Seth Stohs

Our good friends over at Twinkie Town have spent the past couple of months working on their community Top 50 Twins Prospect list. Each day, those who went to their site were able to cast their vote for a player. The player with the most votes gets the spot, and the next day they would vote for the next spot. They started at #1 and worked all the way to #50 and the best part was community discussion each round. Download attachment: 8144m.jpg I thought it would be fun to compare and contrast my Top 50 Twins Prospect list to the Twinkie Town list. The top five on each list are the exact same, but after that, there are some significant differences, and by the time it reaches the end of the list, there are several names that don’t appear on both lists. So, as pitchers and catchers are set to report to Ft. Myers on Saturday and SethSpeaks.net is winding down, discuss these lists and feel free to post your own rankings. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] [TABLE] Rank SethSpeaks Top 50 Twinkie Town Top 50 1 Miguel Sano Miguel Sano 2 Eddie Rosario Eddie Rosario 3 Oswaldo Arcia Oswaldo Arcia 4 Aaron Hicks Aaron Hicks 5 Joe Benson Joe Benson 6 Liam Hendriks Kyle Gibson 7 Kyle Gibson Chris Parmelee 8 Adrian Salcedo Liam Hendriks 9 Alex Wimmers Brian Dozier 10 Chris Parmelee Chris Herrmann 11 Brian Dozier Max Kepler 12 Travis Harrison Levi Michael 13 Tom Stuifbergen Adrian Salcedo 14 Angel Morales Alex Wimmers 15 Chris Herrmann Angel Morales 16 Manuel Soliman Carlos Gutierrez 17 Levi Michael Tom Stuifbergen 18 Max Kepler Travis Harrison 19 Niko Goodrum Niko Goodrum 20 Hudson Boyd Hudson Boyd 21 BJ Hermsen Logan Darnell 22 Danny Santana Madison Boer 23 Madison Boer Manuel Soliman 24 Terry Doyle David Bromberg 25 Logan Darnell BJ Hermsen 26 David Bromberg Lester Oliveros 27 JD Williams Matt Hauser 28 Matt Hauser Deolis Guerra 29 Jairo Perez Tyler Robertson 30 Pat Dean Scott Diamond 31 Matt Summers Terry Doyle 32 Danny Rams Nate Roberts 33 Scott Diamond Matt Summers 34 Angel Mata Cole DeVries 35 Corey Williams Corey Williams 36 Danny Ortiz Matt Bashore 37 Carlos Gutierrez JD Williams 38 Nate Roberts Danny Rams 39 Lance Ray Pat Dean 40 Deolis Guerra Andrew Albers 41 Michael Gonzales Dakota Watts 42 Lester Oliveros Tim Shibuya 43 Ryan O’Rourke Lance Ray 44 Hung-yi Chen Evan Bigley 45 James Beresford James Beresford 46 Bobby Lanigan Tony Davis 47 Tyler Grimes Danny Lehmann 48 Anderson Hidalgo Jorge Polanco 49 Tim Shibuya Angel Mata 50 Luis Nunez Jairo Perez [/TABLE] Any thoughts? Please feel free to e-mail me or use the Comments Section! Click here to view the article

Download attachment: BlogSpotting2.jpg In recent weeks, we have noticed an increase in the number of Blogs written by Twins Daily readers, and we want to make sure to give notice to those. Obviously, the front page often gets most of the attention, and the Forums follow with the discussion. But we want to encourage people to check out the Blogs page as well because there is often great content. And, if you are at all interested in expressing your opinions in a blog or writing a story on a player, a team, or a trip to see a Twins or Twins minor league game, consider starting your own blog here at Twins Daily. It’s free.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] Today, I wanted to highlight some of the terrific blogs that have been written in recent days. Be sure to check them out, and again, don’t forget to make checking out the Blogs page a regular part of your Twins Daily visit. --- Sbknudson wrote a terrific blog on The Right Way to Retaliate. Obviously this is a nice blog in response to what happened on Thursday night in Texas.Brad Swanson looked at Twins Hitters who could contribute to playoff teams in the future. He is looking to 2014 and beyond, so he considers hitters on the current roster who could contribute to the Twins or another organization.Twins Best Friend wrote a blog called Back to the Twins Future. He gives his thoughts on a potential 2015 Twins lineup.A couple of blogs look not-quite-as-far into the Twins future. ShawnWahl wrote An early blueprint for 2013. This has been one of the most popular blogs written and commented on at Twins Daily. If you haven’t read it yet, be sure to do so.Similarly, J-Dog Dungan wrote a blog called My beliefs about what the Twins should look like in 2013. Pitching is a key. We all know that. Check out who he has in his 2013 Twins starting rotation.Not all blogs need to be long. AllhopeisgoneMNTwins found a chat by ESPN.com’s Keith Law, and one of the questions he answer was about his thoughts on Scott Diamond. Law’s response may not have been what Twins fans would have hoped for, and that showed in the comments.I think it is fair to say that Freightmaster was impressed by the A’s Brett Anderson. He also asks why the Twins announcers continue to talk about the Twins turning things around and winning.Bark’s Lounge wrote an article called Evolution and the Australian Baseball Player. I know we get a good mount of readers from Australia, and it’d be great to get their thoughts on comments on this one.What if the Twins would have drafted Mike Trout instead of Kyle Gibson in that 2009 draft? Hindsight is a beautiful thing, but what do you think would have happened? To think, those quality blog topics were all posted by members of the Twins Daily community over the last two or three days. I definitely encourage people to check out the Blogs page every day after reading the front page articles and providing good feedback to those who took the time to blog. And again, if you’re interested in putting some of your thoughts and opinions into blog form, consider starting your own blog too. Click here to view the article

It was a night of debuts in the Twins system Tuesday. Aaron Hicks finally made his first ever appearance in a AAA game as he started rehab from his hamstring injury. Logan Darnell also made his AAA debut. Matt Summers replaced Darnell in the Rock Cats rotation and started Tuesday. And likely, the debut you were most looking forward to came in Palm Beach as Byron Buxton played his first game for the Miracle. How did their debuts go, and how was 2013 draft pick Tanner Mendonca in his professional debut? Check out what happened in the Twins farm system on Tuesday:[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] Rochester Red Wings 3, Indianapolis Indians 5 Box Score Aaron Hicks made his AAA debut on Tuesday night in Indianapolis. He made out in his first at-bat, but had a single, a double and an RBI single in his next three plate appearances. Following the double, he attempted to score from second base on a passed ball. He was out, but that indicated his hamstring was at 100%. It will be interesting to see how he is able to come back on Wednesday after running in this game. He was the team’s DH, so he will still need to get some time in the outfield before he is fully ready to come back. Hicks had three of the Red Wings five hits in this game. Jeff Clement hit his 12th home run of the season. Logan Darnell made his first AAA start. He gave up a solo home run in the first inning to Josh Harrison before posting a 1-2-3 second frame. He got the first two outs of the third inning, then he walked the next two batters. He was taken out with what play-by-play man Josh Whetzel guessed was a blister. In total, he gave up one run on two hits. He walked three and struck out two in just 2.2 innings. Luis Perdomo replaced him and went the next 2.1 innings. He gave up two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out two. Aaron Thompson gave up two runs on three hits and a walk in two innings. He struck out two. Cody Eppley pitched a scoreless inning. New Britain Rock Cats, Altoona Curve The game was suspended after two innings with the score of 3-0 Rock Cats. Matt Summer didn’t give up a run in his AA debut in those two frames. Curt Smith hit a three-run homer in the 2nd. The game will continue … Ft. Myers Miracle 4, Palm Beach 5 Box Score Byron Buxton was the big story of this game. Baseball’s best prospect made his much-anticipated Miracle debut. As he had with the Kernels, he hit leadoff and played center field. He singled in his second at-bat, but was subsequently thrown out attempting a steal. He was 1-5 in the game. Mike Kvasnicka continues to hit well; in this game, he was 2-3 with a walk and his third home run. Jhon Goncalves hit his ninth double. Jason Wheeler had a rough one. The lefty gave up five runs on seven hits and three walks in four innings. Ryan O’Rourke came on and went three scoreless innings. He gave up three hits, walked one and struck out two. Jose Gonzalez worked a scoreless eighth inning. Cedar Rapids Kernels 6, Burlington Bees 4 Box Score With Buxton promoted, it was Max Kepler taking over in center field for the Kernels. He has taken up some of the offensive slack produced by Buxton's promotion. On this night, he got a chance to play hero. Having doubled earlier in the game, Kepler came up in a tied game in the 8th inning, and launched a two-run homer that proved to be the game winner. Through five games, he is now hitting .318 with a 1.011 OPS. He is 7-22 and has four doubles and home run. Nice to make a good first impression! Jorge Polanco added his ninth triple and drove in three runs. JD Williams was 1-2 with a walk. Dalton Hicks knocked his 23rd double. Mason Melotakis was on the mound for the Kernels. The lefty went the first six innings and was charged with four runs (3 earned). He gave up five hits, walked three and struck out five. Tim Atherton came on to start the seventh. He got two outs and walked two. Kaleb Merck went the final 2.1 innings and it was 7 up, 7 down with three strikeouts. Elizabethton Twins 8, Greeneville Astros 4 Box Score The offense showed up Monday, and the E-Twins improved to 5-1 on the season. Rory Rhodes went 3-5 with his third double. Mitch Garver was 2-5 with his second and third doubles. Zach Granite was 2-3 with a walk, a triple and his first pro stolen base. Romy Jimenez was 2-5 with a triple. Javier Pimentel went 2-5. Tanner Mendonca made his first pro start; he went the first three innings and did not allow a run. He gave up two hits, walked three and struck out three. Tim Shibuya came on in relief and gave up two runs on three hits and a walk in four innings. He improved to 2-0. Carson Goldsmith gave up two runs on three hits in the final two innings. GCL Twins 6, GCL Rays 5 Box Score You take the good, you take the bad. You take them both and there you have it, life in the minor leagues. In the GCL’s first two games, Amaurys Minier went 4-7 with a double, triple and home run. On Tuesday, he went 1-5 with four strikeouts. In his last two games, he has gone 1-9 with seven strikeouts. Even for the most talented players, it is a process and is about development. Joel Polanco went 2-4 with a triple and two RBI. Will Hurt went 2-2 with a walk. Chad Christensen was 2-5. Lance Ray went 0-4 with two strikeouts in his rehab game. Chih-Wei Hu started and gave up four runs on six hits in 4.1 innings. He walked none and struck out four. Jose Abreu came on and went the next 2.2 innings. He gave up one hit, walked one and struck out one. Josh Guyer picked up the save. He went the final two innings and gave up one run on two hits and a walk, striking out four. Please feel free to comment or ask questions below. View full article

Starting at 10AM CST on Thursday 6/21, you can adopt a Twins prospect in this thread. (Seth will post that the adoptions can begin at 10:00 CST.) Just put down the players name and submit it and THEN CHECK TO MAKE SURE NOBODY POSTED THAT NAME BEFORE YOU. If someone has, you didn't get that player, but it's not big deal - just submit another post with someone else's name - and then make sure nobody posted THAT name before you. Lather, rinse and repeat until you get a name that nobody else did. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] If you adopted a player back in April, you can adopt a second prospect now. All players signed and in the Twins farm system now are eligible to be adopted. This includes 2012 draft picks that have signed, players with the GCL Twins or Elizabethton Twins or players on full-season teams that weren't previously drafted. (Below is a list of which players have already been adopted. This list will continue to be updated in this forum throughout the day.) Once you reserve a name, you can start a thread. Just title the thread the name of the prospect like "Miguel Sano." First post must be an introduction of the player. The format of the post is up to the individual, but please be sure to get all the important information needed on the player. For Example, Name, Position, Handedness, Drafted/Signed/Acquired (out of where/what round), Previous Stats, etc. Feel free to make it as detailed as you want. (There are a lot of websites you could link to such as their Baseball-Reference, The Baseball Cube, First Inning, Fan Graphs, etc.) Feel free to post videos, interviews, newspaper articles on your player. Whatever you can find. And then all you have to do is poste updates on your players. Let us know when they have a big game, or if they're on a hot streak, or if they get promoted. As we've said before, brag up your player. (Click here to adopt a prospect) Players already adopted: Alex Wimmers, Corey Williams, Max Kepler, James Beresford, Jeff Manship, Daniel Turpen, Miguel Sano, Chris Herrmann, Aaron Hicks, BJ Hermsen, Josh Burris, Levi Michael, Eddie Rosario, Adrian Salcedo, Oswaldo Arcia, Angel Morales, Hudson Boyd, Deolis Guerra, Matt Hauser, Brian Dozier, Michael Tonkin, AJ Pettersen, Travis Harrison, Niko Goodrum, Pedro Florimon, Tyler Grimes, Joe Benson, Logan Darnell, Dereck Rodriguez, Brian Dinkelman, Andrew Albers, Lester Oliveros, Liam Hendriks, Jairo Perez, Tim Shibuya, Jason Wheeler, Anthony Slama, Evan Bigley, Cole De Vries, Lance Ray, AJ Achter, Scott Diamond, Jorge Polanco, Steve Hirschfeld, Pat Dean, Blake Martin, Luis Perdomo, Brett Lee, Tsuyoshi Nishioka, Wilkin Ramirez. Download attachment: ByronBuxton2.jpg Click here to view the article

Today is the July trade deadline. At 3:00 this afternoon (central time), the non-waiver trade deadline will come and go. The Twins have already traded Francisco Liriano. That was a given. The Twins needed to deal him before July 31 regardless of the 10 (or more) things that we hate about the actual deal itself. What would your reaction be if the Twins did not make another trade before the 3:00 deadline? [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]What if Terry Ryan does not get an offer for Denard Span, Josh Willingham or Glen Perkins that he deems worthy of accepting? What if the Twins have to eat $10 million or more from the Blue Jays in a deal for Justin Morneau? The Twins need to do something to acquire pitching, and with a weakened minor league system, they also just need to gain as much talent as they can regardless of position. So, is there a case for the Twins to do nothing at the trade deadline? The Twins are said to be looking for a lot in return for Denard Span. The same is true of Josh Willingham, if he is even available at all. This is smart, and the Twins are the team in control on these guys. Because both are signed for a couple more years at very reasonable dollar values, there is no hurry to trade them. In both cases, GM Terry Ryan should not accept anything less than a great return. First, both play pretty important roles on a team and are very valuable. Span is a terrific leadoff hitter and a solid centerfielder. Willingham may not be much defensively, but having his kind of power in the middle of the lineup is an asset. Second, because they are signed for at least two more seasons, the Twins could find that they could acquire more during the offseason, or even at next year’s trade deadline. Although the Twins would likely love to get out from under the $14 million they owe Justin Morneau, they should be smart about it as well. If they have to eat any of the contract, they need to make sure that they get enough return to make it worthwhile. Otherwise, they might as well just keep Morneau and hope that he can continue to improve, maybe even getting back to his MVP form. If so, he is a great middle-of-the-lineup threat, and as is seemingly a theme here, he could have even more value next July, or in the offseason. The same can be said for relief pitchers Glen Perkins, Brian Duensing and Jared Burton. Perkins is signed long term. Duensing has at least three years of arbitration-eligibility before he can become a free agent, and Burton has one more arbitration season. Relief pitching is something that seems to get traded at the trade deadline for more than they should. So, the Twins should explore deals for these three in hopes that they are offered a package they can’t refuse. But the other side is that these are three strong building blocks that can provide stability in the Twins bullpen that they can hold on to for a couple of years. Again, all three could be traded in the offseason or at the deadline next July. Of course, other players could sneak through waivers and be traded in August. Players like Carl Pavano and Matt Capps would need to come off of the Disabled List and prove themselves to be healthy enough to get through the rest of the season first, but that could happen. Someone like Alexi Casilla could provide a bench bat or pinch-running capabilities for the right team for a playoff run as well. According to Twins mlb.com writer Rhett Bollinger, the Twins are 34-32 since May 16th. If not for a horrendous first six weeks of the season, the Twins could be in contention for a playoff spot. Maybe this team isn’t as far away from contending for a playoff berth as we think? Maintaining status quo would mean that the Twins could have a 2013 lineup with Denard Span, Ben Revere, Joe Mauer, Josh Willingham, Justin Morneau, Trevor Plouffe and Ryan Doumit in it. Although Brian Dozier has struggled mightily in his rookie season, as most players do, there is still hope that he can be a league average middle infielder in time. They will need to figure out how the middle infield will play out, but with those first seven in the lineup, the middle infield can go back to being defense-first types. The question, as it always is, is in the pitching staff. Scott Diamond would appear to be the only sure-thing for a rotation spot coming into the season. It is unlikely that anyone that te Twins would acquire in a trade today would be able to step in to a rotation spot in 2013 and become a top starter, but the hope would be that the return on a great player would be some pitchers with great upside. But if the Twins decide not to make July trades or big offseason trades, that means that they have ever intention of competing right away in 2013. If that is the case, the Twins will have to spend on pitching in the offseason. I am fine with them “counting on” Liam Hendriks to step up in 2013. I even understand their need to continue giving Nick Blackburn opportunities because of his horrible contract (although I think once we get into the 2013 season, the Twins should feel like they can DFA him and just eat what is remaining). Kyle Gibson may be ready by June. That means that, at a minimum, the Twins need to bring in two quality starters. I would never advocate giving a $100 million contract to any pitcher, so I would not sign Zach Greinke, but I’m sure many of you might think differently. For me, I would much rather see the Twins sign two (or three?) $8-10 million types. I wouldn’t mind seeing the Twins offer Edwin Jackson a three year, $27 million deal. I would like to see them offer Anibal Sanchez a four year, $36-40 million deal. Aces? Probably not. Quality starters who are still young enough to continue to improve and provide some stability to the staff? Certainly. I would not overpay for either of them, or any of the other free agent pitchers, and there is no way to know what other teams will offer them contracts or if the players would even be interested in coming to the Twins, but the Twins do need to reach out to them. And yes, if this is the direction, it will also require a commitment from the ownership because it will require that the payroll not go down any further, and likely go up a little bit. I would also bring back Scott Baker. He may not be able to pitch until midseason, so I would keep the year one contract low. However, I would offer a contract with a series of team options. Baker has always shown that, when healthy, he is a very good pitcher. If think it would be wise to bring him back at the right price. Regarding the need to bring more talent into the Twins farm system, the team will need to find ways. Again, trades could come in the offseason. The Twins should use their high waiver claim to pick up talent. They should look at the Rule 5 draft as a means to bring in players. They also should feel good about several of their prospects. Aaron Hicks and Oswaldo Arcia have both taken big strides forward this year. Miguel Sano and Eddie Rosario remain top prospects. The Twins used the draft to acquire high-ceiling young talent like Byron Buxton and J.O. Berrios, along with some very hard throwers. It isn't like the Twins minor leagues are completely void of talent. So, if the trade deadline passes at 3:00 today, and we learn that the Twins did not make another trade (or more), it will likely feel somewhat disappointing. However, we will never know for sure what offers Terry Ryan received for these various players. I do know that I would be far more disappointed if the Twins traded one of their valuable pieces who are not free agents at the end of the season for a package that we deem less than appropriate. Download attachment: GardyRyan.jpg photo from Twins Now Click here to view the article

