Seth Stohs

Right or wrong, I don't think anyone really does. Fans, writers, the organization, or even Meyer himself. I prefer to think that he'll come to spring training with regained confidence.

While I 1.) agree with you (Nick) at the beginning of the offseason that Thornton would be a nice pickup for the Twins on a one-year deal, it's important to know that 2.) none of the 30 teams have been willing to sign him to an MLB deal this year. I feel like there must be something that we don't know. He certainly doesn't throw as hard anymore, and that was obviously his calling card in his dominant days. To me, the fact that he isn't signed if a pretty big red flag. Also, I'll continue to say that Sano 'can' be a solid MLB 3B, just not as good as Plouffe.

A couple of reports from people I talked to while researching for the Prospect Handbook told me that he occasionally was in the upper 90s during the season, but his mechanics (which were never real good) got really, really out of whack and because of it, his release point was lower, but also his velocity some days didn't top 93. He was all over the board velocity-wise. That can be a good thing when a pitcher knows that's what he's doing. I believe in Meyer. I thought the decision to not bring him up in September was good. For him, ending the 2015 season, getting away from it, getting married, and almost starting over was exactly what he needed. The talent is clear. The ability to be very good is still there. Brad Steil told me at Twins Fest that he's going to big league camp for a starting job, but he's not willing to say he won't be a starter. He called it a bad year for Meyer and that he's not going to forget that he was one of the best pitchers in the International League in 2014.

Fastball, curveball, cutter and change.

