Article: Cody's Top 30 Prospects: Part 2 (20-11)

[Cody Christie]

One of the highlights of the off-season for a core of Twins fans is the release of the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook. Seth Stohs has worked to put together this fantastic book for the last seven years. In 2012, he gave me my first taste of helping with the book. By 2013, I was writing an article for the annual and for the last three years I have been among a trio of writers that includes Jeremy Nygaard, Stohs, and myself.

 

I already released the first part of my top 30 list, and there are some strong prospects making their way to Target Field.I have some differences with the other authors but that's what makes this fun. To see their top 30's, you're going to have to go and pick up a copy for yourself.

 

***Get your copy of the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook now (Paperback or PDF).***

 

 

20 – Tyler Duffey – RHP – Ft. Myers Miracle, New Britain Rock Cats, Rochester Red Wings

2014 Stats: 13-3, 3.67 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 149.2 IP, 30 BB, 113 K

In only his third year in the system, Duffey cruised his way to Triple-A. He started the year at Fort Myers and the majority of his innings were at Double-A. On average, he was almost four years younger than the other pitchers in the International League. His fastball sits in the low-90s and his change-up was much improved this year. This could make him dangerous moving forward.

 

19 – Taylor Rogers – LHP – New Britain Rock Cats

2014 Stats: 11-6, 3.29 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 145.0 IP, 37 BB, 113 K

After breaking out at both Low-A and High-A last season, Rogers was able to hold his own at Double-A for all of 2014. He's left-handed and he has a pulse so that puts him a little higher on this list than he'd be if he lacked these two qualities. His strikeout rate improved this season and he tossed the most innings of his career. He might not be a starter in the big leagues but he can definitely get lefties out.

 

18 – Amaurys Minier – OF/1B – GCL Twins

2014 Stats: .292/.405/.520, 11-2B, 2-3B, 8 HR, 33 RBI

Minier made solid improvements in his second trip through the GCL. He's still a teenager and he will move up in the system in 2015. He has very good power from the left hand side of the plate but there are questions about how his approach will fare as he moves up. There are some holes in his defensive skills but he is one player that could breakout in 2015.

 

17 – Felix Jorge – RHP – Elizabethton Twins, Cedar Rapids Kernels

2014 Stats: 6-7, 4.97 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 105.0 IP, 34 BB, 84 K

I'm higher on this guy than basically anyone else producingto a Twins prospect list. He struggled mightily at Low-A but made some positive adjustments when he moved back to E-Town. Jorge lost a little mojo with his fastball this year and his off-speed offerings continue to improve. He still has a high ceiling and I'm higher than anyone else about him.

 

16 – Adam Brett Walker – OF – Ft. Myers Miracle

2014 Stats: .246/.307/.436, 19-2B, 1-3B, 25 HR, 94 RBI, 9 SB

Walker killed the ball in the pitcher friendly FSL. However there are still questions about his ability to make consistent contact and he strikes out a lot since he has trouble recognizing the off-speed offerings. It seems like he will have make some offensive adjustments in the years to come or be relegated to a lesser role at the big league level.

 

15 – Stuart Turner – C – Ft. Myers Miracle

2014 Stats: .249/.322/.375, 16-2B, 2-3B, 7 HR, 40 RBI

I've always liked catching prospects and Turner's defense is enough to carry him to the big leagues. His bat will be the question mark but all of his appearances came in the FSL. As he moves up the ladder and pitching improves, it will be interesting to see if he can make the adjustments to stay relevant at the plate. I think he makes strides next year and finds himself just shy of the top 10.

 

14 – Travis Harrison – OF/3B – Ft. Myers Miracle

2014 Stats: .269/.361/.365, 33-2B, 1-3B, 3 HR, 59 RBI

I've liked Harrison a lot since he joined the Twins organization but I didn't like his dip in home runs this past season. He was hitting in the tough FSL and he did collect 33 doubles. Some positives were his ability to hit to all fields and he cutback in the strikeout department. He's young and still has some untapped potential.

 

13 – Stephen Gonsalves – LHP – Elizabethton Twins, Cedar Rapids Kernels

2014 Stats: 4-3, 3.02 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 65.2 IP, 21 BB, 70 K

Behind Thorpe, Gonsalves is the second highest ranked left-handed pitcher in my Top 30. He did well at Low-A even though he is only 20-years old. He has some room to grow into his body and he has shown the ability to throw strikes. If Gonsalves continues to make strides at High-A, he could be a top 10 prospect by next off-season.

 

12 – Max Kepler – OF – Ft. Myers Miracle

2014 Stats: .264/.333/.493, 20-2B, 6-3B, 5 HR, 59 RBI

Kepler has been one of the most intriguing prospects in the Twins organization since they signed him as a teenager out of Europe. His batting average improved in each month of the season and he got on base over 33% of the time. He continues to be a strong defensive outfielder but his power numbers will need to improve to stick at a corner spot. Kepler did very well in 18 AFL games this season with an .806 OPS including four doubles and three triples.

