Article: Minnesota Twins Minor League Leader Board (Through 5/22)

[Seth Stohs]

The Minnesota Twins minor league affiliates have all reached the 40-game plateau this week. Their seasons are nearly 30% complete. Each week, we have been posting the Twins Minor League Leader Board in the Saturday morning Minor League Report. This week, we’re going to post it on its own and see how it goes.

 

Each week, we look at a variety of statistics to recognize the Twins minor leaguers who have performed well in 2015. We will start with the hitters and then look at both the starting pitchers and bullpen arms.

 

These lists are fun because sometimes players emerge as guys that you will want to start paying attention to. In the below lists, we are starting to see more of the big-name prospects showing up, which is also a good thing.For most statistical categories, we’ll look at the top 5 players, though some leeway is given in the event of ties (or just common sense).

 

For hitters, I am using 130 plate appearances as the cut off for BA, OBP, SLG and OPS.

 

For pitchers, we’ll look at ERA, WHIP, K/9 and BB/9. I am using 32.0 innings as the cutoff for starters and 14.0 innings as the cutoff for relief pitchers.

 

Here is the Minnesota Twins Minor League Leader Board through games played on Friday, May 22.

 

 

HITTERS

 

Let’s start with the hitters. When we ran these leader boards after two, three or four weeks, there were several surprising names on these lists. There is a lot of randomness to small sample size. However, now we are to the point where most regulars have between 150 and 170 plate appearances. Not a huge sample, but again, about 30% of their season. Some of those early-season names have remained.

 

Plate Appearances: Niko Goodrum (190), Byron Buxton (184), Zach Granite (183), Miguel Sano/Max Murphy (170).

 

Batting Average: Trey Vavra (.345), James Beresford (.344), Alex Swim (.338), Max Kepler (.336), Zach Granite (.320)

 

On-Base Percentage: Zach Granite (.413), Trey Vavra (.401), Max Kepler (.381), James Beresford (.380), Travis Harrison (.373)

 

Isolated Discipline: Tanner English (.130), Mitch Garver (.128), Miguel Sano (.108), Niko Goodrum (.103), Travis Harrison (.097)

 

(I like this statistic because it’s easy to calculate, but it also shows which hitters are not as reliant on getting hits to get on base. It is simply (OBP-BA). A guy can have a low batting average, but he can still have value if he’s getting on base at a good percentage. Kernels center fielder Tanner English is hitting just .220, but he is on base 35% of the time thanks to a good eye at the plate. Miguel Sano gets on base because a lot of pitchers don’t want to throw him any more strikes than they have to.)

 

Slugging Percentage: Trey Vavra (.545), Adam Brett Walker (.533), Max Kepler (.520), Byron Buxton (.497), Miguel Sano (.472)

 

Isolated Power (IsoP): Adam Brett Walker (.286), Byron Buxton (.240), Miguel Sano (.233), Trey Vavra/Danny Ortiz (.200)

 

(Like Isolated Discipline, Isolate Power is easy to calculate. It is just (SLG-BA). In other words, how many extra base hits is the player getting? How much power is he showing? Again, it’s showing that a player can be valuable even if he doesn't hit for high average. No surprise at all with who is on top of this list, is it? Lots of home runs, doubles and triples on that list.)

 

OPS: Trey Vavra (.946), Max Kepler (.901), Adam Brett Walker (.830), Miguel Sano (.819), Byron Buxton (.807)

 

Hits: Alex Swim (51), Trey Vavra (.50), Zach Granite (49), Jorge Polanco (47), James Beresford (44)

 

2B: Travis Harrison (15), Max Kepler (13), Aaron Hicks/Chad Christensen (10), 4 tied with 9.

 

3B: Byron Buxton (10), Aaron Hicks (4), Levi Michael/Max Murphy/Tanner English/TJ White (3)

 

HR: Adam Brett Walker (11), Miguel Sano (8), Trey Vavra/Danny Ortiz (6), Byron Buxton/Brock Peterson (5)

 

Runs: Byron Buxton (31), Miguel Sano/Zach Granite (29), Adam Brett Walker/Travis Harrison (27), Nick Gordon (26)

 

RBI: Byron Buxton (33), Adam Brett Walker (32), Trey Vavra/Danny Ortiz (27), Miguel Sano/Zack Larson (24)

 

SB: Tanner English/Zach Granite (13), Byron Buxton (12), Jason Kanzler/Engelb Vielma (10).

