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Thrylos

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  1. Thrylos
    Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    --------
     
    You can find the introductory segment in this series, including my criteria for eligibility to be a prospect and the list of the 2016 top 40 players who graduated as prospects or are not in the system, here. Here is my 2016 Twins off-season top 40 prospects list (summary of 1-40) for reference.
     
    This is the countdown for players ranked 51-55th in the system. You can find players 56-60 here, players 51-55 here, 46-50 here, 41-45 here, and all segments in the series here.
     
    40. Levi Michael (11)
    DOB: 2/9/1991; Age: 25
    Positions: 2B
    Bats: S, Throws: R
    Height: 5'10", Weight: 180 lbs
    Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round in 2011
    Professional Experience: 5; Highest level: AA (2014, 2015, 2016)
    ETA: 2017
     
    Levi Michael was drafted by the Twins in the first round of the 2011 draft (30th overall) as a shortstop from the University of North Carolina. The Winston-Salem, NC native had a very frustrating 2016, losing the gains he made in the injury plagued but successful 2014 and 2015 seasons that put him back in the prospect spotlight. 2017 will be critical for Michael. Michael was drafted as a potentially power hitting five tool shortstop player, but his peak might have been his age 19 sophomore season when in 60 games (214 AB) he hit .346/.484/.575 with 9 HR, 44 BB, 26 K and was 20/22 in SB. In his junior season he hit .289/.434/.434 with 5 HR, 56 BB, 82 K and 15/16 SB with his isoP dropping from .229 the previous season to .145, and his BABIP from .355 to (a still respectable) .337. He signed at the August 15 deadline after was drafted and started his pro career at high A Fort Myers the next season. The transition to a professional was not smooth for Michael at both sides of the game. He hit only .246/.339/.311 with only .065 isoP and his BABIP dropped to .295. He had only 2 HRs and stole 6 bases in 117 games (431 AB). His defense at SS also proved inadequate starting playing mostly second base, a position that he has played exclusively from 2014 on. He repeated Fort Myers the next season with similar results, but a slight increase in the power and speed numbers and a further decrease in his BABIP. In 94 games (315 AB) he hit .229/.331/.340 with 4 HRs and 21/23 SB with an .111 isoP and .272 BABIP. He also lost the first month of the season in the Disabled List. He also started the 2014 season at Fort Myers when he showed improvement. In his first 45 games there (177 PA) he hit .305/.375/.395 with 1 HR, 6/10 SB, 0.090 isoP and .346 BABIP, before he spent 3 weeks in the disabled list. He was then promoted to AA New Britain where in 15 games (53 AB) he hit .340/.444/.358 with minuscule power (0.019 isoP) but a big rebound in BABIP (.429). This was enough for the Twins to invite him to the 2015 Spring Training. He continued his success in a AA season at Chattanooga where, despite losing a month and a half early with a strained angle and two weeks late in the season due to illness, in 63 games (221 AB) hit .267/.369/.434 with 5 HRs, and 18/22 SB, increasing his power numbers to .167 isoP and his BABIP to .327. At this point despite the plate discipline never reaching his college numbers (31 BB and 53 K in 2015) there was hope that Michael was the player the Twins have signed out of College and was invited to Spring Training against.
     
    2016 was supposed to be his breakout season that would make him a long term alternative for the team in second base, but Michael bottomed out. In his first healthy season since 2012, he played in Chattanooga for 96 games and 316 AB. He hit a career low .215/.293/.291 with 2 HR and 5/7 SB, isoP at 0.76 and BABIP at .286. That was a different player than in the past 2 seasons. Does Michael have any potential future with the Twins? I think that he still does, even though my confidence level (and his ranking) dropped from the previous off-season. Micheal could always hit lefties. Here are his splits against LHP the past 2 seasons: 2014 A+: .366/.449/.463, 2014 AA: .409/.500/.455, 2015 AA: .385/.448/.673. This is more than respectable. In his horrible 2016 season against LHP, he hit and acceptable .277/.352/.426. His glove now is average and slightly above average at second base. If Michael returns to or improves upon his 2017 levels he might have a future with the Twins. If not, I would not be surprised if 2017 is his last season with the team.
     
    Likely 2017 Path: Starting the season at Rochester and potentially a cup of coffee (or more) with the Twins based on performance and whether Dozier is still a Twin.
     
     
    39. Jaylin Davis (--)
    DOB: 7/1/1994; Age: 22
    Positions: OF
    Bats: R, Throws: R
    Height: 6'1", Weight: 190 lbs
    Acquired: Drafted in the 24th round in 2015
    Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: A (2016)
    ETA: 2019
     
    Jaylin Davis was drafted by the Twins in the 24th of the 2015 draft as an outfielder from Appalachian State University. The Greensboro, NC native missed almost all his junior season with a shoulder injury that was later diagnosed as a labrum tare and was operated upon. Davis lost all of 2015 in the disabled list for that reason. Last season he started in extended Spring Training and was assigned to Elibatheton. His college numbers (career: .268/.337/.411 10 HR, 22/28 SB in 126 games and 482 PAs with .143 isoP and .331 BABIP) were solid but not close in predicting how Davis will do in his first pro season. In 12 games (47 AB) in Elizabethton he hit .277/.346/.745 with 7 HR, and 2 SB, an unreal .468 isoP and a .353 BABIP. He walked 4 times and struck out 23 (for a scary 44.2 K%). Hot streak or not, his stint with Elizabethton was enough for the Twins to promote the 22 year old to Cedar Rapids for the last 52 games of the season. There at 192 AB, he hit .250/.339/.469 with 9 HRs and 3/3 SB. His isoP was .219 and BABIP .328. He walked 21 times and struck out 64 (29.4 %). Davies has power, but that 6.7 AB/HR at Elizabethton was unsustainable and dropped to a 21.3 AB/HR in Cedar Rapids, which, even though respectable, is not elite. But this just one season removed from shoulder surgery, and, if anything, it is good news.
     
    Likely 2017 path: Davis will likely start the 2017 season at Fort Myers
     
    38. Aaron Slegers (--)
    DOB: 9/4/1992; Age: 24
    Positions: RHP
    Bats: R, Throws: R
    Height: 6'10", Weight: 245 lbs
    Acquired: Drafted in the 5th round in 2013
    Professional Experience: 4; Highest level: AA (2015,2016)
    ETA: 2018
     
    Aaron Slegers was drafted by the Twins in the 5th of the 2013 draft as a starting pitcher from Indiana University. The Scottsdale, AZ native has been plagued with multiple injuries as an amateur both in College and High School with his Junior 2013 season being his only healthy season. And it was a good season. He started 18 games for 106 innings, walking just 17 (1.4 BB/9) and striking out 59 (5 K/9) with a 9-0 record, 2.04 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. Later that season, after was drafted by the Twins he pitched for 9 games (19 IP) out of the Elizabethton pen walking just 2 (0.95 BB/9, 23.5 K-BB%) and striking out 18 (8.5 K/9, 26.5 K%) with a 0.47 ERA, 2.01 FIP, 0.95 WHIP (.340 BABIP). The next 3 seasons he was used as a starter exclusively, starting at A Cedar Rapids in 2014 and finishing in A+ Fort Myers, Starting at high A Fort Myers in 2015 and finishing in AA Chattanooga and playing exclusively at AA Chattanooga last season. Slegers started 25 games, pitched 145-1/3 innings, striking out 104 (6.4 K/9, 17.3 K%) and walking 46 (2.9 BB/9, 9.7 k-BB%). He finished with a 3.41 ERA, 4.07 FIP, and 1.26 WHIP (.295 BABIP). He also spent two weeks in late July, early August in the disabled list with biceps tendinitis.
     
    Slegers is the archetypal Twins' pitch to contact starter: He throws a high 80s, lows 90s (up to 92 mph) sinking fastball that induces a lot of grounders, an above average slider that coming from his 6-10 frame is deceptive and also a changeup. He has good control and command of all his pitches and does not walk many (even though as his level of competition increased so did his walks). Pitch to contact types with no exceptional stuff will get shelled in the majors, so Slegers is a borderline prospect. There is definitely a potential as a reliever (something that the Twins have not yet attempted, other than his first pro season) because there is not much there as a starter, unfortunate comparisons to Brad Radke notwithstanding. He was invited in the Twins' Spring Training for 2017
     
    Likely 2017 path: Another season of starting at Chattanooga and then at Rochester, potentially as are reliever.
     
    37. Travis Harrison (14)
    DOB: 10/17/1992; Age: 24
    Positions: RF/LF/1B
    Bats: R, Throws: R
    Height: 6'1", Weight: 215 lbs
    Acquired: Drafted in the supplemental 1st round in 2012
    Professional Experience: 5; Highest level: AA (2015,2016)
    ETA: 2018
     
    Travis Harrison was drafted in the supplemental 1st round (50th overall) of the 2011 Draft out of Tustin (CA) High School. Harrison was a big time power prospect at a third baseman, but has not lived up to his billing yet. As a matter of fact his production has been declining annually after a very good first professional season in 2012 in Elizabethton where he hit .301/.383/.461 with 5 HRs in 60 games 219 AB walking 24 times and striking out 51. In 2013 at Cedar Rapids, his last season as a third baseman, he hit .253/.366/.416 with 15 HR in 129 games (450 AB) while walking 68 times and striking out 125. In 2014 he moved to left field at A+ Fort Myers where he hit .269/.361/.365 with only 3 HRs in 129 games (458 AB), walking 64 times and striking out 86. In 2015 at AA Chattanooga, as a right fielder, he hit .240/.363/ .356 with 5 HRs in 115 games (396 AB) walking 65 and striking out 102. Last season, also at Chattanooga was his career worst hitting .230/.338/.339 with 7 HRs in 120 games (434 AB) with 61 bases on balls and a career worst 126 strikeouts (24.8 K%). To Harrison's credit, he started both of his AA seasons better than he ended. In 2015 he started with a .268/.375/.403 line before he went to the DL with stomach inflammation and dropped after he returned and last season he started with a .264/.357/.377 line before he went to the DL with a concussion. His second half hit a pitiful .192/.317/.296, clearly bothered by the concussion. He also hit lefties well the past two seasons, .257/.416/.443 in 2015 and .260/.390/.427 in 2016.
     
    This is a make or break season for the former first round draft pick. His numbers are not great for even a middle infielder, much less for a corner outfielder. There is hope that Harrison with rebound and even have a break through season, however the fact that he did have a concussion and had a hard time after he returned does not look very promising.
     
    Likely 2017 Path: As a starting corner outfielder in Chattanooga.
     
    36. Jean Carlos Arias (22)
    DOB: 1/14/1998; Age: 19
    Positions: CF
    Bats: L, Throws: L
    Height: 5'11", Weight: 170 lbs
    Acquired: International Free Agent 7/2/2014
    Professional Experience: 2; Highest level: Rookie GSL (2016)
    ETA: 2020
     
    Jean Carlos Arias was signed by the Twins as an International Free Agent from Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic the summer of 2014. In his first professional season in the DSL he hit .311/.378/.537 with 18 BB, 30 K, 13 2B, 9 3B and 2 HRs in 189 PAs. He was 11/17 in stolen bases. That .914 OPS is not quite at Miguel Sano level (Sano hit .344/.463/.547 at age 17 in the DSL), but cannot be ignored in a league where the average OPS is .680. His wOBA was .425 and wRC+ 151, which are also on the ridiculous level. Arias destroyed RHPs at the rate of .330/.390/.568. Reports from the Dominican have the 17 year old Arias, who batted at the number 3 spot for the DSL Twins, is a true 5-tool Centerfielder. In 2016 he moved to the United States for Extended Spring Training and later to the GCL where he played an error-less OF in all 3 outfield positions and struggled with the bat hitting .202/.265/.266 with 10 BB and 28 K, stealing 7/10 bases and only 6 xBH / 25 H in 45 games (124 AB.) Moving from the Dominican to the United States is definitely a period of adjustment and some players adjust faster and better than others. Hopefully Arias' disappointing 2016 season was due to adjustment. He is still very young (turned 19 a few days ago) and the potential with the bat is there, while his glove is plus even at this young age. Will be interesting to see how he does in 2017
     
    Likely 2017 path: Extended Spring Training and repeating GCL or to Elizabethton, depending on the Twins 2017 draft.
  2. Thrylos
    Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    ----
     
    With pitchers and catchers reporting for Spring Training in about 5 weeks, it is time for the annual Twins' off-season top prospect list. The past 4 seasons, this list was a top 40 list, but I decided it to grow it to a top 60 list this off-season for various reasons, including some uncertainty towards the end of the rankings, plus the fact that I tend to include several players who have not yet played stateside.
     
    Unlike other prospect lists that include all players who qualify as rookies, mine does not include players who have played in the majors. I find it awkward to see players like J.T. Chargois who appeared in 25 games in the majors and was a major league player for the best part of 2 months, listed as a "prospect", and in some places with ETA 2017. Players like Adalbelto Mejia who appeared for one game only in the majors, take a mulligan and still treated as prospects in my list.
     
    I have waited as much as I could to include potential players received in trades, but I am afraid that if I wait any longer, I will run out of time, so additional incoming prospects will be ranked retroactively.
     
