Five Twins make Baseball America's Top 100

[Seth Stohs]

Royce Lewis at 24.

 

Brent Rooker at 92.

Nick Gordon at 93.

Wander Javier at 95.

Stephen Gonsalves at 97.

 

No real suprises. A bit surprising to see Rooker up that high. The Baseball America guys paid no attention to Berardino's Top 10, placing Gordon in the Top 100. 

 

Be sure to click the below link for all of the list.

 

https://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/top-100-mlb-prospects-2018/#SJJ4WLLaIS72l0Oj.97

 

[zenser]

Wander Javier is #95

[clutterheart]

Gordon dropped 30 spots.  

2016, #53

2017 #60

2018 #93.

 

 

 

 

[drjim]

Law's 50-100 was also posted. No Twins on it. Lewis will obviously be top 50, not sure if anyone else sneaks in.

[gunnarthor]

Nice to see Lewis that high and ahead of Greene, McKay, Wright and Gore. 

 

I was surprised to see Rooker on the list so that's a good sign as well.  Seems like the idea that we have one elite prospect (Lewis) and then a strong depth behind him seems right. I would expect that some of the upcoming lists will include Romero and Baddoo occasionally, as well.

[Han Joelo]

I'm sure it is just a mathematical coincidence, and this list is based on objective criteria, but it is strange to see all four of those guys clustered together.

[TNTwinsFan]

That would make Rooker our #2 prospect then right?!

[gunnarthor]

 

That would make Rooker our #2 prospect then right?!

On one list.

[Tom Froemming]

The BA live chat is going on now here: https://www.baseballamerica.com/chat/?1516630410

[Mike Sixel]

Law's 50-100 was also posted. No Twins on it. Lewis will obviously be top 50, not sure if anyone else sneaks in.

I predict Lewis around thirty, and Gordon at 48

[Mike Sixel]

The BA live chat is going on now here: https://www.baseballamerica.com/chat/?1516630410

Not mobile friendly, alas.

[gunnarthor]

From the chat - Michael (Dayton): Will there be a follow up just missed article? If so can we get a preview of a few names?

Josh Norris: Yes, yes there will be. Usually we do an "Also Getting Votes" type of thing where we list everybody who ranked in our personal Top 150s. As for a couple of names, how about Twins RHP Brusdar Graterol and Yankees RHP Luis Medina? Those two have tremendous ceilings.

 

[bird]

This season's lists are confirming the obvious to me, which is that the Twins need to add a front line starter through FA this season. They have lots of high-quality depth, but assuming Lewis is "untouchable", they probably lack a centerpiece prospect to get a guy like Archer. They probably need to acquire a second front line starter next year too, but by then they should have surplus assets of sufficient value in MLB and in the system to get something done via trade if they can't find a FA fit.

 

While CWS is the only other team to place five prospects on this list, two of them are elite. Both DET and CWS placed three pitching prospects on the list ahead of our only pitching prospect. CLE has one pitcher ranked #33 but they're in good shape with the big club. KC's big club is in rapid decline, they're not exactly flush with cash, and they don't have a single prospect on this list. How fortunes change, right?

 

This list reinforces to me that, to get to a point where sustained success is at least possible, our guys are going to have to enjoy continued success in IFA and in the draft, and then be smart and timely with trades from their surplus to build even more strength in the system. Rely on the system, as always, for the core, use FA to plug a big hole or two, and trade from MLB surplus to add elite prospects. They're finally close to being in a place where this can work for them. But the other clubs are just as smart and just as hungry, and a few of them always have fresh cash coming out of their ashtrays. Maybe with the exception of KC, the other clubs in the AL Central are making some good moves.

 

[gunnarthor]

Thom (MN): Thanks for everything that goes into this! It’s why a lot of us subscribe! I’m curious as This varies significantly from your Top 10 lists. The Twins organization alone doesn’t seem to have anybody in the same spot as the top 10 vs too 100... Why is that?

Josh Norris: With the Twins, it's a case of the margin between No. 2 and, say, No. 8, being razor thin. You could easily flop the two and it wouldn't look out of order.

[gunnarthor]

Incidently, how cool is it that Vlad's kid has an 80 grade hit tool? I'm really going to enjoy watching him, just like I loved watching his dad. Also, this makes me feel incredibly old.

[clutterheart]

This maybe why Berardino had Gordon so low:

 

 

Mike T (Hudson): Nick Gordon dropped big from 2017 to 2018, but he improved on every category except Strike Outs. Whats the reason for the drop?

Kyle Glaser: I was surprised at how lukewarm the reports on Gordon were this year. Not much faith in him sticking at SS, not enough bat for 2B maybe, limited base stealing ability despite his speed....all things that were said. We'll see how he comes out at Triple-A this year. I think the criticism was overblown, but we'll see

 

[Seth Stohs]

 

I'm sure it is just a mathematical coincidence, and this list is based on objective criteria, but it is strange to see all four of those guys clustered together.

 

It's like they got to 90 and said, 'We only have one Twins player. Give me your list of Twins to consider... Oh, I like that guy. That guy could fit in here. Gotta have that guy, for sure."

[Seth Stohs]

 

From the chat - Michael (Dayton): Will there be a follow up just missed article? If so can we get a preview of a few names?

Josh Norris: Yes, yes there will be. Usually we do an "Also Getting Votes" type of thing where we list everybody who ranked in our personal Top 150s. As for a couple of names, how about Twins RHP Brusdar Graterol and Yankees RHP Luis Medina? Those two have tremendous ceilings.

