Seth Stohs

Cameron Rupp likely had an opt-out and took it. He's been in the big leagues the last five years for the Phillies and hit a combined 30 home runs over the last two years. He was let go earlier this season and the Twins signed him as catcher depth.

Littell's 2018 option was burned when he was optioned in spring training, and he's got two days of service time so far. So, it's not really hurting his "clock" in any way. Littell was the guy on the schedule. He was on the 40-man. He'd been pitching well. He earned the chance. No question, he's got to be better in those situations, and he will be. Part of it is getting through that nervousness and seeing that you can do it. He'll be fine.

What's the value of that? Would he really get to the big leagues sooner? Are we certain that he'd jump into the Florida State and succeed? While he may be similar to Rooker, he's a year younger and probably isn't quite as advanced offensively as Rooker was a year ago. And, frankly, what's wrong with letting him get his feet wet in E-Town for a couple of weeks with little pressure. Let him adjust to playing every day, or using the wood bat? Or letting him meet other 2018 draft picks in E-Town, after meeting those in the GCL, and then letting him move up to Cedar Rapids and see how that goes. Let him meet those players and those coaches too. He's probably going to start 2019 in Ft. Myers regardless of where he ends this year.

He's already got the pitches... He's got good control. He's got the breaking pitches. Not a flame thrower, but he's got enough velocity. He will be just fine.

Remember during spring training when we were all wondering aloud if we should be worried about Trevor Hildenberger? Or, how about in late April when he wasn’t pitching well, and it was looking as if he might need some time back in Rochester to work things out and find some success again? To his credit, Hildenberger never worried, at least outwardly. He spoke of process and of the work he was putting in. Well, he was right. He’s back to the role of being the Twins top set-up man, and all is right with the world.To say Trevor Hildenberger was a bit of a late-bloomer might be an understatement. He wasn’t drafted out of high school. He didn’t have a ton of offers from Division I schools to sift through. The first three years that he spent at Cal-Berkeley, he hardly got on the mound. In his fourth year, he posted an ERA of 5.32. He had used a red shirt year earlier, so he was there a fifth year. In that 2014 season for the Golden Bears, Hildenberger posted a 2.83 ERA and struck out 48 batters in 47 2/3 innings. Just two years earlier, a random moment in which he was asked to throw sidearm. It worked. It clicked for him. The Twins scout saw him, and saw enough to push for him to be the team’s 22nd-round draft pick. Already 23, he was sent to the GCL for the remainder of the summer. Since then, he’s been fantastic. He was the Twins Daily Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year in both 2015 (Cedar Rapids and Ft. Myers) and 2016(Chattanooga and Rochester). He began 2017 back in Rochester. I mean, he hadn’t even received a formal invitation to big league spring training. He continued to pitch well for the Red Wings and at the end of June last year, he was called up. In his first game, he struck out the first batter he faced. He gave up one hit in a scoreless inning in Cleveland with his family in the stadium. He pitched pretty well, really right from the start. In fact, in late August, there was a stretch where he was called upon by Paul Molitor in six out of seven games. He was used often, and he came through for the Twins nearly each time as the Twins worked their way back into a playoff game. Twins Daily named him the big league club’s Rookie of the Year in 2017. So, while Hildenberger had struggled in spring training in 2017, both in his limited big league opportunities and down in minor league games, it came as a bit of a surprise when he struggled in spring training this year. In 12 innings, he gave up 19 hits and walked four batters. Opponents hit .352 off of him. As surprising, he gave up five home runs. In his 42 innings for the Twins last year, he gave up just four home runs and just four unintentional walks. Talking to him in late spring training, maybe a week before the stats started to matter, Hildenberger seemed outwardly unworried. He said all the right things. Spring training is for working on things in an attempt to be ready for the season. Process over results. The struggles continued into the first month of the Twins season. In his first 11 appearances of the season, he gave up six earned runs on 12 hits and four walks. He posted a 4.91 ERA, but that told only part of the story. He was brought into games with a combined 12 runners on base. Nine of them scored. And, the home runs continued. He gave up three homers in those 11 innings. And then on April 30th, he worked two perfect innings. Really, since that outing, Hildenberger has pitched in 30 games. He’s given up just eight total runs, and five of those came in his one really bad outing during the rough weekend for the Twins against the Cubs. He’s given up just two homers over 33 innings. Also since that time, just two of seven inherited runners have scored. That one bad game… well, over his past 21 outings, that is the only game in which he’s allowed runs. Needless to say, Hildenberger has earned his opportunity to pitch as the team’s top set-up man. He hasn’t pitched in a sixth inning since May 18. Most of the time, he has worked one inning, but there have been a few times he has come in for the final out of the seventh and finished up the eighth inning too. So what has worked? From this observer’s point of view, there have been a couple of keys to Hildenberger’s success. #1 - The Changeup - Hildenberger’s changeup is devastating. How many times in the last month have we seen hitters (left-handed or right-handed) almost fall to a knee swinging at a changeup that never quite gets there. He’s getting swings and misses, and he is inducing weak contact. If you look at FanGraphs Prospect report on him, it says that he has a 55 changeup with the potential for a 60 changeup. Right now, Hildenberger’s changeup is about as close to an 80 as you can get. He is throwing the changeup more (and better) over the last month or two than earlier in the season, and he’s got the feel for it. He’s throwing it about 36% of the time. #2 - The Slider - While he is throwing the changeup about the same amount as last year, he has throwing many more sliders in 2018 than he has in 2017. Last year, he threw that pitch 14% of the time, and this year, he’s throwing it 25% of the time. While his changeup drops down and in on a right handed batter, his slider darts down and away from a right-hander. The added sliders have meant that he is throwing fewer fastballs (down to 38% from 51%, per FanGraphs). More pitches that dart down to or below the knees mean swings and misses and weak contact, usually on the ground. #3 - Control and Command - While the pitches have been better, in terms of movement, they’ve also been much more crisp in terms of location. While he’s walked nine batters over those 33 strong innings, five of them have been intentional. But not only is he not issuing walks, his command of the strike zone is so much better. He isn’t missing over the middle of the plate. He’s missing below the knees or just off the outside corner. Those home run balls, for the most part, were on mistake pitches hanging over the middle of the plate. While there are likely some mechanical things that have helped Hildenberger get back to his late 2017 form, or the form he displayed in the minor leagues in 2015 and 2016, simply throwing quality pitches in the right (and intended) locations is certainly a key. It’s fun to watch Hildenberger jogging in from the bullpen, knowing that he’s in his best form, and he’s been remarkably reliable. Click here to view the article

