Seth Stohs

Post anthem standoff... the players stand outside the dugout, at attention,. When the anthem is done, Melotakis and the guy from Biloxi stayed still. The one that gives in and moves and goes to the dugout first loses. It's funny to watch, but obviously the game has to start.

I found an update explaining the ejection and included it in the article.

It was a busy night in the Twins minor league system. One starting pitcher recorded a career-high in strikeouts. Six hitters recorded three hits on the day as well. There were two one-run games, one of which finished in 12 innings with a walkoff. Hey the Twins beat Justin Verlander on Friday night which is a good reminder that in this great game of baseball, anything can happen.Continue on to find out all the specifics on a busy night in the Twins farm system. Be sure to go to the Minor League forum and check out the Adopt-a-Prospect. We’d love to have you adopt a Twins prospect or three and follow them throughout the season. RED WINGS REPORT Rochester 3, Charlotte 2 Box Score Jason Wheeler has never been described as a strikeout pitcher, but seemingly each year he reaches double digits in strikeouts once. He did so once each year from 2012 through 2015. He didn’t have a ten strikeout game in 2016, but on Friday night the left-hander struck out a career-high 11 batters in seven innings to improve to 2-1 on the season. He gave up two runs on five hits and walked two batters. Drew Rucinski got the first two outs of the eighth inning on strikeouts. Buddy Boshers recorded the third out of the inning. Alex Wimmers recorded his first save of the season with a scoreless ninth frame. The Red Wings tied the game at two in the fifth inning. A wild pitch on a strikeout with the bases loaded allowed the first run to score. Next, Matt Hague grounded out to score the game-tying run. Then in the eighth inning, Kennys Vargas walked for the second time. Bengie Gonzalez pinch ran for him. Daniel Palka doubled him to third base, and Leonardo Reginnato drove him in with a sacrifice fly. Reginnato went 2-3. JB Shuck went 2-4 with his third double. Palka and John Ryan Murphy added doubles. Former Twins starter Mike Pelfrey was supposed to start for Charlotte. Instead, he was called up and will make a start for the White Sox this weekend. CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Chattanooga 6, Biloxi 3 Box Score Chattanooga was able to end their series against the Biloxi Shuckers with a nice win. The Lookouts got the majority of their offense from their top two hitters. Nick Gordon went 3-5 with his second double and three RBIs. In the sixth inning with the game tied at three, he hit a bases loaded single. He tried to stretch it into a double but was thrown out at second. In the meantime, the third runner scored all the way from first giving Gordon three RBI on that single. The second-spot hitter was Engelb Vielma. He went 3-5 with two RBIs. He gave the Lookouts the early lead when he hit a two-run single in the third inning. The other Lookouts run