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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?sid=milb&text=oswaldo+arcia&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.

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

[video=youtube;7fugm0m6kyo]

Nice work! I like Arcia. I could see him rounding into a Andre Ethier type. .280/.360/.500 with more doubles than home runs, but 20-25 home runs consistently and 30 home runs always a possibility. He might be more of a left fielder, especially with the outfield arms the Twins have in the system, but his defense is not why he is an exciting player anyway.

Also I think "The Blizzard of Oz" could really catch on.

He looks like an All-Star caliber RF. I think he will stick in RF, while the other guys (Roberts, Benson, Mastroianni, eventually Kepler and Buxton) fight over LF and Hicks takes over CF. He makes some very exciting plays with his arm, and I think he stays in RF where he can loose his cannon more often.

at age 18 he hit .375 21 doubles,7 triples,14 hr. in under 260 at bats

at age 18 he hit .375 21 doubles,7 triples,14 hr. in under 260 at bats

Baller

very similar to Miguel Sano’s at the same age

A year apart age-wise (Sano @ 19, Arcia @ 20) in low A ball. Sano hit:

.258/.373/.521

and Arcia hit:

.352/.420/.704 (1.124 OPS)

Last year in AA Acia hit:

.328/.398/..557 as the youngest member of the Rock Cats.

I have high hopes for Sano, but Arcia is the guy I am really excited about.

very similar to Miguel Sano’s at the same age

 

A year apart age-wise (Sano @ 19' date=' Arcia @ 20) in low A ball. Sano hit:

.258/.373/.521

and Arcia hit:

.352/.420/.704 (1.124 OPS)

Last year in AA Acia hit:

.328/.398/..557 as[b'] the youngest[/b] member of the Rock Cats.

 

I have high hopes for Sano, but Arcia is the guy I am really excited about.

 

Very nice Old Goat. Yeah, concerns surround Sano's high K totals and he still hasn't hit .300 at any level above the GCL. Their GCL stats are similar, and they were both 17 in that league. But beyond their GCL stats, Arcia has been a true high-average-hitter, while Sano has been a true power-guy.

Obviously, we will all be glued to milb.com's boxscores to see if Sano can hit around .290 next year in a tough FSL. Just a myriad of interesting players to follow in the Twins org.