Article: Twins Promote Alex Meyer

[John Bonnes]

The Minnesota Twins have announced that they will recall right-handed reliever Alex Meyer prior to Friday night's game vs. the Milwaukee Brewers. Meyer was Twins Daily's #5 Twins prospect before the 2015 season and this will be his first time with the big league club.

 

Meyer was acquired in a trade with the Washington Nationals for Denard Span in November of 2012. Armed with a 95+ mph fastball, he was considered a top starting pitching prospect and was moved up to Triple-A Rochester last year where he posted a 3.52 ERA and 153 strikeouts in 130.2 innings.However, his 6' 9" frame has always contributed to control problems and he seemingly took a step backward this year, walking 24 batters in 39.1 innings pitched (along with a 7.09 ERA) as a starting pitcher, before he was moved to the bullpen. That move has seemingly paid off. Since that move, Meyer has posted a 0.53 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 17 innings pitched. Most tellingly, he has only walked six batters, nearly halving his walk rate as a starter.

 

Meyer's role in the Rochester Red Wing's bullpen was mostly as a long reliever; he pitched more than an inning in most of his appearances, including three appearances that were three innings or longer. His role in the Twins bullpen is less clear. He replaces Michael Tonkin, who served as more of a secondary right-handed setup man. It's possible that Meyer could take that role with the goal of moving towards a higher-leverage setup role in the future.

 

Or he could continue to work long relief. The Twins have not said if they now view his future role as a starter or reliever, and longer appearances would allow allow an easier transition back to a starting role later this year. However, given the Twins continued struggles with consistent success at the back of their bullpen, if Meyer succeeds, he'll likely stay in that role with the Twins for the rest of this year.

 

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[John Bonnes]

I'm really looking forward to seeing this kid pitch. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Finally!

[Vanimal46]

It's been a really fun season so far seeing all of the kids come up to the big leagues. Can't wait to see what he can do!

[twinssouth]

Get your tickets when he comes to Target Field because that FB and slider is something to behold

[luckylager]

Hopefully he's here to stay! Best of luck to him.

[ScrapTheNickname]

Big league batters will make him throw strikes. I hope his initial innings aren't a repeat of May's work last year.

[troyhobbs]

What has gotten into the FO this year? I like it.

[theBOMisthebomb]

Now bring up Sano.

[John Bonnes]

 

What has gotten into the FO this year? I like it.

 

Honestly, I just think the glut is reaching the end of the pipeline. The pipeline was just longer than we wanted (and there were several injuries that delayed some of the bigger names).

 

It'll be interesting to see how he handles his first taste of the majors, and what that means for his future. Aaron mentioned in this week's GATG that him returning to starting eventually requires him to be very good, but not so good that they just can't consider not having him in the bullpen.

 

Boy, I sure would love to see him become a dependable setup arm this year. The Twins could really use that. Perkins on top with Boyer/Fien under.....that changes a lot about this bullpen. (Now we just need a southpaw...) 

[nytwinsfan]

Now bring up Taylor Rogers for Aaron Thompson or Brian Duensing.

[big dog]

Very glad to hear it, looking forward to watching him.  Welcome to the Bigs, Mr. Meyer!

[sane]

Next, bring up Tyler Jay if he kicks butt at Fort Myers and Chattanooga.

[Secondary User]

 

Big league batters will make him throw strikes. I hope his initial innings aren't a repeat of May's work last year.

 

If he follows it up with growth like May has shown this year, I don't care how much he struggles

[Secondary User]

 

 

 

Boy, I sure would love to see him become a dependable setup arm this year. The Twins could really use that. Perkins on top with Boyer/Fien under.....that changes a lot about this bullpen. (Now we just need a southpaw...) 

 

Tyler Jay/Taylor Rogers

[DocBauer]

Love it. Improving the team, but from within.

 

Not normally a big fan of the idea of moving someone out of position to help the club only to move said player back again. But after a nice last season, a rough personal offseason, arough begining to this season, I think this still continues his development and provide even abigger boost to his confidence.

[jimbo92107]

Now that it has happened, it does seem like it was inevitable. Adding Alex Meyer to the pen means that the relief staff has a power arm even stronger than Graham. That can be really important in middle or late game situations. Basically, everything Tonkin is supposed to do, Meyer is supposed to do it with another 5 mph. The difference between a well-spotted 93mph heater and a well-spotted 98mph heater can be pretty stark. Plus, Meyer's supposed to have a great slider, too. It also doesn't hurt that Meyer's release point is about six inches higher, creating that nasty downward plane.

