Nick Nelson

The new Twins front office is making a name for itself with late-offseason (er, early spring training) free agency splashes. This time around it's Marwin Gonzalez, the defensively flexible veteran who has reportedly agreed to a two-year, $21 million contract.Gonzalez, who turns 30 next month, has spent all seven of his big-league seasons with the Houston Astros, winning a World Series in 2017. He's mostly been a solid, above-average hitter throughout his career, and had his best season in 2017 with a .907 OPS and 23 homers, but is best known for his ability to play all over the field. Gonzalez has logged at least 90 career starts at: 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, LF. He played all five of those positions in Houston last year, and while he spent the least time at third base (only two starts), his ability to handle the hot corner might’ve been a key reason Minnesota pulled the trigger. Miguel Sano is coming off a disaster season, with major question marks swirling around his surgically repaired leg. Now, he’s limping into camp with a heel laceration. The depth behind was basically Ehire Adrianza, with little help in the high minors. So locking up Gonzalez for two years is a huge help in that regard. The beauty of his versatility is that if Sano does rebound and return to form, as we’re all hoping, Gonzalez can still be plenty useful to the Twins. They are bound need help throughout the season at multiple positions he can play. Even if everyone’s healthy, Gonzalez will hardly be treated as a backup utilityman type. The Twins envision him getting 500 plate appearances while playing everywhere, keeping the starters fresh and helping Rocco Baldelli build optimal lineups with his platoon-neutral switch-hitting splits. Gonzalez is a veteran with postseason experience (he won a World Series with the Astros in 2017) and a great clubhouse reputation. Like most moves we’ve seen from the Falvine Regime, it’s tough to find much downside in this one. Cruise through the comments below to see what our community is saying about the move. Click here to view the article

Excellent Craig Kilborn reference. An underrated Minnesota legend!

