Kohl Stewart (5/7)

[Ncgo4]

Another good performance by Kohl. 5 innings, 0 earned Runs. In his last 4 starts he's got an ERA less than 1 (.75). Looks like Twins are being careful by holding him to 5 innings.

 

i'm surprised his control is this good this early. He certainly looks to be the real deal, but waaay too early make any forecasts.

[twinsfan34]

Glad you posted this.

 

Another good start by Kohl. Too bad the Kernels couldn't keep the 3 run lead to get him the W.

 

19 years old...could he be up in Ft. Myers by 2nd half of the minor league season?

[Larsbars08]

His K/9 rate has been climbing steadily as well. His first three starts he had a k/9 rate under 5. The last three starts it's been around 9 k/9.

 

I remember reading an article at the beginning of the minor league season where he was interviewed and said that the Twins had him working on specific pitches during games. I think it's likely that he's been given more leeway in what he throws the last 3 starts or so. Considering the strikeout numbers he flashed last year I think strikeout numbers like this are more indicative than the early stars suggested.

 

They are definitely going to be controlling his innings this year. He'll probably follow the Berrios schedule and throw around 100 or so innings this year. He only threw 20 in pro ball last year so his innings are probably going to controlled for most of the year if not all year. Also I think it very unlikely he ends up in Ft. Myers unless he starts making people look silly. The main criticism of him was that he was more of a thrower than a pitcher still and needed to learn to refine his game. Eades and Slegers are probably the first guys to get promoted.

[Brandon]

I concur with Larsbars08 but I suspect the Twins will allow him to go a little higher than 100. Maybe 120-130 Max. Depends on how tired he appears by the end of the season.

[twinscowboysbulls]

Really no reason for him to move up past Fort Myers. Like stated, innings limit likely.

 

Also, it's pretty understandable for his K rate to climb the more he pitches. The guy is really going to be developing for about the 1st year. Don't forget, he didn't exclusively play baseball until about 10 months ago.

 

Pretty excited to watch this guy come through the system. It would be nice if he could get to AA at some point next season, setting up a potential call-up by the time some of our FA signings this off-season are coming to a close on that contract.

[Steven Buhr]

Stewart threw plenty of pitches in those five innings last night. He (with some defensive 'assisance') got himself in to (and worked out of) a couple of jams. I actually like to see some of that in these guys. I want to see how they react to a little self-induced adversity. He passed that test last night, anyway.

 

I sense Larsbars is right about him working some more pitch variety in. The first couple of starts that I saw, I don't remember even seeing a slider. Last night, he slipped a couple of nice ones in.

 

I shot some phone-video from behind home plate last night in the Quad Cities, but it was after midnight when I got home so I haven't had a chance to upload it yet. I'll try to do that tonight and link to it in this thread.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I concur with Larsbars08 but I suspect the Twins will allow him to go a little higher than 100. Maybe 120-130 Max. Depends on how tired he appears by the end of the season.

 

Agreed. Berrios pitched 104 last year, but he got a little late start. Stewart got 3 starts in before Berrios' 2013 debut date, so 120 IP sounds about right with good health.

[Steven Buhr]

Berrios also did the WBC thing last spring, even though he pitched in relief. So he threw more than just what showed up in his Kernels stats.

[Steven Buhr]

I posted the video of Stewart in a separate thread.

[Larsbars08]

Berrios also did the WBC thing last spring, even though he pitched in relief. So he threw more than just what showed up in his Kernels stats.

 

I had totally forgotten he had pitched in that. 120-130 IP sounds great as long as he still has the gas in August.