Seth Stohs

This is weird... I was told, "he should pitch sometime this week." I dont get it. David Martinez was terrific in his first 2-3 starts for the Red Wings. Struggled some in his most recent start. I'm hoping to find out more specifics.

I'd encourage people to do it!

Sounds weird, but he's not as small as he looks. I know. Makes no sense. But he's taller than you'd think, and although he won't be a HR hitter, he's go some strength.

I would say that most teams would NOT call up prospects to sit on the bench. I also think that based on the Twins 40-man roster, and at the time, health and needing to try to get other guys going, I don't know that they could have handled it a lot different. Guys like Kepler need to play, but in the season's first two weeks, they need to go with their starters, and that was Rosario and Sano in the corners, and then Arcia got hot, so had to go with him. The best thing to happen for Kepler and Buxton was getting sent down to AAA and getting to get top-of-the-order at bats every day at a level where they can have some success. Polanco is more difficult, but again, look at the 40-man roster and is there another player that could be called up to play middle infield positions? I don't think there is. And it doesn't make sense to make a 40-man roster move for 10 days. I would like to see him play more, but I get it.

I just don't think you can put humans (particularly prospects) into a formula and feel any better about it. Maybe. I'm sure there are people out there trying. But I think it's impossible. I also think that Prospect Rankings are and should certainly be viewed for what they are... a guess into the future based on many attributes, including Age-to-Level-of-Competition.

No question, and tha'ts been a point made many time. Prospect rankings are what they are, but they are definitely not an exact science which is why my point about accumulating as much talent and prospects as possible helps the odds that one or two become stars.

Fair point... He wasn't a Top 30 guy two years ago. He jumped to #16 before the 2015 season. But you're right. He's another sub-26-year-old who has done well. Though I think the MLB team is much more 'veteran' than we want to think, there are so many guys 26 and under that are there or close, and those top 4 guys (Sano, Buxton, Kepler, Berrios - are all 23 and under).

He was the #34 prospect in all of baseball (pretty much where Berrios was) before Tommy John and still a Top 100 guy after the surgery. So, sure, maybe he should have been a #2 prospect in a good system, but he was a clear Top 5 in any organization.

I can't say that I've heard a lot. There were a couple of things, but I won't get into any of that at this point. He was struggling offensively and defensively so far this season.

A little of both. Sitting on the bench in MLB didn't help him at all. He just needs at bats/plate appearances to get back into a routine. The other thing to remember is that he is going from AA to AAA, which is another bump. I'm not at all worried about him, but he'll adjust.

Ryan O'Rourke is one of the most classy and the most competitive people I've ever met. I'm very happy he's stayed in the organization, though I would have been happy for him if he would have been claimed too.

Jeremy and I were chatting briefly last night. We can't remember a season when there have been so many transactions. It's amazing. To me, Gonsalves should move up. No question about that. Palka and Wade had great Aprils. Palka still struck out a ton, so I have no problem with him spending another month in Chattanooga before considering moving him up. See where he's at at that time. Wade's approach at the plate makes me more inclined to buy his performance. I'd still give him a couple of weeks. Corcino's had one really good week this year, so I'd wait with him. Minier won't play OF anymore. He's solely a 1B at this point, and Wiel plays there in CR... Minier could still move up and DH though. Bullpen-wise... Chargois has struggled his last 6 outings (at least in terms of control). I think he's a guy that could move up, though I'm not going to say that would be a great move. Other than that, I don't know who else would move up right now based on performance. Then again, injuries or other factors always come in to play.

It was a "spot start", though 66 pitches and 5 innings is a lot. We'll have to agree to disagree on what gives him more work against left-handers, starting and working multiple-innings, or pitching to 1-2 lefties every couple of days.

Very curious at this point. Today would have been 6-days rest. I'll do some digging.

