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    Coming Soon: Jose Berrios

    Nick Nelson

    By Nick Nelson

    This season we have already seen two of Minnesota's "Big Three" prospects debut in the majors, with Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano both taking the big step.

    It's beginning to look very likely that we will see the third in a Twins uniform in the near future – perhaps as soon as this weekend.

    Image courtesy of Tommy Gilligan, USA Today

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    After delivering his best outing yet for Rochester on Saturday, firing seven scoreless innings with nine strikeouts, Jose Berrios now sports numbers in Triple-A that are equally impressive to the ones he posted in Double-A before being promoted. And when I say equal, I mean almost eerily identical:

    Berrios at AA: 15 GS, 90.2 IP, 3.08 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 9.1 K/9, 2.4 BB/9, 0.6 HR/9, .232 BAA

    Berrios at AAA: 7 GS, 44.2 IP, 3.02 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 8.7 K/9, 2.4 BB/9, 0.6 HR/9, .232 BAA

    Despite becoming the youngest pitcher in the International League at age 21, Berrios has transitioned without skipping a beat. He has completed seven innings in four of his last five starts and has a 1.59 ERA during that span. He's big-league ready.

    The Twins currently have an opening in their rotation with Tommy Milone on the disabled list and Tyler Duffey back in Triple-A after one bad start. Milone is expected to come off the disabled list when he's eligible on Sunday, but that leaves the Twins needing a spot starter on Saturday (or before), unless they want to start Kyle Gibson on short rest, which seems inadvisable considering how he's pitched lately.

    Calling Berrios up to make one start doesn't really make sense, since it would mean adding him to the 40-man roster (there is currently a vacancy) and burning an option to send him back down, but it's easy to see a scenario where the Twins simply keep him around. His workload will soon become a consideration (he's currently at 135 innings, nearly eclipsing last year's career-high 139), so there's benefit in transitioning him into a temporary long relief role for the time being.

    And the Twins do look like a team that's going to be needing another starter soon, even with Milone set to return and fill out the rotation. Phil Hughes has been suffering from dead arm, with velocity dropping and results reflecting. Mike Pelfrey has been throwing batting practice for about two months. Milone had a 7.98 post-break ERA prior to landing on the shelf.

    There are big-picture arguments against calling Berrios up this year, mostly relating to the control of his service clock. But he's an impact player, and while you can make a good case that the fledgling Twins should already be throwing in the towel, they likely feel an obligation – to their players and their fans – to make a legitimate push as long they're within the range of contention. Berrios might be the only prospect left in the system that could actually make a meaningful difference in the team's fortunes the rest of the way.

    So I think a Berrios appearance this week seems like a pretty good bet. He's done everything that could be asked of him in the minors, and while he would become the youngest pitcher to start a game in the big leagues this year, there are plenty of indications that he's up to the challenge.

    Nick is a co-founder of Twins Daily who's been writing about the team for more than 15 years.
    Follow Nick Nelson on Twitter: NickNelsonMN

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    Featured Comments

    Otto von Ballpark

    Otto von Ballpark 20,382

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

    They've said he's going to stay in the bullpen the rest of this year and will start again next season.

    If May stays in the pen the rest of 2015, and his pen usage is consistent with the last couple weeks, he will finish with around 120 IP total for the year. This after 144 IP in 2014, and a pro high of 165.

     

    Are we going to hear next year about how we have to control *his* innings? Or look for him tiring down the stretch in 2016? May in the pen is a win now move for 2015, but I wish we were prepared to move him back yet this year once "win now" is no longer a concern.

    tobi0040

    tobi0040 4,125

  • Verified Member

    • Posted (edited)

     

    I wish we were prepared to move him back yet this year once "win now" is no longer a concern.

     

    Since we are in wish mode, I wish we would have signed an actual good reliever or two this off-season instead of say Stauffer.  Then we would not have had to move May in the first place.

     

    For those counting at home.  Instead of paying $4M on a reliever, we spend $2.25M on Stauffer.  That $1.75M cost us a 6.60 ERA out of the pen and when it is all said and done, about 15 starts for May.

    Edited by tobi0040
    diehardtwinsfan

    diehardtwinsfan 14,830

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

    May has never gone more than 2 IP since moving to the pen. The last time he went more than 1 inning was July 22nd. That ship has sailed for 2015, I think.

     

    Btw, he hasn't been scored on since that last 2 inning outing, his WHIP is down as a reliever over starter by more than .1, and his K/BB has doubled. He's been 96 or better every outing.

     

    I would give serious consideration to letting him stay in the pen.

