Article: Twins Top Prospects Part 3: 21-30 (Preliminary)

[Seth Stohs]

Earlier in the week, we started looking at my preliminary Top 50 Twins prospects list by reviewing prospects 41-50 and then prospects 31-40. Today, we’ll look at the next ten prospects, 21-30. This portion of the list includes several southpaws, a couple of hard-throwing bullpen arms and a couple hitters with potential.Reminders: This list is preliminary. Following research for the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook 2015, as well as your feedback, I’ll provide my final Top 30 prospects list. Players eligible to be on this list include players who remain eligible for Rookie of the Year voting in 2015. That is to say, hitters with less than 130 at-bats and pitchers with less than 50 innings.

 

Top Prospects 21-30

 

#30 – Zack Larson – 20 – OF – Cedar Rapids/GCL Twins (rehab)

 

Larson was limited to just 41 games this year for the Kernels. At just 20, he held his own in the Midwest League and hit 11 doubles in just 151 at-bats. With the Kernels, he hit .265/.325/.358 (.683). Unfortunately, he suffered a hamstring injury and missed months. Larson was the 20^th round pick of the Twins in 2012. He signed late when he was offered a signing bonus well over slot. At 6-2 and 190 pounds, he is a good athlete, but his best tool is his bat. He can hit.

 

#29 – Michael Tonkin – 24 – RH RP – Rochester Red Wings/Minnesota Twins

 

Tonkin was actually on the Twins opening day roster due to the birth of Brian Duensing’s child, but he spent most of the season in Rochester. He went 3-4 with a 2.80 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. In 45 innings, he walked 12 and struck out 46. He has posted a 5.00 ERA in 24 games with the Twins as well. He’s only thrown 18 innings. He may not be rookie-eligible in 2015 due to days on the MLB roster. He’s still got some upside, due to a fastball at 95 and a solid slider. He needs to be with the Twins and see if he can improve. He’s done all he can in AAA.

 

#28 – Stuart Turner – 22 – C – Ft. Myers Miracle

 

Turner was the Twins third-round pick in 2013 out of the University of Mississippi where he was the winner of the Johnny Bench Award as the nation’s top catcher. He spent 2013 in Elizabethton though he did go 2-4 in one game at New Britain at season’s end. Turner is so well-respected with his glove that he was invited to big league spring training. He spent the year in Ft. Myers where in 93 games, he hit .249/.322/.375 (.698) with 16 doubles, two triples and seven home runs. He hit much better in the second half. However, teammates and coaches rave about his work behind the plate.

 

#27 – Engelb Vielma – 20 – SS – Cedar Rapids Kernels

 

He is listed at 5-11 and 155 pounds, but that last number may be generous. It was a surprise when he was sent to Cedar Rapids to start the season. Defensively, it is my opinion that he is the best in the Twins organization. Long and lanky, he seemingly glides around the shortstop position. He has soft hands and a strong arm. Offensively, he is mostly a slap-hitter at this time, but he more than held his own. He hit .266/.313/.323 (.636) with 13 doubles, four triples and one home run in 112 games.

 

#26 – Logan Darnell – 25 – LHP – Rochester Red Wings/Minnesota Twins

 

Darnell was the Twins sixth-round draft pick in 2010 out of the University of Kentucky. He reached AAA last year and was added to the 40-man roster following the season. He had a very solid season at Rochester this year. He went 7-6 with a 3.60 ERA. In 115 innings, he struck out 90. He made his major league debut on May 6 with three perfect innings. He has made four starts and three relief appearances and posted a 7.13 ERA. However, in 24 innings, he has struck out 22. He can be a #6/#7 starter or a solid middle reliever.

 

#25 – Fernando Romero – 19 – RHP – Cedar Rapids Kernels

 

Romero throws gas. The 19-year-old was hitting 94-96 mph with his fastball this spring and had a solid slider. Signed from the Dominican Republic in 2011, Romero spent a year in the DSL before posting a 1.60 ERA in 45 innings in the GCL last year. He began this season in extended spring training, but by early June he was called up to the Kernels where he made three starts. Unfortunately, he started to experience elbow pain and soon after had Tommy John surgery. He will likely miss most of the 2015 season, but if he’s able to come back, he has huge potential.

