Alex Meyer -2015

[markos]

Personal Information:
Name: Alex Meyer
Birth date: January 3, 1990
Position: SP
Height: 6'9"
Weight: 220
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
High School: Greensburg, IN
College: University of Kentucky

 

 

Professional History:
2011:
Meyer was drafted with the 23rd overall pick by the Washington Nationals in the 2011 Draft. Going into the draft he was rated #19 by Baseball America and #9 by Keith Law on ESPN. He signed too late after the 2011 draft to pitch professionally in the 2011 season.

 

2012:
Meyer started his professional career as a 22-year-old in low-A Hagerstown in the Nationals farm system. He started 18 games there, and he showed the ability to miss bats while having decent control, averaging 9.7 SO/9 and 3.09 SO/BB. He was promoted to high-A Potomac for the final 7 games of the season, and continued his good performance: 10.7 SO/9 and 3.15 SO/BB. Overall, he pitched 129 innings between the two levels, with an ERA under 3.00 and a .211 batting average against.

 

He was acquired by the Twins from the Nationals in exchange for Denard Span on November 29, 2012

 

2013:

Meyer was assigned to AA New Britain to start the season. He pitched well during the first half of the season, and through June 1st he had thrown 61 innings over 11 games with a 3.69 ERA, 10.8 SO/9 and 2.7 SO/BB. It was at this point the Meyer was put on the disabled list for a sore shoulder. He was on the DL for over 2 months, and after three rehab starts in the Gulf Coast League, he was re-activated on August 24th. He was able to get two more starts with New Britain before season's end, throwing 9 innings of shutout ball with 11 strikeouts and just 2 walks.

 

Meyer was selected for the Arizona Fall League and was able to get an additional 26 innings over 7 starts. He was one of the best pitchers in the league, as he finished with a 3.12 ERA and 28 strikeouts against just 7 walks.

Overall, Meyer pitched 104.1 innings for the 2013 season.

 

2014:
Meyer was assigned to AAA Rochester, and pitched the full season there. He logged 27 starts and 130.1 innings - both career highs for him - and maintained stellar strikeout rates throughout the season, 10.6 SO/9. However, he didn't demonstrate any better control, as his walk rate deteriorated to 4.4 BB/9. Due to pitch and inning limits (understandable based on his injury issues in 2013) as well as his own ineffectiveness, he only reached the 7th inning once and averaged less than 5 innings per start during the course of the season. 

 

Meyer succumbed to another shoulder issue at the end of the minor league season, and he was shut down rather than get a September call up with the big league team. 

 

2015:

Meyer has been assigned to AAA Rochester to start the season. 

 

[jokin]

Meyer in another disturbing AM performance this morning in his second start of the season for Rochester.  The horrific pitching lne-

 

 3.2 IP  88 pitches, 49 strikes,  7 hits, 5BB, 6 K, 1 WP, 5 ER, 1 HR.

 

I would suspect that something has completely broken down with his mechanics, and possibly a trip to EST is in the offing.  There's been no disclosure yet of a physical malady and it's highly unlikely that they would have Meyer throwing if he was feeling shoulder or elbow tenderness.  Regardless, this is coming perilously close to DEFCON Level One if the showcase trade at the core of the master rebuilding plan is reverting to salvage mode- and yet another lost year from a prime Top 25 prospect- who should already have been prepped for prime time.

[Jarends703]

 I think freaking out after two starts is unnecessary.  If these two starts happened in June they would be buried in the context of the entire season.  While it is entirely possible, and maybe even likely, that Alex Meyer will not become a number 1 starter, I have not given up hope for his future as a starter

[tobi0040]

 

Meyer in another disturbing AM performance this morning in his second start of the season for Rochester.  The horrific pitching lne-

 

 3.2 IP  88 pitches, 49 strikes,  7 hits, 5BB, 6 K, 5 ER, 1 HR.

 

I would suspect that something has completely broken down with his mechanics, and possibly a trip to EST is in the offing.  There's been no disclosure yet of a physical malady and it's highly unlikely that they would have Meyer throwing if he was feeling shoulder or elbow tenderness.  Regardless, this is coming perilously close to DEFCON Level One if the showcase trade at the core of the master rebuilding plan is reverting to salvage mode- and yet another lost year from a prime Top 25 prospect- who should already have been prepped for prime time.