Dereck Rodriguez lived a childhood that many of us would dream of. His father is future Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez, so Dereck had the opportunity to hang out in big league clubhouses. However, Rodriguez is his own player and has already switched positions since the Twins drafted him as a potential five-tool outfielder in the 6th round of the 2011 draft. After three seasons as an outfielder, the organization moved him to the mound. Last year, he was named the Appalachian League Pitcher of the Year.Rodriguez will most likely start the 2016 season in Cedar Rapids with a chance to move up to Ft. Myers. Recently, Rodriguez took time out of his schedule to answer several questions for Twins Daily’s readers. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Seth Stohs (SS): Born in Texas, grew up between Florida and Puerto Rico, is it pretty safe to say that at various times growing up you were a Rangers, Marlins, Tigers or Nationals fan growing up… and we can probably guess who your favorite player was? Dereck Rodriguez (DR): Oh yeah. Growing up, I was a big Rangers fan. Even today, I still follow them a lot and enjoy watching their games. A lot of people think my dad was my favorite player growing up, but growing up, I just saw him as my dad, you know. My favorite player has and will always be Derek Jeter. I liked the way he played the game and how he was on and off the field (SS): Did you spend a lot of time in the clubhouse with your dad, and if so, what are a couple of your favorite memories? (DR): I spent most of my childhood in the clubhouse. It was a lot of fun just making friends with the other kids running around in the clubhouse and during BP. And of course meeting all the baseball players, current Hall of Famers and future Hall of Famers. (SS): Let’s go back to your high school days. Did you play other sports, or were you involved in other activities? (DR): In high school, I was strictly baseball. I mean, I liked basketball and other sports, but I was always playing baseball. (SS): What were some of the highlights of your high school career? (DR): Some of my highlights were hitting my home runs and the good defense I used to play in the outfield. And my senior year, of course, throwing a couple innings. So that was fun. (SS): How old were you when you first started to see MLB scouts? Did the Twins and their scouts talk to you much leading up to the draft? (DR): I was about 16 or 17 when scouts used to go see me already, going into my junior year, and throughout the rest of my high school career. And to be honest the Twins spoke to me one time before the draft, and they were the ones that picked me. (SS): What were some of the bigger transitions for you adjusting to minor league baseball? (DR): The biggest adjustment was being away from home and being on your own at such an early age. And the competition was different, a lot harder. It's like they would tell the new guys in mini camp right after you get drafted "when you were in high school or college, you were the big fish in a little pond, but now you're a small fish in a big pond" and it's true. (SS): We know that you began your career as an outfielder. Was that your preferred position, and at what point did you realize that pitching was best for you and your career? (DR): Yeah, that was my preferred position. I loved playing the outfield. I love playing defense and running down baseballs, making good throws, and throwing runners out. The Twins were the ones that thought it was a good idea for me to get on the mound and see what I've got. And me being the player I am, as long as I have a uniform on, wherever on the field it is, I'm happy. (SS): Describe the type of pitcher that you are? When you are pitching well, as you did in Elizabethton in 2015, what makes you successful? (DR): I feel like I'm a power pitcher. What makes me successful is I still have the mentality of a hitter. I know how hard hitting is. So I know when hitters are looking for one thing or another. (SS): What are those things that you feel you needed to spend the offseason working on? What will be the keys to you taking the “next step?” (DR): I need to work more on my fastball command a little bit more, and on my secondary pitches. That's what I feel will help me make that jump to hopefully being the 1-2 guy in the rotation and eventually being in the big leagues. (SS): What was it like pitching in the Puerto Rico Winter League? (DR): Winter ball is always a great experience. You learn so much from the veteran guys that have been playing baseball for a long time. Playing in that environment helps you become a stronger player mentally and physically (SS): When you get away from baseball, what do you enjoy doing? (DR): I just like hanging out with my friends and family. I don't get to spend much time with them because I'm always playing baseball. So I'm really only home for about 1 or 2 months out of the whole year. So I just spend time with them. (SS): What are your goals for the 2016 season? Are there certain numbers/stats you’d like to focus on? (DR): My goals are simple. If I can go out there every start that I have and compete the hardest I can every time I step on the mound, I'm happy. (SS): Who are some of the people who have helped you get to this point in your career? (DR): My family. 100% They have been there since day one and they're going to be there always. But the one that has always been there for me ever since I can remember was my Mom. When my dad was playing, she was the one that would take me to the tournaments and drive me 2-3 hours so I can play a game and drive back the same day. So she's my number one fan. (SS): What would it mean to you and your family to put on the Minnesota Twins uniform and pitch in a regular season game in the big leagues? (DR): I mean, that's what I've been working for ever since I was three years old when I first started playing baseball. That day, I don't even know how I'm going to tell my family I got called up, and that I'm flying them out. That's probably going to one of the happiest days of my life because it's not just for me, but for my mom. It's going to be super special knowing that all the trips and all the sacrifices she did paid off. -------------------------------------------------- Rodriguez will report to Twins minor league camp in mid-March. We certainly wish him well during the season. We would like to thank him for taking time to respond to our questions. Feel free to ask questions in the comments below. Click here to view the article

Yup, at some point he'll have to do that. At some point the tools need to turn into skills. The signs are there that it can happen. He'll need to be more consistent with his mechanics, but he's still very young and has still put up solid overall numbers despite the low K rate.

My guess is that most won't view that as a success, but it really probably would be compared to most #4 overall picks in the history of the draft.

Yeah, I think that would be ideal. These guys all have the talent, but of course none of them have done it yet. Some quality. Quantity. Guys people believe can stick. Guys that can hit a little. I mean, hopefully at least 1-2 of them get all the way and produce in the big leagues.

He has a couple of check ups in Houston every year, so they're on top of it.

