Twins Minor League Report (8/2): Wiel Keeps the Lookouts Going Round and Round

Rooker and Wiel continue to mash at Chattanooga.  Rooker's performance is kind of special considering he was drafted less than 14 months ago. 

Meanwhile, Luis Arraez has hit safely in 9 of his last 10 games with two multi hit games in his last three.  Hitting .342 over that 10 game stretch tells me he is making the adjustment to AA and must be considered a candidate for the Twins second base spot by 2020, if not sometime next year. 

Lewis Thorpe had a solid, if not great, outing last night.  I see he has pitched about 25% more innings than last year.  Will his arm begin to tire and he will be less dominant as the innings build?

I see they worked Raley into the Lookouts lineup in right field with Wiel at first and Rooker in left.  

Rooker and Wiel continue to mash at Chattanooga.  Rooker's performance is kind of special considering he was drafted less than 14 months ago. 

 

Meanwhile, Luis Arraez has hit safely in 9 of his last 10 games with two multi hit games in his last three.  Hitting .342 over that 10 game stretch tells me he is making the adjustment to AA and must be considered a candidate for the Twins second base spot by 2020, if not sometime next year. 

 

Lewis Thorpe had a solid, if not great, outing last night.  I see he has pitched about 25% more innings than last year.  Will his arm begin to tire and he will be less dominant as the innings build?

 

I see they worked Raley into the Lookouts lineup in right field with Wiel at first and Rooker in left.  

Good question about the possiblity of Thorpe starting to get tired as the long season --- well, long for him due to his long period of inactivity --- nears an end. Might it be time for the team to shut him down, or does it really matter?

I realize he's not a prospect, but I'd love to see Willians Astudillo called back up to the major league club again. Seems like all he does is get hits.

Wiel has been consistent all season long.  His OPS is right there with Rooker and Raley how come he gets no top 30 love?  Age? Late Bloomer?  FanGraphs has Jaylin Davis at number 16 on their list and his OPS is much lower than Wiel's. 

 

Wiel has a much better eye at the plate than Rooker and Raley as well as his K rate is 20% and theirs is around 30%.  I know this may be his first standout year but he has been consistently good throughout the year so the numbers do not appear to be flukey.  What will it take for this guy to get some love?

Being a good AA hitter at age 25 doesn't make someone a prospect, particularly when he lacks defensive value. Wiel doesn't project as a Major League contributor and therefore he is not considered to be a noteworthy prospect.

Good question about the possiblity of Thorpe starting to get tired as the long season --- well, long for him due to his long period of inactivity --- nears an end. Might it be time for the team to shut him down, or does it really matter?

I think they keep putting him out there for most of the month.  Try to stretch him out to at least 125+ innings (currently at 103).  That would be four more starts.  Maybe they begin to pull him earlier in the game, although last night he went to 99 pitches.  If they get 125+ this year, he will be on track for 160 or so next year when some of those innings should be at Target Field.

Rooker could be 24 at AA if he starts there next year. So not that much different in age in my mind, but yeah I get your point Wiel will be 26 next year so his prime years are coming. Hard to be much of a prospect when you should be in the majors.  Still his numbers are good this year.

Rooker isn't going to be in AA next year, but in any case his age weighs on his prospect status too. The difference being that Rooker has better tools (particularly power) and is 2 years younger than Wiel at the same level, which is why Rooker is a solid (but not elite) prospect and Wiel is a fringe prospect.

poop. I was really hoping he was being promoted.

You may have hit on it with the first word. It could a prudent "precautionary reason" if the plumbing is bad.

Any update on why Wade left after 3?