Seth Stohs

Good morning! Thanks as always for making Twins Daily part of your every day reading. Today I am going to return to the 12 Questions format with a fun interview with one of the Twins first-round picks in 2012, RHP Luke Bard. As you know, the Twins selected him out of Georgia Tech with the 42nd overall pick. He wasn’t able to pitch much last year due to a couple of injuries, but he has a ton of talent, and as you’ll read below, a pretty strong baseball pedigree in his family. He was kind enough to put some quality time into answering our 12 Questions recently. To tell a little bit more about Bard before getting into the interview, I want to post for you what was written about him in the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook 2013 by fellow-author and Twins Daily contributor, the Nodak Twins Fan Cody Christie. This is just one out of 85 Twins minor league pitcher profiles available in the 191 page book dedicated solely to the Twins minor league system. Yesterday, we made the paperback book available online for $13.99. I did that because four of the five players on the cover will be at Twins Fest and lots of people tell me they want to get books signed there. To do so, they should really be ordered within the next 24-48 hours. Today, you can now also order an electronic book (e-book) for just $8.99. (I do get a lot of questions about Prospect Handbooks from previous years. If you’re interested in those, click here.) I’ll be quiet about the book and give you the profile, and then… 12 Questions With… RHP Luke Bard. Luke Bard – RHP (11/13/90) Acquired: Supp 1st round pick in 2012 from Georgia Tech 2012 Team(s): GCL Twins, Elizabethton Twins 2012 Stats: 0-0, 1 Save, 3.86 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, 7.0 IP, 7 BB, 7 K One of the trends for the Twins in the 2012 Draft was that the club decided to load up on powerful college relief arms. Bard was the first of these type of players selected by the Twins after finishing his junior year at Georgia Tech. He is the younger brother of Boston Red Sox pitcher Daniel Bard, and the Twins will try to make him into a starter in the minor leagues. During his collegiate career, he was used mostly as a relief arm, but he does have a very good three-pitch mix. His slider is one of his best pitches, and it sits in the high 80s. Bard’s fastball sits anywhere from 92 to 96, and he can mix in a solid changeup with good arm action. He dealt with a strained right lat muscle this past spring but it wasn’t a serious injury. In his last season at Georgia Tech, he would put together a 0.99 ERA in 27.1 innings with 26 strikeouts, six walks, and zero home runs allowed. There were enough positive signs for the Twins to want to select him in the early portion of the draft. Bard appeared in seven games after signing with the Twins. He was roughed up a bit in his first three outings with the GCL Twins as he posted a 6.75 ERA with three strikeouts and five walks in four innings. He would improve when he got to the Appalachian League, as he didn’t allow an earned run over three innings. He had four strikeouts and two walks. His season ended with another minor injury. At the beginning of 2013, Bard will be given the opportunity to start at some level in the Twins system and it is up to him to show the club he is up to the challenge. (CC) [ATTACH=CONFIG]3054[/ATTACH] 12 QUESTIONS WITH… Luke Bard Twins Daily (TD): Growing up North Carolina, who was your favorite team? Who were some of your favorite players? Luke Bard (LB): I always followed the Braves and Red Sox growing up. The Braves were the closest team to Charlotte so my family would travel down to Turner Field every summer. I became a fan of the Red Sox because both my parents grew up in Massachusetts. Then my brother made it to the big leagues with the Red Sox in 2009 so I have rooted for them since. Now I am all for the Twins! TD: Tell us about your high school career at Charlotte Christian (baseball and/or other extra-curriculars). LB: I could not have asked for a better high school experience. I was fortunate to be surrounded by great coaches and friends who helped me succeed athletically and academically. Believe it or not, football was my favorite sport. You can't beat Friday night lights and if I was good enough then I would probably be playing football today. TD: When the Red Sox took you in the 16th round in 2009, how difficult was the decision for you to go to college instead of signing, especially with your brother in the Red Sox organization? LB: Like I said before, I was a Red Sox fan growing up so it was a great experience to be drafted by them. Things did not work out for me to sign but I believe everything happens for a reason and it turned out to be a blessing. I made friendships at Georgia Tech that will last a lifetime and cannot imagine my life any other way. I would not have traded my time at Georgia Tech for anything and am thrilled to be a part of the Minnesota Twins organization. TD: Talk a little about your career at Georgia Tech, one of college baseball’s traditional powerhouses. What were some of the highlights? LB: We had some extremely talented teams each year I was in college but could not get out regionals for whatever reason. Each season I had high hopes of going to Omaha and was frustrated when we would lose that final game. Baseball is a tricky game and in postseason play it seems like the team that gets hot wins. My sophomore year we played NC State in the ACC tournament. I was our closer but ended up throwing 5 innings and over 90 pitches in extra innings. The game ended up going 15 innings and we won by stealing home in the top of the 15th. It was fun to be a part of. TD: You have started and you have relieved. Do you have a preference? Do you prepare differently for either role? LB: Both roles are completely different but I love both. With starting, it's nice to get in a routine of pitching every fifth day so that I can work on different things in between starts. With relieving, there is the adrenaline rush that comes with pitching in the late innings of close games. I love being on the mound with the game on the line and you can't beat closing a 1 or 2 run game. If I had to pick one I would rather start. Starting over the course of a season I feel I can give my team more total innings and a better chance to win more games. TD: The Twins took you in the supplemental first round, with the 42nd overall pick. Heading into the draft, is that around where you were being told you might be selected? Did you talk to the Twins scouts much heading into the