Jonathon Zenk

We are close to the beginning of the baseball season, so it is time to release my top 10 prospects for the Minnesota Twins. There are so many prospects who could make a huge jump and knock on the door of the top 10. After losing 2016 first round pick Alex Kirilloff for the whole 2017 season, he will be back. This is a deep prospect list and many could eventually make the big leagues.
 
10) Akil Baddoo, OF (2017 teams: GCL, Elizabethton)
 
Before Terry Ryan was fired, Baddoo was in his last draft class. He is one of two on this list from this class (Kirilloff). After being ranked outside the top 20 Twins prospects, Baddoo had a huge 2017 campaign. After having a batting average of .267 with the GCL Twins, he was promoted to Elizabethton, and he took off. While in Tennessee, he hit .357 and had an OPS of an incredible 1.057. He had 45 hits with Elizabethton in 126 at-bats, and nearly half of his hits (20) were of the extra base variety. In addition to those stats, he had 27 walks and 19 strikeouts with Elizabethton. All that while being more than two years younger than his competition. If he can replicate his play from 2017, he could knock on the door of the top five. The sky is the limit for the 19-year-old.
 
9) Blayne Enlow, SP (2017 team: GCL Twins)
 
After being talked about as a possible first round pick last year, Enlow fell to the third round due to signability, where the Twins grabbed him. There was plenty of buzz surrounding him heading into his debut last summer, and he did not disappoint. In 20.1 innings, Enlow had an ERA of 1.33 and held opponents to a .141 batting average and an OPS of just .433. He also struck out 8.4 per nine, and had a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4.75. Enlow gave up just 4.4 hits per nine and had a WHIP of 0.69. Enlow has a curveball that is the best in the organization and if he can add a bit of velocity, he will sky rocket up prospect lists. The 19-year-old will likely start in Elizabethton, but will be in Cedar Rapids by the end of the year.
 
8. Brusdar Graterol, SP (2017 teams: GCL, Elizabethton)
 
Graterol missed the 2016 season due to Tommy John surgery, but when he came back in 2017, he picked up right where he left off. In five games with the GCL Twins, he was 2-0 with an ERA of 1.40 and a WHIP of just 0.72 in 19.1 innings. When he was promoted to Elizabethton, he struggled a bit (especially compared to his showing in the GCL). In his 20.2 innings in Tennessee, he had an ERA of 3.92 and a WHIP of 1.21, but did have a strikeout ratio of 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings. With the tougher competition in the Appy League, his control took a dip. After walking just four in 19.1 innings for the GCL Twins, he walked nine in 20.2 innings for Elizabethton. After throwing 85-87 when he signed out of Venezuela, he reaches triple digits now. If he can improve his off-speed pitches to complement his heater, he can be an ace with the Twins.
 
7. Alex Kirilloff (2017: missed season)
 
Kirilloff had a very solid 2016, hitting .306 with seven homers and 33 RBI in 55 games. Not bad for being thrown to Elizabethton after being drafted out of high school. He will likely be a corner outfielder with the big club, but can play center when needed. The reason he was drafted so high is his power. The 20-year-old has a chance to hit 25-30 homers when he develops and ends up in Minneapolis. After playing in Tennessee in 2016, Kirilloff will start in Cedar Rapids on what will most likely be a loaded Kernels lineup.
 
6. Brent Rooker, OF/1B (2017 teams: Elizabethton, Fort Myers)
 
Rooker was selected in the first round by the Twins, and started in Elizabethton and mashed. He started out a bit slow, but finished hitting .282 and an OPS of .952. Of his 24 hits with the E’Town Twins, Rooker crushed seven homers and exactly half of his hits were extra bases. After he was promoted to high-A Fort Myers, he kept smashing. With the Miracle, he hit .280 with 11 more bombs. He had close to the same stats in Florida as he had in Tennessee. The only major dip was in slugging, where he slugged .552 after slugging .588 in Elizabethton. But still, .552 is extremely good. He still strikes out too much, but that is fine when he hits homers at the rate he does. Rooker has the potential to hit 40 homers in the big leagues. The former Mississippi State standout will start in Chattanooga, and if dominates there, I would not be surprised if he ends up in Minneapolis by the end of the season.

I wrote one of these a few months ago and of the list of five I made back in May, three were promoted and two are on the disabled list or else they would have been promoted. There are only a few months left in the season, but I still decided to make another list. There is still time for promotions as the minor league affiliates enter the stretch drive. I avoided putting rookies on here, like Royce Lewis, although he may or may not be promoted to Elizabethton before the end of the season.
 
5. Clark Beeker, SP, Cedar Rapids
 
He may have a name that sounds like it would be a name from the 1920s, but Beeker has pitched well everywhere he has been, and that includes Cedar Rapids in 2017. In 17 starts so far, the 24-year-old is 9-3 with an ERA of 2.51. The Twins front office can be more aggressive, as he is already 24 and is still in low-A, much like what happened with Randy LeBlanc a season ago. In 104 innings pitched, he has an impressive 70-to-14 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The 70 strikeouts are a little lower than you would like for a pitcher older than most of the hitters he is facing with the Kernels, though. His WHIP is impressive at 1.00, which is worthy of a promotion by itself. He is part of a solid Cedar Rapids pitching staff, which could have multiple pitchers promoted by end of the season.
 
4. Colton Davis, RP, Cedar Rapids
 
Here is another good pitcher from that aforementioned Cedar Rapids staff. He is one of many relievers worthy of a promotion in this minor league system. His impressive 1.79 ERA speaks for itself, but his WHIP is also great at 1.04 ERA. He appeared in two games last year, pitching scoreless two innings for the Kernels. He had a 3.26 ERA in Elizabethton last season before being promoted to Cedar Rapids. The 23-year-old has struck out 45 in 45.1 innings, but he will need to work on his control, as he has walked 18. Like Beeker, they can be aggressive with him since he is already 23. He also has a pair of saves as well.
 
3. Todd Van Steensel, RP, Chattanooga
 
Van Steensel has been good, but not great the past few years, but has had a tremendous year for the Lookouts this year. In 43 innings (25 games), he has a tremendous 1.47 ERA. The Australian has struck out 47 in those 43 innings, but has walked 17, so he will have to improve his control, like Davis. Those walks are the reason why his WHIP is at 1.19. He pitched five games (eight innings) with the Lookouts last year, and allowed two earned runs (2.25 ERA). He is already 26, so he is major league ready right now. Before Chattanooga, he spent parts of three seasons with the Miracle. He was fantastic in 2014 and good in 2015, but his numbers went up last year. Despite that, he was promoted to Chattanooga and has never looked back. I doubt he gets promoted this year, but it would not surprise me to see him start in Rochester next season.
 
2. Hector Lujan, RP, Cedar Rapids
 
This is the last of the Cedar Rapids pitchers on this list. He has been a pleasant surprise for the Kernels this year, as he didn't have an ERA under 5.00 in either of his first two seasons in the organization. His WHIP, as you might imagine, was not desirable in either of those two years either, as it was 1.39 both seasons. Despite struggling in both GCL and Elizabethton, he made an appearance last year for Fort Myers in May and gave up a homer to lose the game. That was his only appearance for the Miracle, and he has rebounded nicely this season. Since being in Cedar Rapids, he has given up just two homers in 38.2 innings. I mentioned earlier that his ERA was not below 5.00 in either of his first two years. Well, he has had an impressive 1.63 ERA in his 28 games this year. His WHIP has been spectacular as well at 0.91. Part of that has to do with just walking four in his 38.2 innings. That has been a significant improvement over his previous seasons, as he walked 15 in 54.1 innings. While a walks per nine innings rate of 2.485 is not terrible, it is not great, which his rate of .0931 is. He turns 23 next month, so I doubt he moves up this year, but I expect him to make a return trip to Fort Myers and start with the Miracle next season.
 
