Seth Stohs

Man, it's a good one! In fact, before the game, the on-field PA guy did a segment with Wade on his mustache before one of the games i was at. Ha!

Walking isn't really the problem for Walker. I mean, his IsoD this year in AAA is .076. Palka's in AA is .082. It's just about the contact.

Updated... yes, meant walked!

Yup, several high-ceiling types in Extended Spring Training... Aren't stats readily available so I've talked to a few people...

Lots of transactions on Tuesday: Joe Maloney and TJ White sent from Chattanooga to Ft. Myers. Engelb Vielma promoted to Chattanooga. Chad Christensen was released from Ft. Myers. Alex Perez was promoted from Cedar Rapids to Ft. Myers.

Each year I like to update my Top Prospect rankings right before the draft. My most recent rankings were done for the 2016 Prospect Handbook, so last December. (I posted them here in March) It’s time for a new ranking as several things have happened, including players “graduating’ from prospect status as well as a couple months of games and new information. Yesterday, I posted my choices for Twins Prospects 21-40. Today, I’ll be sharing my choices for Twins Prospects 11-20. As you could probably guess, tomorrow I’ll share my Top Ten Twins Prospects. These prospect rankings are fun. They’re not scientific. They involve many factors including, but not limited to, age, performance, level of competition, reports from players, coaches, front office types, as well as my eye test from spring training, a trip to Cedar Rapids and watching several games on milb.tv. There are several purposes for writing these. First, it gives you some names to consider as you are reading our minor league reports. Second, these players (and really all of the minor leaguers, but I’m not going to rank 150 players!) deserve to be recognized for their hard work and dedication to their profession. Third, it’s always fun to discuss these lists and the players involved.I’m pretty certain that not 100% of you will agree with 100% of my rankings. In fact, I’m certain no one would share the exact same Top 40, so feel free to discuss in the forum. I enjoy answering any questions you may have. With that, let’s get started. #20 - LHP Randy Rosario - 22 - Ft. Myers Miracle While his record is just 2-5 and he has a 3.95 ERA so far this season, Rosario is all about the tools and the talent. After missing a year with Tommy John surgery, he returned to the Kernels for half of the season last year. He was added to the 40-man roster based on stuff. He just recently turned 22, has already had a surgery and returned throwing left-handed in the mid-90s. He’s still building up and the sky is the limit for him. #19 - 1B Lewin Diaz - 19 - Extended Spring Training Diaz was the Twins big international signing in 2013 from the Dominican Republic. At 6-3 and 255 pounds, it is pretty evident what his biggest attribute is on the baseball field. He has a tremendous amount of power, but he could eventually be a solid all-around hitter. Reports from Ft. Myers are that he is hitting very well right now and has for most of extended spring training. He is a work-in-progress at first base having played some in the outfield as an amateur. His best position might be DH. He ended last season by hitting just .157 in 14 games at Elizabethton, but three of his eight hits went over the fence. He’ll likely return to the E-Twins for the short-season. #18 - 3B Trey Cabbage - 19 - Extended Spring Training At 6-3 and just over 200 pounds, Trey Cabbage is another great athlete in the Twins system. He was selected in the third round of the 2015 draft and signed quickly. He hit .252 in 33 games in the GCL. He has played mostly third but also some shortstop this spring. Reports are that he was really crushing the ball early in EST. With a strong, smooth, left-handed swing, he has the potential to hit for power while also being willing to use the whole field. In a few weeks, he’ll head to his home state of Tennessee and play for the Elizabethton Twins. #17 - SS Wander Javier - 17 - Dominican Summer League Based solely on his signing bonus ($4 million), Javier should be much higher up this list. However, he’s just 17 and made his professional debut on Saturday in the Dominican Summer League. In two games, he’s 1-7 with two walks and a double. The stats, of course, are completely meaningless. At that age, it’s all about the tools, and Javier is blessed with a shed full of tools. Most believe that he can stay at shortstop. He has a strong arm. He can run well. He should hit, and many think he will eventually hit for a lot of power. That’s how a guy gets a big signing bonus. Now, time for the development. #16 - OF Adam Brett Walker - 24 - Rochester Red Wings Walker has moved up one level each year since the Twins drafted the Milwaukee native out of Jacksonville University in the third round of the 2012 draft.Since then, he has provided a ton of power. Last year in AA Chattanooga, he led the Southern League with 31 home runs and 106 RBI. Walker has been discussed many times in the pages and forums of Twins Daily. He struck out 40% of the time last year in AA, and right now he’s striking out nearly 50% of his plate appearances in AAA. He remains productive, however, hitting just .215, but with 12 home runs and 26 RBI. He