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Thrylos

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Blog Entries posted by Thrylos

  1. Thrylos
    Originally posted at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    ----
     
    This is the latest update of the Twins' Bench Battle and the Bullpen Battle Dashboards, to track player performance to date this spring. Performances include those in the game vs the Rays earlier this afternoon. You can read the basic premise behind the Bench Battle Dashboard here and behind the Bullpen Battle Dashboard here. I will be updating them daily and post daily updates.
     
    Here is what the Bench Battle Dashboard looks like today:
     

    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7195/6831220188_13c319ff72_z.jpg

    Here is what the Bullpen Battle Dashboard looks like today:
     
     

    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7064/6977348537_3e955e5c8e_z.jpg


    Here is the ranking of the position player combatants today (based on position) :
     
     
    Catchers:
     
    Rene Rivera 2.6
    J.R. Towles 2.1
    -----
    Daniel Rohlfing 1.25
    Chris Herrmann 0.43
    Danny Lehmann 0.37
    ----
    Drew Butera -0.4
    Danny Rams -0.98
     
    Infielders:
     
    Mike Hollimon 3.76
    Chris Parmelee 2.58
    ----
    Tsuyoshi Nishioka 1.47
    Luke Hughes 0.9
    Ray Chang 0.7
    Brian Dinkelman 0.66
    Brian Dozier 0.63
    Aaron Bates 0.43
    Sean Burroughs 0.43
    ----
     
    Pedro Florimon -0.54
    Steve Pearce -0.73
     
     
    Outfielders:
     
    Joe Benson 1.35
    ----
    Wilkin Ramirez 0.86
    Matt Carson 0.76
    Darin Mastroianni 0.42
    Rene Tosoni 0.3
    ----
    Oswaldo Arcia -0.15
     
     
     
     
    Here is the ranking of pitcher combatants today:
     
     
     
    Jared Burton 53.3
    Matt Maloney 53.3
    P.J. Walters 53
    Casey Fien 52.7
    Jeff Manship 52.3
    Brendan Wise 52.3
    Carlos Gutierrez 52
    Liam Hendriks 52
    Kyle Waldrop 52
    Esmerling Vasquez 51.5
    ---
    Daryl Thompson 50.7
    Aaron Thompson 50
    Lester Oliveros 49.5
    Luis Perdomo 49.5
    Tyler Robertson 49.7
    ---
    Alex Burnett 48.5
    Phil Dumatrait 48.3
    Scott Diamond 47.5
    Terry Doyle 44
    Jeff Gray 41
    Deolis Guerra 37.5
    Jason Bulger 34.3
     
     
    Samuel Deduno DNP
     
     
    As always you can find all Spring Training coverage at The Tenth Inning Stretch here.
  2. Thrylos
    This was originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    ----
    With the first cuts of Spring Training coming as early as tomorrow, I am updating the Bench Battle and the Bullpen Battle Dashboards, to track player performance to date this spring. Performances include those in the game vs the Yankees earlier this afternoon. You can read the basic premise behind the Bench Battle Dashboard here and behind the Bullpen Battle Dashboard here. From now on, I will be combining both Dashboards in a single post. I will be updating them daily and post daily updates.
     
    Here is what the Bench Battle Dashboard looks like today:
     
     
     
     


    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7047/6827553902_a392be1775_b.jpg

     
    Here is what the Bullpen Battle Dashboard looks like today:
     
     

     
     
     
     
    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7204/6827553984_16a6a20eb0_b.jpg
     



    Here is the ranking of the position player combatants today (based on position) :
     
     
    Catchers:
     
    Rene Rivera 2.6
    J.R. Towles 2.1
    -----
    Daniel Rohlfing 1.25
    Chris Herrmann 0.43
    Danny Lehmann 0.4
    ----
    Drew Butera -0.4
    Danny Rams -0.57
     
    Infielders:
     
    Mike Hollimon 3.76
    Chris Parmelee 3.65
    ----
    Ray Chang 1
    Tsuyoshi Nishioka 1.47
    Aaron Bates 0.66
    Brian Dinkelman 0.66
    Sean Burroughs 0.02
    ----
    Brian Dozier -0.43
    Pedro Florimon -0.54
    Steve Pearce -0.73
    Luke Hughes -0.92
     
    Outfielders:
     
    Joe Benson 1.35
    ----
    Wilkin Ramirez 0.86
    Matt Carson 0.76
    Darin Mastroianni 0.2
    Rene Tosoni 0.35
    ----
    Oswaldo Arcia -0.58
     
     
     
     
    Here is the ranking of pitcher combatants today:
     
     
    Liam Hendriks 53.5
    Jared Burton 53.3
    Matt Maloney 53.3
    P.J. Walters 53
    Casey Fien 52.7
    Jeff Manship 52.3
    Brendan Wise 52.3
    Carlos Gutierrez 52
    Kyle Waldrop 52
    Esmerling Vasquez 51.5
    ---
    Aaron Thompson 50
    Daryl Thompson 50
    Lester Oliveros 49.5
    Luis Perdomo 49.5
    Tyler Robertson 49.5
    ---
    Alex Burnett 48.5
    Scott Diamond 47.5
    Phil Dumatrait 46.7
    Terry Doyle 44
    Jeff Gray 41
    Deolis Guerra 37.5
    Jason Bulger 25
     
     
    Samuel Deduno DNP
     
     
    As always you can find all Spring Training coverage at The Tenth Inning Stretch here.
     

  3. Thrylos
    Originally posted at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    ---
     
    You can read the basic premise in detail behind this dashboard here. Also, the update date reflects the date of the last game included not the post. This is the most current iteration after yesterday's game vs the Pirates:
     
     
    Here is a ranking of the combatants based on average game score:

    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7042/6824654684_209043f836_z.jpg

     
    Liam Hendriks 53.5
    Jared Burton 53.3
    Matt Maloney 53.3
    Aaron Thompson 53
    P.J. Walters 53
    Brendan Wise 53
    Casey Fien 52.7
    Jeff Manship 52.5
    Carlos Gutierrez 52
    Kyle Waldrop 52
    Esmerling Vasquez 51.5
    ---
    Daryl Thompson 50
    Lester Oliveros 49.5
    Luis Perdomo 49.5
    Tyler Robertson 49.5
    ---
    Alex Burnett 48.5
    Scott Diamond 47.5
    Phil Dumatrait 46.7
    Terry Doyle 44
    Jeff Gray 41
    Deolis Guerra 37.5
    Jason Bulger 25
     
     
    Samuel Deduno DNP
     
    I will be updating this daily and posting updates here close to daily. As always you can find all Spring Training coverage at The Tenth Inning Stretch here. Starting with today's game I will be combining the Bullpen and Bench Battle Dashboards into a single post daily.
  4. Thrylos
    Originally posted at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    ----
     
    I have been creating dashboards to look at the progression of the Spring Training battle for the 3 bullpen sports for the Twins (You can read about the rationale and details here.) I decided to create a dashboard for the 2-3 bench position battles. To quantify position players performance I am using another Bill James' measurement, the "Batting Game Score", as modified by Baseball Reference. I made 2 changes on the BR way of calculating Batting Game Score: I took away the bonus points for multi-HR games and for hitting for the cycle and I am adding a point for a catcher when he throws out a runner trying to steal a base.
     
    Here is the way it is calculated (again, one needs a box-score and a calculator) :
     
    Start with 0 points (unlike the pitching Game Score that starts with 50)
    Add 1 point for each Run, RBI, 2B, SB, BB, and HBP recorded.
    Add 2.5 for each hit, 3 for each 3B and 4 for each HR.
    Subtract 1 for each CS and GIDP,
    subtract 1 for each error,
    for catchers add 1 for each CS
    Subtract 0.2 for each SO and 0.5 for each AB.
     
    Again, as in the Bullpen Battle Dashboard, the Bench Battle Dashboard is color coded based on average, above average and below average performances, where:
     
    Average is Batting Game Score between 0 and 2
    Above average is Batting Game Score higher than 2
    Below average is Batting Game Score less than 0
     
    Also the Dashboard, is broken down by catchers, infielders and outfielders
     
    One comment before I present the Bench Battle Dashboard: Before Spring Training, I thought that Luke Hughes was a lock. However, based on his continuous below average performances (actually the worse by any position player in the team), I think that his position might be in jeopardy, so I am tracking his performance as well:
     
    Here is what the Dashboard looks like after today's game against the Pirates:

    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7059/6824654618_c707d46d88_z.jpg

     
    And the rankings by position:
     
    Catchers:
     
    J.R. Towles 3
    Rene Rivera 2.6
    -----
    Daniel Rohlfing 1.25
    Chris Herrmann 0.433333333
    Danny Lehmann 0.4
    ----
    Drew Butera -0.4
    Danny Rams -0.566666667
     
    Infielders:
     
    Chris Parmelee 3.65
    Mike Hollimon 2.2
    ----
    Ray Chang 1.5
    Tsuyoshi Nishioka 1.466666667
    Aaron Bates 0.95
    Sean Burroughs 0.02
    ----
    Brian Dinkelman -0.04
    Brian Dozier -0.433333333
    Pedro Florimon -0.55
    Steve Pearce -0.733333333
    Luke Hughes -1.525
     
    Outfielders:
     
    ----
    Wilkin Ramirez 0.95
    Matt Carson 0.76
    Darin Mastroianni 0.375
    Rene Tosoni 0.35
    ----
    Oswaldo Arcia -0.58
    Joe Benson -0.04
     
     
    I will be updating this daily and posting updates here close to daily. As always you can find all Spring Training coverage at The Tenth Inning Stretch here.
  5. Thrylos
    Originally posted at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    --
     
    You can read the basic premise in detail behind this dashboard here. This is the most current iterration after yesterday's game vs the Cardinals:
     

    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7041/6821589228_ed2351c4d8_o.jpg

     
     
    Here is a ranking of the combatants based on average game score:
     
    Terry Doyle 56
    Matt Maloney 54.5
    Jared Burton 53.5
    Liam Hendriks 53.5
    Aaron Thompson 53
    Brendan Wise 53
    Casey Fien 52.7
    Jeff Manship 52.5
    Carlos Gutierrez 52
    Kyle Waldrop 52
    P.J. Walters 52
    Esmerling Vasquez 51.5
    ---
    Daryl Thompson 50
    Luis Perdomo 49.5
    Tyler Robertson 49.5
    ---
    Alex Burnett 48.5
    Scott Diamond 47.5
    Phil Dumatrait 46.7
    Lester Oliveros 46
    Jeff Gray 41
    Deolis Guerra 37.5
    Jason Bulger 25
     
     
    Samuel Deduno DNP
     
    I will be updating this daily and posting updates here close to daily. As always you can find all Spring Training coverage at The Tenth Inning Stretch here.
  6. Thrylos
    Here is the basic premise: The Twins have a whole bunch of relievers in their Spring Training Camp who are batting for 3 spots on the 25-man roster. I listed and analysed these players previously. Spring training is long and it is hard to track each appearance of each player, trying to have an objective view of how this battle might be ending (or at least trending,) especially, when the usual statistics fail with such a small sample size. Yesterday I created a dashboard to look at each pitcher's performance on a daily basis and use visual color clues to get the big picture at once. That was step one. But for some reason I was not really happy with it.
     
    My major objection to that first iteration was that individual daily performances were subjective. "Average", "above average" and "below average" were determined by glances at boxscores and what I saw or heardin games. Not too good. Plus, there are various degrees of greatness or non-greatness, and those need to be separated. Thus the need for quantification and for an objective way to measure each pitcher's daily performance and I think that I found it: It is a measurement created by
    Bill James more than a decade ago called "Game Score". Truth of the matter is that James created that to measure starting pitcher performance, but I think that it is applicable here and will fit my purpose (albeit things will be a bit compressed on the top, but the middle and the bottom will differentiate nicely.)
     
    What is Game Score? Here is how it is determined: You start with 50 points for each pitcher. Add 1 point for each out. Add 1 point for each strikeout. Subtract 2 points for each hit. Subtract 4 points for each earned run. Subtract 2 points for each unearned run. Subtract 1 point for each walk. There is a point bonus for pitching more than 4 innings as well, adding
    2 points for each IP after the 4th, but this is not too applicable here. All you need to calculate Game Score is a box score and a calculator. Done deal. However, there are no box scores for B games, and the caveat is I cannot include them (which might not be that bad in the big schema of things.)
     
