Article: Byron Buxton, Jose Berrios Promoted to Elizabethton

[Seth Stohs]

You can view the page at http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.php?890-Buxton-Berrios-Promoted-to-Elizabethton

[greengoblinrulz]

Are there any corresponding moves for ELIZ???? 4 SOLID OFs there now.

Not surprised as both are gonna start in BEL next yr/desereve it w/play, but this is the Twins organization....so that is a BIG surprise.

[Seth Stohs]

No other moves at this time.

[DaveW]

This is awesome.

[Mike in SD]

Cool, I've been meaning to make a trip to the Midwest to visit family--perhaps I should plan a trip to Beloit. [Ack, I see I misread the team they're being sent to...]

 

Seth, did you hear any updates on Tim Shibuya on your trip (or otherwise)? I think that was him in a Snappers twitter pic as Sanó's interpreter during a radio interview recently, but I haven't heard anything in almost a month.

[Shane Wahl]

Great for them and a smart for the Twins to promote when they ought to do so.

[Seth Stohs]

Seth, did you hear any updates on Tim Shibuya on your trip (or otherwise)? I think that was him in a Snappers twitter pic as Sanó's interpreter during a radio interview recently, but I haven't heard anything in almost a month.

He is rehabbing in Ft. Myers after an MRI in Minnesota. And, that probably was him. He has been used as an interpreter several times.

[glunn]

This seems like good news. It would be great if Buxton could advance rapidly.

[Nick Nelson]

For an organization that has been criticized on occasion for moving prospects along too slowly, this is a bold and welcome statement.

[IdahoPilgrim]

Well, shoot, good for them but it means I won't get to see them. They were the only reason I was thinking of going to the GCL game tomorrow.

[TKGuy]

COunt me as excited if they are going to promote faster.

[James]

Well that is unexpected, but welcome news. It's good to see the Twins promote some players a little quicker than usual.

[Mauerzy4Prez]

In the case of Berrios, the numbers don't lie and it really sounds like he deserved this. Not sure if you all remember when we drafted him, but he is a hell of an athlete, and I have very high hopes for him.

 

Buxton's numbers don't necessarily show it, but this is another good move. He came off the hamstring injury great, and I think it is smart to keep giving him challenges. Very exciting and cool news for the farm system!!!

[bird]

Buxton was the 2nd pick, not the 22nd pick, and his promotion (and Berrios"s) is likely based on readiness, not some big philosophical change of thinking about promotions. So, great news!

[Brock Beauchamp]

Wow, I didn't see that coming. What a difference from years past. Buxton wouldn't even have played in previous years and now, he is not only playing but has been promoted to Elizabethton.

[Jeff P]

It will be fun to see how they do at this next level up. I check the box scores but had apparently not clicked through to Berrios' overall numbers so I did not realize how amazing he has been: 16 2/3 inn, 7 hits, 2ER, 3BB, 27K.

 

Buxton's numbers after his 1-27 start are very good: .295/.377/.656. He is striking out a lot which is a concern but in any case I am glad the Twins are challenging him these last few weeks of the season to see what he can do.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Berrios was clearly ready based on his numbers... Buxton kind of surprised me, though if you subtract the slow start, eh hasn't been bad.

[Thrylos]

Interesting. Add this to the list of unusual for the Twins minor league moves this season. If I were to venture a guess, I'd say that I would not be surprised if Jim Rantz officially announces his retirement in September/October. These look to me like someone else's moves...

[Celebrity Weddings!]

Is this really that odd? Benson and Parmelee both saw time at Beloit in 2006. And Revere and Hicks both skipped E-Town so their lone assignment in the first season after being drafted was in Beloit. The group of high school pitchers is comparatively smaller, but Rainville and Swarzak actually logged substantial innings at Ft. Myers in the first year after their draft. Waldrop and Robertson both logged a lot of innings at Beloit in the year after their draft.

 

It seems like the team has some varied approaches to the same end with 1/2 round positional HS talents: Get them in full season ball by the year after their draft. Both Buxton and Berrios are being positioned for that.

