Seth Stohs

The Background Alex Meyer was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 20th round of the 2008 MLB Draft. He was offered $2 million but chose to go pitch at the University of Kentucky. Three years later, he received that $2 million bonus anyway. He was drafted by the Nationals with their first round pick, the 23rd overall pick, seven picks before the Twins took Levi Michael. The Nationals had him start in Low-A where he made 18 starts before moving up to High-A for seven more starts. Following the season, the Twins acquired the right-hander in a deal that sent Denard Span to the Nationals. In 2013, he made 13 starts for New Britain (in which he struck out 84 batters in 70 innings). Unfortunately, he felt some shoulder discomfort and pitched only in rehab the rest of the season. He went to the Arizona Fall League where he made seven starts to get more work. It was clear that the Twins had one main goal for Alex Meyer in 2014: to keep him healthy through the season, and they were successful. He moved up to Rochester and made 27 starts. He went 7-7 with a 3.52 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. In 130.1 innings, he struck out 153 (10.6 per nine), but he also walked 64 (4.4 per nine). Following the season, Meyer was added to the Twins 40-man roster. The Hope The Twins last had a true #1, ace starting pitcher in 2008 when Johan Santana was still with the team. Yes, Francisco Liriano had an ace-like season in 2010, but he was unable to show any consistency from year to year, much less month to month. When the Twins acquired Meyer, he immediately gave Twins fans a hope for a future ace, whether that was fair or not. Meyer is blessed with good pitches. He has a fastball that sits between 95 and 98 and has even hit triple-digits a few times. He is known to have a devastating slider. With his height, he is able to release his pitches just a little bit closer to the plate which makes it jump on hitters. He has an improving, though still inconsistent changeup. He credited Rochester teammate Yohan Pino for helping him with that pitch. We love strikeouts. Missed bats are exciting. We don’t want quick outs. We want strikeouts. One thing that Alex Meyer can do is get strikeouts. In 2012, he struck out 9.7 per nine. In 2013, he struck out 11.0 per nine innings. In 2014, he averaged 10.6 strikeouts per nine innings in AAA. The Concerns Walks will haunt, right? After walking 3.1 per nine in 2012 and 3.4 per nine in 2013, Meyer walked 4.4 per nine inning at Rochester in 2014. Baseball people often say that for tall pitchers it is more difficult and takes longer to find a consistent release point for their pitches. There are many such examples. In an interview on 1500ESPN at Twins Fest, Meyer was asked about that theory. He said that he is fully aware of it, but he finds it to just be an excuse for not throwing strikes. That’s a very responsible, accountable response to the theory. Regardless, for Meyer to be an effective starting pitcher in the big leagues, he is going to have to harness and control his terrific stuff. Moving up the baseball ladder means facing hitters who are generally more patient and don’t swing at as many pitches outside the zone. Big league hitters will make him throw strikes. One concern is that Meyer, because of the number of walks and strikeouts, needs to throw a lot of pitches. He frequently was able to only go five innings or less because he was at 85 to 100 pitches by that point. In 11 of his starts, he failed to get an out in the sixth inning. The Twins have a rule that if a pitcher throws more than 30 pitches in an inning, he will not come out for the next inning. That is a pretty standard rule across baseball. He had a three-start stretch in mid-June where he couldn’t get to the fourth inning because of pitch count. He followed that with a stretch of five straight games in which he went exactly six innings, something he did just one more time over his final eight starts. That leads to many people wondering if he wouldn’t best be served working out of the bullpen, something he would not be against. However, the goal at this time remains for him to be a starter, and hopefully a frontline starter. More Hope and Unfair Comps If he does not win the fifth starter job, it is possible that Meyer could begin his career as a bullpen arm. That is how the Twins eased Johan Santana onto the roster (obviously under different – Rule 5 – circumstances), and he turned out well. Meyer could replace Anthony Swarzak as a long reliever and work three to five innings when necessary. Of course, he could also go to the back-end of the bullpen and be a more dominant set-up man. He pitched an inning in relief for Team USA in the Futures Game at Target Field in 2014. Many want to compare Meyer to 6-10 Randy Johnson who was just voted into the Hall of Fame last month. He debuted as a 24 year old in 1988 with the Expos. In 1989, he pitched 160.2 innings between Montreal and Seattle and walked 5.4 batters per nine innings while striking out just 7.3 per nine. He then led the league in walks from 1990 through 1992. He finally put it all together in his age-29 season of 1993. He cut his walks in half and became an annual Cy Young candidate, winning five awards and finishing second three more times. It’s fun to compare what Meyer could be to what Randy Johnson was. Is it fair? I don’t know. Comparing a prospect with zero big league innings to a Hall of Famer is fine, as long as fans