mnfanforlife

We know the Twins drafted a slew of college relievers in 2012 right? Well just how fast will any of these guys be realistic possiblities for the MLB club's pen?? Don't worry, I've got predictions (and my own rating list, with the most potential nearest the top) for each of them here: [ATTACH=CONFIG]2631[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]2630[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]2632[/ATTACH] (Top to Bottom: Jones, Bard, and Duffey) 1. Zach Jones - RHP This guy was a two-way player (hitter/pitcher) in college, which means he has only recently fully devoted his career to pitching. He averaged 15.3 K's/9 and opponents batted .159 when he pitched at the low levels last year (Rookie & A). Even so, that is still amazing! With improved control likely as he develops, the potential here is through-the-roof. I predict: start in A Cedar Rapids, with a shot to finish the season at A+ in Ft. Myers. Big K numbers with his upper 90's heat. 2. Luke Bard - RHP He was the first college pitcher drafted by the Twins last June, but he didn't pitch much last summer in the pro's. So I had to move him outta the #1 spot. He dominated while pitching for a very salty Gerogia Tech club last spring, (11 appearances, 0.99 ERA, .211 AvgA) and the reports are that his fastball/slider combo are sick. I predict: start in Cedar Rapids and probably stay there the entire season. He should be able to keep his ERA down in this league, if he doesn't try to pitch through an injury. 3. Tyler Duffey - RHP I know what you're thinking, "The Twins drafted Chargois three rounds ahead of this guy!" But Tyler Duffey actually had slightly better numbers (in more innings) last spring at Rice, than did our buddy Chargois. Duffey also K'd 12.7 per 9 innings last year in Rookie ball with great control and everything. I predict: a crazy-good debut in full season ball starting in Cedar Rapids and moving up to A+ with a bunch of other 2012 draftees. 4. Mason Melotakis - LHP Okay, okay, so maybe Mason could be rated higher since he was a 2nd rounder and he's got a power arm from the left side. And his numbers seem to argue that he could be rated 1-3 on this list (1.88 ERA in 20 appearances in the lower levels last summer). So this is great to have a guy that is this good rated "4th best" reliever from a single draft. I predict: Another guy with upside to move fast, maybe even get a look in AA ball in August. 5. J.T. Chargois - RHP This guy, also from Rice U, did an excellent job as the closer for Elizabethton last summer after signing last June. He fanned 12 guys per 9 innings and oppoents hit .182.....yes, it was only Rookie ball, but this is another guy that was a hitter in college and is only now fully devoted to becoming a pro pitcher. Great potential, and I predict: start in A, with a very real shot to pitch in Ft. Myers later in the 2013 summer. This is a nice group of relievers that can move up together and fast! DJ Baxendale will become a starter soon it sounds like. And there are some other college guys that were drafted last June that could move with the group mentioned above (Taylor Rodgers, Christian Powell). Unfortunately, the likelihood that anyone on this list will get to Minnesota next summer is very low. So, kinda like the hitters, we must all wait wait wait for the organization to move these guys along slowly (very slowly in many instances) to the big club.

These guys will not end up in Minnesota. None of them. The Twins will be getting a lot younger before they add any of these over-the-hill vets. Alothough I would love to see Hudson back if he can play like he did in 2010.

There is nothing wrong with being aggressive and moving young players up multiple levels in one year. Many of the best prospects in baseball are kept in the minors strictly for financial reasons (so the club can save money in the long run). This strategy works for some prospects and hurts the organization in some cases. The club needs to identify certain players that need to be pushed up to the top, and then have the cajones to actually "DO IT."

I think there is no way the Twins keep Span when their pitching is such a mess. I say trade Willingham as well since the OF depth chart within the organization is so strong. Its not that hard to imagine Hicks or Arcia being as productive as Span was both offensively and for Hick's case: defensively as well. And replacing Willingham's production should be secondary to finding better options at starting pitcher!

Thanks for the corrections! I agree Berrios needs the opportunity to move multiple levels next year, wherever he starts. Yes, the Twins will never bring up a Mike-Trout type of talent before they turn 20, or 23 for that matter. Arcia should start in AAA, or in MLB in my opinion. But a start in AA seems redundant here. Many mistakes this front office has made recently. And "not moving up impact MLB players" is probably a mistake that is easy to hide.

