Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook - 2011

As of now, the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook – 2011 is now available at LuLu.com. The price for the 170 page book will be set at $14.95. Here is a quick bullet-point version of what you can expect to find inside the book’s pages.

A huge thank you to Brian Henricksen who took a lot of pictures in New Britain the last few years and created what I believe to be a very cool cover for this year’s book. See it on the right, let me know what you think. Danny Valencia is on the cover with the question “Which Prospect(s) Will Help the Twins in 2011?”
An article on the Rochester Red Wings by Josh Whetzel, their radio and TV play-by-play guy since 2003.
An article on New Britain Stadium by Jeff Dooley, the team’s Direct of Broadcasting and their play-by-play guy on the radio.
An article on the Ft. Myers Miracle by their play-by-play broadcaster Alex Margulies.
An article on the Beloit Snappers by Jeff Vohs, the team’s General Manager.
Over 160 profiles of Twins minor leaguers from AJ Achter to Alex Wimmers. It also includes my choices for the Top 5 Prospects in the Dominican Summer League.

From Top Prospect Kyle Gibson to Roy Larson, a University of St. Thomas grad signed by the Twins after the season.
From Brett Jacobson (acquired in the JJ Hardy trade) to Rule 5 pick Scott Diamond.

Q&A with Danny Valencia: Major Leaguer – an interview with Valencia after his rookie season came to an end.
Interviews with Minor League Player of the Year, Joe Benson, and Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Kyle Gibson.
Stories from the 2010 Draft – article on the Twins draft and what stories on five of the players that the Twins selected.
Nate Hanson: Minnesota’s Own – I wrote an article Chaska native and former Gopher Nate Hanson who had a nice breakout season in Ft. Myers in 2010.
Winning vs Development – an essay by Twins Minor League Weekly co-host Travis Aune (Travis Twins Talk).
In the Right Direction – by Josh Johnson (Josh’s Thoughts) – an article on the progress made in 2011 by Twins 1B prospect Chris Parmelee.
An article on the Northwoods League, specifically on Twins minor leaguers who have participated in the collegiate wood bat league.
Lists and Rankings – includes Top 10 lists from many of your favorite Twins minor league bloggers and other experts.

Includes my Top 30 Prospects for 2011, and looks back and my Top 30s from the past 5 years.

Obviously the profiles are the meat and potatoes of the entire book. I’ve been following the Twins minor leagues for the last six or seven years. Over the past years, I’ve been fortunate to gain several contacts which has really helped fuel my interest in minor league baseball and the Twins system. The fact is that when the Twins had a $65 million payroll, they built from within with a strong farm system. Even now, with a $115 million payroll, that philosophy doesn’t, and shouldn’t, change. We are seeing that now, as the Twins have lost five free agent relief pitchers and seem content to trust the arms that have developed in their minor league system or other younger players they have received in trades.

I like to consider this a Must-Have for Twins fans. I envision it sitting on your coffee table, so any time that the radio or TV announcers mention a Twins minor leaguer, you can learn more about them. Impress your friends and family with your incredible knowledge of the players throughout the Twins system. Will all 160 prospects get to the big leagues? Of course not, but I believe that they all deserve to be recognized. As I’ve included in all three Prospect Handbooks:

Minor league baseball players are doing all the same work that the big leaguers do. They are just doing it with far less fanfare, smaller per diems, less luxurious travel and hotel arrangements, and noticeably lighter wallets due to pay checks with far fewer zeroes. These players deserve to be recognized too!

If you are interested in ordering your copy(ies) of the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook – 2011, it is available now at LuLu.com.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to e-mail me.

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