realize that that result is pretty rare. In other words, patience is a must for Meyer, the Twins and Twins fans. So many look at the fact that he turned 25 in January and think that he’s now too old to be a prospect. People really need to stop that. The guy has immense talent, but he does still have things to work on. If he is called up by midseason, he’s still up at 25 and can have a strong career for 12 to 15 years. The Twins need to not listen to any of that and do what is in the player’s best short- and long-term interest. Meyer Percentage So, if I were to guess the odds that Alex Meyer begins the season as the Twins fifth starter, I would probably put the odds at close to 10%. I think there is a slightly better chance that he starts the season in the Twins bullpen, just due to numbers. If he begins the year in Rochester, this would allow him to work as a starter, getting more innings, working in, and hopefully out of, more situations and continuing to work on his third and fourth pitches. Either way, I have little doubt that he will be up in the big leagues before June, whether it is due to injury or ineffectiveness in the rotation or in the bullpen. When Jeremy and I asked Meyer in November what his goals are for 2015, the pensive Meyer responded by saying, “Every year I’ve set goals, and this year I won’t. I want to let them come to me. I don’t want to set any expectations because you never know what can happen. I’m going to go out there, wherever they send me, whether it’s Minnesota, Rochester, or in Cedar Rapids. I just want to go out there and pitch as well as I can, continue to get better as a pitcher, and whenever the big leagues calls, you want to make sure you’re ready. I just want to go out there and throw as well as I can. I just hope I can help the team sometime during the year, whether it’s from Game 1 in April or whenever that time would be.”

The Background Pelfrey is a big, 6-7, 250 pound right-hander. He was the Mets first round draft pick (ninth overall) in the 2005 draft out of Wichita State. The Scott Boras client came to the Twins before the 2013 season on a one-year contract. He had undergone Tommy John surgery in April of 2012 but reports indicated that he would be ready for Opening Day 2013. Was he ready? Was he healthy? Either way, the numbers were just not good in 2013. He made 29 starts and pitched 152.2 innings, but he went 5-13 with a 5.19 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP. For whatever reason, that performance turned into a two-year extension with the Twins last offseason. Unfortunately, it was another rough season for the veteran. He went 0-3 with a 7.99 ERA and a 1.99 WHIP in five starts before being shut down. He clearly wasn’t healthy as he walked 6.8 per nine in that time. At Twins Fest, he told a handful of writers, “I feel bad, like I’ve taken money from the Twins. It’s been frustrating. You play this game to play, and compete, and be successful and do it well. Obviously that hasn’t happened.” He spent the entire 2014 season rehabbing. Recently he said, “Rehab kind of stinks, but we got through it. I felt good. I think if the season had gone maybe another week, I probably could have pitched, maybe out of the bullpen or something just to do it.” The 31-year-old says that he “got a little extra shoulder program that was more maintenance, strengthening stuff.” For the first time since 2007, he says, Pelfrey will have to compete for a starting job in spring training. Back then, it really wasn’t a competition. “It was El Duque (Orlando Hernandez) or me, and if he was healthy, it was him.” The Mets handed Pelfrey the job when Hernandez was injured. Pelfrey is excited to get spring training and this competition underway. “It’s the first time in a while I have to go in and win a job. I have no one to blame but myself. Staying healthy and not performing… That’s on me.” The Hope Though he has never been front-end starter, he has a couple of years that were very solid. In 2008, he went 13-11 with a 3.72 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP in 200.2 innings. In 2010, he went 15-9 with a 3.66 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP in 204 innings. Those aren’t great, elite numbers by any means, but if a 2015 Mike Pelfrey can reach 200 innings with a sub-four ERA, Twins fans should be thrilled. That would be terrific for a fifth starter. The Alternative Pelfrey understands that there is some quality competition for the fifth starter job. “There are some young guys with very good arms. Tommy Milone has a pretty good track record too.” So what if Pelfrey loses the competition for the fifth starter job. Would he be willing to go to the bullpen? “Ultimately, I probably wouldn’t have a choice.” However, he would embrace it. He understands that it would be an adjustment as he has never really done it before. However, he would see it as another challenge, one he would be up for. “It’s still the same game, it’s pitching.” However, he isn’t going to go into spring training thinking about a job in the bullpen. “This is the best I’ve felt since before Tommy John surgery. I’m ready to go in and win a job!” Pelfrey Percentage So, if I were to venture a guess for the chances that Mike Pelfrey begins the season as the Twins fifth starter job, it isn’t a simple "No" as many may think. Now healthy, he deserves the opportunity to compete for the position. However, despite being owed $5.5 million for 2015, I would put the odds at only about 20%.

