The Twins have a new Catcher - Astudillo called up

[Thrylos]

They called Willians Astrudillo up.  Motter to concussion 7-day DL, Felix Jorge DFA'd.

 

This is a great writeup regarding Astrudillo.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Loved the writeup, and I have to admit I'm intrigued by this guy... Hope he forces his way into the catching picture.

 

BMI is crap by the way. I've run 3 full marathons and who knows how many half marathon's at a higher number than that. 

[Mike Sixel]

About time.

[Ben Noble]

Love this guy and have been waiting for him to get called up, was just thinking about it last night. Doesn't walk and doesn't strike out. The true two-outcome player: hit or put out.

[yarnivek1972]

If Motter is out, who backs up 3b, ss and 2b.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

If Motter is out, who backs up 3b, ss and 2b.

 

Polanco can be up in a week. That might be the plan. 

[nicksaviking]

Hope he gets a good long look, there's really no reason not to.

 

At first I thought I'd find better minor league 40-man members than Jorge to DFA, but nope, maybe LaMarre but that's about it. Of course there are plenty of members of the 40-man on the active roster that would have been better choices.

[jorgenswest]

Astudillo has played 3B. Escobar can play SS or 2B.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'm not surprised Jorege got DFAd. He was definitely in the back of the org chart for SPs. There just isn't enough room for him. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he gets claimed though. His ceiling is a back end starter. Someone will take him. 

[SirLoin]

I wonder how he'd feel about the nickname "Little Sexy"?

[Vanimal46]

If he can put the ball in play he's already an upgrade over Wilson and several other players in the lineup.

 

Desperate times...

[bighat]

Interesting DFA'ing Jorge. He had a cup of coffee with the team last year and picked up a win as a starter...of course, he did also have a 10.57 ERA during those 2 starts. When the year began I had him pegged as a possible guy to be called up in September. Things must not be going too well for Mr. Jorge.

 

3 catchers, eh?

[jimbo92107]

I feel bad for Felix Jorge. I wonder how much the knee was a factor. I hope he catches on with another club; I saw some potential. 

 

Willans Astrudillo was my second pick after Navarro in AA. I like the big guy's arm and his extra power. Astrudillo looks like an upgrade from Wilson. Congrats to the young man. 

[lukeduke1980]

but seriously that's who you DFA?  Did they watch the white sox series?

[Mike Sixel]

Gotta keep Belisle around for um, not sure why.

[Shaitan]

 

but seriously that's who you DFA?  Did they watch the white sox series?

 

I'm not sure Jorge would hit any better 

[Vanimal46]

Gotta keep Belisle around for um, not sure why.

Most loveable veteran in the game. And to establish a 72 win culture in the clubhouse.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Most loveable veteran in the game. And to establish a 72 win culture in the clubhouse.

 

and to mentor all the young pitchers, like, um, you know, the ones Rodney, Reed, Gibson, Odorizzi, Lynn, Duke aren't mentoring. Including guys in their 2nd/3rd year.....

[Thrylos]

 

If Motter is out, who backs up 3b, ss and 2b.

 

Rosario used to be a second baseman for a while and can fill in in a pitch there with Dozier moving to the other side of the infield to finish a game.  Someone from AAA can be up next day 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Jorge probably has a decent chance of clearing, given his recent health.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Jorge probably has a decent chance of clearing, given his recent health.

 

agreed, but if I'm a bad team, I claim him and move him to RP.....worth a shot compared to many of the other MILB.

[jud6312]

 

Most loveable veteran in the game. And to establish a 72 win culture in the clubhouse.

72 wins would be, like, a record or something, wouldn't it?

[jimmer]

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-weirdest-player-in-the-minors-is-now-in-the-majors/

 

[LaBombo]

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-weirdest-player-in-the-minors-is-now-in-the-majors/

 

Thanks for posting, really fun read. It's hard to imagine a Twins fan not enjoying at least a skim of it, even if they dislike Fangraphs.

 

In a season where the Twins seem absolutely determined not to be the least bit interesting, it's a relief to see them do something that is.

 

Promotion idea: A free beer for everyone of legal age if Astudillo strikes out before the seventh inning.

 

Assuming he doubles his AAA strikeout rate when he reaches the majors and makes 100 PA's evenly distributed by inning, the Twins would buy three rounds of beer over the remainder of the season.

 

 

[Riverbrian]

Play Him and let's see what he does! There is a decent chance he will produce more than Wilson at the plate. 

 

Is he still going through a Molitor Orientation or something before he is cleared to play. 

 

Mejia is on the mound today and I assume that he must have worked together in Rochester. 

 

It's a National League park so Bobby Wilson plus the pitcher hitting back to back isn't ideal. 

 

The team is desperate for offense and has been desperate for offense since March 30. I assume he wasn't called up injured or running a fever. 

 

Play him... I have no idea why Wilson is starting today. 

 

I have no idea if Felix Jorge was a decent candidate for releasing or not and I'm not going to defend or be disturbed by the releasing of Felix Jorge but regardless, I'm not really comfortable releasing anyone just for a pinch hit option or for a possible double switch in a national league park or to be a backup in case one of the infielders get hurt.  

 

We have Morrison, Grossman and Garver available for Pinch Hit Duties today. Wilson is not necessary today. The presence of Astudillo makes him not necessary today.  

 

Play him!!! It's one thing to struggle offensively since March 30th. It's another thing to not try something, anything else. 

 

 

[Mike Sixel]

Because molitor. There is no reason for him not playing today. This is not how you rebuild a team, by playing Wilson.

[Danchat]

It seems clear to me that they've called him up as a backup infielder - with Motter out, he's the only reserve. For whatever reason, they're using Wilson just as much as Garver now, so it appears they have no intentions to giving up on Wilson. There must be some veteran-ness quality that makes him so good despite the abysmal .439 OPS.

[rv78]

Did I miss something? Did Gardy take over the team and get his 3 catchers back so he can play one of them in the outfield? Holy Crap....... now if we can only find Nick Punto!

[Richie the Rally Goat]

If Motter is out, who backs up 3b, ss and 2b.

Astudillo brought 5 gloves and can play 3b, 1b, left, right field. The guy’s a freak and absolutely perfect 25th man.

 

https://calltothepen.com/2018/01/29/minnesota-twins-intriguing-piece-willians-astudillo/

[old nurse]

 

Loved the writeup, and I have to admit I'm intrigued by this guy... Hope he forces his way into the catching picture.

 

BMI is crap by the way. I've run 3 full marathons and who knows how many half marathon's at a higher number than that. 

BMI as an absolute measure is not what iit should be used for.  It is more of a red flag for future problems.  In terms of running, After 14 marathons and over 100 runs longer than 13 miles I can safely say any weight can run a marathon, All it takes is desire. Now if you are talking about being elite and being able to run a New York City Marathon qualifying  time,, a BMI of 35 is not going to make it   Astudillo can play at that weight. Might be better at a lower weight, might not.