SethSpeaks.net Top 50 Minnesota Twins Prospects
Normally
I like to post my Top 50 Twins prospect lists before the draft and then
following the minor league season in September. I then have updated my top 30
or 40 for the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook. Life, writing, kid, work and
other things have been crazier this year than ever before. No surprise, but it
definitely has affected blogging. Of course, I do encourage people to listen to
the four half-hour podcasts that I’m involved in each week to get the most
recent information if I don’t blog it.
Typically
I have done a four or five part announcement of my Top 50 prospect list, but
due to time, here it is today, in one installment. It also has a little
different look. The below chart provides the ranking, position, age, team(s)
and then some brief comments on the players.
Summary
– to be honest, this is the most difficult time I have had putting together a
prospect ranking for the Twins. This year, it was pretty easy to rank the top
eight to ten, but beyond that, it was quite difficult. I think that the top of
the Twins prospect list is very good, with some future all-stars and several
big-league regulars. Beyond that, there are a bunch of prospects that I can see
coming up and being back-of-the-rotation starters, bullpen types, solid big
leaguers who can help the team. However, overall, I don’t think that this top
50 is necessarily as strong as it has been in year’s
past.
Here are
a couple of quick notes before we get started. First, Ben Revere (would
probably rank 7th) and Luke Hughes (probably ranks in low teens) are
now beyond rookie status (130 at bats), so they not in this list. I also did
not include any of the 2011 draft picks. 2nd round pick Madison Boer
is the highest selection to sign. Their three first-round picks have not signed
yet. I know the question will come up, so I will answer it now. Where would I
rank top pick Levi Michael on this list? Sadly, I would probably rank him
somewhere between 13 and 17 on this list. Travis Harrison would probably be in
the high-20s, and Hudson Boyd would be in the low-20s. I would probably rank
Madison Boer in the mid-30s.
The
purpose of these lists is really twofold. First, I think that minor leaguers
deserve to be recognized for the work they’re doing without notoriety for the
most part. Second, for discussion on these prospects.
Yes, I
did flip-flop at the top again. With what Aaron Hicks has done over the last
two weeks, I am again really excited about his future. He’s always been about
the tools, but having seen him work in person for a few days and to see the
numbers, I hope that we are seeing those tools turn into skills. It is in no
way a knock on Kyle Gibson who continues to be a great prospect who will
certainly contribute to the Twins for years. I’ve been touting Liam Hendriks as a top prospect considerable as well, and I will
stand by that. I think he can be a Twins starter for years as well. Miguel Sano
has a ton of talent and the comparisons to the likes of A-Rod and Miguel
Cabrera are exciting. I don’t question the bat, I’m just curious about a few
things. Will he be able to play defense adequately anywhere? Can he cut down
the strikeouts? That’s why I now have Oswaldo Arcia up at #3. I think that he can be very solid
defensively, but he can also hit for average and power. I am intrigued by his
promotion to Ft. Myers after his elbow surgery and am very interested in how he
does.
My Twins Minor League Weekly
co-host, Travis Aune posted his
Top 50 Twins prospects the other day, and I definitely encourage everyone
to check that out as well. He and I both love following the Twins minor league
system and see most of the same information. We then generate our own thoughts
on the players and you will notice that there are many similarities and many
differences. Some of the differing opinions mean a big difference in where we
rank the players. The reality is neither of us know
for sure what these minor leaguers’ careers will amount to. No one does. And
that’s the fun of these lists. We can all have different opinions on the
various prospects, generate our own opinions, and then over the next several
years, we’ll see how it goes.
With all that introduction, I present to you, the SethSpeaks.net
Top 50 Twins Prospects for mid-season 2011. I definitely welcome any questions,
comments or opinions on my rankings. I also encourage you to post your Top 5,
10, 20 prospect list as well. Feel free to post
any comments here.
|
Rank |
Player |
Pos |
Age |
Team |
Comments |
|
1 |
Aaron Hicks |
OF |
22 |
Ft. Myers |
Hicks is now
turning his tools into skills. Future All-Star. |
|
2 |
Kyle Gibson |
RHP |
23 |
Rochester |
Great K rate, GB rate, K:BB rate, so
ignore that 3-7 W-L, Future All-Star. |
|
3 |
Oswaldo Arcia |
OF |
20 |
Bel/FM |
Missed a month and still promoted, impressive bat! |
|
4 |
Liam Hendriks |
RHP |
22 |
New Britain |
pushed to
AA, has been terrific. 7-2, 2.81 ERA. Good K rate. |
|
5 |
Miguel Sano |
IF |
