Seth Stohs

I try to be careful about such things... when writing the articles on the players of the year for the prospect handbook, I did ask Brad Steil about that. What made them successful in 2014, and what do they need to continue improving upon to keep moving up the ladder. It is a very individual, person-by-person thing. They're not afraid to answer it, even if not fully.

On Monday, the Minnesota Twins locked up starter Phil Hughes through the 2019 season with a three-year contract extension. As the New Year approaches, it is interesting to look at where the Twins are by position for 2015 and the future. Let’s take a quick look.FOR STARTERS, THE STARTERS Let’s start with the starting pitching as that is obviously where the Twins have spent the most money and where they have the biggest need for improvement. These first three are locked up for at least the next three seasons. Hughes was one of baseball’s best starting pitchers in 2014. Terry Ryan not only spoke on Monday of his work on the mound, but he likes his youth and his makeup as well. Enough to essentially tear up the two years and $16 million he had left on his contract and give him a new five year, $58 million contract. While those are big numbers, the 28-year-old could have made much more than that had he been a free agent this offseason. Less than two weeks ago, the Twins signed Ervin Santana to a four year deal that includes an option for 2019. He just turned 32, but he has been solid MLB pitcher for a decade, many of those years in the American League. Last offseason, the Twins made a huge splash in free agency with the acquisition of free agent starter Ricky Nolasco. He had a rough 2014 season, but he has enough of a track record to believe that he will be better in 2015. The Twins and their fans hope so as he is signed through the 2017 season with an option for 2018. Mike Pelfrey is also back for 2015, though he may be best suited for the bullpen at this point. Tommy Milone is first-year arbitration-eligible this year and could make up to $2.8 million. The others on this list will be under team control for at least the next five years. Kyle Gibson had a decent first full season in the big leagues and looks to improve under the tutelage of new pitching coach Neil Allen. Trevor May had some control problems in his MLB debut late last year, but he overcame that and was much better. Alex Meyer and Jason Wheeler are starters who were added to the Twins 40-man roster last month and could get an opportunity in 2015 and beyond. JO Berrios had a breakout season in the minor leagues. Meanwhile, Taylor Rogers and Tyler Duffey will come to big league camp this year too, looking to make a good impression after their strong 2014 seasons. SUMMARY: Hughes was ace-like in 2014. Hopefully he can maintain some of that form and Santana and Nolasco will be able to earn their contracts the next few seasons. The success of the Twins in the future, however, will very much be dependent upon this next wave of internal, minor league options. At least a couple of them will need to advance to the Twins in the near future and show what they are made of. Then the next wave, which includes the likes of Kohl Stewart, Lewis Thorpe and Stephen Gonsalves can come in after that. THE BULLPEN Glen Perkins signed a contract extension last spring training that keeps him in Minnesota for the next three years, with an option for a fourth. He doesn’t want to go anywhere, and the terms of his contract make it bearable even if he isn’t the closer. Brian Duensing’s in his final year of arbitration. Casey Fien is in his first. There are young guys like Caleb Thielbar, Ryan Pressly, Logan Darnell and Michael Tonkin who have seen big league time and could be part of the future. Meanwhile, the Twins have stockpiled many hard-throwers in the draft the last three years and some of those guys could surface in 2015. That list is headlined by 2014 2nd round pick Nick Burdi, but it also includes Zack Jones, Jake Reed, JT Chargois (after missing two seasons, he was hitting 99 in instructs), Mason Melotakis (who will likely miss much of 2015 after Tommy John surgery), Todd Van Steensel and several others. Of course, minor league starters often become big league relievers and can be very successful in that role. THE HITTERS Let’s start behind the plate where Kurt Suzuki is locked up for the next two years, with a third-year option. I don’t know that I’d expect him to be an All-Star, but he is a solid backstop. Josmil Pinto may never be great behind the plate, but his bat should make him an option for the backup role. In time, the favorite to be the next starting catcher for the Twins is likely Stuart