1. Mitch Garver, C, Rochester
 
I still have no idea why Garver has not been promoted yet. The 26-year-old is batting .286 in Rochester after hitting .329 for the Red Wings last year. However, even with the average down a bit this year, his power has picked up in a big way. His 14 homers is the most he has hit since he hit 16 back in 2014 with Cedar Rapids, and even that was in 430 at-bats. So far in 2017 with the Red Wings, he has hit 14 in just 248 at-bats. He has also hit 21 doubles, which is closing in on the most he has hit in a season, which is 30 in 2016 spanning two levels. With his power surge, he has crushed his previous high in OPS. His OPS this year is .933, which obliterates his previous high of .880 in Cedar Rapids. With his ability to play multiple positions (C, 1B, some LF), he would be a perfect call-up. The Twins struggle mightily against lefties, and that is one thing Garver excels at. In 59 at-bats against lefties, the catcher has a slash line of .322/.452/.610. If Max Kepler, Joe Mauer or either catcher needs a day off (all of whom are poor against southpaws), Garver is a more than capable replacement. I don’t think we’ll see him really soon, but there is a high probability he will be on the team in September.
 
As always, you are always welcome to state who you think I left off.

We are more than a month and a half into the season, and several prospects have gotten off to a great start. I avoided the prospects who have just been on their current team for just the last month and a half. Last year, I made a list like this and all five were promoted soon after I wrote it, so we’ll see if I have similar luck this year.
 
5. Tom Hackimer, RP, Cedar Rapids
 
I was tempted to put Fort Myers’ Williams Ramirez in this spot, but I decided against it since he has only pitched 22 innings with the Miracle. Hackimer debuted with the Kernels last season and had a terrific season, but has been much better in 2017. In 2016, he had a 2.39 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 26 innings. He has improved upon those numbers this season. In 22 innings, he has an ERA of just 1.64 and an incredible WHIP of just 0.59, which leads the Twins minor league system. His six saves ranks second in the system and has just walked two batters in his 22 innings. Last year’s fourth round pick also has given up just one homer in his 48.1 career innings with the Kernels. He also is striking out more than one per inning, having struck out 25 already. His numbers across the board are sensational and the former St. John’s star should be getting the call to join High-A Fort Myers very soon.
 
4. Chris Paul, 3B, Fort Myers
 
When he is not throwing alley-oops to Blake Griffin, you can find Paul lighting up the Florida State League. After dominating in Cedar Rapids last season, he was promoted to Fort Myers after just seven games. He did not have the same amount of success with the Miracle following his promotion. He batted just .228, having just two homers and 36 RBI in 92 games in Fort Myers last season, but his numbers so far in 2017 are near the stats he put up with Cedar Rapids in 2016. This has been a theme for Paul ever since being drafted by the Twins in 2015. Every year, Paul has started with a bang to earn a promotion and then has struggled mightily following it, only to bounce back at the start of the new season. Through 43 games in High-A this year, Paul is hitting .335, which leads the organization. He also is in the top five in the Twins system in OPS, doubles and runs batted in. He is due for a promotion to Double-A Chattanooga soon, but it will depend on how invested the organization is in T.J. White, who Paul would replace with the Lookouts.
 
3. Sean Poppen, SP, Cedar Rapids
 
Last year’s 19th round pick has been impressive in every stop he has made in the organization. His worst stop was actually Elizabethton, where he had a 2.97 ERA, but walked 18 in 36 innings. After a promotion to Cedar Rapids last year, Poppen went 1-1 with a 2.12 ERA. His control improved a bit, but still walked six in 17 innings in his four games (three starts) last year with the Kernels. This year, his control has improved and his numbers have remained very good. In his eight starts so far, he is 2-1 with an ERA of 2.68. In his 50.1 innings, he has walked just 11. His walks per nine innings is currently tied for second in the organization. He also ranks in the top five among the Twins affiliates in strikeouts per nine with 8.7. With him already being 23, it would be a good decision to challenge him at High-A Fort Myers.
 
2. Jermaine Palacios, 2B, Cedar Rapids
 
In 2015, Palacios took Minor League Baseball by storm, hitting .370 in his stops between the GCL Twins and Elizabethton. But last year was a disappointment. In his first season with Cedar Rapids, Palacios was a part-time starter and hit just .222. However, he is back to his 2015 form this season with the Kernels. This year, he is near the top of the Twins minor league system in many offensive categories. His batting average (.327) is second in the Twins system and his slugging percentage (.544) leads the system. He also shown some extra base power, having 20 extra base hits, including six homers. Palacios has six steals as well, but has been caught five times. The 20-year-old will probably spend most, if not all, of the season down in Cedar Rapids, but he will make his Fort Myers debut at some point in the near future. With his impressive season, he is showing that last year may have been a but of a fluke and may have risen into the top 10 for Twins prospects.
 
1. Nick Burdi, RP, Chattanooga
 
After an arm injury wiped out nearly his entire 2016 season, Burdi has come back with a vengeance this season. When he was drafted out of Louisville in 2014, Minnesota expected him to be up with the team late that season or in 2015, but injuries have his hurt his progress and had been mediocre when on the field when he was healthy. He has finally put it all together in 2017. He has just allowed a single run in his 17 innings this year, and his 0.53 ERA is second in the Twins system. His WHIP of 0.76 is also third in the system and has punched out 20 in his 17 innings. I am not sure he will be moved up really soon due to him having pitched only 20 innings in a little more than a season. However, if he keeps this up, he will be with the Twins or Triple-A Rochester at some point this season.
 
As always, feel free to comment with players who you think should be in the top five.

We are more than a month and a half into the season, and several prospects have gotten off to a great start. I avoided the prospects who have just been on their current team for just the last month and a half. Last year, I made a list like this and all five were promoted soon after I wrote it, so we’ll see if I have similar luck this year.
 
5. Tom Hackimer, RP, Cedar Rapids
 
I was tempted to put Fort Myers’ Williams Ramirez in this spot, but I decided against it since he has only pitched 22 innings with the Miracle. Hackimer debuted with the Kernels last season and had a terrific season, but has been much better in 2017. In 2016, he had a 2.39 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 26 innings. He has improved upon those numbers this season. In 22 innings, he has an ERA of just 1.64 and an incredible WHIP of just 0.59, which leads the Twins minor league system. His six saves ranks second in the system and has just walked two batters in his 22 innings. Last year’s fourth round pick also has given up just one homer in his 48.1 career innings with the Kernels. He also is striking out more than one per inning, having struck out 25 already. His numbers across the board are sensational and the former St. John’s star should be getting the call to join High-A Fort Myers very soon.
 
4. Chris Paul, 3B, Fort Myers
 
When he is not throwing alley-oops to Blake Griffin, you can find Paul lighting up the Florida State League. After dominating in Cedar Rapids last season, he was promoted to Fort Myers after just seven games. He did not have the same amount of success with the Miracle following his promotion. He batted just .228, having just two homers and 36 RBI in 92 games in Fort Myers last season, but his numbers so far in 2017 are near the stats he put up with Cedar Rapids in 2016. This has been a theme for Paul ever since being drafted by the Twins in 2015. Every year, Paul has started with a bang to earn a promotion and then has struggled mightily following it, only to bounce back at the start of the new season. Through 43 games in High-A this year, Paul is hitting .335, which leads the organization. He also is in the top five in the Twins system in OPS, doubles and runs batted in. He is due for a promotion to Double-A Chattanooga soon, but it will depend on how invested the organization is in T.J. White, who Paul would replace with the Lookouts.
 
3. Sean Poppen, SP, Cedar Rapids
 
Last year’s 19th round pick has been impressive in every stop he has made in the organization. His worst stop was actually Elizabethton, where he had a 2.97 ERA, but walked 18 in 36 innings. After a promotion to Cedar Rapids last year, Poppen went 1-1 with a 2.12 ERA. His control improved a bit, but still walked six in 17 innings in his four games (three starts) last year with the Kernels. This year, his control has improved and his numbers have remained very good. In his eight starts so far, he is 2-1 with an ERA of 2.68. In his 50.1 innings, he has walked just 11. His walks per nine innings is currently tied for second in the organization. He also ranks in the top five among the Twins affiliates in strikeouts per nine with 8.7. With him already being 23, it would be a good decision to challenge him at High-A Fort Myers.
 
