What is the status of Alex Wimmers?

[071063]

Does anyone know the status of Wimmers? I know he struggled and then was hurt last year but we've all seem to have forgotten about him. He was an excellent pitcher, regardless of how hard he did or did not throw. Will he pitch this year? What is his upside? He's only 24 years old so it's not like he's old yet.

[LoganJones]

Poor guy is following in Gibson's steps. He's doing the Tommy John recovery thing this year.

[071063]

When was his surgery as he only pitched 5 innings in 2012. He should actually be ready to pitch some this year, shouldn't he?

[LoganJones]

August.Alex Wimmers, Minnesota Twins' top pick in 2010 draft, has Tommy John surgery - TwinCities.com

[nicksaviking]

The Twins history of being wishy-washy about injuries caused the them to wait quite a while before they sent him for TJ surgery. He had arm issues in the spring but they did not decide on surgery until early August. I haven't heard any updates but he could start throwing again mid summer. He was not however the same caliber prospect as Gibson. He's not overpowering and doesn't have any kind of electric movement. He's your typical control pitcher.

 

Despite the Twins drafting 21st that year and despite everyone thinking that Wimmers was the the most MLB ready pitcher, every draft guru and every fan knew he would end up with the Twins because the Twins so predictably prefered safe picks when it comes to pitchers while other teams nearly always go for picks with upside. I purposfully made prefered past tense as I believe and hope that philosophy is finally behind them.

[FrodaddyG]

Does anyone know the status of Wimmers? I know he struggled and then was hurt last year but we've all seem to have forgotten about him. He was an excellent pitcher, regardless of how hard he did or did not throw. Will he pitch this year? What is his upside? He's only 24 years old so it's not like he's old yet.

He's coming off TJS, and maybe will see some innings rehabbing late in the year. If he's being overlooked, it's because his best asset was his polish and the fact he should have moved rapidly through the system. Then he couldn't throw a strike to save his life, and spent the better part of a season trying to have the strike zone re-described to him, before a late year start last year where he delivered the coup de grace to his UCL. As a guy who didn't throw hard before getting hurt, he's going to need an excellent bouceback to even have a chance of being a back-of-the-rotation contributor to the MLB staff at some point in his career.

[B Richard]

I'm not sure how he is doing personally, but I know he had the procedure done around late July/ early August. It'll be awhile before he sees live action

 

Wimmers undergoes Tommy John surgery | twinsbaseball.com: News

[Badsmerf]

When was his surgery as he only pitched 5 innings in 2012. He should actually be ready to pitch some this year, shouldn't he?

 

He was on the rest and rehab plan that failed. Failure for a proper diagnosis by the Twins medical staff. I think it was about August when he got it, so he will miss most of 2013, maybe come back at the end to get a few innings in, possible AFL guy.

[mcrow]

He's coming off TJS, and maybe will see some innings rehabbing late in the year. If he's being overlooked, it's because his best asset was his polish and the fact he should have moved rapidly through the system. Then he couldn't throw a strike to save his life, and spent the better part of a season trying to have the strike zone re-described to him, before a late year start last year where he delivered the coup de grace to his UCL. As a guy who didn't throw hard before getting hurt, he's going to need an excellent bouceback to even have a chance of being a back-of-the-rotation contributor to the MLB staff at some point in his career.

 

From what I understand a good number of pitchers who have TJ eventually endup throwing harder than they did before but it's normally the 2nd season back.

[edavis0308]

From what I understand a good number of pitchers who have TJ eventually endup throwing harder than they did before but it's normally the 2nd season back.

 

It is true, though doesnt their control tend to suffer a bit (at least relatively short term)? I have nothing to go on, just something I feel like I remember from the past.

[mcrow]

It is true, though doesnt their control tend to suffer a bit (at least relatively short term)? I have nothing to go on, just something I feel like I remember from the past.

 

Hard to tell but I would guess if someone starts throwing harder than they normally do they'll probably have some control issues until they figure out how to locate the fastball with the new velocity.