Seth Stohs

Any of them for one year is fine. Is Breslow still looking for an opportunity to start? I've always liked Franklyn Morales. He's got really good stuff. That would be my vote.

Yup, you can find exceptions to everything, if you look for it. As for the Miracle Manager, I don't think that would be the exception, from what we've all heard.

I can't imagine anyone doing that, but I can try. Ha! I don't think you're going to find many players who don't respect Terry Ryan, Ron Gardenhire, Paul Molitor, etc. Not just that they won't say it but they really mean it. These are really good, honest, straight-forward people who care about the players as people, not just commodities.

It's kind of like the Mr. Mankato thing... Luke Hughes led the Twins in HR a couple of straight years and then made the club and didn't play much. That's why he got so much playing time in spring training, to see if he could be one of those final roster guys. So, for me, it's usually someone like that, someone who isn't expected to compete for a spot and then shines. I think JT Chargois is a good candidate. I think Taylor Rogers is as well. Kepler's one to watch if he can do what Aaron Hicks did in 2012 and win a job. If Buxton struggles at all, it could be one from the Joe Benson, Darin Mastroianni, Ryan Sweeney group.

Here at Twins Daily, we have done a number of Q&As this offseason with current and future Twins players. Today, we present something different. We have a Q&A with a Twins player of recent past. Jeff Manship was the Twins 14th round draft pick in 2006 out of Notre Dame. Three years later, at the age of 24, he made his big league debut with a scoreless innings against Cleveland in August of 2009. Today, we catch up with former Twins pitcher Jeff Manship who found success in Cleveland’s bullpen in 2015. Going into the final weekend of the 2009 season, the Twins needed to sweep Kansas City at home. One of those games was started by Manship. He pitched into the 6th inning for the first time in his short career and recorded his first MLB Win.Manship spent parts of the next three seasons with the Twins but, despite putting up strong numbers in AAA, was never able to turn the corner in a Twins uniform. Following the 2013 season, the Twins let him go. Since then, he has pitched in AAA and the big leagues for the Colorado Rockies and Philadelphia Phillies. Before 2015, he signed with Cleveland and after a solid spring training was sent down to AAA. However, later in the season, he was called up and pitched very well. In 39.1 innings over 32 appearances, he posted a 0.92 ERA and a 0.76 WHIP. He became arbitration-eligible and Cleveland offered him arbitration. Last week, he agreed to terms with the team and will soon head to Arizona for spring training. Recently, I was able to catch up with Jeff Manship, and he was kind enough to take time and really thoroughly respond to our questions. I have told Jeff that I hope he has a tremendous 2016 season… except when he pitches against the Twins. I’m pretty sure he understands. Let’s get to the questions: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Seth Stohs (SS): Have you taken the time to look back at the numbers you put up in Cleveland in 2015? 0.92 ERA. 0.76 WHIP. How important was it for you to come back up and put up those kinds of numbers? Jeff Manship (JM): Last year was a very special season for me. I had an amazing time playing with Cleveland, and it was a fun run at the end of the season playing for a chance at the wild card. It was very important for me to come up and throw well. I had thrown well in spring training, but the organization decided to start me in AAA. I just used it as a motivator to continue to throw well and earn my way back up. I had altered my mechanics during the offseason, and it proved to be a major transition for me and my career. I feel much more confident out on the mound than I have ever felt before. SS: Let’s go back… What were a couple of the highlights of your six or seven years in the Twins organization? JM: The Twins organization has always held a special place in my heart. They always treated me with respect, and I'm definitely where I'm at today due to the coaching and experiences I had. I have so many great memories, but the biggest highlights were my first major league call-up and outing. They are memories that I still have a very clear picture of in my mind. I can remember receiving a phone call very late in the night after I had already been asleep for hours. It was our AAA manager, Stan Cliburn, who told me to be ready for the first flight out of Buffalo, NY to Minneapolis. My roommate at the time, Rob Delaney, and I frantically packed my bags to catch a cab to the airport. I was running on pure adrenaline that whole day. I remember playing the Royals, but I never threw in the first couple games. My major league debut actually came against the Indians, I believe on the third day after my call-up. I remember facing Shin Soo Choo, Jhonny Peralta, and Travis Hafner. I always tell people how calm I felt during my debut and how I can attribute a large part of that due to the giant blue backstop at the Metrodome. Just seeing the hitter, catcher, and umpire against a blue backdrop made it feel like nobody was even there. I will also never forget game 163 at the Metrodome against the Tigers. To this day, that is still the loudest atmosphere for a baseball game that I have