Article: This Time It's Different

[Seth Stohs]

I walked into the Twins clubhouse at Hammond Stadium this morning. There were a couple of games of cards being played. Some players were on their phones at their locker. 20-year-old Jose (JO) Berrios sat at his desk quietly. He had a stack of envelopes in his locker and one on the floor next to his chair. He had a Sharpie in his hand and was carefully writing his name on the baseball cards with his picture on them.As I approached him, he extended his hand and said, “Hi Seth. How are you doing?”

 

After exchanging pleasantries, I said to the young pitching prospect, “Wow! That is a lot of envelopes! Is that normal?”

 

He nodded and said, “Every day! It is this many almost every day.”

 

Such is life for the Twins prospect, but he seems to enjoy it. Letters from all over the country and from his native Puerto Rico. Each starts with “Hi Mr. Berrios. You are a very good pitcher.” Or at least something to that effect. Some letters are long, and some are short. He takes the time to read them and sign.

 

This isn’t JO Berrios’s first trip to big league spring training. Two years ago, Berrios was able to work out with the Twins during major league spring training because he had been named to Puerto Rico’s World Baseball Classic roster. He pitched out of the team’s bullpen as an 18-year-old that year. This year, his experience has already been different.

 

He said, “That year, I was just here because I was training for the World Baseball Classic. This time, I am here competing for a spot.”

 

The Twins supplemental first-round draft choice in 2012 took a big step forward in his career in 2014. He was named the Minor League Pitcher of the Year by the Minnesota Twins, as well as the Twins Daily Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year. He began the season in Ft. Myers and finished his season with a start on the final weekend for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. He started the Florida State League All-Star game as well as MLB’s Futures Game at Target Field. Overall, he went 12-8 with a 2.77 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. In 139.2 innings, he struck out 140 batters while walking just 38.

 

This spring, he has pitched twice, both two-inning stints. Asked how he was feeling, Berrios said, “Everything is good. Arm feels really good.”

 

He is also happy that his wife and their daughter are in Ft. Myers with him during spring training. They attend the home Twins games, and he enjoys being able to go home to them at the end of each day.

 

Most likely, Berrios will begin his 2015 season at Double-A Chattanooga, but he is focused. That doesn’t surprise anyone who has seen the videos of his workout and the drive that he has. At this point, who are we to put it past him?

 

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[HitInAPinch]

With that type of attitude, he'll go far!

[Vance_Christianson]

With that type of attitude he's giving the Twins no choice but to make them move him up to the next level till he finally lands in Minnesota!

"Dreaming" starting 5 2016:

Phil Hughes

Ervin Santana

Alex Meyer

Kyle Gibson/Trevor May (1 of these 2 are going to push each other off prob be traded)

JO Berrios

Not far behind (just to name a few):

Stephen Gonsalves

Lewis Thorpe

Kohl Stewart

[youngpadawan]

Nitpicking, but didn't he pitch 3 innings in his latest outing or was the MLB gameday wrong (it is very rough during spring training)?

 

Berrios seems to truely believe thst he is a candidate for the 5th spot out of ST. I wonder if he wasn't told something about it. I get that every pitcher has to approach it like they have a shot but the typical comments from such pitchers is more often "I want to go out and show what I can do and make a good impression" where Berrios says "I'm here to compete for a spot in the rotation and want to win it." It may just be his competitive spirit but he seems to have a different state of mind than others have. One of his goals was to head north with the team.

[luckylager]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-adHbtJklQMo/TiInEHyC_nI/AAAAAAAAIMQ/Ahai9jILB0g/s400/008.JPG

 

I really like this kid. And his cereal ain't bad either.

[nytwinsfan]

With that type of attitude he's giving the Twins no choice but to make them move him up to the next level till he finally lands in Minnesota!

"Dreaming" starting 5 2016:

Phil Hughes

Ervin Santana

Alex Meyer

Kyle Gibson/Trevor May (1 of these 2 are going to push each other off prob be traded)

JO Berrios

Not far behind (just to name a few):

Stephen Gonsalves

Lewis Thorpe

Kohl Stewart

You forgot current college starter who we draft at #6.

[gunnarthor]

I love everything I read about him.  This Chattanooga team is going to be pretty exciting for a month or two - Buxton, Sano, Rosario, Walker, Berrios, Burdi, Polanco etc.  Cripes, the former 1st round pick, middle infielder who put up a .390 OBP last year is an afterthought there.  Weee!

[ScrapTheNickname]

I love everything I read about him. This Chattanooga team is going to be pretty exciting for a month or two - Buxton, Sano, Rosario, Walker, Berrios, Burdi, Polanco etc. Cripes, the former 1st round pick, middle infielder who put up a .390 OBP last year is an afterthought there. Weee!

