Behind the Fence: Pitching Galore and Gordon Family Reunion 3/11-3/12

[Bob Sacamento]

The Twins minor league camp is finally in full swing as the players start to get ready for their first game action. This past Sunday marked the first intrasquad game of Team 1 (AA) vs Team 2 (HiA)and Team 3 (LoA) vs Team 4 (SS-GCL). On Friday, I got to witness Kohl Stewart going thru his side session. Kohl broke off a couple of real good breaking balls with different looks, a slow bending curve and a cutter/slider in addition to a fastball with good movement. When watching Stewart pitch, he has all the makings of a good quality starter but thus far his game results haven't lived up to his abilities. During his session, one of the pitching coaches, Bonilla, works with his mechanics and the angle of his lead arm. What stood out even more than Kohl's pitching was his choice of hairstyle, in that it's ala Ricky Vaughn in Major League Baseball.

 

VIDEO: Kohl Stewart working in the bullpen

 

 

Another on the mound included GCL 21 year old Johan Quezada, who is listed at 6'6 but is closer to 6'8. The tall lanky righty hits 98-100mph with his fastball, but it's not his velocity that's holding him back, it's the fact that the ball can pretty much anywhere when he releases it. His fastball command has improved in the past few seasons as he's walking less and giving up weak contact. His secondary pitch, slider, is still a work in progress yet overall he illicits alot of groundballs. Quezada will likely open up the year in EXST and get a chance in E-town, if he puts it together he's another bullpen option the Twins have in the future. More or less a lotto ticket at this point though.

 

VIDEO: Johan Quezada pitching a side session

 

If you don't know who the Australian Todd Van Steensel, you are missing a good follow on Twitter. He doesn't have overpowering stuff but his delivery is deceptive and he hides the ball well, the windup reminded me of former MLBer Hideo Nomo, as you can read Van Steensel's entire name on the back of his jersey. With his dominating first half in 2015, it's not a surprise that he was elected to the FSL All Star team last season, the question is will be able to keep it up in AA this season as he started to wilt in the second half.

 

VIDEO: Todd Van Steensel throwing in the bullpen

 

 

Lastly another international arm that is intriguing is 20 year old South African pitcher Callan Pearce. Pearce doesn't light up the radar gun but over the course of the past two seasons has started to get more of the feel for pitching. Pearce will most likely stay in EXST and open the year in GCL or E-town.

 

VIDEO: Callan Pearce pitching in side session

 

One more Australian, the recently turned 19yo Lachlan Wells who had a pretty good debut last year in the GCL. Wells is another lefty who mixes his pitches well and has an advanced grasp of pitching. His teammates affectionally call him "Squints" due to his VERY thick glasses.

 

VIDEO: Lachlan Wells throwing a side session

The MLB team played the Miami Marlins at Hammond Stadium, so there was a Gordon family reunion as Dee made his way out to the backfields before gametime to see his brother in action and to say hi to his parents. Side by side, Nick is bigger all around than his brother: height, frame, build. Still next to their Dad, Tom "Flash" Gordon, neither have filled out the top half as he did. Despite Flash being a pitcher, he gave Nick some tutoledge on his fielding.

 

Getting to talk to Nick and Tom at the same time was definitely the highlight of my day (which also included meeting Barry Bonds and watching him throw BP to Dee Gordon, Marcell Ozuna, JT Realmuto, Adeiny Henchavarria. Afterwards, Nick took some bunting practice, where the Miracle's coach Jeff Smith helped him with his technique.

 

VIDEO: Nick Gordon working on his bunting skills

 

With all the MiLB players in camp, there was an old familiar face in Loek Van Mil, the 7'2 (with spikes on) Dutch pitcher who came up through the Twins organization. Not many guys can make Aaron Sledges and Johan Quezada look small.

 

 

On Saturday, the MLB club was in Sarasota, so the majority of the big boys stayed back in Fort Myers to work on their game.   Namely, Phil Hughes who threw a simulated game to hitters such as James Bereford and Adam Brett Walker. Former MLB pitcher, now scout Mike Venafro, was clocking Hughes' outing where his fastball was hitting 86-89 mph. It's good to know that Hughes had the time to tweet me saying the gun was wrong, "he might've gotten a better reading from Naples. Based on swings/feedback and actual readings from last start..." Here is some video of his simulated start:

 

VIDEO: Phil Hughes throwing in a simulated game

Lastly, here is a look at the future lefties, Stephen Gonsalves and Tyler Jay working with Miracles Pitching Coach Henry Bonilla.  I also got to see Seth, Halsey Hall, Chitown, and diehard in addition to a few "lurkers" who approached me.

 

Other Videos:

 

Lewis Thorpe showing off his quick reaction time in groundball drills

 

Fernando Romero fielding an infield fly with his back turned to the ball

 

Minor Leaguers working on their sliding technique

 

 

[Han Joelo]

Very cool.  Thank you as always for sharing.

[70charger]

I recently got a haircut in Cyprus. I don't speak Greek, so it came out awful. I'm anxiously waiting for it to grow out.

 

I would take my haircut over Kohl Stewart's every day and twice on Sunday.

[Willihammer]

From that angle it looks lik Flash looks like he could take the mound tomorrow.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

From that angle it looks lik Flash looks like he could take the mound tomorrow.

LOL, I said the same thing to him.  He replied looks can be deceiving, but he keeps active and in-shape with workouts and throwing to the kids.  Says he can still hit  90 and yes he still has that hammer curveball; that's gotta be good practice for the kids to hit off of

[ashbury]

Tyler Jay, listed in b-r.com as 6'1", looks small next to Henry Bonilla, listed at 6'0". I wonder if our first round pick went for a guy who will be referred to in newspaper articles as "the little lefty". Sorry, but I still can't find anything positive to say about picking him, and I'll probably continue to grouse until he's named to the all-star team a second time.

[Halsey Hall]

He did keep the box score in the game today!

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Tyler Jay, listed in b-r.com as 6'1", looks small next to Henry Bonilla, listed at 6'0". I wonder if our first round pick went for a guy who will be referred to in newspaper articles as "the little lefty". Sorry, but I still can't find anything positive to say about picking him, and I'll probably continue to grouse until he's named to the all-star team a second time.

Yeah John, by himself you really don't notice it but next to guys like Gonsalves (who's younger) you can really see the size difference.   Height isn't the only thing he's lesser in, but also his frame, shoulders and hips.  Which could lead to a higher chance of injury or not who knows but he could fit though a small opening in a fence.