Seth Stohs

Minier's numbers were incredible, but usually I'm looking for 80+ at bats for the month which would be about 3 per game for the team. In the GCL, a lot of times play is more evenly split. It's hard to rank the performance of a guy in 62 at bats versus 105. I also acknowledge that I have a thing for doubles in the minor leagues. Doubles generally mean the guy is making real solid contact and hitting gaps. With experience, gappers could become homers. We shall see. I'm comfortable with my rankings, but the purpose of these are to recognize the good performances and to discuss players.

Shane, It's player of the month. it's not a prospect ranking.

I'm guessing this is a bit trolling, but why would they want to call up a top prospect to play part time, or to play multiple positions... makes so much more sense for him to play every day, in AA where he didn't dominate, at the position they hope he can take over in two years?

Polanco is probably a Top 6 Twins prospect, but that doesn't equate to September call-up. He struggled (as one would expect) in the jump to AA. he's had a very good, encouraging season. They need to evaluate Santana at SS already and that's not really happening. They need to evaluate Hicks at all three OF spots. Dozier and Plouffe will still play nearly every day, and Escobar has had a pretty solid season as well and they can evaluate further if he can be an every day SS or utility guy. Most of the other guys called up will be depth.

As of Monday, minor league baseball is done for the 2014 regular season. Twins Daily will have a ton of minor league content throughout the offseason. Over the next few days, I’ll be posting the August award winners. Today, I’ll post the top hitters for the month before discussing the top starting pitchers and relievers in August. Next week, we’ll start discussing choices for the minor league players of the year. In between, we’ll also continue reporting on the Twins affiliates in the playoffs. Rochester just missed, but ended with a very good season. The New Britain Rock Cats finished above .500. The Ft. Myers Miracle and Cedar Rapids Kernels will begin their playoff runs in the next couple of days. Elizabethton is already playing a must-win playoff game. Check out the minor league report to see what’s going on. However, let’s get back to the topic at hand. Here are August’s top hitters in the Twins minor leagues, starting with some honorable mentions:THE HITTERS Honorable Mention: Rochester Chris Herrmann 25-84 (.298/.359/.512 – .871), 7-2B, 1-3B, 3-HR, 11-RBIRochester Josmil Pinto 33-108 (.306/.367/.444 - .811) 10-2B, 1-3B, 1-HR, 16-RBIRochester Danny Ortiz 23-76 (.324/.355/.493 - .848) 6-2B, 0-3B, 2-HR, 9-RBINew Britain Levi Michael 26-84 (.310/.408/.345 – .753), 0-2B, 0-3B, 1-HR, 6 RBIFt. Myers Stuart Turner 19-70 (.271/.346/.457 - .803), 5-2B, 1-3B, 2-HR, 11-RBIET/CR Jonatan Hinojosa 33-103 (.320/.358/.447 - .804), 2-2B, 4-3B, 1-HR, 15-RBICedar Rapids Tanner Vavra 17-56 (.304/.409/.375 – .784), 4-2B, 0-3B, 0-HR, 6-RBIGCL Twins Rainis Silva 20-58 (.345/.391/.466 - .856), 7-2B, 0-3B, 0-HR, 11-RBI#5 – GCL Twins – Amaurys Minier, 20-62 (.323/.475/.645 – 1.120), 4-2B, 2-3B, 4-HR, 16 RBI Yes, just 62 at bats, but that 1.120 OPS certainly stands out among the candidates. Minier was the big international signing in 2012 when the Twins inked him for $1.4 million. He spent 2013 in the GCL and after having shoulder surgery and switching positions, he returned to the GCL in 2014. The 18-year-old has tremendous power from both sides of the plate. This season, he has posted a .900 OPS from both sides of the plate. He will likely start the 2015 season in extended spring training, but there is some chance he could get to Cedar Rapids at some point in the season. #4 – Cedar Rapids – Mitch Garver, 28-91 (.308/.442/.440 – .882), 9-2B, 0-3B, 1-HR, 13-RBI Garver has had a very strong season, certainly among the best in the organization. He has also been quite consistent throughout the year. He has hit for average, shown an ability to get on base and hit for a lot of power. The 23-year-old was the Twins 9th round pick just a year ago. He should move up to Ft. Myers next year and hopefully get a chance to jump up to New Britain at some point. #3 – Ft. Myers – Max Kepler 33-105 (.314/.357/.495 – .852), 9-2B, 2-3B, 2-HR, 16-RBI It’s been another frustrating season for Kepler. He missed a lot of time early in the year due to various injuries, and he did struggle when he did play. He’s now putting up some very solid numbers for the Miracle, including 31 extra- base hits in a pitchers league. He has certainly hit the ball with much more authority of late. The 21-year-old is on the 40-man roster and could spend another half-season with the Miracle. That said, his second half may put him in position to advance to New Britain right away. #2 – Ft. Myers – Adam Walker 30-102 (.294/.374/.490 – .864), 6-2B, 1-3B, 4-HR, 18-RBI Walker put together another strong month in August. He hit for average, had a very solid walk rate, and continued to mash the ball and drive in runs. He was the Twins 3rd round pick in 2012 out of Jacksonville. He has been a powerful run-producer wherever he has played. He has made some good strides in 2014. His power is legit. He’s still got work to do, but still just 23 years old, the organization can certainly be patient with him. The August Minnesota Twins Minor League Hitter of the Month is... Elizabethton Twins – 1B/LF Trey Vavra (34-100) .340/.417/.470 (.887) with 13-2B, 0-3B, 0-HR, 16 RBI The Twins used their 33rd round pick, the 980th overall, on the versatile Trey Vavra. He had finished his senior season at Florida Southern, a Division II school, where he led the team in hits, doubles, home runs and RBI. His coach there was Lance Niekro, former big leaguer and son of former Twins pitcher Joe Niekro. He had played six different positions in college. Since signing, he has been a doubles machine in Elizabethton. In just 50 games, he knocked twenty two-baggers and drove in 34 runs. The 22-year-old primarily played 1B, but he also played over a dozen games in left field. He had also had the game-winning hit in game one of the Appy League playoffs on Saturday night. Vavra is the son of Twins 3B coach, Joe, and the brother of Cedar Rapids infielder Tanner Vavra. Younger brother Terrin is a high school senior in Wisconsin. There you have it. The top 5 hitters in the Twins system for the month of August. Now feel free to debate. What do you think? Please feel free to discuss. -------- The Twins won on Labor Day in Baltimore, so you can enjoy a large or extra large pizza for 50% off by using the "TWINSWIN" promo code at PapaJohns.com. Click here to view the article

