What is the meaning of life? Why are we all here? When looking for meaning in life, it is important to stay away from the “meaningless” list of Twins top prospects on MLB.com.

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(Kennys Vargas)

In my opinion, a top prospect list should be a “fluid” collection of players with the highest perceived upside. If a player is not producing up to moderate expectations, then he should be dropped from the list and a productive player with high upside should be added in his place.

Because MLB.com had so many glaring issues, I boldly predicted what the top-10 should look like following the 2013 season. I will stick with this theme for my #11-20 Twins' prospects.

11. Nate Roberts – LF

12. Zachary Jones – RHP

13. Mason Melotakis – LHP

14. Josmil Pinto – C

15. Daniel Santana – SS

16. DJ Baxendale – RHP

17. A.J. Achter – RHP

18. Michael Tonkin - RHP

19. Kennys Vargas – 1B

20. Chris Colabello – 1B

Okay, here goes…

11. Nate Roberts – This guy is easily a top-20 prospect after tearing the AFL a new “one” last fall. He is the guy with the dirtiest jersey after most games. He is not a “toolsy” prospect. He relies on intelligence and proper execution of offensive fundamentals. I recently posted a blog entry predicting trade winds that could land Roberts in Minnesota by 2014. He is going to be a Lenny Dykstra-type of player (tough as nails).

12. Zachary Jones – Watch your lips when you step into the box vs. this right-hander. He isn’t a big, intimidating figure on the mound at 6’1”, but take a look at what Willihammer posted here concerning a pitcher’s height and effectiveness. Jones averaged 15.3 K’s per nine innings during his professional debut. He is going to be reeeeally good…may pitch in the Eastern League at the end of 2013.

13. Mason Melotakis – Here is another arm that could move multiple levels next summer. He sat hitters down nicely with Beloit, and could prove to be Minnesota-worthy quickly since our closer is a lefty and Duensing appears to be crappin’ out. He might cruise right up to Double-A this summer with the kind of stuff he possesses.

14. Josmil Pinto – We are starving for a catcher that can hit. We are starving for a catcher that can catch! Heck, we are just plain starving in Minnesota. Hopefully Pinto is the answer to this problem by 2014-15. He was impressive at A+ and AA, and should be making Hermann and Butera sweat following the 2013 season.

15. Daniel Santana – We are starving for a shortstop too! This kid is still a few years away, but he showed great speed the last two years in low-A and Ft. Myers. He hit .286 last summer with a little pop, and I really like his fielding percentage at SS (.950). This could be the guy that puts a stop in that revolving door we got in Minnesota.

16. DJ Baxendale – This ranking is based solely on what DJ did last summer during his rookie minor league season. The kid allowed hardly anyone to get on base, let alone score a run. He is said to be starting next year, and I cannot wait to find out what he can do in that role. He’s another college hurler with a chance to move up fast.

17. A.J. Achter – This dude was the minor league “Pitcher of the Year” for our favorite organization. Yet, he was absent from MLB’s list (as are a huge chunk of my top-20). Go figure, and then take a look at Achter’s stats. He belongs on this list, and he might even make it to Triple-A this next summer. He certainly dominated the FSL hitters last year.

18. Micahel Tonkin – Stud. Big, tall stud. How in the heck does he not make the top-20 after his stingy numbers on the mound in 2012. He struck out 12.6 per nine last year between low-A and Ft. Myers. He wasn’t giving up many hits or walks either. His appearance in the Arizona Fall League wasn’t bad. Tonkin can handle AA hitters, and should be within reach of Minnesota by the end of 2014.

19. Kennys Vargas – Whoa! Where did this guy come from? The island of Puerto Rico! I am not really sure what is going on with Vargas’ “games played” totals during his pro career. Maybe one of my readers can fill me in on that? But, I am scared when I watch him swing. And that is a great feeling! He hit 11 homers and walked 28 times in 41 games with Beloit in 2012. He bettered his numbers from Rookie ball to low-A. I see Big Papi when he swings. His short year in Beloit was so good he may need to be ranked much higher on this list. This 22-yr-old may be top-10 material right now.

You can brush up on your Español while Kennys scares you here:

20. Chris Colabello – If you are not rooting for this guy, shame on you! He is an un-drafted, NCAA Division-II corner infielder that can really hit. He plays for peanuts during a seven-year Independent League career, and finally gets a shot by being placed directly in AA with the Twins organization in 2012. He snaps off an eye-popping stat line during his first year with an MLB affiliate, then goes to the Mexican League and devours fastballs like fajitas. He earns a spot on my top-20. He and Vargas are reasons why a trade of Morneau and/or Parmelee wouldn’t be so bad. Colabello could be the bridge to 2015-’16 for the Twins at first-base starting in 2014.

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(Vargas & Sano: they are big)

If your favorite prospect is not on this list, perhaps he will be losing his prospect status in 2013. Or...he may not be producing up to normal expectations, and does not belong in the top-20. As you can see, I dropped anyone that has been under-performing in the minor leagues. I also dropped players that I feel do not have a high enough ceiling to be a considered a top-20 prospect.

