Jeremy Nygaard

News of the Twins Prospect Handbook will probably start popping up soon. So to help with that appetite, you will find a couple profiles that won't make the final cut... because the players got cut. Wang-Wei Lin – OF – (6/28/88) Acquired: Signed as F/A in Oct 2006 from Taiwan 2012 Team(s): Beloit Snappers 2012 Stats: .232/.343/.334, 14-2B, 5-3B, 4 HR, 30 RBI Lin has spent the previous three seasons in Beloit and regardless of what happens, we know he won’t be heading there again. Lin spent three injury-plagued seasons in the GCL before being promoted to Beloit in 2010. He had shown improvement throughout his first two years and a quick look at his 2012 numbers would suggest he really struggled (though his BABIP dropped nearly 60 points from 2011 to 2012 while his batting average only dropped 45 points). Maybe he was just really unlucky. Unfortunately, as an organizational-type player who hasn’t been able to climb the ladder, you have to show something to stick around. Defensively, Lin can play all three outfield positions and be average. He’s a good athlete who knows how to work a count and take good at-bats. At nearly 25, Lin will head to spring training knowing that his time with the organization could be limited. Fort Myers or bust. Joshua Hendricks – 1B – (11/9/91) Acquired: Signed as F/A in Jan. 2009 from Australia 2012 Team(s): Elizabethton Twins 2012 Stats: .222/.292/.333, 9-2B, 0-3B, 1 HR, 13 RBI Hendricks was signed by Australian scout Howard Norsetter in January 2009, but didn’t make his professional debut until the summer of 2010. He began that season with the GCL affiliate as a catcher. He finished that season with a batting average of .091 (4-44). He struck out 17 times and didn’t draw a single walk. At 6-3, 220, Hendricks was moved to first base following the 2010 season. In 2011, Hendricks got 160 at-bats in 47 games and batted .275 and cut his K-rate to 18%. He didn’t take a lot of walks, though, or hit for power which resulted in an OPS of .666. There was hope that Hendricks might be able to play his way up to Beloit in 2012. Instead, Hendricks returned to Elizabethton where he was passed up by many of the 2012 draft picks. He only played in 29 games, appearing 21 times at first base and batted only .222 while seeing his K-rate increase to 32%. Hendricks headed back home to play winter ball - and is struggling - though he is having his best winter of the three he’s spent there. Hendricks hasn’t demonstrated the power that is necessary if he is going to stick at first base. He hasn’t demonstrated the hit-tool enough to stick in professional baseball. The Twins are always patient with their Australian prospects, but you can only wait so long for guys to develop. Hendricks will have to make the Cedar Rapids roster to remain in the organization.

Updated. The players listed in the ST invites section have been double-checked and is as close to official as you'll find until the the Twins officially release their non-roster invites. Rich Harden has been added. Pelfrey's incentives have been added. Minor leaguers who have been released - as well as MiLB FAs who have signed elsewhere - have been removed.

Though there may be moves yet to happen, you can view the updated Spring Training Roster here. Some comparisons between last year's spring training roster and this year's: Pitchers - Last year the Twins brought in 33 pitchers, this year the number is currently at 34. Catchers - A year ago there were eight catchers officially invited and one added in the weeks leading up to spring training. This year the Twins have five on their 40-man and have invited four more. Omissions - All hitters that remain in the Twins system from 2012 who finished the year at New Britain or Rochester were invited... with the exception of two players: OF Evan Bigley, INF Nate Hanson. The exclusion of Bigley comes as somewhat of a surprise, given how much Tom Kelly raved about him last year. Numbers-crunch - To my knowledge, the Twins flat-out cut six players either during or at the conclusion of camp who were invited to big-league camp. (That doesn't include Terry Doyle who was sent back to the White Sox.) There are 91 players either on the 40-man, list of non-roster invites orremaining players (mostly pitchers) who completed last year at AA or AAA. With the numbers of catchers, it's possible that one could possibly start the year at Fort Myers, but we won't count on it. At the MLB, AAA and AA levels, there are 75 spots on the active roster. That leaves 16 players without active spots without considering ANY promotions from the year-end Fort Myers roster. While every year is different, looking solely at what happened last year, that doesn't bode well for those pitchers that pitched at AAA or AA last year that weren't invited to big-league camp. (If you're wondering who those guys might be clink the link at the top of the page to view the rosters of those teams.)