Turner who spent 2014 in Ft. Myers. However, don’t think that Mitch Garver can’t eventually take that title and that job as well. Joe Mauer is signed for four more years, through the 2018 season. He will be the team’s first baseman. Kennys Vargas, if needed, can play there as well though DH is his best role (same with Pinto). Brian Dozier is under team control for another four seasons. One year away from arbitration, Dozier is a candidate for an extension this offseason or next. In a league with names like Cano, Pedroia, Zobrist, Kinsler and Altuve, Dozier was nearly an All-Star in 2014 and will hopefully continue to improve. Trevor Plouffe put together his best season in 2014, both offensively and defensively. He enters his second (of four) arbitration season. He is an extension candidate, though there is the looming presence of Miguel Sano lurking, as it was last year. Sano missed the 2014 season after Tommy John surgery. He will need to shake off some rust in spring training and likely starting in AA, but if he can do that, the sky is the limit for him. Will he move Plouffe out of the hot corner, or could it be the Sano is the one to switch positions? That will be a fun story to follow in 2015. Eduardo Escobar put up numbers, offensively and defensively, in 2014 that should give him the opening day shortstop job. However, that job at this point is being pushed toward Danny Santana, with Escobar likely in a utility role. Santana was terrific with the bat in 2014, his rookie season, and didn’t embarrass himself in center field, a position he had played about 20 times in the lower levels of the minor leagues. Jorge Polanco is also in the shortstop picture and should spend much of the 2015 season in Chattanooga. He also is an option at second base. Nick Gordon is just 19 and likely will spend the full season in Cedar Rapids. Oswaldo Arcia is making room for Torii Hunter (who is on a one-year contract) by moving from right field to left field. That is going to be scary defensively. I’m still holding out hope that in spring training they’ll decide that Hunter should try left field and keep Arcia in right. Neither is really a good option for Twins pitchers. Fortunately, both have something in their bats. Hunter can fit in the lineup anywhere and be productive. Arcia, despite his struggles against left-handers and avoiding strikeouts, has so much power potential that it is scary. He could take off in 2015. Center field remains the question. Aaron Hicks has been the opening day starter the last two years, and that hasn’t gone real well. That said, he plays solid defense and he has an ability to get on base at a good clip. Jordan Schafer appears a lock for the opening day roster, but will it be as the everyday centerfielder, in a platoon split with Hicks, or as the fourth outfielder? If Hicks begins the season in Rochester, minor league signee Shane Robinson has the ability to be a platoon option in centerfield. His game is similar to Schafer’s:speed and defense. Defense will be a key in center since there won’t be a lot of range in the corners. Of course, the possibility exists that Danny Santana could spend another season in center field with Escobar at shortstop. Eddie Rosario had a tough 2014, but redeemed himself with a strong showing in the 7-week Arizona Fall League. He could start at AA or AAA. He’ll need to work on his plate discipline, but he may not be far off. Byron Buxton will be at big league camp again in 2015 after a lost 2014 season. It was one injury after another for one of baseball’s best prospects. Again, he will likely need to shake off some rust in Chattanooga to start the season, but a quick start could mean a quick promotion if he’s ready. Adam Walker, Max Kepler and Travis Harrison should all get to AA in 2015, each filled with promise. The major league coaching staff will have a new look in 2015, and new minor league coaching assignments have been given as well. Seemingly, the only thing the Twins need to yet decide is who their new minor league hitting coordinator will be. The holidays are upon us. We certainly want to thank all of the Twins Daily readers and commenters for a fun 2014 season on the site. Hopefully 2015 will bring us many more positive things to discuss on these pages. The Twins Caravan is just three weeks away. Twins Fest is just a month from now. And then in mid-February, the players will start their treks down to Ft. Myers for spring training. It really isn’t that far away. We’ll all just try to stay warm in the Hot Stove a little longer! Click here to view the article

Yeah, he's from Naples. Berardino mentioned that a month or so ago... not sure how he found that out.