 

 

STARTING PITCHERS (>32 IP)

 

Innings: Taylor Rogers (55.0), Pat Dean (54.2), Tyler Duffey (52.2), JO Berrios (50.0), DJ Baxendale/Jason Wheeler (47.0)

 

ERA: Chih-Wei Hu (1.10), Stephen Gonsalves (1.50), Felix Jorge (2.13), Brett Lee (2.14), Mat Batts (2.21)

 

WHIP: Stephen Gonsalves (0.81), Chih-Wei Hu (0.85), Felix Jorge (0.95), Mat Batts (1.03), Tyler Duffey (1.10)

 

K/9: Stephen Gonsalves (11.6), JO Berrios (10.4), Mat Batts (9.7), Alex Meyer (9.4), Chih-Wei Hu/Tyler Duffey (9.2)

 

BB/9: Greg Peavey (1.5), Pat Dean (1.6), John Curtiss (1.7), Aaron Slegers (1.8), Felix Jorge (1.9)

 

Strikeouts: JO Berrios (58), Tyler Duffey/Stephen Gonsalves (54), Mat Batts/Taylor Rogers (44), Chih-Wei Hu 42)

 

 

RELIEF PITCHERS (>14 IP,

 

Innings: Zach Tillery (27.1), Todd Van Steensel (26.0), Alex Muren (25.2), Brandon Peterson/Randy LeBlanc (23.0)

 

ERA: Trevor Hildenberger (0.40), Cameron Booser (0.93), Brandon Peterson (1.17), Madison Boer (1.40), Lester Oliveros (1.86)

 

WHIP: Trevor Hildenberger (0.49), AJ Achter (0.63), Zach Tillery (0.81), Madison Boer (0.90), Tim Shibuya (0.92), Zack Jones (0.93)

 

K/9: Cameron Booser (15.4), Zack Jones (14.1), Lester Oliveros (14.0), Todd Van Steensel (13.8), Brandon Peterson (13.3)

 

BB/9: Trevor Hildenberger (1.2), Zack Jones (1.3), Tim Shibuya (1.7), Jake Reed (2.1), Cole Johnson (2.2)

 

Saves: Zack Jones (6), AJ Achter/Michael Tonkin (5), Cameron Booser/Trevor Hildenberger/Todd Van Steensel (4)

 

 

There you have it. The Twins Minor League Leader Board through Friday, May 22.

 

What do you think? What surprises you?

 

Click here to view the article

[goulik]

Byron Buxtons numbers look great in the second half of the hitters stats. If he was taking walks and hitting for higher average...WOW, he would be off the charts!

[sane]

Buxton's TEN triples in 184 plate appearances is UNBELIEVABLE!!!

[Thegrin]

Would you look at Max Kepler !!! Someone to look forward to seeing in Target Field.

[dbminn]

Max Kepler is off to an amazing start at AA, hitting for power and average. He hasn't walked very much (6.5% of PA) but has struck out at a very low rate (8.3%). Must be seeing the ball awfully well.

 

Would like to hear from those who watch the Lookouts play on a regular basis. What has caused all of the success? Has he changed his approach or is he just maturing?

[clutterheart]

Nice to see top prospects doing what top prospects are supposed to do.

[adjacent]

What I am amazed is at the pitching. 3 starters and 6 relievers with WHIP under 1 (and in the case of relievers, not even close to 1). Look at the K/9 and BB/9 of the relievers. We need some of them with the big club!

[Halsey Hall]

Just a feeling from afar, but I think Max is finally healthy this year.  So many nagging injuries in the past seasons. 

[adjacent]

Also it is nice to see some not so heralded prospects like Swim, Tray Vavra, Beresford and Danny Ortiz keeping their numbers up. 