    As a baseline, here is my 2016 Twins' off-season list (the full link and analysis is here; it includes 2015 ranking in parenthesis and ETA)
     
     
    1. Jose Berrios RHSP (5), 2016
    2. Tyler Jay (--) LHSP, 2017
    3. Nick Burdi (6) RHRP, 2016
    4. Stephen Gonsalves (13) LHSP, 2018
    5. Lewin Diaz (9) 1B/DH, 2019
    6. JT Chargois (--) RHRP, 2016
    7. Wander Javier (--) SS, 2020+
    8. Jermaine Palacios (36) SS/3B, 2020
    9. Nick Gordon (12) SS, 2019
    10. Mitch Garver (17) C, 2017
    11. Levi Michael (22), 2B, 2016
    12. Mason Melotakis (--), LHRP, 2016
    13. Kohl Stewart RHSP (7), 2017
    14. Travis Harrison (14), OF/1B, 2017
    15. Amaurys Minier (6) OF/1B, 2019
    16. Jake Reed (16) RHRP, 2017
    17. Lewis Thorpe (11) LHSP, 2019
    18. Daniel Palka (--) OF, 2017
    19. Adam Walker (21), OF, 2016
    20. Felix Jorge (29), RHSP, 2018
    21. Rainis Silva (24), C, 2018
    22. Jean Carlos Arias (--), CF, 2020
    23. Engelb Vielma SS (20), 2017
    24. Luis Arraez IF (40), 2019
    25. Ryan Eades RHSP (30), 2017
    26. Lachlan Wells (--), LHSP, 2020
    27. Huascar Ynoa (--), RHSP, 2020
    28. Brusdar Graterol (--), RHSP, 2020+
    29. Brandon Peterson (27), RHRP, 2017
    30. Taylor Rogers (--), LHR/SP, 2016
    31. LaMonte Wade (--), CF, 2018
    32. Kolton Kendrick (--), 1B/DH, 2020+
    33. Chris Paul (--) IF/OF, 2018
    34. Fernardo Romero (37), RHSP, 2019
    35. Yorman Landa (--), RHRP, 2018
    36. Kuo Hua Lo (--), RHRP, 2018
    37. Niko Goodrum (--), CF/IF, 2017
    38. Travis Blankenhorn (--), 3B/1B, 2020
    39. Trey Cabbage (--), IF/OF, 2020+
    40. Emmanuel Morel (--) IF, 2020+
     
    Berrios (1), Chargois (6), and Rogers (30) have graduated, Walker (19), Landa (35) and Lo (36) are no longer with the organization.
     
    The next segment will start the top 60 prospects countdown and will be the 56-60 prospects.
  3. Thrylos
    Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    ---
     
    I am trying something new this year. Instead of summarizing the top 40 Twins' prospects list, I am doing some actual analysis as well, which I believe might be telling for the system.
     
    This is the last segment in this series. You can find the introductory segment in this series, including my criteria for eligibility to be a prospect and the list of the 2015 top 40 players who graduated as prospects or are not in the system, here. Here is my 2015 Twins off-season top 40 prospects list (summary of 1-40) for reference.
    You can find players 36-40 here, players 31-35 here, players 26-30 here, players 21-25 here, players 16-20 here, players 11-15 here, players 6-10 here, and players 1-5 here.
     
     
    Here are the top 40 with position indicated and 2015 rank in parenthesis, along with Estimated Time of Arrival :
     
    1. Jose Berrios RHSP (5), 2016
    2. Tyler Jay (--) LHSP, 2017
    3. Nick Burdi (6) RHRP, 2016
    4. Stephen Gonsalves (13) LHSP, 2018
    5. Lewin Diaz (9) 1B/DH, 2019
    6. JT Chargois (--) RHRP, 2016
    7. Wander Javier (--) SS, 2020+
    8. Jermaine Palacios (36) SS/3B, 2020
    9. Nick Gordon (12) SS, 2019
    10. Mitch Garver (17) C, 2017
    11. Levi Michael (22), 2B, 2016
    12. Mason Melotakis (--), LHRP, 2016
    13. Kohl Stewart RHSP (7), 2017
    14. Travis Harrison (14), OF/1B, 2017
    15. Amaurys Minier (6) OF/1B, 2019
    16. Jake Reed (16) RHRP, 2017
    17. Lewis Thorpe (11) LHSP, 2019
    18. Daniel Palka (--) OF, 2017
    19. Adam Walker (21), OF, 2016
    20. Felix Jorge (29), RHSP, 2018
    21. Rainis Silva (24), C, 2018
    22. Jean Carlos Arias (--), CF, 2020
    23. Engelb Vielma SS (20), 2017
    24. Luis Arraez IF (40), 2019
    25. Ryan Eades RHSP (30), 2017
    26. Lachlan Wells (--), LHSP, 2020
    27. Huascar Ynoa (--), RHSP, 2020
    28. Brusdar Graterol (--), RHSP, 2020+
    29. Brandon Peterson (27), RHRP, 2017
    30. Taylor Rogers (--), LHR/SP, 2016
    31. LaMonte Wade (--), CF, 2018
    32. Kolton Kendrick (--), 1B/DH, 2020+
    33. Chris Paul (--) IF/OF, 2018
    34. Fernardo Romero (37), RHSP, 2019
    35. Yorman Landa (--), RHRP, 2018
    36. Kuo Hua Lo (--), RHRP, 2018
    37. Niko Goodrum (--), CF/IF, 2017
    38. Travis Blankenhorn (--), 3B/1B, 2020
    39. Trey Cabbage (--), IF/OF, 2020+
    40. Emmanuel Morel (--) IF, 2020+
     
     
    Here is a full list of subtractions from the 2014 off-season list (that ranking in parenthesis) :
     
    Graduated: Miguel Sano 3B (1), Jorge Polanco SS (2), Byron Buxton OF (3), Alex Meyer RHP (4), Eddie Rosario OF (8), Max Kepler OF/1B (12)
     
    Traded: Chih-Wei Hu RHP (18), Alexis Tapia RHP (25)
     
    Released: Tyler Kuresa 1B (38)
     
    Retired: Mat Batts LHP (35)
     
    Dropped: Jorge Fernandez C (19), Mike Cederoth RHP (23), Max Murphy OF (26), Stuart Turner C (28) , Aaron Slegers RHP (31), Randy Rosario RHP (32), Zach Larson OF (33),Todd Van Steensen RHP (34), Moises Gomez RHP (39)
     
    For a total of 19 players, so a good 47.5% turnover from last season
     
     
    Here is the list by position:
     
    1. Jose Berrios RHSP (5), 2016
    13. Kohl Stewart RHSP (7), 2017
    20. Felix Jorge (29), RHSP, 2018
    25. Ryan Eades RHSP (30), 2017
    27. Huascar Ynoa (--), RHSP, 2020
    28. Brusdar Graterol (--), RHSP, 2020+
    29. Brandon Peterson (27), RHRP, 2017
    34. Fernardo Romero (37), RHSP, 2019
     
    2. Tyler Jay (--) LHSP, 2017
    4. Stephen Gonsalves (13) LHSP, 2018
    17. Lewis Thorpe (11) LHSP, 2019
    26. Lachlan Wells (--), LHSP, 2020
    30. Taylor Rogers (--), LHR/SP, 2016
     
    3. Nick Burdi (6) RHRP, 2016
    6. JT Chargois (--) RHRP, 2016
    16. Jake Reed (16) RHRP, 2017
    35. Yorman Landa (--), RHRP, 2018
    36. Kuo Hua Lo (--), RHRP, 2018
     
    12. Mason Melotakis (--), LHRP, 2016
     
    10. Mitch Garver (17) C, 2017
    21. Rainis Silva (24), C, 2018
     
    5. Lewin Diaz (9) 1B/DH, 2019
    32. Kolton Kendrick (--), 1B/DH, 2020+
    33. Chris Paul (--) IF/OF, 2018
    38. Travis Blankenhorn (--), 3B/1B, 2020
    39. Trey Cabbage (--), IF/OF, 2020+
     
    11. Levi Michael (22), 2B, 2016
    24. Luis Arraez IF (40), 2019
    40. Emmanuel Morel (--) IF, 2020+
     
    7. Wander Javier (--) SS, 2020+
    8. Jermaine Palacios (36) SS/3B, 2020
    9. Nick Gordon (12) SS, 2019
    23. Engelb Vielma SS (20), 2017
     
    14. Travis Harrison (14), OF/1B, 2017
    15. Amaurys Minier (6) OF/1B, 2019
    18. Daniel Palka (--) OF, 2017
    19. Adam Walker (21), OF, 2016
    22. Jean Carlos Arias (--), CF, 2020
    31. LaMonte Wade (--), CF, 2018
    37. Niko Goodrum (--), CF/IF, 2017
     
    Clearly Catcher and LHRP are the weakest positions as far as quality prospects go. As far as LHRPs, some of the starters in this list, primarily Taylor Rogers and Lachlan Wells, could end up as relievers. As far as catchers go, John Hicks, who is ineligible for this list, will likely be the first one called up if need arises. Stuart Turner, who dropped from the list, is about a season or two away and Carlos Paulino, who did not make this list, can also help this season if needed. Definitely Catcher is a position in need and one the Twins should probably target at some point.
     
    Here is the list broken down by ETA:
     
    1. Jose Berrios RHSP (5), 2016
    3. Nick Burdi (6) RHRP, 2016
    6. JT Chargois (--) RHRP, 2016
    11. Levi Michael (22), 2B, 2016
    12. Mason Melotakis (--), LHRP, 2016
    19. Adam Walker (21), OF, 2016
    30. Taylor Rogers (--), LHR/SP, 2016
     
    2. Tyler Jay (--) LHSP, 2017
    10. Mitch Garver (17) C, 2017
    13. Kohl Stewart RHSP (7), 2017
    14. Travis Harrison (14), OF/1B, 2017
    16. Jake Reed (16) RHRP, 2017
    18. Daniel Palka (--) OF, 2017
    23. Engelb Vielma SS (20), 2017
    25. Ryan Eades RHSP (30), 2017
    29. Brandon Peterson (27), RHRP, 2017
    37. Niko Goodrum (--), CF/IF, 2017
     
    4. Stephen Gonsalves (13) LHSP, 2018
    20. Felix Jorge (29), RHSP, 2018
    21. Rainis Silva (24), C, 2018
    31. LaMonte Wade (--), CF, 2018
    33. Chris Paul (--) IF/OF, 2018
    35. Yorman Landa (--), RHRP, 2018
    36. Kuo Hua Lo (--), RHRP, 2018
     
    5. Lewin Diaz (9) 1B/DH, 2019
    9. Nick Gordon (12) SS, 2019
    17. Lewis Thorpe (11) LHSP, 2019
    15. Amaurys Minier (6) OF/1B, 2019
    24. Luis Arraez IF (40), 2019
    34. Fernardo Romero (37), RHSP, 2019
     
    7. Wander Javier (--) SS, 2020+
    8. Jermaine Palacios (36) SS/3B, 2020
    22. Jean Carlos Arias (--), CF, 2020
    26. Lachlan Wells (--), LHSP, 2020
    27. Huascar Ynoa (--), RHSP, 2020
    28. Brusdar Graterol (--), RHSP, 2020+
    32. Kolton Kendrick (--), 1B/DH, 2020+
    38. Travis Blankenhorn (--), 3B/1B, 2020
    39. Trey Cabbage (--), IF/OF, 2020+
    40. Emmanuel Morel (--) IF, 2020+
     
    Even though six out of the top 12 prospects from the 2014 list have already graduated, it is great to see that there is a good pipeline of top 15 talent MLB-ready (ETA 2016) and close to MLB-ready (ETA 2017) in a variety of positions. The Long Term (ETA 2018, 2019-2020+) is sure to change and some of those players might move up the ranks and might arrive faster than it is thought. It is also certain that additional players not on the list (or even in the organization) today, will be able to be top contributors from 2018-2020. Another impressive and even serendipitous situation is that the Twins' weakest point, the bullpen, likely has the strongest immediate and short term pipeline.
     
    Looking forward to see these prospects play this Spring and throughout the season. It has been some work, but very enjoyable work for me to do these lists.
     
    http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5152/7098789651_02fb66b359_z.jpg
  4. Thrylos
    Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    ----
     
    You can find the introductory segment in this series, including my criteria for eligibility to be a prospect and the list of the 2015 top 40 players who graduated as prospects or are not in the system, here. Here is my 2015 Twins off-season top 40 prospects list (summary of 1-40) for reference.
     
    You can find players 36-40 here, players 31-35 here, players 26-30 here, and players 21-25 here.
     
    20 Felix Jorge RHP (29)
    DOB: 1/2/1994; Age: 22
    Positions:RHP
    Bats: R, Throws: R
    Height: 6'2", Weight: 170 lbs
    Acquired: International Free Agent 2/21/2011
    Professional Experience: 5; Highest level: A (2014, 2015)
     
    Felix Jorge was signed as an amateur free agent from the Dominican Republic in 2011 for $250,000. He has been moving along the Twins organization, about a step a season, until 2014 where he had major issues in Cedar Rapids and had to return in Elizabetheton. He started 2015 agains in Cedar Rapids and was the Kernels' best pitcher, pitching 23 games (22 GS) a team tops 142 IP, had 32 BB (2.03 BB/9) and 114 Ks (7.3 K/9 and 20.3%,) for a 2.79 ERA (3.54 FIP) and 1.056 WHIP (2.67 BABIP). Jorge came in the organization as a 16 year old with a rare 3 above average pitch mix. He has a low 90s fastball with good downward movement, which the hitters have a hard time picking up. Above average slurvy curveball and change up. He commands all three pitches well, has good control and he mixes pitches well. One might see his 2015 results and think that Jorge had a break-through season, but his biggest issue surfaced again: endurance.
     
    In the first 11 starts Jorge pitched 70 innings resulting in 2.44 ERA, .195 OBA and 0.90 WHIP; the second half of the season (12 games, 11 starts) pitched 72 innings with considerable drop in performance: 3.13 ERA, .253 OBA and 1.21 WHIP. Not that his second half was bad, but it was not as good as his first. He does have mid-rotation potential, but time will tell whether he will have the endurance to be in a major league rotation.
     
    Likely 2016 path: In the Miracle Rotation
     
    ETA: 2018
     
     
    19 Adam Walker OF (21)
    DOB: 10/18/1991; Age: 24
    Positions: LF/ RF
    Bats: R, Throws: R
    Height: 6'4", Weight: 225 lbs
    Acquired: 3th Round Draft Pick 2012
    Professional Experience: 4; Highest level: AA (2015)
     
    There probably is a lot of dissapointment with this ranking, especially by the ones who count the quality of a baseball player based on home runs and RBIs, because those at the things that Walker excells. His career minor league slash line has been .254/.311/.488 and has been mirrored every season at a new level. In 2015 in AA Chattanooga, Walker hit .239/.309/.498 with a career high 31 HRs and 106 RBIs, but also career high 34.8 % K% and career low batting average. He did show an improvement in the base paths hitting in a career low for full season ball 8 double plays and stealing a career high 13 bases.
     
