Dman

Those are my feeling as well. Need to make sure this is for real before he heads to AAA and the Twins need 40 man space so there would be no reason to add him unless a dire need due to injuries or continued bullpen underperformance. I watched him on MiLB last year a few times and he was giving up a lot of hard contact. Have not watched him this year but the results appear much better. From the Box score perspective everything looks good with a solid WHIP, ERA, K and Walk rate. Only issue I see is his ERA is overperforming his FIP and xFIP so there could be some possible regression coming but there are just so many good signs it is impossible to not be optimistic that he is back on track. His efficient outing last night where he didn't K many guys but got weak contact and quick outs bodes well as it means guys are having trouble squaring his stuff up. I hope he just keeps getting better and better as the year goes on.

I am hoping Schobel can show enough to get moved up but that might take longer than hoped. Also wondering if they would drop Miller or Salas back to Fort Myers to work on contact skills because both those guys have trouble making contact, Especially Salas. I liked the idea of the Twins challenging the young guys and I would give it more time to see if they take off but IMO at some point the better player needs to move up. That looks like Ortega to me right now.

Yeah I really liked the pick when the Twins made it and his build looked like it was built for power. I think he started off hot last year got injured and never got hot again. I thought maybe he would be better this year but right now all the catchers even Jeffeson Morales are swinging a better bat than Mack right now. Even the hit challenged Banuelos has a 900 OPS in a SSS. The only bat worse is Camargo but he is at AAA. Time was no longer on his side and kind of running out of room to keep him. I agree I think he can catch on with another team and I still think he has chance to be a decent catcher but the four guys he is competing against for a spot all look much better in the batters box right now. You are right Cossetti won't catch on to prospect lists as he is too old unless they can get him all the way up AA this year which is doubtful. Doesn't really matter though as long as he makes it to MLB that would be a win especially for an 11th round choice.

I feel bad for Mack but he just hasn't hit well his entire pro career. His highest OPS of .723 isn't even close to what Cossetti is doing right now. Cossetti has a real solid approach so far with as many walks as K's a good batting average and slugging percentage. So well rounded there was nothing left to work on in Fort Myers. Congrats to him on moving up. Aguiar really upped his OPS with that three homer game as it lifted his average and slugging. The K rate is down to 31% which might not seem great but considering it was 43% last year at this level that is quite an improvement so far. A few more walks would convince me he knows the strike zone well but he has a power bat and has to find a way to hit enoung to make it all work. He is off to a good start this year. Was also happy to see Ortega back into the .900 OPS range. I assume he will move up later in the year as he looks pretty solid right now. I know Neuse might be an after thought given he is 24 but he is hitting well with a .321 average. His slugging isn't great but walks, K's BA. OBP all look really good to me. Will be interesting to see how they handle Neuse and Schuffield. Although Schuffield has been scuffling for a while now. Lot's of fun seeing the Muscles have a great offensive night and move some the numbers in a positive direction. Looks like the pitching matchup's for today are must watch MiLB.TV. Hoping for better results today.

I agree that both Cardenas and Cossetti look like the best bet's for offensive catchers that can make it. Winkel is having a solid year with the bat so far but I watched him when he was at Cedar Rapids behind the plate and his throws to 2nd were awful. For someone who has been a catcher that long that seems to be a huge weakness to his game and a bad one given the changes to the game. Camargo is another catcher with a chance but he is very boom bust with the bat. However, the bar for catcher offense is low these days. Still I like the potential of Cossetti and Cardenas the best right now as well. Will also be interesting to see what Baez can broing to the table after he recovers from hamate issue.

The central is wide open if you ask me. The White Sox are only 5.5 games out of first place and if their offense does start to show up they have the pitching to compete. Cleveland is only 3.5 back and again if the offense does get going could be a force. Detroit is only 2.5 games back but I tend to agree with others that it feels like they have over performed to this point but sometimes the game goes like that and they could be lucky this year the way they were unlucky last year. The only team completely out of it at this point is KC. The Twins just keep finding ways to almost win but lose instead. Too many players not ready to mentally perform IMO. The Twins have equal if not better talent and better all round depth than the other teams in the central but they seem determined to bumble away any advantages they might have by not executing in critical situations. This division is there for any team to lose or win. Let the race to the top or bottom begin. Two months in and is basically a free for all.

