Seth Stohs

Cory Lewis made his professional debut in 2023. It went well. He was named the Jim Rantz Minor League Pitcher of the Year by the Twins, and the Twins Daily Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year. In the newest Twins Spotlight, we chatted with the right-hander about a ton of topics including his unique pitch mix. Image courtesy of Twins Spotlight Video of Cory Lewis showing his knuckeball grip. Cory Lewis grew up in Huntington Beach, California, and went to Marina High School. If Lewis were to make it to the big leagues, he would be the eight player from that school to do so. Maybe you remember first-round picks like Marc Newfield or Daric Barton. Craig Wilson was a second-round pick and spent seven seasons in the big leagues. Recent Brewers acquisition Jake Bauers went to Marina. The player from Marina High School with the longest big-league career has some Twins ties. Pat Corning was the Twins shortstop when Ken Griffey Jr.robbed Laura Ingalls Wilder’s husband of a home run off of Randy Johnson in a one game playoff. You remember, the Twins manager at that time was Pete Crow-Armstrong’s mom’s son Billy Heywood. (Let me know if you got all that. Kevin Elster went to Marina High. He spent parts of 13 seasons in the big leagues, his most memorable with the Mets. Lewis spent four seasons on the Marina varsity team. Along with pitching, he played a lot of first base as well. He had a strong sophomore season and that summer is when he committed to play at UC-Santa Barbara. He loved the school’s location. Not only was it close to the beach, but it was close to home, and his parents were able to make most of his games. In addition, he really appreciated the coaching staff. When he got on campus as a freshman in 2019, his eyes were opened. In Fall Ball, he learned that he had a lot of work to do. First and foremost, after going through the conditioning and seeing the other players, he knew he had to get himself into much better shape. The plan was for Lewis to be redshirted in 2020. Lewis said, “The biggest thing was that I needed to put in a lot more work. When I got there, I was a little out of shape, a little on the heavier side, velo was down. Everything was bad when I got there. Having that time during Covid to reset and get my body in the right shape, I think that really helped me my sophomore and junior year.” He continued by saying he “was lucky to have a good support system at Santa Barbara. I was able to get on a really good lifting program. I think the biggest thing was watching what I eat, cutting out the soda, taking nutrition a lot more seriously.” He had a strong support system. That is especially true of his parents, his brothers and his girlfriend. His younger of two older brothers, Chad, was the fourth-round pick of the Oakland A’s in 2010 out of Marina High School. He was always willing to talk to Cory about things like the draft process, minor-league ball, things to look out for, etc. His oldest brother, Troy, was someone who was a great listener and always there for him. He came into his sophomore season in much better shape. Series that year were four-game series, with single games on Friday and Sunday, and a doubleheader on Saturdays. He slotted in as the Sunday starter early in the season. He went 7-4 with a 3.38 ERA. As a junior in 2023, he took over as the team’s Friday night starter. Michael McGreevy and Rodney Boone were no longer in school after being drafted in 2021. He took it as a challenge, to “be that ace the team needed and set the tone for the weekend.” He responded by making 16 starts and going 9-1 with a 3.57 ERA. He had to wait until Day 2, the ninth round before hearing his name called by the Twins. He quickly signed in Fort Myers but spent the rest of that season working with coaches, training staff and others. They used the technology, video and analytics, to set a baseline for his current pitches. He began the 2023 season in Fort Myers. He made nine starts and went 4-3 with a 2.75 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. In 39 1/3 innings, he walked 15 and struck out 55 batters. He moved up to Cedar Rapids and continued to pitch great. In 13 starts, he went 5-1 with a 2.32 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. In 62 innings, he had 18 walks and 63 strikeouts. I’ll do the math for you. Overall, he went 9-4 with a 2.49 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. He threw 101 1/3 innings and had 118 strikeouts with just 33 walks. Clearly those were the kinds of numbers that made him the easy choice for Twins minor league pitcher of the year. Let’s talk a little bit about his pitches. Here are some notes on his five-pitch mix. Four-Seam Fastball In mid-January, Lewis was one of many Twins pitching prospects to head to Fort Myers for a velocity camp. In college, his fastball typically sat between 88 and 92. He said, “Everyone wants to throw harder. My focus was to be in the 92-94 range, and I had several games like that. Now I just need to be consistent.” As you can see, he actually grips his four-seam fastball on the opposite threads are most pitchers do. However, he is able to get good ride on the pitch. Change Up Lewis has a very loose-grip on his changeup. The lone pressure on the ball is from the ring finger which he said “does most of the work.” That pitch tends to drop straight down. Curveball Lewis uses a spike-curveball grip. The pointer finger is bent and its nails almost dig into the ball. Slider The slider is a pitch he added during his junior season. It is similar to a cutter but has more depth. Knuckleball When Phil Niekro and Tim Wakefield threw knuckleballs, that is essentially al they threw. Sure, maybe a fastball here and there (at about 72 mph), but not many. Just floating 52 mph knucklers. First things first, Cory Lewis throws a knuckleball, but he isn't a typical knuckle ball pitcher. He is a pitcher who throws a knuckleball. For Lewis, his knuckleball is one pitch from his five-pitch repertoire. In fact, most games, he only throws the pitch around 12% of the time. The other thing that makes the Lewis knuckler so intriguing is the fact that he throws it 82-85 mph. That is a very high-velocity knuckleball. Even through it's thrown that hard, he is able to keep the pitch's RPM around 150. In fact, in his playoff start, he threw on knuckleball at 88 mph. "It's been the same since I started throwing it. Even in college, it was probably 80 to 83 mph. For it to be 88 is kind of crazy." He recalled that the hitter swung awkwardly at the pitch which was up in the zone. After missing the pitch, the batter looked out at him with a "What was THAT?" look. Who are recent knuckleball pitches in the big leagues. You'd be hard-pressed to name some from the past decade or so? Late in the 2023 season, the San Diego Padres called up right-hander Matt Waldron. He throws a knuckleball about 27.0% of the time at an average of 76.6 mph). Waldrop threw a low-90s fastball about 44% of the time, a 80 mph slider 16% of the time, and a cutter about 13% of the time. Similar, yet Cory Lewis remains unique with his pitch mix. please feel free to discuss Lewis, his background, his stuff and project his future in the comments below. Who knows? Maybe he'll even answer some of your questions. View full article

