Seth Stohs

I'm not understanding. Why would they rush his development just because he has to be added to the 40-man roster in November? He will be added no matter what. He would be even if he was still in Ft. Myers or Cedar Rapids. That said, he's holding his own in AA and I wouldn't be surprised to see him get to AAA mid-season or so. I also wouldn't be surprised if at some point in the 2nd half, he was just called up from AA.

In Part 1 yesterday, we introduced you to former Twins minor league coach Frank Jagoda who took over as the Director of USA Baseball’s 18U program. Today I’m going to write about USA Baseball and some Minnesota connections. Over the years, several players from Minnesota have represented Team USA. Two Minnesota players have been invited to the Player Development Pipeline League this year. We will introduce you to them as well.When you think about hotbeds for baseball, which states do you think about? For me, I think of Georgia. I think of southern California and Florida. I don’t necessarily put Minnesota into that same category. However, seemingly each year there are a few Minnesota high school players who get drafted and more who wind up at Division I colleges. “Any organization will tell you; where the best players are, we will find them. In the past few years, we’ve had a few players from Wisconsin. We have a couple of players from Minnesota this year. We have a player from Wisconsin.” Frank Jagoda continued. “There are good players all over the place. At the PDP League this year specifically, we’re going to be well represented throughout our country with several different states that traditionally don’t see a lot of players involved. That’s exciting. For me, as the 18U national team director, I’m excited to get in those different areas, to dig in the weeds and find those kids, find ways to get them exposure and get them into our program.” And once they get to the PDP League, those players will be given every opportunity to be invited to the trials. The best players always tend to stand out. What an opportunity for the kids! First, it’s an opportunity to put on the Red, White and Blue uniform with USA across the chest. “Any time you get a chance to represent your country, you’re talking about something that’s larger than just the game. You’re talking about an entire nation that gets behind you when you go and do these things. There’s a lot of good baseball players out there. This isn’t just another travel ball tournament at some event. This is something that means much more. These are relationships you’re going to have the rest of your life. These are experiences you’re going to have for the rest of your life, and you may never get to wear the colors again. Or you’re fortunate and you’re like Joe Mauer and get to wear them four times. You just never know. This is just an opportunity. Some kids may never make the big leagues, but they got to wear their nations colors at 18 years old.” Joe Mauer is obviously the exception to many rules. But he isn’t the only Minnesota player to play for Team USA. Mauer played for Team USA in a couple of tournaments in 2000. Here are other Minnesota players who have made the 18U National Team 20 Man roster and competed internationally. 2012 - Ryan Boldt (Red Wing) 2000 - Joe Mauer (Cretin-Derham Hall) 1994 - Jason Dobis (Little Falls) 1992 - Chris Schwab (Cretin- Derham Hall) 1991 - Ryan Kjos (Hopkins) 1989 - Tom Nevers (Edina) 1989 - Chris Weinke (Cretin-Derham Hall) 1986 - Tom Quinlan (Hill-Murray) Recently, I was able to touch base with 1989 Team USA National Team member, infielder Tom Nevers. A year later, the Houston Astros selected Nevers with the 21st overall pick in the 1990 draft. He spent 13 seasons playing in affiliated baseball, reaching the Triple-A level, before retiring after the 2002 season. Nevers’ 1989 team won the gold medal in Trio Riveria, Quebec, beating Cuba in the championship game. “We had a nice blend of players from all around the country. This was back in the Olympic Festival days, and it was at Oklahoma’s college campus.” He went there to compete for his team, “I never really felt it was a tryout as I was more worried about winning the Gold on the North team, and we did that as well. We had a great, low-ego team. After the last game, they informed the players who made it, and I was fortunately one of them.” For much of Team USA, the team’s camp was a trip north. For Nevers, he just hopped on Highway 35 and headed south. “We had a camp in Des Moines, Iowa, and played Mexico, I believe, three times before heading to Quebec.” Representing Team USA meant a lot to Nevers, and he was unique. He was able to do so more than just once. “Wearing the USA colors is like nothing else. I was fortunate to compete internationally