    I am ready to present the final version of the 2012 Spring Training Bullpen Battle Dashboard. I will update the dashboard and post it on a weekly basis. The next update will be early next week before the first cuts are made. Like the previous version, performances are classified as "above average" (green color), "average (yellow), "below average" (red). But now there are numbers there to tell how much bellow or above average each performance is. I also average all performances to day, list that average in the first column and color the pitcher's name accordingly as well. Following, there is a ranking of all pitchers in the list based on their average game score this spring training. Game Scored of 49-51 are "average", everything higher than 51 "above average", and everything below 49 "below average".
     
    Here is what the dashboard looks, including yesterday's game at Baltimore:

    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7050/6963061633_ae85820474_o.jpg

     
    And here is the ranking:
     
    Terry Doyle 56
    Carlos Gutierrez 55
    Liam Hendriks 55
    Matt Maloney 54.5
    Jared Burton 53.5
    Tyler Robertson 53
    Aaron Thompson 53
    Brendan Wise 53
    Casey Fien 52.5
    Kyle Waldrop 52
    P.J. Walters 52
    Esmerling Vasquez 51.5
    ---
    Luis Perdomo 49.5
    Jeff Manship 49
    ---
    Alex Burnett 48.5
    Daryl Thompson 48
    Lester Oliveros 46
    Phil Dumatrait 45
    Scott Diamond 42
    Jeff Gray 41
    Jason Bulger 25
    Deolis Guerra 21
     
    Samuel Deduno DNP
     
    Of course this is a small sample size at this point and will change during the next weeks, but I think that I have found a way to dashboard Twins' pitchers' performance this Spring. I am keeping track of the performances of the pitchers who I consider locks to make the team, but I will wait to publish for another week or so, because these players are not part of this discussion.
     
    There are some pretty obvious outliers here, especially at the low end of performance, so it will be interesting to see how things will play out this weekend and early next week before the first cuts.
     
    -----
    Originally posted at The Tenth Inning Stretch
  7. Thrylos
    This was originally posted at The Tenth Inning Stretch and reposted here
    ---
    You can read the basic premise in detail behind this dashboard here. The summary is that I have created a visual dashboard that uses Bill James' Game Score to measure the performance of each pitcher who is vying for a spot on the Twins' 25-man roster (you can see their profiles here) and track their performance through spring training.
     
    Performances are classified as "above average" (green color), "average (yellow), "below average" (red) with the Game Score numbers indicated for each performance. I also average all performances to day, list that average and color the pitcher's name accordingly. At the end, there is a ranking of all pitchers in the list based on their average game score this spring training. Game Scores of 49-51 are "average", everything higher than 51 "above average", and everything below 49 "below average".
     
     
    Here is what the dashboard looks, including yesterday's game vs Tampa Bay:
    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7200/6965432235_8170ebd9c4_o.jpg

     
    Here is a ranking of the combatants based on average game score:
     
    Terry Doyle 56
    Matt Maloney 54.5
    Jared Burton 53.5
    Liam Hendriks 53.5
    Tyler Robertson 53
    Aaron Thompson 53
    Brendan Wise 53
    Casey Fien 52.5
    Jeff Manship 52.5
    Carlos Gutierrez 52
    Kyle Waldrop 52
    P.J. Walters 52
    Esmerling Vasquez 51.5
    ---
    Daryl Thompson 50
    Luis Perdomo 49.5
    ---
    Alex Burnett 48.5
    Scott Diamond 47.5
    Lester Oliveros 46
    Phil Dumatrait 45
    Jeff Gray 41
    Jason Bulger 25
    Deolis Guerra 21
     
    Samuel Deduno DNP
     
    I will be updating this daily and posting updates here close to daily. As always, you can find all Spring Training coverage in this site here
  8. Thrylos
    This was originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch and is reposted here
    ---
     
    Previously, I listed all the players who are battling for one of the 3 bullpen spots this Spring Training. Because they are so many, I decided to create a spreadsheet and keep track of their performance this Spring day by day, using color coding and symbols to get a quick visual. In other words, creating a dashboard of their performance.
     
    Green (+) is better than average appearance that day, yellow (0) is average appearance that day, red (-) is below average appearance that day, uncolored (DNP) is did not play that day. As players get cut, their dashboard lines will be in italics.
     
    I am also using the same convension to color the players' names, to see overall performance the spring. I also think that looking at how often someone pitches is important, and as spring training progresses, looking at trends.
     
    Here is the version including all games (including B games) up to 3/6/12, without any comments. My comments about the bullpen battle can be found here (that was before yesterday's game) :

    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7042/6815815030_7676435d51_o.jpg

  9. Thrylos
    Originally posted at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    ----
     
    Not a game report by any means; just some random, stream of conscious type notes I took while I was watching the Twins' game on TV this afternoon:

    Jamey Carroll's strike zone is smaller than Ben Revere's. He really gets down in the box
    Doumit looks like Kubel. A lot
    Great double steal by Revere and Carroll in a botched pick-off move. Carroll seams a very astute base runner
    Baker's fastball at 86 mph to start the game, then up at 87-88 by the end of the 1st inning. Nice and easy first for Baker.
    Niemann really fooled Brian Dinkelman with a called strike 3 on a 57 mph curve to start the second inning. Did not realize he had that pitch to go with his 93 mph fastball
    Baker's fastball at 83-84 to start the second inning then up to 86-87. His change up sat at 78-79 and was very effective. Up to 88 with the FB
    Casilla was avoiding Nunez' heat (93-94) but waited on a change and pushed it nicely through the middle; then appropriately stole second on the next pitch. Then Revere sacrifice bunts to get him to 3rd with one out. Smart ball
    Interesting situation to see Carroll hit with one out and man on third. He was slapping every pitch. This guy can make contact. Takes ball four at shoelaces to walk. Then steals second on a ball in the dirt.
    Maloney started the bottom of the third. Hitting 86-89 with fastball and lots of movement with the slider. Strikes out the first pitcher he saw (that is 4 in a row for him), second one grounds out and the third one bleeds a single through the SS (Carroll's range was exposed). Another hit to left, Revere bobbles the ball and runners in the corners with Pena up. Twins are shifting the infield with 2 outs for Pena. Interesting Leftie-Leftie match up for Maloney. Got him to fly out. Pretty good performance by Maloney overall. He is a dark horse to make the team
    Steve Pearce seems to have problems making contact with breaking balls. Not sure if it is just early, or it is an issue
    Benson looks really over-matched at the plate
    Maloney in for a second inning. Gets the first batter to ground out to short on a cutter. Nice deceptive delivery and long arms and legs. Second and third batter flies out to center. Nice spotting of the fastball. He looks in a very good shape. Very impressed overall. Reminds me a bit of Matt Guerrier, in a lefty kind of way.
    Both Doumit and Carroll are taking many more pitches and working the count deeper than the men who they replaced (Kubel and Nishioka). This will be good for the Twins.
    Capps in for the bottom of 5th. FB starts at 91 with decent movement and get the first batter to fly out. The second batter gets a broken bat bloop. Capps' FB looks heavy. Up at 94 later in the inning. Overall a good performance
    Glen Perkins' fastball at 91-94 with good downward motion. Picked two K on a hard slider and a ground out to him on a 94 mph FB. Close to season form. He looks so there and ready to pick up from last season. Very impressive.
    Casilla is locked in
    Duensing's FB 90-92. Looks nice and loose but some command issues (it is early). Great defensive play by Benson to cut a double into single.
    Towles shows pretty good patience on the plate. Going 3-0 (and took ball 4 but was called a strike.) Then shows some speed by beating the throw on a tailor made double play ball. Then he was asked to steal second and was barely caught. So he's got an eye and wheels. Two things that Drew Butera lacks.
    Jeff Gray makes his first appearance this spring. Problems locating his fastball outside, then goes inside with a FB that goes into a double. That is not a good prescription for success... Major command issues. This reminds me of Marquis' second inning the other day minus the wild pitches
    Very windy out there, but if Mastroianni wants to make the team he better not drop those fly balls. That one hit the heel of his glove
    Oswaldo Arcia is build like a bull, but does not like the breaking ball
    Doumatrait in to close the 9th. Can locate his FB somewhat consistently, unless he is nitpicking at the corners, but breaking ball is either all over the place or the middle of the plate. I think that right now he is behing Maloney at the depth chart
    Perkins, Maloney, Capps, Revere, Carroll, Doumit and Towles impressed me today in various degrees. Good to see Perkins close to mid-season form and Maloney and Towles were happy surprises

  10. Thrylos
    This was originally posted at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    ---
     
    Here is this week's installment (also heavily influenced by Spring Training) :

    Today is Spring Training Reporting day for the Twins' minor leaguers. You can find the full MiLB Spring Training Schedule here.
    And if you wonder what the Twins' minor leaguers feel about the off-season and Spring Training, you should read this article by Twins LHP prospect Tony Davis, this by fellow LHP prospect Ryan O'Rourke, this by RHP prospect Dakota Watts, and this from AJ Petersen, Twins' middle infield prospect, who are all reporting at the Lee County Sports Complex today
    Joel Zumaya will have Tommy John surgery with Dr Andrews. The Twins will pay for the surgery. He will try for a comeback next season, but will be a free agent, and I hope that the Twins get first dibs to sign him back. Still not clear whether they will keep him in the 60 day DL all season (and pay and extra $450K,) or release him. He has not been officially released.
    Weird concurrence number one on Sunday when the Twins had split squad games against Boston and Tampa Bay: Both Rene Rivera and Drew Butera got out at the same time to finish the inning in their respective games. Weird concurrence number 2: the Tampa Bay and the Boston pitchers struck out the Twins 'side at the same time in both of their respective games. Weird concurrence number three: When Chris Parmelee hit his home run in the Rays' game, Luke Hughes missed one by two feet (knocked down by the wind) at the Boston game. You cannot make that stuff up.
    A former Twins' player has been unsuccessful in reaching Justin Morneau.
    Also, a Twins' hopeful, 1B Aaron Bates, started to blog at the Twins Daily site.
    Two former Twins are very vocal against Target Field. This is what one of them looks in his new uniform. Meanwhile, we learned that Joe Mauer has become an action figure; whereas Ryan Doumit showed a strong OF arm
    We also learned that Drew Butera has another career lined up if Baseball is not in his future.
    Twins' player tweet of the week goes to Ben Revere (again) with this one. This one from an ESPN analyst, should be posted on the walls of the Twins' clubhouse.
    Word of the Week is maladroit, as in "Jason Bulger's performance against the Red Sox (4 walks, a grand slam and a hit) was maladroit". Jason Marquis's second inning against the Red Sox last night was one of those, too.

    ---
    Please go to the original post, if you would like to see the parting shot of the week, a video featuring Joe Mauer and Ron Garenhire. Not sure how to embed video here.
  11. Thrylos
    This has been previously published at The Tenth Inning Stretch.
    I have highligheted the four questions the Twins need to answer this Spring Training previously. With a couple weeks in the books in Spring Training, the Twins so far have played 4 games (3 official and a "B" game that does not count in the standings or in the players' statistics officially) so there are hints of light for some of those.
     

    The starting outfield: All indications seem that the Twins will go with Span at Center Field and Willingham at right field, whereas there will be a platoon of Ben Revere and Trevor Plouffe at left. This will happen, unless one of the two left fielders will have either a very impressive or very unimpressive season, which will result in bench relegation (or in Revere's case because, unlike Plouffe, he has options, in a trip to Rochester.) Another issue that needs to be resolved is how Willingham's defense is at RF. If he has problems and becomes the starting left fielder, the mix will need to be re-looked and Doumit also added to the equation. So far Willingham did not have problems in the single game he played on the field, and both Plouffe and Revere have been performing well with the bat (even though Revere has a gaffe on the base paths against Boston the other day. Also, Denard Span seems to be better as far as his concussion goes, since he had a couple of mishaps, including french-kissing the chain link fence at Center Field to save a home run, and he reportedly had no concussion issues. He also got two hits against the Rays


    The bench. As I speculated previously, Luke Hughes and Trevor Plouffe are virtual locks, since they are out of options, and this will likely leave 2 additional spots. If indeed there are 3 catchers in the roster, JR Towles (with an RBI single in the B game and a two-run home run against Tampa Bay, in three plate appearances) and Rene Rivera (with a runner thrown out and a single in two plate appearances, moved ahead of Drew Butera who has not reached base yet in 5 plate appearances this spring. Chris Herrmann has an RBI single in his only plate appearance, but he likely is not considered for the major league roster. From the other position players fighting for a spot, Aaron Bates and Chris Parmelee each hit a 2-run home run (Bates in the B game and Parmelee against Tampa Bay) and Mastroianni has been pretty efficient with a hit, a walk and a stolen base in three plate appearances. Burroughs is 2 for 4 (a double) with two walks, but participated with Nishioka in a very bad fielding play against Boston yesterday. Nishioka has 2 hits, including a triple, in 8 trips, so is still working on his swing. Brian Dozier, a fans' darling, who I do not think that has any chances to make the team, at least in April, went hitless in 2 trips against Boston yesterday and had an RBI single in theB game.


