Article: Rosario could rise to the top in '13

[Cody Christie]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1414-Rosario-could-rise-to-the-top-in-13

[Brock Beauchamp]

Now that Arcia looks to be on the cusp of joining the big league team, Rosario may be taking his spot as my favorite dark horse candidate to shine. It's hard not to be impressed with how he's been playing the past couple of years and this spring only strengthens his stock.

[Chance]

I have said it for over a year now. He is the lop prospect on my list. I believe that he can put up mauer MVP season numbers after a few years in the majors. Maybe a slightly lower average though

[nicksaviking]

Love Eddie, clearly the new position will likely be the main reason for non-advancement. If he can hold his own at 2B he could move up fast. With his more polished and mature hitting approach, I think it's likely that the Ft. Myers stop will be the one that breaks up the dynamic duo of Sano/Rosario, if only temporarily. I'd expect Rosario to handle the more advanced off-speed and breaking pitches better than the slugger.

[Oldgoat_MN]

The ''quick hands' comment is interesting. Suggests that he may not be as vulnerable as some to have his production fall off as he meets better pitching. Very encouraging prospect. Would love to see him get to AA this year.

 

Rosario is the number one reason I would like to see Dozier get another shot at SS. Dozier's minor league numbers suggest he may succeed at MLB. I would rather not put Dozier in a position to block Rosario. I believe Rosario will run over anyone in his way.

[Cap'n Piranha]

I think Eddie will repeat what Oswaldo did last year--start at Fort Myers, and make it to New Britain halfway through the year. I want to see Rosario and Santana play together, because that could be our middle infield combo as soon as 2014/2015.

[nicksaviking]

The ''quick hands' comment is interesting. Suggests that he may not be as vulnerable as some to have his production fall off as he meets better pitching. Very encouraging prospect. Would love to see him get to AA this year.

Rosario is the number one reason I would like to see Dozier get another shot at SS. Dozier's minor league numbers suggest he may succeed at MLB. I would rather not put Dozier in a position to block Rosario. I believe Rosario will run over anyone in his way.

 

We've been complaining on this board about the lack of middle infield options most of the off-season. Next year there is a possiblity the team will have Rosario, Dozier and Danny Santana all looking like exciting options.

[kab21]

-The scouts are mostly saying that he only has gap power (10-15 HR's and a lot of doubles) despite his great numbers so far. I will be watching very closely to see if he puts on a show in the FSL to prove them wrong. I also own him in my fantasy league...

[nicksaviking]

-The scouts are mostly saying that he only has gap power (10-15 HR's and a lot of doubles) despite his great numbers so far. I will be watching very closely to see if he puts on a show in the FSL to prove them wrong. I also own him in my fantasy league...

 

I wouldn't expect his past pace of HR to continue at Ft. Myers, the league generally supresses power. For a lot of guys it increases again at New Britain.

[Hoosier_Twinsfan]

Good article. So far so good with Rosario. Will watch him in the WBC and see if he continues to hold his own. The future definitely seems to bright for Eddie Rosario.

[mnfanforlife]

Another Rosario fan! Great. Keep the optimistic thoughts going. The tone of these comments is refreshing.

[ScottyB]

If Eddie could have Pedroia-like numbers in the show, I'd be ecstatic! Perfect for the #2 slot behind Buxton, and ahead of Arcia (or Mauer).

[mnfanforlife]

I have said it for over a year now. He is the lop prospect on my list. I believe that he can put up mauer MVP season numbers after a few years in the majors. Maybe a slightly lower average though

 

I have him in the top-5 for sure, but I cannot agree on the HR's...He might be a 15 homer guy in Minnesota, but not 28 like Mauer hit his MVP year.

