Seth Stohs

Enlow probably needs to regain some of his velocity to move up too much more, but the curveball is exciting. I think he could start the season in Cedar Rapids... Maybe more likely, he starts at EST and comes up to Cedar Rapids in early June or something like that.

Kirilloff's got more power potential than Baddoo. He's significantly bigger. Now, no way to know how that will turn out. Baddoo took major strides between Year 1 and Year 2, got bigger, etc. He's a huge prospect... I'm not ready to put him ahead of Kirilloff, but I think some will.

I think anyone 1-15 on the list (and several beyond that) can play in the big leagues. I just think the guys in that 1-15 range have a chance to be starters/key contributors in the big leagues. Now, half of them are in Cedar Rapids or lower, meaning there is a lot of development to go, so that can always change, but this is a strong minor league organization, even without the elite prospects right now.

For me, absolutely. Dude can hit... he was solid as an 18-year-old in his pro debut. Tommy John isn't going to scare me much on a position player. He's younger than Rooker... The homeschooling thing doesn't concern me at all. He played all over the country in the national summer circuit. He played with a high school baseball team. He's spent the last year and a half in Ft. Myers and he's well liked by teammates. I'm comfortable having him ahead of Rooker and Baddoo... though it's close. For me, 5-11 are all really, really close.

Today we enter the Top 10 of Seth’s Minnesota Twins Prospect rankings today. At the bottom of this article, you can go back to see who ranked 11th - 50th, but this is a group of very young, very talented players (hitters and pitchers) who could be part of the next Twins core. A reminder, these are some mini-profiles. Please remember that Seth, Cody and Tom are currently completely engrossed in working on the 2018 Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook. This is the 10th annual prospect handbook, so it should be special. There are well over 150 Twins minor leaguers profiled and much more. Something to remember. It will be available shortly after the holidays with much more information coming to Twins Daily. (Here are the previous Prospect Handbooks)Later in the week, we’ll finish this series of Seth’s Top 50 Twins prospects with the Top 5. But this group of five players is really young, immensely talented and it is incredibly exciting to think about what they could become. Let’s take a look at who Seth’s choices for Twins prospects 6-10 are. And when you’re done, be sure to discuss these players and let us know how they would rank for you. Are they in the right place? Too low? Too high? Let us know. #10 RHP Blayne Enlow Enlow went to St. Armant High School in Sorrento, Louisiana. After his junior season, he increased his draft ‘stock’ with a very strong showing nationally and internationally. He committed to LSU and let it be known that he would need a lot of money to give up that scholarship. While he was generally ranked as a top 25-30 prospect in the draft, he fell to Day 2. With the first pick of the third round, the Twins drafted him and he agreed to sign for $2 million. After signing, he went to the GCL and went 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA and a 0.69 WHIP. He worked just 20.1 innings, but he walked four and struck out 19. He’s 6-4 and 180 pounds. He sits 91-93 and touches 94. His best pitch is said to be his curveball. He also has a changeup, though it needs to be developed. He’s got potential to be a top starting pitcher. Get to know him. #9 SS Wander Javier Javier was the Twins big international signing in 2015. They signed the shortstop to a $4 million bonus, essentially using up their entire pool. He debuted in 2016 in the DSL, but a hamstring injury limited him to just nine games. However, of his eight hits, he had three doubles and two home runs. Javier is a toolshed full of talent. He’s long and lean, but he finds a way to barrel the ball a lot, and he’s able to drive the ball to all parts of the field. Defensively, most believe that he can stay at shortstop. While he had some errors in E-Town, he’s got good range, good hands and a strong arm. The Dominican is just 18 years old until the end of the year. #8 OF Akil Baddoo The Twins began the 2016 MLB draft by selecting four high school hitters in the first two rounds. Baddoo was the fourth. Drafted out of high school in Georgia, Baddoo is an incredible athlete. Last offseason, he gained 15 pounds of muscle and didn’t lose speed. His work paid off. He