Seth Stohs

That's a very true statement. Playing daily and playing all day is a lot different than twice a week and sitting in a classroom 7 hours a day. But, it's really just one piece to it all. It's going to wood bats, it's being away from home, it's getting that pay check, it's meeting people from various places all over the world, etc. I've often been told that the further away from the big leagues the level is, the less the actual stats mean in player evaluation.

I've always said that I think he could play the OF because of his athleticism and speed. Not great range, but like Cuddyer in his quality defensive RF days. Do I think he will in the big leagues? I still lean toward him not, but we shall see.

Kolton Kendrick was the Twins eighth-round pick this past June out of high school in Louisiana. He gave up a scholarship to Southeastern Louisiana to sign with the Twins. At 6-3 and 225 pounds, Kendrick has been long touted for his tremendous power potential. Unfortunately, he didn’t get much time to show what he could do in 2015. After signing with the Twins, he came down with mono and missed several weeks before joining the GCL Twins. In mid-July, he started playing, but not at full strength. In 24 games, he hit .200/.371/.271 (.642) with three doubles and a triple. He participated in the Twins Florida Instructional League and now is enjoying his first offseason as a professional.Continue on to read more about another new Twins minor leaguer, Kolton Kendrick. ----------------------------------------- Seth Stohs (SS): Growing up in Louisiana, who was your favorite team to follow, and who were some of your favorite players? Kolton Kendrick (KK) I never really had a favorite team in the MLB or a favorite player, but I really enjoyed going to college games like LSU football and baseball and Southeastern Louisiana baseball, where I was going to college. There are very close from where I live, and my family and I really enjoyed that a lot. SS: Drafted by the Twins in the eighth round... is that about where you thought you would be selected before the draft? What were your thoughts when you heard your name called? KK: I'm very blessed to get this opportunity, and where I went in the draft, it's been a lifelong dream. I was projected first five rounds, but I didn't sit on it just because I heard how the draft is in the past, and I just thank God every day that He put me in the position of going in the eighth round. Whether it was the first round or the 40th round, I still would be blessed either way and give the thanks to God. I was very excited when my name came across the screen. SS: You had the commitment to play at Southeastern Louisiana. How difficult was the decision to sign with the Twins, or did you know you wanted to sign all along? KK: It was very difficult, but it was a family decision, and I think I made the right decision to take it. Southeastern is a great school and is on a huge rise in their baseball program. They have one of the best coaching staffs, and they teach their players how to play the game hard and the right way. They get theie players mentally and physically ready for real life situations and game situations. SS: After signing, you came down with mono. How frustrating was it for you to have signed and then have to wait to get to play? KK: It was very frustrating because the doctors wouldn't let me do anything for a whole month. I thought I was going to go crazy cause that's never happened to me before. When I went back down to Florida, I was rusty and had to get back to where I was. It took me a while to get used, to it but I got the hang of it. SS: What was the biggest adjustment you had to make, going from the high school and amateur season to the pro game? On or off the field? KK: The biggest adjustment I had to make was probably staying more mentally focused into the game and taking care of my body. It was tough going from 32 games in high school to playing every day, but it takes time to get used to it. Fortunately, we were all blessed with great trainers and older guys being down there in rehab because they will teach you some things that they've learned along the way. You have to take those things into consideration if you want to mature as a person and become a better player. SS: In these very early stages of your career, what would you say are your biggest strengths as a player? KK: My biggest strengths are probably my power when hitting and working my butt off when no one is looking. My power numbers really didn't show this past year like they have my whole life. I was disappointed, but I know it takes time. I will do whatever it takes to get back to do doing what I've been doing my whole life and that's hitting with power and playing the game hard. SS: What are the things that you feel you need to improve over the offseason and going forward? KK: I definitely need to get bigger, stronger, and faster because I lost a lot of it when I had mono, and lost a lot of weight during the season. I also need to mentally prepare myself and learn how to take care of my body to have a healthy career SS: What were some of the highlights of your high school and amateur career? (What other sports or activities did you participate in?) KK: My highlight of my high school career was going to state my senior year for baseball, getting all-American two years in a row, my junior and senior years, and playing in the high school all-star game my senior year. SS: What are your plans for the offseason? (Baseball Training, but also what do you enjoy doing away from the game of baseball?) KK: I'm working out with former big leaguer Ryan Theriot and a bunch of pro guys. Ryan has a huge facility and a ton of pro guys are working out in there, so it's great to be around all that. He has a lot of great trainers and nutritionists and people teaching you how to take care of your body. I also love to duck hunt and deer hunt. I've been doing it my whole life and it's become a passion. It really gets my mind off of things, and I can relax without any worries. SS: Who are some of the coaches and others who have helped you get to this point in your career? KK: First off I’d like to give the glory to God and my wonderful family, but there's been so many people that have impacted me on this journey and helped me get to where I am. I'd like to give credit to Wade Miley. He's taught me some things, and he's playing for Boston Red Sox right now in the big leagues. He grew up and still lives in the small town where I'm from. All my coaches from when I played travel baseball when I was younger. I'd really like to give credit to Leo Mcluer and Trey Mcluer and also my high school coaches and Tony Salim who has helped me every step of the way. ------------------------------------------------ A big Thank You to Kolton Kendrick for taking time to respond to our questions. Best wishes to him! Please feel free to comment or ask questions below. Click here to view the article

