This Year's Breakthrough Player?

[KirbyHawk75]

Mine is Kyle Gibson.  I think he can prove that he can have a nice career as a number 2 pitcher.  

 

Predictions:

WHIP:  Between:  1.3 to 1.2

K/9:  6.6 to 7.5

ERA:  3.50-3.75

Wins:  15 to 16  

 

Thoughts?  Who is your breakthrough player?  

[Twodogs]

Kennys Vargas

.250 avg

.305 OBP

20 2B's

25 HR's

70 RBI

[ashbury]

I'll go with Trevor May. Probably in the same range of stats you assigned to Gibson with a little more K/9.

[Squirrel]

I'll go with Trevor May. Probably in the same range of stats you assigned to Gibson with a little more K/9.

He'd be my choice, too, but I think Arcia will also be in there.

[KirbyHawk75]

This is a big year for Arcia.. We will find out if he has a future or not, IMO.

[jimmer]

Gibson

[Willihammer]

I'll take Pinto in limited action.

 

.240/.290/.475 in 350 PAs

[nater79a]

I'll go with Arcia (assuming he stays healthy). 30 HR are not out of the question.

 

May would be a close 2nd.  Hard not to be impressed with his September last year after a slow start in August.

[iTwins]

^{Pinto, Josmil.}

 

^{When actually allowed to play - he's proven his bat can shine. I think Molitor utilizes him this year and Pinto responds accordingly.}

[Brock Beauchamp]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say Trevor May. I boldly predict that he'll be better than Kyle Gibson in 2015, posting an ERA around league average and striking out close to a batter an inning.

 

He'll also walk a few too many guys.

[James]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say Trevor May. I boldly predict that he'll be better than Kyle Gibson in 2015, posting an ERA around league average and striking out close to a batter an inning.

 

He'll also walk a few too many guys.

I'm too slow.  I was going to post something almost exactly like this.

 

I also think that Gibson will be better.  I don't know if we will call it a breakthrough, but he'll be more consistent and will make us all reasonably happy.

 

Or, hopefully, both May and Gibson have breakthrough seasons.  If this happens, it's going to be a much happier season around Twins territory. 

[Dr. Evil]

I pick Vargas as my hitter and Gibson as my pitcher. Vargas rocks 28 bombs and 85 rbi. Gibson goes 15-7 with better consistency.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I'm too slow.  I was going to post something almost exactly like this.

 

I also think that Gibson will be better.  I don't know if we will call it a breakthrough, but he'll be more consistent and will make us all reasonably happy.

 

Or, hopefully, both May and Gibson have breakthrough seasons.  If this happens, it's going to be a much happier season around Twins territory. 

I think Kyle Gibson is close to who he'll be as a pitcher. Acceptable mid-to-back of the rotation guy. Doesn't strike out many hitters, doesn't walk many hitters. ERA around league average with middling peripherals.

 

I hope I'm wrong but after seeing him pitch several games, I just don't think there's much there to get excited about.

[Halsey Hall]

I look for a big year for Vargas. 

[Ncgo4]

Arcia. I believe he will finally discover an ability to stay in the moment each moment. If he can stay focused with no one on base and no critical situation, he could post some really amazing numbers.

[Shane Wahl]

Arcia is ready to explode.

 

May and Pinto are 2 and 3, in my view, but they might not be given the proper opportunities . . .

[Ncgo4]

Arica is my offensive player. Barrios is my pitcher. I expect him to arrive at spring training ready well ahead of everyone else. He will put up great numbers in ST and if he doesn't break camp with the team he will be the first call up early in the season. Will prove to be a very good #2 or #3 starter. At the close of the season he will still not be 6 feet tall and batters will still not hit him well.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Arica is my offensive player. Barrios is my pitcher. I expect him to arrive at spring training ready well ahead of everyone else. He will put up great numbers in ST and if he doesn't break camp with the team he will be the first call up early in the season. Will prove to be a very good #2 or #3 starter. At the close of the season he will still not be 6 feet tall and batters will still not hit him well.

I think Berrios has almost zero chance of being up before September because of Pelfrey, Milone, May, and Meyer.

 

But yeah, his ceiling is pretty high.

[James]

I think Kyle Gibson is close to who he'll be as a pitcher. Acceptable mid-to-back of the rotation guy. Doesn't strike out many hitters, doesn't walk many hitters. ERA around league average with middling peripherals.

 

I hope I'm wrong but after seeing him pitch several games, I just don't think there's much there to get excited about.

I can understand that.  I should clarify that by "breakthrough" for Gibson, I really mean that he just becomes more consistent.  I don't think he's going to suddenly start striking out guys left and right and become a Cy Young contender.  More like a consistent #3 or #4 type pitcher, which is valuable to have around.  

 

I still think May is going to really break out.  Pretty much to the level that you suggested earlier.  

 

To me, it seems like the Twins have a few guys that are really ready to breakout.  Vargas, Arcia and Pinto are all great suggestions and very well good breakout this year.  For pitching, I could see May and Meyer really tearing up the league this year.

 

I think we probably won't see Berrios until September.  There are enough guys around, and the I have a hard time seeing the Twins adding him to the 40-man really early in the year, but I think Berrios will for the issue with a solid minor league season.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I can understand that.  I should clarify that by "breakthrough" for Gibson, I really mean that he just becomes more consistent.  I don't think he's going to suddenly start striking out guys left and right and become a Cy Young contender.  More like a consistent #3 or #4 type pitcher, which is valuable to have around.  

Agreed. He has room for improvement, I simply don't think it'll be a huge improvement.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I think Berrios has almost zero chance of being up before September because of Pelfrey, Milone, May, and Meyer.

I think Berrios has almost zero chance of being up before September because he had a below league average 6.2 K/9 in AA last year and is almost certain to open there again in 2015.

 

I suspect his AAA cameo is misleading people -- I don't think he's quite as far along as that suggested.  I think his absolute best case 2015 is basically Francisco Liriano's 2005 -- a strong half season at AA, an even better second half at AAA, topped by his MLB debut in September.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I think Berrios has almost zero chance of being up before September because he had a below league average 6.2 K/9 in AA last year and is almost certain to open there again in 2015.

 

I suspect his AAA cameo is misleading people -- I don't think he's quite as far along as that suggested.  I think his absolute best case 2015 is basically Francisco Liriano's 2005 -- a strong half season at AA, an even better second half at AAA, topped by his MLB debut in September.

There's also that to consider. The Twins showed a lot of faith in him with the Rochester call-up but I also think it's likely he heads back to AA to start the season.

 

If not for the aforementioned pitchers, I think he'd had an outside shot at a late season call-up. Considering the Twins' (albeit mostly mediocre) rotation crunch, I don't think he has a shot at a call-up before September.

 

And that's okay.

[brvama]

Can't really disagree with those players that have already been mentioned. But as the contrarian I am, my pick is Aaron Hicks. I think with new leadership at the helm gives him a fresh start, so-to-speak. I also think Hunter will have a good influence on him.

 

As far as stats, something in the neighborhood of .260/.350/.350 with 18 SB. I also think he mans CF better than the average CFer. While some may not consider these as a breakout, but with Hicks, this would warrant an All-star selection for most of us.