began the season back in the GCL, only until Brent Rooker moved from Elizabethton to Ft. Myers. When Baddoo joined the E-Twins, he energized their lineup. He led off and played centerfield. He hit .357/.478/.579 (1.057) in 33 games with 15 doubles, two triples and three homers. He’s got a great combination of power and speed. He’s also got a great approach at the plate. He just turned 19 in August. He was the Twins Daily choice for July Twins Minor League Player of the Month, and that helped lead him to the Short-Season Minor League Hitter of the Year. #7 RHP Brusdar Graterol Graterol signed with the Twins in August of 2014. He began his pro career in the DSL in 2015, but after just four starts, he came to the States to have his elbow checked. He required Tommy John surgery and missed the rest of the 2015 season and all of the 2016 season. He returned in 2017 and continued to work his way back in extended spring training. He made a few appearances in the GCL before moving up to Elizabethton for the end of the season. Overall, he was 4-1 with a 2.70 ERA. He had 45 strikeouts and 13 walks in his 40 innings. Despite all the missed time, he did not turn 19 until August. Graterol is a big, strong kid. He has a fastball that sits in the upper-90s and touches triple digits. He’s really worked on his secondary pitches as well. Graterol is immensely talented, but he’s still very raw and he’ll need to keep building his innings. Be patient, but he’s got a special arm. #6 OF/1B Brent Rooker The Twins used their 38th-round pick in 2016 on Brent Rooker. Rooker bet on himself and went back for his senior season. He talked to a lot of people and learned more about the art of hitting. He came back to Mississippi State and won the SEC’s Triple Crown, something that hadn’t been done in 30 years. The Twins drafted him again, this time with the 35th overall pick in 2017. After having over a month off, the Twins sent him to Elizabethton for a month to get back into the flow. He then jumped all the way up to Ft. Myers where he spent the final month with the Miracle. Combined, he hit 18 home runs, the most by a Twins minor leaguer in his first pro season since Paul Russo in 1990. His 11 home runs with the Miracle topped the ten that Todd Walker hit for the Miracle in his debut season of 1994. Rooker will strike out, but he can flat-out rake, and he could fly up the Twins system. He’s already been pushed in 2017, but he could be ready as early as later in 2018. The Twins want him to play the corner outfield positions, but he can also play first base. He will be 23-years-old throughout the 2018 season. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So there you have it, my choices for Twins prospects 6-10. This is an immensely talented group of young players. While this group does not have a lot of professional experience, they all have very high ceilings. 2018 will be a big year for all of them. Be sure to ask questions in the comments below, or debate where these guys would rank for you. Coming up later in the week, my choices for the Top 5 Twins Prospects. If you’ve missed any of the first six parts of my Top 50 Twins Prospects rankings, check them out here. Part 1: Prospects 41-50 Part 2: Prospects 31-40 Part 3: Prospects 26-30 Part 4: Prospects 21-25 Part 5: Prospects 16-20 Part 6: Prospects 11-15 Click here to view the article

I'm a big Garver fan... Part of it might be that he's going to turn 27 soon. I don't think that makes him less of a player, and I agree that he can (maybe should) be a starter)... I also don't know how much opportunity he'll get. Which isn't his fault. I'd just be curious how people feel about the rankings of these five prospects when placed in context with the guys I do have in the top 10.

If you think Diaz should be low because he only played in A ball in 2017, you may not want to read the Top 10 prospects....

There's no question it's an issue with him, and it has been with several others in the past. It'll be something he'll have to stay on top of.

He's fine at 1B for a 20 year old in Cedar Rapids. He's 6-4 and 250 pounds, and he's not fast, so I just meant that he couldn't play in the outfield. He'll have to work on things to play 1B... and of course, with Sano's future in question and maybe limiting him to 1B... and Brent Rooker, and with guys like Kepler and Wade (who have both played some 1B in the past)... he'll have to keep working and improving.

It is strange... but a lot can happen this offseason, trades of prospects or current starters. Granite is left-handed, but he's had reverse-splits for years.