Yup, call up Polanco and let him sit on the bench for the month. Makes sense. Would people even be worrying about Polanco getting a call up if not for the two, two day stints that he got only because he was on the 40 man roster? Don't get me wrong. I think that he could be OK, and it's just a September call-up. That said, lots of other people that the Twins need to evaluate.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10203257883780723&set=vb.1018149691&type=2&theater Did this like a week ago and challenged the TD and VJ guys as well.

Right before Thanksgiving, the Minnesota Twins signed Phil Hughes to a 3 year, $21 million contract. At the time, risk was taken by both sides. Coming off of some disappointing seasons, the Twins took a risk in giving Hughes the money and the years. If he was bad, that could be a rough contract to deal with the next couple of years. Hughes took some security, but he also gave up the situation that he finds himself in right now. Hughes has had a spectacular season and on Sunday won his 15th game. If he had signed a one year deal, he would be a free agent at the end of this season... as a 28-year-old. What kind of contract do you think Phil Hughes would get after this season if he were a free agent? I think that 4-5 years is realistic. I also think he could be in the $12-15 million range. So, anywhere from 4 years, $48 million to 5 years, $75 million... What do you think?

The Minnesota Twins announced that they will promote eight players from AAA Rochester for September. In recent days, we have seen the Twins make some moves to make room on the 40 man roster. Three players were added to the 40 man and called up.The Twins have called up pitchers Logan Darnell, Michael Tonkin, Lester Oliveros and AJ Achter. Catchers Josmil Pinto and Chris Herrmann were also called up. Aaron Hicks was called up, and infielder Doug Bernier will also return to the Twins. Aaron Hicks was demoted to AA earlier in the season. After playing well at AA New Britain, he was called up to AAA Rochester where he played well for a month. He has been playing all three outfield positions. Josmil Pinto started the season as the team's backup catcher and got a lot of playing time at DH when Chris Herrmann was on the roster. He struggled early in Rochester, but has been hitting very well the last six weeks. Michael Tonkin has had a solid, unspectacular season in Rochester, but his fastball/slider makes him a possible back-end of the bullpen option. Chris Herrmann can catch, but he will also get time in the corner outfield positions. Lefty Logan Darnell will likely pitch out of the bullpen through September, a role many believe will be his role long-term. Doug Bernier was recently named the Rochester Red Wings MVP after a strong season in which he played six different positions. He needed to be added to the 40 man roster. Lester Oliveros came to the Twins in the Delmon Young trade. Unfortunately, he had Tommy John surgery in September of 2012 and missed almost all of 2013. He began this year dominating AA New Britain before being promoted to Rochester where he has again been dominant. The feel-good story of the eight promotions is that AJ Achter was called up. The 26-year-old was the Twins 46th round pick in 2010 out of Michigan State. He has put up terrific numbers since being moved to the bullpen two years ago. He played in the Arizona Fall League last year, but he was not added to the 40 man roster. He was the lone Red Wings representative at the AAA All Star game. Though he has struggled the past month, he has had another strong season. It's hard not to notice that the Twins have not called up Chris Colabello and Pedro Florimon. Colabello had a tremendous first month of the season and was AL co-Player of the Month. Florimon was the Twins starting shortstop through 2013 and the first six weeks of 2014. The Red Wings were eliminated from playoff contention with their loss to Pawtucket on Sunday night. Click here to view the article