Cory Lewis was the Twins 9th round pick in 2022 out of UC-Santa Barbara. He made his professional debut in 2023 in Fort Myers and after a couple of months moved up to Cedar Rapids. Overall, he went 9-4 with a 2.49 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. In 101 1/3 innings, he had 118 strikeouts and 33 walks. He then helped the Kernels to the Midwest League championship. After the season, Twins Daily named him the Twins Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year, and he was also named the Jim Rantz Award recipient as Twins best minor league pitcher. In this conversation, we get to find out all about Lewis's ball-playing career, starting when he was very young. He was a star in high school, committed to Santa Barbara early, and put in some hard work to finally get to be an impact starter in college. Find out about his draft experience, his early time in the organization, and all about his 2023 season. Learn about his five pitches, which you may have heard includes a knuckleball. View full video

Twins fans rightfully are excited about having high-quality pitchers and pitcher depth. However, what makes that even more exciting is that they have done so while continuing to get strong performances from young hitters too. The Twins could always draft or sign and then develop position players. Consider the names drafted and signed under the regimes of Mike Radcliff and Terry Ryan. It’s a Who’s Who of Twins hitters. Hunter. Mientkiewicz. Jones. Cuddyer. Morneau. Mauer. Kubel. Span. Buxton. Sano. Kepler. Polanco. And with many of the same people in the scouting department, we are again seeing emerging, talented position players. Many have debuted in recent years to varying success (and opportunity). Royce Lewis, Edouard Julien, and Matt Wallner were keys to the Twins second-half success. Meanwhile, players like Ryan Jeffers, Alex Kirilloff, Trevor Larnach, Jose Miranda, and Nick Gordon have helped the Twins win over the past couple of seasons. While there are finally more pitchers in the Twins system to be excited about, there continue to be solid-hitting prospects around the diamond. Let’s take a look at some of the depth around the field that can be found in the Twins organization: Catchers The Twins have two catchers on the big-league roster, Ryan Jeffers and Christian Vazquez. Jeffers will not be eligible for free agency for three more years. Vazquez has two years remaining on his three-year deal. Jair Camargo was added to the Twins 40-man roster since the end of the World Series. The burly backstop showed his powerful arm and his power with the bat for the St. Paul Saints in 2023. He will likely return to the Saints to start the 2024 season and be the guy called up if there is a need. Chris Williams, who is not on the 40-man roster, has become one of Twins most prominent power prospects the past two years with the Saints. He can catch, but he’s got enough bat to be a DH or get time at first base if needed. Patrick Winkel was the primary catcher with the Double-A Wind Surge. He is arguably the best defensive backstop prospect, but he can also hit with extra-base power. Noah Cardenas spent the entire season at Cedar Rapids. He can hit and get on base at a strong clip while playing well behind the plate. Andrew Cossetti may have as much power potential and offensive prowess as any of these catching prospects. He split his first professional season between Ft. Myers and the High-A Kernels. He ended the season representing the Twins in the Arizona Fall League. View full article

As you know, after every season, Chris Talley, aka @Nate Tubbs Rules, updates his Top 300 players in Twins history list. Truthfully, it's one of the things I most look forward to perusing each year. As always, he posts his rankings on the WGOM, so be sure to click the link below and find out which Twins moved the most in 2023, who fell off the list, etc. https://wgom.org/2023/11/16/top-300-minnesota-twins-of-all-time-updated-through-2023/

If so, they could get a TON for him. He's a top 30ish prospect in the game, catches, hits, just won a minor league gold glove. Dude is a stud.