My predictions for the Twins' top prospects for the summer of 2013: (I am using MLB.com's list, even though I have seen much more accurate lists elsewhere) [ATTACH=CONFIG]2633[/ATTACH] (Arcia) 1. Miguel Sano - will hit 20-30 HR's during a full season at Ft. Myers. Will rank in the top 3 in the Florida State League in the following categories: HR, RBI, SLG%, OB+SLG%.....many Twins fans will be clamoring for Sano to get a Sept. call-up. But that wont happen, He will start 2014 in AA with no shot at moving up to AAA or MLB until 2015. 2. Byron Buxton - it will be interesting to see where the organiztion decides to start Buxton in 2013. My guess is that he will start and play all of 2013 in Cedar Rapids (A). This would give him at least one year of full-season ball under his belt before he turns 20. I predict a huge offensive year for Buxton in the Midwest league: .300 avg, 10-15 HR's, 15-25 SB's, numerous top-prospect and All-Star awards, etc. Could contend for MLB playing time as a 21 year-old (2015). 3. Aaron Hicks - will start in AAA, but if the Twins do make a trade involving Span and/or Willingham, Hicks could get a look in Minnesota to start the season. Wherever he plays I predict numbers like these: .260-.280 avg, .360-.400 OB%,10-20 HR's (some upside here), 20-40 SB's, excellent range and glove in CF make him a real possibility to stick in MIN out of spring training. 4. Eddie Rosario - will play an entire season in Ft. Myers (A+) with his buddy Sano while they both learn how to play defense.. Will hit enough for fans to scream for his call-up in September. But that wont happen. He will start 2014 in AA and 2015 in AAA if the front office has its way. His Miracle numbers I project: .285-.310 avg (tough league for hitters), 10-15 HR's, 70-85 RBI's, 10-20 SB's....solid player. 5. Oswaldo Arcia - just like Hicks, will start in AAA unless they trade an MLB outfielder or two. It will get interesting if the Twins trade just one outfielder from the big club. Who would you rather call up to start the year - Arcia or Hicks? It would depend on wether the vacated postion is CF or not. As Hicks could handle CF defensively more readily in the bigs than could Arcia. But Arcia looks to be a cant-miss-middle-of-the-order hitter where Hicks looks more like a table setter. But Hicks did show good power in AA, so that could change how the team views his future role. Of all the pitching prospects, J.O. Berrios has to be the most intriguing. He absolutely dominated rookie ball as an 18-yr-old. Everyone will be watching to see what he can do in 2013. I predict Berrios starts at Cedar Rapids (A) and has the upside to end up in AA ball by the end of 2013 if he can continue to dominate the Midwest and Florida State Leagues. But he will likely finish 2013 at the A+ level with a 2015 MLB debut likely.

With this line-up, there wont be a ton of home-runs hit. But this line-up could produce a lot of runs, and if we did trade Willingham and Span for better starting pitching than what we have, this could be a winning line-up in 2013. Defensively they would be very good up the middle and in the corner outfield. Arcia is a great RF, and Revere would shut down any pop up to LF. Hicks sounds to be Torri HInuter-like in CF. Morneau is quality defender at 1B, and Plouffe is ok at 3B.

My batting order for 2013: 1. Revere - 7 2. Hicks - 8 3. Mauer - 2 4. Morneau - 3 5. Parmalee - DH 6. Plouffe - 5 7. Arcia - 9 8. Dozier - 4 9. Florimon - 6 Bench: Carroll (IF) Doumit (C/1B/OF) Mastroianni (OF) Escobar (IF)

I would go with Mauer at C, Morneau at 1B/DH, Parmalee at DH/1B, Dozier at 2B, Plouffe at 3B, Florimon at SS, and Carroll as the utility guy off the bench. I firmly believe the Twins need to trade Span and Willingham for starting pitching and starting pitching prospects. That means I choose an outfield of Revere - LF, Hicks - CF, Arcia - RF....Doumit can be a C/OF/1B/DH but should not start ahead of Morneau and Parmalee. So Doumit is off the bench with Carroll. If Mauer could be used at 3B (like vs. tough RHP's that Plouffe can't handle), that would allow for Doumit to catch more often. I like Doumit's bat in the middle of the line-up, but he wont replace Willingham if J-Will is traded. The Twins will have to rely on Morneau, Mauer, and probably Arcia to be middle-of-the-order run producers.