“I said, OK, no problem, I’ll be a pitcher,”

[jokin]

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/3/2/8/37568328/cuts/9YPcvyRk.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

Souhan is currently working the Ft Myers beat, and gives us the latest insights on Jose Berrios. http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/262462121.html?page=2&c=y It turns out, Berrios became one of the Twins brightest pitching prospects, almost by accident. The high school he attended had no team, so he was a jack of all trades for his Dad's travel team, but never a starting pitcher. As the draft approached, the person handling his affairs told him his best chance to get picked was as a pitcher, to which he colorfully responded:

 

“......I love baseball. I’ll play whatever position I need to — pitcher, catcher, infielder —(anything) to keep playing.”

 

Manager Doug Mientciewicz held nothing back with this effusive praise:

 

“Jose Berrios is a No. 1 or No. 2, And if he’s a No. 2, that means we have an awfully good No. 1. His stuff is electric, and he wants to be great.”

 

And the issue of work ethic came up yet again for a Twins young prospect. Despite his smaller size, Souhan describes his frame as "built like a middleweight boxer." Hmm, a boxer who has recently been hitting 98MPH on the gun, late in the game? I think this guy has the wherewithal to go all 9 rounds, if in fact, that's the case. Berrios seems to pass the work ethic test with flying colors:

 

“He’s in tremendous shape,” Mientkiewicz said. “He does everything we could ask of him and more. I came in one day at noon, for a 7 p.m. game. He had pitched the night before, and he was already fully sweating, running on a back field.

“You don’t get that kind of drive from many 20-year-olds. That’s what big-leaguers do. This kid’s got it.”

 

 

 

Jose's goals for the rest of the season:

 

Berrios told him he wants to pitch in the Futures Game, the showcase for the best minor leaguers in baseball that will precede the All-Star Game at Target Field, and that he wants to be called up to Class AA New Britain “and finish the season strong and healthy.”

[gunnarthor]

Have a link to the 98 mph thing? I certainly hadn't seen that.

 

I like Berrios a lot. And I'm really, really surprised on how well he's doing this season. I didn't expect that at all.

 

Edit: Ah, your link went to the second page of the Souhan article, which I thought was the entire thing.

[freshinthehouse]

Man I love threads like these.

[jokin]

Man I love threads like these.

 

And not just for the pictures....(from his Twitter page):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[diehardtwinsfan]

Have a link to the 98 mph thing? I certainly hadn't seen that.

 

I like Berrios a lot. And I'm really, really surprised on how well he's doing this season. I didn't expect that at all.

 

Edit: Ah, your link went to the second page of the Souhan article, which I thought was the entire thing.

 

I was surprised last year when they said he was hitting mid 90s. Not sure on the accuracy of guns, but if he's consistently there, then getting a 98 from time to time is doable. I don't remember him being drafted as a guy who could throw that hard, but since he was a HS draftee, it's possible he's added some ticks...

[iastfan112]

"Berrios has a complete assortment of pitches, probably more than most scouts have seen. His fastball sits in the 92-94 mph range and topped out at 95-96 mph at the Excellence Games."

http://www.perfectgame.org/Players/PlayerProfile.aspx?ID=285960

That's from right before the 2012 draft so while he might have added a tick or two he could throw mid 90's previously.

[darin617]

I thought for sure this was an Aaron Hicks post.

[DocBauer]

I hate to label a kid, but despite reports that he lacks the ideal stature to be "great" and should end up a mid-rotation "good", I think this kid might be the next Pedro Martinez.

 

He can flat out bring it. He's athletic and well built, despite not being over 6' and 200+ pounds, and a tireless worker with a tremendous will to compete and win.

 

Were I a betting man, I'd bet high on this kid. Nothing wrong with being a really good #3 SP at the ML level. He can have a long and great career being that. But I think this kid is going to be a real #2 if not better.

[twinsfanstreif]

I'm excited for Berrios, I have to admit in the draft I was upset we passed on Lance McCullers for him (although Lance has been good we couldn't afford him that year) but it's turning out to be a great pick. If they all keep going the way their going think of a rotation in 4 years of Meyer, Stewart, Berrios, May, and Gibson.......the future looks bright

[jokin]

I hate to label a kid, but despite reports that he lacks the ideal stature to be "great" and should end up a mid-rotation "good", I think this kid might be the next Pedro Martinez.

 

He can flat out bring it. He's athletic and well built, despite not being over 6' and 200+ pounds, and a tireless worker with a tremendous will to compete and win.

 

Were I a betting man, I'd bet high on this kid. Nothing wrong with being a really good #3 SP at the ML level. He can have a long and great career being that. But I think this kid is going to be a real #2 if not better.

 

Yup. And sure, it was only Souhan doing the writing, but I especially liked hearing about his work ethic, how he is goal-oriented and especially how he was cut like a Middleweight champion boxer- which all helps to explain how he hasn't rested on his natural athleticism and has made a big jump in the quality of his stuff- the 98 MPH thing just jumped off the page when I read it, I was under the impression that he was a crafty 91-93 MPH guy.

[Steve Lein]

the 98 MPH thing just jumped off the page when I read it, I was under the impression that he was a crafty 91-93 MPH guy.

 

Almost always the number thrown out is the guys "peak." Rarely is it where they "sit."

 

Berrios will sit low low-to-mid 90's, but obviously can crank it up a bit if he wants to as shown here. I will say 98 is a new high I've heard from him in that regard, though.

 

I've been on the skeptical side of the Berrios bandwagon, but he's changed me into a believer this year. Have to think he'll be in AA after the All-Star games.