Jim Crikket

We’ve worked our way around the horn in the first three Parts of this series, covering the catchers, corner infielders and middle infielders that could possibly put on a Kernels uniform in Cedar Rapids this summer. In Part 4 of our series, we’ll check out a number of outfielders that could take the field for Cedar Rapids at some point during 2013. http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/KernelsTwins-300x168.jpg (Image: Kernels.com) Obviously, we can’t know this early exactly who will come north to Iowa out of Spring Training to start the season, but regardless of which of these prospects starts the season in Cedar Rapids, the Kernels outfield should be flat-out loaded! A number of the organization’s top prospects played at Elizabethton in 2012 and most of them should find their way to Cedar Rapids either to start the season or by some time midway through the summer. JaDamion (J.D.) Williams – Age 22 – Bats: Both/Throws: Right 2012: Beloit (Class A – MWL) [TABLE] [TD=width: 26]G[/TD] [TD=width: 34]PA[/TD] [TD=width: 38]BA[/TD] [TD=width: 41]OPS[/TD] [TD=width: 26]K[/TD] [TD=width: 31]BB[/TD] [TD=width: 28]2B[/TD] [TD=width: 28]3B[/TD] [TD=width: 31]HR[/TD] 97 407 .234 .651 115 39 16 2 6 [/TABLE] http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/WilliamsAug2012-225x300.jpgJD Williams Williams was drafted out of his Tampa FL high school by the Twins in the 10th round of the 2010 amateur draft. JD signed in time to get 37 games in with the GCL Twins in 2010, but struggled at the plate. He had considerably more success in his sophomore year of professional baseball, hitting .324 for Elizabethton in 2011. His productivity dipped some in his first year of full-season ball at Beloit in 2012, but he did finally show some of the speed the Twins expected him to have on the basepaths. He stole 23 bases in 32 attempts during the season at Beloit, but just think of how many he could have stolen if he hadn’t struck out 115 times. Williams spent considerable time in all three outfield positions during 2012, including 23 games in centerfield. He also threw out seven runners on the bases. At the end of the 2012 season, I would have almost guaranteed JD would open 2013 with the Kernels and I think he could probably use some extra time at the Class A level. But with the Twins trading Denard Span and Ben Revere, the bottleneck of outfielders in the organization could open up enough to allow him to open the year at high-A Fort Myers, along with most of the rest of his fellow Snappers team mates from last season. Max Kepler – Age 19 – Bats: L/Throws: L 2012: Elizabethton (Rookie – Appy) [TABLE] [TD=width: 26]G[/TD] [TD=width: 34]PA[/TD] [TD=width: 38]BA[/TD] [TD=width: 41]OPS[/TD] [TD=width: 26]K[/TD] [TD=width: 31]BB[/TD] [TD=width: 28]2B[/TD] [TD=width: 28]3B[/TD] [TD=width: 31]HR[/TD] 59 269 .297 .925 33 27 16 5 10 [/TABLE] http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/KeplerButeraST2012-222x300.jpgMax Kepler In 2009, the Twins gave the 6’4″ German the largest signing bonus paid to a European baseball player, at the time. He moved to Fort Myers and finished school at the high school that neighbors the Twins training facility in that city. In three seasons of rookie league ball, Kepler has steadily progressed, showing the kind of athletic prowess one might expect from the son of European ballet dancers. The 6’4″ outfielder will just turn 20 before this season and has grown in to his body since arriving in the US. In 2012, his second season at Elizabethton, he made real progress in almost every aspect of his game, adding 35 points to his batting average and a whopping 211 points to his OPS, most of that a result of showing significantly more power. After hitting just one home run in his first two years of professional ball, combined, Kepler jacked 10 of them in 2012. But Max isn’t just big, he’s got speed as well (he stole seven bases without being caught stealing even once) and a strong arm. He played 67 games in centerfield for Elizabethton last year and 23 games in a corner outfield spot, mostly left field. Kepler was appearing in most offseason “top 10″ lists of Twins prospects before the Span and Revere trades added a couple of highly rated minor league pitchers to the organization, but he easily remains a consensus top 15 Twins prospect heading in to 2013. Even after those trades, I’ve ranked Kepler 9th on my list. Romy Jimenez – Age 21 – Bats R/Throws R 2012: Elizabethton (Rookie – Appy) [TABLE] [TD=width: 26]G[/TD] [TD=width: 34]PA[/TD] [TD=width: 38]BA[/TD] [TD=width: 41]OPS[/TD] [TD=width: 26]K[/TD] [TD=width: 31]BB[/TD] [TD=width: 28]2B[/TD] [TD=width: 28]3B[/TD] [TD=width: 31]HR[/TD] 35 139 .347 1.108 25 19 12 1 8 [/TABLE] Jiminez was signed in 2009 out of the Dominican Republic and started his professional career with two very good seasons in the Dominican Summer League. An injury limited him to just eight games with the GCL Twins in 2011, but he came back very strong in 2012. Romy won’t turn 22 until several weeks in to what should be his first experience on a full-season roster in Cedar Rapids. He has certainly shown the ability to hit and hit with power, but I’m curious about the fact that he didn’t steal a single base in 2012 (and only attempted one) at Elizabethton, although he stole 24 bases in 34 attempts in his two Dominican