A night after the Twins and the Twins' minor league affiliates went 6-0, the organization went 1-4 on the final night in May. The two upper affiliates both played one-run games. On Saturday, the Twins' Dominican Summer League team will open its season. We may have to do a game report or two this weekend. Also coming will be the Twins' minor league hitter, starting pitcher and relief pitcher of the month reports. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] The Twins did make some transactions in the minor leagues. Matt Hauser was promoted to New Britain while Jose Gonzalez was sent back to Ft. Myers. Each pitched for his new team on this night. Check out what happened in the Twins minor league system on Friday: Rochester Red Wings 2, Charlotte Knights 3 Box Score Cole De Vries struggled, but found a way to get through five innings and give up just two runs. He yielded nine hits and intentionally walked a batter. His night ended with a nice 1, 2, 3 fifth frame. Virgil Vasquez came on and threw three shutout innings. However, he gave up a leadoff single to start the bottom of the 9th. After a sacrifice bunt, the next batter was intentionally walked. Michael Tonkin was brought in. He is a ground ball pitcher, so they were hoping for an inning-ending double play. However, as he had done a night earlier in his Red Wings debut, Tonkin gave up a run-scoring single. Tonight, the single he yielded was to Gordon Beckham and it ended the game. The offense was pretty quiet. Doug Bernier went 2-4. Both Red Wings runs came on home runs. Oswaldo Arcia’s fifth home run put them on the scoreboard. With two outs, down by a run in the top of the 9th, Brian Dinkelman pinch hit for Danny Lehmann and hit a game-tying home run. It was his third homer of the season. New Britain Rock Cats 6, Bowie Baysox 7 Box Score Trevor May had one rough inning again. In total, he gave up four runs on eight hits and three walks in five innings, striking out five. The four runs came in the second inning before he settled in. The Rock Cats were able to tie it in the third inning. Chris Pettit had a two-run double. It was followed by a two-run homer by Reynaldo Rodriguez. Edgar Ibarra came on and gave up two runs on three hits in his two innings. After Dan Turpen and Matt Hauser each threw a scoreless inning, the game went to the bottom of the ninth. Nate Hanson crushed a double off of the wall with two outs to tie the game. Cole Johnson came on for the bottom of the ninth. Unfortunately, he gave up the first run he’s allowed in all May, and the Rock Cats dropped the game. Curt Smith went 3-5. Nate Hanson was 2-5 with his second double. Reynaldo Rodriguez went 2-5 with his fifth home run. Ft. Myers Miracle 1, Palm Beach Cardinals 4 Box Score Matt Summers was excellent through five, but the Miracle bats just couldn’t muster enough offense tonight. Summers started the game with five shutout innings. He got two outs in the 6th inning, then gave up a run before being replaced by Jose Gonzalez who got the inning’s final out. Gonzalez then gave up a run in the 7th. Corey Williams pitched the 8th frame and gave up two runs on a hit and two walks. Eddie Rosario was 2-4. He had two of the team’s five hits. Jhon Goncalves hit his sixth double. Following up on yesterday’s story, Miguel Sano was in the starting lineup and was 1-3 with a sacrifice fly. Cedar Rapids Kernels 5, Kane County 2 Box Score The Kernels jumped out to a quick lead with two runs in the first inning. JO Berrios started slow. He gave up a run in the first inning on a hit and an uncharacteristic two walks. However, he settled down nicely. Berrios gave up one run on three hits and two walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out four. He was replaced by Alex Muren who went the next 2.1 innings without allowing a run. He gave up two hits, walked one and struck out one. Tim Atherton got one out in the ninth inning, before giving up one run on two hits and a walk. David Hurlbut came on and got the final two outs for his fifth save. Berrios improved to 4-2. Dalton Hicks wen 3-4 with his 16th double. Michael Quesada went 2-4 with his second double. Adam Walker went 2-4 with his 11th double. Byron Buxton stole his 26th base. Photo by Rinaldi Photos Please feel free to comment or ask questions below. View full article

On Monday, the Minnesota Twins and the New York Mets played the series finale of a series that started in April. The Twins lost 6-1 and will now head to Detroit where they'll play the Tigers for the next three days. Kyle Gibson made the start and went just 3.2 innings. He was charged with four runs on ten hits and two walks. Immediately following the game, he was demoted to Rochester. The question of "What's next for Kyle Gibson?" can take on any number of meanings for Twins fans. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]There are the short-term and long-term implications and possibilities to that question. Download attachment: KyleGibsonExit.jpg Photo by Betsy Bissen Let's start with the short-term. We know that Gibson's innings would be monitored throughout the season. In the offseason, we heard that Gibson could be limited to 130 to 140 innings. Once spring training came, the front office backed away from giving a hard number of innings, saying they would just monitor how he was pitching and how his arm responded. When I talked to Gibson after the Saturday night game against the White Sox at Target Field, he still maintained that they had not yet been given any timeline. He only said that Terry Ryan and others in the front office only insisted that Gibson be completely honest with them about how his arm, and specifically his elbow was feeling. He said that he continues to feel strong. So, what is next for Kyle Gibson? As it relates to 2013, there are several questions. How much more will he pitch, and in what role? Gibson is a starting pitcher. He is currently at 143.2 combined innings on the season between Rochester and Minnesota. He could make another start or two for the Red Wings. He could make those one or two starts and then be shut down for the season, likely around 155 innings. He could skip the next two starts, and then start for the Red Wings in the playoffs, if they make the playoffs. Gibson could also pitch out of the Red Wings bullpen for the rest of the season (about two weeks). His innings and pitching frequency can be monitored very strictly. Is it possible that we see him in a Twins uniform in September? It may be unlikely, but maybe Gibson is able to work out some things, get some time on the Disabled List to rest, and come back to work a hand full of innings for the Twins. I think the more important question is how you feel about the future of Kyle Gibson. What means more to you? How much do you choose to make of ten starts at the end of his rookie season in his first season back from Tommy John surgery? Do you choose to go back to his scouting reports before Tommy John surgery and how well he pitched during his strong run at Rochester in May and early June? There is a general belief that a pitcher should throw no more than 20% more innings than he did the previous season in an attempt to keep healthy. If Gibson ends the 2013 season with 150 innings pitched, a 20% increase in 2014 would put him at 180 innings. I think that's a pretty solid goal. The scouting reports are what they are. They're something that can help predict how well a pitcher could do. Not how well they will do, but what they possibly can become. In his short time with the Twins, we did see a fastball that sat in the low-90s and touched 94 as we had heard. When he was pitching well, we did see some very good sinking action. We saw that he does have three pitches. What we didn't see were a ton of ground balls. His ground out to fly ball ratio was essentially 1 to 1. His strikeout rate dropped, which is no surprise. We also saw his walk numbers increase. Some of it might just be the big league hitters have better eyes, and maybe those sharp, sinkers and sliders that several AAA hitters get taken by big league hitters when they dip below the zone. It's certainly an adjustment that Gibson will need to, and will, work on before 2014. Gibson will be 26 years old throughout the 2014 season. Certainly, that is not young for a player with just ten big league starts. However, when you consider that he lost half of 2011 and most of 2012, and then still was working back early in 2013 because of the surgery, he's where he should be. For those that think this is old, well, The Twins would get his ages 26-31 years under their control. It's probably fair to say that the big league debut season of Kyle Gibson has been disappointing, but hopefully people can see enough of the big picture not to give up on an arm as talented as Gibson's. That's as silly as giving up on Aaron Hicks because of his 2013 struggles. The truth is that most players come up from the minor leagues and experience some growing pains. The hope is that Gibson will return in 2014, fully healthy, and better off for his struggles. My Opinion It is my opinion that the Twins should give Gibson one more start in Rochester, and then shut him down. Let him enjoy the offseason and just have a regular workout routine without the rehab. I have no doubt in my mind that Gibson will be in the Twins Opening Day rotation, and in the rotation for years to come. What happened in his 51 innings with the Twins this season didn't affect my thoughts on this future. If he had been great, my opinion of his future likely would not have changed. So, what are your thoughts? This is a pretty broad topic, with several parts. It will be interesting to see what the Twins, along with Gibson, decide to do. Click here to view the article

The Twins lost yet again in a back-and-forth battle against the Royals. The Twins had plenty of runners on base again but didn’t get enough to score. There was the occasional good pitch, good (or umpire-assisted) defensive plays and some bad luck. Carl Pavano just didn’t have it, and the bullpen and defense were also unable to hold a lead. The Twins have now lost six in a row. The Royals have won three in a row. Here is a look at the Twins minor league scores and highlights from Friday:[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] ROCHESTER 3, BUFFALO 7 This game quickly became a bullpen game. Sam Deduno started and walked the first batter he faced. He threw another pitch but then had to leave the game with a trainer. It will be interesting to find out what happened and what it means. Brendan Wise came in and worked the next three innings. He gave up six runs on six hits and a walk while striking out three. Tyler Robertson struck out three in two scoreless innings despite giving up two hits and walking two. Anthony Slama struck out five in two scoreless innings. Casey Fien gave up a solo home run in the final inning. Darin Mastroianni continues to hit well. He was 3-4 in this game with a walk. Aaron Bates was 2-4 with a walk. Joe Benson hit his second double. Those were the only six hits for the Red Wings. NEW BRITAIN 4, RICHMOND 5 (13 Innings) This was a game with many twists and turns despite the fact that it was a 2-0 game through eight innings. The Rock Cats came to bat in the ninth behind. Aaron Hicks singled in a run, and then he scored on a Deibinson Romero double to tie the game and send it to extra innings. In the 13th, Aaron Hicks came up with a runner on and blasted his fourth home run of the year to give the Rock Cats a 4-2 lead. Unfortunately, the Rock Cats bullpen gave up three runs in the bottom of the 13th, winning on a walk-off. Andrew Albers started and gave up just two runs on eight hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out six. David Bromberg pitched a perfect seventh inning. Luis Perdomo threw two scoreless innings. Lester Oliveros then worked three scoreless innings. Blake Martin came in for the Rock Cats and gave up a hit and a walk and only got one out. Bobby Lanigan came in, still holding a one run lead, but he gave up a two-run walk off home run. Deibinson Romero went 3-6 with his seventh double. Aaron Hicks was 2-6 with his fourth homer and three RBI. Chris Herrmann was 2-6 with his eighth double. Evan Bigley was also 2-6. James Beresford was 2-4 with a walk. FT. MYERS MIRACLE 2, PALM BEACH 3 There wasn’t much offense in this game, but it turned into a good one. Down 3-0 heading in to the 9th inning, Danny Santana came up with two on and knocked both in with his second triple of the year. It cut the lead to 3-2, but that was as close as it would get. Josmil Pinto added his sixth double earlier in the game. Pat Dean got the start for the Miracle. The lefty went six innings and gave up three runs on seven hits. He walked four and struck out just one. Miguel Munoz had a very impressive outing in his second appearance of the year. He gave up no runs on two hits in three scoreless innings. He walked none and struck out one. BELOIT 6, BOWLING GREEN 3 The bats remain on fire for the Snappers. Wang-Wei Lin was 3-4 with a walk. JD Williams was 3-4 with his second and third doubles, his first triple, two RBI and his fifth stolen base. Eddie Rosario was 1-2 with two walks and his seventh steal. Miguel Sano hit his fifth double. Madison Boer went the first six innings. He gave up two runs on six hits. He walked three and struck out two. Bart Carter struck out three in two perfect innings. Clint Dempster gave up one run on two hits in his inning. JD Williams was often overlooked last season in Elizabethton by the Rosario/Sano combination. He got off to a slow start with the Snappers. A week ago, he was hitting .107. However, following tonight’s performance, he has a six game hitting streak during which time he is 10-25 (.400) and has raised his average to .241. --- Players of the Day for Friday, April 27, 2012 Hitter of the Day – JD Williams Download attachment: JDWilliams.jpg Pitcher of the Day – Miguel Munoz Download attachment: Miguel Munoz.jpg --- A Look Ahead – Saturday, April 28, 2012 Schedule Rochester @ Buffalo – LHP Scott Diamond New Britain @ Richmond – RHP Steve Hirschfeld Ft. Myers vs Palm Beach – RHP Jhon Garcia Beloit vs Bowling Green – LHP Steven Gruver --- If you have any questions or comments on the Twins minor league system, players, teams, etc., leave them in the Comments and I’ll try to answer them! Click here to view the article

