Bob Sacamento

The matchup this AM for the GCL Twins is Taylor Clemensia against the BoSox 1st rounder and regarded as the best pitcher in the draft, Jason Groome.

One interesting piece I found out today on the backfields of the GCL is that Romero's replacement for his ulnar collateral ligament came from his left knee (a portion of his infrapatellar tendon) instead of his palmaris longis on his left hand (15% of the population doesn't have a palmaris longis) which is more common for the Tommy John surgery. Side note, he's not happy to be shut down either but if you want to count all his EXST innings this year before joining CR he probably threw 120 IP or so as he didn't pitch in LoA until May 20th yet was throwing every 5th day in EXST up until then.

I was at the game (bobblehead election night) and Romero was just plain filthy. His fastball was sitting 95-97mph thru the game and his slider was 87-92mph. What contact the Cardinals did have were weak grounders.

Four years ago, Obama v Romney there was a line at the door and they sold out of bobbleheads quickly. I don't close my office til 6 but may just have to pop in to get a Trump bobble and put that baby up on ebay. Last time I sold my Romney for $100 and kept wife's Obama

Bobblehead Election night giveaway tonight at the Miracle game, sadly no players just Trump and Hillary

Looks like he's turning into a "Twins pitcher"- pitch to contact, groundball inducing, pound the strikezone, lower pitch count. Only part he hasn't had this year is the low walk rate. What he's doing now in AA is very reminiscent to what he did last year in Ft Myers.

The Twins have been the most aggressive team on the bases this year in the GCL, Whitefield has 8 more SB than his closest competitor. His rate of 80% is decent (28 for 35) but he's getting by on pure speed, the further he goes he needs better coaching on reading pickoffs and getting better jumps. Aluko is a big boy, the team roster has him at 6'4 240lb, hope to see him play this weekend as the Twins take on the BoSox Friday and Saturday. Saturday looks like it could be a future impact game as BoSox 2016 1st rounder Jason Groome (and arguably the draft's top pitcher) is tentatively slated to take the mound against 2016 Twins 5th rounder Jordan Balazovic. Sadly, this will be the last regular season weekend I'll get to see the kids play as the GCL regular season ends on 9/1.

Good questions, I'll ask him this weekend if I see him. I too thought it was an odd switch so soon as he's pretty competent behind the plate with his blocking and a really strong arm. I saw him at the plate and he was just meh, not good or great but he wasn't Shaq Thompson (2012 BoSox 18th Rd pick, in 2012 was 0-39 with 37 K. He's a NFLer w/ a ring now) bad either. Here is Gamez just 7 weeks prior as a hitter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJFqozDMDeU

GCL Notes for 8/20: Jordan Balazovic was impressive in his longest professional outing where he went 6 innings, giving up only 5 hits (all singles), 0 runs, 0 walks and 2 strikeouts. Currently, Balazovic is not a flamethrower as his fastball was 86-90mph and was sitting 87-88mph on average in the start. The kid had good control of his fastball and was placing it well on the inside half to RHH. His breaking ball was 79-83 mph with good bend although he left quite a few up in the zone which led to a number of flyballs, his GB:FB rate was 4:11 in the game and 27:24 this season. Jordan did hit two batters and pitched himself into a jam in the 6th inning but Manager Ramon Borreja let him get out of it himself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux3Uov4ZXPk In the 8th inning with the Twins up 3-0, the went their 31st pick in the 2016 draft Juan Gamez, a recently converted catcher out of NDSU. This was only Gamez's second professional outing on the rubber after collecting 20 at bats early in the season behind the plate. He threw better than his overall line for the night of 2/3 IP, 2H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K. Juan's fastball was 90-93 mph with some life on it while his slider was 83-85 mph with sharp break. His control was a little spotty but about where you would expect someone so green to pitch. For those who were wondering, he has one college inning under his belt giving up 2 H and striking out 2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvzRjuvb1Mc The highlight for the 2016 GCL season thus far as been Austrailian softballer turned baseball player Aaron Whitefield. Whitey is the only regular who is hitting over .300, but he also has the ability to work counts deep as seen in his 14 walks in 151 AB but also his team leading 39 strikeouts. On the bases the Aussie is fleet footed with a league high 27 stolen bases (27 for 34. The next closest has 20 SB). Most of that is due to his natural athletic ability and not his basestealing or baserunning acumen. Of course it doesn't help when you get hosed on the call either though: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVYsU4h_Hvg

In the GCL, Huascar did not have his good stuff but still managed to pitch his ways out of jams. His fastball was 89-95mph avg 93 while his breaking ball was 79-83 mph and had difficulty throwing for strikes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNKQi9iqbHA Aaron Whitefield showed off some great wheels in CF running down what would be gappers. He also put down a sac bunt that his speed turned into a hit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYDjlLik7ME Emmmanuel Morel hasn't been too good at the plate but has put his defensive skills on displayed, this time with a sliding catch in the infield. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYKL9jl8Im8 Lastly, on Thursday the Twins signed UDFA Isaiah Aluko, a lefthanded outfield who was a Senior on the Valdosta State team before recently playing in the National Baseball Congress league for the Alaskan Panhandlers. Aluko is a big boy standing at 6'4 240lb, here he is long tossing with Zach Featherstone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPEJgjjJUUw

Really? I'll be damn, he had been dealing with wrist issues since the beginning of spring training. I remember being there at the complex with Halsey Hall when he was taken from the indoor hitting cage with the trainer to the stadium. At the time it was diagnosed as a mild wrist sprain and he didn't miss any time apparently he didn't let it heal up properly.

As of right now, I can tell you no GCL for Lewis, he's on a throwing program for whatever that means. He might see some time in Instructs though, hopefully...maybe. Sidenote - he is really happy for his countrymate Lachlan Wells and his season thus far.