Article: Twins Top 10 Prospects: Post-Draft Edition

[gunnarthor]

I'd be surprised if the twins didn't have the consensus top ranked farm system after the season. only santana will have for sure graduated from last year's top ten, and possibly meyer.

They'll certainly be in the discussion and I think they'll add a prospect or two with deadline trades. Cubs will be in the discussion - Bryant will be a top 4 guy - but they have some disappointing seasons too. Astros will be there but Singleton will graduate, maybe Springer, too. Correa will be a top 4 guy (most likely) but Appel is crapping the bed. But they added Aiken ...

[John Kelsey]

They'll certainly be in the discussion and I think they'll add a prospect or two with deadline trades. Cubs will be in the discussion - Bryant will be a top 4 guy - but they have some disappointing seasons too. Astros will be there but Singleton will graduate, maybe Springer, too. Correa will be a top 4 guy (most likely) but Appel is crapping the bed. But they added Aiken ...

 

Springer already has graduated and something has to be wrong with Appel, he's looking like a total dud right now. Correa on the other hand, that kid is really good.

 

The Cubs will definitely be in the discussion but I think Bryant could graduate. You'd have to think he'll get the call this year if he keeps hitting like Babe Ruth at AA.

[gunnarthor]

Springer already has graduated and something has to be wrong with Appel, he's looking like a total dud right now. Correa on the other hand, that kid is really good.

 

The Cubs will definitely be in the discussion but I think Bryant could graduate. You'd have to think he'll get the call this year if he keeps hitting like Babe Ruth at AA.

Cubs aren't in a hurry to rush him, from what I've read.

 

I've been looking at other teams lists and I think the Twins do have the best farm system with the Astros graduations being taken into account.

[twinsfanstreif]

BTW, Gordon reminds me of Delino DeShields Jr. Who can play good SS, is that a good comp bat wise?

[nicksaviking]

BTW, Gordon reminds me of Delino DeShields Jr. Who can play good SS, is that a good comp bat wise?

 

I don't think Gordon is supposed to have that kind of speed, and many think he should have average power at the SS position, which DeShields did not.

 

Edit:

 

Ah you're talking about his son. Well son and father seem pretty similar.

[gunnarthor]

BTW, Gordon reminds me of Delino DeShields Jr. Who can play good SS, is that a good comp bat wise?

Not a good comp. DeShields has moved to CF - had been at second base. Also, DeShields has some makeup concerns that Gordon doesn't.

[twinsfanstreif]

Not a good comp. DeShields has moved to CF - had been at second base. Also, DeShields has some makeup concerns that Gordon doesn't.

 

I was talking more in terms of bat, speed, bloodlines, I said a SS version. I've never heard of DeShields having makeup concerns. I feel like Gordon's gonna be a .270ish hitter with decent on base and speed and just ok power (around 10 hrs a year). DeShields is pretty much that with probably better speed but not the defensive skills as Gordon

[gunnarthor]

I was talking more in terms of bat, speed, bloodlines, I said a SS version. I've never heard of DeShields having makeup concerns. I feel like Gordon's gonna be a .270ish hitter with decent on base and speed and just ok power (around 10 hrs a year). DeShields is pretty much that with probably better speed but not the defensive skills as Gordon

 

Here's one thing that notes his makeup concerns but doesn't talk about them: http://milbprospective.mlblogs.com/2014/01/27/differentiating-between-mlb-com-baseball-prospectus-top-prospect-rankings/comment-page-1/

 

I know BP quoted multiple scouts that had real problems with his makeup and work ethic but I can't find the link.

[lightfoot789]

I will end with this: I think Mauer is a HOF as well and warrants HOF consideration. I also think that a player who consistently leads his leagues in HRs and RBI should be considered higher than 15 on a prospect list. The word was he would struggle in the FSL because of plate discipline based on his OBP in the past. He is progressing just like last year and picking his game up as the season moves along. Would Walker be considered a rising prospect if he improved his OBP to .350 like Harrison and only 1 HR thru 60 games? Fans loved Dozier last year with a .312 OBP and a sub .250 BA - because he hit HRs and wasn't close to leading the league.

[TRex]

I also think that a player who consistently leads his leagues in HRs and RBI should be considered higher than 15 on a prospect list.

 

That is why everyone can make their own list! Just as a note, do you think people would have been excited if Dozier had an OBP of .312 in A+ ball? In fact, was anyone excited about Dozier when he was in A+? The numbers offer projections of whom is 'most likely' to succeed, and are not meant to say thatt someone will not succeed. Can you really fault someone for going with the safe picks? However, you (and ABWII) will feel a great sense of pride when he becomes an established big leaguer, knowing that you always held the faith.

[Seth Stohs]

Would Walker be considered a rising prospect if he improved his OBP to .350 like Harrison and only 1 HR thru 60 games?

