Article: Twins Prospect Pulse: Monitoring the Minors

[Tom Froemming]

Welcome to another edition of the Twins Prospect Pulse, a new feature on Twins Daily inspired from suggestions from you, the readers. There have been numerous players promoted over the past few weeks and a lot of players who got off to slow starts are suddenly surging. Here's how each affiliate is performing, a rundown of the Twins Daily top 20 prospects and another 10 names of note. Here we go …In case you missed it, late last month I rolled out this feature without really having any idea where it was going to fit into the big picture of minor league coverage at the site. Seth and I came to the conclusion this would be a good mid-month feature to sort of play off his Minor League Player of the Month Award articles. Speaking of which, here are the award winners from May:

 

Hitter: Alex Kirilloff, OF, Cedar Rapids

Starting pitcher: Brusdar Graterol, RHP, Cedar Rapids

Relief pitcher: Todd Van Steensel, RHP, Chattanooga

 

Below are the stats for this edition of the Prospect Pulse. All numbers were pulled on the morning of June 15.

 

Affiliates

-Rochester Red Wings: 30-33, fifth place in IL North

-Chattanooga Lookouts: 35-32, second place in SL North

-Fort Myers Miracle: 26-39, last place in FSL South

-Cedar Rapids Kernels: 31-35, sixth place in MWL Western

-Elizabethton Twins (season starts June 19)

-GCL Twins (season starts June 18)

-DSL Twins: 8-3, tied for first place in DSL South

 

Top Prospects

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

 

Just a quick note before we get into the numbers, one way or another there will be an updated top 20 list I’ll be using for the mid-July Prospect Pulse.

 

1. Royce Lewis, SS, Cedar Rapids

Last 28 days: .267/.300/.505 (.805 OPS), 17.1 K%, 3.6 BB%

Full season: .291/.336/.437 (.773 OPS), 15.9 K%, 6.0 BB%

 

2. Fernando Romero, RHP, Minnesota

Last 28 days: 24.2 IP, 6.20 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 6.9 K/9, 2.7 K:BB

Full season: 62.1 IP, 3.47 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 8.5 K/9, 2.3 K:BB (MIN & CHAT)

 

3. Nick Gordon, SS, Rochester

Last 28 days: .269/.290/.385 (.674 OSP), 19.6 K%, 2.8 BB%

Full season: .308/.347/.466 (.813 OPS), 16.8 K%, 4.7 BB% (ROC & CHAT)

 

4. Stephen Gonsalves, LHP, Rochester

Last 28 days: 15.1 IP, 9.98 ERA, 2.28 WHIP, 8.2 K/9, 0.9 K:BB

Full season: 57.0 IP, 4.42 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 10.4 K/9, 1.9 K:BB (ROC & CHAT)

 

5. Alex Kirilloff, RF, Cedar Rapids

Last 28 days: .346/.417/.635 (1.051 OPS), 13.3 K%, 10.8 BB%

Full season: .329/.386/.608 (.994 OPS), 16.9 K%, 8.2 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: .273/.354/.535 (.889 OPS), 28.3 K%, 11.5 BB%

Full season: .255/.310/.449 (.759 OPS) 28.4 K%, 7.0 BB%

 

8. Blayne Enlow, RHP, Cedar Rapids

Last 28 days: 15.2 IP, 4.60 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 6.3 K/9, 1.4 K:BB

Full season: 34.1 IP, 4.46 ERA, 1.72 WHIP, 6.6 K/9, 1.7 K:BB

 

9. Brusdar Graterol, RHP, Cedar Rapids

Last 28 days: 22.0 IP, 3.68 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 8.6 K/9, 4.2 K:BB

Full season: 36.1 IP, 2.48 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 10.4 K/9, 7.0 K:BB

 

10. Akil Baddoo, CF, Cedar Rapids

Last 28 days: .233/.309/.493 (.802 OPS), 27.2 K%, 9.9 BB%

Full season: .220/.364/.387 (.751 OPS), 30.4 K%, 17.8 BB%

 

11. Zack Littell, RHP, Rochester

Last 28 days: 19.0 IP, 7.11 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, 8.1 K/9, 1.6 K:BB

Full season: 58.0 IP, 5.12 ERA, 1.45 WHIP, 10.20 K/9, 2.6 K:BB (MIN, ROC & CHAT)

 

12. Lewis Thorpe, LHP, Chattanooga

Last 28 days: 26.1 IP, 3.76 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 11.3 K/9, 3.7 K:BB

Full season: 62.2 IP, 4.74 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 10.6 K/9, 3.5 K:BB

 

