Article: Twins Prospect Pulse: Trade Deadline Brings New Faces

[Tom Froemming]

Welcome to another edition of the Twins Prospect Pulse. Over the past month the system got a big boost from additions made around the trade deadline and we’ve seen some of the 2018 draftees already promoted up to full-season leagues. Here’s a rundown of how each affiliate is performing, a quick look at how the Twins Daily top 20 prospects are performing and a look at how some of those new names are doing.This is a feature designed to keep those of you who are more casual followers of the system up to speed on what’s happening in the minor leagues. This will be posted mid-month going forward, the intention being that it will complement Seth’s Minor League Player of the Month Award articles nicely. Speaking of which, here are the award winners from July:

 

Hitter: Ryan Jeffers

Starting Pitcher: Bailey Ober

Relief Pitcher: Jovani Moran

 

Below are the stats for this edition of the Prospect Pulse. All numbers were pulled on the morning of August 14.

 

Affiliates

-Rochester Red Wings: 53-65, fifth in the International League North

-Chattanooga Lookouts: 20-28 second half, last place in the Southern League North (56-61 overall)

-Fort Myers Miracle: 30-20 second half, second in the Florida State League South (58-60 overall)

-Cedar Rapids Kernels: 31-19 second half, second place in the Midwest League Western (63-56 overall)

-Elizabethton Twins: 28-21, first place in the Appalachian League West

-GSL Twins: 25-19, second place in the Gulf Coast League South

-DSL Twins: 42-19, tied for first place in the Dominican Summer League South

 

Top Prospects

Here’s a snapshot at how the top 20 prospects have performed. We unveiled our Midseason Top Prospect List in mid-July, so it does not include any of the prospects added around the trade deadline. More on them in just a moment …

 

1. Royce Lewis, SS, Fort Myers

Last 28 days: .303/.395/.485 (.880 OPS), 16.7 K%, 12.3 BB%

Full season: .315/.379/.484 (.863 OPS), 15.3 K%, 8.7 BB%

 

2. Alex Kirilloff, RF, Fort Myers

Last 28 days: .430/.446/.624 (1.069 OPS), 12.9 K%, 4.0 BB%

Full season: .346/.389/.576 (.965 OPS), 16.0 K%, 6.4 BB%

 

3. Brusdar Graterol, RHP, Fort Myers

Last 28 days: 23.1 IP, 2.70 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 10.0 K/9, 3.71 K:BB

Full season: 79.0 IP, 3.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 9.9 K/9, 4.35 K:BB

 

4. Nick Gordon, SS/2B, Rochester

Last 28 days: .150/.213/.160 (.373 OPS), 23.1 K%, 6.5 BB%

Full season: .254/.295/.372 (.667 OPS), 18.0 K%, 4.8 BB%

 

5. Stephen Gonsalves, LHP, Rochester

Last 28 days: 30.1 IP, 2.08 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 7.4 K/9, 2.08 K:BB

Full season: 114.2 IP, 2.90 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 9.0 K/9, 1.83 K:BB

 

6. Trevor Larnach, RF, Cedar Rapids

Last 28 days: .299/.382/.494 (.877 OPS), 13.7 K%, 10.8 BB%

Full season: Same as above.

 

7. Brent Rooker, 1B/LF, Chattanooga

Last 28 days: .318/.443/.600 (1.043 OPS), 17.0 K%, 18.9 BB%

Full season: .271/.344/.506 (.850 OPS), 26.8 K%, 9.7 BB%

 

8. Akil Baddoo, CF, Cedar Rapids

Last 28 days: .224/.328/.378 (.705 OPS), 22.4 K%, 13.8 BB%

Full season: .241/.354/.413 (.767 OPS), 24.3 K%, 14.8 BB%

 

9. Wander Javier, SS, Out for the season due to injury.

 

10. Zack Littell, RHP, Rochester

Last 28 days: 27.1 IP, 3.95 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 7.6 K/9, 1.44 K:BB

Full season: 115.0 IP, 4.46 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 8.8 K/9, 2.17 K:BB