The Minnesota Twins have made it clear: they're relying on their own internal pipeline, rather than transformative outside additions, to turn things around. Fortunately, their system is widely viewed as one of the best in the game. We've been counting down our rankings of the Top 20 Twins prospects over the past few weeks, and today we'll recap the full list, zeroing in on trends and key takeaways.Twins Daily's Top 20 Twins Prospects of 2019 20. Jose Miranda, 2B/3B: Versatile infielder shows offensive promise with contact/power combo 19. Jorge Alcala, RHP: Big arm acquired in Ryan Pressly trade plagued by question marks 18. LaMonte Wade, OF: OBP machine is almost MLB-ready, profiles as rotation guy in corner OF 17. Zack Littell, RHP: Back-of-rotation type with higher potential if he adds velo or goes to bullpen 16. Gilberto Celestino, OF: Speedy CF with a bit of pop and solid plate approach, lofty ceiling 15. Yunior Severino, 2B: Teenage infielder is still developing physically, projects as slugging 3B 14. Ben Rortvedt, C: Took a step forward with bat in 2018, and reinforced strong defensive rep 13. Ryan Jeffers, C: Blasted onto scene in pro debut, providing critical boost to the system at C 12. Stephen Gonsalves, LHP: Flaws were magnified in rocky intro to MLB, but intrigue remains 11. Nick Gordon, SS: Highly skilled middle infielder looks to rebound after falling flat in Triple-A 10. Akil Baddoo, OF: Rare blend of power, patience, speed commingle in uber-athletic package 9. Blayne Enlow, RHP: Riding signature CB, held his own against advanced competition at 19 8. Lewis Thorpe, LHP: Aussie southpaw has performed everywhere in minors, awaits MLB shot 7. Jhoan Duran, RHP: Biggest surprise from deadline deals dominated with legit stuff after arrival 6. Brent Rooker, 1B/OF: Flashed prodigious power while spending first full pro season in Double-A 5. Wander Javier, SS: Prized international talent is back after losing 2018 to shoulder surgery 4. Trevor Larnach, OF: Last summer's first-round pick mashed in pro debut, could reach MLB quickly 3. Brusdar Graterol, RHP: Among the hardest throwers around, complements FB with filthy slider 2. Alex Kirilloff, OF: Can drive any pitch anywhere, with hit tool ranking among best in minors 1. Royce Lewis, SS: Elite skill and athleticism surpassed only by uncommon maturity and makeup POSITIONAL BREAKDOWN C: 2 IF: 5 OF: 6 RHP: 5 LHP: 2 The breakdown here hasn't changed a ton from last year. At that time, I called out catching depth as the biggest area of concern, but things look much brighter on that front now. We still only have two backstops on our list, but that's partially because Mitch Garver graduated with a strong rookie year for the Twins. Meanwhile, he was replaced by a promising talent in second-round pick Jeffers, and Rortvedt took a step forward. Overall, there's not a glaring weakness (maybe 3B), but the clear area of abundance is outfielders. WHERE THEY STAND This system is very highly regarded, and there seems to be consensus that it's on the rise. Keith Law of ESPN ranks Minnesota fourth among all organizations, up from 10th last year. Baseball America, which also pegged the Twins' system 10th last year, now has them up to #7. Few teams can match a 1-2 punch like Lewis and Kirilloff, and there's plenty of functional depth here as well. "A parade of unfamous names who project to at least some tangible big league value," as Law puts it. In terms of pure upside, I doubt any other farm system can stack up. Therein lies the rub – Minnesota's pipeline is delightfully high on potential, but frightfully low on assurance. None of their top three prospects have played above A-ball, and in fact only two members of their top 10 have done so. It's a boom-or-bust minefield but the skills, athleticism and projectibility of this group are undeniably tantalizing. It's not hard to envision a toolbox like Baddoo, Javier, Celestino or Severino suddenly emerging as a nationally recognized top-tier talent; it's also not hard to envision any of them bogging down upon reaching the upper levels. When Minnesota's front office talks about biding its time, and waiting to develop further clarity before charting a decisive course, they aren't just talking about the big-league club. We're going to learn a ton about the farm system this summer. CREAM OF THE CROP, RISING TO THE TOP Minnesota's system is on the rise largely because of its two shining stars. Last year, Lewis was the highest Twins prospect to appear on any of the four national lists we track – MLB.com had him at #20. This year, all four have him among their top 10s, with MLB.com placing him highest at #5. Meanwhile, Kirilloff has come out of nowhere to rank in everyone's top 40, with ESPN and MLB.com both placing him among their top dozen overall. Not since Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano were eligible have the Twins held this kind of national prestige in the prospect arena. I realize that sentence probably made some of you groan, but – FOLKS, you gotta believe me on this – the past does not dictate the future. Everyone should be very, very excited about these two phenomenal incoming talents. THE NEW WAVE Derek Falvey and Thad Levine inherited Kirilloff, and had the luxury of a #1 overall pick to procure Lewis, so they can't take TOO much credit for the very top end of this system. But there is zero question they've followed through on a stated mission to thoroughly bolster the minor-league ranks. Half of our Top 20 now consists of players acquired by the new regime (Lewis, Larnach, Rooker, Duran, Enlow, Jeffers, Severino, Celestino, Littell, Alcala). From the current view, Falvey and Levine have hit on numerous draft picks (notably Larnach and Rooker), and they've gotten solid returns when trading away veterans. In particular, Duran – acquired in the Eduardo Escobar deal and already at #7 on our list – looks like a real find. HUMBLE BEGINNINGS Sizing up this system's estimable top five, you see a lot of high-stakes investments paying off. Lewis was obviously a #1 overall pick. Kirilloff and Larnach were also first-rounders. Javier was the most expensive international free agent in franchise history. And then we have Graterol, who signed out of Venezuela for a mere $150,000 in 2014. He wasn't a big name, or a flashy addition. When he first arrived, the right-hander was throwing in the upper-80s. After logging just 11 innings in the Dominican Summer League at age 16, he tore his UCL and underwent Tommy John surgery. During the time off, Graterol focused on building strength, and he came back a radically different player, firing in the upper-90s. These are the kinds of development stories that set apart the best organizations; it's important to hit frequently on those crucial top draft picks and high-profile international splashes, but the biggest differentiator is when you can pan this kind of gold from your lesser investments. UNDER THE RADAR Speaking of lesser investments, let's talk about the Twins' 2016 fifth-round pick, Jordan Balazovic. He was named by both ESPN's Law and The Athletic's John Sickels as a player who narrowly missed their Top 100s; in fact, Law shockingly had Balazovic (#102) ranked ahead of Graterol (#108). Balazovic was an honorable mention for us, failing to make our Top 20 cut, but I'm wondering if that'll look silly a year from now. The Canadian right-hander was impressive at Cedar Rapids last year, posting a 78-to-18 K/BB ratio in 61 innings as a 19-year-old, but has totaled only 134 frames since being drafted in 2016. FINDING FLAMETHROWERS Where there's smoke, there's fire, and the Twins system has plumes rising from its stellar collection of young arms. It wasn't so long ago that Minnesota had a dire shortage of high-end velo in its minor-league ranks, but now this trait has become a hallmark. Graterol is of course one of the hardest-throwers out there – a rare starter capable of reaching 100 MPH and maintaining above 95. Duran throws in the upper-90s. Alcala has been known to touch triple digits. And there are a number of other power arms (like Balazovic) that didn't quite crack our list. MORE PROSPECT COVERAGE If you want to read up on all of these prospects and many more, I recommend ordering a copy of the 2019 Twins Prospect Handbook (paperback or eBook), which Seth, Cody and Tom worked tirelessly to put together. And of course, you'll wanna stay tuned into Twins Daily, where we'll have on-site reports from camp during spring training, and daily minor-league recaps all season long. There's no better place to follow the next wave of Minnesota Twins talent. PAST TWINS DAILY TOP PROSPECT LISTS TD 2018 Minnesota Twins Top Prospects TD 2017 Minnesota Twins Top Prospects TD 2016 Minnesota Twins Top Prospects TD 2015 Minnesota Twins Top Prospects Click here to view the article

Buxton's K-rate in the minors was 22%. I really think his extreme contact issues in the majors have stemmed from a harsh learning curve, whereas Sano just has a swing & approach that are conducive to strikeouts. That's not to say Buxton won't strike out a lot. I made clear in item #1 that I think he will. Long-term, I don't see him as an historic whiff machine like Sano.

