Article: Minnesota Twins Will Send Seven To AFL

[Squirrel]

You're all welcome, but you should know a couple things:

 

1. No one, and I mean NO one, gets the barcalounger. This is non negotiable. It's not even a barcalounger. That's so 70s. Its an ekornes stressless, full leather. Sweet.

 

2. I will not be providing the beer, but I could be talked into smoking some ribs and/or a brisket.

 

3. It's about a 2 hr trip to the ballparks in Phoenix, so have some jokes ready for the trip up. I'll be napping on the trip home.

 

4. Mrs Chief requests you respect the fact she needs her sleep.

 

Would Mrs. Chief be interested in going shopping with me?

[LaBombo]

Just wondering.....Do they ask the players if they want to play? Just interested as Buxton has played a lot more games this year than in any previous years.

Great question. And how do players, in general, react to being assigned to the AFL? How does it affect their lives?

[sorney]

Great question. And how do players, in general, react to being assigned to the AFL? How does it affect their lives?

 

 

Im guessing since their dream is to play in the Majors, and the AFL is supposed to be for high level prospects, they jump at the chance and don't have to be asked if they want to

[Seth Stohs]

Just wondering.....Do they ask the players if they want to play? Just interested as Buxton has played a lot more games this year than in any previous years.

 

It's an invite after rosters are determined, but no one would say no. It's a huge opportunity. They get treated like big leaguers. They play in front of scouts from every organization.

[h2oface]

It is too bad that the boys couldn't get a different manager other than Jeff Smith.

[orangevening]

It is too bad that the boys couldn't get a different manager other than Jeff Smith.

Mr. Smith has quickly become the 2nd least liked manager in the Twins system. Is he really as hard-nosed and by the book as he sounds?

[scottsilvi]

Hmm. Long time lurker, fringe stat geek guy. Been planning a trip to the SW... Feenix is starting to look like a good idea.

[jimbo92107]

I'm a little surprised that Buxton is getting the nod. I can see Kepler since he missed so much time, but Buxton.... My hopes for seeing him in 2014 just went up a little.

 

I read earlier that Buxton's a workout freeek. The extra load of baseball probably doesn't wear him down as much as other guys.

[mnfanforlife]

Why is Sano not going to the AFL?

[Steve Lein]

Why is Sano not going to the AFL?

 

His Dominican Winter League team won't let him. He would have to get a special waiver to play fall/winter ball stateside and is too big of a draw for his team there for them to do it (and they picked him Round 1, Pick 1 last year).

[Steve Lein]

Also of note: Max Kepler is on the roster as a 1B-man and he has played nearly as many games there as he has in the OF for Cedar Rapids. Wonder how soon they'll make this position change fully.

[amjgt]

Also of note: Max Kepler is on the roster as a 1B-man and he has played nearly as many games there as he has in the OF for Cedar Rapids. Wonder how soon they'll make this position change fully.

The only other 1B on the roster seems like a nothing prospect to me (sub 700 OPS if I remember correctly). I suspect, given that he's at Low A and the Twins used their "foreign player without a foreign league" exemption to get him on the team, he will not see the field more than 3 times a week.

[Mike Sixel]

Funny, when someone suggested Kepler move to 1B, that person was mocked.....

[Steve Lein]

Funny, when someone suggested Kepler move to 1B, that person was mocked.....

 

I would have mocked them 2 years ago, but he's grown into his body considerably since then and 1B is actually his "natural" position, in that it's the position he played before he was signed.

 

From Sickels back in June, referencing Kepler:

 

"There is a chance he will wind up at first base if he loses too much speed, but that's down the line. He remains a good overall athlete and would likely develop into a sharp defender at first base if he does move there."

[diehardtwinsfan]

Mr. Smith has quickly become the 2nd least liked manager in the Twins system. Is he really as hard-nosed and by the book as he sounds?

 

Not to state the obvious here, but the only Jeff Smith hate I've seen is people saying (without providing any links) that he's not well liked in NB. I don't know anything about the guy to decide whether I like him or not, but I've seen very little concrete anything that indicates he should be on his way out. Just my 2 cents.

[TRex]

The only other 1B on the roster seems like a nothing prospect to me (sub 700 OPS if I remember correctly). I suspect, given that he's at Low A and the Twins used their "foreign player without a foreign league" exemption to get him on the team, he will not see the field more than 3 times a week.

