Alex Wimmers -- My Adopted Prospect

[Twins Fan From Afar]

Alex Wimmers was the Twins' first round draft pick (21st overall) in the 2010 amateur draft.

The 6' 2'' righty was born on November 1, 1988, so he's 24 years old for the 2012 season.

He completed 3 years at THE Ohio State University, where he was back-to-back Big 10 Pitcher of the Year.

Assigned to the Ft. Myers Miracle last spring, Wimmers walked the first 6 batters he faced. The organization made the wise decision to pull him from the rotation. When he came back, first to the bullpen and then, in August, to the rotation, he threw a 7 inning no-hitter, walking only 2 along the way.

 

He was assigned to AA New Britain this season, and is on most top 10 or to 15 Twins prospect lists. He has only started one game for the Rock Cats, however, because of what is believed to be a minor sore back and flexor strain.

 

In 40 and 2/3 innings in Ft. Myers last season, Wimmers posted a 4.2 ERA, striking out 39 and walking 22, with a WHIP of 1.23.

 

In 4 and 1/3 innings in New Britain thus far, Wimmers has a 4.15 ERA, with 3 strikeouts and 2 walks, and a WHIP of 1.846.

 

Go here for his full minor league stat sheet.

[Twins Fan From Afar]

Wimmers is on the 7 day disabled list due to a right elbow strain. Hopefully this is just a minor, short-term injury.

Press release here: http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120423&content_id=29463944&vkey=news_t538&fext=.jsp&sid=t538

[Thrylos]

Wimmers is on the 7 day disabled list due to a right elbow strain. Hopefully this is just a minor, short-term injury.

Press release here: http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120423&content_id=29463944&vkey=news_t538&fext=.jsp&sid=t538

late last night word from New Britain was that he has a "strained flexor tendon" (same thing that Baker had.) Does not sound too encouraging, but I hope it's nothing serious

[Twins Fan From Afar]

Yea, I was just writing about this on my blog. They made it sound "minor" on the radio -- and they also referred to the 7 day DL (admittedly I didn't know that existed). But still, he hasn't pitched since April 9 -- 2 weeks now -- so I'm not exactly sure what to think.

[Thrylos]

Yea, I was just writing about this on my blog. They made it sound "minor" on the radio -- and they also referred to the 7 day DL (admittedly I didn't know that existed). But still, he hasn't pitched since April 9 -- 2 weeks now -- so I'm not exactly sure what to think.

one clarification: In the Minors, there is only one DL: the 7-day So major or minor everyone goes on it

[Twins Fan From Afar]

one clarification: In the Minors, there is only one DL: the 7-day So major or minor everyone goes on it

Well that explains that!

[Twins Fan From Afar]

Wimmers underwent an MRI yesterday, and I'll post when the results are released.

 

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/6369/alex-wimmers

[Twins Fan From Afar]

According to John Shipley of the Pioneer Press, Wimmers will rehab the elbow injury in Ft. Myers.

 

https://twitter.com/#!/shipleykid/status/196309700898336768

[Land Of 10,000 Beasts]

It's a shame how college pitchers like Wimmers who has a lot of potential get drafted and get hurt like this. It seems like it happens all to often. Hopefully he can get back on the mound soon.

[Twins Fan From Afar]

The news was already announced elsewhere on TwinDaily, but Wimmers has a partial UCL tear.

Definitely not good news. Surgery is not scheduled now, but who knows.

 

Per La Velle:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/blogs/150307955.html

[Twins Fan From Afar]

According to John Shipley of the Pioneer Press, Wimmers will not need Tommy John surgery for his UCL tear.

The organization believes that rehab will do the job.

Their track record on these injuries is not exactly great, so we'll see what happens.

 

Here's the story:

http://www.twincities.com/ci_20615332/minnesota-twins-wimmers-will-get-rehab-not-surgery

[greengoblinrulz]

sad that every Twins fan/media member already knows the outcome......only the organization thinks its possible.

Kinda like the expectations of this season.

[Neinstein]

This is such bad news.

I feel for Wimmers. He wants to pitch. I want him to pitch.

This could be devastating to his career if the rehab doesn't work.

[greengoblinrulz]

obviously surgery is risky....point taken.

What are the benefits of not just havin the surgery & havin him ready for next season. Surgeries show the guy will be ready to go by next April.