in hockey and baseball wearing those colors. Means a lot to me, to say the least.” Nevers, now 47, remains busy. He sells real estate for Edina Realty in Edina. He also has a baseball training facility with two-time World Series champion Gene Larkin called Nevers Larkin Baseball (Twitter). This is their 11th year of working together and he really enjoys it. He also does some coaching on his son’s baseball team and still tries to help out the Edina Legion program when he has time. 2019 Player Development Pipeline Invitations As alluded to yesterday and above, two players from Minnesota have accepted invitations to play in the PDP League in June. Burnsville High School junior OF/P Max Carlson and Rochester Century High School SS/P Mac Horvath will head to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, in mid-June. Horvath has been playing on the national summer baseball circuit for several years already. He has incredible speed. He is playing mostly shortstop now, but some scouts can see him shifting to centerfield in the future if it is needed because his speed will play there. He is not a bulky kid, by any means, but he has a real short stroke and can surprise by producing quite a bit of power. He also has a very strong arm with a fastball (or throw from shortstop) that can top 90 mph as well. Max Carlson is another player who has been known nationally for a few years already. While he is a good outfielder and one of Burnsville’s top hitters, he is very intriguing as a pitcher. A scouting report might indicate that he can have real electric stuff at times. He has a fastball in the low-90s with a sharp slider. He profiles as a starter because he also have a good changeup with fade. He has a smooth delivery. Carlson is the younger brother of Sam Carlson who was a second-round draft pick of the Seattle Mariners in 2017. He had Tommy John surgery in 2018 and recently began throwing bullpens again. He was a part of USA Baseball in 2016. He played in the 40-player trials but was cut when the 20-man roster was set. In 2017, Carlson was playing for the Minnesota Blizzard and they scrimmaged the 18U national team. Carlson said, “I played against the 18U Team USA team with (Ethan) Hankins, (Kumar) Rocker, (Triston) Casas, and that is kind of what led me to wanting to represent my country in the USA uniform. I was 15 at the time, and I looked up to those guys. The PDP League is the first step on that journey to making Team USA and I'm extremely excited to compete at IMG.” While ultimately the goal for these two and the others going to Bradenton is to make the final 20 player roster and play for Team USA in South Korea in August, it’s equally important to know that these players are going to be given a great opportunity to further develop their skills. Jagoda says, “We’re confident with what we have developmentally, the programs and processes that we have in place as an organization, we’re developing a true developmental organization for these kids as well as an opportunity to represent their country overseas.” Much has been written at Twins Daily and elsewhere about how much technology is used on the back fields and in player development. Jagoda points out that these players at the PDP League will have the same opportunities. Jagoda explained, “Yes, they are there to compete for their national team, but also to get better. We’re going to be using all the new data and technology initiatives. We’re going to be able to streamline and personalize developmental plans. We’ll be able to provide them feedback and instruction based on them, and we’re not going to blanket those things. Our players are really going to be able to tap in on the development side of things. We’re trying to provide a first-class development experience, and at the end of it, you might have a chance to compete for your country.” Players will get an iPad and be sent their data and video in real time. They will be provided an experience not unlike what they might experience in professional baseball. It is great to know that players from Minnesota have competed in international competitions and more continue to get that opportunity. The future is bright for Horvath and Carlson. Both have committed to the University of North Carolina. Both could be high draft picks in the 2020 MLB Draft. And we wish both the best as they compete and develop with Team USA in the PDP League. Click here to view the article

Maybe? But they can just 60-Day DL him.

Doogie mentions Austin Adams as a possibility. Makes sense more (probably) in part because they can DFA him when he isn't needed and he'll clear. Has the Falvey/Cleveland tie. And, 28 K in 18 IP works... The Twins are in a win-now phase. https://twitter.com/SethTweets/status/1128805986670645256

Correct.