seasons. Like Kepler, the 6’2″ Jimenez saw time in all three outfield spots during 2012, though most of his time was spent in left field. Adam Walker – Age 21 – Bats: R/Throws: R 2012: Elizabethton (Rookie – Appy) [TABLE] [TD=width: 26]G[/TD] [TD=width: 34]PA[/TD] [TD=width: 38]BA[/TD] [TD=width: 41]OPS[/TD] [TD=width: 26]K[/TD] [TD=width: 31]BB[/TD] [TD=width: 28]2B[/TD] [TD=width: 28]3B[/TD] [TD=width: 31]HR[/TD] 58 254 .250 .805 76 19 7 4 14 [/TABLE] The 6’4″, 225 pound, Walker was drafted by the Twins in the 3rd round of the 2012 amateur draft and after signing quickly, he was assigned to Elizabethton in time to get 58 games in. His batting average in his first professional season won’t raise eyebrows and his .310 on-base percentage could stand to improve. He certatainly needs to cut that strikeout rate down considerably. But look at those extra-base hits! Seven doubles, four triples and 14 home runs in just 58 games. That would project to 20 doubles, seven triples and close to 40 home runs over a 162 game Major League schedule. Walker exclusively played right field for E’town and he made a few errors out there, but he also threw out half a dozen baserunners. He also stole four bases on the season, without being caught stealing even once. The Twins obviously saw a potential power hitter in Walker when they drafted him out of Jacksonville University and he gave them no reason to question that in his first professional experience. If he can slash those Ks in Cedar Rapids, while maintaining anything even close to his 2012 power numbers, Adam could climb up the organizational ladder quickly. That’s four potential outfielders and, if Candido Pimentel, who we covered with the middle infielders, starts the season in Cedar Rapds, that would give Kernels manager Jake Mauer a full contingent of players to move in and out of his outfield. But wait! We haven’t even mentioned the outfielder who managed to garner Baseball America’s “top prospect” award in BOTH the Gulf Coast League and the Appalachian League in 2012. Of course, that would be… Byron Buxton – Age 19 – Bats: R/Throws: R 2012: Fort Myers (Rookie – GCL) and Elizabethton (Rookie – Appy) [TABLE] [TD=width: 26]G[/TD] [TD=width: 34]PA[/TD] [TD=width: 38]BA[/TD] [TD=width: 41]OPS[/TD] [TD=width: 26]K[/TD] [TD=width: 31]BB[/TD] [TD=width: 28]2B[/TD] [TD=width: 28]3B[/TD] [TD=width: 31]HR[/TD] 48 189 .248 .792 41 19 10 4 5 [/TABLE] The only benefit to having the second worst record in Major League Baseball in 2011 was that it earned the Twins the right to the second overall draft pick in the 2012 amateur draft. The Twins used that pick to select Buxton out of his Georgia high school and less than a year later, he’s generally considered either the 1st or 2nd ranked prospect in the Twins organization (he tops my list). Buxton played 27 games with the GCL Twins before moving up to Elizabethton to finish the season. While his .216 batting average win the GCL wasn’t flashy, he actually had more extra-base hits (11, including 4 HRs) than singles (8). Think about that for a moment. His Appy stats were much more “normal” looking, but he still had eight XBHs among his 22 hits overall at that level. There is probably little doubt that Buxton could compete at the Class A level, but given his age (he’ll be 19 all season long) and the outfield talent that got more experience in Elizabethton a year ago, Byron will quite likely stick around extended spring training to start the season and may play a few weeks in E’town again. I’ll be surprised, however, if he isn’t in Cedar Rapids for most of the second half of the MWL season and if JD Williams does open the year at high-A Fort Myers, Buxton could come to Cedar Rapids in April, too. Whenever you do get to see him play in Cedar Rapids, Kernels fans, pay attention. Once he reaches Minnesota, Buxton could be the Twins center fielder for many years to come. There are a couple more outfielders that at least warrant a mention, since you never know when injuries and promotions will result in players getting promoted from one of the rookie league teams. If that happens, look for Kelvin Ortiz, Jeremias Pineda or Dereck Rodriguez to find themselves in Kernels uniforms. Ortiz, a 21-year-old Dominican has played two seasons in the Dominican Summer League and two seasons with the GCL Twins while compiling just a .221 batting average and perhaps even less impressive stats, otherwise. Pineda, also from the Dominican Republic, is 22 and came over to the Twins from the Red Sox organization in the Danny Valencia trade last summer. The move didn’t exactly agree with him, however, as he hit just .237 while putting up a .640 OPS with the GCL Twins after putting up .421 BA and .981 OPS numbers for the GCL Red Sox before the trade. Rodriguez, 20, was drafted by the Twins in the 6th round of the 2011 amateur draft. He struggled considerably with the GCL Twins after signing in 2011, but improved a great deal last year while repeating that level. He hit .263 with a .783 OPS with a bit of power. Kernels fans should enjoy watching their outfielders this season. Some of them have much better than average chances of playing Major League Baseball in the future. Next: Starting Pitchers - JC

Good catch, thanks. It was 24 of 66 Just my fat fingers typing. Appreciate you bringing it to my attention. I'll be fixing it.