scored on an RBI single from Ryan Walker in the fourth inning. LaMonte Wade went 2-3 with a walk. Levi Michael, who made another start in center field, went 0-1 and walked twice. Paul Clemens was back on the mound for the Lookouts. The veteran right-hander gave up three runs (one earned) on three hits in six innings. He walked four and struck out seven. Todd Van Steensel came on and worked 2.1 scoreless innings. He gave up three hits, but no walks and struck out four. John Curtiss recorded the final two outs to earn his second save of the season. May have to do a little digging, but lefty Mason Melotakis was ejected from the game in the first inning. UPDATE: MIRACLE MATTERS Ft. Myers 10, Dunedin 4 Box Score A five-run third inning gave the Miracle a lead. They kept adding to it including three runs in the ninth inning to claim a big win. The bats have continued to hit after a very slow start. Ehire Adrianza played in his first game on rehab assignment. He started at shortstop and went 3-5 with a stolen base and three runs scored. Max Murphy was also 3-5. Zander Wiel hit his fourth and fifth doubles and drove in three runs. Nelson Molina went 2-4 with his first triple and two RBI. Chris Paul had just one hit, but his three-run homer was the big blow in that third inning. Keaton Steele was back on the mound. The right-hander gave up four runs on ten hits and a walk in six innings. He struck out four on his way to his first win of the season. Michael Theofanopoulos struck out four batters over two scoreless innings. Jonny Drozd came on and got the final three outs. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 4, Kane County 3 (12 innings) Box Score Travis Blankenhorn led off the bottom of the 12th inning with a walk. Two wild pitches advanced Blankenhorn to third base. After Lewin Diaz was intentionally walks, Jaylin Davis singled in Blankenhorn, ending a long night in Cedar Rapids with a 4-3 Kernels win. Blankenhorn had the big hit early in the game when his double scored two runs for the Kernels. Jermaine Palacios went 3-6 with his second double. Brandon Lopez was 3-5 in the game. Davis went 2-6. Sean Poppen was back on the mound and provided the Kernels with another quality start. The right-hander from Harvard gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk in six innings. He struck out seven. Logan Lombana struck out four over 2.2 scoreless innings. Thomas Hackimer picked up the win with 3.1 scoreless innings, with three strikeouts. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Jason Wheeler, Rochester Red Wings Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Nick Gordon, Chattanooga Lookouts SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Rochester @ Charlotte (6:05 CST) - RHP Aaron Slegers Tennessee @ Chattanooga - (6:15 CST) - RHP Kohl Stewart Ft. Myers @ Dunedin (5:30 CST) - RHP Randy LeBlanc Kane County @ Cedar Rapids (5:05 CST) - LHP Domenick Carlini Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Friday night’s games. Click here to view the article