 

So, I'd read this as Graterol being prospect #101... or that's what I'll think of it!

[Seth Stohs]

 

This maybe why Berardino had Gordon so low:

 

probably, since Mike's list was all about ceiling. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Thom (MN): Thanks for everything that goes into this! It’s why a lot of us subscribe! I’m curious as This varies significantly from your Top 10 lists. The Twins organization alone doesn’t seem to have anybody in the same spot as the top 10 vs too 100... Why is that?

Josh Norris: With the Twins, it's a case of the margin between No. 2 and, say, No. 8, being razor thin. You could easily flop the two and it wouldn't look out of order.

 

Norris's response explains how you get so many guys clustered into the back end of a Top 100. 

[Han Joelo]

I think the 4 guy cluster almost represents 8 guys or so, all of whom who could shoot up the list.  While not as sexy as having a couple top 50 guys, might be a better deal.  Top to bottom, the Twins top 10-12 is the best I've ever seen.

[clutterheart]

 

I think the 4 guy cluster almost represents 8 guys or so, all of whom who could shoot up the list.  While not as sexy as having a couple top 50 guys, might be a better deal.  Top to bottom, the Twins top 10-12 is the best I've ever seen.

 

I like a lot of the current prospects too, but 2015 was pretty special.  

 

1. Byron Buxton, of 
2. Miguel Sano, 3b 
3. Jose Berrios, rhp
4. Kohl Stewart, rhp
5. Alex Meyer, rhp -

6. Nick Gordon, ss
7. Nick Burdi, rhp 
8. Jorge Polanco, 

9. Trevor May, rhp 
10. Eddie Rosario, of/2b 

 

7 big leaguers on this list, 5 guys in the top 62 and Kepler couldn't even make it

 

[DocBauer]

Barring trades or mass graduation to the ML level this year, I think you'll see 3 or 4 more Twins make this list next season. Too many guys like Graterol that are so talented but still young enough to not be counted this year.

 

Maybe it's just me, but I feel like Gonsalves is a little low.

[gunnarthor]

 

I like a lot of the current prospects too, but 2015 was pretty special.  

 

1. Byron Buxton, of 
2. Miguel Sano, 3b 
3. Jose Berrios, rhp
4. Kohl Stewart, rhp
5. Alex Meyer, rhp -

6. Nick Gordon, ss
7. Nick Burdi, rhp 
8. Jorge Polanco, 

9. Trevor May, rhp 
10. Eddie Rosario, of/2b 

 

7 big leaguers on this list and Kepler couldn't even make the list.   

Yeah, the top half of that list - remember, both Meyer and Stewart had ace labels - was incredible. Burdi is out but the rest are still in the org is some capacity. Our current group certainly doesn't have anything like that upside but we do have solid depth. IIRC, 11 different players in 2014 and 2015 made someones top 100 list.

[bird]

 

I like a lot of the current prospects too, but 2015 was pretty special.  

 

1. Byron Buxton, of 
2. Miguel Sano, 3b 
3. Jose Berrios, rhp
4. Kohl Stewart, rhp
5. Alex Meyer, rhp -

6. Nick Gordon, ss
7. Nick Burdi, rhp 
8. Jorge Polanco, 

9. Trevor May, rhp 
10. Eddie Rosario, of/2b 

 

7 big leaguers on this list, 5 guys in the top 62 and Kepler couldn't even make it

 

 

Yeah, this was a pretty impressive list. IIRC, Polanco, May, and Rosario were just off the lists, similar to where Graterol, Romero, and Kiriloff are for these guys. Kepler made someone's Top 150, I remember, at #131, and I'd guess guys like Jay, Enlow, and maybe Diaz would be in this category at this stage of their development.. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Out of curiosity, did any of the national guys have Polanco sticking at short?

[Han Joelo]

Thanks for bringing up this list, clutterheart.  Just for fun, I made some imperfect analogies.  With the benefit of hindsight/rose-tinted glasses, this year's still looks pretty good to me.  But the comparison is flawed for sure, in that this years bunch is on average a step or two behind where the 2015 group was.  Or more...but you have to like the upside.

I like a lot of the current prospects too, but 2015 was pretty special.  

 

1. Byron Buxton, of -Royce Lewis
2. Miguel Sano, 3b -Brent Rooker

3. Jose Berrios, rhp-Fernando Romero
4. Kohl Stewart, rhp Blayne Enlow
5. Alex Meyer, rhp - Stephen Gonsalves

6. Nick Gordon, ss -Nick Gordon
7. Nick Burdi, rhp -Brusdar Graterol
8. Jorge Polanco, -Wander Javier

9. Trevor May, rhp Tyler Jay
10. Eddie Rosario, of/2b Alex Kirilloff

11. Max Kepler-Akil Badoo

 

7 big leaguers on this list, 5 guys in the top 62 and Kepler couldn't even make it

 

[Shane Wahl]

 

That would make Rooker our #2 prospect then right?!

I have him at no. 4 on mine.

[gunnarthor]

 

Out of curiosity, did any of the national guys have Polanco sticking at short?

I believe Sickels and Mayo both thought he could stick with work. Klaw liked his bat enough even if he switched.

[TNTwinsFan]

Anyone think it possible that Rooker's bat ends up being bigger and better than Sano's?? Did I just commit blasphemy?