Article: Seth's Preseason Top 20 Minnesota Twins Pitching Prospects

[Mr. Brooks]

They call him up?

Every game counts. The games now count the same as the ones after his theoretical call up.

 

I guess I was under the impression that you were theorizing that they moved him to the bullpen to help them compete. The fact that he's in the Rochester bullpen suggests to me the move is more about his development than it is to help the big club compete.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Every game counts. The games now count the same as the ones after his theoretical call up.

I guess I was under the impression that you were theorizing that they moved him to the bullpen to help them compete. The fact that he's in the Rochester bullpen suggests to me the move is more about his development than it is to help the big club compete.

 

I mean, when he's deemed ready. Whether that is today or in a month or in two months. Most think he was a lead candidate for a bullpen spot in spring. He didn't earn one. He goes to Rochester, keeps working, and hopefully soon he is up and contributing late in games. 

[wabene]

Yeah I don't think anyone thought he would flame out in the spring like that they planned on him helping from the start.

[Mr. Brooks]

Well I guess I'm hopeful that they aren't making important decisions based off a few spring training innings.

[FormerMinnasotan]

What’s up with Tyler Wells? I see he’s starting the year on the DL. What happened?

[bird]

 

How does he help them compete from Rochester?

 

 

I would imagine the field staff was asking how long will he take to get his act together and become useful. He looked pretty lost there at the end of spring training. I'm guessing they had enough bullpen sessions to assess him and sent him to Rochester to correct a thing or two.

Edited April 6, 2019 by birdwatcher

[Mr. Brooks]

I would imagine the field staff was asking how long will he take to get his act together and become useful. He looked pretty lost there at the end of spring training. I'm guessing they had enough bullpen sessions to assess him and sent him to Rochester to correct a thing or two.

Sure, but he's not starting in AAA, he's relieving.

That tells me he's been converted to reliever because that's what the FO has decided he is, not as some short term sacrifice to help the big club compete, as I interpreted Seth to be saying.

[rdehring]

 

Jake Reed has received a lot of love on Twins Daily over the last 4-5 years. Not sure he fits into the Top Prospect classification, but that doesn't mean he can't and/or shouldn't be given an opportunity. He certainly should have been called up last September. Inexplicable to me that he wasn't. 

That callup logic is sure gonna change, is it this September or next?  Only being able to call up two guys is a huge mistake in my opinion.  I understand not having all 40-guys on the bench, but there should be more than 28.  

[108Stitches]

What’s up with Tyler Wells? I see he’s starting the year on the DL. What happened?

just a few weeks behind due to strain in the beginning if ST. Will be back in a couple weeks from what I gathered

[TPetter]

In hindsight, did it make sense for the Twins to trade their best bullpen arm, Ryan Pressly, for the 8th best pitching prospect in Jorge Alcala?

[bird]

 

Sure, but he's not starting in AAA, he's relieving.
That tells me he's been converted to reliever because that's what the FO has decided he is, not as some short term sacrifice to help the big club compete, as I interpreted Seth to be saying.

 

My guess is that you're right, a decision has been made, at least for 2019. Either way, he's not going to help the big club compete even as a low leverage reliever until he gets fixed. His appearance yesterday was mildly promising.

[jkcarew]

 

Sure, but he's not starting in AAA, he's relieving.
That tells me he's been converted to reliever because that's what the FO has decided he is, not as some short term sacrifice to help the big club compete, as I interpreted Seth to be saying.

I tend to agree with this. As far as the Twins are concerned, Romero's a reliever. I suppose things could change in the long-term if he were to start showing command/efficiency, including a quality 3rd pitch.

 

The signs that he would be challenged starting in the majors have been there for some time. Was never an innings-eater or particularly efficient. Tended to fade late in seasons...K-rate took significant hits as he faced better batters in AA/AAA. A lot of us were probably mesmerized by low-level results and MPH...especially the MPH, since it's something the system had lacked forever. Still probably true that if he develops major-league command...even with just the two pitches...he's a good back-end guy. Without the command...well, that's what he is right now.

[Thrylos]

 

In hindsight, did it make sense for the Twins to trade their best bullpen arm, Ryan Pressly, for the 8th best pitching prospect in Jorge Alcala?

 

Pressly was not the Twins top pen arm.  He had 3.40 ERA and 1.364 WHIP.  The inability to turn Pressly into what Houston did with him, cost the pitching coach and the bullpen coach their jobs.

[gagu]

I really enjoy and appreciate the prospect articles, Seth. I do have one quibble; Please list each player's age along with the ranking and just generally, especially at the beginning of a new season. Thanks.

[jkcarew]

I think ranking Colina as a potential major league power starter is more hope than projection. Beware the 6-0 (ish) power starter...they usually make good relievers, and we got a lot of them: Colina, Romero, Graterol.

[jokin]

 

Pressly was not the Twins top pen arm.  He had 3.40 ERA and 1.364 WHIP.  The inability to turn Pressly into what Houston did with him, cost the pitching coach and the bullpen coach their jobs.

 

As it should have. And one amongst multiple pitching developmental failures.

Which is why I still give the managing duo the benefit of the doubt. The country club days are over. Players and coaches are much more accountable, and problems more quickly dealt with via intervention/demotion/dismissal. All good.