rdehring

Will second Ace's comment about the jerseys. But if they score like that when they wear'em, wear them every day. Great seeing Houston with another multi-hit day, including his third home run. See Ross didn't play again in St. Paul. Haven't seen his name in the box score a lot. How much is he playing? Half the games? Also not seeing Jenkins in the lineup every day. He was also the DH the other day. Is he still dealing with a lingering injury? Thanks for another great report, Seth. The work of all you guys is appreciated.

My thoughts on Martin are simple. Let him play nearly every day. As for Lee, if memory serves, he spent little time in the minors and may have been rushed. Didn't he also miss time with a couple injuries around the time of his callup? So, I see him as a player who is in need of more time to develop. Will that fix his two biggest deficiencies, speed and arm strength? No. But it should enable him to become a serviceable player for the Twins. Even if in a super utility role.

Should Wallner be either traded or sent down, you betcha. Loved the idea from several of you above about putting him on the IL, then a rehab assignment. Maybe, just maybe he could get hot at AAA, hit a couple really long home runs and someone would take a chance and give the Twins something. I differ from most of you in that the person who should be replacing him in the everyday lineup is Austin Martin.

I was thinking of Chris Sale when I wrote that. If memory serves, he pitched for the Sox late in his draft season. Could the Twins be so fortunate? We can dream, can't we?

Great seeing Diaw with a big game. Also good seeing DeBarge with a multi-hit outing. And thanks for the video of his dash home. Quick made what, four starts in Ft. Myers before moving up? Four or five starts for the Kernels should put him in Wichita by Memorial Day. Should he continue his dominance, he could be in St. Paul by the All-Star break and the Twins by September. Wouldn't it be great for the Twins to find lightening in a bottle, just once. Please!

Will agree the deal didn't make a ton of sense. Mostly because Varland was a local kid who was doing great and would continue being cheap for several years. So why did they do it? I have to believe they were blown away by the return. Or at least they thought so. Looking at his results in the upper levels of MiLB, Roden is a very good player. Look at how he started this season. Yes, the injury sucks, but he should be back and will be a very good player. Should all of the corner outfielders eventually make it, the Twins will have the luxury of trading a good young player for a big return. Yes, that player could be Roden. Or it could be any one of three or four others. They also had to be excited about Rojas. Won't know whether they thought Rojas or Roden was the key to the trade, could have been either. Or both. Looking at the team, it sure seems like they did about three-quarters of a total rebuild. Come July they need to finish it. That means trying to extend players like Ryan and Jeffers. If they can't get it done, move them and finish a total rebuild. That should include trading several others. Players like Larnach, Wallner, Bell and unless he turns the corner soon, even Lewis. Cut the best deals and move on to 2027 and beyond. In the meantime, their bullpen needs a fix. After his brief appearance this week, the Twins need to get Rojas back to the big club. I hope they use Rojas in a complete piggyback role. Have a starter, say Ober begin the game and go 5+/- innings. Then bring Rojas in to finish it, 4+/- innings. Give the entire bullpen every fifth day off. Or maybe better stated, keep the rest of the bullpen out of the game. When Matthews gets a few more good starts under his belt, bring him up for the same role with another starter, maybe Prielipp who seems destined to go 5 innings max. Same with Festa when/if he returns. Get to the point of only using the remaining five guys in the pen a couple days a week. I can't watch entire games anymore. Fortunately, will have the Wild game tonight watching the Twins between periods. But I can get excited about the future should the FO finish what they started last July.

Very interesting and informative piece, Matt. Thanks. Had two thoughts. First, seeing all those clips from 2017 made me realize how long Buxton has been doing this for the Twins. Second, I for one enjoy watching this young man play center field for the Twins every night and look forward to him doing so for another five plus years.

Thanks for an excellent report, Steve. Really appreciate these every morning. Is fantastic that their five big prospects at St. Paul are beginning to heat up. Will agree with those who are clamoring for ERod to get the call. Problem is replacing Outman won't get him a lot of playing time with the Twins. They really need to move on from either Wallner or Larnach. No question, at least in my mind, that the first player moving on should be Wallner. Expect they will want to give him a few more weeks to break out of what seems like a forever slump, so I don't see it happening too soon. Hopefully, there is one GM out there who likes Wallner's power, believes he can fix him, and gives the Twins a decent prospect. Is really exciting every morning to open the Cedar Rapids box score and see Houston with another hit or two. What was the biggest surprise this morning was seeing he stole his seventh base. I understand steals in A ball are easier the MLB. But seven steals must mean he has good, or even very good speed and base running sense. Knew his D was as good as there is. Didn't know that he was fast. Can anyone who has seen him play tell us how fast?

I understand the season isn't all that old, Seth. But most of those wonderful prospects we all are excited about aren't hitting, a lick. Looking at yesterday's box score, there were only two in Cedar Rapids that caught my attention, Houston and Tait. Glad to see Tait getting time behind the plate. Houston is one of the few to be really excited about. Question remains if he will continue hitting as he moves up to AA, however with his defense he only needs to hit a little. With Ross moving up to AAA, who is going to play shortstop? Have a question Seth, about Mercedes. I see he is from Puerto Rico, yet was signed as a 16-year-old International free agent. Aren't prospects from Puerto Rico included in the draft? I know Jose Berrios was.

When drafted I was excited about this young teenager, I believe from West Texas. Continued to be excited, however, seemingly less each year. Well, that excitement is gone, long gone. Maybe he will become another Liam Hendriks. After the Twins lose him following his six years in the organization, he will sign and fail with a couple more clubs before becoming an All-Star with the A's.

Was so excited about Ellwanger. Abel out for however long a week ago, now this young man. Sure sounds like TJ is next on his agenda. Will the Twins ever have any luck other than bad luck with their exciting young prospects? Bah Humbug!

After all the years of dealing with injuries, this young man appears to finally be healthy. With all the disappointment he and the Twins have had from injury, I pray that he will step on the mound tonight and give the Twins 5 very good innings and never look back. With Rojas also on the team, are the Twins looking to piggyback them tonight, Prielipp for 5 and Rojas for 3+?

What a fantastic threesome. As FlyingFinn indicated, I would add Ellwanger to make this a foursome. I look forward to 2028 or 2029 when Bradley, Abel and these four could/should be six wonderful starters for a Twins team who hopefully are again competing for championships.

BAh Humbug!

Interesting start to the season. Cedar Rapids and the Saints were the two teams that were thought to be loaded. The two had all of the TD top 10 prospects. Approaching the end of April, they are the two that are under .500. Go figure? Don't know where Ft. Myers would be without Pena? The kid has to be in the discussion for hitter of the day, every day.