On Thursday at Target Field, Torii Hunter addressed a crowd of Twin Cities media, former teammates and friends . It was his first public appearance since his retirement was announced last week. "Did I say 'retired'? I mean 'Real Tired.'" It was another day of memories for the Twins great as he said many Thank You's. Guest writer Heather Rule returns the favor with a Thank You to Torii Hunter.It was the 2002 All-Star Game in Milwaukee. Torii Hunter was an All-Star for the first time. He left his mark in the first inning with a homer-saving catch against the wall off the bat of Barry Bonds. Hunter had plenty of spectacular catches over his career, earning him nine Gold Gloves. But that one in particular is the most memorable. I don't think I'm the only one either. Hunter addresses the crowd at the end of the season. It's the end of an era now, as Hunter, 40, announced his retirement from baseball. He started and ended his career with the Twins, stopping with the Angels for five years and the Tigers for two in between. One of the favorites Hunter is right up there when you think of franchise players for the Twins. Not necessarily for his baseball stats, although those aren't too shabby either. No, Hunter represents the heart and soul of the organization. He quite often flashed those pearly whites and just had fun. The Twins drafted him in 1993, with his major league debut coming in 1997. It was Kirby Puckett who took him under his wing as an outfielder, and then it came full circle as Hunter became the leader for guys like Byron Buxton and Aaron Hicks. He's a career .277 hitter with 353 home runs and 1,391 RBI. He won American League Gold Glove Awards from 2001-09. He was part of the Twins core that avoided contraction and won a string of division titles. Coming home He returned to Minnesota for the 2015 season. It was really a sentimental signing, I believe. It was tough watching him slump with the bat in late summer and to watch those miscues he occasionally had in the field. But overall, it was nice to have him back in the Twins lineup. One of the other memories from this past season that sticks out isn't the most flattering for him. It was his ejection from a game against the Tigers in June. It was after a strikeout when Hunter said something to the home plate umpire about a strike 2 call. He ended up taking his jersey off and throwing it onto the field, along with his elbow pad. It was quite the scene. "Just a lot of emotions," Hunter said after the game. "We have bad days, all of us. Hitters, pitchers, even umpires have bad days. He had one. So what can you do? "All you need to do is look at the video and decide for yourself." That probably wasn't Hunter's finest moment, but it was certainly memorable. There were other things from this past season, too, like his solo home run in the 9th inning Aug. 7 in Cleveland to win the game 10-9. That was actually a weird game where the Twins gave back their 6-0 lead before rallying late. It was definitely a bright spot for Hunter though. His story seemed clear to me: He was part of a great run of division titles for the Twins in the 2000s, but played free agency because he wanted that World Series ring. Who wouldn't? He had some playoff success with the other teams, the Los Angeles Angels and Detroit Tigers, but he fell short of that final series. There was one thing he said during Thursday's news conference that I thought was great. He realized how fortunate he was to play in the playoffs for a number of years, since some guys never get that chance. "You get brainwashed into wanting a World Series," he said. So he came home. Not his born-and-raised home like it is for Joe Mauer. But Minnesota is still home for Hunter. He wanted one more year with the Twins. One more year playing baseball. One more year where he could mentor the youngsters, and start a fun dance-party tradition. Thanks for the memories Going forward, I'd like to see him on the desk for baseball broadcasts, maybe even up in the booth, too, especially for a few Twins games. He hasn't made any decisions about what path he will take in retirement, but I wouldn't mind if he wanted to coach. Or he could just hang around and mentor the young outfielders and pass on his Gold Glove wisdom. Whatever he decides, it doesn't change what he's already given the Twins and their fans. Great catches, a signature home-run bat toss, leadership and just being one of the best overall fan favorites in team history. Thanks, Torii. Find the original blog entry at Thoughts from the Stands, a sports blog with focus on a variety of sports including the Twins, Wild, IndyCar, tennis and prep sports. You can also follow writer Heather Rule on Twitter @hlrule. Click here to view the article