20. Amaurys Minier – OF/1B Age: 19 2014 Stats (Rookie): .292/.405/.520 (.925), 11-2B, 2-3B, 8-HR, 33 RBI ETA: 2019 Minier was the Twins big international signing in 2012. He got a $1.4 million signing bonus as a 16 year old from the Dominican Republic. His professional career began in 2013 with the GCL Twins where the switch-hitter hit just .214/.252/.455 (.707) in 31 games. However, he still showed his tremendous power potential with five doubles, two triples and six home runs. In the offseason, he had shoulder surgery. Few believed he would be able to stick at third base, so he began to work in the outfield and some at first base. He returned to the GCL in 2014 and was much improved. His plate discipline and his power were able to develop. Minier just turned 19 last week and should spend 2015 with the Elizabethton Twins. 19. Travis Harrison – OF Age: 22 2014 Stats (A+): .269/.361/.365 (.726), 33-2B, 1-3B, 3-HR, 59 RBI ETA: 2017 Harrison was the Twins' first of two supplemental first round picks in the 2011 draft. His career began in 2012 when he hit .301 (.845 OPS) with 21 extra base hits in Elizabethton’s short season. He moved up to Cedar Rapids in 2013 and hit .253. However, he got on base almost 37% of the time and hit 28 doubles and 15 home runs. Following that season, he made the move from third base to left field. In 2014 he played in Ft. Myers. He continued to show very good strike zone judgment. He showed doubles power in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League, but the 6-1, 220 pounder hit just three home runs. Harrison will be 22 years old through the 2015 season. I suspect he’ll start the season back with the Miracle, but he should get an opportunity to move up to Chattanooga during the season. He is a solid hitter who uses the entire field. He cut his strikeout total by about 30% from the previous season in the exact same number of plate appearances. He has tremendous strength, so expect him to put up bigger power numbers as he moves up. 18. Jake Reed – RHP Age: 22 2014 Stats (Rk/A): 3-0, 8 Saves, 0.29 ERA, 0.45 WHIP, 31.0 IP, 11 H, 3 BB, 39 K ETA: 2016 With the Twins fifth round pick, they drafted their fourth straight college relief pitcher. They took Jake Reed who was the closer for the University of Oregon in 2014 after two years as a starter. He signed quickly for $350K. He pitched in four games for Elizabethton and 16 more for Cedar Rapids. In all, he put up video game numbers. For his work, he received an invitation to represent the Twins in the Arizona Fall League where he gave up just one run. Reed has a fastball that sits 93-95 mph and runs in on a right-handed hitter. He also has a very sharp slider that dives away from a right-hander. He will be just 22 years old through the 2015 season. He likely will start the season in Ft. Myers but should move up to Chattanooga fairly quickly. There is a chance he could be in the big leagues in 2015. 17. Stuart Turner – C Age: 23 2014 Stats (A+): .249/.322/.375 with 16-2B, 2-3B, 7-HR, 40 RBI ETA: 2016 Turner was the Twins third round pick in 2013 out of Ole Miss. He was awarded the Johnny Bench Award as the top college catcher that season. He spent that summer in Elizabethton. After going to big league spring training, Turner skipped the Midwest League and jumped to Ft. Myers. On May 25, he was hitting just .188. From that point on, he made some adjustments and hit .282/.360/.427 with 19 of his 25 extra base hits. At 6-3 and 230 pounds, he presents a big target behind the plate. He has the trust of his pitchers and his strong arm helped him to throw out 32% of would-be base runners. He will again go to big league spring training with the Twins and should spend the season as a 23 year old at AA Chattanooga. 