Yesterday, Nick Burdi was profiled as our #10 Twins prospect. Today, we continue working through our Top 20 Minnesota Twins Prospects Rankings with our choice for the #9 prospect. When the Twins used the fourth overall pick of the 2013 draft on Kohl Stewart, they were getting a tremendous athlete with a big arm. He was raw, a project with big potential. Now 21 and entering his third full season, Stewart is looking to turn some of his amazing tools into consistent skills. It’s a big year for the right-hander, but his upside remains high.Age: 21 (DOB: 10/7/94) 2015 Stats (High-A): 129.1 IP, 7-8, 3.20 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 71/45 K/BB ETA: 2018 2014 Ranking: 4; 2015 Ranking: 4 National Top 100 Rankings BA: NR | MLB: NR | BP: NR What's To Like The Minnesota Twins used the fourth overall pick in the 2013 draft on Texas prep pitcher Kohl Stewart. Of course, he was drafted for his potential, but he was very raw. As a senior in high school, he threw just 40 innings. Stewart, however, is a great athlete. He was one of the top quarterbacks in the country and had committed to Texas A&M. The Twins coaxed him to give up football with a signing bonus just north of $4.5 million. At 6-3 and 210 pounds, Stewart is a great athlete with a big arm. He is blessed with a fastball that is capable of reaching 96 mph. He is known to have very good breaking pitches, both a curve ball and a slider. He also has a change-up that can be very good. Many scouts believe that each of these pitches have the potential to be plus pitches. Though he hasn’t missed many bats the last couple of seasons, reports indicate the he does not give up much hard contact. He gets more than two groundouts for every fly out. He also gave up just two homers in 129.1 innings in 2015 and has given up just six homers in 236.1 professional innings. What's Left To Work On While Stewart has all the tools to be a top-of-the-rotation type of starter, there are definitely some things that needs to be monitored. His first two seasons both ended with Stewart on the disabled list with shoulder issues. Though he spent three weeks on the DL in April, he remained healthy the remainder of the 2015 season making his starts every six days. It’s hard to look at Kohl Stewart’s stat line without noticing a couple of numbers that are both going in the wrong direction. His strikeout rate has gone from 10.8 in rookie ball, to 6.4 in the Midwest League in 2014 to a minuscule 4.9 last year in Ft. Myers. Couple those decreasing strikeout totals with increasing walk rates. In his debut season, he walked just 1.8 per nine innings. That was followed with 2.5 per nine in Cedar Rapids and 3.1 per nine in Ft. Myers. While we often note that his fastball can touch 96 mph at times, it is also fair to note that he was very inconsistent with his delivery. From start-to-start and often even inning-to-inning, his mechanics could get out of whack enough that many times he would sit 89 to 91 with the fastball and other times it would be 94 to 96. What's Next While Stewart posted a nice ERA in Ft. Myers, his increasing walk rate and decreasing strikeout totals make it likely that spending another half-season in the Florida State League would be beneficial. It could provide an opportunity to work on things (especially more consistent mechanics) he learned last year and in the offseason at a level he’s already had some success in. It is very possible that Stewart will end the season in Chattanooga. Considering that he does not need to be added to the 40-man roster until after the 2017 season and then would have three option years, the Twins can afford to be very patient with Stewart’s development. If that means that he sticks in Ft. Myers the entire season, that is what needs to be done. Be sure to check back tomorrow when we unveil our choice for Twins Prospect #8. Click here to view the article

But he wasn't... for whatever reason. He walked too many. He got hit when he did throw strikes. He learned that throwing 100 isn't enough, even in A ball. They're all different.

Just saying, he's young. If it's not this year, then he still comes up at 24 next year and is in the organization until he's at least 31. That said, I'd expect him up soon. Felt like he figured some things out late last year and in the Fall League.

It'd be hard to call it a good draft for the Twins. Hicks was a solid pick and will likely continue to be solid. But, when Tonkin is the only one there, that's not good. They didn't sign Aaron Barrett, Kolten Wong and George Springer out of high school, but that clearly tells that they have the eye for good players. They also had a lot of guys get well beyond where they should have relative to their draft position. They had a couple of busts. Kind of a typical draft.

Correct... unless he has just a brutal spring training and looks completely lost, he'll be the DH. He may split time with Arcia early, and we'll see what happens there, but no question Park will be the guy... ... Unless he's not.

Yeah, he's still young and pull of immense potential.

It's why I was glad to see him come back, but it's also why I would have LOVED to see him get a September call up last year after his All Star season in Rochester.

