Travis Harrison or Adam Brett Walker?

[John Kelsey]

Pretty simple, which prospect would you rather have/which do you think will have the better career?
Both are corner outfielders in AA and both are considered top 20 prospects in the Twins organization in most rankings. Walker has a higher celling and seems to get a lot more hype. He is almost always mentioned when projecting the future outfield but Harrison never seems to come up. Luckily we have both and don't have to choose but I'd just like to get some opinions. 

 

I expect to be in the minority on this but I'd take Harrison. I think he tends to fly under the radar, especially playing on that loaded Chattanooga team. I could see him turning into a Michael Cuddyer type player, a versatile guy who started as an infielder and can play both corner outfield positions. He's not overly athletic and doesn't have the flashy tools that Walker does but he gets on base and has some pop. His homer numbers have been down the past few years but he's still hitting a lot of doubles; I wouldn't be surprised to see him start hitting more homers soon. 

 

 

[Shane Wahl]

Everyone always talks about Harrison's homer potential, but it *never happens*. So there's that. The last 12 months or so have meant me shifting Walker ahead of Harrison in my prospect rankings, so it isn't that Harrison has been under the radar. It is still an interesting question because they are pretty equal, just capable of different things at the plate. I imagine Walker is better in the OF and is better on the bases.

[ExpectMorePayLess]

Harrison does provide doubles potential as he did last year.  That said - Walker hit 35 doubles 2 years ago and already has 7 doubles this year to go with 9 HRs. 

 

The question becomes - If each were to improve in their deficiencies, which would be the better prospect? 

 

If Harrison tapped into his power potential and hit even 20 more HRs than last year (making 23 HRs)..................................

 

If Walker improved his contact rate and/or OBP to .330 instead of .310 (lifetime avg.).....................

 

Who would then have the better numbers and prove to be the better prospect?

 

The great part is that they both play well together and could be a part of a great Twins future.

[blairpaul715]

Well Walkers ceiling is higher, but Harrisons floor is higher, IMO..........to me Walker has a higher chance of flaming out compared to Harrison, but the potential is Walker is alot higher too..........Harrison is a personally one of my favorite Minor League players in the organization not named Buxton..........but i have alot of players i am really following this yr, the Minors has been very fun to follow this yr, the pitching is SICK!!!!!

[jimbo92107]

It's a lot easier to predict that a guy hitting homers will keep hitting homers. Predicting that Harrison will start hitting homers at some vague point in the future... that sounds like predictions that Joe Mauer would transform into a home run hitter. Hasn't happened.

 

I'd take Walker because it's easier to improve your fielding than to transform into a home run hitter. Harrison sounds like a better defender, but defense can be improved with lots of hard work. Example: Trevor Plouffe, Cuddyer.

 

I will say that a line drive hitter sometimes can start lifting the ball. Examples: Brian Dozier, Kirby Puckett. Still, improving a player's defense is far more likely to succeed than altering his approach at the plate.

[Dman]

I like Harrison better but I am a risk averse person in general.  I like the steady approach Harrison brings to the plate. Don't know why but I feel more confident that he will have success at the Major league level.  

I have always underestimated Walker and every year the RBI's and Home runs are there.  The guy is very athletically gifted and recently his bat seems to be coming around.  His strikeout rate freaks me out though.  Not making contact seems like a bad approach.  He has the higher ceiling but can he have the same level of success at the MLB level with all those strikeouts?  I have my doubts.

 

I'm betting on Harrison but I also bet on Collabello so that shows you what I know.

[clutterheart]

Cuddy had 30 Home Runs in AA as a 22 year old.  He was a highly rated prospect who had an excellent MLB career - Career OPS of .811 after 15 seasons! 

 

Harrison's is more like Cuddy than Walker but it would be a shocker if Harrison turns out as good.

 

I think Harrison is the better prospect and as of today, Harrison is more likely to be a productive MLB player.  That being said  I would take Walker only because he has an elite Tool - Power.  If you got a guy a with an elite tool its up to the coaching staff to coach him up to make his deficiencies up to replacement level.  