is just 24-years-old and in just his first option year, so the hope would be that he can find incremental improvements the rest of this year and into next year. Defensively he is a good athlete, but struggles throwing. #15 - RHP Alex Meyer - 26 - Rochester Red Wings 2015 was a tough year for Meyer on many counts, including on the mound. He began this season in the Red Wings starting rotation and after three starts, he was called up to the Twins to pitch long relief. However, two starters went on the disabled list and Meyer had to be pushed back to allow him to make a start. He made one start in Houston, and knowing that Ervin Santana would make his next scheduled start, Meyer was sent down to Rochester right away to allow a bullpen arm to be called up to take a spot until Santana came off the DL and made the start. That’s where things get interesting. Upon his return to Rochester, he pitched a bullpen and felt some soreness in his right shoulder. The organization decided to shut him down and skip a start. The soreness hadn’t subsided and the timing kept being pushed back. Because the minor league 7-day DL is not retroactive, they were hopeful that he would soon be better and get right back into the rotation. However, when it had been four weeks, he was given an MRI and it showed some inflammation. He was put on the DL. At 26, the hope is that he can be healthy soon and find a role he can be successful with with the Twins. As we saw early this year, his 96-97 mph fastball is terrific, and his curveball can be devastating. #14 - LHP Lewis Thorpe - 20 - Extended Spring Training Thorpe had Tommy John surgery last April and missed the entire year. This spring, he was feeling well and starting to get back on the mound. Recently, he had a setback. Thorpe came down with mono which will cost him time again, building his strength up. Hard to believe after he missed a full year that Thorpe is still just 20. Signed in 2011 from Australia, Thorpe burst on the scene when he added weight and fastball velocity, touching 95, in 2013 in the GCL. He pitched for the Kernels in 2014. Hopefully he can get back on the mound soon and eventually spend some time with an affiliate in 2016. #13 - LaMonte Wade - 22 - Cedar Rapids Kernels Wade was the Twins ninth-round draft pick in 2015 out of the University of Maryland. After playing 1B for a couple of years, he moved out to center field for his junior season. Unfortunately, he broke his hamate bone and missed time that year. That’s how he was available in the ninth round. He immediately started showing his talent in Elizabethton where he hit .312 with 22 extra base hits. He also walked 46 times and struck out just 34 times. He ended the season with a few games in Cedar Rapids, including their playoff run. He was our choice for Twins Minor League Hitter of the Month in Apriland continued to play well in May. Overall, he’s still hitting .318 with a .438 on base percentage and nine extra-base hits. Again he shows a very professional at-bat and has struck out 22 times to go with 38 walks. He was named a starter in the Midwest League All Star game in Cedar Rapids and could be in line for a promotion to Ft. Myers in the season’s second half. #12 - RH RP Nick Burdi - 23 - Chattanooga Lookouts Burdi struggled a year ago in his first full season as a professional at AA until he went down to Ft. Myers for a short time. He turned things around and pitched well for the Lookouts late in the year and then in the Arizona Fall League. He had a strong showing in big league camp this spring. Unfortunately, he has been shut down twice already this year with arm ailments. Neither was the shoulder or the UCL, so that’s the positive. He is currently on the DL with a bone bruise on his elbow which can be very painful. He is starting a throwing program. It’d be nice to have him back in the second half. At this point he may not be an automatic for a call up in the second half. #11 - OF Daniel Palka - 24 - Chattanooga Lookouts The Twins acquired Palka this past offseason from the Diamondbacks in exchange for catcher Chris Herrmann. Palka made a strong first impression when he joined the big league club for a game in spring training and homered in his first two at- bats. And then hit another one the next day. He is tied with Adam Brett Walker for the organizational lead in home runs this year with 12. Palka can play some first base though this year Doug Mientkiewicz has played him mostly in right field. He is willing to take walks and, like Walker, one area to watch with him is his strikeout rate which currently is sitting at 30% this year (Walker was at 35% last year in AA.. A year ago in Visalia, he hit .280 with 36 doubles, 29 homers and 90 RBI. He also stole 24 bases, but has just three so far this year. Palka was the third-round pick of Arizona’s in 2013 out of Georgia Tech, though he is just 10 days younger than Walker. So there they are, my choices for Twins prospects 11-20. What are your thoughts these ten guys? Discuss them below in the comments or feel free to ask any questions you may have. Tomorrow we’ll post the choices for the Top 10 Minnesota Twins prospects At that point, you will have my choices, and I’d enjoy comparing my list to your Top 10 or Top 20 or Top 30, etc. Click here to view the article