That's a fair comment and certainly makes me think... but then again, he wasn't really ever a big-time prospect until halfway through 2017. He's already been traded twice, once for a relief pitcher and once for a middling starter. He had a remarkable season, but I don't know that he's become a big-time prospect. Then again, we can all hope that he's the Corey Kluber, the non-prospect acquired in AA who becomes an Ace... Never know. I just don't think I can put him ahead of anyone I've got ahead of him right now.

Yup, Wade isn't as fast as Granite or Buxton, so he'll likely not have to play CF... but it's not like he's Chris Parmelee out there trying to play CF either. And yeah, he hasn't put up the power numbers I think he's capable of... But he's ranked #12, which means he's probably a 4th outfielder and if a couple of things happen in his development, he can be a starter. But his approach at the plate is very advanced.

Of course, pick 20 in the Rule 5 draft could be the 10th selection in the Rule 5 as lots of teams pass (though it makes little sense to me to pass). I think they just like the flexibility and are willing to lose those three (or others like Burdi, Eades, Bard, etc) to have that flexibility.

Tells me they plan to be active in free agency, particularly in the bullpen. It's important that they still have a few guys on the 40-man that could be DFAd without too much concern if they add even more players via trades or free agency. And, they could still take someone in the Rule 5 draft if they want to acquire more talent that way.

This is such a good point... especially four-year college guys. Especially four-year college guys who were drafted in the first couple of rounds - meaning they aren't advanced (like Rooker) and need more time to develop, need to go through the various steps up the organizational ladder.

I completely agree...

Correct, as presumably, all teams and all businesses do. They forecast revenues based on a number of factors. Things like TV and radio revenues are given numbers. Attendance for next year? Because of the winning this year, one would assume that they can project a 20-25% attendance increase (maybe more). And I'm sure there are other factors. Then they'll figure out a dollar value somewhere between 48-52% of those revenues and that's where they'll set the target. Then Falvey and Levine will be able to go to Jim Pohlad and ask for more if they want it and have to make a case. Then again, I'm sure every company does the same thing. I think they can jump to 120+...

