Wednesday

I've been having some major computer/connection problems lately. Just can't maintain the connection for very long. So today, I will be posting my picks as the Twins' 11th through 20th prospects are announced. There are a couple of Twins thoughts and a couple other things. I hope you enjoy it!

If you have any questions or comments on any of these players or their rankings, I would love to hear your thoughts. If you have thoughts, or if you have a Top 10, 20, 30, or 50 Prospect list, I would love to see it and share it with other Twins fans, so please e-mail me or leave Comments down below.

#50 – Adam Hawes – RHP – 23

#49 – Ricky Barrett – LHP – 25

#48 – Deacon Burns – OF – 23

#47 – Felix Molina – SS/2B – 23

#46 – Johnny Woodard – 1B – 21

#45 – Brock Peterson – 1B – 22

#44 – Josh Rabe – OF – 27

#43 – Allan de san Miguel – C – 18

#42 – Kevin Cameron – RH RP – 26

#41 – Alexander Smit – LH RP – 20

#40 – Jason Miller – LH RP – 23

#39 – Danny Matienzo – DH – 25

#38 – Luis Maza – RHP – 25

#37 – Eli Tintor – OF – 21

#36 – Caleb Moore – RHP – 22

#35 – Doug Deeds – OF – 23

#34 – Nick Blackburn – RHP – 24

#33 – Tarrence Patterson – OF – 21

#32 – Garrett Jones – 1B – 24

#31 – Garrett Guzman – OF – 22

#30 – JD Durbin – RHP – 24

#29 – Juan Portes – IF/OF – 20

#28 – Andrew Thompson – 2B – 19

#27 – Ryan Mullins – LHP – 22

#26 – Henry Sanchez – 1B – 19

#25 – Jose Mijares – LHP – 21

#24 – Trent Oeltjen – OF – 23

#23 – Kyle Aselton – LHP – 23

#22 – Errol Simonitsch – LHP – 23

#21 – Brian Duensing – LHP – 23

#20 – Kyle Waldrop – RHP – 20

Last Sept. Ranking: 16

2006 Team: Beloit Snappers

Acquired: Twins 1st round draft pick in 2004 out of Knoxville (TN) High School

Waldrop had to have been disappointed after he was sent back to Beloit to start this season. But it may turn out to be the best thing for his career. The top pick from just two years ago will be given every opportunity. So far this year, he is 3-2 with a 3.79 ERA. In 59.1 innings, he has just 10 walks, but also has just 39 strikeouts. That is just under six strikeouts per nine innings, so that is of some concern, but at 6-5, he has plenty of room to grow and certainly the support (and financial backing) of the organization.

2006 Projection: I think that he will move up to Ft. Myers after the draft

Potential: #3 starter

Could be in Minnesota in: 2009

#19 – Justin Jones – LHP – 21

Last Sept. Ranking: 15

2006 Team: New Britain Rockcats/Ft. Myers Miracle

Acquired: Trade from Cubs for Doug Mientkeiwicz

Jones was the New Britain starter who went back to Ft. Myers when Matt Garza moved up. His W-L and ERA were not bad, but if you look at his WHIP, it was just too high. I do believe that Jones' time in Ft. Myers will be short. It was good to see him have such a great start the other night. He is a big lefty, and I think that he has tremendous potential.

2006 Projection: I think that he will move back up to New Britain

Potential: I think he could be a #2-type pitcher

Could be in Minnesota in: 2008

#18 – Trevor Plouffe – SS – 19

Last Sept. Ranking: 13

2006 Team: Ft. Myers Miracle

Acquired: Twins 1st round pick in 2004 out of San Diego High School

I think that Plouffe was probably as hard as anyone to rank. Like last year, he is one of (if not) the youngest hitters in the Florida State League. He is not hitting for average or for power, but he is showing excellent on-base skills. It would be interesting to get a Ft. Myers' fan's perspective on Plouffe. Does he seem overmatched? Is he taking too many pitches? Defensively, he has started seeing some time at 3B, but he is still considered a shortstop. I believe that he will be just fine, but he may have to repeat the level next year.