I encourage you to check out Jake Depue’s weekly Mining The Minors article on 1500ESPN.com. In it, he provides updates on several of the Twins top prospects that he finds intriguing. This week, he asks if it’s time to call up Daniel Palka. At Twins Daily, we’ll keep updating you on the top prospects, but you will also be able to learn more about some lesser-known prospects or at least guys who maybe aren’t being talked about as much as they deserve.In today’s article, I’m going to write about one hitter from each of the Twins affiliates who is off to a good start without much fanfare. Rochester Red Wings IF Matt Hague In spring training, the thought was about how much Byungho Park did to earn an Opening Day job with the Twins. Park is hurt, and now the favorite to be called up if (or when?) the Twins jump back to 12 pitchers has to be Kennys Vargas. If it was me, I would give serious consideration to calling up Mitch Garver since he can play first base and also catch, and he’s hitting well. But the unsung guy all along has been Matt Hague. The 31-year-old was the International League MVP two years ago with the Blue Jays organization. Last year, he played in Japan. The Twins signed him to a minor league deal with a spring training invite. He was one of the last players sent down at the end of camp. In 47 plate appearances this spring, Hague hit .349/.429/.558 (.987) with six doubles and a home run. He went to Rochester, and through his first 13 games and 58 plate appearances, he is hitting .353/.431/.451 (.882) with two doubles and a homer. He’s been a factor in the middle of the Red Wings lineup. While it remains unlikely he will be called up, he is off to a good start and warrants discussion. Chattanooga Lookouts - OF Edgar Corcino I’ve been a fan of Edgar Corcino, the player, since first seeing him at spring training in Ft. Myers in 2015. He was one of the better athletes that I saw. Still just 24, Corcino has been in pro ball since the Tigers drafted him in the 26th round of that draft out of Puerto Rico. He spent four seasons in the Tigers organization. In 2013, he played in the independent leagues. The Bayamon, Puerto Rico, native works out in the offseason with Jose Berrios. The Twins took a chance on him before the 2014 season and he has been solid since. He split the 2016 season between Ft. Myers and Chattanooga. After hitting .266 (.760) in 74 games in Ft. Myers, he hit .284 (.754) in 50 games in Chattanooga. Corcino is capable of playing all three outfield positions well. He has good speed and a strong, accurate arm. Last Friday, he singled in his first at-bat and sprained his ankle. He returned to the lineup on Tuesday. He is currently hitting .308/325/385 (.710) with three doubles. While his ceiling is likely not that of an MLB starting outfielder, his skill set and all-around game make him a possibility as a fourth or fifth outfielder. Ft. Myers Miracle - IF/OF Alex Perez Alex Perez was a four-year starter at shortstop for Virginia Tech. The Twins drafted him in the 23rd round in 2015. He began 2016 in extended spring training. He moved up to Cedar Rapids, where he sporadically played. In his 18 games there, however, he hit .262/.403/.311 (.714). He moved up to Ft. Myers and actually played quite frequently. In 69 games with the Miracle, he hit .242/.345/.273 (.618). The slick fielder can play all over the field. He has played second base and third base this season along with left field. While he’s not a big guy, so don’t expect a lot of slugging, he showed an ability to really control the strike zone. That hasn’t turned into walks so far this season, but he has been very good. He started the season with a nine-game hitting streak, and he has multiple hits in six games. Despite on 0-5 on Thursday, he is still hitting .322/.365/.407 (.772) with three doubles and a triple this season. There is value in guys who can play good defense at several positions. There is also value in guys who put the ball in play and know the strike zone. Cedar Rapids Kernels - SS Jermaine Palacios A year ago at this time, Palacios was a highly-touted prospect. In some local and national rankings, he was a Top 10 Twins prospect. He was 19 years old and coming off a 2015 season when he combined to hit .370/.398/.540 (.938) with 23 doubles, four triples and three home runs between the GCL and Elizabethton. However, last year, he really struggled early in the season in Cedar Rapids. In 71 games, he hit just .222/.276/.287 (.564) with eight doubles, three triples and a homer. His season came to an early end when he was hit by a pitch and broke his hand. Palacios returned to Iowa this spring and his start was much, much better. On Thursday night, Palacios hit a single, double and triple which helped raise his slash line to .388/.444/.490 (.934). For much of this group, the ceiling is that of a role player, but Palacios has the upside to be a MLB shortstop, and he’s certainly one to watch this year and beyond. ------------------------------------ So there you have it. A quick look at four minor leaguers who are, for whatever reason, not at the forefront of Twins prospect conversation. Who are some of the other Twins minor league hitters that you’re interested in? We’ll do this from time to time, discussing minor leaguers who deserve to be discussed. Though I’m looking to you to help me come up with a catchy title for this series… Leave your suggestions or ideas in the comments below. Click here to view the article