Schobel looked pretty good last week. If I calculated correctly I think he hit .300 last week. He had an awful April with a .600 OPS playing in cold Cedar Rapids to start the year and with the weather warming his May numbers look better with a slash of 286/397/413 for an .810 OPS. His K rate is 20% and walk rate 10% on the season so I think his numbers could take off in the second half. Just when I thought Ortega was going to challenge Cossetti for the OPS lead he goes into a slump and Cossetti gets hot. I still like both bats but with Cossetti walking as much as K'ing he is more than ready to move up a level. Lewis off to a good start. A bit Jekyl and Hyde to start as he either gets no hits or lots of hits per game but the overall results are really good. I still think he can be a difference maker for the Twins so hoping he keeps the bat hot. Severino finally came down to earth some. Wondering if he is working more on plate discipline? Hard to say at any rate he has an elite power stoke he just needs needs to be disciplined enough to get good pitches to hit. Still liking what Headerick is doing. It nice to have to have solid option tucked away at AAA. Hoping for more breakouts especially at High A where the young guys are really struggling.

This is the only Mock I found with Teel in the top 5 but the Rangers just might be the Team that pulls the trigger on Teel. I don't know what Jenkins has going for him other than power but he sure seems to be high on most boards. There certainly could be shakeups in the draft order but the Twins are set to get an elite player. In this mock they do get Skenes. Still I think in the end you are right that Teel could make the top 5.

Yeah I really wanted Turner as well. I assume they didn't think his power projection was good enough? And he had been injured a bit IIRC. I was a huge Turner Fan as well. He was my dream pick for them in that draft as I wasn't into the power\slugging aspects of the game back then. His ability to play short get on base and steal bases was what I wanted to see but alas I guess they felt maybe more upside in the end with Gordon and that turned out poorly. I also was hoping Rodon would fall in that draft but he didn't. I wasn't a fan of Nola and he worked really well as a down the line pick. It is easy to get fooled in the draft and we only get bits of info so hard to make decisions on the little blurbs we do get. To your point I have been more comfortable with the College picks at least early on but I can see where high school picks can provide superior value later in the draft when a lot of the elite college players are off the board. Still looking at Holliday from last year which I thought might be a reach and he is killing it so projection at the HS level can be done but I still agree with you that it is riskier.

I Agree High Schoolers are tougher to predict as the level of competition varies and Pro Ball is a different game. Still there are those that standout and work out. Projection is also tougher. Look at Nick Gordon I don't think they pick him at number 5 if they knew he would stay that lean? He did hit all the way up though so they got that part right. So yeah I get what you are saying but so far this is where the pundits have them. I hope Skene's falls and I would take him over Clark in a heartbeat. I just can't see him making it to number 5 right now. Then again I didn't see Lee making it to 8. I am struggling on what to think about Dollander. He has scared me off of grabbing him at number 5 but I also believe whatever might be broken can likely be fixed. Just not sure what to think there yet but I would be be happy with any of the guys you named.

It kind of feels like the top 5 is the top 5 right now. Other than Crews at number 1 the order could go any number of ways but odds are the college guys go 1, 2, 3, with the two high schoolers left as college players tend to move faster. I think that leaves the Twins picking Jenkins or Clark. There are rumblings out there though about Teel. Catchers that can hit are hard to find so even if his bat might not be quite as good as the top 5, his hit tool could be very good to elite for a catcher. Other than that I think things stays the same unless some bad injury causes someone to fall. For me I would be happy with any one of the top 5 players. Not sure about Teel yet but I would be OK with that pick as well I think. Clark is still my preferred pick if he falls to 5. Will have to wait and see if things change. They sure did last year.