2. Jermaine Palacios, 2B, Cedar Rapids
 
In 2015, Palacios took Minor League Baseball by storm, hitting .370 in his stops between the GCL Twins and Elizabethton. But last year was a disappointment. In his first season with Cedar Rapids, Palacios was a part-time starter and hit just .222. However, he is back to his 2015 form this season with the Kernels. This year, he is near the top of the Twins minor league system in many offensive categories. His batting average (.327) is second in the Twins system and his slugging percentage (.544) leads the system. He also shown some extra base power, having 20 extra base hits, including six homers. Palacios has six steals as well, but has been caught five times. The 20-year-old will probably spend most, if not all, of the season down in Cedar Rapids, but he will make his Fort Myers debut at some point in the near future. With his impressive season, he is showing that last year may have been a but of a fluke and may have risen into the top 10 for Twins prospects.
 
1. Nick Burdi, RP, Chattanooga
 
After an arm injury wiped out nearly his entire 2016 season, Burdi has come back with a vengeance this season. When he was drafted out of Louisville in 2014, Minnesota expected him to be up with the team late that season or in 2015, but injuries have his hurt his progress and had been mediocre when on the field when he was healthy. He has finally put it all together in 2017. He has just allowed a single run in his 17 innings this year, and his 0.53 ERA is second in the Twins system. His WHIP of 0.76 is also third in the system and has punched out 20 in his 17 innings. I am not sure he will be moved up really soon due to him having pitched only 20 innings in a little more than a season. However, if he keeps this up, he will be with the Twins or Triple-A Rochester at some point this season.
 
As always, feel free to comment with players who you think should be in the top five.

We are more than a month and a half into the season, and several prospects have gotten off to a great start. I avoided the prospects who have just been on their current team for just the last month and a half. Last year, I made a list like this and all five were promoted soon after I wrote it, so we’ll see if I have similar luck this year.
 
5. Tom Hackimer, RP, Cedar Rapids
 
I was tempted to put Fort Myers’ Williams Ramirez in this spot, but I decided against it since he has only pitched 22 innings with the Miracle. Hackimer debuted with the Kernels last season and had a terrific season, but has been much better in 2017. In 2016, he had a 2.39 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 26 innings. He has improved upon those numbers this season. In 22 innings, he has an ERA of just 1.64 and an incredible WHIP of just 0.59, which leads the Twins minor league system. His six saves ranks second in the system and has just walked two batters in his 22 innings. Last year’s fourth round pick also has given up just one homer in his 48.1 career innings with the Kernels. He also is striking out more than one per inning, having struck out 25 already. His numbers across the board are sensational and the former St. John’s star should be getting the call to join High-A Fort Myers very soon.
 
4. Chris Paul, 3B, Fort Myers
 
When he is not throwing alley-oops to Blake Griffin, you can find Paul lighting up the Florida State League. After dominating in Cedar Rapids last season, he was promoted to Fort Myers after just seven games. He did not have the same amount of success with the Miracle following his promotion. He batted just .228, having just two homers and 36 RBI in 92 games in Fort Myers last season, but his numbers so far in 2017 are near the stats he put up with Cedar Rapids in 2016. This has been a theme for Paul ever since being drafted by the Twins in 2015. Every year, Paul has started with a bang to earn a promotion and then has struggled mightily following it, only to bounce back at the start of the new season. Through 43 games in High-A this year, Paul is hitting .335, which leads the organization. He also is in the top five in the Twins system in OPS, doubles and runs batted in. He is due for a promotion to Double-A Chattanooga soon, but it will depend on how invested the organization is in T.J. White, who Paul would replace with the Lookouts.
 
3. Sean Poppen, SP, Cedar Rapids
 
Last year’s 19th round pick has been impressive in every stop he has made in the organization. His worst stop was actually Elizabethton, where he had a 2.97 ERA, but walked 18 in 36 innings. After a promotion to Cedar Rapids last year, Poppen went 1-1 with a 2.12 ERA. His control improved a bit, but still walked six in 17 innings in his four games (three starts) last year with the Kernels. This year, his control has improved and his numbers have remained very good. In his eight starts so far, he is 2-1 with an ERA of 2.68. In his 50.1 innings, he has walked just 11. His walks per nine innings is currently tied for second in the organization. He also ranks in the top five among the Twins affiliates in strikeouts per nine with 8.7. With him already being 23, it would be a good decision to challenge him at High-A Fort Myers.
 
2. Jermaine Palacios, 2B, Cedar Rapids
 
In 2015, Palacios took Minor League Baseball by storm, hitting .370 in his stops between the GCL Twins and Elizabethton. But last year was a disappointment. In his first season with Cedar Rapids, Palacios was a part-time starter and hit just .222. However, he is back to his 2015 form this season with the Kernels. This year, he is near the top of the Twins minor league system in many offensive categories. His batting average (.327) is second in the Twins system and his slugging percentage (.544) leads the system. He also shown some extra base power, having 20 extra base hits, including six homers. Palacios has six steals as well, but has been caught five times. The 20-year-old will probably spend most, if not all, of the season down in Cedar Rapids, but he will make his Fort Myers debut at some point in the near future. With his impressive season, he is showing that last year may have been a but of a fluke and may have risen into the top 10 for Twins prospects.
 
1. Nick Burdi, RP, Chattanooga
 
After an arm injury wiped out nearly his entire 2016 season, Burdi has come back with a vengeance this season. When he was drafted out of Louisville in 2014, Minnesota expected him to be up with the team late that season or in 2015, but injuries have his hurt his progress and had been mediocre when on the field when he was healthy. He has finally put it all together in 2017. He has just allowed a single run in his 17 innings this year, and his 0.53 ERA is second in the Twins system. His WHIP of 0.76 is also third in the system and has punched out 20 in his 17 innings. I am not sure he will be moved up really soon due to him having pitched only 20 innings in a little more than a season. However, if he keeps this up, he will be with the Twins or Triple-A Rochester at some point this season.
 
As always, feel free to comment with players who you think should be in the top five.

We are more than a month and a half into the season, and several prospects have gotten off to a great start. I avoided the prospects who have just been on their current team for just the last month and a half. Last year, I made a list like this and all five were promoted soon after I wrote it, so we’ll see if I have similar luck this year.
 
5. Tom Hackimer, RP, Cedar Rapids
 
I was tempted to put Fort Myers’ Williams Ramirez in this spot, but I decided against it since he has only pitched 22 innings with the Miracle. Hackimer debuted with the Kernels last season and had a terrific season, but has been much better in 2017. In 2016, he had a 2.39 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 26 innings. He has improved upon those numbers this season. In 22 innings, he has an ERA of just 1.64 and an incredible WHIP of just 0.59, which leads the Twins minor league system. His six saves ranks second in the system and has just walked two batters in his 22 innings. Last year’s fourth round pick also has given up just one homer in his 48.1 career innings with the Kernels. He also is striking out more than one per inning, having struck out 25 already. His numbers across the board are sensational and the former St. John’s star should be getting the call to join High-A Fort Myers very soon.
 
4. Chris Paul, 3B, Fort Myers
 
When he is not throwing alley-oops to Blake Griffin, you can find Paul lighting up the Florida State League. After dominating in Cedar Rapids last season, he was promoted to Fort Myers after just seven games. He did not have the same amount of success with the Miracle following his promotion. He batted just .228, having just two homers and 36 RBI in 92 games in Fort Myers last season, but his numbers so far in 2017 are near the stats he put up with Cedar Rapids in 2016. This has been a theme for Paul ever since being drafted by the Twins in 2015. Every year, Paul has started with a bang to earn a promotion and then has struggled mightily following it, only to bounce back at the start of the new season. Through 43 games in High-A this year, Paul is hitting .335, which leads the organization. He also is in the top five in the Twins system in OPS, doubles and runs batted in. He is due for a promotion to Double-A Chattanooga soon, but it will depend on how invested the organization is in T.J. White, who Paul would replace with the Lookouts.
 