Andro Cutura was the Twins seventh-round pick in 2014 out of Southeastern Louisiana. An injury meant that he spent that season rehabbing. This season, he pitched in Elizabethton and was terrific. In 11 starts, he went 3-2 with a 1.34 ERA and a 1.01 WHIP. He walked just 15 and struck out 49. Following the Elizabethton season, he joined the Ft. Myers Miracle, though he didn’t get into a game. Cutura was kind enough to answer our questions recently. So continue reading to learn a little more about the 22-year-old right-hander. Seth Stohs (SS): Growing up in Louisiana, who was your favorite team to follow, and who were some of your favorite players? Andro Cutura (AC): Growing up in Louisiana you were either an Astros fan or a Braves so I kind of kept up with both but leaned more towards the Astros. Greg Maddux was and will always be one of my favorite pitchers mainly because of the similarities we possess. I try to mirror my game to his. SS: What were some of your favorite high school memories, from baseball or other activities you were involved in? AC: I would say my most memorable moment would be winning the district championship in soccer my senior year and all the fans rushing the field for the dog pile. Another great memory was helping Pearl River High School baseball to win their first playoff game my junior year. SS: You then chose Southeastern Louisiana for your college ball. What were some of your favorite memories from your three years there? AC: This is a tough one because there were so many great memories from my three years there. It all started with my freshman year getting my first collegiate win against Mississippi State, all the way to dog piling as conference tournament champions my junior year. It was all topped off with getting to a regional for the first time in 20 years and finally getting a start against LSU. We fell short but it was an awesome experience with my teammates. SS: Drafted by the Twins in the seventh round in 2014. Is that about where you thought you might be selected coming into the draft? What were your thoughts when you heard your name called by the Twins? AC: I mean yes, I was definitely planning on going earlier, but I knew I would drop mainly because of an injury at the end of my junior season that played a pretty big factor in the selection process. However, I was so thankful that I had people who still believed in me and my work ethic and gave me the opportunity to move on to the next level. I was so excited when I heard my name called. Everything happened so fast! My whole body was shaking, but when I heard my name it was great to give my parents and coaches a big hug and thank them for everything. SS: You spent the rest of 2014 rehabbing an injury. How frustrating was it for you to have signed and then have to wait to get to actually play? AC: It was very frustrating, especially with the longevity of the rehab process. It took a lot longer to heal than we expected so that was definitely a low moment in my career where I thought it would never get better. The main thing I had to focus on was staying positive and trusting in faith because I knew God had a plan for me. I am so thankful that I had a great training staff that stayed on me and kept me positive through the lengthy process. SS: What was the biggest adjustment you had to make, going from college or amateur ball to the pro game? On or off the field? AC: I think the biggest thing for me was to understand that yes, this is every kid’s dream and we are out here to have fun, but now this is my job. The coaches aren’t going to be on your tail at all times to do the right thing, it is up to you to get your work done and perform or else you will be looking for another job. SS: How would you describe yourself as a pitcher? What do you throw, and what are you doing when you are at your best (your strengths)? AC: I would say I have more of the bulldog mentality with sort of a controlled fire within me. I will be on the rubber telling the batter to step in the box because I’m ready to get you out; you’re not going to beat me. That is my mentality with every hitter. I throw more of a power sinker for the most part, I will mix in a few four seams, and I also have a slider and a change-up. I think I am at my best when I am down in the zone and have a good feel for all three pitches mixing them in any count. SS: What are the things that you feel you need to improve over the offseason and going forward? AC: The main thing for me is building more overall strength and stamina. Rehabbing for 7-8 months and not being able to do any lifting or running for the most part was very tough for me. I lost weight due to lack of muscle mass in my legs and upper body. I want to get stronger and increase my stamina to be able to go deeper into games. As far as the pitching side I really want to work on my fastball location and consistency of my off-speed pitches. SS: What was the Elizabethton experience like for you, on and off the field? AC: E-Town was great! I had a great landlord who was extremely helpful along with awesome roommates. I stayed in a house about two blocks from the field and right next to a river so I couldn’t complain. We had a very close-knit group players and coaches and the town as a whole was very supportive of their team. SS: What are your plans for the offseason? (Baseball training, but also what do you enjoy doing away from the game of baseball?) AC: I’ve spent a lot of time visiting the family and watching the siblings play their sports. I also plan of doing a lot of fishing and duck hunting while I’m home. SS: Who are some of the coaches and others who have helped you get to this point in your career? AC: There is such a long list of names that have led me to where I am now. I will start off saying my parents getting me through the tee-ball stages as my coaches and throwing with me in the front yard growing up. Here’s a little list of the shoutouts : Coach Wayne Chambers, Ron Hollier, Jack Pineiro, Gary Funel, Al Barrileaux, Rick Cavers, Randy Buck, Albert Garza, Vinny Dicarlo, Steve Bullock, Gee, John Crawford, Derek Bicham, Jacques Jobert, Jay Artigues, Matt Riser, Daniel Latham, Zack Zulli, Louis Ramirez, JP Martinez, Virgil Vasquez and any others that I may be leaving out. I thank my parents and many of my coaches for getting me to tournaments and practices and being so helpful. Thank you to Andro Cutura for taking time to thoughtfully respond to our questions! Please feel free to comment and ask questions below. Click here to view the article