I can agree fan sentiment is fickle. I over-react all the time. I let my emotions cloud my judgement because I am a fan and free to feel the painful or joyous moments the game provides and comment on them. The FO cannot afford such a free feeling state. They generally are using cold hard numbers, track record, and sometimes a feel for recovery from injury to make there decisions. As most of us know no FO makes quick decisions on players as baseball can be a game of slumps, injuries and psychology. The trick is to determine when a player is at the end of their production or needs more time to get back to the player they were. Hicks with the Yankee's is a prime example. HIs production has been poor enough for long enough that they just let him go even though they still owe him money. I do think the the Trades for Paddack and Mahle were risky knowing the arm concerns for both players but in Mahle's case maybe desperation played into it. The Twins had no chance to recover without better starting pitching and he was likely the only affordable pitcher with fairly high upside they could get for the spare pieces they were willing to offer. His arm was a problem early in the season and he had recovered from it so maybe they thought he could tough it out? Hard to say and maybe fan sentiment played a role in applying pressure but as stated above it seems unlikely. The FO has to make sound decisions or they lose their jobs. It was more risk than they should have taken on so maybe a mistake but hindsight is 20/20. Fans often identify problem trends and or player performance but it usually takes a much longer time before the FO acts on most of that information. All clubs have certain ways of operating and I doubt the FO puts fan opinion on a level that would over-ride their processes and procedures. Fans might create some pressure but if the FO is any good they won't cave to the every emotion of roller coaster fans.

I like all those picks in the OP to move up. A lot of the guys at low A have had good seasons but it seems like several High A guys are just getting started as Prielipp had a setback Raya hasn't pitched a ton of innings and McCleod is on the comeback trail so not sure how much movement there will be from High A to AA and that leaves little room to promote the low A guys. Always nice to see pitchers doing well though and I hope they get more arms in the draft as the system needs them.

I tend to agree I think the position players at the top just look too strong to pass up other than maybe Skenes. I am torn on who the Twins should grab at 5 as Clark and Teel are both up the middle players with potentially good bats. Everyone seems to think Jenkins is going to hit and hit for power possibly at a Crews\Langford level so that would be tough to pass up as well. I just don't know who the best pick at 5 is anymore between potentially Jenkins, Clark, Teel and Dollander. I still think I like Clark best as having elite speed in center is a big deal and it hard to find guys that can run really fast and hit. There is still controversy on the boards with Teel looking to go in the teens and on Mock has him going number 4 to the Rangers. I guess it depends on how you feel about the bat and if he will stay behind the plate to take him at number 5. The system is short on catchers and we have no catchers even in the top 30 prospects at least not yet. There are some that question Teel's bat so that makes me less certain. If he can hit all the way up catchers that can hit at the MLB level are hard to find. It is just that catchers tend to get injured and their development is slower than most positions so not sure I love the risk level there but if the Twins think he is the best pick at number 5 I wouldn't be too disappointed. Dollander has some really rare pitching skills and he throws hard. He isn't having a great year but when there are writeups that compare him as one of the better arms that has been seen in quite a while it is hard to just pass on someone like that. Like you I have my concerns taking pitchers high in the draft as arms break down frequently and sometimes they don't make it back. Still Dollander has some unique attribute worthy of consideration at number 5 so I could understand if the Twins took on that risk. Still I think they play it safe and go position player at number 5. My pick is still Clark at 5 if he is there. While the Twins have several young outfielders on the way up they don't have anyone with elite speed for center. 5 tool players are hard to find and he can be a 5 tool player with power likely the only skill lacking. The Twins are going to need to do their homework. I just hope they grab the right guy at number 5.

It is going to be tough to beat Cole but having two guys in the top five right now is something I don't think my brain can handle. I am not used to having one top of line starter let alone two. The season is long so hard to say what will happen but I assume both Gray and Ryan will regress some and others will move higher up the chain. I am just happy we have a strong rotation this year.