[eLee612]

It makes me think that it would be SO GREAT if we could have a mid-season futures game with strictly Minnesota's minor leaguers held at Target Field. Logistically speaking, impossible due to CBA and scheduling. But hypothetically fantastic, none-the-less.

 

Can't tell you how many adult Twins fans I talk to on a daily basis who only have heard of Buxton and Sano, but wouldn't have a clue who any of these other guys are. (Or kids who can't name any player other than Joe Mauer.) I love those three, but we have a system STOCKED with talent! Just want more people to be able to see em and get excited.  

[Minniman]

Seth, thanks for the update.

 

When does Adam Brett Walker lose the "Saved by the Bell" third name and just become Adam Walker?

[Einstein1]

4 things really stick out to me. 1) things really seemed to have finally clicked for Max Kepler.  2) Trey Vavra has to be moving up on the Twins top prospect lists.  3) 10 triples for Buxton?  Wow. 4) who is this Trevor Hildenberger?   

[AKTwins]

What are everyone's thoughts on Trey Vavra and Alex Swim?  Are these two projected as eventual everyday major leaguer? Or will they plateau out once they reach the higher levels of the minor leagues?  I am really interested in Swim because he hit really well last year too.  Does he switch positions permanently? I saw he was playing LF the other day.

 

[nater79a]

 

Buxton's TEN triples in 184 plate appearances is UNBELIEVABLE!!!

 

Is it even possible that Buxton could end up with more triples in the season than the league leaders in home runs?!  Never thought that could be a likelihood.

 

Now, Buck may not be in the Southern league the entire season so that would put an end to the race.  But right now he is neck-and-neck with the HR leaders...Schwarber and ABW.  Wow.

[ExpectMorePayLess]

Neither of these guys is hitting over .250 BA.  Imagine when they truly start to figure it out.  These ISO numbers are outstanding.

 

Isolate Power (IsoP): Adam Brett Walker (.286), Byron Buxton (.240), Miguel Sano (.233), 

 

Rating ISO
Excellent            0.250
Great                 0.200
Above Average  0.170
Average             0.140
Below Average   0.120
Poor                   0.100
Awful                  0.080

[ExpectMorePayLess]

Arcia had a .229 ISO in AA and a  .103 ISO in MLB this season

Vargas had a .191 ISO in AA and a  .114 ISO in MLB this season

Dozier had a .183 ISO in AA and a  .223 ISO in MLB this season

Rosario had a .128 ISO in AA and a .137 ISO in MLB this season

Plouffe had a .141 ISO in AA and a  .193 ISO in MLB this season

 

Arcia had great minor league numbers and his ISO got worse while Dozier had ok minor league numbers and raised his ISO as a MLB regular.   What will be the fate of the guys on this leaderboard?

[Hrbowski]

Thanks for the update. Nice to see some of my prospect's names on there.

[KScott]

 

Buxton's TEN triples in 184 plate appearances is UNBELIEVABLE!!!

Just to give a little more insight as to how unbelievable that is. Last year's MLB triples leader hit 12. The guy in second hit 10. ALL SEASON.

Sure, that's he majors though, the defenses are better there you say.

Okay, the same league Buxton is in now, the league leader hit 14, the guy in second hit 11 and Buxton would be in 3rd.  (Both of those guys spent the entire season a AA)

Bottom line: Buxtons triples total in 1/4 of the season are enough to put him in the top 5 no matter the league, over the course of full season.

 

I can't wait to see him up with Twins flying around the bases.

 

[Steve Lein]

Buxton is going to 20-20-20-20 several times I think. Only 4 players in MLB history have done that!

[Dance with Disco Dan]

What are everyone's thoughts on Trey Vavra and Alex Swim?  Are these two projected as eventual everyday major leaguer? Or will they plateau out once they reach the higher levels of the minor leagues?  I am really interested in Swim because he hit really well last year too.  Does he switch positions permanently? I saw he was playing LF the other day.

 

Both players are hitting well (particularly Varva) but both are old for their level of competition. Both are roughly a. year and a half older than average. If the Twins see Vavra as anything more than an org guy, I don't understand why they haven't moved him up to High A so they can see what he can do against age-appropriate competition (he won't be young in the FSL either). Goodness knows the Miracle lineup could use more bats.