 

#24 – Sean Gilmartin – 24 – LHP – New Britain Rock Cats/Rochester Red Wings

 

Gilmartin graduated from Crespi Carmelite High School, the same high school that Trevor Plouffe graduated from four years earlier. He became the first-round pick of the Atlanta Braves in 2011 after a stellar career at Florida State. Last winter, he came to the Twins organization in exchange for Ryan Doumit. He began this season in AA New Britain where he went 7-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 12 starts. He struck out 74 in 72 innings. He was promoted to Rochester where he went 2-4 with a 4.28 ERA. In 73.2 innings, he struck out 59. He is a guy who should be added to the 40 man roster this offseason.

 

#23 – Jason Wheeler – 23 – LHP – Ft. Myers Miracle/New Britain Rock Cats/Rochester Red Wings

 

Wheeler was the Twins eighth-round pick in 2011 out of Loyola Marymount. He went 14-6 with a 3.45 ERA in Beloit in 2012. In 2013 in Ft. Myers, he went 9-4 with a 3.70 ERA. He returned to the Miracle to start this season and made a couple of adjustments. He went 6-5, but his ERA dropped to 2.51. He advanced to New Britain where 5-4 with a 2.78 ERA in 12 starts. He even made a start in Rochester. Although he sits in the 89-91 mph range, Wheeler can touch 94 on occasion. He is aggressive, throws strikes and mixes his pitches well. He is another guy who will be strongly considered for a 40-man roster spot.

 

#22 – Niko Goodrum – 22 – 3B – Ft. Myers Miracle

 

The Twins used their second round pick in 2010 on the toolsy Goodrum who was a high school kid from Georgia. At 6-3 and about 200 pounds, he is a tremendous athlete. With the Miracle in 2014, he hit .249/.337/.336 (.672) with 19 doubles, five triples and three homers in 122 games. After playing shortstop through his first four professional seasons, he moved to third base this year, though he still played 26 games at shortstop. Goodrum is good defensively and has very good speed. On the base paths, he stole 35 bases in 39 attempts. Goodrum is someone who the Twins will have to consider putting on their 40-man roster in November.

 

#21 – Jake Reed – 23 – RH RP – Elizabethton Twins/Cedar Rapids Kernels

 

Reed was selected in the fifth round by the Twins this year out of the University of Oregon. He ended up having a dominant pro debut. He began at Elizabethton where he pitched six innings over four games and gave up just one hit. He was promoted to Cedar Rapids where he pitched 25 innings in 16 games. Overall, he threw 31 innings in 20 games. He gave up just 11 hits, walked three and struck out 31. He was 3-0 with a 0.29 ERA and a 0.45 WHIP. He and his upper-90s fastball will head to the Arizona Fall League next month.

 

 

So, what do you think of Part 3, Prospects 21-30? Next up will be prospects 11-30.

 

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[patmcgauley]

Great analysis as always, Seth.  Agree that Gilmartin should be on the 40-man.  Will keep an eye on Reed in the AZ. league.

[HitInAPinch]

The questions I always have with prospects are:

 

1.  If they're magnificent fielders, how's their hitting?

2.  If they're a 'slap hitter' how many walks are they drawing?

3.  If they're a hard throwing pitcher, do their fastballs lack movement?

4.  If they are very young pitcher in the #3 category, what's their physical makeup?

 

I'm reading potential problems with several of these prospects. 

Oh, yeah:  steals are nothing more than a stats padder to me...

[lightfoot789]

How many years do you have to be with an organization before they have to put you on the 40 Man Roster?  Goodrum I read is suppose to go on this year.  When does Harrison go on? and does it matter if you are a college draftchoice or high school draft choice? Or International signee?

[nater79a]

Uh oh...I can already see a former 1st rd pick from about 4 years ago isn't going to make the 50-man cut this time.

[nater79a]

How many years do you have to be with an organization before they have to put you on the 40 Man Roster?  Goodrum I read is suppose to go on this year.  When does Harrison go on? and does it matter if you are a college draftchoice or high school draft choice? Or International signee?

