Article: Twins Prospect Pulse: A Quick Rundown of the Minor Leagues

[Tom Froemming]

You asked for it, well here it is. Welcome to the first edition of Twins Prospect Pulse, a new feature inspired by requests in the comments section of the minor league reports. This is basically just a great big roundup of standings and statistics. This may (or may not) become a regular feature to supplement the already incredible coverage of the minor league system here at Twins Daily. Let’s get right into it.Twins Daily Minor League Reports

Twins Minor League Report (5/24): Brent Rooker Jacks Two Dingers

Twins Minor League Report (5/25): Vargas Powers Wings

Twins Minor League Report (5/26): Lookouts Turn Triple Play in Wild Victory

Twins Minor League Report (5/27): Royce Lewis For President!

Twins Minor League Report (5/28): Memorial Day Memories Made?

Twins Minor League Report (5/29): Miracle Blast Threshers

Twins Minor League Report (5/30): Bencomo Dazzles While Miranda Launches

 

Affiliates

-Rochester Red Wings: 26-23, third place in IL North

-Chattanooga Lookouts: 31-21, first place in SL North

-Fort Myers Miracle: 20-28, last place in FSL South

-Cedar Rapids Kernels: 25-25, fifth place in MWL Western

-Elizabethton Twins (season starts June 19)

-GCL Twins (season starts June 18)

 

***Stats below were compiled Wednesday morning and do not include today’s games***

 

League Leaders

-Aaron Slegers is tied for the IL lead with five victories and has the second-lowest BB/9 at 1.31.

-Zander Wiel is second in the SL with 15 doubles.

-Prior to being promoted, Nick Gordon had a .525 slugging percentage for Chattanooga, which ranks third in the SL.

-Omar Bencomo leads the SL with a 2.08 ERA and Randy LeBlanc is tied for second at 2.17. Bencomo was recently promoted to Rochester.

-Lewis Thorpe’s 14.3 swinging strike percentage ranks third in the SL.

-Alex Kirilloff ranks second in the MWL in homers, RBIs, slugging and OPS.

 

Top Prospects

Here’s a snapshot at how the top 20 prospects have performed.

 

1. Royce Lewis, SS, Cedar Rapids

Last 28 days: .287/.337/.425 (.762 OPS), 20.2 K%, 7.1 BB%.

Full season: .309/.354/.416 (.770 OPS), 3 HR, 24 RBI, 23 R, 17.0 K%, 6.7 BB%, 13-for-14 in SB attempts.

 

2. Fernando Romero, RHP, Minnesota

Last 28 days: 23.0 IP, 2.35 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 9.4 K/9, 2.4 K:BB.

Full season: 49.2 IP, 2.17 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 8.9 K/9, 2.13 K:BB (MIN & CHAT).

 

3. Nick Gordon, SS, Rochester

Last 28 days: .315/.375/.463 (.838 OPS), 17.5 K%, 6.7 BB%.

Full season: .325/.369/.492 (.861 OPS), 5 HR, 22 RBI, 24 R, 16.1 K%, 5.5 BB% (ROC & CHAT).

 

4. Stephen Gonsalves, LHP, Rochester

Last 28 days: 19.1 IP, 5.59 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 13.0 K/9, 1.87 K:BB.

Full season: 47.1 IP, 3.04 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 11.0 K/9, 2.23 K:BB (ROC & CHAT).

 

5. Alex Kirilloff, RF, Cedar Rapids

Last 28 days: .378/.442/.673 (1.116 OPS), 15.9 K%, 9.7 BB%.

Full season: .328/.381/.562 (.963 OPS), 8 HR, 41 RBI, 26 R, 17.3 K%, 7.6 BB%.

 

6. Wander Javier, SS, out for the year with a shoulder injury.

Last 28 days: None.

Full season: None.

 

7. Brent Rooker, 1B/LF, Chattanooga

Last 28 days: .261/.317/.511 (.828 OPS), 24.8 K%, 6.9 BB%.

Full season: .250/.293/.429 (.722 OPS), 7 HR, 27 RBI, 24 R, 28.3 K%, 5.1 BB%.

 

8. Blayne Enlow, RHP, Cedar Rapids

Last 28 days: 15.2 IP, 2.30 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 8.6 K/9, 2.14 K:BB.

Full season: 24.2 IP, 3.28 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 7.3 K/9, 1.82 K:BB.

 

9. Brusdar Graterol, RHP, Cedar Rapids

Last 28 days: 21.2 IP, 1.66 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 12.0 K/9, 4.83 K:BB.

Full season: 25.1 IP, 1.78 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 12.8 K/9, 6.0 K:BB.