    The bullpen. I have previously introduced and analyzed the combatants for 3 spots here. Jason Bulger has put himself in a hole with a very bad (4BB, a single and a grand slam, a third of an inning) performance against Boston, which followed surrendering a run in the B game. I think that it will be very hard to crawl out of that hole. Carlos Gutierrez had an almost equally bad performance in the B game, getting 2 outs and surrendering 3 walks and a double for 2 runs. Phil Dumatrait allowed 2 runs in 2 hits and a walk against Boston. Jeff Manship, Brandon Wise, Deolis Guerra, Matt Maloney (he struck out the side vs Tampa), Alex Burnett, Aaron Thompson, Esmerling Vasquez, Kyle Waldrop and Jared Burton pitched a scoreless inning each. Terry Doyle and PJ Walters pitched 2 scoreless innings each. Despite allowing a run in a solo home run, who was the only time a batter reached against him, Luis Perdomo had an impressive performance against Tampa Bay, striking out 2 batters. At this point, Bulger, Gutierrez and Doumatrait seem to be behind the pack, whereas Maloney (if they carry 3 lefties in the pen), Doyle, Perdomo, Burton and Waldrop seem to be ahead of the pack. There still are a lot of games ahead, but the first cuts will be very soon, since the Minor League Camp is opening tomorrow
    As always, you can find all the Spring Training news and analysis on my site here.
  12. Thrylos
    This was posted at The Tenth Inning Stretch and reposted here.
    This off-season I have been keeping track of former Twins who were signed by other teams. This is the final edition, since Spring Training has started. Here is the cumulative list of former Twins who are playing for new teams this season:
     
    Arizona Diamondbacks:
     
    C Henry Blanco (major league; free agent, November 2011)
    LHP Craig Brelsow (traded by the Oakland Athletics with Trevor Cahill for Jarrod Parker, Ryan Cook and Collin Cowgill, December 2011)
    OF Jason Kubel (major league; free agent, December 2011)
     
    Atlanta Braves:
     
    LHP Dusty Hughes (minor league; free agent, November 2011)
     
    Baltimore Orioles
     
    SS Steve Tolleson (minor league; free agent, November 2011)
    C Allan de San Miguel (minor league; free agent, January 2012)
    LHP Dennys Reyes (minor league; free agent, January 2012)
    RHP Pat Neshek (minor league; free agent, January 2012)
    RHP Luis Ayala (major league; free agent, January 2012)
     
    Boston Red Sox
     
    IF Nick Punto (major league; free agent, December 2011)
    RHP Carlos Silva (minor league; free agent, January 2012)
    OF Jason Repko (minor league; free agent, January 2012)
     
    Chicago Cubs:
     
    IF Matt Tolbert (minor league; free agent, January 2012)
     
    Chicago White Sox:
    -
     
    Cincinnati Reds:
     
    LHP Ron Mahay (minor league; free agent, January 2012)
     
    Cleveland Indians:
     
    RHP Kevin Slowey (traded by the Colorado Rockies for RHP Zach Putnam, January 2012)
    SS Cristian Guzman (minor league; free agent, February 2012)
     
    Colorado Rockies
     
    IF Casey Blake (major league; free agent, December 2011)
    IF/OF Michael Cuddyer (major league; free agent, December 2011)
    IF Brendan Harris (minor league; free agent, January 2012)
    OF Brandon Roberts (minor league; free agent, January 2012)
    RHP Kevin Slowey (traded by the Twins for RHP Dan Turpen, December 2011)
     
    Detroit Tigers:
    -
     
    Houston Astros:
     
    RHP Livan Hernandez (minor league; free agent, January 2012)
    C Jair Fernandez (minor league; free agent, January 2012)
     
    Kansas City Royals:
    LHP Jose Mijares (major league; free agent, December 2011)
     
    Los Angeles Angels:
     
    OF Doug Deeds (minor league; free agent, January 2012)
    RHP Juan Rincon (minor league; free agent, February 2012)
     
     
    Los Angeles Dodgers:
     
    IF Adam Kennedy (major league; free agent, November 2011)
     
     
    Miami Marlins:
     
    RHP Rob Delaney (minor league; free agent, January 2012)
    3B Terry Tiffee (minor league; free agent, January 2012)
    3B Chase Lambin (minor league; free agent, February 2012)
     
    Milwaukee Brewers:
    -
     
    New York Mets:
     
    LHP Chuck James (minor league; free agent, December 2011)
    RHP Jon Rauch (major league; free agent, December 2011)
     
    Oakland Athletics:
     
    OF Jason Pridie (minor league; free agent, November 2011)
     
    Philadelphia Phillies:
     
    1B/PH Jim Thome (major league; free agent, November 2011)
     
    Pittsburgh Pirates:
     
    C Jose Morales (minor league; free agent, December 2011)
     
    San Fransisco Giants
     
    RHP Eric Hacker (minor league; free agent, December 2011)
    RHP Boof Bonser (minor league; free agent, December 2011)
    RHP Ramon Ortiz (minor league; free agent, February 2012)
     
    Seattle Mariners:
     
    RHP Matt Fox (minor league; free agent, November 2011)
    LHP Sean Henn (minor league; free agent, December 2011)
    SS Luis Rodriguez (minor league; free agent, November 2011)
     
    St. Louis Cardinals:
     
    RHP Shooter Hunt (drafted in the AAA portion of the Rule 5 draft, December 2011)
    LHP JC Romero (major league; free agent, December 2011)
     
    Texas Rangers:
     
    RHP Joe Nathan (major league; free agent, November 2011)
    IF/OF Yangervis Solarte (minor league; free agent, December 2011)
    LHP Joe Beimel (minor league; free agent, February 2012)
     
    Toronto Blue Jays:
    RHP Sergio Santos (traded by the Chicago White Sox for Nestor Molina, December 2011)
    RHP Jim Hoey (claimed off waivers, December 2011)
     
    Washington Nationals:
    -
     
    Other than the Tigers and the White Sox, the Brewers and Nationals are the only teams that have not signed any former Twins this off-season.
  13. Thrylos
    First posted at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    Tomorrow the Twins will play their first unofficial game, and there are already a few interesting observations in this very young Spring Training. As always, you can find all the Spring Training news and analysis on this site here.
     
    First of all, as far as the "B" game (free to fans, BTW) tomorrow goes, the Twins have announced who is playing. All of: Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn, Liam Hendriks, Jeff Manship, Jason Bulger, Carlos Gutierrez, Tyler Robertson, Brendan Wise and Deolis Guerra will pitch an inning a piece. The line up will be: C- J.R. Towles, 1B- Aaron Bates, 2B- Pedro Florimon, 3B- Ray Chang, SS- Brian Dozier, LF- Ben Revere, CF- Joe Benson, RF- Rene Tosoni, DH Brian Dinkelman.
     
    So what have we learned so far:

    The clubhouse atmosphere is upbeat and easy going and players like Ben Revere have been lighting up the atmosphere and bring in positive energy
    Joe Mauer did not miss a single workout, a single bullpen catching or a single batting practice. This is extremely encouraging.
    Justin Morneau did not miss a single workout and hit a double and a home run off Fransisco Liriano the other day, which means that he can time and turn a fastball this early in Spring Training and this is great news
    The Twins lost Joel Zumaya and someone from the organization will have to step up. My analysis about this is here, but several of these pitcher will be pitching tomorrow.
    Based on the starting lineup tomorrow, unless they reverse, Florimon is viewed as the second baseman and Dozier as the SS for the Red Wings. It Looks like the Twins will give Dozier many chances to win the short
    stop of the future label. As a matter of fact, that lineup, minus Revere, might be the Rochester Red Wings starting lineup.
    Ron Gardenhire is open with his outfield positions, especially now that Revere's arm is stronger
    Late edit, because it just came up in Phil Mackey's notebook. According to Joe Mauer, Carlos Gutierrez, Casey Fien and Fransisco Liriano have been the most impressive pitchers he caught in camp right now.
    So the Twins are playing their first game tomorrow. Baseball is here. And this is incredible news!
  14. Thrylos
    This is a regular weekly feature at The Tenth Inning Stetch and is partially reposted here. You can find the original here
     
    Here is this week's installment (heavily influenced by Spring Training) :

    Wishing my best to Joel Zumaya, who's career with the Twins for all practical purposes ended
    last Sunday. Several media outlets have mentioned that he is considering retiring from baseball and becoming a professional fisherman. Terry Ryan indicated that the Twins most likely will replace Zumaya from within the
    organization, which opens another position in their pen. I looked at the potential possibilities here yesterday.


    In another interesting story from the Twins' camp, we learned that Doumit will not be part of the first base rotation, J.R. Towles has hopes on sticking with the big team, and that Luke Hughes might actually take batting practice today. Yesterday he took swings without a ball and felt good, according to himself. Meanwhile there are reports that Revere's arm has been stronger this offseason. Paul Molitor on ESPN
    1500 mentioned that yesterday Revere threw over the head of the cut-off man (Nishioki) in practice. Interesting to see how this develops. Another thing we learn yesterday is that Ron Gardenhire opened his mind and the Revere LF- Span CF- Willingham RF he (almost) wrote on stone this offseason, might not be it, if it does not make sense. Good to hear.


    A former member of the Twins' World Championship teams, is selling Fish Tacos, while a current Twins' pitcher is clearing the Fort Myers seas from sharks


    A recently departed Twins, has alreadymade his presense felt in his new team's clubhouse, while another of his former teammates who pitched last season with the Bridgeport Bluefish, is now an Angel


    I bet that you did not know that there is an annual MLB groundskeeper's convension and an MLB Groundskeepers Hall of Fame. I didn't. Now we all do.


    The Twins' player Tweet of the week award goes to Ben Revere with this one. When Ben retires from baseball, he has a bright future in fortune cookie script writing. Niko Goodrum gets second place with this advice. Also from the tweet deparment, Ben Revere thinks that a certain fast food joint, holds the secret to hitting home runs
    You can read the remaining article, including the picture of the week and the word of the week here
  15. Thrylos
    This was originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch and partially reposted here for space considerations. The original can be found here.
    Joel Zumaya left the mount on Saturday with elbow discomfort, cutting his workout short. Terry Ryan announced on Sunday that an MRI showed that he has torn his UCL, will undergo Tommy John surgery and not pitch for a month. It is unclear whether the Twins released him yet, but at this point that is a technicality, because by releasing him they will save $450,000 and pay him only the guaranteed $400,000.
     