This week, the Twins made some decisions on several minor leaguers. Some were added to the 40-man roster, and others were left unprotected from the 40-man roster. Others remained on the 40-man roster. Today, we continue this review of my Top 50 Minnesota Twins prospects by looking at prospects 11-15. While we have seen the depth of the Twins farm system in prospects 16-50, it is in the Top 15 where we can start to see some players with more ceiling. There are a lot of guys in this system that could get to the big leagues and even play a role. But today’s prospects being outside the team’s Top 10 prospects shows just how talented the system is.As you read about these first Twins prospects, be sure to start thinking about where they might rank for you. Who are the players that will be in my Top 10 and how would they rank on your own personal Top 15 prospect list? This group contains a three 40-man roster guys, and two more that have fairly high ceilings as well. Be sure to ask questions and leave comments in the forum below. #15 RHP Zack Littell The Twins acquired Littell (and Dietrich Enns) from the Yankees in exchange for Jaime Garcia in late July. He went 9-1 in High A with the Yankees before going 5-0 at AA with Trenton. After the trade to the Twins, he went 5-0 in Chattanooga, and he won a playoff game too. While wins and losses aren’t the be-all, end-all, going 20-1 means that you’re doing something right. Littlell is 6-4 and 220 pounds. He was originally the 11th-round pick of the Mariners back in 2013 out of high school in North Carolina. He will be 23 years old throughout the 2018 season and was added to the 40-man roster on Monday. photo by Kelly McGlohon #14 C Mitch Garver Garver had another strong Garver-esque season in 2017 in Rochester. The 26-year-old hit .291/.387/.541 (.928) with 29 doubles and 17 home runs. He won his second Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Year award (previously won in 2014 at Cedar Rapids). He even ended the season with six weeks in the big leagues and a spot on the Twins playoff roster. After four years at the University of New Mexico, Garver was the Twins ninth-round pick in 2013. His defense behind the plate was questioned earlier in his career, but he’s become at least a very solid defender with a rocket for an arm. With Jason Castro around the next two years, Garver should be the backup, though he should get a lot of playing time against left-handers or maybe at first base or DH too. I think he can be an above average starting MLB catcher. I just wonder (and hope) if he'll get that opportunity at some point. #13 LHP Lewis Thorpe Thorpe first became a household name in 2013 when he debuted in the States and posted a 2.05 ERA in the GCL. In his 44 innings, he walked six and struck out 64. A year later, he was an 18-year-old pitching well in the Midwest League. Unfortunately, in his final start he hurt his elbow and missed the next two-plus seasons. He returned in 2017, with a promotion to Ft. Myers. He posted a 2.69 ERA and in 77 innings he walked 31 and struck out 84. He also made one start in Chattanooga. While he hasn’t pitched a lot as a professional and obviously very little over the last three years, the Twins added him to their 40-man roster this week. The left-hander has a fastball in the 91-93 range with a good curveball and a changeup. #12 OF LaMonte Wade Wade was playing well in the Arizona Fall League when his season came to an abrupt ending due to a collision in the outfield that gave him a concussion. Wade was the Twins ninth-round pick in 2015 out of Maryland. Since signing, he has been consistently productive. He has an incredible eye and approach at the plate. He’s walked more than he’s struck out at every level including AA Chattanooga this year (77 BB, 71 K). He has posted an OPS over .800 at every level he’s played at. I also believe that he will hit for a lot more power than he’s shown to this point in his career. It’s there. Defensively, he is capable of playing center field, though the Twins have a pretty good center fielder right now so Wade will likely play one of the corner spots. Wade will turn 24 on New Year’s Day. #11 1B Lewin Diaz Signed to a seven-figure bonus back in July of 2013, Diaz has worked his way up the organization one step at a time. At 6-4 and 250 pounds, he has great power and immense power potential. In 122 games with Cedar Rapids this year, he hit .292/.329/.444 (.773) with 33 doubles and 12 home runs. He uses the whole field. He could hit for average and power. He’s got room for growth as a player. Defensively, he’s more athletic than his size might indicate. He played some outfield before signing with the Twins, but clearly, first base is his position. He just turned 21 earlier this week. Diaz was left unprotected by the Twins this week. While I have said repeatedly the last couple of months that Diaz is a Top 10 Twins prospect, I wind up placing him 11th (though the difference in ceiling from 7-11 is pretty minor). So there you have it, my choices for Twins prospects 11-15. Next week, we’ll return with my choices for the Top 10 Twins prospects. Part 1: Prospects 41-50 Part 2: Prospects 31-40 Part 3: Prospects 26-30 Part 4: Prospects 21-25 Part 5: Prospects 16-20 Click here to view the article

Football may be an option for him still. It really could be. But, if not, he can't be a free agent until after the 2020 season... he's too talented to let go, so just keep working. Keep developing. Maybe the new regime's pitcher development plan can bring it out of him.

That is probably true of the pitchers who are closer, maybe... but San Diego took three really young guys last year. They could take a shot with a guy like Diaz or even Stewart.

Yeah, I believe you are right... Forgot about that... Still, he's got 2 options remaining... Either way, I'm not just letting go of a 6-10 starting pitcher with good durability, tremendous control, a fastball 91-94 and good secondary pitches. No one is saying he'll be a star, but there's definitely enough there, and he's 25, to keep around at least until there is a reason not to.

He can be on the 60 Day DL, but there are a certain number of days that he has to be on the active roster. If he is on the DL longer than that, the rules would bump to the next season.

I'm not going to question the strategy, but injuries happen and the Twins have been bitten by injuries to Chargois, Reed, Burdi, Melotakis. Hildenberger is the one who has stayed healthy for the most part to this point. But I do think that these decisions are very much telling that this offseason the Twins will be adding a couple of spendy relievers. I mean, there are a ton of those 3 year, $21-24 million types available this offseason.