Well, of the three games I went to 10 days ago or so, he was the DH two of them and played 2B once. He's 'OK' with the glove and the thought is second base is his position - in other words, he's not moving over second. He's not a great athlete at this point. Maybe that'll come with time. Granite won't add power... He's Ben Revere in that sense. But he is an ideal leadoff type of hitter.

I don't know what the expectation is for him... I coudln't care less about his age. If he gets to the big leagues as a 26 or 27 year old and is a starter for 3-5 years. I'm good with that. If he's putting together a .680 OPS with some doubles and good D, we'll take that. I don't know why expectations would be any more than that. If expectations were more than that, I'd probably rank him MUCH higher on the list than 21.

It's usually around June 3rd or something... It may have bumped into May. Don't really know officially until after the season is complete.

He was an infielder growing up and with trainers and stuff, and he wasn't getting signed. Someone realized he had a big arm, and he was turned into a pitcher and the Twins signed him. Seems like a good decision at this point. He's a case where age-to-level just doesn't matter right now.

If he can post a .700 OPS with league average catcher defense, that would be pretty strong!

It'll happen. It's not IF, it's just WHEN.

To be determined... Ha! Some have higher ceilings, and some have lower floors.

Might be better at developing HS OFers than pitchers? Maybe. Ha!

While we may think that, and it may eventually be true, gotta get through the first months in the big leagues to really find out. I think he'll be very good, as long as he has control and command. He's finally doing that , most of the time, for the first time this year.