 

I believe if you are signed at age 19 or older you have four years before you are eligible for Rule 5. If 18 or younger (like a lot of the international signees) then you have five years.

 

BTW...there is a handy Organizational Chart link at the top and bottom of Twins Daily website that gives tons of information about each player in the Twins organization; including when they need to be placed on the 40-man or be exposed to Rule 5.

 

Goodrum is eligible for the draft this December.  Harrison in December, 2015.

[jokin]

Uh oh...I can already see a former 1st rd pick from about 4 years ago isn't going to make the 50-man cut this time.

 

I give up.  Wimmers, Boyd or Harrison?

[Steve Lein]

How many years do you have to be with an organization before they have to put you on the 40 Man Roster?

 

Check this out, lightfoot:  http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/ask-ba-2/

[nater79a]

I give up.  Wimmers, Boyd or Harrison?

 

Mr. Alex Wimmers.  It'll be interesting watching what his status is this offseason. He's getting up in years.  Do the Twins consider him a prospect anymore?  Are his injuries behind him?  Can he be a swingman at the major league level...i.e.Swarzak?  I thought he should have been sent to AFL to find out once and for all if he can get top flight hitters out.

[2wins87]

Pretty sure Tonkin is indeed above the rookie limit.  He already had 28 days of service time from last year.'

 

I like the placement of Larson; he's my pick for sleeper prospect next year.  I think his numbers would have looked better had his season not been interrupted by injuries.

 

I like Romero and Gilmartin a bit higher, they are in the top 20 for me.

[Mike Sixel]

I'd not protect Wimmers at this point. And, I was a big supporter of him coming back this year......

[nater79a]

I'd not protect Wimmers at this point. And, I was a big supporter of him coming back this year......

 

Agree.  Too many other players to protect.  I doubt a team can afford to pick him up in Rule 5 and carry on the major league roster for all of 2015. I'm hoping he comes back, has a good start in AA or AAA, and then maybe gets a call up to the Twins if a middle reliever goes on the DL.

[Seth Stohs]

Like I said, I'd like to (maybe later next week after the list is complete, put together a summary article of my Top 50 and encourage everyone to post their personal top 50 (or top 20 or 30, etc.). It is a pretty neat exercise to actually rank them when you consider player A vs player B vs player C.

[gunnarthor]

I don't think any team would claim Goodrum and stash him on their ML roster.  I wouldn't give up a 40 man space for him.  

[Seth Stohs]

Mr. Alex Wimmers.  It'll be interesting watching what his status is this offseason. He's getting up in years.  Do the Twins consider him a prospect anymore?  Are his injuries behind him?  Can he be a swingman at the major league level...i.e.Swarzak?  I thought he should have been sent to AFL to find out once and for all if he can get top flight hitters out.

 

Yeah, couldn't (or didn't) fit him into the Top 50, but here's the deal. They could put him on the 40 man roster and see. he'd have 3 option years. They could see if he would pass through again this year (as he did last year). He won't be a minor league free agent for another two years, so there really is no rush at all at this point. They don't need to make any sort of decisions (certainly not once-and-for-all decisions) on him yet.

[nicksaviking]

I'd not protect Wimmers at this point. And, I was a big supporter of him coming back this year......

 

Ha, I guess we're the opposite.  I had written him off, mostly because I never wanted the Twins to draft him to begin with.  However I was a bit encouraged that he seemed to get better as the year went on.  He pitched better in AA than he did early in the year at Ft. Myers.

 

He still makes me yawn but his increasing K% and substantially decreasing BB% and H% are pointing in the right direction.  Not sue he'll ever get a chance to start again, so double yawn, but still, the NB peripheral stats look pretty good.

Edited September 26, 2014 by nicksaviking

[Mike Sixel]

Oh, I still think he can be a RP.....but not sure he needs protecting.

[bird]

For (my pathetic version of) fun, I revisited an old list of yours to see what happened with your #21-30 prospects from then.

 

Two are still hanging on by a thread: Deolis Guerra and Deibinson Romero. None made it big, but a few got at least the proverbial cup of coffee: DeVries, Tolleson (still in MLB today), Jose Morales, and the Dinkelman. The others flamed out: Bigley, Hunt, Robbins, and Winfree.

