Behind the Fence: Landon Leach and new signees on showcase

[Bob Sacamento]

It was a scorcher this weekend in Fort Myers with temperatures at 110 with the heat index but that didn't stop the GCL Twins from getting their weekend series against the Boston Red Sox.  There were quite a few new faces in camp after the recent indy ball signees and all found some game action over the weekend.

 

On the mound Friday was Venezuelan righty Carlos Suniaga who improved to 3-0 on the season.  The 20 year old throws a fastball with sink and run at 90-92 mph, a slider, a curveball, and a changeup.  Here is video from Suniaga's last start vs the Red Sox 7/29.  Side note, catching Suniaga was 2017 38th Rd pick and 6'6 Ben Rodriguez, it was his first time behind the plate as a professional.  Overall a decent performance for the big man.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxmI_xyP3H0

 

Starting Saturday's game at Centurylink was new signee Michael Kohn who only threw an inning but showed a fastball 91-93 mph with two curveballs at 77 and 79.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3t4OIu40-ks

 

Relieving Kohn was the 2017 first round supplemental pick RHP Landon Leach.  Leach is a thick bodied pitcher who shows a fastball that was 89-93 and sitting around 91-92 the four innings he threw.  Lando also mixed in a 84-86 mph breaking ball that had a few of the Twins pitchers in disagreement of it's classification.  He also had a few of the Sox swinging and missing it too and when the hitters made contact it was often on the ground and weak.  For the record, Trackman and the Twins recorded his breaker as a slider despite having the bend of a curveball.  

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVqEFIdLrpU

 

After Leach departed, 23 year old 6'7 lefty Kevin Marnon made his appearance going two innings and striking out three.  His fastball was 91-93 mph but was fairly straight and looked a little more with his extension.  

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEj4ZFPtjR4

 

My surprise of the day was Derek Molina, I hadn't seen him pitch and came away fairly impressed.  Molina's fastball was 91-93 mph with good movement and life as well as a strong breaker at times

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujq1QFpk5OE

 

At the plate, Taylor Grzelakowski made his Twins debut going 1-4 with a walk, a strikeout and two RBIs.  T.Gelly as his teammates call him, he's listed as an outfielder but has been donning the catchers gear.  Gelly has giant hands that suit behind the plate.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq3_iz0i4uI

 

Not only was it T.Gelly's debut but also 20 year old outfielder Edgar Herrera who had been out with a broken hamate bone.  He responded with a two run rbi basehit in his first at bat.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeXkfrvwCEA

 

The GCL Twins have had a couple of hitters on fire of late, namely Jean Carlos Arias and he continued that on Saturday going 3 for 3 with a walk and a triple short of the cycle by the fifth inning before being pulled.  The other hitter is 20 year old 2B Emmanuel Morel, whom has shown a knack for getting basehits albeit a 33% K rate.  He has speed but horrible baserunning instincts as I've seen him picked off first three times, everytime he breaks for second and has made it successful 2 times.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng-NVg78h7o

 

Lastly, Royce Lewis has been a little cold at the plate for his standards still he shows plus plus speed that can completely change a ballgame.  In one instance he hit a ball no more than 10 feet from the plate and still ended up on second base.  But the biggest takeaway I have is the huge strides Royce's defense at shortstop has taken since the beginning of the GCL namely his footwork.  

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKE9Mfh9TZQ

 

 

[glunn]

Great writeup and videos.  Thanks!

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Great writeup and videos.  Thanks!

Enjoy them, only a few more left!

[clutterheart]

Watching Lewis's swing, and comparing that video to some of his pre draft video, he looks out of sorts to me.   Im not liking his balance at the plate (but the Twins haven't yet got rid of his leg kick)

 

Is he having trouble with breaking stuff?

 

[clutterheart]

 

Enjoy them, only a few more left!

 

Unlike this

[Bob Sacamento]

Completely forgot to mention, rehabber, former first rounder and Red Sox top prospect Blake Swihart played in the weekend series where the Twins pitchers held him to 1 for 9 with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts.

[Hrbowski]

Lewis is adding a toe tap to go along with a leg kick? I think we are going to see some massive timing issues in that swing.

[JustinCB]

 

Watching Lewis's swing, and comparing that video to some of his pre draft video, he looks out of sorts to me.   Im not liking his balance at the plate (but the Twins haven't yet got rid of his leg kick)

 

Is he having trouble with breaking stuff?

 

That's a noisy swing for sure.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Watching Lewis's swing, and comparing that video to some of his pre draft video, he looks out of sorts to me.   Im not liking his balance at the plate (but the Twins haven't yet got rid of his leg kick)

 

Is he having trouble with breaking stuff?

Of late he's been off at the plate and it appears to my eye that it's timing and balance.  There are a couple of times where his leg kick is premature, even holding it up in the air at times while the pitcher delivers the ball.  

 

I will note that more and more players are using a leg kick down here in the GCL than in years past.

[benji21]

Lewis looks like he shows nice plate discipline, however noisy his swing is. Also, I am by no stretch someone who know mechanics, but does his swing look long too?

[Hrbowski]

 

Lewis looks like he shows nice plate discipline, however noisy his swing is. Also, I am by no stretch someone who know mechanics, but does his swing look long too?

Yes.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Lewis looks like he shows nice plate discipline, however noisy his swing is. Also, I am by no stretch someone who know mechanics, but does his swing look long too?

No doubt the kid has a good eye and makes adjustments not only in-game, but in-at bats as well.  A month ago, before the GCL season, Kohl Stewart faced him in scrimmages and at that time told me, Royce has great hands at the plate (better than present day Buxton), when he starts to trust them more he'll be very dangerous.