 

Swim has hit for average at every level but doesn't walk and has shown no power. Mostly while being old for his competition level. I look at his stats and see Revere without the speed element - i.e. no triples or steals.

 

All that said, neither player can do anything but go out and perform at the level the Twins assign them. To their credit, they are doing that.

 

 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Max Kepler is off to an amazing start at AA, hitting for power and average. He hasn't walked very much (6.5% of PA) but has struck out at a very low rate (8.3%). Must be seeing the ball awfully well.

 

Would like to hear from those who watch the Lookouts play on a regular basis. What has caused all of the success? Has he changed his approach or is he just maturing?

 

Here is a link to Patrick Reusse's show page. Hour 2 on Friday, he chatted with Doug Mientkiewicz for 15 minutes. Quite a bit on Kepler, Buxton, Sano, Walker, Berrios and more. Great stuff. Gave Chad Allen a lot of credit. 

 

 

[Seth Stohs]

 

It makes me think that it would be SO GREAT if we could have a mid-season futures game with strictly Minnesota's minor leaguers held at Target Field. Logistically speaking, impossible due to CBA and scheduling. But hypothetically fantastic, none-the-less.

 

Can't tell you how many adult Twins fans I talk to on a daily basis who only have heard of Buxton and Sano, but wouldn't have a clue who any of these other guys are. (Or kids who can't name any player other than Joe Mauer.) I love those three, but we have a system STOCKED with talent! Just want more people to be able to see em and get excited.

 

Great insight. People definitely are aware of the big two, but we try to tout all of the minor leaguers. 

 

And I love that idea a midseason "All Twins Prospects game!"

[drivlikejehu]

 

What are everyone's thoughts on Trey Vavra and Alex Swim?  Are these two projected as eventual everyday major leaguer? Or will they plateau out once they reach the higher levels of the minor leagues?  I am really interested in Swim because he hit really well last year too.  Does he switch positions permanently? I saw he was playing LF the other day.

 

They are organizational players... most guys in the minor leagues aren't MLB prospects.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Seth, thanks for the update.

 

When does Adam Brett Walker lose the "Saved by the Bell" third name and just become Adam Walker?

 

When HE chooses to. I always called him just Adam Walker, but tnhe I decided to ask him. He said he didn't really care too much but he definitely preferred Adam Brett Walker. So, until he tells me differently, I'll go with that.

[Seth Stohs]

 

4 things really stick out to me. 1) things really seemed to have finally clicked for Max Kepler.  2) Trey Vavra has to be moving up on the Twins top prospect lists.  3) 10 triples for Buxton?  Wow. 4) who is this Trevor Hildenberger?   

 

1.) yes, it has. Though when he's been healthy for a decent amount of time in the past, he has produced. He's been terrific.

2.) I don't know. He's certainly moved up, but I don't know that he'd be on any Top 30 lists.

3.) Yes.

4.) College reliever from UC-Berkeley. Throws low-to-mid 90s from a 3/4 arm angle. Gets good movement.

[lightfoot789]

Of all the stat leaders (top 5) - Which guys do you see sustaining their numbers / performance rate for most of the season?  Providing all stay healthy.  Are any of the numbers not sustainable?

[Hrbowski]

 

Of all the stat leaders (top 5) - Which guys do you see sustaining their numbers / performance rate for most of the season?  Providing all stay healthy.  Are any of the numbers not sustainable?

I can see Sano and Walker keeping up their power numbers, Buxton will probably keep on hitting triples, and all the stolen base leaders should keep it up, the average numbers will all likely change significantly, but I can see Kepler continuing to hit, plus I think that Gonsalves and Berrios could keep up their numbers, and Cameron Booser should also keep up his great numbers.

[diehardtwinsfan]

who is this Trevor Hildenberger?

Yeah, somehow this one flew under the radar. A WHIP < .5? That's a guy who needs a promotion.

[highlander]

Zach Granite love the name, what league? What position? His numbers scream leadoff. Is he a legitimate prospect?

[curt1965]

Awesome article, Seth! Thanks for all the work you do!