3 Twins Prospects Who Benefit From Delayed MLB Season

[Cody Christie]

Prospects on the 40-man roster didn't get a chance to start spring training on time. So, some of the team's other top prospects can get a little more attention before the season begins. 

 

As Nick referenced, prospects like Royce Lewis are getting the raw deal to start 2022. Players on the 40-man roster have been locked out by the MLB, including Jordan Balazovic, Jhoan Duran, Cole Sands, Josh Winder, and Jose Miranda. These players will have to continue training on their own until MLB lifts the lockout, which can be a challenge since many had to work on their own during the 2020 campaign.  

By all accounts, the lockout won't impact the start of the minor league season. In fact, Triple-A teams recently announced an increase in games from 120 to 150. Minnesota's Double- and Triple-A affiliates are both scheduled to start their season in the first full week of April. Each of the players below will figure significantly into the Saints or Wind Surge roster, and they have something to prove at the start of 2022. 

Austin Martin, SS/OF
Martin is widely considered Minnesota's top prospect as he is the organization's highest-ranking prospect on national top-100 lists. One of Martin's most significant concerns during his professional career has been his lack of power. In college, he destroyed the ball with a 1.007 OPS, but that total has dropped by over 200 points since turning pro. Last season, he changed his swing and dealt with a hand/wrist injury, decreasing power for up to 12 months. Minnesota's coaching staff can continue to work with Martin on his swing adjustments to bring back some of his missing power. With Lewis and Miranda not available, he will be the star attraction at Triple-A. 

Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP
Woods Richardson was pushed to Double-A last season as a 20-year-old, and he was over 4.5 years younger than the average age of the competition. He posted a 5.91 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP in 15 appearances, so there is room for improvement. His appearances were limited because he also was a member of Team USA in the Olympics, but he never made an appearance in Tokyo. A delayed start to the season allows Minnesota's coaching staff more time to work with Woods Richardson since he is a newer addition to the organization. Now entering his age-22 campaign, he will get a second shot at Double-A to prove that his 2021 numbers were just a blip on the radar.

Matt Canterino, RHP
Like many of Minnesota's top pitching prospects, questions surround Canterino and his health after some positive signs in 2021. Draft picks from Rice, where Canterino attended college, have a history of arm injuries due to overuse in college. His stock rose significantly last season after spending the 2020 campaign improving his changeup to go along with his dominant fastball. Last season, he was limited to 23 innings, and he has yet to pitch more than 100 innings in one collegiate or professional season. Canterino needs to prove his injury concerns are behind him, so he can start building up his innings total. Minnesota needs starting pitchers, and the delay may allow Canterino to solidify his place in the team's long-term plans.

Which prospect do you feel benefits the most if MLB's season is delayed? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. 

MORE FROM TWINS DAILY
— Latest Twins coverage from our writers
— Recent Twins discussion in our forums
— Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email

 

View full article

[bean5302]

Maybe prospects who are rehabbing long term injuries who will now not miss as much time due to injury because they're missing time due to the lockout like Blayne Enlow.

Otherwise, it depends on the delay. If a large chunk of the season is lost, close players like Palacios or Martin who are not on the 40 man roster and could potentially play their way into a roster spot before the MLB season starts.

[Doctor Gast]

Some who are not prospects that aren't on the 40 man roster with minor league contracts I imagine will also benifit from the head start. Like Beckman,  Robertson,  Cotton and Cave, how lucky can you get!

[ashbury]

3 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

Some who are not prospects that aren't on the 40 man roster with minor league contracts I imagine will also benifit from the head start. Like Beckman,  Robertson,  Cotton and Cave, how lucky can you get!

Jharel Cotton is on the Twins' 40-man.

[gman]

This is written as if Martin has played 3-4 seasons in the minors. "Coaches are trying to get back his lost power. He's played over 12 months with a wrist injury." What is that? You can't reasonably expect to compare college stats to a Double A minor league season. 

[jorgenswest]

When camps open spring training will be short. There will be a need for arms.

This presents an opportunity for players like Yenier Cano, Devin Smeltzer, Dereck Rodriguez, Trevor Megill and others to seize the moment and win a spot on a major league roster. 

They are too old to be classified prospects but we should be paying attention.

[Doctor Gast]

3 hours ago, ashbury said:

Jharel Cotton is on the Twins' 40-man.

Thought he passed through on waivers

[ashbury]

32 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

Thought he passed through on waivers

Just going by what's on the Twins website. It might be out of date somehow.

[Doctor Gast]

1 hour ago, ashbury said:

Just going by what's on the Twins website. It might be out of date somehow.

It seems like your right.Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Maybe I heard that they might but hadn't .

