Wednesday,
June 3, 2009
SethSpeaks.net
Top 50
Minnesota Twins
Prospects
Part 2: Prospects
21-35
In case you missed my posting earlier
today, the Twins promoted Carlos
Gutierrez and Alex Burnett from
Ft. Myers to New Britain where they will join the Rockcats
pitching staff. I would think there could be more subsequent moves to follow,
so I will try to stay on top of that. Burnett can be used to fill Rob Delaney’s
spot. Carlos Gutierrez likely will
start. Cole Devries and Matt Fox have
both been quite good this season. Jeff Manship has been better of late, and Jay Rainville
has been good enough to stick around. Ryan
Mullins is the guy who may be out of the starting picture. Or, maybe the
Twins decided that the 26 year old Fox is deserving of a
AAA opportunity. I would be supportive of that. As I hear any new information,
I will keep people updated. Thanks!
UPDATE – With Wilson Ramos coming off of the Disabled
List in New Britain, Danny Lehmann
has returned to Ft. Myers.
After looking at Twins prospects 36-50
yesterday, today we will look at my choices for the Twins Prospects 21-35.
Again, let me know what you think. In the next days, I will continue to work my
way up the Twins prospect list until finally giving you my selections for the
Top 10 Twins prospects. I hope you enjoy this and again, please feel
free to comment.
#35 – Ramon Santana – SS – 22 (6/20/86)
2009 Team: Beloit Snappers
Acquired: signed by Twins as free agent from Venezuela in November 2004
Santana is tiny. Like, 5-9, 150 pounds kind of tiny. But when the
ball hits his bat, it explodes. Some have told me that pound for pound, he may
have as much power as anyone in the system. 2009 has been a breakout year for
Santana. He actually first came up to Beloit in 2007.
Last year, he hit .241/.316/.404, but he had 12 doubles and eight home runs to
go with nine stolen bases. This year, he has been arguably the team’s top
hitter. He is currently hitting .364/.443/.589 with nine doubles and five home
runs. He did miss a couple of weeks with an injury. His defense apparently
leaves much to be desired yet. But hopefully he will continue to hit and give
Twins fans hope for a middle infielder of the future. Hopefully he can move up
to Ft. Myers this year and see how it goes there.
2009 Projection: should move up to Ft. Myers soon.
Potential: must improve D, but could eventually be a middle infield option for the Twins
Could be in Minnesota in: 2012
#34 – Bobby Lanigan – RHP – 22 (5/5/87)
2009 Teams: Beloit Snappers
Acquired: Twins 3rd round pick in 2008 out of Adelphi University
Although Lanigan comes from a small
college, he was not an overdraft for the Twins. He was quite well known at the
time of the draft. He throws in the low 90s, but he has a terrific slider. He
signed last year and had a solid year at Elizabethton. This
year, he has been in the Beloit Snappers starting rotation and been
inconsistent, to say the least. His most recent start, he threw seven
shutout innings. The two previous starts, he gave up ten hits in less than five
innings. Overall, he is 5-3 with a 5.76 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. Opponents are
hitting .290 against him. I do expect him to have a strong second half.
2009 Projection: will stay in the Snappers starting rotation the whole season.
Potential: mid-rotation starter
Could be in Minnesota in: 2013
#33 – Martire Garcia – LHP – 19 (3/1/90)
2009 Teams: Extended Spring Training
Acquired: Twins signed as free agent in Feb. 2007 out of Dominican Republic
He is so
young. He is very thing. He had a lot of room to grow. And he’s just 19 years
old, so he will. He is also left handed and throws hard. He was arguably the
top pitcher on the GCL team a year ago. This year, he could be the age of the
E-Twins at just 19 years old. He has a long ways to go to get to the big
leagues, but he is worth getting excited about.
2009 Projection: Extended Spring Training, season starting at Elizabethton
Potential: so far away, but talent to be middle of the rotation starter
Could be in Minnesota in: 2014
#32 – Juan Morillo – RHP – 25 (11/5/83)
2009 Teams: Minnesota Twins, Rochester Red Wings
Acquired: Claimed by Twins in April 2009 from Rockies
Simply put, there are not a lot of guys who throw over 95 mph
consistently or who touch 100 mph. Control is clearly Morillo’s
issue, but if that can be honed even just to a respectable level, Morillo could be a back of the bullpen arm that could be a
major contributor. The Twins claimed him after he was DFA’d
by the Rockies. They were fortunate that no team claimed him when they sent him
through waivers. It is absolutely worth the investment. And realize this…
although he has been around long enough to go through three option years, he is
basically the same age as Anthony Slama.