3. Sean Poppen, SP, Cedar Rapids
 
Last year’s 19th round pick has been impressive in every stop he has made in the organization. His worst stop was actually Elizabethton, where he had a 2.97 ERA, but walked 18 in 36 innings. After a promotion to Cedar Rapids last year, Poppen went 1-1 with a 2.12 ERA. His control improved a bit, but still walked six in 17 innings in his four games (three starts) last year with the Kernels. This year, his control has improved and his numbers have remained very good. In his eight starts so far, he is 2-1 with an ERA of 2.68. In his 50.1 innings, he has walked just 11. His walks per nine innings is currently tied for second in the organization. He also ranks in the top five among the Twins affiliates in strikeouts per nine with 8.7. With him already being 23, it would be a good decision to challenge him at High-A Fort Myers.
 
2. Jermaine Palacios, 2B, Cedar Rapids
 
In 2015, Palacios took Minor League Baseball by storm, hitting .370 in his stops between the GCL Twins and Elizabethton. But last year was a disappointment. In his first season with Cedar Rapids, Palacios was a part-time starter and hit just .222. However, he is back to his 2015 form this season with the Kernels. This year, he is near the top of the Twins minor league system in many offensive categories. His batting average (.327) is second in the Twins system and his slugging percentage (.544) leads the system. He also shown some extra base power, having 20 extra base hits, including six homers. Palacios has six steals as well, but has been caught five times. The 20-year-old will probably spend most, if not all, of the season down in Cedar Rapids, but he will make his Fort Myers debut at some point in the near future. With his impressive season, he is showing that last year may have been a but of a fluke and may have risen into the top 10 for Twins prospects.
 
1. Nick Burdi, RP, Chattanooga
 
After an arm injury wiped out nearly his entire 2016 season, Burdi has come back with a vengeance this season. When he was drafted out of Louisville in 2014, Minnesota expected him to be up with the team late that season or in 2015, but injuries have his hurt his progress and had been mediocre when on the field when he was healthy. He has finally put it all together in 2017. He has just allowed a single run in his 17 innings this year, and his 0.53 ERA is second in the Twins system. His WHIP of 0.76 is also third in the system and has punched out 20 in his 17 innings. I am not sure he will be moved up really soon due to him having pitched only 20 innings in a little more than a season. However, if he keeps this up, he will be with the Twins or Triple-A Rochester at some point this season.
 
As always, feel free to comment with players who you think should be in the top five.

We are more than a month and a half into the season, and several prospects have gotten off to a great start. I avoided the prospects who have just been on their current team for just the last month and a half. Last year, I made a list like this and all five were promoted soon after I wrote it, so we’ll see if I have similar luck this year.
 
5. Tom Hackimer, RP, Cedar Rapids
 
I was tempted to put Fort Myers’ Williams Ramirez in this spot, but I decided against it since he has only pitched 22 innings with the Miracle. Hackimer debuted with the Kernels last season and had a terrific season, but has been much better in 2017. In 2016, he had a 2.39 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 26 innings. He has improved upon those numbers this season. In 22 innings, he has an ERA of just 1.64 and an incredible WHIP of just 0.59, which leads the Twins minor league system. His six saves ranks second in the system and has just walked two batters in his 22 innings. Last year’s fourth round pick also has given up just one homer in his 48.1 career innings with the Kernels. He also is striking out more than one per inning, having struck out 25 already. His numbers across the board are sensational and the former St. John’s star should be getting the call to join High-A Fort Myers very soon.
 
4. Chris Paul, 3B, Fort Myers
 
When he is not throwing alley-oops to Blake Griffin, you can find Paul lighting up the Florida State League. After dominating in Cedar Rapids last season, he was promoted to Fort Myers after just seven games. He did not have the same amount of success with the Miracle following his promotion. He batted just .228, having just two homers and 36 RBI in 92 games in Fort Myers last season, but his numbers so far in 2017 are near the stats he put up with Cedar Rapids in 2016. This has been a theme for Paul ever since being drafted by the Twins in 2015. Every year, Paul has started with a bang to earn a promotion and then has struggled mightily following it, only to bounce back at the start of the new season. Through 43 games in High-A this year, Paul is hitting .335, which leads the organization. He also is in the top five in the Twins system in OPS, doubles and runs batted in. He is due for a promotion to Double-A Chattanooga soon, but it will depend on how invested the organization is in T.J. White, who Paul would replace with the Lookouts.
 
3. Sean Poppen, SP, Cedar Rapids
 
Last year’s 19th round pick has been impressive in every stop he has made in the organization. His worst stop was actually Elizabethton, where he had a 2.97 ERA, but walked 18 in 36 innings. After a promotion to Cedar Rapids last year, Poppen went 1-1 with a 2.12 ERA. His control improved a bit, but still walked six in 17 innings in his four games (three starts) last year with the Kernels. This year, his control has improved and his numbers have remained very good. In his eight starts so far, he is 2-1 with an ERA of 2.68. In his 50.1 innings, he has walked just 11. His walks per nine innings is currently tied for second in the organization. He also ranks in the top five among the Twins affiliates in strikeouts per nine with 8.7. With him already being 23, it would be a good decision to challenge him at High-A Fort Myers.
 
2. Jermaine Palacios, 2B, Cedar Rapids
 
In 2015, Palacios took Minor League Baseball by storm, hitting .370 in his stops between the GCL Twins and Elizabethton. But last year was a disappointment. In his first season with Cedar Rapids, Palacios was a part-time starter and hit just .222. However, he is back to his 2015 form this season with the Kernels. This year, he is near the top of the Twins minor league system in many offensive categories. His batting average (.327) is second in the Twins system and his slugging percentage (.544) leads the system. He also shown some extra base power, having 20 extra base hits, including six homers. Palacios has six steals as well, but has been caught five times. The 20-year-old will probably spend most, if not all, of the season down in Cedar Rapids, but he will make his Fort Myers debut at some point in the near future. With his impressive season, he is showing that last year may have been a but of a fluke and may have risen into the top 10 for Twins prospects.
 
1. Nick Burdi, RP, Chattanooga
 
After an arm injury wiped out nearly his entire 2016 season, Burdi has come back with a vengeance this season. When he was drafted out of Louisville in 2014, Minnesota expected him to be up with the team late that season or in 2015, but injuries have his hurt his progress and had been mediocre when on the field when he was healthy. He has finally put it all together in 2017. He has just allowed a single run in his 17 innings this year, and his 0.53 ERA is second in the Twins system. His WHIP of 0.76 is also third in the system and has punched out 20 in his 17 innings. I am not sure he will be moved up really soon due to him having pitched only 20 innings in a little more than a season. However, if he keeps this up, he will be with the Twins or Triple-A Rochester at some point this season.
 
As always, feel free to comment with players who you think should be in the top five.

We are more than a month and a half into the season, and several prospects have gotten off to a great start. I avoided the prospects who have just been on their current team for just the last month and a half. Last year, I made a list like this and all five were promoted soon after I wrote it, so we’ll see if I have similar luck this year.
 
5. Tom Hackimer, RP, Cedar Rapids
 
I was tempted to put Fort Myers’ Williams Ramirez in this spot, but I decided against it since he has only pitched 22 innings with the Miracle. Hackimer debuted with the Kernels last season and had a terrific season, but has been much better in 2017. In 2016, he had a 2.39 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 26 innings. He has improved upon those numbers this season. In 22 innings, he has an ERA of just 1.64 and an incredible WHIP of just 0.59, which leads the Twins minor league system. His six saves ranks second in the system and has just walked two batters in his 22 innings. Last year’s fourth round pick also has given up just one homer in his 48.1 career innings with the Kernels. He also is striking out more than one per inning, having struck out 25 already. His numbers across the board are sensational and the former St. John’s star should be getting the call to join High-A Fort Myers very soon.
 