ever witnessed or been a part of. The city of Minneapolis really came out to support us, and to win such a meaningful game in extra innings was unbelievable. Having the opportunity to run around the field and high-five the fans was a special moment in my career. SS: Baseball players are busy all season, but are there any or many of your former Twins teammates that you still keep in touch with fairly regularly? JM: I still keep in touch with some guys. I recently caught up with Jay Rainville, who is a policeman in Rhode Island. I continue to keep up with Rob Delaney, Brian Dinkelman, Nick Blackburn, Cole Devries, Carlos Gutierrez, Danny Valencia, Anthony Slama, Tyler Robertson, and a couple others occasionally. It's always nice to see some of my former teammates like Perkins, Plouffe, Fien, and Dozier when we play the Twins. SS: The Twins let you go after the 2012 season. What kind of emotions did you go through leaving an organization that gave you an opportunity and then several chances? JM: I was upset, but understood the move they had to make. I hadn't thrown too well, and they needed to move on so there were definitely no hard feelings. I felt honored to be able to wear a Twins uniform for parts of 4 seasons and made many lasting friendships and memories. It was also exciting to look forward to a new chapter of my career with a new organization and teammates. SS: You spent time in AAA and the big leagues with the Rockies in 2013 and the Phillies in 2014. What was your experience in the National League, hitting, and visiting all of those ballparks? JM: Playing in the National League was a great experience. It's amazing how much different the game plays with no DH and all of the strategy involved. I was always paying close attention to the game because the phone could ring at any moment if the pitcher's spot was approaching. Hitting proved to be a challenge for me, but I never expected much success anyways. With the Rockies, I managed to collect two hits and an RBI while in AAA. My first hit was a slow chopper with bases loaded and the second actually came off Boof Bonser. That hit was something to be proud of, a solid line drive over second. The second hit continues to stand as my last professional hit. I'll never forget having to face Jose Fernandez while with the big league club, and it's something I pray I never have to do again. To my surprise, I made solid contact on my first AB and lined out to right field. He didn't mess around in the second at-bat and struck me out with one of his disgusting sliders. I bailed out like the ball was going to hit me in the face, and upon further review of video, the pitch was right down the middle. While with the Phillies, I received a couple at-bats in an extra inning marathon against the Mets. I had already thrown 4 innings in relief, and was coming up for my second at-bat with a man on 3rd and 2 outs. I hit a high chopper up the middle, which would have been my first major league base hit, RBI, and a game winner, but my body had different plans. I ended up straining my quad running to first base. I'll always defend pitchers when people say we aren't athletes, but in that particular instance I was not an athlete. It landed me on the DL, and was my last AB to date, and that's probably a good thing. The National League has some beautiful stadiums, and I was fortunate to play in almost all of them. Some of my favorites include Dodger Stadium, Petco Park, PNC Park, and AT&T Park. There was never a bad trip while traveling within the NL West. SS: I know you pitched as a starter and a reliever with the Twins, but you were always given that opportunity to start, even with the Rockies and Phillies, so, at what point did you just kind of accept that your were more of a reliever? Was that difficult to accept, or happy to do it? JM: During my initial spring training meeting with Terry Francona, he said that the Indians were going to focus solely on me as a reliever. I was actually very happy to hear that I would stick to one role for the whole season. It was difficult going back and forth between starting and relieving with the different routines that each role commands. I felt that it helped me to become more consistent and kept my arm fresh throughout the year. SS: As you look back, what were a couple of the things that you found out about yourself, and what helps to make you successful on the mound? JM: I had mentioned earlier about altering my mechanics before the 2015 season. It seems extremely simple, but I feel it made me a completely different pitcher. I work with Skip Johnson, University of Texas pitching coach, during my bullpens in the offseason. Last year, we decided to try throwing off of the third base side of the rubber as opposed to the first base side, where I had been for many years. It provided more extension, deception, and an increase in velocity. I think it helped my slider most of all and created a much more effective angle on all of my pitches. In addition, Francona utilized me in a way that helped my success. I threw more consistently, and rarely went more than 3 days without pitching in a game. He also loves to use his bullpen and never sets us up to experience failure. Confidence was key for me this season, and whenever a situation was starting to get out of hand, I remained calm. I had a much easier time channeling my focus without getting flustered. SS: What has this offseason been like for