With the Twins slow, 8-23 start to the season, I have been asked the following question several times. Where are all of these great prospects that have been touted for so long? If the Twins have one of the best farm systems in baseball, why or when are we going to start seeing them. There are multiple answers to those questions, so we’ll try to consider it today. When Terry Ryan came back to the GM job, he made the comment that he was not going to take shortcuts. I think we can all agree that he hasn’t. It’s been a slow progression forward. But the system has dozens of players who are 26 and under who will be part of the organization.We have seen some, but there are many more to come.Before the 2014 season, the Twins generally had what was considered the top system in baseball. They were led by two consensus Top 10 prospects in all of baseball. Byron Buxton (19 at the time) had completed his first full season in professional baseball and had been named Baseball America’s 2013 minor league player of the year. He was the #1 prospect in all of baseball. He had hit a combined .334/.424/.520 (.944) with 19 doubles, 18 triples and 12 home runs. Baseball America ranked then-20-year-old Miguel Sano number six overall. He was coming off of a season in which he hit a combined .280/.382/.610 (.992) with 30 doubles, five triples and 35 home runs between Ft. Myers and New Britain. Then came the 2014 season. Miguel Sano missed the full season after having Tommy John surgery in the spring. Buxton was limited to just 31 games due to multiple injuries. It was essentially a lost season for both of them. However, they both returned in 2015, starting the season in Chattanooga. Despite the lost development time Buxton was up with the Twins in June, and Sano was called up on July 1st. Buxton lost more time with injury and as the Twins acknowledged, he wasn’t ready and he struggled at the plate. Sano came to the team and was remarkable, finishing third in the AL Rookie of the Year vote despite playing just three months in the big leagues. The Twins went into this season and handed Buxton the starting center field job despite him still not really being ready. Predictably, he struggled again, striking out in about half of his plate appearances. After 15 games, he was sent back down to Rochester, where he is now hitting .276/.344/.534 (.878) with four doubles, a triple and three home runs. He has three walks and seven strikeouts in 38 plate appearances. Sano is a regular in the middle of the Minnesota Twins lineup. After posting a .916 OPS in 2016, his OPS is just 706 through the first 31 games this year. A sophomore slump? Maybe, though the season is just under 20% complete, so there is plenty of room for a resurgence. The Twins status as the top minor league system was largely based on the top two prospects, and despite their 2016 struggles, both remain two of the most exciting players in baseball’s future. Buxton needs to cut down on the strikeouts, but with his speed and defense, he can be a valuable player with just minimal offensive improvement. But there is no reason to think that the 22-year-old can’t make the needed adjustments. What he needs is more time in AAA. With 14 games played with the Red Wings this year, he now has just 26 total games played at AAA. Patience is important. And Sano is still just 23, learning the game, learning a new position, learning pitchers, and (hopefully) learning how to take care of himself physically. Many may choose to give up on these prospects. I still think they both have multiple All-Star games in their future. However, the Twins system was not solely based on two players. Here is a quick look at the rest of my personal 2014 Twins prospect rankings (with their 2013 team). #3 - RHP Alex Meyer - New Britain #4 - RHP Kohl Stewart - GCL/Elizabethton #5 - 2B Eddie Rosario - Ft. Myers/New Britain #6 - IF Jorge Polanco - Cedar Rapids #7 - RHP Jose Berrios - Cedar Rapids #8 - C Josmil Pinto - New Britain/Rochester/Minnesota #9 - OF/1B Max Kepler - Cedar Rapids #10 - Lewis Thorpe - GCL Twins A quick glance of this list shows the volatility of prospect rankings, and yet this also shows why many still are excited about the Twins system. Look at how many of the top prospects then are top prospects now despite moving up 2 or 3 levels. Notice also how many of them were in Low-A Cedar Rapids just over two yeas ago. Let’s start with Josmil Pinto. The Twins DFAd him a year ago, and after a couple of other DFAs, he is now with the Brewers AAA team. He had a strong showing that 2013 season in September but wasn’t able to stay healthy after that. Alex Meyer was ranked #62 overall by Baseball America, but he was Top 30 in both MLB.com and Baseball Prospectus rankings. He went to Rochester in 2014 and was one of the league’s top starting pitchers. Then came 2015, a miserable year for Meyer. However, he is off to a strong start in 2016 and we can still be hopeful that the 26-year-old can rebound, maybe even as a starter. Kohl Stewart had just been drafted and there was a lot of excitement. While his 2015 season left some question marks among prospect rankers, his 2016 season has improved his prospect status. Similarly, Lewis Thorpe was just coming off of a remarkable US debut season in the Gulf Coast League. Despite 2015 Tommy John surgery, his prospect status remains high. Eddie Rosario was coming off of a terrific season which shadowed Sano’s. He was still playing second base, but it would be his last year there since Brian Dozier became a mainstay with the Twins.. While Sano and Buxton missed time in 2014 due to injury, Rosario missed 50 games to start 2014 due to a suspension. When he returned, he struggled at AA. However, in 2015, he came up to the Twins and had an impressive showing. He hit .267 with 18 doubles, 15 triples, 13 home runs, and 16 outfield assists. He’s off to a horrible start in 2016 which isn’t completely surprising with his complete inability to control the strike zone or willingness to not swing from time to time. He’s still only 24. Jose Berrios, Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler all played the 2013 season in Cedar Rapids. Polanco had his first cup of coffee with the Twins in 2014 and has had about seven such calls since then. Kepler was the MVP of the AA Southern League in 2015 and debuted with the Twins last September. He’s already spent time with the