It all comes down to this, the final two games of the regular season for the Rochester Red Wings. They need to win their next two games against Pawtucket, the league leader. They also need Buffalo to lose one of their final two games against Syracuse. To help that cause, the Twins have promoted top pitching prospect JO Berrios to make the Sunday start for the Red Wings. Elizabethton starts their playoffs on Sunday. But before we get to Sunday, let’s check out what happened in the farm system on Saturday.TRANSACTIONS Sam Deduno was claimed on waivers by the Houston Astros.On Sunday morning, lefty Aaron Thompson was promoted from Rochester to fill Deduno's roster spot.Alex Meyer was placed on the disabled list for Rochester, which is hopefully just procedural so that they can call up JO Berrios from New Britain.RED WINGS REPORTRochester 0, Buffalo 3 Box Score The Season of Scares continued on Saturday when Alex Meyer left the game after the first two batters of the 2nd innings reached base. It was a precaution, and later it was said that he just couldn’t get loose. Hopefully it was only a precaution and not something more serious. Meyer gave up three runs, two earned, on two hits and a walk in one inning. Mark Hamburger came on and threw seven shutout innings. He gave up just two hits, walked one and struck out six. Deolis Guerra pitched a scoreless ninth. The Red Wings were unable to muster much offense. They had just five hits. Eric Farris had two singles, and Chris Colabello added his 13th double. On Sunday night, the Red Wings will play a must-win game against Pawtucket. JO Berrios will make his AAA debut opposite lefty Henry Owens of the PawSox. ROCK CATS REVIEW New Britain 3, New Hampshire 1 Box Score It’s almost hard to remember how much Taylor Rogers struggled through his first four starts of the season with the Rock Cats. However, he has ended the season strong and earned the opportunity to pitch in the Arizona Fall League. On this night, the lefty gave up just one run on three hits over eight innings. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out nine. Dan Turpen got the final three outs, two on strikeouts, for his third save. Rogers improved to 11-6 with a 3.29 ERA. The Rock Cats didn’t get much offense. They had just seven hits. However, five of them came from the two and three hitters. Eddie Rosario went 2-4 with his 20th double and his seventh home run. Nate Hanson hit three doubles and has 26 on the season. MIRACLE MATTERS Game 1 - Ft. Myers 5, Jupiter 0 Box Score Ethan Mildren evened his Miracle record at 3-3 with his strongest start in the Florida State League. The right-hander threw all seven innings and gave up just three hits. He walked none and struck out two. The Miracle managed five runs despite just four hits. They also accumulated five walks. Max Kepler had the key hit with a two-run double, his 18th of the year. Niko Goodrum added his 19th double. Game 2 - Ft. Myers 7, Jupiter 3 Box Score This game went to the seventh inning tied at three, but the Miracle scored four runs in the top of the 7th to take the lead. Bryan Haar went 3-4 with his third double. Dalton Hicks went 2-3. Jairo Rodriguez and Jason Kanzler were both 2-4. Kanzler stole his 11th base in his short time with the Miracle. Travis Harrison doubled for the 33rd time. Many pitchers had the opportunity to throw in this game. Brett Lee started and threw a perfect inning. Then Brandon Peterson came on and struck out four over two scoreless innings. BJ Hermsen gave up two runs on four hits in the fourth . DJ Johnson gave up a run in his inning. Nick Burdi struck out two in his scoreless inning. Zach Jones finished with a scoreless ninth. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 5, Clinton 7 Box Score Stephen Gonsalves had his first rough start in his time with the Kernels. He gave up six runs on six hits, five walks and a hit batter in just 3.2 innings. Josue Montanez gave up one run on one hit over the next 2.1 innings. He struck out four. Brian Gilbert then struck out two in a perfect inning. For the first time since he returned to the Kernels, Jonatan Hinojosa did not get a hit on Friday night. So, on Saturday, he went out and went 3-4. Mitch Garver is ending his spectacular season strong. He also went 3-4 in this game. E-TWINS E-NOTES The E-Twins regular season came to an end on Friday. On Sunday afternoon, the Elizabethton Twins will play Johnson City in the first round of the Appalachian League playoffs. GCL TWINS TAKES The GCL Twins season is complete. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Taylor Rogers, New Britain Rock Cats Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Nate Hanson, New Britain Rock Cats SUNDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Rochester @ Pawtucket (5:05 CST) – JO Berrios New Hampshire @ New Britain (12:35 CST) – TBD Ft. Myers @ Jupiter (9:35 a.m. CST) – Steven Gruver Cedar Rapids @ Clinton (2:00 CST) – Lewis Thorpe Elizabethton @ Johnson City (3:00 CST) – John Curtiss Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Saturday games. Click here to view the article

