Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/5): Littell Impresses in Triple A Debut

[jokin]

 

If Graterol continues to pitch this well the rest of the year and moves up a few levels, I don't understand why he couldn't be ready sometime next year.

 

I'm all for quick progression of the best prospects as much as anyone, but Mr Brooks is absolutely spot on- 2021 for Graterol's debut is the most realistic scenario at this point in time.

[Tomj14]

Do you have any (recent) examples of non college startes going from rookie ball to MLB in less than two years? It just doesn't happen. Pitching in mlb is really hard, he's a very intriguing prospect, but I don't think he's anywhere near ready to pitch to big league hitters.

Julio Urias, Clayton Kershaw, Mike Soroka, Dylan Bundy, Rick Porcello  come to mind. I am sure there are more.

So 2021 will be 7th year with the organization and he will be 22. I just don't understand wasting guys with arms like his in the minors.

 

[Mr. Brooks]

Julio Urias, Clayton Kershaw, Mike Soroka, Dylan Bundy, Rick Porcello come to mind. I am sure there are more.

So 2021 will be 7th year with the organization and he will be 22. I just don't understand wasting guys with arms like his in the minors.

You are only wasting them if they are ready.

If you think he's ready, you're entitled to your opinion.

[Tomj14]

 

You are only wasting them if they are ready.
If you think he's ready, you're entitled to your opinion.

I didn't say he was ready. I said

"If Graterol continues to pitch this well the rest of the year and moves up a few levels, I don't understand why he couldn't be ready sometime next year."

 

Obviously if he doesn't continue to pitch lights out in all levels he pitches this year and next, he wouldn't be ready. I just don't understand the philosophy that a pitcher has pitch in the minors for 6 or 7 years prior to being called up.  If a kid can throw upper 90's with another plus pitch for strikes he could/should be able to help the major league club.

[Mr. Brooks]

I didn't say he was ready. I said

"If Graterol continues to pitch this well the rest of the year and moves up a few levels, I don't understand why he couldn't be ready sometime next year."

 

Obviously if he doesn't continue to pitch lights out in all levels he pitches this year and next, he wouldn't be ready. I just don't understand the philosophy that a pitcher has pitch in the minors for 6 or 7 years prior to being called up. If a kid can throw upper 90's with another plus pitch for strikes he could/should be able to help the major league club.

Well I disagree, and I think the FO probably does too, that a starter can just develop a third pitch after they come up.

 

And no, not every starter needs 6 or 7 years pitching in the minors, but Graterol has 1 season in the minors - unless you count the 11 innings he threw in 2015.

 

If he comes up this time in 2021, when I think he will, he'll only have 4 years in the minors.

 

I'd be all for these guys coming up faster, if they are ready. I like pushing prospects, constantly. But I'm not responding what I think is right or what I'd do, I'm responding with when i think he will come up.