13. Lewin Diaz, 1B, Fort Myers

Last 28 days: .167/.177/.244 (.421 OPS), 16.5 K%, 0.0 BB%

Full season: .208/.232/.344 (.576 OPS), 18.2 K%, 1.5 BB%

 

14. LaMonte Wade, OF, Rochester

Last 28 days: .267/.375/.350 (.725 OPS), 9.7 K%, 13.9 BB%

Full season: .293/.396/.424 (.821 OPS), 9.3 K%, 13.7 BB% (ROC & CHAT)

 

15. Mitch Garver, C, Minnesota

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

 

16. Ben Rortvedt, C, Fort Myers

Last 28 days: .362/.384/.435 (.818 OPS), 16.4 K%, 4.1 BB%

Full season: .288/.335/.388 (.723 OPS), 20.8 K%, 6.4 BB% (FM & CR)

 

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

Last 28 days: .313/.385/.388 (.773 OPS), 20.3 K%, 10.1 BB%

Full season: .270/.323/.446 (.769 OPS), 24.4 K%, 6.7 BB%

 

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

Last 28 days: None.

Full season: None.

 

19. Tyler Jay, LHP, Chattanooga

Last 28 days: 15.1 IP, 3.52 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 8.2 K/9, 2.8 K:BB

Full season: 27.2 IP, 2.60 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 7.5 K/9, 2.3 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:

 

Luis Arraez, 2B, Fort Myers

Last 28 days: .345/.400/.500 (.900 OPS), 8.1 K%, 8.1 BB%

Full season: .271/.328/.371 (.699 OPS), 11.8 K%, 7.2 BB%

 

Charlie Barnes, LHP, Fort Myers

Last 28 days: 23.0 IP, 3.13 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 7.4 K/9, 2.7 K:BB

Full season: 55.2 IP, 3.88 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 8.1 K/9, 2.0 K:BB

 

Trey Cabbage, 1B/LF, Cedar Rapids

Last 28 days: .254/.325/.463 (.787 OPS), 24.7 K%, 9.1 BB%

Full season: .248/.312/.418 (.730 OPS), 31.2 K%, 7.1 BB%

 

Randy Dobnak, RHP, Cedar Rapids

Last 28 days: 28.0 IP, 1.29 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 4.8 K/9, 7.5 K:BB

Full season: 58.1 IP, 4.01 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 5.4 K/9, 3.89 K:BB

 

Adalberto Mejia, LHP, Rochester

Last 28 days: 27.1 IP, 2.63 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 8.9 K/9, 3.9 K:BB

Full season: 36.1 IP, 3.47 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 9.4 K/9, 2.9 K:BB

 

Sean Miller, SS/2B, Chattanooga

Last 28 days: .303/.387/.364 (.750 OPS), 21.3 K%, 12.0 BB%

Full season: .225/.281/.275 (.556 OPS), 19.4 K%, 5.8 BB% (ROC & CHAT)

 

Jose Miranda, 2B/3B, Cedar Rapids

Last 28 days: .339/.390/.514 (.904 OPS), 12.7 K%, 6.8 BB%

Full season: .251/.308/.381 (.689 OPS), 13.0 K%, 6.5 BB%

 

Jovani Moran, LHP, Cedar Rapids

Last 28 days: 18.1 IP, 2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 15.2 K/9, 3.9 K:BB

Full season: 34.2 IP, 2.60 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 14.0 K/9, 2.1 K:BB

 

Brian Navarreto, C, Chattanooga

Last 28 days: .269/.319/.388 (.708 OPS), 12.5 K%, 4.2 BB%

Full season: .265/.300/.377 (.677 OPS), 13.4 K%, 2.9 BB%

 

Bryan Sammons, LHP, Cedar Rapids

Last 28 days: 23.2 IP, 3.04 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 10.6 K/9, 7.0 K:BB

Full season: 53.0 IP, 2.89 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 8.7 K/9, 3.6 K:BB

 

That’s it for this edition of the Prospect Pulse. Thanks for checking it out.

 

Click here to view the article

[Drew]

I look forward to vastly overrating everyone of these guys for the next few years. #KiriloffHOF

[Han Joelo]

Just two eye-poppers I noted:

 

Moran's insane K rate.

 

Lewin Diaz has not walked in 28 days.  Maybe he needs to go to Ft. Myers to reboot? Oh...isn't he on the 40 man?

[rdehring]

Holy Cow, Arraez has a strikeout rate that's lower than Wade the last 28 days!  And that Kirilloff guy isn't all that much higher, or Miranda.  Maybe the Twins are developing a few guys who won't strike out as much as a few of their current young guys.

 

And thanks for this report, I like it!

 

 

 

[IaFan1]

Kiriloff is the bright spot. Not to much to excited about after him and Royce Lewis. So many disappointments on this list.

