#50 Tim Lahey/Armando Gabino - RHP 25/24
2007 Teams: New Britain Rockcats, Rochester Red Wings/Beloit Snappers, Ft. Myers Miracle, New Britain Rockcats
Acquired: Twins 20th round draft pick in 2004 out of Princeton/minor league Rule V pick in 2004 from Cleveland
The 50th spot in most of my rankings has seemingly been reserved to make note of a relief pitcher who probably has flown under the radar. I probably could have picked several players including Rob Delaney, but I think that Twins fans should get to know both Tim Lahey and Armando Gabino. Tim Lahey was drafted out of Princeton in 2004 as a catcher. In 2005 he became a reliever. In 2007, he spent most of the year at the back end of the New Britain bullpen where he went 8-4 with a 3.45 ERA. The concern is his walk to strikeout rate. In 78.1 innings, he walked 33 and struck out 56. That will have to improve that number, but having just pitched for three years, I believe that the Twins should put him on the 40 man roster this offseason. One player that they would certainly lose if they did not protect him would be Armando Gabino. The righty was initially signed by the Indians as a 3B, but the Twins took him in the minor league Rule V draft in 2004. He began this season with Beloit where he went 1-0 with a 0.82 ERA. In 26 games with Ft. Myers, he went 2-2 with a 3.16 ERA. Finally, he was promoted to New Britain where, in ten games, he did not allow an earned run in 16 innings. He was 2-0 with four saves and a 0.00 ERA.
2008 Projection: bullpen in Rochester
Potential: solid middle relievers and set up men
Could be in Minnesota in: 2009
#49
Matt Macri - 3B/2B 25
2007 Teams: Elizabethton Twins
Acquired: Twins 13th round pick in 2005 out of Arlington Country Day School (Jacksonville, FL)
I was pleasantly surprised that the Twins were able to deal Ramon Ortiz in August. I was shocked that they were able to get a player of Macris caliber from the Rockies for him. The Twins drafted Macri in the 17th round of the 2001 draft. He was from a Des Moines high school, and the assumption was that he was going to Notre Dame. Rumor has it that if the Twins were unable to sign Joe Mauer, they would have made a big run at Macri. Unfortunately while at Notre Dame, Macri suffered a major arm injury and it required Tommy John surgery. He was still a 5th round pick in 2004 by the Rockies. In his second full year at AA, Macri hit .298/.349/.502 with 23 doubles and 11 home runs. He was promoted to AAA Colorado Springs where he had three extra base hits and six hits in just nine at bats before he was traded to the Twins. In 14 games for Rochester, he hit .213/.260/.426 and three of his 10 hits were home runs. I have heard that the ball just jumps off of his bat when he makes contact. It will be interesting to see if the Twins put Macri on their 40 man roster or risk losing him. It will also be interesting to see if he is given a shot at the 3B position next spring.
2008 Projection: unless lost in Rule V draft, should be a regular at Rochester
Potential: decent power for middle infielder, maybe play some 3rd base
Could be in Minnesota in: 2008
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48
Trent Oeltjen
OF 24
2007 Teams: Rochester Red Wings
Acquired: signed as free agent in 2001 out of Australia
I have always been one to rate Oeltjen ahead of Denard Span because in reality, his number have always been better. In previous years, Oeltjen would quietly put up solid numbers while Span would struggle yet Span was the prospect. This season, Oeltjen was essentially the Red Wings fourth outfielder most of the season. He hit .311 in the month of April, but hit very little after that. I would like to see Oeltjen and teammate Doug Deeds get more opportunities next year with the Red Wings (if they remain in the organization). I believe that he can be a line drive and gap hitter. He can run and does a nice job all around the outfield. Like several other Twins centerfield prospects, the comparison to Jason Tyner is not only fair, but unfortunate.
2008 Projection: playing OF in Rochester
Potential: good glove, good bat, good speed OF - again, see Tyner, Jason
Could be in Minnesota in: 2008
#47 Brad Tippett - RHP 19
2007 Teams: GCL Twins
Acquired: singed in 2006 as free agent out of Australia
Youth and dominance are important things in a prospect list. Those are two things that Brad Tippett has on his side. Tippett signed from Australia and spent 2006 as the GCL Twins closer. In 19 games, he went 3-5 with 10 saves and a 2.53 ERA. In 21.1 innings, he struck out 18. He spent 2007 with the E-Twins where he was incredible. He went 7-1 with three saves and a 0.93 ERA. In 38.2 innings, he walked just four and struck out 51! The Twins have starting pitching prospects up and down this system, but they also have some very impressive relievers worth watching.
2008 Projection: could be in the Beloit bullpen
Potential: dominant short reliever
Could be in Minnesota in: 2012
2007 Teams: Beloit Snappers, Elizabethton Twins
Acquired: Twins 7th round pick in 2005 out of Adrean HS (Merrillville, IN)
Yersich had a season of downs and ups. He began the season with Beloit. However, he hit just .168 in 40 games and was sent back to Elizabethton when the short seasons began. There, he thrived. He hit .312/373/.409 with 12 doubles, two homers and 30 RBI. Following the E-Twins Appy League championship, he was sent back up to Beloit. He went 2-3 with an RBI double to have a .180 average on the year with the Snappers. He was a doubles-machine during the Snappers playoff run and a key contributor.