I missed it. Who's the middle infielder who put up a .390 OPB?

[diehardtwinsfan]

Levi Michael I think.

[gunnarthor]

 

I missed it. Who's the middle infielder who put up a .390 OPB?

Levi Michael.  (Technically is was .389)

[clutterheart]

I think he gets sent down the first day of cuts. The twins just dont like to risk spring injuries to young guys (and the financial implications that come with a minor leaguer getting injuried during spring)

 

But I would bet a some cash that if he is healthy he is on the twins roster before July.

[Thrylos]

 

I love everything I read about him.  This Chattanooga team is going to be pretty exciting for a month or two - Buxton, Sano, Rosario, Walker, Berrios, Burdi, Polanco etc.  Cripes, the former 1st round pick, middle infielder who put up a .390 OBP last year is an afterthought there.  Weee!

 

If Sano, Rosario and Polanco start the season in AA, someone should be fired.  They have zero to prove at that level.

[gunnarthor]

If Sano, Rosario and Polanco start the season in AA, someone should be fired. They have zero to prove at that level.

Good grief. Sano missed a full season, it's not unreasonable to start at AA. Rosario has a .260/.302/.403 line in 150 games at AA. He hasn't really shown an ability to hit pitching above A+ yet. And Polanco has a mere 37 games at AA and hasn't hit that well there either. And all three are still working on their defense as well. Additionally, all that ignores that fact that the Twins don't have any problem promoting players from AA to the majors without stopping at AAA.

[Secondary User]

Good grief.Sano missed a full season, it's not unreasonable to start at AA.Rosario has a .260/.302/.403 line in 150 games at AA.He hasn't really shown an ability to hit pitching above A+ yet.And Polanco has a mere 37 games at AA and hasn't hit that well there either.And all three are still working on their defense as well.Additionally, all that ignores that fact that the Twins don't have any problem promoting players from AA to the majors without stopping at AAA.

This, this, this! Well put

[ashbury]

I think you can make a strong case to start Sano at AAA, a decent case to start Rosario there, and a marginal case for Polanco to be up there at the outset.  If Sano needed to shake the rust off then starting at AA might be called for but so far this Spring there's no evidence of that.  Rosario didn't exactly shine at bat in AA but he didn't embarrass himself either.  The problem for Polanco might be his progress on defense as much as offense.  I don't see any of them as clearly unworthy of AAA if that's the direction the farm director wants to go, but I won't be outraged if any of them start at AA.  Two out of three at AAA will suit me fine.

[Seth Stohs]

Rosario is the one of that group with the best chance of starting at Rochester. The other two will definitely start in Chattanooga.

[Seth Stohs]

I think he gets sent down the first day of cuts. The twins just dont like to risk spring injuries to young guys (and the financial implications that come with a minor leaguer getting injuried during spring)

 

But I would bet a some cash that if he is healthy he is on the twins roster before July.

 

He's not on the 40-man roster, so they're not as worried about the injury concern with him as they would be with Sano (who is on the 40 man roster). 

 

That said, I think he'll go down fairly early because they'll want to stretch him (and Taylor Rogers, Tyler Duffey and Jason Wheeler) out so they're ready to start when the minor league seasons start.

 

I'd be surprised if he's up by July, but nothing he does will totally shock me.

[ashbury]

 

Rosario is the one of that group with the best chance of starting at Rochester. The other two will definitely start in Chattanooga.

Eeenteresting. That's because Sano's a lock to go north with the big club? It is hard for me to understand the benefit they expect for him in AA, apart from the rust-shaking-off I mentioned.

[Jham]

Cool article.  Easy kid to roof for.   His delivery reminds me a little bit of Pedro Martinez, my favorite pitcher ever.  High leg kick, deceptive 3/4 delivery with zip that seems to rise on the hitter, and some serious off speed.  He can't generate downward plane at his size, but he can bring the heat to generate rare upward plane!  

 

http://m.twins.mlb.com/min/video/v40540183/umgmin-berrios-strikes-out-four-over-two-innings/?affiliateId=clubMEGAMENU

[Sanjay Wolowitz]

 

With that type of attitude he's giving the Twins no choice but to make them move him up to the next level till he finally lands in Minnesota!

"Dreaming" starting 5 2016:

Phil Hughes

Ervin Santana

Alex Meyer

Kyle Gibson/Trevor May (1 of these 2 are going to push each other off prob be traded)

JO Berrios

Not far behind (just to name a few):

Stephen Gonsalves

Lewis Thorpe

Kohl Stewart

 

Of Gibson and May, I'd trade Gibson.  I see too many shades of Nick Blackburn and Joe Mays when he pitches to get very excited about him long term.  Not that I'm penciling May into the HOF just yet by any means, but I like his secondary offerings and historical durability better than what I see in Gibson.