The Twins lost big to the Rangers, again. Maybe you’ve read this story before. The Twins starting pitcher (Brian Duensing on this day) puts the Twins way behind early in the game, and the offense isn’t able to catch up. Justin Morneau went 4-4 and homered for the 202nd time in his career to pass Gary Gaetti for 6th on the Twins all-time list. Pedro Florimon was 2-3 with a walk. Jamey Carroll went 2-4 with his 15th double. Joe Mauer doubled for the 26th time this year. The Twins lost for the fifth straight game, and for the 14th time in their last 16 games. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]Aside from the Beloit Snappers, it was not a great night for the Twins organization. Rochester, New Britain, Ft. Myers and Elizabethton lost. The GCL Twins played their final regular season game of the season. Had they won, they would have been in the playoffs. Unfortunately, they lost too. That means that most of the players from that team will be able to leave Ft. Myers before Tropical Storm Isaac arrives on Sunday night. Here is a look at the Twins minor league scores and highlights from Saturday night: ROCHESTER 3, BUFFALO 5 The story on this night was Kyle Gibson. He was making his first start for the Red Wings since last July and undergoing Tommy John surgery in September. In the first inning, Gibson struck out the first two batters he faced. He then gave up a seeing-eye single before striking out the third batter of the inning. In the second inning, he had strikeout, got the second out on a soft-line drive to second base, and got the third batter out on another strikeout. Unfortunately, Gibson struggled in the third frame. He gave up four runs on five hits before his evening was done. He threw 47 pitches, 32 for strikes. More important, his fastball was sitting before 90 and 93 mph with movement. His slider was very sharp, and he showed a very good changeup. Deolis Guerra threw the next three innings. He gave up no runs on three hits. He walked none and struck out four. Daniel Turpen went the final two innings. He gave up one run on one hit and one walk. He struck out four. Wilkin Ramirez remains one fire. He went 3-4 with his 13th double and seventh stolen base. Matt Carson was 2-4 with his 24th double. Brian Dinkelman went 2-4. Danny Lehmann was 1-2 with a walk. Brian Dozier’s struggles with the bat continued. He is 0-20 in his last five game, and since his return to the Red Wings, he has just three hits in 41 at bats. NEW BRITAIN 2, NEW HAMPSHIRE 4 The Rock Cats fell for the third straight game to New Hampshire. BJ Hermsen started for the Rock Cats. Big leaguer, Adam Lind, was the first batter he faced, and he hit a home run. Lind was 2-2 with a walk in the game. Hermsen went six innings and gave up four runs (3 earned) on six hits. He walked three and struck out four. Aaron Thompson struckout one in his inning. Dakota Watts walked one in his relief inning. Deibinson Romero went 2-3 with a walk. Dan Rohlfing was 2-4 with his first triple. Nate Hanson got the Rock Cats on the scoreboard in the second inning when his 14th double drove in Josmil Pinto. Chris Colabello doubled for the 37th time this season. FT. MYERS 2, PALM BEACH 4 Palm Beach scored one in the 2nd inning, one in the 3rd inning and one in the 4th inning, and that was enough on this night. Cole Nelson got the start. The lefty gave up the three runs on nine hits and two walks in four innings. He struck out four. Ricky Bowen gave up three hits and a walk in two scoreless innings. He struckout three. Nelvin Fuentes struckout three over the next two innings. He gave up no runs on one hit and one walk. Michael Tonkin gave up one run on one hit in the ninth inning. He struckout two. Lance Ray went 1-2 with three walks and his 21st double. Levi Michael went 2-3 with a walk. Anderson Hidalgo went 2-4. Danny Santana went 2-5. Steve Liddle hit his second homer. Remember that the Miracle’s game on Sunday was moved up due to tropical storm Isaac. BELOIT 13, CEDAR RAPIDS 2 Miguel Sano got the night off. Eddie Rosario and Kennys Vargas combined to go 0-10 with five strikeouts. So, of course the Snappers scored 13 runs in Cedar Rapids. Nate Roberts went 3-6. JD Williams went 2-5 with a walk and his sixth homer. Drew Leachman went 2-5 with a walk and his fourth home run. Matt Koch went 1-3 with two walks and his 20th double. Tyler Grimes was 1-3 with two walks and his fifth home run. Stephen Wickens went 1-3 with three walks. Cole Johnson made the start. He went five innings and gave up two runs on seven hits in five innings. He walked none and struck out one. Corey Williams struck out three and walked one over the next three innings. DJ Baxendale gave up two hits but no runs in his inning of work. ELIZABETHTON 1, PULASKI 4 The E-Twins had a rare game in which they didn’t get much offense. Travis Harrison went 2-3 with a walk and his fifth home run. The team had just four more hits. Ricardo Arevalo started and gave up three runs (2 earned) on three hits and two walks in five innings. He struckout just one. Travis Huber walked two in his scoreless inning of work. Andrew Ferriera walked the one batter he faced. Tyler Herr came on and gave up two hits and two walks but no runs in his two innings. GCL TWINS 1 , GCL RED SOX 4 After winning on Friday night, the GCL Twins had a chance to make the playoffs with a win on Saturday. Unfortunately, the Twins came up just short. On the positive side, many of the players will be able to leave Ft. Myers before Tropical Storm Isaac gets there. Felix Jorge started and gave up three runs in the first four innings. He gave up six hits, walked two and struck out six. Kuo Hua Lo walked two and struck out one over the next two innings. Hung-Yi Chen gave up one run on two hits in his inning. Alex Muren then struck out one in a scoreless inning. Aderlin Mejia finished a terrific season with another good game. He was 2-3 with a walk and his 12th and 13th doubles. Bryan Haar was also 2-3. Jeremias Pineda went 1-3 with a walk and his 23rd stolen base. --- Players of the Day for Saturday, August 25, 2012 Pitcher of the Day – Corey Williams Download attachment: Corey Williams 2.jpg Hitter of the Day – Wilkin Ramirez Download attachment: Wilkin Ramirez 2.jpg --- A Look Ahead – Sunday, August 26, 2012 Schedule Rochester @ Buffalo (DH) – RHP Esmerling Vasquez, TBD New Britain @ New Hampshire – LHP Andrew Albers Ft. Myers vs Palm Beach – RHP Matt Summers Beloit @ Cedar Rapids – LHP Jason Wheeler Elizabethton vs Princeton – RHP Hudson Boyd GCL Twins – Season Over --- If you have any questions or comments on the Twins minor league system, players, teams, etc., leave them in the Comments and I’ll try to answer them! Click here to view the article

It appears that the polarizing Twins topic of the first ten days of spring training is the Twins bullpen. There are many who believe that the Twins messed up by not adding more veteran relief pitchers to major league contracts during the offseason. I’m firmly on the opposite side of that argument. I believe that the Twins took a good, calculated risk that Joel Zumaya could actually stay healthy in 2012. If that happened, they could have a difference-maker in the bullpen. As it turned out, his spring training was short and thanks to a torn UCL, his season is already over. As soon as Zumaya was hurt, many fans wanted the Twins to respond instantly by acquiring a proven, veteran bullpen arm. The one difference-making bullpen option that may be available would be Rangers’ righty Koji Uehara, but he will make $4+ million in 2012 and has a no trade clause that he has already used. The Twins have 32 pitchers in big league camp. Taking out the starting pitchers and the four relievers who are all but guaranteed a big league spot (Capps, Perkins, Swarzak, Duensing), and up to 21 players are vying for the remaining four spots. 11 of those are non-roster free agents. My opinion is that the organization has about a month to see if they can fill the three remaining bullpen positions from that group of 21. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] Here is a quick look at that list: On 40 Man Roster: Alex Burnett (24), Terry Doyle (26 - Rule 5 Pick), Jeff Gray (30), Deolis Guerra (21), Carlos Gutierrez (25), Matt Maloney (28), Jeff Manship (27), Lester Oliveros (23), Tyler Robertson (24), Kyle Waldrop (26). Non-Roster Invites: Jason Bulger (33), Jared Burton (30), Samuel Deduno (28), Phil Dumatrait (30), Casey Fien (28), Luis Perdomo (26), Aaron Thompson (25), Daryl Thompson (26), Esmerling Vasquez (27), PJ Walters (26), Brendan Wise (26). Some fans will choose to say that these guys either are not good enough, not ready, or that they were available to the Twins as minor league free agents because no one else wanted them. Some might say that some are too old to succeed at this point. Some will say that Pitcher X can’t succeed because we have seen too much of them. Others will say that Pitcher Y can’t pitch, in part, because we haven’t seen them and we know nothing about them other than they became available because another team let them go. Let me take you back through a little bit of Twins history. Specifically, let’s take a look at some of the Twins bullpen arms from the last decade, but also looking back a little further. Matt Guerrier came to the Twins after the Pirates placed him on waivers in November of 2003. He was coming off of a 2003 season in AAA Nashville in which he went 4-6 with a 4.53 ERA and just 78 strikeouts in 105.1 innings. The Twins were able to send him to Rochester in 2004, but out of options, he had to make the Twins roster in 2005, and he did. He made the team as the last bullpen arm, and gradually gaining the confidence of the coaching staff to use him in key, late inning situations. He was overused in 2008 and posted a 5.19 ERA. Many fans wanted him let go, but they brought him back and he had two more terrific seasons in the back of the Twins bullpen. Download attachment: MattGuerrier.jpg Dennys Reyes came to the Twins before the 2006 season. In 2005, he posted a 5.15 ERA in San Diego. In 2004, he posted a 4-8 record with a 4.75 ERA in Kansas City. In 2003, he spent time with Pittsburgh and Arizona and posted an ERA over 10 with both teams. In 2002, he posted a 6.38 ERA in Texas. So, who would have expected him to, at age 29, go 5-0 with a 0.89 ERA in 66 games with the Twins. He spent two more seasons in the Twins and went a combined 10-1 with a 2.14 ERA in 126.1 innings. “Everyday” Eddie Guardado is one of the best left-handed relievers in Twins history. He was a failed starter. In 1993 and 1994, he combined to go 18-34 with a 5.22 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP. Once moved to the bullpen, he proved himself and eventually moved into the closer’s role. LaTroy Hawkins is another failed starter. Even after moving to the bullpen, it took him a couple of years to grasp the concept. From 1995 through 2001, he went 29-54 with a 5.78 ERA. Then in his final two seasons with the Twins (2002-2003), he was one of the best set up men in baseball. He combined to go 15-3 with a 2.00 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP in 157.2 innings. JC Romero went 3-11 with ERAs of 7.02 and 6.23 in 2000 and 2001, respectively. In 2002, he posted a 1.89 ERA in 81 games out of the Twins bullpen. Not all relievers come into the big leagues and dominate right away like Jesse Crain, Juan Rincon and Pat Neshek did. Of course, each of those three has also lived the up and down nature of being a relief pitcher in the big leagues. And sometimes, all you need is a guy to come in and have one good year. Check out these examples: Tony Fiore came to the Twins in May of 2001 after being released by the Devil Rays days earlier. In fact, the Twins had signed him almost exactly two years earlier and sent him to AAA. The Twins released him after the 1999 season. In 18 big league games in 2000 and 2001 with the Devil Rays and Twins, he posted a 7.30 ERA in 24.2 innings. He allowed 30 hits, walked 12 and struck out 16. Then somehow, he went 10-3 with a 3.16 ERA with the Twins in 2002. The Twins claimed lefty Craig Breslow off of waivers from Cleveland midseason in 2008. He had previously been released by Milwaukee, San Diego and Boston. The then-27 year old posted 1.63 ERA in 42 games with the Twins the remainder of that season. Let’s go all the way back to the 1991 Twins World Series championship team. The Big Train (Carl Willis) had previously posted an 8.25 ERA with the White Sox in 1988. He was let go by the White Sox, Angels and Indians before signing with the Twins. The 30 year old (in 1991) went 8-3 with a 2.63 ERA for the Twins in 89 innings. In 1992, he posted a 2.72 ERA in 79.1 innings for the Twins. In 1993, he posted a 3.10 ERA in 58 innings for the Twins. Last offseason, the Twins needed some pitchers to step up for the Twins in their bullpen. One pitcher did that. Glen Perkins posted 2.48 ERA in 61.2 innings out of the Twins bullpen. He was easily the Twins top pitcher despite the fact that most fans wanted him to be released after a couple of disastrous seasons. Most of these guys’ success occurred after players had turned 27 or 28 years old. When I see guys who have had big league success like Jared Burton and Jason Bulger brought in on minor league deals, I think it is exciting. Hard-throwers like Vasquez, Perdomo and Deduno are certainly at least intriguing. Youngsters like Alex Burnett and Lester Oliveros warrant some patience. A guy like Kyle Waldrop has put in his time in the minors and earned an opportunity in the big leagues. His ground ball rates are incredible. Brendan Wise is an Australian who hasn’t played in the big leagues but who profiles a lot like Waldrop. Carlos Gutierrez needs to stay healthy, but the hard thrower in another ground ball machine. Deolis Guerra is still the youngest player on the Twins 40 man roster and has a tremendous changeup and his numbers after moving to the bullpen last year were great. Jeff Manship profiles very much like Matt Guerrier. They throw with the same velocity, same control, same changeup and curveballs that are often described as the best in the organization. Unfortunately Manship was hurt last year, but he comes into spring training healthy and should perform. Two guys that seemingly have been forgotten but are not gone from the Twins could also factor into the Twins bullpen later in the season. Anthony Slama and David Bromberg were both removed from the 40 man roster and outrighted to Rochester. Neither was even invited to big league camp, but Slama has put up some of the best minor league bullpen numbers that we’ve seen in recent years. Bromberg will likely start the season as a starter, but cold be a bullpen arm to consider later in the season. Listen, I’ll be the first person to tell you that the Twins bullpen was a mess in 2011. I will also say that of the Twins biggest question marks coming into the 2012 season, the bullpen is atop that list. But based on an organizational history of giving guys opportunities to move up and contribute, I’m at the very least intrigued by some interesting roster and non-roster bullpen possibilities. I’m willing to get to the end of March before considering looking for a trade. 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Yeah, it was huge news on Twitter around 6:45 tonight... but, I'm hearing that he feels alright, just got sore. Hopefully it's oK.

Over the past couple weeks here at Twins Daily, we have been profiling a player each day who may be available when the Minnesota Twins make their first round draft selection on Thursday night, the fourth overall pick. Today, we are going to do something a little bit different. This is a Minnesota Twins blog, but it’s also important to recognize and support some local players who are likely to hear their names called in the early rounds of the MLB Draft. Today, we’ll briefly discuss three college players and three high school players with Minnesota ties. It’s always fun to keep track of local players as they begin their professional careers. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] The Gophers Two players on the Minnesota Gophers roster have a chance of being drafted early in the draft. TOM WINDLE Windle is a 6-4, 215 pound left-hander who went 6-4 with a 2.14 ERA for the Gophers this season. He came to the University from Osseo High School where he was runner-up in the Minnesota Mr. Baseball voting. He was the 2010 Metro Player of the Year. He was drafted in the 28th round of the 2010 draft. He worked 41. 1 innings as a freshman and 41. Innings as a sophomore. He played in the Cape Cod League last summer and made a name for himself. The southpaw has good command of a fastball that generally sits between 88 and 92 mph. He has a very good changeup in the low 80s. He also has a good slider. He profiles as a likely back-of-the-rotation starter. Early in the year, he was believed to be a potential first round pick. Now, it looks like he could sneak into the second round. DJ SNELTEN Snelten is from Illinois, but he came to the University of Minnesota despite being drafted in the 30th round by the Padres. He is listed at 6-7 and 230 pounds and throws left-handed, so there is plenty of projection in him. He has been clocked as high as 95 mph with his fastball, and some rave about a very good changeup. He has also been working to add a slider. He went 5-2 with a 2.15 ERA in in 58.2 innings this year. As a sophomore, he went 4-4 with a 3.24 ERA. Snelton just turned 21 years old. He could be taken as early as the third round. PREP STARS There are lots of high school baseball players who have Division I scholarships, but three of them appear to stand out as potential early-round selections. RYAN BOLDT The 6-1, 185 pound 18-year old oufielder from Red Wing certainly has had an interesting run the last year or so. Last summer, he played for Team USA in the Junior AAA/18 U World Championships in South Korea. He was also named the MVP of the Perfect Game All-American Game when he went 2-3 with a triple. His name grew among scouts last summer as a potential five-tool player. He is a tremendous athlete with great speed. He has run a 6.5 60 and most believe that he has the range and instincts to remain a center fielder. He also has a very strong arm, which is an incredible story. When he was ten, he hurt his left arm, his throwing arm. He had two surgeries on his left arm and was told he probably shouldn’t play baseball. That wasn’t an option, so he tought himself to throw right-handed. He’s had two more surgeries on his left arm in recent years, but his right arm is now a tool that has made scouts believe that he can play center, or even right field. He can hit for average and has good on-base skills. The one tool that remains in question is power, but he certainly has the frame to add this to his arsenal. He committed to the University of Nebraska and was looking forward to a big senior season for Red Wing High School. Unfortunately, in the first game this spring, he tore a meniscus, requiring surgery, so he has not played this spring. Scouts will have to determine his draft status based primarily on 2012. There was talk that he could be a mid-1st round pick, but it is now more likely that he would be available when the Twins pick in the 2nd round. MAX KNUTSON Knutson is a left-handed pitcher from Mounds View who also has committed to play for Darin Erstad at the University of Nebraska. The 6-2, 190 pound pitcher/outfielder touches 92 on his fastball. As you would imagine, his secondary pitches will need plenty of development. He has also played defense on the hockey team. He is another great athlete who can hit and play the outfield quite well. He has great speed and the size to develop some power. However, if he is drafted (believed to be possible in the 4th to 8th rounds), it will be as a pitcher. LOGAN SHORE At 6-2 and 205 pounds, Logan Shore’s name has been known for several years. After posting a 0.80 ERA during his junior year, the right-hander from Coon Rapids committed to play his college ball at the University of Florida. Shore throws hard, hitting 92-93 with his fastball. He is said to have a good curveball and a developing, but encouraging, changeup. He is also a shortstop and very good hitter. There is a chance he could go as early as the supplemental first round, though he could land in the 2nd or third rounds too. ONE MORE CHRIS ANDERSON Chris Anderson was Mr. Baseball in Minnesota in 2010 (edging out Windle in the voting) when he played for Centennial High School. He was the 35th round pick of the Cubs that year, but he went on to Jacksonville University where he had teamed with current Twins' minor leaguers Matt Tomshaw and Adam Walker. Still just 20 years old, Anderson came into the season as a potential early-round pick after flashing a 96 mph fastball and a very good slider in the Cape Cod League last summer. Early in the season, he was dominant and his name surfaced as a top ten pick. He went 6-5 with a 3.05 ERA this year. In 85.2 innings, he walked 24 and struck out 85. However, throughout the season, he was quite inconsistent. He could go as early as the mid-first round, though it is also possible (not likely) that he will still be available when the Twins make their second selection. OTHERS There are several other area players who will likely get drafted. Along with Boldt and Knutson, Erstad also has Forest Lake catcher Beau Fandel and Totino Grace infielder Matt Leuty going to Nebraska. St. Paul Academy’s Matt Fiedler is a right-handed pitcher who has committed to stay in-state and play for the Gophers. There are other college players in the region who have made a name for themselves and will likely be selected in the later rounds. One regional name to watch is Layne Somsen, a right-handed pitcher from Yankton, South Dakota, who was the Summit League Pitcher of the Year this year. He led the Jackrabbits to their first NCAA Regional. In their first game against #1 seed Oregon, Somsen held the Ducks to just two hits over seven innings. He is considered a mid-round (15-20th rounds) pick, though that kind of performance with that kind of exposure may move him up a few rounds. It’s always fun seeing who the Twins first pick will be, but it's also fun to get to know and start to follow some of the local players as well. Check out the other Twins Daily MLB Draft Player Profiles or follow the latest national mock drafts in our forum. Be sure to listen to a short, Twins draft preview podcast as well. Monday, May 20-- Sean Manaea, SP Tuesday, May 21-- Austin Meadows, OF Wednesday, May 22-- Trey Ball, OF Thursday, May 23-- Ryan Stanek, RHP Friday, May 24-- Clint Frazier, OF Tuesday, May 28-- Reese McGuire, C Wednesday, May 29—Braden Shipley, RHP Thursday, May 30 -- Kohl Stewart, RHP Friday, May 31 – Kris Bryant, 3B/1B For MLB Draft Day Coverage, make sure you follow @TwinsDaily on Twitter! View full article