I think some of them, are beyond patiently waiting too...

https://www.twincities.com/2019/05/15/saints-pitcher-todd-van-steensel-australia-native-mlb-hopeful-and-t-swifts-biggest-fan/ A fun story on two-time Twins prospect, RHP Todd Van Steensel. He signed with the Twins when he was young and then he returned a couple of years later and spent the past 5 seasons with the organization. He was released last August and has signed to pitch for the Saint Paul Saints. He woudln't keep pitching if he didn't believe he really could make it to the big leagues. Fun story on his Taylor Swift fandom, his times with the Twins and what he's looking forward to with the Saints.

A lot of people are patiently (?) awaiting the move of Javier to Cedar Rapids. No I don't think he's going to Ft. Myers directly. And, Lewis has been playing better of late, so it could happen at any point. I don't think it's's imminent by any means.

Maybe... but that would be a good reason to limit his pitches now.

As minor league spring training was about to start, Frank Jagoda left what he called an “opportunity of a lifetime” to work for an organization in which he gets to wear the USA across his chest again.For nine years, Frank Jagoda coached college baseball. In five of those summers, he worked for USA Baseball events. In 2017, he was the pitching coach on USA Baseball’s 15U team, a team that won a gold medal in Columbia. In 2018, he was offered a job in the Twins organization and accepted it. “I was the rehab coordinator. Unfortunately we had way too many big leaguers down with me in Florida which means they weren’t helping the big league club. But when I wasn’t with them, I was with the GCL club. I went to probably 85-90% of their games.” In January, the Twins announced that Jagoda was going to be the fourth coach with Toby Gardenhire and the Ft. Myers Miracle. However, an opportunity to return to USA Baseball opened up. He talked it through with his wife, and it became clear that he had to pursue it. He was offered the USA Baseball 18U Director position. Along with that, he is responsible for the 16U and 17U developmental programs. He calls it a combination of being a GM and a farm director. (As an aside, there are five USA Baseball teams that travel internationally, 12U, 15U, 18U, College and Professional. Ages 13 and 14, and 16 and 17, there are developmental programs, similar to what you see in hockey.) “USA Baseball always been near and dear to me. USA Baseball, to me, is more than just a game. It’s something that means a lot to me for everything we organize and what it means to wear USA across your chest. Now I get the opportunity to do that every day at work. It’s something truly special to me and my family. That's really what it boils down to for me.” You can hear the conviction and the pride in his voice when Frank Jagoda talks about USA Baseball. And that’s why he is completely at peace and happy with what was a very difficult decision. “It was a very hard decision. I spent just over a year with the Minnesota Twins. (Twins Minor League Director) Jeremy Zoll gave me the opportunity of a lifetime, and I was around a great group of people, a great leadership group with the Twins. Very thankful for my time spent with them. Although it was short, it was very impactful on my career and on my life and on my family.” For one, Jagoda was able to move back to North Carolina. Cary, North Carolina, is the national training center for USA baseball. It is complete with a stadium and three back fields. “Real excited to be back and from a family aspect, very excited to be back in the Carolinas and excited about what we have going on and what we have in store.” What he has in store is a really busy summer. From August 30th through September 8th, USA Baseball will bring a squad of 20 players to Busan, South Korea for the 2019 WBSC World Cup. But before then, a lot of decisions have to be made. Approximately 80 players from around the country have been invited to participate in the PDP (Player Development Pipeline) League in Bradenton, Florida. The PDP lasts about 23 days at the IMG academy. And while players are ultimately trying to make the final 20-man roster, it is also a huge opportunity for these players to develop their games. Jagoda says that the players were invited “based on my knowledge of those kids, feedback from professional organizations, scouts, MLB front office personnel and other things.” By the way, two players from Minnesota have accepted their invitations to participate in the PDP League. We’ll talk more about them in coming days as part of this series on USA Baseball. Of the 80 in Bradenton, 40 kids will head to Cleveland to play in a exhibition game around All Star weekend. Then in early August, those 40 players, plus a few from the 17U developmental team, will head to Los Angeles for trials. In about a week, the group of 40-50 players will be pared down to the 20-player travel roster. The group will travel to Taiwan and play some international friendlies against Taiwan. It will allow the team to try to acclimate to the time zone, the weather, the food and more. Then from August 30th to September 8th, they will be in Busan, South Korea, trying to repeat as the World Cup champion. In fact, the USA team has won four straight World Cups (2012, 2013, 2015, 2017) and eight straight gold medals internationally since 2011. As Jagoda noted, “No pressure, right?” Jagoda will work with an experienced coaching staff in those efforts. Jack Leggett returns for his second straight season as manager of the 18U team. He spent 22 years (1994-2015) as the head coach at Clemson where he won 955 games and went to 21 NCAA tournaments and six trips to the College World Series. His pitching coach has quite the resume as well. Scott Bankhead played for Team USA in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. He was a first-round draft pick that year out of North Carolina and spent parts of 10 seasons in the big leagues. He now owns and operates the North Carolina Baseball Academy. This is his second season as the 18U pitching coach. Gregg Ritchie is back for his third straight year as the 18U hitting coach. He was the hitting coach of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2011 and 2012. Since then, he has led George Washington University. In addition, George Laird, who spent 13 years in the big leagues, is also on the coaching staff. Other former MLB players and coaches will help during the Player Development Pipeline League and at the LA Trials. And Frank Jagoda will lead the charge, and he is thrilled about the opportunity. He is also very thankful for his time with the Twins organization and their support. “The Minnesota Twins were very gracious in the process and were very very supportive, and I couldn’t thank them more for how they handled it.” In coming days, we will discuss USA Baseball further. We will highlight the Minnesota and the Minnesota Twins connections to USA Baseball, and we will highlight the player development side of USA Baseball. Click here to view the article

