Bob Sacamento

Ouch, just had to look it up, 15 strikeouts in 30 at bats. Of course he had 37 in 119 AB last year in GCL so...

He's down in Fort Myers rehabbing

Did he? Alot of what is on the field now and for the foreseeable future for the BoSox is a byproduct of Cherrington, granted he had a couple of horrible signings in Sandoval and Ramirez but in the grand scheme left them better than Theo left him. Cherrington took alot of heat for not pulling the trigger on trading his young assets for talented proven players something his successor Dombrowski is notorious for. Side note stay away from my Cubbies FO until we win something with the current band we have, lol.

Video of Gorge Munoz, hitting a double off the Green Monster: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEWD4KILGzk note: If you listen to the audio you can hear the GCL coach Ramon Borrego talking about the BoSox LFer saying "no arm, no arm, like [AB] Walker out there no arm"

Matt Jones made his MiLB debut 7/16, FB was ~85mph, with a breaking ball ~77. Very wild: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6HHIP6axtI

That whole front office needs gutted but I highly doubt Pohlads do that. As many have said pretty much status quo with Rob Antony though.

Yeah I really like Wells and I always thought it was weird that he doesn't get the love as he should and like Thorpe does. Kid is definitely smart and has a pitchability sense to him that many don't at his age. He has a good sense of his fastball command and controls his change and breaking ball pretty well too. The biggest knock on him in the past has been his size but also the velo. Last I saw him of him in EXST he was sitting 89-91 topping at 93 mph with his fastball, still he knows where and how to put it. Glad to see him having the success he's had so far, hope he keeps it up. Video of him this time last year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVImZaXo_k4

He had a few rough patches while getting more acquainted with the position in Instructs and EXST but has slowly built up on his fundamentals foundation. He's not going to win any gold gloves, his range up the middle isn't the greatest but he fields the balls that are hit to him.

Forgot Zach Strecher's video from 7/9: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_bs3kTsqpY

No problem, hope everyone enjoys. Prove my wife wrong in that no one cares about it lol!!