draft? LB: I had an interesting situation because I tore my right lat in March. Doctors felt my injury was caused by my transition from closing to starting in the middle of the year rather than mechanics or genetics which may have scared teams away. I went from throwing 12-15 pitches in an outing to throwing 90 in just a couple weeks which was really tough on my arm. And since my injury was just muscular, it is not something that would affect my career long term. It would have been fun to know how things would have gone if I pitched the rest of the year but I as I said before everything happens for a reason. Jack Powell is the Twins scout who drafted me. He has been awesome to work with and nothing but encouraging. I have had the pleasure of getting to know him and becoming friends over the past year. We talk on the phone every few weeks and I always love catching up. I had a pretty good idea of where I would get drafted and was happy when I heard the Twins call my name. TD: After signing, you got a few innings in rookie ball, but fought injuries throughout the college season and into the pro level. How frustrating were the injuries when you were starting your career, and where are you at physically at this time? LB: Frustrating would be an understatement. Nothing is worse than having to watch from the bench. As a result, I have been doing everything I can this offseason to get back to my old self. It's a long process but my arm has felt great this offseason. I am really looking forward to getting back on the mound in 2013. TD: How has your offseason been, and when do you start your preparations for the 2013 season? How will that routine differ from your college workout routine, if at all? LB: I've been preparing myself for the 2013 season since I left instructs in October. I have been up to Massachusetts twice this offseason to work at Cressey Performance. Eric Cressey trains professional athletes and is years ahead of everyone else in terms of detail in the workouts. Everything we do is pitching specific which will enable me to perform at a high level and stay healthy throughout the 2013 season. TD: Do you have any goals for the 2013 season? Are there certain statistics that you would like to meet, or that you look at while evaluating yourself? LB: I am not a big stat guy because stats are often misleading and out of my control. However, I can control my attitude, work ethic, and mental preparation each day. As long as I take care of those aspects, stats will take care of themselves. Going into my first season of pro ball, my goal to learn as much as I can and do everything I can to get better. TD: I looked and saw that your father spent five years as a catcher in the minor leagues. I assume that he did a lot of catching in the back yard for you and your brothers. Who are some of the people who have helped you get to this point in your career? LB: God has blessed me with a wonderful support system. It was nice having a dad that played at such a high level. My dad coached me growing up and has taught me just about everything I know about baseball. Both my Mom and Dad have always been there for me in baseball and in life. My older brothers always pushed me to be my best growing up and have since always been encouraging and motivating. Last but not least, my fiancé has been at just about every game throughout high school and college. It is comforting to know that she and my family are always there for me no matter what. TD: How would you describe yourself as a pitcher? If you were a scout, what would the report be? LB: Tough question but I hope that scouts say I am a fearless competitor no matter what the situation. I want to be the player and teammate that always finds a way to help my team win. TD: Favorite baseball movie? LB: Sandlot. I used to tell people my name was Benny the Jet and rock the PF Flyers in elementary school. Thank you to Luke! Luke mentioned Jack Powell, the Twins scout that signed him. In the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook 2013, Jeremy Nygaard had the opportunity to interview him and got lots of thoughts on Bard, Byron Buxton, Niko Goodrum and other Twins minor leaguers that he scouted. Powell was also in the movie Thrown for a Curve. Best of luck to Luke Bard in the 2013 season. Hopefully it’ll be a season with 100% health and plenty of success!!

The Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook 2013 is now available for $13.99. To high-level summarize, the handbook contains 191 pages of content on the Twins minor league system. You may be asking yourself, “How could one book possibly contain 191 pages on one team’s minor league system?” I’ve asked myself that question, wondering if it’s too much. Hopefully below I’ll be able to show that there is a lot of value. Taking a step back though, I have to say that it is shocking to me that this is my fifth Twins Prospect Handbook. The first cover was plain white text on a red cover. Since then, the past four covers have had players on the covers. The first book had about 81 pages. We’ve clearly increased the output since then. Most important, however, in that first book the player profiles basically talked about when the player was drafted and/or signed and a few statistics. The content has increased because we talk about the players’ history before coming to the Twins, and we talk about statistics and some more advanced statistics (but without being overwhelming). However, we have been able to gain enough contacts to get very good scouting reports on players. In other words, there is more content, and it is significantly better. [ATTACH=CONFIG]3048[/ATTACH] Let’s talk about the profiles. I did something a little bit different this year. In year’s past, I put all of the players together, in alphabetical order. This year, it’s still in alphabetical order, but I did separate the pitchers and the hitters. There are about 85 pitcher profiles and 68 hitter profiles. That is a lot of profiles, and I need to thank and recognize Jeremy Nygaard and Cody Christie. As you at Twins Daily know, these two are very talented writers who have a passion for the Twins and for the minor leagues. I was honored that they were willing to help me out. They both put in a lot of time and now realize the work that it takes to put into each profile in research and writing. To be completely honest, due to life and such, without the help of those two, this year’s Prospect Handbook would not happen. So please, be sure to follow both of them on Twitter (Jeremy and Cody) and thank them. In addition to their profiles, they each wrote a couple