I don't know where this $5 million per 1 WAR is coming from, but if you're using it to argue that it would take an extral $5 million in payroll for every win the Twins could get above the 65ish they've been getting, I just can't accept that premise. If that were the case, a team that starts with ZERO wins would have to spend $300 million just to REACH 60 wins! There's just no way the Twins would need to spend an additional $5 million for every win they would wish to realize. EDIT TO ADD: Heck, now that I think about it, The Twins won a couple MORE games last year by cutting $15 million in payroll. Maybe TR thinks that you gain 1 WAR for every $5 million you CUT in payroll?

Here's where I strongly disagree. While LONG TERM sustained success does rely on improving the player development process, there's no reason that, during a time like the Twins are in now with significant payroll space even within their self-imposed 50% of revenues business model, they couldn't go ahead and spend some of that money on veteran players that would make the product on the field closer to being at least MLB-average or, at worst, give the fans some indication that you've noticed the talent sucks and that you're willing to invest in at least trying to make it better. As is, the Twins are essentially telling the fans, "we can't tell you the truth about how bad our team is going to be because you won't show up for games, so in the future, you should just understand that everything you hear coming from our mouths in the offseason is a lie. We're just hoping that the 20 year olds we have in Cedar Rapids this summer will turn out to be really good within two years or, failing that, that you fans keep believing the crap we're spewing every year until we stumble upon some success again."

josecordoba, my first example was not aimed directly at you, but those who continue to argue that investing a few million more to improve the 2013 team amounts to nothing more than "spending just to spend." That said, if you really don't believe the Twins were cheap in their moves before 1991, I can only conclude that you weren't around during the Calvin Griffith days or you're a member of Cal's family.

In the end, IF a GM can assemble a roster that will entertain fans and keep their interest all season long for $80 million, then there's no reason to just hand that same group of players an extra $20 million just so you can say you have a $100 million payroll. But that's NOT the case with the Twins. Their $78.5 million team this summer seems unlikely to maintain fan interest, much less support. The result would then be even lower revenues... and, based on the Twins' historical approach, an even lower payroll the following year. The downward spiral would not be broken until either (a) the Twins decide to go against their prior trends and invest more in talent and show some faith in their fans that the resulting improved product would increase fan support; or ( they get lucky and have a season where a bunch of minimum wage players win a lot of games. In which case, the increased revenues might... might... be used to keep some of those players in a Twins uniform beyond their arbitration years.

The "don't spend just to spend" people seem to think the rest of us would be OK with Terry Ryan giving Correia $25 million a year instead of $5 million because at least the Twins would have close to a $100 million payroll that way. It's absurd, but then their point is absurd. Not spending just to not spend is basically what the Twins have done for all but 1-2 years of their existence.

This may actually be the case as soon as 2014 and is just one reason why the people who think the Twins are saving money this year so they can spend it next year or the year after are smoking something they really should share with the rest of us. The Twins are unlikely to have a payroll at $100 million again during the remainder of Joe Mauer's current contract. With the additional National tv money kicking in next year, club revenues will quite possibly reach an all-time high (with the possible exception of year 1 of Target Field). Has anyone else noticed that nobody... NOBODY... in the Twins organization has uttered a word about the old, "we spend 50-52% of revenues on MLB payroll" line they've spouted about consistently for a generation? My guess is you'll never hear them say that again. The new model will be closer to 40% of revenue and/or they'll start claiming that the bonus money they pay to draftees and international signings have to be included, in addition to MLB payroll.

I am SO friggin tired of the "don't spend just to spend" crap. You spend to put a better product on the field and win more games than if you don't spend. People that think unless you're challenging for a World Series title there's no point in spending any money have obviously never run a business. If the Twins won't spend enough to keep fans interested in attending games and buying merchandise in 2013, they'll have lower revenues and they'll use that as an excuse to keep an even lower cap on payroll in 2014. So much for the "save money this year to spend it next year" line of BS. It simply doesn't happen with this organization.

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1304-Prospects-and-Projects-–-Projecting-the-2013-Kernels-Part-3

I totally agree. All ballots should be public, as should the identity of those eligible voters who fail to cast a ballot.

Signing Liriano at this point to a 1 year, incentive-heavy deal would not be the worst move the front office has made this offseason. Doesn't mean it's necessarily wise, just that the bar for "not the worst move" has been set so low that it's pretty easy to clear.