It was another beautiful weekend in sunny southwest Florida and the Twins/BoSox weekly series was it again. This weekend featured two good starts by young pitchers, the bats came to life for a day and the pitching staff can strikeout out alot. Friday's game was started by 20 year old righty Miguel DeJesus, the Dominican starter looked strong until he started to get wild in the third with two walks, a wild pitch and a passed ball, yet the Sox still scored only one run. Through most of the outing, DeJesus relied on his fastball which was 92.4mph to 96.0, averaging 94 with good sinking action and he worked in the lower part of the strikezone. That sink led to an 8:1 GB:FB ratio for the game. Miguel's breaking ball was 74.5 to 79.5 mph with good late break, he was able to throw it for strikes more consistently today than last week when he was pummeled due to hanging breaking balls and fastballs up in the zone. DeJesus also flashed a couple of changeups 80.2-82.4mph. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtR0zJjhoxY In the sixth, undrafted free agent Daniel Martinez, brother of JP Martinez (former 9th Rd Twins draft pick in 2004) came on to pitch two quality frames of two hit, no walk, and four strikeout performance. The righty out of the University of New Orleans, has very short arm action with his delivery that produces a 85-87mph fastball with a curveball that had hitters baffled 75-77mph. South African pitcher Callan Pearce came on for the eighth inning and gave up single, a wild pitch and the newly inserted shortstop Dane Hutcheon pulled the first baseman Aaron Whitefield off the bag to give up a run but Callan struck out the last hitter of the inning. Pearce was 88.5 to 90.5mph with his fastball and 80-84mph breaking ball. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZLZBZr18gg To close it out was 2016 UDFA and Wake Forest alum Garrett Kelly. Kelly has a high leg kick that helps get an explosive fastball that registered 90.2-93.2mph with a sharp biting slider that was hitting 79.2 to 80.9 mph. That two pitch arsenal helped Kelly record three strikeouts while recording just a single. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU_98rVoaeY On the offensive end Friday, the bats took advantage of the Red Sox walks and errors in the second, scoring five times. The star of the day was Jorge Andrade who was 2 for 3 with a triple, two runs scored and three rbis. Here's Andrade sliding into third for his triple: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcW3aL1Y6LQ Ben Rortvedt, Twins 2016 second rounder, was once again impressive at the plate, showing a short compact stroke with plus power. Benny as his teammates call him was 1 for 3 with a HBP and two runs scored. Another 2016 compensation pick was SS Jose Miranda. Miranda was known for his glove but has showed off the ability to make hard contact and work counts, which I've been fairly impressed by to this point. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmIEqADOCZo Middle infield prospect Manuel Guzman was on rehab assignment and showed off that his injuried quadricep was healing up well, went one for three with a walk, and a stolen base. Although, he was caught stealing home in the second on a failed bunt attempt by Gorge Munoz and just got too far down the line. Guzman should be ready for Cedar Rapids by next week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVlR4kvmHnc On Saturday morning, 18 year old International Free Agent Huascar (Ha-wah-Scar) Ynoa (E-NOAH) took to the mound and did not disappoint despite facing top Boston Red Sox pitching prospect Brian Johnson. As a 16 year old, Ynoa was considered one of the best IFA pitchers in 2014 but drew mixed reactions from the scouting community due to his lack of consistent outings (poor control) so the Twins were able to sign him for 800K. Ynoa showed off a strong fastball with good movement that hit 90-94 mph with plus control. His slider was just as effective as it has hard late break at 80-82 mph. Huascar even threw a couple of changeups but there were more or less velo taken off his fastball at 86-87mph. With that arsenal, Ynoa only gave up two hits, walked none and struck out eight - most on his fastball. Considering his history or poor control, Ynoa has started off the season rather promising with a 15:2 K:BB rate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ4L94118y8 Dutch pitching prospect Matz Schutte came on to pitch the sixth, and even though he doesn't have high octane stuff he gets it done. Schutte throws a 87-89 mph fastball but he throws it seldomly instead relying on a variety of offspeed pitches. His slider sits 80-84mph with sharp break when it's on and another in a slow looping 69-74 mph curveball. When his offspeed stuff is on, he's shown the ability to be hard to hit and illicits weak contact but when it's off, he gets hit pretty hard as his fastball doesn't play up as much. Schutte was relieved with two outs in the seventh by 2014 draftee Onas Farfan in order to face the upcoming lefty batters. The lefty reliever walked the first batter he faced but got out of the inning with flyout. Onas wasn't as lucky in the eighth where he gave up a double down the leftfield line, then a wild pitch before allowing the first run by a Twins pitcher on a groundout. Onas did strike out 2 and walked 1, with his fastball that was 89-93mph, averaging 92 and mixed in a couple of sliders at 80-82 mph. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1tMivCXPGg When the ninth inning came the Twins manager, Ramon Borrego, went to his closer as he did the day before in Garrett Kelly. Kelly wasn't as fortunate as his last outing, the first batter he faced he gave up what should have been a single to centerfield but Arias attempted to dive head first for the ball and it went to the warning track for a double. The next hitter reached due to a throwing error by Miranda who went in the hole for the ball but pulled 1B Whitefield off the bag. The tying run ended up scoring via sacrifice fly to center. In extra innings, the Twins went to 2016 UDFA Zach Strecker who was in trouble from the get go. Stretcker's fastball was 84-85 mph and quite flat, he also worked in a few sliders at 78-80 mph and showed a curveball or two at 75 mph. Strecker gave up six hits and almost lost the game in the 10th before a great relay from Baddoo to Whitefield to Munoz got the runner at home. In the 12th, catcher Juan Gamez threw out a would be basestealer from his KNEES once again bailing Strecker out of trouble. So with two outs, Strecker struck out the batter but allowed him to reach via a wild pitch, the runner then stole second (completely off Strecker). The next hitter hit a roller to Lean Marrero in rightfield who threw a cannon to Gamez at the plate to beat the runner by a couple of feet yet the throw was high and the runner slide barely under the tag. GCL Twins manager Borrego lost it, heatedly argued with the homeplate umpire before getting tossed. Catcher Juan Gamez came extremely close to getting the boot too as he exchanged words with the ump as well and had to be restrained. Offensively, the Twins played smallball when they could make contact as the team struck out 14 times. The team stole three bases with Emmanuel Morel being the most adventurous on the basepaths as he was caught stealing and picked off in the game. Here is video of hitters from 7/9/2016: 2B/3B Emmanuel Morel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3EKB800xAM SS/3B Gorge Munoz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmnZ-uF4Mho RF Akil Baddoo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHxFYo8Zftg SS Jose Miranda https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj2vMSGWv8s C Juan Gamez https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJFqozDMDeU LF/SS Jorge Andrade https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz0MLHFqbxE

Huascar Ynoa (E-NOAH) pitched five strong innings on 7/9 against the GCL Red Sox, giving up only two hits, no walks, no runs, and striking out 8. Ynoa's fastball was 90-94mph, with an 80-82 mph slider with sharp break and a changeup 86-87 mph. Huascar is a fast worker on the mound, seeming keeping himself in the groove. Here is some video from his 7/9 start: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ4L94118y8

Manny played in rehab game action on 7/8 where he was 1 for 3 with an RBI single and coaxed two walks. Defensively, he manned second, showing good lateral range to both sides as well as a strong arm. He should shortly be getting called up to Low A. Here is some video from his 7/8 game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVlR4kvmHnc Manny and me in the stands 7/9

As he should be with those numbers and his age, now he'll get to face some closer aged competition

In his third start in Hi A Fort Myers on 7/4: In six innings, he gave up 5 hits, 1 earned runs, 3 walk, and struck out 7 in 92 pitches of which 59 were strikes. His GB:FB was 6:2 and he did give up an extrabase hit (a triple). His game score was a 64. In Fort Myers, his GB:FB ratio is now at 23:7, add in his mid to high 90's fastball and a hard biting slider and Romero is looking solid this year and exceeding many expectations set out for him this season! Definitely a guy to keep your eye on in the future, worse case has the makings of a solid backend bullpen arm.