[terrydactyls]

I hope the Twins put Martin at SS with the Saints and Palacios at SS with the Wind Surge and see if either might prove to be the solution for a huge weakness and allow the Twins to concentrate on improving the pitching.

[bean5302]

12 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

I hope the Twins put Martin at SS with the Saints and Palacios at SS with the Wind Surge and see if either might prove to be the solution for a huge weakness and allow the Twins to concentrate on improving the pitching.

Not sure what that would prove about Palacios since he already played primary starting shortstop for the Wind Surge all last year. If there's anything to learn about Palacios, probably not going to happen in Wichita. I do still suspect Martin would get the nod for AAA despite being outplayed by Palacios.

[jorgenswest]

3 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Not sure what that would prove about Palacios since he already played primary starting shortstop for the Wind Surge all last year. If there's anything to learn about Palacios, probably not going to happen in Wichita. I do still suspect Martin would get the nod for AAA despite being outplayed by Palacios.

Do you believe that the Twins would be making a mistake starting Martin over Palacios at SS? Perhaps Palacios is closer to major league ready.

Is it based on your assessment that he outplayed Martin? Is that from seeing them play or interpreting the data?

 

[bean5302]

4 hours ago, jorgenswest said:

Do you believe that the Twins would be making a mistake starting Martin over Palacios at SS? Perhaps Palacios is closer to major league ready.

Is it based on your assessment that he outplayed Martin? Is that from seeing them play or interpreting the data?

 

Interpreting the data. Fielding and hitting.

Also, Palacios is on a MiLB contract as he was a MiLB free agent and could have signed anywhere at the end of last year. I think it sets a bad example not to give him a shot and pass him by with a guy who didn't perform as well who doesn't need to be added to the 40 man before giving Palacios a chance to play.

It's worth noting Palacios destroyed the Venezuelan Winter League as well. .351/.430/.557 OPS .987. Palacios has precious little left to prove at age 24.

[terrydactyls]

7 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Interpreting the data. Fielding and hitting.

Also, Palacios is on a MiLB contract as he was a MiLB free agent and could have signed anywhere at the end of last year. I think it sets a bad example not to give him a shot and pass him by with a guy who didn't perform as well who doesn't need to be added to the 40 man before giving Palacios a chance to play.

It's worth noting Palacios destroyed the Venezuelan Winter League as well. .351/.430/.557 OPS .987. Palacios has precious little left to prove at age 24.

The Twins' shortstop problem has been solved.  Congratulations to us!

[Trov]

I know we did not have anything to do with it, but why did Martin change his swing last year?  Did he do it after the lack of power, or did Toronto ask him to do it going into the year?  I hate when a guy who may not be ideal swing, but has results, is asked to change it up.  They are asking a guy who has done the same thing thousands of times making muscle memory to just change it up expecting better results.  

I am of the approach is if the swing got you to the level you are, until it no longer is working do not change it up.  Sometimes a odd swing, or motion, or whatever is what works for them.  Would you want everyone to do it, most likely not.  We did this with Buck for so many years.  We told him his way will not work, so we kept messing with him, which was not working and causing him to want to go back to what got him drafted, but then struggled there.  To my understanding he basically has gone back to his old ways and doing just fine with it. 

Just because something is not textbook, does not mean it does not work. 

[Blyleven2011]

We need all three players and then some to get a jump start ahead of the 40 man roster ...

A few minor leaguers not on 40 man roster could be on the opening day line up mlb roster  if they perform with  fast start ... I'd be okay with Palacios at Shortstop  ,, reports are he is a very good defender  .....

Will we be competitive  and compete ...

Are we rebuilding or structuring ,

it does seems like a total rebuild in the pitching department  .....

But who knows exactly what the teams plan are .... 

We've been speculating this since July 31st after we traded berrios ....

[bean5302]

1 hour ago, Trov said:

I know we did not have anything to do with it, but why did Martin change his swing last year?  Did he do it after the lack of power, or did Toronto ask him to do it going into the year?  I hate when a guy who may not be ideal swing, but has results, is asked to change it up.  They are asking a guy who has done the same thing thousands of times making muscle memory to just change it up expecting better results.  

I am of the approach is if the swing got you to the level you are, until it no longer is working do not change it up.  Sometimes a odd swing, or motion, or whatever is what works for them.  Would you want everyone to do it, most likely not.  We did this with Buck for so many years.  We told him his way will not work, so we kept messing with him, which was not working and causing him to want to go back to what got him drafted, but then struggled there.  To my understanding he basically has gone back to his old ways and doing just fine with it. 

Just because something is not textbook, does not mean it does not work. 

Because the professional coaches who are paid to identify and correct things which could lead to players being unsuccessful at the MLB level thought Martin could benefit from a change is what I'd go with. Buxton has made tons and tons and tons of changes to his swing. Some at the direction of coaches; some at his own direction.