 

Not sure what conclusions might be drawn. I'd love to see a comparison of say, Sickle's grades on both sets. I'm quite sure that the current group would be much more highly regarded, don't you think? 

[nicksaviking]

I don't think any team would claim Goodrum and stash him on their ML roster.  I wouldn't give up a 40 man space for him.  

 

Especially after the team moved him to 3B where some power is generally expected.  Hopefully he'll get SS to himself if Polanco stays at a different level, but even after Polanco moved up this year, he still split time at SS with Mejia.  I can't see Goodrum sticking on a 25-man, though neither would have Kepler and he got a roster spot last year.

[Brandon]

I'd not protect Wimmers at this point. And, I was a big supporter of him coming back this year......

me either.  at his point he projects as a reliever.  I think we have enough of those.  although you can never have too much pitching....

[Mike Sixel]

Of these, I like Turner and Reed the most for some reason.

[Mike Sixel]

Oh, and I'd move Goodrum to LF ASAP.....and make him a great defender that can steal. Span light, with more speed.

 

Although, I'd consider leaving him at 3B.....but he should be in AA next year.

[nicksaviking]

Oh, I still think he can be a RP.....but not sure he needs protecting.

 

I like having him around, but really only because every time his name gets brought up I get to point out that the Twins passed up on high upside HS arms Jesse Biddle, Zach Lee, Cam Bedrosian, Aaron Sanchez, Noah Syndergaard and Tijuan Walker to draft the safe college arm Alex Wimmers. 

 

I do this because I'm petty and like to call attention to the few times I was right.

[jokin]

I like having him around, but really only because every time his name gets brought up I get to point out that the Twins passed up on high upside HS arms Jesse Biddle, Zach Lee, Cam Bedrosian, Aaron Sanchez, Noah Syndergaard and Tijuan Walker to draft the safe college arm Alex Wimmers. 

 

I do this because I'm petty and like to call attention to the few times I was right.

 

Yep... petty... and in my case at least, bitter.  (I scream a little inside, every time I hear about the "prudent" choice of a "safe college arm"...)

[Steven Buhr]

Yep... petty... and in my case at least, bitter.  (I scream a little inside, every time I hear about the "prudent" choice of a "safe college arm"...)

At least right now we can take some pleasure in knowing that the Twins could probably staff a rotation capable of winning any U21 tournament in the world with the likes of Stewart, Thorpe, Hu, Gonsalves, Romero, Jorge, Rosario (and maybe others I'm forgetting) if/when all are healthy.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Keep in mind that the Twins weren't the only team to pass on those high upside arms... It was a bit different back then, especially given a Metrodome budget. But yeah, I get the angst. Wimmers was also considered to be a 2/3 type guy too at the time. Unfortunately, it hasn't panned out.

 

Side note, I'd have Garver above most (if not) all of thse.

[drjim]

Of these, I like Turner and Reed the most for some reason.

 

They are probably the best combination of solid floor and still something to dream on from that list.

 

The rest are either really raw with upside tools or are low ceiling guys that are there for depth. Of course that is still valuable in this range, other teams (and past Twins farms) would have those guys in the teens.

 

Overall this depth has to be really encouraging. I was thinking there were a handful of guys from the 31-40 list I thought were low (Melotakis and Cederoth) but a perfectly good argument can be made for all the people on this list ahead of them.

Edited September 26, 2014 by drjim

[gil4]

At least right now we can take some pleasure in knowing that the Twins could probably staff a rotation capable of winning any U21 tournament in the world with the likes of Stewart, Thorpe, Hu, Gonsalves, Romero, Jorge, Rosario (and maybe others I'm forgetting) if/when all are healthy.

 

You forgot the ace, Berrios.

[Steven Buhr]

You forgot the ace, Berrios.

Um... can I convince you that I didn't forget him and that I was just including him among "maybe others"?

 

Yeah, didn't think so.

[Otwins]

When I read the debate on whether a player (Goodrum for instance) should be on the 40 man roster I am not sure how I feel about it until I see how many spots they have available and who has to come off if he goes on. I saw him play a couple times and your description is accurate- very athletic. Kinda like Santana's so I am hoping for a repeat. I may have to try an make a 40 man list.