2019 Twins Midseason Top Prospect List: 16-20

Surprised Rortvedt slips 2 spots since the pre-season ranking despite having his best year so far.  Being drafted out of high school from Wisconsin its impressive that he's in AA at 21 years old.  More impressive is that he's actually holding his own with the bat.  I think there's a good chance he's Garver's backup by 2021 if he's still in the sytem.

I agree that I’m surprised Rortvedt slipped in the rankings. I believe he’s potentially one of our future stars and Garver May end up His back up catcher.

Out of this list the only guy i would be reluctant to trade for pitching help is Rortvedt.

I'm the other way around. He's probably the keeper on this list. We're lacking catching depth overall. For the right offer, I'd probably trade anyone here, but Rortvedt is the one I'd try to keep.

that is what I was trying to say

Not a lot of problems with this group.  Like most, am excited to see what Blankenhorn does over the next couple years.  Also believe Rortvedt will be sharing the catching duties with Garver by sometime in 2021.

Don't know what to think about Urbina's ranking.  I expect Anthony Escobar won't be included in this Top 40, yet, he was one of the top pitchers in the DSL last year as a 17 year old.  I understand that tools is what gets scouts excited and the big $$$ follows.  But I personally have a problem with basing rankings off the size of the check someone received while not recognizing production in the DSL.  And who knows, I may be shocked to learn that Escobar is in the next group.

Not a lot of problems with this group.  Like most, am excited to see what Blankenhorn does over the next couple years.  Also believe Rortvedt will be sharing the catching duties with Garver by sometime in 2021.

 

Don't know what to think about Urbina's ranking.  I expect Anthony Escobar won't be included in this Top 40, yet, he was one of the top pitchers in the DSL last year as a 17 year old.  I understand that tools is what gets scouts excited and the big $$$ follows.  But I personally have a problem with basing rankings off the size of the check someone received while not recognizing production in the DSL.  And who knows, I may be shocked to learn that Escobar is in the next group.

I'm guessing that Seth and others will reiterate that the DSL and GCL stats need to be taken with a grain of salt. There are tons of examples of prospects statistically shining and then disappearing quickly.

But I'll bet they also have a long list of names they're sort of dreaming on, hoping to see a continuation of positive things as they get to and then past advanced rookie status.

My guess as to some names similar to Escobar, guys who haven't cracked their Top 40 list, names that these guys are watching very closely: Berroa, Leach, Breek, Shulfer, Teng, Winder, Rijo, and maybe Schick, Moises Gomez, Moran.

My pick to click is Erasmo Moreno. 

Maybe later this summer, we'll see an article entitltled "Unranked Pitching Prospects to Watch" or something. Part II: Position Players.

Kinda feels like prospects get pushed down the rankings the higher they ascend in the system in favor of guys who might project better? It's the only reason I can really think of dropping the ranking on Rortvedt who is having a fine season, showing continued improvement at the plate and behind it. Considering how challenging it is for most clubs to develop quality catchers who can actually swing the bat effectively, I wouldn't be thinking about dropping him down.

I think it's fair to push Baddoo down; while it's entirely due to injury, health is a significant factor in a) the development time of a player, and their ability to contribute. This may not impact him long-term, but it is going to cost him a year of development time and that can start to get important when you start factoring in the 40-man.

I was ready to give up on Blankenhorn. I wasn't seeing much that was going to make him an impact player, and I'm thrilled to be wrong. He seems to have thoroughly re-worked his approach and unlocked his power potential. Great news for a guy i thought was on the verge of flaming out.

Alcala is way too high (again). He’s simply not that good.. but everyone loves the velo. He doesn’t know how to pitch. I called this in the beginning of the season. And he’s back to rocking an unimpressive 5.65 era. And I still maintain he ends up a pen guy.

Trying to decipher anything from DSL stats is incredibly difficult, in my opinion. If you take a look back at the best 17-year-old pitchers from the 2010-14 DSL Twins I'd bargain you'll find some impressive performances and not a whole lot of future success.

 

Now if you want to turn that same argument against Urbina, I get it. I had him down lower than anyone else, but some of the reports on him are very enticing. This is very difficult, especially when it comes to teenagers who haven't played stateside or recent draftees (which you can expect to see more of in the next installments of these rankings).

I understand what you are saying, Tom.  

Followed Escobar closely last year looking at every appearance.  Did some research of which I don't recall the specifics.  But of the three or four biggest names coming thru the system recently, I believe only Graterol had awesome numbers...but not as good as Escobar.  A couple others, like Romero, were good but not eye popping...which Escobar was.

The other thing that was impressive was that if memory serves, he was one of the top two or three pitchers in the league for ERA, WHIP, and some other stats.  I recall that only one of that upper group was also 17.  

Although I agree with you totally that a lot of numbers in the DSL aren't all that meaningful.  But Escobar separated himself from almost all other pitchers in the league last year and Twins who have come thru the DSL over the past half dozen years. 

I totally understand not following and ranking a lot of guys from the DSL. But this kid had a special year which is why I am so excited to see if he can back it up in Florida this summer...and yesterday was a very good first outing.