of articles as well. Cody wrote an article looking back at the rookies who played for the Twins in 2012. How did they do and what is their future? He also wrote an article on the rise of Tom Brunansky, as well as other coaches/managers in the Twins farm system that are prospects themselves. Jeremy has an article looking back at the Twins 2012 draft. He also wrote an article looking at who some of the options might be when the Twins draft 4th overall in the 2013 draft. Finally, Jeremy was able to secure an interview with Jack Powell. Powell is a Twins scout, and they had a great discussion about the job, and several of the Twins recent draft picks. Jeremy also asked him about being a movie star!! In addition to Cody and Jeremy, a couple of other Twins bloggers were gracious enough to write an article for the book. Jim Crikket (Knuckleballsblog) is a long-time Twins fan and a Cedar Rapids native who has been going to Cedar Rapids Kernels for many, many years. He wrote a very nice article on the history of the Kernels and about the stadium and the atmosphere there. Also, Paul Pleiss (Puckett’s Pond and the Talk to Contact podcast) wrote a fun article talking about a baseball trip that included major league games and a bunch of minor league games. He did a nice job of illustrating why it is so much fun to attend minor league games. I wrote articles on my choices for Twins minor league hitter of the year (Oswaldo Arcia), starting pitcher of the year (BJ Hermsen) and relief pitcher of the year (AJ Achter). Achter and Hermsen provided some quotes to discuss their seasons, their sports histories (both were stars at their high schools in multiple sports) and what they are looking forward to in 2013. I did send questions to Arcia, but he is obviously busy bashing pitching in the Venezuelan Winter League playoffs (Where he has hit three home runs already), so I didn’t get quotes from him. However, I got some great quotes from his teammates about his value as a teammate and obviously as a monstrous hitter. If you are into autographs, specifically if you are going to Twins Fest of Spring Training in Ft. Myers, then the Prospect Handbook is a must-have. Of the five players on the cover of the book, four of them will be at Twins Fest. 17 players profiled in the handbook will be at Twins Fest. As I’ve mentioned before, the cover was put together by Josh Johnson, who also did last year. There are several photos on the covers but also throughout the book. New Britain photos were taken by Heather Cavalier, via the Rock Cats. Ft. Myers photos were taken by Greg Wagner, via the Miracle. The Byron Buxton photos were taken by Janet Carter Patton. Finally, a huge thank you to Justin Rinaldi and Rinaldi Photos. Justin has provided pictures of Snappers players the last few years. The Twins have been brutal the last two years, and as the roster sits right now, they could lose 95+ games again in 2013. That means that there are a lot of minor leaguers who could get the opportunity with the Twins during the season. You know a bit about Kyle Gibson, Oswaldo Arcia and Aaron Hicks, but do you know much about Caleb Thielbar, Michael Tonkin, Andrew Albers and Chris Herrmann? The book includes the newest Twins minor leagues like Alex Meyer, Trevor May, Ryan Pressly and Mark Sobolewski. Think any of them will be mentioned from time to time? The beauty of the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook is that you can keep it by your coffee table. When Dick Bremer talks about a minor leaguer, or you want to find out what pitchers could come up to the Twins, just grab the book and do a little research. Find out which players are playing well in AA or AAA, get to know about them, and then impress your friends with how much you know. The Twins have not gone the free agency market this offseason, at least not with any players who will hold back any top prospects, so we will likely see several more players come up to the Twins. $13.99 for 191 pages of Twins minor league content seems fair enough. I really want it to be available for people to bring to Twins Fest. If you would like to have some copies before Twins Fest, you will really want to get them ordered within the next 24-48 hours. Get your copy of the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook 2013 today! (Note – E-Books will be coming in the near future. I wanted to get paperback books available.) IF you have any questions, please feel free to let me know.

31 years ago today, January 12, 1981, the Twins made a decision that altered the history of the organization. On that date, the Twins used the third overall pick in the January portion of the MLB Draft. As you know, in June, players out of high school, junior college and those having finished three years at a four-year college are selected. However, from 1965 through 1986, there was also a draft in January for high school and college players who graduated in the Winter. Kirby Puckett fit into that category. I assume many know the history of Kirby Puckett. He's a Hall of Famer and one of the greatest players in Minnesota Twins history. His legend grew as the leader of the 1987 and 1991 World Series championship teams. For someone in my age group, we know all about the Kirby Puckett story. However, consider that he has been retired since spring training of 1996. Anyone born after September 28, 1995, was not born while he was still playing. That means that no one under the age of around 23 or 24 would have memories of watching him during his playing career. Puckett was born and raised in the projects on the South Side of Chicago, some of the roughest neighborhoods in the country. Following his high school playing days, he didn't receive any scholarship offers. He went to work on the assembly line at a Ford Motors plant. He was given an opportunity to play at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, but after one year, he went to Triton Community College. That's where the Jim Rantz legend was born. Rantz went to Triton one day to watch his son play, but in the process, he got to see Kirby Puckett play. He was so impressed that he recommended the Twins continue to send scouts to watch him. Then 31 years ago today, they used the third overall pick to to select the outfielder. [ATTACH=CONFIG]3045[/ATTACH] As a 22-year-old, he went to Elizabethton where he hit .382/.438/.491 with 15 doubles, three triples, three home runs and 35 RBI. It may surprise some, but he also stole 43 bases (in 47 attempts) during the short-season. In 1983, he moved up to Visalia where he hit .314/.366/.442 with 29 doubles, seven triples, nine home runs and 97 RBI. He stole 48 bases in 59 attempts. Let me make a brief sidenote here. Puckett was putting up monstrous numbers in A-Ball, but he was already 23 years old, so I imagine had prospect rankings ben done by more at that time, he may have been dropped a few spots because he was "too old for the level." (of course, it did come out shortly after his playing career that he was born on March 14, 1960. He had been listed as being born March 14, 1961, throughout his career, although he never hid that information from the Twins.) In 1984, he jumped all the way up to AAA Toledo. 