 

10. Akil Baddoo, CF, Cedar Rapids

Last 28 days: .213/.392/.279 (.671 OPS), 29.1 K%, 21.5 BB%.

Full season: .218/.390/.315 (.705 OPS), 2 HR, 10 RBI, 27 R, 32.3 K%, 21.1 BB%.

 

11. Zack Littell, RHP, Rochester

Last 28 days: 28.0 IP, 2.57 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 9.6 K/9, 3.00 K:BB.

Full season: 51.0 IP, 4.06 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 10.9 K/9, 3.65 K:BB (ROC & CHAT).

 

12. Lewis Thorpe, LHP, Chattanooga

Last 28 days: 24.1 IP, 4.07 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 8.9 K/9, 2.40 K:BB.

Full season: 47.0 IP, 4.21 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 10.3 K/9, 2.76 K:BB.

 

13. Lewin Diaz, 1B, Fort Myers

Last 28 days: .234/.279/.359 (.639 OPS), 14.7 K%, 2.9 BB%.

Full season: .224/.257/.388 (.645 OPS), 4 HR, 19 BRI, 8 R, 17.1 K%, 2.1 BB%.

 

14. LaMonte Wade, OF, Chattanooga

Last 28 days: .302/.403/.528 (.932 OPS), 12.9 K%, 11.3 BB%.

Full season: .296/.396/.444 (.840 OPS), 6 HR, 19 RBI, 23 R, 10.1 K%, 13.2 BB%

 

15. Mitch Garver, C, Minnesota

Congratulations are in order! On May 28, Mitch collected his 130th MLB at bat, meaning he no longer qualifies as a prospect.

 

16. Ben Rortvedt, C, Cedar Rapids

Last 28 days: .291/.333/.405 (.738 OPS), 25.0 K%, 5.9 BB%.

Full season: .270/.324/.373 (.697 OPS), 1 HR, 12 RBI, 12 R, 22.8 K%, 6.6 BB%.

 

17. Travis Blankenhorn, 3B/2B, Fort Myers

Last 28 days: .188/.257/.344 (.601 OPS), 26.8 K%, 7.0 BB%.

Full season: .247/.297/.455 (.752 OPS), 6 HR, 21 RBI, 18 R, 25.7 K%, 6.0 BB%.

 

18. Yunior Severino, 2B, expected to join E-Town next month.

Last 28 days: None.

Full season: None.

 

19. Tyler Jay, LHP, Chattanooga

Last 28 days: 13.1 IP, 2.70 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 6.8 K/9, 1.67 K:BB.

Full season: 18.1 IP, 1.96 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 6.9 K/9, 2.00 K:BB.

 

20. Felix Jorge, RHP, out with a knee injury.

Last 28 days: None.

Full season: None.

 

Another 10 to Know

These aren’t necessarily the next 10 in the rankings, but here are some other names of note:

 

Nick Anderson, RHP, Rochester

Last 28 days: 12.1 IP, 1.46 ERA, 0.65 WHIP, 13.9 K/9, 3.80 K:BB.

Full season: 23.1 IP, 1.16 ERA, 0.77 WHIP, 13.9 K/9, 4.00 BB:BB.

 

Willians Astudillo, C, Rochester

Last 28 days: .290/.338/.484 (.822 OPS), 1.5 K%, 4.4 BB%.

Full season: .291/.325/.500 (.825 OPS), 5 HR, 18 RBI, 14 R, 2.5 K%, 3.4 BB%

 

Edgar Corcino, RF, Chattanooga

Last 28 days: .267/.371/.456 (.827 OPS), 15.2 K%, 12.4 BB%.

Full season: .248/.339/.433 (.772 OPS), 4 HR, 24 RB, 23 R, 17.0 K%, 10.9 BB%.

 

Jaylin Davis, RF, Fort Myers

Last 28 days: .299/.382/.478 (.859 OPS), 20.8 K%, 11.7 BB%.

Full season: .279/.376/.442 (.818 OPS), 4 HR, 11 RBI, 18 R, 24.7 K%, 12.7 BB%.

 

Ryan Mason, RHP, Fort Myers

Last 28 days: 13.1 IP, 2.70 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 9.5 K/9, 4.67 K:BB.

Full season: 30.2 IP, 2.35 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 9.7 K/9, 8.25 K:BB

 

Chris Paul, 3B/OF, Chattanooga

Last 28 days: .297/.350/.444 (.790 OPS), 20.0 K%, 6.0 BB%.

Full season: .260/.323/.373 (.695 OPS), 2 ER, 17 RBI, 24 R, 19.9 K%, 7.0 BB%.

 

Cody Stashak, RHP, Chattanooga

Last 28 days: 12.1 IP, 0.73 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 10.2 K/9, 3.50 K:BB.

