Article: 2015 Breakout Prospects

[bird]

JT Chargois and Michael Cedaroth.

[jokin]

As a Minnesota transplant that now lives in Florida,  I enjoyed going to Miracle games and watching Berrios and Walker.   I think in time they will be major league studs, one name though that is not to be ignored is Jorge Polanco.  He can flat out pick it albeit with some errors, but I think that will get straightend out in time, so thats my vote.

 

 I admit that I come in with some confirmation bias on my part, but I'm really with you on this one, Transplant.  I only saw him play one minor league game in Cedar Rapids, but that was enough to convince me.  Too many people are too dismissive of what he accomplished this year (including Terry Rayn), especially considering that this was the first year he has been primarily at SS.

 

I've documented it elsewhere, but I'll say it again, based on how he closed out the 2014 season, he has the best chance to be the guy who comes out swinging in Chattanooga and end up banging on the major league door by July.  People, including Terry Ryan, are under the impression that he struggled after his promotion to AA.  But if you break it down in half, here's what happened:

 

First 18 games-  .214/.225/.257/.482   BB% 1.4% K% 19.2%

Last 19 games-  .347/.413/.431/.844   BB% 10%  K% 17.5%

 

Yes, it's only about 160 PAs, but the contrast is still pretty striking, and confirmed with the spike in improved plate discipline.  And although he's been in a little slump lately in winter ball- plus acknowledging the sketchiness of the winter ball numbers, he's still slashing at .328/.394/.469/(863), which would put him in the top five or better in every category, if he qualified. And there are some pretty good players in that Dominican league that he's up against.

 

Put him in AA in April, plus with a little head start on all of the rest of the studs that will be joining and surrounding him in the Chattanooga batting order, plus the hitter-friendly Lookout ballfield, it's easy to envision a big bustout for Jorge.

Edited December 7, 2014 by jokin

[clutterheart]

Polanco!

 

I'm excited for this kid. He's gonna be good

[bird]

 The depth in truly promising prospects is so impressive. Roughly 30 prospects have been mentioned in this thread not named Buxton, Meyer, or Sano, let alone Arcia, Santana, Hicks, May, or Vargas. Only a handful of them are flyers. Go over to the Tiger's prospect sites and see if you can find even a dozen such prospects, especially since they just traded two of their top 10 prospects for a pitcher whose ceiling is arguably lower than that of Trevor May.

Edited December 7, 2014 by birdwatcher

[lightfoot789]

Have the Twins ever had another minor league team in recent history that has had the talent that the Chattanooga Lookouts will have at the start of the season (Position Players)?

 

Once those top prospects move on to AAA or the MLB - That is when your true Breakout Prospects will come to light for the "Lookouts".   I agree with the Brett Lee pick and/or one of their other starting pitchers to be that Breakout Pitcher.

 

How many runs per game will this Cahttonooga team average is a great new thread question?  Also what will their  starting  line up be and why? 

 

Who will be the next Berrios (Top Pitchng Prospect) to move up 2 levels in 2015?  (if any)

[jokin]

Who will be the next Berrios (Top Pitchng Prospect) to move up 2 levels in 2015?  (if any)

 

If Thorpe is healthy, he's the SP that could make the 2 level move, likely starting in A or A+, and ending up in Chattanooga for the playoff run. Cederoth jumping from Rookie ball this year, could potentially be throwing in Ft Myers or even Chattanooga by the end of the season.

 

Among the relievers, Burdi, Reed, and a real sleeper, Brandon Peterson, should all have a great shot ending up 2 levels higher than they start out. If Zach Jones starts out in Ft Myers, it's easy to see him finishing up in AAA if he gets his control issues in order.

[Steven Buhr]

Have the Twins ever had another minor league team in recent history that has had the talent that the Chattanooga Lookouts will have at the start of the season (Position Players)?

 

Actually, you could argue, "yes," because this group has essentially been coming up together. It's true that, if Sano starts the year in Chattanooga, that would be a significant addition to this "class," as is Stuart Turner, but for the most part this group of position players have been together since winning a championship for Elizabethton in 2012.

 

They gave Cedar Rapids a great line up in the first year of the affiliation between the Kernels & Twins and, obviously, did the same in Fort Myers this past year.

 

Now Chattanooga, also in the first year of their affiliation with the Twins, will get pretty much the same group.

 

Given the wash out rate for minor leaguers, in general, it really is pretty encouraging that a core group of 6-7 position players would be able to continue to progress together this way. Lookouts fans are going to have a lot of fun next summer.

Edited December 7, 2014 by Steven BUHR

[lightfoot789]

This is how I predict the season will start:

 

Imagine  this  Lineup:
1)  Buxton  CF  (Baseball's #1 Prospect)
2)  Polanco  SS  (Twins  #7 Prospect)
3)  Rosario  LF   (Twins  #10 Prospect)
4)  Sano  3B   (Twins  #2 Prospect)
5)  Walker  RF   (Twins  #13 Prospect)
6)  Hicks  1B  (Twins #2 RBI Prospect last 2 Yrs.)
7)  Kepler  DH  (Twins  #19 Prospect)
8)  Turner  C  (Twins  #15 Prospect)
9)  Michael  2B   (Twins 2011 1st Rd. Pick)

 

Bench:
***)  Kepler  DH / 1B / OF

10)  Jairo Rodgriguez  C
11)  Tyler Grimes  C / UT
12)  Aderlin Mejia  SS / UT

13)  Mike Gonzalez  1B / DH  (if 26 man roster)

 

Look at how many guys could become breakout candidates with this lineup.

 

Pitching Rotation:
1)  Jose Berrios
2)  Taylor Rogers
3)  Alex Wimmers
4)  Brett Lee
5)  DJ Berrios
6)  Matt Tomshaw

 

Bullpen:
1)  Corey Williams
2)  Tim Shibuya
3)  Steve Gruver
4)  Tyler Jones
5)  Madison Boer
6)  Zach  Jones
7)  Nick Burdi

 

Visualize these pitchers in Chattonooga - (WOW)

 

Look at how many pitchers could become breakout candidates with this staff

[diehardtwinsfan]

yeah, this could be a great year the Twins AA affiliate. I expect though that at some point, many of these guys are going to get bumped to AAA or the MLB team.

[lightfoot789]

yeah, this could be a great year the Twins AA affiliate. I expect though that at some point, many of these guys are going to get bumped to AAA or the MLB team.

 

Let's hope so (promotions).  Progression is a good thing.