2009 Projection: would be great if he could spend the rest of the season in the Red Wings bullpen
Potential: late inning power arm
Could be in Minnesota in: 2009
#31 – BJ Hermsen – RHP – 19 (12/1/89)
2009 Teams: Extended Spring Training
Acquired: Twins 6th round pick in 2008 out of high school in Iowa
When the Twins drafted Hermsen in the 6th
round, most people thought it was a long-shot that they could sign him. It was
believed that he would go to Oregon State. That is, in part, why he was
available in the 6th round when most ‘experts’ thought he would go
in the 2nd or 3rd round. A half-million coaxed him to
sign. I think he will be starting the short season as a member of the GCL Twins
starting staff. He has very good pitches already. He just needs plenty of time
to continue to improve each of them. He has great size. He is the kind of guy that
within the next year or two, he could fly up this list.
2009 Projection: likely starting for the GCL Twins
Potential: top of the rotation starter
Could be in Minnesota in: 2015
#30 – Jose Morales – C – 26 (2/20/83)
2009 Teams: Minnesota Twins, Rochester Red Wings
Acquired: Twins 3rd round pick in 2001 out of high school in Puerto Rico
With Joe Mauer missing the first month
of the season, there was quite the competition in spring between Morales and
Drew Butera. Morales could hit. Butera
could play defense. But Morales made the team and in two stints with the big
league club, he has hit .358/.424/.415 in 53 at bats. In 60 at bats at
Rochester, he is hitting .277/.358/.346. In his minor league career, he has
shown an ability to hit for average, but his walk rate so far in 2009 is
definitely new and I would expect that to drop. He is a slap hitter with very
little power. I personally thought that he did a decent job behind the plate.
He is a good athlete and blocks the ball well. Of course, he does need to try
to improve his throwing, but as a backup catcher, you’re not looking for
perfect. Morales has done all he has been asked to do and should be the
frontrunner to be the team’s backup catcher for 2010.
2009 Projection: Twins 3rd catcher, catching and DHing in Rochester.
Potential: OK starting catcher, excellent backup catching option
Could be in Minnesota in: 2007, 2009
#29 – Deibinson Romero – 3B – 22 (9/24/86)
2009 Team: Ft. Myers Miracle
Acquired: signed by Twins as free agent from Dominican Republic in July 2004
Romero became a prospect
because he hit for average and showed good power in 2006 and 2007 in the Twins’
short season leagues. 2008 was almost a lost season for Romero at Beloit as he
had two major injuries. The first was a knee injury that meant surgery and cost
him time. The second was a broken leg that cost him the rest of his season.
Despite that, he is highly regarded in the organization and was still added to
the Twins’ 40 man roster after the season. He was pushed to Ft. Myers this
season where he has had some ups and downs. He does have 11 doubles on the
season, but no other extra base hits. He is hitting just .206/.280/.273. His
walk rate is actually nearly double what it has been in the past. He has nine
errors at 3B on the season, but I am hearing mixed opinions on his defensive
play. Hopefully he will take off in the second half.
2009 Projection: 3B at Ft. Myers all season
Potential: middle of the lineup hitter
Could be in Minnesota in: 2012
#28 – David Winfree – RF – 23 (8/5/85)
2009
Teams:
Rochester Red Wings
Acquired: Twins 13th round pick in 2003 out of Virginia Beach (VA) H.S.
You
almost have to do a double-take when you see that Winfree
is just 23 years old still. He is in his seventh season in the Twins organization,
and has just continued to work his way up the system. He was invited to big
league camp and I think he made a very strong impression. After two years at
AA, he made the move to the Red Wings this season. He has provided the team
with much-needed power and run production from the right side of the plate. In
45 games this year, he has 12 doubles, two triples and eight home runs. He has
plenty of holes in his swing, so he will likely never hit for average. It would
be great if he would walk more, but his strikeout rate has not increased as he
has moved up the ladder. That said, a three walk to 42
strikeout rate isn’t exactly good. But Winfree has
improved. He is not a great defensive right fielder, but I am told he has
plenty of arm to play the position. It will be very
interesting to see how his second half goes.
