Minor Leaguers released

[Squirrel]

Someone asked in another thread who's been released from the minor leagues. These are the ones I know of, through Seth on Twitter:

 

Tyler Beardsley

Sandy Lugo

Keaton Steele

Eduardo Del Rosario

Patrick McGuff

Levi Michael

Kevin Garcia

Michael Kohn

Vadim Balan

Austin Bizzle

Callan Pearce

Joe Rosenstein

Taylor Clemensia

Evan Sanders

Jhon Alvarez

Daniel Crespo

Bryant Hayman

Dane Hutcheon

Michael Theofanopolous

 

Haven't heard of others. If anyone else has, please keep us updated.

[operation mindcrime]

Good luck to everyone! \m/

[biggentleben]

Max Murphy was released, per Baseball America.

 

He and Del Rosario were the two biggest surprises to me. Murphy might have 5th outfielder upside at the MLB level, but he's a very good outfield defender who hit .280/.360 last year (not much for power, but still). A solid defender like that may not make your major league club, but he's certainly valuable for your young pitching as they move through the system.

 

Del Rosario is a surprise in that when he is on, he has the look of a solid mid-rotation to back-rotation starter. I wrote this piece last summer on him just after his promotion up to Fort Myers, but basically from that point on, he collapsed hard with his control.

[goulik]

Several names on the list I am sad to see released. I want them all to make it! Dang it,

[Han Joelo]

Eduardo Del Rosario and Michael Theofanopolous were two of my faves, and not just because of their names.

[Doctor Wu]

It seem like only yesterday (okay, maybe several years ago) when Levi Michael was a highly touted prospect for the Twins. Oh well, that's how it goes. Hope some of these guys can stick around in another organization.

[Squirrel]

 

It seem like only yesterday (okay, maybe several years ago) when Levi Michael was a highly touted prospect for the Twins. Oh well, that's how it goes. Hope some of these guys can stick around in another organization.

Levi Michael has since signed a minor league contract with the Mets ... so at least he is able to catch on elsewhere. I don't know about any of the others ... just happened to spot that tidbit. (I think it was the Mets anyway ... but somewhere for sure.)

[puckstopper1]

 

It seem like only yesterday (okay, maybe several years ago) when Levi Michael was a highly touted prospect for the Twins. Oh well, that's how it goes. Hope some of these guys can stick around in another organization.

 

I'm with you Doc.    Being a first round draft pick certainly raises your level as a prospect.    Shame to see it did not work out for him in Minnesota.

[Rosterman]

 

I'm with you Doc.    Being a first round draft pick certainly raises your level as a prospect.    Shame to see it did not work out for him in Minnesota.

Levi and Travis Harrison, both. Sad.

 

[Thrylos]

 

 

 

 

Daniel Crespo

 

 

 

Dariel Crespo (because there is a Daniel, his brother who used to be in the Yankees organization for a moon)

 

Chris Heisey was released as well, technically a minor leaguer, albeit not really

 

[alarp33]

 

It seem like only yesterday (okay, maybe several years ago) when Levi Michael was a highly touted prospect for the Twins. Oh well, that's how it goes. Hope some of these guys can stick around in another organization.

 

He was a highly touted prospect? Or was he just a 1st round pick...? 

[jimbo92107]

I remember when the Twins drafted Levi Michael, we were all hoping he'd become the next Dustin Pedroia. Instead, while Michael suffered one injury after another, Pedroia comparisons fell to Brian Dozier, who hasn't done a bad job.

[Rosterman]

 

He was a highly touted prospect? Or was he just a 1st round pick...? 

Levi Michael reached Prospect #8 in 2012,according the the Sickels list. Was honorably mention in 2013, then struggled. Travis Harrison was #9 in 2012, #11 in 2013 and 2014, then disappeared, too.

[bird]

 

He was a highly touted prospect? Or was he just a 1st round pick...? 

Levi Michael had a fairly predictable outcome in a very thin 2011 draft. Of the ten picks selected immediately ahead of him, only four amounted to anything. Of the ten selections immediately following Michael's selection, only one guy has made a MLB career for himself.

