with their plate discipline so it will be very difficult to get excited about them until they play full season ball. Other appy league players have completely fallen apart moving up to that level.

Aside from Buxton I would rank the ETown hitters roughly as follows:
Kepler - near the top of the tier from 8-25
Polanco - in the middle but moving up in that tier
goodrum and Harrison - in the middle to the bottom of this tier

Overall the Twins have a top 7 prospects with sano, buxton, Arcia, Hicks, Rosario, Gibson and Berrios. After that there are a lot of interesting upside guys (and a few high minors average-ish propsects) but nobody has really set themselves apart imo. Kepler is one of my favorites but overall these guys are all in the B- to C+ range. Extensive debate probably won't go anywhere and about the only thing you can do is put guys at the top, middle or bottom of this big tier.