Article: Twins Minor League Report (7/25): Baddoo Goes Boom, Wells Locks it Down

[2wins87]

 

Wells has such extreme flyball/groundball splits . .  the FSL is a league where pitchers can get away with that, but I strongly suspect that he is going to get hit hard in AA. Maybe he can adjust or move to the bullpen, but because of the uncertainty I think the aggregated ranking is more sensible.

 

He does get a lot of pop-ups so the damage on fly balls isn't as great for him as other guys.  Being such a tall guy he probably has a higher release point than most guys which will cause hitters to get underneath his pitches a bit more.  I wouldn't be surprised if he maintains a lower HR/FB rate than the league average even as he moves up.  Chris Young is an example of a guy who was able to do this at the major league level (Chris Young was also a freakishly tall 6'10").

 

25% of his flyballs have been harmless pop-ups this year.  31% were last year in single A.  I would keep an eye on that number as he moves up, but I'd argue that his batted ball profile could be an advantage for him.  He might give up more home runs than other guys, but hopefully less than expected per flyball hit against him.  Given that BABIP is so low on flyballs that stay in the park, he could really limit baserunners given the solid control he's demonstrated so far too.

 

 

[FormerMinnasotan]

Wells is 91-94, touching 95.

Slegers is more 89-91, touching 92.

Plus I think Wells has a more potent pitching arsenal. Slegers if I am correct is more of a fastball/change up type of pitcher.

[nicksaviking]

 

Wells is 91-94, touching 95. 

Slegers is more 89-91, touching 92. 

 

Put me down as intrigued then.

[nicksaviking]

 

Plus I think Wells has a more potent pitching arsenal. Slegers if I am correct is more of a fastball/change up type of pitcher.

 

Thus far in the majors Slegers has thrown more sliders than changeups, both of which have been effective.

 

Both his two-seamer and four-seamer have gotten crushed though.

[slash129]

 

What's with this new strategy of starting with an "opener" as opposed to a starting pitcher?  Don't understand why Rochester would start Moya and then bring Stewart in after that? Seems to take both pitchers out of their normal roles. Seems odd to me! Why?

 

Part of the strategy is to let a guy go out there and let it fly against the first three hitters (typically three of the best hitters) in a "guaranteed" lineup situation.  That pitcher doesn't have to worry about what he let's those hitters see or saving any gas for an extended appearance.  It's another analytically driven adjustment to the game.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Díaz is out for the season. Multiple fractures and having surgery. Per Miracle broadcast

 

Bummer for him.

[jsteve96]

 

Yup, was his second game with the Kernels. He got his first hit and first RBI last night. 

1st game. 

[108Stitches]

Regarding the fly balls for Wells. It’s due to having a very high spin rate. I heard his is very high which causes the batters to misjudge and swing under it. Here’s a good summary of spin rate and fly balls. It’s nothing to worry about because he just doesn’t give up many hard hit balls. https://www.mlb.com/news/what-statcast-spin-rate-means-for-fastballs/c-212735620

[jimbo92107]

 

I like him a lot. I think I read a Matt Lawton comp on him somewhere, which is reasonable considering his patience at the plate. The fangraphs guy likes Baddoo probably the most of the prospect gurus out there and has suggested enough arm and instincts to stick in CF but also having enough bat if he needs to move to a corner. 

What a tough job it is to decide which of these guys gets a spot on the 25. The talent in the Twins outfield already is intimidating if you count a healthy Buxton... a big IF, unfortunately. 

[wabene]

Anyone else think Nick Gordon is in trouble right now?  Not only is he struggling at the plate, he's not getting deep in counts.  Very few walks.

 

Not good.

Very talented but slight he seems to wear down every year.

[Mike Sixel]

Is he wearing down, or is AAA just harder? Or both?*

 

*yes is an acceptable answer, though I'd like more.....

[wabene]

I'm not so much worried about Nick Gordon acclimating to AAA. He tends to semi-slowly figure each league out. I'm more so worried about him emulating Brian Dozier's maddening 1st Half/2nd Half splits!

 

2016

First Half OPS: .751

Second Half OPS:  .696

 

2017

First Half OPS:  .880

Second Half OPS:  .609

 

2018

First Half OPS:  .906

Second Half OPS:  .591

 

It's amazing how he continually runs out of gas half way through the year. Is it conditioning? Does he lose his form? Can he not handle hot temperatures? What is it?

Looks like wearing down to me.

[Major League Ready]

 

Wells is the Twins Corey Kluber! They better not trade him!

 

That would be an incredible boost. If that happens Berrios / Romero / Gonsalves / Graterol & Wells could give is a great home grown rotation similar to what Cleveland fans have enjoyed of late. We are overdue for a break or two!

[ScooterDance]

The RP starting a game is all about matchups for the SP. Tampa has been trying this at the MLB level. Pitchers generally get worse the third time through the lineup. So the thinking is, if you can have a reliever come in for the 1st that is a good matchup (Eg LHP vs a lefty dominant top of lineup), then by the time the starter gets into the third trip through the lineup, he’s not starting at 1-6, but instead 4-9. So as he fatigues he’s facing potentially worse hitters (7-9) instead of 4-6

[TheLeviathan]

Every time I click in here it seems like Kiriloff has a multi-hit game.

 

Promote the man.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Is he wearing down, or is AAA just harder? Or both?*

 

*yes is an acceptable answer, though I'd like more.....

 

This is his third year of doing this. I know he's been working on muscle building and what not, which should help here, but yeah, the trends are concerning. The flip side is that I don't think the problem is talent. He may need to change his conditioning routine a bit to stay fresh or perhaps it is as simple as him repeating this until he's in his second full season of MLB...who knows.