 

Agree on defcon level.  I mean all the guy has to do is throw the ball over the plate and he is promoted and he is completely incapable of doing that.

 

He had 5 BB's in 5 or so ST innings.  Now he has 11 BB's in 8.2 innings I think at AAA.  And he is pitching against lineups that other guys are mowing down

 

Rogers  7 scoreless innings.  6 H, 2BB. 6 K.

 

Dean. 6 IP, 1 ER.  8 k's.    Wheeler has a 2.70 ERA

 

 

[Loosey]

The thing that worries me about Meyer is lots of people keep mentioning how he has Ace potential.  The only problem is he has yet to convert his great stuff into real live results.  I would hope he would be able to dominate AA and AAA hitters, but he just hasn't.  Instead he does that part of the time, striking out tons of guys, but then turning around and walking just as many.

 

I still have hope, but the control thing really needs to get fixed.  That being said I would rather see him work through it in the Majors rather than deal with Pelfrey.

 

 

[jokin]

 

 I think freaking out after two starts is unnecessary.  If these two starts happened in June they would be buried in the context of the entire season.  While it is entirely possible, and maybe even likely, that Alex Meyer will not become a number 1 starter, I have not given up hope for his future as a starter

 

The thing that worries me about Meyer is lots of people keep mentioning how he has Ace potential.  The only problem is he has yet to convert his great stuff into real live results.  I would hope he would be able to dominate AA and AAA hitters, but he just hasn't.  Instead he does that part of the time, striking out tons of guys, but then turning around and walking just as many.

 

I still have hope, but the control thing really needs to get fixed.  That being said I would rather see him work through it in the Majors rather than deal with Pelfrey.

 

But he did dominate AA and AAA hitters in recent years past, albeit interspersed with some wild stints and brief shutdowns that were attributed to shoulder soreness/stiffness.

 

I don't think anyone is "freaking out."  But.... Clearly, he has taken a disturbing step backward this year, and the front office and coaching staff need to take any and all necessary steps to right the ship.

[jokin]

 

Agree on defcon level.  I mean all the guy has to do is throw the ball over the plate and he is promoted and he is completely incapable of doing that.

 

He had 5 BB's in 5 or so ST innings.  Now he has 11 BB's in 8.2 innings I think at AAA.  And he is pitching against lineups that other guys are mowing down

 

Rogers  7 scoreless innings.  6 H, 2BB. 6 K.

 

Dean. 6 IP, 1 ER.  8 k's.    Wheeler has a 2.70 ERA

 

Yup.  Pretty clearly, Meyer is his own worst enemy at the moment.  I would think a Parker Hageman intervention video breakdown might reveal exactly what is not happening in 2015 that was working so well a year ago.

[tobi0040]

 

Yup.  Pretty clearly, Meyer is his own worst enemy at the moment.  I would think a Parker Hageman intervention video breakdown might reveal exactly what is not happening in 2015 that was working so well a year ago.

 

Yeah, hopefully more outings like this will convert the people that think he should be up right now.  He is not ready for prime time.

[jokin]

 

Yeah, hopefully more outings like this will convert the people that think he should be up right now.  He is not ready for prime time.

 

I agree, but with this rejoinder-  There is still the question of where the best place is for him to be fixed,  right now-

 

  

Status quo- AAA

Down- AA

Into purgatory- EST

Up?-  Though it would set a bad precedent if perceived as a reward, would working directly with Neal Allen offer the best chance for a cure?

[markos]

Does anyone know if Meyer was able to get the normal amount of work in this spring? I know that he missed a few days due to his Grandfather's death, and I seem to recall people mentioning that he was "behind" this spring (which was one of the reasons he was sent down from big league camp so early?). Maybe he just needs more time to get into the swing of things. 