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1300-Prospects-and-Projects-–-Projecting-the-2013-Kernels-Part-2

The thread has predictably become another debate about the worthiness of 'roid users in the HOF and that really wasn't what my article intended to focus on. Rather, it is the contention among some writers that this issue and the resulting failure to elect anyone to the HOF this year necessitates changing the voting to, say, allow voters to list 15 players on their ballot. Can I suggest, since none of us are going to convince others to change their minds on 'roid issues, that we focus on the voting process, instead? I understand that the HOF will need a steady influx of live inductees. I think they'll have them, but if that's really the only (or best) reason to change the rules for how the voting takes place, think about this... Leave the ballot limit at 10 players, but with the caveat that every year the top vote getter, regardless of what % of the vote he gets, is declared elected to the HOF. In addition, naturally, any OTHER player who gets 75% or more is also elected. Solves that problem a lot simpler than letting voters name 15 players on their ballot and doesn't come with all the other potential side effects of increasing to 15. Would Biggio's election this year come with a stigma attached to it? Yeah... but no more so than if he only got 75% because writers were allowed to vote for 15 guys. Anyone who gets elected as a result of a change in voting rules will enter somewhat tarnished, but I'd argue that getting the most votes, even if it's fewer than 75%, may be more significant in future years than getting 75% has been in the pre-roid era of voting.

Yes, I think this is actually greater cause for fear than just the usual, "Twins are being cheap," thing and it goes deeper than Correia. I'm concerned that Ryan and the Twins are just not on par with the rest of the league when it comes to accurately identifying starting pitching talent, whether in schoolboys or veteran MLB pitchers.

I just don't get the "either - or" mentality of some folks. Sure, the minor league talent coming up is better than it has been for a long time and there's cause for optimism about many of the young players. But why the hell does that mean the Twins should be allowed to put a crappy product on the field in the mean time without being called on it? The Pohlad quotes that ThePuck posted SHOULD be followed up on by media with ownership... but they won't be. I don't think it's at all unreasonable for the fan base to question Twins ownership and management, given how things have unfolded. There is absolutely no excuse for the Twins to be once again putting a minor league level product on the field this season. If the only way that Terry Ryan knows how to put a competitive team on the field is to spend 4-5 years developing one up through the minor league organization, then perhaps he should be replaced by a GM who is capable of blending development with integration of quality free agents. He has not delivered on Pohlad's on-the-record promises.

Yeah, I've pretty much reached the "it is what it is, so let's move on and see what happens" stage of the offseason, but for anyone to still be referring to the Twins as "small market" is kind of sad. The Twins were NEVER "small market". The Twin Cities are, by pretty much any measure among MLB cities, "middle market," and have been for ages. They were a mid-market team that had small-market-like revenue streams and thus had to operate like a small market team. Those days are over. They are now officially a middle market team with middle market revenues... that has apparently resumed operating as a small market team with Terry Ryan's re-emergence as GM. I also think it's absurd to suggest that the only option to what we've seen this off-season was to be the 2012 Angels and throw money down a drain. Grady may well be right about Ryan genuinely wanting to get better pitchers initially. But the whole idea of prices escalating beyond expectations would only be accurate if the Twins' expectations were absurdly unrealistic.

Ohhhhh... so all those guys using greenies were doing it just for recreational purposes! OK. Look, 'roids and greenies did not have the exact same effect, but to argue that either of them aren't PEDs is pretty silly. There are reasons players took both drugs. They may not be the SAME reason, but both involved "enhancing performance." Steroids were taken to make a guy stronger and greenies were taken to give a guy more energy, get him through a long season, etc. And don't even bother with the "greenies ddin't aid performance" crap. I took them in the 70s and all I was doing was playing HS baseball. They certainly didn't turn my sorry skills in to MLB skills, but they made me better than I would have been without them (I worked 10 hour days in construction that summer). If Mays took greenies and it helped them with their focus through a long season, didn't that put a pitcher who didn't use them at a competitive disadvantage? If Aaron used greenies and that allowed him to retain the necessary energy to keep hitting HRs later in a long season, should there be a * next to his HR record because he had a chemical advantage Babe Ruth didn't have? Just because their bodies didn't transform in to bigger versions of themselves doesn't mean they didn't give make themselves better through modern chemistry (or at least what passed for modern in their time). And they knew they were breaking the law, too. That lack of "moral character" in an effort to perform better tells me all I need to know about whether they also would have taken steroids if they had been as readily available to them in their day as they were to Bonds, et al.