    Another issue with Walker is that he has problems in the field and a relatively weak arm. To see whether his fielding improves, the Twins switched him last season to Left Field instead of Right, with very similar results. Walker is a single tool player and it is a good tool; the Twins were afraid that someone might be intrigued by it to select him in the Rule 5 draft that they added him to the 40-man roster. He really needs work on the plate and on the field to take the next step. Maybe First Base or DH is where he should be, but those two positions are spoken for in the organization for a while... It is not out of the question that he will not have a break through season if something "clicks", but it has not clicked yet. If it doesn't his ceiling will be Steve Balboni, and that is if he cuts down considerably on the strikeouts.
     
    Likely 2016 path: In the Rochester OF mix, might make a September call up or earlier depending on injuries and performance.
     
    ETA: 2016
     
    18 Daniel Palka OF (--)
    DOB: 10/28/1991; Age: 24
    Positions: RF/1B
    Bats: L, Throws: L
    Height: 6'2", Weight: 225 lbs
    Acquired: Trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2015
    Professional Experience: 3; Highest level: A+ (2015)
     
    Daniel Palka was acquired by the Twins from the Arizona Diamondbacks this off-season for C/OF Chris Herrmann. Palka was the Diamondbacks' third round pick in the 2013 draft. If the Twins' fans want a comparable, that would be Adam Walker. Palka is 10 days younger than Walker, has been climbing a step a year in the organization and power is his best tool. Drafted a season after Walker, his highest level was high A instead of double A, and he hits and throws left. Palka is a converted first baseman and he is still learning to play the outfield. Last season in the high A Visalia he hit .280/.352/.532 with 29 HRs, 90 RBI, 24 SB, 56 BB and 164 K (28.5 K%) in 576 PAs.
     
    Going back to the 1980s, never a Twins' prospect has a season with 29 or more home runs and 24 or more stolen bases. Palka is a very interesting prospect who might be ranked a bit too low, but I have not seen him play in person, and I am concerned about his strikeouts, which are not as bad as Walker's but definitely a concern point. An additional concern is that LHPs neutralized him (.213/.285/.352 against LHPs; but he destroyed RHPs .301/.374/.589) which may indicate that there is a possibility that Palka might end up in the strong side of a platoon at some point.
     
    Likely 2016 path: In the Chattanooga outfield or first base conversation, likely both.
     
    ETA: 2017
     
    17 Lewis Thorpe (11)
    DOB: 11/23/1995; Age: 20
    Positions: LHP
    Bats: R, Throws: R
    Height: 6'1", Weight: 160 lbs
    Acquired: Signed as an International Free Agent on 7/12/2012
    Professional Experience: 2; Highest level: A (2014)
     
    Thorpe was signed on July of 2012 by the Twins to the largest bonus ever given for an Australian player, $500,000. He spend half of 2014 resting and rehabilitating his left UCL, which eventually required Tommy John surgery that cost him all of 2015. Thorpe has 4 pitches, including a plus mid 90s fastball and a plus change up, but 2014, even before the injury was somewhat of a disappointment, showing considerable control issues (a career high 4.5 BB/9) and was fairly ineffective (4.52 FIP). Not much to say about Thorpe at this point, other than wait and see how his elbow turns out, but there is high enough raw staff and potential to be included in the top 20 prospect list at this point, regardless the many question marks.
     
    Likely 2016 path: In the Cedar Rapids rotation, with an outside chance to make the Fort Myers rotation, depending on the elbow and performance
     
    ETA: 2019
     
    16 Jake Reed (16)
    DOB: 9/29/1992; Age: 23
    Positions: RHP
    Bats: R, Throws: R
    Height: 6'2", Weight: 190 lbs
    Acquired: 5th Round Draft Pick 2014
    Professional Experience: 2; Highest level: AA (2015)
     
    Reed's 2015 season was a take of two halves: First 35 games in Chattanooga where he pitched 47 innings with 21 BB (4 BB/9) and 39 K (7.5 K/9, 17.6 K%) resulting in a 6.32 ERA (4.20 FIP) and 1.617 WHIP (.340 BABIP) and his last 10 games in Fort Myers and 10 more in the Arizona Fall League. where he regained his control (0.7 BB/9 in Fort Myers, 3.4 in AFL) and got hitters out (0.730 and 0.938 WHIP) but still had strikeout issues (5.1 and 8.4 K/9). Part of his dominance in 2014 and his gain in command and control was due to simplification in his mechanics in comparison to his College days'. Reed has a dominant fastball, but not much else. Maybe part of the reason of his numbers' decline was that he was working on improving his change up and breaking ball. Maybe those are pitchers he will never command.
     
    Hard to tell where Reed will be this time next season, and it all depends on the development of at least one above average secondary pitch that he can command well. He was invited in the MLB Spring Training as a non-roster player this Spring.
     
    Likely 2016 path: Repeat Chattanooga, potential to break into the majors' bullpen depending on development of secondary pitch(es) and the Twins' needs.
     
    ETA: 2017
     
    http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5152/7098789651_02fb66b359_z.jpg
  5. Thrylos
    Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    ----
     
    You can find the introductory segment in this series, including my criteria for eligibility to be a prospect and the list of the 2015 top 40 players who graduated as prospects or are not in the system, here. Here is my 2015 Twins off-season top 40 prospects list (summary of 1-40) for reference.
     
    This is the third countdown segment of the 2016 off-season Top 40 Twins' prospect. You can find players 36-40 here and players 31-35 here .
     
    .
    30. Taylor Rogers (--)
    DOB: 12/17/1990; Age: 25
    Positions:LHP
    Bats: L, Throws: L
    Height: 6'3", Weight: 200 lbs
    Acquired: 11th Round Draft Pick 2012
    Professional Experience: 4; Highest level: AAA (2015)
     
    The Colorado native was selected by the Twins in the 11th Round of the 2012 draft from Kentucky University. Taylor has a Twin brother, Tyler, who is in the Giants' system (drafted in 2013) and interestingly is right-handed. To complicate matters, the Giants had a Taylor Rogers pitching in the organization from 2009-2013. Genetics and homonymy aside, Rogers is an interesting enough pitcher to make this list for the first time. On first sight he is a "solid" middle of the rotation minor leaguer who can keep his team in the game. His 2015 pitching line with Rochester was: 28 games, 174 IP, 44 BB, 126 K (7.6 K/9; 17.2 K%), 3.98 ERA, 3.21 FIP. Players like this are usually not prospects, especially when they are 25 years old. There are three things about Rogers that elevate him this season:

    Between Rochester and the Arizona Fall League Rogers pitched 199 Innings in 2015. This is the most innings pitched by anyone in the Twins' organization at any level last season (Kyle Gibson was second with 194.7) .Rogers did not have a performance drop-off, actually pitching better in September (in both AAA and AFL) than he did in July and August.
    His stuff and endurance are better that the guy who projects as the number 5 pitcher in the Twins' rotation, Tommy Milone who has never pitched that many innings in a season and last time he reached 190 IP was 4 seasons ago. This should count for something
    And most important: Left-handed hitters, might as well sit down when he is pitching. He has always been great against LHBs, but his 2015 AAA numbers against lefties are out of the charts: 57 IP, 5 BB, 55 K, .177 OBA, 0.68 WHIP, 1.42 ERA, 2.09 GO:FO These numbers have LH set up man all over them.

     
    His Fastball is his best pitch and sits at 91-93 mph. Has an average slider and changeup as well. A move in the pen might help him increase his velocity and if one of his secondary pitches improves there is a lot of potential here. Dark horse for being the LH set up man the Twins were supposed to acquire from outside the organization this off-season.
     
    Likely 2016 path: Since he was added to the 40-man roster to be protected from this season's Rule 5 draft. Can potentially make the Twins' pen out of Spring Training or be held in reserve at Rochester, if the numbers are not in his favor. Likely a September call up at worst case scenario.
     
    ETA: 2016
     
     
    29. Brandon Peterson (27)
    DOB: 9/23/1991; Age: 24
    Positions: RHP
    Bats: R, Throws: R
    Height: 6'1", Weight: 190 lbs
    Acquired: 13th Round Draft Pick 2013
    Professional Experience: 3; Highest level: AA (2015)
     
    Brandon Peterson is a Minnesotan from Savage, who was drafted in the 13rd round of the 2013 draft from Wichita State University. With a fastball that sits at 95 mph and a slider that is a hair below a plus pitch, Peterson has been able to move up the Twins' organizational ladder in leaps and bounds, striking out the competition and being the closer at each level he pitched. Until he reached AA as a promotion from Fort Myers at the middle of this season, where he landed to Earth. In 20 games he pitched 29.3 innings, walking 13 and striking out 33 (10.1 K/9, and 25.4 K%) with a 1.47 WHIP (.354 BABIP) and 3.38 ERA (2.93 FIP.) In contrast, earlier in the season in A+ he pitched 21 games (31.7 IP), walking 15 and striking out 44 (12.5 K/9 and 36.1% K%) with a 0.92 WHIP (.222 BABIP) and 0.85 ERA (1.81 FIP.) He held his opponents to a .131 average in Fort Myers and .259 in Chattanooga. It might be that he needs to adjust his approach to be successful against better competition rather than his stuff not playing against better competition. But the jury is still out and this reason, in addition to the fact that the Twins' system is loaded with RHRPs, is part of the reason that Peterson dropped 2 spots this year compared to last.
     
    Likely 2016 path: Sharing closer duties in AA, a promotion to AAA is probably depending his success and promotions to the MLB bullpen of AAA pitchers allowing him a path there.
     
    ETA: 2017
     
    28. Brusdar Graterol (--)
    DOB: 8/26/1998; Age: 17
    Positions: RHP
    Bats: R, Throws: R
    Height: 6'1", Weight: 180 lbs
    Acquired: International Free Agent 8/27/2014
    Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: Rookie/DSL (2015)
     
    I want not untrue when I said that the number 40 prospect, Emmanuel Morel, is a great candidate for being a sleeper prospect who comes out of nowhere and becomes the darling of mainstream media, but this is even more true for Venezuelan, Brusdal Graterol who just turned 17 and has been placed in the Fast Track by the Twins. Graterol signed for a moderate $150,000 bonus in 2014 just as turned 16 and pitched his age 16 season next summer in the Dominican Republic. An what he did was opened some eyes wide open after just 4 starts with those numbers: 11 IP, 12 H, 1 BB, 17 K, 2.45 ERA (1.19 FIP), 1.18 WHIP (.444 BABIP). How wide did those eyes open? After his first 17 days as a pro, Graterol, who also wins the title of the Twins' prospect with the best name now that Will Hurt is outside the organization, was on a plane to Fort Myers to get acclimated to life in the US and learn English. I have not seen Graterol pitch, but those numbers for a 16 year old (3 years younger than average DSL age) are extremely impressive.
     
     
    Likely 2016 path: In the Instructional leagues to begin the season and the GCL rotation in June
     
    ETA: 2020+
     
    27. Huascar Ynoa (--)
    DOB: 5/28/1998; Age: 17
    Positions: RHP
    Bats: R, Throws: R
    Height: 6'3", Weight: 175 lbs
    Acquired: International Free Agent 7/2/2014
    Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: Rookie/DSL (2015)
     
    The Twins signed Huascar Ynoa to an $800,000 bonus on July 2 of 2014 and had his first professional season in DSL the past season as a starter. He started 14 games (56.7 IP) walked 30 (4.7 BB/9) and struck out 47 (7.5 K/9 and 19.2% K%) with a 2.70 ERA (3.84 FIP) and 1.29 WHIP (.258 BABIP). Like his 7 year older and 5 inch taller brother Michael, who at some point was the baseball number 20 prospect according to baseball prospectus and now is in the White Sox' organization, consistency is the biggest issue with Huascar Ynoa. He has 3 pitches (fastball, curve, slider) which all flash above average to potentially plus, but he does not throw them consistently, thus the walks. He does have a good feel for all his pitches, which suggests that mechanics might be an issue here that can be correctable. Additional data pointing out to a mechanics issue are his numbers in full wind up when pitching with nobody on: 20.7 IP, 26 H, 24 BB, 15 K for a 2.42 WHIP. Subtract those from his totals and his numbers when pitching from the stretch position end up like this: 36 IP, 17 H, 6 BB (1.5 BB/9) , 32 K (8 K/9) and 0.639 WHIP, which are absolutely impressive under any and all circumstances. This, and not genetics, is the reason that Ynoa is ranked that high in my prospects list, and his numbers on full delivery is the reason he is ranked that low.
     
    Likely 2016 path: Extended Spring Training and move to the GCL rotation in June
     
    ETA: 2020
     
    26. Lachlan Wells (--)
    DOB: 2/27/1997; Age: 18
    Positions: LHP
    Bats: L, Throws: L
    Height: 5'8", Weight: 163 lbs
    Acquired: International Free Agent 8/14/2014
    Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: Rookie/GSL (2015)
     
    The Twins signed the diminutive Australian as an International Free Agent in August of 2014 and made his debut in the Gulf Coast League in 2015. He played in 10 games (9 GS) and pitched 47.3 innings, walking 11 (2.1 BB/9) and striking out 49 (9.3 K/9, 26.5% K%) for a 2.09 ERA (3.22 FIP) and 0.97 WHIP (.263 BABIP). Size is a Concern with Wells, but he is just 18. He throws an above average 92-93 mph fastball, a work in progress curveball and a changeup that is close to plus and is his out pitch. So far his spits against lefties and righties are about similar with only one big difference: He produces 5 times as many ground balls against lefties that he does against righties. It could be the more frequent use of the changeup, but it is an interesting data point. It is too early to tell whether the pen or the rotation is in Wells' future, but a plus changeup at 18 is nothing to scoff at. We will know more as he develops in the Twins' organization.
     
    Likely 2016 path: Extended Spring Training and likely in the Elizabethton rotation in June, depending on the 2016 Twins' draft.
     
    ETA: 2020+
     
    http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5152/7098789651_02fb66b359_z.jpg
  6. Thrylos
    Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    ----
     
    You can find the introductory segment in this series, including my criteria for eligibility to be a prospect and the list of the 2015 top 40 players who graduated as prospects or are not in the system, here. Here is my 2015 Twins off-season top 40 prospects list (summary of 1-40) for reference.
     
    This is the second countdown segment of the 2016 off-season Top 40 Twins' prospect. You can find the first segment, players 36-40 here.
     