[markos]

 

I agree, but with this rejoinder-  There is still the question of where the best place is for him to be fixed,  right now-

 

  

Status quo- AAA

Down- AA

Into purgatory- EST

Up?-  Though it would set a bad precedent if perceived as a reward, would working directly with Neal Allen offer the best chance for a cure?

The bullpen (AAA or MLB)? Maybe it would help bring his mechanics together by pitching in shorter stints more frequently.

[jokin]

 

Does anyone know if Meyer was able to get the normal amount of work in this spring? I know that he missed a few days due to his Grandfather's death, and I seem to recall people mentioning that he was "behind" this spring (which was one of the reasons he was sent down from big league camp so early?). Maybe he just needs more time to get into the swing of things. 

 

He was a little behind this spring, but he hasn't been himself from his first ST appearance.  It seems to me that Bob Sacramento and /or Halsey mentioned him also wild and getting rocked in ST minor league games.  The good news is that so far there isn't a hint of injury concern, so hopefully it's just a mechanical fix that's needed, and all-too-common for tall pitchers.  The bad news is that this appears to be more than just a little wild streak, he may need a major overhaul in his approach.

[jokin]

 

The bullpen (AAA or MLB)? Maybe it would help bring his mechanics together by pitching in shorter stints more frequently.

 

 I like this idea.  I hope the braintrust gives it serious consideration as an option.

 

Not to indict anyone specifically, but it would be a good idea in taking a specific look at everything around Meyer's 2014 season and making the attempt at determining what happened last year in Rochester when Meyer's wildness spiked up.  It looks like he often got into bad habits within an individual game, but was usually able to both correct and adjust, as well as battle, out of situations with his overwhelming stuff.  This season, it looks like the "bad habits" have completely taken over-  he seemingly has no idea where his pitches are going from the get-go, so even though he's still battling and overwhelming at times (as evidenced by lots of Ks in both ST- 6 Ks in 5.2 IP and AAA-  9 Ks in 8.2 IP), but the "correcting mechanism" appears to be currently inoperative.

[Loosey]

The silver lining is that if he can get his control . .. . well, under control we all know he has dominating stuff.  I randomly looked up Randy Johnson's minor league stats and, wow, no control.  He averaged  8 BB/9IP!  Meyer has almost exactly the same K/9 rate.  And each of them were drafted out of high school, went back to school got drafted higher and then spend considerable time in the minors.

 

Maybe I am reaching here, but with all the bad news surrounding the Twins and now Meyer's bad start I need something to grab on to here . . .

 

But go ahead and check it out, it's interesting. 

[MileHighTwinsFan]

Pretty clear that Meyer is not the next call up for the rotation.   I would suspect that Berrios gets a look before AM at this point.

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

I mean all the guy has to do is throw the ball over the plate and he is promoted and he is completely incapable of doing that.

Meyer did not have control problems until recently.

[bulldozier14]

 

Meyer did not have control problems until recently.

 

Throughout his minor league career, Meyer's walk rate has always been a red flag- presumably due to his huge frame. It hasn't been as unacceptable as 11 in 8.2 innings, but it's always been an issue. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Are you sure about that? 

[gunnarthor]

 

 I like this idea.  I hope the braintrust gives it serious consideration as an option.

 

Not to indict anyone specifically, but it would be a good idea in taking a specific look at everything around Meyer's 2014 season and making the attempt at determining what happened last year in Rochester when Meyer's wildness spiked up.  It looks like he often got into bad habits within an individual game, but was usually able to both correct and adjust, as well as battle, out of situations with his overwhelming stuff.  This season, it looks like the "bad habits" have completely taken over-  he seemingly has no idea where his pitches are going from the get-go, so even though he's still battling and overwhelming at times (as evidenced by lots of Ks in both ST- 6 Ks in 5.2 IP and AAA-  9 Ks in 8.2 IP), but the "correcting mechanism" appears to be currently inoperative.

Is he hurt?  He finished the season with another shoulder issue, didn't he?  So has he changed his mechanics so to not hurt his arm?

 

If not, Trevor May said Anderson did a good job fixing his control.  Make him our new Knapp and send him to look at Meyer.  