Each year I like to update my Top Prospect rankings right before the draft. My most recent rankings were done for the 2016 Prospect Handbook, so last December. (I posted them here in March.) It’s time for a new ranking as several things have happened, including players “graduating’ from prospect status as well as a couple months of games and new information. Today, I’ll do kind of a lightning round for prospects 21-40 and then over the next two days, I’ll do ten prospects at a time. These prospect rankings are fun. They’re not scientific. They involve many factors including, but not limited to, age, performance, level of competition, reports from players, coaches, front office types, as well as my eye test from spring training, a trip to Cedar Rapids and watching several games on MiLB.TV There are several purposes for writing these. First, it gives you some names to consider as you are reading our minor league reports. Second, these players (and really all of the minor leaguers, but I’m not going to rank 150 players!) deserve to be recognized for their hard work and dedication to their profession. Third, it’s always fun to discuss these lists and the players involved. I’m pretty certain that not 100% of you will agree with 100% of my rankings. In fact, I’m certain no one would share the exact same Top 40, so feel free to discuss in the forum. I enjoy answering any questions you may have. With that, let’s get started.It's always tough to come up with those final prospects not matter if you go with a list of 30, or 40, or 50, or whatever. So, I'm going to go with a tie for #40... I also want to mention a couple of Cedar Rapids Kernels that were very strongly considered for a spot as well. 1B Zander Wiel is a 23-year-old first baseman out of Vanderbilt. He has heated up since the weather in Iowa warmed up and does a nice job defensively too. Also, catcher AJ Murray has been a very good hitter much of the season. He's still a work-in-progress behind the plate since he caught very little at Georgia Tech. But he's a really hard worker, and Jake Mauer said that he is similar to where Mitch Garver was two years ago. Definitely a couple of Kernels to watch. There are many others at each level who fit into the "prospect" category as well, but a Top 40 has to end somewhere. So, here is my Top 40 (or 41, if you will). #40 (Tie) - RH RP Williams Ramirez (23 - Cedar Rapids Kernels) and Johan Quezada (21 - Extended Spring Training) I didn’t know how to separate them. These are two very hard-throwing right handers who had a lot of success last year in the GCL. Ramirez recently was promoted to Cedar Rapids where he has been terrific, throwing a fastball 94-97 with a really good breaking ball. Quezada is dominating in extended spring training with a fastball 95-99. Quezada has really grown since signing. Literally, he’s added about 8 inches of height and almost 10 mph to his fastball. Ramirez has only been a pitcher for three or four years. In other words, both have plenty of room for improvement. #39 - RHP Yorman Landa - 21 - Ft. Myers Miracle Landa missed time with shoulder problems in 2014 and 2015, but he showed enough late last year with the Kernels - including a 99 mph fastball - to be added to the 40-man roster for the Twins. He’s had some ups and downs with the Miracle so far this year, but overall, he has pitched well, whether asked to throw one inning or three. #38 - 1B Amaurys Minier - 20 - Extended Spring Training Minier signed from the Dominican in 2013 and has been moved quite slowly, primarily due to several injuries that cost him time early in seasons. Unfortunately, his bat also has moved along slowly and he will return to the rookie leagues (unless promoted soon) for another year. He’s still very young, and when he works hard, he does have a good swing that could produce a lot of power. #37 - OF Jaylin Davis - 21 - Extended Spring Training Davis is a bit of a sleeper, maybe a surprise to even see on this list. He was drafted a year ago out of Appalachian State. He fell in the draft due to injury and did not play a year ago. However, Davis has tremendous power and much more potential. Reports from Ft. Myers indicate that he is crushing home runs all over the field with a powerful swing. He is a solid outfielder, and he is also a guy who could skip Elizabethton and go to Cedar Rapids if there was a need. #36 - OF Tanner English - 23 - Ft. Myers Miracle English was the Twins top minor league defensive outfielder in 2015. He began this season in Ft. Myers, but a series of events have slowed things down for him. He was hit in the head with a pitch and missed a couple of days. He had Lasik eye surgery and on the last day of his rehab assignment with the EST squad, someone landed on his foot and hurt his ankle. So he’s been rehabbing that. English is a good top-of-the-order type of hitter who led the minor league system in stolen bases last year. He should be back to the Miracle shortly. #35 - OF Zach Granite - 23 - Chattanooga Lookouts Granite had a tough, injury-filled 2014. So he began 2015 with the Kernels. After a strong April in which he was named Minor League Hitter of the Month by the Twins, he was promoted to Ft. Myers where he was solid. This year, he jumped right to Chattanooga and has been their leadoff hitter almost every day since. He takes very professional at-bats and knows his job is to find ways to get on base. He’s doing that, and when he gets on base, he is looking to keep running. He already has 25 stolen bases this season. #34 - LH RP Mason Melotakis - 24 - Chattanooga Lookouts “Melo” missed all of the 2015 season after having Tommy John surgery the fall before. With reports of him hitting 97 mph in Instructional League last fall, the Twins needed to add him to the 40-man roster or risk losing him in the Rule 5 draft. He went to big league spring training and then reported to the Lookouts. He struggled early, as you would expect, but he has been much better of late. #33 - OF Edgar Corcino - 24 - Ft. Myers Miracle One of the best pure athletes in the organization, Corcino signed with the Twins before the 2015 season out of independent baseball. He had been drafted and spent a couple of seasons in the Tigers system. After a strong showing in Cedar Rapids in the second half last year, he moved up to Ft. Myers this year. He started slow, not playing every day in April. In May, the Twins selected him as their Minor League Hitter of the Month. He plays great outfield defense at all three positions. He has good speed. And, he has extra base pop in his bat. Definitely one to watch as he just turned 24 today. #32 - LHP Jason Wheeler - 25 - Rochester Red Wings In 2014, Wheeler