On Monday, Bill Parker wrote on this very site about the Twins’ payroll, and about how complaints about the Twins’ relatively low payroll never seem to get past the surface, saying, He demands that we “show our work” and implies, essentially, that the Pohlads opening up their wallets wouldn’t have made enough of a difference to save the Twins from their awful finishes, and thus probably were right to hold onto their money.On the one hand, I agree and sympathize with that point. After all, no amount of realistic free agent spending would have helped from 2011-2014. It is, indeed, far too easy to pin all the team’s struggles on their refusal to spend like the team in a mid-sized market that they ultimately are. Especially since the Twins did open up their wallet in both the 2013-2014 offseason and the 2014-2015 offseason. But they only opened it wide enough for Phil Hughes, Ricky Nolasco and Ervin Santana. And as great as Hughes’s 2014 worked for all involved, I think it’s pretty safe to say that the reasonable expectation for all three starters was that they’d be acceptable mid-rotation starters at best. All told, the Twins are going to spend $34.8 million, or roughly a third of their payroll, on these three pitchers with limited upside. And they paid essentially the going rate for all three of them. Now, don’t get me wrong, signing Hughes or Santana or, hell, even Nolasco isn’t enough to hamstring even a team that pretends they can’t spend money, like the Twins. However, Minnesota stacked these signings on top of one another, reducing their flexibility this year to the point where there isn’t room for more than one of higher-upside, lower-salary guys like Tyler Duffey, Trevor May or Jose Berrios in the starting rotation (and, even then, it probably necessitates shifting Nolasco to the bullpen). The inherent problem with the Twins’ spending isn’t the lack of it. It’s the systemic problem that seems to pervade the organization: complacency. The Twins have a profound lack of ambition in virtually everything they do. Rather than doing something radical and difficult, the team invariably takes the path of least resistance. Instead of attempting to sign a single free agent starter with a higher upside at some point over the last three years (like a Jordan Zimmermann, a Jon Lester or a Johnny Cueto), and maybe a relative lottery ticket in Hughes, the Twins took small bites at the apple. Rather than attempt to bolster the club at the trade deadline last year with a big acquisition, they only acquired Kevin Jepsen (which, admittedly, worked far better than it should have). Rather than preparing themselves for another season as a contender in 2016, the Twins held pat, adding two players while leaving the bullpen almost entirely untouched. Rather than exploring the market for Trevor Plouffe, they just move Miguel Sano to a position he’s never played before. I don’t know what causes this kind of complacency. Maybe it’s having an undemanding ownership, though I certainly prefer the Pohlad’s silent leadership to Jeffrey Loria or Arte Moreno’s meddling. Maybe it’s having such a stable front office, where everyone holds onto their jobs and the only way to move up is when someone else leaves for another organization. Maybe it’s a media landscape and a fan base that’s more eager to criticize players than the leadership which doesn’t put them in a position to succeed. But ultimately, it will prevent the club from seizing opportunities available to it. Maybe that's a postseason berth in 2016, or a chance to be a World Series favorite in 2018, or the ability to stay relevant as the window of contention begins to close sometime in the distant future. Anyway, in response to Bill, I don’t feel particularly compelled to “show my work” when it’s not at all clear that the Twins are doing much of their own. Click here to view the article

