Article: Draft Prep: Twins Middle Infield Depth

[Seth Stohs]

We have written about the catchers and corner infielders in the Minnesota Twins organization. Now, we will discuss the middle infielders where there is a surprising amount of depth.

 

The purpose of these articles is to get to know about the depth at these positions. Who are the players, and as you see their names, you start to realize how much depth (or lack of depth) there may be in the organization. The timing is because the MLB draft starts in less than three weeks. Obviously a team will and should draft best player available in the first 12 to 15 rounds at least, but at that point, they may be looking more at need and depth.Below are the middle infielders in the Minnesota Twins organization.

 

Minnesota Twins: Brian Dozier (2B), Danny Santana (SS), Eduardo Escobar (UT), Doug Bernier (UT)

Brian Dozier had what was deemed a breakout season in 2014, and he has been even better in 2015. He is hitting .264/.349/.500 (.849) with ten doubles, two triples and seven home runs. Danny Santana is struggling in his sophomore season both at the bat (.246/.268/.333) and with the glove (10 errors). No surprise in either case. Eduardo Escobar had a very solid season in 2014 when he played pretty much every day at shortstop the last four months of the season. He’s been playing more left field this year.

 

Rochester Red Wings: Argenis Diaz (SS), James Beresford (2B)

 

Beresford returns for his tenth season in the Twins organization. The 26 year old is hitting .328/.368/.379 with six doubles. Diaz was invited to spring training with the Twins this year. He got 36 plate appearances for the Pirates in 2010. The 28-year-old is hitting .267/.357/.291 with two doubles.

 

Chattanooga Lookouts: Jorge Polanco (SS), Levi Michael (2B), Heiker Meneses (UT)

 

Polanco debuted briefly with the Twins in 2014 as a 20-year-old straight from Ft. Myers. That decision speaks to his makeup and talent. He can flat-out play. He is currently hitting .310/.344/.448 (.792) with six doubles, a triple and four home runs. He is also a trustworthy shortstop. After hitting .340 in a 15-game Double-A debut last year, Michael was putting together a strong 2015 season. In 18 games, he is hitting .246/.353/.509 (.846) with three doubles, three triples and two home runs. Unfortunately, he suffered a high ankle sprain and hasn’t played since. Meneses signed with the Twins as a six-year minor league free agent this year and went to spring training. He is still just 23 years old.

 

Ft. Myers Miracle: Engelb Vielma (SS), Tanner Vavra (2B), Aderlin Mejia (UT), Logan Wade (2B)

 

Engelb Vielma was chosen as the Twins minor league defensive infielder of the year for 2014. The 20-year-old is hitting .218/.250/.268 (.518) with four extra base hits. Aderlin Mejia is in his third season with the Miracle, playing around the infield. He has been hurt. Tanner Vavra is solid defensively and puts the ball in play with the bat. Logan Wade can play second base, but he has spent time in the outfield this year as well for the first time.

 

Cedar Rapids Kernels: Nick Gordon (SS), Pat Kelly (2B), Ryan Walker (UT), Blake Schmit (UT)

The 19-year-old Gordon got off to a fast start with the Kernels, but he’s been struggling the last five weeks. He is hitting just .224/.276/.266 (.541) overall with two doubles and two triples. Despite the struggles with the bat, he has been terrific with the glove. He has just four errors and a .971 fielding percentage on the season. Minnesota native Pat Kelly (Red Wing) was drafted by the Twins last year out of Nebraska. He is hitting .214/.250/.350 (.600) with four doubles, two triples and two home runs. He has just three errors. Ryan Walker was injured late in spring training and has yet to play. He’s got a tremendous glove too. Blake Schmit is an Eden Prairie native who the Twins drafted last year out of the University of Maryland. He was just promoted to the Kernels last week.

 

Extended Spring Training: Jorge Andrade, Manuel Guzman, Nelson Molina, Ariel Montesino, Jermaine Palacios, Joel Ramirez, Rafael Valera, Jonatan Hinojosa

 

Hinjosa was really struggling with the Kernels and sent back down to EST recently. Manuel Guzman is touted as one of the fastest players in the Twins system. Rafael Valera was the player with the GCL Twins last year that would be sent up to the Miracle when they needed a player, and he held his own. Most of these guys played in the GCL in 2014.

Top 5 Prospects: 1.) Jorge Polanco, 2.) Nick Gordon, 3.) Levi Michael, 4.) Engelb Vielma, 5.) Manuel Guzman

The Draft: As we have mentioned before, the Twins (and most teams, I assume) really like drafting shortstops. The reason is because they are generally good athletes and can be moved elsewhere. The problem is that most of them have moved elsewhere. The Twins haven’t been able to develop a shortstop from within the system for quite some time. The hope is that with Santana, Polanco and Gordon, they have found at least one who will be able to stick there and be a long-term contributor at the position.

 

Remember also that there are rumors that the Twins are likely to sign Dominican shortstop Wander Javier this summer. If that were to be true, there is another candidate. It is unusual for teams to draft high school or college second baseman real high in the draft, though don’t be surprised if they draft one or two late.

 

Click here to view the article

[HitInAPinch]

My take is the Twins definitely need to be drafting more INF talent.  A lot more.  What they have right now seems to be a nice mix, but my gut feeling is they'll need them sooner rather than later. 

[Seth Stohs]

I'm certainl that they will draft some shortstops. It's a premium, athletic position. There are some really good prospects in the system, but obviously more is always better.

[RaymondLuxuryYacht]

Can someone compare and contrast Engelb Vielma and Aderlin Mejia for me please?  I haven't seen either yet and would like a first hand perspective.  Thanks.

[jimbo92107]

I could see the Twins bringing up Polanco and sending Santana down for awhile if he doesn't play better. Santana needs more consistency all around. Polanco has earned another cuppa joe.

[Thrylos]

Good to see Polanco and Gordon in their proper order, finally

 

I don't think that the Twins need any more middle infielders in the early rounds...  They better get some LHSPs, they really lacking

[Thrylos]

 

 

Can someone compare and contrast Engelb Vielma and Aderlin Mejia for me please?  I haven't seen either yet and would like a first hand perspective.  Thanks.

 

Rey Ordonez and Luis Rodriguez (unless Vielma figures out hitting...)

[Seth Stohs]

 

Can someone compare and contrast Engelb Vielma and Aderlin Mejia for me please?  I haven't seen either yet and would like a first hand perspective.  Thanks.

 

Vielma is young, probably 20 and holding his own in High-A. Struggling with the bat. He's real thin. Defensively, he's terrific. He's got some errors, but he's got great hands and a good arm. Good range. Just looks the part.

 

Mejia is older. He's got some speed. He's OK defensively, though he's more of a utility type at this point. 

 

Both are limited offensively, slap hitters with little to no power.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Good to see Polanco and Gordon in their proper order, finally

 

I don't think that the Twins need any more middle infielders in the early rounds...  They better get some LHSPs, they really lacking

 

For me... before the season, I had Nick Gordon ranked 4th and Polanco 6th or 7th. 

 

Right now, I don't have an official ranking, but if I did, I think I would have Polanco 4 and Gordon at #5. Really like both of them. I think Polanco might be better right now than Santana. I think Gordon has  a higher upside, but I think Polanco has a really high floor.