Seth Stohs

I agree that the Twins aren't going to care about the 12 day thing. If he makes the starting rotation for Opening Day, they'll have him up there on Opening Day. If he's not, they're not going to work the system. The guys that make it will get a month. As for the 12 day thing, it's wise for a team. I'd rather get 32-33 starts from him in 2023 that 2-3 starts at the start of the 2016 season. To me that business decision of being able to hold off on other decisions for another year shouldn't be just for the elite. They should be for anyone deemed a prospect. As for the comment about Sano he didn't start hitting at all well in AA for the first 3-4 weeks of the season and didn't start crushing the ball for a few more weeks. So, that's a lot more to do with why he was called up July 1st rather than June 1st, a lot more than the Super-2 thing.

Man, I hope this isn't the case!! If the most important game they play is in April or May, that's not too good.

According to the Twins Prospect Handbook, had Polanco not not spent time in the DSL before joining the GCL in 2010, he could have had a fourth option. So, he's got just 2016 remaining.

Completely agree. Very well said.

Star Tribune's Phil Miller wrote a nice article on Outfielder Ryan Sweeney. The Cedar Rapids native took last year off after being released to regroup, to heal up. He's likely a long-shot to make the roster out of spring training unless there are some unforeseen circumstances, but don't be surprised completely if he surfaces with the Twins sometime in 2016.

Polanco is out of options after the 2016 season, so they have to make a decision on him by the start of next season... they'll need to make a decision on Plouffe in July and at the end of the year and, and... Vielma will be at AA, and Gordon at High-A... So, it will be very interesting to see how it plays out.

Depth is good. Plus, he's only played in 22 AAA games, so it isn't hurting him to spend time there. There are sometimes injuries and other things. He'll get more opportunities.

True enough... but there should be no reason that our moderators deem things worthy of hiding and handing out warnings...

What does all this have to do with Keith Law's Impact Prospect List? Keep it on topic, please. If people want to whine about stats and analytics and how other people choose to read and interpret them, do it somewhere else... But play nice...

Agreed... a late-inning reliever with 3 strong pitches should be incredible... No harm in trying it! If he can go: FB at 97-100, SL at 88-91, and split-finger at 82-84... just work!

Right or wrong, I don't think anyone really does. Fans, writers, the organization, or even Meyer himself. I prefer to think that he'll come to spring training with regained confidence.

While I 1.) agree with you (Nick) at the beginning of the offseason that Thornton would be a nice pickup for the Twins on a one-year deal, it's important to know that 2.) none of the 30 teams have been willing to sign him to an MLB deal this year. I feel like there must be something that we don't know. He certainly doesn't throw as hard anymore, and that was obviously his calling card in his dominant days. To me, the fact that he isn't signed if a pretty big red flag. Also, I'll continue to say that Sano 'can' be a solid MLB 3B, just not as good as Plouffe.

A couple of reports from people I talked to while researching for the Prospect Handbook told me that he occasionally was in the upper 90s during the season, but his mechanics (which were never real good) got really, really out of whack and because of it, his release point was lower, but also his velocity some days didn't top 93. He was all over the board velocity-wise. That can be a good thing when a pitcher knows that's what he's doing. I believe in Meyer. I thought the decision to not bring him up in September was good. For him, ending the 2015 season, getting away from it, getting married, and almost starting over was exactly what he needed. The talent is clear. The ability to be very good is still there. Brad Steil told me at Twins Fest that he's going to big league camp for a starting job, but he's not willing to say he won't be a starter. He called it a bad year for Meyer and that he's not going to forget that he was one of the best pitchers in the International League in 2014.

Fastball, curveball, cutter and change.

Prospects 6-10 now available.