4. Chris Paul, 3B, Fort Myers
 
When he is not throwing alley-oops to Blake Griffin, you can find Paul lighting up the Florida State League. After dominating in Cedar Rapids last season, he was promoted to Fort Myers after just seven games. He did not have the same amount of success with the Miracle following his promotion. He batted just .228, having just two homers and 36 RBI in 92 games in Fort Myers last season, but his numbers so far in 2017 are near the stats he put up with Cedar Rapids in 2016. This has been a theme for Paul ever since being drafted by the Twins in 2015. Every year, Paul has started with a bang to earn a promotion and then has struggled mightily following it, only to bounce back at the start of the new season. Through 43 games in High-A this year, Paul is hitting .335, which leads the organization. He also is in the top five in the Twins system in OPS, doubles and runs batted in. He is due for a promotion to Double-A Chattanooga soon, but it will depend on how invested the organization is in T.J. White, who Paul would replace with the Lookouts.
 
3. Sean Poppen, SP, Cedar Rapids
 
Last year’s 19th round pick has been impressive in every stop he has made in the organization. His worst stop was actually Elizabethton, where he had a 2.97 ERA, but walked 18 in 36 innings. After a promotion to Cedar Rapids last year, Poppen went 1-1 with a 2.12 ERA. His control improved a bit, but still walked six in 17 innings in his four games (three starts) last year with the Kernels. This year, his control has improved and his numbers have remained very good. In his eight starts so far, he is 2-1 with an ERA of 2.68. In his 50.1 innings, he has walked just 11. His walks per nine innings is currently tied for second in the organization. He also ranks in the top five among the Twins affiliates in strikeouts per nine with 8.7. With him already being 23, it would be a good decision to challenge him at High-A Fort Myers.
 
2. Jermaine Palacios, 2B, Cedar Rapids
 
In 2015, Palacios took Minor League Baseball by storm, hitting .370 in his stops between the GCL Twins and Elizabethton. But last year was a disappointment. In his first season with Cedar Rapids, Palacios was a part-time starter and hit just .222. However, he is back to his 2015 form this season with the Kernels. This year, he is near the top of the Twins minor league system in many offensive categories. His batting average (.327) is second in the Twins system and his slugging percentage (.544) leads the system. He also shown some extra base power, having 20 extra base hits, including six homers. Palacios has six steals as well, but has been caught five times. The 20-year-old will probably spend most, if not all, of the season down in Cedar Rapids, but he will make his Fort Myers debut at some point in the near future. With his impressive season, he is showing that last year may have been a but of a fluke and may have risen into the top 10 for Twins prospects.
 
1. Nick Burdi, RP, Chattanooga
 
After an arm injury wiped out nearly his entire 2016 season, Burdi has come back with a vengeance this season. When he was drafted out of Louisville in 2014, Minnesota expected him to be up with the team late that season or in 2015, but injuries have his hurt his progress and had been mediocre when on the field when he was healthy. He has finally put it all together in 2017. He has just allowed a single run in his 17 innings this year, and his 0.53 ERA is second in the Twins system. His WHIP of 0.76 is also third in the system and has punched out 20 in his 17 innings. I am not sure he will be moved up really soon due to him having pitched only 20 innings in a little more than a season. However, if he keeps this up, he will be with the Twins or Triple-A Rochester at some point this season.
 
As always, feel free to comment with players who you think should be in the top five.

We are more than a month and a half into the season, and several prospects have gotten off to a great start. I avoided the prospects who have just been on their current team for just the last month and a half. Last year, I made a list like this and all five were promoted soon after I wrote it, so we’ll see if I have similar luck this year.
 
5. Tom Hackimer, RP, Cedar Rapids
 
I was tempted to put Fort Myers’ Williams Ramirez in this spot, but I decided against it since he has only pitched 22 innings with the Miracle. Hackimer debuted with the Kernels last season and had a terrific season, but has been much better in 2017. In 2016, he had a 2.39 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 26 innings. He has improved upon those numbers this season. In 22 innings, he has an ERA of just 1.64 and an incredible WHIP of just 0.59, which leads the Twins minor league system. His six saves ranks second in the system and has just walked two batters in his 22 innings. Last year’s fourth round pick also has given up just one homer in his 48.1 career innings with the Kernels. He also is striking out more than one per inning, having struck out 25 already. His numbers across the board are sensational and the former St. John’s star should be getting the call to join High-A Fort Myers very soon.
 
4. Chris Paul, 3B, Fort Myers
 
When he is not throwing alley-oops to Blake Griffin, you can find Paul lighting up the Florida State League. After dominating in Cedar Rapids last season, he was promoted to Fort Myers after just seven games. He did not have the same amount of success with the Miracle following his promotion. He batted just .228, having just two homers and 36 RBI in 92 games in Fort Myers last season, but his numbers so far in 2017 are near the stats he put up with Cedar Rapids in 2016. This has been a theme for Paul ever since being drafted by the Twins in 2015. Every year, Paul has started with a bang to earn a promotion and then has struggled mightily following it, only to bounce back at the start of the new season. Through 43 games in High-A this year, Paul is hitting .335, which leads the organization. He also is in the top five in the Twins system in OPS, doubles and runs batted in. He is due for a promotion to Double-A Chattanooga soon, but it will depend on how invested the organization is in T.J. White, who Paul would replace with the Lookouts.
 
3. Sean Poppen, SP, Cedar Rapids
 
Last year’s 19th round pick has been impressive in every stop he has made in the organization. His worst stop was actually Elizabethton, where he had a 2.97 ERA, but walked 18 in 36 innings. After a promotion to Cedar Rapids last year, Poppen went 1-1 with a 2.12 ERA. His control improved a bit, but still walked six in 17 innings in his four games (three starts) last year with the Kernels. This year, his control has improved and his numbers have remained very good. In his eight starts so far, he is 2-1 with an ERA of 2.68. In his 50.1 innings, he has walked just 11. His walks per nine innings is currently tied for second in the organization. He also ranks in the top five among the Twins affiliates in strikeouts per nine with 8.7. With him already being 23, it would be a good decision to challenge him at High-A Fort Myers.
 
2. Jermaine Palacios, 2B, Cedar Rapids
 
In 2015, Palacios took Minor League Baseball by storm, hitting .370 in his stops between the GCL Twins and Elizabethton. But last year was a disappointment. In his first season with Cedar Rapids, Palacios was a part-time starter and hit just .222. However, he is back to his 2015 form this season with the Kernels. This year, he is near the top of the Twins minor league system in many offensive categories. His batting average (.327) is second in the Twins system and his slugging percentage (.544) leads the system. He also shown some extra base power, having 20 extra base hits, including six homers. Palacios has six steals as well, but has been caught five times. The 20-year-old will probably spend most, if not all, of the season down in Cedar Rapids, but he will make his Fort Myers debut at some point in the near future. With his impressive season, he is showing that last year may have been a but of a fluke and may have risen into the top 10 for Twins prospects.
 
1. Nick Burdi, RP, Chattanooga
 
After an arm injury wiped out nearly his entire 2016 season, Burdi has come back with a vengeance this season. When he was drafted out of Louisville in 2014, Minnesota expected him to be up with the team late that season or in 2015, but injuries have his hurt his progress and had been mediocre when on the field when he was healthy. He has finally put it all together in 2017. He has just allowed a single run in his 17 innings this year, and his 0.53 ERA is second in the Twins system. His WHIP of 0.76 is also third in the system and has punched out 20 in his 17 innings. I am not sure he will be moved up really soon due to him having pitched only 20 innings in a little more than a season. However, if he keeps this up, he will be with the Twins or Triple-A Rochester at some point this season.
 
As always, feel free to comment with players who you think should be in the top five.

I gave you the first half of my top 10 Twins prospects yesterday, headlined by Kohl Stewart and Wander Javier. Now, it is time to reveal my top five prospects in the organization. Nobody should be surprised by who makes up the final five prospects on this list, but the question is which order will they be in. So, with that being said, here are my top five prospects for the Minnesota Twins.
 