I noticed that last night and forgot to change it... Just corrected it. Thank you!

Yeah, he is another that had a one-year shot at starting, which he did before his TJ surgery in college. Once he moved to the bullpen, he took off. He touches 97, sits 94-95. He has good other stuff too. He moved up mine, but yes, I think he's legit, and I think the Twins do too.

They gave him a chance to start because of his pitch mix. It didn't go terribly well (though he did start the MWL All Star game last year)... He's moving back to the bullpen, and the hope is that he can add the velocity back. But he especially needs to throw more strikes. He could keep moving up. But the Twins have a bunch of high-ceiling left relievers ahead of him too, so that all factors in.

I just updated the Arraez injury portion of today's article. I found out this morning that it was a torn ACL, and he is expected to miss the entire season. Unfortunate for any minor leaguer, but especially a guy coming off such a tremendous year and starting well for the Miracle.

He strained his oblique... He told me it happened on the last day of spring training. He's down in Ft. Myers now and could be back fairly soon.

Earlier this week, we introduced you to Vadim Balan, the first player from the Republic of Moldova to sign a contract with a Major League organization. Today, we will learn more about the second player signed out of Moldova. His name is Petru Balan, and yes, he is the brother of Vadim Balan.Like his older brother, Petru grew up playing soccer. It is the sport most kids around Europe play. Petru started playing baseball in his third year of school. He didn’t know the sport. It wasn’t at all developed in the country. “Coaches made for us a presentation of this sport. It seemed very unusual and interesting.” Along with four years of soccer, he also played football as a youth. However, at some point, he was pushed to make a decision. “In the end, I had to chose between two sports, soccer and baseball. I’ve been playing baseball now for 12 years.” He continued to throw the javelin. His coach was Alexander Moiseenko. “I was a javelin thrower for four years, until I was 17 years old. I had the one coach in both the javelin and baseball. He is still my coach. One of the best coaches ever. He taught me everything since I was a kid.” Like his brother, Petru spent his formative years learning the game and representing his country in various international competitions. “We represented the Moldova National Team in the European Championships in Poland in 2007, 2008 and 2009.” His brother did a lot of the research, but Petru traveled and participated in the MLB tryouts too. “When I was 16 years old, we went to the MLB tryout in the Czech Republic. It was my first competition in front of a lot of pro scouts. I hit 89 mph. After the tryout, five pro teams took my personal information. They were interested in me.” After the tryout, he returned home to Moldova, unsigned. “Two or three weeks later, scouts came to Moldova to see our games.” They received their invitation to the MLB academy in 2012 in Italy. “51 of the best European players were invited. That is three weeks of camp. We were coached by MLB coaches and players. And, we were playing against each other. There were a lot of scouts coming to watch, looking to sign contracts.” Over the next few years, Petru was invited to the MLB academies three times. He went to Germany in 2014 and The Netherlands in 2015. “Twins scout Glenn Godwin was looking at us. I started pitching in the Czech Extra League for the season. Glenn came to Ostrava and offered our contracts. Vadim signed, but I didn’t.” He had an offer to sign a professional contract. It would have allowed him to sign with the same team as his brother. So, why didn’t he sign? “I decided that I needed more game practice before I signed.” That brings us to 2016. He was invited to be part of the European All-Star team. The team would travel a lot and play all over. “In March, we went to the MLB tour to St. Petersburg, Florida. I did very good there. The Twins were still interested in me.” When that camp was complete, he flew to the Czech Republic for another season. In October, he was selected for the World Select team. It consisted of 29 players from four continents and included a one-month trip to the States. They spent two weeks in Tennessee and two weeks at the Arizona Fall League. “There I also did well. After that, the Twins offered to sign me again.” This time, he agreed to the terms and became a professional baseball player, a member of the Minnesota Twins organization. Like Vadim, Petru is now living his dream. “It was so important to be together with my brother. We support each other, and we can help each other any time as we move forward.” He joined his brother at spring training this year. And he has learned a lot about himself already, and he’s made several adjustments. “There have been many changes, both on the field and off the field. Full-scale training process, work regimen, sleep, nutrition. This is what we need to observe daily to be better every day.” Petru Balan throws a four-seam fastball, a slider, a curveball and a changeup, and sometimes a two-seam fastball. “What makes me successful? Well, every time when I’m on the baseball field, it makes me happy. Most of that when I am on the mound. Every day, I try to get better. That is my mindset.” Balan uses the following motto to drive him. “You are what you think about and how you manage your thoughts” Petru has some solid goals and high expectations for himself. “My goal for 2017 is to get better every day, and as soon as possible, to play in the Major Leagues.” When asked his favorite team? “My favorite team is the Minnesota Twins!” Good answer. As for which pitchers he enjoys watching, he clearly knows who the right guys to watch. “I have favorite pitchers, like Clayton Kershaw, Madison Bumgarner and Aroldis Chapman. I’m trying to find for myself something from them.” This 21-year-old southpaw has a live arm, but he’s still raw. It will be interesting to see how he develops over the next couple of years. But like his brother, his arm makes is worth taking a shot and seeing what happens. Click here to view the article