16. Tyler Duffey – RHP Age: 24 2014 Stats (A+/AA/AAA): 13-3, 3.68 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 149.1 IP, 30 BB, 113 K ETA: 2015 At Rice, Duffey teamed with JT Chargois as co-closers. Duffey was the Twins fifth round pick in 2012 and pitched great in Elizabethton that summer. In 2013, he started in Cedar Rapids and quickly moved up to Ft. Myers which is where he began the 2014 season. After four starts with the Miracle, and a 3-0 record, he was moved up to New Britain. He made 18 starts with the Rock Cats and went 8-3. His season ended with three starts in Rochester where he went 2-0. As impressive, his strikeout rate rose at each level, from 5.2 to 6.8 to 9.0. Duffey’s fastball sits between 91 and 94 as a starter and 97 in the bullpen. He throws a cutter in the upper-80s. His 12-6 curveball is probably his best strikeout pitch. He’s still improving his changeup. At 6-3 and 230 pounds, Duffey gets a lot of his strength from his legs. He could go back to AA to start the 2015 season depending upon the numbers. However, if he does, he should be the first guy called up to Rochester. He was recently invited to big league camp as well. Check back later this week for Part 2 of the Twins Daily Top 20 Prospects Countdown.

AJ Achter – 46th round pick in 2010, Achter was my choice for Twins minor league reliever of the year in 2012. He reached AAA in 2013 and debuted with the Twins in September of 2014. Patriots 28-20 Jason Adam – 23 year old righty came to the Twins in August for Josh Willingham. He had made eight appearances in AAA for the Royals, but the Twins wanted him to start in AA. He pitched in the AFL. Seahawks 26-16 Luke Bard – Twins supplemental first round pick in 2012 out of Georgia Tech. He had surgery in May and missed all of the 2014 season. Patriots 27-24 Jack Barrie – The 6-4, 250 pound, 18-year-old first baseman from Australia played in the GCL in 2014. Go Patriots! Mat Batts – Twins 17th round pick in 2014 out of UNC-Wilmington. Following the long college season, he threw another 60.2 innings between the GCL, E-Town and Cedar Rapids. Combined, he went 4-1 with a 1.78 ERA. Seahawks 17-9 David Bromberg – Twins 32nd round pick in 2005 reached AAA in 2012. Twins minor league pitcher of the year in 2009 when he went 13-4 with a 2.70 ERA and struck out 148 in 153.1 innings. Seahawks 34-21 Nick Burdi – Twins 2nd round pick this season out of Louisville. Pitched a combined 20.1 innings in 20 games between Cedar Rapids and Ft. Myers. He walked 10 (four in his first game) and struck out 38. Seahawks 31-23 Chad Christenson – Cedar Rapids native played for the Kernels in 2014. 25th round pick in 2013. He hit 24 doubles, seven triples and nine home runs while stealing 30 bases in 2014. Patriots 42-34 Chris Colabello – Claimed by the Blue Jays in December. Twins signed out of independent leagues. American League player of the month in April 2014. Patriots 27-21, “can’t go against my guys!” Jack Cressend – Pitched in 78 games out of the Twins bullpen from 2000 through 2002. The Twins had signed him after the Red Sox waived him three starts into the 1999 season. Seahawks 26-20 Andro Cutura – Twins 7th round pick in 2014 out of Southeastern Louisiana University. He will make his professional debut in 2015. Patriots Logan Darnell – Twins sixth round pick in 2010 out of Kentucky. Debuted for the Twins in May. Posted a 3.60 ERA in 115 innings at Rochester. Won Rochester’s Harmon Killebrew Award for Community Service. Seahawks 28, Patriots 27. “Hawks will take it with Russell Wilson winning drive.” Pat Dean – Twins 2nd round pick in 2010 out of Boston College. Has pitched in AAA, though he spent all of the 2014 season in New Britain. Patriots 21-17 Austin Diemer – Twins 28th round pick in 2014 from Cal State-Fullerton. Played in Elizabethton this year. Patriots “They aren’t going to let Seattle get two in a