Just taking care of him arm. No worries. Also remember he left his last start with the concern about his trap, so I'm sure they were going to limit him in his first start after that.

The Twins are considered favorites to sign Enmanuel Rodriguez in July. I assume that''s what you saw? http://twinsdaily.com/topic/33036-mlbcom-says-twins-favorite-for-enmanuel-rodriguez/http://twinsdaily.com/topic/33036-mlbcom-says-twins-favorite-for-enmanuel-rodriguez/

Last I heard on Gonsalves was that he''s hoping to be pitching in Rochester by the end of May...

I watched his inning last night. Per the telecast graphics, fastball was 86-87... mostly 86. Slider looked alright, but just isn't getting the fastball back. Too bad. He was really good until mid-May last year... That's' the thing with relievers... even the most durable ones (like Reed was until last May)... you just never know.

Torreyes has been on the Temporary Inactive List for quite awhile ,and that's after a terrible start to the season. I wouldn't be surprised if Arraez has already passed Torreyes in the pecking order.

Jhoan Duran and (I think) Johan Quezada.

Roger, this has nothing to do with this comment... but I figured you should know that Ben Rortvedt was just promoted to AA Pensacola...

The 2016 draft is certainly shaping out very well at this point! Balazovic is certainly the #2 Twins pitching prospect and Keith Law's pre-season ranking of Balazovic ahead of Graterol is not looking silly at all at this point.

Michael Busch made SportsCenter this weekend: #MinnesotaRepresent

I'm' a little surprised... but I thought maybe he would be activated today with the Kernels ,but maybe they don't want to do it before a doubleheader. Maybe tomorrow... Maybe, sometime, soon.

Who? Cuz Gardy and Rick Anderson were long gone when Hildy debuted.

Graterol is scheduled to make his regular start tonight for the Wahoos. so, hopefully concern alleviated... Hopefully it goes well!

OK... even less reason to worry about it...