One Twins minor league pitcher had fans wondering if they were going to see a no-hitter. A couple of the Twins top pitching prospects were on the mound on Wednesday, Jose Berrios for Rochester and Fernando Romero for Chattanooga. The Miracle bats exploded, something they really needed. The Kernels played a get-away game before heading home for a homestand.There was some #PalkaPower and #GarvSauce. One prospect launched two home runs to power his team to a win. Another prospect finished just shy of the cycle. Be sure to continue reading to find out everything that happened in the Minnesota Twins minor league system on Wednesday. INJURY UPDATE - Before we get started, we want to wish a speedy recovery to Miracle second baseman Luis Arraez. The Venezuelan was in Minneapolis on Wednesday and had knee surgery. Arraez tore his ACL running and tripping over first base about ten days ago. He will miss the entire season. RED WINGS REPORT Rochester 6, Gwinnett 7 Box Score With two on and two outs, the Red Wings down 5-4 in the top of the ninth inning, JB Shuck hit a triple to score two and give the Red Wings the lead. Alex Wimmers came in to close the game, but after getting the first out, he walked the next three batters before giving up a two-run single to end the game. Tough loss for the Red Wings. Jose Berrios was on the mound to start for the Red Wings. He came in having thrown 14 innings without giving up an earned run. On Wednesday night, he was charged with four runs (three earned) on five hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out five. 65 of his 97 pitches were strikes. Alan Busenitz came on in relief. The Georgia native, and Kennesaw State alum, gave up one run on one hit and two walks in 1.1 innings. He struck out two. Buddy Boshers came on and gave up a hit before getting the final two outs of the seventh inning. Raul Fernandez pitched a scoreless eighth inning. Mitch Garver got the Red Wings on the board with a line drive over the left field wall for his first home run of the season. Daniel Palka added his fifth home run and later drove in a second run with a single. Tommy Field and Leonardo Reginnato each had two hits as well. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 3, Peoria 15 Box Score It was a getaway game for the Kernels, their final game in Peoria before heading back to Cedar Rapids to start a homestand. It’s probably fair to say that the Kernels just wanted to get away as it was not a great performance by the pitchers or the defense. Eddie Del Rosario got the start and went just two innings. He was charged with five earned runs on eight hits and two walks. Hector Lujan came on and worked two innings. He was charged with six runs, though just two were earned, on five hits. Max Cordy got the next two innings, and he was charged with two earned runs on five hits and two walks in two innings. Alex Robinson pitched the 7th inning and gave up two runs on three hits and a walk. At that point, the day’s starting catcher, Caleb Hamilton, came to the mound. He walked one and struck out two in a scoreless - that’s right, scoreless - inning. The Kernels scored three runs on seven hits. Jermaine Palacios led the way with a 2-4 day. He had an RBI. Lewin Diaz and Aaron Whitefield each added a double. It was Diaz’s fourth and Whitefield’s third. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Nik Turley, Chattanooga Lookouts Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – LaMonte Wade, Chattanooga Lookouts THURSDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Rochester @ Gwinnett (11:05 am CST) - RHP Nick Tepesch Biloxi @ Chattanooga - (6:15 CST) - RHP Felix Jorge Florida @ Ft. Myers (5:35 CST) - RHP David Fischer Kane County @ Cedar Rapids (6:35 CST) - RHP Tyler Wells Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss Wednesday's games. Click here to view the article

Ah, thanks... well, if anyone knows anyone at such places, send them the link!!

Thanks for the great comments and feedback. I wish more people would want to read fun stories like this. I appreciate both Vadim and Petru for taking time to answer my questions. Consider that English is not their first language, and they both know several languages, I think they did great. Long responses, a lot of detail. Very interesting stuff.

Yup and it's just strange that they don't get some sort of update... They normally do grow from when they're 16 to when they're 20!

It's just crazy to me that there are some sites that still have Lachlan Wells listed at 5-8, 160 or whatever. I've been writing for a year that he's like 6-1, 185... He's fun to watch pitch too.

