Article: Twins Minor League Report (5/12): Soul Patrol Part Deux

[Seth Stohs]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1699-Twins-Minor-League-Report-(4-12)-Soul-Patrol-Part-Deux

[RedBull34]

Rough outing by Berrios but at least he wasn't responsible for that many runs...Bad Outing, yes. Outing that makes you reconsider everything you ever thought about him, no (although I thought so at first seeing the score!)

[jokin]

Is the Josh Burris experimental promotion going to be put back on hold?

[lightfoot789]

There are just so many quality hitting prospects on that Cedar Rapids team. My favorite as always, and pre-season surprise / sleeper prospect is still Adam Brett Walker:

Midwest League Rankings:

Home Runs = 1st with 9

RBIs = 1st with 40 (by 9)

Slug% = 1st with .664% (by .58 points)

Total Bases = 1st with 87 (by 11)

Runs = 2nd with 26

Triples - 2nd with 4

OPS % = 4th with 1.033

To go along with a .321 BA

These are the kind of numbers he put up in college (@ Jacksonville University). He put up these numbers against the Florida States - Oklahomas - Florida's - etc. - (Top Competition) as well. Great vision by the Twins brass in trusting their gut. They drafted a first round talent in the 3rd round. Can't wait to see him join Ft. Myers this year. Will be 21 years old all season too. Young & Beastly

[Seth Stohs]

Can a 3rd round pick who was a terrific college hitter really be a "sleeper" prospect though?

 

I was so impressed seeing Walker in person... he's putting up numbers beyond what anyone should reasonably expect. I do think he could move quickly, even before the All Star game, if needed. He's so strong!

[jsimssd72]

Rough outing by Berrios but at least he wasn't responsible for that many runs...Bad Outing, yes. Outing that makes you reconsider everything you ever thought about him, no (although I thought so at first seeing the score!)

 

I never take to much into the numbers when a Minor leaguer had a 6-0 then a 14-2 lead. you just never know if he was working on a pitch and this was a good time to try it out in a live game.

[Seth Stohs]

Also, pitch counts are likely still involved with Berrios and others.

[lightfoot789]

Can a 3rd round pick who was a terrific college hitter really be a "sleeper" prospect though?

 

I agree on most teams, but Walker is probably prospect #7 on his own team alone: 1)Buxton 2)Berrios 3)Harrison 4)Polanco 5)Melotakis 6)Goodrum 7)Walker?

At least according to most 2013 prospect listings...............

 

That is not even counting the other Twins minor league affiliates (Prospects). Baseball America had him ranked 31st in Twins oragnization. Would you not consider a #31 prospect in any organization a sleeper?

 

I want to believe he is changing some perceptions

 

Everyone thought potential but not proven!! Raw but Upside!! Star or Bust!! and fairly enough the jury is still out? I'm just a believer

[jokin]

Can a 3rd round pick who was a terrific college hitter really be a "sleeper" prospect though?

 

I agree on most teams, but Walker is probably prospect #7 on his own team alone: 1)Buxton 2)Berrios 3)Harrison 4)Polanco 5)Melotakis 6)Goodrum 7)Walker?

At least according to most 2013 prospect listings...............

 

That is not even counting the other Twins minor league affiliates (Prospects). Baseball America had him ranked 31st in Twins oragnization. Would you not consider a #31 prospect in any organization a sleeper?

 

I want to believe he is changing some perceptions

 

Everyone thought potential but not proven!! Raw but Upside!! Star or Bust!! and fairly enough the jury is still out? I'm just a believer

 

Interesting comments. Is Polanco beginning to also change perceptions by eclipsing Harrison?

 

I'd certainly like to envision Walker as a RHB Big Papi. He's still got a ways to go, hope the Twins stay with him and push him to stay in good physical shape and hit better against the breaking ball. I have a feeling those are going to be his primary impediments as he moves up in the system.

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

Interesting comments. Is Polanco beginning to also change perceptions by eclipsing Harrison?

 

I'd certainly like to envision Walker as a RHB Big Papi. He's still got a ways to go, hope the Twins stay with him and push him to stay in good physical shape and hit better against the breaking ball. I have a feeling those are going to be his primary impediments as he moves up in the system.

 

I think Harrison is doing just fine, other than the errors at third. He's already got 13 2B and 5 HR. That being said, the offensive talent in Cedar Rapids is ridiculous--perhaps the best offense in baseball when adjusted for league.

[Seth Stohs]

Can a 3rd round pick who was a terrific college hitter really be a "sleeper" prospect though?

 

I agree on most teams, but Walker is probably prospect #7 on his own team alone: 1)Buxton 2)Berrios 3)Harrison 4)Polanco 5)Melotakis 6)Goodrum 7)Walker?

At least according to most 2013 prospect listings...............

 

That is not even counting the other Twins minor league affiliates (Prospects). Baseball America had him ranked 31st in Twins oragnization. Would you not consider a #31 prospect in any organization a sleeper?