He did well at Ft. Myers, and he's been better at Rochester. People I've talked to have said that it is his bat that will have to get him to the big leagues, and that's true. He can play 1B or LF. He can hit a bit though. So, I think he's got a chance to get to the big leagues.

Villalobos isn't playing enough to worry about his numbers, but he's OK defensively, so I'm guessing he could play wherever. Probably won't hit much wherever. Webb is hitting as you would expect a four-year college guy to, but he's a 40th round pick, so they may decide to keep him down, or he could move up to E-Town and probably be OK there too.

Even with Molina hurt, the Kernels have Banuelos and Rodriguez to catch... and Jeffers can DH a few times when he's not catching. Rodriguez can also play 1B (his more natural position). yes, I assume that Jeffers will go up to Cedar Rapids at some point in the next few weeks, but there's no real rush to get him there either.

I think he's got a chance to stay at third base in the same way that I think Nick Gordon has a chance to stay at shortstop... Can he be adequate there? Sure.

Again, these are prospects 11-15, not 1-5, so yes, there will still be question marks about these guys. And if two of them become backup-bench players, that''s probably really good. Getting to the big leagues and becoming a regular, much less a star, is really hard.

There as a game with a rain delay in there and he didn't come back after the delay...

Thorpe started out slow, due to poor command and control... but the last 3-4 weeks, he's been pretty good. The talent is definitely there.

I would guess that with solid second halves, Nick Gordon and LaMonte Wade will get September call ups. Both have to be added to the 40 man roster in November, so no harm in calling them up for September.

He was hit in the knee late in spring training and that's' initially why he missed time, but recently, the reports have been triceps, which is a different injury. But, I like the Santana comp. Jorge was 91-94, and most were closer to 94. It''ll be interesting to see how he comes back... but I'm' glad he's there. No such thing as too many pitching prospects, cuz TINSTAAPP!

For me, he''d be somewhere in the 15-20 range probably. But, he'd' be the kind of guy that could jump into the top 10 in a hurry once he starts playing.

While I understand that the Twins drafted Jeffers, in part, because they had a pre-selection deal to save $500K... the other part of drafting him that high is because they likely value him higher than a third round pick too. In other words, they aren't just going to draft a guy in the 2nd round that they don't think has a chance to be a quality MLB player. While they understood where many of the online scouting systems didn't' have him as high, they could use that as a way to save the money, but they also obviously really wanted him in the organization. Then using the system to sign 4-5 other Top 10 picks just makes a ton of sense.

