Article: 5 Most Important Developments of 2014

[Nick Nelson]

In a large sense, 2014 will go down as another year of stalled movement for the Minnesota Twins organization, characterized by more setbacks for top prospects and minimal progress in the W/L column.

 

However, a deeper look shows that very important strides were made in a few areas the bode well going forward. Here are five developments that should have you feeling a whole lot better as we look ahead to 2015.Big Changes in the Coaching Staff

 

For the first time in nearly three decades, the Twins fired their manager, dismissing Ron Gardenhire one day after the conclusion of the season. The move was warranted following a fourth consecutive 90-loss season.

 

Not everyone viewed Gardenhire's internally promoted replacement, Paul Molitor, as a transformative change in direction, but by most accounts Molitor does things his own way and the look of his coaching staff will be very different. The most notable addition is pitching coach Neil Allen, a rising talent from the Rays organization with no meaningful previous ties to the Twins.

 

A fresh perspective at the top, and a new voice for this embattled pitching staff, should at least provide a very different dynamic.

 

J.O. Berrios' Incredible Year

 

While the rest of the system's top prospects stagnated, sat out, or took steps backwards, Berrios saw his stock skyrocket with one of the best pitching seasons we've seen from a Twins prospect in some time.

 

There were questions surrounding the right-hander entering this campaign, given his relatively small stature and his good-but-not-great results at Cedar Rapids in 2013, but Berrios made an emphatic statement by obliterating the Class-A Florida State League in the first half, then holding his own as the youngest hurler in the Class-AA Eastern League after a midseason promotion. He even made a critical late-season start at Triple-A... as a 20-year-old.

 

Berrios' momentum hasn't stopped since he stopped playing in games. During the offseason, he's been on an insane workout regimen down in his native Puerto Rico, evidenced by the numerous photos and videos he has been sharing on his Twitter and Facebook pages.

 

The difference in his physique since just September (at which point he wasn't exactly in bad shape) is noticeable:

 

 

 

If Berrios doesn't pan out for the Twins, I think it's safe to say it won't be from a lack of effort or work ethic.

 

The Spending Continues

 

Last offseason, Terry Ryan went on a spending spree that was historic by this franchise's standards, handing out the two largest free agent deals in team history while committing a total of $84 million to Ricky Nolasco, Phil Hughes and Mike Pelfrey in an effort to reinforce their rotten rotation.

 

The spend trend has only continued in 2014. First there was the in-season signing of Kendrys Morales -- a totally uncharacteristic move and a surprising one, given that the Twins really weren't shaping up as contenders at the time. Then, during this offseason, Ryan eclipsed Nolasco's record deal by inking Ervin Santana to a $54 million contract. In addition, the Twins signed Torii Hunter for $10.5 million and ponied up for a Hughes extension.

 

In some respects, the Twins are simply riding a league-wide trend of increased spending as new revenues pour in, but it's still nice to see, and hopefully a sign of heightened aggressiveness to come, as they work back toward contention.

 

Free Agent Success Stories

 

Perhaps Ryan's new-found willingness to splurge on the open market has been bolstered by two free agent signings that would have to rank among the most successful this team has ever made (granted, that bar wasn't set high). Kurt Suzuki surpassed all expectations on his one-year deal, making the All-Star team and earning a two-year extension midway through the summer. Hughes, of course, might as well have been an All-Star, as he was one of the AL's best starting pitchers and finished seventh in the Cy Young voting. He also earned himself an extension even though there were two years left on his bargain deal.

 

Rookie Rampage

 

The Twins have sometimes been accused of promoting prospects too slowly, and leaving seemingly MLB-ready youngsters stagnating on the farm, which made it all the more encouraging to see Danny Santana and Kennys Vargas featured so heavily in 2014.

 

Coming into the season, neither player looked like a candidate to log significant time in the majors. Santana was 22 and had played just one season in Double-A. Vargas, also 23, hadn't played above Single-A. Yet both were given chances and thrived, helping power a surprisingly strong offense. Hopefully the club will show similar willingness to let the next wave of promising young hitters make their case -- and hopefully with similar results.