Though there may be moves yet to happen, you can view the updated Spring Training Roster here. Some comparisons between last year's spring training roster and this year's: Pitchers - Last year the Twins brought in 33 pitchers, this year the number is currently at 34. Catchers - A year ago there were eight catchers officially invited and one added in the weeks leading up to spring training. This year the Twins have five on their 40-man and have invited four more. Omissions - All hitters that remain in the Twins system from 2012 who finished the year at New Britain or Rochester were invited... with the exception of two players: OF Evan Bigley, INF Nate Hanson. The exclusion of Bigley comes as somewhat of a surprise, given how much Tom Kelly raved about him last year. Numbers-crunch - To my knowledge, the Twins flat-out cut six players either during or at the conclusion of camp who were invited to big-league camp. (That doesn't include Terry Doyle who was sent back to the White Sox.) There are 91 players either on the 40-man, list of non-roster invites orremaining players (mostly pitchers) who completed last year at AA or AAA. With the numbers of catchers, it's possible that one could possibly start the year at Fort Myers, but we won't count on it. At the MLB, AAA and AA levels, there are 75 spots on the active roster. That leaves 16 players without active spots without considering ANY promotions from the year-end Fort Myers roster. While every year is different, looking solely at what happened last year, that doesn't bode well for those pitchers that pitched at AAA or AA last year that weren't invited to big-league camp. (If you're wondering who those guys might be clink the link at the top of the page to view the rosters of those teams.)

It's hard not to root for A.J. Regardless of what his baseball future holds, he's a guy you can talk to briefly and walk away thinking, "He's going to be a successful human being."

Incentives breakdown: 100K at 150 IP 150K at 160 IP 250K at 170, 180 and 190 IP 500K at 200 IP

I'll chime in more later... off the top of my head: Buxton and Hicks both have 70 to 75 arms. Niko and Sano are 65 to 70. Sano has 80 raw power. Buxton has 80 speed. One BA staffer recently visited with someone in the Twins organization and thought it was a joke how often he put 80 grades on tools of guys they talked about. It's all one person's perspective of the scouting scale.

Interesting question... I don't think anyone really jumps off the page as guy #40 (whether that's good, bad or indifferent is another thing) because the recent additions are safe until the spring. I think it's gotta come down to someone from Pedro Hernandez or Anthony Swarzak. With Swarzak being out of options and the recent news that he was told (along with Duensing) to prepare to report as a "starter" (not that I think that makes a huge difference), that Swarzak is maybe most likely to lose his spot... and probably stay in the organization.

Once the handbook madness subsides, I plan to make some improvements. Nothing crazy. I had been doing this on an excel spreadsheet, but this provided a way to share and get input. So I'll keep doing it. Glad people like/appreciate it.

Hmmm.. WTF. Now it's fixed. Thanks for pointing that out. Here's a link, but you can also find it on the home page in the blue ribbon (under the red ribbon up top) entitled "Roster and Payroll"

Baldwin!? Looks like my little town of less than three grand is on the map!

Not to split hairs, but the pre-arbitration guys won't all be making the minimum. I think you have 14 guys listed... figure they'll make somewhere between the minimum and a million, you should probably add another $5-7 million to your figure.

No. He's over five years of service, so he'll be a free agent after the season.

I've read the article Nick. And I've given you a little bit of my heart - as you can see - because I agree with you.

Updated.

Greinke head for a like? Correia head for a dislike?

It is a random observation more than a complaint. In hindsight, I should have just emailed Brock. The hearts are just... ... ... weird.

It has nothing to do with any insecurities. It has to do with a usable function that, in my opinion, people won't fully utilize because it looks silly. I think the image would be better suited as a baseball.

You didn't "unlike" it. You "unloved" it. But none of that hurts as much as you getting me name wrong. I'm just kidding. I don't want hearts under my comments anyway.

I like the new feature to "like" comments. But do they have to be hearts? I mean... really...

A little feature they do on MLB Network's "MLB Tonight" is they take a team and give the two guys (I don't know who they are) the "company credit card" and let them do some off season shopping. They looked at adding a pitcher, shortstop, second baseman and outfielder. The first guy was going to sign Jurrjens, trade for Freddy Galvis, keep Jamey Carroll and trade Morneau for Franklin Gutierrez. The second guy was going to sign Pelfrey, start Florimon, sign Freddy Sanchez and bring up Hicks. Then it got crazy... Second guy brought up how Griffey came to Seattle's spring training as a 19-year-old and "never looked back". He then suggested the Twins bring Buxton to Spring Training and to "look out for Byron Buxton". He's obviously familiar with how the Twins do things.

Updated to include those signed to minor league deals with ST invites.

I'm trying to keep a list here. But it's speculative.

We're punting 2013. We're simply taking a knee in 2014. Here we come 2015!

He's just there to throw his 350 innings until Meyer/May/Wimmers/Hermsen are ready. I get he's not great... or good... but the club got someone to (hopefully) eat innings without paying a ton. I feel like Seth looking for the positive in this signing.