Twins Daily Top 20 Prospect Chat (Saturday)

[Seth Stohs]

At noon (central time) on Saturday, I will answer question on the Twins Daily Top 20 Prospect list, and any Twins minor league topics right here.

 

If you'd like to ask a question (or questions), please just leave them below and I will answer them. Please ask just one question in each comment, please. That will make it easier to respond.

 

You can start asking questions now, but I won't start answering them until noon.  

[beckmt]

Who will be the starting position players for Chatanooga in April?  Will they be a loaded with top prospects as I believe?

 

Thanks

[2wins87]

Who are the other guys you were considering for the list that just missed the cut?

[twinsfanstreif]

Who are your biggest sleeper prospects in our system?

[Seth Stohs]

Who will be the starting position players for Chatanooga in April?  Will they be a loaded with top prospects as I believe?

 

Thanks

 

 

C - Stuart Turner

1B - Dalton Hicks (Kepler)

2B - Levi Michael 

SS - Jorge Polanco

3B - Miguel Sano

LF - Eddie Rosario (if he's at AAA, Travis Harrison)

CF - Byron Buxton

RF - Max Kepler (Walker)

DH - Adam Brett Walker (Kepler, Hicks, etc.)

 

That's a pretty solid lineup of prospects.

[Seth Stohs]

Who are the other guys you were considering for the list that just missed the cut?

 

 

We considered a lot of guys. When we put some lists together, we had about 40 names. Ha!

 

I'd say guys like Chih-Wei Hu and Zack Jones were probably the closest to being included. Mitch Garver was brought up. 

[Seth Stohs]

Who are your biggest sleeper prospects in our system?

 

There are several, which always makes the start of each new season so much fun. Which minor leaguers will come out of nowhere to become prospects.  

 

I think Jorge Fernandez and Brian Navaretto will be fun to watch (possibly both in Cedar Rapids). I also would not give up on Alex Wimmers or Ryan Eades. Both have enough stuff to pitch in the big leagues. Wimmers will be in his second full year back, so he should get back to showing why he was a late first round pick. Eades has good enough stuff, just needs to be more consistent from pitch-to-pitch.

[nater79a]

Once Byron Buxton get to the major leagues and gets acclimated to the pitchers moves, what is his ceiling as far as stolen bases per year? Assuming at least a solid OBP.

[Arden]

Who in the farm system has a chance to be in the twins bullpen by 2016?

[Ben Noble]

I'm really intrigued by Huascar Ynoa and look forward to tracking his stats in the DSL this summer. I know that with players that young it's all about development and hard stats are of far less concern...but it's still fun to follow the stats! The problem is that I have absolutely no reference point for how I should read into DSL pitching numbers.

 

So here's my question: does the DSL tend to play as a hitters' league, a pitchers' league, or neutral?

 

Thanks!

[Seth Stohs]

Once Byron Buxton get to the major leagues and gets acclimated to the pitchers moves, what is his ceiling as far as stolen bases per year? Assuming at least a solid OBP.

 

I think he can be a 60-80 SB guy for a few years... 

[Seth Stohs]

Who in the farm system has a chance to be in the twins bullpen by 2016?

 

Nick Burdi, Logan Darnell, Jake Reed, Adrian Salcedo, Tyler Jones, Todd Van Steensel, Zack Jones, And any of the guys who are starters at AA, AAA.

[Seth Stohs]

I'm really intrigued by Huascar Ynoa and look forward to tracking his stats in the DSL this summer. I know that with players that young it's all about development and hard stats are of far less concern...but it's still fun to follow the stats! The problem is that I have absolutely no reference point for how I should read into DSL pitching numbers.

 

So here's my question: does the DSL tend to play as a hitters' league, a pitchers' league, or neutral?

 

Thanks!

 

 

Honestly, even that's not an easy question to answer because it's almost pitcher to pitcher. There are a lot of pitchers who can't throw strikes or be around the plate much at all. Fielding isn't great. The fields aren't great. 

 

You can still look at BB/K rates. I always like extra base hits. But in the DSL, age to level of competition is the thing that will tell you which ones are probably the best prospects. 

[GMinTraining]

Dalton Hicks plays a solid defense and is one of the best run producers in system. Why does he receive so little love.