Full season: 24.1 IP, 2.59 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 11.1 K/9, 3.00 K:BB

 

Todd Van Steensel, RHP, Chattanooga

Last 28 days: 14.0 IP, 0.64 ERA, 0.36 WHIP, 9.6 K/9, 7.50 K:BB.

Full season: 29.2 IP, 1.82 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 10.3 K/9, 3.88 K:BB

 

Andrew Vasquez, LHP, Fort Myers

Last 28 days: 10.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 11.0 K/9, 13.00 K:BB

Full season: 26.2 IP, 0.68 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 10.1 K/9, 4.29 K:BB.

 

Zander Wiel, 1B/LF, Chattanooga

Last 28 days: .326/.374/.427 (.801 OPS), 20.2 K%, 6.1 BB%.

Full season: .324/.391/.465 (.855 OPS), 3 HR, 27 RBI, 25 R, 20.3 K%, 7.8 BB%.

 

If there’s anything else you’d like to see added to the Prospect Pulse, please let me know and I’ll see what I can do.

 

Click here to view the article

[kengrosz]

Nice new series; keep it going

[operation mindcrime]

Thanks for the information! \m/

[beckmt]

Like the information, great new feature.

[rdehring]

I like it, thanks!

 

Kiriloff started hot and is getting hotter.  What a great return from missing a year.  Also really like what Rortvedt and Wiel are doing with their bats.

 

Anxious to see what Severino does when the Eton season starts.  Will you be including the DSL Twins in this report after they start play this weekend?  

[wsnydes]

Awesome idea and great article!  Thanks for putting this together, Tom!

[mikelink45]

This is terrrific - especially when the MLB team has been less than sterling.

 

So here are some more questions.  From the top prospects we now have Garver off the list and we certainly have some who should drop and some next ten that should move up.  When will you update the prospect list?

 

Next question - who should be in MLB (Gordon of course), but who else would you put on the Twins to give them a spark?  Sleger certainly did his part last night and up until last night Romero did too.  

[ToddlerHarmon]

We have a catcher in Rochester with a 2% K rate who cam pick runners off first without looking, and he's blocked by Bobby Wilson?

[dbminn]

 Thanks for the effort, Tom.

 

A couple of others I've been following are Jose Miranda and Jacob Pearson at Cedar Rapids. Miranda has recovered from a horrible start, hitting .370 since May 17. Pearson has held his own since joining the team on May 23. Can't have too much prospect depth!

 

Also, Alex Kirilloff slipped onto the MLB Top 100 Prospects List yesterday. He made the list due to the graduation of a player from prospect to rookie (McMahon, Rockies).

 

 

[Han Joelo]

Wow, Kiriloff is just crushing.  Rooker and Rortveldt trending up.  Cool stuff!

[NapoleonComplex]

10. Akil Baddoo, CF, Cedar Rapids
Last 28 days: .213/.392/.279 (.671 OPS), 29.1 K%, 21.5 BB%.
Full season: .218/.390/.315 (.705 OPS), 2 HR, 10 RBI, 27 R, 32.3 K%, 21.1 BB%.

 

 

These numbers together ... MIND = BLOWN ... If Akil isn't striking out, he's taking a walk. 

[Vanimal46]

Good stuff. Though if this becomes a regular feature, R.I.P. Adopt a Prospect section...

[NapoleonComplex]

Zander Wiel is putting together a monster season. Is his production an anomaly, or did he figure things out at age 25? Seems like he could be a sneaky trade chip since he's pretty well blocked at 1B and LF.

[puckstopper1]

Excellent info Tom!  I love it!

 

Lots of positive things going on in the system so far this season.

 

Now if only the major league squad would do the same...

[RaymondLuxuryYacht]

Just curious - and this may be a separate article for a later date - with Rookie League play about to start in mid-June, what are the five or ten names we should be watching for (e.g. most anticipated)?

[NapoleonComplex]

 

Just curious - and this may be a separate article for a later date - with Rookie League play about to start in mid-June, what are the five or ten names we should be watching for (e.g. most anticipated)?

 

Yunior Severino, the prospect we signed from the Braves org after they were caught cheating Int'l signing rules, is one of the biggest names in my opinion.

[Doctor Wu]

Thumbs up from me too. Great article and roundup on the top prospects. I especially like the addition of the stats, both for the full season and the past 28 days. Looking forward to seeing this a regular feature.

[Doctor Wu]

 

 

10. Akil Baddoo, CF, Cedar Rapids
Last 28 days: .213/.392/.279 (.671 OPS), 29.1 K%, 21.5 BB%.
Full season: .218/.390/.315 (.705 OPS), 2 HR, 10 RBI, 27 R, 32.3 K%, 21.1 BB%.