[gunnarthor]

I swear I read somewhere that Berrios might be one of the fastest to the majors high schoolers picked in the last draft but now I can't find that link. It was based on him being physically mature and having played in a lot more competition baseball in PR than a normal HS kid.

[Thrylos]

Is this really that odd? Benson and Parmelee both saw time at Beloit in 2006. And Revere and Hicks both skipped E-Town so their lone assignment in the first season after being drafted was in Beloit. The group of high school pitchers is comparatively smaller, but Rainville and Swarzak actually logged substantial innings at Ft. Myers in the first year after their draft. Waldrop and Robertson both logged a lot of innings at Beloit in the year after their draft..

There is a difference and has to do with moving up the signing deadline this season. For all of the guys you are mentioning, their first pro season was the season after the one they were drafted, unlike Buxton and Berrios. If these two start next season in A ball (won't be Beloit, but some other place), it would be the equivalent of Revere and Hicks (or another high schooler) starting their pro seasons in A ball, which just hasn't happened with the Twins.

[Jack Torse]

What ever happened to Buxton not having power? Just a look at his body profile and projecting it into his 20's makes it obvious how strong this guy will be.

[gunnarthor]

What ever happened to Buxton not having power? Just a look at his body profile and projecting it into his 20's makes it obvious how strong this guy will be.

Scouts love his power potential - heck, his most common comparisons was Justin Upton. TR compared him to Sizemore. I think some fan posts might have suggested that his lack of HR in HS meant he didn't have power but those were silly posts.

[TheLeviathan]

Wow....pleasant surprise!

[jokin]

Interesting. Add this to the list of unusual for the Twins minor league moves this season. If I were to venture a guess, I'd say that I would not be surprised if Jim Rantz officially announces his retirement in September/October. These look to me like someone else's moves...

Ahhh, but just who is the "Black Hand"? I'd like to give that hand a shake. Buxton deserves and needs the challenge and I speculated (maybe more wishful thinking on my part) that he should get moved this month , but wow, fast-tracking a high school pitcher, as well? Definitely not the Twins Way. Those sandwich picks may pay dividends sooner than expected.

 

This bold move loudly and clearly pushes every player in the organization and places them on notice to put up or prepare to be cut/traded.

[jokin]

There is a difference and has to do with moving up the signing deadline this season. For all of the guys you are mentioning, their first pro season was the season after the one they were drafted, unlike Buxton and Berrios. If these two start next season in A ball (won't be Beloit, but some other place), it would be the equivalent of Revere and Hicks (or another high schooler) starting their pro seasons in A ball, which just hasn't happened with the Twins.

Joe Mauer played at E-Town his first summer and then to Low A at QC his second season. Are you saying that Buxton, Bard and Berrios won't start out in Beloit next year?

[Thrylos]

Joe Mauer played at E-Town his first summer and then to Low A at QC his second season. Are you saying that Buxton, Bard and Berrios won't start out in Beloit next year?

I am saying that they will be in A ball in the season after they were drafted (which is next season). Mauer is the exception. He signed early so like those guys ended up playing Rookie ball the season he was drafted and A ball the season after he was drafted. (And he was Mauer and he was pushed). Most of the other High Schoolers singed around August 15 or so, so they did not have much time to play the season they were drafted and started in E-town or GCL the season after they were drafted.

[ashbury]

> and struckout 27 baters

 

Aaron Bates is back down in Rookie ball?

[Shane Wahl]

Jokin, I think Thrylos believes Beloit won't be the A- affiliate of the Twins. They will start (and likely finish) at A- next year. Kepler, Buxton, D-Rod, Jimenez, and Pineda in the OF for Beloit next year?

[jokin]

Jokin, I think Thrylos believes Beloit won't be the A- affiliate of the Twins. They will start (and likely finish) at A- next year. Kepler, Buxton, D-Rod, Jimenez, and Pineda in the OF for Beloit next year?

Thanks for the clarification. You hammered home the point I was making previously, this move pushes every OF and P in the org. to work harder to keep their jobs or expect to be traded. It's a rare and nice feeling to think that "positional blocking" might actually become a more frequent thread topic in relation to the Twins in the very near future.