 

11. Blayne Enlow, RHP, Cedar Rapids

Last 28 days: 22.1 IP, 3.63 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 4.8 K/9, 3.00 K:BB

Full season: 79.0 IP, 3.53 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 6.0 K/9, 1.83 K:BB

 

12. LaMonte Wade, LF/RF, Rochester

Last 28 days: .234/.338/.266 (.603 OPS), 24.3 K%, 13.5 BB%

Full season: .271/.383/.403 (.786 OPS), 14.0 K%, 14.3 BB%

 

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

Last 28 days: .208/.299/.403 (.701 OPS), 29.2 K%, 9.0 BB%

Full season: .240/.310/.404 (.714 OPS), 26.5 K%, 7.4 BB%

 

14. Lewis Thorpe, LHP, Chattanooga

Last 28 days: 23.2 IP, 2.28 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 9.5 K/9, 4.17 K:BB

Full season: 108.0 IP, 3.58 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 10.9 K/9, 4.37 K:BB

 

15. Ben Rortvedt, C, Fort Myers

Last 28 days: .229/.339/.354 (.693 OPS), 14.3 K%, 12.5 BB%

Full season: .261/.333/.370 (.703 OPS), 18.8 K%, 9.1 BB%

 

16. Yunior Severino, 2B, Elizabethton

Last 28 days: .229/.299/.343 (.642 OPS), 26.0 K%, 9.1 BB%

Full season: .270/.327/.423 (.750 OPS), 23.3 K%, 8.0 BB%

 

17. Lewin Diaz, 1B, Fort Myers

Last 28 days: Only 15 PAs, has been out due to injury.

Full season: .224/.255/.344 (.598 OPS), 18.1 K%, 3.2 BB%

 

18. Ryan Jeffers, C, Cedar Rapids

Last 28 days: .341/.434/.588 (1.023 OPS), 15.2 K%, 12.1 BB%

Full season: .371/.483/.576 (1.059 OPS), 14.4 K%, 13.4 BB%

 

19. Jacob Pearson, LF, Cedar Rapids

Last 28 days: .172/.238/.328 (.566 OPS), 28.1 K%, 7.8 BB%

Full season: .257/.331/.396 (.726 OPS), 21.3 K%, 9.7 BB%

 

20. Luis Arraez, IF, Chattanooga

Last 28 days: .338/.409/.429 (.838 OPS), 4.5 K%, 10.1 BB%

Full season: .309/.363/.397 (.760 OPS), 9.4 K%, 7.4 BB%

 

Another 10 to Know

This is a rotating list. I’m trying to make sure to feature a brand new set of 10 players each month. Let’s hone in on some of the brand new prospects to the system this time.

 

Jorge Alcala, RHP, Chattanooga

Last 28 days: 7.1 IP, 9.82 ERA, 1.91 WHIP, 9.8 K/9, 1.14 K:BB

Full season: 86.0 IP, 3.56 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 9.3 K/9, 2.28 K:BB

 

Gilberto Celestino, CF/RF, Elizabethton

Last 28 days: .319/.372/.431 (.802 OPS), 14.1 K%, 6.4 BB%

Full season: .306/.363/.435 (.798 OPS), 17.6 K%, 6.3 BB%

 

Ryan Costello, 1B, Fort Myers

Last 28 days: .247/.344/.351 (.695 OPS), 25.6 K%, 11.1 BB%

Full season: .272/.364/.487 (.851 OPS), 20.4 K%, 12.4 BB%

 

Chase De Jong, RHP, Rochester

Last 28 days: 36.0 IP, 3.25 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 8.3 K/9, 3.00 K:BB

Full season: 135.2 IP, 3.91 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 6.8 K/9, 2.45 K:BB

 

Ernie De La Trinidad, OF, Fort Myers

Last 28 days: .373/.466/.475 (.940 OPS), 10.4 K%, 14.3 BB%

Full season: .318/.408/.446 (.854 OPS), 12.6 K%, 11.9 BB%

 