2006 Projection: full season at Ft. Myers

Potential: solid middle infielder

Could be in Minnesota in: 2009

#17 – David Winfree – 3B – 20

Last Sept. Ranking: 20

2006 Team: Ft. Myers Miracle

Acquired: Twins 13th round pick in 2003 out of Virginia Beach High School

He was the Twins minor league player of the year last year, and this year he has fought injuries and many of us are very curious as to just when he will get back to game action. The man is strong and can hit. Sure, he needs to work on his defense and his elbow problems are really hindering that, but he can hit! Hopefully he gets back soon and should Matt Moses move up to Rochester, Winfree may have to move up to New Britain.

2006 Projection: If he comes off the DL ever, he will stay in Ft. Myers

Potential: All-Star caliber hitter

Could be in Minnesota in: 2008

#16 – Erik Lis – 1B – 22

Last Sept. Ranking: 46

2006 Teams: Beloit Snappers

Acquired: Twins 9th round pick in 2005 out of University of Evansville

How is this guy still playing in the Midwest League? I know, sometimes we look at player's numbers in April and get too excited. However, it is now near the end of May and Lis is hitting .352/.440/.600 with 20 doubles, seven homers and 30 RBI. Also, he is an older player for the league (which is the only reason that he doesn't rank higher on this list). There is no reason that he is not playing in Ft. Myers at this point.

2006 Projection: should move up to Ft. Myers shortly

Potential: solid big league hitter, I think Mark Grace type 1B

Could be in Minnesota in: 2009

#15 – Paul Kelly – SS – 19

Last Sept. Ranking: 31

2006 Teams: Beloit Snappers

Acquired: Twins 2nd round pick in 2005 out of Flower Mound (TX) high school

Paul Kelly is not lighting up the Midwest League, but he is definitely holding his own. Clearly the organization feels that he is a top prospect since he has played in 48 of 49 games so far this year. He is hitting .263/.341/.403 with 13 doubles, two triples, three homers and 22 RBI. So, although his average is not high, his Isolated Discipline and Power numbers are solid. I don't look for homers from 19 year olds in the Midwest League, but I do like his doubles. Also, he has just four errors on the season which is quite impressive.

2006 Projection: Spend the full season at Beloit

Potential: quality middle infield bat

Could be in Minnesota in: 2009

#14 – Adam Harben – RHP – 22

Last Sept. Ranking: 10

2006 Team: New Britain Rockcats

Acquired: Twins 15th round pick in 2002 out of Westark Community College

Adam Harben got off to a great start for New Britain this year. At the end of April, his ERA was below 0.50. Since that time, he has struggled some. But it is his typical problem that is ailing him this year. He has more walks than strikeouts which is never a good thing. But he throws hard and has decent secondary pitches. He is long and lanky, and I really believe that if he can get control of his control, he could be a very good pitcher. His lack of strikeouts is somewhat alarming too, but he is still very young and pitching probably a level above his age.

2006 Projection: full season in New Britain rotation

Potential: potential #3 starter

Could be in Minnesota in: 2007

#13 – Pat Neshek – RH RP – 25

Last Sept. Ranking: 26

2006 Teams: Rochester Red Wings

Acquired: Twins 6th round pick in 2002 out of Butler University

I just don't usually rank relief pitchers real high just from the perspective that they don't throw as many innings so their impact on the Twins may not be as much. Also, the Twins usually develop their best pitching prospects as starters and then move them to the bullpen at the big league level. Well, there are a few exceptions. Jesse Crain was one example and Pat Neshek is another. His delivery has baffled hitters around the International League. In 37.1 innings this season, he has walked just nine and struck out 61 hitters! He is now 4-1 with a remarkable WHIP and ERA. In most organizations, he would already be in the big leagues.