I guess the difference is that I expect Buxton to eventually lower his baseline K-rate. He struck out at a 27% rate from June-Sept in 2017 and I think he'll eventually sustain around there. Sano might bring his K-rate down a little but I don't think he'll ever be below the mid-30s. It's just who he is.

Spring is here! You wouldn't know it from looking out a window in Minnesota, but fortunately, beat reporters and Twins writers who have arrived on the scene in Fort Myers (including our own John Bonnes, who lands on Friday) are serving as our windows to warmth and workouts in sunny southwest Florida. As spring training gets underway, I've got nine red-hot (or at least moderately warm) takes on the 2019 season.Some of these prognostications are positive, others are negative. Some represent my heartfelt beliefs, others are just plausible scenarios I wanted to put forth. The idea is to spark conversation and get your minds churning about the possibilities of this year's Twins team. Let's get to it. 1: Byron Buxton will be an All-Star despite a sub-.250 average at the break. Contact issues and sub par plate discipline continue to suppress his batting average, but a fired-up Buxton comes back swinging and running harder than ever. His regular presence on defensive highlight reels, plus a gaudy SB total and double-digit homers by the break, help earn him his first (but not last) All-Star appearance. 2: Miguel Sano will strike out 200 times. The only thing making this a hot take is Sano getting enough plate appearances to reach the mark. If he strikes out at his typical 36% rate, the slugger will need about 550 plate appearances to eclipse 200 Ks, a feat achieved only 13 times in MLB history. Up to this point Sano hasn't accrued even 500 PAs for the Twins in a season, but I think his offseason commitment pays off and keeps him on the field, where his profile as an all-or-nothing hitter becomes more pronounced. 3: Fernando Romero will end the year with an iron grip on the closer role. He won't be awarded the gig from the start, as his manager leans toward more experienced options out of camp, but Romero's ferocious stuff and demeanor out of the bullpen help him quickly emerge in the late innings. After a few others scuffle in the ninth, Romero gets his shot and develops a rep as a lights-out bulldog. 4: Lewis Thorpe will make 10-plus starts (or "primaries") for the Twins. Shifting Romero and Adalberto Mejia to the bullpen leaves the Twins short on rotation depth. That leads to guys like Kohl Stewart, Stephen Gonsalves and Zack Littell getting overexposed, but Thorpe is the one who keeps earning more chances, in large part because he comes in and pounds the zone. 5: Jake Cave will endure a nightmarish sophomore slump. I think Cave has a nice career ahead of him, but he looks like the classic regression candidate coming off an outstanding rookie campaign. His performance was propped up by a .363 BABIP, and nearly one out of four fly balls clearing the fence. In 2019, pitchers adjust and Cave's contact problems (33% K-rate in 2018) come to a head. He spends more time in Rochester than Minnesota. But as a silver lining, this creates opportunity for LaMonte Wade or Michael Reed. 6: Rocco Baldelli will be a top three finisher for AL Manager of the Year. In his first year at the helm, Baldelli sees the Twins add several wins, contending with Cleveland in the division up until the very end. The team's improved morale and looser play under the first-year skipper creates plenty of buzz, while his sharpness and engaging manner endear him to the ball writers that vote on MOTY. 7: The soft underbelly of the bullpen will be a crippling weakness early on. Although the unit's back-end proves strong with a high-powered trio of Romero, Trevor May and Taylor Rogers, the rest of the relief corps struggles routinely. Injuries and lingering performance issues lead to turmoil in the middle innings for much of the first half. 8: The Twins will acquire two significant arms during the course of the season. Despite the bullpen stumbles, Minnesota hangs around .500 for the first few months, keeping pace with a slow-starting Cleveland team in the Central. Having preserved trade capital and financial flexibility during a quiet offseason, the front office strikes aggressively to acquire a big-name reliever well ahead of the deadline. Then, in late July, they acquire a high-caliber starter with multiple years of control. 9: Alex Kirilloff will debut for the Twins in September. He spends most of his summer tearing it up in Double-A, and in the final month, Kirilloff joins the Twins – not just for the experience, a la Max Kepler in 2015, but to help out. The 21-year-old appears frequently throughout the final month as the Twins push fiercely to overcome the Indians but ultimately come up a bit short. ~~~ There you have it. If you feel like I've spoiled any surprises for the coming season, take heart in knowing that my predictions are pretty much always wrong. Though I'd bet good money that several of these things do in fact happen. To close out, I'll leave you with some of my favorite fan-submitted takes from Twitter. Chime in with your own in the comments section! Click here to view the article

Sounds like the Twins enticed Kepler to sign with a big up-front salary boost. IMO that's exactly the right approach -- take advantage of your present spending flexibility to front-load extensions and maintain cost control down the line. Those first few years of FA could turn out to be a crazy bargain.