It was a big day for a couple of Twins pitching prospects, and one of their top offensive prospects added to his organization-leading home run total. It was also a day in which there were several transactions. Twins Daily has learned the following (though there could be more coming): RHP Tom Stuifbergen has been promoted from Ft. Myers to AA New Britain. Meanwhile, RHPs Tyler Duffey and Manuel Soliman[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] will move up to the Miracle. Finally, 2012 8th round pick RHP Christian Powell will join the Cedar Rapids Kernels from Extended Spring Training. Also, a second pitcher will be joining the Kernels. The pitcher was released by another organization a week ago and signed by the Twins. Check out the Minor League Movement forum for more. ‘Tis the season for transactions!! With that, check out what happened in the Twins minor league system on Tuesday: Rochester Red Wings 4, Gwinnett Braves 3 Box Score Kyle Gibson was back on the mound for the Red Wings. The lanky right-hander did allow some base runners but put together a nice game. He went six innings and did not allow a run in the first five; he gave up two in the sixth frame. Overall, he went six innings and gave up two runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out four, leaving with a 4-2 lead. Luis Perdomo came in for the seventh inning and got just two outs, giving up one run thanks to three walks. Aaron Thompson got the save by getting the final seven outs. He gave up a hit, walked one and struck out two. Eric Fryer went 2-4. He had the game’s biggest hit, a bases-clearing double. Antoan Richardson was 2-5 with his seventh and eighth stolen bases. Doug Bernier was 2-3 with a walk. Chris Colabello was 1-3 with two walks and his 18th double; he also stole his first base of the year. New Britain Rock Cats 4, Richmond Flying Squirrels 1 Box Score DJ Baxendale had a rough first appearance in Double-A last week. A part of the beauty of baseball is that you quickly get a chance to redeem yourself. Baxendale did just that on Tuesday night. The right-hander gave up one run on three hits and two walks in seven innings. He struck out seven. Bobby Lanigan came on and got just one out while giving up a walk and a hit. Edgar Ibarra came on and got the final two outs without the inherited runners scoring. Matt Hauser entered for the ninth inning and recorded his first Rock Cats save. The Rock Cats got three hits from Danny Santana. They scored two runs in the first inning on ground out RBI's from Josmil Pinto and Danny Ortiz. In the second frame, they scored runs on a sacrifice fly by Mark Sobolewski and on a ground out by James Beresford. Ft. Myers Miracle 2, Brevard County Manatees 3 Box Score The Miracle bats were kept quiet most of this game. Jason Wheeler started for the Miracle. He gave up three runs on nine hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out six. Ryan O’Rourke was brought in, and he struck out two in two scoreless innings. Zack Jones pitched a perfect ninth and struck out one. The Miracle had seven hits and five free passes. However, only Matt Koch had more than one hit, going 2-4. Miguel Sano knocked his 14th homer run and stole his eighth base. Cedar Rapids Kernels The Kernels had a scheduled day off. Please feel free to comment or ask questions below. View full article

Ever since Minnesota Twins manager Ron Gardenhire mentioned to the media a couple of days ago that he would like to add a potent bat to his bench, conversations among Twins fans have revolved around just one player; Jim Thome. And why not? Twins fans’ memories of the hulking, Paul Bunyan-esque slugger look glowing to 2010.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] Thome came to the Twins and, in 108 games, he hit .283/.412/.627 (1.039). It was his best OPS since 2002. He gave fans many very lasting memories. I was at the game against the White Sox when he hit the walk-off homer against Matt Thornton and the White Sox. He hit his 600th home run for the Twins. He played a memorable role in Harmon Killebrew’s memorial service at Target Field. And there was his commercial with the big, blue ox. Late in the 2011 season, the Twins traded him back to Cleveland, where he began his career. Many thought that was the close of his career, but when Charley Manuel called him and asked if he wanted to pinch hit for the Phillies, he jumped at the opportunity, even willing to bring a glove to the ballpark. At the end of June, he had just 70 plate appearances in 30 games. The Phillies were out of it and traded Thome to the surprising Orioles where he played in two less games but accumulated 35 more plate appearances. Combined, he hit .252/.344/.442 (.780) with seven doubles and eight home runs. Why should the Twins sign Thome? He is a better hitter, even at 42, than the guys on the Twins projected bench. He might hit 6-8 home runs. He is a legend, a future Hall of Famer, and a great person. He would be very inexpensive. Why should the Twins not sign Thome? Well, he is 42. He can’t play defense. He can’t run. If he walks, he’ll need a pinch runner. He gets hurt a lot. The Twins have lots of options for the DH/1B spots with Justin Morneau, Ryan Doumit, Joe Mauer, Chris Parmelee. A right handed bat makes more sense. Thome has not been successful most of his career as a pinch hitter, and he doesn’t hit left-handed pitching well. As you can see, as much as I like Thome and respect him tremendously, I just don’t think it makes any baseball sense to bring back Thome. That is not to say that I would be disappointed if they signed him though. However, there are some other options remaining on the free agent market. A couple of the below players may make more sense to the Twins than Thome, and a couple of them obviously make no sense. Bobby Abreu – Abreu will turn 39 years old on March 11. He has had a tremendous career hitting .292/.396/.477 (.873). However, the last time he posted an OPS of .800 was 2009 with the Angels. He began the 2012 season with the Angels, but before the end of April, he was released after playing just eight games. A week later, he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers where he hit .246/.361/.344 (.704) in 92 games. He has always had great plate discipline which might help him as a late-inning option and a veteran some of the young players could emulate. Johnny Damon – Damon will be 39 years old through the 2013 season. In his 18 year career, he hit .284/.352/.433 (.785). He had some very good years with the Royals, the Red Sox and then the Yankees, but the last few years have not been good. The Boras-client has been a one-year guy the last three seasons. He spent 2010 with the Tigers, 2011 with the Rays, and last year, he signed with Cleveland on April 17 for $1.25 million. He was released in early August after hitting .222/.281/.329 (.610) in 64 games. Derrek Lee – Lee did not play in 2012 after splitting the 2011 season with Baltimore and Pittsburgh. Combined, he posted a .771 OPS in 113 games. Although he will be 37 years old through most of the season, it is unlikely that he returns in 2013. Carlos Lee – Carlos Lee’s six year, $100 million contract is over. Although his power dropped significantly through those six year (to just eight in 2012), he was able to remain healthy. In 2012, he was traded from Houston to the Miami Marlins for two minor leaguers. In 147 games last year, the burly right-hander hit .264/.332/.365 (.697). In his 14 year career, he hit .285/.339/.483 (.821), although he hasn’t had an OPS that high since 2009. He also no longer can really play in the outfield. The intrigue with Lee is that he is a right-handed bat to compliment all of the Twins left-handed bats. Scott Podsednik – “Pods” provides no power to the bench, but his name has been thrown around the rumor mill in connection with the Twins. Why? I have no idea. In 2009, he played for the White Sox and Rockies. In 2010, he played for the Royals and Dodgers. In 2011, he played in the minor leagues in the Blue Jays and Phillies organizations. In 2012, he played for the Red Sox, but he was traded to the Diamondbacks on July 31, but Arizona released him two days later and he re-signed with the Red Sox. In 64 games for Boston, he hit .302/.322/.352 (.674). He has stolen 309 bases in his 11 year big league career. He will also turn 37 in mid-March. Scott Rolen – The seven-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glove winner has been hurt quite a bit the last two seasons. In 92 games in 2012, he hit .245/.318/.398 (.716). In 65 games in 2011, he hit .242/.279/.397 (.676). He has had a lot of back problems and turns 38 just after opening day. He’s had a terrific 17-year big league career, but retirement and a lot of spa time would seem to make the most sense. Ryan Theriot – The 33-year-old utility infielder has been part of the past two World Series teams, the 2011 Cardinals and the 2012 Giants. Last year with the Giants, he played 91 games at second base and hit .270/.316/.321 (.637). His career OPS is .691, but he hasn’t approached that number since 2009. So, as you can see, there are other bench options that the Twins could still considering signing via free agency. None of them are particularly appealing. Maybe there are some trade possibilities, but frankly, since 2013 is about rebuilding, why would the team give up any prospect for a part-time player? This is certainly a hot topic among Twins fans since, well, there isn’t much to talk about. What do you think? View full article

Today, we continue our look at players that the Minnesota Twins could consider drafting with the #4 overall pick in next month's MLB Draft. Today we check out an uber-talented prep player from a baseball hotbed! Who Is This Guy? It can be argued that outfielder Austin Meadows is the top-rated high school position player in the 2013 MLB draft. It can also be argued that Austin Meadows is not the top-rated high school position player in the 2013 MLB draft from Loganville, Georgia. Depending on which scout you talk to and on which day, either Meadows (from Grayson High School) or outfielder Clint Frazier (from Loganville High School) might be ranked higher.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] Georgia has been a baseball hotbed for the past several years. Twenty players have been drafted out of high school in Georgia over the last six drafts. That doesn’t include several players drafted from Peach State colleges such as Georgia, Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State. The Twins used their second round pick in 2010 on Fayetteville, Georgia, shortstop Niko Goodrum. Just last year, the Twins used the second overall pick on Appling County High School (Baxley, Georgia) outfielder Byron Buxton. Among those drafted by other teams are Jason Heyward (Braves), Zach Wheeler, Tim Beckham, Delino DeShields, Jr., and Dwight Smith, Jr. At least two more Georgia prepsters will be added to that list in 2013. Austin Meadows, a 6-3, 215 pound outfielder, is a tremendous athlete. He has all five tools. He can hit for average and power, though these skills still need to further develop. This year, he has hit .535/.655/.930 with 14 doubles, a triple and four home runs. He has very good speed, demonstrated by his 17 stolen bases this year. He has been timed at about 6.3 seconds in the 60 yard dash. He is also known as a good center fielder. He also had nearly a 2:1 K:BB ratio this year, showing a good eye at the plate. The one question I keep hearing is whether he has the arm to stay in centerfield, so he more likely profiles in left field, though he has enough power potential that his arm might not be much of an issue. As mentioned, Meadows is a tremendous athlete. He played basketball until his freshman season. He played football through his junior season but focused on baseball for his senior year. Scouts also like to look at a player’s genetics. Meadow's dad was a three-sport athlete in high school who went to Morehead State on a full football scholarship. He also was a walk-on in baseball. He started in both sports all four years. Meadows’ mother received a fast-pitch softball scholarship to Georgia Southern. Who Could He Be? Meadows is very raw, but he has the potential, the upside, to hit for average and power while being a decent outfielder whose speed and arm may push him to left field. Best case scenario, he becomes a Josh Hamilton-like talent. Jay Bruce is another player who he could be compared to. Player comps seem always to be with all-star caliber players, rightly or not; when talking about what Meadows could be, the generic answer is a middle of the lineup power threat. How Soon Could He Be Playing In Target Field? When the Twins took Byron Buxton with the #2 pick a year ago, there was talk about him having a fairly raw hit tool. He signed quickly enough last year to spend time in both the GCL and Elizabethton. Since Meadows is not a Boras client, it is feasible that he might not wait until the deadline to sign. If so, it’s possible that he could play for both Twins' rookie league affiliates and start 2014 in Cedar Rapids. Because he is fairly raw, the assumption should be that he would spend all of 2014 with the Kernels. If he were to proceed up the Mauer path, he would split 2015 between Ft. Myers and New Britain and jump to the Twins in 2016. That’s the absolute best case scenario. Most likely, he would not debut until later in the 2017 season. If The Twins Draft This Guy, They Messed Up Because… Although the Twins traded Denard Span and Ben Revere, and Josh Willingham will be a free agent following the 2014 season, the Twins organization does have some outfield depth. Aaron Hicks and Oswaldo Arcia are already in the big leagues. Joe Benson is still in the picture. Byron Buxton and Adam Walker should end the 2013 season in Ft. Myers. Max Kepler could still develop. There is frequent talk that infield prospects such as Miguel Sano and Travis Harrison could move to the outfield. Although Best Player Available is generally conceded to be the best strategy-we don’t know what the needs of an organization will be in three or four years- outfield is not a position of need at this time. Despite the success that the Twins have had with athletic outfielders drafted out of high school in previous drafts, there is always a lot of risk when drafting 18 year olds and giving them $4 million to sign. Meadows is raw and could develop into a star, or his skills may never reach the potential that scouts see in him. That’s the nature of the draft and it is especially true with raw high school talent. Also, from the reports that I have read and people I have talked to, Clint Frazier may have more power potential and a better arm. There is a friendly competition between the two which may force the best out of each. If The Twins Draft This Guy, They Nailed It Because… Whoever they Twins draft, it will be because they have a conviction that the draftee is the best player to help the organization. The front office knows the importance of getting such high picks right. If Meadows reaches that Josh Hamilton-like potential, he is a guy you make room for on a roster. Meadows' potential is to be able to hit for high average and a lot of power. An outfield of Meadows (should he meet his potential), Buxton (should he meet his potential) and Hicks (should he meet his potential), with Arcia (should he meet his potential) DH'ing, sounds like a pretty strong group, especially if Miguel Sano and Travis Harrison can stay in the infield (and meet........). SUMMARY: Many thought it was a mistake when the Twins didn't draft a pitcher in the 2012 draft and instead used the #2 pick to draft a raw, athletic outfielder out of Georgia. Byron Buxton has, so far, done a great job of proving the Twins right. In 2013, it might seem to be equally silly for the Twins to consider drafting another raw, athletic outfielder (also from Georgia). If the Twins are convinced that he can be a four or five tool, difference-making type of hitter, then they absolutely should draft Meadows. If they have enough questions about whether he can reach those levels though, they should absolutely go in another direction. From my research and discussions, I’m not convinced that he is near the same level as Byron Buxton, so I think the odds of the Twins taking him with the 4th overall pick are likely pretty low. PREVIOUS Draft Profiles: LHP Sean Manaea - 5/20/13 View full article