    There are 32 remaining pitchers (64 arms) in the Twins' spring training camp. From those, I would argue that the following 9 are locks to make the team, leaving 23 players to fight for 3 open bullpen spots. Here is a list of my locks:
     
    Rotation:
    Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn, Francisco Liriano, Jason Marquis, Carl Pavano
     
    Pen:
    Matt Capps, Brian Duensing, Glen Perkins, Anthony Swarzak (3 open spots)
     
    Lets examine the remaining 23 pitchers a bit closer. The following is a list of the pitchers in the Twins' camp broken down by whether they are in the 40-man roster or not (there is a spot available now that Zumaya is not with the team) sorted alphabetically. I also list their age, whether they are left-handed or right-handed, whether they are starters or relieves, their 2011 MLB average fastball velocity (they do have to replace someone who touched triple digits), their career major league
    and minor league numbers and their off-season fall or winter league numbers. Here is the list:
     
    On the 40-man roster:
     
    Alex Burnett RHP, 24, 2011 MLB Average FB (PitchF/X) : 93.3; reliever
    MLB Career: 98.1 IP, 5.40 ERA, 1.485 WHIP, 6.4 K/9, 1.57 K/BB, 4.60 FIP, 4.64 xFIP
    MiLB Career: 519.2 IP, 3.41 ERA, 1.201 WHIP, 7.0 K/9, 2.97 K/BB
    2012 Winter: N/A
     
    Scott Diamond LHP, 25, 2011 MLB Average FB (PitchF/X) : 88.8; starter
    MLB Career: 39 IP, 5.08 ERA, 1.744 WHIP, 4.4 K/9, 1.12 K/BB, 4.36 FIP, 4.87 xFIP
    MiLB Career: 565.1 IP, 3.77 ERA, 1.415 WHIP, 7.1 K/9, 2.46 K/BB
    2012 Winter: N/A
     
    Terry Doyle RHP, 26, 2011 MLB Average FB (PitchF/X) : N/A; starter
    MLB Career: N/A
    MiLB Career: 422.2 IP, 2.94 ERA, 1.143 WHIP, 8.1 K/9, 3.93 K/BB
    2012 Winter (AFL): 27.1 IP, 1.98 ERA, 0.62 WHIP, 5 BB, 22 K
     
    Jeff Gray RHP, 30, 2011 MLB Average FB (PitchF/X) : 92.9; reliever
    MLB Career: 88.2 IP, 4.57 ERA, 1.500 WHIP, 5.1 K/9, 1.61 K/BB, 4.47 FIP, 4.41 xFIP
    MiLB Career: 409.2 IP, 3.56 ERA, 1.225 WHIP, 6.6 K/9, 2.98 K/BB
    2012 Winter: N/A
     
    Deolis Guerra RHP, 23, 2011 MLB Average FB (PitchF/X) : N/A; reliever
    MLB Career: N/A
    MiLB Career: 680 IP, 4.95 ERA, 1.413 WHIP, 6.5 K/9, 1.94 K/BB
    2012 Winter (VWL): 26.2 IP, 3.71 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 7 BB, 23 K
     
    Carlos Gutierrez RHP, 25, 2011 MLB Average FB (PitchF/X) : N/A; reliever
    MLB Career: N/A
    MiLB Career: 321 IP, 4.07 ERA, 1.430 WHIP, 6.4 K/9, 1.68 K/BB
    2012 Winter: N/A
     
    Liam Hendriks RHP, 23, 2011 MLB Average FB (PitchF/X) : 90; starter
    MLB Career: 23.1 IP, 6.17 ERA, 1.500 WHIP, 6.2 K/9, 2.67 K/BB, 4.10 FIP, 3.66 xFIP
    MiLB Career: 375.2 IP, 2.78 ERA, 1.089 WHIP, 8.2 K/9, 5.72 K/BB
    2012 Winter: N/A
     
    Matt Maloney LHP, 28, 2011 MLB Average FB (PitchF/X) : 86.8; starter
    MLB Career: 80 IP, 5.40 ERA, 1.450 WHIP, 6.1 K/9, 3.18 K/BB, 5.48 FIP, 4.57 xFIP
    MiLB Career: 890.1 IP, 3.27 ERA, 1.178 WHIP, 8.3 K/9, 3.34 K/BB
    2012 Winter: N/A
     
    Jeff Manship RHP, 27, 2011 MLB Average FB (PitchF/X) : 90; starter
    MLB Career: 64 IP, 5.63 ERA, 1.609 WHIP, 6.2 K/9, 1.76 K/BB, 4.35 FIP, 4.57 xFIP
    MiLB Career: 574 IP, 3.54 ERA, 1.268 WHIP, 7.3 K/9, 3.24 K/BB
    2012 Winter: N/A
     
    Lester Oliveros RHP, 24, 2011 MLB Average FB (PitchF/X) : 93.9; Reliever
    MLB Career: 21.1 IP, 4.64 ERA, 1.500 WHIP, 5.5 K/9, 1.18 K/BB, 3.35 FIP, 4.71 xFIP
    MiLB Career: 275.2 IP, 3.21 ERA, 1.288 WHIP, 11.2 K/9, 2.84 K/BB
    2012 Winter (VWL): 20.1 IP, 1.33 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 9 BB, 18 K
     
    Tyler Robertson LHP, 24, 2011 MLB Average FB (PitchF/X) : N/A; starter/reliever
    MLB Career: N/A
    MiLB Career: 616.1 IP, 3.69 ERA, 1.379 WHIP, 7.9 K/9, 2.47 K/BB
    2012 Winter: N/A
     
    Kyle Waldrop RHP, 26, 2011 MLB Average FB (PitchF/X) : 88.4; reliever
    MLB Career: 11 IP, 5.73 ERA, 1.455 WHIP, 4.1 K/9, 0.83 K/BB, 4.93 FIP, 4.44 xFIP
    MiLB Career: 779 IP, 3.63 ERA, 1.276 WHIP, 5.7 K/9, 2.91 K/BB
    2012 Winter: N/A
     
     
    Not on the 40-man roster:
     
    Jason Bulger RHP, 33, 2011 MLB Average FB (PitchF/X) : 91.6; reliever
    MLB Career: 133 IP, 4.33 ERA, 1.406 WHIP, 9.3 K/9, 1.84 K/BB, 4.49 FIP, 4.17 xFIP
    MiLB Career: 405 IP, 3.80 ERA, 1.398 WHIP, 10.9 K/9, 2.58 K/BB
    2012 Winter: N/A
     
    Jared Burton RHP, 33, 2011 MLB Average FB (PitchF/X) : 90.7; reliever
    MLB Career: 169 IP, 3.41 ERA, 1.325 WHIP, 7.6 K/9, 1.96 K/BB, 3.97 FIP, 4.39 xFIP
    MiLB Career: 340.2 IP, 3.46 ERA, 1.253 WHIP, 8.6 K/9, 2.56 K/BB
    2012 Winter: N/A
     
    Samuel Deduno RHP, 28, 2011 MLB Average FB (PitchF/X) : 89.2; reliever
    MLB Career: 5.2 IP, 3.18 ERA, 2.118 WHIP, 11.1 K/9, 1.75 K/BB, 4.99 FIP, 3.57 xFIP
    MiLB Career: 738.1 IP, 4.29 ERA, 1.423 WHIP, 9.6 K/9, 1.88 K/BB
    2012 Winter (DWL): 6 IP, 1.50 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 4 BB, 13 K
     
    Phil Dumatrait LHP, 28, 2011 MLB Average FB (PitchF/X) : 91; reliever
    MLB Career: 151 IP, 6.20 ERA, 1.781 WHIP, 5.8 K/9, 1.08 K/BB, 5.76 FIP, 5.33 xFIP
    MiLB Career: 883.1 IP, 3.66 ERA, 1.396 WHIP, 6.7 K/9, 1.59 K/BB
    2012 Winter: N/A
     
    Casey Fien RHP, 28, 2011 MLB Average FB (PitchF/X) : 91.5 (2010) ; reliever
    MLB Career: 14 IP, 8.36 ERA, 1.643 WHIP, 5.8 K/9, 1.50 K/BB, 6.81 FIP, 5.41 xFIP
    MiLB Career: 311 IP, 3.07 ERA, 1.125 WHIP, 9.0 K/9, 4.43 K/BB
    2012 Winter(DWL): 30.2 IP, 4.40 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 8 BB, 31K
     
    Luis Perdomo RHP, 28, 2011 MLB Average FB (PitchF/X) : 93.6; reliever
    MLB Career: 61 IP, 4.87 ERA, 1.508 WHIP, 8.1 K/9, 1.62 K/BB, 5.52 FIP, 4.12 xFIP
    MiLB Career: 313 IP, 3.65 ERA, 1.310 WHIP, 8.4 K/9, 2.06 K/BB
    2012 Winter(DWL): 21.1 IP, 2.11 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 3 BB, 16K
     
    Aaron Thompson LHP, 25, 2011 MLB Average FB (PitchF/X) : 88.1; starter/reliever
    MLB Career: 7.2 IP, 7.04 ERA, 2.478 WHIP, 1.2 K/9, 0.17 K/BB, 8.50 FIP, 7.08 xFIP
    MiLB Career: 783 IP, 4.37 ERA, 1.483 WHIP, 6.7 K/9, 2.15 K/BB
    2012 Winter (DWL): 21.2 IP, 6.10 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 4 BB, 3 K
     
    Daryl Thompson RHP, 26, 2011 MLB Average FB (PitchF/X) : 91.2; starter/reliever
    MLB Career: 17.1 IP, 8.31 ERA, 2.192 WHIP, 3.1 K/9, 0.50 K/BB, 6.92 FIP, 6.63 xFIP
    MiLB Career: 711.1 IP, 3.73 ERA, 1.247 WHIP, 7.5 K/9, 2.96 K/BB
    2012 Winter: N/A
     
    Esmerling Vasquez RHP, 28, 2011 MLB Average FB (PitchF/X) : 93.4; reliever
    MLB Career: 137 IP, 4.66 ERA, 1.496 WHIP, 7.9 K/9, 1.50 K/BB, 4.50 FIP, 4.90 xFIP
    MiLB Career: 512.1 IP, 4.55 ERA, 1.440 WHIP, 8.4 K/9, 1.73 K/BB
    2012 Winter (DWL): 9 IP, 3.00 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 7 BB, 9 K
     
    P.J. Walters RHP, 27, 2011 MLB Average FB (PitchF/X) : 88.8; starter/reliever
    MLB Career: 51 IP, 7.24 ERA, 1.529 WHIP, 7.1 K/9, 1.82 K/BB, 5.86 FIP, 4.40 xFIP
    MiLB Career: 702 IP, 4.06 ERA, 1.345 WHIP, 8.5 K/9, 2.73 K/BB
    2012 Winter: N/A
     
    Brendan Wise RHP, 26, 2011 MLB Average FB (PitchF/X) : N/A ; reliever
    MLB Career: N/A
    MiLB Career: 424.1 IP, 3.37 ERA, 1.317 WHIP, 4.8 K/9, 1.77 K/BB
    2012 Winter (ABL): 4 IP, 0 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 3 BB, 2 K
     
    So this is how it looks on paper... Who has a chance to make the team?
     
    for analysis, please continue to the orginal article at The Tenth Inning Stretch
  16. Thrylos
    Originally posted at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    Every new season there are a lot of old faces who are not any longer with a team and a lot of new faces who are replacing them. Usually a new player is assigned one of the departed players' uniform numbers. Here are the matches between the old and the new uniform numbers. Three of them are unassigned and Chris Parmelee switched his number from 2011. Joel Zumaya and Darin Mastoianni have not been formally assigned numbers yet.
     
    Left the team:
     
    5 Michal Cuddyer, now: J.R. Towles
    16 Jason Kubel, now: Josh Willingham
    18 Jason Repko, now: Ryan Doumit
    20 Matt Tolbert, now: -
    21 Delmon Young, now: Jason Marquis
    25 Jim Thome, now: -
    27 Steve Holm, now: Chris Parmelee
    36 Joe Nathan, now: -
    37 Jim Hoey, now: Sean Burroughs
    44 Chuck James, now: Matt Maloney
    50 Jose Mijares, now: Jason Bulger
    56 Dusty Hughes, now: Terry Doyle
    59 Kevin Slowey, now: Esmerling Vasquez
    61 Eric Hacker, now: Jared Burton
     
    Changed Number:
     
    64 Chris Parmelee, now: Tyler Robertson
     
    A list of all the numbers for the Twins' spring training attendees can be found here
  17. Thrylos
    This was first posted at The Tenth Inning Stretch and reposted here. The original post can be found here
    By now we all know that Zumaya left yesterday's bullpen session with pain/discomfort on "the inside of his elbow" after he threw 15 pitches to Chris Herrmann. According to the observers he was throwing very hard. Terry Ryan announced that there will be an MRI today and the results will be announced either late today or tomorrow.
     
    Of course, the reaction of the Twins' Territory, especially in the light of the injury-filled , and disappointing 2011 season, was nothing short of "gloom and doom". Here, I am attempting to really go through all those reports and separate opinion from facts, look into quotes, reading between the lines and see what the story might be.
     
    John Shipley wrote this report at Pioneer Press, Phil Mackey this update at ESPN 1500, La Velle Neal this piece at Star Tribune and Rhett Bollinger this one for MLB.com. There are some interesting direct quotes from Terry Ryan and other Twins' members. Let's exmine them:
     
    "It would be a little less concerning if we didn't have the history he's experienced in his career"
    What I read into this, is that the injury/pain/discomfort is not that severe and if it were. let's say Carl Pavano, instead of Joel Zumaya, it might have been a different story about perceptions of severity. This is good news in my book, and is reinforced by this quote by Ron Gardenhire: "He's had some issues and had some arm injuries, and we want to protect him as much as we can". So this might be indeed something not extremely serious, but Zumaya and the Twins are playing it safe, because of his injury history.
     