[nicksaviking]

This isn't a control issue, it's a mental issue. Most of us here could throw more strikes than Meyer is.

 

Dollars to donuts, if he's going to have to conquer the kind of mental block that comes with his current pressure level in AAA, he's going to have to do it all over again if/when he reaches the majors. If a guy is that fragile though, I don't think I'd ever want him starting a game of importance. All indications are that the front office already had these concerns, so they should have skipped one of these trials of mental anguish and acted to find out if he will be able to get a grip on his Scooter Huntitis or if a transition to the pen should start this year.

 

I have a hard time believing he would be doing any worse at the MLB level than he is at Rochester. Besids, if he is a liability, Rochester is actually playing to win this year, the MLB club is not.

[jokin]

 

This isn't a control issue, it's a mental issue. Most of us here could throw more strikes than Meyer is.
Dollars to donuts, if he's going to have to conquer the kind of mental block that comes with his current pressure level in AAA, he's going to have to do it all over again if/when he reaches the majors.
 If a guy is that fragile though, I don't think I'd ever want him starting a game of importance. All indications are that the front office already had these concerns, so they should have skipped one of these trials of mental anguish and acted to find out if he will be able to get a grip on his Scooter Huntitis or if a transition to the pen should start this year.

I have a hard time believing he would be doing any worse at the MLB level than he is at Rochester. Besids, if he is a liability, Rochester is actually playing to win this year, the MLB club is not.

 

Nice theory, except he's already demonstrably conquered AAA-level pressure.

 

I really think you and the Twins are reaching if you are concurring with the Twins "whispers" in ST that Meyer needed to get more mentally tough.  This "mental anguish" thing should be strictly a theory for now....  he's 6"9", Occam's Razor reduction says it's all about the unnaturalness of someone that large consistently maintaining his mechanics.

 

I do like your "inside-out" thinking on 2015.  A tad ironic, but very apt.

[Kwak]

Patience at AAA with Meyer--with the caveat that this is his last year as a starting pitcher prospect. Either he demonstrates that he can start for the Twins--or off to the bullpen he goes!

[curt1965]

Did anyone mention his velocity today? Maybe he just has Steve Sax disease!

[jokin]

 

Patience at AAA with Meyer--with the caveat that this is his last year as a starting pitcher prospect. Either he demonstrates that he can start for the Twins--or off to the bullpen he goes!

 

 I think that you and the Twins have this backwards, perhaps he should have come up to the majors last year the same way Santana did, and earn his spot in the rotation after a bullpen apprenticeship.

[jokin]

 

Did anyone mention his velocity today? Maybe he just has Steve Sax disease!

 

Velocity was in the low to mid 90s, presumably because he can't throw the FB for strikes.  I would find it hard to believe he was trying to play through some injury.

[Kwak]

 

 I think that you and the Twins have this backwards, perhaps he should have come up to the majors last year the same way Santana did, and earn his spot in the rotation after a bullpen apprenticeship.

No one can say if that was the way to go (or not)--but we can't go back to 2014 anyway!

[twinssouth]

Sounds like to me he's really pressing, trying to fix his mechanical issues and the result is snowballing on him, going from bad to worse. His confidence is probably taking a hit, since after today's outing where he threw 88 pitches, only 49 strikes in 3.2 innings. Yikes, I don't know the answer. I've seen him pitch and he's really good. He seemed to be in control of himself. If he walked a batter, the next one up would either get a weak hit or a strikeout. Maybe EST is the answer for a couple of weeks, just to clear his head and regain confidence. He is No. 3 on my prospect list but if this doesn't clear up in couple of months, I may have to move him down.

Also, my guess for the next pitcher to be called up is Taylor Rogers. A lefty with a little power (92,93 fastball) nice secondary stuff.

[bulldozier14]

 

Are you sure about that? 

 

His career BB/9 in the minors is 3.9. So yes.

[tobi0040]

Meyer is dealing so far today...............  4 IP, 1 H, 2BB, 7 K.

[tobi0040]

 

Meyer is dealing so far today...............  4 IP, 1 H, 2BB, 7 K.

 

5 IP.  H.  3 BB. 9 K.