Seth Stohs

You can view the page at http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.php?927-The-Development-of-Chris-Parmelee

Despite being the Twins 1st round pick in the 2006 draft out of his school, it took until September of 2011 for his to become a household name among many Twins fans. After five seasons in the minor leagues, Parmelee was promoted directly from Double-A New Britain when the Rock Cats season ended just short of a playoff berth. Parmelee had put together a very strong second half for the Rock Cats, but no one could have imagined how well he played in September. He played nearly every day, 21 games in all, and hit .355/.443/.592 with six doubles, four homers and 14 RBI. In 88 plate appearances, he walked twice and struckout 13 times. Parmelee gives us a glimpse into why minor league numbers and statistics are secondary to player development. All players drafted high, especially in the first round, are there because they have immense tools. How quickly can they turn those tools into skills? There is not one ‘right’ answer to that questions. Some players are able to come up to the big leagues within the first couple of years. Most players take five or six years to get to the big leagues. STAGE 1 – The Adam Dunn Stage Like most high school players drafted, Parmelee went to the Gulf Coast League. He performed well, hitting .279/.369/.532 (.901) with seven doubles, four triples, eight homers and 32 RBI in 45 games. He was rewarded by spending 11 games in Beloit where he hit .227 but posted a .370 On Base Percentage. He spent the 2007 season in Beloit where he hit just .239/.313/.414 (.727) with 23 doubles, five triples and 14 home runs. He returned to the Snappers for the 2008 season. Unfortunately, he only played about half of the games as the previous year due to injury, but he was better. He hit .239/.385/.496 (.881) with 10 doubles, three triples, 14 home runs and 49 RBI. In those two seasons in Beloit, he walked 98 times and struckout 210 times in 790 plate appearances. In 2009, he went to Ft. Myers and hit .258/.359/.441 (.881) with 27 doubles, 16 homers and 73 RBI. In 501 plate appearances, he walked 65 times and struck out 109 times. In this stage, there was hope that the bulky Parmelee could turn into an Adam Dunn-type player. He did not hit for average, but he took a great number of walks and showed some good power for that early stage of his career. Of course, Adam Dunn would be a great thing. Most minor leaguers who strikeout that much in those lower levels don’t work their way up to the big leagues unless they’re able to cut those numbers. STAGE 2 – The Transition After playing in the Arizona Fall League after the season, Parmelee figured out that he would need to lose some weight, and by the time he came to Twins Fest, he looked like a different person. Chris Parmelee began the 2010 season with the New Britain Rock Cats, but he really struggled. Pitchers were taking advantage of him. He wasn’t walking and was striking out a lot. Because of that, the power wasn’t there either. Less than six weeks into the season, he was sent back to Ft. Myers, and that is where something clicked. In just 22 games, he hit .338/.430/.463 (.893) with five extra base hits. He also walked 13 times and struckout 11 times. He returned to New Britain as a different hitter. Overall, he hit .275/.341/.389 (.731) with 25 doubles, two triples and six home runs. In 463 plate appearances, he walked just 43 times and struck out just 70 times. In 2011, he hit .287/.366/.436 (.801) with 30 doubles, five triples, 13 home runs and 83 RBI for New Britain. He walked 68 times and struckout 94 times in 610 plate appearances. The strategy appears to be focusing on one thing and then hoping the other things come back. In other words, Parmelee had shown an ability to take walks and hit for some home run power. However, he also struck out a ton. To make him a better all-around hitter, they encouraged him to be a little more aggressive, use the whole field and make better contact. STAGE 3 – It All Comes Together The best case scenario is putting the stages back together. Now that he can hit for average and keep the strikeouts down, could he get back to getting on with a lot of walks and bring back the power? As we know, Parmelee put together a great showing in September. He was terrific in spring training and earned an Opening Day roster spot. Although he has struggled in limited playing time with the Twins over a couple of stints, he has continued to show power. In 49 games in Rochester, he has hit .354/.470/.691 (1.161) with 15 doubles and 15 home runs. As important, he has 38 walks to go with just 34 strikeouts in 217 plate appearances. Parmelee awaits another opportunity to play with the Twins. It will likely happen in the very near future. You can look through his minor league track record and make a lot about of those early years, but he is no longer that same player. Parmelee, in a way, took a step backwards to take eight steps forward. He may be one of those examples where he might outperform his minor league numbers. We don’t know, but we shall find out. Soon. [ATTACH=CONFIG]2033[/ATTACH]