By Friday at 7:00 pm, MLB teams will need to offer their pre-arbitration and arbitration-eligible players a contract for 2024. The Twins have already made their official decision on two arbitration-eligible players and have to make their decisions on seven more players. And those decisions come with several question marks. (Article updated Friday, 7:40 pm after roster decisions announced) Image courtesy of Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports Article Update (7:40 pm): On Friday night, the Twins announced that they have tendered 2024 contracts to all seven arbitration-eligible players. It was also announced the Jovani Moran is expected to be having Tommy John surgery in the near future and miss the 2024 season. The Twins are trying to get him to sign a two-year minor league deal. In addition, the Twins did not tender a 2024 contract to RHP Ronny Henriquez. With Moran and Henriquez coming off of the 40-man roster, the roster is now at 36 players. There are 17 pitchers, three catchers, eight infielders and eight outfielders. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- When the offseason began, the Minnesota Twins had nine players on their roster that were arbitration-eligible. Since then, the Twins made quick decisions on two of them. Soon after their playoff run concluded, Jordan Luplow and Jose De Leon were designated for assignment and became free agents. That leaves seven players that the Twins still need to make decisions about their 2024 status. Below, I will run through these seven players and make some notes on each. Several of them may involve answering some difficult questions. A few are pretty easy decisions. Please feel free to ask questions and discuss these decisions in the Forum below. Also, generally-speaking not many pre-arbitration players are non-tendered, but it has happened. We aren't going to try to project which, if any, of those players will be non-tendered on Friday. (Players sorted by MLB Trade Rumors Projections) 2B/OF Nick Gordon Service Time: 2.136 (two years, 136 days, Super 2) Arbitration Year: 1 of 4 Age in 2024: 28 MLB Trade Rumors Projected 2024 Salary: $1.0 million Deadline Decision: Tendered 2023 Season: If this decision had to be made after Gordon’s 2022 breakout season, it would have been simple. However, Gordon’s 2023 season started out very slow, but just when he started playing well, he broke his leg and was out the remainder of the season. However, he was an impressive teammate and cheerleader for the team in October! Potential 2024 Role: Gordon can play second base and performed well in left field and centerfield over the previous year. In a pinch, he can play shortstop and third base as well. He could be the left-handed side of platoons or a more traditional utility player, capable of playing at least five positions if needed. With the emergence of Edouard Julien, Matt Wallner and Royce Lewis, and the likes of Austin Martin and Brooks Lee potentially ready in the near future, playing time may be more and more limited. Biggest Question Marks: Gordon has had several injuries in his career. And while his 2022 season was just as good as Willi Castro’s 2023 season, Castro is the better defensive player at each spot on the field. Gordon is also out of options, so he couldn’t be sent to the minor leagues by the Twins without going through waivers. Prediction: The dollars are low and Gordon should have value to teams, including the Twins. I would predict that he will be tendered a 2024 contract, although I would think that the Twins front office might be looking to trade him to a team looking for a solid utility option. A trade could happen before Friday’s deadline, or anytime after Friday (assuming he is tendered). RHP Jorge Alcala Service Time: 4.014 (four years, 14 days) Arbitration Year: 2 of 3 Age in 2024: 28 MLB Trade Rumors Projected 2024 Salary: $1.0 million Deadline Decision: Tendered 2023 Season: After pitching just twice in 2022, Alcala made the 2023 opening day roster. However, after 10 games and 15 innings, he went on the Injured List in mid-May and didn’t return until the final game of the season. However, in that game, he was displaying a fastball between 97 and 99 and a sharp slider. Potential 2024 Role: The “potential” for Alcala has been the same each of the past five offseasons. When healthy, he has a big fastball and quality secondaries that are inconsistent but have big… potential. He has the potential and talent to be the top set up man, joining Griffin Jax and Brock Stewart in getting the ball to Jhoan Duran. I’d like to see what he can do in a fully healthy season. Biggest Question Mark: Health. That’s it. Yeah, he can work on pitches too and become more consistent, but the only way to do that is to stay healthy and get the innings. Prediction: This should be a very easy decision. The Twins should absolutely tender him a contract. If it’s $1 million, that’s fine. A year ago, he avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $790,000 deal, just $70K over league minimum. With his limited pitching the last couple of seasons, I would think he would happily sign a one-year, $900,000 deal, or something in that range. Sure, the team can still look to trade him if someone sends a quality prospect. However, Alcala hasn’t been optioned in the past, so he’s got three years worth of options remaining which might allow him to work on things and get innings if he’s not with the Twins. 1B Alex Kirilloff Service Time: 2.141 (two years, 141 days, Super 2) Arbitration Year: 1 of 4 Age in 2024: 26 MLB Trade Rumors Projected 2024 Salary: $1.7 million Deadline Decision: Tendered 2023 Season: Because of ongoing wrist pain, Kirilloff’s 2022 season ended after just 45 games. He had a surgery which involved shaving bones in his wrist to help alleviate the pain. The Twins brought him back slowly early in the 2023 season. He missed some time, but generally speaking, his wrist was not an issue. He played in 88 games and posted a .793 OPS with 14 doubles and 11 homers. He struggled in the playoffs and was removed from the roster in the ALDS series against the Astros due to a shoulder injury. He had surgery shortly after the Twins playoff run came to an end. Potential 2024 Role: When healthy, Kirilloff will be the primary first baseman. While his surgery turned out to be much more minor than feared, he could still miss some time early in the season. When he’s healthy, he is potentially an All Star bat. Can he still reach that level? Biggest Question Mark: That is the question. He will get healthy in time, though that has certainly become his biggest issue so far. He was pretty strictly platooned in 2023 due to some horrific numbers versus southpaws. Can he put up decent-enough numbers against same-siders to be an everyday player? Prediction: Easy decision. He will be tendered a contract. Can they negotiate a deal with him and his agent (Boras) to sign a deal for below the projection? Maybe. C Ryan Jeffers Service Time: 3.089 (three years, 89 days) Arbitration Year: 1 of 3 Age in 2024: 27 MLB Trade Rumors Projected 2024 Salary: $2.3 million Deadline Decision: Tendered 2023 Season: After hitting a combined .203/.277/.384 (.661) in 152 games between 2021 and 2022, the Twins brought in veteran backstop Christian Vazquez on a three-year deal. Early in the season, Vazquez was playing approximately two out of three games. However, Jeffers started playing much better behind the plate and at the plate. In 96 games, he hit .276/.369/.490 (.858) with 15 doubles and 14 home runs. His OPS+ was 134! The Twins played six playoff games in 2023. Jeffers caught all six of them. Potential 2024 Role: Aside from “normal” catcher bumps, bruises and pain, Vazquez and Jeffers remained healthy throughout the 2023 season. The two should continue to split time, with Jeffers getting the start in two out of three games. If he’s hitting like he did in 2023, he could get more DH opportunities too. Biggest Question Mark: He’s a catcher. That alone comes with inherent risks of injury. That shouldn’t be a consideration in this discussion. So the big question for Jeffers in 2024 will be if he can replicate his 2023 success as opposed to revert to his 2021 and 2022 levels. Prediction: Another easy decision. In fact, these two sides should spend time this offseason working on a four or five year deal to keep him in a Twins uniform for a long time. LHP Caleb Thielbar Service Time: 5.131 (five years, 131 days) Arbitration Year: 3 of 3 Age in 2024: 37 MLB Trade Rumors Projected 2024 Salary: $3.0 million Deadline Decision: Tendered 2023 Season: Since returning to the Twins before the 2020 season, Thielbar has been remarkably consistent, and remarkably effective as a setup man for the Twins. 