Bobby Cuellar! Just looked him up and it appears he is currently pitching coach for the Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers' Single-A affiliate). Also, I had totally forgotten he was the Twins bullpen coach prior to Guardado.

The triple-digit fastball isn't as rare as it once was. By Baseball America's count, 63 minor-league pitchers were members of the 'Century Club' in 2018 alone. Not all of them will turn into quality MLB players, but Brusdar Graterol combines his premium heat with enough complementary strengths to convince many that he's destined for stardom in the majors.Position: RHP Age: 20 (DOB: 8/26/1998) 2018 Stats (A/A+): 102 IP, 2.74 ERA, 107 K, 28 BB, 1.15 WHIP ETA: 2020 2018 Ranking: 9 National Top 100 Rankings BA: 55 | MLB: 68 | ESPN: NA | BP: 33 What's To Like His fastball gets the headlines. It's not just the velocity – reaching as high as 101 MPH and maintaining in the upper-90s throughout his starts – that makes Brusdar Graterol's heater such a lethal weapon. It's also the movement and command. The right-hander hurls fear-inducing two-seamers that sink and run in on same-sided hitters, while tailing away from lefties. He can place them all over the zone and he likes to throw inside, which is good news for grouchy old-school seamheads and bad news for hitters that have to sweat out ABs in the box. Often lost in the shuffle is Graterol's slider, which many scouts label as a potential plus or plus-plus pitch. Tightly spun and fiercely sharp, his hard slider buzzes in around 87-89 MPH (per MLB Pipeline) and is almost unhittable when executed well. For reference, only eight qualified MLB starters averaged 87+ MPH with their sliders in 2018, according to FanGraphs: Jacob deGrom, Zack Wheeler, Jameson Taillon, Gerrit Cole, Luis Severino, Miles Mikolas, Blake Snell and Jon Gray. It's no coincidence that all are dominant, rotation-fronting studs. The combination of a premium fastball with a hard, late-breaking slider gives batters fits at every level. Graterol saw it for himself last year at the Low-A and High-A levels. He first decimated the Midwest League, piling up 51 strikeouts in 41 innings with a 2.18 ERA and 0.94 WHIP over eight starts. His final start with Cedar Rapids, on June 24th, was an overpowering display – he faced 20 batters over five shutout innings, striking out nine of them while generating 18 swinging strikes on 79 total pitches (23%). In July he moved up to the Florida State League, struggling a bit in his first start by allowing five earned runs on nine hits in three innings for the Miracle. From that point forward, Graterol went 5-1 with a 2.50 ERA and 53-to-18 K/BB ratio in 58 FSL innings, holding opponents to a .237/.300/.294 slash line with zero home runs. Not much of a learning curve for a 19-year-old facing older and vastly more experienced competition. What's Left to Work On There are three points of caution to keep in mind with Graterol, all of which help suppress his ranking on national lists. 1: Workload. He threw only 102 official innings last year, pushing his career total to 153 since signing in 2014. He needs to prove that he can hold up over a starter's regimen. Graterol's mechanics are solid but there's definitely some effort in his delivery, and further questions arise because of the next item. 2: Build. At 6'1" and about 220 lbs, Graterol has been described as a "fire hydrant" and certainly doesn't match the workhorse starting pitcher prototype. Of course, some scouts also critiqued the size of Jose Berrios (whom Graterol openly models himself after) as a prospect, and we've seen the All-Star overcome it. 3: Depth of repertoire. His fastball/slider combo is unassailable, giving a Graterol the practical floor of an impact reliever, but he lacks a standout third pitch. His curveball is more of a get-me-over type offering and his changeup (like most at this stage) remains a work in progress. Developing the latter might prove decisive if the righty is to stick in a starting role. “The changeup is going to be really good for me,” Graterol told the Star Tribune's Patrick Reusse. “A starter wants three good pitches. And I’m a starter.” For what it's worth, Keith Law – who placed the 20-year-old outside of his top 100 at ESPN – said, "To a man, every scout or exec I asked about Graterol used some declension of the word 'reliever' in his response." Graterol as an intimidating late-inning weapon doesn't sound like such a bad thing, but needless to say we're all hoping he can reach his ceiling as an ace-caliber starter joining Berrios atop the rotation. What's Next The hard-throwing Venezuelan will likely report back to Fort Myers, where he'll still be younger than most of his peers. Presuming he continues to conquer the competition there, a midseason promotion to Double-A could be in order. At that point, he'll be primed for a potential MLB debut in 2020. The imperative for Graterol is simple: stay healthy and stay the course. He's got some things to overcome, but is on track to become one of the youngest pitchers to ever debut for the Twins. Twins Daily 2019 Top 20 Prospects Honorable Mentions 20. Jose Miranda, 2B/3B 19. Jorge Alcala, RHP 18. LaMonte Wade, OF 17. Zack Littell, RHP 16. Gilberto Celestino, OF 15. Yunior Severino, 2B 14. Ben Rortvedt, C 13. Ryan Jeffers, C 12. Stephen Gonsalves, LHP 11. Nick Gordon, SS 10. Akil Baddoo, OF 9. Blayne Enlow, RHP 8. Lewis Thorpe, LHP 7. Jhoan Duran, RHP 6. Brent Rooker, 1B/LF 5. Wander Javier, SS 4. Trevor Larnach, OF 3. Brusdar Graterol, RHP 2. Coming tomorrow! Get to know more about these five Minnesota Twins prospects and much more in the 2019 Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook. It’s available in paperback or as an eBook. Click here to view the article