In preparation for the first season of the new affiliation between the Twins and my hometown Cedar Rapids Kernels, I’ve embarked on a series of “get to know them” posts. The intention is to give my fellow Kernels fans a little bit of information about the Twins prospects we may be seeing in Kernels uniforms over the course of the summer, understanding full well that it’s impossible to know exactly who will fill the Kernels’ roster several months before Opening Day. (This article was originally posted at Knuckleballsblog.com.) http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/KernelsTwins-300x168.jpg (Image: Kernels.com) In Part 1 of the series, I looked at catchers and in Part 2, I covered corner infielders. In this post, we’ll look at middle infielders that could spend all or part of their summer in Cedar Rapids. While I had a little trouble identifying corner infielders likely to wear Kernels uniforms in 2013, I had almost exactly the opposite problem when I looked over the list of potential middle infielders. If anything, I found too many guys who could see time in Cedar Rapids this season. Adam (A.J.) Pettersen – Age 24 – Bats R/Throws R 2012: Beloit (Class A – MWL) [TABLE] [TD=align: left]G[/TD] [TD=align: left]PA[/TD] [TD=width: 38, align: left]BA[/TD] [TD=width: 41, align: left]OPS[/TD] [TD=width: 26, align: left]K[/TD] [TD=width: 31, align: left]BB[/TD] [TD=width: 28, align: left]2B[/TD] [TD=width: 28, align: left]3B[/TD] [TD=width: 31, align: left]HR[/TD] [TD=align: right]93[/TD] [TD=align: right]368[/TD] [TD=align: right].248[/TD] [TD=align: right].632[/TD] [TD=align: right]53[/TD] [TD=align: right]28[/TD] [TD=align: right]13[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [/TABLE] http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/PettersenJune2012a-300x226.jpg AJ Pettersen My first thought was that Pettersen should move up to high-A Fort Myers to start the season and I still think that’s the most likely scenario. However, when I started to look at all of the other middle infielders who could/should play at the high-A level, it occurred to me that, depending on what happens with all of those guys, there simply may not be room for Pettersen with the Miracle. AJ was drafted in the 25th round of the 2011 draft out of the University of Minnesota and after just a few games with Elizabethton at the end of the 2011 season, Pettersen spent the entire 2012 season in Beloit. He was the epitome of a “utility player” with the Snappers, playing 2B, 3B, SS, LF and DH. In fact, he even pitched an inning. His offensive stat line would indicate to me that spending a few more weeks at Class A while he waits for things to shake out a bit in the middle infield further up the organizational ladder wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world for Pettersen (though I suspect he might not agree). If Pettersen does start the season in Cedar Rapids, get to know him quickly because his versatility and experience could make him among the first position players promoted to Fort Myers during the season. Stephen Wickens – Age 23 – Bats R/Throws R 2012: Beloit (Class A – MWL) and Elizabethton (Rookie – Appy) [TABLE] [TD=align: left]G[/TD] [TD=align: left]PA[/TD] [TD=width: 38, align: left]BA[/TD] [TD=width: 41, align: left]OPS[/TD] [TD=width: 26, align: left]K[/TD] [TD=width: 31, align: left]BB[/TD] [TD=width: 28, align: left]2B[/TD] [TD=width: 28, align: left]3B[/TD] [TD=width: 31, align: left]HR[/TD] [TD=align: right]59[/TD] [TD=align: right]252[/TD] [TD=align: right].307[/TD] [TD=align: right].841[/TD] [TD=align: right]32[/TD] [TD=align: right]34[/TD] [TD=align: right]12[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [/TABLE] Wickens was drafted a few rounds behind Pettersen in the 2011 amateur draft out of Florida Gulf Coast University and will turn 24 years old before Opening Day. Unlike Pettersen, Wickens stayed behind in extended spring training to start the 2012 season and played 10 games with Elizabethton before getting a promotion to Beloit. While in E’town, Wickens hit .424 and put up a 1.106 OPS (small sample size warning). Wickens found the MWL to be more of a challenge, though he still hit .286 at that level and got on base at a .411 clip while serving as the Snappers’ primary shortstop through the second half of their season. He made 11 errors in 159 chances at that position. He also played several games at second base. If Wickens impresses early, his age would also make him a candidate for promotion by mid year. Niko Goodrum – Age 20 – Bats: Both/Throws R 2012: Elizabethton (Rookie – Appy) [TABLE] [TD=align: left]G[/TD] [TD=align: left]PA[/TD] [TD=width: 38, align: left]BA[/TD] [TD=width: 41, align: left]OPS[/TD] [TD=width: 26, align: left]K[/TD] [TD=width: 31, align: left]BB[/TD] [TD=width: 28, align: left]2B[/TD] [TD=width: 28, align: left]3B[/TD] [TD=width: 31, align: left]HR[/TD] [TD=align: right]58[/TD] [TD=align: right]269[/TD] [TD=align: right].242[/TD] [TD=align: right].768[/TD] [TD=align: right]56[/TD] [TD=align: right]38[/TD] [TD=align: right]12[/TD] [TD=align: right]8[/TD] [TD=align: right]4[/TD] [/TABLE] Goodrum was the Twins’ 2nd round draft choice in 2010 out of his Georgia high school. He got time in the GCL the summer he was drafted and has spent the past two seasons with Elizabethton. His batting average dipped a bit this past season, compared to 2011, but he apparently found more gaps as he increased his extra-base hits across the board. He also increased his number of walks, though he continued to strike out as often as he hit safely, which is something to work on. At 6’3″, there’s been some question whether shortstop will ultimately remain Niko’s primary position, but he played 50 games at that position in 2012, as opposed to just 7 at third base, so the Twins appear to be giving him every chance to stick at shortstop. He cut his errors at short almost in half, compared to 2011, so there seems to be every reason for the Twins to keep sending him out to that position. Many Twins fans already talk about Goodrum potentially being one shortstop in the organization with a chance of providing some long term stability at that position for the Twins in the future. That kind of optimism is evident as Goodrum’s name appears high on most published “Top Twins Prospects” lists for 2013. That makes him certainly a player for Kernels fans to watch closely during his time in Cedar Rapids. Jorge Polanco – Age 19 – Bats: Both/Throws: R 2012: Elizabethton (Rookie – Appy) [TABLE] [TD=align: left]G[/TD] [TD=align: left]PA[/TD] [TD=width: 38, align: left]BA[/TD] [TD=width: 41, align: left]OPS[/TD] [TD=width: 26, align: left]K[/TD] [TD=width: 31, align: left]BB[/TD] [TD=width: 28, align: left]2B[/TD] [TD=width: 28, align: left]3B[/TD] [TD=width: 31, align: left]HR[/TD] [TD=align: right]51[/TD] [TD=align: right]204[/TD] [TD=align: right].318[/TD] [TD=align: right].903[/TD] [TD=align: right]26[/TD] [TD=align: right]20[/TD] [TD=align: right]15[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [TD=align: right]5[/TD] [/TABLE] Polanco was signed to a $700,000 bonus as a Dominican 16 year old back in 2009. He played several games in the Dominican Summer League in 2010 before moving up to the GCL Twins to finish the year. By then, he was already projected to be a top-tier defensive infielder that could also contribute offensively. He repeated the GCL in 2011 and then moved up to Elizabethton for 2012. Jorge showed steady improvement in his offensive game during his first couple of professional seasons, but really took a major leap offensively in 2012 as he showed some power for the first time. Polanco played 35 games at shortstop and 15 at second base for Elizabethton, committing just eight errors in 233 chances. That’s not bad at all, especially considering that he’s reported to have excellent range and therefore gets to a lot of balls lesser infielders won’t. Candido Pimentel – Age 22 – Bats: Both/Throws: R 2012: Elizabethton (Rookie – Appy) [TABLE] [TD=align: left]G[/TD] [TD=align: left]PA[/TD] [TD=width: 38, align: left]BA[/TD] [TD=width: 41, align: left]OPS[/TD] [TD=width: 26, align: left]K[/TD] [TD=width: 31, align: left]BB[/TD] [TD=width: 28, align: left]2B[/TD] [TD=width: 28, align: left]3B[/TD] [TD=width: 31, align: left]HR[/TD] [TD=align: right]56[/TD] [TD=align: right]247[/TD] [TD=align: right].330[/TD] [TD=align: right].824[/TD] [TD=align: right]42[/TD] [TD=align: right]26[/TD] [TD=align: right]10[/TD] [TD=align: right]3[/TD] [TD=align: right]1[/TD] [/TABLE] Pimentel was signed as a free agent outfielder out of the Dominican Republic. He played in the Dominican Summer League in 2009, for the GCL Twins in 2010 and 2011 and for Elizabethon in the Appalachian League last summer. After being exclusively an outfielder for his first three years with the Twins organization, Pimentel actually played a few more games at second base for E’town than he did in the outfield. That kind of flexibility could serve Pimentel well in Cedar Rapids, especially since learning the new position didn’t seem to negatively impact his bat skills. In fact, after seeing his offensive stats dip in 2011, he turned things around again a bit in 2012. In addition to hitting .330, Pimentel got on base at a .405 pace. That’s important, because once he gets on base, he’s a threat to steal. He also found more gap power in 2012. It certainly looks like the players listed above will be more than enough to adequately handle the middle infield for the Kernels in 2012, especially if Pettersen does start the season in Cedar Rapids. The one other name that I believe bears mentioning is probably Aderlin Mejia. I covered Mejia in Part 2 when we looked at corner infielders and because the Twins organization appears to be a bit deeper at this level in the middle infield, I would imagine that if Mejia finds himself in Cedar Rapids at some point in 2013, it would be primarily at third base. That said, if a need for middle infield help does arise later in the season, Mejia could just as easily get a call to fill that role, too. Next week, we’re going to look at the outfielders and pitchers… I think we’ll really like what we see! - JC

