Steve Lein

Haha, I like your idea, but I don't see it happening for the other "whats the rush" reasons you point out.

Alex Wimmers and Tyler Jay went straight to Fort Myers. I would expect the same with Wright. Maybe Falvey likes AA for those types too (which I am an advocate for), we don't know yet.

Wright is probably the #1 guy on my board. The only other scenario I see is what Jeremy discussed the other day. Below slot high school arm (Gore) that lets them leverage another HS arm to them at 35 (Baz). I like both scenarios.

I'll always remember watching Kepler at Spring Training in 2012. He was playing with the Beloit roster that also had Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario, and Kennys Vargas on it. Kepler was the best player on that team that week, and it wasn't particularly close (Here's an oppo-double from him back then). Hit line drives everywhere, flew around the bases. I was actually astonished he did not play in the Midwest League that season, though an injury may have played a part in that. He was the first (and maybe only) player where seeing him in person drastically changed my outlook on him for the better (and I already thought highly of him). You're selling him short, he's going to be a #3 hitter .

That's a lot of words to put in my mouth, but my answer would be an unequivocal no... My strategy is I don't think this team is worthy of being (big) buyers this year, but I also wouldn't be sellers if they're still in contention. Let if fall where it may if that is case as the summer rolls on and there are some minor moves that make sense in those terms.

Once the All-Star games are played, I think we'll start to see such things.

We all want to win the World Series, I get that. I also agree with your assessment of being a Twins fan. But you misinterpret those bolded points a little. They are not mutually exclusive. Going after the division or a wild-card is going after winning a world series. Ask the '87 Twins if they were the best team in baseball... This response sounds to me, that if we're keeping everything in place, you would rather give up than try. That's where you lose me.

I don't agree that the scouting reports going into the draft match for these players. Wright's are better, but that's not because of the "stuff" you're pointing out. Take a look at grades prognosticators give for the pitchers this year. If you only take those into account, Hunter Greene shouldn't even be in the top 10. Fellow high schooler's Mackenzie Gore and Shane Baz would blow him away... Gibson was a mature draftee. You essentially already knew what you were getting with him. That is why he was considered a top-10/15 pick despite not having a high ceiling before his injury. Wright's does have that ceiling despite those reports maybe reading similar. There should be no doubt on who is the better prospect of the two and is why Wright is under consideration for #1.

Of note in the video above, is there are two distinct different breaking balls being thrown. Turley confirms as much in this article on the start: https://www.milb.com/milb/news/minnesota-twins-nik-turley-erupts-for-career-high-15-strikeouts/c-234789166/t-185364810

I'm with some others. This conversation is moot until the Twins are out of contention. The Houston series was thought of as a harbinger of doom for many, but that was probably just one team being significantly better than the other. Just because that Astros team is the cream of the AL crop right now, doesn't mean you give up on the AL Central or Wild Card race. This will be much clearer when the deadline approaches, and the standings say more about who is a contender and who is a pretender. The American League doesn't have a single team more than six games out of the Wild Card (nobody is truly "out of it" yet). The National League has nine teams more than six games out of the WC berth.

He's probably a guy the Twins don't really know what they have with yet. I mean, his AA numbers are otherworldly, but he hadn't had the same type of success at AAA until last night. But this type of thing gets you noticed, no matter who you are. And look at this damn breaking ball:

In the minors on Tuesday there were a few shortstop prospects who collected hits in bunches, including a near-cycle, but they couldn’t quite match the effort of a starter called up to AAA earlier in the day. He did something not many pitchers could say they’ve done over the first three innings, along with setting a career high for K’s on the game. Bad weather in Florida also wreaked havoc on the Miracle’s attempt at a mid-week series.To find out who made the headlines on 2-1 night in the system on Tuesday, read on. TRANSACTIONS Nik Turley was assigned again to Rochester on Tuesday, made the start for the Red Wings and made more than a statement to stay in AAA for good this time, and maybe even a call-up to the Twins. To make roomon the roster, right-handed pitcher Ryan Eades was swapped back to AA. RED WINGS REPORT Scranton Wilkes-Barre 1, Rochester 8 Box Score The Red Wings offense exploded for multiple runs in each of the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings in this one to put the RailRiders away. But the story wasn’t that late offensive explosion to secure the victory. The story was starter Nik Turley whose name has appeared quite frequently in these reports this season, but even he hadn’t done something like this. What you ask? How about recording his first ten outs of the game via the strikeout. He did punch out fourteen in a seven inning start for Chattanooga on April 25th, but would eclipse that number in six innings in this one, with fifteen K’s total. He did allow four hits (including two doubles) and two walks on the game, but whenever any trouble materialized he simply shrugged it off and overpowered the next hitter(s). Mitch Garver started that scoring for Rochester with his fourth home run of the season, a three-run shot in the sixth. Zack Granite added an RBI single in the three-run seventh inning that also included three errors, and John Ryan Murphy added an RBI double in the two-run eighth to account for most of that late offense. Granite finished 3-5 with two runs scored. Out of the bullpen, Drew Rucinski pitched two perfect innings including one strikeout, while Michael Tonkin allowed a run on two hits and a walk in the ninth to close out the game. He also struck out one. CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Jackson 4, Chattanooga 2 (14 innings) Box Score The Lookouts were taken into extra innings in this one, as the pitching staffs of both teams limited the chances throughout. Matt Tracy made the start for Chattanooga and went the first six innings. He gave up a two-run home run in the fourth that made the score 2-1 in favor of the Generals, but that was it. He allowed five hits and two walks along with five strikeouts on the game. Chattanooga scored single runs in the third and fifth innings thanks to the bat of Nick Gordon, who brought in the run with a single in both frames. The Lookouts left the bases loaded in that fifth inning, and with the game tied the bullpens took over. Todd Van Steensel, Luke Bard and Mason Melotakis all pitched two scoreless frames for the home team, extending into the extra frames. Van Steensel was perfect in the seventh and eighth. Bard allowed two hits but struck out three in the ninth and tenth. Melotakis walked one and struck out three in the next two innings. Jackson’s bullpen pitched nine scoreless innings, combining to allow just five hits and four walks, while striking out fourteen to keep Chattanooga from walking this one off. Nick Anderson came on in the thirteenth frame and kept the game tied, but ran into trouble that spelled doom for the Lookouts in the fourteenth. Three singles, a walk, and a sac fly plated two runs for 4-2 Jackson lead. Ryan Walker led off the bottom of the inning with a walk and Gordon reached base as the tying run with an infield single before an out was recorded, but a double-play ball and ground out shut the door on the extended game. Gordon (4-6, 2 RBI, BB), Edgar Corcino (3-7), and Walker (2-5, R, 2B, BB) accounted for nine of the Lookouts eleven hits on the game. The rest of the team was 2-33 with twelve of their sixteen total strikeouts. They were just 2-14 with runners in scoring position and left thirteen men on base. MIRACLE MATTERS Cancelled – Rain. After their game was postponed due to rain yesterday, the weather persisted in Palm Beach and both games today were cancelled. Per a press release from the Miracle, the games will not be made up. Lewis Thorpe had started the game yesterday and his team was down 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth due to a couple of unearned runs when it was postponed. No stats from that game will count. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 7, Clinton 2 Box Score Cedar Rapids notched runs in four of the first five innings in this one, jumping out to a 5-0 lead that would be more than enough offense for their pitching staff. Lewin Diaz put them up 1-0 with an RBI double in the first inning, keeping his name at the top of the leaderboard for extra-base hits on the season with twenty-eight (21 2B, 3B, 7 HR). They scored two in the third thanks to an RBI triple from Jermaine Palacios and an RBI single from Jaylin Davis. In the fourth, after his first double of the season and advancing to third on a fielder's choice, Hank Morrison raced home on a wild pitch before Palacios clubbed his eighth home run to make it 5-0. The LumberKings were held scoreless through the sixth inning thanks to the effort of Kernels starter Tyler Wells. In the high quality start, he allowed just two singles to the opposing offense while striking out seven. Of his 83 pitches, 56 went for strikes including eight swing-and-misses. He struck out the side in the fifth inning. He lowered his ERA to 2.05 on the season along with picking up his third win. The Kernels tacked on two more runs in the eighth thanks to a Caleb Hamilton double, and he scored on a wild pitch. In relief of Wells, Max Cordy allowed a run on a walk that was followed by an RBI double in the seventh, but struck out two in his inning. Colton Davis pitched a scoreless eight, striking out one. Patrick McGuff came on to finish the game, and gave up a run on a walk and a hit for the final score of 7-2. Palacios finished a double short of the cycle with a 3-5 night and scored three runs in addition to his two RBI. Davis was the only other player with multiple hits and also drove in two. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Nik Turley, Rochester Red Wings (W, 6 IP, 4 H’s, 2 BB’s, 15 K’s) Hitter of the Day – Jermaine Palacios, Cedar Rapids Kernels (3-5, 3 R’s, 3B, HR, 2 RBI) WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Scranton Wilkes-Barre @ Rochester (11:35AM CST) – LHP David Hurlbut (3-3, 3.35 ERA) Jackson @ Chattanooga (10:15AM CST) – RHP Felix Jorge (5-1, 3.39 ERA) Tampa @ Fort Myers (6:05PM CST) – RHP Brady Anderson (2-1, 4.01 ERA) Cedar Rapids @ Clinton (6:30PM CST) – RHP Sean Poppen (4-1, 2.12 ERA) Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Tuesday’s games! Click here to view the article