2023 was the first time in his career that he missed significant time due to injury. He strained his oblique, probably came back too quickly, strained it again and then took longer to return the second time. So, he only pitched in 36 games, but in his 30 2/3 innings, he had 36 strikeouts and just six walks. For the first time since his 2013 rookie season, he had a WHIP of under 1.00. Potential 2024 Role: More of the same from Thielbar. Yes, he will be 37, but he hasn’t lost velocity, and his curveball continues to be a great pitch. He should continue to get crucial spots anywhere from the sixth through ninth innings. He can also continue to be a mentor in the bullpen. Biggest Question Mark: Can he stay healthy throughout most of the season? And obviously can he remain effective for another year? And on some level, how much longer does he want to continue pitching? Prediction: Sure, there are questions, but this is another easy decision for the Twins’ brass. Thielbar will be tendered a contract for 2024. And I would like to see the two sides come together and discuss a longer-term deal. Maybe it’s a series of options. $3 million for 2024, then an option for 2025 at $3 million that vests with 50 innings. If he is between 40 and 49 2/3 innings in 2024, the option vests at $2.5 million. If he’s under 40 innings, there could be a club option at $2 million but if they decline it, there could be a player option at $1.5 million. And, of course, Thielbar would have the right to retire at any point. The lawyers could get involved to creatively work through a one-year deal with a couple of options that would keep Thielbar pitching for his hometown team until he retires. UT Willi Castro Service Time: 4.017 (4 years, 17 days) Arbitration Year: 1 of 2 Age in 2024: 27 MLB Trade Rumors Projected 2024 Salary: $3.2 million Deadline Decision: Tendered 2023 Season: Following the 2022 season, Castro had accumulated just over three years of service time with the Tigers. He was projected to make $1.7 million in his first year of arbitration, so Detroit non-tendered him. The Twins pursued him aggressively and he quickly signed a minor-league deal with the Twins in which he would make $1.8 million if he was with the Twins all season. Because of injuries and more, Castro made the Twins Opening Day roster, and after not playing for the first several games, he found a way to spend the entire season as a very valuable role player with the Twins. He was fantastic defensively at three infield positions. He did a nice job filling in left and center field as well. In his parts of four seasons with the Tigers, he accumulated 0.4 bWAR. In 124 games with the Twins in 2023, Castro ranked third among Twins hitters with 2.6 bWAR. He played strong defense. He hit .257/.339/.411 (.750) with 32 extra base hits. He stole 33 bases in 38 attempts, an element the Twins haven’t had for a long time. Potential 2024 Role: His role in 2024 should be very similar to what it was in 2023. He can play three to five times per week all over the diamond. The fact that he is a switch hitter allows him to give guys off at different spots regardless of that day’s starting pitcher. Biggest Question Mark: He was well worth the $1.8 million in 2023, and we can all picture him continuing to be valuable, but his 2023 production was significantly better than it had been the two previous seasons when he played over 110 games. Won’t the real Willi Castro please stand up? And, how does the front office see the combination of Castro and Gordon in the organization? Can they both be on the roster and provide value? Castro is a year younger. Prediction: This is really the first one where I’ve had to think about how much I buy into Willi Castro’s 2023 season. That said, I think the Twins will tender him a contract, try to come up with a little lower than projected number, and use his switch-hitting and defensive versatility in 2024. IF Kyle Farmer Service Time: 5.129 (five years, 129 days) Arbitration Year: 3 or 3 Age in 2024: 33 MLB Trade Rumors Projected 2024 Salary: $6.6 million Deadline Decision: Tendered 2023 Season: Farmer came to the Twins after the 2022 season from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for RH RP Casey Legumina. At the time, he was technically the Twins starting shortstop. As you all know, after a long and winding road, Carlos Correa came back to the Twins which meant it was back to the bench for Farmer. That said, Rocco Baldelli kept his bench active all season. Farmer got extended time at second base early in the season when Jorge Polanco was out. He got quite a bit of time at third base in between the Jose Miranda demotion and the return of Royce Lewis. And late in the year, he played shortstop most every day when Correa was resting his plantar fasciitis. In between, he was a platoon player, often splitting time with, and mentoring, Edouard Julien at second base. Solid defense around the infield. Fantastic leader and teammate. Generally mashes left-handed pitching. Took a fastball to the mouth and went through multiple surgeries. Potential 2024 Role: It would be the same general role for Farmer in 2024. Depending on how the right side of the infield shakes out this offseason, he could platoon at first and/or second base. He can pinch hit, DH, and even be that emergency catcher. Depending on health, it is likely his playing time would decrease. Biggest Question Mark: Payroll. Just what will the Twins payroll be in 2024. We know it’s going to drop, so can the Twins afford to pay a utility player over $6 million? Unfortunately that is the reality because my sense is that everyone associated with the Twins would love to bring Farmer back. Prediction: This is by far the most difficult decision for the Twins front office. As noted, if payroll remained the same, he would very likely be tendered, but with payroll down, we can’t assume that. We know his value to a big-league roster. You would hate to non-tender him and lose him for nothing. So, I don’t think they’ll do that. I do think that they will try hard to trade him for something over the next 24-36 hours, but if they can’t before Friday’s deadline, I would guess that they will tender him a contract and continue to try to deal him throughout the offseason. There are quick glimpses at the seven remaining arbitration-eligible cases that the Twins front office have to make decisions on before Friday evening. Will they tender all seven? How many do you think they will, or they should tender? Could they be looking to make a trade or two, either of these players or of some pre-arbitration players to make additional room on the roster? How many of these players should be considered for multi-year contract extensions? Feel free to discuss below. And again, check back over the next couple of days to find out what the Twins decided to do. View full article