2009
Projection:
should spend season in Rochester as DH and RF.
Potential: Potential power hitting big league hitter
Could be in Minnesota in: 2010
#27 – Cole DeVries – RHP – 24 (2/12/85)
2009 Team: New Britain Rockcats
Acquired: Free Agent signing in 2006 out of U. of Minnesota
Most people have assumed the Devries would top out at Ft. Myers,
but he was the Miracle’s top, most consistent starter in 2008. Then the
assumption becomes that he couldn’t handle AA. Well, he has probably been the Rockcats best starter this season. In 10 starts, he is 4-4
with a 2.68 ERA. He has good control which is great because he does not strike
many batters out. He has added velocity, has a good curveball and an improving
change up. He is known as a very hard worker and quite the competitor, so
eventually people may be surprised when he is a big league pitcher. And he will
probably do very well there too.
2009 Projection: starting in New Britain, possible late season promotion to Rochester
Potential: long relief/5th starter
Could be in Minnesota in: late 2010
#26 – Deolis Guerra – RHP – 20 (4/17/89)
2009 Team: Ft. Myers Miracle
Acquired: Traded to Twins with Carlos Gomez, Philip Humber and Deolis Guerra for Johan Santana in March 2008
If
you look at his numbers (4-4, 4.47 ERA, 1.39 WHIP), they don’t stand out. But
if you compare his numbers so far in 2009 to those in 2008, there is
improvement. He is giving up about the same number of hits, but his HR rate has
been cut. His walk rate has been cut in half. He is striking more out (although
still not many). Improvements are being made. Reports are that he is touching
92 on the radar gun at times. Improvement is what matters. I know people hate
to hear it, but at 20 years of age, Guerra could (or maybe should) be in
Extended Spring Training awaiting and opportunity to
maybe pitch at Elizabethton. That is another indication of just how crazy the
Mets were in their promotions of him. The Twins are wisely being very patient
with him. His size and talent still indicate potential top flight starter. It’s
just a matter of how (and of course, if) he gets there. He drops down the list
because it’s becoming harder and harder to project that high ceiling.
2009 Projection: starter at Ft. Myers, possible mid-season promotion
Potential: potential ace
Could be in Minnesota in: 2012
#25 – Whit Robbins – 1B – 24 (9/25/84)
2009 Teams: New Britain Rockcats
Acquired: Twins 4th round pick in 2006 out of Georgia Tech
Hopefully
Robbins is able to stay healthy all seasons because at AA New Britain this
year, he is putting up the type of numbers that I think the Twins hoped for
when they made him their fourth round pick in 2006 out of Georgia Tech. During
his junior year with the Yellowjackets, he hit
.352/.468/.595. Through 44 games this year, he is hitting .331/.405/.530 with
13 doubles, a triple and six home runs. Although his walk rate has come back
down to normal (very good) levels, his strikeout rate has not suffered at all.
He has become the middle of the lineup type of presence that the Twins would
hope for.
2009 Projection: Season at 1B at New Britain, unless logjam in Rochester is cleaned out
Potential: could be a solid major league 1B
Could be in Minnesota in: 2010
#24 – Brian Dinkelman – 2B – 25 (11/10/83)
2009 Teams : New Britain Rockcats
Acquired: Twins 8th round pick in 2006 out of McKendree College
Dinkelman
struggled with the bat for the first time in his career last year after he was
promoted to AA. He got off to a slow start this season as well, but soon after,
he caught fire and hasn’t stopped hitting. He began the season at the bottom of
the order, but recently, he has been hitting in the third spot of the Twins
lineup. Through 46 games, he is now hitting .335/.421/.476 with 11 doubles, two
triples and three home runs. Since he would be more of a top of the order type
of hitter (see Twins need for a #2 hitter so they can move Mauer
back to #3), I like that he has 23 walks and 22 strikeouts on the season.
Although he is far from young to be deemed a top prospect (see Slama, Tolleson), he has to be
considered as a guy who could really help the Twins at 2B in the not-so-distant
future.
