Roster Projections:
Ft. Myers Miracle
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Step
1: Finalize 2011 Minnesota Twins roster - Check.
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Step 2: Find
a way to keep Scott Diamond in the organization - Check.
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Step 3: Configure
the 2011 Triple-A Rochester Red Wings 24-man roster - In progress.
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Step 4: Configure
the 2011 Double-A New Britain Rock Cats 24-man roster – In progress.
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Step 5: Configure
the 2011 Hi-A Ft. Myers Miracle 25-man roster – In progress.
It may have been easier to project these
rosters if I would have done them a week ago. By waiting until now, I am
getting reports of which players are going where, so my projections continue to
be updated. I can’t verify, but I have been told that Brian Dozier will start
the season at New Britain. I hadn’t included him yesterday, and now I won’t
include him today, which is why I needed to write about it. Not only does that
confuse my Ft. Myers projection, but now consider the infield options in New
Britain. Between the three positions, Deibinson
Romero, Estarlin de Los Santos, Brian Dozier, Steve
Singleton, Ray Chang and Chris Cates, not to mention Toby Gardenhire.
I continue to hear about some minor injuries that either mean
a season will be started on the Disabled List or at a lower level to work back.
With all that in mind, I present to you my
thoughts on a projected roster for the Twins High-A
affiliate, the Ft. Myers Miracle. (the below roster is
my opinion and my guesses, and nothing official.)
Catchers: Danny Rams (40
man - No) – Dan Rohlfing (40 man -
No)
Danny Rams made a strong impression on the
Twins this spring. After two years in Beloit, he will move up to the Miracle.
He continues to be a work in progress behind the plate, but he does continue to
improve. He will also get time at DH and at 1B. Rohlfing
skipped Beloit last year and held his own until a couple of freak injuries cost
him much of the second half to his season. There was some talk that he would go
to Beloit to start the season so he could get even more playing time. Also, don’t
forget that Chris Herrmann was a non-roster invitee to big league spring
training as a catcher and he will get plenty of time behind the plate.
Infielders: 1B – Nate Hanson (40
man - No), 2B – Nick Romero (40 man - No), 3B – Anderson
Hidalgo (40 man – No), SS – James Beresford (40
man - No), Utility – Paul Kelly (40 man - No),
Nate Hanson had a very good 2010 season with
the Miracle. However, assuming Chris Parmelee returns
to New Britain (as he will), he won’t be platooned,
so Hanson will likely return to Ft. Myers. Anderson Hidalgo missed time last
year and it wouldn’t surprise me if he drops back to Beloit, but I will put him
here. Nick Romero, James Beresford and Paul Kelly will be the three players to
man the middle infield spots, and Romero and Kelly can also play 3B while
Beresford is a solid 2B.
Outfielders: LF – Chris
Herrmann (40 man - No), CF – Aaron Hicks (40 man
- No), RF – Lance Ray (40 man - No), 4th outfielder – Jonathan
Goncalves (40 man - No), 1B/OF/DH – Steven Liddle
(40 man – No), DL – Angel Morales
(40 man – No)
Angel Morales is fighting some elbow soreness
and will likely start the season on the Disabled List. He told me last night
that it is feeling better, so it should not cost him too much time. Aaron Hicks
tweeted the other day that he will play for the Miracle this season which
likely surprises no one. Chris Herrmann was called the best defensive left
fielder in the Florida State League, but he will also get time behind the
plate. Steve Liddle will get time in left field,
first base and DH. Jonathan Goncalves will likely
return to the Miracle outfield where he did a nice job last year, especially
defensively. Finally, at least while Morales is out, Ray will get a lot of
playing time with the Miracle. One person told me that Ray is the team’s best
pure hitter right now.
Starting Pitchers: RHP Kane
Holbrooks (40 man - No), RHP Tom
Stuifbergen (40 man - No), RHP Alex Wimmers
(40 man - No), Miguel Munoz (40 man - No), Brad
Stillings (40 man - No)
Holbrooks is scheduled to make the Opening Day start for the
Miracle. He was terrific at Beloit, in the bullpen the first half of last year,
and did a very good job for the Miracle as a starter. He ended the season with
one start in New Britain. Alex Wimmers signed late
and impressed in 15 innings with the Miracle in August. It will be interesting
to see if he stays with the Miracle through the season’s first half. Stuifbergen and his changeup have people in Ft. Myers
talking. He is a smart, young pitcher with very good stuff who just needs to
stay healthy. Brad Stillings has a terrific changeup
and has pitched in the bullpen and rotation in his two seasons with the organization.
Miguel Munoz throws hard, but sometimes he thinks too much on the mound. He
does have really good stuff though.
Bullpen: RHP Bruce Pugh (40
man - No), RHP Shooter Hunt (40 man - No), RHP Jhon Garcia (40 man -
No), LHP Blake Martin (40 man - No), RHP Brad
Tippett (40 man - No), RHP Edgar Ibarra (40 man – No), LHP Tony
Davis (40 man - No), LHP Nelvin
Fuentes (40 man - No)
Bruce Pugh ended last season with a couple of
starts in New Britain. He has been experiencing some back problems this spring,
so the hard thrower will return to the Miracle and work out of the bullpen to
start the season. It was surprising to hear that, after spending the 2nd
half of 2010 in New Britain, Tony Davis returns to the Miracle. Hopefully he
will find his control. Speaking of, Shooter Hunt returns to the Miracle in
hopes of improving up his 2010 season. Brad Tippett
has been a terrific pitcher for the Twins, whatever role he finds himself in,
but last year was a wasted year thanks to some arm injuries. He is throwing
well this spring though. Jhon Garcia actually got
better and better as the season went along, and e pitched quite well in the Miracle
bullpen at the end of 2010. Edgar Ibarra impressed me in a start I watched last
year in Beloit. He has four pitches and is left-handed and throws hard. He and
lefty Nelvin Fuentes will really make it difficult
for left-handed hitters.
Overall: Hicks is obviously the biggest
name on this roster, but he is not alone. Alex Wimmers
and Tom Stuifbergen are exciting pitchers. Angel
Morales has tremendous upside. Danny Rams, Anderson Hidalgo, James Beresford
and Miguel Munoz are all solid prospects who will try to improve in their jump
to the Miracle. And, if Twins fans are looking for someone to cheer loudly for
this year in the Twins farm system, look no further than Paul Kelly. Pat Dean
will start the season in Extended Spring with some shoulder discomfort, but he
could move up quickly to the Miracle. Matt Bashore
and Ben Tootle will also be starting at EST, but could be moved up to the
Miracle, if not first in Beloit.
Later today, I will post my roster projection
for the Low-A Beloit Snappers.
If you have any thoughts or questions, please
feel free to comment
or ask.
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