[jkcarew]

Thanks for the update.  I'm not seeing 'so many' disappointments.

 

On an unrelated note...we should probably add the 4th overall pick in the 2013 draft to the 'other 10 to know'.

The story with his year so far is that he's reduced walks and increased strike-outs.  Unfortunately, the reduced walks have resulted in more hits and slightly more runs.  Remains a work in progress.

 

 

[Tom Froemming]

 

Kiriloff is the bright spot. Not to much to excited about after him and Royce Lewis. So many disappointments on this list.

I disagree.

 

Rooker has been raking in Double A of late, Graterol has been a beast, Thorpe is racking up strikeouts while facing older batters 93% of the time, Wade has 10 more walks than strikeouts, Rortvedt is a 20-year-old catcher who's now hitting in the FSL and Blankenhorn is in the top-15 in slugging in the FSL. Plus, Enlow is one of the youngest pitchers in the MWL and Baddoo seems to be feeling out who he is as a hitter. Since the start of May, Akil has a .790 OPS (MWL league-average OPS is .704).

 

If you expect to see 15 Hall of Famers on here, then yeah, I guess you're going to be disappointed. 

[Tom Froemming]

 

Thanks for the update.  I'm not seeing 'so many' disappointments.

 

On an unrelated note...we should probably add the 4th overall pick in the 2013 draft to the 'other 10 to know'.

The story with his year so far is that he's reduced walks and increased strike-outs.  Unfortunately, the reduced walks have resulted in more hits and slightly more runs.  Remains a work in progress.

That section will rotate each month.

 

To your point, Kohl Stewart does have a 9.2 K/9 and 3.6 K:BB ratio on the year, but he also has a 7.36 ERA and 2.02 WHIP in his last four starts. He's definitely making some progress, but we're seeing some of the growing pains too. Overall, I'm still higher on him than I was before the season started, despite the run prevention problems.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Only 3 of the top 20 are "surging" over the last 28 days. What gives? Kirilloff, Rortvedt and Blankenhorn are the only top 20 players to show any marked improvement over the last 28 days. The won/lost records of the Twins minor league teams are disappointing. I thought the Twins had a top ten farm system. Not according to the won/lost records.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Maybe Rooker and Thorpe are "surging" also. This is a great idea for a monthly article. Thanks.

[Dman]

 

Only 3 of the top 20 are "surging" over the last 28 days. What gives? Kirilloff, Rortvedt and Blankenhorn are the only top 20 players to show any marked improvement over the last 28 days. The won/lost records of the Twins minor league teams are disappointing. I thought the Twins had a top ten farm system. Not according to the won/lost records.

Won\loss records don't mean much in the minors.  Development trumps everything.  To your point our teams have lost a lot of one run games\close games this year.  Fort Meyers especially.  Pitching is still a weakness in the system at least IMO it is.  Lots of games lost by the bullpens in the minors this year.

 

Also the Twins have an extremely young roster in Cedar Rapids and several players looked over matched early in the year.  I think those players will come on strong in the second half.  I am also happy that the Twins are promoting the promising young talent early even if it means more losses.  It gives them a chance to move through the system faster and or if they hit a tough level repeating a year is not a big deal.  While its not always true but more often than not when players who are young for their level have success they seem to be players that can make it to the big leagues.  I think you will see Baddoo, Miranda, Pearson, Arias have greater success as they move up.  First full season that young is tough.  To me they already have been pretty successful. 

 

There are a lot of really good to great players in the Twins system right now.  Just need to give them some time to develop.  It's hard to be in the top 2% to 5% let alone stand out from the best of the best.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Only 3 of the top 20 are "surging" over the last 28 days. What gives? Kirilloff, Rortvedt and Blankenhorn are the only top 20 players to show any marked improvement over the last 28 days. The won/lost records of the Twins minor league teams are disappointing. I thought the Twins had a top ten farm system. Not according to the won/lost records.

 

No one ranks farm systems by Win-Loss record.. I don't pay attention to other systems, but I would think the Twins should be in the Top 20.

 

28 days is a very random number.  

[mikelink45]

I really enjoyed this and look forward to it monthly.  On a side, but hopefully related note, I hope that Sano's plunge to A ball wakes up Rooker and others that we want more than 30 big swings a year.  If it is HR or nothing I am not interested and maybe the Twins won't be either. 

[Mike Sixel]

I also enjoy this! thanks!

 

I imagine Diaz won't be anywhere near the top 20 anymore.....go look at the SS signed that year, the good ones, the ones the Twins had A LOT of cap to sign that year....sigh.

[Mr. Brooks]

I disagree.