2009 Projection: again, if logjam in Rochester infield can be cleared, he could move up.
Potential: solid #1 or 2 hitter
Could be in Minnesota in: 2010
#23 – Shooter Hunt – RHP – 22 (8/16/86)
2009
Teams:
Beloit Snappers
Acquired: Twins supplemental 1st round pick in 2008 out of Tulane University
Here
is what I wrote last September about Hunt when I ranked him the Twins #16
prospect: “… Beloit where we were reminded us of what caused him to slip down
in the draft. Control. He made seven Midwest League
starts and went 1-4 with a 5.46 ERA. However, in 31.1 innings, he struck out 34
hitters, but he walked way too many, 27. He also hit six batters. Thought of as
an upper first round pick coming into the season, he walked 56 in 100+ innings
during his junior year at Tulane… He will likely begin the 2009 season in
Beloit where he will probably only spend about a half season… if he has
control.” Well, he didn’t even spend a half year to this point in Beloit before
he was sent elsewhere. But he was sent back to Extended Spring Training because
that control issue just got worse and worse. This year in Beloit, in 17.2
innings, he gave up 15 hits, walked 33, threw seven wild pitches and hit
several batters. You know all that. The numbers are what they are. However, I
really struggled with where to rank him this time around. I couldn’t have him
much higher, but at the same time, if (and hopefully when) he figured this
control situation out, he still has what many believe to be great stuff, and at
that time could still rise through the system quickly. It will be interesting
to see what happens for him the rest of this season and how he is treated as he
moves forward.
2009 Projection: it’d be nice for him to get back to Beloit and contribute
Potential: Potential #2 type of pitcher if he gains control of his pitches.
Could be in Minnesota in: 2012
#22 – Evan Bigley – OF – 22 (3/9/87)
2009 Teams: Beloit Snappers, Ft. Myers Miracle
Acquired: Twins 10th round pick in 2008 out of Dallas Baptist U.
After
signing quickly with the Twins, Bigley went to
Elizabethton where he hit like crazy! He hit .300/360/.587 with 13 doubles, 14
homers and 47 RBI in 53 games. He began this season in Beloit where he played
in 25 games. He hit .307/.340/.446 with nine extra base hits and 22 RBI in 25
games. He did have three walks and 19 strikeouts. He was promoted to Ft. Myers
when Joe Benson went on the Disabled List and got off to a fast start. He has
cooled some and is now hitting .266/.347/.281. He has just one extra base hit
in 64 at bats. Strikeouts are still a concern. But he has tremendous power
potential that I’m certain will show after the adjustment to the new league. He
is worth watching as a right handed, power hitter in the Twins future.
2009 Projection: rest of the season in the Ft. Myers outfield
Potential: all-around hitting OF
Could be in Minnesota in: 2012
#21 – Steven Tolleson – IF – 25 (11/1/83)
2009 Teams: New Britain Rockcats, Rochester Red Wings
Acquired: Twins 5th Round Pick in 2005 out of U. of South Carolina
Tolleson had a great 2008 in New Britain. He
performed well in the Arizona Fall League. He was added to the Twins 40 man
roster. But then he came to spring training and missed time due to injury. He
was sent back to New Britain and got off to a horrible start. In 38 games, he
hit .258/.343/.391. Doesn’t sound good, but when you consider he was hitting in
the mid-.100s into May, it tells you how good he was the last several weeks. It
earned him a promotion to Rochester where he has hit .385 with two doubles in
just four games. With Trevor Plouffe there, it is
likely Tolleson will split time between SS and 2B the
rest of the year. Unless the Twins do something drastic before then, Tolleson could go to camp next season competing with Nick Punto, Brendan Harris and Trevor Plouffe
to be the team’s primary shortstop.
2009 Projection: middle infielder in Rochester, possible September call up
Potential: utility infielder, with enough to be a starter
Could be in Minnesota in: 2009
So there you have it, my selections
for Twins prospects 21-35. Be sure to check back tomorrow for my choices for
#11-20, and again, later in the week, you will also get my Top 10 Twins
Prospects. If you have any feedback, comments, opinions or suggestions, please
feel free to Send me an e-mail,
or leave
your questions or comments here.