Jhoan Duran, RHP, Cedar Rapids

Last 28 days: 23.0 IP, 3.52 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 11.0 K/9, 5.60 K:BB

Full season: 83.0 IP, 4.45 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 10.1 K/9, 2.91 K:BB

 

Gabriel Maciel, CF/RF, Cedar Rapids

Last 28 days: .293/.369/.413 (.782 OPS), 14.3 K%, 8.3 BB%)

Full season: .280/.354/.343 (.698 OPS), 16.0 K%, 9.0 BB%)

 

Luke Raley, 1B/OF, Chattanooga

Last 28 days: .286/.355/.524 (.879 OPS), 21.5 K%, 6.5 BB%

Full season: .278/.354/.485 (.838 OPS), 24.5 K%, 6.3 BB%

 

Luis Rijo, RHP, Elizabethton

Last 28 days: 17.2 IP, 2.04 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 6.1 K/9, 2.4 K:BB

Full season: 44.2 IP, 2.42 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 7.7 K/9, 6.33 K:BB

 

Devin Smeltzer, LHP, Chattanooga

Last 28 days: 8.1 IP, 5.40 ERA, 1.92 WHIP, 8.6 K/9, 2.67 K:BB

Full season: 86.0 IP, 4.92 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 7.2 K/9, 3.29 K:BB

 

That’s it for this edition of the Prospect Pulse. This will be the final update for 2018, as the minor league season is winding down in a matter of weeks, but keep checking back in at the site for our regular daily coverage of the system. At this time next month I’ll already be doing some groundwork on the 2019 Twins Prospect Handbook

 

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[Mike Sixel]

I think Rooker and Kiriloff could be promoted at this point, but I guess there isn't much season left.......Hopefully they start next year up a level from where they are (or maybe even in MN for Rooker).

[Pitz]

 

I think Rooker and Kiriloff could be promoted at this point, but I guess there isn't much season left.......Hopefully they start next year up a level from where they are (or maybe even in MN for Rooker).

Rooker probably should be. I don't have a problem with Kirilloff staying with the Miracle since they are competing for a playoff spot.

[Squirrel]

You couldn't do 40-50?? (Okay, I'm really kidding with that.)

 

Has Thorpe moved up officially to AAA yet? I'm seeing he's starting for Rochester tomorrow, per Nate Rowan.

 

 

edit: oops ... guess this is already being discussed in last night's minor league recap thread

[diehardtwinsfan]

wondered if Thorpe would get bumped with Stewart going up. AK is killing it. So is Rooker. Defintiely wouldn't mind getting Rooker to AAA.

[HrbekRules]

Rooker's K % has dropped a ton in last month, and his walk rate has gone way up.  Hopefully he can keep these trends either steady, or improve them.  If he can maintain/improve, he could be real asset for the Twins sometime next year.

[TNTwinsFan]

I would like to see the following promoted in addition to Thorpe:

 

Royce Lewis

Alex Kiriloff

Brusdar Graterol

Trevor Larnach

Brent Rooker

Ryan Jeffers

Luis Arraez

Ernie de la Trinidad

 

All of these guys' last 28 days have been great! REALLY like seeing what the first 6 guys on my list and Thorpe have been doing with the bat and on the bump, respectively. I also like what Luke Raley is doing and hope he can keep it up.

 

I hear what some have said about the FTM guys and them probably staying through their playoff push, but, the selfish fan in me wants to see those guys in Chattanooga like yesterday (but I also live just 2 hrs from The Noog so I may be a little biased.) Really excited to see the depth and breadth of the system right now. Fun times!

[Tom Froemming]

 

Rooker's K % has dropped a ton in last month, and his walk rate has gone way up.  Hopefully he can keep these trends either steady, or improve them.  If he can maintain/improve, he could be real asset for the Twins sometime next year.

It's been awesome to see how he's come along. 

 

Pre All-Star Game: .259/.314/.463, 10 HR, 78 K, 20 BB in 65 games

Post All-Star Game: .290/.385/.568, 11 HR, 52 K, 27 BB in 46 games

 

Everything trending in the right direction.