Maybe, but if so, that's our fault, not Buxton's... To expect Griffey or Trout isn't fair to anyone.

I don't recall Blyleven throwing very hard, certainly not 95. Here's the Mets Big Five (I'll include Zack Wheeler as well): Jacob DeGrom: Mets 9th round pick in 2010 out of Stetson... debuted a month before he turned 26. Matt Harvey: Mets 1st round pick (7th overall) in 2010 out of UNC. Steven Matz: Mets 2nd round pick in 2009 out of high school in New York. Noah Syndergaard: Blue Jays supp. 1st round pick in 2010 (38th overall) out of high school in Texas. Came to the Mets after the 2012 season (with Travis d'Arnaud) for reigning Cy Young winner RA Dickey. At that time, Syndergaard had never played above Low A. Zack Wheeler: Giants 1st round pick (6th overall) in 2009 out of high school in Georgia. In July 2011, he was traded to the Mets for Carlos Beltran. At that time, he was pitching in High-A ball. So, generally speaking, four of the five were high draft picks, three out of high school, one out of college. Two were acquired in trades before they reached AA. DeGrom is a rarity, but the others all were drafted with this kind of upside.

1.) Read the next paragraph after the quote where you said I ended it. 2.) Radke would give up some early runs. But for the most part, he gave his team a chance to win almost every time out. He played on some really bad teams and still gave those teams a chance to win. How he won 20 games on a team that maybe won 70 is remarkable. He ate innings, he threw strikes, he got weak contact (especially after the first inning). No one is putting him in the Maddux, Kershaw category, but if you're eating a lot of innings, it means you're doing a pretty good job. And, don't make too much of the "Pretty good about taking the mound comment." How many of us say that when we really feel 'really good' or whatever. That's just words. I think any free agent signing is risky and probably won't end well, so I woudln't go out and get an established one. It does speak to developing one. They developed Santana (even though he was a Rule 5 guy, he hadn't pitched above Low A ball). They developed Liriano (acquired when he had like 9 innings above the rookie leagues). But that's the best way to do it. Get those guys during their first six years, extend them a couple of years past free agency, and then let them go. That's probably the right strategy, but very, very difficult to do.

