Monday,
October 19, 2009
SethSpeaks.net
Top 50
Minnesota Twins
Prospects
Part 1: Prospects
36-50
Good morning Twins Fans. Thanks
as always for stopping by this site. Normally, I have my Top 50 Twins prospects
ready and made in mid-September, shortly following the end of the minor league
seasons. So, I apologize for being a little late. But that is alright. I have
had more time to give it some thought. Several things have been updated, a
player or two signed. So, this is a good time to update my Top 50 Prospect
lists. With the TwinsCentric Offseason GM Handbook now
available, my attention quickly turns to the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook –
2010. I hope for that book to be available either in late December or early
January, certainly before Twins Fest.
There are many purposes for doing
a Top 50 prospect list. Will all fifty of these guys make the Twins roster at
some point? Of course not. I gave some thought, due to
my schedule of late, of just doing a Top 20 list. But I fully believe that all
of the minor leaguers deserve to be recognized. They all work incredibly hard
to get to where the big leaguers are, so they should be noticed as well. Also, these types of lists are fun because
they can create discussion on these players and others. I encourage your
thoughts. The Twins do generally build from within, so more than other organizations,
these types of lists can provide a little insight into which players can help
the Twins out in coming years. With
that, 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.
#50 – Shooter Hunt – RHP – 23 (8/16/86)
2009 Teams: Beloit Snappers/GCL Twins
Acquired: Twins 1st round pick in 2008 out of Tulane
After last season, I had ranked Hunt my #12 Twins prospect, and
people thought I was crazy. Some rankings had him as high and #2, but you could
see in his numbers that control was certainly worth noting. Some could be
attributed to how long his 2008 season had been, starting in January at
college. So there was a lot of hope and excitement for his 2009 season. Some
were surprised when he began the year at Beloit. He walked 33 in 17.2 innings
at Beloit before he was given some time off. He pitched for the GCL Twins where
he walked 25 hitters in 15 innings. Walks, Wild Pitches, and hit batters were
common place before his season came to an end. Hunt must remain on prospect
lists because there is no question that if he can find a way to regain his control
(and more important, his confidence), he can be a very good, even a top of the
rotation type of starter.
2010 Projection: A big question mark, hopefully starting in the Ft. Myers bullpen.
Potential: Top of the rotation starter
Could be in Minnesota in: 2012
#49 – Joe Testa – LH RP – 23 (12/18/85)
2009 Teams: Beloit Snappers/Ft. Myers Miracle
Acquired: Signed with Twins in 2008 out of Wagner University
The Twins have had tremendous success signing relief pitchers who do not get drafted. Testa is
another in that long line. In 2009, Testa spent a lot
of time in Beloit, maybe too much, although it provided him with the
opportunity to pitch in the Midwest League All Star game. He was promoted to
Ft. Myers after the game and pitched even better. He was 5-0 with a 1.22 ERA.
The lefty with a very good fastball and strong makeup had a great season. For
Twins minor leaguers with more than 30 innings pitched this year, Testa had the best strikeout rate. He struck out 116 in
82.2 innings. He will have to continue to drop his walk rate as he progresses.
2010 Projection: he’s ready for AA New Britain’s bullpen
Potential: LOOGY who can also get righties out.
Could be in Minnesota in: 2011
#48 – Reggie Williams – IF – 21 (11/5/88)
2009 Teams: Elizabethton Twins/Beloit Snappers
Acquired: Twins 4th round pick in 2007 out of Bellflower (CA) High School
Williams hit just .250 and got on base 31.6% of the time while
playing at Elizabethton. Certainly not the kinds of numbers that get a guy
ranked. But Williams is all about upside and athleticism. He primarily played
3B, but also got time in the outfield. Previously, we was
a middle infielder. After the Elizabethton season game to an end, Williams
replaced Ramon Santana at 3B in Beloit and in three games, he went 6-10 with
two walks and two doubles.
2010 Projection: Playing infield and outfield in Beloit
Potential: left side of the infield, utility type
Could be in Minnesota in: 2014
#47 – Brad Tippett – RHP – 21 (2/11/88)
2009 Teams: Beloit Snappers
Acquired: Signed by Twins in January, 2006, out of Australia
When looking at the Beloit starting rotation heading into the
season, Tippett quietly took the role as #5 starter. And over the course of the year, he was so
consistent and very good. He clearly was the team’s best starting pitcher the
whole season. In 146 innings, he struck out 107, and he walked just 25. What he
lacks in velocity, he more than makes up for it with a high baseball IQ.
Simply, he knows how to pitch, and he knows how to get hitters out.