Kalai Rosario creeping toward the .300 mark for batting average. Only 20 years old and performing well at High A he is looking like he could be a fast mover. He turns 21 in July and I wonder if he can get promoted to AA around that time. He would be young for the level but it would be nice to have a strong right handed outfield bat close to ready. He looked good this spring against MLB or near ready MLB pitchers so it seems like he has figured some things out. Severino continues to hit. Would be nice to see a few more walks but I guess when the hits are there swinging away works as well. Hoping the bat stays hot. Enlow was amazing. I have to say I was worried after last year and even more worried when they took him off the 40 man. Still early but the signs are encouraging that he still can be a starter or long reliever at the MLB level. Hoping he just gets stronger as the year goes on. Wallner with a nice game at the plate. When he is on he is on. I still like the bat but he has let K rate rise again and like Rooker until that is under control I just don't see it translating to MLB. Hopefully that gets better as the year goes on.

Totally agree with you. Guys will stop swinging at stuff out of the zone once they better figure out the pitch mix. Still this article seems to indicate he is likely to continue to be good.

I watched Cano all the way up and he seemed good but not great. I am shocked at how well he is doing this year. Not shocked that he is good but All-Star worthy? I never would have predicted that ever for him. His minor league stats were good but I didn't really see dominance there. So far it looks like I was very wrong. At the time I was fine with him as a throw in for the supposedly superior Lopez. Now that Cano is as good or better than Lopez and Povich is K'ing almost everyone he faces this trade hurts my stomach. I didn't like losing Povich in the deal to begin with but at the time we really needed another dominant relief arm so figured the cost is the cost but with both players working out extremely well for the O's this trade looks lopsided to me. For a FO that doesn't believe in investing in relievers they sure have paid a high price for a mediocre pen.

It seems like our relievers lack confidence in big time situations. Lopez walking in the winning run, Pagan walking guys when put in high leverage situations. It is like he is ready to crap his pants when in a tough situation. The whole pen has been walking too many guys this year and it has hurt them in the end. Jax is walking too many guys. Moran is walking too many guys. Trust your stuff guys. Either you have it or you don't at least make them earn their way on. The thing I really don't like about Pagan is his penchant for giving up the long ball after uncompetively walking guys. He comes out and can't throw strikes? I mean doesn't he work on that on a daily basis? Hard for me to see him as a pro some games especially in high leverage. Having said all that who do we really have other than wasting Headrick as a reliever that will be much better than Pagan? Winder was brutal when up. Henriquez isn't ready. I don't trust Schulfer. I don't like Sands and we have suffered with him already. Dobnak wouldn't be any better. Balazovich isn't ready as he was a head case just last year and can have control issues as well. There just isn't anything much better than Pagan at the moment that I can see. Pagan has been fine in most low leverage opportunities this year I think the lesson learned is do not at all costs put him in high leverage situations he mentally just can't handle it.

Nice to see Miranda with a couple of hits. At least it is a start toward contact. Mark Contreras is on a mission. He might be the best hitter on that team. He is taking really good at bats. It is too bad some of these guys just get stuck at AAA with very little chance at the MLB level. On the other hand Wallner looked horrible at the plate last night. I caught a couple of his at bats on MiLB TV and he looked like he was just guessing as he swung at stuff way outside the zone and struck out 4 times in 4 at bats. Just brutal IMO. Still he does have the highest OPS on the team right now so maybe just an off night but he was tough to watch. Fajardo is one tough out as his K rate is in the teens and his walk rate around 10% on average. He puts the ball in play. Still I can see why Pittsburgh gave up on him as he is mainly a singles hitter and his BA the last two years at high A was only .260. He isn't young for the level at 24 and BABIP is currently a high .380 but if the slugging improves some he is a legit utility option. Unless the slugging improves I don't see him being rule V protected but he is an excellent bat to have in the system. My guy Ohl with a tough night. I wonder sometimes if he needs to be less aggressive in the zone but I have to say the other part of me loves how he goes after hitters and challenges them in the zone. Maybe the pitches just weren't working as well last night hard to say but I still have my eye on him as I like his style. He would never be a guy that would walk in the winning run in a game as he knows how to hit his spots. Not a ton of great performances last night but today is another day to go out there and improve. I will be watching.