 

 

[Shane Wahl]

Not to merely complicate things, but I will . . . what about choosing between Harrison, Walker, and Kepler? Just like I think only one of Arcia, Vargas, and Pinto will remain with the Twins after Aug. 1 2016, I think only one of this minor league trio has a future with the Twins.

[blairpaul715]

 

It's a lot easier to predict that a guy hitting homers will keep hitting homers. Predicting that Harrison will start hitting homers at some vague point in the future... that sounds like predictions that Joe Mauer would transform into a home run hitter. Hasn't happened.

 

I'd take Walker because it's easier to improve your fielding than to transform into a home run hitter. Harrison sounds like a better defender, but defense can be improved with lots of hard work. Example: Trevor Plouffe, Cuddyer.

 

 

 

I like Harrison better but I am a risk averse person in general.  I like the steady approach Harrison brings to the plate. Don't know why but I feel more confident that he will have success at the Major league level.  

I have always underestimated Walker and every year the RBI's and Home runs are there.  The guy is very athletically gifted and recently his bat seems to be coming around.  His strikeout rate freaks me out though.  Not making contact seems like a bad approach.  He has the higher ceiling but can he have the same level of success at the MLB level with all those strikeouts?  I have my doubts.

 

I'm betting on Harrison but I also bet on Collabello so that shows you what I know.

Jimbo, I didnt think Walker was a bad outfielder??!!! I havnt heard that, but may be so............my opinion is that the strikeout rate will continue and to me his high K , high homerun hitter, might hit 30 HR's but strikeout 250 times, BA of .210...............for Harrison he may not be a great player, but his floor to me is .250, 5-10 HR........I just think that Walker is more likely to flame out, but i am hoping for Giancarlos Stanton lite ......................................................................and DMAN , have you seen Collabello??? raking in Toronto, he might not be great but if he plays the whole yr, dont count out 15 HRs and BA of .280 or better, i like him also, but we did/do have replacements for him , i hated seeing him not get a real chance to play healthy here last yr ,for the full yr.

[Dman]

 

......................................................................and DMAN , have you seen Collabello??? raking in Toronto, he might not be great but if he plays the whole yr, dont count out 15 HRs and BA of .280 or better, i like him also, but we did/do have replacements for him , i hated seeing him not get a real chance to play healthy here last yr ,for the full yr.

 

I have not been following Cola this year.  I am glad he is doing well as I was huge believer last year.  I had never seen ayone do what he did in AAA for so long.  I was soo disappointed when he dropped off and we ultimately let him go for nothing.  We have a lot of young player sto be excited about so I get it, but I really wanted to see him do well with the Twins who gave him his chance.  I kind of thought he would never do much after that.  I guess I might have been wrong.

[Steve Lein]

I might rate Walker ahead of Harrison at this point, but they're both very close in that mid-teens range.

 

Walker is the one with game power now, but people seem to forget that Travis Harrison was the guy on the High School circuit matching Bryce Harper bomb-for-bomb in Home Run Derby's. He has the potential there as well.

 

So while Walker has the game power now, his contact and K deficiencies severely hinder the ability for that to translate forward.

 

Harrison, on the other hand, has undergone a complete transformation in his approach as a hitter that bodes well for power showing up in games more consistently in the future. Where Walker's OBP has decreased and K numbers have increased as he's moved up, Harrison's have done the opposite.

 

Now, whether those predictions ends up the truth in the future is anyone's guess.

 

Walker is also a vast "work-in-progress" in the outfield. He has some speed and athleticism, but I think his ceiling on defense is maybe a bit better than Oswaldo Arcia due to better range. He also has an average at best arm.

 

I don't have as good of a read on Harrison's outfield defense since he hasn't been there long, but I'd guess a Parmelee comparison would be apt. I never disliked Parmelee in the OF. He was never flashy, but he didn't make mistakes and had the instincts for it.

 

With that said, defense would probably end up a wash.

 

I too think Walker's ceiling is higher and Harrison's floor is higher. There's a lot more risk associated with Walker for me at this point though, too.

[Monkeypaws]

The thing about Walker is people look at his faults more than his assets. 