[beckmt]

A lot of the promotions will have to do with the minor league clubs contending or not for the post season.  The top two levels are not, so some promotions are in order (do not know if Chattanooga made the playoffs from the first half).  The lower Twins clubs are all playoff contenders, so would not expect much movement there unless for injury.

[Mike Sixel]

I could not care less about minor league playoffs. I want the Twins to be good, as soon as possible.

[Vanimal46]

This is fantastic Tom, thanks!

 

Rooker has a sexy slash line over the last 28 days... AAA time would be great to end the year.

 

The sample isn't that small for Kiriloff and Lewis in Fort Myers anymore and they're killing it. I'd love for them both to get their feet wet in AA to end the year.

 

Why such a low K/9 for Enlow? Is he having trouble locating the curve?

 

I was excited for Baddoo to potentially turn a corner this season but he's been cold... He'll have to spend more time in Cedar Rapids next year.

[Han Joelo]

Maciel and Celestino didn't miss a beat.

 

Severino and Pearson haven't been as good lately as I thought.

 

Great stuff.  Thanks.

[Darius]

Nick Gordon's OPS over the last 28 days is significantly lower than Kirilloff's batting average. Kind of unbelievable on multiple levels (Gordon so bad, Kirilloff so good).

[MikeW]

The season is practically over except with playoff contending teams.

 

September call-ups, Arizona League, and Spring Training rosters are the main focus.

 

I suspect Gonsalves has earned a call up with tonight’s stellar performance, aside from Button, I don’t see position players as call ups. Romero needs another start at Rochester to prove he is worthy.

[MikeW]

I’m impressed with this analysis, Tom.

 

The players we got in return for our former players are doing so well!

[Seth Stohs]

 

I could not care less about minor league playoffs. I want the Twins to be good, as soon as possible.

 

I personally don't care either, but I don't blame the players, the teams or the organization for caring a little bit at least. Especially in the leagues where the promotions aren't moving up to the big leagues. I think there is development value in being part of a team pushing for a playoff spot or even playing in a playoff series. And, as you mentioned elsewhere, there are like 2 1/2 weeks left.... where these guys play over that 2 1/2 week period will have pretty much zero impact on where they start next year. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

I was excited for Baddoo to potentially turn a corner this season but he's been cold... He'll have to spend more time in Cedar Rapids next year.

I'll be very surprised if Baddoo starts 2019 in Cedar Rapids. They'll move him up. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

The season is practically over except with playoff contending teams. September call-ups, Arizona League, and Spring Training rosters are the main focus. I suspect Gonsalves has earned a call up with tonight’s stellar performance, aside from Button, I don’t see position players as call ups. Romero needs another start at Rochester to prove he is worthy.

 

Agree with some of thise, but Gonsalves's one start tonight will likely have very little impact on his call up (or not), just like Romero's potential call up will have very littler or nothing to do with "another start. 

 

 

[AZTwin]

We should have some real prospects in the AFL this year. Looking for these kids to get some great developmental work in

Edited August 15, 2018 by AZTwin

[clutterheart]

Gordon's neck is going to get injured as he keeps an eye on Arraez. Polanco is not letting go of SS without a fight so I am thinking Gordon is going to be without a position pretty quick.

[Tomj14]

Is Gordon still a top 100 prospect and top 10 guy for the Twins starting next year?

I still have high hopes for him, but it seems that maybe the Twins missed trading him at his peak value?

[ashbury]

Is Gordon still a top 100 prospect and top 10 guy for the Twins starting next year?

I still have high hopes for him, but it seems that maybe the Twins missed trading him at his peak value?

It would be threading quite the needle to trade a prospect exactly when you determine that he can't succeed but other teams' scouts are still in the dark.

 

And the PR effect of trading a former #1 pick who is seemingly on track for the majors would have to be taken into account too. You can't trade him and then immediately crow about how you snookered the other team.

