Article: Twins 2017 Minor League Hitter Of The Year

[caninatl04]

Can someone confirm that, as of today, Garver is on neither the active roster nor the 40 man?

 

Further, again as of today, that there only 2 catchers on these rosters?

 

Just wondering.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Can someone confirm that, as of today, Garver is on neither the active roster nor the 40 man?

Further, again as of today, that there only 2 catchers on these rosters?

Just wondering.

 

why do you think that?

[drivlikejehu]

 

Did you see the year Arcia had? https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=arcia-001osw

 

That has nothing to do with his fielding, and also, he's been stuck in AAA all year, so actually he's done nothing that matters for an MLB club.

[jkcarew]

 

Did you see the year Arcia had? https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=arcia-001osw

Very similar to his 2013 year in Rochester, expect larger sample size since he spent so much of 2013 in the majors.

 

A lot of love here for Wade.  Think he'd be interesting if he developed some power, but he really isn't trending that way.  Slugging actually trending the other way.  The right-handed hitting 4th outfielder discussed in the thread could turn out to be the primary subject of this article, could it not?  The 14 games they stuck Garver in the OF this year in Rochester tells me that the organization was at least dreaming that he might have that capability.  (That and pretty overt reluctance to start him behind the plate, even when Castro was on the shelf.)  Meanwhile, Grossman's OBP as a right-handed batter continues to be elite.  If you're healthy, the 4th outfielder doesn't have to field like Paul Blair.  Defense becomes more of an issue if, based on splits, you are forced to platoon Rosario or Kepler.  Admittedly, Molitor appears close to that with Kepler right now.

[Thrylos]

Interesting rankings....

 

Here are the top 10 wRC+ rankings, plus the numbers of some names mentioned:

 

Rooker (A+ only 162 PA) 166
Rodriguez 164
Garver 159
Paul (A+ only 264 PA) 149
Granite 144
TJ White 144
Andy Wilkins 141
Wade 135

(Javier 131 - but didn't you have a short season list too?)
Zander Wiel 125
Palacios 124
Hague 122
Blackenhorne 121
Max Murphy 120
Gordon 117
Diaz 114

 

Pretty close, but the subjective rankings are slightly different.   Some of those guys, like Palacios, and Gordon (surprised for the non-mentions of the "Twins #1 prospect"   )  really dropped after they were promoted or later in the season.

Wilkins was the big miss of the group.

 

Rooker is the class of this list.  Might be in the majors middle of next year sharing reps at 1B with Mauer and platooning with Kepler when and if needed, and the starting first baseman in 2019.

Edited September 15, 2017 by Thrylos

[h2oface]

Garver one voter from unanimous first place votes. One spoiler.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Hard to see Granite working as a 4th OF since he hits left handed like Rosario/Kepler. Ideally, your 4th OF would be able to hit right handed.

 

I don't know how much value Granite has on the market but I'd look and see if a team loves him and flip him for pitching.

 

Granite has reverse splits every season in the minors. He's hit better against lefties than righties, or at least equal. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

In AA. That doesn't make him an MLB CF. Oswaldo Arcia played some CF in the minors.

 

Huge difference. Wade has good speed. He would be a below average MLB CF, but he can certainly play it at least adequately. He's a good outfielder, average-ish arm. He's got good speed, but if we're comparing him to Buxton and his range, he'll not look so good. With Buxton, it's not something they have to worry about much. 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Would Vielma have been the minor league "fielder of the year"...or in the top 5? Was a mistake made by letting him be claimed on waivers? Hasn't he been reported in this site as being the best fielding SS in the Twins' system? Since fielding is so important, especially at SS, would it be possible and/or provable to rate the minor league fielders?

[Mike Sixel]

 

Interesting rankings....

 

Here are the top 10 wRC+ rankings, plus the numbers of some names mentioned:

 

Rooker (A+ only 162 PA) 166
Rodriguez 164
Garver 159
Paul (A+ only 264 PA) 149
Granite 144
TJ White 144
Andy Wilkins 141
Wade 135

(Javier 131 - but didn't you have a short season list too?)
Zander Wiel 125
Palacios 124
Hague 122
Blackenhorne 121
Max Murphy 120
Gordon 117
Diaz 114

 

Pretty close, but the subjective rankings are slightly different.   Some of those guys, like Palacios, and Gordon (surprised for the non-mentions of the "Twins #1 prospect"   )  really dropped after they were promoted or later in the season.

Wilkins was the big miss of the group.

 

Rooker is the class of this list.  Might be in the majors middle of next year sharing reps at 1B with Mauer and platooning with Kepler when and if needed, and the starting first baseman in 2019.

 

It's almost like defense and position doesn't matter at all....

[Tomj14]

 

That has nothing to do with his fielding, and also, he's been stuck in AAA all year, so actually he's done nothing that matters for an MLB club.

Sorry I didn't mean to infer anything other than he had another great year in the MINORS and still would be considered one of our better minor league prospects.

[drivlikejehu]

 

Sorry I didn't mean to infer anything other than he had another great year in the MINORS and still would be considered one of our better minor league prospects.

 

No he wouldn't, he is not a "prospect" and would be considered as AAAA depth that is interchangeable with basically random guys they could pull off the waiver wire. He has no value.

[Tomj14]

 

No he wouldn't, he is not a "prospect" and would be considered as AAAA depth that is interchangeable with basically random guys they could pull off the waiver wire. He has no value.

He is 4 months older than our minor league hitter of the year and put up better numbers. I get he is AAAA player.

[Taildragger8791]

 

He is 4 months older than our minor league hitter of the year and put up better numbers. I get he is AAAA player.

 

Arcia was hitting in the PCL which heavily inflates offensive numbers, so take them with a grain of salt. Good AAAA hitters with power regularly put up video game stats there.