cmb0252

Major red flags but people are still going to complain about the front office because that's the hip thing to do now of days. Ben Badler tweeted today that the highest praise he heard from a scout was a #3 pitcher, while several told him they see him as a middle reliever. Add in an apparent major injury concern and no thanks.

I just can't see them trading Perkins. There best chance to get a big haul was this trade deadline but most reports indicated the Twins weren't really listening to offers on him. RPers normally get more during the season. Either way, we got a handful of studs who will be in the bigs, outside of Stewart, next year at some point.

Injury concerns scared most teams away.

With the minor league season coming to an end BaseballAmerica released their final prospect hot sheet of the year. Three Twins made the list and here is why: #1 Byron Buxton Why He’s Here: .474/.655/.684 (9-for-19), 2 3B, 9 R, 1 RBI, 9 BB, 3 SO, 2-for-3 SBThe Scoop: The first 140-game season is an adjustment for anyone, and it has been for Buxton, who last hit a home run on July 28. But this is the No. 1 prospect in the game, so even if he’s not hitting the ball out of the park, he’s continuing to be an line-drive machine. This week, Florida State League pitchers gave up and stopped throwing him hittable pitches. Buxton, a 19-year-old with an advanced understanding of the strike zone, responded by simply taking ball four. He walked nine times this week to go with his nine hits. With two games left in August, Buxton has a .545 on-base percentage for the month, easily the best mark among full-season players. #10 Eddie Rosario Why He’s Here: .382/400/.559 (13-for-34), 1 HR, 3 2B, 8 RBIs, 6 R, 1 BB, 8 SO, 1-for-1 SB The Scoop: Rosario entered the week hitting just .197 (15-for-76) for August, but he had enough in the tank for one last hurrah. With four extra-base hits this week, he matched his total for the first 20 games of the month. Rosario faces an assignment to the Arizona Fall League in October, and he’ll probably be thankful for the month off after hitting .255/.297/.355 through 26 games in August. #11 Alex Meyers Why He’s Here: 1-0, 0.00, 9 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 11 SO, 2 BB The Scoop: After missing nearly two months with a bout of shoulder soreness, Meyer seems as good as new. Tthough he went just five and four innings, respectively, due to innings limitations, the 6-foot-9 righty used his high-90s gas to carve up Bowie and Trenton. He probably will make one more start before the Rock Cats’ season ends, meaning he’ll finish with more than 100 strikeouts in not nearly as many innings. J.J. Cooper took some questions and here are the ones about Twins players: I love Buxton and do believe he COULD be an elite talent. But I've always had an issue with players being rated in the top 10 (let alone #1) before having success at the higher levels. To me, guys like Bogarts or Russell are more deserving based on their seasons. J.J. Cooper: It's not a deserving thing. The Baseball America Top 100 Prospects list isn't about rewarding excellent seasons, it's about projecting who will be the stars and the solid big leaguers of tomorrow. Btw, I found it interesting you cited Russell, as it's hard to see how Russell would deserve being rated higher than Buxton based on doing it at a higher level. Playing a full season in hiA in a much better hitter's league, Russell has performed well, but Buxton has outperformed him at the same level, just in fewer games. But more importantly, I think you're supposition is misplaced. Last year, we had four players in our Top 10 who finished the year having played all or almost all of their pro games in A ball. Those four were Jose Fernandez, Xander Bogaerts, Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton. A year later, Fernandez is in the running for NL Rookie of the Year and Bogaerts, Sano and Buxton are now all top five prospects in the game with Bogaerts now in Boston. I don't think anything is gained in waiting til these guys get to Double-A to rank them top 10. Thanks JJ. Assuming Byron Buxton does well in the Ariz. Fall League, is he likely to start in AA next spring? J.J. Cooper: I think if Buxton hits .000/.000/.000 in the AFL you start him in Double-A. He's handled everything the FSL can offer already. Who gets a crack in the big leagues first, Sano or Taveras? J.J. Cooper: Taveras. I know he lost the year, but if Taveras has a normal Taveras' spring training, he's likely in the lineup on Opening Day in St. Louis. Sano could be with the Twins on Opening Day, but he's more likely to get a little more minor league time. Eddie Rosario going to play average defense at 2b? J.J. Cooper: I think he'll play good enough defensively to stay there as long as he hits. He's a good enough hitter that you'll live with 45 defense. At second, he can knock a lot of balls down and still make the play. How good can Byron Buxton be? Where does he stand at this point among baseball's best? Who is the best comp for him? J.J. Cooper: He's the best prospect in baseball, so that's where he stands. The real question is does he end up being a 30+ home run guy or more of a 15-20 home run guy when he's filled out and matured. Everything else projects as well above average.

Actually, while there will be prospects who rise and fall, normally the top guys stay relatively the same. In a different post I posted Jim Callis' breakdown of this. Out of the early top 10 at least half will still be in the top 10 come draft day.