It hardly seems like it has been a month; maybe it was the cold weather, some postponements and several doubleheaders. But just because the weather was cold doesn't mean that there weren’t some very hot bats in the Twins farm system. The Twins had the top two teams in the minor leagues in the month of April. The Ft. Myers Miracle went 21-4. The Cedar Rapids Kernels were right behind at 18-5. Miguel Sano or Byron Buxton? Byron Buxton or Miguel Sano?[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] They are two of the top prospects in all of baseball, and in April both of them put up remarkable numbers. Sano has dominated the Florida State League despite being the youngest player in the league. Buxton is one of the youngest players in the Midwest League and is easily the league’s top prospect. A very strong case could be made for either of them being the Twins top prospect. Likewise, in April, a strong case could be made for either of them having been the Twins Minor League Hitter of the Month. Below, I’ll highlight the Top 5 minor league hitters in the month, and yes, I will pick Sano or Buxton at #1. As is the case when making a Twins prospect list, if you like, you could consider them 1a and 1b. Photo by Greg Wagner Here are my selections for the Top 5 Twins Minor League hitters in April: 5 – Cedar Rapids – Adam Brett Walker - (21yo, 23 H- 81 AB) .284/.356/.593 (.948) with three doubles, two triples, six home runs and 26 RBI. Walker was the Twins third round pick in 2012 out of Jacksonville U. The first two weeks of the season were a struggle for the 6-4, 225 pound slugger, but in the final week of the month Walker was on fire and named the Midwest League Hitter of the Week. Five of his home runs came over a four-game stretch from April 22nd to April 27th. According to the Kernels hitting coach Tommy Watkins, “It’s about getting a good pitch to hit. It’s about having a rhythm, and knowing what pitches he can drive.” Most say that the 21-year-old’s power potential is as great as any player in the organization, including Miguel Sano. 4 – Ft. Myers – Eddie Rosario - (21yo, 36 H - 104 AB) .346/.386/.538 (.924) with seven doubles, two triples, 3 home runs and 19 RBI. 2013 has been an incredible year for the Twins 4th round pick from 2010. It began by him playing well in the Puerto Rico Winter League. He earned a spot on the Puerto Rican WBC team and played well in the tournament. He also hit well in Twins big league camp. And now he has had a terrific first month with the Miracle. He continues to hit for average while showing plenty of extra base power. He has solidified himself as a top prospect. His ability to play second base has been a question since he switched to the position just a year ago. The 21-year-old has made great improvements and is statistically the best defensive second baseman in the Florida State League. 3 - New Britain – Josmil Pinto - (24yo, 32 H - 96 AB) .333/.413/.563 (.975) with five doubles, a triple, five home runs and 21 RBI. Pinto had an opportunity to become a free agent after the 2012 season (as a 6-year minor league free agent). Instead, he signed back quickly with the Twins. Soon after, the Twins put him on their 40-man roster. The catcher is off to a fast start. He has shown that 2012 was not a fluke and that he can hit for average and for power. He is 24 years old and could be called up if the Twins find themselves with a catching need. It took some time for him to develop, but Pinto is on the cusp. 2 – Cedar Rapids – Byron Buxton - (19yo, 31H - 79 AB) .392/.510/.684 (1.194) with five doubles, three triples, four home runs and 21 RBI. When you’re the #2 overall pick in the draft, expectations are going to be high. To say that Buxton has exceeded expectations to this point is an understatement. There was some question about whether he would start the season with Kernels or stay in Ft. Myers in Extended Spring Training. I asked his hitting coach Tommy Watkins who a good comp would be for Buxton. “Mike Trout. When he comes to the plate, he has a presence. He can hurt you in so many ways, with power and with his speed.” Buxton has all the tools. He has incredible power. Three of his four home runs on the season have exited the stadium in Cedar Rapids. He also has great speed and the ability to beat out many infield hits. He plays great defense and has a very strong arm. He also has a tool not present in many young players; he has great plate discipline as shown by his on-base percentage over .500. He has been on base at least once in every game this season. He is especially proficient as a two-strike hitter. As Watkins told me, “Two strikes doesn’t scare him at all. A lot of young hitters are afraid to hit with two strikes. They start swinging at everything. Buxton’s not afraid at all. He rarely hacks at the first pitch.” Despite being incredibly gifted as an athlete, Buxton is said to have a tremendous attitude. Watkins concurred, “He is very coachable. He listens. He wants to get better!” The April Minnesota Twins Minor League Hitter of the Month is... Ft. Myers Miracle - 3B Miguel Sano (19yo, 35 H - 95 AB) .368/.435/.747 (1.183) with seven doubles, a triple, nine home runs and 24 RBI. The Florida State League is a very difficult place for hitters to succeed. Really, it is..... for most. Apparently, Miguel Sano did not get the memo. Deemed one of baseball’s top prospects, Sano had an impressive showing in his first month in the league. His nine home runs are best in all of minor league baseball. Tommy Watkins was his hitting coach a year ago in Beloit. Is he surprised at what Sano has been able to do in Ft. Myers? “No. We all know his potential. He has tremendous power.” What was the biggest area of improvement for Sano? “He really improved his plate discipline. We knew after his first month last year that he wouldn’t get anything to hit. If they wanted to spin the ball, he needed to lay off the tough ones. It looks like he’s doing that. He knows what he can do, and what pitches he can handle.” Sano has a chance to move up pretty quickly. Reports indicate that his defense and footwork have been greatly improved. But it is his bat that will help him move up the ladder and become a star. No question, Sano will find some struggles in the Florida State League and how he handles those moments may best determine how quickly he graduates to the next level. For now, and certainly for April, Sano is putting up the numbers to earn recognition. There were several strong performances in April that weren’t included in the Top 5. Here are some Honorable Mentions who, in most months, would easily be in the Top 5. Clete Thomas only had 58 at bats in April, but he hit .362/.456/.621 (1.077) with three doubles, four homers and 13 RBI. Chris Colabello continued to impress and show he belongs. In April, he hit .302/.358/.542 (.899) with five doubles, six homers and 19 RBI. Travis Harrison hit .291/.341/.519 (.860) with nine doubles, three home runs and 13 RBI. Dalton Hicks hit .274/.351/.512 (.863) with eight doubles, four homers and 19 RBI. Jorge Polanco hit .341/.379/.489 (.868) with six doubles, two triples, one home run and 19 RBI. JD Williams hit .250/.446/.522 (.946) with four doubles, three homers and nine home runs. He walked 19 times and stole six bases. It was a terrific month for Twins minor league hitting prospects, especially in Ft. Myers and Cedar Rapids. You can tell me that I should have picked Buxton, and I won’t disagree with you too much. Hopefully May will bring some similar statistics. Feel free to comment and discuss. View full article

With the news that Andrew Albers has been promoted to the Twins as the 26th man in Thursday's doubleheader (eligible to pitch in game two, behind Tommy Milone), I couldn't help but be reminded of the interview I posted with him following the 2011 season. The Andrew Albers story is as fun as it gets. He's from a remote Canadian community, off the standard baseball map. He went to Kentucky. He was drafted. He had Tommy John surgery. He was released. He played Independent ball. He signed with the Twins. He was the minor league relief pitcher of the year. The next year, he was a surprise call up. He threw 8.1 shutout innings in his MLB debut. He threw a shutout in his next start. He hasn't pitched for the Twins since 2013. He went to Korea in 2014. He signed with the Blue Jays in 2015 and even pitched one game for Toronto. Maybe this is a story you've heard before. He started this season in indy ball again. When the Twins had only three starters with the Twins at one point in April, the Twins called him again. He was promised nothing other than the ability to make some starts in AAA. He's pitched well. He's gone 9-5 with a 3.41 ERA in 19 starts. And now, he gets another shot in the big leagues. It's most likely going to result in him being sent back to Rochester after the game. But if you can't review the story of Andrew Albers and not be thrilled for him to get another big league payday, then I'm sorry. So today, I am re-posting that fun-filled story following the year he was our minor league starting pitcher of the year. I've interviewed a lot of players in my days at SethSpeaks.net and now at Twins Daily. Most have been good, but Albers was exceptional. There are a lot of good people in this organization, and Andrew Albers has been great. At Twins Fest the following winter, he knew he was heading to Korea. He wanted to attend and thank Twins fans for the support that they gave him in 2013. Following an interview with several media members, Albers called me over to thank me for writing it and how much his family and others enjoyed it. We spent 15 minutes of his time, and I have rarely seen someone so appreciative of an opportunity. I'm certain he is again very thankful, even if it is just one day.Re-posted article: Following the 2011 Twins minor league season, I named Andrew Albers the Minnesota Twins Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year. Because of that, I wrote the below story about him that appeared in the 2012 Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook. Like so many other Twins this season, including Chris Colabello and Caleb Thielbar, Albers' story to the big leagues is terrific. After this article was written, much more happened in a successful 2012 season. In 2013, he represented Canada in the WBC, and he's been Rochester's best starting pitcher all season. Enjoy the story below, most of which is in his own words: Less than a month before Twins minor league training camp began, Andrew Albers was sitting in Arizona, hoping for an opportunity with an affiliated team. He was 25-years-old and wondering how long he would continue to play baseball. Since signing with the Twins shortly before camp, things have been going very well for Albers. The story is incredible, but let’s start from the beginning. Albers was born in North Battleford, Saskachewan in 1985. Understandably, he was not a Twins fan as a child. “Twins fans may not like this, but when I was growing up in Saskatchewan, I was a big Blue Jays fan. That was back in the day of the two World Series Championship teams. I used to love the players on those teams. Guys like Devon White, Roberto Alomar, Joe Carter, Juan Guzman, Pat Hentgen, and the list goes on.” Like most Canadian children in the ‘90s, Larry Walker was also a major influence while he was growing up. Albers played some hockey as a youth. When he turned 12, he realized that he wasn’t a great hockey player. “So, once I got to high school, I retired from my brief hockey career and began to play volleyball, basketball and badminton in high school. I really enjoyed getting the opportunity to play some different sports and enjoyed what each one had to offer. Plus, I feel like it gave me an opportunity to improve my overall athletic ability which certainly helped with baseball and with all sports. In addition, it allowed me to not get burnt out from only playing baseball all the time.” There is no high school baseball in Canada, so he only played baseball in the summers. “We were a AA town, and the best teams were usually AAA caliber. My summer midget team (15-18 year olds) played in a senior men’s league around the province of Saskatchewan. So I played in that league for three years and got to pitch against all kinds of senior men’s teams. Then we always had some other tournaments and Provincial playoffs that went along with that season. Our baseball seasons were fairly short and spanned from about the end of April to the middle of August.” Albers is proof that if a player can play, a scout will find him. In 2004, Albers was drafted in the 12th round by the Milwaukee Brewers. Instead of signing, he went to the University of Kentucky. “For me, it was a matter of maturity. I don’t think I was mature enough coming out of high school to go into professional baseball. I knew I had a good situation if I chose to go to the University of Kentucky. I was going to have great coaching and was going to have the opportunity to play in one of the nation’s top baseball conferences. I also knew that I had to get a lot stronger and had never lived on my own, so I thought college would be a better fit for me. It would also allow me to work on getting my degree in case baseball did not end up working out for me. I have never regretted my decision to go to school.” At Kentucky, he played for coached John Cohen and Gary Henderson (pitching coach). “Coach Henderson was very influential on me growing, both as a person and as a baseball player. He was such an outstanding coach that helped me learn so many things about the game and about myself. There is no doubt in my mind that I would not be where I am without Coach Henderson.” At Kentucky, he was a starter as a freshman and a junior, and pitched out of the bullpen his sophomore and senior seasons. Albers helped his team to an SEC championship in 2006. In 2008, they played in a regional tournament in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Following his senior season, the San Diego Padres selected Albers in the 10th round of the 2008 draft. His transition to professional baseball did not go smoothly. “I came down with an elbow injury almost immediately, and as a result was unable to compete much that first year. It made for a long few months in Peoria, Arizona, because I was continually rehabbing my elbow and was frustrated that it wasn’t getting any better. I was also in Rookie ball as a 22-year-old playing against a lot of players fresh out of high school and just over from LatinAmerica. When he came to spring training in 2009, his elbow was still injured despite resting and rehabbing throughout the offseason. “I came to spring training with the attitude that either I was going to throw until my elbow started feeling better or I was going to blow it out.” Unfortunately, the elbow got worse, and in April of 2009, he had Tommy John surgery. In August, he was unable to regain his range of motion and needed to have a second surgery to remove some scar tissue from his elbow. He continued to rehab, but in spring of 2010, he was released by the Padres. He was released the day after he threw to live hitters for the first time since his surgery. He returned to Canada and tried out for Quebec Capitales of the independent Can-Am League. Although his elbow was still not feeling healthy. He wasn’t certain how it would hold up over the full season. In training camp, he tore a ligament in his ankle doing PFPs (Pitcher’s Fielding Practice). He returned a week later, pitched in an exhibition game and made the team. He proceeded to go 3-0 with 17 saves and a 1.40 ERA in 40 games. In 57.2 innings, he gave up 41 hits, walked 16 and struck out 59. “During my time there, I learned a lot about who I was as well as about various things related to the business of baseball. For me the entire season was about trying to get another shot at affiliated baseball and seeing how my arm would respond. The more I was able to pitch, the better my arm began to feel. I was having an outstanding season for the Capitales and was hoping eventually someone would take notice. However, that was not in the cards and I did not receive an opportunity to get on with any affiliated teams that season. It helped me to learn not to worry about the aspects of this game that I cannot control. I only need to worry about the parts of the game that I can control. That is,how I go about my daily business, how I prepare for a game, my response to external factors and the adversity that players face. I think that was a big step for me and it allowed me to quit worrying about all the other things outside of performing on the diamond. It was a matter of having faith that one way or another everything would work itself out. Whether that meant I would be playing baseball or not, I had the faith in God that He would point me in the right direction. From a player standpoint the season was also an important stepping stone for me. It allowed me to pitch against wooden bats for my first full season and to see what worked against hitters with wooden bats was important for me. The season also gave me a chance to work on my change-up and continue to try and improve my other deliveries.” That brings us back to spring training of 2011. After having a terrific season in Quebec, Albers was able to line up some tryouts. In his own words, “The teams that I lined up tryouts with were the Angels, Rockies and Brewers, all of whom had their spring training down in Arizona. I had been throwing back home during the winter in my old high school gym using an archery target as a mound to throw off of, just throwing against the wall. I figured if I was going to give these tryouts an honest chance that I had better get outside a few times and throw off of a real mound before I went down trying to earn a job in Arizona. So I called up my old college pitching coach Gary Henderson, who is now the head coach at the University of Kentucky, and asked him if I could come down to Lexington for a couple weeks and use some of their facilities to throw, and maybe get a catcher to throw to, as well as face some hitters. He said that would be fine so I drove from home (North Battleford, Saskatchewan) to Phoenix, AZ (about 30 hours) and left my car with some family members who had headed to Arizona for the winter. From there I flew over to Lexington. While I was in Lexington, I had thrown a couple of bullpens and coach Henderson asked me how everything was feeling. I told him everything was good, arm felt nice and strong and the elbow was feeling good. So he suggested that he would try and get a couple of area scouts out from the Twins to come watch me throw to some of UK's hitters. I told him that would be great if he could set that up for me. So he called up Earl Winn and Tim O'Neil who were gracious enough to come watch me throw to some hitters in Lexington. When I was talking to Tim and Earl after my session they told me they had liked what they saw and would see what they could do about getting me an invitation to spring training. Unfortunately there were a lot of little details that needed to be ironed out. The Twins wanted me to pass a medical exam from their doctors to make sure that my elbow was ok. My independent ball contract would have to be bought out if they were to invite me to spring training. They wanted to see all of my past medical history with the Padres. Finally, being Canadian, I was going to need a visa if I was going to play for the Twins. So we were talking back and forth over the next week and just couldn't line everything up so Tim suggested that I go to Arizona and go to these open tryouts and if nothing came about to call him back. So I flew back to Phoenix, and had the Angels tryout lined up for the next day but it ended up getting cancelled at the last minute. So it was down to the Brewers and the Rockies. So I went to the tryout with the Brewers. It was a closed bullpen session. I felt like I threw the ball pretty well but unfortunately, I did not impress them enough to receive an invitation to spring training. I then went to the Rockies tryout two days later. It was an open tryout and there were about 50 guys there, pitchers and hitters. The tryout was throwing 15 pitches to three different hitters, and then it was over. It went very quickly and once again, I did not impress enough to receive an invitation to spring training. I called Tim back and told him about the tryouts and how I was still looking for a spring training invite. He got on the phone and was talking to some of the higher-up members of the organization. He told me the Twins may be interested in flying me down to Fort Myers, so I could see their team doctor and throw for some more people before they made a decision on whether or not to invite me to spring training. He said that it probably wouldn't happen for another couple days though. So as I was sitting in my hotel room, I came up with a different plan. I really just wanted one more shot at affiliated ball. Just wanted a chance when I was healthy to see how far I could go and see at what level I was able to compete. So I called Tim back and explained to him that I would drive from Phoenix to Fort Myers (about 37 hours) and see the doctors and throw for whoever wanted to come watch me throw. Then if the Twins were willing to offer me an invitation to spring training, they could reimburse me for my travel. If not, I would just drive home from there. (Fort Myers to North Battleford is about a 47 hour drive). So he made a couple phone calls and called me back that night and told me that would be fine. So I hopped in my car the next morning and made the cross country drive over to Fort Myers. Once I arrived in Fort Myers, I saw the team doctor. He checked my arm and said everything looked fine. Then I threw a bullpen for Raz (Twins minor league pitching coordinator Eric Rasmussen) and a couple of other coaches. Luckily they liked me enough to offer me an invitation to try and make a club in spring training. I was really excited when I heard the news that they were going to give me a chance at spring training. That was all that I could have asked for.” The 25-year-old was thrilled for the opportunity and ready to make the best of it. However, in minor league camp, he was working on the rookie ball roster which meant that he would not be starting the season with a full season team.After talking to Rasmussen, he learned that was because his visa had not yet arrived. The Twins needed to wait for that in order for him to play. When Alex Wimmers and Miguel Munoz went on the Disabled List a couple weeks into the season, Albers and Matt Schuld were promoted to Ft. Myers. In 22 games with the Miracle, he went 4-1 with four saves. In 52.1 innings, he gave up 48 hits, walked seven and struck out 46. “My plan was to just go out and be aggressive and pitch to my strengths. I guess I surprised myself a little bit with the first half that I had. Everything kind of went my way, and I caught some breaks and got a little lucky. The defense was outstanding with the likes of Brian Dozier, James Beresford and Aaron Hicks up the middle. Those three guys can make up for a lot of mistakes that I make as a pitcher.” He was then promoted to Double-A New Britain where he pitched in 13 games. He went 4-1 with a 2.91 ERA. In 43.1 innings, he gave up 44 hits, walked seven and struck out 34. “Overall, the Eastern league was certainly filled with teams who had better lineups than in the FSL. However, I still found that it came down to me being able to make quality pitches. When I was able to work down in the zone, ahead in the count and make my pitches I was successful. It was just when you fell behind and had to groove a fastball to the guys in the Eastern league instead of hitting a sharp single, they were able to find a gap or put it out of the ballpark. So for me, it was all about being aggressive and trying to work ahead. When I was able to do that, I was able to get them a little off balance with my off speed pitches and get outs.” On the season, Albers made 35 appearances, seven of which were starts. “There is the obvious difference of having a set routine as a starter and never knowing when you're going to pitch as a reliever. I also change my approach on the mound depending on if I start or come out of the ‘pen. As a starter, it is important to try and go deep into ball games and try to keep your pitch count down. In order to do that, you have to be very aggressive and throw a lot of fastballs early to try and get early contact and quick outs. You also have some time to find your secondary stuff. If it isn't there in the first and second innings, you usually have some time to figure out what adjustment needs to be made and make it within the next couple of innings.” “As a reliever, it is a totally different mindset. You have to be ready to go immediately, especially as a left hander because you might only be in the game to face one hitter. You have to try and find all of your pitches in the bullpen and have confidence in them when you go into the game. As a reliever your pitch count is irrelevant, you pretty much just need to find a way to get guys out. It doesn't matter how you do it either. Also if you're pitching late in the game, you don't have the luxury of giving up an early run. Every run is important and you can't give in to hitters late in games. This usually results in me throwing more off speed pitches instead of just fastballs.” Overall between Ft. Myers and New Britain, Albers went 8-2 with a 2.16 ERA. In 95.2 innings, he walked just 14 and struck out 80. However, that wasn’t the end of his tremendous 2011 season. Following the minor league season, Albers was named to Team Canada and participated in the World Cup tournament in Panama. Fellow Twins prospect Tom Stuifbergen led the Netherlands to the World Cup championship. He threw 17 scoreless innings and was named the tournament’s top pitcher. If there were a runner-up for Top Pitcher of the tournament, it would have been Albers who threw 15 shutout innings. “For me the World Cup was a great experience. It was my first time getting a chance to play on my national team, and I was very honored to get the opportunity to play for Team Canada. I had a tryout when I was younger but had come down with tendinitis and was unable to even really tryout. So going into the games I felt like I had something to prove and had a bit of a chip on my shoulder. I was surprised when they told me I would be starting the first game of the tournament against Puerto Rico. I was thankful to get the opportunity though and went out with my same game plan. I was aggressive early with fastballs and luckily they hit the ball where my defense could make plays behind me, which they did. I also threw three innings against the Netherlands, threw two against Chinese Taipei and started against South Korea. It was a fun tournament for me because it felt like I could do no wrong. My defense was outstanding behind me, and I just tried to force guys to put the ball in play early and it worked extremely well. Balls just seemed to keep finding gloves so I just continued to be aggressive and pound the zone. Pitching is a lot of fun when things go the way they did in the World Cup. The group of guys that I got to play with was outstanding as well. We meshed really quickly and got along well. It was fun playing baseball where the only thing that mattered was winning and your stats were irrelevant. I just wanted to do what I could to contribute to helping us win ball games. Fortunately, I was able to do that.” From the World Cup, Albers and Team Canada participated in the Pan Am Games. “The Pan Am Games was the experience of a lifetime. I pitched two innings in relief against Puerto Rico. I got myself into a huge jam in myfirst inning in the games but was able to induce a big double play ball to get out of it. Then I didn't pitch again until the final. When Ernie (Whitt) our manager decided to go with me for the final, I was really looking forward to the challenge. We had won a huge game against Mexico the night before where the fans had created an electric atmosphere. That game was great in itself. As I prepared myself for my start, it was weird to think about the journey I had made over the last eight months. Having gone from being almost out of baseball, to getting the chance to pitch in Canada's first ever gold medal game at a senior men's international tournament. It was a neat feeling. The game itself went really well. I made a mistake to (Brett) Carroll in the first and caught a little too much of the plate with a change-up and he made me pay for it with a double down the line. I was able to limit the damage and manage to work through five pretty clean innings after that. They were going to pull me after the sixth, but my catcher and I convinced Ernie and Greg (Hamilton) to leave me in for the seventh. I proceeded to give up a line drive single to Matt Clark, and after a sac bunt, another line drive single to Chad Tracy. Luckily he hit it so hard that Clark couldn't score from first. Ernie came out to talk to me and asked how I was doing. I told him I had one more batter in me. He chose to leave me in to face Tommy Mendonca. It was a huge at-bat and getting him to punch out after a battle was once of the best feelings I've experienced in baseball. After that they pulled and brought in Scott Richmond who was just outstanding in finishing the game off.” “It was so awesome to play that kind of role in the gold medal game for Canada. It's neat to think that I get to be a part of Canadian baseball history as the winning pitcher of what is at the moment our only gold medal in senior international competition. So that's a neat feeling. I was just so thankful that Ernie Whitt and Greg Hamilton had enough confidence in me to give me the ball and then to stick with me even when things didn't go so well. Now, getting to look back on that accomplishment, it is something I will hold dear for the rest of my life. I will never forget standing on the podium receiving our gold medals and having beat Team USA in such a huge game was really special. It will be an experience that is tough to beat.” It’s been a pretty crazy 2011 for Andrew Albers. The story is remarkable. He went from trying like crazy to find an affiliated team to give him a spring training invite to my choice for 2011 Twins Minor League relief pitcher of the year. He represented Canada in international competition and was very successful. He heads into the2012 season knowing that he will be going to spring training with the Twins. So what has he learned about himself along this journey? “I found out that I could still pitch. I had been through a bit of adversity and come out better from it. I learned that I didn't have to live and die with every game and that there are a lot more important issues out there than winning or losing a baseball game. I think being out of the baseball world and not having a job in affiliated ball allowed me to gain a new perspective on different areas of my life. I began to enjoy baseball a lot more and was able to relax more on the mound instead of putting so much pressure on myself to perform every time out. I think that attitude has greatly contributed to my success.” - 2012 Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook Click here to view the article