Twins this year. And, Jose Berrios has taken off as a prospect. He has been the Twins minor league pitcher of the year the last two years and now has two big league starts under his belt. All three of these guys remain Top 10 Twins prospects, Top 100 overall prospects, and guys who should be a big part of the Twins future. Prospects 11-20 (from my Top Prospect rankings) #11 - OF Adam Brett Walker - Cedar Rapids #12 - RHP Trevor May - New Britain/Rochester #13 - LHP Stephen Gonsalves - GCL/Elizabethton #14 - 3B Travis Harrison - Cedar Rapids #15 - SS Danny Santana - New Britain #16 - OF Amaurys Minier - GCL #17 - DH/1B Kennys Vargas - Ft. Myers #18 - RHP Ryan Eades - Elizabethton #19 - RHP Felix Jorge - Elizabethton #20 - SS Niko Goodrum - Cedar Rapids Again, this list includes some intriguing names. Adam Brett Walker is on the 40-man roster and playing in Rochester. Trevor May is in his second season with the Twins and their top reliever. Could he still start? Maybe, but if not, he can also be a dominant bullpen option for years to come. Like Kohl Stewart, Gonsalves was just drafted and had an impressive pro debut in the rookie leagues. While Stewart was pushed quickly, Gonsalves was about a half-season behind. Now, they’re both at Ft. Myers, pitching well, and both could move up to Chattanooga at any time. Felix Jorge is also with the Miracle and pitching very well. Danny Santana came up to the Twins and received votes in Rookie of the Year balloting. 2015 was very frustrating. Santana is likely somewhere in between. Right now, he is the team’s starting center fielder. One of the best athletes, he can play six positions and can provide value in that utility type of role. Like Santana, Vargas came up in August of 2014 and hit nine home runs the rest of the season. The Twins gave him plenty of chances in 2015 but he was unable to get that type of production back. He went down to the minor leagues a couple of times and returned in September. He is currently hitting .217/.315/.308 (.625) with four doubles and two home runs in Rochester. That said, at 25, he still has potential to be a viable bench option and provide some punch off the bat. Ryan Eades was also just drafted and threw a few innings in Elizabethton. He has certainly had his struggles, but a solid 2015 in Ft. Myers earned him a promotion to AA where he has had mixed results. But as Mike Berardino reported during spring training, he touched 97 a few times and does have a solid four-pitch mix, so he’s got a chance to be a back-of-the-rotation starter. Goodrum is out right now with a stress reaction in his foot and will likely be out another month or so. BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE That was a look at my Top 20 Twins prospects just over two years ago, and we’ve already seen some of these terrific prospects surface in the big leagues. However, in the last couple of drafts, the Twins have added even more talent. They have drafted Nick Gordon and Tyler Jay in the last two first rounds. Both have high ceilings. They also added some flame-throwing relievers such as JT Chargois, Nick Burdi and Jake Reed who have already been in big league spring training. Mason Melotakis, Luke Bard, Michael Cederoth, Trevor Hildenberger, Brandon Peterson, Corey Williams and others could surface in the next couple of years too. In addition to Murphy, Stuart Turner and Mitch Garver are in AA. Like Lewis Thorpe, Fernando Romero had Tommy John surgery and will be back soon. VETERANS While we are talking about the youth and the struggles of the youth, it is important to notice that the Twins roster includes many veterans (many of whom are struggling). Brian Dozier. Trevor Plouffe. Joe Mauer. Eduardo Nunez. Kurt Suzuki. Phil Hughes. Ervin Santana. Kyle Gibson. Ricky Nolasco. Kevin Jepsen. Glen Perkins. And Casey Fien and Tommy Milone have already been DFAd. For the Twins to win in 2016, they needed two things. First, they needed some of the young players to take a step forward. However, they also needed strong performances from veterans. To this point in the season, Joe Mauer and Eduardo Nunez have been the two players who have performed well throughout the season. The Twins need more from the rookies, but they also need more from the guys with Major League track records. SUMMARY Several years ago, I recall talking to Kyle Gibson. He was in A ball and I asked him what it meant to him to be considered the team’s top prospect. He basically said that it was a nice honor, but “being a prospect means you haven’t done anything yet.” Major League Baseball is hard, and each level of the minor leagues gets gradually more difficult. Two years ago, the Twins had a lot of young prospects, but prospects that had a long way to go in terms of steps up and development. That's why I've also often written that the reason it is so important to have as many prospects as possible. If you have 20 very good prospects, it likely means that one of them will become a perennial all-star, maybe two will become solid regulars, a handful will play a role on the big league team and several might get a cup of coffee. So far, we have seen Danny Santana, Kennys Vargas, Miguel Sano, Byron Buxton, Michael Tonkin, Alex Meyer, Jorge Polanco and Jose Berrios in the big leagues. Some more than others. Also consider that Oswaldo Arcia just turned 25 yesterday. John Ryan Murphy is still just 24 years old. They have come to the big leagues with mixed results.There have been guys who have struggled initially. There have been several who came up quickly and then struggled in year 2 when the league adjusted. At this point the players will need to make the adjustment back. Baseball, like life, is all about adjustments, and hopefully these young players will be able to do just that. If there is a hope for the 2016 season, it is two-fold. First, the veterans will need to step up and perform to their proven capabilities. Second, there is hope that as the season moves on, the prospects and young players can make some adjustments. That’s not to say that the Twins will jump back into playoff contention - so much would need to go perfectly for that to happen - but as a fan, we should want to see that happen to give us hope for 2017 and beyond. So when someone asks, where are all the prospects, the overwhelming answer should be, "They're almost all still there." Click here to view the article