They don't repeat too often, although Parmelee did, so there is recent precedent. They can have two guys from Ft. Myers go. They likely will have 6 total, sometimes 7 (if they have a catcher). Kyle Gibson will likely go, assuming all goes well in his rehab. Players from countries that have their own winter league aren't eligible, so that takes away a few you listed. Deibinson Romero is from the Dominican and he will become a minor league free agent 5 days after the World Series, so he's unlikely. Esmerling Vasquez is from the Dominican, plus he's not eligible due to too much big league service time. Also, it's not like they always just send the top prospects. They've said Hicks is going to play in Venezuela, likely with Arcia for Aragua. They may send Pugh back since he was so bad there last year and has been so good this year. I think Levi Michael makes sense. Matt Hauser might make sense. Lots of options.

I understand and respect the innings limit. I think it's smart. However, they've been saying they would do it all season. I don't understand why they didn't give him a 15 day DL stint in mid-May and another one in early July or something. He's a difference maker. He's very good, dominant. The kind of guy that you'd really want in the playoffs! I'd be upset if I was on that team.

Luke French too , right? (he was assigned yesterday) French was sent to AA probably a week ago. I don't think he's actually pitched yet there.

Well... I guess both Manship and Perdomo are heading to Rochester with swarzak being activated.The position player has to be Parmelee... right?

A Tweet from Jorge Aragnure regarding Sano's winter league team... Jorge Arangure ‏@jorgearangure Miguel Angel Sano was the first pick of the Dominican winter league draft. Will play for Estrellas Orientales #twins

I really like Lester Oliveros as a potential 8th inning guy. And if they got that in an August trade for Young, that was a steal.

I agree that Levi Michael is a future utility infielder in the majors, but how can you say he's too old for his level? He turned 21 in February, so he's about 21.5 years old. The average hitter on the Ft. Myers Miracle roster is 22.5, and the average age of a hitter in the Florida State League is 22.7.

Age is an important piece to the prospect ranking puzzle, for sure. But I also won't deduct a college player just because he got three years of college development and then steadily moved up the system while putting up good numbers the way Valencia did. With Hughes, he didn't do much until he got to AA, so I guess my thinking was that, being from Australia, the development time should be expected to take a bit longer, and maybe once it clicked, he could take off. That was always in the back of my mind. I would never consider someone who makes their big league debut at 25 or younger to be "old."

Just an FYI - Bromberg was sent down to New Britain today. Rule 5 qualifications for this postseason... Players signed who were less than 19 years old when they signed in 2008, OR Players signed who were 19 years old or older when they signed in 2009. I dont' think that Slama will be added. He's been made available several times (via Rule 5 draft or when he was taken off 40 man roster last fall) and no one has claimed him. He still has another year of Twins control. Of course, I believe Slama should be added to the 40 man roster for September, so the question would be whether or not they would keep him on it after the season.

He'd likely be put on the 60 Day Disabled List as soon as they could in the season. A team will sign him to a contract knowing that he likely wouldn't be able to pitch in a big league game until at least June 1. Based on the Kyle Gibson TJ recovery timeline, Baker should be ready to pitch in May, but a team would be wise to see how spring training goes and determine a plan for rehab appearances. Other option is to sign him to a minor league contract with an opt-out date of like July 1. But, that's unlikely. HE'll get a MLB contract.

Anthony Swarzak is expected to be activated from the Disabled List in time for Friday's game. Since the Twins play this afternoon and don't play tomorrow, the "other" half of that move could happen as soon as the end of today's game. So, who do you think that the Twins will send down to Rochester? Luis Perdomo? Jeff Manship? One of the starters? Maybe whichever one gets into today's game? Maybe someone else will get hurt today? What are your thoughts?

GREAT QUESTION! I generally agree with Jim Crikket. In the lower levels, it's all about fundamentals, stressing them and then having the right amount of pushing and a ton of patience. As you move up the ladder, they need to be a little big more refined and detailed. Fundamentals should continue to be pushed, but might be more film work. Rochester should be what are those final touches. In the big leagues, it's about finding things on video quickly and correcting. I guess I would answer AA. I think Vavra is very knowledgeable. I'd like to see more from Brunansky. He's clearly helped Parmelee. What about Dozier and Benson? Both gave him a lot of credit last year and struggled with him this year. I do think Vavra is the best hitting coach they've got, although Jim Dwyer is really good in Ft. Myers too.