The Twins will take the BPA regardless of position or how close they are to the bigs. They showed this with Buxton. Not only did they take Buxton above several college pitchers but there were reports if the Astros took Buxton the Twins would have taken Correa. Lucky for people who want a pitcher or SS this draft is stacked with them.

Gibson (have to double check), Arcia, and Hicks are no longer eligible. I think that's the list but several lists will have Stewart higher than Meyers. Buxton #1, Sano in the top 7, Meyers/Stewart in the 30s, and Rosario in the 45-65 range. Berrios has pitched OK this year but he isn't a top 100 guy right now. If Kepler wasn't injured I could have seen him make it on ceiling alone. Walker killed a league that he shouldn't have even been in as a college guy. As for Gonsalves, while his numbers were as good as Stewarts in the low minors tools are more important than just stats. I could see Gonsalves being a top 100 in 2015 though.

Two interesting notes from KLaw's chast about the AFL I didn't know. First on who/how the players were picked: "The teams do. The league sends rough positional requirements - e.g., you need to send three pitchers, at least one of whom is a starter, a catcher, and an infielder among your seven names - and the teams pick. Each team can send one player who hasn't reached AA yet. They don't have to be serious prospects; teams often send org players to fill out rosters, or guys who are on the rule 5/40-man bubble." Second the question was brought up about if they only let 1 prospect per team from AA or lower go how did the Twins send Buxton, Kepler, and Jones. Apparently you can send more than 1 if the league OKs it. Had no idea. Learn something new every day!

Don't forget Gordon. But yeah, Forbes is a solid prospect. This could be the deepest first round short stop class in 10 years. Add in all the great arms and twins have a good chance to score a stud prospect at a need position. Here are Matt Garrioch's write ups on the two SS prospects. Ti'Quan Forbes is an elite athlete. He has that loose swagger that I've only seen a few times, most memorably in Randy Moss. He just has that aura. His speed is plus-plus. He has a really good arm, good defensive ability and his power projects plus as well. Defensively, he needs to improve but has the athleticism to be a true five tool player. Nick Gordon has all the tools. He is fast, extremely good defensively and has the family rocket attached to the upper right side of his body. He has more pop than his brother. He strikes the ball better than Dee and should be a well above average shortstop offensively and defensively.

That's way too much for Justin. Target their second round competitive balance pick. The Twins have drafted well recently.

Also, here is Kiley McDaniels early top 50 list: Scout.com: Top 50 Prospects for 2014 MLB Draft McDaniels top 5 is the same as Jim Callis top 5.

East Carolina's Jeff Hoffman has been sky rocketing up draft boards after his solid performance in the cape league 33k/5 bb in 24.1 innings. His fastball sits in the mid 90s and has reportedly hit 98. Add in a solid curve ball and change up from a 6'4 200 lbs frame and you have a front of the rotation starter. He was considered a mid first round talent before the cape but some experts have him in their top 5 currently with an off chance to challenge Rodan for #1. The top 5 this year has a chance to be amazing.

While everyone enjoys when the Twins win it does bring up an interesting situation. Win a few meaningless games and finish strong or end horrid and get a good pick.

Signing Tanaka would jump start the rebuilding process in a hurry. Hopefully they like what they see while in Japan!

22 games of our last 32 are against teams with winning records. Several of them fighting for play off spots.

Pretty crazy how close everyone is at the bottom. There is a huge difference in value in the #3 pick and a pick in the mid teens.

I will see your Abreu and raise you Tanaka! Tanaka, Gibson, Meyers, D, fill in the blank. That's a fun starting 5....errr 4!

The rebuilding process takes patience and a good understanding about prospects. The fact people have already written off Hicks/Gibson shows the lack of both of those things. I agree with most that the Twins rebuild and the Cubs rebuild is different. Not in the fact that they both suck but the fact how aggressive the Cubs front office is while ours is passive. Both teams are going to finish in the bottom 10 in baseball...again....for a third year...so we don't yet know who's rebuild is going better. On paper it looks like the cubs with their badger like aggressive approach. Time will tell.

For any of you out there that are interested in seeing some of the best young HS prospects and have the MLB Network, they will be playing the under armor all-star game. A lot of possible draft picks will be playing.

People do realize this is a thread about Buxton and not Hicks right?

Seems to be the normal now of days. This post isn't about Hicks but how great Buxton is. The fact he most likely will start next year in AA is amazing. This is the most excited I have been about a Twins prospect since Mauer.

BaseballAmerica released their top 10 players from the Area CodeGames. Here is the link: Area Code Games Top 10 Prospects - BaseballAmerica.com

BaseballAmerica on Kohls first ELZ start: Kohl Stewart, rhp, Twins. All players look forward to the day they can leave the complex-based Gulf Coast League behind them, and the Twins’ prized righty is no exception. The fourth pick in this year’s draft out of a Houston high school, Stewart expressed his gratitude by throwing four shutout innings, fanning eight, in his debut for Rookie-level Elizabethton of the Appalachian League. He allowed only one hit and one walk.