you, kind of knowing where you’re going to be in 2016? Does it change your preparation at all? JM: I continue to prepare in the same way that I have for my whole career. I always try to go into spring training fully prepared and with the mindset to compete and earn a spot on the team. Knowing that I will be with the Indians again next season is refreshing, but hasn't altered my focus or routine in any way. I'm really looking forward to this season. SS: Away from baseball, what do you enjoy doing? I know you’re into hunting. JM: Hunting is always something that I look forward to in the off season. My wife and I recently went camping, which we plan to do more of next off season. We reside in Austin, Texas, where there is plenty to do outside. We try to be outdoors as much as possible and enjoy hiking and exploring the various parks in the area. SS: If you were to look back at your time with the Twins, who are some of the people, coaches, front office types that you have respect for, and why? JM: There are plenty of people that I have a great amount of respect for in the Twins organization, but some of the most memorable are Terry Ryan, Bobby Cuellar, Gene Glynn, Steve Mintz, Rick Anderson, and Ron Gardenhire. I know I'm probably unintentionally leaving a few names off my list. Terry Ryan is someone who has done so much for the Twins and the game of baseball. He is respected throughout baseball and rightfully so. I always enjoyed my conversations with Terry and the advice and tips he would give. Bobby Cuellar was one of my favorite pitching coaches that I have worked with in my career. He has been around baseball for a long time, and has collected vast amounts of information and wisdom. He was always able to help me with my mechanical struggles, and was passionate about helping his pitchers be the best they could be. I only played under Gene Glynn for one season in AAA Rochester, but he left a lasting impression. He was one of the most positive coaches I have played for. The team had a rough couple years before Gene arrived, but he was able to reverse that and create a winning atmosphere in Rochester. He always went about things respectfully, which should command the respect of any player. Steve Mintz was my pitching coach for my first full season in Low-A Beloit. He too, was a very positive influence on my career. Not only was he a talented pitching coach, but he was a great person. I can remember all the assistance outside of baseball that he would provide to the players. Many of the players were new to professional baseball, and Steve provided a very helpful presence. For me personally, he made the transition from college baseball to professional baseball much easier. Rick Anderson and Gardy were the first major league manager and pitching coach that I had so they are special to me. They, too, are great people and I really enjoyed playing for both of them. The Twins have always been a model organization of how to play the game the right way, and they are a huge part of that philosophy. I also enjoyed all of the major league veterans that were involved with the organization. As a young player, it was great to meet so many legends and get to learn from some of the best. One of my fondest memories was having dinner with Harmon Killebrew at JD Hoyt's. He was a true professional and great man. SS: What was the experience of going through the arbitration process like for you? JM: The arbitration process was an exciting time. My agent really did all of the work, but it was fun to get updates on the progress made with the team. It was a good feeling to be tendered a contract by the Indians and have a sense of belonging in the organization. SS: What are your personal goals for the 2016 season? Are there certain numbers that you look at to judge yourself? JM: I wouldn't necessarily say that I'm looking for certain numbers, but I want to contribute as best as I can. Hopefully I can earn a lot of holds and keep the ERA and WHIP low again. Last year was a lot of fun because I felt that I contributed to meaningful games, especially towards the end of the season when we were making a push for the wild card. Overall, my goals are to stay healthy, be a positive contributor in the bullpen, and, of course, to win a World Series. SS: A lot of people think that with Cleveland’s starting staff, they will contend in the AL Central in 2016? What is the excitement level for pitching for a contender again? JM: I think that our team is fully capable of being a contender next season. The starting staff is very impressive and is always seen as our strong suit. They are all young with an immense amount of talent that can easily carry us. This off season, the team added some solid players to help both defensively and offensively. The biggest thing for us is to have a strong start to the season. With all the acquisitions made by every team in the AL Central, though, it should provide for an intense season until the end. Pitching for a contending team creates more excitement. It’s a lot of fun showing up to the field everyday with something to play for and trying to achieve team goals. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Again, Thank You very much to Jeff Manship. Please feel free to ask questions and leave comments. Jeff has always been terrific, on podcasts, at Twins Fests, on the Winter Caravan, etc. It’s always fun to catch up. Click here to view the article

