Article: Twins Minor League Hitter of the Month - May 2015

[Seth Stohs]

Yesterday, we got to know our May 2015 Twins Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Month. Today, we’re going to give you the top six Twins minor league hitters for the month of May. You’ll even hear from this month’s choice.

 

It probably will not surprise you to see quite a few Chattanooga Lookouts on this list (and trust me when I say a couple more were considered for honorable mention). It was a really strong month for most of the Lookouts lineup and they were missing last month’s hitter of the month, Dalton Hicks, due to injury. Who was ultimately selected as the winner? Well, you’re just going to have to keep reading to find out.Before we get to the Top 6 Twins Minor League hitters for May, here are a few hitters who are very worth of mention:

• Chattanooga OF Adam Brett Walker (27-107) .252/.304/.533 (.837) with seven doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 28 RBI.
• Rochester 2B James Beresford (31-98) .316/.356/.388 (.744) with seven doubles and 12 RBI.
• Ft. Myers C/1B/OF Alex Swim (36-102) .353/.383/.392 (.775) with four doubles and nine RBI.
• Chattanooga SS Jorge Polanco (40-110) .364/.398/.445 (.844) with four doubles, a triple, a home run and 15 RBI.
• Cedar Rapids OF Max Murphy (32-114) .281/.362/.456 (.818) with eight doubles, three triples, two home runs and 18 RBI.

And now, let’s get to the Top 6 Minnesota Twins Minor League Hitters for May:

 

 

Number 6 - Chattanooga – OF Travis Harrison - (29-97) .299/.400/.474 (.874) with nine doubles, one triple, two home runs and 19 RBI.

 

With all the names and prospects in Chattanooga, Travis Harrison has quietly been their most consistent performer throughout this season. When I talked to him at spring training, he said he learned a lot last year in Ft. Myers under Doug Mientkiewicz and was looking forward to continuing to work with the former Twin in 2015. He expected a big season and to this point, he’s been up to the challenge in AA. Through his first 47 games this season, he is hitting .277/.367/.428 (.775) with 15 doubles, a triple, three home run and 27 RBI. In May, he had a mid-month, nine-game hitting streak in which the final three games were multi-hit games. Harrison was the first of two supplemental first-round picks by the Twins in 2011 out of high school in California.

Number 5 - Rochester – OF Danny Ortiz - (32-108) .296/.339/.537 (.876) with ten doubles, two triples, four home runs and 25 RBI.

 

Ortiz became a free agent following the 2014 season. The 25-year-old was the Twins fourth-round draft pick in 2008 out of high school in Puerto Rico and has gradually worked his way up the system. He re-signed with the Twins and was invited to major league camp. He had spent most of the second half of the 2014 season in Rochester and that’s where he started the 2015 season as well. In the first 45 games, he has hit .274/.326/.494 (.820) with 12 doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 32 RBI. He has been a fixture for Mayaguez in the Puerto Rican Winter League the last half-dozen seasons. He has definitely flown under the radar and could be a fourth or fifth outfield option if the Twins needed one.

Number 4 – Chattanooga – 3B Miguel Sano - (30-99) .303/.374/.556 (.929) with eight doubles, one triple, five home run and 22 RBI.

 

Miguel Sano has been a fixture near the top of prospect rankings since the Twins signed him to a $3.15 million signing bonus as a 16-year-old in October of 2009. After missing all of 2014 after having Tommy John surgery, it was expected that he would be rusty in his return. In 18 April games, he hit just .159/.303/.381 (.684) with two doubles and four extra-base hits. As you can see above, he has turned it around in May. Doug Mientkiewicz gave him a couple of days off in late April. He didn’t turn it on right away, but eventually, his bat just took off. Overall, he is now hitting .250/.354/.506 (.860) with ten doubles, a triple and ten home runs. He’s getting close to where he was two years ago.

Number 3 - Chattanooga – OF Byron Buxton - (33-119) .277/.326/.571 (.897) with five doubles, nine triples, four home runs and 27 RBI.

