2016 Rochester Red Wings Opening Day Roster Revealed

Several of the Minnesota Twins’ top prospects will begin the season with the Red Wings. Many of them are likely to spend time attempting to help the Minnesota Twins to their first playoff berth since 2010. As you look at this roster, it does help illustrate the type of depth that this organization has. That is something you will see through each of the four affiliates.

THE COACHING STAFF

Mike Quade returns for his second season as the Red Wings manager. The 59-year-old began coaching over 30 years ago and was the manager of the Chicago Cubs in 2010 and 2011. He will be joined on his staff by a couple of new coaches. Hitting Coach Chad Allen continues to work his way up the system. The former Twins outfielder was the Twins AA hitting coach the last three seasons. He has worked with several of the players on this roster. The pitching coach is Stu Cliburn. It is his 25th year in the Twins organization. He has been in the organization for well over a decade, the last several seasons in AA. He returns to Rochester where he was the pitching coach from 2006 to 2008.

THE ROSTER

The Rochester Red Wings roster is comprised of a good mix of young, high-ceiling prospects, some minor league veterans and everywhere in between. They are likely to be led by 2015 All Stars James Beresford and Taylor Rogers, but this is a nice, complete roster. (names in bold are on the 40 man roster)

PROJECTED STARTING PITCHERS

1. Tyler Duffey
   
2. Jose Berrios
   
3. Logan Darnell
   
4. Pat Dean
   
5. Alex Meyer
   

Duffey’s name was written in pencil for a spot in the Twins rotation, but he struggled immensely with all of his pitchers this spring and will begin the season with the Red Wings.It is likely he won’t need to be there long. That said, it could be a race to the big leagues now between Duffey and Jose Berrios, one of baseball’s best pitching prospects. Berrios struggled with command this spring, but that hasn’t been an issue for him in the past. Expect him to put up strong numbers early again and to be up in the season’s first half.Let’s hope he’s not starting the 2016 Futures Game.

Lefty Pat Dean was had a rough 2014 season in AA, but he was still pushed to Rochester last year. He had a terrific season and would up being added to the 40-man roster. The lefty will be joined in the rotation by fellow southpaw Logan Darnell. He began last year in the bullpen but moved back to the rotation and had an incredible month. In fact, some onlookers said that it was the best he had pitched as a pro. He was called up to the Twins but pneumonia meant that the Kentucky product didn’t pitch. He came off the 40 man but when he cleared, he went to big league camp and was among the final cuts.

Finally, after being one of the best International League starters in 2014, Alex Meyer had a frustrating 2015 that found him in the bullpen. He debuted with the Twins, but it lasted just two outings. He gets another shot to start in 2016, though it may be just as an attempt to build arm strength, work on pitches and work out of more situations.

PROJECTED RELIEF PITCHERS

Right-Handers: JR Graham, Brandon Kintzler, Loek Van Mil, David Martinez

Left-Handers: Buddy Boshers, Ryan O’Rourke, Taylor Rogers, Dan Runzler

The Twins certainly went out and acquired lots of left-handers in the offseason, and most of them pitched well and will stick as the season starts. But there are good right-handed arms too.

Let’s start with the guys on the 40-man roster. JR Graham and the Twins have been freed of the Rule 5 restrictions that caused him to need to stay in the big leagues throughout 2015. Hopefully Graham will be able to respond as well as Ryan Pressly did in the same scenario a few seasons ago. Ryan O’Rourke was called up midway through last season. He performed admirably against left-handers as he has throughout his career. He had a great camp. Rogers has been a quality starting pitching prospect since being drafted, but he went to big league camp with an opportunity to pitch out of the bullpen. After a slow start, he pitched well later. It is likely all three will surface with the Twins in 2016.

Veteran Brandon Kintzler was among the final cuts. After missing most of last season, he signed a minor league deal with the Twins. If needed, he could be called up early in the season. Van Mil was with the Twins a half-decade ago until he was traded to the Angels for Brian Fuentes. He became a journeyman at that point but returned to the Twins late last year. 28-year-old David Martinez came to the Twins this year on a minor league deal. He pitched in a combined nine games for the Astros in 2013 and 2014. Buddy Boshers and Dan Runzler were both signed out of independent leagues, and both impressed in spring training. They throw hard and each have good breaking balls. If they get to the big leagues, it will mark a great story.

