Predicting the Twins 40 Man Roster Additions

Let’s get started… but first, who is eligible for the Rule 5 draft if not protected on a 40 man roster?

• Players signed at the age of 18 or less in 2012 (signed before end of minor league season)
  
• Players signed at the age of 19 or more in 2013
  
• Players signed under the first two categories in previous years.
  

A player needs to be evaluated based on 1) his talent and ceiling, and 2) his likelihood of being lost in the Rule 5 draft and kept by that team throughout the season.

Here are the ten players I believe are most likely to be selected, in order of likelihood.

#1 – RHP Fernando Romero

The Twins, and every team in baseball, are looking for ace, power pitchers. If there’s one guy in the system who could be that, it is Fernando Romero. He missed two seasons due to Tommy John surgery and a knee surgery, but h came back in May this year and was tremendous in Cedar Rapids and Ft. Myers. He’s got a mid-to-upper-90s fastball, a slider and a changeup. This is the easiest choice of many good choices right now. (He was my #2 Twins prospect after the season.) He signed with the Twins in November of 2011 from the Dominican Republic.

#2 – C Mitch Garver

Catchers are incredibly valuable too. As we know, it’s hard to find catchers that can hit and field, and Garver fits into that category. He’s always been able to hit. He was our choice for Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Year in 2014 in Cedar Rapids. In 2015, he played well in Chattanooga and in Rochester. Where he has made the biggest strides is defensively. It showed up this year in the pitch framing stats and in his caught stealing percentage. Like Romero, adding Garver to the 40-man roster is a no-brainer. He was the Twins 9th round pick in 2013 out of New Mexico.

#3 – OF Daniel Palka

Yes, he strikes out a ton, and he hits for tremendous power. His 35 homers between Chattanooga and Rochester in 2016 make him a pretty easy choice. He appears to be a left-handed version of Adam Brett Walker. Palka came to the Twins a year ago at this time from Arizona in exchange for Chris Herrmann. Herrmann had a terrific 2016 season for the Diamondbacks but the Twins have to feel good about the trade so far. He was Arizona’s 3rd round pick in 2013 out of Georgia Tech.

#4 – RHP Felix Jorge

Jorge is still just 22. He signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2010. Since a tough 2014 in Cedar Rapids, Jorge has been remarkably consistent. In 2015, he completed six innings in 19 of his 22 starts and never went less than five innings. In 14 starts for Ft. Myers in 2016, he went 9-3 with a 1.84 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP. He worked six or more innings 13 out of 14 times. In 11 starts in Chattanooga, he worked six or more innings in eight of 11 starts (including his final six starts). He went at least five innings in all 25 of his starts.He has a very easy, smooth motion and delivery, but he can surprise hitters by throwing 93 at times. He throws a ton of strikes and mixes his pitches very well. He was left unprotected a year ago. If he is this time, he’ll very likely be lost.

#5 – OF Zack Granite

Granite was the Twins choice for 2016 Minor League Player of the Year. He was the Twins 14th round pick in 2013 out of Seton Hall. After an injury-plaqued 2014 he began 2014 in Cedar Rapids. After a month, he went to the Miracle and played all right. It was somewhat surprising when he began 2016 in Chattanooga, but he took advantage of it. He was their everyday leadoff man. He puts together terrific at bats consistently and profiles as a leadoff hitter. His 56 stolen bases led all of minor league baseball. He can play center field and has great range, though his arm (and Byron Buxton) would push him to left field. (He had a Rock Solid 2016. Here are his thoughts on the season.)