     
    35. Yorman Landa (--)
    DOB: 6/11/1994; Age: 21
    Positions: RHP
    Bats: R, Throws: R
    Height: 6'0", Weight: 165 lbs
    Acquired: International Free Agent 9/3/2010
    Professional Experience: 5; Highest level: A (2014, 2015)
     
    Yorman Landa was signed by the Twins as an International Free Agent on September of 2010. It is fairly telling that the 21 year old Venezuelan has 5 professional seasons under his belt, yet he is younger than half of the Twins 2015 draft class. This is the first time in those 5 years that Landa cracked my top 40 prospect list, part of the reason being that he was a 2 pitch starter/long reliever and the Twins did not know what they wanted to do with him. Add to this a shoulder surgery in the summer of 2014 and very slow climbing of the organizational steps, and does not make a great case for inclusion in a prospect list. What happened? The Twins decided in 2014 that he really belongs to the pen, and moved there in Cedar Rapids that season with good results. After the surgery, he recovered completely and returned to Cedar Rapids with a new delivery from a lower arm angle that produces a mid-90s fastball with nasty movement and cleaned up some of his secondary pitches. He pitched 27 innings in 15 games, producing an 1.67 ERA (3.47 FIP) and and 1.19 WHIP (.258) BABIP. He walked 4 and struck out 31 (10.33 K/9 & 27% K%). The Twins are thinking highly of him and added him to their 40 man roster to protect him from this years' Rule 5 Draft. I think that he is still a work in progress because he still works too many and needs at least one convincing secondary pitch, but that Fastball and the new delivery has opened some eyes.
     
    Likely 2016 path: Will be with the big club this Spring Training as part of the 40-man roster and then likely pitch for Fort Myers.
     
    ETA: 2018
     
    34. Fernardo Romero (37)
    DOB: 12/24/1994; Age: 21
    Positions: RHP
    Bats: R, Throws: R
    Height: 6'0", Weight: 215 lbs
    Acquired: International Free Agent 11/4/2011
    Professional Experience: 4; Highest level: A (2014)
     
    Yorman Landa was signed by the Twins as an International Free Agent on November of 2011. The Dominican right hander has misses all of 2015 and most of the 2014 recovering from Tommy John surgery. Here is what I wrote about him last year:
     
    After spending the 2012 season in the Dominican Summer League, he made the jump to the Gulf Coast League in 2013. He pitched in 12 games (6 GS) for 45 innings to a 1.60 ERA and had 47 strikeouts and only 13 bases on balls. His WHIP was 1.00 and K% a very impressive 26, while his K/BB was 3.62. He missed 2014 with Tommy John surgery. It will be interesting to see how Romero will rebound in his age 20 season. He had a heavy fastball is in the mid to low 90s and barely adequate supplementary stuff. Romero does have mid rotation potential, depending on development of his secondary pitches and staying healthy. He will likely begin 2015, his age 19 season, in Cedar Rapids where he will alternate between the rotation and pen until extended.
     
    He did not make it on a professional field in 2015, but expecting to return in full force in 2016. One thing that needs to be remarked is his ability to hide the ball really well from both lefties and righties and throwing a Carlos Silva - like heavy sinker. Time will tell how he will move on, but the potential is still there as long as he stays healthy.
     
    Likely 2016 path: Will be eased into the Cedar Rapids bullpen and depending on success move on to Fort Myers in the middle of the season. Likely will stay in the pen the whole season.
     
    ETA: 2019
     
    33. Chris Paul (--)
    DOB: 10/12/1992; Age: 23
    Positions: 1B/3B/OF
    Bats: R, Throws: R
    Height: 6'3", Weight: 200 lbs
    Acquired: 6th Round Draft Pick 2015
    Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: A (2015)
     
    Chris Paul was drafted by the Twins in the 6th round of this years' draft from University of California Berkeley. The California native was a polished hitter in College. He hit .321/.406/.509 in the summer of 2014 in the wooden bat Northwoods Summer College League playing for St Cloud Rox (he played there for 3 summers, so he has been well-scouted by the Twins). Continued hitting .325/.404/.562 in 2015 for Berkely and did not miss a bit by turning pro, hitting .302/.375/.488 in 96 PAs for Elizabethton earning a promotion to Cedar Rapids, where he ran out of gas hitting .244/.277/.356 in 12 games. Not much of a home run thread at this point, but he does have double power to the opposite field. Long swing makes him vulnerable to breaking balls, but it is fixable. The Catch-22 with Paul is that he does not have a position. He played pretty much everywhere but Catcher in College and High School, and all corner infield and outfield positions in the pros. He was named in the Pac 12 all defense team, so his defense is not a liability. His versatility might allow him to make it to the Bigs earlier as a utility player, but that would be his ceiling. On the other hand, players like Ryan Zobrist and Daniel Murphy are making a good living out of it.
     
    Likely 2016 path: Will start the season as a utility player in Cedar Rapids.
     
    ETA: 2018
     
    32. Kolton Kendrick (--)
    DOB: 8/10/1996; Age: 19
    Positions: 1B/DH
    Bats: L, Throws: R
    Height: 6'3", Weight: 225 lbs
    Acquired: 8th Round Draft Pick 2015
    Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: Rookie/GCL (2015)
     
    Kolton Kendrick was drafted by the Twins in the 8th round of this years' draft from Oak Forest (LA) Academy. He fell to the Twins in the 8th round, while considered a top 100 player in the draft, by many insiders, including top 62nd by Baseball America. Kendrick who played his senior season in High School with a wooden bat, has plus plus power and great plate selectivity for a teenager. He walked 50 times in his senior season in High School. As a pro in 24 games (89 PAs) in the Gulf Coast League, he hit .200/.371/.271 with 18 BB, and 24 K, 3 doubles and a triple. Kendrick, generously listed at 225 lbs, is a work in progress with the glove and how he will respond to breaking balls and changeups in the pros, is still up for discussion. He is a lot like Kennys Vargas was that age, if you could imagine Vargas as an exclusively left hand hitter, with bright red hair and freckles. Now that Miguel Sano is a big leaguer, Kendrick has the highest power potential in the Twins' minors organization, and being a lefty, is something they have been missing for the Twins, since Justin Morneau departed. Getting consistent swings, staying in shape and improving his fielding will help him get in the majors earlier, but he is playing a position that the Twins have a couple long term answers in the majors in Joe Mauer and Byung Ho Park and Vargas in the High Minors.
     
    Likely 2016 path: Will start the season in Extended Spring Training and be the starting 1B at Elizabethton once that League starts play.
     
    ETA: 2020+
     
     
    31. LaMonte Wade (--)
    DOB: 1/1/1994; Age: 22
    Positions: CF
    Bats: L, Throws: L
    Height: 6'1", Weight: 195 lbs
    Acquired: 9th Round Draft Pick 2015
    Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: A (2015)
     
    LaMonte Wade was drafted by the Twins in the 9th round of this years' draft from University of Maryland. Wade's 2015 practically came out of nowhere. Before 2015 he was regarded as a glove-first Centerfielder with excellent strike zone judgement but many contact issues. In 2014 as a Sophomore for Maryland he hit .247/.358/.335 (62 games) and for the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod League .145/.351/.200 in 21 games. Then something clicked: In his Junior (and final College) season he hit .335/.453/.468 in 42 games and in his first pro season in Elizabethton, he hit .312/.432/.506 in 64 games (284 PAs) with 8 doubles, 5 triples, 8 HRs, 12/13 SBs, 46 BB and 34 K. He played 4 games in Cedar Rapids. Between College and Pros, he finished the season with 13 HRs and 19 SBs. Quick wrists, excellent eye, decent power and speed, very good Centerfield play and hitting and throwing as a lefty have had some people drawing Denard Span comparisons. However the truth of the matter is that Span has less power, speed, and strike zone judgement than Wade and has never had a season like Wade's 2015. It will be interesting to see how Wade's hitting will stand against better and better competition, but he has a very high ceiling in a position in need in the Twins' organization.
     
    Likely 2016 path: Will start the season as the starting Centerfielder for Cedar Rapids.
     
    ETA: 2018
     
    http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5152/7098789651_02fb66b359_z.jpg
  7. Thrylos
    Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    -----
     
    After my visit to Fort Myers was said and done about a year ago, I gave my prediction about how the Twins will do in 2014 and the main reasoning behind it. You can find that here (and, yes, I did predict that they will finish 70-92, but that's not something to be happy about.) During this Spring Training, I took a risk: I suggested that the Twins can actually compete, if they do three things: Fix their bullpen, fix their outfield, and fix their attitude. Here is reiterrating that reasoning from the first part of that series of posts:
     
    First: In order to make significant, measurable and effective change, you cannot focus on changing 20 things. Too many balls in the air, some will drop. Focusing of few things that you can change and make an effort to do so, is much more effective. Second: I do believe that with the changes this off-season, the Twins removed a huge barrier to their success: Breaking ties with Gardernhire, Anderson, Ulger and Steinbach (even though they did not go far enough in my opinion, but this is all another matter,) is the equivalent of starting the seasons with (at least) plus five wins.
    So that next number in that loss progression looks more between 83 and 87. So those three things that need to be done, if done correctly and effectively, will be enough to give the Twins an extra 5-7 wins, putting that total loss range to 76-82 and that is not a losing record. The top number of that range (86-76) is close to a wild-card number and likely, if the Twins get there, they will compete for the title in a weakened and more balanced Division.
     
     
    So there are the parameters. And in each of the above linked posts, I explained in detail what I was looking to see when I was down there at Fort Myers, and, here is what I saw, and will try to put into win-loss numbers:
     
    First of all, I am standing by that underlined statement up there. So, if all things are the same, the baseline record of the 2015 Twins is 77-85. Take it to Vegas. Of course that is pending major injuries to 3/5ths of the rotation and 3/9ths of the position players (but that is, yet, another story.)
     
    How much higher than that can get? Let's take those three things one at a time and see:
     
    The bullpen: Here are my thoughts before my trip to Fort Myers, and here is what I think now: It still is incomplete. Happy to see that Blaine Boyer and JR Graham will likely make the team. They will be an improvement. It looks like Mike Pelfrey will make the pen, but not sure in what kind of role. Caleb Thielbar might be optioned. That's on the positive side. On the negative side Tim Stauffer might be a disappointment, or at least a mop-up vs. a set-up reliever I thought that he would be. Also, Casey Fien looks like a lock again, based on small sample size. Glen Perkins' velocity topped at 93 mph, which is a concern, even though command and control was there. One wonders whether he will be ready to be a lights out closer in the beginning of the Twins' season at Detroit... Tough to quantify, but I would say, taking Perkins' health risk into account, plus 1 might be right here. So the new baseline is 78-84. Next:
     
    The Outfield Defense: Here are my before thoughts, and this is what I saw: Nah. Not yet. Let me start with a (bonus) prediction: The Twins will have the following 4 outfielders in their roster (L/R) : Oswaldo Arcia, Jordan Schafer, Torii Hunter. Shane Robinson will be the fourth outfielder, platooning with Schafer at CF against LHP and Eduardo Nunez will play LF as well. So 4.5 outfielders with Aaron Hicks and Eddie Rosario optioned to AAA. What I saw at Fort Myers was somewhat disturbing: a. the positioning of the outfield was way too shallow (not sure who is the Twins' OF coach these days or who is responsible for that), b. Hunter is a teenager at heart but not in body, which means he wants to do above and beyond, but he comes short in a bad way, over-running balls and over-throwing cut-off men. c. Hicks will not make the team and he is a better defender than Schafer. Have to give this a zero right now. Baseline still 78-84. Next.
     
    The Attitude: Here is what I said about that. And I will be brief. Is this a team for which I got a gut feeling that it expects to win each game? No. But, is this a team that is paying more attention to detail, seems happier as a bunch, and actually talks to each other on the field about what they should do more than last season? Heck, yeah. Hard to quantify, but I think plus 2. So the new baseline is 80-82.
     
    Conclusion: This will not be another 90 loss team, unless something weird happens. 80-82 is the baseline. Another factor: I did get some 1987-like excitement there, like this might be a magic year (like that one.) But I think that they are one year away. So my prediction for 2015 is that the Twins will have the same record as their Pythagorean in 1987: 79-83. But, yes, this year feels a lot like 1987, and you never know what is going to happen...
     
     

  8. Thrylos
    Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    ---------
     
    Today was my first full day at Fort Myers and the Twins had a split squad duo of games, with the half of the team hosting the Orioles at Hammond Stadium and the other half a few miles away playing the Red Sox at Jet Blue Park. This was the second year in a row as far as renovations went for the facilities, and the Hammond Stadium looks really great. The front facade is extended to both broaden the concession place plaza and put a roof over it and to host a couple new elevators and gift shops. There are 4 gift shops in all now, which are much better than the single closet-size one that was there 3 years ago. The main one, which about the size of an average AA ballpark gift shop, even had Miracle T-shirts.
     
    For some reason there was no pregame batting practice on field number six, as it has been the norm the seasons before; I suspect that it has to do with the split-squad games today. Joe Vavra was throwing batting practice to someone's kid in the under-stadium cages. Not much activity in the minor league parks also; Sporadic batting practice at the Chattanooga, including Miguel Sano and DJ Hicks hitting some good ones off Stew Cliburn, who looks scarily like Rick Anderson these days. Jorge Polanco and AAA infielders had bunt practice at the Rochester field. Nothing much there as far as minors go, other than Nick Burdi was surrounded by a whole slew of autograph seekers when he showed up. No home game tomorrow, so I will be able so spend a full day with the prospects.
     
    As far as the game today went, there were a few things of note:
     
    In the first inning, Joe Mauer hit a routine soft grounder to the shortstop, who had a hard time fielding it, dropped it, recovered it and threw to first to get a slow trotting Mauer out. This was not a great thing to see from the Twins' highest paid player. Had he run full speed, he would had been safe. I hope that these kind of plays do not happen again. On the other hand, the subsequent inning Eduardo Nunez beat out a non-trivial cleanly fielded infield single to the shortstop; hard not to see the contradictions between someone who has a job and someone who is fighting for one.
     