Brian Duensing became a free agent this offseason and last week he signed with the Royals. He had been one of the longest-tenured Twins players. So as spring training starts, we will today update our list of the players in the Minnesota Twins organization that have been around the longest. It’s interesting how much this list can change within one year. A year ago, there were six Twins draft picks from 2008 that remained in the organization. Now, only Michael Tonkin remains in the Twins organization from that draft. To make the list this year, a player had to have been signed before 2010. There are some interesting names that you may not have realized have been with the Twins for as long as they have.So, here you have it, a look at the 10 longest-tenured players in the Minnesota Twins organization but first, a few honorable mentions. Honorable Mention #13 – On October 9, 2009, the Twins were playing (another) playoff series against the Yankees, but the big news of the day came off the field. The Twins had signed the #1 ranked international free agent, Miguel Sano, to a $3.15 million signing bonus. Since then, he has been one of the top power hitting prospects in baseball. He looked ready to debut with the Twins in 2014. Unfortunately, he needed Tommy John surgery and missed the entire season. He returned to action in 2015. He struggled for the first month of the season but started hitting soon after. He made his MLB debut in July and played so well he was named the Twins MVP and Rookie of the Year. He finished third in AL Rookie of the Year voting. He mostly DHd as a rookie, but he will move out to right field for at least the start of the 2016 season. #12 – Within the final hour of the the final day that teams could sign their 2009 draft picks (August 15), the Twins and pitcher Kyle Gibson reached an agreement. He began his professional career with the Miracle in 2010 and got to AAA that season. He returned to Rochester but by midseason, he wasn’t pitching like himself. He had an elbow problem and months later, he had Tommy John surgery. He missed the entire 2012 season. He returned in 2013 and had a ten-start call up with the Twins. He has been in the Twins starting rotation the last two years, making at least 33 starts each season. In 2015, he was named the Twins pitcher of the year. He continues to look to improve in 2016. #11 – On July 11th, the Twins signed highly-regarded German outfielder Max Kepler. Though Kepler was always blessed with great tools, it wasn’t until 2015 that everything came together for him. He has worked slowly up the system. He repeated Elizabethton and has moved up one level each year since. He was named the Southern League MVP and led the Chattanooga Lookouts to the league title. While his team was celebrating, Kepler learned that he was heading to the big leagues. On the season’s final day, he got his first MLB hit off of Johnny Cueto. He comes to spring training for the third time, but this year he has a legitimate shot at an Opening Day roster. It’s probably a long shot. He’ll start in Rochester, most likely, but he could be the first guy called up as an outfield replacement. The Top Ten Longest-Tenured Twins #10 – On July 2nd, the Twins signed highly-regarded defensive shortstop Jorge Polanco from the Dominican Republic. He was brought along slowly, spending two seasons in the GCL. He started hitting in 2012 in Elizabethton. He has been a good batting average and on-base hitter since. He even shows doubles power. It’s on defense now where there are question marks. He received a couple of cups of coffee with the Twins in 2014 becoming the youngest player to debut with the Twins since Joe Mauer in 2004. Polanco played in Chattanooga and Rochester in 2015 with a couple more very short stints in the big leagues. At this point, he’s still just 22 years old. He’ll spend most of the season in Rochester awaiting an opportunity for consistent at-bats with the Twins. #9 – The Twins drafted and signed shortstop Brian Dozier in the eighth round of the 2009 draft after four seasons at Southern Mississippi. He was the Twins Minor League Hitter of the Year in 2011 at AA. Days before his 25th birthday he debuted for the Twins in 2012. He really struggled. In 2013, he moved to second base and has been a power hitter since. He participated in the Home Run Derby at Target Field in 2014. Last year, he made the All-Star team and homered in the game. He begins the 2016 season at 28 and looks to put together a good full season. #8 – Kennys Vargas went undrafted out of high school in Puerto Rico in 2008. In February of 2009, the Twins signed him as an undrafted free agent. He had a 50-game suspension before reaching a full-season team. He worked his way up the system. He was the Twins choice for Minor League Hitter of the Year in 2014 when he played primarily at AA. However on August 1st, his 24th birthday, he was promoted directly to