https://liducks.com/lew-ford-named-seventh-manager-in-ducks-history/ The Long Island Ducks announced that Lew Ford will be their 7th manager in team history. The 47-year-old has spent the past 13 seasons with the Ducks, including the past nine years as a player and either hitting coach or bench coach. Ford played 494 games for the Twins from 2003-2007. His best season was 2004 when he had such a strong first half that he was involved in the vote for the final All Star spot. He even got MVP votes that year.

In recent years, the Twins have not been afraid to make trades to bring in pitchers and hitters. The ideal situation is trading from an organization's position of strength to acquire players from positions of need. To do so, a team must be honest in evaluating their positions of strength and their positions of need. Is "Pitching" currently a strength in the organization? Do they need to acquire starters or relievers this offseason? Do they have enough ready or nearly-ready talent in the upper-levels of the minor leagues? We have read about and written about and talked about a “Pitching Pipeline” for the Minnesota Twins. It was one of the reasons that many were so excited about the Twins bringing in Derek Falvey as President of Baseball Operations seven years ago. Starting Pitchers 2023 Starting Staff: Pablo Lopez, Sonny Gray, Kenta Maeda, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Louie Varland Free Agents: Sonny Gray, Kenta Maeda Projected 2024 Starting Staff: RHP Pablo Lopez, RHP Chris Paddack, RHP Joe Ryan, RHP Bailey Ober, RHP Louie Varland. Ended 2023 in St. Paul: RHP Randy Dobnak, RHP Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP David Festa, LHP Brent Headrick. Ended 2023 in AA Wichita: RHP Marco Raya, RHP Travis Adams, RHP Pierson Ohl, LHP Jaylen Nowlin, LHP Jordan Carr. The six starting pitchers mentioned above made 149 of the team’s 162 starts (92.0%). Add Dallas Keuchel’s six starts and Tyler Mahle’s five starts, and you cover 160 starts. That is not normal, and the Twins can’t make any sort of assumption that it will happen again. Chris Paddack returned late in the season in the bullpen and showed that he is strong. The Twins are still likely to add a pitcher or two in free agency or via trade, but which minor leaguers have a chance to contribute in 2024? Also, who are the exciting prospects to follow through the pitching pipeline? We saw some of the candidates make their debuts in 2022 and 2023. Josh Winder and Cole Sands moved to the bullpen full-time in 2023. In addition, former top starting pitcher prospect Jordan Balazovic debuted in the bullpen. He had one strong month with the Twins and was getting opportunities in key spots before struggling late and being optioned. Brent Headrick came up a few times and worked in relief, both long and short. However, when he was in St. Paul, he was used as a starter. Louie Varland made 10 starts for the Twins, but in September, he was used out of the bullpen and showed dominance. However, he should remain a starter, at least for the foreseeable future. And, finally healthy, Randy Dobnak should be considered for a spot just like others who reach St. Paul. View full article