2010 Projection: Starting for the Snappers all season
Potential: #4-5 starter
Could be in Minnesota in: 2013
#46 – Winston Marquez – LHP – 22 (8/19/87)
2009 Teams: Elizabethton Twins/Beloit Snappers
Acquired: Signed with Twins in September, 2003, out of Venezuela
After missing all of 2008 with injury, Marquez came back in 2009
and was impressive. He spent time in Extended Spring Training before going to
Elizabethton and then Beloit. 2010 will be a big year for him. Can he start, or
is he a reliever. He’s got terrific stuff as evidenced by his impressive 13.5
K/9 ratio. His breaking ball is the reason that he could be a surprise
selection in the Rule 5 draft assuming the Twins will not put him on their 40
man roster.
2010 Projection: Start in Beloit or Relief in Ft. Myers
Potential: #3 starter
Could be in Minnesota in: 2012
#45 – James Beresford – SS – 20 (1/19/89)
2009 Team: Beloit Snappers
Acquired: Signed by Twins in August 2005 as non-drafted free agent from Australia
Beresford
had a very solid season in his first full-season year. The speedy shortstop
signed a big signing bonus with the Twins in 2005 and has moved up a level a
year. He has been a key contributor for Team Australia in both the WBC this
spring and in the World Cup. The lefty is known to be a good, but improving
defender, with good range and a strong arm. Offensively, he’s about speed. He
hit .289, but he hit just 11 doubles on the year. He stole 15 bases, but he was
also caught stealing 11 times. It was a good season, but there is still much
improvement to occur.
2010 Projection: playing SS in Ft. Myers
Potential: bottom of the order, good glove SS
Could be in Minnesota in: 2013
#44 – Deibinson Romero – 3B – 23 (9/24/86)
2009 Team: Ft. Myers Miracle
Acquired: Signed by Twins in
July 2004 as non-drafted free agent from Dominican Republic
The hope was that after missing significant time
in 2008 at Beloit due to injury, that he would come back healthy and start
putting together numbers indicative of his perceived talent. He was added to
the 40 man roster last offseason and rewarded the Twins by hitting
.225/.311/.319 with five home runs at Ft. Myers. I would assume that he will
remain on the 40 man roster this offseason, but no question, 2010 is a big year
for Romero.
2010 Projection: Playing 3B in New Britain
Potential: bottom of the order 3B
Could be in Minnesota in: 2011
#43 – Evan Bigley – OF – 21 (3/9/87)
2009 Teams: Beloit Snappers/Ft. Myers Miracle
Acquired: Twins 10th
round pick in 2008 out of Dallas Baptist
There was some thought this spring that Bigley
could start the season in Ft. Myers, however, he began
the season in Beloit. When injury opened a spot with the Miracle, Bigley was the first player to be promoted. All together, Bigley hit a solid .287/.337/.415 with 28 doubles and seven
home runs. He is a good hitter and a solid outfielder who should advance
consistently over the next couple of seasons.
2010 Projection: halfseason in Ft. Myers before promotion
Potential: bottom of the order corner OF
Could be in Minnesota in: 2013
#42 – Derek McCallum – 2B – 21 (3/22/88)
2009 Team: Elizabethton Twins
Acquired: Twins 4th round pick in 2009 from U. of Minnesota
The Twins
drafted the Shoreview native (and Hill-Murray grad) out of high school in 2006
in the 50th round. He went on to play for the Gophers where he broke
out in his junior season. He hit an incredible .409/.485/.741 with 17 doubles,
18 homers and 86 RBI in 59 games. The Twins drafted him again, this time in the
4th round. He signed quickly and went to Elizabethton where he
adjusted to pro ball and the wood bat. He hit .241/.310/.382 with 19 extra base
hits (5 HR). He’s got a chance to advance quickly if he proves himself capable.
2010 Projection: 2B at Beloit
Potential: possible top of the order 2B
Could be in Minnesota in: 2013
#41 – Liam Hendriks – RHP – 20 (2/10/89)
2009 Teams: Elizabethton Twins/Beloit Snappers
Acquired: Signed by Twins in February 2007 out of Australia
Hendriks missed the entire 2008 season
with a spine injury. He came back this year and his arm was strong. He began by
starting at Elizabethton. He went 2-0 in three starts before being promoted to
Beloit. He made 11 starts for the Snappers and went 3-5 with a very good 3.51
ERA. Like Tippett, Hendriks
was a key pitcher for the Australian team in the World Cup.
2010 Projection: starting for at least ˝ season in Beloit
Potential: #3-4 starter
Could
be in Minnesota in:
2013
#40 – Brian Dozier – SS – 22 (5/15/87)
2009 Teams: GCL Twins/Elizabethton Twins
Acquired: Twins 8th round pick in 2008 out of U. of Southern Mississippi.
