Here Comes Zebby: Twins Hottest Pitching Prospect Reaches Triple-A

[Dave The Dastardly]

1 hour ago, jmlease1 said:

This is a weird shot to take at the front office. They moved him through 2 levels in his first professional season, which was LAST YEAR. He's now jumped 3 levels in year two, and has moved into AAA. How exactly is the front office holding him back?

Sure seems like they've handled him well: promoted him aggressively while improving his stuff, increasing his workload while trying to avoid overstressing his arm.

Whoa! Got taken to the woodshed on that comment. And in retrospect the criticism was probably justified, my wording was too strong. In my defense I was trying to refer to what myself and others often see as the Twins general (not just Zebby) reluctance to bring up deserving kids from the farm in favor of signing ( or keeping) fading veteran players (Farmer, Margo as examples?)

That tendency apparently frustrates some some more than others.

 

[LambchoP]

Zebby has earned his promotion. I say keep him in the AAA rotation, let him get his innings in and then compete for a job next year out of spring training. If he's going to be our long term starter, why mess with his timing and routine by putting him in the bullpen for a month later this year. If we need another relief arm I'd say use Paddack, Varland or Festa. Now we just need to keep Zebby healthy. And NOT trade him. If we build a package to try to get a TOR starter, then start with Festa, Raya, Soto, Gabriel Gonzalez...

[jmlease1]

2 minutes ago, Dave The Dastardly said:

Whoa! Got taken to the woodshed on that comment. And in retrospect the criticism was probably justified, my wording was too strong. In my defense I was trying to refer to what myself and others often see as the Twins general (not just Zebby) reluctance to bring up deserving kids from the farm in favor of signing ( or keeping) fading veteran players (Farmer, Margo as examples?)

That tendency apparently frustrates some some more than others.

 

Overall it's a fair issue to have concerns about, I agree. In this specific case, it doesn't seem to apply. first, because he's just moving to AAA, and second they have promoted Matthews pretty aggressively, having him go from low A to AAA in 1 1/2 seasons. If he was sitting in AAA while bad/retread veterans were flailing in MLB, then I think there's a better case.

I preferred the Twins go with the kids rather than bring in vets like Margot or Santana. I was clearly wrong on Santana (especially considering how Kirilloff has run this season) and while the record on Margot is decidedly mixed (at best)...he has hit LHP like he was supposed to. I'm trying to be a little more judicious in my second-guessing, especially as it runs to prospects.

[jmlease1]

14 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Zach Eflin is the best example of an MLB pitcher succeeding by never walking anyone.

Or Brad Radke. 

[madtowntwin]

Just made a similar post on one of the TD 2924 Draft Sites....Found this interesting - Zebby Mathews was an 8th round pick, correct? He is 6-5" and has put on weight and added mph since his draft day. In this year's draft the Twins chose a half dozen pitchers 6'4" and above - Many of them in the later rounds. Coincidence? Pattern?? Win Twins!

[DocBauer]

Andrew Morris...about 2yrs younger... was promoted to AA a couple weeks after Matthews was, and has been performing to the same outstanding standard. 

Are we now on a Morris to AAA watch?

Going to be a lot of fun watching Zebby to close out the season. But I'm secretly hoping we don't see him until 2025. That means the current staff is healthy and doing well and he can just finish the year strong and focus on next year.

[Jeff K]

14 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Good for Matthews and (I think) good for the organization. I will believe he is ready to help the Twins if he has continued success with the Saints. I'm not sold on Varland in the bullpen either. The sample size is too small to guarantee he can come up and dominate major league hitters. 

Are there any guarantees?

[JD-TWINS]

Matthews for 2-3 starts in September to rest a guy or two would be huge.

Have also broken down on my stance to not add any pitching. Tanner Scott from Marlins as a rental is awfully attractive!!!! …. Assuming major competition for him.

[MinnInPa]

On 7/16/2024 at 7:11 PM, High heat said:

He should spend the rest of the yr starting at AAA.  
 

He is the only guy in the system with top of the rotation stuff.  For service time purposes he should be kept at AAA for the season and to start next yr.  If he puts up similar #s he has a spot in May ‘25

 

If you wanna bullpen arm starters you have Varland and Festa.  We already know Varland can do it and Festa looked good both starts the first time though the line up.

no to Varland..his time has passed...having trouble getting AAA batters out

[JD-TWINS]

On 7/17/2024 at 9:25 AM, SF Twins Fan said:

What do people who've seen him pitch think of his potential?  Do you see him as a potential top of the order guy similar to Lopez (When he's pitching well), better than Lopez, or more likely somewhere in between Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober?

No crystal ball …….let’s see him get some outs at AAA to start.

[Oldgoat_MN]

Festa throws the ball real fast, too. Do we know if Zebby's FB has movement?

Even Duran can't just throw it by everybody. 

Anyone have an answer? Thanks in advance 

[Cory Engelhardt]

Just curious if anyone knows when Zebby's first start will be in AAA? I don't see a listed starter for Sunday, so maybe it's that day. Anyone able to confirm?

[twinstalker]

LOL at BA having Festa at 93 overall.  I have Festa as 11 or 12 on the Twins.  Also Raya at 25 for Twins.