He wouldn't be Top 30 for me, but that doesn't mean he can't be a pretty OK major league player. He's got some tools and some talent. I'd like to see him move up to rochester next year, but that MIGHT require putting him on the 40 man roster again because if they don't, he can become a minor league free agent (he could have last year too).

Good first look at this... Just a few notes: Burton isn't a free agent at the end of the year. He has one more year of arbitration. But the story is the same, in my opinion, you bring him back. I'd like to see Manship get some starts the rest of the way, probably taking Duensing's spot and pushing him back to the bullpen. Manship did well for Rochester as a starter, and I'd like to see him get 6-7 starts at the end of the season. (I'd also like to see Hendriks come up after Rochester's season is done and push Blackburn to the bullpen for the rest of the season.) As for Guerra, I tend to agree with you, and yet, the Twins need to decide if they're going to contend next year or not. If they're looking to 2014, then there's no harm in keeping him around and giving him April and May to make an impression. I still believe in Rene Tosoni despite this being immensely disappointing, but I tend to agree with you on that one too, but for a different reason. Arcia's on the 40 man, and Hicks needs to be added after the season. You have them adding Hicks, Gibson and Bromberg. I"m a big Bromberg guy, but I'd be shocked if he was added again at this time. Here are some other names that have to be considered for adding to the 40 man: Chris Herrmann (given), BJ Hermsen (probable), Dakota Watts and Bruce Pugh (I'd think at least one of them), Danny Santana (pure SS with a little pop, I think he's added). Adrian Salcedo would have been if not for a lost, injury-filled season. What about Michael Tonkin? Deibinson Romero could be a minor league free agent, and he's had a good year. Could he be added again? Where does Anthony Slama fit in? How about Caleb Thielbar? Because of all of those, I wouldn't be surprised if there are quite a few players dropped from the current 40 man (including Deduno and De Vries, maybe?) and hopefully Blackburn. Good discussion!

The delivery was really busy, lots of movement. I just thought that it would be tough to maintain that over 7-8 innings. Stuff-wise, he showed a good fastball (92 maybe) with movement, and a terrific breaking ball. He's a starter and he'll start next year, for sure. As for Boer, I like the idea of giving them a chance to start, if nothing else to try to develop more pitches. I just think that the floors for these guys are pretty high and they can be very good relievers. I actually think that Matt Summers has pitched very well. The only concern is the lack of strikeouts, which is strange.

My only point would have been that sending him down a month ago would have made sense. Like Nick pointed out, there's just 2 1/2 weeks left at Rochester. Florimon is intriguing. I'm intrigued by his glove. We know he's not likely to hit a lot, but if he can be a plus-plus defensive shortstop, what happens?

I saw Baxendale pitch one inning in relief in Beloit and he struckout the side. As I watch him and his delivery, I thought, "How was this guy a starter in college?" I liked what I saw, but I wouldn't make anything out of his numbers this year as a one-inning reliever. Summers and Boer had good K numbers as relievers last year, and this year as starters, their K-rates are pretty pedestrian. Don't get me wrong, I like Baxendale, especially as a 10th round pick! I dont know what the plans are, but I think we've heard that Chargois and Duffey are likely relievers only. Melotakis really didn't impress me in his one inning (which of course means nothing). I bet he could start. Jones just throws gas. At the same time, I see no negative in giving some of these guys some starting opportunities next year to see if that is a possibility. Worst case, they can stretch out and work on secondary pitches.

Yeah, I'm not sure what it does. Sending a message is dumb. The team called him up in May despite the fact that he was really struggling offensively in Rochester. They had to know that. Like I said, I am intrigued by FLorimon and want to see his defense. He has ONLY played SS this year in Rochester, so I'm curious if Dozier will maybe get some time at 2B in Rochester with Escobar at SS?

Will be fun to watch Florimon, but it's August 14th... Dozier will play SS in Rochester for 2 1/2 weeks, then be back. Not sure what he'll get from that.

Thanks, I enjoyed that!

He wasn't a Top 50 guy for me coming into the year, but he'll certainly be in consideration between 30-40 probably. He's been solid.