Kiley McDaniel released his top 50 draft prospect list today and it is very different than BA's list. Here are his top 10: 1. Carlos Rodon, LHP, North Carolina State Quick Take: Isn't without his faults but flashes 70 fastball and slider on 20-80 scouting scale with improved changeup that's above average at times. 2. Jeff Hoffman, RHP, East Carolina Quick Take: Went from solid first round arm to legitimate 1-1 threat with dominating 24.1 IP on Cape reminiscent of Adam Wainwright. 3. Tyler Kolek, RHP, Shepherd HS (TX), No college commitment Quick Take: Massive 6'5/240 righty hit a few 99s on my gun with a plus curveball and is still growing into his frame. 4. Trea Turner, SS, North Carolina State Quick Take: Had a tough summer battling an ankle injury but has had two super productive springs with 80 speed as the calling card. 5. Alex Jackson, C/RF, Rancho Bernardo HS (CA), Oregon commit Quick Take: Projects as a plus hitter with plus power and arm; likely moves to right field but has a chance to play behind the plate with some work. 6. Derek Fisher, LF, Virginia Quick Take: Advanced bat has really improved in college and plus left-handed power is starting to show up in games. 7. Michael Gettys, CF/RHP, Gainesville HS (GA), Georgia commit Quick Take: Explosive athlete has plus-plus bat speed, foot speed and arm strength along with fastball that's hit 95 mph. 8. Braxton Davidson, 1B, T.C. Roberson HS (NC), North Carolina commit Quick Take: The best pure bat in the prep class has been productive this summer and hit upper deck shots at the MetroDome as 16 year old. 9. Grant Holmes, RHP, Conway HS (SC), Florida commit Quick Take: Athletic 6'2 righty regularly works 92-95 mph with a plus curve and feel for pitching. 10. Brandon Finnegan, LHP, TCU Quick Take: 5'11 lefty reminds some of Scott Kazmir with fastball that's been up to 98 mph and three pitches that flash above average potentia Here is the link for the rest of his top 50: Scout.com: Top 50 Prospects for 2014 MLB Draft

Perfect Game All American (best high school players in the country) expert notes continued: BaseballAmerica: "Throughout the summer, high school pitching class has emerged as the strength of the rising senior crop, and those arms were showcased on national spotlight during the Perfect Game All-American Classic held Sunday night. As 51 of the best high schoolers in the country played in Petco Park in San Diego, on a national stage on MLB Network, the West topped the East 8-6. Despite 14 runs scored, pitching dominated the game. With 34 strikeouts in a nine-inning game, nearly two-thirds of the recorded outs came on strikeouts (63 percent). Seven errors in the game helped account for the scoring. The depth of power arms displayed unprecedented velocity for high school standards. In one-inning stints, the pitchers were able to rear back for their best stuff. All but one of the 19 pitchers touched 91 mph or better. The peak velocity at last year’s Perfect Game All-American Classic, for comparison’s sake, was 94 mph by eventual No. 4 overall draft pick Kohl Stewart. This year nine pitchers hit 95 mph or higher. The pitching was so strong that each player warranted recognition. Below you will find each pitcher’s box score line to explain how he performed in his inning and his peak velocity. Then a brief description his stuff follows" Notes, scouting reports, and stat lines from the game: Pitching Dominates Perfect Game All-American Classic Despite High Score - BaseballAmerica.com Keith Law: "Shepherd, Texas, right-hander Tyler Kolek, all 6-foot-6, 245 pounds of him, showed big velocity yet again. He worked 93-97 mph, throwing just one off-speed pitch in an 81 mph curveball. Assuming he stays healthy, he'll probably be the first prep pitcher taken next spring because of his sheer size and fastball. However, other guys in the class have better feel or command. Touki Toussaint showed his usual arm strength, although 89-94 is actually a little low for him. His curveball, at 72-73 mph, ranged from a 59-footer to an absolute hammer, but he had no command of anything. That has been the norm for him in showcases. He's lean and athletic with a quick arm and he's hit 97 mph lots of times, but I'd like to see Touki (pronounced TOO-key) show he can pitch too. The position player crop wasn't as promising as the arms were. Alex Jackson andJacob Gatewood are the two famous names in the draft class, with Gatewood particularly gaining wider notice after his performance in the home run derby at Citi Field, but neither player looked good this weekend or at the previous week's Area Code Games (which I'll discuss in a separate post). Gatewood seemed to have "homeritis," trying to pull everything as far as he possibly could, even though scouts know he has huge raw power and would prefer to see him make contact and use the whole field more. He does have a plus arm at short that would play at third base. Jackson scuffled behind the plate -- to be fair, I didn't get a throw time under 2 seconds from any catcher during my whole week in SoCal -- and was overrotating at the plate, also trying to do too much. I think he's the better pure hitter, although his future probably isn't as a catcher." For more of Law's thoughts on other players (insiders): http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/keith-law/post?id=1187