Awesome hitter though. Should be ready a year from now, but probably won't be starting 2014 in Minnesota

[mnfanforlife]

Caved in face? No problem. Eddie's "Rosa Rio" - Blogs - Minnesota Twins News & Rumors Forum

 

Eddie is a baller

[Kwak]

1). I sure hope Rosario succeeds as projected above. 2). Dozier won't be blocking anybody. 3). If Rosario puts up the numbers projected above, he'll blow by everybody in the Twins' infield. People will be saying Doz-who? 4). It sure would be nice to have a 2B who can actually hit.

[twinstalker]

Being worried about the Twins having too much middle infield talent the next couple years is an indicator that we should take nothing else you say seriously. As Kwak says, Dozier won't be blocking anybody (I'm sure he means anybody good). Right now the only player in the system who is in danger of being both good and in the MI is Rosario. The rest are mediocre or utility, with fingers crossed for Jorge Polanco.

[roger]

I am on record as stating that Rosario reminds me of a young second baseman that broke in for the Braves sixty years ago. When I look at Rosario, I see the same player, body, athleticism, speed, bat speed and yes, quick hands/wrists.

 

Looking at their 18 year old stats, in 194 at bats Rosario hit .294 average/.438 slugging in the GCL. In 345 at bats, Player A hit .336average/.493 slugging in Class C Ball. The following year, In 270 at bats Rosario hit .337 average/.670 slugging in the Appy League. In 574 at bats, Player A hit .362 average/.589 slugging in the Sally League. The comparison stops there because it was a different era and Player A was in the big leagues in his third professional year.

 

My point, is when I see Rosario play I see a very similar player/athlete. He is so similar to the young player I remember from sixty years ago. Will he ever become as good as player A, unlikely, seeing that Player A was the greatest player (IMO) to ever play the game. But the similarity tells me there is a very good liklihood he will become a very good player, a future star!

[mnfanforlife]

I am on record as stating that Rosario reminds me of a young second baseman that broke in for the Braves sixty years ago. When I look at Rosario, I see the same player, body, athleticism, speed, bat speed and yes, quick hands/wrists.

 

Looking at their 18 year old stats, in 194 at bats Rosario hit .294 average/.438 slugging in the GCL. In 345 at bats, Player A hit .336average/.493 slugging in Class C Ball. The following year, In 270 at bats Rosario hit .337 average/.670 slugging in the Appy League. In 574 at bats, Player A hit .362 average/.589 slugging in the Sally League. The comparison stops there because it was a different era and Player A was in the big leagues in his third professional year.

 

My point, is when I see Rosario play I see a very similar player/athlete. He is so similar to the young player I remember from sixty years ago. Will he ever become as good as player A, unlikely, seeing that Player A was the greatest player (IMO) to ever play the game. But the similarity tells me there is a very good liklihood he will become a very good player, a future star!

 

I always encourage people to dream big! This is one enormous dream! It won't wake you up.

[roger]

I always encourage people to dream big! This is one enormous dream! It won't wake you up.

 

You probably also weren't watching Player A when he broke in in 1953. I was. My point is that they are so very similar in every aspect of their games, body, swing, etc. No where have I said he would be as good as Player A as that would be unbelievable.

[bird]

Being worried about the Twins having too much middle infield talent the next couple years is an indicator that we should take nothing else you say seriously. As Kwak says, Dozier won't be blocking anybody (I'm sure he means anybody good). Right now the only player in the system who is in danger of being both good and in the MI is Rosario. The rest are mediocre or utility, with fingers crossed for Jorge Polanco.

 

Your first sentence is a bit harsh, twinstalker. Can you accept the point being made? Which is, people with a lot better eye for these things than you or I believe we have at least a handful of viable MI candidates in the pipeline now. The Twins are obviously still high on Dozier, and it's fair to be skeptical of this confidence in the wake of Casilla, Nishioka, and the like. But we're starting to hear raves about Rosario. Danny Santana and Jorge Polanco too.

 

And you might be hearing good things said this summer about Amaurys Minier, Levi Michael, and Niko Goodrum.

 

So there, twinstalker, that's six guys to maybe keep and eye on. Or if you want, you can just take nothing else anyone says about these prospects seriously, right?