OK, my first thought too was Ron Washington... but he does look too thick to be Washington... Gary Ward maybe... I don't know if Ron Jackson was still around... But I also think it looks like Downtown Darrell Brown...

I haven't counted or verified, but if they're at 36 after adding Camargo and Severino, then there isn't much reason to drop too many. They'll add Martin and E-Rod which would put them at 38. At that point, those four new adds will not be able to be removed from the 40-man until spring training. As for Gordon, he might get DFAd. I'd say it'd be more likely that he gets non-tendered when that needs to happen later in the month. But, I'd also say that as well as we thought Willi Castro played in 2023, Nick Gordon's 2022 was nearly identical. I don't think that he should just be passed off.

LHP Sam Perez re-signed with the Twins already. He's a fun guy to follow. Literally tops out at 84 mph, maybe 85, but the southpaw gets swings and misses and generally speaking has done a nice job.

Here is the start of the minor-league signings for the offseason. It starts with the news of which Twins minor leaguers have elected free agency. The biggest name of the group is RHP Blayne Enlow. This forum thread should be used to share news of players the Twins sign to minor league deals, or when former Twins players and prospects sign elsewhere.

How do you replace a legend? Earlier this week, we learned that, after 40 years, Dick Bremer will no longer be the Twins TV play-by-play voice. But who will replace him? The short answer is, “Somebody.” Yes, somebody will get the job. Maybe it will be one of these people. Image courtesy of © Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports The general belief is that Cory Provus is the odds-on favorite to replace Dick Bremer in the TV booth. But let’s not stop there. Let’s throw out some other candidates (from the sane to the insane) with ties to the Twins. The Frontrunner Cory Provus Provus joined the Twins as their radio play-by-play voice a dozen years ago as a fresh-faced announcer. He had already worked with legends in the field, such as Bob Uecker with the Brewers and Jim Hughes and Ron Santo with the Cubs. For most of that time, he’s called all spring training games and all games throughout the season. Over the past couple of years, he has missed Saturdays in the fall, calling college football games for the Big Ten Network. Most agree that Cory does a terrific job of communicating to all generations of Twins fans through his ability to discuss and appreciate the history of the Twins while at the same time understanding and communicating current trends in the game. It should be a seamless transition from Bremer to Provus. Provus has relationships with Justin Morneau, LaTroy Hawkins, and Glen Perkins. He’s fully ingrained in the Twins media and community. Frankly, I can’t help but assume that Cory Provus gets job offers reasonably frequently. Moving from the #1 guy on the radio to the lead on the TV broadcast would mean a higher profile in a more secure industry and a decent pay raise. Radio Chops The next group could also be in consideration for the position, but if Provus lands the TV broadcast, these next candidates should be in line for Provus's radio role. Kris Atteberry The best Twins radio broadcasts are when Provus and Atteberry share the booth. Frankly, it’s time for Atteberry to take over the #1 spot on the radio. I don’t think there is more to say than that. It should be clear. However, this wouldn’t be a fun article if we only mentioned the favorites. We need more names. So, these next guys should be interviewed and strongly considered for the #1 spot, but with a mind that if Atteberry is #1, they need a quality #2. Sean Aronson The radio and TV voice of the Twins Triple-A affiliates does a fantastic job calling Saints baseball games. Having seen more of his work in recent years, it’s clear that he is remarkably prepared for both the season and individual games. He is a good communicator. He knows the game and the history of the game. And he has had a unique view of Twins players who have spent time with the Saints over the past three seasons. Josh Whetzel For those who have followed Twins minor-league baseball over the past decade or more, you know Josh Whetzel’s name. He is the play-by-play guy for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. He is also the voice of the University of Buffalo’s men’s basketball team. Since the Red Wings joined the Washington Nationals organization, Whetzel has joined the MLB broadcast for a weekend each year. He would be an incredible addition. Out of the Box Erik Bremer A sentimental choice, Erik Bremer is the son of Dick Bremer, so how cool would it be to keep Twins TV’s voice in the Bremer name for another three or four decades? However, this is not solely a sentimental choice. Erik Bremer has put together a robust portfolio for himself. He has done radio play-by-play for minor league teams and other sports. He has called college basketball and high school football. He has broadcast games in the Cape Cod League as well as minor-league games in cities such as Biloxi (Mississippi), Colorado Springs, Woodbridge (Virginia), and Fredericksburg (Virginia). He spent a winter in Australia calling Brisbane Bandits games in the Australian Baseball League. He has spent the last couple of seasons calling games for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos and also does television for the Pensacola Ice Flyers. While he is not yet 30, young Bremer has paid some dues already in his career. He is certainly deserving of an interview and a genuine opportunity. Marney Gellner She has been a part of Twins Baseball TV broadcasts for a long time. She has done in-studio work. She has done sideline reporting. She has been in the booth a couple of times. In the last couple of seasons, her summer focus has been Minnesota Lynx basketball. She is the play-by-play voice for their TV broadcasts, and she does the sideline reporting and in-studio work for the Wolves. Out of Our Minds? Nash Walker Walker is maybe not the #1 choice for this job if Vegas has such wagers available, but he’s #1 in the hearts and minds of Twins Daily. As you know, Nash is from Minnesota, and a year ago, he graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in journalism. He has been writing for Twins Daily for several years, and I think you would agree that he has put together some great content. He is a fantastic writer. He is terrific with video. In addition, he spent the summer of 2022 calling games for the Palm Springs Power. He was a broadcaster with the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Reno Aces, in 2023. Since the season ended, he has become a full-time Communications Coordinator and will call games for them again in 2024. I mean, unless the Twins go to him. Gleeman and the Geek It would fit the idea of taking the broadcast in a different direction. Aaron Gleeman and Twins Daily’s John Bonnes have one of the most popular baseball podcasts in the world. Most Fridays, you can listen to their free podcast. In addition, they have one or two Patreon podcasts each week during the season and less frequently in the offseason. Well, along with that, how about the two of them chat while watching the ballgame from the booth? Who knows where the conversation will go? Would the graphics team be ready for their statistical analysis? Will they be able to avoid swearing for three straight hours, 162 times per season? The Trevors Trevor Plouffe has successfully made the transition from ballplayer to the media. His involvement at Jomboy Productions is fantastic. Plouffe also joined the Twins TV broadcasts at various times throughout the season in 2023. He was fantastic. Most who listened would likely agree. Following the end of the regular season, Trevor May went on his viral Twitch stream and announced that he was retiring from baseball. He will remain active in the game on his Twitch site, and I would think he would have more opportunities because he is good at it, and he’s always been fan-friendly. How interesting would it be to hear the analysis and conversations between Plouffe and May? How would they incorporate Morneau and Perkins into their broadcasts? I have do not doubt that they will figure it out. All four of them provide stellar informative content. View full article

