Reusse: Wimmers still hoping

[Seth Stohs]

Patrick Reusse has family down in Ft. Myers so he gets down there a couple of times each spring. He is down there now and had a chance to catch up with Alex Wimmers. It's really a terrific story.

 

He was a very good college pitcher who deserved to be a mid-first round pick. He's had the injury problems and Tommy John, but when healthy, he has a four-pitch mix that can be good.

 

This story talks about the Tommy John club that includes his workout partner Kyle Gibson. Terry Ryan believes he has the pitches that he could still be a starter. Obviously it's a big year for him in 2015. 

[Dman]

When they made the pick I thought it was a good pick, not great but good. With everything that has happened I have lost my enthusiasm for Wimmers. He will need to do great things this year to bring it back. There is a lot of good competition at the high levels now so he has to be really good to stand out. I don't see it happening but hope things work out for him.

[gunnarthor]

Yeah, obviously it would be great if he could bounce back.  I know most draft guys thought it was an ok pick but the Twins had been so linked to Wimmers that I don't even remember rumors about other guys they were looking at.  That said, the 2010 draft doesn't look all that great but, IIRC, it was supposed to be pretty deep but not a lot of good (yet) picks after Sale. 

[bird]

Wimmer, so far, is just another example of the difference between a good draft selection and a bad draft result. 

[Seth Stohs]

Wimmer, so far, is just another example of the difference between a good draft selection and a bad draft result. 

 

Yeah, I agree with this... I thought it was a good pick. A guy whose floor was #4 starter, but a guy who 'could' move quickly and have four big league pitches. I think it was a good pick to make... but to this point, the results just haven't been there for two reasons (Steve Blass one year and Tommy John)... he's still only 26, so he's got time, but it will need to happen soon.. obviously.

[nater79a]

It's interesting to hear that the Twins haven't given up on Wimmers as a starter. When he was used frequently out of the 'pen last year in New Britain I thought that was it...that's going to be his role going forward, But I guess he was just on an innings limit.

 

Here's hoping he can re-establish his career this year.  

[Shane Wahl]

I would be so happy for him if he was able to get a full season rolling properly. I guess that answers the question about one starting option for Chattanooga other than Berrios and Lee.

[nater79a]

I would be so happy for him if he was able to get a full season rolling properly. I guess that answers the question about one starting option for Chattanooga other than Berrios and Lee.

 

Shane - I was thinking the same thing. With Wimmers rejoining the starting staff, what will the composition of Chattanooga's rotation look like?  I could see Berrios, Wimmers, Lee and possibly even Duffey/Rogers for a period of time. A lot depends on if Meyer, May start at Rochester and what that trickle down effect would mean between AAA and AA.

[h2oface]

It always amazes me that minor league pitchers can be described as only 26, and be thought of as young. 26 should be prime time for a baseball player. How old is Kershaw? 26 -- 27 in March. Pitchers making an impact in the show well before 26 are not a real rarity. Only 22.... only 23....  that deserves an only.  I would say Wimmers is already 26, so it is now or never.

[Shane Wahl]

Shane - I was thinking the same thing. With Wimmers rejoining the starting staff, what will the composition of Chattanooga's rotation look like?  I could see Berrios, Wimmers, Lee and possibly even Duffey/Rogers for a period of time. A lot depends on if Meyer, May start at Rochester and what that trickle down effect would mean between AAA and AA.

 

Berrios, Lee, Wimmers. I hope Duffey and Rogers just start in AAA. Maybe the Twins try Matt Summers back in the rotation. I guess there's Hermsen too, though the thought of him starting again is comical. Maybe they keep Jason Adam there for awhile. Other than that, maybe Tim Shibuya.

[gunnarthor]

It always amazes me that minor league pitchers can be described as only 26, and be thought of as young. 26 should be prime time for a baseball player. How old is Kershaw? 26 -- 27 in March. Pitchers making an impact in the show well before 26 are not a real rarity. Only 22.... only 23....  that deserves an only.  I would say Wimmers is already 26, so it is now or never.

Well, there's a huge distance between Kershaw and Wimmers and that can be filled up with lots of guys.  I don't disagree that Wimmers is probably not going to make it but there have been a lot of pitchers who end up having one pretty good season out of nowhere.  Before last year, Collin McHugh had a total of 47 ip (w/nearly a 9 ERA and 5k/9 and 2HR/9!).  So last year, at 27, he has a huge season and came in 4th in ROY voting.  Jacob deGrom won ROY last year at 26.  

[jimmer]

It always amazes me that minor league pitchers can be described as only 26, and be thought of as young. 26 should be prime time for a baseball player. How old is Kershaw? 26 -- 27 in March. Pitchers making an impact in the show well before 26 are not a real rarity. Only 22.... only 23....  that deserves an only.  I would say Wimmers is already 26, so it is now or never.

And Alex Meyer, the special talent, will 'only' be 25 this year.

[ashbury]

It always amazes me that minor league pitchers can be described as only 26, and be thought of as young. 26 should be prime time for a baseball player. How old is Kershaw? 26 -- 27 in March. Pitchers making an impact in the show well before 26 are not a real rarity. Only 22.... only 23....  that deserves an only.  I would say Wimmers is already 26, so it is now or never.

He's clearly not on any kind of track toward the Hall of Fame.  But the word only isn't being used here in that sense.  He could still have a significant major league career, age 27-32 or thereabout, putting up say a couple of 14 win seasons or maybe better.  That's worth trying to develop.  If someone reaches age 26 with a track record demonstrating an inability to get enough batters out, you probably ought to flush him, but when injury has been involved it makes sense to give him some more time.