He played mostly LF in 2014 and mostly RF last year. He's a solid OF defensively. He doesn't have a ton of range, but he knows how to play there. He played mostly OF in high school too.

Arias can be on this list next year, but definitely one to watch. Palka should have been #4 on this list, after Walker, before Harrison. Minier was an OF in 2014 but not good, so they moved him to 1B in 2015... maybe they'll move him back to the OF though. I tend to doubt it.

Probably bigger for Granite. He'll have to get on base a little more in Ft. Myers and make that move up to Chattanooga. English needs to play like he did in the 2nd half last year before the injury. He's really good defensively which will really help him. He's got the range, takes good reads and has a very strong arm. Could both be 4th OF in the big leagues? I think so, but as you say, we'll likely know a lot more in 9 months.

Most think that Wade would have been a 3rd/4th round pick if he wouldn't have missed more than half of the season with the broken hamate bone.

Wickens grew up in Ontario. His baseball path took him to Ft. Myers out of high school where he attended Florida Gulf Coast University. He was a teammate for three seasons with White Sox ace Chris Sale. He was the Twins 33rd round pick in 2011, and since then he has gradually moved up the system. In 2015, he was a contributor to the Southern League champions, the Chattanooga Lookouts. Wickens is a very versatile player. In 2015, he played all four infield positions as well as left field and center field. He doesn’t just fill the space, he plays them well defensively. Offensively, he is a line drive, doubles hitter. He has a very good approach at the plate.In 2013, Wickens was honored with a Harmon Killebrew Award for Community Service for his efforts in Ft. Myers. At the time, Wickens said, "Harmon was a killer on the field and a gentleman off of it, and I think that’s how the Twins organization wants their players to be." Recently, Wickens sat down and answered several questions. Enjoy the Q&A, and feel free to comment or ask questions below. ----------------------------------------------------- Seth Stohs (SS): Being from Ontario, I assume we have the ability to guess who your favorite team was growing up? Who were some of your favorite players? Stephen Wickens (SW): My favorite team growing up was obviously the Blue Jays. The players I loved to cheer for were usually the grinders, which always ended up being fan favorites, players like Reed Johnson and John MacDonald. Obviously every little kid loves the long ball, so it was always nice seeing Carlos Delgado hit a few into the stands. SS: Let’s go back to your high school days. Did you play other sports, or were you involved in other activities? SW: When I was younger, I basically played every school sport you could. Whether it was baseball, hockey, volleyball, cross-country or wrestling, I tried to stay as active as I could while loving any form of competition. But as I got later into high school, I stuck with just baseball and hockey. I then had to make a decision on what sport I thought I could get the most out of because they were becoming too time consuming and also way too expensive with all of the equipment and traveling. I stuck with baseball, but sometimes wonder what it would be like to play hockey at a higher level. Who wouldn’t love to play hockey, 82 games instead of 162, while also playing in the winter and getting to sit back and relax during the summer. SS: How did you go about going from Ontario to Florida Gulf Coast University to play college baseball? SW: In my last year of high school, I joined a program called the Ontario Blue Jays. In the fall we would travel all over the Atlantic Coast playing various DI, DII, and NAIA schools. We ended up playing against Florida Gulf Coast before a Perfect Game tournament and the rest was history. They offered me a scholarship the next day, and I basically accepted right then and there. Being a baseball player from Canada, I don’t think there was a better place to go to school. Going from playing baseball for 6-7 months of the year to now being able to play all year round, couldn’t ask for anything more. SS: What were the highlights of your time in FGCU? Were you a big fan of Dunk City? SW: The highlight of my time at FGCU was winning our conference (Atlantic Sun) for three consecutive years. We weren’t eligible for post-season play in my first two years because we were in a transition period, going from DII to DI. My Junior year was kind of a disappointment because we won our conference but ended up losing in the conference tournament, so did not get a bid to a regional. We thought we may get a bid because Chris Sale was our Friday night starter and anyone we played first round we could have definitely played spoiler. But that never came into fruition. As for “Dunk City” that came about after I had already graduated. I loved to go watch the basketball games though. Our women’s team was always very good, but I’m jealous I never got to experience one of the men’s basketball games when they made their NCAA Sweet 16 run. SS: Describe the type of player that you are to the fans? What makes you successful? SW: I see myself as a smart, hard-working player, who battles for everything he’s earned. I am the type of player who is going to put the team first, and also understand what kind of player I am. I’m obviously not a guy who’s going to go out and hit a bunch of home runs, but I can get hits, walks, steal bases, score runs, make plays, and I think any player can be successful when they understand what their role is and what type of player they are. Being able to make adjustments day-by-day, pitch-by-pitch, is the most important tool any player can have, and being a guy who doesn’t necessarily play every day, I take pride in making those adjustments as best I can. 