 

I'm probably higher (on prospect rankings) on Adam Walker than most, and I have him in the 12-14 range. The problem is that his OBP is .290. If it was .330 people would be a lot higher. He's taken some good strides forward. I love the power and although I know RBI are dependent on other people, he just consistently gets them. That said, I don't think RBI are any sort of indicator. Walker is a prospect, and his power potential is elite. But the concerns addressed by myself and others are the reason that he's in the 12-14 range and not the 5-8 range.

 

Harrison, with his .350 OBP and 1 home runs is a prospect in the 18-25 range at this point.

[gunnarthor]

I also think that a player who consistently leads his leagues in HRs and RBI should be considered higher than 15 on a prospect list. The word was he would struggle in the FSL because of plate discipline based on his OBP in the past. He is progressing just like last year and picking his game up as the season moves along. Would Walker be considered a rising prospect if he improved his OBP to .350 like Harrison and only 1 HR thru 60 games? Fans loved Dozier last year with a .312 OBP and a sub .250 BA - because he hit HRs and wasn't close to leading the league.

I think that is fair. I really like Walker and in the past, I've linked to Jason Parks podcast about the Twins. He didn't have Walker in his top 10) but said that he had an amazing ceiling and could be a "first division" type player, if he gets some plate discipline. That is a fantastic prospect to have.

 

But the Twins system is absolutely loaded right now - they could have 5 players (Sano, Buxton, Meyer, Stewart, Gordon) in most top 40 lists, and only Meyer will graduate. And they have real depth behind that. Walker could be a top 10 prospect in a lot of other systems. Parks said the Twins 11-20 were better than at least 3 teams 1-10.

[tobi0040]

. Parks said the Twins 11-20 were better than at least 3 teams 1-10.

 

 

That is crazy.

[jokin]

I think that is fair. I really like Walker and in the past, I've linked to Jason Parks podcast about the Twins. He didn't have Walker in his top 10) but said that he had an amazing ceiling and could be a "first division" type player, if he gets some plate discipline. That is a fantastic prospect to have.

 

But the Twins system is absolutely loaded right now - they could have 5 players (Sano, Buxton, Meyer, Stewart, Gordon) in most top 40 lists, and only Meyer will graduate. And they have real depth behind that. Walker could be a top 10 prospect in a lot of other systems. Parks said the Twins 11-20 were better than at least 3 teams 1-10.

 

I'm not yet convinced that Meyer's 2014 "graduation" is a certainty, although it certainly should be.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'm not yet convinced that Meyer's 2014 "graduation" is a certainty, although it certainly should be.

 

I don't think he graduates other than a Sept call up. That's a good thing, I might add. I suspect that one of May, Darnell, or Johnson will have pretty good success when KC and/or Deduno's spots vacate. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if Pino finally got the call if they add a guy to the 40 man.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Parks said the Twins 11-20 were better than the Twins 1-10.

 

*ducks and runs*

[jokin]

I don't think he graduates other than a Sept call up. That's a good thing, I might add. I suspect that one of May, Darnell, or Johnson will have pretty good success when KC and/or Deduno's spots vacate. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if Pino finally got the call if they add a guy to the 40 man.

 

You are likely right in all of your personnel conclusions. But I disagree about Meyer. As in the case of Gibson, Kevin Gausman (age 22 for his debut), Michael Wacha (age 21 for his debut), and others, I think Meyer (now age 24) is more than ready to test his mettle at this level, and would benefit greatly from getting himself established this year for a chance at even better effectiveness in 2015.

[Brock Beauchamp]

You are likely right in all of your personnel conclusions. But I disagree about Meyer. As in the case of Gibson, Kevin Gausman (age 22 for his debut), Michael Wacha (age 21 for his debut), and others, I think Meyer (now age 24) is more than ready to test his mettle at this level, and would benefit greatly from getting himself established this year for a chance at even better effectiveness in 2015.

 

I'm cautious with prospects - probably to a fault - and even I think Meyer should get a taste of the bigs this season. He's not the type of prospect who needs an entire season in AAA.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'm cautious with prospects - probably to a fault - and even I think Meyer should get a taste of the bigs this season. He's not the type of prospect who needs an entire season in AAA.

 

That may be true, but his problem right has more to do with endurance. Are they really going to test him out as a starter in MLB on an 80 pitch count limit? Even if they start to up that a bit, I don't see it happening. I'm guessing he comes up in the pen in September (which I'd argue is a good thing for his development too).

[lightfoot789]

Who was the last Twins Prospect to win either and / or both the MVP and Home Run Derby at the FSL All Star Game?

 

Congrats - Big Fella

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140614&content_id=79810068&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_l123&sid=l123

and

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140614&content_id=79848354&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb&sid=milb