    A reference was made about the pain the Joe Nathan experience last season in Spring Training because of scar tissue being removed when pitching, a process that is helpful but painful. When Ryan was asked about that, he said "that would be ideal".
    Again, it is a good possibility that this is the case. According to everyone he was throwing hard. The harder someone throws, the faster scar tissue breaks and the more painful it is. Danny Valencia is quoted by Phil Mackey saying "He was throwing gas, man," Ryan said that "We may have to tone him down some."
    It is entirely likely that Zumaya's discomfort is actually a good sign: scar tissue breakdown. I agree 100% with what Terry Ryan said, about Zumaya:
     
    "Anytime a guy gets an MRI, there's got to be concern. But, I'm not going to overreact until the results come out. Let's hope it's not something serious."
  18. Thrylos
    This was first published at The Tenth Inning Stretch earlier this month. I know it is kind of old, but I think that the topic might be interesting for the Twins Daily readers, so I am republishing it here...
    February is African American/Black History Month so I wanted to contribute by looking at the integration of the Twins franchise. And it did happen at the Senators' years. The Washington Senators, even though they were one of the first Major League teams to break the ethnicity barrier, in 1913 by featuring two 17 year old lefty outfielders, Merito Acosta and Jack Calvo, both born in Cuba (and the team had a long pipeline of Cuban talent, pre-Castro), was one of the last to break the color barrier and integrate. Only the New York Yankees (1955), the Philadelphia Phillies (1957), the Detroit Tigers (1958) and the Boston Red Sox (1959) integrated later than the Senators.
     
    The first black player made his appearance on the Senators on September 6, 1954 at Griffith Stadium and he was Cuban-born Carlos Paula (Conill). Carlos Paula was born in Havana on Monday November 28, 1927. He made his debut in the US in 1952, at age 24, playing for the Decatur Commodores of the integrated and unaffiliated, class D, Mississippi-Ohio Valley League. He played as a Right Fielder in 119 of the 127 games, hit .334 and slugged .495 mainly because of 23 doubles and 16 triples; he also had 6 HRs. The next season, he started also in Decatur, hitting .265 and slugging .490 in the first 26 games. He was then traded to the Paris Indians of the unaffiliated class B Big State (mainly Texas) League. Even though the Indians were in the League basement with a 48-96 record, Paula played 97 games, hit .309 and slugged .462 with 20 doubles, 9 triples and 6 Home Runs. This caught the eye of the Senators who purchased him from the Paris Indians in the off-season. Paula started his Senators' career with their Charlotte Hornets A league (South Atlantic) affiliate. He hit .309 and slugged .495, with a league leading 13 triples (he also had 24 doubles and 14 home runs) in 153 games. This gained him a call up to the bigs in September.
     
    His first appearance in the majors was at Griffith Stadium on both games of a double-header against the Philadelphia Athletics. He started the first game as the Left Fielder and batted 5th, between Peter Runnels and Jim Lemon. His first action on the game was when he led the bottom of the second of a 0-0 game against Arnie Portocarrero. He struck out swinging. His first action on the field was on the top of the 3rd inning when he caught a fly ball at LF hit by Spook Jacobs (The Senators' starter in that game was Johnny Schmitz.) His second plate appearance came at the bottom of that inning with Mickey Vernon on second, Paul Runnels at first and one out with the Senators leading 1-0. He hit a long out at Right Fielder Joe Taylor. His next plate appearance came in the bottom of the 4th with the Senators really making Arnie Portocarrero work, the score up 4-0, two outs and runners on the corners. Mickey Vernon on third and Peter Runnels (who was walked to face the rookie) on first. Paula pulled a balled to the Center Field gap for a double that ended Portocarerro's day and got the Senators up 6-0. Paula singled in his next plate appearance (to the Center) against Marion Fricano on the bottom of the 6th with two outs. His final at bat was at the bottom of the 9th with Roy Dietzel on first and one out. He flew out at Center. All in all he finished that game with 2 hits, a double and 2 runs batted in, in 5 plate appearances. He also led the team (other than 1st baseman Mickey Veron) with 4 put outs and was perfect on the field. The Senators won 8-1. At that point a new leaf was turned in the Twins' Franchice history. The team was finally integrated.
     
    At the nightcap the same day, Paula also started at Left Field and batted 5th between Runnels and Lemon. Paula went hit-less in that game in 4 plate appearances and the Senators lost 2-3. He played in 7 more games that season (started 3 more at LF, played in an other there and pinch hit in the rest) and in those total nine games, he hit .167/.231/.208. His double and the 2 RBIs on his debut were his only ones of the season. He just managed 2 more singles and a couple of BBs in the other 8 games. Paula played the whole 1955 season with the Senators. He appeared in 115 games, had 374 plate appearances, and hit a very respectable .299/.332./.449 (111 OPS+) He finished the season with 105 hits, 20 doubles, 7 triples, 6 HRs, 17 BB (3 intentional) and 47 strike outs; he stole 2 bases and was cause stealing three times, grounded into 9 double plays and was hit by a pitch 2 times. He also had 4 sacrifice flies. His 1956 season was his last in the majors. He played in 33 games with the Senators, hitting .183/.250/.341 and he was optioned to their AAA club, the Louisville Colonels of the American Association. After 53 games he was sold to the Yankees' affiliate Denver Bears, also of the American Association. After 25 games with the Bears, in order to make room in the club for future All-Star Norm Siebern, the Yankees sold him to the Philies who assigned him to their AAA club, the Miami Marlins of the International League. He played just 11 games with them before he was released. His total line at the American Association in 1956 was .319/.385/.549 with 16 HRs and 58 RBI. The next season he played with the AAA Minneapolis Millers of the American Association, then a New York Giants' affiliate. In 1958 he played with the AAA Sacramento Solons (unaffiliated) of the Pacific Coast League. In 1959, he started the season with the Solons who were now the AAA club of the Milwaukee Braves and mid-season 1959 he was traded to the International League (AAA) Cincinnati Reds affiliate, Havana Sugar Kings. We all know what happened in Cuba in 1959, but Carlo Paula's situation there is not clear. He played 31 games with the Sugar Kings and next season he surfaced in Mexico, playing 88 games with the Mexico City Tigres of the Mexican League who were the League Champions. That season, 1960, his age 32 season, was the last professional baseball season for Carlos Paula.
     
    Paula died at the age of 55 in Miami, FL on April 25, 1983.
     
    The Washington Senators did not sign a US-born African American player until they signed Joe Black (the first African American pitcher in the majors with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1952) as a free agent on August 7, 1957.
     
    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7017/6802077409_009d8853f0_o.jpg


  19. Thrylos
    cross-posted from The Tenth Inning Stretch
    The Tampa Bays Rays have announced that they will give away The Don Zimmer Bear, a bear with the face of Don Zimmer. The mania of putting a chubby manager's face of a teddy bear and giving it away to kids in the ballpark has been virally spreading across the league.
    The Twins today announced that they will join in the mania give away a Gardy Bear to the first 5,000 children on Friday April 13, when the Twins play against the Rangers at Target field.
    We have secured an exclusive picture of the Gardy Bear:
     
    To see the exclusive picture, please visit the original article here.
  20. Thrylos
    This is a regular weekly feature on my blog originally posted there this morning, and partially reposted here
    Here is this week's installment (The spring training edition) :

    Looks like one of the new Twins' players will be a daddy again, for the 4th time


    Interesting news from the Twins' Blogosphere. The 4 bloggers (John Bonnes, Parker Hagaman, Nick Nelson and Seth Stohs - alphabetically) who were part of Twinscentric, desided to discolve their individual blogs and start Twins Dailywhich is a Twins' community that includes for a lot of interaction and has a forum that everyone can post after they register. If anyone remembers the good old Strib blogs before the changes a couple years ago, with 3-400 comments and discussion, this has the potential to be a place like that (and also bury the readership numbers of the now for pay Star Tribune.) So go and have a look! My best wishes to Seth, Nick, Parker and John with their endeavor.


    This blog post by Jon Marthaler over at Twinkie Town is worth reading. With Spring Training starting, he reiterates The Good Things of Baseball


    I think that Joe Mauer will have a monster Spring and will continue with a monster season. He sounds like he is a man on a mission. Interesting piece here in the News-Press, the local Fort Myers newspaper. Bookmark that site, btw if remotely interested in Spring Training and the Fort Myers Miracle. Also, check this tweet by Trevor Plouffe about Joe Mauer. I think that it is about time that the heart of the Twins' lineup has a new nickname; and I am talking about the number two to five hitters (Jamey Carroll, Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Josh Willingham) : the killer J's. And they better live up to it


    From the Health Report Deapartment: Good signs of the Spring Training so far: Jason Marquis threw 48 pitches and Joel Zumaya 40 in their first bullpens Sunday. Both were hurt with broken bones last season. Luke Hughes saw another doctor and he will be ready to start taking batting practice soon. On the other hand, sounds like the pollen count or dust count or something is way up there, because both Danny Valencia and Aaron Bates have been suffering with allegies And to make things worse, Brian Dozier cut his left hand so he is limited. Details of how or how bad are unknown.
    To continue, please go here.
  21. Thrylos
    I posted this a week ago or so in my blog, but I am reposting it here as well in case folks were interested in going down to Fort Myers for Spring Training this spring:
     
     
    As I promised last Sunday, I have been working on two Spring Training Guides: a General Guide to Fort Myers and a more specific food guide (edit: the Fort Myers Culinary Guide is now up - 2/17/2012). This is the first one and I will cover the area, the town, Hammond Stadium and other places to catch Twins' spring training games. These guides could be useful to Red Sox fans' as well, but I am focusing on the Twins' point of view.
     
    How to get there:
    Unless you want to have a non-rental car with you (a good choice if you are a player or will be there for a month or so, or you live close to Fort Myers) flying is probably the best choice. There is a local airport (Southeast Florida International, code: RSW) served by a variety of airlines, but there are a total of about 75 flights a day into and out from there. Alternative airports are the larger Tampa International (TPA) and Miami International (MIA), about 2 and 2.5 hrs drive respectively. Orlando could also be a choice, but the drive is 3 hrs. The Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) is slightly over an hour drive from Fort Myers and slightly larger airport than the Southwest Florida International at Fort Myers.
     
    If you want to drive, the fastest was to get there is via I-75 that goes through the town. From most points of the Midwest or Northwest, the best way is to catch I-75 around the Metro Atlanta area. From South and South West, I-10 hits I-75 in North Florida about an hour east of Jacksonville. From the East Coast, the best bet would be I-95 all the way to Daytona Beach, then I-4 through Orlando and catching I-75 at Tampa. If you live at the Twin Cities area, Minneapolis is about 1700 miles away from Fort Myers, which means about 3 days of 8 hours driving each, each way.
     
    This is a map of South & Central Florida, to let you see where Fort Myers is situated in Florida (all maps and satellite images used in this post are screen shots from Bing maps) :
     
    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7210/6870615689_9c49c11ca4_z.jpg
     
    The Metro Area and the City:
    Fort Myers (and, btw, it is not "Ft." Myers) is the smallest of 3 cities in the Fort Myers-Cape Coral Metropolitan area. It has about 62,000 people, whereas the Metro has about 650,000 people most of them living in Cape Coral, a city planned and started in the late 50s as a huge retirement community. Interestingly enough the planners wanted to make every property close to water, so they created and extensive system of Canals. Cape Coral has more miles of navigable waterways than any city in the world, including Venice (Italy, not FL) and Amsterdam. About 400 miles of canals. Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island and Pine Island are popular beach front communities with a lot of beach-related tourism.

     
    Here is a photo of the Cape Coral- Fort Myers metro:
     
    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7041/6870615619_08f2faa40c_z.jpg
     
    An important note, especially to people from northern climates: Average temperatures in March are 80 for high and 60 for low, so make sure that you pack sunscreen, hats, glasses, shorts, t-shirts and a swimsuit, if you are so inclined.
     
    The city of Fort Myers itself is very easily navigated. Here is a map of the City with the Twins' Spring Training Headquarters noted with an orange Marker:
     
    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7188/6870615475_684c7baa2a_z.jpg
     
     
    You can click here for a larger picture
     
    The Airport is about 6 miles due west from Hammonds Stadium and the Spring Training Complex. Daniels Parkway (that becomes Cypress Lake Dr in the City) will take you from the Airport to the town and the Twins' complex. If you are on a budget and looking for a hotel, the ones on Daniels Parkway and that area west of I-75 offer good bargains and are fairly close to the Twins' Spring Training Complex. Another area for reasonable accommodations is the S. Cleveland Avenue North of Page Field.
     
    Mostly everything can be found within a large triangle defined by S. Cleveland Ave to the West, Colonial Blvd to the North and the Ben C. Pratt Pkwy going Northeast to Southwest. The Twins' Spring training complex is on the South part of Ben C. Pratt Pkwy, just South of Daniels Pkwy.
     
