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Will agree with the above comment, hurt my eyes reading this, Tom. Most of the loss comes from trading Pressley and Lynn. Just don't understand how Lynn could be so good since leaving Target Field after being worthless while here? And on the flip side, so much of what they received still isn't ready to provide value. Duran, Celestino, Alcala, De La Trinidad all could return enough value to offset the difference. Will they? Who knows, probably not. But what your report does point out is that when trading guys maybe they should try to get something back that can contribute value a hell of a lot sooner than three, four years in the future. Heck these trades were three and four years ago and we are still waiting for the return. Gonna have to be different this month if they want to compete in 2022 and fill any seats with paying customers, or even 2023.

Was watching the Saints game and found myself holding my breath when Winder got hit with that line drive. Never showed a replay, but looked to be his neck although the trainer was checking the side of his face. Hopefully, he is back on Tuesday. You indicated that Minaya pitched two scoreless innings. He didn't have an earned run, but did allow the runner to score who was on first with the hit that went off Winder's head. Was surprised to see Rhodery Diaz was released. If memory serves, he put up better numbers two years ago than Urbina while both 17 year olds in the DSL. Any information on why he was let go? Great seeing Urbina with another two hit game. Wasn't able to check on Javier as your link to the Kernels game went to Tuesday's game, not last night. Thanks for the report, have a great day. [Edit: Just went to MiLB and checked the Kernels box score. Javier was 0-2, but had a walk and was HBP with one run scored.]

I love the core the Twins have, Polanco, Sano, Kepler, Buxton, Berrios. With that said, I don't understand what went wrong. Weren't they as good as we thought as they came up thru the system? Or are they merely having off years? Or did they not get the right coaching to get them to their respective ceilings? Whatever, it ain't working. Can't see them trading all of the core, nor should they. Expect trading any will depend on what they can get in return. Someone blows them away with an offer they are gonna have to think long and hard about saying 'deal.' Coming into this year most of us thought the Twins were set to compete. Maybe not win it all, but certainly would be back in the playoffs. Honestly, I don't understand what went wrong, although their record with Buxton on the IL remains terrible while they were winning the last time he was back. Only problem he was only back for what, four games? I expect and hope the front office believes they have what it takes to get this team back to being competitive in 2022. Sure gonna be interesting seeing how they go about it. Was going to say fun instead of interesting, but nothing about this team has been fun of late. No way do I want to speculate who gets traded and to where for what. Just want to see them making several good deals that puts the team in better shape to compete in 2022 and beyond. Then hope like hell that this team has a little fire in their guts and several of that core plays like we expected in 2022, preferably with a new coaching staff who works on the fundamentals needed to play the game the right way.

Love these pieces on some of the players we read about in a box score but don't know anything about. Sure seems like another top notch young man. Hopefully, his journey will lead him all the way to his ultimate goal. Always curious also about who he is personally. Is he married? Has he started his family? If so, how do they handle his spending four months in Northeast Iowa?

Didn't know how to respond to your comment, Taildragger. Liked the work you put in to put his season into context. But the results for the year-to-date are sad, which is what I went with. Love the talent this kid has and really want him to succeed. With that said, hopefully, he has another 15 game streak in him and it starts by the end of the week. Key will be for him to continue making progress as the year winds down. Don't see how the Twins can protect him this winter, so he will likely be at risk again.

The first thing I noticed today is disappointment. Checked the Kernels box score and saw that Javier was 0-5 with four K's. Yes, is only one game, but he needs to get back on another hot streak and soon. Really don't know what to think of Whitefield. Seems his bat is frequently mentioned in these write-ups. And all indications are that his defense is first rate and we know about his speed (he has played stellar D in the games I have seen). Does this kid have a future in the big leagues? With the Twins? Similar thoughts about Bechtold who Dman talks about above. I recall he was considered a plus defender when drafted however long ago. Has that been the case, is he? Don't remember, but think it was 2018 when he didn't hit well enough to be considered much of a prospect. If memory serves, 2019 was better and he is following that up with a decent year this year. But will he hit enough to make it to the show? And if he does, stay? I guess the reason they play the games is to give these young men time to make that decision on the field. Looking forward to watching the Saints tonight with Winder on the hill.

Is great seeing three pitchers among your Top 5, especially after several years of almost no pitching this high in your rankings. The bad side of the news, however, is #1, out injured, #2, out injured, #3, late start to his season because of an injury, #4, out injured. Personally, I believe what he is accomplishing on the field puts Winder into the discussion to be included in this group. Maybe part of that is that he is pitching every fifth day and most of the above are doing rehab. The fact is, however, that he is pitching as well as any pitcher in all of minor league baseball. Doesn't that count for anything any more? Am I happy with the status of the Twins organization and their top players? No way. Would I be happy if all these guys were out there playing? Probably, assuming they were all playing at or near their best abilities, which we know ain't gonna happen.

Thanks, Seth. What does Winder have to do to be the Twins Pitcher of the Week?

Will second Dman’s comment that Winder is too low at #8. Maybe it is due to how bad the pitching is on the Twins, but the best pitcher in his AA division should be our #1 pitching prospect...at least in my opinion. So if Lewis is #1, I have Winder #2. As for all these big power bats that strike out all the time and either can’t, or shouldn’t play defense, I would have them much lower. That includes Rooker, Wallner, and Sabato.

Agree that Moran merits getting to Target Field before the season is over. Isn’t there some crazy rule this year that a player cannot be called up directly from AA or lower, rather they must pass thru AAA.

The truth really hurts, Nick, when writing about the 2021 Twins.