I was on a radio show on 1390 The Fan in St. Cloud yesterday, and the first question I was asked about the Twins offseason was if I thought the team would attempt to acquire an ace in the offseason. It is a very fair question. As we watched the playoffs unfold this year, there were aces all over. The New York Mets started four young pitchers who topped 95 with their fastball and have really good secondary pitches. The Royals added Johnny Cueto at the trade deadline. The Blue Jays added David Price at the deadline. The Astros had Dallas Kuechel. The Dodgers had Clayton Kershaw and Zach Greinke. The Minnesota Twins have some depth at starting pitcher, and they made huge improvements as a group in 2015. For the first time in several years, they did not finish last in starters ERA. The last two offseasons, Terry Ryan has spent $100 million combined for Ricky Nolasco and Ervin Santana. Neither would fit the category of ace, but before signing with the Twins, they both had been solid, inning- eating pitchers for an extended period of time. Phil Hughes pitched like an Ace in 2014, but he came back down to earth in 2015. Tommy Milone won’t fit anyone’s definition of an ace, but he pitched well much of 2015. Kyle Gibson isn’t a big strikeout pitcher, but he topped 180 innings and was the Twins top pitcher in 2015. Tyler Duffey pitched like an ace down the stretch. Trevor May showed at times in the first half that he can be a solid MLB starter. He is capable of missing bats. And, we all look forward to the day when JO Berrios is in the rotation and what he could become. In the Twins Daily Offseason GM Handbook, Terry Ryan was asked how he would define an Ace. “We have a definition of an ace. It’d be quality innings, it’d be a guy that can get you a win when you need it, it would be a guy that’s got pitchability, it’d be a guy that gets into the seventh or eighth more often than not, those types of things. That’s an ace. And it doesn’t necessarily have to be a guy that throws 96. Maddux was an ace for a long time, he didn’t throw 96, and he did all those things I just mentioned.” As I wrote last month, velocity certainly doesn’t hurt but it isn’t a requirement for an Ace. Ryan continued, “Radke was our ace for a long time, and people argue that he wasn’t a No. 1. OK, that’s a good response. But he also pounded out 230 innings every year for a decade. He might not be the guy you want going up against some of these bigshots, but he also was the type of guy that you feel pretty good about taking the mound.” Over the course of his 12 seasons with the Twins, Radke quietly put up 45.6 bWAR. In the Twins 55 year history, only five Twins players have accumulated a higher bWAR. Those players are Rod Carew (63.7), Harmon Killebrew (53.7), Kirby Puckett (50.9), Bert Blyleven (49.3), and Joe Mauer (47.8). The next pitchers in line include Johan Santana (35.5 in 8 seasons), Jim Kaat (31.7 in 13 seasons) and Frank Viola (27.2 in 8 seasons). Think back to the Twins World Series teams of the past. The 1965 team had Jim Kaat, Camilo Pascual and Mudcat Grant. The 1987 team was led by Frank Viola and Bert Blyleven. The 1991 team had Jack Morris, Kevin Tapani and Scott Erickson. So, let’s get back to the 2015-2016 offseason and the original question. Do the Twins need an ace to get to the next step, to get to the playoffs and compete for another World Series title? The obvious answer is that it certainly wouldn’t hurt. None of the seven starters that will be competing for spots in the 2016 starting rotation are going to sit at 94+ mph. Trevor May averaged 93.2 mph on his fastball in 2015, but that was heightened by his time in the bullpen when he regularly hit 95 mph. Mike Pelfrey’s average fastball was 93.0 mph, but he is now a free agent and unlikely to return. Ervin Santana was next at 92.5. Then Kyle Gibson at 92.0 mph. Phil Hughes’ velocity dropped to 90.7 in 2015. Tommy Milone’s average fastball was just 87.6. However, Phil Hughes topped 200 innings in 2014. He had pitched 190 innings one other time in his career. Ervin Santana pitched more than 200 innings five times in his career, and reached 196 innings one other time. Ricky Nolasco went past 200 innings twice and was over 185 innings three other times. Tyler Duffey threw 196 