had a solid half-season, repeating in Ft. Myers and carried it into a strong showing in AA. Following that season, he was added to the 40-man roster. He started in Rochester in 2015 for some reason and really struggled. Late last year, he was removed from the 40-man and cleared. He went on to be the MVP of the Southern League championship series. He began this season with the Lookouts and was quickly called up to AAA where he has been lights-out most every outing. At 6-6, he does not throw real hard, but like the other lefties in the Red Wings rotation, he has good control and mixes his pitches well. #31 - OF Travis Harrison - 23 - Chattanooga Lookouts Harrison is repeating at AA Chattanooga this year and has been solid in the middle of the Lookouts lineup. His outfield defense has improved and his approach at the plate has improved. He has been productive offensively despite similar numbers to last year. I believe that he is in line for a strong second half. Still just 23, Harrison has time to grow into his potential. #30 - RHP Huascar Ynoa - 18 - Extended Spring Training While his brother Michael was signed to a huge free agent bonus (about $4 million) as a 16-year-old, the Twins were able to sign Huscar for around $850K. He pitched in the DSL last year and will be making his stateside debut this year. He has been pitching quite well in EST, flashing a fastball in the 90-95 range with the ability to dominate. He just turned 18 and will likely pitch in the GCL this year. #29 - C Stuart Turner - 24 - Chattanooga Lookouts Turner was the Twins 3rd-round pick in 2013 out of Mississippi where he was named the top catcher in college baseball. In 2014, he skipped Cedar Rapids and jumped to Ft. Myers. He struggled with the bat. In 2015, he went to Chattanooga where he was good defensively but struggled with the bat. Finally in 2016, he is sticking at the same level, hopefully allowing his bat to catch up. He started out strong with lots of walks and doubles. He’s slowed, but he does have a good approach at the plate. Many still believe he is a top defensive catcher. #28 - LHP Lachlan Wells - 19 - Extended Spring Training The Australian had a strong debut in 2015 in the GCL, putting up numbers very similar to what Lewis Thorpe put up a couple of years earlier at that level. He even left right before the end of the season to pitch for Team Australia in an international competition, just as Thorpe had. While Wells doesn’t throw as hard as Thorpe can, he does know and understand how to pitch and shows a lot of poise on the mound. He should pitch for Elizabethton. #27 - RH RP Jake Reed - 23 - Chattanooga Lookouts The last two offseasons, Reed has dominated in the hitter-friendly Arizona Fall League. However, for the second straight year he has really struggled in the AA Southern League. That said, he has been much better of late. His mid-90s fastball gets a lot of movement, so command has been an issue for him at times. Other times, he can flat-out dominate. #26 - 2B Luis Arraez - 19 - Cedar Rapids Kernels One of the biggest surprises, for me, early in the season has been Arraez. I was surprised that he started in Cedar Rapids, and I thought maybe he would just get a little experience before going down to Elizabethton when the short-season started. Though he didn’t play a lot the first week or two, he was given an opportunity and he has fully taken advantage of it. He has been a catalyst at the top of the Kernels’ lineup, hitting over .320 and taking really good, professional at bats. #25 - IF Travis Blankenhorn - 19 - Extended Spring Training Blankenhorn was the Twins 3rd-round pick a year ago out of high school. A tremendous athlete, he played for the GCL and Elizabethton teams in 2015. This spring in EST, he has shown some glimpses of his big potential. He has a nice swing and should develop some power over time. Interestingly, drafted as a third baseman, he has spent almost all of his time in EST playing second base. #24 - RH RP Trevor Hildenberger - 25 - Chattanooga Lookouts He was our choice for Twins Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year last year with his work in Cedar Rapids and Ft. Myers in his first full professional season. He even pitched well in the Arizona Fall League. The side-winding right-hander started with the Miracle this year, but after just a few weeks, he quickly advanced to AA where he has continued to pitch great. Where many have struggled, Hildenberger has put up great numbers and become the team’s reliable closer. A 22nd-round pick just two years ago, he could get to Minnesota yet this year, or certainly put himself into consideration for a spot early in 2017. #23 - SS Jermaine Palacios - 19 - Cedar Rapids Kernels Palacios burst on the scene last year when he dominated (offensively) in the GCL and Elizabethton in his first year in the United States. The 19-year-old began this season in Cedar Rapids but it has been slow-going for the talented Venezuelan. After hitting a combined .370 last year, he has been hovering around (and mostly below) the Mendoza Line most of this season. Defensively, he’s got a ways to go, but the skills are there. Could he go to Elizabethton when the short-season starts? #22 - SS Engelb Vielma - 21 - Ft. Myers Miracle Vielma had a solid season in 2015 in Ft. Myers which led to a spring training invite to big league camp. He began the season with the Lookouts, but he has twice been on the disabled list already. In the last week, he was activated and sent back to Ft. Myers just to get more at-bats. He should move up to Chattanooga again soon. The slick-fielding shortstop could hit for average and should play very good defense, though he did struggle early in the season. #21 - C Mitch Garver - 25 - Chattanooga Lookouts It has been his bat that has carried Garver through much of his minor league career, but it is his defense behind the plate that is moving him up this list this time around. He has thrown out 64% of would-be base stealers so far this season and is listed among the top catchers in baseball in pitch framing. Pitchers have also enjoyed working with him in the past. His bat has been solid in the Southern League. He’s hitting .265 with 11 doubles and two homers in 40 games. When not catching, he has played some at first base and frequently at DH. He did miss about a week with a concussion. So there you have it, a quick glance at my updated prospects 21-40. What are your thoughts? Noticing any trends yet? Tomorrow we’ll dive into prospects 11-20. But for today, consider my list above. Ask questions, and start thinking about how your top 20, 30 or 40 Twins prospect list might look. Click here to view the article