Last fall, the Twins signed left-handed pitcher Petru Balan out of Moldova. He became the second player ever to sign with a major league organization out of the tiny country in eastern Europe. The first player to sign from Moldova? That would be Vadim Balan, Petru’s older brother, who signed with the Twins in 2015. Over the next couple of days, I’ll tell their stories. Admittedly, my intent was to tell a story of two brothers from another country coming to the Twins. However, both of them have such interesting stories that I thought it would be best to share them individually. As the oldest of three siblings myself, I’ll start with the older brother, Vadim. Before we get started, here’s a real quick lesson on the country of Moldova. Maybe some of you are fully aware of it, but I had to do a little research. Moldova is a country that borders Ukraine and Romania. In 1991, when the Soviet Union dissolved, Moldova became it’s own country. The population is currently right around three million. Baseball has never been the most popular sport in Moldova, which is true throughout Europe. MLB has an academy in Europe where former big leaguers and other instructors work with some of the best players on the continent. Some of them end up signing with big league organizations.But let’s start earlier in telling the Vadim Balan story. One of Balan’s earliest memories of the game of baseball occurred with his father in their home. “I was sitting in front of TV, watching the last inning game of MLB World Series between the Yankees and someone else. Yankees won the World Series. I clearly remember how they were celebrating the win, and I fell in love with this game. I was four or five years old.” However, it was at that same time when he realized that baseball was not popular in his country. Balan explained, “I asked my dad if we have this sport in our country. He answered, ‘Unfortunately, we don’t play this sport in Moldova.’ He didn’t know that we actually had a couple of teams for 25 to 30 year.” He learned that teams had traveled to the USA a couple of times and once finished as high as fifth place in Europe. Moldova even won the Soviet Cup in 1988. These are all things that Vadim learned later, of course. In his research, he learned that when the Soviet Union dissolved, Moldova was in a major financial crisis. Because of that, baseball was put on hold for nearly a decade. However, some of the former players decided to try to bring the sport of baseball back again. They became coaches and started teaching baseball in schools in Tiraspol, the home of the Balan family. One day when Vadim was at school, a classmate came over to him. “He asked me if I would like to go out for a baseball practice. I was shocked! Baseball in Tiraspol? No way! You must be kidding me!” It was true. The coaches were looking for kids who wanted to play baseball. Vadim was thrilled and, of course, happy to join the practices. “I was very excited.I went home from school, grabbed my training stuff and went to my first baseball practice in my life. First step to my dream.” Before turning 18, he played some in left field and a little bit at third base too. His team played Little League and Senior League in tournaments in Poland and Germany, and in the Ukranian Baseball Championships. Vadim wanted to play other positions, but his early coaches would not let him. “I was asking my coaches to try to play the pitcher position, but they always told me that it is not for me. ‘You are not gifted enough, so don’t ask me about it anymore. Go and play like we tell you too’ they would say.” While he was “so mad and destroy to hear those words from my coaches,” Balan didn’t let it affect his play. “At the same time, I became a good outfielder, one of the best in Moldova.” Even with all the baseball practice and travel, it wasn’t always in the plans for those around him. When he was growing up, he played soccer for a couple of years for a couple of different teams. He also studied in a music school. Balan wasn’t a fan. “For three years, I didn’t like it. I was bored. I had too much energy at that time to just sit in class playing the piano when other kids were playing outdoor sports. Finally, I quit playing the piano. My father was mad, but I said I don’t want to do what I don’t like.” By the time Vadim Balan was about 15, baseball was starting to become more popular with children in Moldova and their traveling team was finding more success. However, with the country still feeling some economic issues, baseball hadn’t been able to jump to the next level. According to Vadim, “The government doesn’t have the desire to invest in fields and players.” Baseball had become a very expensive game for the people in Moldova because of all of the travel that is required to play in these tournaments. “Year-by-year, it became harder to play