Article: Twins Non-Roster Spring Training Invites

[Seth Stohs]

On Friday afternoon, the Twins announced that they have invited 18 non-roster players to major league spring training. Among others, top prospects such as JO Berrios, Byron Buxton, Tyler Duffey and Taylor Rogers will report to big league camp.The Twins announced today that six pitchers will be there to open spring training. JO Berrios is officially invited to his first big league camp, although he was there with the team when he was working out before the WBC two years ago. Right-handers Tyler Duffey, Mark Hamburger and Adrian Salcedo will also be there. So will left-handers Ryan O'Rourke and Taylor Rogers.

 

The team always needs plenty of catchers. Dan Rohlfing recently signed to remain with the organization. Stuart Turner will return for his second big league spring training. Tyler Grimes and Mitch Garver will participate in their first spring training with the big leaguers.

 

James Beresford and Doug Bernier return to the organization and to big league camp. They will be joined by newcomers Argenis Diaz and Heiker Meneses.

 

Byron Buxton will return to big league camp in 2015 along with fellow outfielders Eric Farris, Danny Ortiz and Shane Robinson.

 

Pioneer Press's Mike Berardino also tweeted that the Twins have brought back former 49th round draft pick Brock Peterson.

 

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[drock2190]

No Sano?

[Twins Twerp]

Sano was added to roster this year

[Seth Stohs]

Yup, the 40 players on the 40 man roster are required to be at MLB spring training. 

[Mike Sixel]

I read on FG that Buxton might be more hurt than we know.....but it sounded like speculation. Anyone got anything on this? Like, he might have a broken collarbone, is what I believe I read.

[nicksaviking]

Add Nick Punto to the list as a minor league deal with a ST invite.

 

He was just released from the A's. 

Edited December 19, 2014 by nicksaviking

[Dantes929]

Add Nick Punto to the list as a minor league deal with a ST invite.

 

He was just released from the A's. 

Twins went from 3rd to tied for 1st  when Hunter and Santana left the team.  Twins went from first to worst when LNP left.   Just sayin.

[lightfoot789]

Disappointed for AB Walker

2 League Championships (2012 & 2014)

Best Record in Minors / MiLB (2013)

Averages: 33 HRs / 124 RBI / 102 Runs / 82% SB Rate / .310 OBP

Midwest League MVP

Mid Season and Post Season All Star 2013 & 2014

Only Spring Training Game (2 for 2 w/Double and HR)

Never Promoted

No AFL appearances

 

Being a Top 20 Prospect in your 4th season really doesn't mean much within the Twins organization.  How helpful would it have been to learn under Brunansky and Hunter and Vavra and Glynn and Molitor for a kid with "All Star Potential".  Talk about killing a kids spirit.  WOW

Dogs get bigger bones thrown at them than this kid

[DocBauer]

I don't think Walker is being disrespected at all. The whole purpose, generally speaking, of bringing someone to camp on an invite basis, is you expect that individual to have a legitimate shot at playing time some point during that year: AAA call up, AA up to AAA and then a call up or September promotion, etc.

 

No matter how talented and productive Walker has been thus far...and I'm a fan...he has holes in his swing to work on, and the odds are pretty doubtful he sees the majors at any point this season. And besides, a lot of kids not actually "invited" still make appearances in the big games at the behest of staff, or to fill up a roster for SS games, or both.

[DocBauer]

A few thoughts:

 

Hamburger still throws hard, and has some actual ML experience. There is a LOT of RHRP competition for the pen this spring, and we never talk about him. He just might be a surprise.

 

Speaking of surprises, if O'Rourke is as good against LHers as we hear, he might also surprise, though I think it would require the Twins keeping 3 lefties instead of two.

 

Ortiz is a guy who has flown under the radar most of his career thus far, and yet, he seems to always put of OK numbers and work his way up the ladder. Though not a prospect close to their league, I wonder if he might see the majors before either Rosario or Buxton.

 

Does anyone have a solid scouting report on Farris? I know he's nothing special, but he can play 2B, was suddenly transformed in to a CF last season, and actually seemed to perform reasonably well. Is there any chance he could be a versatile, 25th man type?

[lightfoot789]

Most 3rd rounders in their 4th year have received a taste of SS.  He can get sent back down after a week or 2 but at least get a taste.  Learn in practice from the MLB coaches and get a taste of what is expected.  Productive with Flaws deserves at least a week IMO.

 

No one truly expected Vargas to make that jump to the MLB last year.  Maybe as a September call up because he was on 40 man.  Noone thought he would be as good as he was.  I suspect that the MLB SS gave him much more confidence going forward into his AA season.   Just Saying

[maxisagod]

Most 3rd rounders in their 4th year have received a taste of SS.  He can get sent back down after a week or 2 but at least get a taste.  Learn in practice from the MLB coaches and get a taste of what is expected.  Productive with Flaws deserves at least a week IMO.