the Twins. He had a nice 53-game showing in 2014. In 2015, he really struggled and was sent down a couple of times. He will likely spend a lot of time in AAA in 2016, ready to be a backup at 1B and DH when needed. #7 – The Twins signed pitcher Michael Tonkin after drafting him in the 33rd round of the 2008 draft. The Twins were patient with him, but once he figured out things in the bullpen, he flew up the ladder. He debuted with the Twins in 2013. Since then, he’s been splitting time between the Twins and Rochester. Over the last two years, he has pitched 43.1 innings in 51 appearances. He is now out of options and will need to earn a roster spot. #6 – In December of 2007, the Twins signed shortstop Danny Santana from the Dominican Republic. He moved up a level each year. In 2014, it was a surprise when he was promoted to the Twins after just 24 games, but he put together a strong rookie campaign while playing a new position, center field. In 2015, Santana was handed the shortstop position - his natural position - and struggled mightily offensively and defensively. He is also out of options. He is being moved to the outfield and will likely make the team as a utility player. He could also be the short-term center fielder. #5 – On July 4, 2007, the Twins signed a left-handed hitting outfielder named Oswaldo Arcia. Arcia debuted as a 21-year-old in April of 2013 and has certainly shown signs of being a power hitter. In 2014 he hit 20 home runs for the Twins. 2015 was a mess for him. He got off to a slow start for the Twins and then got hurt. He went to AAA and hit just .199. 2016 is obviously a big year for Arcia. He’s out of options and needs to show some ability to adjust to stick with the Twins, or to have other teams go after him if the Twins let him go. That said, he’s not 25 yet. #4 – James Beresford, from Australia, signed with the Twins in August of 2005 as a really skinny kid. His missed a season due to injury and has gradually worked his way up the system since. He had the opportunity to become a minor league free agent each of the last couple of offseasons and each time came back to the Twins. He got to AAA in the second half of 2013 and put together a solid 2014. In 2015, he was an International League All-Star. Last week, he helped Team Australia qualify for next spring’s WBC. He will again be at big league spring training this year and hope that 2016, his 12th in the organization, is the year that he finally gets a call. . #2b – With the 22nd overall pick in '04, the Twins drafted local lefty Glen Perkins from the University of Minnesota. He came through the organization as a starter. In fact, he won 12 games as a rookie in 2008. He moved to the bullpen in 2011 and was the Twins closer by the middle of 2012. He has been an All-Star the last three seasons. In fact, he has closed out American League wins the last two years. He is signed through 2017 with an option for 2018. #2a –With the 20th overall pick, the Twins selected shortstop Trevor Plouffe. To many, myself included, it is somewhat surprising that Plouffe remains in the organization in 2016, but he is. He has greatly improved his defense at the hot corner and can be relied upon for 20 home runs a season. #1 – Joe Mauer remains the longest-tenured Twins player, having signed in 2001 after being the #1 overall pick in the draft. That makes 2016 his 16th with the organization. It will be his 13th in the big leagues. No need to get into all of his accolades, like his AL MVP, the three batting titles, the Gold Glove Awards, the Silver Sluggers, etc. He moved to first base in 2014 after his Hall of Fame-caliber first decade in a Twins uniform at catcher. He’s struggled offensively the last two years and hopes to bounce back in 2015. Still gets on base at a good clip. So there it is, the players in the Twins organization who have been in the system the longest, consecutively. I’ll guess that at least a couple of the names may not surprise you. I’m certain that you wouldn’t have guessed everyone on this list. Feel free to leave your thoughts, or let me know if I forgot anyone. Click here to view the article

This might be the best response to this topic I've read on this site... and this topic comes up a lot... Thank you!

He got a one-year, $3 million deal with some incentives... But over his previous two seasons in Detroit, he had gone 21-32 with ERAs of 4.86 and 4.51 with K/9 of 6.1 and 5.8, and he was 36. If the Twins would make a similar type of move now, they would be beaten up on here and on Twitter for bringing back "one of us," a has been.

Consider it's possible that these are the primary shortstops at the Twins four full-season affiliates: Rochester: Jorge Polanco Chattanooga: Engelb Vielma Ft. Myers: Nick Gordon Cedar Rapids: Jermaine Palacios With Javier in the DSL or possibly GCL.

Important stuff! Ha! Sorry, I'm big on spelling and pronouncing people's names correctly.