row.” Onas Farfan – Twins 21st round pick in 2014 from Ridgewater Community College in Wilmar, MN. Graduate of Robbinsdale Cooper. Seahawks Dallas Gallant – Twins 23rd round pick in 2010 out of Sam Houston State. Posted a 0.64 ERA, a 0.75 WHIP and struck out 46 in 28 innings in Cedar Rapids in 2014. Patriots 35-20 Mitch Garver – Twins 9th round pick in 2013 out of New Mexico. My choice for Twins Minor League Hitter of the Year in 2014 when he hit .298/.399/.481 (.880) with 29 doubles and 16 homers in Cedar Rapids. “Tom Brady will deflate enough balls to win 21-17” Kyle Gibson – Twins 1st round pick in 2009 out of Missouri, he debuted in 2013 and won 13 games in 2014 for the Twins. Seahawks 27-17 Stephen Gonsalves – Twins 4th round pick in 2013 out of high school in California. Spent time in Elizabethton and Cedar Rapids in 2014. Patriots 31, Seahawks 21 Zach Granite – Twins 14th round pick in 2013 out of Seton Hall. Spent much of an injury-filled 2014 in Cedar Rapids. ( )Patriots 27-20 Bryan Haar – Twins 34th round pick in 2012 out of the University of San Diego. He knocked 20 doubles, five triples and 14 home runs for the Kernels in 2014 before moving up to Ft. Myers for the final few weeks. Seahawks win 35-30. Nate Hanson – Twins 28th round pick in 2008 out of the University of Minnesota after playing at Eden Prairie High School. Split 2014 between New Britain and Rochester. “I’ll take the Patriots 31-28. Seattle’s D is banged up and Tom Brady will isolate the guys on Seattle’s D that are banged up.” Zach Hayden – Twins 23rd round pick in 2013 out of South Carolina-Aiken, he pitched in the GCL in 2014. Patriots by 10 Will Hurt – Twins 16th round pick in 2012 out of high school in Kentucky, Hurt played in Elizabethton in 2014. Seahawks by at least 14 CK Irby - Twins 10th round pick in 2013 out of Samford University. In 33.1 innings at Elizabethton, he struck out 51 in 2014. Patriots 27-21. Jacque Jones – Twins 2nd round pick in 1996, he played for the Twins from 1999-2005. He hit 189 doubles and 132 home runs for the Twins. Here are the Top 5 Moments of his career. Seahawks 33-17 Zack Jones – 4th round pick in 2012 out of San Jose State. Pitched late in the year for Ft. Myers and then in the AFL. Patriots 27-17 Jason Kanzler – Twins 20th round pick in 2013 out of the University of Buffalo. Split 2014 between Cedar Rapids and Ft. Myers and posted a .788 OPS with 11 doubles, nine triples, 12 homers and 27 steals. His heroics, and maybe his mustache, helped the Miracle to the FSL Championship. Patriots by 149 (no, that is not a typo) Pat Kelly - Twins 12th round pick in 2014 after three years at Nebraska. The Red Wing (MN) native played second base in Elizabethton after signing. Patriots 35-21 Max Kepler – Signed in 2009 out of Germany, Kepler spent the entire 2014 with the Miracle where he posted a .726 OPS with 31 extra base hits. He then hit .307 with an .808 OPS in the AFL. “Marshawn Lynch is winning it all. #BeastMode” Kyle Knudson – Twins 9th round pick in 2009 out of the University of Minnesota, Knudson spent the entire 2014 season with the New Britain Rock Cats. “Tom Brady ain’t going to lose. Patriots 27-13” Zach Larson – Twins 20th round pick in 2012, Larson hit .265 with 11 doubles in 41 games with Cedar Rapids before a hamstring injury. Patriots 28, Seahawks 20 Randy LeBlanc – Twins 10th round pick in 2014 out of Tulane, he posted a 2.70 ERA in Elizabethton. Patriots 27-24 Brett Lee – Twins 10th round pick in 2011 out of St. Petersburg College, he was a Florida State League All Star in 2014. He went 10-5 with a 2.46 ERA for the Miracle. Patriots 35, Seahawks 24 Jeff Manship -Twins 14th round pick in 2006 out of Notre Dame. He debuted with the Twins in 2009. He pitched for the Twins in parts of four seasons. The last two years, he has pitched for