[Arden]

If Danny Santana and Kennys Vargas were still eligible for the top 20 list where would they rank?

[GMinTraining]

Which 2014 high A prospect do you see having a Vargas like meteor like improvement in AA this year? Improved BA and everything's?

[Seth Stohs]

Dalton Hicks plays a solid defense and is one of the best run producers in system. Why does he receive so little love.

 

 

I like Hicks. He's got good power, and he is solid around first base.

 

Reasons he isn't ranked higher. He's a big guy, long swing. RBI don't factor into prospect rankings. He is older than much of his competition. Hasn't hit a lot of home runs considering his size.

[Seth Stohs]

If Danny Santana and Kennys Vargas were still eligible for the top 20 list where would they rank?

 

Before last season, I think I had Santana at 15 and Vargas at 19 or so. 

 

This is an interesting question. I guess for me, Santana would probably be somewhere between 6 and 8. Vargas would probably be around 10-12. 

 

(This is kind of top of head, but I think those are good ranges)

[Arden]

Do you see Lewin Diaz, Engelb Veilma, and Amaurys Minier making the top 20 list in the next couple years?

[Seth Stohs]

Which 2014 high A prospect do you see having a Vargas like meteor like improvement in AA this year? Improved BA and everything's?

 

I think that, whether he gets to Chattanooga right away or after starting the season back in FM, Travis Harrison's power will show up more in AA than in High-A. That's not to say he'll get to the Twins or hit 27 homers in 2015, I think he'll regain his status as a prospect. 

[Seth Stohs]

Do you see Lewin Diaz, Engelb Veilma, and Amaurys Minier making the top 20 list in the next couple years?

 

Based on their high-dollar international signing status, and big-time power potential, it'd be disappointing if Diaz and Minier are not Top 20 guys a year from now. 

 

Vielma is an interesting one. I don't know that he will ever hit enough to be a Top 20 guy, but he should continue to move up the ladder because he's probably the best defensive infielder I've seen in my 5-6 years of going to the Twins Midwest League affiliates. That's hugely valuable to an organization and potentially to a big league roster, but it doesn't necessarily show up on prospect rankings. 

[Arden]

Does Niko Goodrum take over at 3B in Chattanooga once Sano gets a promotion?

[Seth Stohs]

Does Niko Goodrum take over at 3B in Chattanooga once Sano gets a promotion?

 

 

I believe that would be what would happen.

[clutterheart]

Have you heard any injury updates on RandyRosario, Landa and Romero?

 

Will Landa pitch this year?

Also have you heard any Buzz regarding Felix Jorge?

[Lazarus]

Of the Top 20 prospects, who do you see as the most likely to be traded for veteran help over the next 12-18 months? It's been a while since TR has traded any prospects...

[GMinTraining]

You showed a Chattanooga roster but what batting order would Seth the manager present at home plate?

[jimmer]

Of the Top 20 prospects, who do you see as the most likely to be traded for veteran help over the next 12-18 months? It's been a while since TR has traded any prospects...

I don't think any, but if one was to be traded, I would think Rosario.

[GMinTraining]

Which pitching longshot do you see having breakout season? Tim Shibuya; Brett Lee; or Tyler Jones?

[Seth Stohs]

Have you heard any injury updates on RandyRosario, Landa and Romero?

 

Will Landa pitch this year?

Also have you heard any Buzz regarding Felix Jorge?

 

 

All three are in Ft. Myers rehabbing. I think the thought is that all three will pitch in 2014, but most likely not right away. Rosario has his Tommy John surgery in late April, and Romero's was in early July (so he may miss the full season). Landa had shoulder surgery, so he could be ready in the midseason.

 

No buzz on Felix Jorge. He'll need to show he can succeed in Cedar Rapids this year.

[nytwinsfan]

Since we hear so much about the Twins' outfield defense (or the lack thereof), given what you've seen and heard of the young guys, in what order would you rate Arcia, Hicks, Kepler, Walker, Harrison and Rosario in terms of outfield defense (based on ability to run down and catch balls -- putting aside arm, although would love to hear about that as well).  I'm excited about the fact that we have six guys that have high potential, and feel like at least one or two is likely to turn into an average or above average major leaguer (arguably Arcia already has).