I'm Eduardo Nunez. Yes, I'm the real Eduardo Nunez. All you other Eduardo Nunez's are just imitating.

I'd guess they're getting him a couple weeks of at bats before sending him back to Chattanooga. I definitely don't consider it a waste to have Gordon and Vielma flip-flopping between SS And 2B. With middle infielders, who knows what the need will be in 2 years... have them at least able to play both positions so when there is a need, one of them can come up.

Note - Yesterday morning, it was announced that LHP Nick Greenwood was promoted to AAA and Ryan Eades was activated by the Lookouts. Greenwood was supposed to start tonight for the Lookouts, but obviously won't. Ryan Eades is their expected starter.

3-0 with a 2.08 ERA And a 0.89 WHIP. 5 starts, 34.2 innings, which is why he isn't listed in the above yet.

Chatted with Tanner English a bit today. He had Lasik surgery and in his rehab in EST, he had his ankle jumped on at a base. So, now he's been rehabbing that. He should be back relatively soon.

I've had Gonsalves rated higher than Stewart for over a year and will again. I think Gonsalves moves up after the FSL All Star Game. We'll see. One could argue that Jay is their top pitcher right now, or even Jorge. But Gonsalves has been there 2nd longest (after Stewart), so I would think he's next.

A bit of a slump right now, but he's a legit Top 100 prospect.