#6 – SS Engelb Vielma

Vielma signed with the Twins on September 8, 2011, out of Venezuela. Had he signed a week sooner, he would have been Rule 5 eligible last year. Instead, this is the first year he could be added. The rail-thin shortstop is one of the better defensive shortstops in minor league baseball. He’s got the range and a powerful arm and great instincts. He is also a leader in the infield. Will he hit? That is the question. After hitting .270 (.617) in 2015 in Ft. Myers, he hit .271 (.663) in AA Chattanooga this year. Vielma has very little power, so he will need to find a way to get on base. But his defense is his calling card. (A year ago, he did a Q&A for Twins Daily)

#7 – C Stuart Turner

Not all that long ago, catchers were completely defense-minded. As we know, catcher depth is very important to a team. Turner does a terrific job behind the plate, working with pitchers, calling a game and controlling the running game. He spent the last two seasons in Chattanooga. In 2015, he hit .223 (.628) and in 2016, he hit .239 (.686). He did so by increasing his power. He went from 13 to 22 doubles, and he went from four to six homers. At 6-2 and 220 pounds, Turner generally puts together quality at bats and does have the potential to hit some. But, defense is what matters most behind the plate, and Turner has that ability. He was the Twins 3rd round pick in 2013 out of Ole Miss. (Here's a Get To Know Him article on Turner from March 2014.)

#8 – RH RP DJ Baxendale

Baxendale was the Twins 10th round pick in 2012 out of Arkansas. He signed shortly after the Razorbacks’ College World Series run that year. He’s been a starter most of his career. After an all-star first half in Chattanooga this year, he moved up to Rochester and into their bullpen. It was at that time that he took off. As a starter in AA this year, he struck out 6.6 per nine innings. Out of the bullpen in AAA, he struck out 10.3 per nine innings. He’s got a good fastball in the low-90s and a terrific slider. With those two pitches, he could develop into a good reliever.

#9 – LHP Jason Wheeler

Wheeler, the Twins 8th round pick in 2011 out of Loyola Marymount, was added to the Twins 40-man roster two years ago. Late in that season, he was removed and pitched the Lookouts to the Southern League championship. That’s where he began again in 2016, but he was good for four starts and the Twins had three AAA starters already in the big leagues. Wheeler went to AAA and pitched very well. He was the International League’s starting pitcher in the AAA All-Star Game. He posted a 3.53 ERA in 145.1 innings with the Red Wings. At 6-7, Wheeler has good size. He doesn’t throw real hard, though occasionally hits 94. (Here is a Get To Know Him article on Wheeler from May 2014.)

#10 – RHP Aaron Slegers

Slegers is the tallest member of the Twins organization. The 6-11 right-hander has progressed at a steady pace since the Twins selected him in the 5th round of the 2013 draft out of Indiana where he was the Big 10 Pitcher of the Year. He spent a year in Cedar Rapids, a year in Ft. Myers and he spent the 2016 season in Chattanooga. With the Lookouts, he went 10-7 with a 3.41 ERA.

OTHER ELIGIBLES:

RHP Nick Anderson, RHP Luke Bard, OF Edgar Corcino, RHP Ryan Eades, OF JJ Fernandez, RHP Sam Gibbons, RHP Miguel Gonzalez, IF/OF Niko Goodrum, OF Travis Harrison, 1B Dalton Hicks, LHP David Hurlbut, RHP Zack Jones, 2B Levi Michael, 1B Amaurys Minier, RHP Alex Muren, RHP Brandon Peterson, RHP Williams Ramirez, RHP Dereck Rodriguez, LHP Lewis Thorpe, 2B Rafael Valera, RHP Todd Van Steensel, 2B Ryan Walker.

Of that group, Lewis Thorpe is intriguing. He’s got the talent and upside, but he hasn’t pitched for two seasons. Dereck Rodriguez is certainly one to watch. He’s got upside, but despite being 23, he’s still very raw as a pitcher. Zack Jones was drafted a year ago. He’s a candidate to be selected again, though less likely than a year ago. Amaurys Minier signed a big bonus, but he hasn’t even played full-season ball yet.

For me, I’d think the first six are the ones that will likely be added with Turner and Baxendale right on the bubble. Looking at it this way is interesting because it’s easy to say “I would protect (this guy) or (that guy),” but it’s hard without factoring in who would need to be removed from the 40-man roster to make room or which other guys need to be added.

What do you think? How many do you think will be added?

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!