Lewis Thorpe Promoted to AA

[Seth Stohs]

Lewis Thorpe tweeted this morning.... 

 

"Next Stop Knoxville." 

 

Well, Knoxville is the home of the Tennessee Smokies, the team that the Chattanooga Lookouts are playing tonight, in Knoxville....

 

 

[bluechipper]

He's earned it based on the numbers. I'd like to see the walk numbers go down, but that control usually takes time to return when coming back.

[Dman]

I am very surprised.  I figured they would leave in A+ the rest of the year and start him in AA next year.  HIs number are good but he seemed to have control issue's so I thought they would leave him especially since AA has a solid rotation as it is.  I wonder if they moved him to make room for other promotions to come?

[Steve Lein]

Love it. Big Thorpe backer, especially since I saw him in person and interviewed him before his TJ surgery:

 

http://twinsdaily.com/_/minnesota-twins-news/minnesota-twins-minor-leagues/color-me-and-joe-mauer-impressed-r2962

 

[drjim]

That puts him on pace to possibly debut late next season. Nice development.

 

He won't be ranked as such, but I would put him as the top pitching prospect in the system.

[gunnarthor]

Good for him. Hope he continues to impress.

[birddog]

I love any solid prospect with a big league arm advancing. I saw that Kohl Stewart was promoted from Chattanooga to make room for Thorpe despite very ordinary/mediocre stats. Does that mean the Twins look at Stewart as a AAAA type of player only while keeping top pitching prospects only at AA?

[laloesch]

Awesome.   Walk rate is still high, but it looks like he's moving the right direction and he's still only 21.

[Mike Sixel]

Congratulations! Should have been on teh world team at the ASB.....

[drivlikejehu]

I'm a big fan of Thorpe and like the promotion, but he has a ways to go. I'd be shocked if he was ready next year, except maybe for a September cup of coffee.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

He's earned it based on the numbers. I'd like to see the walk numbers go down, but that control usually takes time to return when coming back.

he had some bouts with it in low A pre-TJS as well. Being two years removed, I think there's reason to be concerned, though I agree that if starts in AA next year and doesn't show signs of it, then we have really good reason to be excited.

[Seth Stohs]

It'll be interesting to see what happens the next week.

 

Slegers moved up for one day. But maybe he goes back to MN in 5 days. 

 

Stewart moved up to the Red Wings. That could be just for one start tonight, or depending on 1.) how he does, and 2.) Slegers and Gonsalves plans, he could stay.

 

Same thing with Thorpe at Chattanooga. It probably depends on Stewart, along with how he performs.

 

It may also be why Eduardo Del Rosario just pitched one inning in his return to the Kernels this week. 

 

I'm sure we'll know much more soon.

[gunnarthor]

 

I love any solid prospect with a big league arm advancing. I saw that Kohl Stewart was promoted from Chattanooga to make room for Thorpe despite very ordinary/mediocre stats. Does that mean the Twins look at Stewart as a AAAA type of player only while keeping top pitching prospects only at AA?

I doubt it. I suspect they promoted him because he's been pretty good since returning from the DL.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I assume with Gonsalves up, Thrope is in AA to stay. I'm guessing he starts there next year too.

[nicksaviking]

 

He's earned it based on the numbers. I'd like to see the walk numbers go down, but that control usually takes time to return when coming back.

 2000 posts, congrats!

[nicksaviking]

Interesting move, I'm totally in favor of it but I'm surprised.

 

I think most people thought if Thrope was left unprotected in the Rule V he likely wouldn't get picked after only playing in A ball. With at least some AA experience? I think he's for sure got to be protected if he ends the year healthy.

[mikelink45]

Nice news.  Good movement.  About time we stopped looking outside and looked down into our own system.  I like it. 

[drjim]

Interesting move, I'm totally in favor of it but I'm surprised.

 

I think most people thought if Thrope was left unprotected in the Rule V he likely wouldn't get picked after only playing in A ball. With at least some AA experience? I think he's for sure got to be protected if he ends the year healthy.

He would have gotten picked either way if he remained healthy.

[Mike Sixel]

He would have gotten picked either way if he remained healthy.

Agreed.

[clutterheart]

Late August seems like a strange time for all of this.  They have about 18 games left?  So he has 3 starts + Playoffs?

It will be good to push him but how much can you tell from so few starts?

 

[Dantes929]

If he is successful but is walking too many it might mean his stuff is really good but the batters he is facing are not making him pay enough for the lack of command.      Place to work on command is in the minors and AA is still the minors   If walking too many hurts him more against better hitters it might be worthwhile to learn that lesson now and think and work on it over the off season.  I don't think anything bad comes of this and challenging him is a good thing.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Late August seems like a strange time for all of this.  They have about 18 games left?  So he has 3 starts + Playoffs?

It will be good to push him but how much can you tell from so few starts?

 

Maybe it's more about what he can learn about facing tougher competition? Maybe it's about accelerating next year? Maybe it's about who knows? He's probably good enough to be promoted, for me, the question would be, why not....not, why not wait.

[drjim]

 

If he is successful but is walking too many it might mean his stuff is really good but the batters he is facing are not making him pay enough for the lack of command.      Place to work on command is in the minors and AA is still the minors   If walking too many hurts him more against better hitters it might be worthwhile to learn that lesson now and think and work on it over the off season.  I don't think anything bad comes of this and challenging him is a good thing.

 

This is probably true, but I also think there is some residual effect of coming back from TJ and other injuries has had. I would anticipate, if he stays healthy next year, that his bb rate drops even as he faces more advance competition.

 

This is an aggressive promotion though coming back from injuries. There is some risk as he faces the fatigue of the end of the season.

[TRex]

 

Maybe it's more about what he can learn about facing tougher competition? Maybe it's about accelerating next year? Maybe it's about who knows? He's probably good enough to be promoted, for me, the question would be, why not....not, why not wait.

I think it is a combination of tougher league and extending him through the playoffs. If he was able to play in the AFL, they might have done things differently. Right now he only has 69 innings, so an extra couple of starts would be helpful (although FM is also likely to make the post-season). I wonder if they will ?allow? him to pitch in the ABL this year?