It was Revenge of the Former Twins in Tuesday night’s Twins/White Sox game. Francisco Liriano got through six innings and gave up just two runs. Jesse Crain relieved him for a scoreless inning. And, AJ Pierzynski hit the big two-run homer in the top of the ninth off of Jeff Gray, and that was it. The Twins tried to come back, scoring one run in the bottom of the ninth, but Addison Reed closed out the 4-3 win for the White Sox. Denard Span had a four-hit game. Here is a look at the Twins minor league scores and highlights from the Tuesday games in the minor leagues. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] ROCHESTER 10, COLUMBUS 8 (12 innings) Chris Parmelee provided the power. Unfortunately, the Red Wings needed extra frames to pick up this win. Eric Hurley started and gave up two runs on six hits and a walk in six innings. He struckout four. Daniel Turpen came in and threw two scoreless innings. He went out for the ninth but was charged with four runs on four this and a hit batter. Lester Oliveros came on to protect a three-run lead in the ninth and gave up a sacrifice fly followed by a two-run homer that tied the game. Deolis Guerra gave up a run on three hits in the 10th. Caleb Thielbar got the final four outs, three of them on strikeouts. Parmelee has been on fire of late. In this game, he was 3-6 with his ninth double and eighth and ninth home runs. He now has five home runs in the last six games. Brian Dinkelman went 3-4 with two walks and his tenth double. Eduardo Escobar was 3-6. Wilkin Ramirez went 2-6 with his ninth double and tenth home run. Tsuyoshi Nishioka was 2-6 with his 13th double. NEW BRITAIN 2, BOWIE 1 Chris Colabello may have committed two errors, but his two run home run in the fourth inning was about it for the Rock Cats offense. In fact, Chris Herrmann was the only other Rock Cat hitter with a hit. BJ Hermsen started for the Rock Cats and gave up only an unearned run in 5.1 innings. He gave up six hits, walked one and struck out three. Jose Gonzalez came in and gave up a hit and a walk but got out of the sixth. Bruce Pugh recorded his sixth save with three no-hit innings. He walked two and struck out three. FT. MYERS 4, DAYTONA 5 It was another rough one for Tom Stuifbergen in this game. The Dutch right-hander gave up five runs on ten hits in four innings. He walked one and struckout three. Ryan O’Rourke made his second Miracle appearance and for the second time, he threw two scoreless innings. AJ Achter pitched the final two innings and struck out three. Levi Michael went 3-5. Steve Liddle went 1-3 with two walks. Danny Rams hit his fourth home run. Andy Leer went 0-0 with four walks in the game. BELOIT 9, KANE COUNTY 4 David Hurlbut was great again and the offense exploded, giving the Snappers a nice win to start the homestand. Hurlbut threw seven scoreless innings. He gave up one run in the eighth frame. He left with two outs in the ninth inning and the score 9-2. DJ Baxendale came on and allowed the two inherited runners to score before he got the final out. The Snappers bats got to face Royals top pick, Kyle Zimmer. They scored six runs in the second inning and chased him early. Kennys Vargas continues to rake. In this game, he was 2-3 with two walks and a home run. In nine games with the Snappers since his return, he now has six home runs to go with two doubles and one triple. On Wednesday, the powerful switch-hitter turns 22 years old. In tonight’s game, he added his first single! Stephen Wickens was also 2-3 with two walks. He added his third double. Eddie Rosario made a triumphant return to the Snappers lineup after missing over a month after being hit in the face by a line drive in batting practice. He went 3-5 with his 21st double, which still leads the team by two. Nate Roberts went 2-4 with a walk and his 16th stolen base. Wang-Wei Lin went 2-5 with his 12th double and three RBI. Miguel Sano went 0-1 with three walks. ELIZABETHTON, BRISTOL This game was postponed by rain. GCL TWINS 6, GCL RAYS 1 The Kyle Gibson Watch continues, and on Tuesday, he put in his best rehab performance, both in terms of success and length. Gibson worked the first three innings in this game. He gave up no runs and no hits. He did walk one batter, but he struck out seven. The other two outs came on ground balls. He may make one more GCL appearance before moving up to Ft. Myers. Next on the mound for the GCL Twins was another rehabber. Andrew Albers gave up one hit over two scoreless innings. He struck out two. Gonzalo Sanudo came in and gave up one run on six hits in three innings. He walked none and struck out three. Gerardo Ramirez pitched a perfect ninth. Aderlin Mejia went 2-4. Byron Buxton hit a two run triple, his second three-bagger of the short-season. Bryan Santy was 1-3 with a walk, his second double and two RBI. --- Players of the Day for Tuesday, July 31, 2012 Hitter of the Day – Chris Parmelee Download attachment: Chris Parmelee.jpg Pitcher of the Day – Kyle Gibson Download attachment: Kyle Gibson.jpg --- A Look Ahead – Wednesday, August 1, 2012 Schedule Rochester – No Game Scheduled New Britain @ Bowie – LHP Blake Martin Ft. Myers @ Daytona – RHP Madison Boer Beloit vs Kane County – LHP Taylor Rogers Elizabethton @ Bristol – RHP Ricardo Arevalo GCL Twins vs GCL Rays – TBD --- If you have any questions or comments on the Twins minor league system, players, teams, etc., leave them in the Comments and I’ll try to answer them! Click here to view the article

This is the English version of this Q&A. The Spanish version can be found here. Last week, I posted a couple of Q&As with players in the Twins farm system. I am continuing to attempt to line up more and more such interviews as I enjoy them, but I also get great feedback on them. It does appear that Twins fans are eager to learn more about players in the system. Today, I am happy to present a Q&A with top Twins prospect and 2012 supplemental first-round pick Jose (JO) Berrios. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]The talented right-hander has made quite a name for himself in his short time in the organization. With the help of his aunt Maria, who facilitated and then translated the discussion, we are excited to bring this Q&A to JO Berrios. Let’s learn a little more about the young flamethrower. Twins Daily (TD): Growing up in Puerto Rico, who was your favorite team and who were some of your favorite players to watch? JO Berrios (JB): Even though I grew up not being a fan of any team in particular, mostly because I consider myself a baseball fan instead of a team's fan, when I was a kid I always wanted to be a catcher just like Puerto Rican MLB player Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez. I liked his way of playing, his style on the field. I even had the honor to meet him personally and he gave me some coaching. Download attachment: JO Berrios CR.jpg TD: What are your best memories from your high school baseball days in Puerto Rico? JB: I have so many good memories from my high school baseball days. At that time, I was playing as shortstop and had the chance to represent the Island on several International Championships. It was a thrill for me. The year before I was drafted, I started playing as a pitcher and it went very well. I threw two no-hitters. And it felt so great! TD: Leading up to the draft, were you hearing from a lot of scouts? Did you spent much time with the Twins scouts? JB: Prior to the draft, I was contacted by scouts from several teams and had the chance to meet them. During a Perfect Game Tournament, a scout came to me and told me I had the quality to become a professional pitcher. That meant a lot to me. Unfortunately, at that time I did not have the chance to meet the Twins scouts. TD: Twins fans have seen the video of you when you were drafted. What was going through your mind when you heard your name selected by the Minnesota Twins? JB: Wow, it has been an unforgettable moment! My whole family and friends were there giving me support and strength on that special day. That moment when they call your name, when a baseball player begins to see his dream come true! A dream we (the baseball players) have since we were kids. TD: You signed quickly and pitched for the GCL Twins. What was the adjustment to professional baseball, on and off the field? JB: When I started on the GCL, it wasn't much of a change or adjustment for me. I was used to waking up early in the morning to begin my training. I've always been very disciplined. I take seriously everything regarding baseball and my training. At the beginning, I missed my family as well as the Puerto Rican food. Then, everything was under control. TD: You were selected to represent Puerto Rico in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. What did that opportunity mean to you? JB: It was a unique and unforgettable experience for me. Every player wishes to represent some day his country, his flag. It was a great honor for me to do that at my age. I was more than honored and proud. I learned so much about MLB from that experience. TD: In the WBC, I believed you struck out Robison Cano and faced some of baseball's best players. Did you learn anything from the experience? JB: Thank God, I had the opportunity to pitch to great baseball players such as Robison Cano. It was an excellent experience to remember. It gave me the chance to do what I do best, strikeouts. TD: If you were to write up a scouting report on yourself, what would it be? What would you say are your strengths and what is an area you want to work on to improve most? JB: I'm aware there's so much to learn. You learn new things each day. But one of my strengths are the strikeouts. My goal is to learn as much as I can during my time in the Minor Leagues and be ready when the time comes up for my MLB Debut. TD: Who are some of the people who have helped you get to this point in your career? JB: Since I was a little kid, my family has been by my side giving me great support. But my older brother, Angel A Berrios, Jr, has been my biggest inspiration. He, along with my father Angel A Berrios,Sr, have given me the knowledge and confidence I needed. They're both baseball players. Also, I would like to acknowledge my team from Build + Safe Sport Trainer for all the support and great training during these years. TD: Outside baseball, what do you enjoy doing? Hobbies, etc? JB: Besides playing this amazing sport, I enjoy Ping-Pong. I also enjoy going to the movies and of course, the beach. But to be honest, training each day is what I like the most. TD: Are you looking forward to coming to Twins Fest? Have you been to Minnesota before? JB: I thank the Lord for this great opportunity, to be part of this year's Twins Fest. I'm very excited to be there. This won't be my first time in Minnesota. I had the chance to be there after being drafted in 2012. TD: As spring training is now just a couple of months away, what are you most anxious and excited about? JB: For me, it's all about expectations. Each player is doing their best to achieve a better position on the team. TD: Have you set any goals for yourself for the 2014 season? Are there any certain stats you think are important for you? JB: My main goal is to have a productive, healthy season from the beginning to the end of it. I will be working on my strikeouts as well. I want to achieve double-digit wins this season. TD: Favorite Baseball movie? JB: My favorite baseball movie is Major League: Back to the Minors TD: What is one thing about yourself that you would want Twins fans to know? JB: I would like to share with you and the Twins Fans something very special for me. God has given my girlfriend and me the blessing of becoming parents soon. We are expecting a baby. Hopefully, he or she (we still don't know the gender) will be born this May. I'm very happy about it! This baby is giving us a new purpose in life. Thank you again to JO for taking his time, and especially to Maria for taking a lot of time to translate this Q&A twice! Please feel free to comment below! Click here to view the article