 

Click here to view the article

[Willihammer]

I look forward to more Arcia and Pinto in 2015 as well. Lots of young bats on the roster that could breakout in 2015.

[JB_Iowa]

Nice article to get in the mood for Twins Caravan, Twins Fest and ST.

 

This off-season has made me more hopeful than the previous few even if my posts don't always seem that way.

[bird]

Even more important than Berrios' emergence, to me, is the number of prospects that performed exceptionally in their first taste of full-season play in the minors, along with a few standouts higher up. After so often cringing at the disappointments like Joe Benson, Angel Morales, Bromberg, Wimmers, Guttierez, etc., we had so few of those and so many encouraging performances. Gordon, Stewart, Minier, Thorpe, Diaz, Gonsalves, Garver, Reed, Hu, Duffey, Jones, Rogers, Burdi, Polanco, Michael....all on top of the guys who advanced to the big club. I'd rate this as a more important development than all the rest, because my own perception is that it is very unusual to have that high of a percentage of a team's high-ceiling prospects meet or exceed expectations.

[DAM DC Twins Fans]

I agree with Birdwatcher--the most important story of 2014 is the development in the farm system. Especially the pitching staff with Berrios, Burdi, Wheeler, Stewart, Duffey, Gonsalves, Thorpe, etc. (Even if Thorpe has TJ surgery this year). The 2016-17 pitching staff is cming along very nicely

[bird]

Yes, when you include prospects knocking on the door in AAA who had nice years, you'd find that Wheeler, May, Meyer, Achter, Tonkin, Olivares, and Pressly all had very good numbers.

[Rosterman]

It will be interesting to see who and what prospects are bale to be absorbed or break into the Twins 25 by seasons end. Does it make the prospects, or current players expendable. And then who breaks in come 2016. It's a fine line between putting experience on the field and the prospect of talent that WILL perform in years to come. Usually the process is to wean in a player or three each season (the Twins did Santana and Vargas and May...but took a step backwards, or sorts, with Pinto and Arcia, and Hicks totally stalled). Can Santana, May and Vargas hold steady or improve while we get a look at Meyer, Rosario, Sano and any number of young relief pitchers? Who gets the boot. Will it be Hicks. Will Arcia be passed over. Will Plouffe's number be drawn. Will Gibson be moved because he is cheaper and controlled? Who is the real fodder on the 25-man from the bullpen and the bench?

[AlwaysinModeration]

I like the premise of the article, but I would put my top five developments for 2014 slightly differently:

 

1)The emergence of Hughes: He improved his control dramatically, developed his cutter, and now the Twins have what looks like an ace for the next five years.

 

2)Departure of Gardy and Anderson, but not Bruno. The guys without new ideas are gone. (Actually the new idea "start infielders" in the outfield is hopefully gone.). Molitor appears open to new approaches (see defensive shifts) and Neil Allen brings in an outside perspective from an innovative organization.

 

3)Setbacks by Sano and Buxton. Lost years from the twin top-five prospects should moderate expectations. Still high hopes for stardom for both...but not quite a certainty.

 

4)The Terry Ryan return from cancer and continuation as the GM. Rob Antony was his interim replacement earlier this year. Neither appear innovative or anywhere near cutting edge. Most of the strengthening of the farm system had been good draft picks (Buxton, Stewart, Gordon), luck (Sano) or a combination (Berrios). Meyer and May are attributable to Ryan, but also cost the Twins years of CF question marks. Last year, he extended Suzuki when he was playing way over his career norms instead of trading him. Then he spent $10mm on the worst-fielding OF in the game for his age-40 season.

 

5)One last high draft pick. The poor 2014 play netted what will hopefully be the last top ten draft pick for years to come.

[Jon Marthaler]

Why, I do believe that's the Bell of Optimism that I hear ringing!

 

DING DING DING DING DING DING