 

Ummm, Kepler's mom was born in San Antonio, so I am pretty sure that (despite being born in Berlin) he is an American citizen... isn't he?

[Mike Sixel]

Ummm, Kepler's mom was born in San Antonio, so I am pretty sure that (despite being born in Berlin) he is an American citizen... isn't he?

 

dual citizenship....

[Siehbiscuit]

I am thinking that Kepler is going to compete in the AFL even if it does seem too soon based on his development. The Twins will likely need to protect him on the major league 40 man roster this off-season.

[kab21]

I am thinking that Kepler is going to compete in the AFL even if it does seem too soon based on his development. The Twins will likely need to protect him on the major league 40 man roster this off-season.

 

One more year I think.

 

Kepler shouldn't move to first permanently anytime soon but splitting time between 1B and the OF is a good plan. Why? Because the team is loaded with OF'ers so his path to the majors could be at 1B and transitioning from OF to IF is not an easy one.

[Oxtung]

One more year I think.

 

Kepler shouldn't move to first permanently anytime soon but splitting time between 1B and the OF is a good plan. Why? Because the team is loaded with OF'ers so his path to the majors could be at 1B and transitioning from OF to IF is not an easy one.

 

Kepler is eligible for the rule 5 draft this off season (you could have been arguing the Twins don't need to protect him this year though, it wasn't real clear).

 

I wonder if his 1st base status isn't related to his shoulder as well. It's possible that it is still affecting his throwing or that they are being cautious with it. Playing 1B would certain help protect it. Cedar Rapids didn't have a 1B on the roster after Hicks was promoted so it was easy to slot Kepler in there. It wouldn't surprise me if next season he is back taking the majority of his reps at OF.

[Einstein]

This is great, I live in Scottsdale, I can't wait to see these guys!

[cmb0252]

Two interesting notes from KLaw's chast about the AFL I didn't know. First on who/how the players were picked:

 

"The teams do. The league sends rough positional requirements - e.g., you need to send three pitchers, at least one of whom is a starter, a catcher, and an infielder among your seven names - and the teams pick. Each team can send one player who hasn't reached AA yet. They don't have to be serious prospects; teams often send org players to fill out rosters, or guys who are on the rule 5/40-man bubble."

Second the question was brought up about if they only let 1 prospect per team from AA or lower go how did the Twins send Buxton, Kepler, and Jones. Apparently you can send more than 1 if the league OKs it. Had no idea. Learn something new every day!

[rickyriolo]

i think i will have to travel over to AZ to watch some "real baseball". I can't watch the big club any more it is way too frustrating & i am drinking way too much beer. October 8th-November 16th is what it looks like..

[rickyriolo]

Plus tickets are only $7.00 per game, general admission and sit any where you want

[diehardtwinsfan]

i think i will have to travel over to AZ to watch some "real baseball". I can't watch the big club any more it is way too frustrating & i am drinking way too much beer. October 8th-November 16th is what it looks like..

 

frustrating yes, but it's not like these prospects would come up and dominate. They are raw. You will see flashes of promise (hopefully lots of them) and see them fail in ways pros don't fail...

 

Does make me wish I was near AZ though.

[ashbury]

Wow, that is pretty cool. Who wants to organize a Twins Daily trip to AZ?

 

While John's comment may have been partly tongue-in-cheek, I have set up a kind of "clearinghouse" in my blog at:

 

Road Trip for Arizona Fall League? - Blogs - Minnesota Twins News & Rumors Forum

 

If you have some interest in going, even if it's 1% at this point, add a comment so that we can keep track and compare notes closer to the start of the games.

[Steve Lein]

Just an FYI - First Base is the position Kepler played his entire life until he enrolled in a baseball academy, it's not something that's completely new to him.

[Seth Stohs]

I'd keep him in the outfield as long as he can. When I talked to Jake Mauer about him, he says he's such a good athlete, but will likely get too big for the outfield. At that point, he can move to 1B. He's playing there enough that it won't just be foreign to him completely. Definitely too early to move him there full time. Mauer said he would likely eat himself to 1B. He's a big kid. Long, and pretty lean, but he's going to grow.