21 games into the season, he was hitting just .263/.294/.325 with two doubles and a home run. He was also 8 for 10 in stolen base attempts. The Twins were tired of their centerfield situation that included the likes of Bobby Mitchell and Darrell Brown, and they decided to promote Puckett. On May 8, Puckett debuted with four hits against the Angels. During his 12-year career, he played in 10 All Star games and won six Gold Glove awards and six Silver Slugger Awards. He finished in the Top 3 in MVP voting three times. He won the batting title when he his .339 in 1989, but the year before, he hit .356 and finished second to Wade Boggs (.366). Overall, he hit .318/.360/.477 with 414 doubles, 57 triples, 207 home runs, 1,085 RBI and 1,071 runs scored. He also stole 134 bases. Obviously his career ended way too short when, in the spring of 1996, he was diagnosed with glaucoma and could never play again. He became a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2001. In 2002, a lot of information came out that destroyed the great guy persona that Puckett had throughout his playing career. There's no getting around that or excusing that, but those of us who were eight years old when Puckett debuted and remember all the great catches, the home runs, the All Star games, the World Series titles, choose (right or wrong) to remember those things and what Kirby Puckett meant to fans around the Upper Midwest. Puckett had a massive stroke in March of 2006 and passed away the following day. If I'm being honest, I had to leave work, 31 years ago today, the Twins drafted Kirby Puckett. He became the Minnesota Twins to so many. I wish I could have met him.

Ummm... Brent Gates and Terry Tiffee were both better than Hughes... But I do agree that neither of those guys are really competition for Plouffe other than as bodies who will also take ground balls. (and Hughes is better than Romero or Sobolewski, for what that's worth!) Nice write up, Jeremy!

Following in John’s footsteps, I thought the For Better or Worse series might be fun to bring to a couple of the minor leaguers. Today, we’ll take a look at Twins top prospect Miguel Sano. I’ll take a look at his 2012 season, give a few reasons why he could be better in 2013 and a few reasons why he could be worse in 2013. And then at the end of the article, you’ll be asked, “What do you think? Will he be better, or will he be worse?” 2012 Recap Coming off of a 20 home run season in 2011 in short-season Elizabethton, Sano was one of the youngest players in the Midwest League in 2012. He began the season as an 18-year-old. He led the league in walks and strikeouts, but he also led the league in home runs. He came into the season as the Twins top prospect, and Baseball America ranked him as the 18th best prospect in baseball. He did nothing to lessen his prospect status on the field. In 129 games, he hit .258/.373/.521 (.893) with 28 doubles, four triples, 28 home runs and 100 RBI. He made the transition from third base to shortstop full time. He played 125 games at third base and committed 42 errors. His fielding percentage was just .884. He was the #1 overall pick in the Dominican Winter League. Although he has not played a lot for Estrellas de Orientes. Although his playing time has been somewhat sporadic, he has had 49 at bats in 20 games. He hit .265/.373/.571 (.944) with three doubles and four home runs. [ATTACH=CONFIG]3030[/ATTACH] Why He’ll Be Worse First and foremost, he will be moving up a level to play in Ft. Myers. The Florida State League is more advanced than the Midwest League. He will again be one, if not the, youngest players in the league. Although he has the world of potential, he did strikeout 144 times, or ever 26.0% of his plate appearances. He has tremendous power, but the ball parks in the Florida State League are bigger than in the Midwest League as well. Why He’ll Be Better In reality, if Sano puts up the same numbers in a more advanced league, that is like an improvement. Sano is an incredible athlete. He’s about 6-3 and assumed to be around 245 pounds. He is like a shorter version of Lebron James. He has tremendous power to all fields. He may hit a few less home runs, but he also could hit a bunch of doubles. Although his strikeout rate is high, observers noted that he seemed to have much better control of the strike zone in 2012 than in 2011. He will need to continue to lay off tough pitches. However, Sano also walked 14.5% of the time in 2012 and had an Isolated Discipline of .115. That said, having Kennys Vargas hitting behind him all season should allow him to see a few more pitches. Sano is huge and powerful, but he is quite fast and runs the bases very well. Defensively, Sano had a lot of errors, but he was much improved in the second half. After posting 30 errors in the season’s first half, he had just 12 in the second half. Having seen him play in early June and then again in early August, he looked so much better at the hot corner, much more relaxed, and ready before each pitch. If he would stop growing, he could take big strides with the glove on the immaculate fields in the Florida State League. So, which will it be? Will Miguel Sano get better or worse in 2013? Let us know what you think. Something to Consider In 2002, Joe Mauer spent the entire season in the Midwest League (for Quad Cities). He turned 19 in mid-April. In 2012, Miguel Sano spent the entire season in the Midwest League (for Beloit). He turned 19 in mid-May. In 2003, Joe Mauer spent the first half of the season in the Florida State League for Ft. Myers. He then spent the second half in New Britain. The Twins traded AJ Pierzynski following the season so that Joe Mauer could be their Opening Day starting catcher in 2004, at the age of 20. Is it possible, in your mind, that Miguel Sano could be on the same path? If he starts the season in Ft. Myers and plays in New Britain in the second half, could he be the Twins Opening Day starting third baseman in 2014, at the age of 20?

