Article: Twins Minor League Report (8/9): Friday Night Lights

[Seth Stohs]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=2207-Twins-Minor-League-Report-(8-9)-Friday-Night-Lights

[nowheresville]

Adam B Walker's Home Run was a mammoth blast that hit the top of the billboard above the scoreboard at Pohlman Field. At least one blast by Sano last year that went over the entire scoreboard, but otherwise, that is by far one of the longest homers I've ever seen in Beloit.

[h2oface]

..........and just why wouldn't Hicks pitch?

[Seth Stohs]

..........and just why wouldn't Hicks pitch?

 

Because he has a big future with the Twins, and they don't want him over-throwing and hurting his arm.

[AllhopeisgoneMNTWINS]

ADAM WALKER IS STILL IN LOW A WHY?! Demote someone from Fort Myers, way to many 23-24 year olds who dont even rank as a prospect.

[lightfoot789]

ADAM WALKER IS STILL IN LOW A WHY?! Demote someone from Fort Myers, way to many 23-24 year olds who dont even rank as a prospect.

 

I agreed with that thought process for a long time and now have changed my position. Walker is only 21 and will be 22 all of next season. Let him do like Sano and Rasorio did this year (next year) - 1/2 a year at High A and 1/2 a year at AA. He will still be much younger than the guys they have in High A this year. If he produces on his steady pace year in and year out - He will be a 23 year old spring training camp invitee. From there who knows??????????

 

Big year for the young guy - 25 HRs & 99 RBI with 23 games left. I would love for the Kernels to win the MWL championship. ETown champs last year and MWL champs this year? The Twins are producing a winning mentality at the lower levels that will pay off for the MLB Twins in years to come.

[AllhopeisgoneMNTWINS]

I agreed with that thought process for a long time and now have changed my position. Walker is only 21 and will be 22 all of next season. Let him do like Sano and Rasorio did this year (next year) - 1/2 a year at High A and 1/2 a year at AA. He will still be much younger than the guys they have in High A this year. If he produces on his steady pace year in and year out - He will be a 23 year old spring training camp invitee. From there who knows??????????

 

Big year for the young guy - 25 HRs & 99 RBI with 23 games left. I would love for the Kernels to win the MWL championship. ETown champs last year and MWL champs this year? The Twins are producing a winning mentality at the lower levels that will pay off for the MLB Twins in years to come.

 

Still makes no sense. So all the twins are doing is saying hey you're having a great year young man.....but we are going to keep you in low a ball after a few years in college where the pitchers here are not as good as the ones you were facing in college. He has no use in low A ball. When you say the he will be younger than guys in High A ball that's really sad that an organization wants 24-25 year old players on a high A ball club.

[Legend of the Arctic]

My guess is that Walker hasn't been promoted because the Twins want his plate discopline to improve. He has walked in only 5% of his PAs this year, and he has just a .320 OBP. Sure, he has power, but unless he learns when not to swing, he's going to get picked apart by higher level pitchers.

[Legend of the Arctic]

While we're talking abou guys who need a promotion, I'm wondering why Kennys Vargas is still at Ft. Myers. He's clearly hitting well in the FSL. His numbers are much better than NB 1B Reynaldo Rodriguez, and with Rodriguez's age (27), he's not a prospect anyway. So why not bump up Vargas?

[AllhopeisgoneMNTWINS]

My guess is that Walker hasn't been promoted because the Twins want his plate discopline to improve. He has walked in only 5% of his PAs this year, and he has just a .320 OBP. Sure, he has power, but unless he learns when not to swing, he's going to get picked apart by higher level pitchers.

 

He cant improve his plate discipline at other levels. Just look at Wil Meyers. He had a high strike out percentage in the minor leagues. He has improved greatly a little bit each year. Walker should be playing higher and everyone knows it. A college player playing in low A means nothing. Put him in high A at least and see if he can hack it.

[Legend of the Arctic]

He cant improve his plate discipline at other levels. Just look at Wil Meyers. He had a high strike out percentage in the minor leagues. He has improved greatly a little bit each year. Walker should be playing higher and everyone knows it. A college player playing in low A means nothing. Put him in high A at least and see if he can hack it.

 

I'm not a pro baseball player, so I obviously don't have any inside knowledge, but my guess is that it a lot harder to learn to draw a walk in High A than it is in Low A, especially in the pitcher-friendly FSL. Also, if the Twins promote him and he can't handle it, it could wreck his confidence. I'm not saying I don't want to see him move up, just that I can understand why the Twins might not do so.

[Steve Lein]

I've posted this elsewhere about Walker, but I agree with those who say he shouldn't be in Low-A. From a Keith Law chat a few weeks ago:

 

Jesse (Minny)

 

Any opions on Adam Bret Walker in Cedar Rapids? He's over 20 HRs with a good AVG. Solid regular 1st baseman?

 

Klaw (1:59 PM)

 

He's also 21 and a college product in low-A, with a poor walk rate and a K rate too high for a player of his age/experience. He's not a zero, but again, the stat line here is pretty misleading - and he should be in high-A.

 

Klaw (1:59 PM)

 

Seriously, don't draft a good college player in the first few rounds and send him to low-A in his first full year. You're wasting everyone's time.