I just looked it up. In the college season, Mat Batts threw 103.2 innings. He's now thrown 54 innings in pro ball. That's a lot of innings combined!

Not many... can't remember the last. I wonder if like David McCarty did maybe?

The Twins haven't announced it yet, but Cedar Rapids Kernels reliever Jake Reed has. Via twitter, he just announced that he has been invited to participate in the Arizona Fall League. You can follow Jake Reed on Twitter. Since being the Twins 5th round pick in June, Reed has thrown 30 innings (between Elizabethton and Cedar Rapids) and given up 1 ER on 11 hits, 3 walks and 39 strikeouts. Reed gave up one earned run in his Cedar Rapids debut. In his second outing, he gave up an unearned run. So, since July 1, he has thrown 22 innings over 14 games and not allowed an earned run. In that time, 7 hits, 2 walks, 30 strikeouts.

I know it was surgery on the aneurysm... it was blood thinners for the blood clots, at least that's what the story says. He told me that at the time in March, and based on his timeline coming back, I assume that worked.

Deolis Guerra is another interesting non-roster name that could be considered.

SD Buhr, If you get the chance to ask Jake or Ivan, can you ask them how many innings Thorpe, Hu and Gonsalves pitched in Extended Spring Training. Do they track innings pitched, or pitch count, or bullpens? That's one piece to the Innings Pitched count that we have no access to.

Of players who took a big step forward in 2014, in the minor leagues, Jason Wheeler is right up there!! Terrific year, and he's been better in AA than he was at the lower levels.

Great article... As I wrote in another thread, it's good to see the Twins working at the back end of the 40 man roster, getting rid of the likes of Alex Pressly and Darin Mastroianni and picking up the likes of Sam Fuld and Jordan Schafer. When the Twins claimed him, I was hoping he's play LF instead of WIllingham just because of the improved defense. He's been better than I would have suspected, though 77 plate appearances isn't enough to make any final decisions. But I like the idea of picking up a 27 year old with his prospect background, giving him 2 months of nearly every day playing time and just seeing if there's something there.

Burton's option won't be picked up. Swarzak may or may not be tendered a contract. Burdi could be up by midseason. Jones will take a little longer. Oliveros is ready to get back to the big leagues. Curious if Deolis Guerra gets a shot in September.

I remember thinking when the Twins were good that they should work and alter the back end of the 40-man roster. They've done a nice job of that this year, trading out the likes of Alex Pressly and Darin Mastroiani for Jordan Schafer and Sam Fuld. He's arb eligible, but he wouldn't make more than about $1 million. Enough potential yet, and worst case, a solid fourth outfielder.

David Dorsey covers the Ft. Myers Miracle. Today, he wrote this article about the two flamethrowers that have recently been added to their roster, in time for their playoff run. Nick Burdi was recently promoted from Cedar Rapids, and Zack Jones has been activate from the DL after missing all season after suffering an aneurysm in his right shoulder followed by blood clots. Both are capable of hitting 100 mph. good quotes from each.

I think that June 2015 is possible whether he gets a September call or not. Same with May.