The Twins had an option on Max Kepler's 2024 season at about $10 million. However, he is included in Keith Law's Top 50 Free Agents rankings at The Athletic. I obviously won't post all that Law writes, but here is how he ends the section on Kepler: What do you think? I think most would agree that the Twins were going to pick up Kepler's option already anyway, but I would have put him more in the 3 year, $36 million range for a deal... not a 4-year, $80 million or even 5 years, 120 million range is crazy. Sonny Gray, Kepler, and Kenta Maeda are in the top 25. List also includes #OldFriends such as Mitch Garver, Kyle Gibson, Eddie Rosario, etc.

There's an all-new Celebrity Jeopardy on... I'm sure I'll flip it on later.

And you rolled over in absolute shock!

On Monday night, the Texas Rangers took a 2-1 series lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the World Series. As soon as the final out of the World Series is in the books, there will be many new free agents. The Twins have the ability to keep a couple of intriguing minor leaguers from joining the ranks of free agents. Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints In reality, the World Series could be over as early as Wednesday night. At the latest, a Game 7 would be played on Saturday. When that final out is recorded, hundreds of players will become free agents. As you know, big league pitchers Sonny Gray, Dallas Keuchel, Kenta Maeda, Tyler Mahle, and Emilio Pagan, infielder Donovan Solano, and outfielder Joey Gallo will be among the newly-minted free agents. Five days later, they can start signing with other organizations. Things get interesting on the minor-league side, and it isn't always as easy to know who is a free agent. This year, players drafted in 2017 and not on a 40-man roster will become free agents. Those players signed contracts to play in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023. In addition, they were given credit for 2020 despite the season being cancelled by Covid. 2017 Draft Royce Lewis was the #1 overall pick in the 2017 draft. However, he was added to the Twins 40-man roster after the 2021 season and remains on the 40-man roster to this day. No, Royce Lewis will not be a free agent. The same is true for Bailey Ober, the team's 12th round pick in 2017. 2016 International Signings (or Earlier) In addition, players signed when they were 16 years old in 2016 who are not on the 40-man roster can also become free agents. The Twins didn't spend big on any one international prospect that year. While I found Wander Valdez and Jesus Feliz very interesting prospects, neither came close to the big leagues. One player signed that year was right-hander Prelander Berroa. However, he was traded to the Giants in the ill-fated Sam Dyson. He was later traded to the Mariners and made his MLB debut in 2023. What we can learn from Berroa, however, is that when a player is dealt to another organization, his free agency timeline doesn't change. In addition, a player signed in 2015 became a free agent after last year's World Series. When he signs another minor-league contract, he becomes a free agent again a year later. Case #1: C Jair Camargo That is the exact scenario that played out a year ago for catcher Jair Camargo. In fact, he was the one pending minor-league free agent a year ago that I recommended the Twins bring back. That is exactly what happened. The Twins and Camargo quickly came to terms on a one-year minor-league contract. The Twins have the same season again this year. Camargo signed with the Dodgers out of Colombia in 2015. He came to the Twins with Kenta Maeda in the Brusdar Graterol deal before the 2020 season. He had a breakout season in 2022 between Cedar Rapids and Wichita. Combined, he hit .262 (.793) with 18 home runs. With the minor-league signing last offseason, Camargo was left at risk to be lost in the Rule 5 draft. Fortunately, he was not selected. However, as a 23-year-old in 2023, Camargo jumped up to Triple-A St. Paul. In 90 games, he hit .259/.323/.503 (.826) with 16 doubles, 21 home runs and 63 RBI. If the two sides reach an agreement again quickly on a minor-league deal, there is no way that Camargo is not lost in the Rule 5 draft. A power-hitting catcher who is athletic and a solid-to-average defensive backstop? It's likely Camargo would be the first pick of the Rule 5 draft. The Twins were able to go through the entire 2023 season and only used two catchers, Ryan Jeffers and Christian Vazquez. That is not normal. Jeffers, 26, is entering his first arbitration season and won't be a free agent for three more years, after the 2026 season. Vazquez, 33, just completed his first season of a three-year, $30 million contract. Most years, the Twins bring in a veteran catcher or two on minor-league contracts. They essentially become the team's #3 catcher and can be recalled if and when needed. Examples of that in recent years include Tony Wolters, and later Mark Kolozsvary, in 2023. In 2022, veterans such as Chance Sisco, Grayson Greiner, and later Jose Godoy. Tomas Telis was a Triple-A catchers for the Twins for three years before that. What Should Happen? Before the World Series ends, the Twins should absolutely add Jair Camargo to their 40-man roster. That move can be done without a corresponding move as the Twins 40-man roster is already below 40. Camargo should go to spring training understanding that if Jeffers or Vazquez miss some time, he will be the first call. In addition, they should still bring in one more veteran catcher for St. Paul, and to work with other younger catchers in the organization. What Will Happen? The Twins will absolutely add Jair Camargo to their 40-man roster. Case #2: RHP Blayne Enlow The case for Enlow is a lot more difficult and a case could be made either way. In case you are new to Twins fandom, Blayne Enlow was the Twins third-round draft pick in 2017 out of high school in Louisiana. He dropped in the draft because he had a commitment to LSU and a specific number in mind that it would take to get him signed. Royce Lewis agreed to sign with the Twins well below slot and the extra money was used to sign Enlow. Enlow moved up the Twins organizational ladder slowly, but he was long a top 10 Twins prospect. He threw in the low-90s and was known to be able to spin the ball well. Unfortunately, he was not able to pitch in 2020. In 2021, he began at Cedar Rapids. Through three starts, he had a 1.84 ERA, and in 14 2/3 innings, he had 23 strikeouts. Missing bats was the one thing he needed to start doing. Unfortunately, in a bullpen, something didn't feel right in his elbow. Soon after, he had Tommy John surgery and missed the rest of that season. Still, the Twins had seen enough improvement and with his rehab that they added him to the 40-man roster after the season. He was able to return to the mound quickly, He threw 43 pitches in 1 2/3 innings of a May 7th rehab with Fort Myers, and the Twins deemed his rehab complete. They sent him to Double-A Wichita and he made 10 starts and 14 relief appearances. In 57 1/3 innings, he posted a 4.40 ERA. He had 64 strikeouts (10.0 K/9) but he also walked 30 batters (4.7 BB/9). Last offseason, the Twins were making player claims for pitchers such as Oliver Ortega. When they did that, Enlow was outrighted from the 40-man roster. He started the 2023 quite well. In Wichita, he made 11 appearances and went 3-1 with a 3.17 ERA. In 54 innings, he had 65 strikeouts (10.8 K/9) to go with just 13 walks (2.2 BB/9). He had found his lost control and he was still missing bats at career-high rates. He moved up to the Saints and made 15 appearances (12 starts). Things didn't go as well. He went 2-5 with a 7.94 ERA. In 45 1/3 innings, he had 44 strikeouts (8.7 K/9) and 19 walks (3.8 BB/9). He gave up a lot of hits and two homers per nine innings. Enlow will turn 25 in March. He's still young and still learning. He is a hard worker, and he knows the game well. However, he should have a lot of options this offseason. What Should Happen? I would like to see the Twins try to sign Enlow and keep him around another season. He lost a full season to Covid. He lost a full season due to Tommy John surgery, and that 2022 season was more about getting through the season healthy. Since he's at Triple-A and healthy, give him another six-to-eight weeks as a starter. If that doesn't go great, move him to the bullpen full-time. See how he can perform in that role where he can air it out more often and see if it can play out. The hope would, of course, be that he becomes a dominant reliever and either help the Twins in the season's second half or make himself an easy addition to the 40-man roster. If the Twins don't add Enlow to the 40-man roster, they should still attempt to sign him to a minor-league deal. However, Enlow should certainly take advantage of his free agency, talk to any and all teams that show interest and do what is best for him. Of course, that means, which team does he think he has the best opportunity to get called up to the big leagues and live out his lifelong dream. What Will Happen? I would be surprised if the Twins added him to the 40-man roster, and that's probably the right decision. I would like to think that the Twins would make him a fair minor-league offer. However, Blayne Enlow needs to go to an organization that needs pitching in the upper-levels of their minor-league system and there is more opportunity than there would be with the Twins. Other Free Agents There is one other member of the Twins 2017 draft class that is still in the organization is Andrew Bechtold. He was the Twins fifth-round pick out of Chipola. He played all over the infield during his early years in pro ball. Blessed with a huge arm, his most natural position is third base. He also spent a lot of time at second base earlier in his career and at first base the last couple of seasons. In 2021, he started working bullpens in the catchers gear and ended the season making one start behind the plate. That year, he went to the Arizona Fall League and caught some more. In 2023 with the Saints, Bechtold added another position. Because of his arm, he was given a chance to pitch out of the Saints bullpen. He made 20 appearances, and in 18 innings, he had 24 walks and 16 strikeouts. Nothing like learning on the job in the highest level of the minor leagues. What I'd Like to See Happen? I would really like to see the Twins bring Andrew Bechtold back and give him a real opportunity on the mound. See where it goes. Let him hit. Let him catch. Let him play the corner infield spots. It doesn't need to be an everyday role, but building his versatility can hopefully keep his career going. Gilberto Celestino came off of the 40-man roster as the playoffs were about to begin. He was outrighted, but because it was his first outright, he could not elect free agency. Once the World Series ends, Celestino will become a free agent. But could the Twins add the still-just-24-year-old before then and keep a right-handed outfield bat on the roster, at least for right now? Right-hander Alex Scherff was the Red Sox fifth round pick in 2017 out of high school in Texas. He came to the Twins in a July trade deadline deal in 2021 that involved Hansel Robles. Once a very exciting prospect, injuries have really cost hi a lot of consistent development time. This year, he posted a 3.57 ERA in 53 innings at Wichita. he had 66 strikeouts but also walked 31 batters. He made five appearances with the Saints. Not a guy that would be considered for the 40-man roster, but an intriguing arm worthy of a minor-league deal. Obviously this is not a complete list of potential minor-league free agents (meaning, guys who could be free agents in the next several days), but these are certainly names that likely received quite a bit of conversation in the Twins offices. If you were Derek Falvey, Thad Levine, Jeremy Zoll, Alex Hassan, Drew MacPhail, a minor league coach or coordinator and could have your voice heard, what would you recommend? View full article