You have to at least be impressed that I was the low-man on the Diaz ranking, right?

6 innings of one-run ball from a 19-year-old in his second start at High-A....

We're still in the 16-20 range of prospects. I'd say this group is about potential, but there are enough flaws and question marks. If there weren't, they'd probably be ranked higher. #20 - Arraez has questions in terms of his ability to play defense anywhere, and lack of athleticism and probably power. But, he has an elite hit tool and takes really good at bats. So, if he can continue to develop hit .320 all the way up and in the big leagues, he can be a leadoff man where SLG and OPS matter less than OBP #19 - Jacob Pearson - All about potential. I was sure that he would play this season in E-Town, but not only has he moved up to Cedar Rapids, but he's played well. He's got a really good approach at the plate. He's got slightly above average speed. He's a good defender. The arm isn't strong .He knows the strike zone. But he's still young and raw. #18 - Ryan Jeffers - College hitter, advanced hitter with some power. Could be Mitch Garver-like. Defense a question, which is why he's down this far. If he can stick at catcher and be solid defensively, he could move up this list a bunch. #17 - Lewin Diaz - Tons of power potential. Worrying about lack of power in the Florida State League, especially for a guy as young as Diaz, makes little sense. With his size and strength, as long as he's developing his approach and swing, he could add the HR power in AA. But, he's still got a lot of potential. Will he get there? Who knows? That's why he ranks here. His big weight loss in the offseason is encouraging to his work ethic. #16 - Yunior Severino - He's a great athlete, strong from both sides of the plate, and though he's not real big, he's got some pop in his bat. Defense, probably "just" a second baseman. He's far away, and so young, but he's got all the tools.

He gave up one run through the first six innings. I'll take that anytime... What happened in the 7th inning obviously matters but for a prospect, what happened in the first six innings matters a whole lot more to me.

I would doubt it.

That's why it was important for us to want to put our personal rankings in there. We all have different thoughts and rankings, as all of those reading will as well.