    Torii Hunter is a yeller at the outfield. And this is a good thing. And he does not only yell "I got it". In couple of situations, a fly ball to right center and a shallow fly to the right, he yelled for Schafer and Dozier respectively to go and get it. And it worked. That was a good thing to see. Eddie Rosario was great with the glove at left. He did throw out Delmon Young when he tried to stretch a single, but even more importantly (and you cannot see that on the scoreboard) he took a triple away from an Orioles hitter with a great route and a great below the knee catch. He made it look so easy, that I bet that most of the Stadium thought that it was a routine play. It wasn't. Speaking of routes, I am not sure that Jordan Schaefer is the best one out there. Had a long fly really misjudged and hit the wall, allowing eventually Torii Hunter to make the throw to the infield. That ball was catchable. Being a left hand throwing Centerfielder might have some disadvantages.
     
    As far as pitching went, Stephen Pryor really surprised me. He pitched fine, but there were earlier reports about him being healthy and being back with his mid- to high-90s velocity. He topped at 92 in Hammond Stadium's (fast) radar today, which is not extremely thrilling, to say at least. For comparison's shake, Ervin Santana hit 93.
     
    Back there tomorrow morning and expect a full report on the prospects, tomorrow evening.
     

  9. Thrylos
    Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    ----Today is the third installment in the top 40 Twins' Off-season prospects countdown. You can find all installments here in reverse chronological order. Previous rankings: 36-40, 31-35. You can find the 2014 off-season summary list here In these listings in parenthesis, I am including their ranking in the last prospect list, which was the 2014 mid-season list, with "--" if not ranked. You can find that list here.
     
    30. Ryan Eades RHP (19) RHSP, DOB: 12/15/1991, 6'2", 178 lbs
     
    Eades was the Twins second round pick in the 2013 draft. After he signed he played 10 games in the Elizabethton pen pitching 15.7 innings striking out 13 and walking 12. He had a 4.60 ERA (4.22 FIP) and 1.596 WHIP. Eades was ranked 11th in last season's rankings, but he dropped to 19th in the mid-season rankings based on what I saw from him last Spring Training. His potential is a mid to top of the rotation starter with four good pitches. He reported had a plus fastball that sits at 93-95 mph and peaks at 97-98, with good command. However, the Eades I saw was a good 5 mph below those numbers and was pitching really tentatively.
     
    In his 2014 season he started 25 games in Cedar Rapids (133 IP). He was at an average age with the list and finished with 5.14 ERA (4.44 FIP) 98 Strikeouts and 50 BBs. His K% fell down to 16.6 %. His loss in velocity and inability to strike out players his age, further dropped him to number 30 in these rankings. Will likely move to Fort Myers for 2015, but Eades really needs to regain his velocity and start missing bats, because pitching to contact with low 90 mph FB, will result to contact with bad consequences for his teams.
     
     
    29. Felix Jorge RHP (23) RHSP, DOB: 1/2/1994, 6'2", 170 lbs.
     
    Felix De Jesus Jorge was signed by the Twins out of the Dominican in February of 2011 for $250,000. He started his pro career at the DSL where he pitched in 9 games (5 starts) for 27 innings, walking 9 and striking out 26 (2.67 ERA, 2.50 FIP, 1.037 WHIP). He move to the States and pitched 12 games (7 GS) in the GCL in 2012 with similar results (34.7 IP, 37 K, 12 BB, 2.34 ERA, 2.28 FIP, 1.212 WHIP, .303 BABIP) and moved up to Elizabethton as a 19 year old in 2013 starting 12 games (61 IP) striking out 72 and walking 18, with a 2.95 ERA, 2.25 FIP and 1.213 WHIP (.338 BABIP.) He started the season in Cedar Rapids (1.5 years too young for the league) and he did not respond well: 39 IP, 1.974 WHIP, 9.00 ERA (7.70 FIP) 20 BB and 23 K. He lost command and control and resulted in demotion to Elizabethton again (about half a year younger for the league) were he improved in all aspects, but his K%: 66 IP, 1.091 WHIP, 14 BB, 61K, 22.9% K%.
    Jorge is also one of those rare pitchers who had 3 above average pitches when he signed at 16 and he has been improving them. He has a low 90s fastball with decent downward movement, which he hides really well with his delivery. Above average slurvy curveball and change up. He commands all three pitches well, has good control and he mixes pitches well. Endurance is a question mark, thus the drop in the rankings. Will likely repeat Cedar Rapids in 2015.
     
     
    28. Stuart Turner (--), RH, C, DOB: 12/27/1991, 6'2", 220 lbs
     
    Stuart Turner was drafted by the Twins in the third round of the 2013 draft from the University of Mississippi. He spend all his season (but one game he filled in for the Rock Cats) for the Elizabethton Twins, where he played at 35 games (146 PAs) and hit .272/.345/.384 with 3 HRs and 19 RBI. He walked 12 times, struck out 23 and hit by a pitch 4. Last season he played for Fort Myers, hitting .249/.322/.375 in 364 PAs with 7 HRS and a 31:61 BB:K ratio.
     
    Turner has been always described as an excellent defensive catcher with a great feel for the game, but his bat will determine his potential as a prospect.Turner has a large frame and projectable power that will come as he grows. He will likely start his age 23 season in Fort Myers again with a mid-season promotion, but bat development (even though there are good signs) is crucial, despite this organization's persistence in promoting soft hitting catchers.
     
    27. Brandon Peterson RHP (36) RHRP, DOB: 9/23/1991, 6'1", 190 lbs
     
    Brandon Peterson is a Burnsville, MN native who was drafted by the Twins in the 13th round of the 2013 draft from Wichita State. He has been a continues surpise with his ability to strike out hitters at a rate about double than his best at College. In 2013 he played for the Elizabethtown Twins, pitching 27.3 innings walking 9 and striking out 40, 1.134 WHIP, 2.96 ERA, 2.92 FIP, 36% K%. He started 2014 at Cedar Rapids (age average) pitching 12.3 innings walking 2 and striking out 19 (0.71 ERA, 0.96 FIP, 39.6% K%, 0.87 WHIP and with a .333 BABIP) before he promoted to Fort Myers where he was a year and a half younger than the league. In the FSL he pitched 45 innings striking out 65 and walking 5 (36.3% K%) with an 1.80 ERA, 1.64 FIP and 1.00 WHIP. Peterson has a low to mid 90s fastball, a good slider and working on a change up. Will likely start 2015 in Fort Myers. Depending on development and his ability to strike out batters in New Britain, we might see him in the Minnesota pen as soon as 2016 or 2017.
     
    26. Max Murphy OF (--) RHB, DOB: 11/17/1992, 5'11", 195 lbs
     
    Max Murphy is a New Hope, MN native who was drafted by the Twins in the 9th round of the 2014 draft from Bradley University. Max terrorized Appalachian League pitching at a rate of .378/.483/.723 and 10 HRs in 35 games, making a fine transition to the wooden bat, despite being about 1 year older than his league mates. He moved to Cedar Rapids where he landed back to reality hitting .242/.314/.395 and 4 HRs in 32 games with 8 BBs and 40 Ks. The strikeout was his issue in Cedar Rapids (he had a 22:34 BB:K ration in Elizabethton) and pitch selectivity and laying off bad pitches is something that the 22 year old needs to work on. Very good power potential from a small frame, the ability to play a good CF, might propel him pretty fast, if his bat develops. He reminds some of Rich Becker, who actually was Murphy's age when he made the Twins...
     
     
    http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5152/7098789651_02fb66b359_z.jpg
  10. Thrylos
    Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    ----
     
    Today is the second installment in the top 40 Twins' Off-season prospects countdown. You can find all installments here in reverse chronological order. This is the 31-35 rankings. Previous rankings: 36-40.
     
    35. Mat Batts LHP (--), LHSP, DOB: 7/6/1991, 5'11", 190 lbs.
     
    The Twins drafted Harrison Mathis Batts in the 17th round of the 2014 draft from the University of North Calorina Wilmington. The Lefty breezed through 3 levels in the organization from the Gulf Coast to Elizabethton to Cedar Rapids and finished the season with an impressive 1.78 ERA, 67 K and 7 BB in 60.7 Innigns Pitched. His WHIP was 0.775, his FIP 2.34, his K% 29.5%, 10 K/9 and an impressive 9.6 K/BB. Adding these numbers to his 2014 College numbers (2.68 ERA, 103.7 IP, 105 K, 18 BB, 1.05 WHIP), tells a very impressive story for the 23 year old who pitched 164 innings last season.
     
    Why isn't Batts ranked any higher? Well... his pitching style is what described as a "Crafty Lefty". His fastball tops in the high 80s but has a plus curve and a plus change. Those are great pitches to fool lower level competition. Batts might shoot through the organization, but his real test with be at AA. Likely will start for Cedar Rapids or even Fort Myers next season.
     
    34. Todd Van Steensen RHP (--), RHRP, DOB: 1/14/1991, 6'1", 190 lbs.
     
    2014 was the second tour of duty for Todd in the Twins' organization after being released in 2011 in the heels of a 5.68 ERA, 1.351 WHIP season in Elizabethton as a starter. Meanwhile, between then and 2014, he mimicked Glen Perkins: Found a mid 90s fastball and re-invented himself as a reliever. Started in Cedar Rapids as the closer and moved to Fort Myers (he is age average for high A) in the middle of the season. He finished 2014 with 1.39 ERA (but 3.22 FIP), 1.063 WHIP, 71 Ks and 24 BBs in 58.3 IP. His control was an issue mainly at Fort Myers, which, since he has been out of baseball, save for Aussie leagues, for a while, might be a conditioning issue. Will likely start 2015 for the Miracle again.
     
     
    33. Zach Larson OF (29) RH, OF, DOB: 10/8/1993. 6'2", 185 lbs
     
    Zach was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 20th round of the 2012 draft out of Lakewood Ranch High School in Bradenton FL. He played only in 15 GCL games in 2012 and his transition to the wooden bat was unremarkable (.250/.318/.325) However, 2013 was a great season for him. He started the season repeating the Gulf Coast League where he hit .317/.382/.467 in 137 plate appearances and moved up to Elizabethton without slowing down (.301/.407/.438 in 86 PA). He declined severely in his 2014 season, thus the drop in the rankings. In a season marred with injury he hit .265/.325/.358 in Cedar Rapids and had a 3.5:1 K:BB ratio. Potentially his performance was injury-related. 2015 will be a very important year for Zach, in an organization loaded with corner OFs. He will likely start 2015 again in Cedar Rapids, where we would be just young for the league.
     
    32. Randy Rosario LHP (40), LHSP, DOB: 5/18/1994, 6'1", 160 lbs
     
    The 20 year old Dominican was one of the Twins' Tommy John surgery victims this season, yet his stocked rose in these listings. Why? First of all I am discounting his 11.7 injury innings in Cedar Rapids this season and his stuff is really good. Rosario had a mid 90s fastball with lots of movement that complements with an above average slider and a plus change up. His only issue has been the command of his fastball. Based on what I have seen last Spring Training, his command was much more improved. The question mark that dropped him to 40 was his health and how he will come back from the surgery, but at this ranking I am discount those concerns. I feel that with correct development, he has the ability to be the top lefty in the Twins' organization. A couple of years of development and tests in Fort Myers and Chattanooga will tell. Will likely repeat Cedar Rapids in 2015, depending on elbow health.
     
    31. Aaron Slegers RHP (26), RHSP, DOB: 9/4/1992, 6'10", 245 lbs
     
    Slegers was drafted by the Twins in the 5th round of the 2013 draft from Indiana University. His first pro campaign was for 19 relief inning in E-town later that season where he baffled younger hitters at the rate of 0.47 ERA, 18 K and 2 BB and 0.947 WHIP. Last season he moved into a full time starter job starting at Cedar Rapids and promoted to Fort Myers for 3 starts. Slegers finished the season (132.3 IP - 23 Starts) with a 4.35 ERA (3.82 FIP), 102 K and 24 BB and 1.179 WHIP. His strikeout rates are of concern, dropping from 26.5% at Elizabethon to 19% at Cedar Rapids and 16% at Fort Myers. He has a plus Fastball (helps being that tall) that sits in the low 90s and touches 95 or so and a plus change. He is working on breaking ball. Depending on development of a third pitch and the ability to miss bats at higher levels, he projects from a mid-rotation pitcher to a middle reliever. Because of his size, injuries had been a problem previously, so he has to stay healthy.
     
    http://www.phillyphanatics.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Minnesota-Twins.jpg
  11. Thrylos
    Originally posted at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    --
     
    The Rule 5 draft is done, the Winter Leagues are in full blow, Catchers and Pitchers are 2 months away, which means that it is time for the Twins Off-season top 40 prospect list. Like last year (you can find the summary list here with links to all the posts) I will do a count down 5 at a time starting from number 40. I will give detailed descriptions of the players and justification why I ranked them where I did when needed. In parenthesis, I am including their ranking in the last prospect list, which was the 2014 mid-season list, with "--" if not ranked. You can find that list here.
     
    Unlike several lists, in my list, once a player makes it to the show, it graduates as a prospect. So, the following Twins' players have graduated last season (2014 mid-season ranking in parenthesis) : Trevor May (4), Kennys Vargas (5), AJ Achter (25). The one player who is an exception to my rule, is Jorge Polanco, who, while called in the majors twice, barely played, thus I still consider a prospect and will be part of this list when his number comes.
     
    As these posts add up, you can find all the rankings here.
     
    Here is the Minnesota Twins Prospects 36 to 40:
     
    40. Luis Arraez (--) LHB, IF, DOB: 4/9/1997: 5'10", 155 lbs
     
    Luis Arraez was signed from Venezuela before last season. The diminutive 17 year old made his debut in the DSL in 2014 and in a pitcher's league he exhibited excellent ability to make contact and great selectivity on the plate, finishing with a .348/.433/.400 slash line. He also stole 10 bases in 15 attempts. Not much power, but he is just 17. Likely will travel North and play in the DSL for 2015. He played mostly second base, but started 3 games in SS as well. His fielding is a work in progress but he turned 20 double plays in 155 total touches, which is not a bad place to be.
     
