Shane Wahl

Escobar has yet to spell Dozier, and both Vargas and Mauer will get days off soon (Arcia to DH, etc.) so that part of the issue won't come into play yet. They should stick with Santana at the leadoff spot playing SS for two more weeks before making any changes.

That's way more promising, Jack!

Yes, it should be Santana-Mauer-Dozier-Vargas/Arcia-Hunter/Plouffe

Hopefully the people in the left field bleachers were paying attention as Escobar chucked the ball into the stands after starting to run into the dugout. Good lord.

2015 has started out much as expected: 25 PA, .304/.320/.609 with two homers and a double. He has also struck out 11 times and only has one walk.

Sometimes you see line drive homers. Usually they don't hit off the second deck.

Tie game. Vargas just annihilated the baseball.

2-0 Royals. There were also two men on, so Milone really limited the damage there. (Sorry) Also, Robinson pulled a Robinson for a second and almost charged in too far again on a liner. He didn't have to jump this time though.

For anyone not watching, Milone is getting shelled.

I cannot believe that he has a show. It is like an angry Dick Vitale or something.

Well they are 2/7 of the way there (Royals).

Great article. It illustrates the need to get these players UP so as to begin the process, process, process. The question is going to really be whether or not they want these guys all playing every day. I can see a Twins roster by the end of June that is suddenly loaded with Sano, Hicks, Buxton, Rosario, Polanco, and Pinto. That would require six guys to replace: Schafer, Robinson, Nunez, Herrmann, Escobar/Plouffe, and a pitcher (ideally, somehow). But they can't all play everyday. When does half-time in MLB become better than full-time in AAA?

I do think that the majority of 2015 will be spent at Chattanooga still.

Daniel Ortiz DOB: 1-5-90 in Caguas, PR Height: 5'11" Weight: 185 Position: OF Bats: Left Throws: Left Acquired: Selected by Twins in 4th round of 2008 draft out of Benjamin Harrison High School (Cayey, PR) 2014 statistics: NBR: 189 PA, .324/.340/.500 (.840), 16 doubles, two triples, four homers, four walks, 34 strikeouts, three steals, one time caught stealing ROC: 254 PA, .256/.283/.434 (.717), 13 doubles, three triples, eight homers, nine walks, 51 strikeouts Ortiz is a guy that the Twins like enough to keep around in spring training for quite a bit of time, but then they also bring in players like Shane Robinson to help block Ortiz. Clearly the biggest hurdle for Ortiz is his inability to ever take a walk. It's alarming just how low those numbers throughout his career. That said, the strikeout totals aren't too egregious either. Ortiz has shown his ability to play CF, with three games there in 2014, eight in 2013, and 16 in 2012. Being a true 4th OF, maintaining a solid bat, and learning to take a few more walks will help him a great deal as he tries to get a cup of coffee with the Twins. Even if Byron Buxton arrives in 2015 and even if the Twins trade no one in the OF during the season, I think Ortiz gets a September call. 2015 prediction: I think Ortiz is going to be just fine in AAA this year. I predict a .279/.310/.460 (.770) line, with 31 doubles and 11 homers.

Forecast--mid to high 60s and partly cloudy skies Lineups: Royals 1. Escobar, SS 2. Moustakas, 3B 3. Cain, CF 4. Hosmer, 1B 5. Morales, DH 6. Perez, C 7. Orlando, LF 8. Colon, 2B 9. Dyson, RF Pitching: Jason Vargas, LHP Twins 1. Santana, SS 2. Hunter, RF 3. Mauer, DH 4. Dozier, 2B 5. Vargas, 1B 6. Plouffe, 3B 7. Escobar, LF 8. Suzuki, C 9. Robinson, CF Pitching: Tommy Milone, LHP Things to think about: 1. Tommy Milone--I don't care if he ends up being bad this year, or even an average 5th starter . . . just give the Twins one more great performance right now, buddy. 3-6 seems way better than 2-7 for some odd reason. .222 is closer to the Timberwolves winning percentage and that makes me think about how awful that team is. But then I think about how the youth movement is working out for the Timberwolves (really starting next year with potentially the top pick) and how Wiggins and LaVine are developing. And that makes me just more depressed about the Twins. So, Tommy, get it done today one more time. 2. Jason Vargas--this lefty would get mashed by Aaron Hicks and Josmil Pinto. Alas. Also, this lefty is what Milone could be, which is a strangely decent pitcher without overpowering stuff. Vargas has made a nice career for himself ($32 million bucks through 2015). I am writing this pre-lineup, so maybe my "should" will become reality: Santana-Hunter-Mauer-Dozier-Vargas-Plouffe-Arcia-Suzuki-Robinson. I just typed "Robinson" in a "should" lineup. Wow. I am fine with Torii batting second against lefties. We'll see. 3. Fantasy--fantasy baseball, that is. I usually have a few Twins, but I went bigger this year and have like six of these people on my team. Good god it is terrible. It's just terrible. Luckily, I have a Xander, Felix, and Julio also on my team or else I would be in the cellar. 4. Kendrys Morales--I swear if this guy pummels Milone today I am going to be ill. I am surprised he is back and, like, pounding the baseball again. He seems in better shape and is doing well in the middle of the K.C. lineup. Hopefully Kennys is the player with the funny K name who destroys the baseball today. Also, they should have a footrace. 5. The actual lineup--I like Escobar, so I am cool with that. Hopefully, Waldo can get a pinch hit homer to keep his bat going. 6. Player of the game--Torii Hunter. Yes. I realistically don't trust this Milone situation at all today (see number 4) and expect a lot of runs scored. And something tells me that Torii is going yard and driving in some runs. Maybe he should be my 7th Twins player on my fantasy team (see 3). No. There will be some games this year that will make Twins fans remember the old days of Torii before he actually got old. This will be one of them. 7. Game prediction--Twins 9, Royals 7.