[gunnarthor]

 

Is Gordon still a top 100 prospect and top 10 guy for the Twins starting next year?

I still have high hopes for him, but it seems that maybe the Twins missed trading him at his peak value?

He's 22 and in AAA. He'll be on nearly all top 100 prospect lists next year. His struggles in the second half of the year and in AAA are worrisome but the rankers will still have him listed.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

He's 22 and in AAA. He'll be on nearly all top 100 prospect lists next year. His struggles in the second half of the year and in AAA are worrisome but the rankers will still have him listed.

Gordon was already trending down in some preseason ranks -- #93 BA, #80 MLB. For awhile I thought it would be balanced out a bit by his hot start at AA, but he now has a 49 wRC+ in 324 PA at AAA on the season. Remember when JP Crawford struggled mightily at AAA a few years ago? He still wound up with a 90 wRC+ in 385 PA (and he was still a year younger than Gordon is now).

 

Since the day MLB released their midseason update list (June 21), which still had Gordon at 77, his wRC+ is 34 in 198 PA. Not sure where he placed on BA's midseason list, since that appears to be entirely behind a paywall now.

 

Prospectus was the high one on Gordon preseason - #35 - and they still had him #33 in their midseason update a month ago, although that list didn't include any new 2018 draftees/signees, so it was probably still a drop.

[gunnarthor]

 

Gordon was already trending down in some preseason ranks -- #93 BA, #80 MLB. For awhile I thought it would be balanced out a bit by his hot start at AA, but he now has a 49 wRC+ in 324 PA at AAA on the season. Remember when JP Crawford struggled mightily at AAA a few years ago? He still wound up with a 90 wRC+ in 385 PA (and he was still a year younger than Gordon is now).

 

Since the day MLB released their midseason update list (June 21), which still had Gordon at 77, his wRC+ is 34 in 198 PA. Not sure where he placed on BA's midseason list, since that appears to be entirely behind a paywall now.

 

Prospectus was the high one on Gordon preseason - #35 - and they still had him #33 in their midseason update a month ago, although that list didn't include any new 2018 draftees/signees, so it was probably still a drop.

Sure, he was trending down for some and up for others. He'll be on most top 100 lists next year.

[Tomj14]

 

He's 22 and in AAA. He'll be on nearly all top 100 prospect lists next year. His struggles in the second half of the year and in AAA are worrisome but the rankers will still have him listed.

Has been been any studies about players that drop down that far in the rankings (without injuries) and still turn out?

Again I like him and hope he ends up being an all star, but it seems worrisome that he probably will he will be moved down the Twins list by recently drafted player(s) and others that have been in the system.

[gunnarthor]

 

Has been been any studies about players that drop down that far in the rankings (without injuries) and still turn out?

Again I like him and hope he ends up being an all star, but it seems worrisome that he probably will he will be moved down the Twins list by recently drafted player(s) and others that have been in the system.

Happens all the time. Wilson Ramos fell from 60 to 95 or so the year we traded him. Aaron Hicks fell every year. There are hundreds of guys in the majors right now who went backwards on prospect rankings. 

[Vanimal46]

I'll be very surprised if Baddoo starts 2019 in Cedar Rapids. They'll move him up.

I mean, that's good news! Though I'm a bit surprised you think so given his slash line. Why do you think they'll move him up right away?

[Seth Stohs]

 

I mean, that's good news! Though I'm a bit surprised you think so given his slash line. Why do you think they'll move him up right away?

He's got really solid numbers. The batting average is fairly low, but that on-base skills are fantastic and he's got real good pop. He runs the bases well and he's a good outfielder. He's put in the time ad he hasn't been overwhelmed in any part of the game. I think it's a given he moves up.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Is Gordon still a top 100 prospect and top 10 guy for the Twins starting next year?

I still have high hopes for him, but it seems that maybe the Twins missed trading him at his peak value?

 

Borderline Top 100. May be in some. May not be in others.

 

Top 10 Twins guy next year? Absolutely.

 

A 22 year old in AAA is impressive.