The following data will be included in the upcoming Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook 2013. Check back later this week for details on how you can get a copy. One of the many ways to look at and find meaning in minor league statistics is to compare them to the league average. It’s just one piece to the prospect puzzle. Below you will find league average numbers, but consider the age of individuals on a team. For instance, the average age of a hitter in the Midwest League was 21.6. Then realize that Miguel Sano, who put up numbers well above league average, turned 19 years old a month into the 2012 season. The other side is someone like catcher Matt Koch who was 23 ½ years old when the season started. [ATTACH=CONFIG]3020[/ATTACH] Below you will find the league averages for each of the leagues the Twins have an affiliate along with the Twins affiliates. This is shown for both hitters and pitchers. I’ll give some thoughts after each grouping but certainly welcome your additional comments, feedback and questions. For hitters, I’ll show, average age, BA/OBP/SLG (OPS). For pitchers, I’ll show, average age, ERA, WHIP. ROCHESTER RED WINGS • Int’l Hitters – 27.3, .257/.328/.389 (.717) • ROCH Hitters – 27.1, .251/.315/.377 (.692) • Int’l Pitchers – 27.1, 3.92 ERA, 1.36 WHIP • ROCH Pitchers – 26.1, 4.43 ERA, 1.38 WHIP AAA is always an interesting league when it comes to ages. For instance, the Red Wings had 24-year-olds like Joe Benson, Chris Parmelee and Brian Dozier on their roster, but they also had 32-year-old Matt Carson. The Red Wings pitchers youth compared to league average was likely brought down by 23-year-olds Liam Hendriks and Deolis Guerra. NEW BRITAIN ROCK CATS • Eastern Hitters – 24.5, .260/.330/.392 (.723) • Rock Cats Hitters – 24.6, .262/.333/.395 (.728) • Eastern Pitchers – 24.7, 3.92 ERA, 1.35 WHIP • Rock Cats Pitchers – 24.6, 4.00 ERA, 1.36 WHIP As you can see, the Rock Cats ages were pretty much equal to the Eastern League average. Their performance was also right around league average as well. 28-year-old Chris Colabello’s age was evened out by some other key players on the Rock Cats roster. 22-year-old Aaron Hicks filled the stat line very well and was a terrific leadoff hitter. Minor League Hitter of the Year Oswaldo Arcia turned 21 years old just before he came up to the Rock Cats. Minor League Pitcher of the Year BJ Hermsen was 22 years old all season. FT. MYERS MIRACLE • FSL Hitters – 22.7, .255/.326/.373 (.699) • FM Hitters – 22.5, .250/.329/.371 (.700) • FSL Pitchers – 22.9, 3.86 ERA, 1.34 WHIP • FM Pitchers – 23.1, 4.23 ERA, 1.43 WHIP As you can see, the Ft. Myers hitters performed at league average. So why were the Miracle so bad? Well, their pitchers were much worse than league average. Also, as you can see, if Arcia or Hermsen has spent the full seasons at Ft. Myers, they still would have been younger than league average and yet they were both terrific at AA. The same can be said for Danny Santana who had a breakout season in 2012. And as much as Levi Michael struggled, he would still be younger than league average in 2013 if he stayed with the Miracle. BELOIT SNAPPERS • MWL Hitters – 21.6, .254/.326/.379 (.705) • Beloit Hitters – 22.0, .260/.349/.395 (.736) • MWL Pitchers – 21.9, 3.87 ERA, 1.33 WHIP • Beloit Pitchers – 22.1, 3.58 ERA, 1.30 WHIP It surprised me that the Beloit hitters were older than league average because of how young Miguel Sano is compared to league average. Eddie Rosario also did not turn 21 until after the season completed. People often wonder why I don’t have Nate Roberts ranked higher on my Twins prospect lists. He had turned 23 years old before spring training started. For him to be about league average age, he will need to skip Ft. Myers and go right to New Britain, which may be possible. Why were the Snappers so good in 2012? Well, the offense was well better than average, and their pitching was very good compared to league average. Starters like Jason Wheeler, Matt Tomshaw, David Hurlbut, and Cole Johnson were all 2011 draft picks, pitching in their first full season, but pitching very well. ELIZABETHTON TWINS • Appy Hitters – 20.2, .254/.329/.382 (.711) • E-Town Hitters – 20.1, .279/.360/.449 (.809) • Appy Pitchers – 20.6, 4.15 ERA, 1.36 WHIP • E-Town Pitchers – 20.5, 3.14 ERA, 1.23 WHIP One thing we hear all the time is that Elizabethton is always so good because their players are kept there too long. Well, based on 2012 data, the E-Twins hitters and pitchers were just slightly younger than league average. Sure, the college pitchers just drafted were about 21, but a lot of the other players, international signings such as Max Kepler or Jorge Polanco or high school picks from previous years. At the end of the day, the E-Twins are not older than other teams in the league. That said, look at the discrepancy in performance. Hitters had nearly a .100 point OPS better than league average. Pitchers’ ERA was a full run less than league average. Another tremendous job by manager Ray Smith and hitting coach Jeff Reed. GCL TWINS • GCL Hitters – 19.6, .242/.318/.338 (.656) • GCL Twins Hitters – 20.1, .239/.310/.338 (.647) • GCL Pitchers – 20.1, 3.43 ERA, 1.26 WHIP • GCL Twins Pitchers – 19.6, 2.75 ERA, 1.18 WHIP The Twins GCL hitters were a little older than average while the pitchers were a little bit younger. The pitchers did very well relative to league average while the hitters were just shy of league average. Again, this is one of many tools that I use to help develop prospect rankings. Does a player who is a little older than league average not have a chance to become a quality big leaguer? Of course he can. Is a player who is playing way above where his age would indicate he should be automatically going to be a solid big league performer? Of course not. Each player needs to be evaluated individually and based on his own merits. This information is just a good tool to understand where the player is age-wise relative to where he is playing.