I hate all these bloody injuries. I believe Enrow has to be added to the 40-man this year, correct? Will there be room? Assume he is gone if not added, assuming there is a Rule 5 draft with the CBA expiring? Interesting seeing the results for both Ober and Jax. Have been lots of pitchers who put up similar results their first year or two and then go on to have very good careers. As much as we want to see the Twins pitching problems fixed, now, it is a process that is going to take time and guys like Jax and Ober taking their regular turns is part of that process.

Great seeing Julien continue his outstanding play one level higher. Although saw his On base average is down to only .444. Also great seeing Urbina with more games like yesterday. Seems to be adapting to the jump from DSL to A ball. Thanks for the holiday report.

Very interesting, Seth. If my California math is correct, four of these nine are in Fort Myers. Must have one heck of a bullpen, probably why most of there games are low scoring. Correct me if I am wrong, but all four of your top guys are Rule 5 eligible this December. That raises an interesting question. If the CBA expires at the end of the World Series, will there be a Rule 5 draft?

Are Miranda and Winder the Twins hitter and pitcher of the week tomorrow? Really good following those two in an otherwise dismal summer.

Count me among those who do not want to rush Winder to Target Field. Let him settle in for at least the full month of July with the Saints, then see how he does on the big stage. Always good to see Urbina's name in the write up. Yes, the kid is hitting just under .200, but he has a lot of walks and stolen bases. Considering he turned 19 the week before the season started and hadn't played in over a year, I like this kid's future. As one who truly misses Eddie Rosario, may have to start checking the box score each day to see how this new version of Rosario is doing. Heck of a nice day yesterday. And I am sorry, I really want to call that league the Florida Coast League, not whatever it is.

When looking for starting pitchers to replace Happ, Pineda, et. al., no one is considering Player A. With all the trading the FO should be doing over the next four weeks, there should be at least one pitcher coming back who is close to the major leagues. Say someone on a similar schedule as Winder and either is ready for a promotion to AAA or recently promoted. Or maybe someone that was called up for a game or two earlier this season and is back at AAA. That's Player A, who following the trade joins the Twins rotation for the remaining two months of the season. With all the guys potentially leaving, if they can't get at least one good pitcher who fits the above description, then put the guys in the front office on the same boat with the Manager and ship the whole bloody lot off for wherever.

Again, seeing most of this group are high school kids, really hope that one of the three college pitchers is available when they have their Comp pick. I don't care if he ends up in the bullpen, as long as it is in the next two eyars.

Thanks, I love his music. Sure as heck a lot younger George Strait in that videa, eh?

Thanks Matt. The most exciting result early this season, well one of them for me, is Javier's bat getting back on track so he can again be considered a top prospect. Gotta believe he has been more disappointed in the last seven or eight years than any of us. Couldn't be happier for him, and the Twins should he keep it up.

And I forgot to mention I just loved your comment, "Amarillo by Morning." That is from a song, isn't it? Can't remember which one or who sang it. And anyone that has ever driven I-40 across eastern New Mexico into the Texas (or the other way from Ok City) panhandle sure as heck understands what is meant by Amarillo by Morning. The biggest surprise I had the first time I made that drive was the number of windmills on both sides of Amarillo. Seems solid for something like 10 miles each way, probably more than I have seen anywhere else in America. Didn't expect to see that in Texas.

Thanks for the report, David. If you click on the Wichita box score it takes you to Wednesday's game. Yes, Fort Myers lost, but that pitching staff just keeps getting it done nearly every night. Gonna have to get to know some of those guys better, a lot better. Nice move up to AA for Steer, eh? And Palacios and Whitefield also keep getting their names in these daily reports.

Thanks for the report, Lucas. I do have a couple points, however, one that really bugs me. With both Gross and Shulfer you indicate that MLB may not be in their future because they already are or soon will turn 25 years old. Are you saying that if a player doesn't reach MLB by the time they are 25 their dream is over? Sure seems to me that is what you are saying. And basing so much on any age limit, especially after a year in which no one played an inning of minor league ball is foolish, at least in my opinion. I have watched several of the games Winder pitched this month and in the Midland game the Midland announcer raved about him being the #1 pitcher in AA ball. I assume he was speaking of only the Central Division of AA ball, yet, that sure as heck should mean he is hands down one of the Twins Top 10 prospects. I personally believe, together with the injury to Duran he has made himself into the Twins #1 pitching prospect with Balazovic nipping at his heals, somewhat due to his late start to this season. You referred to his fastball as being in the low to mid-90's, touching 96. In the games I saw, he was consistently 94-96, touching 97 a few times. The Midland announcer spent a lot of time talking about the work this former VMI student put in during last year's lost season, arriving at the fall instructional league with a fastball much faster than he threw in 2019 It seems that the data you referred to wasn't the most current insofar as his fastball is concerned. As for June's top pitchers, I am eagerly awaiting Winder's first few starts at St. Paul hoping he will continue to dominate at the AAA level so we have a chance to see him pitch on the biggest stage come September. I also understand that may be wishful thinking because of the limited innings he has and the likelihood that he could be shut down by Labor Day. I also try to watch Wichita's games when Schulfer is pitching, as he is from Wisconsin. I expect like many of us, we are pleasantly surprised with how dominant he has been and want to see it continue for the rest of this year and beyond. After all it seems the Twins have a current need for some big time pitchers.

For whatever reason, this club's fundamental play has been headed south for several years. Those of us who recall those Twins teams managed by Tom Kelly are shaking our heads.

Yes, but I hope like heck that magic is aimed at 2022.