18 |
Elizabethton |
No question about the bat potential. Bad D, need to be patient. |
|
6 |
Joe Benson |
OF |
23 |
New Britain |
Streaky hitter, but great D, arm, speed, power, competitive |
|
7 |
Trevor Plouffe |
IF |
25 |
Roch/Minnesota |
How is his bat not in the big leagues right now?? |
|
8 |
Adrian Salcedo |
RHP |
20 |
Beloit |
Long and lanky, and pitching well for Beloit! |
|
9 |
Angel Morales |
OF |
21 |
Has Not Played |
Hasn't played this year, still ranks in top 10. Good
power/speed. |
|
10 |
Rene Tosoni |
OF |
24 |
Roch/Minnesota |
Kubel-Lite has
been pushed too fast this year, but terrific talent. |
|
11 |
Chris Parmelee |
1B |
23 |
New Britain |
Solid all-around hitter, improving 1B. Needs to keep improving. |
|
12 |
Eddie Rosario |
OF |
19 |
Elizabethton |
Complete package, line drives, HR power, great glove and arm. |
|
13 |
Carlos Gutierrez |
RHP |
24 |
Rochester |
throws 97, good ERA, too many walks, not enough Ks. |
|
14 |
David Bromberg |
RHP |
23 |
New Britain |
broken ulna cost him time, but he's young and has the pitches |
|
15 |
Danny Ortiz |
OF |
21 |
Beloit |
April Hitter of Month, small guy, but huge power, good D |
|
16 |
Tom Stuifbergen |
RHP |
22 |
Ft. Myers |
4 ER in last 43+ IP. Touching 94, great changeup, good SL &
CB |
|
17 |
Pat Dean |
LHP |
22 |
Bel/FM |
missed
first six weeks, 7 Beloit starts, now to Ft. Myers. |
|
18 |
Manuel Soliman |
RHP |
21 |
Beloit |
Still learning to pitch, but he can get some strikeouts. Throws
hard! |
|
19 |
Bobby Lanigan |
RHP |
24 |
New Britain |
Overshadowed in New Britain rotation. Has a great slider! |
|
20 |
Niko Goodrum |
SS |
19 |
Elizabethton |
Still very raw, but immensely talented, strong, fast. |
|
21 |
Max Kepler |
OF |
18 |
Elizabethton |
Still very raw, but immensely talented, strong, fast. |
|
22 |
BJ Hermsen |
RHP |
21 |
Beloit |
has
improved since the beginning of season. |
|
23 |
Brian Dozier |
SS |
24 |
FM/NB |
Overlooked by me, he is a very steady, solid hitter and fielder. |
|
24 |
Chris Herrmann |
C/OF |
23 |
FM/NB |
Great approach at plate, catcher versatility, very good
outfielder. |
|
25 |
Yangervis Solarte |
IF/OF |
23 |
New Britain |
Hit .350 most of year with pop, would like to see more walks. |
|
26 |
Steve Singleton |
IF |
25 |
NB/Rochester |
lots of
doubles again this season, would like to see more walks. |
|
27 |
Nate Roberts |
OF |
22 |
Beloit |
On-Base machine. Little power, but a very good, line drive
hitter. |
|
28 |
Danny Rams |
C |
22 |
Ft. Myers |
Approach at plate has improved, still lots of Ks and power
potential. |
|
29 |
Rory Rhodes |
3B |
19 |
Elizabethton |
6-7 Australian will put up big numbers in E-Town, all-around
hitter. |
|
30 |
Logan Darnell |
LHP |
22 |
Bel/FM |
Lefty with great stuff has pitched well at two levels. |
|
31 |
Bruce Pugh |
RHP |
22 |
FM/NB |
Rough 1st outing in NB, dominant since. Big fastball! |
|
32 |
Anderson Hidalgo |
3B |
22 |
Ft. Myers |
Just hits .300 everywhere, probably overlooked prospect. |
|
33 |
Deolis
Guerra |
RHP |
22 |
New Britain |
Terrible as a starter, but so far, so good in the BP! Still
young! |
|
34 |
Lance Ray |
OF |
21 |
Beloit |
Horrible April, steadily improve since. Good all-around bat. |
|
35 |
Nick Lockwood |
2B |
20 |
Elizabethton |
Line Drive after line drive. Good 2B,
will hit for gap power too. |
|
36 |
Evan Bigley |
OF |
24 |
New Britain |
Another overlooked prospect, very good all-around. |
|
37 |
Alex Wimmers |
RHP |
22 |
Ft. Myers |
1 outing, 6 batters, 6 walks… shut down. We can hope! |
|
38 |
Scott Diamond |
LHP |
24 |
Rochester |
After being tremendous in ATL system, pretty bad with Red Wings |
|
39 |
Dakota Watts |
RHP |
23 |
Ft. Myers |
Throws really, really hard. |
|
40 |
Miguel Munoz |
RHP |
22 |
Ft. Myers |
1 start, rehabbing elbow since. He has good stuff. Hope for
health! |
|
41 |
Michael Gonzales |
1B |
23 |
Beloit |
Repeating Beloit, lost weight, quicker bat, great power, good
AVG |
|
42 |
James Beresford |
IF |
22 |
Ft. Myers |
2-time Beloit MVP hit well early. Struggled of late. Great
glove! |
|
43 |
Ryan O'Rourke |
LHP |
23 |
Beloit |
Lefty has pitched well out of BP and now as a starter too! |
|
44 |
Anthony Slama |
RHP |
27 |
Roch/Minnesota |
Can't do any more in minors, needs a chance, with someone! |
|
45 |
Angel Mata |
RHP |
18 |
GCL |
Very young, very talented Dominican. |
|
46 |
Danny Santana |
SS |
20 |
Beloit |
Speed. Swings hard for little guy. Lots of Es. Did I mention
Speed? |
|
47 |
Brett Jacobson |
RHP |
24 |
New Britain |
When he throws strikes, he can be really good. Not enough
strikes. |
|
48 |
Steve Hirschfeld |
RHP |
25 |
New Britain |
My April and May Twins Min. Lg Pitcher
of the Month! |
|
49 |
Dan Rohlfing |
C |
22 |
FM/NB |
Keeps getting pushed, much improved behind plate and at bat! |
|
50 |
Matt Bashore |
LHP |
23 |
Elizabethton |
He's now healthy and can begin the slow trek up the system. |
Any other thoughts or questions on the Twins minor leaguers? Feel free to comment
here.
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