With rehab, if all goes along with what they did with Ft Myers pitcher Miguel Munoz (rehab over surgery)......he comes back in July to pitch a handful of games while babying the elbow & NOT pushing him. Then next season, they have to hope that the elbow is actually fully rehabbed & hope their is no re-tear. They have NOT allowed Munoz to start yet & is getting sporadic time in pen.

Seems to be no benefit from waiting it out while the worst possible is he needs surgery later this summer/next spring (ala PNeshek) & he's out 2 full yrs.

[PMKI]

I know Wimmers is hurt this year but I was just wondering when should I realistically expect him to be pitching for the Twins? I remember when drafting him he was supposed to be a fast mover through the system but he has struggled with injuries.

[Twins Fan From Afar]

There has been no update on Wimmers. Presumably he is still in Ft. Myers, and still is rehabbing this injury. He's been there for close to 2 months.

 

To address your question, PMKI, my impression -- and let's just assume that Wimmers had been productive and healthy this season -- was that he was going to be fast-tracked, as in getting called up to AAA at some point this summer, and perhaps making a start or two in Minnesota in September.

 

Obviously, that is not the case now.

[Twins Fan From Afar]

Last night on Twitter, I asked John Shipley of the Pioneer Press whether he had heard any updates on Wimmers, and after checking with sources, this was his reply:

"Still hasn't thrown; still wearing stabilizer."

[Seth Stohs]

Last I had heard, he wasn't feeling any improvement at all. We can hope, but I wonder when they would set some decision date for surgery.

[greengoblinrulz]

they have killed 2 full seasons from him...........this medical staff is amazing. Get it done NOW

[greengoblinrulz]

Started for GCL today. .2IP 4h 3er bb wp

Real story isnt how he performed but how he feels tomorrow

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Jim Rantz said Tuesday that he had "more discomfort" after throwing, so he'll be backed up, according to the Pioneer Press.

 

If I had to guess - and I'm not probably not alone - he'll go under the knife soon and resume throwing late next season, pretty much wasting two full season.

[drjim]

Jim Rantz said Tuesday that he had "more discomfort" after throwing, so he'll be backed up, according to the Pioneer Press.

 

If I had to guess - and I'm not probably not alone - he'll go under the knife soon and resume throwing late next season, pretty much wasting two full season.

Injuries are a bummer. Surgery two months ago wouldn't have made much of a difference, makes sense to do everything possible to avoid surgery.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Wimmers will undergo another MRI. According to TR the elbow is "not good".

[righty8383]

This makes me want to pull my hair out. TJ surgery should have been done in April and everyone knows it but the Twins.

[Twins Fan From Afar]

Well, you feel bad for Wimmers.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

No matter how it's spun, it's unfortunate. Fortunately, TJ surgery isn't a kiss of death anymore. You do wonder, though, how the elbow was feeling as far back as the beginning of last year when he couldn't throw the ball over the plate.

 

I just hope that when April of 2014 rolls around that Wimmers comes out and dominates AA and can help the Twins out. Might be wishful thinking since the last two years have been nothing short of a complete waste.

[greengoblinrulz]

grrrrrrrrrrr........how is it that the Twins are the ONLY peole who didnt see this coming?????

[drjim]

grrrrrrrrrrr........how is it that the Twins are the ONLY peole who didnt see this coming?????

This type of thinking makes me laugh. What are you possibly basing this upon? Do you have any idea how the diagnosis went? Or conversations between medical personnel and Wimmers/his agent? It is probably just as likely, if not more so, that the medical people thought Tommy John was the likely outcome but decided, in conjunction with Wimmers and his agent, that it was worthwhile to pursue other options before getting cut open. I just don't see a problem with this.

[greengoblinrulz]

This type of thinking makes me laugh. What are you possibly basing this upon? Do you have any idea how the diagnosis went? Or conversations between medical personnel and Wimmers/his agent? It is probably just as likely, if not more so, that the medical people thought Tommy John was the likely outcome but decided, in conjunction with Wimmers and his agent, that it was worthwhile to pursue other options before getting cut open. I just don't see a problem with this.

Dont think its a bad thing to waste 2 yrs with recovery rather than 1 year???

If would be different if UCL rehab worked for ANYONE .....they all end up with the surgery, why prolong it

[Twins Fan From Afar]

In news that is surprising to no one, Wimmers underwent Tommy John surgery today.

So, 2013 is shot, at least with respect to pitching in competitive ballgames.

He's an extremely nice guy; best of luck to him in his recovery.