Happiest surprise for you this season?

[gunnarthor]

Since there isn't a lot going on in the minor leagues right this second, I figured I'd ask what your favorite surprise was this season for the Twins minor leaguers? I think there were a bunch of good ones but I'd probably go with Baddoo's break out season where he might end up on the back end of a few top 100 lists next year.

 

From http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/daily-prospect-notes-724/

 

"Baddoo has the speed to stay in center field and was just too physical for the GCL, hitting .267/.360/.440 there before promotion. He looks raw at times offensively, but is also flashing more raw power than I projected on the Twins prospects list. If he starts to show a feel for getting to that power in games, he’s a top-100 prospect. That seems far off for Baddoo, but he’s still just 18 years old and has already shown improvement at the plate in just over a year as a pro."

[drjim]

I'd go Thorpe. The fact he came back after two years is good enough, but he performed too. He's the best pitching prospect in the system.

[Vanimal46]

I'll go with John Curtiss. Rising up 3 levels in a single season is very impressive. He separated himself from the group of 10 RP's in the minors by staying healthy and effective. The future looks bright for him in the MLB bullpen. 

[AZTwin]

Since there isn't a lot going on in the minor leagues right this second, I figured I'd ask what your favorite surprise was this season for the Twins minor leaguers? I think there were a bunch of good ones but I'd probably go with Baddoo's break out season where he might end up on the back end of a few top 100 lists next year.

 

From http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/daily-prospect-notes-724/

 

"Baddoo has the speed to stay in center field and was just too physical for the GCL, hitting .267/.360/.440 there before promotion. He looks raw at times offensively, but is also flashing more raw power than I projected on the Twins prospects list. If he starts to show a feel for getting to that power in games, he’s a top-100 prospect. That seems far off for Baddoo, but he’s still just 18 years old and has already shown improvement at the plate in just over a year as a pro."

I agree Baddoo was a surprise. I written him off as a looks like Tarzan and plays like Jane type. Like what both him and Miranda showed this year.

 

Jax seems like he could have been a quick riser if not for the military commitment. Thorpe made himself a top prospect again.

 

Blankenhorn took a step back and Cabbage is almost done.

[Bob Sacamento]

My happiest surprise was that now 19 year old (as of late August) Brusdar Graterol was able to stay healthy after recovering from Tommy John surgery.  The velocity came back ever more than before as Graterol hit 100 mph frequently with his fastball while sitting 96-98 mph comfortably and late into games.  With the velocity coming back, look for his above average control of his fastball and slider to continue to develop in 2018.

[diehardtwinsfan]

lots of good surprises to be honest...  Farm system is trending in the right direction... now to get some pitching for the major league club...

[biggentleben]

Graterol is absolutely mine on the pitching end. As I talk to guys from other teams, the Twins guy they talk about is he or Emmanuel Morel.  However, the hitter I was blown away by in the growth he made on the year was Aaron Whitefield. Incredibly impressed by the 21 y/o Aussie who looks the part and played the part this year in low-A. Looking forward to see how he handles moves up the ladder.

[bird]

My happiest surprise was with the percentage of top prospects who performed at or above expectations. Put another way, think how few of the top 40 prospects disappointed for reasons other than injury. I think it was an exceptional season in that regard.

[ThejacKmp]

 

My happiest surprise was with the percentage of top prospects who performed at or above expectations. Put another way, think how few of the top 40 prospects disappointed for reasons other than injury. I think it was an exceptional season in that regard.

 

This. It's almost hard to find a serious prospect who had a major step back. Their biggest guys may not have awesomed it but they didn't suck. A solid all around organization wide step up.

[bird]

 

This. It's almost hard to find a serious prospect who had a major step back. Their biggest guys may not have awesomed it but they didn't suck. A solid all around organization wide step up.

 

Yeah, and they did have a half dozen key injuries: Jay, Chargois, Kiriloff, Burdi, Arraez, Wells come to mind. But who had a truly disappointing season, really? Daniel Palka? Nelson Molina? You have to dig pretty deep in the talent pool. And the 2017 draft class looked promising.

[terrydactyls]

What surprises me is that the Twins now have (after a trade) a pitcher who was 20-1 in the high minors and no one even talks about him as a prospect. Just therecord alone should merit discussion.

[biggentleben]

 

What surprises me is that the Twins now have (after a trade) a pitcher who was 20-1 in the high minors and no one even talks about him as a prospect. Just therecord alone should merit discussion.

 

In all seriousness, it was a great season, but Littell is probably a #3 pitcher at best with not really a single plus pitch in his arsenal. He is a competitor on the mound, and I'm interested to see if he can maximize that three-pitch mix into a successful #3/4 starter role.

[goulik]

Happiest surprise has to be Hildenberger. Of all the MiLB pitching prospects we were talking about to start the season, who woulda guessed him being the standout new reliever in the bigs.

[Cornholio]

What makes me happiest? Royce Lewis, and the fact he played at Cedar Rapids in his first half-season.

[Oldgoat_MN]

Lots of good observations above.

I keep pulling for, and not being disappointed by, Jermaine Palacios. 

After routing A ball pitching (.320/.362/.544 (.907)) he was promoted.

As a 20 year old in A+ ball he hit for a higher average than the 20 year old Morel did in the Gulf Coast League or the 20 year old Whitfield did in A ball.

No real idea why I zeroed in on him, but he's been fun to follow.

[puckstopper1]

Rooker's raking makes me very happy... 