    39. Moises Gomez RHP (--) RHSP, DOB: 12/8/1997. 6'1", 192 lbs
     
    Gomez is another 17 year old Venezuelan who will make the jump to the GCL in 2015. In his first 26 pro innings in the DSL he allowed 6 runs (2.02 ERA), struck out 30 and walked 10. Nice easy delivery, good movement in his fastball, misses bats and a good feeling for the change. This is about as good as it gets for a teenager. He dabbles with breaking stuff but need work. Lots of potential, will be interesting to see how he responds in the GCL
     
    38. Tyler Kuresa 1B (--) LHB, 1B, DOB: 11/17/1992 6'3", 190 lbs.
     
    Kuresa was drafted by the Twins on the 16th round of the 2014 draft from the University of California Santa Barbara and was assigned to Elizabethton. He had no problem trading his metal bat for a wooden, hitting .298/.381/.478. A big guy with room to grow and power to grow. Good eye for a big guy, but fields like a big guy. Reminds some people of a young Justin Morneau, and that is a heck of a compliment. Likely will start in Cedar Rapids in 2015.
     
    37. Fernando Romero RHP (39) RHSP, DOB: 12/24/1994. 6'0", 215 lbs
     
    Fernando Romero was signed to an Amateur Free Agent contract by the Twins on October of 2011 with a $260,000 bonus out of the Dominican Republic. After spending the 2012 season in the Dominican Summer League, he made the jump to the Gulf Coast League in 2013. He pitched in 12 games (6 GS) for 45 innings to a 1.60 ERA and had 47 strikeouts and only 13 bases on balls. His WHIP was 1.00 and K% a very impressive 26, while his K/BB was 3.62. He missed 2014 with Tommy John surgery. It will be interesting to see how Romero will rebound in his age 20 season. He had a heavy fastball is in the mid to low 90s and barely adequate supplementary stuff. Romero does have mid rotation potential, depending on development of his secondary pitches and staying healthy. He will likely begin 2014, his age 19 season, in Cedar Rapids where he will alternate between the rotation and pen until extended.
     
    36. Jermaine Palacios IF (--) RHB, DOB: 7/19/1996, 6'0", 145 lbs.
     
    Palacios is the third Venezuelan 17 year old in today's list, who will likely make his debut in the GCL next year, and was one of the most exciting position players in the DSL last season hitting .270/.404/.399 with 11 doubles and 6 triples (and 14 SB) in 49 games. Very fast, thinner than Alexei Ramirez and still working with the glove (played mainly 3B with some 2B and SS,) but projects more as a SS than a corner OF.
     
    Next: 35-30.
     
    http://www.phillyphanatics.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Minnesota-Twins.jpg
  12. Thrylos
    Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    ---
     
    Today it was Minnesota Day at Hammond Stadium, which apparently means that a whole bunch of people get early at the ballpark to tailgate at the parking lot and is a pain to find parking spots. I arrived just in time for the two intrasquad games (AAA vs AA) and (A+ vs A) at Fields number 2 and 3. Aaron Hicks was hitting for the AA team and Pedro Florimon was playing for the AAA team, so that is where I exclusively spent my time before I was headed to the ballpark for the Twins and Marlins game.
     
    Alex Meyer was pitching and he was practically unhittable and a strike out machine, other than a long home run by Mike Gonzalez who looks in shape this season and will likely split the 1B/DH duties with Kennys Vargas in New Britain. I am not going to give a scouting report on Meyer, it is unnecessary, but he was on top of his game and hitting his spots with ease. I have not noticed before, but he does this weird thing with his mouth when he pitches:
     


    http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3798/13202258975_13733a8555_z.jpg

     
    Aaron Hicks did not play at the field but was the second batter in every inning for the AA squad and did nothing in 3 innings against Alex Meyer. However, when he was replaced in the fourth, Hicks hit a long home run in dead center off Yohan Pino. Pino was not quite as good as I remember him to be, his control was just not there.
     


    http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3692/13202410003_9f0ae157f5_z.jpg

     
    Speaking of not good, BJ Hermsen started for the AA team and he was, well, not good. It was amazing that he has been the Twins' minor league pitcher of the year in the past as well as having a spot on the 40-man roster. I am not sure what has happened to him, but it is not pretty. He was hit hard by every Rochester player, allowing multiple home runs and extra base hits. Even Pedro Florimon hit a triple off him in one plate appearance and struck out (a feat by itself because Hermsen struck out 3.7 AA hitters per 9 innings last season) in another.
     


    http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2791/13202269605_990e787851_z.jpg

     
    And if you are a major leaguer, this is how you go from the back fields to Hammond Stadium:
     


    http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2849/13202271055_90f257ba1d_z.jpg

     
    Some additional tidbits from the intrasquad game: Evan Bigley played CF for Rochester today. With Mastroianni back there tomorrow, I do not think that this will be a common sighting. Bigley was fine at the field and made a couple good catches and looked good at the plate as well. I think that this is a make or break season for him.
     
    This off-season the Twins picked up 28 year old CJ Ziegler, the Independent American Association MVP (.318/.408/.645 with 30 HRs and 99 RBI in 100 games,) hoping it will be Chris Colabello's second coming. Ziegler is listed at 6'5", 245 lbs, but he is a much bigger man. This of a righty Jim Thome. It will be interesting to see how he does in Rochester
     


    http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3724/13203387384_3019744e17_z.jpg

     
    Cole Johnson came to relieve BJ Hermsen and I think that he might be a sleeper. Very lanky righty with easy delivery, throwing almost side arm and good movement. Not a mph guy, but good solid stuff and looks like he got a good feel for pitching. He struck out 11 per 9 innings last season in AA, so he might be doing something right. The 44th round pick from Notre Dame in 2011 has been flying under the radar so far, but he might be someone to pay attention to this season.
     
    Back at the Hammond Stadium the Twins hosted the Marlins, which resulted in a pitching matchup between a former Twins Ace
     


    http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2681/13202272775_1b17fb65c1_z.jpg

     
     
    and the current Twins' Ace.
     


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    It was a pitching duel through five with each of the starters giving one run a piece and each of the starters topping out at 92 mph (which is quite a feat for Slowey.) Ricky Nolasco was very impressive in that he has a repertoire of 5 (or so) pitches and he is throwing them any time in the count. His change up (79-81) was particularly impressive today. He will be the Twins' opening day starter and I predict a great season for him. Both Jasons (Kubel and Bartlett) reached base today (a rarity for these guys) on walks. Despite Twins' fans rooting for them to make the team, I think that their best days are well behind them and that they are not major league caliber players at this point. Aaron Hicks came in for Alex Presley and had a nice double. At this point, I think that it is not even close between these two. In addition to Presley having an anemic bat this Spring and misjudging balls at the outfield, at one point in a single at mid-depth, he bounced the throw to the cutoff man. An arm reminiscent of Ben Revere. Speaking of feats, at some point Josh Willingham hit a strong liner that hugged the right field line. I was thinking triple all the way as soon as it left his bat, but he managed to get thrown out at second base. Unacceptable at pro ball. Maybe the thing in his back pocket was weighing him down...
     


    http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3794/13202593044_2a6c27d43f_z.jpg






    Tomorrow the Twins are playing the Orioles in Sarasota and it will be a full day of minor league coverage from Fort Myers for me.


  13. Thrylos
    Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    ---
    This is the seventh segment of the 2014 off-season Twins top 40 prospects, and we entered the top 10. Prospects 36-40 are here, 31-35 here, 26-30 here , 21-25 here, 16-20 here, 11-15 here, and you can find all segments in reverse order here.
     
    The number 6 to 10 off-season 2014 Minnesota Twins prospects are:
     
    10. Stephen Gonsalves LHSP, DOB: 7/8/1994, 6'5", 190 lbs.
     
    Stephen Gonsalves was drafted by the Twins in the fourth round of the 2013 draft. He dominated pro ball, after he joined the team pitching 14 innings in each of the Twins Rookie League teams (GCL Twins and Elizabethton Twins) and finished the season with cumulative 28.3 IP in 8 games (5 start) striking out 39 and walking 11. His ERA was 0.95 and WHIP 1.024. His dominating K% (32.1 in the GCL and 38.1 in Elizabethton) bodes well for the tall lefty.
     
    His fastball is at 89-91 mph with good action and touches 93 mph. Its velocity is projected to increase as he grows and it is a plus pitch. He also does have a plus mid 70s changeup already, but his sbreaking balls are a work in progress and below average at this point. He is throwing a soft high 60s curve, which is the better of the two and a high 70s slider/slurve. Last season was his age 18 season and he still has room to grow. Depending on development of his breaking ball, he will either start his age 19, 2014 season at EST and then at Elizabethton or at Cedar Rapids. He is slated to move fast in the organization and does have top of the rotation potential, especially if his fastball picks a couple of notches.
     
    9. Trevor May RHSP, DOB: 9/23/1989, 6'5", 215 lbs
     
    Trevor May was drafted by the Philadelphia Philies in the 4th round of the 2008 draft out of Keslo (WA) High School. He came to the Twins, along with Vance Worley in the winter of 2012 for Ben Revere. He was rated 69th prospect in baseball by Baseball American and 54th by MLB.com before the 2012 season. May's stock was low when the Twins got him after 2012 because his production fell that season, his first at AA. He pitched 149.7 innings (28 GS), struck out 151, walked 78, allowed 22 HRs (1.32 HR/9) had a 4.87 ERA (4.88 FIP) and 1.44 WHIP (.292 BABIP). The main concern was that his K% fell from his usual high 20s and 30s a career low 22.9% and his BB% ever though it improved, it was still high at 11.8%. He pitched 9 innings in the Arizona Fall League before he moved to the Twins organization last Fall. He was added to the Twins 40-man roster then.
     
    May repeated the Eastern League in 2013, now in New Britain. Not reflected by his W-L record (9-9) or his ERA (4.51, similar to 2012), his repeat trip in AA resulted in small but significant improvement. His K% increased to 24.1%, BB% decreased to 10.2%, HR/9 regressed to a still high but better 0.83. His WHIP remained at 1.42, but with .329 BABIP this season (reflective to the bad defense at New Britain). All in all resulted in a full point drop plus on his FIP to 3.79 from 4.88 in 2012. He has 3 good pitches: A 92-94 mph plus sinker, a plus low 80s hammer curve that is an out pitch and an above average straight change that is his weaker pitch.
     
    There are concerns about both his command and control, and frankly they are the reason he is still in the minors. His mechanics are inconsistent and likely the source of his issues. Improved concentration and more focus on baseball instead of music production , will go long ways towards fixing these. His ceiling is mid to top of the rotation pitcher, but unless his control improves and his changeup improves a bit or he adds another pitch, a major league bullpen may be in his future. May will likely start the 2014 (his age 24 season) in Rochester and will be called up in September to the Twins.
     
    8. Jose Berrios RHSP, DOB: 5/27/1994, 6'1", 185 lbs
     
    Jose Berrios was drafted by the Twins in the supplemental first round of the 2012 draft from Papa Juan (PR) High School . He finished that season blazing through both Twins' rookie leagues, turning heads on the way. In the Gulf Coast League he appeared in 8 games, starting one, pitched 16.7 innings, struck out 27 and walked 3. His WHIP was 0.600, ERA 1.08 and FIP 0.50. In the Appalachian League he started 3 games for 14 innings, striking out 22 and walking just one with a 0.643 WHIP, 1.29 ERA and 1.41 FIP. In 2013, his age 19 season, he was a starting pitcher in Cedar Rapids and fell back to earth. He started 19 games (103.7 innings) striking out 100 and walking 40, with a 3.99 ERA (3.44 FIP) and a 1.40 WHIP (.330 BABIP-driven).
     
    The biggest disappointments in his first full season was the decrease of his K% from 43% or so to 22% and the increase of his BB% from 2-5% to 8.8%. Not certain whether those changes were fatigue-driven, but Berrios will just be 20 in 2014, so there is still a lot ways to go. Berrios has a plus fastball that sits at 92-93 and can get up to 96-97, an above average change and a work in progress slurve. The command of his off-speed pitches has been the issue for him in Cedar Rapids, which probably is dues to inconsistent mechanics. He does have a 3/4 arm release point that is inconsistent. He does have top of the rotation potential, but he needs to develop better breaking pitches and have more consistent mechanics to reach it. Otherwise he will be a relief pitcher. Depending on how he shows up in Spring Training, he will start the 2014 season (his age 20) in the Fort Myers rotation, with a small possibility of repeating the Midwest League for part of the season if his mechanics are not there.
     
    7. Kennys Vargas SH, 1B, DOB: 8/1/1990, 6'5", 255 lbs
     
    Kennys Vargas was signed by the Minnesota Twins as an undrafted free agent in February of 2009. As a Puerto Rican he was eligible for the 2008 MLB Draft but he was passed by all teams in all 50 rounds of the draft as a 17 year old high school senior. Vargas started at the Twins system at the GCL his age 18 season (2009) hitting .257/.369/.404, 3 HR, 7 2B, 17/34 BB/K, in 35 games. He repeated the GCL his age 19 season .324/.388/.507, 3 HR, 15 2B, 13/40 BB/K in 39 games, exhibiting both good contact skills and gap power. Next season he was in Elizabethton where he continued his dominance with the bat, hitting .322/.377/.489 with 6 HRs and 11 doubles and 15/50 BB/K in 44 games. Unfortunately, that off-season he tested positive for a banned in the US diet pill that contained ephedrine and he had to serve a 50 day suspension losing half of the 2012 season.
     
    But that second half of the 2012 season put him on the map as one of the Twins' top prospects. He playing in Beloit and made the transition from a doubles hitter to a home run hitter and improved his plate discipline skills. In only 41 games (186 PAs) he hit .318/.419/.610 with 11 HRs and 10 doubles walking 28 times and striking out 41. Those numbers were better than his Uber-prospect teammate's Miguel Sano's. That season, the now expectant father, received the nickname "Baby Papi", referring to his similarity in statute and in punishing the ball to David Ortiz. In 2013 he was promoted to Fort Myers where he hit .267/.344/.468 with 19 HRs and 93 RBI 50/105 BB/K in the longest campaign in his pro career (125 games, 520 PA) running out of gas later in the season.
     
    Vargas has phenomenal power and his power tool is up there with Sano's. He needs conditioning. His contact tool has been good (but regressed the second half at Fort Myers, likely because of fatigue) and his plate discipline has been improving. His play at first base has also been improving but it is at Big Papi territory. Next season, his age 23 season, he will likely start in New Britain and share DH/1B duties with DJ Hicks. He has power from both sides of the plate but is a better LHB. He was added to the Twins 40-man roster a few weeks ago and will be there in Spring Training. A September call-up, and a mid-season promotion to Rochester, if all goes well in New Britain, might be in Vargas' near future.
     