 

But yeah, that potential rotation (especially now, with a new pitching coach on board) is really hard NOT to get over-the-top excited about isn't it?

[Seth Stohs]

Eeenteresting. That's because Sano's a lock to go north with the big club? It is hard for me to understand the benefit they expect for him in AA, apart from the rust-shaking-off I mentioned.

 

That would be the reason. I mean, he did miss an entire season.

[ashbury]

 

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-adHbtJklQMo/TiInEHyC_nI/AAAAAAAAIMQ/Ahai9jILB0g/s400/008.JPG

 

I really like this kid. And his cereal ain't bad either.

On the recent broadcast I heard the announcer pronounce his name bay-REE-oce. Made me realize I had been doing it wrong. As with Arcia's name, I kind of hate to see us encourage what seems like a mangling of his name.

 

_{^{/ sorry to be a stick in the mud}}

[USAFChief]

On the recent broadcast I heard the announcer pronounce his name bay-REE-oce. Made me realize I had been doing it wrong. As with Arcia's name, I kind of hate to see us encourage what seems like a mangling of his name.

 

_{^{/ sorry to be a stick in the mud}}

I'm confused.

 

TRI-pul Buh-REE-oce.

 

HU-nee Nut Chi-REE-oce.

 

Hoe-zay Buh-REE-oce.

 

Same same.

[Paul Pleiss]

With that type of attitude he's giving the Twins no choice but to make them move him up to the next level till he finally lands in Minnesota!

"Dreaming" starting 5 2016:

Phil Hughes

Ervin Santana

Alex Meyer

Kyle Gibson/Trevor May (1 of these 2 are going to push each other off prob be traded)

JO Berrios

Not far behind (just to name a few):

Stephen Gonsalves

Lewis Thorpe

Kohl Stewart

I love your optomism. I love the hope, the dreams.

 

Actual starting 5 in 2016

Phil Hughes

Ervin Santana

Ricky Nolasco

Kyle Gibson

Trevor May

 

I hope to see more of the youngsters in that rotation, I just don't think we will, not when the club heads north. But it's very likely May and MAYBE even Berrios could be options out of the pen.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Alex Meyer needs to be in the 2016 starting rotation.

[stringer bell]

Where to start the young prospects?  Rosario at AAA if he doesn't end up starting with the Twins, Sano and Polanco at Chatanooga with Sano there only a month or so. 

[Vance_Christianson]

Where to start the young prospects?  Rosario at AAA if he doesn't end up starting with the Twins, Sano and Polanco at Chatanooga with Sano there only a month or so. 

I honestly think that if Sano, Polanco, and Rosario show that they can compete this Spring then why not send all 3 to AAA?! I personally don't care if that's the last level they were in or not. All 3 are proving their prospect status to be true this spring, so lets put all 3 at AAA!  Buxton I could see going to AA for a month or so, as he's only played 1 game above A ball.

[gunnarthor]

 

I honestly think that if Sano, Polanco, and Rosario show that they can compete this Spring then why not send all 3 to AAA?! I personally don't care if that's the last level they were in or not. All 3 are proving their prospect status to be true this spring, so lets put all 3 at AAA!  Buxton I could see going to AA for a month or so, as he's only played 1 game above A ball.

I think there's a few reasons.

1) As I mentioned above, all three have had some struggles at AA and are all still working on their defense.  Making a decision based on the small amount of ST at-bats would be a bad idea.

 

2) AAA is less a learning environment.  The atmosphere there isn't always that great for young prospects.  A couple of the prospect writers at BP have touched on this.

 

3) The Twins (and most teams) have started to use AA as the jump point to the majors and then use AAA as the place to refine.

 

[Vance_Christianson]

 

I think there's a few reasons.

1) As I mentioned above, all three have had some struggles at AA and are all still working on their defense.  Making a decision based on the small amount of ST at-bats would be a bad idea.

 

2) AAA is less a learning environment.  The atmosphere there isn't always that great for young prospects.  A couple of the prospect writers at BP have touched on this.

 

3) The Twins (and most teams) have started to use AA as the jump point to the majors and then use AAA as the place to refine.

If we are using AA for Educating and AAA for Fine Tuning, then I'm more than okay with the Fab 3 going to AA.

[Seth Stohs]

Buxton and Sano both missed so much developinent time in 2014, they should start somewhere they're comfortable so that they can take off running.

 

Berrios only has 8 starts in AA. He could use a few more.