 

11 – Lewis Thorpe – LHP – Cedar Rapids Kernels

2014 Stats: 3-2, 3.52 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 71.2 IP, 36 BB, 80 K

Thorpe exploded onto the prospect scene a year ago and seemed to be busting his way into Twins top 10 prospect lists. A year removed from that explosion and things have come back down to earth. He held his own in the Midwest League while being four years younger than the other pitchers in the league. Thorpe will likely miss all of 2015 after spraining his ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more from Cody Christie make sure to follow him on Twitter @NoDakTwinsFan and to read his other work at http://www.NoDakTwinsFan.com

 

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[diehardtwinsfan]

is it official that Thorpe is out for 2015, or are you assuming he's going to get TJ?

[clutterheart]

If Thorpe is out in 2015 he should be lower than Gonsalves.

 

I think Harrison is a guy who is going to break out next year.

[Seth Stohs]

is it official that Thorpe is out for 2015, or are you assuming he's going to get TJ?

 

He went home for the holidays and was feeling well at that time. Obviously there's no way to know how he'll respond in the spring or in game competition. Ervin Santana is an example of a guy who had the same injury and never had TJ surgery. 

 

So, we shall see what happens. 

[h2oface]

Maybe I should wait to see #'s 1-10 before I say this, but I can't imagine, with this list so far, that Mitch Garver will be one of the first 10.  Mitch gets no love. I think he will be the next star starting catcher, and Turner a Drew Butera. He didn't win the Johnny Bench award, but was a finalist with Turner winning, and he crushes at the plate.

 

I sure hope Thorpe is a rarity and can pitch to his best capability with his injury. I also hope that Ervin Santana makes it through his contract with his. With an injury like that, I personally can't see more than one year contracts. (I hope we don't lose him for 2 of the 4 years.)

[nater79a]

If Thorpe is out in 2015 he should be lower than Gonsalves.

 

I think Harrison is a guy who is going to break out next year.

 

Harrison is one of the guys I'll be watching closely. Sure hope his power comes back because that is his ticket to the big leagues. Only an average OF defender (albeit with a strong arm) and probably not ever going to be a high average hitter. Let's keep the gap power and ramp up the over-the-wall power!

[nater79a]

He went home for the holidays and was feeling well at that time. Obviously there's no way to know how he'll respond in the spring or in game competition. Ervin Santana is an example of a guy who had the same injury and never had TJ surgery. 

 

So, we shall see what happens. 

 

Did Thorpe go back to Melbourne, Australia?

[Paul Pleiss]

I love that the Twins organization is deep with talent such that Max Kepler is not a top ten prospect. That is awesome.

[Tibs]

Why are people not as high on Lewis Thorpe this year? Those numbers look solid to me, especially when you consider how young he is. Is it the higher walk rate?

[jokin]

Why are people not as high on Lewis Thorpe this year? Those numbers look solid to me, especially when you consider how young he is. Is it the higher walk rate?

 

Who isn't high on Thorpe?  The only issue is the elbow, and how much that will slow his progress.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Why are people not as high on Lewis Thorpe this year? Those numbers look solid to me, especially when you consider how young he is. Is it the higher walk rate?

I'd add that he got off to a pretty rough start. His first four starts were bad.  Second were average.  He was well above average from there on out.  The overall numbers looked pretty good (minus the walks), and he largely corrected that as the season wore on.

[Seth Stohs]

I was at probably his fifth start. Talked to him and Arteaga after the game. He made an adjustment and added 2-3 mph and had better control. He struggled with control mightily but the strikeouts are encouraging.

 

He's just outside my top ten too but it was more about concern about the elbow. He's very young and has a long way to go but he's very intriguing!

[markos]

I think Stuart had a better year hitting than his final stat line indicates. He had a terrible April (.452 OPS), and spent the rest of the year digging himself out of that hole. However, from May 1st on, he had a .759 OPS, which is solidly above-average in the Florida State League. He obviously won't be a Joe Mauer or Buster Posey at the plate, but I think the Drew Butera comparisons are premature. 

[Seth Stohs]

Turner likely isn't going to be a great hitter, but he can be an every day player. I really like Garver too. He is solid behind the plate and can hit a bit too. Both have things to work on, but both have good potential. 

[DocBauer]

I keep wanting to say who I like in this second top 10, or who I think is going to break out this season, and I just keep coming up with the same answer......everyone.

 

[DocBauer]

Turner likely isn't going to be a great hitter, but he can be an every day player. I really like Garver too. He is solid behind the plate and can hit a bit too. Both have things to work on, but both have good potential.

 

Seth, in your opinion and crystal ball...the Twins catchers in two seasons?