 

That power is pretty special.

[Shane Wahl]

There are a couple recent minor leaguers who compare a little bit to this duo. Joe Benson is to Chris Parmelee as Adam Walker is to Travis Harrison. HRs and Ks vs. a more well-rounded approach.

[jimbo92107]

 

Jimbo, I didnt think Walker was a bad outfielder??

 

I didn't mean "bad" as in hopeless. I'm thinking more like Trevor Plouffe when he first went to 3rd base. "Athletic" is like baseball code for "Doesn't trip over his own feet, but he needs a ton of reps and coaching."

 

Plouffe was like that at 3rd base. Three years later, he's getting close to gold glove level as a fielder. No reason to think "athletic" Walker won't eventually shine as a fielder with thousands of reps and good coaching. That's his advantage over guys like Arcia and Harrison. Walker is big, strong and fast, and his athleticism gives him a higher ceiling as an all around ball player.

 

So if you look at three guys like Walker, Harrison and Arcia and you ask which one has the most value to the team, odds are that Walker has the highest ceiling. His power is already as good as Arcia's, and his fielding should eventually be at least as good as Harrison's. Within a couple years AB Walker might take away Eddie Rosario's spot in the outfield. An outfiield platoon of Buxton, Hicks, Walker and Rosario would be pretty amazing, and terrifying for opposing pitchers.

[Ben Noble]

I like Harrison a lot, but I'd have to go with Walker if I were forced to keep just one in the system. I don't think we've had a legit power bat to bring off the bench since Thome, and I think Walker could end up being that guy.

[sane]

"Joe Benson is to Chris Parmelee as Adam Walker is to Travis Harrison" As in none will make it.

[John Kelsey]

 

Not to merely complicate things, but I will . . . what about choosing between Harrison, Walker, and Kepler? Just like I think only one of Arcia, Vargas, and Pinto will remain with the Twins after Aug. 1 2016, I think only one of this minor league trio has a future with the Twins.

 

I thought about throwing Kepler in as well but decided not to since he's been playing a lot of 1B lately. 

[blairpaul715]

 

I like Harrison a lot, but I'd have to go with Walker if I were forced to keep just one in the system. I don't think we've had a legit power bat to bring off the bench since Thome, and I think Walker could end up being that guy.

Not sure what you mean by bring off the bench, as a backup??? If not, we have a couple of players that have potential to be Jim Thome lite, Arcia, Sano, Pinto maybe, Vargas........and others with some pop.

[Ben Noble]

 

Not sure what you mean by bring off the bench, as a backup??? If not, we have a couple of players that have potential to be Jim Thome lite, Arcia, Sano, Pinto maybe, Vargas........and others with some pop.

 

Yes, by 'bring off the bench,' I mean as a backup, a pinch hitter who has the potential to knock one out at any time. It's a nice luxury to have, and not for the Sanos and Arcias and Vargases, but for whoever the offensively-challenged players are on future Twins rosters. Wouldn't it be nice to have a bat like Walker's to step into the box late in a game for whoever 2017's version of Shane Robinson is?

 

Obviously I'm planning on Buxton in CF by then, but who knows, maybe we'll be starting a defense-first C or SS in a couple of years. I definitely hope Walker develops into more than a backup, and he has the potential to be something special, but more prospects than not fail to realize their ceiling. I think somewhere between Walker's floor and ceiling is a solid backup/PH.

[ashbury]

I like them both so much that this is almost a Sophie's Choice kind of proposition. But because one is almost exactly one year younger than the other, and their (differing) accomplishments at bat are near on a par with one another, I give the slightest nod to Harrison. But, I hasten to add, I want to keep Walker too!

[gunnarthor]

I don't really think this is that close.  Walker is an out machine as a 23 year old in AA.  The power is nice but guys who strike out 35% of the time at AA don't get to the majors. His on-base percentage is under .300. He has not shown any ability to curb this problem. 

 

Harrison has a .390 OBP to go with a .160 iso.  He's a year younger, a former first round (supp) pick and has shown more ability to adapt his game to the pitchers. 