PROJECTED LINEUP

1. James Beresford 2B (expect that Beresford will play all around the infield)
   
2. Jorge Polanco 3B (Polanco will likely play 3B, 2B, SS, and even some OF)
   
3. Max Kepler LF (Kepler will play all three outfield positions)
   
4. Kennys Vargas 1B (will also be able to DH)
   
5. Reynaldo Rodriguez RF (can play both corners and first base)
   
6. Darin Mastroianni CF (will play all three OF positions)
   
7. Adam Brett Walker DH (will eventually get some time in LF, maybe 1B)
   
8. John Hicks C (We’ll see Juan Centeno’s name in the lineup quite a bit too)
   
9. Wilfredo Tovar (primary SS, but will play 2B and 3B as well)
   

BENCH - Heiker Meneses, Stephen Wickens, Buck Britton, Juan Centeno

This lineup has a good mixture of guys with plenty of AAA experience. A year ago, Beresford played in the AAA All Star game in 2015 and was named to the International Leagues’ Postseason All Star team. Reynaldo Rodriguez joined him on the Postseason All Star team. This spring, he helped the Colombian WBC team qualify for next year’s competition. Darin Mastroianni had a terrific spring training this year, hitting over .400 while playing all around the outfield. Wilfredo Tovar has big league time with the Mets in recent years. Known for his defense, he’ll bat lower in the lineup.

There are also a couple of highly ranked prospects in this lineup. After a breakout season last year in Chattanooga, he was the Southern League MVP, Max Kepler is now a consensus Top 60 prospect in baseball. Jorge Polanco’s bat is MLB ready, but he needs to find a position he can play regularly. Adam Brett Walker has been discussed frequently in the Twins Daily forums because of his immense power and propensity to swing and miss.

THE PROSPECTS

Even with Tyler Duffey, Miguel Sano, Trevor May and Eddie Rosario all having graduated from prospect status, but the system is still strong. This Rochester roster has a couple of elite prospects and several players with tremendous upside.

Here is a quick look at which Red Wings found their names in a variety of Twins Prospect Rankings and then which rank in the national rankings.

Twins Prospect Rankings

Twins Daily Top 10: Berrios (2), Kepler (3), Polanco (7), Meyer (8)

Seth Stohs Top 30: Berrios (2), Kepler (3), Polanco (8), Walker (10), Meyer (14), Rogers (17),

Jeremy Nygaard Top 30: Berrios (2), Kepler (3), Polanco (5), Walker (12), Meyer (14), Rogers (15),

Cody Christie Top 30: Berrios (2), Kepler (3), Polanco (6), Walker (11), Meyer (15), Rogers (17)

Nick Nelson Top 10: Berrios (2), Kepler (3), Polanco (8), Meyer (9)

Steve Buhr Top 15: Berrios (2), Kepler (3), Polanco (8), Rogers (10)

Baseball America Top 31: Berrios (2), Kepler (3), Polanco (6), Meyer (12), Rogers (14), Walker (17)

FanGraphs Top 25: Berrios (2), Kepler (4), Polanco (5), Meyer (8), Rogers (16), Walker (25)

Keith Law Top 20: Berrios (2), Kepler (3), Polanco (6), Meyer (10)

John Sickels Top 20: Berrios (2), Kepler (3), Polanco (6), Walker (8), Meyer (11)

Aaron Gleeman Top 40: Berrios (2), Kepler (3), Polanco (6), Walker (13), Meyer (14), Rogers (22), O’Rourke (38), Dean (40)

Ted Schwerzler Top 15: Berrios (2), Kepler (5), Rogers (8), Walker (11), Meyer (12)

MLB.com Top 30: Berrios (2), Kepler (3), Polanco (6), Walker (11), Meyer (12), Rogers (14)

Baseball Essentials Top 20: Berrios (3), Kepler (5), Polanco (6), Walker (10), Meyer (11)

Twins in National Prospect Rankings

Baseball America: Berrios (28), Kepler (30), Polanco (99)

MLB.com: Berrios (19), Kepler (44), Polanco (97)

Baseball Prospectus: Berrios (17), Kepler (60),

KATOH (FanGraphs): Kepler (1), Berrios (18), Gordon (82), Polanco (89)

PREDICTIONS

First Hitter Promoted to Twins: 1.) Jorge Polanco, 2.) Max Kepler

First Starting Pitcher Promoted to Twins: 1.) Tyler Duffey, 2.) JO Berrios

First Relief Pitcher Promoted to Twins: 1.) Brandon Kintzler, 2.) Ryan O’Rourke

TWITTER FOLLOWS

Rochester Red Wings: @RocRedWings

Radio Voice: @JoshWhetzel

Red Wings Radio Show: @RWRadioShow

Beat Writer - Democrat & Chronicle: @KevinoDandC

Also: @njrowan, @MorrieSilver8, @CJFee

Interested in learning more about the Minnesota Twins' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!