I am a big fan of Anthony Slama and I want him to get a shot, but I think that Thielbar has the best chance of being successful in the big leagues than Slama. And Pressly certainly has more upside. Slama's topping out at about 87 right now. Thielbar has been compared to me by people who have seen him to Glen Perkins out of the bullpen.

By definition for my prospect lists, yes. Will he be in my Top 50? Probably not.

Achter out of the bullpen is actually rather intriguing. He throws in the mid-90s now and has a very good second pitch. My definition of "Prospect" is anyone who is eligible to be rookie of the year. So, by that definition, Colabello is a prospect in my mind, that maybe not in the top 50.

Welcome to 2013!!! As we start getting excited about the Twins and their minor league 2013 seasons, we have a 12 Questions interview with the player that could arguably called the best story in the Twins farm system in 2012. When I asked for who readers would like to see an interview with, the name Chris Colabello came up frequently. After not getting drafted and then spending seven seasons playing in an independent league, the Twins gave him a chance to play some first base in AA in 2012, and he responded very well. In 134 games for New Britain, he hit .284/.358/.478 (.836) with 37 doubles, 19 home runs and 98 RBI while being touted as a terrific defensive first baseman. Following the season, he went to play winter ball in Mexico and put on a show. In 57 games, he hit .332/.399/.644 (1.043) with 13 doubles, 17 home runs and 44 RBI. His efforts were certainly noticed by the Twins as he was extended an invitation to big league spring training. Before the holidays, Colabello returned from Mexico, and last week, he was willing to take the time to answer 12 Questions for us. I have been doing Q&As with Twins players for a half-dozen years, and in all honestly, this one is one of my favorites. I think you will enjoy it too. Feel free to comment or ask questions in the Comments. [ATTACH=CONFIG]2972[/ATTACH] 12 QUESTIONS WITH… Chris Colabello Twins Daily (TD): Growing up in Framingham, Massachusetts, should we pretty easily assume who your favorite team was? Who were some of your favorite players? Chris Colabello (CC): As a kid I definitely liked the Red Sox, but I think more than anything else I was a fan of the game. I really loved the Mariners because I got to watch Ken Griffey Jr. bring a whole new type of youthful energy to the game. In '95 watching them beat the Yankees and seeing him have such a huge impact on the series made me really understand how special he was. I also had a huge amount of respect for Cal Ripken because of his ability to go out and compete each and every day for so many years. [ATTACH=CONFIG]2975[/ATTACH]TD: Tell us about your high school career (baseball and/or other extra-curriculars). CC: Playing baseball at Milford High School, and getting to play Milford Legion baseball was a special thing in Massachusetts. The town has a very rich baseball tradition and I was just thankful to be a part of such good teams and a deep rooted passion for the game. I was a year ahead school-wise, because I started school in Italy when I was little, so physically, I think I was behind a lot of the kids I was playing with and against. It definitely helped me mature a whole lot quicker. I don't think I really got myself on the map until my second year of legion baseball after my senior season when my team went all the way to the American Legion World Series and really came into my own as a hitter. TD: Tell us about your collegiate days at Division II Assumption College. (Coaches, highlights, I believe it was near your hometown, etc) CC: At Assumption, I was blessed with the opportunity to go in and be an everyday player right away, and also to play very close to my family. My first year I was definitely impressed with how many good players there were at the Division II level and it took some time to get adjusted to the level of competition. My sophomore year, our conference went to wooden bats which I think helped me grow as a hitter. My junior year I got the opportunity to play in the New England All Star game at Fenway Park and later that summer in the NECBL with and against guys like Andrew Bailey and Kevin Slowey. TD: Despite an impressive four-year career at Assumption, you went undrafted. Did you think you’d be selected? Had you talked to scouts? CC: After my senior year, I thought I would be drafted, especially after the summer I had the year before in the NECBL. I had heard from a bunch of different teams, but unfortunately, draft day came and went without hearing my name called. TD: You then spent seven seasons playing for the Worcester Tornadoes where you continued to rake each and every year. What kept you playing in the independent league, and were you getting any feelers from affiliated ball any time? CC: Independent baseball taught me a lot about myself. I was blessed to play for Rich Gedman who taught me so much about the game, and most importantly that as long as I had a uniform on, that there was a chance someone would see me. Every year it seemed like there was a team or two who had some interest, but nothing ever came to fruition other than in '06 when I went to camp with the Tigers. I promised myself that as long as I felt like I was having fun playing the game, that it was feasible for me financially, and that I was getting better, I would continue playing. [ATTACH=CONFIG]2973[/ATTACH]TD: When did the Twins talk to you and what was the process of getting signed like for you? It was just a minor league deal and no invite, but that had to be something you were excited about. CC: I first heard from the Twins in January of 2011, when my agent Brian Charles (who was more of just a friend with a kind heart at the time) told me they were interested. After about two weeks I eventually worked out for the John Wilson who I believe covers the Northeast Region, and two days later I was signing a contract. I was ecstatic to be able to get the opportunity to go into camp and compete for a job. TD: How would you compare the Can-Am League to what you saw in AA New Britain in 2012? What were your goals coming into last spring and the season, and in general, how did you feel about the season? CC: I would say that in AA everyone for the most part everyone is on their way up the ranks, and has a tool or set of tools that distinguishes them. In Indy ball you are dealing