 

Dustin Pedroia was selected as a second-rounder in 2004, 71st overall. The only other player among the first 100 guys taken in that draft to have a better career than him was the first guy taken, Justin Verlander. So, while we may have HOPED for a Pedroia-like outcome for Michael, any comparisons should have stopped at their position and maybe their size.

 

 

[bird]

 

I remember when the Twins drafted Levi Michael, we were all hoping he'd become the next Dustin Pedroia. Instead, while Michael suffered one injury after another, Pedroia comparisons fell to Brian Dozier, who hasn't done a bad job.

 

 

251 players were selected before Dozier was taken by the Twins in the 9th round. So far, only two of those 251 players have accumulated more WAR than Dozier: Mike Trout and Paul Goldschidt.

 

It's funny to me how often a comment gets made that we missed on Mike Trout with the inference that the Twins are crappy talent evaluators. And of course every Levi Michael type of failure will invite the same conclusions to be offered. A Dozier reference as an example of prowess? Less often. Win some. lose some, I say.

[nclahammer]

I was really bummed to see that the Minnesota Twins had parted ways with Michael Theofanopoulos, and not just because of his long last name (more on that later.)  He put together two pretty good seasons at both levels of 'A' ball (5-3, 2.20 in 2016 and 5-3, 3.76 in 2017), gave up less than a hit per inning (108 in 132 IP) averaged over a strikeout per inning while not being a fireballer (161 Ks in 132 innings) as a reliever, and was a lefty to boot.  Some interesting facts about Michael Theofanopoulos, he told me that he and Twin's reliever Trevor Hildenberger were both roommates and teammates in college at California and in Class A ball with the Cedar Rapids Kernels.  I won a game worn jersey from Theo during the Kernels halfway to Christmas promotion and talked to him after the game when he presented it to me. Hildengerger and Theofanopoulos were both drafted by the Twins in 2014, Hildy 22nd round and Theo 30th.  I visited with Hildenberger in Port Charlotte last year during spring training and he was with some minor leaguers playing a game there.  He was behind homeplate with the radar gun and clipboard before the game, and said it was okay if I asked if I could sit down and please get an autograph.  When I asked Hildengerger about his former roommate and teammate Theo and told him I had one of his jerseys, he smiled and said he thought Theofanopoulos was continuing to advance up the ladder and had a bright future ahead.  Okay, now about his long last name.  Had Michael Theofanopoulos made it on the Minnesota Twins roster, he would have had the longest last name in franchise history with 14 letters, edging out the likes of Doug Mientkiewicz and Paul Thormodsgard with 12 letters each.  In one of my searches, Theofanopoulos shows up on the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers home page, but he isn't listed on their roster.  Wherever you pitch this year Michael, good luck.

[rikker49]

Was Brock Stassi released??

[mikelink45]

Thanks for filling in the blanks.  It is not easy for us to keep track of the movements in the minors.  This really emphasizes how hard it is to get to the majors.  They are all good ballplayers, just not good enough to push the rest out of their way.

[Squirrel]

 

Was Brock Stassi released??

I don't think so ... but I haven't heard. I think he'll be at Rochester.

[Seth Stohs]

 

251 players were selected before Dozier was taken by the Twins in the 9th round. So far, only two of those 251 players have accumulated more WAR than Dozier: Mike Trout and Paul Goldschidt.

 

It's funny to me how often a comment gets made that we missed on Mike Trout with the inference that the Twins are crappy talent evaluators. And of course every Levi Michael type of failure will invite the same conclusions to be offered. A Dozier reference as an example of prowess? Less often. Win some. lose some, I say.

 

And Michael was the 30th overall pick. It's not like he was a Top 5 guy. By the end of the first round (if not by about the 4th pick), there are no (or few) givens. 

 

Then again, people around here love Keith Law, and as I recall, he ranked Michael as the #15 guy in that draft. Unfortunately, Levi just kept getting hurt, ,and in fact was hurt when they drafted him. 