In this week’s Twins Spotlight, we learn more about one of the exciting pitchers from the Twins 2022 draft. C.J. Culpepper began his first full professional season in Fort Myers before helping the Cedar Rapids Kernels to the Midwest League championship. Image courtesy of William Parmeter If you listened to last week’s episode of Destination: The Show, Cedar Rapids Kernels pitching coach Jonas Lovin was asked about CJ Culpepper. He concluded his comments by saying. “CJ had a really good year and progressed really well throughout the year. He’ll be one that, I’m sure, Twins fans will be seeing down the road and will be looking forward to following, and he’ll keep working.” Seven players selected by the Twins in the 2019 draft have already reached the big leagues. Two others spent most of the 2023 season with the Triple-A St. Paul Saints. Matt Canterino returns in 2024 with an eye on the big leagues, too. However, among many Twins fans, there is excitement around the pitchers they selected in the 2022 draft. Kyle Jones (7th round) spent the entire season with the Kernels. Cory Lewis (9th), Zebby Matthews (8th), Andrew Morris (4th), and CJ Culpepper (13th) all started the season in Fort Myers, but each spent most of the second half making starts in Cedar Rapids. In addition, Ben Ethridge (15th) and Zach Veen (18th) remained in Fort Myers, pitching very well, and are now pitching in the Arizona Fall League. Of course, Connor Prielipp (2nd) started the season with the Kernels, but unfortunately, he made just one start and later had elbow surgery. The group has become quite close over the past year. Culpepper said, “We’ve all become really close, and that’s good. All of us are different. We pitch differently. It’s cool to talk to them about what they do mechanically.” While Culpepper hasn’t added a knuckleball to his in-game pitch repertoire, he’s learned a lot about the pitch from his time with Cory Lewis. “Playing catch with him (Lewis) isn’t too much fun either. It’s scary. It’s terrifying.” (You can watch the full 49-minute interview right here, or you can right-click on the video and watch/listen to it in another tab so you can continue perusing Twins Daily while watching the interview.) C.J. Culpepper grew up in southern California, and baseball has been a big part of his life. His mom tells him that from when he was two, he was always playing ball. Culpepper’s earliest memory is one that many of us can understand and appreciate. “The earliest memory I can think of is having my dad coaching me all growing up. I always thought that was really cool. Being able to share that experience with him and having his knowledge get dropped down to me is pretty cool. It’s just something I’ve cherished for the longest time.” He was always young for his grade and spent three seasons on the Rancho Cucamonga varsity team. He had played soccer in his younger years. Like Twins starter Joe Ryan, Culpepper also played water polo in high school. “My mom said, ‘You’re going to play water polo.’ So I really shouldn’t say No.'" He also participated in the Garciaparra Baseball Group team from Inland Empire, a southern California team. They played in the Jupiter tournaments in Florida, key events for high school players to be seen by scouts from every organization, as well as many colleges. California Baptist jumped from Division I to Division II for the 2019 season. Upon visiting, Culpepper quickly knew that it was the place he wanted to play ball. He had a strong relationship with the coaches, and it was a place where he could continue to grow his faith. He had a handful of games pitched in 2020 before Covid ended the season. As a sophomore, he had 38 strikeouts in 30 innings out of the Lancers’ bullpen. That summer of 2021 marked a crucial point in C.J. Culpepper’s baseball career. He went to the Cape Cod League and pitched well against top competition. In 15 2/3 innings over 10 appearances, he went 1-0 with four saves, a 1.72 ERA and a 0.77 WHIP. He also had 23 strikeouts and just two walks. His performance gave him a lot of confidence heading into his junior season. In 2022, he joined the starting rotation for California Baptist. He went 5-3 with a 3.26 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. He also had 76 strikeouts in 69 innings. In July, he heard various things from his advisor leading to the draft. In fact, on Day 2, his advisor said a team asked if he would take a specific signing bonus if they drafted him. He agreed. Unfortunately, that team picked someone else with that pick. On Day 3, he spent the day with his parents. They were “watching” the draft online, and in the 13th round, they saw CJ’s name pop up on their computer screen. “Right when they saw my name, they were so happy. Tears started coming down. They just realized that this is what he’s been working for, and now it’s starting. They were just so ecstatic.” He continued, “It was a fun day, for sure.” It’s similar to one of his first days in Fort Myers after signing. He found himself on one of the back fields, playing catch, when he stopped and looked around a bit, thinking, “This is something I’ve been working for my entire life, and now I’m here. I was just in awe. It was definitely an experience that I’ll cherish, for sure.” Fortunately, there were several players around him that he knew to some degree. During his season with Yarmouth–Dennis in the Cape Cod League, he was on the same team as catcher Nate Baez (12th round) and first-round pick Brooks Lee. Also on the team was 2023 10th-round pick Ross Dunn. While Culpepper was the lone player that the Twins drafted from California Baptist, they added more in 2023. In the 15th round, the Twins selected right-handed pitcher Spencer Bengard from the school. In the 16th round, the Twins took righty Anthony Silvas from Riverside City College. However, he spent the 2022 season at California Baptist. Following the draft, the Twins signed right-hander Liam Rocha as a non-drafted free agent. He spent three years at Cal Baptist. With that background, it’s also quite exciting to think about his pitch mix. The right-hander throws a four-seam fastball, a cutter, a slider, a sinker, a changeup, and a curveball. In college, his fastball was generally between 89 and 93 mph. In 2023, Culpepper was not only 93-95 mph, but he touched 97 at times and was able to maintain that velocity later in games. (Of note, I forgot to ask Culpepper if he has ever actually thrown a kitchen sink.) More important than just having all of those pitches, it’s about those pitches being good, being effective. And with all the work that the Twins pitching development group does watching videos, reading the Statcast data, and developing a plan for him, still throwing all six pitches speaks to their effectiveness. Culpepper admits. “I’m pretty comfortable with all the pitches that I have. Whatever the situation and the count allows me to throw. I’m comfortable enough with all of them.” Returning to last week’s Destination the Show, you heard Kernels pitching coach Jonas Lovin talk about Culpepper. “CJ’s great. He’s a really hard worker, and he’s a really good thinker. He does a really good job of asking good questions and thinking through what he can improve upon.” Lovin later added, “CJ is so unique because he throws so many different pitches. He throws six different pitches, and they’re all good. He does a good job commanding them in the strike zone, and they all move a decent amount. After spending most of his life in California, Culpepper is spending this offseason in Tennessee. Maybe it’s to work on something else that he can bring with him to Minnesota. When he played in the Cape, his host family got him excited about fishing by taking him out often. Where he lives in Tennessee, he says he’s got a lake 10 minutes away and some canals and rivers nearby to work on his newfound passion. He said he would also like to get into hunting sometime but hasn’t found a group to take him out yet. I’m just guessing that if CJ Culpepper gets to the big leagues with the Twins, he will have several new friends willing to show him the ropes. For more Twins Daily content in which C.J. Culpepper has been tagged, click here. Here was his Twins Daily Draft page from 2022. View full article