    My bad on the innings. I thought he pitched a bunch in one of those blow outs... Anyways, sorry, but I'll disagree on the conclusion. He's got top of the rotation potential. I could see him staying in the pen for the rest of the year (personally disagree, but whatever), but I think going back to a starter, especially with some experience in the pen is beneficial for both him and the team long term. Now if you don't see improvement over the next season or so, I think the pen might be the right answer.

    Loosey

    Loosey 1,806

  • Verified Member

    • Posted (edited)

    The Twins could have a very nice young core of starting pitchers should Berrios continue his ascension at the MLB level in 2015-2016.  If he does, Berrios could become that true #1 starter the Twins have lacked since Johan. They have 2 borderline #2 guys in May and Gibson when they are both pitching to their potential.  Then the rotation is rounded out by two solid veterans in Hughes and Santana. 

     

    This offseason the Twins can actually go spend money on other areas of need instead of starting pitchers like they have the last two offseason.  Perhaps another middle of the order bat??

    Edited by Loosey
    jimbo92107

    jimbo92107 8,175

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    Totally agree. Hard to believe he's only 21 when watching him. Outstanding mound presence, doesn't seem to get rattled, holds runners with the best of them. FO needs to see what they have with Pelfrey gone next year. They were probably smart not having him start in Toronto against that line up. I'd bring him up and finish the year with the Twins.

    Agreed, but like others I'm a little leery of his innings. TR said he doesn't have Jose Barrios on a specific innings count, but I'm sure they'll be keeping a close eye on him.

     

    I like that Berrios already has the makings of a complete pitcher. His delivery is deceptive, he varies speeds on his pitches, and he's even good at picking off runners.

     

    Question: Did the Twins really "develop" this kid, or were they just really perceptive/lucky to find him? It sounds like Berrios had the fiery ambition right from the start. Maybe that's a factor the scouts should be looking for.

    twinssouth

    twinssouth 471

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

    Great question, Twins have a Puerto Rico scout, I think he also covers South Florida but not sure. Berrios was well known with MLB, as the Yankees were all over him. This is one of the few times I credit the Twins in drafting. Berrios had a 95 FB and good curve coming out of high school but his determination has gotten him this far. I was hoping the Twins would take McCullers from Tampa but darn if the Astros got him so then I hoped they take Berrios and about fell off my chair when Twins picked him.

    Dantes929

    Dantes929 4,640

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    Since we are in wish mode, I wish we would have signed an actual good reliever or two this off-season instead of say Stauffer.  Then we would not have had to move May in the first place.

     

    For those counting at home.  Instead of paying $4M on a reliever, we spend $2.25M on Stauffer.  That $1.75M cost us a 6.60 ERA out of the pen and when it is all said and done, about 15 starts for May.

    I am ok with the conclusion but the premise is not correct as I understand it.    Twins did not move May to the pen out of need to bolster the pen but to open a spot for Santana.    This is supported by the fact that he hasn't really been used as a guy that was moved to bolster the pen.   He has been used as a guy that they are not sure what to do with.    If the staff comes around and we are in more close games and May becomes the 8th inning guy  at least we would get some value out of our pitcher with the best combination of stuff and control though I would prefer he be our 7th and 8th inning guy. 

    Otto von Ballpark

    Otto von Ballpark 20,382

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

     

    I am ok with the conclusion but the premise is not correct as I understand it.    Twins did not move May to the pen out of need to bolster the pen but to open a spot for Santana.    This is supported by the fact that he hasn't really been used as a guy that was moved to bolster the pen.

    I think it could have been for both reasons.  Initially they didn't use him as a leverage guy, but the past few weeks he has been in the mix for those appearances (although we've had so many blowout losses, those appearances are few and far between).

     

    Might have still happened with a better pen, although it could have happened a little differently -- maybe they keep him stretched out better for return(s) to starting in 2015.

    tobi0040

    tobi0040 4,125

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    I am ok with the conclusion but the premise is not correct as I understand it.    Twins did not move May to the pen out of need to bolster the pen but to open a spot for Santana.    This is supported by the fact that he hasn't really been used as a guy that was moved to bolster the pen.   He has been used as a guy that they are not sure what to do with.    If the staff comes around and we are in more close games and May becomes the 8th inning guy  at least we would get some value out of our pitcher with the best combination of stuff and control though I would prefer he be our 7th and 8th inning guy. 

     

    I think the bridge, 7-8th inning issues we were having had something to do with May going to the pen. 

     

     

    Otto von Ballpark

    Otto von Ballpark 20,382

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

     

    I think the bridge, 7-8th inning issues we were having had something to do with May going to the pen. 

    Agreed.  Hypothetically, if we had better set-up options, maybe we're more likely to move Pelfrey or Milone to a bullpen role, for non-setup work, rather than May.  (In fact, we did briefly plan to move Pelfrey to the pen this spring, when we presumably thought our set-up options would be better than they turned out to be.)



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