 

I hung out with Travis Harrison in Ft. Myers for awhile one day at the ballpark. Great guy. He's had a couple of tryouts and after teams sift through their spring training rosters, he may get some calls. I hope so. He's still just 25 and does have some talent. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Was Brock Stassi released??

 

Nope. He's on the Rochester roster. 

[nclahammer]

 

I was really bummed to see that the Minnesota Twins had parted ways with Michael Theofanopoulos, and not just because of his long last name (more on that later.)  He put together two pretty good seasons at both levels of 'A' ball (5-3, 2.20 in 2016 and 5-3, 3.76 in 2017), gave up less than a hit per inning (108 in 132 IP) averaged over a strikeout per inning while not being a fireballer (161 Ks in 132 innings) as a reliever, and was a lefty to boot.  Some interesting facts about Michael Theofanopoulos, he told me that he and Twin's reliever Trevor Hildenberger were both roommates and teammates in college at California and in Class A ball with the Cedar Rapids Kernels.  I won a game worn jersey from Theo during the Kernels halfway to Christmas promotion and talked to him after the game when he presented it to me. Hildengerger and Theofanopoulos were both drafted by the Twins in 2014, Hildy 22nd round and Theo 30th.  I visited with Hildenberger in Port Charlotte last year during spring training and he was with some minor leaguers playing a game there.  He was behind homeplate with the radar gun and clipboard before the game, and said it was okay if I asked if I could sit down and please get an autograph.  When I asked Hildengerger about his former roommate and teammate Theo and told him I had one of his jerseys, he smiled and said he thought Theofanopoulos was continuing to advance up the ladder and had a bright future ahead.  Okay, now about his long last name.  Had Michael Theofanopoulos made it on the Minnesota Twins roster, he would have had the longest last name in franchise history with 14 letters, edging out the likes of Doug Mientkiewicz, Paul Thormodsgard, and Trevor Hildenberger with 12 letters each.  In one of my searches, Theofanopoulos shows up on the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers home page, but he isn't listed on their roster.  Wherever you pitch this year Michael, good luck.

 

 

[Squirrel]

Rainis Silva was traded to the Mariners for cash considerations.

[bird]

 

And Michael was the 30th overall pick. It's not like he was a Top 5 guy. By the end of the first round (if not by about the 4th pick), there are no (or few) givens. 

 

 

To illustrate that point, 2 of the top 5 selections in this draft have flopped.

[Rosterman]

But they went and purchased a couple of other guys to give them depth somewhere other than catcher. 

 

Part of the reason for the sale...he is behind and would be a minor league free agent in another season, I believe, and is still only an A or A+ ball catcher this season.

[old nurse]

 

To illustrate that point, 2 of the top 5 selections in this draft have flopped.

which two?

[Mr. Brooks]

which two?

Hultzen and Starling.

[old nurse]

 

Hultzen and Starling.

Starling was an 18 year old position player when drafted. Not uncommon not to pan out. Not uncommon for the number 5 pick not to pan out. The Royal with their track record at the number 5 pick should lowball the guy so he does not sign as they had better luck when they picked 6th. They might really want to think about not drafting at all as the last  draft they had that worked was 2008

 

Hultzen was derailed by his shoulder, not lack of talent.

[Mr. Brooks]

Starling was an 18 year old position player when drafted. Not uncommon not to pan out. Not uncommon for the number 5 pick not to pan out. The Royal with their track record at the number 5 pick should lowball the guy so he does not sign as they had better luck when they picked 6th. They might really want to think about not drafting at all as the last draft they had that worked was 2008

 

Hultzen was derailed by his shoulder, not lack of talent.

Even if it's common for 18 year old #5 picks to bust, it doesn't change the fact that it was a bust.

 

And injuries are as much a part of sports as talent. Especially when you spend a high pick on a pitcher. Harder to predict? Sure. But a bust because of injury is still a bust.

[Squirrel]

Wait ... are these Twins prospects that were released that we're talking about now? If not ...