with a wide variety of players, from guys who have been with an organization as high as AAA or even the big leagues, to guys who are just coming out of college. I would say that in terms of pitching, there are a lot more power arms on every roster, where in Indy ball you might only have one guy like that on every team. Most guys in Indy ball are trying to reinvent themselves, come back from an injury, or have somebody notice them, in hopes of getting another opportunity. In terms of how my season went, I would say there was definitely a learning curve in adjusting to affiliated baseball. My first two months had a lot of ups and downs, but I think that was part of the process of adjusting and forgetting about trying to impress people each and every day. Once we got into June, I think I started feeling comfortable in my own skin and became much more consistent, the more I trusted in myself. My biggest goal going into every season is to be able to make adjustments and be in the moment to the best of my ability. I think even though that took some time, I was able to do that, and it turned out to be a pretty good year. That being said, I still think there is a lot of room to improve in terms of putting together a complete season from start to finish. TD: You’ve been one of the best hitters in the Mexican League this winter. Have you played winter ball in previous offseasons, and what does playing winter ball do for you as a player? CC: Winter ball has been a great experience. This was my first time playing during the off-season, and I think there has been a lot more growing and maturing that has happened here as well. Anytime you go to a new place, there is pressure to be successful and to try and impress people around you, and this winter has been the same. I think the transition happened a lot quicker down here. You are competing against guys that are anywhere from up and coming prospects to guys that have been playing for 15 to 20 years, so I guess in that regard it's a lot like Independent ball. There are certainly a lot of talented players in the winter leagues, and I think the experience will continue to help me improve. TD: The Twins invited you to big league spring training. The invite alone has to be amazing, but what are you most looking forward to in spring training? (Side question: Are you playing for Italy in the WBC?) CC: I am definitely honored and grateful that the Twins have invited me to camp. I can't thank the Twins enough for just signing me in the first place, but to get an invite to camp this year is truly an honor. There are so many things I am looking forward to that I don't even know where to start, but I guess the biggest thing is the opportunity to go out and compete with guys that have been playing at the highest level, and watch the way they go about their business. In terms of the WBC, I think that would be a tremendous experience but my first priority is to the Twins. If the Italian team asks me to be on their final roster, I will discuss it with the powers that be, and do whatever they think is best. TD: Looking to 2013, what are some of your goals? Are there certain statistics or numbers that you look at the judge yourself? CC: As I said before, I think going into the year, my biggest goal is to be able to adjust and be in the moment to the best of my ability. Hitting is so much more about process than it is about results. If you can make a commitment to taking care of the process, the results will take care of themselves. Having had the experience now of 2012, I want to be able to go out every day, continue to work hard, and be as consistent as possible. If I can do that day in and day out, I think the numbers will end up pretty close to where they should be. [ATTACH=CONFIG]2974[/ATTACH] TD: I played in college (D3) with Chris Coste, who went on to become The 33-year-old rookie and played with the Phillies when they won the World Series. What would it mean for you to get a big league call-up? CC: My dream for as long as I can remember has been to play in the Major Leagues. As long as I have had a uniform on, that is the one constant that has driven me each and every day. Watching guys like Chris Coste, and John Lindsey (who I got to play against in the Can-Am League, and down here in Mexico) realize that dream, has been added inspiration throughout the journey. John and I had lunch together a few weeks ago, and told me that we were part of a fraternity. To be able to represent myself, my family, the Twins, and the guys who have taken that route to the Major Leagues would truly be an honor. TD: Who are some of the people who have helped you get to this point in your career as a baseball player? CC: First and foremost, my dad. He has been there through everything with me in my life, not only as a player, but as a person. He has helped mold me into the man I am today. Rich Gedman, is right up there in that category and has become like family to me. He has taught me so much about the game and about myself that I can't even begin to describe how much of an impact he has had on me. Lastly, my good friend Bobby Tewksbary who played independent baseball with me for a couple years and now owns an indoor facility up in Nashua, NH. I can't tell you how many late nights we have spent together talking about the game and being accountable for your swing, and how many buckets of flips and BP he has thrown me. TD: How would you describe yourself as a hitter? If you were a scout, what would the report be? CC: That's a pretty tough question to answer without sounding too conceited... haha. I guess first and foremost, since I was a kid, I have always wanted to be viewed as a complete hitter. From when I was very little, I was very aware of what it meant to hit .300, so I think that played a big part in me wanting to be a guy who was a threat to do that every year. I also wanted to be able to do that, without sacrificing the ability to drive the ball gap to gap, and drive the ball out of the park. I guess my biggest strengths would be my ability to drive the ball from gap to gap, and handle the bat with two strikes. TD: Favorite baseball movie? CC: I guess I would say either Bull Durham or The Rookie. Mainly I think because I can relate to both characters in terms of how my baseball career has progressed Thank you Chris for the time you took to respond to our questions! Best wishes in the New Year, and at big league camp and whatever the 2013 season brings you!