 

 

These numbers together ... MIND = BLOWN ... If Akil isn't striking out, he's taking a walk. 

Yeah, some scary stats for Baddoo. Sure, the season is still young, but I had very high hopes for him. Has he had any injury concerns or what is the problem for him this year?

[NapoleonComplex]

I'm not aware of any injury concerns. It seems like he's a victim of bad luck. Incredible OBP, but a very low BA, tells me his BABIP is low. Bringing that number down his is high K%, since he's not putting balls in play. 

 

He's still young. Season's still young. No worries on my end. It's just crazy to see such a low BA with such a high OBP.

[gunnarthor]

 

I'm not aware of any injury concerns. It seems like he's a victim of bad luck. Incredible OBP, but a very low BA, tells me his BABIP is low. Bringing that number down his is high K%, since he's not putting balls in play. 

 

He's still young. Season's still young. No worries on my end. It's just crazy to see such a low BA with such a high OBP.

His babip is .357.  

 

He's striking out too much

[NapoleonComplex]

I didn't get a chance to look it up. Oh boy ... yeah ... apparently he has one great eye, and one bad eye. 

[Tom Froemming]

 

This is terrrific - especially when the MLB team has been less than sterling.

 

So here are some more questions.  From the top prospects we now have Garver off the list and we certainly have some who should drop and some next ten that should move up.  When will you update the prospect list?

 

Next question - who should be in MLB (Gordon of course), but who else would you put on the Twins to give them a spark?  Sleger certainly did his part last night and up until last night Romero did too.  

We haven't discussed this internally yet, but I'd imagine we'll update our prospect list sometime in late June. There aren't necessarily any guys I'd say "should" be in the majors, but there are a ton of guys in the high minors ready if they're called upon. 

 

Zander Wiel is putting together a monster season. Is his production an anomaly, or did he figure things out at age 25? Seems like he could be a sneaky trade chip since he's pretty well blocked at 1B and LF.

I shared some positive thoughts about Wiel over the winter, and he caught Parker's eye back in Sept. 2016. He hasn't been highly-regarded as a "prospect" but that only matters to a certain point. I doubt that he'd hold much trade value, but I like him.

 

Just curious - and this may be a separate article for a later date - with Rookie League play about to start in mid-June, what are the five or ten names we should be watching for (e.g. most anticipated)?

Seth usually writes up a roster preview prior to the short-season league teams starting up, so be on the lookout for that within the next month.

 

Yeah, some scary stats for Baddoo. Sure, the season is still young, but I had very high hopes for him. Has he had any injury concerns or what is the problem for him this year?

Some of the other numbers could be better, but I'm never going to be too concerned about a hitter who has a .390 OBP.

[Tom Froemming]

Thanks for the feedback everybody. The original idea was to maybe do something like this on a weekly basis, but that seems like overkill. The numbers don't change much over that short a span, and there's already info on how the top prospects do in each of the minor league reports.

 

Instead, I'm leaning toward doing these on the 15th of every month going forward. Seth does the minor league player of the month awards at the end of each month, so I figure something this may be a good mid-month companion to those.

 

Thanks for reading.

[NapoleonComplex]

Top 20 on the 20th?

[Mike Sixel]

Love this! And monthly makes sense. Thank you

[Thrylos]

Got to say something about consistency:  I see that the always forgotten affiliate is still forgotten

 

The DSL Twins' opening day is next Monday June 4th at the DSL Cardinals Blue.

 

Methinks that there are at least couple of interesting prospects there to follow as well

Edited May 31, 2018 by Thrylos

[Tom Froemming]

 

Got to say something about consistency:  I see that the always forgotten affiliate is still forgotten

 

The DSL Twins' opening day is next Monday June 4th at the DSL Cardinals Blue.

 

Methinks that there are at least couple of interesting prospects there to follow as well

The floor is yours ...

[wavedog]

This is a great summary - thanks for continually providing more interesting information.   With the Twins struggling the prospects provide a nice diversion.  

[Thrylos]

 

The floor is yours ...

 

OFs Carlos Aguiar & Jose Andujar, SS Luis Gomez, RHPs  Yordin Mateo & Yolby Guzman for starters

[NapoleonComplex]

RHP SP Michael Montero is another guy I'm excited about. Solid DSL debut in 2017, 58 IP, 64 / 12 K to BB. Good size, still only 18 years old. 

 

Looking for recommendations on sites for video of Twins prospects at all levels? I comb YouTube and of course TD. Wondering if there is a blogger, or Twitter account, etc., that is a MUST follow for prospect video.