The Chattanooga team might be incredibly fun to watch. Beyond the four Nick wrote about who are some of the biggest keys to the next Twins competitive teams, there are other prospects. I wrote that a potential lineup with the Lookouts could be: Projected @ChattLookouts lineup: Buxton CF, Polanco SS, Rosario LF, Sano 3B, D Hicks 1B, Walker DH, Kepler RF, Turner C, Michael 2B. And, Rosario might start in Rochester, and if so, Travis Harrison takes that spot. Plus, guys like Berrios, Wheeler, Duffey, Rogers, Baxendale and others will be probably early in the rotation. And in the bullpen, they could have Zack Jones, Tyler Jones, Nick Burdi, Jake Reed, Van Steensel, etc. And they want Doug to be the one helping them.

Mark Feinsand from the New York Daily News is reporting this morning that the Twins and Phil Hughes have agreed to a three-year contract extension worth $42 million. The contract could keep Hughes in a Twins uniform through the 2019 season.Hughes came to the Twins a year ago on a three year contract worth $24 million. According to Feinsand, instead of making $8 million each of the next two seasons, he will receive $9.2 million the next two years. After that, he will get $13.2 million from 2017 through 2019. He can also receive another $200,000 in any season in which he pitches at least 200 innings. In essence, the team's ripped up his current contract and signed the still-just-28-year-old to a five year, $58 million contract. When he came to the Twins a year ago, both sides were taking on some risk. The Twins gave three years and $24 million to a guy who had really struggled as a starting pitcher with the New York Yankees. On the other hand, Hughes knew that if he had a big year, he would still be under contract at terms lower than he could get on the open market. Now the risk lies solely with the Twins. The move will ensure that the Twins will have Hughes, Ervin Santana and Ricky Nolasco as fixtures in the rotation through 2017. In addition to Kyle Gibson, barring any trades, this leaves just one vacancy for an emerging pitching prospect like Alex Meyer or Jose Berrios in the near future. In his final start Hughes went eight innings before rain and a one hour delay ended his day just one out short of a $500,000 bonus (210 innings). This certainly should help him forget about that! Click here to view the article

I really like the Brock Peterson signing. Basically replaces Coabello. I'm starting to think that lightfoot might just be Adam Brett Walker. If he had been a non-roster invite, that would have been great. I'd have been happy for him. He's such a good person. But looking at the outfielders on the 40 man roster and the outfielders that are non-roster guys, I can't at all be upset that Walker isn't invited. You can only have so many guys at big league camp. He's find going to minor league camp a couple of weeks later. They'll bring him over to big league camp a few times for games. He sure had a good showing in his one spring big league game last year!

Yup, the 40 players on the 40 man roster are required to be at MLB spring training.

On Friday afternoon, the Twins announced that they have invited 18 non-roster players to major league spring training. Among others, top prospects such as JO Berrios, Byron Buxton, Tyler Duffey and Taylor Rogers will report to big league camp.The Twins announced today that six pitchers will be there to open spring training. JO Berrios is officially invited to his first big league camp, although he was there with the team when he was working out before the WBC two years ago. Right-handers Tyler Duffey, Mark Hamburger and Adrian Salcedo will also be there. So will left-handers Ryan O'Rourke and Taylor Rogers. The team always needs plenty of catchers. Dan Rohlfing recently signed to remain with the organization. Stuart Turner will return for his second big league spring training. Tyler Grimes and Mitch Garver will participate in their first spring training with the big leaguers. James Beresford and Doug Bernier return to the organization and to big league camp. They will be joined by newcomers Argenis Diaz and Heiker Meneses. Byron Buxton will return to big league camp in 2015 along with fellow outfielders Eric Farris, Danny Ortiz and Shane Robinson. Pioneer Press's Mike Berardino also tweeted that the Twins have brought back former 49th round draft pick Brock Peterson. Click here to view the article

People should read what he told me his goals were in the Prospect Handbook!

I did a Q&A with JO before last season, and for the Prospect Handbook, I interviewed him again. Just a tremendous kid, and from the comments other teammates said about him in the article, he must be a harder worker than anyone else ever. It's such a big point for anything who is asked about him. I just hope he can stay healthy. He became a father last year, and he got married last weekend. Good family too.