Colorado and Philadelphia. He has signed with Cleveland for 2015. Seahawks 24-20 Dustin Martin – Came to the Twins in 2007 in the Luis Castillo trade. Was in the organization through 2011. Spent parts of last two seasons playing for Gary Gaetti in Sugar Land. Patriots 28-17 Tyler Mautner – Twins 14th round pick in 2014 out of the University of Buffalo. He spent the season with Elizabethton. Patriots 28, Seahawks 24 Chris Mazza – Twins 27th round pick in 2011 out of Menlo College. Posted a 2.79 ERA and struck out 62 in 48.1 innings in Cedar Rapids this year. Patriots 23-20 Alex Meyer – Came to the Twins after the 2012 season from the Nationals in exchange for Denard Span. He spent 2014 in AAA where he posted a 3.52 ERA and struck out 153 batters in 130.1 innings. Recently, he reflected on his 2014 and looked to 2015. “I’m going with the Legion of Boom (Seattle), and the score being 24-19.” Ethan Mildren – Twins 12th round pick in 2013 out of the University of Pittsburgh. Split 2014 between Cedar Rapids and Ft. Myers. Patriots by 10 Eric Milton – Came to the Twins before the 1998 season in the Chuck Knoblauch deal. Pitched for the team from 1998 through 2003. In six years, won 57 games, was an All Star and threw a no-hitter. Patriots 23-17 Miles Nordgren – Twins 23rd round pick in 2014 out of Birmingham Southern College. Threw 44.1 innings in the GCL this season. Patriots Ryan O’Rourke – Twins 13th round pick in 2010 out of Merrimack College. Pitched primarily at New Britain though pitched a game in Rochester in their final weekend. The Massachusetts native dominates left-handed hitters and was recently invited to Twins spring training. Patriots 28-17 Dan Osterbrock – Twins 7th round pick in 2008 out of the University of Cincinnati. Pitched in the Twins system in 2011. Last two seasons have been in independent ball. Went 11-4 in Atlantic League in 2014. Patriots 28-17 Callan Pearce – Signed out of South Africa, Pearce debuted in the States in 2014 as an 18-year-old in the GCL. Seahawks 36, Patriots 33 Greg Peavey – The Twins selected Peavey in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft in December. He spent 2014 between AA and AAA with the Mets. Seahawks 24-17 Brandon Peterson – The Savage, MN, native was the Twins 13th round pick in 2013 out of Wichita State. After a month in Cedar Rapids, he was promoted to Ft. Myers. He was my choice for Twins minor league relief pitcher of the year in 2014. “Patriots by 8, Got to go with Belichick” AJ Pettersen – Twins 25th round pick in 2011 from the University of Minnesota. Got to AA before retiring in June of 2014. New varsity coach baseball at Chanhassen High School. Seahawks 31-17 Jeff Reboulet – Twins 10th round pick in 1986. He debuted with the Twins as a 28 year old in 1992 and stayed with the Twins, playing all over the diamond, through the 1996 season. Spent seven more seasons in the big leagues. Patriots 24-17 Taylor Rogers – Twins 11th round pick in 2012 out of the University of Kentucky. My choice for Twins minor league starting pitcher of the year in 2013. In 2014, went 11-6 with a 3.29 ERA in New Britain. Pitched in the AFL. Seahawks 31-27 Blake Schmit – Twins 26th round pick in 2014 out of the University of Maryland. The Eden Prairie native played in Elizabethton after signing. Seahawks 31-27 Tim Shibuya – Twins 23rd round pick in 2011 out of UC-San Diego. Went 7-4 with a 3.64 ERA in Ft. Myers. He was awarded a Harmon Killebrew Award for Community Service. Seahawks 20-17 Steve Singleton – Twins 11th round pick in 2006 out of the University of San Diego. Split the 2011 season between New Britain and Rochester, his final season in pro ball. Now a college hitting coach. Seahawks 37-27 Aaron Slegers – Twins 5th round pick in 2013 out of Indiana. Made 20 starts for Cedar Rapids before ending the season