     
    The Twins' Spring Training Complex
     
    Here is a satellite image of the Lee County Sports Complex:
     
    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7062/6870615187_617fab61b1_b.jpg
     
    The complex is accessible via the Miracle on 34th St, either from Ben C Pratt Pkwy or from Plantation Rd. The best was to go is via the Parkway, esp. if it is busy. Miracle on 34th St divides the Twins' part of the complex from the four county softball field. Hammond Stadium, the site of the Twins Spring Training home games and the home of the Fort Myers Miracle (the Twins' high A, Florida State League affiliate) is on the Northeast corner of the Complex. Those parallel lines is the parking lot that can fit about 2000 cars. The stadium seats about 8000 people, so parking can be tight. In addition to Hammond Stadium, there are four full size practice fields and two infield practice fields. You can find Twins' major and minor league players working out in those fields throughout the day, so it might make sense to explore the whole complex or even catch (a free, other than parking) minor league game or two. Some Hotels offer free shuttle service to the Complex, so make sure you explore this option if available.
     
    Hammonds Stadium:
    Hammonds Stadium (and the Lee County Complex) was officially opened in the Spring of 1991. (The year of the Twins' last World Championship.) It is the home of Fort Myers Miracle, a franchise that has Jimmy Buffett and Bill Murray as part-owners. It has been recently renovated and is one of the largest Ball Parks in FSL, sitting up to 8500 people.
     
     
    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7197/6870615335_f8962df2e6_z.jpg
     
    As with most minor league stadiums, most sitting is on the infield between the two dugouts. Hammonds Stadium has a nose bleed 2xx level as well and a small grassy field on short right field for fans to sit picnic style. Spring training tickets cost from $25-28 to $10 or so, depending on the opponent.
     
    One thing that you MUST note: bottled water in unopened containers is permitted in the stadium, as are bags uo to 16x16x8 (think reusable grocery bags), so please take advantage of that. That said, the stadium has one of the best selections of beers, including more than 20 mainstream, import and microbrew beers and ales. They only sell Pepsi products as far as soft drinks go. I will have a food guide within a week, but I have to mention that there is an interesting variety of food, including pizza, sweet potato fries, fish tacos, deep fried nachos on a stick, and two artery clogging specialties: the Carolina Dog, a hot dog topped with pulled pork, baked beans and coleslaw and the Richard Simmons burger a behemoth featuring a 1/4 lb burger, a 1/4 lb chicken, a 1/4 lb brat, held together by 3 slices of cheese and six strips of bacon and contains more calories that the average developing world person eats in a week. There is an annual concession guide, for the stadium that yet has to be published.
     
    Here is the seating guide from the Miracle web site. Also, this is a great article about Hammonds Stadium with a lot of detail about the ball park.
     
    Other things:
    Last but not least, the Twins do not play home games every day. So what to do in an off day? I would chose from one of the following two things: Either drive to the Complex trying to catch minor leaguers and non-traveling major leaguers in action in one (or more) of the fields, or drive to watch the Twins in an away game. Here is a map of Florida that shows all the Grapefruit League home team locations:
     
    http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7044/6870615789_e450be9574_b.jpg
     
    The Rays play their home games about half an hour away and the Pirates and Orioles about an hour away or so. The Red Sox play in Fort Myers. Those are the most convenient ball parks to visit.
     
    The next installment will be a food guide (of sorts.) Please feel free to comment and/or share any experiences you had with Spring Training in Fort Myers.
  22. Thrylos
    Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    ----
    In a cold May evening about 5 years go, give or take a week, I witnessed one of the most dominating pitching performances I have seen in person: Twins' first round draft pick in 2009, righty Kyle Gibson, about a year removed from his return from Tommy John surgery, shut down the Lehigh Valley IronPigs with a three-hitter, carrying a no-hitter into the eighth inning. This was when the Twins were on their way to another season flirting with 100 losses and were conflicting reports regarding Gibson's pitching, so I really wanted to see what Gibson could do. In person. Here is how I described his performance 5 years ago:
     
    I was very lucky to be there because this was a magnificent pitching performance by Gibson. I came in with an open mind and nothing to expect and I left a strong believer in that Gibson is the best starting pitcher the Twins have today. A bit about his performance, and I am not going to get into things like numbers, which you can read elsewhere: He had four pitches that he threw when he wanted with a great command. His fastball was his primary pitch and was sitting from 92-94 all night long. It spiked to 95 a few times and went to 91 a couple. It was at 94 in the 9th inning as well. in the first 5 innings he mostly threw his fastball and his slider, which ran from 84 to 86 and really kept the IronPigs' hitters off balance, causing a lot of swings and misses. Have to mention that Gibson had impeccable command of the fastball: he would locate it up and down and inside and out. And throw it at the dirt when he wanted to. In the latest innings he started throwing more his change up that was running from 81-83 mph with a good late motion; also he featured a tight slow curve (78-80 mph) that I did not realize he had. He threw that pitch a few times late in the game. He was totally on top of his game today. In addition to what he did on the field, a thing that really impressed me was his composure in the dugout, knowing that he was having a no-hitter: he was sitting there cheering his teammates and clapping when they were batting, instead of being "in his own world" and apathetic about the game. This was a dominating performance that, I think that won him his first trip to the majors. Frankly, I thought that I will witness history and it was that close...
     
    After the game ended, Gibson was interviewed in the dugout after the game, and when that was done, I yelled something like "Great game! See you in Minnesota soon, Kyle!" towards him, and he smiled and dismissed the Minnesota part with a hand gesture. My answer was a "We'll see!".
     
    LENIII penned this about that game the next day:
     
    Class AAA Rochester righthander Kyle Gibson had his best outing of the year on Sunday, taking a no hitter into the eighth inning before finishing with a three-hit complete game shutout as the Red Wings beat Lehigh Valley 11-0. Gibson needed just 93 pitches for his gem – 58 were strikes, 35 were balls. He walked two and struck out eight as his record Improved to 3-5 with a 3.25 ERA
     
    In retrospect nobody noticed the fact that Gibby threw only 62% of his pitches for strikes or noted that it might have been something undesirable, because you cannot argue with the results.
     
    Fast forward a bit over a month. June 29th. I was happened to be in the East suburbs of St. Paul that week for work. A friend of mine who is a season ticket holder treated me to one of his tickets at the Delta sky360 club, so I got to witness, Gibson's first major league start. In that game, he beat the Royals (who were actually starting Wade Davis) in a six inning, 8 hit, 5 strikeout, 2 run performance. He threw 91 pitches and 64 for strikes (70%).
     
    The next several years have been up and down for Gibson, until his 3 game demotion to Rochester last season. He came back and pitched 11 games, of which the Twins won 9, striking out 8.4 per 9 innings, and walking about 2.1 per nine, while throwing only 63% of his pitches for strikes. And nobody thought that this was a bad thing. In 8 games that season, of which the Twins have won 5, he has been striking out 10.1 per nine, walking 4.4 per nine, and throwing 59% of his pitches for strikes (which only some Twins' TV broadcasters think its a bad thing, based on the comments in his Angel's start.)
     
    What happened to that Kyle Gibson of five years ago in my back yard, and what happened for him to slowly appear to be back?
     
    My hypothesis is that Kyle Gibson got Ricked and Neiled out of shape, being forced to be a pitcher he is not. Both Rick Anderson and Neil Allen, his previous pitching coaches have been stressing "pounding the strike zone" and inducing soft contact either with the sinker or the changeup. And this approach had been a top to bottom approach in the organization, in the previous Twins' front office. Change happened and it is a good thing. The new pitching approach throughout the organization is try to get ahead of the count and then let them chance, either outside, or inside or high.
     
    And this has been working for Kyle Gibson who went back to his roots. In Saturday's game against the Angels, he even brought back his rarely thrown and ever rarer for strikes curveball when he faces certain batters the second time. That description up there of his performance with Rochester, against Lehigh Valley five years ago, would be pretty close to what he did against the Angels, save a hit or few... Gibson has been pitching to his strengths and it took an organizational overhaul to allow him (and the rest of the Twins' pitchers) to do that. Other than Fernando Romero who pitched only two games and will be the Twins' future ace, Gibson leads the Twins' starters in ERA, FIP, K% and K/9, fWAR, and is second only to Berrios in innings pitched per start.
     
    It seems that Gibson is finally the pitcher we all thought that he will be five years ago. Better late than never, and I hope that it is here to stay.
     
    And a parting food for thought about those who might be bothered by the strike percentage and Gibson's walks: This season Gibson's K/9 and BB/9 numbers are up there. The pitcher who struck out the most batters in baseball, has a career 9.5 K/9 and 4.7 BB/9, both worse than Gibson's numbers this season. Not that Gibson is close to Nolan Ryan; however strikeout pitchers walk hitters as well, and hitters strike out often on balls and hit strikes. It is ok. Results are what matters.
  23. Thrylos
    Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    ----
    This is the last segment in the 2018 Twins top 60 prospect list. You can find the introductory segment that discusses qualifications to be on this list and presents the players who were on the 2017 list but are not in this list here. You can find the list of the previous rankings here: 56-60, 55-51, 46-50 , 41-45, 36-40, 31-35, 26-30, 21-25, 16-20, 11-15, 6-10, and 1-5. You can find all segments in this series here.
     
    Here is the list of the Twins top 60 prospects, with last year's ranking in parenthesis; if not ranked in 2017 this is indicated by (--). I also indicate their position and ETA to the majors:
     
     
    1. Royce Lewis (--), SS/OF, 2020
    2. Wander Javier (1), SS, 2020
    3. Brusdar Graterol, RHP, 2020
    4. Brent Rooker (--), 1B/LF, 2018
    5. Fernardo Romero (4), RHP, 2018
    6. Rainis Silva (32), C, 2020
    7. Blayne Enlow (--), RHP, 2020
    8. Zack Littell (--), RHP, 2018
    9. Stephen Gonsalves (6), LHP, 2018
    10. Lewin Diaz (3), 1B, 2020
    11. Akil Baddoo (24), OF, 2020
    12. Tyler Jay (2), LHP, 2018
    13. Alex Kirilloff (8) OF, 2020
    14. Luis Arraez (11), IF, 2019
    15. Michael Montero (--), RHP, 2021
    16. Nick Gordon (5), IF, 2018
    17. Tyler Wells (54), RHP, 2020
    18. Jose Miranda (--), IF, 2021
    19. Jean Carlos Arias (36), CF, 2020
    20. Jermaine Palacios (31) SS, 2020 traded to the Rays
    20. Jovani Moran (--), LHP, 2020
    21. Lewis Thorpe (30), LHP, 2019
    22. LaMonte Wade (22), OF, 2018
    23 Yunior Severino (--), IF, 2022
    24. Chris Paul (--), UT, 2019
    25. Landon Leach (--), RHP, 2021
    26. Andrew Bechtold (--), 3B, 2020
    27. Travis Blankenhorn (15), 3B/1B/OF, 2020
    28. Charlie Barnes (--), LHP, 2020
    29. Tyler Watson (--), RHP, 2020
    30. David Banuelos (--), C, 2020
    31. Ben Rortvedt (16), C, 2021
    32. Kohl Stewart (17), RHP, 2018
    33. Alberoni Nunez (--), OF, 2021
    34. Derek Molina (--), RHP, 2021
    35. Bryan Sammons (--) LHP, 2020
    36. Bailey Ober (--), RHP, 2020
    37. Pedro Garcia (45), RHP, 2021
    38. Lachlan Wells (29), LHP, 2020
    39. Wander Valdez, (--) 3B, 2021
    40. Aaron Whitefield (59), OF, 2020
    41. Ricky De La Torre (--) SS, 2021
    42. Jake Reed (25) RHP, 2018
    43. Jacob Pearson (--), OF, 2022
    44. Yeltsin Encarnacion (--) IF, 2022
    45. Ryley Widell (--) LHP, 2022
    46. Andrew Vasquez (52), LHP, 2019
    47. Tom Hackimer (--), RHP, 2019
    48. Kerby Camacho (--), C, 2021
    49. Hector Lujan (--), RHP, 2020
    50. Colton Burns (--), OF, 2021
    51. Cody Stashak -(55), RHP, 2019
    52. Jaylin Davis, (39), OF 2019
    53. Alex Robles, (--), OF, 2022
    54. Ruben Santana, (--), IF, 2022
    55. Carlos Suniaga, (--), RHP, 2022
    56. Sandy Lugo, (--), RHP, 2020
    57. Nelson Molina, (47), IF, 2020
    58. Ben Rodriguez (--), C/1B, 2022
    59. Carson Crites (--), 2B, 2022
    60. Jesus Toledo (--), LHP, 2022
     
     
    Re-arranging the list based on when players would be ready to help the Twins in the majors, will make look something like this:
     