That's a bit deceiving. He's played two years of A-Ball, one at Low-A and one at High-A...

JR Graham was on the Twins Hot Stove show with Kris Atteberry on Wednesday night. Check it out here.

Pelfrey didn't have a terrific season.

My opinion is that Atlanta will just take him back. Maybe I'm wrong, but the guy is really talented so unless the Twins offered something really good, I can only see him making the big league bullpen or being offered back.

Though they did do that with Ryan Pressly two years ago. My thought is the Braves would prefer to get him back and they wouldn't be able to work out a trade. My assumption is if he doesn't make the team, he is lost. But, who knows.

On Sunday, I posted a Q&A with Twins minor league Rule 5 draft pick Greg Peavey. It was fun to get to know a little about him. Today, I’m happy to provide an interview with the Twins Major League Rule 5 draft pick, JR Graham. You can learn much more about Graham in the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook 2015.The Twins selected the right-hander with the fifth pick in the Rule 5 draft. He was a top prospect with the Braves a couple of years ago, with a fastball that touched triple digits. Shoulder injuries have stalled his progress the last two years, but the Twins scouts who saw him in 2014 liked what they saw. Twins pro scouting director Vern Followell told Mike Berardino that they saw him hit 97 and 98 mph this year. With any MLB Rule 5 pick, Graham will need to stick with the Twins, on their 25-man roster, through the 2015 season or be offered back to Atlanta. His opportunity with the Twins would be primarily out of the bullpen. He will turn 25 in January. Graham was drafted in the 46th round of the 2008 draft by his favorite team while growing up, the Oakland A’s. Graham said, “I would have to say my favorite team growing up was the Oakland As, but I did also like the San Francisco Giants. Some of my favorite players growing up were Tim Hudson, Randy Johnson (same home town and high school), and Pedro Martinez. It’s funny to look back now and realize they were all pitchers I enjoyed the most since I played shortstop growing up and rarely pitched.” He decided to go to college at Santa Clara University. Three years later, the Braves used their fourth round pick on him. He rocketed up prospect rankings with a fastball and ranked as high as the Braves #3 prospect. Unfortunately in 2013, he started experiencing some shoulder issues that have curtailed his last two seasons. “The shoulder injury had to be one of the most frustrating things in my life. You just feel helpless. It’s a moment I will never forget. I threw the pitch, and I felt it go. I remember just walking around the mound not knowing what to do. You have no way of knowing what is exactly wrong with you, but I knew whatever it was I was going to work through it and come back and be able to pitch. Right now, I feel 100% and can’t wait to get down to spring training and show everyone what I've got.” Last Thursday though, after four season in the Atlanta organization, Graham got the news that he had been selected in the Rule 5 draft. “The funny thing about the morning of the Rule 5 is that I wasn't actually paying much attention to it. I was driving from Orlando to Jacksonville to be a groomsman in my buddy’s wedding, Gus Schlosser, who pitched for Atlanta last year. So all of a sudden my phone started ringing like crazy, and I knew something good had to have happened. Once I did know I was selected by the Twins, it was a huge relief and I couldn't have been happier. I have been in contact with the Twins since the Rule 5.” Of course, with all his time spent in Atlanta, he was able to accumulate many great moments and friendships. “I had a lot of great memories with Atlanta, so it is hard to put just one down. But the one that is sticking out in my mind would have to be my first big league spring training and taking the mound for the first time. It was just a huge rush and crazy because I was on the field with the same guys I was watching on TV a year earlier.” He isn’t completely unfamiliar with the Twins organization. He knows a few of the players and recognizes many others. “I was excited to get back on the same teal as Gilly (Sean Gilmartin), but he also got Rule 5'd, and I couldn’t be happier for him. I wish him luck over with his new organization. I do know a couple of other guys in the Twins organization. One of my best friends growing up was David Hurlbut. We played travel ball growing up. I know Tyler Jones, Tim Shibuya, Zach Jones. I got to play with Jordan Schafer over with Atlanta. I also remember playing against the Elizabethton Twins in the Appy League so I am sure I will remember a few other names.” Danville is the Appalachian League affiliate of the Braves. Elizabethton and Danville are frequently the teams to beat in their divisions. That 2011 Elizabethton team included Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario, Max Kepler and Niko Goodrum. So, what do we know about Graham as a pitcher? Well, why don’t we let him give us a scouting report on himself? “I am an aggressive pitcher. Once I get on that mound, I dont think anyone can beat me. I try to be a bulldog out there and have ‘No Fear.’ I throw a 4-seam and a 2-seam fastball, a slider and a change up.” Graham still spends his off-seasons in California with his parents and his sisters. He keeps pretty active away from the game of baseball as well. His hobbies include “working out, playing video games, learning to play guitar, a little bit of golf, watching movies, and going out on the boat to wakeboard and do some bare-footing.” I believe he really does have a chance to impress the Twins brass enough for them to want to keep him around. When the Twins selected Scott Diamond from the Braves in the Rule 5 several years ago, they were able to send Billy Bullock to the Braves in order to keep him in the organization. My sense is that if he doesn't make the Twins 25-man roster out of spring training, the Braves may want him back and not be willing to work out a trade this time around. Graham is excited about being selected in the Rule 5 draft and coming to the Twins organization. “Going into spring, I am just thankful for this opportunity the Twins are giving me. My dream has always been to be a major league baseball player. I can’t wait to get started with the Twins organization. It’s going to be a lot of fun!” Click here to view the article

