Twins Non-Roster Spring Training Invites

I read on FG that Buxton might be more hurt than we know.....but it sounded like speculation. Anyone got anything on this? Like, he might have a broken collarbone, is what I believe I read.

Add Nick Punto to the list as a minor league deal with a ST invite.

 

He was just released from the A's. 

Twins went from 3rd to tied for 1st  when Hunter and Santana left the team.  Twins went from first to worst when LNP left.   Just sayin.

I don't think Walker is being disrespected at all. The whole purpose, generally speaking, of bringing someone to camp on an invite basis, is you expect that individual to have a legitimate shot at playing time some point during that year: AAA call up, AA up to AAA and then a call up or September promotion, etc.

No matter how talented and productive Walker has been thus far...and I'm a fan...he has holes in his swing to work on, and the odds are pretty doubtful he sees the majors at any point this season. And besides, a lot of kids not actually "invited" still make appearances in the big games at the behest of staff, or to fill up a roster for SS games, or both.

A few thoughts:

Hamburger still throws hard, and has some actual ML experience. There is a LOT of RHRP competition for the pen this spring, and we never talk about him. He just might be a surprise.

Speaking of surprises, if O'Rourke is as good against LHers as we hear, he might also surprise, though I think it would require the Twins keeping 3 lefties instead of two.

Ortiz is a guy who has flown under the radar most of his career thus far, and yet, he seems to always put of OK numbers and work his way up the ladder. Though not a prospect close to their league, I wonder if he might see the majors before either Rosario or Buxton.

Does anyone have a solid scouting report on Farris? I know he's nothing special, but he can play 2B, was suddenly transformed in to a CF last season, and actually seemed to perform reasonably well. Is there any chance he could be a versatile, 25th man type?

Disappointed for AB Walker

2 League Championships (2012 & 2014)

Best Record in Minors / MiLB (2013)

Averages: 33 HRs / 124 RBI / 102 Runs / 82% SB Rate / .310 OBP

Midwest League MVP

Mid Season and Post Season All Star 2013 & 2014

Only Spring Training Game (2 for 2 w/Double and HR)

Never Promoted

No AFL appearances

 

Being a Top 20 Prospect in your 4th season really doesn't mean much within the Twins organization.  How helpful would it have been to learn under Brunansky and Hunter and Vavra and Glynn and Molitor for a kid with "All Star Potential".  Talk about killing a kids spirit.  WOW

Dogs get bigger bones thrown at them than this kid

Disregard the team stats you state.  That is not Walker.  

See that .310 OBP? That is a huge issue.  Have a look at his strikeouts last season: 156. About 4 Ks every 3 games.  That is another issue and it really gets bad, since he does not get on base at a decent clip.   So the kid needs to learn to take pitches and get on base.  There are better prospects left out of the invite, so there is no space for complaining...

Everyone will get a look. But you do have to watch who you bring early to camp. Only so much playing time, folks. And then you start rewarding guys as the roadtrips happen. But your first concern are the guys on the 40-man. You want to see them and send them out soon. If they get disabled, they start the year with a major league salary. Looks like the Twins a pretty set on their minors rosters. They have enough guys to fill the first three levels easily with some spare change. Lots of people at Beloit/extended spring training.

Wouldn't do me any good if I was .   Just waiting on the kid to get a bone.

Any kind a bone.  He must be destined for the Nylabone (No Taste Walker).

 

I watched him in Cedar Rapids and became a huge fan.  I feel like I'm a great judge of talent and it just kills me that I'm the only one to be on his band wagon.  I guess that's my hang up.  I get where everyone is coming from - I'm just disappointed because I have never seen the kid shown any tangible love during his career.   I wanted him to practice with the MLB coaches and not just play in a couple of games (1 week). 

 

Still waiting on rationale for an individual who can have such a terrible OBP yet rank 1st or 2nd on his team in runs scored every year (on championship teams)?  What is the saber metric justification for that result.  I would argue that he probably has as many full counts as anyone on the team as well.  His problem to me is that he is not aggressive enough.  Those are one of the questions I would love to hear what management thinks.  Please ask that one day Seth if you get a chance.

I don't think you are the only one on his bandwagon. There are a number of people on this board who really like him. I think the big difference is that while we all recognize he has undeniable talent, most of us recognize that he's got a few big issues that need to be mitigated if he's going to even make it to the big leagues, namely contact. He strikes out too much and walks way too little. Whether that is due to a hole in his swing or a lack of plate discipline (or both), I'm not sure. But bottom line is that right now, he has no chance of making the team and very little chance of being a productive major leaguer in 2015. I don't see how it's a slight to not invite him in this situation. He has a lot more work to do than guys like Buxton and Sano, and he's showed far less success than either of them in his league relative to age.

Don't get me wrong, if he figures out the contact problems, he could be an absolute stud. He's still a very good prospect, but at the end of the day, he's not ready.

Actually, they kept 3 LH relievers last year - Perkins, Duensing and Theilbar.  All 3 are likely to be back, unless they trade Duensing.  It's also unknown what they'll do with Milone.

I should have been more clear on this. I don't count Perkins as a LH in the pen, he is simply Da Closer. I was referencing three additional LH in the pen vs the two we have normally kept.

Hamburger will get his chance during the season if he produces in the minors. He's probably drawing a decent salary, and the Twins will give him every opportunity, if they need to, avoid adding a long-term guy to the roster.

Anyone catch that the Twins have signed lefty Will Ledezma to a minor league contract?