Dereck Rodriguez lived a childhood that many of us would dream of. His father is future Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez, so Dereck had the opportunity to hang out in big league clubhouses. However, Rodriguez is his own player and has already switched positions since the Twins drafted him as a potential five-tool outfielder in the 6th round of the 2011 draft. After three seasons as an outfielder, the organization moved him to the mound. Last year, he was named the Appalachian League Pitcher of the Year. Image courtesy of Seth Stohs (photo of Dereck Rodriguez) Dereck Rodriguez lived a childhood that many of us would dream of. His father is future Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez, so Dereck had the opportunity to hang out in big league clubhouses. However, Rodriguez is his own player and has already switched positions since the Twins drafted him as a potential five-tool outfielder in the 6th round of the 2011 draft. After three seasons as an outfielder, the organization moved him to the mound. Last year, he was named the Appalachian League Pitcher of the Year. Rodriguez will most likely start the 2016 season in Cedar Rapids with a chance to move up to Ft. Myers. Recently, Rodriguez took time out of his schedule to answer several questions for Twins Daily’s readers. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Seth Stohs (SS): Born in Texas, grew up between Florida and Puerto Rico, is it pretty safe to say that at various times growing up you were a Rangers, Marlins, Tigers or Nationals fan growing up… and we can probably guess who your favorite player was? Dereck Rodriguez (DR): Oh yeah. Growing up, I was a big Rangers fan. Even today, I still follow them a lot and enjoy watching their games. A lot of people think my dad was my favorite player growing up, but growing up, I just saw him as my dad, you know. My favorite player has and will always be Derek Jeter. I liked the way he played the game and how he was on and off the field (SS): Did you spend a lot of time in the clubhouse with your dad, and if so, what are a couple of your favorite memories? (DR): I spent most of my childhood in the clubhouse. It was a lot of fun just making friends with the other kids running around in the clubhouse and during BP. And of course meeting all the baseball players, current Hall of Famers and future Hall of Famers. (SS): Let’s go back to your high school days. Did you play other sports, or were you involved in other activities? (DR): In high school, I was strictly baseball. I mean, I liked basketball and other sports, but I was always playing baseball. (SS): What were some of the highlights of your high school career? (DR): Some of my highlights were hitting my home runs and the good defense I used to play in the outfield. And my senior year, of course, throwing a couple innings. So that was fun. (SS): How old were you when you first started to see MLB scouts? Did the Twins and their scouts talk to you much leading up to the draft? (DR): I was about 16 or 17 when scouts used to go see me already, going into my junior year, and throughout the rest of my high school career. And to be honest the Twins spoke to me one time before the draft, and they were the ones that picked me. (SS): What were some of the bigger transitions for you adjusting to minor league baseball? (DR): The biggest adjustment was being away from home and being on your own at such an early age. And the competition was different, a lot harder. It's like they would tell the new guys in mini camp right after you get drafted "when you were in high school or college, you were the big fish in a little pond, but now you're a small fish in a big pond" and it's true. (SS): We know that you began your career as an outfielder. Was that your preferred position, and at what point did you realize that pitching was best for you and your career? (DR): Yeah, that was my preferred position. I loved playing the outfield. I love playing defense and running down baseballs, making good throws, and throwing runners out. The Twins were the ones that thought it was a good idea for me to get on the mound and see what I've got. And me being the player I am, as long as I have a uniform on, wherever on the field it is, I'm happy. (SS): Describe the type of pitcher that you are? When you are pitching well, as you did in Elizabethton in 2015, what makes you successful? (DR): I feel like I'm a power pitcher. What makes me successful is I still have the mentality of a hitter. I know how hard hitting is. So I know when hitters are looking for one thing or another. (SS): What are those things that you feel you needed to spend the offseason working on? What will be the keys to you taking the “next step?” (DR): I need to work more on my fastball command a little bit more, and on my secondary pitches. That's what I feel will help me make that jump to hopefully being the 1-2 guy in the rotation and eventually being in the big leagues. (SS): What was it like pitching in the Puerto Rico Winter League? (DR): Winter ball is always a great experience. You learn so much from the veteran guys that have been playing baseball for a long time. Playing in that environment helps you become a stronger player mentally and physically (SS): When you get away from baseball, what do you enjoy doing? (DR): I just like hanging out with my friends and family. I don't get to spend much time with them because I'm always playing baseball. So I'm really only home for about 1 or 2 months out of the whole year. So I just spend time with them. (SS): What are your goals for the 2016 season? Are there certain numbers/stats you’d like to focus on? (DR): My goals are simple. If I can go out there every start that I have and compete the hardest I can every time I step on the mound, I'm happy. (SS): Who are some of the people who have helped you get to this point in your career? (DR): My family. 100% They have been there since day one and they're going to be there always. But the one that has always been there for me ever since I can remember was my Mom. When my dad was playing, she was the one that would take me to the tournaments and drive me 2-3 hours so I can play a game and drive back the same day. So she's my number one fan. (SS): What would it mean to you and your family to put on the Minnesota Twins uniform and pitch in a regular season game in the big leagues? (DR): I mean, that's what I've been working for ever since I was three years old when I first started playing baseball. That day, I don't even know how I'm going to tell my family I got called up, and that I'm flying them out. That's probably going to one of the happiest days of my life because it's not just for me, but for my mom. It's going to be super special knowing that all the trips and all the sacrifices she did paid off.-------------------------------------------------- Rodriguez will report to Twins minor league camp in mid-March. We certainly wish him well during the season. We would like to thank him for taking time to respond to our questions. Feel free to ask questions in the comments below. View full article

Brandon Peterson was the choice for Twins MInor League Relief Pitcher of the Year in 2014. Did a big article on him in the 2015 Prospect Handbook. Talked to him quite a bit at Twins Fest. Really good guy. He's put up tremendous numbers. He tops out at about 91 but scouts say that he hides the ball so well it jumps on players. I didn't have him in my Top 30... he'd probably be closer to 40 for me, in part because of the relievers he's behind. He deserves more opportunity. I don't think Mientkiewicz used him, at least not in key roles, in the Southern League championship series. He'll start in Chattanooga. I'd suspect he'll spend the full year there, but a promotion to Rochester is certainly very possible if he keeps pitching like he has the last two years.

Good hard slide. Easily able to touch the base.

Mike Berardino caught up with Twins RP JR Graham. Graham lost 40 pounds in the offseason, falling from 210 to 170. According to the article he is now at 175 pounds and feels really good about it. I have to say that seeing Graham at Twins Fest was shocking. Hopefully this is a good move for him and he is able to maintain the fastball he showed in 2014. If so he's got big potential yet. He hit 99 on multiple occasions last year. Then again, I remember hearing Ryan (I think) talking about how they asked Boof Bonser to loose weight one year and he did, lost a bunch, and he wasn't as good a pitcher. So, we'll see.

When they're talented, the Twins aren't afraid to push them. They handle them all on a case-by-case situation.

Yup, at some point he'll have to do that. At some point the tools need to turn into skills. The signs are there that it can happen. He'll need to be more consistent with his mechanics, but he's still very young and has still put up solid overall numbers despite the low K rate.

My guess is that most won't view that as a success, but it really probably would be compared to most #4 overall picks in the history of the draft.

Yeah, I think that would be ideal. These guys all have the talent, but of course none of them have done it yet. Some quality. Quantity. Guys people believe can stick. Guys that can hit a little. I mean, hopefully at least 1-2 of them get all the way and produce in the big leagues.

He has a couple of check ups in Houston every year, so they're on top of it.