Last two names on the list are interesting. I would have traded Parmalee this offseason because there are a lot of Twins prospects that could play first base and you are correct. Roberts could be here as early as 2014 if not Arcia in RF. If Plouffe makes it, Sano will be moved to first base or outfield also. Twins need to make trades to bring back pitching.

Pitching wins, Giants do not have a great hitting club, their pitchers make them what they are.

The Giants were so entertaining with their pitching staff of interesting characters.

Vargas was suspended 50 games for violating the MiLB drug policy after testing positive for phentermine, which can be used to help with weight loss. He missed the final 18 games of 2011 and the suspension carried over into 2012. That's why his "games played" stat looks low.

Chris Colabello I wouln't even have in my top 40. (way too old a virtual non-prospect, +1B !? not nearly enough bat there) Vargas maybe a top 25-30 type of guy. But seems just a tad high there.

A.J. Achter is a nice relief prospect, but he should be in the 25-40 range overall. 17 seems high.

Relief Prospects i think you tend to over-value

The other names i can definately live with, just have a different arrangement in the top 20.

Chris Colabello I wouln't even have in my top 40. (way too old a virtual non-prospect' date=' +1B !? not nearly enough bat there) Vargas maybe a top 25-30 type of guy. But seems just a tad high there.

 

A.J. Achter is a nice relief prospect, but he should be in the 25-40 range overall. 17 seems high.

Relief Prospects i think you tend to over-value

The other names i can definately live with, just have a different arrangement in the top 20.[/quote']

 

 

By the time you insert Oswaldo Arcia, Aaron Hicks, Kyle Gibson into the top 10 or 11 prospects....

 

It should be noted Colabello, Vargas and IMO Achter should all drop out of top 20 contention.

 

I personally feel you are too high on Corey Williams also, and Nathan Roberts ranks at # 18 or 19 for me.

Ohh I see you think Hicks, Gibson, and Arica will all lose prospect status in 2013.

Well that may be accuate but Hopefully all of them start in AAA or below to begin the season. and dont get called up untill June / July or untill they actually earn their way up.

No more Brian Dozier's!!!

Vargas missed time last year for both injury and PED use. (performance enhancing drug)

So i'm wearily on Kennys Vargas, plus you throw in the age. and boy ohh boy he better MASH in 2013 to earn his way into you're placement.

Vargas was suspended 50 games for violating the MiLB drug policy after testing positive for phentermine, which can be used to help with weight loss. He missed the final 18 games of 2011 and the suspension carried over into 2012. That's why his "games played" stat looks low.

Thank you James, exactly what we needed here. Vargas is big enough to not need PED's, so I am thankful he was just trying to trim that beautiful physique of his....

shs_59........ the relievers I listed here are better than anyone that is not listed here, in my humble opinion, of course. C.Williams is not an impressive "stuff" guy, but he's got guts. Roberts is going to be very popular in Minnesota, and won't spend much longer on ANY "prospect" list.

Also, looks like James had some conflicting info about the positive drug test. What was Vargas' injury last year?

"Vargas missed time last year for both injury and PED use. (performance enhancing drug)"

uhh, yeah...I think anyone that is reading this is well aware of what PED stands for. But are you certain he was using PED's or are you tarnishing his sweet name??

And you will see...Vargas is a legit top-20 and will have reason to move into the top-10 if he is healthy and hits up to his potential in 2013.

Did anyone catch the D.Arias reference at all??

Did anyone catch the D.Arias reference at all??

I did, but I'm not sure exactly how it fit.

One of my fovorite headlines of all time was for a little blurb in the old USA Today Baseball Weekly: Player Really To Be Named Later. It was about Arias informing the Twins that he preferred to go by Ortiz after he came to the team from Seattle as the PTBNL in the Dave Hollins trade.

At the time I figured it was just a funny story about a guy we would most likely never hear from again.

I did' date=' but I'm not sure exactly how it fit.

 

One of my fovorite headlines of all time was for a little blurb in the old USA Today Baseball Weekly: [b'] Player Really To Be Named Later[/b]. It was about Arias informing the Twins that he preferred to go by Ortiz after he came to the team from Seattle as the PTBNL in the Dave Hollins trade.

 

At the time I figured it was just a funny story about a guy we would most likely never hear from again.

HA! Yes, David Arias was wayyy better than the Twins could perceive. As for the title and how it pertains to the article......If you read the Kennys Vargas quip, I compare his "look" to Big Papi....now do you see the correlation?

If you read the Kennys Vargas quip, I compare his "look" to Big Papi....now do you see the correlation?

I guess I see a little Big papi resemblance in the lower picture with Sano, but none in the upper one. He needs to eat a dozen extra cheeseburgers a week for about a year to really get there. (He makes Sano look small, which is pretty scary.)

I guess I see a little Big papi resemblance in the lower picture with Sano, but none in the upper one. He needs to eat a dozen extra cheeseburgers a week for about a year to really get there. (He makes Sano look small, which is pretty scary.)

NO DOUBT! Anyone see Vargas hitting 4, Sano - 5 in Minnesota someday?

At least one person had the foresight to list Z. Jones and Baxendale in the top-20 of Twins prospects. This list was intended to be the MLB.com top-20 list. Not a perfect prediction, but passable.