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

Rosario is my favorite and I approve this post (if it means anything or not).

[Han Joelo]

I won't say homers are overrated, but in the case of potentially great all around hitters like Rosario, a hefty dose of doubles is almost better. Giving up a two run double with a man still on base keeps the heat on a pitcher and may lead to more sustained rallies than a three run homer would have. I say this because I think Rosario is a top prospect even as an OF.

Sabers, feel free to debunk my hypothesis

[Possumlad]

Han - it does not take a Saber to debunk your hypothesis. A home-run is by definition better than a double every single time.

[ashbury]

Han - it does not take a Saber to debunk your hypothesis. A home-run is by definition better than a double every single time.

 

That's because you never played the game.

[Possumlad]

I will say: depending on whether the rule-book allows it, I can almost imagine Gardy instructing one of his scrappy table-setters to actually stop at 2nd base to "keep the pressure on" if one of them accidentally hit a HR. From there they could even try to steal 3rd, which would really turn up the heat. Then imagine if they eventually scored!

[brianpope]

The more and more I think about it, the more this team will likely be really exciting to watch in a few years.

[Oldgoat_MN]

Being worried about the Twins having too much middle infield talent the next couple years is an indicator that we should take nothing else you say seriously. As Kwak says, Dozier won't be blocking anybody (I'm sure he means anybody good). Right now the only player in the system who is in danger of being both good and in the MI is Rosario. The rest are mediocre or utility, with fingers crossed for Jorge Polanco.

 

In 2011 Dozier had an OPS of .885 in AA. I'm not worried about Rosario being blocked. I said he'll run over anyone in his way.

Since Dozier is already a throw-away to you, my brother, who have you got with better numbers to play SS?

[Thrylos]

I like Eddie and I wish him luck. However, I'd like to see a prospect have some success in high A and AA before I can say that "he has arrived." Lots of players put great numbers as 19 and 20 year olds in Etown and Beloit and only some of them sustain that success. If you don't believe me ask fellow Puerto Rican Angel Morales (whose numbers in Etwon and Beloit were eerily similar to those of Rosario's... and then....)

 

Give it time and let him play in AA a bit.

[ashbury]

I will say: depending on whether the rule-book allows it, I can almost imagine Gardy instructing one of his scrappy table-setters to actually stop at 2nd base to "keep the pressure on" if one of them accidentally hit a HR.

 

I'll have to look, but I don't think this scenario is covered in my old copy of Knotty Problems of Baseball. It's well known that you can be out for passing a runner in front of you, and there are rules to prevent shenanigans like "stealing" first starting from second in an attempt to draw a throw, but just stopping at second base for no reason when then umpire continues to twirl his index finger? It's a good (or maybe just fun) question.

[Seth Stohs]

I like Eddie and I wish him luck. However, I'd like to see a prospect have some success in high A and AA before I can say that "he has arrived." Lots of players put great numbers as 19 and 20 year olds in Etown and Beloit and only some of them sustain that success. If you don't believe me ask fellow Puerto Rican Angel Morales (whose numbers in Etwon and Beloit were eerily similar to those of Rosario's... and then....)

 

Give it time and let him play in AA a bit.

 

 

Uh oh... this can't be good, but I'm finding myself agreeing with Thrylos on this one... Again, I'm as high as anyone on Rosario... but I once had Angel Morales ranked as my #3 Twins prospect, and Tyler Robertson #1. There are no sure things. Stay high on Rosario. We are all fans of his here and want him to succeed and be great. I believe in his tools and skills and talent, but I was similarly high on Morales and there are a lot of examples that remind me to always have a little bit of caution.

 

It's also what keeps me high on Brian Dozier... I believe he can be a .700-.750 OPS guy for years in the big leagues.

 

And as I said in the other Rosario/Dozier thread, if the Twins believe in a guy, they will make room, and that includes moving an All-Star like AJ Pierzynski to make room for a phenom, like Mauer.