and practice baseball in my city. Sports departments reduced their finances for the sport. We were paying for all the trips. It was expensive so many players stop playing baseball.” It was at that time when Vadim needed to determine how to move forward as a baseball player. “After my last senior league tournament in Poland in 2011, I realized that our team will not be playing anymore. Nobody has the desire to play in that condition. I started thinking what to do because I wanted to play more. At that moment, I was 18 years old.” Vadim sat down with a small group, including his brother Petru, for a very important discussion. “We had a long conversation with my brother about our future, what to do, what is the next step, and most important, what is the main goal?” They decided to leave their team and go work with another coach, someone they felt could help take them to the next level. They didn’t have to look far. They decided to work with Alexander Moiseenko, Petru’s javelin coach. Moiseenko was a former javelin thrower who then played baseball ten years. He then became the main coach for the Soviet Union baseball team from Moldova. He only started coaching the javelin when baseball was on its hiatus. Even before joining Moiseenko, Vadim did a bunch of research. He searched the internet for any information on how to play in a pro league, college ball or even in a European club team. “I found information about the MLB Academy, that they were selecting the best 51 players from Europe and bringing them all together for three to four weeks. Some of the best former MLB players like Barry Larkin, Bruce Hurst and others are working with players and helping them to sign pro contracts.” However, to be invited to the MLB Academy they need to go to an MLB tryout to show their skills, and if good enough, get an invitation. “I realized that this is my chance to try to reach my dream. But the main problem was that I was completely unprepared for it at that moment. But that didn’t stop us.” They discussed this with their coach, so that he knew their situation and their goals. Moiseenko was honest with them, saying he couldn’t guarantee they would be selected to the academy or even sign a contract. However, he promised to do his best for them. It was October, and the tryout was in May. They had eight months to work. Remember, he had not pitched because he coaches told him he couldn’t. “We worked every day, sometimes twice a day. I was struggling. My mechanics weren’t good. We were working on it, and at the same time, we tried to work on the fastball to impress the scouts since I was already 18, never was a pitcher. It will be really tough to show something interesting.” When they started, he weighed just under 160 pounds. By the time of the tryout, he was up over 35 pounds. When he started he was throwing just 77 to 80 mph. They received an invitation for a tryout in Prague. One day later, he was on the mound. “I was so nervous, so many people around me, radar guns, scouts, 300 players were watching me. So much pressure!” He continued, “I started my bullpen. When I finished, my brother, coach and father told me I touched 92 mph. It was the top velocity of the tryout. My brother touched 89.” Scouts and coaches came and had me fill out papers for MLB clubs. At that moment, we didn’t realize what was going on.” They headed back home, and the next day “the main scout from the Yankees called us and said that they are ready to sign us after the academy. Boston, the Rays, Twins, Reds sent us e-mails stating that they are interested in us. It was unreal and unbelievable.” They were selected for the MLB Academy in 2012. It was in Italy. “We learned a lot of new things. Coaches worked with us every day. But, mentally, we weren’t ready for it. So much pressure, scouts, players. My brother played very well. Me? Not. No experience. No zone command. That was my dark side. So we didn’t sign in 2012. We kept working for a new tryout for the next season, to go again and try to be selected again to be part of the academy.” At the next tryout, Vadim hit 95 mph. Again, that was tops in the tryouts. He was again selected to the academy. “I was very excited and proud. At that time, I worked in the offseason on my strike zone and secondary pitches.” He continued, “I played a hundred times better than in 2013. In played in four games. Scouts talked to me every day and said they were ready to sign me. The Boston Red Sox scout came and told me, ‘if you will touch 95 in your last game, we will sign you for a very good bonus.’” That last game was a couple of days later. He didn’t sleep. He was so excited. “Game day, I started good, and then my mind destroyed me. I tried to show more than I can. No team signed me. It was my big mistake and it closed my doors to sign in 2013.” With another season at the academy complete, it