    4. Brent Rooker (--), 1B/LF, 2018
    5. Fernardo Romero (4), RHP, 2018
    8. Zack Littell (--), RHP, 2018
    9. Stephen Gonsalves (6), LHP, 2018
    12. Tyler Jay (2), LHP, 2018
    16. Nick Gordon (5), IF, 2018
    22. LaMonte Wade (22), OF, 2018
    32. Kohl Stewart (17), RHP, 2018
    42. Jake Reed (25) RHP, 2018
    ---
    14. Luis Arraez (11), IF, 2019
    21. Lewis Thorpe (30), LHP, 2019
    24. Chris Paul (--), UT, 2019
    46. Andrew Vasquez (52), LHP, 2019
    47. Tom Hackimer (--), RHP, 2019
    51. Cody Stashak -(55), RHP, 2019
    52. Jaylin Davis, (39), OF 2019
    -------
    1. Royce Lewis (--), SS/OF, 2020
    2. Wander Javier (1), SS, 2020
    3. Brusdar Graterol, RHP, 2020
    6. Rainis Silva (32), C, 2020
    7. Blayne Enlow (--), RHP, 2020
    10. Lewin Diaz (3), 1B, 2020
    11. Akil Baddoo (24), OF, 2020
    13. Alex Kirilloff (8) OF, 2020
    17. Tyler Wells (54), RHP, 2020
    19. Jean Carlos Arias (36), CF, 2020
    20. Jermaine Palacios (31) SS, 2020
    20. Jovani Moran (--), LHP, 2020
    26. Andrew Bechtold (--), 3B, 2020
    27. Travis Blankenhorn (15), 3B/1B/OF, 2020
    28. Charlie Barnes (--), LHP, 2020
    29. Tyler Watson (--), RHP, 2020
    30. David Banuelos (--), C, 2020
    35. Bryan Sammons (--) LHP, 2020
    36. Bailey Ober (--), RHP, 2020
    38. Lachlan Wells (29), LHP, 2020
    40. Aaron Whitefield (59), OF, 2020
    49. Hector Lujan (--), RHP, 2020
    56. Sandy Lugo, (--), RHP, 2020
    57. Nelson Molina, (47), IF, 2020
    ---
    15. Michael Montero (--), RHP, 2021
    18. Jose Miranda (--), IF, 2021
    25. Landon Leach (--), RHP, 2021
    31. Ben Rortvedt (16), C, 2021
    33. Alberoni Nunez (--), OF, 2021
    34. Derek Molina (--), RHP, 2021
    37. Pedro Garcia (45), RHP, 2021
    39. Wander Valdez, (--) 3B, 2021
    41. Ricky De La Torre (--) SS, 2021
    48. Kerby Camacho (--), C, 2021
    50. Colton Burns (--), OF, 2021
    ---
    23 Yunior Severino (--), IF, 2022
    43. Jacob Pearson (--), OF, 2022
    44. Yeltsin Encarnacion (--) IF, 2022
    45. Ryley Widell (--) LHP, 2022
    53. Alex Robles, (--), OF, 2022
    54. Ruben Santana, (--), IF, 2022
    55. Carlos Suniaga, (--), RHP, 2022
    58. Ben Rodriguez (--), C/1B, 2022
    59. Carson Crites (--), 2B, 2022
    60. Jesus Toledo (--), LHP, 2022
     
    There is a solid pipeline of talent ready (ETA 2018) and close to ready (ETA 2019) that can help the Twins this season; albeit other than a couple of cases (Rooker and Romero), it is not top talent. The majority of top talent will be ready around 2020, close to when the current young Twins core is coming to its arbitration eligible stage. For 2021 and further there is not much at this time, but a. many of these prospects will rise in the rankings and b. will be supplemented in the 2018-2020 drafts.
     
    The Twins system is its stronger and more balanced that it has been in years. The years when Sano, Polanco and Buxton were the top prospects, the quality of position players prospects was probably higher than now, but with Lewis, Javier and Rooker on the top 5, this might be challenged as well. The quality of pitching and the potential of pitching prospect is much higher than previous years.
     
    Also this team has a nice core of prospects from 8-15, and some of that group are regarded much higher in the National lists, which can serve as the basis for trades to bring in ready now top of the rotation talent, something that the Twins lack.
  24. Thrylos
    Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    ------
     
    This is the next segment in the 2018 Twins top 60 prospect list. You can find the introductory segment that discusses qualifications to be on this list and presents the players who were on the 2017 list but are not in this list here. You can find the list of the previous rankings here: 56-60, 55-51, 46-50. You can find all segments in this series here.
     
    Here are players 41-45 in reverse order with their 2017 ranking in parenthesis. Players no in the 2017 top 60 list are indicated by (--)
     
    45. Ryley Widell
    DOB: 6/1/1997; Age: 20
    Positions: LHP
    Bats: L, Throws: L
    Height: 6'3", Weight: 180 lbs
    Acquired: Drafted in the 7th round in 2017
    Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: ELZ (2017)
    ETA: 2022
     
    The Haiku, HI native was drafted in the 7th round of 2017 by the Twins from Central Arizona College as a draft-eligible Sophomore. He transferred there after an unfortunate Freshman season at Washington State (14 G, 3 GS, 20.1 IP, 8.85 ERA, 2.31 WHIP, 8.4 BB/9, 8.0 K/9). He improved vastly at JuCo pitching in 17 games (16 GS) for 95-2/3 IP, with a 1.98 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 10.8 K/9 and 3.7 BB/9. As a pro he started in Elizabethton pitching in 8 games (7 GS) for 29-2/3 IP striking out 41 (12.4 K/9, 30.6 K%) and walking 20 (6.1 BB/9, 15.7 K-BB%). He also had 4 wild pitches. He finished with a 2.43 ERA, 4.10 FIP amd 1.52 WHIP (.358 BABIP)
     
    At 6-3/180 Widell is projectible and the hope is that he will add a couple of ticks to his 90-92 mph fastball. He as an above average changeup and has been working with a curveball in Elizabethton. Command and control can be lacking some days; Focusing on commanding the fastball and then working on secondary stuff will be a must for Widell. There is a lot of potential here, but the floor is very low as well.
     
    Likely 2018 Path: Extended Spring Training to work on command and then in the Elizabethton or even Cedar Rapids rotation depending on the Twins' draft.
     
    44. Yeltsin Encarnacion (--)
    DOB: 6/28/1998; Age:19
    Positions: IF
    Bats: L, Throws: R
    Height: 5'11", Weight: 170 lbs
    Acquired: Signed as international free agent by Twins on September 2014
    Professional Experience: 3; Highest level: DSL (2017)
    ETA: 2023
     
    Encarnacion who is from Azua, Dominican Republic, was signed as international free agent by Twins on September 2014. His first pro season in the DSL he hit an encouraging .286/.384/.333, .363 wOBA, 114 wRC+ as a 17 year old, with 12.5 BB% and 15.5 K%. He repeated the DSL in 2016 and regressed, other in the K%, hitting .220/.330/.270 with .310 wOBA, 86 wRC+, 12.4 BB% and 9.1 K%. In 2017, back in the DSL as a 19 year old he had a breakthrough season, both as far as contact and power goes: He hit .318/.408/.523, .445 wOBA, 165 wRC+, with 12.4 BB/9, and 11.3 K/9.
     
    Encarnacion has played all infield positions but 2B is likely his best position. He has a strong enough arm to play the left size of the infield, but his defensive instincts and surehandedness are not that developed. This .205 IsoP last season is impressive in any league, and especially by a 5-11, 170 lbs 19 year old infielder. For example the 5-10, 185 lbs Eduardo Escobar who as a 28 year old had a power break through for the Twins had a .195 isoP last season. Encarnacion is a contact machine who does not mind taking a walk here and there. If that contact results in hits like it did last season when facing tougher competition, the future will be bright for him, even though his glove will be dragging behind. Likely 2018 Path: Extended String Training .
     
    Likely 2018 Path: Extended Spring Training and then at the GCL
     
    43. Jacob Pearson (--)
    DOB: 6/28/1998; Age:19
    Positions: OF
    Bats: L, Throws: R
    Height: 6'1", Weight: 185 lbs
    Acquired: Traded by the Angels
    Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: AZL (2017)
    ETA: 2023
     
    Jacob Pearson was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2017 draft by the Angels from West Monroe (LA) High School and was signed for an over-spot bonus. He was traded to the Twins for IFA allowance. In his first pro appearance in the Angels' Rookie Arizona League (the equivalent of the GCL) he hit .226/.302/.284 with a .286 wOBA and 69 wRC+ in 176 PA. He had an 8.5 BB% and 21 K%. Stole 5/8 bases and had 8/27 extra base hits (no HRs).
     
    Pearson was the top prep player from Louisiana and can play all OF positions including CF. He has played first base as well. He has good game speed, excellent feel for the game, hustle, and doubles power. His arm is one of his weaknesses, and depending on how much he grows, the right side of the infield might be his future. Played exclusively at the OF with the Angels, but this might change in the Twins' organization.
     
    Likely 2018 Path: Extended Spring Training and then at Elizabethton, depending on the Twins' draft.
     
    42. Jake Reed (25) RHRP
    DOB: 9/29/1992; Age: 25
    Positions: RHP
    Bats: R, Throws: R
    Height: 6'2", Weight: 190 lbs
    Acquired: Drafted in the 5th round in 2014
    Professional Experience: 4; Highest level: AAA (2016, 2017)
    ETA: 2018
     
    Jake Reed was drafted by the Twins in the 5th round of the 2014 draft from the University of Oregon as a Junior. The Tuscon, AZ native was a starter both of his first collegiate seasons and was converted to a closer in his junior season where he excelled pitching in 31 games (37 IP), striking out 34 (8.3 K/9), walking 15 (3.7 BB/9) finishing with 1.95 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 13 saves. He continued the season in Elizabethton where he over-matched the opposition (4 G, 6 IP, 8 K, 0 BB, 1 H, 0 R, 3 SV) to a degree that the Twins moved him all the way to A level Cedar Rapids where he appeared in 16 games, pitching 25 innings with 31 K (11.2 K/9, 34.4 K%), 3 BB (1.1 BB/9, 31.1 K-BB%), for a 0.36 ERA, 1.48 FIP, 0.52 WHIP (.182 BABIP), and 5 saves. Were that not enough, the Twins send him to the Arizona Fall League his first professional season, where among family and friends he pitched in 10 games for another 12-2/3 innings with good results (10 K, 7.1 K/9, 20.0 K%, 3 BB, 2.1 BB/9, 14 K-BB%, 2.05 ERA, 1.43 FIP, 1.03 WHIP, .270 BABIP. So between all of his stops from Oregon to Tennessee to Iowa and to Arizona, in 2014 Reed pitched 61 games and 80-2/3 innings, a load that seems appropriate for a major league level reliever, but hardly for a first year professional, but Reed responded. His strikeouts were down and walks up in Arizona, but that was more than expected from a pitcher who was overused by they usually cautious Twins. In 2015 the Twins had Reed skip the high A Fort Myers and play all the way up to AA Chattanooga in his second season as a pro after a first season that was overused with the expected results: Reed tanked. He appeared in 35 games, pitching 47 innings, striking out 39 (7.5 K/9, 17.6%) and walking (career high 4.0 BB/9, and career low 8.1 K-BB% ), with a 6.32 ERA (inflated by a very low 50.1 LOB%), 4.20 FIP, 1.62 WHIP (.340 BABIP). To salvage his season in the begining of August Reed was sent to Fort Myers where we pitched better, finding his control, but not his strikeouts (9 G, 12-1/3 IP, 7 K, 5.1 K/9, 16.3 K%, 1 BB, 0.7 BB/9, 13.9 K-BB%, 0.00 ERA, 2.27 FIP, 0.73 WHIP, .229 BABIP). To add to the 44 games and 59-1/3 innings, the Twins re-sent him to the AFL after the season where the appeared in 10 more games for a total of 10-2/3 innings (season totals 54 games, 70 innings), pitching well (10 K, 8.4 K/9, 25.6 K%, 4 BB, 3.4 BB/9, 15.4 K-BB%, 0.00 ERA, 2.83 FIP, 0.94 WHIP, .240 BABIP). He started 2016 in Chattanooga, with better results (41 G, 60 IP, 64 K, 9.6 K/9, 25.6 K%, 22 BB, 3.3 BB/9, 16.8 K-BB%, 3.90 ERA, 3.02 FIP, 1.22 WHIP, .314 BABIP). He moved to Rochester for the final 9 games of the season doing well (9 G, 10-2/3 IP, 8 K, 6.7 K/9, 19.1 K%, 2 BB, 1.7 BB/9, 14.3 K-BB%, 3.90 ERA, 3.02 FIP, 0.94 WHIP, .258 BABIP.) For the season Reed pitched in 50 games for 70-2/3 innings. Last season he also started at Chattanooga, but stayed only 5 games before he moved to Rochester, where he pitched in 22 games for 30-2/3 innings striking out 25 (7.3 K/9, 20.7 K%), walking 11 (3.2 BB/9, 11.6 K-BB%) with a 2.05 ERA, 3.40 FIP, and 1.14 WHIP (.281 BABIP)
     
    Overused his first season and rushed both his first two seasons, Reed turned from an elite reliever to a below average to an above average reliever who has been a workhorse in the pen, already carrying MLB-level loads and more, each of his first professional seasons. Last season he regressed a bit and this off-season, even though, unprotected in the Rule 5 draft, unlike two of his teammates he was not selected. He has a plus fastball that sits from 93-95, an above average slider that flashes plus, and an average to above average change up. Reed at this point has been passed by several other RHRPs, but all it will take is an opportunity to get a major league job, do well and hold into it. Reed was ranked as the Twins' 16th best prospect in 2015 and 2016, dropped to 25th last season and to 42nd now, to reflect his status in the Twins' RHRP pecking order.
     