Last week, Twins Director of Minor League Operations Brad Steil was in Cedar Rapids watching the Kernels play six games. In an interview with MetroSportsReport.com’s Jim Ecker, Steil said, “I think off of this team, you could easily see six to eight of those guys eventually make it to the big leagues.” As I look at the Kernels’ current roster, I think that number could be as high as ten, with a few more high-ceiling players rehabbing in Extended Spring Training. Obviously there is a lot of attrition between low class A and the big leagues, so it’s unlikely that ten of these players will actually get to the big leagues. However, I feel I need to remind people that Cedar Rapids, and all of these future Twins, play their home games just four hours from the Twins Cities.[PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] I made that trek for their Opening Weekend, so I was able to watch four practices and three ball games. It was cool (temperature-wise, and just to be there), but I came away with several take-aways. I know I’ll be going back in late June on the Territory Train, and I would love to get there a third time sometime this summer to see what changes or improvements will have been made since early April. Tickets are very reasonable and the Kernels’ staff does so much to make the experience a lot of fun for the fans. Below are my thoughts on ten prospects currently on the Kernels roster: Byron Buxton (my #2 Twins preseason prospect) – As I’ve often said since seeing Buxton in person five weeks ago, if someone wants to say Buxton is the #1 Twins prospect (yes, ahead of Miguel Sano), I have no problem with that. His speed is absolutely game-changing. He has very good power. He has tremendous patience at the plate. He has walked 24 times in 126 plate appearances. He can steal bases. He plays great defense. He has an incredible arm. He’s just 19 years old. Jose (JO) Berrios (#8) – Berrios will still be just 18 years old through the end of the month. He was not in Cedar Rapids when I was there at the start of the season because of his participation in the World Baseball Classic. The Twins wanted to stretch him out to start before sending him up. He’s now made three starts for the Kernels and is 3-0 with a 2.55 ERA. In 17.2 innings, he has two walks and 21 strikeouts. His fastball sits at 92-94 and touches 96. He has a plus-breaking ball, and he is developing a potentially plus-change up. He will move up the rankings when they are done next. Travis Harrison (#14) – He was the Twins first supplemental first round pick in 2011 out of high school in California. Last year, he hit about .300 in Elizabethton, but didn’t show a lot of power. In watching him work, and specifically watching him take batting practice, you could see the power potential that he has. It’s starting to show: he already has nine doubles and five home runs on the season. That doesn’t include his recent walk-off grand slam that was called a single because of the celebration. His defense at third base remains a work-in-progress, but he works very hard at it. This is another guy who will move up the rankings. Adam Walker (#16) – I wasn’t sure what to expect from Walker when I got to Cedar Rapids. I had always heard that he had as much power as anyone in the organization, including Miguel Sano. And then I saw him take batting practice and I absolutely agree with that assessment. In the three games I saw, he played in two of them and did very little. But, watching him practice, it was clear that it was just a matter of time. Things have certainly clicked for Walker. He now is hitting .303 with seven doubles, two triples and seven home runs. He has driven in 32 runs. He is a big man and very strong. He is also a very good athlete and has taken well to right field. He’s just 21 despite already having played three years of college ball. Yes, he will be moving up this list as well. Jorge Polanco (#19) – Polanco was signed as a physically small 16-year-old the same year the Twins signed Sano. He was felt to be a great shortstop but he struggled with the bat in two seasons in the GCL. Last year, he hit for a good batting average in Elizabethton, but with little power. I’m always now a little leery of E-Town stats. Polanco is still just 19-years-old and now he’s hitting .345/.387/.504 (.892) with nine doubles, three triples and a home run. He was the team’s #2 hitter on Opening Night, and he’s hit #3 in every game he has played since. He’s playing primarily second base, but he’ll continue to get time at shortstop. He is very smooth defensively, but his offense, frankly, surprised me. Despite not walking a lot, he does seem to have a decent grasp of the strike zone. As you would expect, Polanco will also be moving up, quite a bit, on this list. Mason Melotakis (#22) – Melotakis was a Twins 2nd round pick last year out of college. The 21 year old left-hander throws moderately hard. When I saw him in Cedar Rapids, his fastball was sitting at 90-92 and he was throwing three pitches. Pitching out of the bullpen in 2012, he was hitting as high as 97 on the radar gun. As he’s transitioning to the rotation from the bullpen, it’s necessary to last more than an inning or two, so it’s normal to see the velocity come down a little bit, at least temporarily. He’s pitched in just 23.2 innings over his first five starts. He’s walked 12 and struck out 21. I’m definitely supportive of keeping him in the rotation for a while because I do think he has the three-pitch mix to be successful as a starter. Niko Goodrum (#27) – I moved Goodrum down the list a little too far last year. He repeated at Elizabethton and his batting average went down. However, and much more important, he improved his patience and walk total. He increased his power numbers, as well. Goodrum has a very nice swing from both sides of the plate. He has good speed. He is long and lanky, but he is pleased that he’s up to 200 pounds and plans to stay at that weight. His aded weight could lead to more power. Defensively, he does a very solid job at shortstop. He’s not flashy, but he makes most of the plays. He recently turned 21. He’s still quite raw, but he has a chance to be a very solid ballplayer! Hudson Boyd (#29) – It isn’t as obvious, statistically, that Boyd is a potential big leaguer. To see it, you have to look at things beyond the stat line. Right now, in 23.2 innings, he has a 5.48 ERA, 24 hits allowed, 14 walks and just 17 strikeouts. The second Twins' supplemental first-round pick in 2011, from high school in Florida, Boyd has some good stuff. He has a low-90s fastball that will hit 95 when things warm up. He shows a good curveball and he occasionally has a very good changeup. The problem has been consistency with mechanics, release point, control and confidence. Boyd lost 45 pounds in the offseason, showing that he is willing to work to improve. Tyler Duffey (NR) has been one of the better pitchers in the organization through the first five weeks. He threw seven perfect innings in his first start of the year and has been pretty good since. He was a reliever in college, at Rice, but he’s made the move to the rotation look simple. He’s got three good pitches which leads one to think that he could stick as a starter as he moves up. Dalton (DJ) Hicks – Hicks was the 17th round pick a year ago out of Central Florida. The first baseman became known last year when his walk-off grand slam gave the Elizabethton Twins the Appalachian League championship. He’s been the everyday first baseman and clean-up hitter and has hit well. He has a lot of power. He’s got nine doubles and four home runs this season. An overly-positive comp for him as a hitter is someone like Adam Dunn. He’ll walk. He’ll strikeout. He’ll hit for a lot of power… if he develops. There are ten guys who have a chance to get to the big leagues if they develop nicely. I didn’t include Tyler Jones, a hard-throwing reliever. He was just put on the Disabled List with an elbow injury. JD Williams is a tremendous athlete with great speed, a great eye at the plate and good defense. Middle infielder Candido Pimentel was the Appalachian League MVP in 2012. He’s got great speed. Josh Burris and his killer curveball recently arrived in Cedar Rapids as well. Lefty Brett Lee has a very live arm. Right now he’s in the 6-man rotation, but he could be a devastating lefty-reliever. And, consider that Max Kepler (#10) will, we hope, soon be arriving in Cedar Rapids after missing the early season with an elbow injury. Luke Bard (#20) is also rehabbing an injury in Florida, but he will likely get a chance to start with the Kernels at some point this summer. Also, we hope JT Chargois will be able to pitch in 2013 for the Kernels. It’s also possible that the three members of the Kernels’ coaching staff will be Twins coaches at some point in their careers. Manager Jake Mauer does a terrific job of teaching and organizing these young men. He knows the game of baseball very well. Tommy Watkins is a great example for the players, having shown, as a player, perseverance and a great work ethic. He is also known for being a quality teacher of hitting and defense. He relates so well to the player. Like Watkins, Gary Lucas is a former big leaguer. He’s been coaching in the Midwest League for about a decade. It’s clear how much he enjoys teaching young pitchers and pushing them to think through their pitches and the situations on the mound. Check out the Kernels schedule and see if it works to book a trip there for a weekend. Like I said, it’s just a four hour drive. The weekend I was there I talked to several people who drove down for the game and then drove back afterwards. Some spent a night and went to two games. It’s a great trip. Minor League ball is always entertaining. But for Twins fans, it’s an opportunity to see some future Twins two or three years early. It’ll be fun to be able to say you saw Byron Buxton or JO Berrios before they became big league stars. I remember my first trip to games in Beloit three years ago. Brian Dozier, Aaron Hicks and Mike Trout were all on the field. It’s fun to do your own scouting reports on the players. Please feel free to ask questions. View full article

Be sure to read John's tremendous article on Jim Thomeand his long-awaited arrival in Minnesota, in a Twins uniform. He spent just over a year and a half wearing the Twins pinstripes, and yet, he provided Twins fans with many memorable moments. Often, the question "What was your favorite Player X moment?" is asked when a player of little significance is demoted or released. However, I ask you today, What Was Your Favorite Jim Thome (in a Twins uniform) Moment? Be sure to vote in the attached poll, but there are just six things I came up with off the top of my head. I'm sure you can come up with more. And some of you may even have some personal stories of Thome. Please use this thread to discuss Jim Thome moments. Click here to VOTE for your favorite Thome Moment. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] 7/3/2010 - Thome 574th Home Run Jim Thome homered for the 574th time in his big league career, passing Twins legend Harmon Killebrew on the all-time list. Killebrew congratulates him on the big screen at Target Field. 8/20/2010 - Thome Walks-Off versus White Sox Down by a run in the bottom of the 10th, Thome came to the plate against his former teammates. Facing lefty Matt Thornton with a runner on 1st base, Thome connected for the first walk-off home run in Target Field History. 9/2010 - Thome hits one off the Flag pole! It was tremendous clout. Thome got all of it, and when it hit the top of the flag pole in right-center field, Orlando Hudson was shown mouthing words from the dugout showing how impressed he was!! April 2011 - Thome's Twins Commercial "Deep in Twins Territory, there's a legendary story, 'bout a man with an ox in the batter's box..." Classic commercial! 8/15/2011 - Thome Hits 600th Home Run He came into the game needing two home runs. He hit #599, and then in the 7th inning, his next at bat, he his #600 in Detroit off of lefty Daniel Schlereth. Always - Thome's Class Like Killebrew before him, I can't help but wonder if people will forget how incredible of a baseball player Thome was because he is even a better man, always classy. What was your favorite Jim Thome with the Twins Moment? Vote Here. Download attachment: JimThome WalkOff.jpg Click here to view the article

While the Twins (and particularly Josh Willingham) were creating fireworks while completing a sweep of the White Sox, there were entirely different fireworks that resulted in the ejection of a top Twins prospect (while he was in his home run trot) and his manager, an ex-Twin. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] There were also several terrific performances by PJ Walters, Nate Hanson, Miguel Munoz and Lance Ray. Drew Leachman celebrated his birthday quite well on the field. Tyler Duffey was back on the mound on Sunday. But the story of the day was in Palm Beach at a High A game. Game 1 - Rochester Red Wings 1, Pawtucket Red Sox 8 Box Score Kyle Gibson made the start for the Red Wings. His line shows that he gave up three runs on three hits and four walks in five innings. However, through five innings, he had not allowed a run. Unfortunately, when he came out for the sixth frame, he gave up a lead-off walk followed by back-to-back singles to load the bases before being replaced by Luis Perdomo. Perdomo gave up a walk, a single and a double before he was replaced by Tyler Robertson. Robertson walked two that half-inning, one intentionally, but allowed only one inherited runner to score on a ground out before inducing an inning-ending double play. Suddenly, the Wings were down by a score of 5-1. Unfortunately, things weren’t much better for the Red Wings in the seventh inning. Robertson walked the first three batters to load the bases before Dan Turpen replaced him. Three more runs scored making it 8-1. The Red Wings managed just four hits. Clete Thomas was 1-2 with two walks. Game 2 - Rochester Red Wings 2, Pawtucket Red Sox 0 Box Score The story of the second game of the double-header was the right arm of PJ Walters. He threw a complete game shutout, allowing two hits and one walk. He struck out five to improve to 1-2 on the season. The Red Wings had six hits in the game. Chris Colabello doubled for the third time. Ray Olmedo hit a 2-run double which produced all the scoring for the Wings in this game. The Red Wings improved to 5-12 with the split on Sunday. New Britain Rock Cats 7, Portland Sea Dogs 8 Box Score BJ Hermsen was back on the mound in a regular season game for the first time this year. Hermsen, the Minor League starting pitcher of the year in 2012, went to big league spring training for the first time this spring. After being optioned out, he strained an intercostal muscle in his rib cage and has been rehabbing since. Hermsen went 4.2 innings and gave up five runs on six hits and two walks. He struck out three. Bobby Lanigan came on in relief and gave up three runs (2 earned) on four hits and a walk in 0.2 innings. Edgar Ibarra struck out three in 1.2 scoreless innings. Michael Tonkin had a quiet eighth frame. Nate Hanson had a big day with the bat. The Eden Prairie High School grad and former Golden Gopher went 4-5 with a double and two RBI. Josmil Pinto went 2-3 with two walks. Dan Rohlfing went 1-3 with two walks. The Rock Cats fell to 8-9 on the season. Ft. Myers Miracle 5, Palm Beach Cardinals 6 (10 innings) Box Score This game was delayed for about two hours because of rain, and it then went to extra innings. There was drama throughout most of this game. Unfortunately, the Miracle lost 6-5 in ten innings on a walk-off home run. The drama started in the fifth inning. Reliever Brandon Creath was in the game, and Miguel Sano came to the plate. The first pitch barely missed Sano’s head. Doug Mientkiewicz came out and told the home plate umpire that Creath should be ejected. The history? Five days earlier, in his most recent appearance, Creath gave up a long grand slam to Sano. Creath stayed in this game, and on a 3-1 pitch, Sano launched a very, very long home run, his sixth of the year. He walked a few steps down the line and then, incited by the Cardinals dugout, started yelling at them as he ran down the line. At that point, the home plate umpire ejected Sano. Mientkiewicz came out and argued. He was ejected. So was left fielder Stephen Wickens. There was plenty of offense for the Miracle. Unfortunately, they left 15 runners on the base paths. Lance Ray went 3-5 with his fourth double. Kyle Knudson went 2-3 with two walks and his second home run. Michael Gonzales went 2-5 with a walk. AJ Pettersen extended his hitting streak to six games with a 2-5 day. Jason Wheeler started and gave up five runs on six hits in four innings. He walked two and struck out two. The bullpen kept the game close. Miguel Munoz gave up three hits in three scoreless innings. Corey Williams gave up two hits in his two scoreless innings. However, in the tenth inning, Nelvin Fuentes came on. He threw one pitch and it was deposited over the fence in left field to end the game. The Miracle fell to 14-3 on the season. photo by Jim Crikket Cedar Rapids Kernels 3, Burlington Bees 2 Box Score The Kernels got terrific pitching and a big hit off the bat of Niko Goodrum to get this tough win. Tyler Duffey made his third straight Sunday start. In this game, he pitched seven innings and gave up two runs on four hits and a walk, with six strikeouts. He improved to 2-1. David Hurlbut came out of the bullpen and recorded his first save. He gave up just one hit and struck out two in the final two innings. After having four hits on Saturday, Drew Leachman celebrated his birthday on Sunday with three more hits. He was 3-3 with a triple and a sacrifice fly. Travis Harrison was 2-4 with his seventh double. Jorge Polanco had a double, his fourth. Byron Buxton was 1-3 with two walks. He stole his sixth base, but he was also caught stealing for the fourth time. Niko Goodrum had just one hit on the day, but it was a two-run single in the seventh that gave the Kernels the 3-2 lead. The Snappers are now 11-5 on the season. Please feel free to comment or ask questions below. View full article