 

I want to believe he is changing some perceptions

 

Everyone thought potential but not proven!! Raw but Upside!! Star or Bust!! and fairly enough the jury is still out? I'm just a believer

 

Very good points. Thanks!

 

He certainly isn't in the top prospect category. Certainly wasn't coming into the season. And, when you look at it as you did, that he's the 5-7 prospect on his own team's prospect coming into the season, it's hard to argue with you. Ha!

 

Even now, I don't think I would have him higher than 5th (maybe 4th) prospect on his own team.

 

I think he, and Polanco, have probably changed some perceptions. A little more belief in both of them.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I think Harrison is doing just fine' date=' other than the errors at third. He's already got 13 2B and 5 HR. That being said, the offensive talent in Cedar Rapids is ridiculous--perhaps the best offense in baseball when adjusted for league.[/quote']

 

Yeah, I would still have Harrison ranked ahead of Walker in a prospect ranking... I really like Harrison's potential a lot! I also really like Walker too. I like a lot of prospects! Ha!

[lightfoot789]

We are roughly quarter of the way thru the season (34 games in).

 

If Walker were to stay in Cedar Rapids and produce as he is, for an entire season: 36 HRs / 40 DBLs / 16 Triples / 160 RBI / .300+ BA / 348 Total Bases / (adjusted stats for full season x4) - Would he still be the 4th - 5th best prospect on this team in your opinion?

 

Let's just say: we said his current stats were for a third of the season and adjusted them accordingly (x3) = 27 HRs / 30 DBLs / 12 Triples / 120 RBI / .300+ BA / 261 Total Bases - Would he still be the 4th or 5th best prospect on this team in your opinion?

 

Just Curious

 

Miguel Sano in 2012:

28 HRs / 28 DBLs / 4 Triples / 100 RBI / .258 BA / 238 Total Bases - Granted Sano is 1 1/2 years younger than Walker.

 

So I ask again does that make Walker still the 4th to 5th ranked prospect on his team when you compare seasons?

[tjsyam921]

How much individual success can come from playing around other top players? I just wonder how well some of the players would be playing if they were playing on teams with less overall talent? With so many players in CR and Ft Myers having so much success how much can attributed to the overall talent? Hitting and pitching can be contagious. Way it looks now we could have two MLB teams worth of players soon! Lol!

[nicksaviking]

I think Walker moves up and moves up a bunch simply because his percieved biggest weakness, the strikeout, is not nearly as pronounced as expected. In rookie ball he was striking out in 30% of his plate appearances. He is now doing so at a 22% rate in full season ball. That's not an ideal percentage but in today's baseball, that is pretty acceptable, particularly for sluggers. Heck Buxton is lighting the world on fire with an 18% strikeout rate.

 

Just as the Twins have moved Rosario and Sano in tandem thus far, I'd like to see them do the same with Buxton and Walker. Perhaps there's nothing to it, but I like the idea of providing some familiarity and chemistry when these youngsters move levels. I also like to think it breeds a certain competitiveness to help foster the idea that they are not falling behind or failing their buddy.

[Seth Stohs]

As there are more data points, we have more to evaluate and alter prospect rankings. If a 21-year-old put up those numbers in the MWL, it'd be hard to ignore. But if he put up those numbers and wasn't promoted, it would also throw up a whole bunch of red flags. So, who knows.

[lightfoot789]

I like your thinking. How about an outfield of Walker RF - Buxton CF - and JU teammate Murphy in LF in Ft. Myers for the rest of 2013 or J.D. Williams in LF with Murphy as 4th outfielder. I'm talking strickly speed. Buxton is fastest in system with Williams 2nd. Murphy was 2nd in NCAA in stolen bases during his final collegiate season. Walker was 40 for 41 in stolen bases in college. That would be a very speedy OF as it was in Cedar Rapids. I like the thought of moving guys up with familiar faces though. Good idea.......

[nowheresville]

I've got to say Saturday and Sunday's games in Beloit were a couple of the most interesting games I've been to in a long time.

 

Saturday featured a great pitching duel, and some very interesting plays. Harrison got thrown out on a play at the plate, with a questionable tag. Goodrum had a real rough day in the field, booting a few ground balls, and JD Williams made a fantastic diving catch in left field.

 

The Snappers of course won the game in the end, but even that was unusual. It was a Fence-Clearing, Walk-Off Double, only because the batter, Chad Lewis stopped running and was mobbed by his teammates at 2nd base. He kept a HR off his stat line because he didn't finish running the bases.

 

Sunday was like watching a video game, with Walker being the guy you create that's Max everything. It's probably the only professional game I've ever gone to where the score at one point was 22-3! It's even more amazing that after that score, the Snappers still made a game of it, never really threatening, but not quitting either. Really, when have you ever seen a team score 13 runs in 4 innings, and still lose by a touchdown?

 

Also probably a lot more hugging than I've ever seen at a ballpark, as there were a lot of reunions between old friends, with last years players and of course Gary and Tommy. It is one case where the open concourse of Pohlman, where the players have to mingle with the public really made for a nice atmosphere.