In preparation for the first season of the new affiliation between the Twins and my hometown Cedar Rapids Kernels, I’ve embarked on a series of “get to know them” posts. The intention is to give my fellow Kernels fans a little bit of information about the Twins prospects we may be seeing in Kernels uniforms over the course of the summer, understanding full well that it’s impossible to know exactly who will fill the Kernels’ roster several months before Opening Day. (This article was originally posted at Knuckleballsblog.com.) http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/KernelsTwins-300x168.jpg (Image: Kernels.com) In Part 1 of the series, I looked at catchers and in Part 2, I covered corner infielders. In this post, we’ll look at middle infielders that could spend all or part of their summer in Cedar Rapids. While I had a little trouble identifying corner infielders likely to wear Kernels uniforms in 2013, I had almost exactly the opposite problem when I looked over the list of potential middle infielders. If anything, I found too many guys who could see time in Cedar Rapids this season. Adam (A.J.) Pettersen – Age 24 – Bats R/Throws R 2012: Beloit (Class A – MWL) [TABLE] [TD=align: left]G[/TD] [TD=align: left]PA[/TD] [TD=width: 38, align: left]BA[/TD] [TD=width: 41, align: left]OPS[/TD] [TD=width: 26, align: left]K[/TD] [TD=width: 31, align: left]BB[/TD] [TD=width: 28, align: left]2B[/TD] [TD=width: 28, align: left]3B[/TD] [TD=width: 31, align: left]HR[/TD] [TD=align: right]93[/TD] [TD=align: right]368[/TD] [TD=align: right].248[/TD] [TD=align: right].632[/TD] [TD=align: right]53[/TD] [TD=align: right]28[/TD] [TD=align: right]13[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [/TABLE] http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/PettersenJune2012a-300x226.jpg AJ Pettersen My first thought was that Pettersen should move up to high-A Fort Myers to start the season and I still think that’s the most likely scenario. However, when I started to look at all of the other middle infielders who could/should play at the high-A level, it occurred to me that, depending on what happens with all of those guys, there simply may not be room for Pettersen with the Miracle. AJ was drafted in the 25th round of the 2011 draft out of the University of Minnesota and after just a few games with Elizabethton at the end of the 2011 season, Pettersen spent the entire 2012 season in Beloit. He was the epitome of a “utility player” with the Snappers, playing 2B, 3B, SS, LF and DH. In fact, he even pitched an inning. His offensive stat line would indicate to me that spending a few more weeks at Class A while he waits for things to shake out a bit in the middle infield further up the organizational ladder wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world for Pettersen (though I suspect he might not agree). If Pettersen does start the season in Cedar Rapids, get to know him quickly because his versatility and experience could make him among the first position players promoted to Fort Myers during the season. Stephen Wickens – Age 23 – Bats R/Throws R 2012: Beloit (Class A – MWL) and Elizabethton (Rookie – Appy) [TABLE] [TD=align: left]G[/TD] [TD=align: left]PA[/TD] [TD=width: 38, align: left]BA[/TD] [TD=width: 41, align: left]OPS[/TD] [TD=width: 26, align: left]K[/TD] [TD=width: 31, align: left]BB[/TD] [TD=width: 28, align: left]2B[/TD] [TD=width: 28, align: left]3B[/TD] [TD=width: 31, align: left]HR[/TD] [TD=align: right]59[/TD] [TD=align: right]252[/TD] [TD=align: right].307[/TD] [TD=align: right].841[/TD] [TD=align: right]32[/TD] [TD=align: right]34[/TD] [TD=align: right]12[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [/TABLE] Wickens was drafted a few rounds behind Pettersen in the 2011 amateur draft out of Florida Gulf Coast University and will turn 24 years old before Opening Day. Unlike Pettersen, Wickens stayed behind in extended spring training to start the 2012 season and played 10 games with Elizabethton before getting a promotion to Beloit. While in E’town, Wickens hit .424 and put up a 1.106 OPS (small sample size warning). Wickens found the MWL to be more of a challenge, though he still hit .286 at that level and got on base at a .411 clip while serving as the Snappers’ primary shortstop through the second half of their season. He made 11 errors in 159 chances at that position. He also played several games at second base. If Wickens impresses early, his age would also make him a candidate for promotion by mid year. Niko Goodrum – Age 20 – Bats: Both/Throws R 2012: Elizabethton (Rookie – Appy) [TABLE] [TD=align: left]G[/TD] [TD=align: left]PA[/TD] [TD=width: 38, align: left]BA[/TD] [TD=width: 41, align: left]OPS[/TD] [TD=width: 26, align: left]K[/TD] [TD=width: 31, align: left]BB[/TD] [TD=width: 28, align: left]2B[/TD] [TD=width: 28, align: left]3B[/TD] [TD=width: 31, align: left]HR[/TD] [TD=align: right]58[/TD] [TD=align: right]269[/TD] [TD=align: right].242[/TD] [TD=align: right].768[/TD] [TD=align: right]56[/TD] [TD=align: right]38[/TD] [TD=align: right]12[/TD] [TD=align: right]8[/TD] [TD=align: right]4[/TD] [/TABLE] Goodrum was the Twins’ 2nd round draft choice in 2010 out of his Georgia high school. He got time in the GCL the summer he was drafted and has spent the past two seasons with Elizabethton. His batting average dipped a bit this past season, compared to 2011, but he apparently found more gaps as he increased his extra-base hits across the board. He also increased his number of walks, though he continued to strike out as often as he hit safely, which is something to work on. At 6’3″, there’s been some question whether shortstop will ultimately remain Niko’s primary position, but he played 50 games at that position in 2012, as opposed to just 7 at third base, so the Twins appear to be giving him every chance to stick at shortstop. He cut his errors at short almost in half, compared to 2011, so there seems to be every reason for the Twins to keep sending him out to that position. Many Twins fans already talk about Goodrum potentially being one shortstop in the organization with a chance of providing some long term stability at that position for the Twins in the future. That kind of optimism is evident as Goodrum’s name appears high on most published “Top Twins Prospects” lists for 2013. That makes him certainly a player for Kernels fans to watch closely during his time in Cedar Rapids. Jorge Polanco – Age 19 – Bats: Both/Throws: R 2012: Elizabethton (Rookie – Appy) [TABLE] [TD=align: left]G[/TD] [TD=align: left]PA[/TD] [TD=width: 38, align: left]BA[/TD] [TD=width: 41, align: left]OPS[/TD] [TD=width: 26, align: left]K[/TD] [TD=width: 31, align: left]BB[/TD] [TD=width: 28, align: left]2B[/TD] [TD=width: 28, align: left]3B[/TD] [TD=width: 31, align: left]HR[/TD] [TD=align: right]51[/TD] [TD=align: right]204[/TD] [TD=align: right].318[/TD] [TD=align: right].903[/TD] [TD=align: right]26[/TD] [TD=align: right]20[/TD] [TD=align: right]15[/TD] [TD=align: right]2[/TD] [TD=align: right]5[/TD] [/TABLE] Polanco was signed to a $700,000 bonus as a Dominican 16 year old back in 2009. He played several games in the Dominican Summer League in 2010 before moving up to the GCL Twins to finish the year. By then, he was already projected to be a top-tier defensive infielder that could also contribute offensively. He repeated the GCL in 2011 and then moved up to Elizabethton for 2012. Jorge showed steady improvement in his offensive game during his first couple of professional seasons, but really took a major leap offensively in 2012 as he showed some power for the first time. Polanco played 35 games at shortstop and 15 at second base for Elizabethton, committing just eight errors in 233 chances. That’s not bad at all, especially considering that he’s reported to have excellent range and therefore gets to a lot of balls lesser infielders won’t. Candido Pimentel – Age 22 – Bats: Both/Throws: R 2012: Elizabethton (Rookie – Appy) [TABLE] [TD=align: left]G[/TD] [TD=align: left]PA[/TD] [TD=width: 38, align: left]BA[/TD] [TD=width: 41, align: left]OPS[/TD] [TD=width: 26, align: left]K[/TD] [TD=width: 31, align: left]BB[/TD] [TD=width: 28, align: left]2B[/TD] [TD=width: 28, align: left]3B[/TD] [TD=width: 31, align: left]HR[/TD] [TD=align: right]56[/TD] [TD=align: right]247[/TD] [TD=align: right].330[/TD] [TD=align: right].824[/TD] [TD=align: right]42[/TD] [TD=align: right]26[/TD] [TD=align: right]10[/TD] [TD=align: right]3[/TD] [TD=align: right]1[/TD] [/TABLE] Pimentel was signed as a free agent outfielder out of the Dominican Republic. He played in the Dominican Summer League in 2009, for the GCL Twins in 2010 and 2011 and for Elizabethon in the Appalachian League last summer. After being exclusively an outfielder for his first three years with the Twins organization, Pimentel actually played a few more games at second base for E’town than he did in the outfield. That kind of flexibility could serve Pimentel well in Cedar Rapids, especially since learning the new position didn’t seem to negatively impact his bat skills. In fact, after seeing his offensive stats dip in 2011, he turned things around again a bit in 2012. In addition to hitting .330, Pimentel got on base at a .405 pace. That’s important, because once he gets on base, he’s a threat to steal. He also found more gap power in 2012. It certainly looks like the players listed above will be more than enough to adequately handle the middle infield for the Kernels in 2012, especially if Pettersen does start the season in Cedar Rapids. The one other name that I believe bears mentioning is probably Aderlin Mejia. I covered Mejia in Part 2 when we looked at corner infielders and because the Twins organization appears to be a bit deeper at this level in the middle infield, I would imagine that if Mejia finds himself in Cedar Rapids at some point in 2013, it would be primarily at third base. That said, if a need for middle infield help does arise later in the season, Mejia could just as easily get a call to fill that role, too. Next week, we’re going to look at the outfielders and pitchers… I think we’ll really like what we see! - JC