The Twins drafted several college players in
2009 that fell several spots due to missed time due to injury. Dozier is a
perfect example of that. He had a broken collarbone during his senior year at
Southern Mississippi. He missed some time and even when he came back, he was DHing. He fell to the 8th round and the Twins couldn’t
be happier. He showed at Elizabethton that he can hit (.353/.417/.431 with 17
doubles). He also is said to have good range and great hands with the glove. As
a four year college guy, he could (and should!) move quickly up the system.
2010 Projection: primary SS at Beloit
Potential: starting shortstop, top of the order bat
Could be in Minnesota in: 2012
#39 – Chris Herrmann – OF/C – 22 (11/24/87)
2009 Teams: Elizabethton Twins
Acquired: Twins 6th round draft pick in 2009 out U of Miami
In
Instructs, Herrmann was moved to catcher. He played Left Field nearly every
game for the E-Twins, and he did well. He hit .297/.391/.453 with seven home
runs. The Twins actually drafted him as a catcher, so it makes sense that he
move there. That said, his athleticism and versatility
will also be important. He has a very good approach at the plate, an ability to
get a lot of walks. He has some extra base pop in his bat.
2010 Projection: starting in Beloit, catching and playing some OF
Potential: bottom of the lineup bat
Could be in Minnesota in: 2014
#38 – Steve Hirschfeld – RHP – 24 (9/8/85)
2009 Teams: Ft. Myers Miracle
Acquired: Twins 9th round pick in 2007 out of San Diego State
Hirschfeld kind of
flies under the radar a little. He was drafted in the 9th round in
2007. In 2008, he began the season in the Beloit bullpen before moving into the
starting rotation. This year, he began the season in the Ft. Myers bullpen.
After 15 games, he moved into the rotation and made 17 starts. He was 7-7 with
a 2.23 ERA. He was very consistent. He doesn’t strike many batters out, but he
fortunately doesn’t walk any either. He pitched well enough to get an invite to
the Arizona Fall League.
2010
Projection:
start season in NB bullpen, before starting soon
Potential: #5 starter/Long Relief
Could be in Minnesota in: 2011
#37 – Ramon Santana – 3B/SS – 23 (6/20/86)
2009 Teams: Beloit Snappers/New Britain Rockcats
Acquired: Signed by Twins in November 2004 out of Dominican Republic
After
struggling for a couple of seasons in Beloit, he put together a very good
season in the Midwest League in 2009. He hit .296/.384/.453 with 25 doubles and
nine home runs. He is a very small guy, but he takes a mammoth swing and
produces a lot of power. He didn’t really have the range for SS, so later in
the season he moved to 3B. Later, he moved up to New Britain to replace Luke
Hughes at 3B when Hughes went to the World Cup. He was not overmatched. That
said, 2010 will be a big season for him as he tries to
learn a new league and find a position.
2010 Projection: Ft. Myers infield (3B/SS)
Potential: utility infielder with bat, not much glove
Could be in Minnesota in: 2013
#36 – Rob Delaney – RH RP – 25 (9/8/84)
2009 Teams: New Britain Rockcats/Rochester Red Wings
Acquired: Signed as non-drafted free agent by Twins in June 2006 out of St. John’s University
In the TwinsCentric
Offseason GM Handbook, we discussed the 40 man roster decisions
that the Twins will need to make. Delaney is one player that the Twins would
need to add to the 40 man roster or risk losing in the Rule 5 draft. You can go
to www.TwinsCentric.com today to get
your electronic copy of the book or get a 61 page free sample. Anyway, here is
what was written on Delaney:
The
Twins signed Delaney as a non-drafted free agent out of St. John’s University
following the 2006 draft. Since then, he has been one of the best relief
pitchers in minor-league baseball.
After
dominating the Midwest League for a half season in 2007, he moved up to Ft.
Myers after the All-Star break. Over the next year in the Florida State League,
he pitched 55 innings and posted a 1.47 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. He then spent the
second half of 2008 and first half of 2009 in AA. In 70.1 innings for New
Britain, he posted a 1.53 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP. He moved up to AAA this year and
had some struggles.
He may
not be as ready as many Twins fans think, but he can certainly contribute to
the middle innings for the Twins in coming years.
2010 Projection: spend at least ˝ the season in Rochester, possible call-up, if needed
Potential: quality 6th/7th inning guy.
Could be in Minnesota in: 2010
So there you have it, my
selections for Twins prospects 36-50. Be sure to check back tomorrow for my
choices for #21-35, and later in the week, you will also get my Top 20. 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.