 

Rooker has been raking in Double A of late, Graterol has been a beast, Thorpe is racking up strikeouts while facing older batters 93% of the time, Wade has 10 more walks than strikeouts, Rortvedt is a 20-year-old catcher who's now hitting in the FSL and Blankenhorn is in the top-15 in slugging in the FSL. Plus, Enlow is one of the youngest pitchers in the MWL and Baddoo seems to be feeling out who he is as a hitter. Since the start of May, Akil has a .790 OPS (MWL league-average OPS is .704).

 

If you expect to see 15 Hall of Famers on here, then yeah, I guess you're going to be disappointed.

It seems to me that Rooker is struggling mightily again, from the last few milb reports.

 

EDIT: Just tallied them up.

3-25, 7K, 1 BB since his 4 walk game last week.

Edited June 16, 2018 by Mr. Brooks

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

.

 

28 days is a very random number.  

I also wondered why Tom chose 28 days to use as a comparison in his article.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I also wondered why Tom chose 28 days to use as a comparison in his article.

 

It's easily available online.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I also enjoy this! thanks!

 

I imagine Diaz won't be anywhere near the top 20 anymore.....go look at the SS signed that year, the good ones, the ones the Twins had A LOT of cap to sign that year....sigh.

 

Without spending a ton of time, he'll definitely still be Top 20 for me. I had him at 12. I'd guess he'll be in that 17-20 range. He's still got a ton of potential, and the Florida State League is tough. Obviously I'll do much more research later in the year, try to figure out how often he's hitting the ball hard, quality of PA, all that kind of stuff... So we'll see where he ends up... but definitely not a guy to give up on. 

[Tom Froemming]

 

28 days is a very random number.  

Would it seem less random if I said last four weeks?

 

 

Lewin Diaz has not walked in 28 days.  Maybe he needs to go to Ft. Myers to reboot? Oh...isn't he on the 40 man?

Diaz is already in Fort Myers, no he's not on the 40 man. Not sure if a joke just went completely over my head, or what.

 

 

I also enjoy this! thanks!

 

I imagine Diaz won't be anywhere near the top 20 anymore.....go look at the SS signed that year, the good ones, the ones the Twins had A LOT of cap to sign that year....sigh.

I would agree with Seth, I think he's still in my top 20, but barely. What the FSL has done to Diaz should be reason for people to really start believing in Travis Blankenhorn's bat.

[Han Joelo]

Would it seem less random if I said last four weeks?

 

 

Diaz is already in Fort Myers, no he's not on the 40 man. Not sure if a joke just went completely over my head, or what.

 

 

I would agree with Seth, I think he's still in my top 20, but barely. What the FSL has done to Diaz should be reason for people to really start believing in Travis Blankenhorn's bat.

Sorry. A bad joke went under your feet, actually. I think I was thinking Diaz was eligible for the Rule V this year maybe.

 

Great reports--thanks for doing this. I have to remind myself that some guys aren't surging because they've been consistently good all season, which makes Kiriloff's surge all the more impressive.

[Doctor Wu]

I also appreciate these minor league reports. Keep 'em coming! I'm starting to think that Todd Van Steensel could be a keeper, someone to help the bullpen in another year or two. But every time I see his name in print I'm reminded of Todd Van Poppel, one of the all-time great draft busts in memory. 

[Strato Guy]

Love these reports! 

 

Overall it seems to me that our minor league teams are under preforming. Alarming for me is the SP's that were seemingly on the verge of being called up to the bigs, like Gonzalves and Littell, are struggling. I am a little down on the former. If he cannot get more command, he has no chance of succeeding in the bigs with the average stuff he possesses.

 

 

 

[Pitz]

I was not that high on Kirilloff coming into the year, but I continue to be more and more impressed. Checked his splits yesterday and was pleasantly surprised to see that he's crushing both lefties and righties.

[70charger]

Sorry. A bad joke went under your feet, actually. I think I was thinking Diaz was eligible for the Rule V this year maybe.

Great reports--thanks for doing this. I have to remind myself that some guys aren't surging because they've been consistently good all season, which makes Kiriloff's surge all the more impressive.

He was Rule 5 eligible. I was against putting him on the 40 man because I didn’t see a way another team could keep him in the big leagues all year even if he was selected. I was, disappointingly, correct. And the way he’s going he won’t get rostered or selected next year either.

[caninatl04]

Only 3 of the top 20 are "surging" over the last 28 days. What gives? Kirilloff, Rortvedt and Blankenhorn are the only top 20 players to show any marked improvement over the last 28 days. The won/lost records of the Twins minor league teams are disappointing. I thought the Twins had a top ten farm system. Not according to the won/lost records.

We were spoiled last year with (just about) every MiLB team well over .500 and in the playoffs.