A point in making very long prospect lists is to establish the fact that certain players are on the radar. Josmil Pinto was around 50 on my list after his 2011 season and we have seen how that went. Here, I am singling out 12 prospects who are not in most top 20 Twins prospect lists, but they could easily be with very strong 2015 seasons. I expect that at least three of these guys will be in the top 20 in six months time. Jorge Fernandez Lewin Diaz Levi Michael Mat Batts Aaron Slegers J.T. Chargois Zach Granite John Curtiss Tyler Kuresa Tanner English Jack Barrie Zach Larson

I added Adrian Salcedo as a third. I won't add more to my list here until I actually post thread about them.

Adrian Salcedo DOB: 2-5-91 in Moca, Espaillat, D.R. Height: 6'4" Weight: 200 Position: RP Bats: Right Throws: Right Acquired: Signed by Twins as non-drafted free agent on Dec. 13, 2007 2014 statistics NBR: 73 IP, 4.19 ERA, 9.4 K/9, 3.0 BB/9 (76/24) Salcedo was once a top-10 Twins prospect. Things were great through 2010, good through 2011, and then took a turn for the worse in 2012 with injury for Salcedo. He has bounced back, however, and his career is coming back and is really not all that behind schedule, although he is likely done as a starter. He got stronger in July and August last year and will build off of that in the bullpen for Chattanooga in 2015 until he moves up to AAA at some point. 2015 prediction: 30 IP at AA with a 2.60 ERA, 9.8 K/9, 2.8 BB/9; 35 IP at AAA with a 2.90 ERA, 8.4 K/9, and 2.9 BB/9. I would not be surprised if Salcedo makes the Twins September roster.

It's just no surprise. Boyer is not a mlb pitcher. Schafer is certainly not a starter. Stauffer should be ok, but something might be wrong? I have a long history here with say borderline suspension-worthy things about Mike Pelfrey the baseball player. I cannot fathom how on earth he is still pitching for this team. If May can even provide a quality start today, I will be happy.

I like this!

I will be amazed if Gonzales makes the Twins next year. I had written him off early in 2014. I wouldn't be surprised if they moved him to Rochester when they want Kepler to play regularly. Polanco is the real deal.

Brian Navarreto DOB: 12-29-94 in Jacksonville, FL Height: 6'4" Weight: 220 Position: C, 1B Bats: Right Throws: Right Acquired: Selected by Twins in sixth round in 2013 draft out of Arlington County Day School 2014 Statistics: ELZ: 116 PA, .194/.241/.370 (.612) with eight doubles, one triple, three homers, seven walks, 33 strikeouts, zero steals, and zero times caught stealing Navarreto is a very athletic catcher with solid defensive skills and a great arm. The Twins think that he can blossom into an real offensive threat, so they have pushed him to Cedar Rapids this year, where is splitting time with Jorge Fernandez behind the plate, while also playing 1B as well. His bat should come around this year, and his defense should continue to improve. 2015 prediction: Navarreto finds his swing in A ball. He spends the full year there and posts a .245/.310/.410 (.720) line with 21 doubles and 11 homers.

Adam Brett Walker II DOB: 10-18-91 in Milwaukee, WI Height: 6'4" Weight: 225+ Position: RF Bats: Right Throws: Right Acquired: Selected by Twins in third round in 2012 draft out of Jacksonville University 2014 Statistics: FTM: 554 PA, .246/.307/..436 (.743), 19 doubles, one triple, 25 homers, 44 walks, 156 strikeouts, 9 steals, 5 times caught stealing Walker is an athletic and powerful right fielder, who is a solid defender. He is a very disputed prospect at Twins Daily due to both the promise of tremendous power and the terrible strikeout rate. His OPS dropped 101 points from 2013, but came with the move to Fort Myers. Now he moves to the Southern League, playing for Chattanooga. It will be very interesting to watch Walker navigate AA pitching. Often guys like him never succeed at that level because the strikeouts continue to climb. He might be able to adjust and at least control his contact rate and become a viable option for the Twins down the road. The power is there and he just needs to improve with his plate discipline. If he does, the Twins have a great asset who would move from the 13-20 range to the top 10 on Twins prospect lists. 2015 prediction: I believe Walker will get a little bit better at making contact, and thus will produce even more runs. .255/.318/.454 (.772) with 20 doubles and 24 homers.

I had Duffey starting in AAA before *both* May and Meyer went there. So it makes sense.

Where the hell did Sano's homer even land there?