5. Tyler Jay, SP/RP
 
Much like Stewart, Jay is an interesting pitcher as well, albeit for different reasons. First off, Minnesota needs to determine whether it wants the former first round pick as a starter or reliever. Jay was a reliever at Illinois, but the previous regime wanted to convert him into a starter. After not starting one game with the Fort Myers Miracle in 2015, Jay started 13 games for the Twins High-A affiliate last season and went 5-5 with an ERA of 2.84. That earned him a promotion to Chattanooga, where he pitched in five games (two starts) before being shut down the final month of the season. I believe he could be a solid starter, maybe a No. 3 starter or so, but he could be a dominant reliever. People will criticize the pick of a first rounder on a reliever, but I would much rather get a potentially dominant relief pitcher with a top 10 pick than a player who won’t even make it up to MLB. I don’t know what the Twins will do, but Jay in the bullpen could be a real asset to the team and he would then make an appearance at some point this upcoming season. In his three relief appearances with the Lookouts, he allowed one run on three hits in four innings. It will be interesting to see where they want Jay pitching. If it is as a reliever, expect to see him with the Twins this summer.
 
4. Nick Gordon, SS
 
To some people, this might be a little low for Flash Gordon’s son. Maybe it is just me having too high of expectations for him, but it is a bit disappointing that he has not hit .300 in any level of the minors. Granted, he has never had a “bad” year and has hit at least .290 in two of the three years, but it is just a bit concerning to me that he has yet to really dominate a level. One thing he does have going for him is that he is almost always younger than the competition, and that will only help his development. In the Arizona Fall League, Gordon was one of the younger players and slashed .346/.418/.444. It is a small sample size, but hopefully his great play carries over to the season with Chattanooga in his first season at Double-A. He may not be able to stay at short, but only time will tell. I think he will have a season around .300. Hopefully he is able to flash more power as well, as he only has hit five homers in his minor league career thus far.
 
3. Fernando Romero, SP
 
Out of all the starting pitchers in the Twins minor league system, I think Romero is the one pitcher who has a chance to be a real ace. After missing two years due to multiple surgeries, he came back better than ever in 2016. After returning in May, he went 9-3 with an ERA of 1.89 with a WHIP of 0.90 and a strikeout to walk ratio of 90/15. He was promoted to Low-A Fort Myers in June and dominated. The 22-year-old will likely return to Fort Myers to begin 2017, but if he pitches well again, he will move up to Double-A Chattanooga. I think he will be up with the Twins sometime in 2018.
 
2. Stephen Gonsalves, SP
 
After being considered a solid prospect through 2015, he took off in 2016. After going 7-2 in 2015 for Fort Myers, he picked up right where he left off. In 11 starts last season with the Miracle, he went 5-4 with a 2.33 ERA. But he pitched even better after being promoted to Chattanooga. In 13 starts at Double-A, Gonsalves went 8-1 with a 1.82 ERA. However, his walks were a bit concerning with the Lookouts. In 74.1 innings, he had 37 walks. He had five games in which he had at least three walks, including a game in which he allowed seven free passes. He will return to Chattanooga, for at least the first part of this season. If he continues his strong play in April and May, he will be promoted to Rochester. I could see him making his Twins debut in September with strong play with the Red Wings. I don’t think he has the potential of Romero, but I think Gonsalves will be a solid No. 3-4 starter.
 
1. Alex Kirilloff, OF
 
In this year’s Twins prospect handbook, all three of the main contributors picked different players for their No. 1 prospect. That is how close it is at the top. I am going to agree with Jeremy here and have Kirilloff at the top in my Twins prospect list. Last year’s first round pick started out in Elizabethton and knocked the cover off the ball. He struggled in the month of August and he ended up hitting .306 for the season. In the 55 games he played, he hit seven homers, as an 18-year-old. I think he will hit 25+ homers in the major leagues. He will start the season in Iowa with the Kernels, and if he performs there, he may be in Fort Myers by the end of the season. He could end up being a middle of the order slugger for the big league club.
 
To round up the top 10, here it is:
10. Lewin Diaz
9. Adalberto Mejia
8. Travis Blankenhorn
7. Wander Javier
6. Kohl Stewart
5. Tyler Jay
4. Nick Gordon
3. Fernando Romero
2. Stephen Gonsalves
1. Alex Kirilloff

I gave you the first half of my top 10 Twins prospects yesterday, headlined by Kohl Stewart and Wander Javier. Now, it is time to reveal my top five prospects in the organization. Nobody should be surprised by who makes up the final five prospects on this list, but the question is which order will they be in. So, with that being said, here are my top five prospects for the Minnesota Twins.
 
5. Tyler Jay, SP/RP
 
Much like Stewart, Jay is an interesting pitcher as well, albeit for different reasons. First off, Minnesota needs to determine whether it wants the former first round pick as a starter or reliever. Jay was a reliever at Illinois, but the previous regime wanted to convert him into a starter. After not starting one game with the Fort Myers Miracle in 2015, Jay started 13 games for the Twins High-A affiliate last season and went 5-5 with an ERA of 2.84. That earned him a promotion to Chattanooga, where he pitched in five games (two starts) before being shut down the final month of the season. I believe he could be a solid starter, maybe a No. 3 starter or so, but he could be a dominant reliever. People will criticize the pick of a first rounder on a reliever, but I would much rather get a potentially dominant relief pitcher with a top 10 pick than a player who won’t even make it up to MLB. I don’t know what the Twins will do, but Jay in the bullpen could be a real asset to the team and he would then make an appearance at some point this upcoming season. In his three relief appearances with the Lookouts, he allowed one run on three hits in four innings. It will be interesting to see where they want Jay pitching. If it is as a reliever, expect to see him with the Twins this summer.
 
4. Nick Gordon, SS
 
To some people, this might be a little low for Flash Gordon’s son. Maybe it is just me having too high of expectations for him, but it is a bit disappointing that he has not hit .300 in any level of the minors. Granted, he has never had a “bad” year and has hit at least .290 in two of the three years, but it is just a bit concerning to me that he has yet to really dominate a level. One thing he does have going for him is that he is almost always younger than the competition, and that will only help his development. In the Arizona Fall League, Gordon was one of the younger players and slashed .346/.418/.444. It is a small sample size, but hopefully his great play carries over to the season with Chattanooga in his first season at Double-A. He may not be able to stay at short, but only time will tell. I think he will have a season around .300. Hopefully he is able to flash more power as well, as he only has hit five homers in his minor league career thus far.
 
3. Fernando Romero, SP
 
Out of all the starting pitchers in the Twins minor league system, I think Romero is the one pitcher who has a chance to be a real ace. After missing two years due to multiple surgeries, he came back better than ever in 2016. After returning in May, he went 9-3 with an ERA of 1.89 with a WHIP of 0.90 and a strikeout to walk ratio of 90/15. He was promoted to Low-A Fort Myers in June and dominated. The 22-year-old will likely return to Fort Myers to begin 2017, but if he pitches well again, he will move up to Double-A Chattanooga. I think he will be up with the Twins sometime in 2018.
 
2. Stephen Gonsalves, SP
 
After being considered a solid prospect through 2015, he took off in 2016. After going 7-2 in 2015 for Fort Myers, he picked up right where he left off. In 11 starts last season with the Miracle, he went 5-4 with a 2.33 ERA. But he pitched even better after being promoted to Chattanooga. In 13 starts at Double-A, Gonsalves went 8-1 with a 1.82 ERA. However, his walks were a bit concerning with the Lookouts. In 74.1 innings, he had 37 walks. He had five games in which he had at least three walks, including a game in which he allowed seven free passes. He will return to Chattanooga, for at least the first part of this season. If he continues his strong play in April and May, he will be promoted to Rochester. I could see him making his Twins debut in September with strong play with the Red Wings. I don’t think he has the potential of Romero, but I think Gonsalves will be a solid No. 3-4 starter.
 