    Likely 2018 path: At the Rochester pen with a potential call to the majors, depending on performance and needs.
     
    41. Ricky De La Torre (--)
    DOB: 4/21/1999; Age: 19
    Positions: SS
    Bats: R, Throws: R
    Height: 6'2", Weight: 175 lbs
    Acquired: Drafted in the 6th round in 2017
    Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: GCL (2017)
    ETA: 2023
     
    The Juana Diaz, PR, native, Ricky De La Torre was selected by the Twins in the 6th round of the 2017 draft from the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy. As a 17 year old in his first pro season at the GCL he did well. He hit .268/.341/.359 with a .339 wOBA, 104 wRC+, 9.4 BB%, and 22.9 K%. He was 5/11 in stolen bases, a number that should be improved. His .092 IsoP and 9/34 extra base hits, including 3 home runs is very hopeful. So it his power projectibility and his strong arm and potential ability to stay at SS.
     
    He played at short, second, and third, but does project as a (yet another) shortstop with moderate to high ceiling. Tools and projection is there, but he needs improvement in contact, defensive instincts and concentration, in general. At just 18, there is no reason that this will not happen.
     
    Likely 2018 path: Starting at extended Spring Training and then either repeating GCL or at Elizabethton depending on the Twins' draft.
     
    Next: 36-40
  25. Thrylos
    Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    ----
     
    This is the second segment in the 2018 Twins top 60 prospect list. You can find the introductory segment that discusses qualifications to be on this list and presents the players who were on the 2017 list but are not in this list here. You can find all segments in this series here.
     
    Here are players 56-60 in reverse order with their 2017 ranking in parenthesis. Players no in the 2017 top 60 list are indicated by (--)
     
    60 Jesus Toledo (--)
    DOB: 8/25/1999; Age: 18
    Positions: LHP
    Bats: L, Throws: L
    Height: 5'11", Weight: 180 lbs
    Acquired: Signed on July 8, 2016 from Venezuela
    Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: DSL (2017)
    ETA: 2022
     
    Jesus Toledo signed with the Twins as an International Amateur Free Agent on July 8th ot 2016 from San Juan de los Morros, Venezuela, but did not start his professional career until last season. But when he started, it was quite a start. He started the season without allowing a run in 20-2/3 IP (4 starts, 1 relief appearance) had 4 more decent starts in July (14 IP, 3.86 ERA) and ran out of steam in August (1 start, 4 relief appearances 10-2/3 IP). His numbers for last season were: 14 G, 9 GS, 45-1/3 IP, 30 K (15.9 K%, 6.0 K/9), 17 BB (3.4 BB/9, 6.9 K-BB%), 1.26 WHIP (.293 BABIP), 2.38 ERA, 3.88 FIP.
     
    The lefty Venezuelan, who is around 6 feet tall with a true sinker and above average change up, should not be overlooked, not only because you know who, but because his stuff is that good, even though his endurance may not be at this point, which is mainly a being in shape and consistent training issue. He pitches to contact at this point allowing twice as many ground balls than fly balls, and only 2.5% of the later resulting in a home rum. He is more evective against lefties, but not bad against righties. Developing a breaking ball, improving his sinker and change and commanding his sinker better, will allow him to miss bats in the future.
     
    Likely 2018 path: In the US for String Training, extended Spring Training and starting at the CGL
     
    59 Carson Crites (--)
    DOB: 1/18/1995; Age: 23
    Positions: 2B
    Bats: R, Throws: R
    Height: 6'0", Weight: 195 lbs
    Acquired: Drafted in the 25th round in 2017
    Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: ELZ (2017)
    ETA: 2022
     
    Crites who was born in Oklahoma City and went to High School in Amarillo, TX, was drafted as a senior in the 25th round of the 2017 draft from Southeastern Louisiana University. He established himself as power-speed threat his Senior year with 14 HR and 15 SB in 59 games (231 AB) while hitting .299/.386/.554. In his first season as a pro he hit .300/.349/.453 (.363 wOBA, 115 wRC+) in 38 games (166 PA). He just hit 4 HRs and stole 4 bases (in 7 attempts,) but he hit 11 doubles and overall had 50% extra base hit to hit ratio for a .153 isoP, while walking 10 (6% BB%) and striking out 28 (16.9% K%) times, which indicates that home run power will come upon further adjustment to the wood bat.
     
    Crites is a second baseman with a lot of grit. He is a bit older than the league average but he was drafted as a Senior. As a hitter, he utilizes the whole field and has about equal ground ball to fly ball ration. His .339 BABIP is similar to his .344 NCAA average (range .398-.304) so it seems sustainable. He is a similar type player to the current Twins' second baseman Brian Dozier, before the latter became a pure pull ball hitter as a major league player. At the same age and the same level, he is a bit more advanced than Dozier was as far as power (.153 vs .078 isoP) and speed (4.6 vs 4.0 fangraphs Speed) but not contact (.363 vs .392 wOBA). However players develop differently and it will be interesting to see how Crites will develop as he gets accustomed to the wooden bat.
     
    Likely 2018 path: Starting the season in Cedar Rapids (A)
     
    58 Ben Rodriguez (--) C/1B
    DOB: 11/9/1994; Age: 23
    Positions: C/1B
    Bats: R, Throws: R
    Height: 6'6", Weight: 235 lbs
    Acquired: Drafted in the 38th round in 2017
    Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: GCL (2017)
    ETA: 2022
     
    Ben Rodriguez was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 38th round of the 2017 draft from Pepperdine University. The Scottsdale, AZ native was named the number 1 catcher from AZ in his High School senior class and was in the top 100 catchers in the nation in that class; however he was not drafted and went to Pepperdine University. He had a break through junior season (.289/.401/.533, 9HR, 21 BB, 48 K, in 135 PA) but a rough landing in his senior season (.230/.311/.378, 19 BB, 62 K, in 196 PA). He did rebound considerable at the GCL later last season (.290/.395/.457, 22 BB, 43 K, .404 wOBA, 144 wRC+ in 162 PA). This 1.95 K/BB ratio was his career best so far. Rodriguez played 5 games (out of 50) at catcher, but at 6'6" and 235, he has already likely outgrown the position and he appears to be a first baseman in the future.
     
    Rodriguez has very intriguing power (easy 70 on the 80 grade scale) and mashes lefties (.431/.500/.707 in 58 AB in GCL), however his long swing is not effective against same size pitching (.212/.346/.317 in 104 AB in the GCL) and neutralized by breaking balls outside the zone. He is much older for his league (+2.6 years that the average player), however it was his first time as a pro and was drafted as a senior. The power intrigue is there, and overall his transition to wood has proven positive. Cutting down the strikeouts and finding a way to attack right hand pitching will go a long way towards his development.
     
    Likely 2018 path: Extended Spring Training and then Elizabethton (Rk) with potential trips to Cedar Rapids if the need appears.
     
     
    57 Nelson Molina, (47)
    DOB: 4/30/1995; Age: 22
    Positions: IF
    Bats: L, Throws: R
    Height: 6'3", Weight: 175 lbs
    Acquired: Drafted in the 11th round in 2013
    Professional Experience: 5; Highest level: AA (2017)
    ETA: 2020
     
    Nelson Molina was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 11th round of the 2013 MLB Draft from the Antonio Luchetti High School in Arecibo, PR. He has been developing slowly for the Twins, starting and repeating the GCL level his first two seasons, moving to Elizabethton in 2015 and to A level Cedar Rapids in 2016. He was drafted as a SS, but has played every infield and the corner outfield positions, concentrating at third base before last season and moved to 2B primarily this season, while still playing 1B, 3B, SS, LF and RF. Molina had good plate discipline, but had a hard time making contact. Something clicked for him in 2016 at Cedar Rapids, hitting .300/.374/.381 overall (with only a 13.9 K% and 9.9 BB%) and .321/.383/.419 against RHPs. However last season at Fort Myers (he also had 11 AB in 3 games at Chattanooga) he regressed to a .243/.285/.342 slash line overall and .249/.285/.358 against RHPs.
     
    He is tall and lanky with limited power, but the potential to establish it as he grows. He has some speed, stealing 12 bases in Elizabethton, but this season he only had 6 attempts (and 5 SB.) He has been improving with the glove, esp. after being moved away from third base that is his worse position. His bat used to be ahead of his glove, but caught up last season in the wrong direction. The Twins like his versatility but the key to making it to the majors will be his bat. There are early indications that his 2016 .755 OPS, .354 wOBA, 125 wRC+ season at Cedar Rapids might be the exception, since he could not repeat his BABIP (.349) which regressed last season to .275 that is a bit better than his .258 career average. At 22 he is still young but next season will be his 6th as a professional and likely a make or break season.
     
    Likely 2018 path: On the Chattanooga roster as a utility player
     
    56 Sandy Lugo, (--) RHP
    DOB: 3/26/1995; Age: 22
    Positions: IF
    Bats: R, Throws: R
    Height: 6'0", Weight: 170 lbs
    Acquired: Drafted in the minor league portion of the 2017 Rule 5 draft from Reds
    Professional Experience: 4; Highest level: A+ (2017)
    ETA: 2020
     
    The Twins drafted Sandy Lugo in the minor league portion of the 2017 Rule 5 draft from the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds signed the Las Matas de Farfan, Dominican Republic native on May 14, 2014. Lugo moved fairly quickly in their system playing in the DSL that season: 19 G, 2 GS, 49-2/3 IP, 61 K (11.1 K/9, 28.9 K%) 16 BB (2.9 BB/9, 21.3 K-BB%) 2.90 ERA, 1.91 FIP, 1.19 WHIP and 13 wild pitches. The 2015 season Lugo came to the States cruising through their Arizona League Rookie squad in 4 games and moving up to high altitude Rookie Pioneer League Billings Mustangs where he appeared in 13 games with 17-2/3 IP, striking out 23 (11.7 K/9, 28.1 K%), walking 8 (4.1 BB/9, 18.3 K-BB%) with a 5.60 ERA, 4.54 FIP and 1.47 WHIP. In 2016 he moved to the Midwest League (A) Dayton Dragons where he appeared in 30 games for 55 innings, striking out 77 (12.6 K/9, 34.4 K%) walking 13 (2.1 BB/9, 28.6 K-BB%) and throwing 8 wild pitches with a 2.45 ERA, 2.91 FIP and 1.07 WHIP. Last season after 5 games in Dayton, he moved to High A Daytona (Florida State League) where he appeared in 42 games, pitched 64-1/3 innings, struck out 82 (11.5 K/9, 28.6 K%), walked 40 (5.6 BB/9, 14.6 K-BB%), threw 16 wild pitches hit 5 batters, and had a 5.32 ERA, 3.87 FIP, and 1.41 WHIP.
     
    The twenty-two year old has a 91-94 mph fastball that on occasion touches a couple ticks more, but his best pitch is a true plus upper 70s curveball. His problem has been command and control of his fastball, which has abandoned him at times. The Twins have probably seen enough of his the past 2 seasons in the Midwest and Florida State Leagues to think that they can help him command his fastball to go with his plus curveball. The key for Lugo is to do exactly that and get ahead in the count. Otherwise hitters who can recognize the spin of the ball will just ignore the curve and sit on his fastball. Definitely a work in process but the potential is there
     
    Likely 2018 path: Repeating the FSL with the Miracle to start the season with a possible promotion to Chattannooga depending on command of the fastball.
     
    Next: 55-51
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