And as it turns out, we should've ranked Kirilloff higher. In 2017 we had Fernando Romero as our #1 prospect despite his throwing fewer than 200 pro innings through age 21. I feel good about that decision in retrospect. Everyone is welcome to quibble with our rankings, but understand that they aren't solely influenced by our personal opinions or optimistic hopes. Javier's ranking reflects what we're hearing from in the org and in the scouting community at large. Everyone's high on this kid. I think you'll find out why soon enough.

He was out of sight last year, with shoulder surgery wiping away his entire 2018 season. But this uber-talented young shortstop was never out of our minds, and his massive upside as a dynamic two-way talent keeps him near the top of our Twins prospect rankings.Position: SS Age: 20 (DOB: 12/29/1998) 2018 Stats: DNP ETA: 2021 2018 Ranking: 6 National Top 100 Rankings BA: NA | MLB: NA | ESPN: NA | BP: NA What's To Like Losing major time to injury has, sadly, become a rite of passage for Twins top prospects. Miguel Sano and Alex Kirilloff both missed full seasons after Tommy John surgery. Byron Buxton had nearly his entire 2014 erased by wrist and thumb issues. Fernando Romero was sidelined for two consecutive campaigns by elbow and knee surgeries. Wander Javier is the latest to join this lineage, but there's good news: Each of the prospects above came back after a long absence and almost immediately returned to prior form, if not better. Javier has shown very good form when on the field, but that doesn't amount to much time. Signed at age 16 out of the Dominican Republic for a club-record $4 million, the skinny shortstop's early focus was adding strength and weight. He played in only 50 official pro games before hurting his shoulder in late 2017. The Twins tried to remedy the issue through rehab but that didn't take, and Javier underwent labrum surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder last May. The recovery timeline from this procedure was estimated at six-to-nine months, so Javier will be on the other side of it when spring training kicks off, and all reports have him coming in at 100%. When at full strength, the righty-swinging infielder has plenty of offer. Unlike fellow big international splashes Sano and Yunior Severino, who were both technically signed as shortstops out of the Dominican but with the expectation they'd bulk up and move elsewhere, Javier is fully expected to remain at short and be an asset there. He's quick and fluid in his motions, with good mechanics and a strong arm. Projecting as a quality shortstop has plenty of value on its own, but what really makes Javier a special talent is his bat. In two stints at rookie ball, he owns a .301/.386/.497 slash line with six homers and 16 doubles in 210 plate appearances. He just hits. It is exceedingly rare to see an undersized teenager flash such immediate power in rookie ball, which created a great deal of hype around what Javier might do in full-season leagues. We've had to wait a bit to find out, but that excitement hasn't wavered in spite of the delay. MLB.com didn't rank Javier in its Top 100 but did name him Minnesota's best prospect to miss the list. What's Left To Work On Well, everything. Javier initially showed the skills that compelled Minnesota to commit all of its 2015 international bonus pool (and then some) to acquire him, but he spent last year rehabbing from major shoulder surgery instead of developing those skills. It shouldn't surprise, or alarm, anyone if Javier comes out of the gates slow this season. He has missed out on a full year of facing live competition at a time where those reps are so vitally important. Kirilloff showed us how quickly a young player can get back up to speed but Javier isn't nearly the same natural hitting talent. There was already a rawness to Javier's game and now that element is magnified. He'll see better pitching than ever before and will face a more demanding regimen than ever before. Amidst this setting, he needs to fine-tune and advance his game, while also acclimating to a surgically repaired shoulder leading his swing. Javier is in for a big challenge. But all evidence suggests he's up to it. What's Next “We need to get him on the field,’’ Mike Radcliff told Patrick Reusse of the Star Tribune earlier this offseason. “He has to go out and play.’’ A bulked-up Javier – who claims to now have 200 lbs on his 6'1" frame, according to Reusse's piece – will almost certainly start out in extended spring training as he works back into playing shape. But by May or June he should make his way to Cedar Rapids, where we'll finally get the chance to see what he can do. It's unfair to bring up Kirilloff's name and precedent in comparison. Expectations should be kept in check with Javier, for all the reasons listed in the section above. But the bottom line is that talent wins out, and on that front – well, I think Baseball Prospectus fantasy writer Darius Austin put it best when answering a chat question via Dusty from Colorado (infamous for his relentless inquiries about Javier) in December: "There is no upside for the player with infinite talent." Playing to the bit with hyperbole? Sure. But Javier's raw ability and athleticism are immense, and since we haven't yet seen them play out substantively on the pro stage, his possibilities feel almost limitless. There's no Twins prospect I'm more excited to follow in 2019. Twins Daily 2019 Top 20 Prospects Honorable Mentions 20. Jose Miranda, 2B/3B 19. Jorge Alcala, RHP 18. LaMonte Wade, OF 17. Zack Littell, RHP 16. Gilberto Celestino, OF 15. Yunior Severino, 2B 14. Ben Rortvedt, C 13. Ryan Jeffers, C 12. Stephen Gonsalves, LHP 11. Nick Gordon, SS 10. Akil Baddoo, OF 9. Blayne Enlow, RHP 8. Lewis Thorpe, LHP 7. Jhoan Duran, RHP 6. Brent Rooker, 1B/LF 5. Wander Javier, SS 4. Coming tomorrow! Get to know more about these five Minnesota Twins prospects and much more in the 2019 Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook. It’s available in paperback or as an eBook. Click here to view the article