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?” SW: You can obviously never stop working in any area of your game. I think being more consistent in every aspect of my game is the key to taking the next step. I think the guys you see in the MLB are there for a reason, and that’s because they play at a higher level on a consistent basis. I have no doubt in my mind that I have the skill level to play in the major leagues, I just need to take advantage of opportunities when they come my way. SS: You played 1B, 2B, 3B, SS, LF and CF for Chattanooga in 2015. How many gloves do you bring to the ballpark, and what does being versatile mean for you? SW: I take pride in being a versatile player. I believe I can play at a high level at most positions in the field. It’s obviously an asset being able to play multiple positions as you are not limiting yourself, as you now have multiple ways of getting into the lineup as well as getting to the MLB. SS: What was it like being part of a really strong Lookouts roster all season, and being a guy who often hit near the top of the order on such a successful team? Did you ever find yourself watching the game and saying “Wow!” when a teammate (someone like Sano, Buxton, Kepler, Walker, Berrios, etc.) did something? SW: Being a part of that Chattanooga roster was awesome. The coaches and players were great. It was the most fun I’ve had in my baseball career. The chemistry between the guys on the team was the best I’ve been a part of, even with the roster changes. Guys came up and down, but the atmosphere never changed. We always knew we were going to win, we always felt like we were going to win, and we did win. Playing with Sano, Buxton, Kepler, Walker, Berrios etc. is always fun to watch. There were a lot of loud noises in that ballpark. And I may have kinked my neck a few times. But it;s not really new to me, I’ve been watching these guys do these things for years. Now it’s everyone else’s turn to join in on the fun and watch and hear it happen up in Minneapolis. SS: How do you balance wanting to win with wanting to keep advancing through the organization? SW: I think they come hand in hand. I think every organization wants players on their team that are hungry and understand that there is a difference between winning and losing. If you can be fortunate enough to be part of some winning teams, I think you can stick around for a long time. SS: When you get away from baseball, what do you enjoy doing? SW: During the off-season I keep it pretty simple. Movies, TV, cards/board games, and just hanging out with friends and family. You miss out on a lot of things when you’re away at baseball all year. So just enjoying your free time is nice. SS: What are your goals for the 2016 season? Are there certain numbers/stats you’d like to focus on? SW: Coming out of spring training I’d love to start out in Rochester. I’ll be ready to compete for a job and hopefully perform the way I know I can, and the rest will take care of itself. I try not to pay attention to numbers/stats too much because it will only get you in trouble. I’m in the mindset that if I do my job to help the team, then good things will happen and my year will be reflected correctly. SS: Who are some of the people who have helped you get to this point in your career? SW: There have been tons of people who have played a major role in getting me to where I am today. Obviously my mom and dad who drove countless hours, taking me to practice and games; doing all the research on colleges and universities; or just giving me the opportunity to play baseball. I’ve had the opportunity to play under a lot of different coaches. I credit each one of them with my development. I think having an open mind in any sport is key to having success because there isn’t just one way of doing things. I tried to take everything I could from each coach. Whether the advice was good or bad, it didn’t really matter because you’re just getting to learn the game from a different set of eyes. The more knowledge you have the better, and whatever worked for me I kind of just stuck with. SS: What would it mean to you and your family to put on the Minnesota Twins uniform and play a regular season game in the big leagues? SW: Getting an opportunity to put on a Twins uniform would be a great honor. There are only so many people who can say they had a chance to play in the MLB. I think every kid dreams about being that “hero” they grew up watching. And if I ever get that opportunity to play in the MLB, I feel like I will have reached some sort of immortality. Whether it’s one game, 100 games or 1,000 games, no one will ever be able to take that away from me. Being able to achieve a lifelong goal in anything would be very rewarding and satisfying. --------------------------------------------------- Again, a big Thank You to Stephen Wickens for taking his time to respond to our questions. Best wishes for a strong 2016 season. Click here to view the article

Why not have Duda play RF instead of Mauer. At least Duda has played a lot of outfield in his life. None the last two years, but he came up and played several years in the outfield. Arcia to Milwaukee makes so much sense because of Orlando being there. Together, those two could really be good. My assumption is that Polanco would have to be part of any deal to Milwaukee, but a team that needs pitching would likely be thrilled to get offered Gonsalves. Eduardo del Rosario isn't a big enough third piece, and it would likely take a fourth, but I'd give up a lot to get Will Smith too. Anyone else and I wouldn't give up much. I want to be a fly on the wall with those conversations with scouts! Fun article!