with three starts in Ft. Myers. Seahawks 27-20 Kevin Slowey – Twins 2nd round pick in 2005 out of Winthrop. Less than two years later he was pitching for the Twins. He remained with the Twins through the 2011 season. In five seasons with the Twins, won 39 games. Spent last two years with the Marlins. Going to spring training with Phillies this year. “I see the Patriots winning 24-21… no deflation.” Tony Thomas – Cubs 3rd round pick in 2007, he came to the Twins on a minor league deal last year and spent the season in New Britain. He was an Eastern League All-Star and returns for the Twins for the 2015 season. Harmon Killebrew Award for Community Service winner in 2014. Seahawks 28-24 Stuart Turner – Twins 3rd round pick out of the University of Mississippi in 2013. After big league camp last spring, he spent 2014 with the Ft. Myers Miracle. Seahawks 27-24 – “Shout out to Tharald Simon, 2010 class at Eunice High. It was fun throwing passes to him back in the day!” Lewis Thorpe – As an 18-year-old in 2014, he made 16 starts in Cedar Rapids, posting a 3.52 ERA. He struck out 80 in 71.2 innings. Seahawks by 14 Matt Tomshaw – Twins 42nd round pick in 2011 out of Jacksonville University. He won 11 games and posted a 3.50 ERA in 136.1 innings for Ft. Myers in 2014. Selected by the Marlins in minor league Rule 5 draft in December. Seahawks Todd Van Steensel – The Australian returned to the Twins before the 2014 season and posted a 1.39 ERA in 58.1 innings between Cedar Rapids and Ft. Myers. Struck out 71 in 58.1 innings. Patriots by 10, Love me some Tom Brady Tanner Vavra – Twins 30th round pick in 2013 out of Valparaiso University. Hit .258 with 18 extra base hits in 81 games for Cedar Rapids in 2014. He was the Kernels winner of the Harmon Killebrew Award for Community Service. Seahawks 24-20 Trey Vavra – Twins 33rd round pick in 2014 out of Florida Southern College where he played for Lance Niekro, the son of former Twins pitcher Joe Niekro. Hit .319/.392/.454 (.846) with 20 doubles in 50 games at Elizabethton. Patriots 27, Seahawks 24 Adam Brett Walker – Twins 3rd round pick in 2012 out of Jacksonville University. After hitting 27 homers in Cedar Rapids in 2013, he hit 25 homers in Ft. Myers in 2014. Patriots 24-17 Ryan Walker – Twins 18th round pick in 2013 out of Texas-Arlington. He spent the 2014 season playing primarily second base for the Cedar Rapids Kernels. “I’ve got the Seahawks 31-27. I think their defense will be able to contain the Pats enough to win.” Tommy Watkins – Twins 38th round pick in 1998 out of high school in Ft. Myers, Watkins toiled slowly through the team’s farm system. In August of 2007, at 27, he made his big league debut. He hit .357 in his nine game stint with the Twins. He retired following the 2009 season. He will begin his third season as the hitting coach with the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Patriots 35-17 Jason Wheeler – The Twins 8th round pick in 2011 out of Loyola Marymount. In 2014, he began at Ft. Myers before being promoted to New Britain. He made one start in Rochester. Following the season, he was named to the Twins 40-man roster. Patriots 24-21 Stephen Wickens – Twins 33rd round pick in 2011 out of Florida Gulf Coast University. He spent most of 2014 with the New Britain Rock Cats though he missed a lot of time with injury. Was the Miracle’s Harmon Killebrew Award winner in 2013. Patriots 24, Seahawks 23 Corey Williams – Twins 3rd round pick in 2011 out of Vanderbilt, he missed all of 2014 with Tommy John surgery. The left-hander should return early in the 2015 season. Patriots 35-28 We've got 69 predictions so far. 40 are picking the Patriots while 29 are picking the Seahawks. I'm sure what we all want is a good, enjoyable game to watch. Now, feel free to add your Super Bowl predictions here.