After a lengthy absence, Lewis Thorpe returned with back-to-back strong seasons, and in 2018 was recognized as the organization's most outstanding minor-league pitcher. He's on track to make his MLB debut in 2019. What can we expect from the Australian southpaw?Position: LHP Age: 23 (DOB: 11/23/1995) 2018 Stats (AA/AAA): 129.2 IP, 3.54 ERA, 157 K, 36 BB, 1.24 WHIP ETA: 2019 2018 Ranking: 11 National Top 100 Rankings BA: NA | MLB: NA | ESPN: NA | BP: NA What's To Like There is no perfectly predictive statistic for pitching prospects. Nothing even close. But if you asked me for the best shorthand – the very first thing I will look at when assessing a minor-league hurler, after his age and level – it's K/BB ratio. As a general rule, high-quality pitchers rate well in this category, because it portrays the essential ability to throw strikes and make batters miss. In this regard, Lewis Thorpe is exemplary. His 4.4 K/BB ratio ranked fifth among pitchers with 100+ IP in the Class-AA Southern League (two of the guys ahead of him were 29) and he basically replicated that mark during his late stint at Triple-A. In total between the two levels, Thorpe threw 66% strikes, induced a 15% swing-and-miss rate, and posted a K% at the highest percentile. The left-hander attacks hitters with mostly heaters from a three-quarters arm slot, mixing in a couple of different breaking-ball looks. He had a brutal run health-wise between 2015 and 2016, missing both seasons, but has looked strong and healthy since returning in 2017. Last year he pushed to 130 innings and stayed strong up until the very end, firing seven shutout innings for Rochester in his final start on August 31st. In recognition of his altogether excellent campaign, the Twins named Thorpe their 2018 Minor League Pitcher of the Year. What's Left To Work On "As weird as it is to say for a dude who struck out 10 per nine in the upper minors, I’m not entirely sure what the true swing-and-miss offering is," wrote Baseball Prospectus in ranking Thorpe as Minnesota's ninth-best prospect. That's been a common refrain from skeptical scouting reports, which don't see the lefty's stuff quite matching up to his numbers. It is somewhat conspicuous to see Thorpe get hit hard as frequently as he does, given the dominance otherwise hinted by his numbers. In one April outing at Double-A, he coughed up six runs (two earned) on 10 hits over 4 2/3 innings, despite notching seven strikeouts with zero walks and inducing 16 whiffs on 87 pitches (18%). In a June start, also with Chattanooga, he yielded nine earned runs on nine hits, despite getting 16 whiffs on 85 pitches (19%). Just odd. Thorpe gave up 16 home runs in 130 innings last year; by comparison, fellow left-hander Stephen Gonsalves (an extreme fly-ball pitcher) had surrendered only 20 home runs in 500 total minor-league innings when he was at the same age and progression level. This would seem to speak to Thorpe's lack of a putaway pitch that BP and others have cautioned about. The 23-year-old mixes his unspectacular repertoire with good enough command and sequencing to overpower minor-league hitters for the most part, but he has his lapses, and gets beat more often than you'd expect from a pitcher who pounds the zone with swing-and-miss stuff. One wonders about how this formula will play in the big leagues. Unless he can take at least one his pitches to the next level, Thorpe likely projects as a back-end starter or middle-relief arm. But there's still time for improvement and it's important to note he has only totaled 370 total innings since signing in 2012. What's Next? He'll be in big-league camp, but Thorpe is ticketed to start the season back at Class-AAA Rochester. There, it seems likely he'll pick up where he left off. The key will be finding consistency and eliminating those misfires that lead to big hits and big innings. The Australian southpaw certainly has the core tools necessary to be a rock solid big-leaguer, and will likely make his Twins debut sometime this summer. Twins Daily 2019 Top 20 Prospects Honorable Mentions 20. Jose Miranda, 2B/3B 19. Jorge Alcala, RHP 18. LaMonte Wade, OF 17. Zack Littell, RHP 16. Gilberto Celestino, OF 15. Yunior Severino, 2B 14. Ben Rortvedt, C 13. Ryan Jeffers, C 12. Stephen Gonsalves, LHP 11. Nick Gordon, SS 10. Akil Baddoo, OF 9. Blayne Enlow, RHP 8. Lewis Thorpe, LHP 7. Coming tomorrow! Get to know more about these five Minnesota Twins prospects and much more in the 2019 Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook. It’s available in paperback or as an eBook. Click here to view the article