Today we continue to look at the Minnesota Twins organizational depth at all of the positions. Previously, we have reviewed the Catchers, First Basemen, Middle Infielders and Third Basemen. Earlier this week, we learned more about the Outfielders in the system who I project to be in the big leagues, AAA or AA to start the season. Today, we’ll look into those in the lower levels, those who will likely start the season in Ft. Myers, Cedar Rapids or in extended spring training.Of course, next week, we’ll consider the pitchers. But first, let’s finish the roster projections for hitters. Ft. Myers Miracle Zach Granite was the Twins 14th-round pick in 2013. After playing just 25 games in 2014, he came back strong in 2016. He dominated in a month in Cedar Rapids before moving up to Ft. Myers. Granite is 6-1 and 175 pounds and speed is his game. He could be an ideal top-of-order hitter as he has a good approach and understands who he is as a hitter. (Learn more about Zach Granite here) Tanner English was the Twins 11th-round pick in 2014 out of South Carolina. He got off to a slow start, but he really came on strong at the end. Not tall, English is strong and has some pop in his bat. He has very good speed on the bases and especially covering ground in center field. (Learn more about Tanner English here) Edgar Corcino was a draft pick of the Tigers way back in 2009. In 2012, he played in the rookie leagues, the Midwest League, the Florida State League and even a couple of games in AAA, but he was let go and went the independent baseball route the last couple of seasons. He works out with his good friend JO Berrios and the Twins signed him last winter. He began in extended spring, but came up to Cedar Rapids and hit in the middle of their lineup. He plays good defense at all three spots. He’s still just 23. (Learn more about Edgar Corcino here) Max Murphy made a strong impression in his pro debut after being selected in the 9th round in 2014 out of Bradley. He dominated the Appy League in half of a season and was named the league’s MVP despite being called up with a month of season to play. He moved up to Cedar Rapids. Unfortunately, that is where he spent the entire 2015 season. At 5-11 and 195 pounds, Murphy is capable of producing good power. (Learn more about Max Murphy here) Zack Larson is was the Twins 20th-round pick in the 2012 draft. The Twins happily signed him for above slot. He hit very well in the rookie leagues in 2013 and started well with the Kernels in 2014 before hamstring problems curtailed his season. He returned to Cedar Rapids and struggled mightily with the bat. He was 16-17 in stolen base attempts. (This story on Zack Larson is remarkable!) Cedar Rapids Kernels LaMonte Wade was the Twins ninth-round pick in 2015 out of Maryland. With the E-Twins, he hit .312/.428/.506 (.934). When they were eliminated from playoff contention, Wade moved up and started for the Kernels in their playoff run. The 22-year-old has a tremendous eye at the plate and good pop. (Get to know LaMonte Wade here) Likewise, Chris Paul moved up to Cedar Rapids late in the season and started for the Kernels in the playoffs. He was the team’s sixth-round pick in 2015 out of California. He plays the corner outfield positions as well as first base. Daniel Kihle was the Twins 18th round pick in 2015 out of Wichita State. He debuted in Elizabethton by hitting .273/.404/.392 (.796) with seven doubles, two triples and two homers. He’ll be 22 throughout the 2016 season. (Get to know Daniel Kihle here) Austin Diemer spent the first half of the 2015 season in extended spring training. He got called up to the Kernels and played most every day. Known for his speed and defense, Diemer hit a big home run in the Kernels run to the Midwest League championship series. The 22-year-old was the Twins 28th round pick in 2014 out of Cal State Fullerton. Drafted in the 21st round last year Cal State Dominguez Hills, Kamran Young debuted in the Appalachian League last year. He hit .219/.301/.339 (.640) with seven doubles, two triples and four homers. After four years of college, he will be 23 throughout the 2016 season. Extended Spring Training Roberto Gonzalez was the Twins 15th-round pick in 2014 out of high school in Orlando. That summer, he broke his kneecap which delayed the start of his 2015 season. When healthy, he has speed, some power, good defense and a strong arm. (Get to know Roberto Gonzalez here) Tyree Davis was signed Straight Outta Compton as the Twins 37th-round pick in 2014. He signed and has spent the two seasons in the GCL where he has unfortunately been hurt. His 2015 season came to an end early with a shoulder injury. He has great speed. He has a nice line drive swing from both sides of the plate. Could develop some power. Very good defense in centerfield. (Learn more about Davis here.) Jaylin Davis was the Twins 24th-round pick in 2015 out of Appalachian State. A tremendous athlete, he missed most of his final college season due to a torn shoulder labrum. He’s been rehabbing in Ft. Myers since signing. He has power potential and good speed. He can be a good outfielder though his recovery from surgery will affect his arm in the short-term. Christian Cavaness went undrafted last year after an All-American season at Lindenwood University Belleville (in Illinois). He went to play in a wood bat summer league in Oregon when the Twins signed him as an undrafted free agent. The 21-year-old went to the GCL where he hit .333/.429/.556 (.984). He finished the season with four games in Elizabethton. He is a candidate to go to Cedar Rapids as well. Rowan Ebersohn signed with the Twins out of South Africa in July of 2014. He came to the States this year. Very raw, he hit .193 in his debut in the GCL. He’ll likely remain in the GCL in 2016. (Get to know Rowan Ebersohn.) Luis Martinez came to the States after a season in the DSL. He hit just .140, but he is a good athlete who plays very good outfield defense. He’ll also likely return to the GCL. SUMMARY On Wednesday, we learned about the Twins outfielders in the big leagues, AAA and AA (projected). Today, we covered the outfielders that could start the season in Ft. Myers, Cedar Rapids or in Extended Spring Training. While the big names are in the upper levels, there are some players with real good potential in these lower levels too. Outfield Prospect Rankings: Byron BuxtonMax KeplerAdam Brett WalkerTravis HarrisonLaMonte WadeNext week, we’ll continue to make our roster projections by looking at the pitching depth, from big league to the extended spring training rosters. Feel free to discuss and ask questions. Click here to view the article