innings between the big leagues and minor leagues in 2015. He’s got the size and strength to be the type of pitcher who can get to 200 innings consistently. Could the Twins acquire an ace this offseason? Could they acquire one in a trade? The Twins certainly have the prospects required to acquire pretty much any starting pitcher that might be available. This week, Billy Beane said that he didn’t think that there was much likelihood that he would trade Sonny Gray. However, as Nick wrote last month, acquiring Gray (or any ace-type pitcher) will take a combination of players such as Max Kepler and JO Berrios. Is it possible that the Twins could sign an ace this offseason?David Price is the top pitcher on the trade market. In the Twins Daily Offseason Handbook, we projected that Price will sign a bigger contract that Max Scherzer’s seven year, $210 million deal signed last year. It’s hard to imagine the Twins signing a pitcher for $30 million a year over more than half a decade. So then there is the second tier. Names in this group include Johnny Cueto, Zach Greinke and Jordan Zimmerman. There is a good chance that these three pitchers will get at least $25 million per season for at least five seasons. Those four pitchers are the aces in the group. Along with committing $150 million or more, these players would cost the Twins their first-round draft pick in 2016, the 17th overall pick. If you want, you can add Jeff Samardzija to the group, but his 6.29 ERA in the 2nd half exemplifies the inconsistency that has marked his career. The next group includes guys like Mike Leake, Wei-Yin Chen, Scott Kazmir and Brett Anderson. These guys are $13-15 million guys, and likely would also cost the first round pick. Now, many will tell you that there isn’t a salary cap in baseball. That is true. However, businesses (which is what MLB teams are) do have to spend appropriately to their revenues. Why do I mention that? Because if the Twins are going to make a big splash in free agency with a starting pitcher, they would also need to make some moves to reduce their current payroll. How can they do that? Well, it’s easy to say they could get rid of Nolasco. However, if they are able to trade him, the Twins will have to still pay a huge chunk of his salary. The team could non-tender Tommy Milone, or they could trade him. However, that’s only $5 million. They could trade Trevor Plouffe, and that would open up about $8 million more. That’s $13 million. Is it possible that the Twins would also be willing to trade someone like Phil Hughes or Ervin Santana to open up another $12-13 million. That would get them to about $25 million. That might be enough to pick up one of the ace-like pitchers. If you’re looking for my opinion, I would feel comfortable sticking with the Twins current pitching options. Phil Hughes needs to be the 2014 version, and after a frustrating 2015, I think he would put in the work to get back to what he was. Having Ervin Santana for a full season would certainly benefit the team. The hope would be that Kyle Gibson would continue to be more consistent and take another step forward. Obviously it would be great if Tyler Duffey would pitch close to how he pitched down the stretch. At just 25 next season, he could develop into a mainstay in the rotation. Trevor May warrants another opportunity as a starter. He’s still just 26. And, of course, they need to do what is best for JO Berrios as well because he’s got the potential to be a guy you would feel good starting a playoff game for years to come as well. That rotation may not have the definition of an ace by many accounts. However, I feel good about the potential of Duffey and Berrios becoming long-term, reliable starters. I have a comfort level in Kyle Gibson and Ervin Santana. And, I do think that Hughes will bounce back in 2016. That’s a pretty solid staff, and I would feel comfortable with several of them making playoff starts. And that doesn’t even count Tommy Milone who, at times, was the Twins top starter in 2015 and actually has made playoff starts. And, though we haven’t discussed it to this point, having an outfield defense that will, at some point, include Eddie Rosario, Byron Buxton and Aaron Hicks will help any pitching staff. Click here to view the article