They hadn't announced a starter. As of now, there is no reason. I was just wrong in thinking Meyer was next in line.

Just learned that Taylor Rogers will be making a spot start for Rochester tonight, not Meyer.

I mean, he was really good in Cedar Rapids last year, and he's off to a great start. Having watched him pitch several times, I don't see that as a mirage but again, lots of guys will have good 5 game stretches. Getting him even 10-12 starters there (4-6 weeks) isn't going to affect his timeline to the big leagues and it allows us (and the Twins decisions makers) a little more comfort in the decision to move him up. The other factor, of course, is that in terms of guys moving up to Chattanooga, Gonsalves and Stewart are ahead of him. That obviously will affect the timeline as well.

Jorge has been terrific, but (for me) I wouldn't move a starting pitcher up based on 5 starts. I'd give him at least 12-15 starts before doing that. I think Clay's promotion to Ft. Myers is probably tied to Gonsalves moving up to Chattanooga (which I have to think is within the next 1-2 starts).

That was before today's HR... He's doing "fine" but not jumping out as much promote right now... I probably still would. I won't argue with Wade or Gonsalves.

Such as?? There have been a lot of promotions already this year. Aside from LaMonte Wade, and maybe Stephen Gonsalves, who else should be promoted?

Because a team doesnt want to rush prospects and put them in a bad spot. Buxton and Kepler and Walker need time, at bats. Maestro can sit, or play. He can play all three spots, including being a center fielder.

I had Gonsalves, Jorge and Stewart 1, 2, 3 in April. Any order is fine.

To be fair, Herrmann has done much more at the AAA and MLB levels than Palka. There are concerns about his strikeouts, similar to Walker. He's not old, by any means. It was a nice haul for Herrmann.