was back home for Vadim and Petru. He rested a bit and again prepared for the next year’s tryout and academy. He was now 20-years-old. And then came another obstacle, another hurdle. “During my offseason, I got seriously injured. I hurt my back and wasn’t able to work and practice anymore. At that moment, I realized that my path to my dream was over. Doctors said I need to quit sports if I want to be healthy in the future.” Vadim listened. “So I quit, stopped practicing. My coach was upset that we were so close and now everything is over with me.” Balan went back to the gym to work on his back muscles, just to be in a good shape. But in his mind, the dream was over. “That’s it. No more baseball in my life.” During that time, Petru kept working and going to tryouts and the academy. It was also his dream. He wanted to sign. Two years later, Vadim decided to travel and see his brother. He wanted to see how he was preparing with his coach for the academy. That day, Petru was working and checking his radar gun readings. Vadim was impressed. His brother was throwing very hard. At the same time, the coach was jokingly asking, “Do you want to make a couple of throws to see how hard you throw after a two year break?” Vadim took it seriously. During his two years of working in the gym, he had developed some powerful arms but he hadn’t picked up a ball that whole time. Balan got loose by playing catch and then made about ten to fifteen pitches. “My velocity that day was consistently 97 mph. It was a thunder through my whole body. ‘No way!’ I said.” The next couple of days, he again couldn’t sleep. He was trying to figure out if he wanted to give it one more try, one last shot. “My coach told me, ‘Sit and think really good. You haven’t touched the ball for two years. Now you had 97. It can change your life, and you can reach what you didn’t two years ago. Or, you can keep doing what you’re doing now and also can achieve other goals.” “I decided to give myself the last chance!” It was April. The tryout was in May, in just a couple of weeks. Vadim and Petru went to Prague. Vadim stepped on the mound, and “96, 96, 96, 95, 96, 96. Changeup was 87, 88. Slider was 85.” The Rays, Reds and Pirates called me the next day. So did the Twins. Then came the offers, and teams told him he had a week to think about it. As you know, Vadim Balan chose to sign with the Twins. “They offered me the best option. I was very glad and proud to be part of this big family, especially with my brother (who signed about 15 months later). First baseball players who ever signed pro contracts from Moldova, brothers.” And all because he decided to take one more shot to take one last chance. “The was the best choice in my life, to trust in myself until the end and give the last chance. When you think it’s over, it’s only the beginning!” Vadim pitched in one game for the GCL Twins at the end of the 2015 season. He got five of the six batters that he faced out, four of them on strikeouts. He missed all of 2016 with a stress fracture in his back. He’s currently working in extended spring training, looking for an opportunity to continue living his dream. Same with this story. Check back in coming weeks as we get to know more about Petru Balan’s rise from youth ballplayer in Moldova, following in his brother’s footsteps and more. His story, and his perspective, is also very unique. It’s not your typical prospect story. So feel free to discuss. Click here to view the article

He's in Ft. Myers, at Extended, working his way back from labrum surgery. When I talked to him, he wasn't sure a schedule yet, still early. But he is really hoping to get some innings late in the year.

A year ago at this time, Luis Arraez jumped right from the GCL to Cedar Rapids. I figured he's be there and play occasionally until the ET season started when he'd go down there... He obviously didn't need to go back. My initial thought with Rortvedt was the same, that he'd play occasionally in the first half of Cedar Rapids. He's actually playing quite often, hitting 5th or 6th in the lineup, and struggling so far. It's like 6 games. Probably not much to worry about yet... but ET is certainly an option too if things don't get better.

Minor league ball is all about player development, though I have come to believe in the last 4-5 years that learning how to win is and should be part of the development process... There are plans for all of them. 21 is not "old" by any means for Cedar Rapids. Not even close. My guess is that later in the season, even 3-4 weeks from now, it might be done differently. Lots go into these decisions. I think questioning Watkins every decision is silly, especially because he has been a manager for like a week. He'll learn. Very smart guy. And, from watching that game, I don't really disagree with his decision at that time.