After looking at the catchers throughout the Twins system yesterday, I’ll be looking at the first basemen today before continuing around the diamond throughout the coming weeks. Again, the purpose is two-fold. First, it’s a look at the depth at or near the big leagues. Second, it’s a glance at the depth at the position throughout the system. You can find out who might be coming up to the Twins if there is a need, and you can find out who the prospects to watch might be. As I did yesterday, I need to point out that these are my thoughts. I have no insider information to know where players will be playing for certain in 2012. Obviously after spring training, some of these players will be let go. There will be Disabled List players, extended spring training and more. Minnesota Twins Justin Morneau, Ryan Doumit (Joe Mauer, Luke Hughes) As much as I have no worries about Joe Mauer as he comes back in 2012, I am equally concerned about Justin Morneau’s ability to come back and play. Obviously I really hope that I am wrong. I hope he comes back and performs to the MVP-like caliber that we saw from 2006 through 2010. Defensively, he was tremendous and that is a great example of his work ethic. Hopefully by now, fans understand the seriousness of head injuries and concussions. As much as they’re saying that Morneau won’t be just a DH, that has to be considered an option. We talked quite a bit yesterday about Doumit as a backup catcher, and his ability to hit. He’s not good defensively behind the plate, and frankly, he’s not too great in front of it either. He could play some at 1B, but it may not be pretty. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Joe Mauer play first base a couple of times a week to keep his bat in the lineup. He played rather well there with the glove a year ago. Luke Hughes showed last year that he could adapt to first base. He had a positive UZR at both 1B and 2B. He also provides a solid right-handed bat off the bench. He’s the only right-handed bat in these four options. Rochester Red Wings Chris Parmelee, Aaron Bates, Steve Pearce Parmelee showed in September what he could be capable of in the big leagues. He has been very solid the past two seasons in New Britain, but no one could have anticipated his strong September performance with the Twins. It’s the beauty of small sample size. That said, Parmelee seems to have figured a couple of things out the last two years. He puts together solid at bats, uses the whole field and hits for power. He needs a half-season at Triple-A to continue to progress, but the Twins’ 1st round pick in 2006 can be a solid contributor to the Twins lineup for years to come. If the Twins need a 1B option early in the year, or just want a good right-handed bat off the bench, Bates should be considered. The Red Sox third round pick in 2006 debuted with the Sox in 2009. Last year, he joined the Red Wings in early May and was their best, most consistent hitter. He hit .316/.408/.439 with 30 extra base hits. He was invited to big league camp. So was Steve Pearce who burst on the prospect scene in 2007 when he dominated at four levels. Since then, he has not put up big numbers, but he has had over 100 plate appearances in four of the past five years in the big leagues. The Twins drafted him in the 45th round in 2003 out of high school. He didn’t sign. He is kind of a right-handed Aaron Bates. New Britain Rock Cats Nate Hanson, Steve Liddle Hanson is a Minnesota native who played for the Gophers before being drafted by the Twins as a third baseman. During the 2010 season, he played more and more first base, and now he is well respected for his glove and athleticism at first base. He joined the Rock Cats at about the halfway point of last season and held his own. Liddle was hurt much of the 2011 season. He has surgery on his non-throwing shoulder in the offseason. Although he has played more outfield, he played quite a bit of first base as well. After a frustrating 2011 season, it will be interesting to see if he jumps to New Britain. Ft. Myers Miracle Michael Gonzales, Lance Ray, Danny Rams Gonzales returned to Beloit in 2011 about 25 pounds lighter. He came through with a healthier, more productive season. He showed better range at first base. More important, his hands and his bat were much quicker. He increased all of his numbers from 2012 and is certainly ready for the Florida State League. Lance Ray has primarily played in the outfield, but he does a nice job when he plays at 1B as well. Rams will catch at times, but he will play some other positions including outfield and DH. He played quite a bit of 1B in Beloit in 2010. Beloit Snappers Rory Rhodes, Kennys Vargas Rhodes is 6-7, so the natural comparison for him will likely be Richie Sexson, and I think that’s a fair comp. He has a ton of power at such a young age. The Australian needs patience, but he also will need to compete in a full-season league in 2012. Putting the ball in play more often will be a big thing. Defensively, he was a solid defensive third baseman, but with Miguel Sano in the picture, Rhodes primarily played first base at E-Town last year. Vargas is a big guy, a switch-hitter with a powerful swing from both sides of the plate. He was putting together some solid numbers, hitting in the middle of the E-Town lineup when he was suspended for 50 games for using a banned weight-loss supplement. It cost him the end of the 2011 season and will cost him the first 32 games of the 2012 season. But he has some real potential, so I expect the Twins to stick with him after the suspension is up. Elizabethton Twins Josh Hendricks Another Australian, Hendricks was signed as a catcher but was quickly moved to first base. He was very streaky and inconsistent with the bat in 2011, but he does have good size and power potential. He could have a big year in 2012 at E-Town. TOP THREE PROSPECTS 1.) Chris Parmelee, 2.) Michael Gonzales, 3.) Rory Rhodes SUMMARY For 2012, Justin Morneau is the question mark. He hasn’t finished a full season in several years. He has the concussion injury, but the wrist surgery is also concerning for a power hitter. If the Twins didn’t have so many other needs and concerns, maybe it would make sense to add a 1B to the mix. However, Chris Parmelee is close and could take over the position for the next half-dozen years. Bates and Pearce are guys that could pinch hit or fill in very temporarily. If you have any further questions, please feel free to e-mail me at sethspeaksnet@hotmail.com or leave your thoughts in the Comments Section! Click here to view the article

Download attachment: Kubel Cuddyer Mauer 600.jpg I was listening to this week’s Gleeman & the Geek episode. In it, they discussed briefly how many Twins prospects might make Baseball America’s 2013 Top 100 prospects list. It certainly is an interesting question, especially given that the Twins minor league system has been generally considered very weak the last few years. However, there is little question in my mind, that the Twins organization will likely rank in the Top 10 minor league systems again. The general belief is that Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton will likely be Top 25 prospects in all of baseball. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK]The two certainly give the Twins a couple of high ceiling prospects although both are yet to turn 20. Aaron Hicks is no stranger to the Top 100 lists. He was #19 on their list in 2010 and #45 in 2011 before dropping out of the last this past year. Oswaldo Arcia hasn’t been on Baseball America’s Top 100 before, but he put together quite the offensive season at age 21. I fully expect both of them to be in the Top 100. What about Eddie Rosario? Will missing a month of the season keep him out of the Top 100? Kyle Gibson was #34 in 2011 after being #61 in 2010. Although he pitched very little in 2012, could he make the list again with a strong AFL showing? What about Jose (JO) Berrios? The Twins first supplemental first-round draft pick this year just dominated the rookie leagues. I figure that there are four ‘for-sures’ to be Top 100, and I listed three others that we could make a strong case for making it. More important than the actual list itself is the fact that the Twins do have a lot of high-ceiling prospects again. But, what does that really mean? What has being a Baseball America Top 100 prospect meant over the last 23 years? Let’s take a look: 1990 – Willie Banks (13), Johnny Ard (46), Kevin Tapani (88) 1991 – Willie Banks (15), Rich Garces (16), Chuck Knoblauch (72) 1992 – David McCarty (22), Pat Mahomes (25), Midre Cummings (33), Willie Banks (68), Alan Newman (96), Todd Ritchie (98) 1993 – David McCarthy (16), Mike Trombley (53), Rich Becker (78) 1994 – Rich Becker (37), Todd Ritchie (78), LaTroy Hawkins (92) 1995 – LaTroy Hawkins (30), Todd Walker (40), Marc Barcelo (70) 1996 – Todd Walker (22), Jose Valentin (58), LaTroy Hawkins (70), Dan Serafini (76) 1997 – Todd Walker (7), Luis Rivas (70), Torii Hunter (79) 1998 – Eric Milton (25), Luis Rivas (55), David Ortiz (84) 1999 – Michael Cuddyer (36), Michael Restovich (50), Luis Rivas (63), Cristian Guzman (68) 2000 – Michael Cuddyer (18), Michael Restovich (26), Matthew LeCroy (44), BJ Garbe (79), Luis Rivas (86) 2001 – Adam Johnson (41), Michael Cuddyer (55), Luis Rivas (93) 2002 – Joe Mauer (7), Justin Morneau (21), Michael Cuddyer (27), Michael Restovich (63), Adam Johnson (85) 2003 – Joe Mauer (4), Justin Morneau (14), Michael Cuddyer (17), Michael Restovich (37) 2004 – Joe Mauer (1), Justin Morneau (16), JD Durbin (66), Matt Moses (81), Jesse Crain (89) 2005 – Joe Mauer (1), Jason Kubel (17), Jesse Crain (63), JD Durbin (70) 2006 – Francisco Liriano (6), Jason Kubel (58), Matt Moses (75), Glen Perkins (91), Anthony Swarzak (100) 2007 – Matt Garza (21), Glen Perkins (66), Kevin Slowey (71), Chris Parmelee (94) 2008 – Deolis Guerra (35), Carlos Gomez (52), Nick Blackburn (56) 2009 – Ben Revere (59), Wilson Ramos (71) 2010 – Aaron Hicks (19), Wilson Ramos (58), Kyle Gibson (61), Miguel Sano (94) 2011 – Kyle Gibson (34), Aaron Hicks (45), Miguel Sano (60), Joe Benson (100) 2012 – Miguel Sano (18), Joe Benson (99) A couple of notes: Any question why the Twins struggled in the 1990s? How about all of the high school pitchers drafted high in the late 80’s and early 90s? Guys like Willie Banks, Johnny Ard, Pat Mahomes, Alan Newman, Todd Ritchie and Dan Serafini didn’t exactly pan out. LaTroy Hawkins was a success story after several years of struggling. Of course, Brad Radke was a high school draft pick who was never a top prospect, but he turned out alright.Based on his rankings, it sure would have been nice to see Rochester’s Michael Restovich get a real opportunity. Either that, or he’s a good example of a guy who hit a ton of HR in the Pacific Coast League and it wouldn’t translate to the big leagues?These Top 100 lists are a good illustration of the definition of prospects. Most of them don’t make it to elite status. Some of the top guys become stars, and others completely flame out. Some just become OK players or even role players.Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer turned out alright, I guess. I sometimes think that many Twins fans who talk about how bad the Twins farm system was a couple of years ago (and it was certainly not great) only had the incredible run of mid-‘00s prospects to compare to. In addition to those three, guys like Jason Kubel, Francisco Liriano and Glen Perkins were all prospects around the same time. Twins fans should be excited about the list of seven prospects mentioned early in this article. They are legitimate prospects and should give the Twins scouting departments a lot more credibility again. However, as with any prospects, there has to be an understanding of just what these rankings mean. Click here to view the article

The Twins had arguably their most exciting game of the season. In many ways, it was the 2012 positives that got it done. Trevor Plouffe hit a home run. Scott Diamond pitched great. And then the big blast off the bat of Josh Willingham that proved to be the game-winner. Of course, you can add to that an incredible plate appearance by Joe Mauer off of flame-throwing Aroldis Chapman to set up the Willingham homer. Jared Burton made it interesting but pitched out of a jam for the save. And now the Twins have a home series against the Chicago White Sox who are hoping that Kevin Youklis still has something left. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] Here is a look at the Twins minor league scores and highlights from Sunday: ROCHESTER 0, CHARLOTTE 6 The Red Wings were shutout for the seventh time this season and fell to just 2-8 on Sundays. Zach Stewart was supposed to start for Charlotte, but he was traded later in the day for Kevin Youklis, so it was a bullpen game for Charlotte. The Red Wings only managed two hits in the game, one a piece by Tsuyoshi Nishioka and Michael Hollimon. Luke French started and gave up five runs on ten hits, three walks and a hit batter in just 4.2 innings. He struck out three. Deolis Guerra walked two and struck out three in 1.1 scoreless innings. Caleb Thielbar gave up one run on two hits, two walks and a hit batter in two innings. Bobby Lanigan pitched a perfect frame. Tsuyoshi Nishioka has hit safely in ten of his last eleven games, and is hitting .302 during that stretch (13-43). NEW BRITAIN 7, RICHMOND 3 Evan Bigley was named the Twins minor league player of the week after a fantastic showing. He started the new week well too. The outfielder went 3-4, was hit by a pitch, doubled for the 16th time and drove in two runs. Chris Colabello went 3-5 with his 12th home run. Matt Rizzotti went 2-3. Logan Darnell evened his record at 6-6 by pitching six solid innings. He gave up three runs on seven hits (2 HR). He walked two and struck out three. Daniel Turpen recorded his fifth save by throwing three shutout innings. He gave up two hits and struck out two batters. FT. MYERS, TAMPA As the Miracle announced on Sunday morning when the game was called, it was being posted due to “excessive moisture.” BELOIT 1, CEDAR RAPIDS 9 It was a rough one in Cedar Rapids for the Snappers on Sunday. Steve Gruver started and gave up three runs on five hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out five. Cole Johnson made his Snappers debut and went one scoreless inning. He gave up one hit, walked one and struck one out. Bart Carter came in and gave up four runs (3 earned) on three hits in an inning. Ryan O’Rourke then gave up two runs on a hit and three walks in one inning. JD Williams led the offense by going 2-4. Nate Roberts was 1-3 with a walk. Miguel Sano went 1-4. He’s hitting .239. He also committed his 26th error of the season. ELIZABETHTON 2, BURLINGTON 5 Hudson Boyd made his second E-Town start. The young right-hander gave up four runs (3 earned) on five hits, two walks and a hit batter. Josh Burris came in and gave up one run on three hits (solo HR) in 2.2 innings. He struck out three, walked one and hit one. Romy Jimenez and Stephen Wickens each went 2-4. Niko Goodrum hit his first home run of the year, and Rory Rhodes hit his second with the E-Twins. Jorge Polanco hit his first double. Travis Harrison hit his second double. He also committed two errors and have five in five games played. GCL TWINS - Typically there are no Gulf Coast League games on Sundays. --- Players of the Day for Sunday, June 24, 2012 Pitcher of the Day – Daniel Turpen Download attachment: Daniel Turpen.jpg Hitter of the Day – Chris Colabello Download attachment: ChrisColabello2.jpg --- A Look Ahead – Monday, June 25, 2012 Schedule Rochester vs Charlotte – RHP Cole De Vries New Britain @ Richmond – RHP Brett Jacobson Ft. Myers vs Tampa (2 games) – RHP Tom Stuifbergen Beloit @ Kane County – LHP Jason Wheeler Elizabethton vs Bristol – RHP Ricardo Arevalo GCL Twins/GCL Orioles – Game Postponed by Rain --- If you have any questions or comments on the Twins minor league system, players, teams, etc., leave them in the Comments and I’ll try to answer them! Click here to view the article