2008 Projection: start season in Beloit, chance to move up to Ft. Myers
Potential: good hit, good glove catcher
Could be in Minnesota in: 2011
#45 Dan Berlind - RHP 19
2007 Teams: GCL Twins
Acquired: Twins 7th round pick in 2007 out of Los Angeles Pierce College
Taken in the 31st round of the 2006 draft by the Cubs, Berlind went to Los Angeles Pierce College and the Twins took him in the 7th round this year. At 6-7, 210 pounds, he certainly is projectable. Not only that, but he was terrific for the GCL Twins this season. In 11 games, 9 starts, he went 6-2 with a 1.93 ERA. In 56 innings, he walked 20 and struck out 52. The walk number is a little high, but he gave up just 37 hits, so his WHIP was an excellent 1.02. The assumption is that he will spend 2008 with Elizabethton, but if there is an opening in Beloit, dont be surprised if he gets a shot.
2008 Projection: start season in Beloit bullpen, may go to E-Town to start
Potential: solid 4th starter
Could be in Minnesota in: 2011
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44
Brian Kirwan RHP 19
2007 Teams: Beloit Snappers
Acquired: Twins 11th round pick in 2005 out of a California high school
We all know the story by now. Kirwan was a 1st round pitcher until a high school knee injury cost him his senior season. The Twins took a shot and signed him for a half-million dollars. His arm is strong, and his knee is better, so pretty soon we need to start seeing the numbers. Kirwan made 18 starts for Beloit and went 2-8 with a 5.30 ERA. In 90 innings, he struck out just 67 and walked 37. He also gave up 100 hits. He was the 5th starter on a four-man staff for Beloit in the playoffs. I would expect that he would remain with Beloit to start next year, but he could move up quickly.
2008 Projection: start the season at Beloit with chance to move up to Ft. Myers
Potential: #3 starter
Could be in Minnesota in: 2011
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43
Jose Morales C 24
2007 Teams: Rochester Red Wings, Minnesota Twins
Acquired: Twins 3rd round pick in 2001 out Academia de Providencia (Puerto Rico)
The emergence of Morales in 2007 was one of the bigger stories of the season. He was always considered a decent prospect, but whenever he would play, he would get hurt. Until 2006, but at New Britain, he was just not very good in general. So, for him to hit .311/.366/.399 at Rochester was a pleasant surprise. Many will probably question why I have him this low, but my answer for that would be his future role. I see him as a solid backup catcher. Nothing to sneeze at! I was clamoring for him to be called up in September, and when he finally was promoted, only because of the Redmond injury, he went 3-3 before his season ended with an awkward slide into second base. What I saw in those three at bats from Morales told me that he can be a big league player. What I also saw was a guy with a good batters eye, a line drive swing, and well, even a stance that looks a lot like Luis Rodriguez. They even look alike. Now, many may find that to be a negative comment. For those that have come to this site, you know that I really mean that as a compliment, but the lower ranking also acknowledges that as a role player, a backup, not an every day player. Now obviously we havent seen enough of Morales, and when he goes back to Rochester in 2008, we will see if he is for real. But the key is finding a backup catcher option for 2009, and Morales could certainly fill that role.
2008 Projection: catching for the Red Wings, Twins 3rd catcher
Potential: solid backup catcher
Could be in Minnesota in: 2008
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42
Cole DeVries RHP 22
2007 Team: Beloit Snappers
Acquired: Free Agent signing in 2006 out of U. of Minnesota
Along with Alex Burnett, DeVries was a constant in the Snappers starting rotation. The Eden Prairie native went 9-5 with a 3.41 ERA. In 148 innings, he walked 36 innings and struck out 108. He gave up 161 hits as well, so his WHIP was high. It will be interesting to see how DeVries does in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League next year. I expect that he will be solid, but he will have to develop something to be a little less hittable to make it beyond New Britain.
2008 Projection: starting in Ft. Myers
Potential: long relief/5th starter
Could be in Minnesota in: 2011
2007 Teams: New Britain Rockcats, Rochester Red Wings, Minnesota Twins
Acquired: Minor League Rule V draft from San Francisco Giants, Dec. 2006
Buscher was the Giants third round pick in 2003 out of South Carolina. After spending 2005 and 2006 at AA, he was eligible for the minor league version of the Rule V draft and the Twins did a great job in getting him. Buscher started at New Britain and hit .308/.391/.478 in 63 games. He was then promoted to Rochester where he played 40 more games and hit .311/.374/.523. And then he was called up to the Twins where he has shown that he can hit, that he can take good at bats and hit for a little bit of power. All told, he has 26 doubles and 16 home runs this year. However, coming into the year, there was no reason to believe he would hit for this kind of power. Buscher is already 26 years old and defensively, he still has a long way to go. But he may compete for the 3B and/or DH job next year.
2008 Projection: DH option for Twins
Potential: bad fielding, good hitting 3B/DH
Could be in Minnesota in: 2008
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