Yeah I believe I heard fifth round or so before hurting his nonthrowing shoulder. So people shouldn't just sleep on him because the Twins got a draft day steal on him in the 24th round. Also he liked his writeup in the book - and said he plans on making the 2016 Outlook true in finishing in Cedar Rapids by season's end.

So now you get to watch Chih-Wei Hu and Alexis Tapia for the next few years and see what they could have been doing for your own system, all to chase a Wildcard that wasn't there and to get 58.2 IP, giving up 60 hits, 8 hrs, 19 bb, 47 strikeout, 3.99 ERA 1.35 WHIP. Could be something, could be nothing. But trading for short term rental pieces at the deadline always bothered me as a Cubs fan. Trading for Rich Aguilera and giving up Kyle Lohse. Trading for Rich Harden and giving up Josh Donaldson, Eric Patterson, Sean Gallagher, and Matt Murton.

Yeah I wouldn't want to face him in an arm wrestling contest but seriously his forearms' are as big around as Jean Carlos Arias' calves. Rortvedt is short in stature but very muscular all around, forearms, chest, thighs, catcher seems like a good position for him to start at for now. That bat will likely develop faster than his defensive prowess at catcher but the Twins should have enough positional prospects at other positions that they shouldn't be pressing the young Popeye. I liked this pick for the Twins on draft day and after watching him play in a Twins uni I like it even more, but patience will be needed.

Kid has big raw power although making consistent contact is his issue. In the field he covers good ground, running good routes and has an average to plus arm. He's very athletic and does have good speed for as big and powerful as he is. Here is recent video I took of Jaylin in EXST a month ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ziji5Jud5g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMfow87hzn0

I'll just post this here, but went the the GCL game on Friday and came away impressed with a few of the new draftees. Ben Rortvedt has Popeye forearms, good bat control and an advanced approach for his age. Last I saw Ben was at the 2015 WWBA Championship in Jupiter, FL in October, in that time he's bulked up adding more muscle. You can definitely see what the Twins scouts saw in him. I was more impressed with his defensive abilities. He was considered raw but made a few good blocks and saved Beeker on two would be wild pitches as well as De Jesus. Here is video on Rortvedt collecting on his two hits: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lj4fUqDGmLE Akil Baddoo looks lightening quick and showed off some good range in RF in his two putouts. At the dish, he did strike out three times in the game but worked a couple of decent at bats. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhzOfhhuIhg Jose Miranda showed off plus range and a plus arm at shortstop, in made in a play in the whole that should have had the runner if Zach Featherstone was properly positioned at first. Miranda also showed the workings of good bat control, with quick wrists. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTUCgwRwsnc Zach Featherstone, 12th rounder, looks like he should be in Etown shortly, his ability to foul off pitches, take borderline pitches, and work counts is more advanced than his competition. His defense at first looks like it could use some work though. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abEUvBmkb3Y Dane Hutcheon played a quality second base, making a diving stop to his glove side early on. Covers enough ground to stay there but doubtful if he could move over to SS consistently. He doesn't try to over do it at the plate, looks for his pitch and pokes it thru the holes. If you want to go cliche, Hutcheon is a grinder. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AYnZu_67CE Clark Beeker pitched well, after inheriting two runners when he entered the game and threw a wild pitch, he struck out the batter to retire the side. Beeker induced three ground balls with his slider that registered 78-82 mph that was complemented by a sinking fastball that he posted at 88-90 mph and struck out three in his 2 and a third. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLoCFmTau_Q Local SWFL product Brady Anderson came on and got the final three outs, giving up a weak single to the left side of the infield, and walking a batter, but he also induced two groundouts and a flyball. Anderson's fastball was 89-91 mph with a good breaking ball 81-83 mph https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFqoXYimHxE

Romero was called up to Fort Myers for his debut on 6/22. In five innings, five hits, 2 earned runs, 1 walk and struck out five in 74 pitches of which 49 were strikes. His GB:FB was 7:3 and he did allow 2 stolen bases and one extrabase hit (a double). His game score was a 57. In his second start on 6/29: In seven innings, he gave up four hits, 2 earned runs, 0 walk, and struck out 5 in 82 pitches of which 55 were strikes. His GB:FB was 10:2 and he did hit a batter, had a wild pitch, a balk and he gave up two extrabase hits (a double and a triple. His game score was a 73. So far in High A his GB:FB ratio is an impressive 17:5! Keep it up Fernando!!

I try to take plenty of video but even still it doesn't capture the same as the eye in person. The biggest thing I'll say I've noticed is that Virgil Vasquez finally got Johan to repeat his mechanics/delivery which at 6'9 (probably 6'10 with cleats on) isn't the easiest thing to do. Quezada 7/11/15 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1Iis_RgKfQ Quezada 5/14/16 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoFUp6efgmk

Lets all hope the back injury isn't as severe as last year's (stress reaction that almost turned into a spondy) but it's starting to be a trend. Trey has self admittingly said he's very inflexible in his lower back and hamstrings. I half jokingly recommended Yoga and Pilates last year to him and his parents but now I'm less kidding. You have to stay flexible elsewise it'll continue to be an issue, as I often tell my patients, "Time and Gravity, are not your friend" and if you are 19 and having issues already just imagine what age 29 will look like.