Ah yeah, good call, I had it backwards. He hit one HR in Cedar Rapids then 4 in Ft. Myers. Article updated. And yes, agreed, his performance in the FSL was quite impressive considering the context.

The 2018 season was a turbulent one for the Minnesota Twins, and for some of their heralded upcoming talents as well. Two prospects who ranked among our top five a year ago now find themselves outside of the top ten. But that's not necessarily damning in a robust system that shows well here in the 11 through 15 range.15. Yunior Severino, 2B Age: 19 (DOB: 10/3/99) 2018 Stats (Rookie): 218 PA, .263/.321/.424, 8 HR, 28 RBI ETA: 2022 2018 Ranking: 18 It feels like a lifetime ago that the Atlanta Braves were handed severe sanctions for circumventing MLB's international signing rules, with GM John Coppolella banned for life and nine of the organization's signings released back into free agency. (Especially since Atlanta's internal rebuild coalesced so beautifully anyway in 2018.) But it was just last offseason that the Twins were able to capitalize and scoop up Severino, who enjoyed a solid rookie-level debut with his new franchise. In 49 games at Elizabethton, Severino posted a .745 OPS that was nearly identical to the Appalachian League average (.746). He did so as an 18-year-old switch-hitting middle infielder, in a setting where the average player was two years older. His eight home runs tied for the league lead among second basemen. Already closing in on 200 pounds as a teenager, Severino doesn't have much speed to speak of (he hasn't stolen a base in 107 games as a pro) and will probably end up at a corner spot defensively, so his bat will probably have to carry him. But there's plenty of potential in that department. "He’s like Alex Kirilloff—his swing stands out from the others,” VP for player personnel Mike Radcliff told Baseball America when the Twins signed Severino. Not a bad comp. 14. Ben Rortvedt, C Age: 21 (DOB: 9/25/97) 2018 Stats (A-/A+): 353 PA, .262/.331/.379, 5 HR, 43 RBI ETA: 2021 2018 Ranking: 16 Since being drafted by the Twins as a second-rounder in 2016, Rortvedt's offensive game has lagged behind his relatively advanced defense. In that scope, his 2018 season has to be viewed as a success; between two levels of A-ball, the lefty-swinging Wisconsin native posted a .710 OPS, improving by more than 100 points on 2017's underwhelming mark (.599) at Cedar Rapids. He certainly wasn't dominant at the plate following his midseason promotion to Fort Myers, but his approach was exemplary, with a 0.72 BB/K ratio that ranked second-best among Florida State League catchers with 100+ PA. At this point we're just waiting for a bit more power to emerge, which seems feasible as he keeps growing and adding strength. He totaled four home runs with the Miracle after hitting one in Cedar Rapids, the last a grand slam in late-August as part of a six-RBI outburst. As a receiver, Rortvedt draws high marks. His excellent arm continues to control opposing run games, as he threw out 37% of base stealers last year following 2017's 36%. He figures to compete for a spot at Double-A this spring, but will have to fend off the next guy on this list. 13. Ryan Jeffers, C Age: 21 (DOB: 6/3/97) 2018 Stats (Rookie/A-): 284 PA, .344/.444/.502, 7 HR, 33 RBI ETA: 2021 2018 Ranking: N/A I noted in recapping last year's list that while the system was generally balanced, "the notable area of concern is catcher." Rortvedt and Mitch Garver were the position's only representatives in the Top 20, and Garver would soon lose his prospect eligibility. So Jeffers immediately took on a great deal of importance when the Twins drafted him out UNC Wilmington in the second round, 59th overall, last June. He was the fourth catcher to come off the board, and the second collegiate backstop. Answering the call, Jeffers arrived with a thunderous debut in pro ball. Although you'd generally expect a successful college hitter (Jeffers put up a 1.095 OPS with 16 homers in his final season at Wilmington) to catch on quickly in the low minors, Jeffers surpassed all expectations offensively, slashing a ridiculous .422/.543/.578 in 29 games at Elizabethton before moving up to Low-A, where he finished at .288/.361/.446 in 36 contests. His bat looks legit. The key question is whether he'll stick at catcher. He's a big guy (6'4", 228) with a good arm (threw out five of 12 runners last year) but there are many raw aspects of his game behind the plate. For his part, he has no intentions of moving: "“The Twins haven’t even asked me to play anything else,” he told the Pioneer Press. “For me, that’s a good sign. They trust me behind the plate and want me to stick there. I want to stick back behind the plate. I don’t really want to play any other position.” Jeffers and Rortvedt are two sides of the same coin, inspiring plenty of confidence in one dimension with less polish in the other. They're at roughly the same stage of development. It's tough to say at this point which one's more likely to emerge, but the Twins are much better off for having both of them in the system. 