I do think Lee will be the answer at 3rd in the end but that might be mid 2024 or 2025 depending on how he progresses and or team injuries. Miranda can play 3rd as well I just don't think it will be long term and he needs to get that bat going again or he won't be there at all. While Correa has short Lewis is super utility so he can play infield or outfield. I think he will be the one to spell Correa at short. He could play second. He could play pretty much anywhere they need him play so I don't see third as Lewis's long term home but it could be if that is where he fits best. I don't see Jullien at 3rd as he doesn't have a real strong arm and isn't a great fielder as it is. Maybe in a pinch but nothing close to holding down third. I don't see Correa playing third anytime soon unless injury or his defense takes a huge turn but yeah sure someday he will end up there.

Just wanted to give a shout out to Dylan Neuse> I know he is old for the level and likely lack a power stroke but he has a .300 BA and is walking about the same amount as he is K'ing. He is a tiny guy as I got to see him in Beloit but he is off to nice start. These are far and away his best numbers as a pro. Jorel Ortega is looking like he might be a special bat. Hitting for average and power with nice walk and K rates. Hopefully some of these really good performers at A ball get moved up in June. There must be complex guys who can replace them but it would be nice to see these guys get greater challenges sooner rather than later. Happy to see Macleod getting on track. I always felt he was a good pick where the Twins got him. Since they traded away their top 3 pitcher picks from 2021 it sure would be nice if Macleod worked out well. Nice to see the affiliates winning some games and hopefully once the short season teams start we will get to see how well the younger guys on the top 30 are doing as well. Gotta keep that pipeline moving.

I am on the hype train but there is a reason the MLB.com site doesn't even list Severino in Minnesota's top 30 prospects. He is aggressive at the plate and that only plays so far up the ladder. His K rate as well as hot and cold streaks and injuries have kept him off the top prospect lists so there is work to be done. Still the end of last year and the beginning of this year he sure has been barreling up the ball with frequency so maybe he can sustain this to a degree. However, he is gonna need to learn to work counts or he will get taken advantage of at the MLB level. Severino always had a good power profile and now it is being realized. I hope this is his breakout year and he makes his way up the ladder,.

I know Rodriguez is a marginal player but like Atlanta I think he has potential to make a difference especially in the pen. He might not be elite but he was a steady performer. I assume that appealed to Atlanta and that is good for Derek as he should get more chances to prove himself there than with the Twins. Can't argue with Severino for hitter of the week. Those are just crazy numbers. He comes up ready to hit the ball hard, I am just not used to him connecting this much. Hopefully this is his breakout year. Can't argue with pitcher of the week either. Tampa doesn't seem like a strong hitting team but a no hitter is a no hitter and Lewis and his knuckle ball seems to really confuse the hitters especially for strike three. Guys are starting to heat up. Hoping to see more breakouts as the season moves on.

He has to perform but Lewis still could be the right pick at number 1. If he remains injury prone then not so much. Right now Green looks pretty good though. Lewis might have to be All Star caliber to beat Green out unless Green's arm does not hold up. I never liked the Rooker pick as he was older with just the one great college season. I wanted a pitcher there. Looks like maybe he will end up being what the Twins thought he might be just too late for the Twins. I never knew anything about Leach other than he was helium pick. Wasn't thrilled with that one as I wanted the Minnesota pitcher there but I don't think Sam Carlson has worked out any better than Leach. I really liked the Enlow pick at the time. Still not sure if Enlow is gonna make it or not but I did like the pick based on potential. I never gave Ober a chance to be this good. I thought maybe a reliever tops but he turned out to be far better than I could have imagined for a 12th round pick. Looks like Varland might follow in his footsteps as a day three pick that can start. Bechtold was always going to be about the bat and he is getting closer but he is running out of time to get there. It was a good risk reward pick there IMO. I also liked De la Torre but he never could hit at all. Total guess swing on every pitch. Excellent in the field just too bad he couldn't hit much at all really.