Would I hire Ron Gardenhire? That's a great question... I'll answer like this... I wouldn't NOT hire him. In other words, I wouldn't take his name off my consideration list because of anything in his managerial career. I do think there are certain fits that he would be better in than others. I feel like Brad Ausmus is on a pretty short leash and Gardy's relationship with Jim Leyland will likely give him an opportunity for the job he was rumored to be getting late in the season. I personally would look for someone who has been in the game of baseball for 20+ years. I'm less worried about previous managerial service. I want someone who would spend time every day digging into stats and advanced stats, but who would tell me that they aren't afraid at all to go by gut on situations, lineups, etc. And, obviously the unmeasurable clubhouse control factor would be very important as well.

For me, I wouldn't even really consider Wieters. I think giving up the 17th overall pick is a lot. He's basically 30, so we're talking about years 30-33. Some do alright, but signing catchers at 30 to long term contracts a little/lot scary to me. If it gets late in the free agent timeline (maybe January) and Wieters is now willing to go 2 years and $25 million, I might consider it. I'm not saying AJ because he can maybe help a team offensively (at 40, we'll see). Not much defensively, though that doesn't change from now. But I'd rather go with a veteran on a one-year deal than spend big on Wieters.

Lack of power based on? 30 games in the GCL? No concern whatsoever. I've watched quite a bit of video of his swing and approach at the plate during the GCL season. He's got the size and strength and frame to develop into a bit of power. That's not a concern at all. He's got a real nice swing, in my opinion.

Call me Old School if you want, but I hate excessive strikeouts. It was really fun watching the Royals in the playoffs because they just don't want to strikeout. I love that mentality. Put the ball in play, be aggressive. Walks are wonderful, but if you know the strike zone, get strikes and attack it. I like a good, selective hitter too, but it's much, much more fun to watch batters swing the bat. But yeah... the Mets were all about their starters. The Royals got solid starting and let the bullpen dominate. Lots to learn.

Yeah, those Caribbean Leagues aren't about development. They're all about winning.

The Fall Stars game isn't about who is performing the best. It's about the top prospects - right or wrong. Rogers is pitching very well... take away one inning in which he gave up 4 runs and he'd have an ERA under 1.