[Thrylos]

 

Not to merely complicate things, but I will . . . what about choosing between Harrison, Walker, and Kepler? Just like I think only one of Arcia, Vargas, and Pinto will remain with the Twins after Aug. 1 2016, I think only one of this minor league trio has a future with the Twins.

 

I think that the Twins might be better of trading 4 out of the 6 mentioned here...

 

(as far as the original question goes, Walker has major contact and pitch recognition problems.  No progress whatsoever and if it does not happen, he would wish that he was hitting like Drew Butera if he hits the bigs.  His pitch recognition issue is a fatal flaw.)

[kab21]

I really do not understand Harrison.  I have seen the power and how does that kind of power only hit 3HR's. That is what still makes him interesting since he has good plate discipline.  In a way he's almost like Parmelee was in the upper minors and Walker is almost like Parmelee in the low minors.

 

I would choose Walker because he is actually doing it but I just can't see how that K rate (and the OBP) translate to the majors.  Usually those two get worse when promoted.

[ashbury]

I don't really think this is that close.  Walker is an out machine as a 23 year old in AA.  The power is nice but guys who strike out 35% of the time at AA don't get to the majors. His on-base percentage is under .300. He has not shown any ability to curb this problem. 

I think the still jury's out, moreso than he has no hope. His OBP has been pretty steady in the low .300's. Players gain ability as they get older (up to a point); meanwhile the level of competition is tougher as they move up. Steady stats indicate improvement, to me. He still has to improve a lot more, of course - he'd get killed to death if they promoted him to the majors right now.

[ExpectMorePayLess]

Do any of these players remind you of any current Twins in their minor league careers and if so is that a good thing or bad thing?  Why?

 

Can you name any recent Twins who have excelled based on your preferences (minor league make up)?

 

Have they become stars or just regulars?  Has their been carry over from their minor league make up?

[Shane Wahl]

Lots of stuff to respond to here: Thrylos, yes, trading 4 of those 6 is probably a good thing, ultimately. Especially with Alex Meyer and Kohl Stewart going the way they are. 

 

JayKay, I think Kepler playing first is as much a lineup issue as anything else. There is no room for him every day in the OF. Also, it is possible that both Walker and Harrison see time at 1B in the future. 

 

EMPL, not really. Vargas is kind of a perfect mix of the two, sacrificing some power for a better overall approach. He is certainly what I think both Harrison and Walker would like to become offensively and they are coming at it in opposite directions. 

 

I think both will stay all year in AA and start next season in AAA (unless traded). There is *really* no rush with them.

[nicksaviking]

Both have some exciting aspects but both are long shots, Walker in particular. It's been four years now and his approach at the plate isn't improving. We can all drool over his power and pretend it doesn't matter if he can't get on base, but it does. The Twins will never put this guy in a MLB uniform except for a token call up if he doesn't miraculously change. He simply isn't going to be given a chance to prove anyone right or wrong, which sucks, but is life for minor leaguers who refuse to take pitches off the plate.

 

Most teams will eventually give a shot to a guy like Harrison if he continually shows nice contact skills, even if his power is underwhelming.

[kab21]

I had no idea there was such a huge market for guys like Walker, Harrison and Kepler.  How can the Twins trade 4 out of 6 of these top 20 (team) prospects that don't profile as MLB starters?  Most likely they are going to have to ride it out and see which of these guys make it and which don't (most of them).

[Oxtung]

I will take Harrison for 200 Trebek. That said Walker isn't as bad (or as good) as some here are making him out to be. While his K-rate is sky high right now it has actually dropped 3% in the last 2 weeks or so. Also last year he K'd 28% of the time which the Twins could live with at the major league level. I'm actually more worried about his lack of walks. He has to get pitched around some with that kind of power, doesn't he? It boggles the mind how little he walks.

[twinsfan34]

Gotta go with Walker here. I don't see Harrison ever really getting regular playing time with the Twins (low ceiling) and though Walker has a lot of risk I feel he will still be able to hit 25+ HR at AAA for years to be able to get chances to make it happen in MLB. Although Walker may just end up as chasing Mike Hessman's ML HR Record...

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=hessma001mic