    6. Jorge Polanco, SH, SS/2B, DOB: 7/5/1993, 5'11", 165 lbs.
     
    Jorge Polanco was signed by the Minnesota Twins on July of 2009 from the Dominican Republic for a $750,000 bonus. He is in the same international class as fellow Twins' prospects Miguel Sano and Max Kepler, but his classmates stole the lime light until this season. Much like Sano, Polanco started 2010 (his age 16 season) in the DSL and move to the states to the GCL mid-season. But, unlike Sano, he had a hard time. He hit .233/.303/.294 with 1 HR, but 18 BBs and 18 Ks, combined in 42 games (187 PAs) in 2010 between the 2 rookie leagues. In 2011, his age 17 season, he repeated the GCL with similar results: .250/.319/.349 15/24 K/BB in 51 games (193 PAs). A seventeen year old cannot be a bust, especially one with such a good eye as Polanco and he indeed broke through the next season in Elizabethton, where as an 18 year old he hit .318/.388/.514 with 20/26 K/BB in 51 games (204 PA.) Once his contact tool met his plate discipline tool, the switch hitter entered the top prospect map.
     
    He continued to improve in 2013 as a 19 year old in Cedar Rapids where he hit .308/.362/.452 with 32 doubles, 42 walks and 59 strikeouts in 115 games (523 PAs) in his first full pro season. He got contact and discipline before, but last season he started to exhibit gap power that was translated to doubles. As of this writing Polanco is hitting .331/.396/.444 in 38 games (133 PAs) with 17 BB and 20 K, at the Dominican Winter League, which is a great performance for a 20 year old. At 5'11" and 165 lbs he will never be a home run hitter, but seeing line drives and doubles is great. In his career he played an equal amount of games at 2B and SS and a handful at the OF, but his future in this franchise is at SS, because it is the biggest position of need. He does have the range and the hands to play SS, but he needs to get a better feel for the position, and the way a 20 year old does that is with more reps. I think that Polanco will start his age 20 2014 season as the starting SS for the Fort Myers Miracle, pushing Nico Goodrum to third base and Travis Harrison to OF or 1B. He will likely earn a promotion to New Britain mid season and could even be a surprise September call up for the Twins, since he is on the 40 man roster, depending on performance.
     
     
     


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    Next: the top 5.
  14. Thrylos
    Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    -----
     
    This is the fourth segment of the 2014 off-season Twins top 40 prospects, counting down prospects 31 to 35. Prospects 36-40 are here, 31-35 here, 26-30 here and you can find all segments in reverse order here.
     
    The number 21 to 25 off-season 2014 Minnesota Twins prospects are:
     
    25. J.D. Williams, SH, OF, DOB: 11/20/1990, 5'11", 183 lbs
     
    J.D. (aka JaDamion) Williams was the Twins' 10th round pick of the 2010 draft from Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate HS in Tampa, FL. He is the son of former major leaguer Reggie Williams . J.D. Williams was drafted as a middle infielder (he pitched as well in High School) but other than his first pro season in the GCL, he has been an outfield in the Twins' organization. Up to before this season, he was just another prospect moving from the GCL to the Appalachian League to the Midwest League annually with limited success, namely his promising 50 game season in Elizabethton in 2011 where he hit .324/.406/.465 swiping 10 bases in 15 tries. His full pro season in Beloit (2012, age 21) was a trial. He did not make much contract (.234/.311/.340) and his base-stealing (23/32 SB,) excellent range and defense were the only tools he flashed.
     
    2013 was the season the put Williams on the map as a prospect. Repeating the Midwest League, in Cedar Rapids this time, he hit .281/.391/.461 in 80 games. Compared to his 2012 in the same league, he improved his BB/K rate from 39/115 to 47/67, his IsoP from .106 to .180, while continuing swiping bases and playing excellent OF defense, mainly at LF due to teammates named Buxton and Walker. He was promoted to Fort Myers where he finished the season hitting .236/.333/.293 in 42 games, which was likely fatigue related, since the 122 games he played this season was the most of his pro career by 30 or so. Likely starts the season in Fort Myers and moves to New Britain. Has a potential for 20/20/20 season (2B/HR/BB). Because of the depth in the Twins' OF, could potentially return to second base.
     
    24. D.J. Hicks, LH, 1B, DOB: 4/2/1990, 6'5", 228 lbs
     
    D.J. (aka Dalton) Hicks was the Twins 17th round pick in the 2012 draft out of University of Central Florida. Hicks started his pro career last season in Elizabethton where he made a seamless transition to the wooden bat (.270/.382/.453, 4 HRs, 25 RBI, 19 BB, 37 K in 31 games (136 PAs). He started 2013 in Cedar Rapids where he hit .297/.355/.494 with 13 HR and 82 RBI in 89 games (400 PA) and finished in Fort Myers (42 games, .270/.364/.405, 4 HR, 28 RBI, 176 PA). He accumulated 110 RBI this season and this figure led the Twins' organization, ahead of Adam Walker (109) and Miguel Sano (103.)
     
    This might sound like a blasphemy, but at similar points in their professional career (albeit Hicks at older age) Hicks as a player is similar to a young Justin Morneau. In addition to the physical similarities and defensive challenges at this point, Hicks' age 23 season split between the Midwest and Florida State League resulted in a combined .289/.358/.468, 17 HR, 110 RBI production, while Morneau's age 20 season (2001) split between those leagues, with 10 addition games in the Eastern League, resulted in a combined .314/.389/.497, 16 HR, 97 RBI production. Morneau is clearly the better player here but Hicks is in the area code... His power tool is his best. He has already shown signs of improved pitch recognition and with improvement of fielding and contact, he can be a major league first baseman. One little known fact about D.J Hicks: In addition to playing first base, Hicks was a pitcher in College, pitching a total of 66 innings in 3 seasons awfully.
     
    Hicks will likely start 2014 at Fort Myers, if Kennys Vargas mans first base in New Britain. If Kennys Vargas starts at Rochester, Hicks will likely start in New Britain. Potentially they can both spit 1B/DH duties at New Britain.
     
    23. Jose Abreu RHSP, DOB: 6/13/1992, 5'11", 170 lbs.
     
    Jose Alexi Abreu (not to be confused with the Cuban First Baseman) Signed by the Minnesota Twins as a non-drafted free agent on Sept. 2, 2010 out of the Dominican Republic. After 2 seasons in the DSL, he made the transition to the GCL last summer where he served as the main closer of the team pitching 28 innings in 18 games striking out 30 and walking 5 for an 1.61 ERA and 0.821 WHIP.
     
    He has a nice fastball with a lot of movement and a small statute and reminds some of another diminutive Dominican in pitching style, especially attacking hitters. He does have a decent curveball that has fooled the GCL hitters, but it needs improvement, as does his change up. Will likely start the season as a swing man in Elizabethton.
     
     
    22. Matthew Koch RH, C, DOB: 11/21/1988, 6'0", 219 lbs
     
    Matthew Koch was the Twins' 12th round pick of the 2011 draft out of Loyola Marymount University. He finished that summer in Elizabethton (12 games, 51 PA, .273/.333/.545, 2 HR, 9 RBI) moved up to Beloit in 2012 and Fort Myers in 2013. He had solid and nearly identical seasons as a catcher in both A and high A (.253/.349/.421, 8 HR, 23 2B, 39 RBI in 89 games Beloit in 2012) and (.278/.346/.401, 7 HR, 20 2B, 40 RBI in 98 games in Fort Myers in 2013. Likely, he will put a similar line next season in New Britain. This season he improved on the BB/K ratio from 35/106 in 2012 to 35/75 in 2013, which is always nice to see in a developing prospect.
     
    He calls a good game behind the plate and is a sure handed, if not flashy catcher. He threw out 30% of the would be base stealers. As indicated, he would likely start the 2014 season in New Britain. His could be a solid backup catcher in the majors, with the potential of a solid starter depending on his development.
     
    21. Alexis Tapia RHSP, DOB: 8/10/1995, 6'2", 195 lbs
     
    Alexis Tapia was signed by the Minnesota Twins from Venezuela on Sept of 2012 and 2013 was his first professional season. He spent last season (his age 17 season) in the DSL where he playing in 11 games (7 as a starter) pitching 42.3 innings, striking out 31 and walking 5. His ERA was 2.13 and his WHIP a miniscule 0.874.
     
    The 3 things that you hear about Tapia are: that he is "projectable", with a growing 6'2" frame, that he has a "good feel for the game", and that he is "throwing strikes". Beyond those cliches, he is working with 3 pitches (fastball, curve, change) which, other than his fastball that approaches plus, are still works in progress, but he is 17. Depending on how his English is, he will likely move to the Gulf Coast League in 2014.
     


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    Next: 16-20
  15. Thrylos
    Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    -----
     
    This is the third segment of the 2014 off-season Twins top 40 prospects, counting down prospects 31 to 35. Prospects 36-40 are here, 31-35 here, and you can find all segments in reverse order here.
     
    The number 26 to 30 off-season 2014 Minnesota Twins prospects are:
     
    30. Danny Santana, SH, SS, DOB: 11/7/1990, 5'11", 160 lbs
     
    Danny Santana was signed as a free agent by the Twins in December of 2007 out of the Dominican Republic and made his pro debut in the DSL the following summer as a 17 year old, hitting a career best .274/.343/.426 in 51 games. Santana made stops at every level of the organization up to New Britain last season. He is a steady hitter with mid .650s to low 700s OPS, which is above average for a middle infielder but not spectacular.
     
    He does have plus speed that he harvested in New Britain last season with career highs in SB (30), triples (10) and doubles (22). He can occasionally hit the ball out of the park (has 25 career HRs in 6 seasons), but he is mostly a gap hitter. He is still very young and has room to grow. In his age 22 season in New Britain, in addition to the aforementioned numbers, he hit .297/.333/.386 in 131 games (588 PAs) with a 24/94 BB/K ratio. His fielding is a lot like Pedro Florimon's at shortstop: He can make unbelievable plays, but he can also make errors in easy plays. He has steadily been improving with the glove especially on routine situations.
     
    His presence on the Twins 40 man roster (added last off-season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft) is more of an indication of the system depth in middle infield in higher levels, than his major-league readiness at age 22. Santana will likely begin his age 23 season as Rochester's starting SS, pending Jason Barlett's future with the Twins. With work on plate discipline and pitch recognition and on making the easy plays on defense, Santana can be a starting MLB SS or at worse a utility player.
     
     
    29. Josh Burris, RHSP, DOB: 11/28/1991, 5'10", 183 lbs.
     
    Josh Burris was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 17th round of the 2011 draft out of Lousiana State University at Eunice. Burris made his pro debut in 2012 in Elizabethton where he went 7-0 with 1.75 ERA and 1.250 WHIP in 18 games (36 IP) in relief. He struck out 40 and walked 21 batters. Last season was a tale of two cities for Burris. He started the season in Cedar Rapids' pen, where he pitched 10 innings in 8 games, could not find the strike zone (9/8 BB/K), could not strand anyone on the bases (46.5 LOB%) and had a miserable time in general. He returned to Elizabethton, where he made the transition to a starter and that went much nicer. In 12 games (8 GS) and 41.3 IP he had a 4-2 record, 3.70 ERA, 48 Ks and 32 BBs (26.0 K% and 1.5 K/BB.) He has some shoulder issues in Spring Training and maybe those effected his performance in Cedar Rapids.
     
    So why am I so high on a guy who looks like he can barely make a single A pen? Because of his stuff, especially his curveball. BA said that he has the best curveball in the Twins' system last season, but I would not be surprised, if it is one of the best curveballs in baseball right now. A devastating plus plus pitch that he can throw in the zone for looking strikes or in the dirt for swinging strikes as needed. The problem is with his fastball that is an average high 80s, low 90s pitch that he has trouble controlling on occasion and his change up that he is still learning. Development of even an above average to plus FB and an average third pitch, can make him a MLB starter, his curveball is THAT good.
     
    Depending on how Spring Training goes, he will likely spend the season in the Cedar Rapids rotation.
     
    28. Stuart Turner, RH, C, DOB: 12/27/1991, 6'2", 220 lbs
     
    Stuart Turner was drafted by the Twins in the third round of the 2013 draft from the University of Mississippi. He spend all his season (but one game he filled in for the Rock Cats) for the Elizabethton Twins, where he played at 35 games (146 PAs) and hit .272/.345/.384 with 3 HRs and 19 RBI. He walked 12 times, struck out 23 and hit by a pitch 4. Turner has been always described as an excellent defensive catcher with a great feel for the game, but he made the transition to the wooden bat well, which means a great deal for his potential as a prospect.
     
    Turner has a large frame and projectable power that will come as he grows. He will likely start his age 22 season in Cedar Rapids. Potentially, he can be a combination of Drew Butera with the glove and Josmil Pinto with the bat, which would make a nice starting major league catcher, but bat development (even though there are good signs) is crucial.
     
    27. Niko Goodrum, SH, SS, DOB: 2/28/1992, 6'3", 170 lbs
     
    Niko Goodrum was drafted by the Twins in the second round of the 2010 draft from Fayette County (GA) High School. "Potential" has always been the word to describe Goodrum, but he has yet to reach it or ever flash most of it consistently. His career slash line in 4 years of pro ball through the GCL, Elizabethtown (twice) and Cedar Rapids has been .246/.340/.362 and other than his first season with a wooden bat at GCL (.161/.219/.195) has reflected each season's performance. He has a lot of athletic ability and a compact swing that is projected to generate power in the future. He has decent plate discipline (128 BB/251 K career) and good speed that will translate to doubles, triples and stolen bases.
     
    A lot of his future will depend on his position and this is still very up for grabs. He has been primarily a shortstop all his career and can field the position about average, which is an improvement from previous seasons. While a projected OPS in the mid to high .700s will get him a middle infield or utility job in the majors, if he switches positions to the corner infield or even outfield, it will not. He would need to develop power, which can happen since he is 6'3" and only 170 lbs. Any sign of power development will be an excellent sign for Goodrum and will bump him up in prospect lists to the position where he was when he was drafted.
     
    Goodrum will likely spend 2014 as the starting shortstop of the Fort Myers Miracle.
     