The Triple A All-Star break is upon us. The short-season leagues are in full swing. There were a number of low-scoring contests in the Twins farm system on Monday. Weil and Webb provided offense. The catcher’s mitt was Poppen for Ft. Myers, and Kirilloff and Gelly provided the offense.Keep reading to find out more on the night in the Twins minor league system on Monday. As always, please feel free to discuss and ask questions. TRANSACTIONS Outfielder Ryan LaMarre was claimed by the Chicago White Sox.The Twins released Felix Jorge last week, but they announced Monday night that they have re-signed him to a minor league deal.RED WINGS REPORTRochester Box Score The Red Wings are now on their All-Star break. Willians Astudillo was the one Red Wings player to make the International League All-Star team. Since Astudillo was called up to the big league club, Nick Anderson will represent the Red Wings. The International League will take on the Pacific Coast League All-Stars on Wednesday night in Columbus, Ohio. CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Chattanooga 2, Jacksonville 3 Box Score Sean Poppen probably deserves better, but part of the development process is getting your work. Through six innings, Poppen had yet to allow a run and had given up just two hits. But he went out for the seventh inning and gave up three runs on two homers. So, over his seven innings, he gave up three runs on five hits. He struck out seven without issuing a walk. It was a quality start, yet it doesn’t highlight just how well he pitched. Cody Stashak worked a scoreless inning in relief. The offense provided just two runs. Zander Wiel went 2-for-4 with his 19th double and first triple. Jaylin Davis also had two hits. Taylor Motter added his first double. MIRACLE MATTERS Ft. Myers 2, Palm Beach 6 Box Score The Miracle got behind early and weren’t able to come back. Andro Cutura started and was charged with five runs on five hits and a walk in 1 2/3 innings. Colton Davis went the next 3 1/3 innings and did not allow a run. He gave up three hits and struck out four. Ryan Mason went the next 3 1/3 innings and also did not allow a run. He gave up three hits, walked one and struck out two. Brady Anderson walked two, but he got the final two outs of the game without allowing a run. The Miracle had just five hits. Taylor Grzelakowski went 2-for-3 with a walk and his 11th and 12th doubles. Alex Kirilloff had two singles. Miguel Sano went 0-4 with a strikeout. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 2, Kane County 3 Box Score Royce Lewis had a day off, but he was called on to pinch hit in the ninth inning. He came through with a single to center field which loaded the bases with one out. Unfortunately, the Kernels were not able to score the game-tying run and lost a close one. Randy Dobnak again provided the Kernels with exactly what they needed, quality innings. The right-hander gave up two runs on eight hits and a walk over the first seven innings. He struck out four and needed just 89 pitches. Melvi Acosta came in for the eighth inning and gave up a run on four hits. Jose Miranda led the offense. He went 3-for-5 with his 18th double. Jean Carlos Arias went 2-for-5 with his eighth triple. David Banuelos went 2-for-5 with his 11th double, and Jared Akins went 2-for-5 with his first Kernels double. E-TWINS E-TALK Elizabethton 2, Danville 0 Box Score The story of this game was some terrific pitching for the Twins. 2018 draft pick Kody Funderburk gave up four hits and no runs over the first four innings. He walked two and struck one out. Moises Gomez worked the middle three innings. He gave up just one hit and walked one while striking out two. Derek Molina recorded his second save. He struck out four batters over two perfect innings. The E-Twins managed just three hits in the game but were able to score two runs. Chris Williams and Alex Robles had back-to-back bases-loaded RBI singles in the sixth inning to provide the run support. Ryan Jeffers went 1-for-2 with two walks in the game. On a side note, Zack Seipel, Atlanta’s 27th round pick in June, worked two scoreless innings. . He walked one and struck out two. He was drafted out of the University of Minnesota-Crookston. It was the fourth appearance of his professional career. GCL TWINS TALK GCL Twins 3, GCL Rays 6 Box Score Steven Cruz started for the Twins. He gave up four runs on two hits in 2 2/3 innings. He walked five and struck out four. Michael Montero came on and gave up one hit over 3 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck one out. Denny Bentley threw two scoreless innings. Erik Cha was charged with two unearned runs on one hit. Tyler Webb led the offense by going 4-for-5 in the game. Janigson Villalobos went 2-for-3 with his third double. Samuel Vasquez was 2-for-5. Side note: 2017 #4 overall pick Brendan McKay made a rehab appearance for the GCL Rays. He had not played for the last month due to oblique muscle tightness. He went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. Also, Jelfry Marte, who agreed to terms with the Twins a year ago but never signed after the Twins withdrew their offer after his physical. Marte went 1-for-4 and is now hitting .271. STARS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Hitter of the Day: Tyler Webb, GCL Twins (4-5) Twins Daily Pitcher of the Day: Sean Poppen, Chattanooga Lookouts (7 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 7 K) PROSPECT SUMMARY Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Top 20 Twins Prospects performed. Please note that we will be updating our Top Prospect rankings so this list will be updated soon. #1 - Royce Lewis (Cedar Rapids) - 1-1 (used as pinch hitter) #2 - Fernando Romero (Rochester) - Did not pitch #3 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) - All Star break #4 - Stephen Gonsalves (Rochester) - All Star break #5 - Alex Kirilloff (Ft. Myers) - 2-4, K #6 - Wander Javier - out of for the season #7 - Brent Rooker (Chattanooga) - 1-4, K #8 - Blayne Enlow (Cedar Rapids) - Did not pitch #9 - Brusdar Graterol (Ft. Myers) - Did not pitch #10 - Akil Baddoo (Cedar Rapids) - 0-4, BB, R, K, SB(16) #11 - Zack Littell (Minnesota) - Did not pitch #12 - Lewis Thorpe (Chattanooga) - Did not pitch #13 - Lewin Diaz (Ft. Myers) - 0-3, RBI, K #14 - LaMonte Wade (Rochester) - All Star break #16 - Ben Rortvedt (Ft. Myers) - Did not play #17 - Travis Blankenhorn (Ft. Myers) - 0-3, BB, K, R #18 - Yunior Severino (Elizabethton Twins) - 0-3, BB, R, K #19 - Tyler Jay (Chattanooga) - Did not pitch #20 - Felix Jorge (Chattanooga) - DFAd and Released and Re-signed on Monday. TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Rochester - All Star break Chattanooga @ Jacksonville (6:05 CST) - TBD Palm Beach @ Ft. Myers (6:00 CST) - RHP Clark Beeker (3-6, 3.48 ERA) Cedar Rapids - No Game Scheduled Elizabethton @ Johnson City (6:00 CST) - TBD GCL Twins @ GCL Rays (11:00 am CST) - TBD Please feel free to ask any questions about Monday’s games, or ask any questions you may have. Click here to view the article