In the minors on Tuesday there were a few shortstop prospects who collected hits in bunches, including a near-cycle, but they couldn’t quite match the effort of a starter called up to AAA earlier in the day. He did something not many pitchers could say they’ve done over the first three innings, along with setting a career high for K’s on the game. Bad weather in Florida also wreaked havoc on the Miracle’s attempt at a mid-week series. To find out who made the headlines on 2-1 night in the system on Tuesday, read on. TRANSACTIONS Nik Turley was assigned to Rochester on Tuesday and made the start for the Red Wings, and made more than a statement to stay in AAA for good this time, and maybe even a call-up to the Twins. To make the room, right-handed pitcher Ryan Eades was swapped back to AA. RED WINGS REPORT Scranton Wilkes-Barre 1, Rochester 8 Box Score The Red Wings offense exploded for multiple runs in each of the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings in this one to put the RailRiders away. But the story wasn’t that late offensive explosion to secure the victory. The story was starter Nik Turley whose name has appeared quite frequently in these reports this season, but even he hadn’t done something like this. What you ask? How about record his first ten outs of the game via the strikeout. He did punch out fourteen in a seven inning start for Chattanooga on April 25th, but would eclipse that number in six innings in this one, with fifteen K’s total. He did allow four hits (including two doubles) and two walks on the game, but whenever any trouble materialized he simply shrugged it off and overpowered the next hitter(s). Mitch Garver started that scoring for Rochester with his fourth home run of the season, a three run shot in the sixth. Zack Granite added an RBI single in the three-run seventh inning that also included three errors, and John Ryan Murphy added an RBI double in the two-run eighth to account for most of that late offense. Granite finished 3-5 with two runs scored. Out of the bullpen, Drew Rucinski pitched two perfect innings including one strikeout, while Michael Tonkin allowed a run on two hits and a walk in the ninth to close out the game. He also struck out one. CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Jackson 4, Chattanooga 2 (14 innings) Box Score The Lookouts were taken into extra innings in this one, as the pitching staffs of both teams limited the chances throughout. Matt Tracy made the start for Chattanooga, and went the first six innings. He gave up a two-run home run in the fourth that made the score 2-1 in favor of the Generals, but that was it. He allowed five hits and two walks along with five strikeouts on the game. Chattanooga scored single runs in the third and fifth innings thanks to the bat of Nick Gordon, who brought in the run with a single in both frames. The Lookouts would leave the bases loaded in that fifth inning, and with the game tied the bullpens took over. Todd Van Steensel, Luke Bard, and Mason Melotakis all pitched two scoreless frames for the home team, extending into the extra frames. Van Steensel was perfect in the seventh and eighth. Bard allowed two hits but struck out three in the ninth and tenth. Melotakis walked one and struck out three in the next two innings. Jackson’s bullpen pitched nine scoreless innings, combining to allow just five hits and four walks, while striking out fourteen to keep Chattanooga from walking this one off. Nick Anderson came on in the thirteenth frame and kept the game tied, but ran into trouble that spelled doom for the Lookouts in the fourteenth. Three singles, a walk, and a sac fly plated two runs for 4-2 Jackson lead. Ryan walker led off the bottom of the inning with a walk and Gordon reached base as the tying run with an infield single before an out was recorded, but a double-play ball and ground out shut the door on the extended game. Gordon (4-6, 2 RBI, BB), Edgar Corcino (3-7), and Walker (2-5, R, 2B, BB) accounted for nine of the Lookouts eleven hits on the game. The rest of the team was 2-33 with twelve of their sixteen total strikeouts. They were just 2-14 with runners in scoring position and left thirteen men on base. MIRACLE MATTERS Cancelled – Rain. After their game was postponed due to rain yesterday, the weather persisted in Palm Beach and both games today were cancelled. Per a press release from the Miracle, the games will not be made up. Lewis Thorpe had started the game yesterday and his team was down 2-0 when it was postponed in the bottom of the fourth due to a couple of unearned runs, but no stats from that game will count. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 7, Clinton 2 Box Score Cedar Rapids notched runs in four of the first five inning in this one, jumping out to a 5-0 lead that would be more than enough offense for their pitching staff. Lewin Diaz put them up 1-0 with an RBI double in the first inning, keeping his name at the top of the leaderboard for extra-base hits on the season with twenty-eight (21 2B, 3B, 7 HR). They scored two in the third thanks to an RBI triple from Jermaine Palacios and an RBI single from Jaylin Davis. After his first double of the season in the fourth, Hank Morrison raced home on wild pitch before Palacios clubbed his eighth home run in the fifth to make it 5-0. The LumberKings were held scoreless through the sixth inning thanks to the effort of Kernels starter Tyler Wells. In the high quality start, he allowed just two singles to the opposing offense while striking out seven. Of his 83 pitches, 56 went for strikes including eight swing-and-misses and striking out the side in the fifth inning. He lowered his ERA to 2.05 on the season along with picking up his third win. The Kernels tacked on two more runs in the eighth thanks to a Caleb Hamilton double, and he would later score on a wild pitch. In relief of Wells, Max Cordy allowed a run on a walk that was followed by an RBI double in the seventh, but struck out two in his inning. Colton Davis pitched a scoreless eight, striking out one. Patrick McGuff came on to finish the game, and gave up a run on a walk and a hit for the final score of 7-2. Palacios finished a double short of the cycle with a 3-5 night and scored three runs in addition to his two RBI. Davis was the only other player with multiple hits and also drove in two. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Nik Turley, Rochester Red Wings (W, 6 IP, 4 H’s, 2 BB’s, 15 K’s) Hitter of the Day – Jermaine Palacios, Cedar Rapids Kernels (3-5, 3 R’s, 3B, HR, 2 RBI) WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Scranton Wilkes-Barre @ Rochester (11:35AM CST) – LHP David Hurlbut (3-3, 3.35 ERA) Jackson @ Chattanooga (10:15AM CST) – RHP Felix Jorge (5-1, 3.39 ERA) Tampa @ Fort Myers (6:05PM CST) – RHP Brady Anderson (2-1, 4.01 ERA) Cedar Rapids @ Clinton (6:30PM CST) – RHP Sean Poppen (4-1, 2.12 ERA) Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Tuesday’s games!