2006 Projection: should get a Twins call up, maybe even before September

Potential: solid set up man, possible closer

Could be in Minnesota in: 2006

#12 – Boof Bonser – RHP – 24

Last Sept. Ranking: 17

2006 Team: Rochester Red Wings

Acquired: Twins acquired from San Francisco Giants with Joe Nathan and Francisco Liriano for AJ Pierzynski

Bonser has now made two big league starts. His first was excellent and he got a no-decision. His second start was just average and he got a win. The big righty seems to have control of four quality pitches, a fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. He has always shown an ability to get strikeouts as he has led his league in strikeouts the last two years. He has shown an ability to throw a lot of innings. I don't think that his stuff is great, but having four solid pitches make him worth watching!

2006 Projection: Could spend the rest of the season in the Twins rotation

Potential: solid #4 pitcher

Could be in Minnesota in: 2006

#11 – Jay Rainville – RHP – 20

Last Sept. Ranking: 6

2006 Team: Injured

Acquired: Twins supplemental 1st round pick in 2004 out of Rhode Island High School

In early spring training, Rainville was diagnosed with a nerve problem in his right shoulder and had surgery. He will likely miss the entire year but because of his age and what he showed last year, he is still a top prospect. I moved him down just because it is an arm injury, but I expect he will come back in 2007 and get back to top prospect caliber.

2006 Projection: Hopefully ready to throw some in Instructional League

Potential: Top of the rotation starter

Could be in Minnesota in: 2009

Any thoughts, let me know. E-mail me. Be sure to check back soon for the Top 10 Twins Prospects!

SethSpeaks Player of the Day - Alexi Casilla, Ft. Myers Miracle

SethSpeaks Pitcher of the Day - JD Durbin, Rochester Red Wings

At John Sickels' site, there is a diary comparing Twins prospect Eduardo Morlan to Will Inman.

If you have any thoughts on the Twins system, please e-mail me.

ROCHESTER REPORT

Wednesday - Red Wings 5, Toledo 0 (11 innings) – JD Durbin is pitching well again, and Pat Neshek continues to dominate. Durbin started and in eight innings, he gave up no runs on just three hits and two walks. He struck out five. His ERA is now down to 2.54. Neshek then came in and threw two shutout innings, striking out two. Both offenses were scoreless until the Red Wings put up five in the top of the 11th. Terry Tiffee went 2-4 with a walk and a double. Jason Tyner and Glenn Williams were both 2-5.

NEW BRITAIN NEWS

Wednesday - Rockcats 10, Harrisburg 2 – Nick Blackburn wasn't perfect, but on this night, he didn't have to be. He got his fourth win by allowing just one run in 5.2 innings. He gave up six hits and walked four, while striking out just two. Julio DePaula came in and got his second save by throwing 3.1 innings with just an unearned run. Trent Oeltjen led the offense with a 3-5 game with double and two RBI. Jose Morales went 2-3 with two RBI. Denard Span went 2-5 with a triple and hit 10th stolen base. Danny Matienzo was 2-5 with a double and two RBI. Alex Romero was 0-1 but he walked four times and stole his 11th base.

FT MYERS MEMOS

Wednesday - Miracle 5, Sarasota 0 – Colby Miller is really clogging up the Twins pitching question marks these days. The righty, making just his third start since his return to action, went six shutout innings. He gave up just two hits and a walk. Chris Schutt and Tim Lahey went the final three innings to complete the win. Alexi Casilla led the offense with a 4-4 and a walk game. Matt Tolbert went 2-4 with a double and two RBI.

BELOIT BITS

Tuesday - Snappers – Rained Out.

Do you have any further thoughts on any Twins prospects, minor leaguers, or these summaries? I would love any input, or ideas to make it better. Thanks! E-mail me, or also feel free to leave comments below.

No American Idol!! Now what? I don't watch anything else on a regular basis other than baseball. So, does anyone have an suggestions for my summer TV viewing? I mean, I really enjoy Little House on the Prairie on TV Land at 7, but I usually forget about that. So, any help would be great!! Send me a quick e-mail or leave some thoughts in the Comments below.

And on that note, I will call it good and say, "Have a great day!" I certainly hope that you have found some things that were worth reading. I hope you'll be back tomorrow where maybe you can see the top ten Twins prospects! If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail me.