Image courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, USA Today
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Let’s get to it. Before we get to our Top 6 starting pitchers for the month of April, here is a list of several others who deserve to be recognized for a solid first month.
HONORABLE MENTION
- David Hurlbut - Rochester - 3 GS, 17.1 IP, 1-2, 1.04 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 3.1 BB/9, 7.3 K/9
- Fernando Romero - Chattanooga - 5 G, 4 GS, 24.1, 2.96 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 4.1 BB/9, 9.2 K/9
- Eduardo Del Rosario - Cedar Rapids - 4 GS, 19.2 IP, 2-1, 2.75 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9, 11.4 K/9
THE TOP SIX STARTING PITCHERS
#6 - David Fischer - Ft. Myers Miracle - 4 GS, 2-0, 0.95 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 19.0 IP, 17 H, 6 BB, 25 K
Fischer was drafted three times before signing with the Washington Nationals in 2012. He spent three seasons in their organization. He has pitched in independent leagues the last two years. The Twins signed him to a minor league deal before this season.
The 27-year-old was assigned to Ft. Myers, and as you would hope, he’s doing well against hitters three to seven years younger than he is. He worked just 19 innings over four starts, but he limited runs well. In his first two starts, he worked nine shutout innings. In his past two starts, he has given up two runs over ten innings. Opponents are hitting .243 (.649) off him.
#5 -
Clark Beeker
- Cedar Rapids Kernels - 4 GS, 3-1, 1.69 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 26.2 IP, 24 H, 2 BB, 20 K
Beeker was the Twins 33rd-round draft pick last June after four years at Davidson University. He was sent to the GCL where he worked 32.1 innings in 12 games (one start). He then jumped up to Elizabethton where he made two starts. Combined, he posted a 2.47 ERA in 43.2 innings. He walked just 10 and struck out 52. Opponents have hit .242 off of him, but his control and command keep him out of trouble.
In April in Cedar Rapids, he was consistent. He completed seven innings in his first three starts. He was on his way there on Sunday, but the Kernels game in Peoria was rained out after just five innings of shutout ball.
Get to know more about Clark Beeker in his Twins Daily Q&A
from November.
#4 -
Tyler Wells
- Cedar Rapids Kernels - 4 GS, 2-0, 1.88 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 24.0 IP, 17 H, 7 BB, 32 K
The 6-8 right-hander was the Twins 15th-round pick last year out of Cal State-San Bernadino. He started out slowly in Elizabethton last season, but he ended strong. In his final three starts, he went 18.1 innings without allowing a run while walking five and striking out 23.
Opponents hit just .193 (.545) off of him in April. He went just four innings in his first start, but his next three games were all quality starts. Over those three starts, he walked three and struck out 26 batters in 20 innings. The 22-year-old throws in the low-90s with a good slider and a good 12-6 curveball.
Learn more about Tyler Wells in
this Twins Daily Q&A
from December.
#3 -
Sean Poppen
- Cedar Rapids Kernels - 4 GS, 0-0, 1.67 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 27.0 IP, 19 H, 4 BB, 28 K
Another Kernels starter, Poppen was the Twins 19th-round pick last year out of Harvard where he majored in chemistry and physics, engineering sciences. After eight starts and a 2.97 ERA in Elizabethton, he posted a 2.12 ERA in four games in Cedar Rapids.
He’s been terrific for the Kernels to start this season. He is four-for-four in quality starts. He’s had good control and he’s been able to work out of some tough situations, often with a big strikeout. Opponents have hit just .188 (.481) against him so far. He has a fastball in the low-90s, touching 94 at times. He also throws a slider and a changeup.
#2 - Nik Turley - Chattanooga Lookouts - 4 G, 2 GS, 0-1, 0.44 ERA, 0.54 WHIP, 20.1 IP, 4 H, 6 BB, 36 K
Turley was the 50th-round draft pick of the New York Yankees in the 2008 draft. He worked his way up the ladder and was the organization’s minor league pitcher of the year in 2012. Following the season, he was added to their 40-man roster. In early 2014, he was let go by the Yankees. He’s pitched in the Giants and Red Sox organizations since, and spent much of last season in the Atlantic League.
The Twins signed Turley this offseason without an invitation to major league camp. After spring training, he was sent to AA Chattanooga where he began the season in the bullpen. He’s been a strikeout machine since the season started. He worked four innings in his first appearance out of the bullpen. He gave up one hit and struck out ten. His next game was also out of the bullpen. He struck out eight in 4.1 scoreless innings. His other two appearances have been starts in doubleheaders. He worked five scoreless innings in his first start. In his next start, he struck out 14 batters in seven innings, though he did give up his first run of the year and took a tough-luck loss. Soon after, he was promoted to Rochester, though he has yet to make an appearance for the Red Wings.
And the Twins Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Month is:
Rochester Red Wings – RHP Jose Berrios - 5 GS, 2-0, 1.09 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 33.0 IP, 18 H, 8 BB, 35 K
Jose Berrios is no stranger to winning Twins Daily Awards. He’s won several monthly awards, and he was the choice for Twins Daily Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year in 2014 and 2015. He is again our choice for April.
Jose Berrios is proud to be from Puerto Rico, and there was no way he was going to miss out on the opportunity to play with friends and countrymen in the WBC. He made one start, but then was used more sporadically. So when he came back to Twins spring training, he was a bit behind. So, he went back to AAA.
And, as we’ve learned, he puts up fantastic numbers against AAA hitting and April was no exception. He provided innings. He threw strikes. He had control. He displayed a good fastball and what seems to be a sharper breaking ball and changeup. Opponents have hit just .157 off of him so far this season and has more than a strikeout per inning.
It’s pretty clear that Berrios should be called up to the Twins soon. The front office is saying that they will be more patient with him this time. But it’s hard to believe that he won’t be called up to be the fifth starter by the end of this week. As the Twins have been patient with Byron Buxton in the big leagues through the first month, they will need to do the same with Berrios. And, for his part, Berrios is going to have to show that he can command his pitches better.
Here’s to hoping that this is the last time that Jose Berrios wins a Twins minor league award as we’d all like to see him get moved back up and stick.
Feel free to agree or disagree with the order, if you like. It wasn’t as easy a decision as you might think. And it’s always good to have lots of starting pitchers throwing well!
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!
View Twins Top Prospects
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