Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/10): Kepler, Buxton Rock Rochester

[jokin]

 

 

I'm not saying it's right, but as we've seen how the young guys are used, clearly the folks in the MLB dugout are quite resistant to being used for developmental instruction, it seems they would prefer that done on the farm. I'd guess the Twins didn't want Buxton to "work on" anything at the MLB level as they feel that should be done at the subordinating affiliates, and the big club should be all about the Wins and Losses.

 

I don't at all agree with this considering the record, but that's what it looks like to me.

 

Quite likely true, but Ryan made a huge bet on Buxton sticking in the offseason when he traded away his prime Plan B option. (And he's been down this bridle path before assuming things not in evidence with Aaron Hicks when he was handed the job with a basically non-existent Plan . One would think that there was strong impetus to lay down a specific action plan to ensure that the #1 Prospect in all of baseball (who struggled in 2015) would have had some special attention to help realize some measure of success.

[mlhouse]

 

Interesting report. A good fastball with great command can go a long way. What happened to the advertised wipe out slider? At this point i think his floor is raised, with ceiling remaining high. I'd rather have a guy with a great fastball and improving secondary stuff than the other way around ( Meyer).

 

Stewart might be a guy who needs to throw fewer strikes.  His pitch ratio is probably 10 FB-7 sliders-3 off speed pitches.  He throws in all of the velocity range:  mid 90s - mid 80s - 80 and keeps hitters offstride.  

 

But even with his fastball the hitters make pretty good contact against him because the fastball and slider stay in the same hitting plane. Not one batter got around on his fastball or slider for that matter.  But he doesnt miss many bats and  he doesnt generate many swing and misses even at the A+ level.  I think all or most of his strikeouts were called 3rd strikes (mostly fastballs that I think the hitter was looking offspeed).

 

IF I am Henry Bonilla I am working on developing Stewart's slider to get more downward movement as the most critical aspect of his development.

 

Other Miracle Notes:  Raul Fernandez did not give up a solo home run.  It was a 3 run shot.  THere were two inherited base runners in the 7th.  He came to the mound for warm ups, threw every pitch 96/97.  Then faced the 9th hitter in the Bradenton lineup and threw the ball 86, 86, 88, the last pitch hit for a home run.  

 

The hitters sans Nick Gordon in the lineup leave a lot to be desired.  IT is pretty clear that out of the positional players that started this game only Tanner Vavra have any chance at the next level.  Maybe Edgar Corcino who was a pretty good fielding CF.  

 

Brian Navarreto is a good fielding catcher and popular with the Miracle fans (most of the Hispanic players have their own following).  But he cannot hit.

[Taildragger8791]

 

Interesting report. A good fastball with great command can go a long way. What happened to the advertised wipe out slider? At this point i think his floor is raised, with ceiling remaining high. I'd rather have a guy with a great fastball and improving secondary stuff than the other way around ( Meyer).

 

That doesn't sound like an accurate representation of Meyer. My impression was that Meyer has a great fastball & curveball, but an underwhelming changeup and issues with control/consistency on the latter two. The only problem I've heard about his fastball is when he gets wild then focuses too hard on throwing a strike, and ends up grooving it right down the middle.

[DocBauer]

 

I think Mitch Garver is strongly making his case.

I've got to say, and it's just a hunch and no condemnation to Turner or his potential, but I also have had a feeling that Garver would be the best overall player of the two and become the starter.

[Badsmerf]

If Meyer had a better fb he'd be having more success. From the first time i watched him get rocked in the futures game, I've been down on him. He can't throw strikes, and when he does he gets crushed.

[Monkeypaws]

What about Cody Stashak? He seems to be throwing well.

[Trov]

For the Buxton leg kick part, it is common for most teams to try and get guys to drop the leg kick when they enter the pros.  This is because they fear the leg kick will cause them to be late on the now plus fastballs they will see unlike in high school or college.  The problem with that is that this makes your body have to relearn how to hit after taking thousands of swings one way your whole life you are told it is not good enough anymore and have to change it.  To me good coaches make little changes as problems come up, not make guys change what was working for them all along.

[Platoon]

I think Mitch Garver is strongly making his case.

I haven't seen either play, but I hope the decision is based on defense just once. Every other decision has been based on offense, or should I say a perception of offense!

[Otto von Ballpark]

When did Buxton add the leg kick?  According to Parker it was this spring:

https://twitter.com/parkerhageman/status/712332871860494336

[Thrylos]

 

 

 

Who gets the callup to Rochester first?

 

FWIW the first AA catcher who got the callup was Carlos Paulino  

[jokin]

 

FWIW the first AA catcher who got the callup was Carlos Paulino

 

Of course.