Nope, he doesn't.

The cutter is such a tough pitch to hit, much less to lay off of. A slider may move 6 inches whereas a cutter only moves about 2 inches, but that's just enough to miss the good part of the bat and you don't make good contact. I remember telling myself to lay off it, but it's hard to pick up and the next thing you know, you're 0-2 with two weak groundouts back to the pitcher. I've always said that, for me, the two toughest pitches to hit were a good changeup and a good cutter.

Stephen Gonsalves had a very strong 2015 season. If not for one Jose Orlando Berrios, Gonsalves was the likely winner of the Twins Daily Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year. Today, we catch up with the talented, 21-year-old pitching prospect and learn more about what has made him successful, what he’s worked on this offseason. Find out how he feels about leaving San Diego next week to come to Minnesota for Twins Fest.He had a terrific 2015 season. It began with nine starts in Cedar Rapids where he went 6-1 with a 1.15 ERA. He finished the season with 15 starts in Ft. Myers. There he went 7-2 with a 2.61 ERA. It was a very successful season. He saw his name rising up prospect rankings. Thank you to Stephen Gonsalves for taking time to respond to our questions today! If you enjoy this Q&A, be sure to thank Stephen for doing this when getting his autograph at Twins Fest in a week! ----------------------------------------- Seth Stohs (SS): Being from San Diego, can we assume you grew up as a Padres fan, or will you surprise us with another favorite team? Who were some of your favorite players? Stephen Gonsalves (SG): Yes, being from San Diego, I was raised a Padres fan, although I took a trip to Boston in third grade and went to the ballpark and absolutely fell in love with Fenway. My favorite player to watch growing up was, no doubt, Trevor Hoffman. Coming in to Hells Bells to close out the game, Petco Park lighting up in flames with Trevor Time, greatest experience at a ballpark you can have. SS: Let’s go back to your high school days. Did you play other sports, or were you involved in other activities? SG: The only other sport I played in high school was basketball, but I only played through my sophomore year. I was planning on playing all four years until one of my buddies snapped his ankle right in front of me right after we made the Team USA cuts, and that's when I decided I can't risk missing a baseball season from injury in another sport. SS: After making eight starts in Cedar Rapids at the end of last season, you went back there to start this season and made another nine starts. Dominant, would be the word. What were you able to accomplish and gain personally through that time in 2015 with the Kernels? SG: In Cedar Rapids, I want to say that my mindset was key. I needed to feel like I will dominate and no one here can beat me. That was one of the first times I wanted to be arrogant on the hill and display dominance, and in the end, I feel that helped gain my confidence in all my pitches just by saying “You’re not going to hit this pitch and I'm going to beat you.” SS: You hit a couple of early bumps in Ft. Myers. What was the adjustment like from the Midwest League to the Florida State League? SG: Once I got to Florida, it was an adjustment just to the weather. I went from pitching in 40-50 degrees in Cedar Rapids to getting my first six of seven starts in Florida being day games in the middle of summer where it was 90-100 with humidity. That's where it felt like I got winded early. Then the difference in batters was they waited for what they knew they could hit. In Cedar Rapids, once I got ahead 0-1, they were on their heels and would swing at a bad pitch to quickly make it 0-2. In ft. Myers when I was 0-1 and make that same pitch, they were able to spit on it make it 1-1. Which then 1-1 they have seen my best two pitches. Then 1-1, I would like to go to my best offspeed which was my change-up and throw that again and try to make it a bit better, and in the beginning, I was beating myself up and trying to make it perfect which always makes it worse. Then I'd be 2-1 to where he's ready to hit, seen my best pitches, and has a good idea of what was coming. SS: When you are at your best, what are you doing on the mound? What’s working? SG: I'm best on the mound when I can locate my fastball in. That is my favorite to throw, right at the knees first pitch maybe a ball in off the plate to make him dance a little to where he's uncomfortable. Then I know I can beat him up by just throwing my change-up on the outside half for an easy ground out. 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?” SG: Well this offseason in bullpens, I will be spending a lot of time on my cutter/slider. My curve ball is a serious weapon now, thanks to this last year where that's all we spent my time. So now to the next pitch where I flashed it a couple times in Instructs, and I got a lot of great feedback by coaches thinking that it might be my best pitch this year. So hopefully I can have this as a serious weapon this year. SS: Last offseason, you worked out with the likes of James Shields, Stephen Strasburg and others. What has your offseason work and throwing program consisted of this year? SG: I am fortunate to be working with all those guys again, Chris Young, Stephen Strasburg, and in the pen James Shields. They are awesome guys to share what they share with me whether it be showing me stuff on the mound or grips or even mental side on what they get from the game. SS: When you get away from baseball, what do you enjoy doing? SG: While I'm not playing baseball, I am either in the water or on the golf course. I love to go spearfishing! My cousin got me started on it about six years ago, and it is my favorite thing to do out here. SS: In Cedar Rapids, you tweeted about never pitching below 60 degrees. Then you did, barely. So, how much are you looking forward to braving a Minneapolis winter for Twins Fest? SG: Haha! Well, I have had the weather app on my phone locked on Minneapolis once I first got the invite, and I watch day-by-day it (temperature) dropping. All I have to say is, I will be signing all my autographs next to a fire, wrapped in a blanket. (Seth Note - I will be attempting to obtain photographic evidence of this to post on Twins Daily as well as all forms of social media.) SS: You’ve had cards since you were drafted in 2013. What is it like having your own baseball card and having people ask you for an autograph? SG: Having people ask for your autograph is such a cool feeling to have. In high school, I would get fans sending me my cards during my senior year in class. It something special for me because, in my mind, I haven't done anything yet. I'm just a 21-year-old kid that still feels like I'm 15 playing in those tournaments and chasing after my dream. SS: As a player, do you look at prospect rankings? What does it mean for you to be trickling into the Twins Top 10 prospect lists this offseason? SG: Yes. I can honestly say I'm a victim to checking it out once in a while because I see it as motivation. That list is saying that I'm not the best and someone out there is better, and I don't want it to sound bad, but if you want to succeed you need to have that thought in your mind that no one will beat you. No one will out-work you, and I will climb to the top. SS: What are your goals for the 2016 season? Are there certain numbers/stats you’d like to focus on? SG: My goal for this season is to make the Futures Game in Petco Park in San Diego to represent the Twins. That would be very special for me and to my friends and family that cheer for me every day. Numbers-wise, the only one I'm focused on are the walks. Those need to be pretty much cut in half. SS: Who are some of the people who have helped you get to this point in your career? SG: I have a great family base here in San Diego that is the best support I can possibly have. All my aunts and uncles and cousins listening to every game, sending me little messages after every game, has helped me get this far and fuel me to keep going. SS: Probably not in 2016, but looking to 2017 or 2018, what would it mean to you and your family to put on the Minnesota Twins uniform and pitch in the big leagues? SG: It would mean the world to me and my family, to reach my dreams of getting to the MLB whenever that may be, and I couldn't be happier to do it with this organization. Again, a big Thank You to Stephen Gonsalves for taking time to respond to our questions. Best wishes for a 2016 season! Click here to view the article

