Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/7): Top Pitching Prospects Dominate

[Steve Lein]

You can view the page at http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.php/2950-Twins-Minor-League-Report-(5-7)-Top-Pitching-Prospects-Dominate

[Steve Lein]

Oops! fixed!

[Steven Buhr]

Duplicate post deleted. My bad (SDB)

[Steven Buhr]

"Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Jose Berrios, Cedar Rapids Kernels"

 

I'd love to have Berrios back in Cedar Rapids this year, but unfortunately, he's in Fort Myers.

 

Also, just thought I'd mention that Logan Wade, the Kernels infielder from Australia, dislocated his shoulder last night diving for a ball hit up the middle. Jake Mauer said after the game that they couldn't pop it back in to place and had to put him under. Nothing broken, from the x-ray, but he'll see a doctor in CR today and probably get an MRI.

 

Kernels have really been bitten by the injury bug. Assuming Wade goes on the DL (which I think is a pretty safe bet), I think that's six guys already on the DL in the first six weeks of the season.

[Dantes929]

Was expecting more and better from reading the headline. May getting beat up a bit, Berrios wildly effective and 5 innings with 5 hits and two walks did not live up to the dominating billing.

[kdrupp09]

Was expecting more and better from reading the headline. May getting beat up a bit, Berrios wildly effective and 5 innings with 5 hits and two walks did not live up to the dominating billing.

 

Stewart was pretty lights out though.

[tobi0040]

Stewart was pretty lights out though.

 

Kohl Stewart (19 years old) – Low A 25.2 IP, 2.35 ERA, .78 WHIP, 23 K

 

Mark Appel (22 year old) - High A, 13 IP, 6.23 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 13 K

 

Jon Gray (22 years old) - Double A ,29.2 IP, 3.64 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 32 K

[Mike Sixel]

Stewart's stuff is too much for low A players. Kind of like Delmon Young's* natural talent was too much for low A pitchers. It's things like this that make me want to move natural talents faster, rather than slower. Challenge them. I would hope Stewart moves up by June or so.

 

*I am NOT comparing their careers......but how their talent is too much for low A

[maxisagod]

Stewart's stuff is too much for low A players. Kind of like Delmon Young's* natural talent was too much for low A pitchers. It's things like this that make me want to move natural talents faster, rather than slower. Challenge them. I would hope Stewart moves up by June or so.

 

 

*I am NOT comparing their careers......but how their talent is too much for low A

But Young was moved too quickly, he relied on his natural talents, but didn't develop better skills, like approach, keeping in shape during the season, or learning about this thing called taking a walk.

 

Stewart might even be able to blow away high A batter if he uses just two pitches, but the Twins are trying to develop an ace, and having a 4-5 MLB ready pitches to do it, now is the time for Stewart to learn how to pitch and not just throw. I'm fine keeping him in low A all year if he keeps progressing towards that goal.

[Steve Lein]

Was expecting more and better from reading the headline. May getting beat up a bit, Berrios wildly effective and 5 innings with 5 hits and two walks did not live up to the dominating billing.

 

0 runs allowed in 10 innings with only 6 hits allowed and 13K's between them is okay for that billing on those guys for me (I don't include May in this category). They are both 19 years old playing in full season leagues. Sure, I'd like to see less walks, but did any of them score? No, and that's because they were dominant enough to shut down any of their own mistakes.

[Steve Lein]

Stewart might even be able to blow away high A batter if he uses just two pitches, but the Twins are trying to develop an ace, and having a 4-5 MLB ready pitches to do it, now is the time for Stewart to learn how to pitch and not just throw. I'm fine keeping him in low A all year if he keeps progressing towards that goal.

 

Reports I've read on Stewart about his first few starts mentioned that he didn't throw a single slider, which means his best pitch has been left out of the equation so far, as well. Though I can't say if that has still been the case as it's warmed up a bit now.

[Mike Sixel]

But Young was moved too quickly, he relied on his natural talents, but didn't develop better skills, like approach, keeping in shape during the season, or learning about this thing called taking a walk.

 

Stewart might even be able to blow away high A batter if he uses just two pitches, but the Twins are trying to develop an ace, and having a 4-5 MLB ready pitches to do it, now is the time for Stewart to learn how to pitch and not just throw. I'm fine keeping him in low A all year if he keeps progressing towards that goal.

 

 

Agreed, they should help him learn to pitch. My point is, he can do that at high A (middle of this year) and be more challenged.

[tobi0040]

But Young was moved too quickly, he relied on his natural talents, but didn't develop better skills, like approach, keeping in shape during the season, or learning about this thing called taking a walk.

 

Stewart might even be able to blow away high A batter if he uses just two pitches, but the Twins are trying to develop an ace, and having a 4-5 MLB ready pitches to do it, now is the time for Stewart to learn how to pitch and not just throw. I'm fine keeping him in low A all year if he keeps progressing towards that goal.

 

I think that speaks more to how un-coachable Delmon was. We had him from 22 to 26 or so and he was still un-coachable. So keeping him in lower levels and trying to change his approach at 19 or 20 was probably not going to work. He knew it all and that is why he is on track to be a hall of famer and not a bust.

[Dantes929]

Stewart was pretty lights out though.

He was the 5 innings, 5 outs and 2 walks I was referring to. Nice outing but not how I describe lights out or dominating.

[Dantes929]

" 0 runs allowed in 10 innings with only 6 hits allowed and 13K's between them is okay for that billing on those guys for me" I wasn't knocking them but don't really consider 12 base runners in 10 innings to be dominant. Effectively erratic or maybe erratically effective would have been the best descriptions because yes, to their credit, they didn't let any score..

[Steve Lein]

" 0 runs allowed in 10 innings with only 6 hits allowed and 13K's between them is okay for that billing on those guys for me" I wasn't knocking them but don't really consider 12 base runners in 10 innings to be dominant. Effectively erratic or maybe erratically effective would have been the best descriptions because yes, to their credit, they didn't let any score..

 

And that's fair. I suppose it is not the best wording, but I did need a headline...

[Steven Buhr]

Reports I've read on Stewart about his first few starts mentioned that he didn't throw a single slider, which means his best pitch has been left out of the equation so far, as well. Though I can't say if that has still been the case as it's warmed up a bit now.

 

I just opened a new thread with a video of Stewart from last night. Not great video, but it's out there for your viewing pleasure.

[AlwaysinModeration]

And that's fair. I suppose it is not the best wording, but I did need a headline...

 

"...dominat...esque?"

"...dominat...ey?"

"...dominat....ish?"