 

No one truly expected Vargas to make that jump to the MLB last year.  Maybe as a September call up because he was on 40 man.  Noone thought he would be as good as he was.  I suspect that the MLB SS gave him much more confidence going forward into his AA season.   Just Saying

 

I think you answered your own question, Vargas was on the 40 man, Walker is not. Walker was a 3rd round pick, not a 1st round pick like Buxton or Berrios. Walker doesn't need to build up confidence, he needs to improve his walk to strike out ratio, which he can do on the minor league side this spring, and then get a call over to play in a game or two on the big league side... just like Sano and Buxton did in pervious years. 

[Thrylos]

Disappointed for AB Walker

2 League Championships (2012 & 2014)

Best Record in Minors / MiLB (2013)

Averages: 33 HRs / 124 RBI / 102 Runs / 82% SB Rate / .310 OBP

Midwest League MVP

Mid Season and Post Season All Star 2013 & 2014

Only Spring Training Game (2 for 2 w/Double and HR)

Never Promoted

No AFL appearances

 

Being a Top 20 Prospect in your 4th season really doesn't mean much within the Twins organization.  How helpful would it have been to learn under Brunansky and Hunter and Vavra and Glynn and Molitor for a kid with "All Star Potential".  Talk about killing a kids spirit.  WOW

Dogs get bigger bones thrown at them than this kid

 

 

Disregard the team stats you state.  That is not Walker.  

 

See that .310 OBP? That is a huge issue.  Have a look at his strikeouts last season: 156. About 4 Ks every 3 games.  That is another issue and it really gets bad, since he does not get on base at a decent clip.   So the kid needs to learn to take pitches and get on base.  There are better prospects left out of the invite, so there is no space for complaining...

[Dr. Evil]

Lots of good points made here. Not saying it's necessarily the case with ab walker, but I am of the opinion that we could be about 10 percent more aggressive in advancing minor leaguers to the next level. Maybe ab walker to an extent is an example of this. He is sorta mashing.

[Seth Stohs]

I really like the Brock Peterson signing. Basically replaces Coabello.

 

I'm starting to think that lightfoot might just be Adam Brett Walker. If he had been a non-roster invite, that would have been great. I'd have been happy for him. He's such a good person.

 

But looking at the outfielders on the 40 man roster and the outfielders that are non-roster guys, I can't at all be upset that Walker isn't invited. You can only have so many guys at big league camp. 

 

He's find going to minor league camp a couple of weeks later. They'll bring him over to big league camp a few times for games. He sure had a good showing in his one spring big league game last year!

[lightfoot789]

Wouldn't do me any good if I was .   Just waiting on the kid to get a bone.

Any kind a bone.  He must be destined for the Nylabone (No Taste Walker).

 

I watched him in Cedar Rapids and became a huge fan.  I feel like I'm a great judge of talent and it just kills me that I'm the only one to be on his band wagon.  I guess that's my hang up.  I get where everyone is coming from - I'm just disappointed because I have never seen the kid shown any tangible love during his career.   I wanted him to practice with the MLB coaches and not just play in a couple of games (1 week). 

 

Still waiting on rationale for an individual who can have such a terrible OBP yet rank 1st or 2nd on his team in runs scored every year (on championship teams)?  What is the saber metric justification for that result.  I would argue that he probably has as many full counts as anyone on the team as well.  His problem to me is that he is not aggressive enough.  Those are one of the questions I would love to hear what management thinks.  Please ask that one day Seth if you get a chance. 

[lightfoot789]

Surprised on Burdi and Reed or Jones as well.  Figured they would get a taste as well.  (1 week)

[Otwins]

That is who I thought would get a look.  Some of the high velocity relief pitchers.

[Rosterman]

Everyone will get a look. But you do have to watch who you bring early to camp. Only so much playing time, folks. And then you start rewarding guys as the roadtrips happen. But your first concern are the guys on the 40-man. You want to see them and send them out soon. If they get disabled, they start the year with a major league salary. Looks like the Twins a pretty set on their minors rosters. They have enough guys to fill the first three levels easily with some spare change. Lots of people at Beloit/extended spring training.

[ScottyB]

Speaking of surprises, if O'Rourke is as good against LHers as we hear, he might also surprise, though I think it would require the Twins keeping 3 lefties instead of two.

 

 

Actually, they kept 3 LH relievers last year - Perkins, Duensing and Theilbar.  All 3 are likely to be back, unless they trade Duensing.  It's also unknown what they'll do with Milone.

Edited December 20, 2014 by ScottyB

[diehardtwinsfan]

Wouldn't do me any good if I was .   Just waiting on the kid to get a bone.

Any kind a bone.  He must be destined for the Nylabone (No Taste Walker).

 

I watched him in Cedar Rapids and became a huge fan.  I feel like I'm a great judge of talent and it just kills me that I'm the only one to be on his band wagon.  I guess that's my hang up.  I get where everyone is coming from - I'm just disappointed because I have never seen the kid shown any tangible love during his career.   I wanted him to practice with the MLB coaches and not just play in a couple of games (1 week). 