I think the answers to that were fairly clear in the article.

No question he can play the position well... But obviously that makes him better in the corner and with Buxton in CF, that's elite.

Well, you're just going to have to check back tomorrow. :-)

Today we continue to look at the Minnesota Twins organizational depth at all of the positions. Previously, we have reviewed the Catchers, First Basemen, Middle Infielders and Third Basemen. We will learn more about some of the outfielders in the system. Because there are so many outfielders, we are going to split this into two articles, those in the big leagues and upper levels today; those in the lower levels tomorrow.If anything goes off of plan, who are some of the options that could get time in the big leagues in coming years. And, who are the prospects with the potential to be impact players down the line? Read on and see what you think, and then let’s discuss below in the comments. MAJOR LEAGUES It’s hard to imagine, and would have been even more difficult a year ago, Eddie Rosario enters spring training as the one player that we know with certainty will be in the Twins outfield. Rosario debuted in May, for what was supposed to be a short term, but he stuck the rest of the season and finished sixth in AL Rookie of the Year voting. The 24-year-old hit .267/.289/.459 (.748) with 18 doubles, 15 triples, 13 home runs, 11 stolen bases, 15 walks and 16 outfield assists. He’s a candidate for a fall off due to complete unwillingness to walk, or he could make some adjustments and continue to contribute. Miguel Sano will be in the outfield to start the 2016 season. He’s never played the position in a game before. However, he has always been one to take fly balls during batting practice. Sano could play left field or right field, depending up who you ask. He will be in the lineup because of his bat. He didn’t come up until July 1st last year, but he performed so well that he finished third in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. He was also named the Twins top rookie and the Twins MVP. In 80 games, he hit .269/.385/.530 (.916) with 17 doubles and 18 home runs. He walked a lot and struck out even more. The question mark is the third outfielder. One would think that the ideal situation would involve Byron Buxton being ready and winning the Opening Day center field job. After an injury-plagued 2014 season, he had a remarkably inconsistent 2015 season in AA Chattanooga. In mid-June, necessity meant he was called up too early, and the struggles should have been anticipated. But he showed glimpses of what could be. What could be as soon as Opening Day 2016! Danny Santana is out of options, so he’s going to be on the team. Will he be the utility infielder who can also be the backup in center field? If Buxton isn’t quite ready, Santana could go into the season as the starting center fielder as well. It’s a position he was unfamiliar with in 2014 when he debuted and put together a remarkable rookie season. His 2015 was a disaster. The reality is likely somewhere in between, but the 25-year-old can still have a lot of value for the Twins. Speaking of disastrous 2015 seasons, Oswaldo Arcia is also out of options in 2016. The 24-year-old is just one year removed from a season with 20 big league homers. Too much talent to just give up on. He’ll have to earn back confidence, likely in a part-time role, but there’s no doubt that he can hit for a lot of power. Or, he could be trade bait if he can regain some value. MINOR LEAGUES Rochester Red Wings Max Kepler was the Twins minor league hitter of the year in 2015 when he finally had that breakout season we’ve all been hoping for. He’ll be 23-years-old shortly before spring training starts. It’ll be his third big league spring training, but it will be the first where he will get a long look and a possibly an Opening Day job. Most likely, he’ll start the season in Rochester, but don’t be surprised if he is up within a couple of months. He can play all three outfield positions as well as first base. Adam Brett Walker will go to big league spring training for the first time. He will be 24 years old through the 2016 season. He led his league in HR and RBI for the third straight season in 2016, yet he led all of minor league baseball in strikeouts as well. Moving up to AAA will be another big adjustment for Walker, but he will get to work with Chad Allen again, which will help. Defensively, he was moved from right field to left field in 2015. His defense and his arm are also in need of improvement. Joe Benson, Darin Mastroianni and Ryan Sweeney all came to the Twins this offseason on minor league deals with spring training invites. Sweeney is a one-time big prospect from Cedar Rapids. The 30-year-old spent parts of nine seasons in the big leagues with the White Sox, A’s, Red Sox and Cubs. Benson was the Twins second round pick back in 2006. He was the Twins minor league hitter of the year in 2011 when he also received a September call up. One of the best athletes in the Twins organization, Benson struggled some with making contact, but more important, he struggled with handling failure. Still just 27, maturity could help him bring things together and he could be a role player in time. Darin Mastroianni was a role player for the Twins, a fourth outfielder from 2012 into 2014. The 30-year-old spent the 2015 season with Buffalo. Chattanooga Lookouts Daniel Palka came to the Twins November from the Diamondbacks in the Chris Herrmann trade. In High-A Visalia in 2015, he hit .280/.352/.532 (.884) with 36 doubles, 29 homers and 90 RBI. He also stole 24 bases. He can play the corner outfield positions and first base. Shannon Wilkerson had been playing in the independent Atlantic League until midseason when the Twins signed him and sent him to Chattanooga. In 49 games with the Lookouts, he hit .292/.355/.378 (.733) with ten extra base hits and 11 stolen bases while handling center field. The 27-year-old had spent six seasons in the Red Sox organization. He quickly re-signed with the Twins following the season. Travis Harrison was a supplemental first round pick of the Twins in 2011. He has moved up one level each season since then. He hit .240/.363/.356 (.719) with 23 doubles, four triples and five home runs. He moved from third base to left field to right field the last three seasons. At 6-1 and 215 pounds, Harrison is very strong and we keep hearing that he’ll add home run power. I personally believe that he will. I think the best thing for him would be to spend at least another half-season in AA. We’ve seen it many times. That extra time repeating a level can help slow the game down and the player can find success and learn a few things that propel him toward reaching his potential. Harrison has a ton of potential. Chad Christensen was the Twins 25th round pick in 2013. He has played first base, third base and all three outfield positions in his two full seasons in the Twins system. At Nebraska, he spent a season at shortstop and another in center field. At 6-3 and 205 pounds, he is one of the best pure athletes in the organization. He has terrific speed. He is already 25, but has potential to be a quality role player in time. Keury De La Cruz signed with the Red Sox as a 16-year-old in 2008. He remained in that organization through the 2015 season where he reached AA. He became a minor league free agent and the Twins signed him in December. He played primarily left field in 2015 and hit just .240/.282/.375 (.658) with 22 doubles and three homers in the Eastern League. Niko Goodrum and Stephen Wickens were both highlighted in the third base article. However, Goodrum started spending more and more time in center field in 2015. Wickens has received quite a bit of playing time in left field the last couple of years. SUMMARY I believe that we already know four-fifths of the Twins Opening Day outfield (pending further, surprising transactions). Eddie Rosario and Miguel Sano will be in the outfield. Danny Santana and Oswaldo Arcia are also very likely to be on the Opening Day roster as they are both out of options and very talented. Byron Buxton will likely be given every opportunity to win the starting center field job out of spring training. But if he begins the season in Rochester, Danny Santana is the likely center fielder. That means that one of Darin Mastroianni, Ryan Sweeney or Joe Benson will be the team’s fourth outfielder to start the season. Max Kepler could also be an option in left field should Rosario be the center fielder. We know that highly-touted prospects like Buxton and Kepler will not be kept on the big league roster if they won’t be playing at least five times per week. Along with Buxton and Kepler, Adam Brett Walker will get his first opportunity to impress the coaches in spring training. Tomorrow, we’ll be back with the lower levels of the Twins farm system. There are several more prospects that are very exciting. Click here to view the article

Great comment!