    26. Tyler Duffey RHSP, DOB: 12/27/1990, 6'3", 225 lbs.
     
    Tyler Duffey was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 5th round of the 2012 draft from Rice University. After he overpowered his rookie competition in Elizabethton last season (1.42 ERA, 1.36 FIP 19.1 IP, 27 K, 2 BB, 0.632 WHIP) he moved as a starter now to Cedar Rapids for the first half of 2013, and to Fort Myers for the second half. He started 9 games at Cedar Rapids, pitching 58.3 innings, striking out 47 and walking just 6. His ERA was 2.78 (3.06 FIP) and WHIP 0.943. At Fort Myers in 15 games (9 starts) he pitched to a 4.45 ERA (but 3.42 FIP), striking out 44 and walking 17 in 62.7 IP. His WHIP was 1.35, inflated by a .315 BABIP. His K/BB ratio drop at A+ compared to A and Rookie is somewhat concerning, but could be a matter of fatigue in his first full professional season. Also his K% dropped from a phenomenal 40.3% at Elizabethton's pen to 20.5% and 16.2% in the Kernels and Miracle Rotations respectively.
     
    Duffey is another one of the class of 2012 hard throwing college relievers the Twins drafted to transform to starters. Duffey's fastball (low to mid 90s) is not quite as electric as his draftmates', but his secondary stuff (an above average slider and plus change up) are much better. He has excellent control with all his pitches. Will likely start his age 23 2014 season in the Fort Myers rotation with a possible promotion to New Britain mid season, depending on performance. Definite mid-rotation or late inning reliever ceiling depending on keeping the K% high as a starter.
     


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    Next: 21-25
  16. Thrylos
    Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    ----
     
    This is the second segment of the 2014 off-season Twins top 40 prospects, counting down prospects 31 to 35. Prospects 36-40 are here and you can find all segments in reverse order here.
     
    I feel I need to make a couple of clarifications about this list (which is a bit different that others.) First of all, I consider players who have played in the majors, as "graduating" from prospect status. You made big league money, you are not going to be in this list. Andrew Albers, Oswaldo Arcia, Chris Colabello, Chris Herrmann, Aaron Hicks, Kyle Gibson, Ryan Pressly, Caleb Thielbar and Michael Tonkin belong in this category. Secondly (and thirdly) my criteria are slightly different that others' (e.g I value actual results at a higher competition level more than most) and the Twins have such a deep system, that some players who are listed in other lists and/or have been drafted in early rounds recently or have received large international signing bonuses will be conspicuously absent from this list. I am also more open to include international players who have not played in the US yet more than others. I am open to discussion about why and how, with the idea that it is just a point of view that is up to debate and not something that is either "right" or "wrong".
     
     
     
     
     
    Here are the number 31 to 35 off-season 2014 Minnesota Twins prospects:
     
    35. Adrian Salcedo, RHSP, DOB: 2/5/1991. 6'4", 175 lbs.
     
    Adrian Salcedo was signed by the Twins as a 16 year old out of the Dominican Republic in July of 2007. There are some parallels between Salcedo's and Wimmers' career with the Twins, which took both from being top prospects to being unprotected for this December's rule 5 draft due to injuries. Adrian moved to the States and the GCL in 2009 after a single DSL season in 2008 and established himself as one of the top rotation arms in an arm-depleted Twins system.
     
    His best season was in Beloit in 2011, where in 135 IP, he accumulated a 2.93 ERA, walking 27 and striking out 92. His WHIP was 1.17. He was set for a great age 21 season in Fort Myers, but he was an injury magnet: He was hit on the face by a ball and broke his nose, he developed finger blisters, has elbow tenderness and went to the DL and while trying to rehab the elbow in the GCL, he developed shoulder pain and was shut down. He returned to Fort Myers in 2013 where he was used exclusively as a reliever pitching 58.3 innings in 34 games with a 3.70 ERA, striking out 54 and walking 15.
     
    Salcedo is at the crossroads of his career, but he is still young. His main weapon is his mid 90s fastball with a lot of movement and great command. He has an average slider and a work-in-progress changeup. He is very lanky. I suspect that he will stay at Fort Myers as a starter for the beginning of the 2014 season (his age 23 season) with a mid-season promotion to New Britain, if everything goes well. His injuries and the influx of a lot of good arms in the Twins system, has dropped him in the prospect lists.
     
    34. Fernando Romero, RHSP, DOB: 12/24/1994. 6'0", 215 lbs
     
    Fernando Romero was signed to an Amateur Free Agent contract by the Twins on October of 2011 with a $260,000 bonus out of the Dominican Republic. After spending the 2012 season in the Dominican Summer League, he made the jump to the Gulf Coast League in 2013. He pitched in 12 games (6 GS) for 45 innings to a 1.60 ERA and had 47 strikeouts and only 13 bases on balls. His WHIP was 1.00 and K% a very impressive 26, while his K/BB was 3.62.
     
    Romero is a big guy and an extreme ground ball pitcher. That compared to his striking out pretty much every fourth batter he faced, is very promising. His heavy fastball is in the low 90s but he is still very young and can pick velocity. He has a slider and changeup that are works in progress. A former Twins' comparable would be Carlos Silva at his best. Romero does have mid rotation potential, depending on development of his secondary pitches and staying healthy. He will likely begin 2014, his age 19 season, in Elizabethton where he will alternate between the rotation and pen until extended.
     
    33. Miguel Gonzalez, RHSP, DOB: 10/12/1994. 6'1", 180 lbs
     
    Miguel Antonio Gonzalez was signed by the Twins on July 2, 2011 (to a $650,000 bonus) from the Dominican Republic and was on the top on his international free agent class as far as pitchers were concerned. Very young and still growing (was 5'11" when signed) he has a lot of potential, mainly because he has a good feeling of the art of pitching. Not to be confused with the 26 year old Cuban defector RHP Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez or the Orioles Mexican RHP Miguel Gonzalez.
     
    Gonzalez pitched in the same teams that Romero did, DSL Twins in 2012 and GCL Twins in 2013. He was used exclusively in the pen in the GCL (but started in the DSL) where he accumulated a 1.05 ERA in 20 games, striking out 33 and walking 9 in 25.7 innings (31.1 K% and 3.67 K/BB) with only a 1.13 WHIP despite a .328 BABIP. Gonzalez has an plus fastball, average slider and above average changeup. He really mixes his pitches well and has great command. A lot of room to develop still and the potential for a top half of the rotation arm. He will likely begin 2014, his age 19 season, in Elizabethton where he will alternate between the rotation and pen until extended.
     
     
     
     
     
     
    32. Deibinson Romero, RH, 3B/1B, DOB: 9/24/1986. 6'1", 215 lbs
     
    Romero at 27 is the oldest player in this list and he is about to enter his prime, and many can argue that he too old to be a prospect. He was signed by the Twins in early 2006 as a 19 year old out of the Dominican Republic. Romero quickly moved up the Twins system and showed enough promise to be added to the 40 man roster after the 2009 season (his 4th pro season) to be protected from the 40-man draft, but was removed a year later after an average .252/.348/.363 6 HR, 54 RBI repeat season at Fort Myers as a 23 year old.
     
    His breakthrough season was 2012 where he hit .267/.356/.441 with 19 HRs and 78 RBI in AA New Britain. This earned him a non-roster invite to the 2013 Spring Training and a potential challenge to Trevor Plouffe for the Twins' starting 3B position. However luck did not want that to happen: His work Visa to the US was delayed until the end of April because a storm damaged his town's courthouse destroying birth records, including his. He stayed at Fort Myers for extended Spring Training and moved to Rochester with a stop of eight games at New Britain, where he hit the cover off the ball (.355/.429/.710; 3 HR). In Rochester he hit a respectable .266/.369/.421 with 10 HRs and 50 RBI in 86 games; continuing to put better than average power numbers. He is an average third baseman with somewhat limited range, but his hands have been improving.
     
    Romero is entering his prime and has earned a 2014 Spring Training invitation where he would likely battle Chris Colabello, Chris Parmelee, Jason Bartlett and others for a spot on the Twins' bench, where he could be a spot starter at the corner infield positions, esp. third base and a bat off the bench. Otherwise he will provide depth in Rochester. He is not on the 40-man roster and thus he is eligible for the 40-man draft with some likelihood of being selected by a team that needs corner IF depth.
     
    31. Mason Melotakis, LHSP, DOB: 6/28/1991. 6'2", 206 lbs
     
    Mason Melotakis was drafted by the Twins in the second round of the 2012 draft from the Northwestern State University of Lousiana. He was one of the power relief arms the Twins selected in that draft with the intention of converting them into starters. He split the 2012 season between Elizabethton and Beloit, where he pitched in 20 games (24 innings) in relief to a 4-2 record, with an 1.88 ERA striking out 34, walking only 6 and having a miniscule 0.958 BABIP.
     
    2013 in Cedar Rapids was his first season as a starter and it was a major disappointment, if you ingore ERA and W-L record. He pitched in 24 games (18 as a starter) for 111 innings to a 11-4 record with a 3.16 ERA. However he had only 84 strikeouts and walked 39; his WHIP was 1.31 with normal BABIP (.293). His K/BB ratio decreased to 2.15 from the 5.67 the previous season and his K% decreased from a remarkable 37.5% to an unremarkable (unless you are an MLB Twins' starter) 17.7%.
     
    His relative ineffectiveness as a starter likely came because his secondary pitches are raw. He has an excellent mid 90s fastball that spikes up to 98 and it is a weapon late in the game when the starter has not been throwing that hard. His curveball is at best average and his changeup is a work in progress; if you have only one plus pitch, no matter how good it is, hitters will be able to time it, especially as one moves up in a system. 2014 will be a crucial year for Melotakis. I think that he would be given the opportunity to start at Fort Myers for his age 23 season. Depending how he performs (and how his secondary pitches have developed) he will continue the season as a starter or move to the pen.
     


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    Next: 26-30
  17. Thrylos
    Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    ---
     
    For most of the fans who watched the Minnesota Twins play in 2013, one thing was fairly obvious: the pitchers were taking their sweet time on the mound between pitches. I suspect that the collective gut feeling of the Twins' Territory is that it was bad, but how bad exactly was is?
     
    Mike Hargrove in his playing days was nicknamed the human rain delay because of his elaborate routine at the batter's box between pitches. He was the original, but shares the nickname with a pitcher, Steve Trachsel who took his sweet time on the mound between pitches. Because of PitchF/X and because Trachsel pitched his last couple seasons when the technology was there, we now can quantify the average time between pitches for the human rain delay: It is 23.6 seconds.
     
    How bad were the Twins?
     
    Here is a graph indicating the seconds between pitches of all the Twins' pitchers who pitched more than 3 innings in 2013 (Sorry Tyler Robertson and Jamey Carroll), along with their individual numbers the previous 3 seasons (2010-2012). At the end there is an average of the previous 3 seasons and the difference of 2013 from that average:
     


    http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2825/11086601453_577dac3a16_z.jpg

     
     
    Five Twins pitchers, Brian Duensing, Mike Pelfrey, Jared Burton, Casey Fien and Kevin Correia were worse than the human rain delay. And a sixth, Liam Hendriks, was at the ballpark. The MLB average time between pitches is 20.8 seconds, the Twins took a total of 2 more seconds than that in average. Only two players, Shairon Martis and PJ Walters pitched faster than the MLB average.
     
    Also, of interest is that other than 3 players (Walters, Cole DeVries and Josh Roenicke; all former Twins now) who decreased their time between pitches in 2013 compared to their 3 previous season average and 2 players (Samuel Deduno and Pedron Hernandez, another former Twin) who remained constant, the rest increased their time between pitches this season. Brian Duensing, Mike Pelfrey, Kevin Correia, Liam Hendriks, Glen Perkins and Vance Worley were the biggest culprits, with Dunsing's and Pelfrey's differentials at an astonishing 3-4 second rate.
     
    Working fast and keeping your defense on their toes, has been an axiom as far as successful pitching goes. Is this part of the Twins' woes in 2013? Was the fact that Vance Worley took 2 more seconds between pitches this season and indicator of problems on the mount, which translated to below expectations? The cause and effect are not certain here, but this is something that the Twins might want to address during the 2014 Spring Training.
  18. Thrylos
    Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch
    ----
     
    In the first trade of the 2013 off-season, the Minnesota Twins returned RHRP Duke Welker (whom they acquired in the Justin Morneau trade) to the Pittsburgh for LHSP Kris Johnson.
     
    Johnson (6'4", 190, 28 years old) is a former first round draft pick of the Boston Redsox (2006) and signed as a minor league free agent by the Pirates 2 years ago. He was listed as the Redsox' fourth best pitching prospect in 2008 by Baseball America. This season he had a breakthrough performance in Independent (AAA) league, pitching 135.7 innings, with a 2.39 ERA (3.43 FIP), winning 10 games and losing 4. His strikeout rate was 17.1% (6.34 K/9), his walk rate 7.8% (2.85 BB/9, 2.19 K/BB). His WHIP was 1.17 and achieved with a .279 BABIP.
     
    He throws a 91-94 mph fastball, a slow low 70s curve and a mid 80s change/cutter/slider type of pitch that is very effective against righties. As is, he will be the most polished Twins' left hand starter (compared to Scott Diamond and Andrew Albers) and will likely fight for a spot in the Twins' rotation out of Spring Training. He has relieved before, so the pen is also an option potentially.
     
    All in all, the Twins turned a hard throwing but enigmatic (think Hoey) righty reliever to a polished lefty starter with true back of the rotation stuff who is at his prime. I think all in all it is a good move for the Twins, since they lack depth in the minors esp. from the left side. Johnson had a cup of coffee with the Pirates (10.3 IP) this August, which means that he has only 2 options left.
     
    What does this mean for the Twins? Johnson automatically goes on top of the LHP starting depth ahead of Diamond and Albers at this point, and if they do not sign someone like Scott Kazmir, he might wear a Twins' uniform next season. Additionally, he will potentially challenge for a spot in the bullpen, especially if Thielbar regresses. This trade gives the Twins more options than they had before (plently of hard-throwing relievers and Michael Tonkin made Duke Welker redundant in the system)
     
     


    http://binaryapi.ap.org/913b31dff82647e2b2c20d2ac4fbe617/940x.jpg

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