Me too. A lot more, actually.

You find spots for hitters. I'm not worried about that.

In the first set, all those guys had multiple 60/70 pitches. They may not be as "wow" factor as them at this point, but Wright has plus stuff overall as well with his mix. He's going to throw four pitches, all with plus potential. Greene has the 70 fastball, Mckay has a plus curve. They have potential (MLB) average to above average everything else between them at this point. Wright is getting above average grades on all of his pitches, not just one or two. Fastball is plus velocity (mid-90's). As for the second trio, and some people may scoff at this, but Wright is probably more comparable to them. The key difference though, is Wright is not Appel, Hochevar, or Burlington... He will forge his own path. If you want the best graded (potential) stuff overall for the draft at this point though, it's Mackenzie Gore (or Baz).

I'm in the Rooker camp at 35/37 if he lasts that long (strikes me as the type someone could cut a deal with early). Don't know enough about those prep pitchers to gauge them there, but if Wright is it at 1:1, I like one (just one) of those types there. If that's the case though, I hope they have the speculated deal with Baz in place

He threw 140 innings last season. It would have been hard for him to hit any innings limit even if he hadn't started the season on the DL. I don't think this is an issue to worry about with him.

On 5/25, I would assume the Miracle did not score their run until they were down 2-0 already. Thus, there was never a situation where Thorpe was taken off the hook for being behind while on the mound.

I don't think he's top 10, but I would expect he's moved ahead of J.P. Crawford at this point as far as shortstops go, who was coming into the season.

Gordon is a Monster! Goodrum though, had a nine-game hitting streak after game 1 of their double-hitter on Tuesday, I wrote about it then. He didn't have a hit in the night cap, so he's only at a 2 game streak now He's been very impressive lately, however!

Been saying it everywhere: Gordon's bat has been underrated. Hopefully it won't be anymore after this season. He was my preseason pick for Hitter of the Year, and he would have been #1 for me coming into the season. Great to see Gonsalves having success right away after returning. Romero has been turning it on too. The reinforcements are coming, the Twins just need to weather their 50 games in 50 days storm enough for them to matter later this summer!

Also gives them another option who can throw multiple innings when needed.

I don't know, he's reminding me a lot of Denard Span as a hitter. I'd like that on this Twins club eventually. Probably not much value in a trade for him at this point, though. He wouldn't be someone a team would target as their top return, anyway.