12. Nick Gordon, SS Age: 23 (DOB: 10/24/95) 2018 Stats (AA/AAA): 591 PA, 248/.298/.355, 7 HR, 49 RBI ETA: 2019 2018 Ranking: 3 In the plot line of Gordon's career, you can pinpoint the moment where his prospect stock absolutely peaked, and then embarked upon an abrupt nosedive. It was on May 22nd, 2018, when he was promoted to Triple-A and suddenly everything began to fall apart. Gordon had torn it up in Chattanooga over the first two months, slashing .333/.381/.525 to back up his preseason #3 ranking on Twins Daily's prospect list, but at Rochester his limitations took center-stage. Gordon's offensive potential was always based more on projection than production. That he was able to remain a regular fixture in national prospect rankings despite never cracking a .750 OPS through four years speaks to the prestige of his pedigree. In Triple-A, the lack of power and patience caused him to tank. He endured multiple long hitless stretches. In his final 40 games he batted .166 with three extra-base hits in 170 plate appearances. Even with the context that a 22-year-old Gordon was young for the International League, it was tough to find silver linings. Meanwhile, the questions about his viability at shortstop gained more weight, as Gordon ceded a higher percentage of playing time than ever before – nearly one out of every three starts – to second base. An eventual move across the bag was generally assumed, given his lack of standout arm strength, but if Gordon can't play short in the majors his need to add offense is magnified. To that end, Gordon is said to be focused on gaining weight (and strength) this offseason. The Star Tribune reports that he's spent significant time at the team's facility in Fort Myers. If it all comes together at the plate, he'll have no trouble providing value at either middle-infield spot. Added to the 40-man roster in November, his options clock will start ticking this season. 11. Stephen Gonsalves, LHP Age: 24 (DOB: 7/8/94) 2018 Stats (AA/AAA): 120.2 IP, 2.76 ERA, 120/65 K/BB, 1.17 WHIP ETA: 2019 2018 Ranking: 4 In the plot line of Gonsalves' career, you can pinpoint the moment where his prospect stock absolutely peaked, and then embarked upon an abrupt nosedive. It was August 20th, 2018, when he arrived in the majors following an unconscious stretch at Triple-A and delivered the first in a series of clunkers. Over his first four MLB starts, every flaw in the left-hander's game was exploited. Batters teed off on his low-velo arsenal, batting .414 and pushing across 16 earned runs in 12 1/3 innings. He constantly struggled to find the zone, with 13 walks and a 57% strike rate. He threw 287 pitches and induced 17 swings and misses (6%). To his credit, Gonsalves turned things around and finished on a strong note, allowing two earned runs and four hits over 12 1/3 innings in his last three appearances, all following an "opener." During this stretch his strengths were more visible – namely a long-standing ability to limit hard contact – but he still was wild and unable to miss bats, reminding us of the tightrope he walks with limited stuff. Despite his impeccable numbers throughout the minors, which were as good as ever as he climbed past the top rung, it was always difficult for analysts to envision Gonsalves as an overpowering major-league starter. In August and September, we saw why. Gordon and Gonsalves in 2018 were both prime examples of weaknesses being exposed at the highest levels. But they're also both under 25, with ample development time ahead of them before options run out. It's important to keep in mind the positive attributes that earned each a spot in the top five a year ago. At least each one now has a precise idea of what needs improvement. In the words of Henry Ford: "Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently." Twins Daily 2019 Top 20 Prospects Honorable Mentions 20. Jose Miranda, 2B/3B 19. Jorge Alcala, RHP 18. LaMonte Wade, OF 17. Zack Littell, RHP 16. Gilberto Celestino, OF Click here to view the article

He's been a top-3 catcher in the major leagues each of the past 3 years. His lowest WAR during that span would've led the Twins in 2018. It is truly mystifying to me how much Realmuto is being underrated by Twins fans.

The O/U for the Twins this year is 84.5 wins. They are absolutely close to contending, and Realmuto would further legitimize that status. If people truly don't think the Twins are even on the verge of contention with almost their entire core in their prime, that's pretty sad. Also, I get the Kirilloff love but... folks, he hasn't played above A-ball. Haven't we learned a thing or two about the fragility of "sure thing" prospects? I'm stunned by the nonchalance around adding a potential 5-WAR player, or the notion that such a move on its own would be pointless.

I assume an extension would be part of the plan if they gave up a Kirilloff-caliber player for him. Give him a big up-front bonus to keep the later years in check. To add some perspective here: Realmuto is three months younger than Mitch Garver. You bring him in and the window is open now, as well as for the foreseeable future. We're talking about a guy with a legit case as the best catcher in baseball.