REPORT: Jose Berrios To Play Winter Baseball

[Parker Hageman]

UPDATE: According to Brad Steil, the Minnesota Twins' Director of Minor League Operations, the organization will not grant Berrios permission to play in the winter leagues. Steil said via email that the team feels he has pitched enough during the season and that it is in his best interest not to pitch again this year.

 

***

 

After being announced that he will be invited to the major league spring training camp, Twins pitching prospect Jose Berrios is on the verge of agreeing to play winter baseball with the Indios de Mayaguez in the Liga de Beisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente in Puerto Rico. 

 

According to a post at ElNuevaDia.com, Berrios needs the Twins' permission and an application has been filed with the team to allow one of their top prospects to accrue more innings. Berrios amassed 140 innings in 2014, a marginal jump from his 2013 total. A translation of the article states that Berrios believes the Twins organization does not want him to pitch but his agent is attempting to convince the team to allow him to play before spring training. 

 

Berrios could join the team either later in December or early January. Based on that, it is unlikely Berrios will see much regular season action but the postseason for the league lasts through January and the winner advances to the Caribbean Series which begins in February. Because of league rules, he will need to be on the active roster at some point during the regular season, before the final game on December 29.

 

In all, Berrios' agents estimate that he would pitch a dozen innings. 

[nytwinsfan]

Great to see him taking the initiative. This guy is a competitor.  But I have to think at his age the conservative approach is the right one. It just isn't worth the risk.  I won't blame the Twins at all if they say no.

[Seth Stohs]

Just Say No!!!

 

But I love Berrios's drive and effort!

[Twins Fan From Afar]

I'm starting to really question the wisdom of international prospects playing almost year-round. Just seems like there's not enough time off for bodies to heal, etc. If this is really going to be about a dozen innings or so, though, that doesn't seem like a huge deal.

[Parker Hageman]

Just Say No!!!

 

But I love Berrios's drive and effort!

 

 

I'm torn. Given the trend for prospects, I just want him to sit at home in a bubble until needed. Then again, it's probably 15-20 innings at most so...

[nater79a]

Have to believe they would want Berrios to work out of the bullpen. Doubt he'd be able to stretch it out to starters innings in that short of time. Even if he did start, a dozen innings would only be two outings, basically.

[JB_Iowa]

I'm starting to really question the wisdom of international prospects playing almost year-round. Just seems like there's not enough time off for bodies to heal, etc. If this is really going to be about a dozen innings or so, though, that doesn't seem like a huge deal.

 

From all of his posts about his workouts, they may wear him out more than playing.

 

He's unbelievably intense,  Maybe he needs the outlet of those few innings.

[old nurse]

did resting the winter before help Hicks?

[Parker Hageman]

So the Twins will not give him permission to play. I think that's probably the best course of action. 

[Steven Buhr]

Yeah, put me down for agreeing the Twins are showing appropriate caution by telling Berrios just to chill until ST (though, based on his workouts, I wouldn't call that chilling). He's at a critical point in his career and some level of caution is appropriate here.

[Seth Stohs]

Good, smart update! Good to hear!

[James]

did resting the winter before help Hicks?

No, but I get the feeling Berios wants to play a lot more than Hicks does.  Hopefully Hicks will see how hard some guys are willing to work to get to that level. 

 

I'm glad the Twins told Berios to sit this one out, but man... that guy is a gamer.  

[JB_Iowa]

Jose O. Berrios ‏@JOlaMaquina  · 16m16 minutes ago 
Difference now from when I get back in Sept I don't talk, I walk the walk #Work4ABigSeason#MNTwins @Twins @UABaseball

 

 

 

[DocBauer]

The kid's drive and work ethic is outstanding!

 

I think he just might be that 1 in a 100, or in a 1,000 you look, scout and hope for. Not only the talent, but the drive, desire and even intelligence to make it happen.

 

I have often compared him to Pedro Martinez, and really, not due to any Latino connection. But simply because Pedro had an amazing desire to compete. And despite his smaller stature, he simply BROUGHT IT to the opposition.

[Paul Pleiss]

Hey Jose, you want to play winter ball? Okay sure.... wait, wait, wait... NOT!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

I'm not at all bummed by this decision. I'm really excited to see what Berrios can do when he reports for spring training next year.

[Steven Buhr]

I really like Berrios and you have to credit him for having a terrific season. He also is extremely driven to succeed.

 

That said, I'm cautious about all the expectations now being placed on him. He's still trying to succeed at a job that not many guys his size do. If he eventually becomes a consistent #2-3 starting pitcher, I'll be thrilled.

 

That's why you won't find him in the top 3 of my Twins prospect rankings. I believe, on balance, Alex Meyer still has a higher ceiling (admittedly, probably also a lower floor) than Berrios.

 

BTW, I also differ from pretty much everyone else on who the #1 prospect in the organization is right now.

 

http://knuckleballsblog.com/2014/12/24/jcs-top-15-twins-prospects-2014-15/

[Dantes929]

Ok, I get caution except for the fact that there is so little empirical evidence in favor of it.  Plenty of guys have taken winters off only to hurt their arm in Spring Training.   Maybe throwing hard in the off season helps.   They limited Meyer last season but I could easily imagine him getting hurt in the first week of the season.   I could just as easily have imagined him throwing another 50 innings in 2014 and having no ill effects whatsoever.    Sometimes I think it is better just to stretch them out and if they end up needing TJ surgery then maybe the sooner the better.   At least you will know you haven't left any gas in the tank when all is said and done.    Blyleven probably doesn't make the HOF in today's world.

[iTwins]

Whew. Maybe it's the paranoia from Buxton's 2014, but I just couldn't see anything positive coming from Berrios pitching some extra innings in winter ball. I want him to rest, recover and be ready to tear up AA, AAA and (maybe) the big leagues next year.

 

The kid's got talent...I don't want to break him.

[JB_Iowa]

 rest, recover 

I don't think those words are in his vocabulary.

[iTwins]

I don't think those words are in his vocabulary.

 

Very true - his drive is certainly admirable (he makes me tired WATCHING his work out routine). Thankfully, the Twins PUT those words in his vocabulary this winter. 

[Parker Hageman]

Well, the Twins won't let him play but it appears that Berrios will be throwing out the first pitch for today's game:

 

https://twitter.com/MayaguezIndios/status/551073502808133632

 

Please don't let anything bad happen.