Let's not be surprised if Meyer has a few rough spots while his emotions settle down. I know he's 25, but this will be his first exposure to major league cheers and boos. I hope he can handle it. Good thing a veteran like Perkins is there to keep him on an even keel.

[nytwinsfan]

Anyway, to continue a "locked" conversation about relief pitching I began somewhere else with jokin and spiritofvodkadave, about Taylor Rogers, who is also being discussed here as a replacement to Duensing or Thompson:

 

like Meyer, nothing says you can't use Rogers (or trade him) as a starter later on if it comes to that. But right now his ability to get lefties out makes him a huge asset.  The Royals three best hitters are all lefties. Just saying.

[jokin]

 

Now that it has happened, it does seem like it was inevitable. Adding Alex Meyer to the pen means that the relief staff has a power arm even stronger than Graham. That can be really important in middle or late game situations. Basically, everything Tonkin is supposed to do, Meyer is supposed to do it with another 5 mph. The difference between a well-spotted 93mph heater and a well-spotted 98mph heater can be pretty stark. Plus, Meyer's supposed to have a great slider, too. It also doesn't hurt that Meyer's release point is about six inches higher, creating that nasty downward plane.

Let's not be surprised if Meyer has a few rough spots while his emotions settle down. I know he's 25, but this will be his first exposure to major league cheers and boos. I hope he can handle it. Good thing a veteran like Perkins is there to keep him on an even keel.

 

Meyer's slider was devastating when I saw him pitch last season.  It's important to note, that Meyer's velocity didn't hit top end until after about 40 pitches thrown, wherein he frequently and consistently was hitting 98 and 99, all the way to 90 pitches.  Hopefully, he can find a way to crank it up sooner than that.

 

This is where he should have been much sooner than now, hopefully he really benefits from the coaching/training/video upgrades.  I think the Twins have positioned him well to respond to the new challenge-  in his last appearance in Rochester yesterday, he threw 9 pitches, 7 strikes, 1 K, 2 batters faced, in .2 IP, that's probably a good way to start out. 

Edited June 25, 2015 by jokin

[spinowner]

 

Next, bring up Tyler Jay if he kicks butt at Fort Myers and Chattanooga.

It would be nice, but that's a big if.

Edited June 25, 2015 by spinowner

[spinowner]

 

 (Now we just need a southpaw...) 

Move Perkins to LH setup and install Meyer as closer. (Mostly but not totally kidding.)

[lukeduke1980]

And we should be adding May to the Pen soon when Ervin returns(?)

[drjim]

 

And we should be adding May to the Pen soon when Ervin returns(?)

 

Why take him out of the rotation?

[drjim]

 

Now bring up Taylor Rogers for Aaron Thompson or Brian Duensing.

 

I think this happens relatively soon.

[lukeduke1980]

Someone will come out of the rotation - May might be the best candidate, maybe can get his fastball up to 96 or so regularly when only throwing an inning at a time.

 

Other suggestions?

[nicksaviking]

Big league batters will make him throw strikes. I hope his initial innings aren't a repeat of May's work last year.

We shouldn't expect rookies to come up and dominate. Historically rookies struggle. Teams have to ride out the roller coaster first. Letting rookies get their feet wet would be easier to stomach if they are called up when the team already stinks.

[troyhobbs]

 

Someone will come out of the rotation - May might be the best candidate, maybe can get his fastball up to 96 or so regularly when only throwing an inning at a time.

 

Other suggestions?

Milone or Nolasco would be my choices. May is looking pretty good as a SP.

[drjim]

 

Someone will come out of the rotation - May might be the best candidate, maybe can get his fastball up to 96 or so regularly when only throwing an inning at a time.

 

Other suggestions?

 

Milone, and there really isn't a second choice.

[Blake]

Well, so much for my prognosticatory abilities.

 

Next time, I'll flip a coin.

[Brock Beauchamp]

It would be nice, but that's a big if.

I don't get the Tyler Jay nonsense. The Twins didn't draft Jay as the sixth overall pick so he could be a middle reliever.

 

He's going to the minors to work on becoming a starter. And that's the right decision.