[JustinCB]

Yeah, obviously it would be great if he could bounce back.  I know most draft guys thought it was an ok pick but the Twins had been so linked to Wimmers that I don't even remember rumors about other guys they were looking at.  That said, the 2010 draft doesn't look all that great but, IIRC, it was supposed to be pretty deep but not a lot of good (yet) picks after Sale. 

Syndergaard was still available when they picked Wimmers.....  I'd have been pretty ok with Zach Lee too.  Obviously, they'd do it over if they could.

[nicksaviking]

Good article, and I really hope he can make a comeback and be a nice asset for this team.

 

However, I was so disappointed with pick.  That was still during the time when it was easily predictable that the Twins would take the low ceiling safe college arm over the electric HS arms.  There were so many that year.  So many.  Man I was mad;  Jesse Biddle, Zack Lee, Cam Bedrosian, Aaron Sanchez, Noah Syndergaard and Tijuan Walker were the next six HS arms picked him.  I wanted Lee, but any of those guys would have been nice.

 

At least things seemed to have changed, they'll take HS arms now. 

[Paul Pleiss]

Oh Alex Wimmers, such high hopes I had for you. Alas, all is not lost... well not yet anyways.

[Steve Lein]

Love reading this story.

 

I wasn't a huge fan of the Wimmers pick, but then he came out and was fantastic that first season and changed that thinking. I remember listening to his last start that year (think it was a no-hitter? at least for as long as he was in the game) and the Miracle play-by-play guy was in love with him.

 

Then the next year came along, and the same play-by-play guy was flabbergasted by his first start, as he threw 4-pitches over the catchers head to the backstop. That's when the injuries came up.

 

It's taken a bit of time for him to come back, but I wouldn't write him off yet, and I'd still rate his ceiling as higher than some other more recent guys we're talking about now as starters.

[Brock Beauchamp]

It always amazes me that minor league pitchers can be described as only 26, and be thought of as young. 26 should be prime time for a baseball player. How old is Kershaw? 26 -- 27 in March. Pitchers making an impact in the show well before 26 are not a real rarity. Only 22.... only 23....  that deserves an only.  I would say Wimmers is already 26, so it is now or never.

It's not now or never. Wimmers has yet to pitch a full season without some kind of restriction. Maybe he's going to be persistently injured. Maybe he's just the victim of some really awful luck and everything will turn around.

 

The point isn't that he's only 26 as if it's some measuring point to compare to all other prospects, it's that he's only 26 and we still haven't really seen what he can do. If he somehow manages to get back on track, he still has plenty of prime seasons in front of him, enough to make him slightly intriguing and worth keeping an eye on.

[tobi0040]

Here is a scouting report on Wimmers on draft day.  They had him as a mid to back of the rotation starter. I would rather aim higher with the 21st pick. 

I think Garza was taken #25, fastball that runs mid 90's.  A guy like Garza can develop the third pitch at 22, but the same guy isn't going to pick up speed on the fastball.  

 

It is easy with hindsight, but philosophically I just think you can sign #4-5 starters on the free agent market.  Will you overpay?  Of course, but we can afford those guys, we can't afford #1-2 starters.....so we better be drafting them.

 

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2010/02/14/alex-wimmers-scouting-report

[bird]

Here is a scouting report on Wimmers on draft day.  They had him as a mid to back of the rotation starter. I would rather aim higher with the 21st pick. 

 

I think Garza was taken #25, fastball that runs mid 90's.  A guy like Garza can develop the third pitch at 22, but the same guy isn't going to pick up speed on the fastball.  

 

It is easy with hindsight, but philosophically I just think you can sign #4-5 starters on the free agent market.  Will you overpay?  Of course, but we can afford those guys, we can't afford #1-2 starters.....so we better be drafting them.

 

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2010/02/14/alex-wimmers-scouting-report

 

I wonder, were the exact same draft to take place now, if the Twins wouldn't be more inclined to your way of thinking. One, due to some re-thinking that we're seeing evidence of in recent drafts: two, because unlike then, the farm system is loaded and chances can more readily be taken; and three, their financial wherewithal has improved rather dramatically.

[nicksaviking]

I wonder, were the exact same draft to take place now, if the Twins wouldn't be more inclined to your way of thinking. One, due to some re-thinking that we're seeing evidence of in recent drafts: two, because unlike then, the farm system is loaded and chances can more readily be taken; and three, their financial wherewithal has improved rather dramatically.

 

I would like to think they would not go after Wimmers judging by their willingness to take HS arms the last couple years.  Back then, those guys could demand high signing bonuses, but in hingsight, only Zach Lee signed for more than Wimmers did.  Ugh, still frustrating though.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I really doubt the Twins go after Wimmers again if they were drafting in that spot. They seem to have (rightfully, IMO) placed much more emphasis on ceiling than floor in the past few drafts.

[FattCrapps]

You know who reeeeealy didn't like this pick?  DPJ.  Looks like he was right. 

 

I wanted a HS pitcher as well, and man look at the guys who went after him.

 

Zach Lee, Noah Syndergaard, Taijuan Walker.

 

 

I'm glad they've learned their lesson.   The recent drafts have been much better (although when your pick is in the top 5 there's less room for error)

[ashbury]

two, because unlike then, the farm system is loaded and chances can more readily be taken

Somehow, it seems the opposite to me: that when the cupboard is bare of really top prospects it's the time to take chances, and when a wave is visibly on the way you want to make sure you come away with at least something.