1. Alex Kirilloff, OF
 
In this year’s Twins prospect handbook, all three of the main contributors picked different players for their No. 1 prospect. That is how close it is at the top. I am going to agree with Jeremy here and have Kirilloff at the top in my Twins prospect list. Last year’s first round pick started out in Elizabethton and knocked the cover off the ball. He struggled in the month of August and he ended up hitting .306 for the season. In the 55 games he played, he hit seven homers, as an 18-year-old. I think he will hit 25+ homers in the major leagues. He will start the season in Iowa with the Kernels, and if he performs there, he may be in Fort Myers by the end of the season. He could end up being a middle of the order slugger for the big league club.
 
To round up the top 10, here it is:
10. Lewin Diaz
9. Adalberto Mejia
8. Travis Blankenhorn
7. Wander Javier
6. Kohl Stewart
5. Tyler Jay
4. Nick Gordon
3. Fernando Romero
2. Stephen Gonsalves
1. Alex Kirilloff

Last month, I compiled a list of my top five players who should be promoted. A little more than a month later, all five of those prospects have either been promoted or, in J.T. Chargois’ case, spent time at the next level. With those promotions, I thought it would be a good idea to give an updated list, so here is an updated version of my top five prospects who should be promoted:
 
5. Trevor Hildenberger, RP, Chattanooga
 
I debated whether or not I should include Hildenberger on this list for the simple fact that he has only been in Chattanooga for two months. However, in those two months, he has been nothing short of dominant for the Lookouts. With Chattanooga, he has thrown 28.1 innings and has only allowed three runs on 15 hits for an ERA of just 0.95. He started the season in high-A Fort Myers and allowed one run in 9.1 innings, but he has elevated his game to another level. After allowing an opponents batting average of .282 with the Miracle early in the season, he has allowed teams to hit at just .156 clip since the move up to Double-A. His WHIP is also outstanding at 0.67 and he has a strikeouts per nine innings rate of 9.8. His walks per nine innings is also solid at 1.3. I don’t know if they would promote him so shortly after being at Double-A for only two months, but I would expect him to be promoted to Triple-A Rochester by the end of the season.
 
4. Tyler Jay, SP, Fort Myers
 
After going six starts with only allowing three runs combined, Jay has allowed eight in his previous eight innings (two starts). But still, he has done enough to be able to be promoted to Chattanooga. Jay has had two starts where he was hammered, which has inflated his ERA. His ERA is still a very solid 3.02, but has allowed 11 earned runs combined in two starts and 11 in the other 10 starts. His opponents batting average is .247, which needs to improve, as does his WHIP of 1.22. He still has a bit of work to do, but he deserves a promotion. Since he was a reliever at Illinois, Jay will be on an innings limit this year, so he could move up to Chattanooga and be in the bullpen.
 
3. Sam Clay, SP, Cedar Rapids
 
Clay has struggled recently, having allowed 19 earned runs in his last six starts (28.1 innings) after having given up just five earned runs in his first 41 innings this season. That raised his ERA by two full runs. Perhaps his recent struggles is the reason that Fernando Romero was promoted before him. Maybe Miles Nordgren could pass him up too, but as of right now, I have Clay here. His opponent’s batting average is .226, which is solid, and his 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings rate is good as well. His WHIP of 1.33 needs to improve, as does his poor 4.7 walks per nine innings rate. He could move up to Fort Myers, along with Nordgren if both Jorge and Jay are promoted by the end of the season, which seems likely.
 
2. Felix Jorge, SP, Fort Myers
 
Despite only being on Fort Myers for this year, it is about time to move up Jorge. He is destroying High-A right now. He has not allowed more than three runs in any one start this season, and he has allowed three in just one start. Jorge is coming off a start in which he had a season-high 10 strikeouts against Palm Beach. His strikeouts per nine innings rate is less than ideal at 7.7, but in every other statistic, Jorge dominates. He has an opponents batting average of .224 and a terrific 0.94 WHIP. He has also only allowed just three home runs on the year and his walks per nine innings rate is just 1.2. His 1.67 ERA leads the entire Twins system, so I expect Jorge to be in Chattanooga by the end of the season.
 
1. J.T. Chargois, RP, Rochester
 
While Chargois did make an appearance with the big league club last month, that stay lasted only three days and he only made one appearance......and it did not go well. However, many players who went onto nice careers were shelled in their debuts. I believe he has earned another stint with the Twins, especially since their bullpen is a dumpster fire. Since being optioned back to Rochester, Chargois has picked up right where he left off. Since being recalled, he has allowed one run in nine innings. His opponent’s batting average is still very good at .190 and he has a WHIP of 0.94. He still has a strikeouts per nine innings rate of an impressive 11.8. With the Twins out of contention and in need of bullpen help, Chargois needs to be recalled so the big league club knows what they have in him to see if he will be a big part of future plans.

I have always been enamored with the history of sports, so I thought I would do a top five unbreakable records in Major League baseball. I cut it off at since 1930, so I have not included the Cy Young’s 511 wins, Charles Radbourn’s 59 wins in a season in 1884 or Will White’s 75 complete games in 1879 since those records are impossible to break. There are many records that most likely won’t ever be broken, but I narrowed it down to just five and here they are:
 
5. Nolan Ryan’s 2,795 walks
 
This is a longevity record as much as anything. Ryan also holds the records for most strikeouts and no-hitters. It is like Brett Favre’s interception record in football. If you play long enough to be able to shatter a dubious record, you have to be a great player. Ryan played a major league record 27 years and had an incredible 2,795 walks. Nobody else even has 2,000 career walks. In fact, he nearly has 1,000 more walks than anyone else in MLB history. The next closest is Steve Carlton with 1,833 walks. Now that A.J. Burnett is not playing any more, there are now no active players even in the top 100 all-time in that category. To break this record, someone would have to have an incredibly long career and be great throughout his career, and I doubt anyone will even come close to touching this record.
 
4. Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak (1941)
 
It was extremely hard to order these since this is one of those that will never be touched as well. The only recent player to even come close is Pete Rose in 1978, who had a 44-game hitting streak. Willie Keeler had a 45-game spanning two seasons in the late 1800s. One thing I think is interesting about his hitting streak is that the day after his hitting streak was broken, the Yankee Clipper started a hitting streak of 16 games. In 73 games, DiMaggio had a hit in 72 of them. Think about that. There have been only six 40+ game hitting streaks. Current Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura said it best when he said “With pitching the way it is—specialty guys, closer and setup guys—you’re not going to have a chance to get four at-bats against one guy. On one night, you might face four different guys. I'm still amazed DiMaggio got to 56. I’m amazed now when somebody gets to 30.”
 
3. Hack Wilson’s 191 RBI in a season (1930)
 
Having more than an RBI a game is really impressive. Of the 21 players who have had 160 RBI in a season, only two have come since 1939, 165 by Cleveland’s Manny Ramirez in 1999 and 160 by Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs in 2001. Only Lou Gehrig’s 184 RBI in 1931 and Hank Greenberg’s 183 in 1937 were the only ones that even drove in 180 runs. Considering all the great players the past 75 years and no one has threatened Wilson’s record, I really do not see this record even threatened, much less broken in the future.
 
2. Nolan Ryan’s 5,714 strikeouts
 
The walk record probably is the least likely, if you will, of the many Ryan records, but since that record is more dubious than this one, this lands at No. 2. Of course longevity is a major reason this record is so out of reach, but he still had more than 300 strikeouts six times and had at least 200 strikeouts a remarkable 15 times. Second on this list is Randy Johnson, and ‘The Big Unit’ is still 839 behind Ryan. Johnson is the only one within 1,000 strikeouts of Nolan and I don’t see this record being challenged ever again.
 