I'm with you in one way... The only way we're able to see if they "dominate" the league is through the stats. Often I read people wanting guys rushed up because they are killing the ball for 3 weeks or a month... a lot of times, those guys will get figured out. Sometimes experiencing that struggle and then making the adjustments is for the best. Coaches that watch and interact with these guys every day are the ones who likely know best. It's not just about the numbers. It's about defense. It's about approach at the plate and in the field. It's about maturity. So, I don't fully agree with the need to 'dominate' a league statistically to move up, but I do agree with having a bunch of check boxes marked off before moving guys up.

I'm not a fan of hoarding guys there... But, for instance, with Deibinson Romero gone and Miguel Sano likely shaking off rust for awhile in AA, I would have no problem with the Twins signing a AAA/AAAA caliber 3B to fill the Rochester roster until Sano is ready. Might be the same with guys like Rosario and Polanco and Turner and Burdi and Reed and Michael and Rogers and Wheeler and, and, and... AA is considered the level with the best prospects. They're seeing the best fastballs and good sliders and guys that are young, motivated and just need a little more refinement. AAA is an area with older guys who have learned a lot in their time. The fastballs may not be as good, but pitchers are pretty savvy and know how to get punk-kid hitters out. They are different and yet both can be valuable in that, the big leaguers have pretty good stuff and know-how... It's this kind of discussion that just fascinates me about minor league baseball.

Yup, and after his 2014 season, he moved up all of our prospect lists... http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/sethspeaks

I acknowledge in the article the reason that average is what it is. But I will also say that these players need to play against the guys with more experience which are the people they're playing against. Also, if you want to define prospect, that's up to you. Anyone that has even the slightest chance to get to the big leagues? Only those that eventually get to the big leagues. I acknowledge that the AAA and to a lesser extent AA average age throws it off, but even if you were to make the AA one 24 and the AAA one 25, you'd still find similar results. It's more just to give a perspective on what the prospects are doing and where they are.

We all like Meyer, and we all still like his potential. But there has to be some reason that he hasn't been called up yet. It could be that he has a ton of potential still and they want to make sure that he works out 2-3 things before getting exposed. It could be that they just don't believe that he is ready to be a starter in the big leagues and that maybe his future is as a bullpen guy. My guess is if you were to privately poll a dozen members of the Twins brass that would be educated on him, you'd probably find a 50/50 split. They aren't keeping Meyer down for any monetary reasons. They've shown plenty of times a willingness to call guys up younger, or at the beginning of the season instead of waiting a month or two. So, it's not that. That tells me that in their belief, it is in the best interest of Meyer to have kept him down to this point.