TNTwinsFan

Cahill. Do. It.

Looks like Stashak needs to move to the pen. I wonder if he can't get that K/9 rate up to double digits and keep it there.

If I were the Starting Pitcher facing Brian Dozier on Opening Day, I'm throwing him a first pitch slider off the plate. Followed by 2 change ups and another slider. He will get a fastball down for pitches 5 and 6 if necessary. I'm not letting him put the Twins up 1-0.

I think you nailed it. It was really his subpar performance in the AFL (super small sample size) that kinda left a bad taste in my mouth about him. And I couldn't agree more about ranking him above the guys you mentioned. I am really high on Rooker and think the kid may in fact be the system's 2nd best prospect behind Lewis. We'll see how Rooker does in getting his K/BB ratio improved this year; if he can walk 12-15% and K >20%, LOOK OUT!!!

It looks like Wade started driving the ball more in Chattanooga: 2016 LD%: 18.3% 2017 LD%: 23.9% Perhaps I was hasty in my posting of his ceiling being that of a 4th OF. Obviously, his OBP and K/BB ratio are both fantastic; leading to the belief that he has terrific pitch recognition which plays at the MLB level (assuming it carries with him.) His SLG% is carried by his career high in doubles (see LD% increase). If those trends continue, it really would be fair to say he could be a starting corner OF for some teams. If he turns those 2Bs into HRs, then you certainly have a bona fide starting Corner OF. So, if I may be so bold as to change my initial opinion of Mr. Wade: I would agree with many of the other posters on this thread that his ceiling is, indeed, more than that of a 4th OF. Heck, he might even turn out to be the Brian Dozier of the Twins OF and learn how to start yanking the ball over the Right Field wall and hit a couple dozen out. I would then turn to the waiter and say, "Sir, I'll have the crow with the white wine reduction, thank you."

Doubt Wade has enough upside to crack these lists. I think his ceiling is that of a 4th OF; nice player, but nothing to write home about.

Buxton, Polanco, Kepler

Berardino's list was heavily weighted for highest ceiling. With that in mind, I can't disagree with the list and think its great to have a guy like Gordon at #8.

Brent Rooker

Rooker, Enlow, Thorpe...all 3 will be fast risers. Rooker and Thorpe will debut in 2019. Enlow maybe 2021. I do believe Rooker has about a 5% chance of getting a cup of joe in September if he mashes in AA this year. Can't wait to see that kid play!

Rooker? Rooker? Rooker? **sigh** Rooker is going to blow the doors off when he reaches MLB. Of course, I'll eat crow if he hits a wall at AA (which I will have to attend some of the games to make sure I see him in person.) But, I just don't think it happens. He'll be challenged at each level for about a month, then he'll figure it out and take off. He's no ABW II.

I think Brent Rooker takes over 1B in 2019 and destroys baseballs al la Kris Bryant. Sure, sign a Josh Donaldson to cover down on 3B and the lineup goes something like this: Buxton (CF) Polanco (2B) Rosario (LF) Donaldson (3B) Sano (DH) Rooker (1B) Kepler (RF) Castro © Gordon (SS) The lineup has 3 RHH followed by 3 LHH in the 4-9 spots, but, I don't think you move Gordon up to say, the 2 spot and shift everyone down one. Nor would you swap Gordon for Polanco would you? Meh...either way, I think that's a pretty powerful lineup that will score runs. I do see the need to get some addktional LH Power in the lineup to create more balance. I just see Rooker taking the league by storm amd they'll have to find room for him at 1B or the OF. Kepler and Rosario can hit 50-55 HR between the two of them, so there's ZERO need to replace them. Buck is going nowhere and can hit 20+ HR. Sano hits 30. Donaldson hits 30. Rooker hits 25. Polanco 10-15 with 2Bs power. Castro maybe 10. Gordon maybe 5. FA pitching is where I get lost in the sauce. As long as they're meeting expectations, the starting 5 listed in the article looks decent enough to me. Santana probably won't be the staff Ace in 2019; I think Berrios earns that title by then. Gonsalves, Romero, Pineda could be a really solid back end of the rotation. Berrios Santana Gonsalves Romero/Pineda/Mejia/Slegers/May/Stewart (Pick 2) Slegers, May, Mejia...not sure you have all 3 of those guys in the pen. I think May is a 6th or 7th SP on this (2019) team, or he beats out someone like Romero. Slegers just doesn't do it for me in the pen and fits the AAAA mold in my eyes right now. If the rotation is demonstrably capable, then I think you drop some cash on building a DOMINANT bull pen and add a guy like Kimbrel. Kimbrel Chargois Rogers Jay Hildenburger Jorge May/Pineda/Mejia/Stewart/Slegers (Pick 2)

I think Rooker belongs in the Top 5. That kid is gonna rake!

My vote would be Park/Vargas until July when Rooker has smashed about 20 HR for Chattanooga. Then its Rooker hitting the go-ahead 3-Run Shot in game 6 of the World Series for the win. I'm REALLY excited about that kid!

RH power bat needed? I mean Sano and Dozier provide more pop than any other two guys on the roster. Even Buck has a little pop (15-20 HR). I mean, sure, if looking for a DH/1B stick this team sould get a power bat that plays a corner OF spot. Unless, of course, Sano can't go due to surgery...

I won't lie...I think Rooker has a chance to be a slightly poorer version of Kris Bryant. Get him up to MLB by the end of the year!!

Won't lie...dissapointed Nashville is not being considered. The South does need another team. I WILL NOT root for Atlanta. Cincy is too far north. St. Louis is not really a "Southern" city. Houston and Dallas are Texas. Then there are the Florida teams (give me a break). Here's an idea...ad the additional two teams as mentioned, but also move the Rays to Nashville! Done!

Escobar?? What, 20HR?

Yes, get two SPs in FA to compliment Santana and Berrios. Yes, keep Gibson. He's good enough for the back end of the rotation and can be swapped out for one of the other up-and-commers in the minors (Gonsalves, Stewart, Romero, etc.) Those guys don't quite seem ready for the show anyway. I'm a big fan of the cheap young RPs to fill out the Pen. There are some other fireballers that may be on the cusp in AAA and AA, plus guys like Busenitz and Pressly as mentioned above. If you can add a decent FA RP on the cheap then great. I think unless you're going to get 3 top end closer types and drop about $30mm for it, build from within as much as you can. The current pen has some decent pieces to it. My queation is: who will be the 2018 versions of Hildenburger and Busenitz??

If they really want to have him ready to go for the Playoffs, he'll need as many at bats as he can get. DH him all 3 games and knock some of the rust off. On the other hand, I'm not sure what that would do to increase the risk of re-injuring himself. Where are those guys that do Risk Assessments for a living?!

I think the kid CAN hit 30+ HRs/35+ 2B/12+ 3B/40+ SB. Have him carry over this new-found confidence to a full season. 2018 Tripple slash: .295/.385/.475 with Gold Glove Defense. That's just about MVP right there.

I live in Gallatin, TN (not far from Nashville) and work for an Israeli company.

Stephen Pryor graduated from the same school my daughter currently attends: Friendship Christian School in Lebanon, TN. I was excited when the Twins added him to their organization. Too bad he couldn't stick!

HILDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The kid is for real. Saw him play in Chattanooga a couple years ago. And again in Birmingham. If he has truly figured things out he's going to put up gaudy numbers and play like a HOF-type player for years (as long as he continues to toake care of his body). Special, special talent.