[terrydactyls]

In all seriousness, it was a great season, but Littell is probably a #3 pitcher at best with not really a single plus pitch in his arsenal. He is a competitor on the mound, and I'm interested to see if he can maximize that three-pitch mix into a successful #3/4 starter role.

That's a real negative - only good enough to be a #3 starter. I'll take it. Put him in the rotation after Santana and Berrios. Being only a #3 starter puts him ahead of Gibson and Mejia.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Drafting Royce Lewis instead of playing the pitcher lottery, then seeing Lewis do pretty well.

[Mike Sixel]

 

That's a real negative - only good enough to be a #3 starter. I'll take it. Put him in the rotation after Santana and Berrios. Being only a #3 starter puts him ahead of Gibson and Mejia.

 

his UPSIDE is number 3. I'd be shocked if he's a starter in the majors ever, from what we read on line. Possible RP though.....

 

I'd say mine would have to be Thorpe's health and success. I think he's legit. Or Palacios.

 

But then, I'm more of a skimmer than a deep thinker on the minors....but those two were names I looked for, and who did very well.

[biggentleben]

 

That's a real negative - only good enough to be a #3 starter. I'll take it. Put him in the rotation after Santana and Berrios. Being only a #3 starter puts him ahead of Gibson and Mejia.

 

I'd say his profile if he makes it as a starter is as an inning-eater type in the middle of a rotation - really what Ervin is typically, though obviously he's pitching well beyond that this season. I think there are a lot higher-profile starters that are on par with him in development (Romero, Gonsalves) and others who are coming quickly behind him based on what they showed this year (Thorpe, Graterol) that could force him to either reach that ceiling or be a guy that doesn't have a spot in the org.

[laloesch]

 

In all seriousness, it was a great season, but Littell is probably a #3 pitcher at best with not really a single plus pitch in his arsenal. He is a competitor on the mound, and I'm interested to see if he can maximize that three-pitch mix into a successful #3/4 starter role.

 

Three pitch?  From what I read on Baseball America he throws 4 (changeup, slider, curve, two seam and 4 seam fastballs).  The only downside to him is his fastball velocity.  That's what the scouts don't like.  In my opinion he could be a good long RP.  The key with him is he pitches and locates versus hurling the ball as hard as one possibly can.  That's why he's flown through the minors which is not a negative in my opinion as long as the organization doesn't limit themselves to control pitchers.

[laloesch]

First on my list is Buxton.  I was getting quite concerned early in the season and after struggles last season I had lost faith and pretty much written him off.  Glad to see where he's at now.

 

Second on my list is Lewis Thorpe.  I had no expectation that he would make it back onto the Twins radar and be effective this soon.  Easily the Twins best chance at an ace in the organization.

 

Three.  Aaron Slegers.  Another young pitching prospect that no-one expected anything from.  Glad to see he pitched so well in AAA and earned a callup this year.  He could be a #5 or a reliever (nothing wrong with that).

 

Four.  Kyle Gibson (knock on wood).  Probably one of the most frustrating Twins to watch the last couple of seasons.  Such is often the case with sinkerballers.  Kyle has good stuff if he can keep this up he immediately becomes the #3 starter in my book going into next season behind Santana and Berrios. 

[biggentleben]

 

Three pitch?  From what I read on Baseball America he throws 4 (changeup, slider, curve, two seam and 4 seam fastballs).  The only downside to him is his fastball velocity.  That's what the scouts don't like.  In my opinion he could be a good long RP.  The key with him is he pitches and locates versus hurling the ball as hard as one possibly can.  That's why he's flown through the minors which is not a negative in my opinion as long as the organization doesn't limit themselves to control pitchers.

 

I mention three because I consider his curve a "throw-away" pitch. The rest are viable pitches that could be big league pitches.

 

I think there's a big difference between a control pitcher and a pitcher who utilizes his location for swing and miss. Littell has legit velocity at the top end, though he tends to focus on generating more movement with a tick less velocity. Guys who don't have that ability to generate legit velocity and can only get by with control are a whole different sort of beast than what Littell is.

[The Wise One]

 

In all seriousness, it was a great season, but Littell is probably a #3 pitcher at best with not really a single plus pitch in his arsenal. He is a competitor on the mound, and I'm interested to see if he can maximize that three-pitch mix into a successful #3/4 starter role.

Many sites call him a 4 pitch pitcher. Some call different pitches plus pitches. https://twitter.com/ParkerHageman/status/891671501354790913

 

One place said a 93 on the fastball with spin, action and location. 

 

I hope that these trades show that the Levine/Falvey group has some eye for talent. 

 

 

[biggentleben]

 

Many sites call him a 4 pitch pitcher. Some call different pitches plus pitches. https://twitter.com/ParkerHageman/status/891671501354790913

 

One place said a 93 on the fastball with spin, action and location. 

 

I hope that these trades show that the Levine/Falvey group has some eye for talent. 

 

Curve is impressive in its movement, but he struggled to consistently locate it in the zone, which is why I mentioned it as a "throw-away" pitch. If you get a swing at it, great, otherwise, it's not a great pitch to uncork with a runner on.

[FlauerPauer]

I think the resurgence of some of our minor league talent overall is the brightest spot for me.

 

Biggest Happy: Thorpe making it the entire year healthy and our shortstop prospects. 

[Doctor Wu]

I didn't know much about Akil Baddoo prior to this season, so seeing him  perform so well qualifies as a pleasant/happy surprise. That said, I was very, very happy to see Thorpe bounce back from TJ surgery and become a top prospect again. Plenty of other nice stories in the minors this year too, but those two top my list.