1. Cal Ripken Jr.’s 2,632 consecutive games
 
When Ripken passed Gehrig in consecutive games, there was no way anyone would surpass either one of them again. To get close, a player would have to play all 162 games for 16 consecutive years. Luck has as much to do with this streak as anything. One minor injury or one day feeling sick and the streak is over. That is what makes this streak that much more incredible. Gehrig, who used to have the record, played in 2,130 consecutive games. After that, the next closest player is Everett Scott, who had a streak of 1,307, which is not even half of Ripken’s streak. Only seven players have even had a streak of 1,000 consecutive games. Not many players even play 162 games in a given year, so I find it impossible to see a player play every single game for more than 16 consecutive seasons.
 
As always, I always welcome feedback. I know I had to leave off some unbreakable records, so I would like to hear your opinion. What are some of your favorite unbreakable records?

The Minnesota Twins have been out of the playoff race since the first two weeks of the season and may be in position to trade some assets to contenders. I don’t think the Twins will be major sellers, but if the opportunity arises to trade a productive player who may not be in the long-term plans, the team will take a look into that. Here, I will give you my top five players who could be dealt by the Twins:
 
 
5. Fernando Abad, RP
 
Abad has been lights out coming out of the Twins bullpen this year. The 30-year-old relief pitcher has pitched 22.2 innings so far and has an ERA of just 0.79. Since he is 30, I doubt he has much of a future with the Twins and he just signed a minor league contract this past offseason. A team that is in desperate use of a relief pitcher could come calling for Abad. I don’t think he is a likely trade candidate, but if the right deal presents itself, I would hope Terry Ryan would listen. Minnesota needs bullpen help in the worst way, but Abad is not in the Twins future plans. I doubt the Twins would be able to get a good prospect for him, but it is better to trade him now than lose him for nothing.
 
4. Brian Dozier, 2B
 
Dozier is another one I do not see moving, but I would definitely make him available. The one negative is that he is having a rough year. He is hitting just .230 with seven homers and 25 RBI. However, he has hit better of late, having registered a hit in all but one game this month and is hitting a robust .350 in the month. If he gets his average to between .250 and .260 and has 13-15 homers before the deadline, he could be a valuable commodity to a team needs middle infield help. Also, the Twins are unsure if Jorge Polanco can be the every day shortstop as he commits too many errors. They might experiment with him at second base when he gets back up to the majors. Polanco’s bat is ready for the big leagues, but he needs work in the field.
 
3. Trevor Plouffe, 3B
 
The Miguel Sano in right field experiment is an absolute disaster. I am not going to blame his injury on playing right field, but he makes the most routine plays look difficult. He just looks lost out there. He does not belong there. He should be playing third base like he had all throughout the minors. The only reason he is not at third right now is because Plouffe is there. Like Dozier, he has struggled this season. The California product is batting .239 with just four long balls and 16 RBI. A trade of Plouffe would allow Sano to come and play third and Eddie Rosario can play right field. With his contract of north of $7 million and having such little production, I doubt he will garner much attention in the trade market without the Twins willing to eat much of his salary.
 
 
2. Ervin Santana, SP
 
Like the previous two, Santana has been a disaster this year. Santana is 1-6 with an ERA of near 5. For any player, let alone a pitcher who was supposed to be the ace of the staff, that is unacceptable. It will be tough to unload a pitcher with those stats, especially one with a contract as high as his is. I doubt Santana will be moved because of what I just mentioned, but the Twins should be open to dealing him. He is not as bad as his statistics show, though. It is just a matter of time before he turns it around and is respectable again.
 
 
1. Eduardo Nunez, SS
 
There is not one player on the Twins who has more trade value right now than Nunez. He may be the All-Star representative for the team. According to MLB.com’s stats, Nunez is second in baseball among shortstops with a .327 batting average. His homers, slugging percentage, OPS and on base percentage are all in the top five as well among shortstops. Quite simply, he has been one of the best shortstops in the league this season. Nunez may never have more trade value than he has right now and a lot of teams would like a middle infielder like Eduardo on their team. I think he is the most likely to be traded and I do believe that he would fetch the most in return.

We are a month and a half into the baseball season and the Minnesota Twins are a woeful 10-30, tied with the Atlanta Braves for the worst record in the league. Right now, most Twins fans should turn their attention to minor league baseball. There are a handful of minor leaguers in the Twins system who deserve a promotion. I tried to avoid players, especially younger ones, who have only been at their respective level for only this season. Here are my top five:
 
5. LaMonte Wade, OF, Cedar Rapids
 
Wade has been tearing it up in Cedar Rapids so far this year. After having just a .143 batting average in Cedar Rapids last season (granted, it was just a four game sample size), he is is hitting at a .325/.421/.472 clip this season. He has shown to have a very good eye at the plate, striking out 18 times in 123 official at-bats and has more walks (22) than he does strikeouts. The 2015 ninth round draft pick is also 22, so if the Maryland product keeps this up through the month of June, he is worthy of a promotion. His .893 OPS is also leading all of the Twins minor leaguers and his slugging percentage is third, only behind teammate A.J. Murray and top prospect Byron Buxton.
 
4. Randy LeBlanc, RHP, Cedar Rapids
 
LeBlanc has been nothing short of incredible for the Kernels this year. He has allowed four earned runs in 46 innings. Yes, four! That is good enough for a microscopic 0.78 ERA. He had a solid season for Cedar Rapids last year, going 9-5 with an ERA just north of 3.00, but he has been even better this season. Now, I would not call him a great prospect, considering he is already 24 and still in Low-A ball, but he absolutely deserves a promotion, especially when one of the Fort Myers pitchers is promoted within the next few months. His WHIP of 0.87 is second in the all of the Twins system and he has an opponents batting average of just .196. If he ever wants to sniff a chance at the majors, he needs to improve his strikeout total, as he just has 28 in his 46 innings. But with an ERA of less than 1, he needs a new challenge and will soon get it.
3. Stephen Gonsalves, LHP, Fort Myers
 
If anyone has been more impressive than LeBlanc this season, it has been Gonsalves. After dominating in Cedar Rapids early last season, Gonsalves was promoted to Fort Myers and pitched well, registering a 7-2 record with a 2.61 ERA. He has been nothing short of incredible this season, going 5-1 and having an ERA of 1.27 in seven starts. If you dig into his stats a little more, it makes it that much more impressive. He has a WHIP of 0.84, which is tops in all of the Twins system and an opposing batting average of .152. After a season-opening start in which he gave up three runs in six innings in a loss to Bradenton, the southpaw has only given up three runs total in his last six starts (36.2 innings). His K/9 from Cedar Rapids was unattainable in Fort Myers as he struck out 77 batters in just 55 innings, but this season's 8.02 K/9 in still very solid. If there is room in Chattanooga, Gonsalves will be promoted shortly.
 
2. Kohl Stewart, RHP, Fort Myers
 
Last year in his first season at high-A, Stewart pitched decent for Fort Myers, but still had a high opponents batting average and was still not striking very many out. A year ago, the 2013 first round pick struck out just 71 batters in 129.1 innings for just 4.94 strikeouts per nine innings. This year has been a complete turnaround. Not only has he had his way with opposing hitters, his strikeouts per nine innings rate is miles better than 2015. He has struck out 37 in 40.2 innings so far for an 8.19 K/9 to go along with his 3-1 record with a sparkling 1.77 ERA. His opponents batting average also stands out at .185 with a WHIP of 0.98. His major improvement from 2015 has earned him a promotion that will likely come this summer.
 
1. J.T. Chargois, RHP, Rochester
 
It is unfortunate that he has to settle for being on this list, considering he has done more than enough to be a part of the big league club. Chargois has been lights out for Chattanooga and Rochester this season. So far on the year, Chargois has pitched 17.1 innings split between the two teams and has allowed a total of two earned runs. In Rochester, he has pitched 5.2 scoreless innings and has allowed just two hits, while striking out an incredible 13. Obviously that won't hold up, but that is an eye-popping 20.65 strikeouts per nine innings. Even if you include his stint in Chattanooga this year, his K/9 is still 14.02. For a team that has a bullpen as bad as the Twins, there is no reason that Chargois should not be on the big league club and I have a feeling if he keeps it up, he will be sooner rather than later.