Happy New Year’s Eve, Twins Daily!! Hopefully you have enjoyed our first year at Twins Daily and that we can continue to make strides and improve our Twins coverage. Your feedback is always welcome. Enjoy your New Year’s Eve, but don’t forget to be safe! Today, we are bringing you another 12 Questions interview. Austin Malinowski was the Twins 16th round pick in 2011 after he was named the Minnesota High School Player of the Year. He played for Centennial High School in Circle Pines, MN, and had committed to play for the University of Arizona. On the final day he could, he reached an agreement and signed with the Twins. [ATTACH=CONFIG]2960[/ATTACH] Too late to play in 2011, his debut came in 2012 with the Gulf Coast League Twins. They lefty pitched well. He went 3-2 with a 2.27 ERA. In 31.2 innings, he gave up 35 hits, walked 11 and struckout 32 batters. He made six starts and came out of the bullpen five times, but he is definitely viewed as a starting pitcher. He just turned 19 one month ago and is certainly one to watch as he develops and moves up the farm system. Recently, Malinowski took the time to answer some questions for Twins Daily. Enjoy, and please feel free to ask questions in the comments below. 12 QUESTIONS WITH… Austin Malinowski Twins Daily (TD): Growing up in Minnesota, should we pretty easily assume who your favorite team was? Who were some of your favorite players? Austin Malinowski (AM): Of course my favorite team was the Twins. But some of my favorite Twins were Johan and Torii Hunter. TD: Tell us about your high school career (baseball and/or other extra-curriculars). AM: In high school, I played 3 sports (football, basketball and baseball). Other than that I didn't have much time for anything else because I also played legion ball for 3 summers. [ATTACH=CONFIG]2961[/ATTACH] TD: The Twins drafted you in the 16th round in 2011. You had committed to Arizona, but signed with the Twins. How difficult was that decision to sign with the hometown team rather than play at a southern college program? How many times did you change your mind? AM: I still think about my decision to sign sometimes. They have a great program, and I always wanted to go to a big time school. When they won the national championship last year, I knew I could have played a big role on that team, but I'm in the position they want to be in already. Signing was the right choice. TD: What were you hearing before the draft? Were you expecting to go around where you did, and did you have much communication with Twins scouts before that? AM: Honestly, I was hearing I would actually go in the top ten rounds. So when I dropped to the 16th, it was a little surprising. But I did a Twins showcase and they attended quite a few of my games before the draft so I knew they were looking at me. TD: After signing, your first real experience came on the Instructional League in Ft. Myers. What did you learn right away that fall? AM: I learned that pro ball was much more difficult than anything I had done before. I struggled for the first time in a long time so I learned how to pitch rather then throw like I did before. TD: You pitched in the GCL in 2012. How would you describe your adjustment to pro baseball and what did you learn from that first season? AM: The pro season is so long. I think that is the biggest difference and challenge for me. Staying healthy and consistent over a long season is tough. I had to grow up quickly mentally because if I didn't pro ball wouldn't be too kind. I just had to mature on the field. TD: I assume you’ll be at Twins Fest signing autographs again this year. Had you been to Twins Fest previously, and what was your impression of that event as a member of the Twins organization? AM: Yes, I will be at Twins Fest. I was invited there last year, and I thought it was really cool. So many Twins fans are supporters of the young minor leaguers as well as the big league stars. Great fans. TD: I believe you came back to Minnesota for the offseason. As you begin to workout and throw in preparation for the 2013 season, what is your routine? AM: Well starting after the New Year, I’ll be throwing every day at Augsburg. I’ll wake up early, drive down there, and get my throwing and some conditioning done. Drive back home and work out at the YMCA near me. Go home, eat lunch, and relax. TD: Looking to 2013, what are some of your goals? Are there certain statistics or numbers that you look at the judge yourself? AM: Some of my goals are to improve my mental toughness every day. This will help everything else. But I would like to at least play for E-Town. I would love to finish the year in Cedar Rapids. Two biggest stats for me are WHIP and ERA so it's important I keep those two low. That will help the team I'm on and obviously help me make a name for myself. TD: Who are some of the people who have helped you get to this point in your career as a baseball player? AM: First of all, my dad was the one who helped me get started playing and my high school coach Lynn Buehner and my legion coach Rollie Goertzen was a huge influence on me. But during my pro career, Eric Rasmussen and Henry Bonilla have helped me improve a lot. TD: How would you describe yourself as a pitcher? If you were a scout, what would the report be? AM: I'm a pitcher who doesn't want to get beat throwing off-speed stuff. I have a good 2-seam fastball that moves a lot. My slider and changeup are good out pitches but can be inconsistent. 3/4 arm slot. I just like to challenge guys and try to get quick outs. Thank you to Austin! We definitely appreciate the time he spent to respond. As I said above, he is certainly a prospect worth watching the next couple of years as he develops.

Grimes was moved to Catcher during Instructs. Duffey was unbelievable, and we'll see how things go going forward. HE was a 5th round pick. Chargois was a 2nd round pick. He was also hurt, so we didn't see what he could be. Can't really make anything from College pitchers dominating in E-Town. But I do like all those arms that the Twins drafted in 2012!