I don't think he played any 1B at all for Elizabethton last summer. That said, almost every corner IF and corner OF seems to find themselves playing a few innings at 1B here or there in the minor leagues. A guy Walker's size would certainly seem to be a likely candidate to get over there eventually, but I'm going to cover him with the outfielders in this series.

I've wondered about this, too. But isn't part of the minor league manager/pitching coach's job also to teach a kid how to "pitch smart," as well? Wouldn't that include being aware of the hitter's strengths and weaknesses and pitching accordingly... being aware of who's on deck and whether that means you should "make him hit your pitch because we'd rather walk him than have him jack one on us"? If the primary job was to develop the pitcher and see what they've got against the best hitters, you'd never see an intentional walk in Class A... but we certainly do. The answer is probably somewhere in between. Depending on the pitching prospect, you might turn him loose to challenge Sano quicker in a minor league game than you would in the Bigs, but there remain times when you adjust to the situation because that's part of learning to pitch, too.

Thanks for all the comments. I guess I just think it's best to give the process time to work the way it's supposed to. The 'roids issue, to me, is just one more factor that the voters have to weigh and decide for themselves what it means to them. It will mean a lot of the PED users never get in, that would have otherwise. It may mean some of the very best PED users do get in... but much later than they would have otherwise. Maybe that's the way it should be, too. Obviously, Ctwink and I disagree totally on the chances we'll see a lot of years with nobody elected. We won't find out who's right for a while, but I think you'll be surprised by how many really great players start hitting the ballot that have no character issues at all attached to them. Will this make the BBWAA voters' jobs more difficult and uncomfortable every year? Yes. But they want the honor of being the gatekeeper, so I really don't want to hear them whine this much about how difficult it is and how somebody else needs to do something to make it easier for them to make their decisions.