One year ago, Trey Cabbage was beginning his senior season of basketball. He is a tremendous athlete who made a name online for himself on the court (see video below). However, it is on the baseball diamond where he hopes to become a household name for years to come. Recently, Twins Daily had the opportunity to chat with him, and our readers get a chance to know him. In the fourth round of the 2015 draft, the Twins went back to the high school ranks to select Trey Cabbage out of Grainger High School in Rutledge, Tennessee. He signed for well over the slot value and reported to Ft. Myers where he played for the GCL Twins. In 33 games, he hit .252/.302/.269 with two doubles. However, his season came to an end early when he was shut down with some lower back pain. He reports that the back is doing well, and he’s back in Tennessee for the offseason.Cabbage will report to Ft. Myers in March for spring training. Most likely he will begin the season in extended spring training and play for Elizabethton. That said, it’s entirely possible that he could spend some time in Cedar Rapids during the season. Let’s get to know more about Trey Cabbage: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seth Stohs (SS): Growing up in Tennessee, what was your favorite team to follow, and who were some of your favorite players? Trey Cabbage (TC): I always kept up with Todd Helton because he went to nearby Knox Central High School. He also was a Tennessee Volunteer in college. Phil Garner also went to my high school way before my time, but he came and spoke to my team and it was very influential and motivating. The team I followed was the Chicago Cubs because we live really close to their AA affiliate, the Tennessee Smokies. SS: Drafted by the Twins in the 4th round... is that about where you thought you would be selected before the draft? TC I really wanted to go higher in the draft, but I'm very blessed to be where I am, and I thank God for that daily. SS: You had the commitment to play at Tennessee. How difficult was the decision to sign with the Twins, or did you know you wanted to sign all along? TC: I knew I wanted to play professional very badly, so my family and I agreed that if we felt the situation fit, then I would do as I did; jump on it. SS: What was the biggest adjustment you had to make, going from the high school and amateur season to the pro game? On or off the field? TC: On the field, I felt like I adjusted quickly after about a week. I adjusted and got comfortable with the speed of the game. Off the field, I knew I had to hold myself accountable, and keep myself in the best position to succeed in my career. SS: You primarily played shortstop in high school. You played various places in your debut in the GCL. Where do you feel most comfortable and where do you think is the best position for you? TC: I feel comfortable anywhere on the field. I just want to play no matter where or how, I just want to be on the field. SS: In these very early stages of your career, what would you say are your biggest strengths as a player? TC: My work ethic and drive. I may not always be the most talented player to play, but I will never let myself be outworked. SS: What are the things that you feel you need to improve over the offseason and going forward? TC: I need to improve my durability. I need stay healthy, so I can be on the field ready to play. SS: What were some of the highlights of your high school and amateur career? (What other sports or activities did you participate in?) TC: I don't like to dwell on my previous accolades, but I am proud of being a 4 time all-state & two time All-American in baseball. I also played basketball. I wasn't the best, but I loved to play and compete with my team. SS: So, obviously many have seen the video of you breaking a rim in a basketball game. What do you recall about when that happened, the fan and teammate reaction and such? TC: All I heard was silence in the heat of the moment. I remember coming down and yelling in celebration. Then I heard a whistle and I thought they had called a technical on me for hanging on the rim. Next, I see my coaches and teammates pointing at the goal and I turned to see the rim dangling. I was ecstatic and it was awesome. SS: What are your plans for the offseason. Baseball training, but also what do you enjoy doing away from the game of baseball? TC: Yes, training. I like spending time with family and friends, while staying active such as hiking, swimming and pick up games of any sport. SS: Who are some of the coaches and others who have helped you get to this point in your career? TC: (I wouldn't) be where I am at without my high school coach, Chad Tate, my summer ball coaches including Todd F. Howard and Thomas "Ernie" Haire and of course, the man who taught me the game, my father. We would like to thank Trey Cabbage for taking time to answer our questions. Please feel free to comment or ask questions below. Click here to view the article

And here's Trey Vavra's three-run homer from earlier in the weekend...

Tanner Vavra's home run from Sunday afternoon (or Saturday night in the States). I'm impressed with how quickly he got around the bases. Click here for video.

He hit 7th most of the year in AA this year, and is hitting 7th in the AFL so far.

It''s been on mlb.com the past several years... not sure about MLB Network because I don't get that.

Vargas has played in Puerto Rico the last couple of seasons. I'm guessing he will again later in the offseason. Arcia has played in Venezuela. Some have said he's staying in the States this offseason, but he could do what a lot of players do and play after the holidays.