 

Still waiting on rationale for an individual who can have such a terrible OBP yet rank 1st or 2nd on his team in runs scored every year (on championship teams)?  What is the saber metric justification for that result.  I would argue that he probably has as many full counts as anyone on the team as well.  His problem to me is that he is not aggressive enough.  Those are one of the questions I would love to hear what management thinks.  Please ask that one day Seth if you get a chance.

I don't think you are the only one on his bandwagon. There are a number of people on this board who really like him. I think the big difference is that while we all recognize he has undeniable talent, most of us recognize that he's got a few big issues that need to be mitigated if he's going to even make it to the big leagues, namely contact. He strikes out too much and walks way too little. Whether that is due to a hole in his swing or a lack of plate discipline (or both), I'm not sure. But bottom line is that right now, he has no chance of making the team and very little chance of being a productive major leaguer in 2015. I don't see how it's a slight to not invite him in this situation. He has a lot more work to do than guys like Buxton and Sano, and he's showed far less success than either of them in his league relative to age.

 

Don't get me wrong, if he figures out the contact problems, he could be an absolute stud. He's still a very good prospect, but at the end of the day, he's not ready.

[stringer bell]

I pretty much agree with the above post.  I want to emphasize that the difference between being in major league camp and minor league camp is literally a few hundred feet.  If Walker somehow shows he is "too good" for the Rochester group in camp, it is a short walk to the Twins' camp.  I've seen him in the spring and at Cedar Rapids and he is an impressive physical specimen with both good speed and strength.  Probably the player he reminds me of most is Michael Restovitch, who had a brief career in the majors but never established himself. 

 

Walker's resumé includes impressive counting numbers and championships.  That is good, but can't totally be attributed to his performance alone.  He's been on a succession of good teams and he's stayed on one team for an entire year. 

[DocBauer]

Actually, they kept 3 LH relievers last year - Perkins, Duensing and Theilbar.  All 3 are likely to be back, unless they trade Duensing.  It's also unknown what they'll do with Milone.

 

I should have been more clear on this. I don't count Perkins as a LH in the pen, he is simply Da Closer. I was referencing three additional LH in the pen vs the two we have normally kept.

[ashbury]

I really like the Brock Peterson signing. Basically replaces Coabello.

To the extent that a Colabello type is needed.... 

[nater79a]

Everyone will get a look. But you do have to watch who you bring early to camp. Only so much playing time, folks. And then you start rewarding guys as the roadtrips happen. But your first concern are the guys on the 40-man. You want to see them and send them out soon. If they get disabled, they start the year with a major league salary. Looks like the Twins a pretty set on their minors rosters. They have enough guys to fill the first three levels easily with some spare change. Lots of people at Beloit/extended spring training.

 

Good point that you made here about why some of the Twins' better prospects were the first to be sent across the street to the minor league complex. Always wondered why guys like Brandon Waring, Dan Rohlfing and Doug Bernier hung around to the last days of spring training when they had little chance of making the trip north,  Using this knowledge, I guess we can expect guys like Miguel Sano, Jason Wheeler and Eddie Rosario to get their looks early in the spring (1st couple weeks) and then be sent down. Byron Buxton may actually hang around longer than those guys because there is less risk.

[ScrapTheNickname]

Rumor has it that Hamburger is a real hot dog, but that his fast ball has a lot of mustard on it. Odds are he'll wind up sandwiched between starter and closer, a 7th inning man. Sorry to have wasted your time ...

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I always thought Hamburger looked a little raw, though at 27 he certainly has enough seasoning. 

 

Think he's heard these jokes before?

[gbg]

Disappointed for AB Walker

2 League Championships (2012 & 2014)

Best Record in Minors / MiLB (2013)

Averages: 33 HRs / 124 RBI / 102 Runs / 82% SB Rate / .310 OBP

Midwest League MVP

Mid Season and Post Season All Star 2013 & 2014

Only Spring Training Game (2 for 2 w/Double and HR)

Never Promoted

No AFL appearances

 

Being a Top 20 Prospect in your 4th season really doesn't mean much within the Twins organization.  How helpful would it have been to learn under Brunansky and Hunter and Vavra and Glynn and Molitor for a kid with "All Star Potential".  Talk about killing a kids spirit.  WOW

Dogs get bigger bones thrown at them than this kid

Those aren't his stats. He's played three seasons, and you took his numbers and divided by two. He actually averages 22 HRs, 82 RBIs, and 68 R per year. 

 

He's 22 years old and played High-A last year. He's below the average age for the league, and he's been promoted twice. If he hadn't been promoted, he'd still be at E-town.

 

And frankly, if his make-up is such that not getting to spend about a week in spring training at age 22 is going to "kill his spirit", then we should trade him now before his psyche is completely crushed by the world.

[Rosterman]

Hamburger will get his chance during the season if he produces in the minors. He's probably drawing a decent salary, and the Twins will give him every opportunity, if they need to, avoid adding a long-term guy to the roster.

 

Anyone catch that the Twins have signed lefty Will Ledezma to a minor league contract?