 

Buxton didn’t miss all of 2014 like Sano, but he never was able to get into any sort of routine. He had multiple wrist injuries, a head injury and then another hand injury in the Arizona Fall League. He came to spring training this year in great shape and ready to roll, but as you would expect, he struggled early. Through his first 12 games, he was hitting just .180/.241/.300. He got a couple of games off and came back on a tear. In the next ten games, he hit .415/.479/.805 (1.284). Then came another tough stretch. In the next 14 games, he hit .155/.190/.293 (.484). In his final ten games of May, he hit .357/.449/.738 (1.187). So, he’s been a little inconsistent (OK, a lot inconsistent) and yet, he has been remarkably productive at the plate and in the field. He showed his speed on defense, but also with the doubles, NINE triples and one of his four home runs was of the inside-the-park variety. Like Sano, he’s getting there. We need to be patient, but we can also start getting really excited.

Number 2 – Cedar Rapids – 1B/LF Trey Vavra – (35-88) .398/.466/.568 (1.034) with six doubles, three home runs and 16 RBI.

 

Vavra was the Twins 33^rd round pick a year ago out of Florida Southern College. Since signing, he has raked. He was a middle-of-the-order bat in Elizabethton last year, notching 20 doubles. He’s been the Kernels’ top hitter all year. In fact, if not for a late-month ankle injury, there’s a good chance he might be atop this list. Instead, he’ll have to settle for being Number Two this month. He leads the Kernels in most offensive categories. In fact, he’s in the top two in the organization in many offensive categories. In 42 games on the season, he is hitting .346/.406/.538 (.944) with 10 doubles, a triple, six home runs and 28 RBI. Hopefully he can get back on the field and keep hitting like he has all year.

The May Minnesota Twins Minor League Hitter of the Month is...

Chattanooga Lookouts 1B/OF Max Kepler (37-103) .359/.400/.583 (.983) with 13 doubles, two triples, two home runs and 14 RBI.

 

 

 

 

For the second straight month, the first baseman for the Chattanooga Lookouts is the winner of the Hitter of the Month Award. Last month, Dalton Hicks posted an OPS over 1.000 on his way to the award. Unfortunately, Hicks has been out of the lineup for the month due to an injury in his trapezius muscle.

Max Kepler started playing first base most days which allowed the Lookouts to continue with an outfield of Harrison, Buxton and Walker on most days. Occasionally Kepler got a DH day, or a start in the outfield, but he played a lot of first base.

And he hit. Man, did he hit.

He hit for average. He didn’t take a lot of walks, but when things are going well, and you’re pounding the ball, aggressiveness is good. He also had a ton of extra base hits and took over the Southern League lead in doubles from teammate Travis Harrison.

After a solid season in Ft. Myers in 2014, Kepler returned to the Arizona Fall League where he posted an OPS of .806 for the AFL Champion Salt River Rafters. It was something he called “a great experience!”

He had a nice showing early in big league camp, but a familiar foe got him again. He was injured and missed a lot of time in spring training.

“It was a very similar injury to what had happened in 2013 before Iowa, a flexor pronator strain. It’s always disappointing, but having dealt with it before, I knew exactly what to do to get back ASAP. I’m feeling great now!”

His season began a few days late and with a six-game “rehab” with the Ft. Myers Miracle. Then he joined the Chattanooga Lookouts. He struggled early. In his first seven games, he hit just .185. There was definitely an adjustment to the new league and AA competition.

“I kind of knew what to expect, having been to the Fall League the last two years. Getting to experience the speed and level in Arizona definitely slowed things down once I got to Chattanooga. Struggles, I expected. I always try to stick with the same mentality, See Ball, Hit Ball.”

As you have read, that Lookouts lineup is pretty special. Six Lookouts hitters show up in today’s report of the top hitters in the organization in May. A couple others were strongly considered for honorable mention. The team won a lot of games in May.

“I’ve been with this group of guys for the last three to four years, and it’s been a lot of fun. Team has a lot of chemistry and a bright future.”

It seems like Kepler has been around forever. He signed in July of 2009 from Germany. However, he turned just 22 years old in February. He is hitting .323/.362/.523 (.885) through his first 34 games in AA. His future looks bright. It should be a special year for Kepler and the Lookouts.

“My goals are to win, stay healthy, and hopefully get to contribute to the Twins success at some point this year.”

Kepler has transformed from a guy who had a lot of tools and a lot of athleticism to a guy who is now putting up really good numbers in the upper levels of the minor leagues. If he continues to play at a solid level through the season, I fully expect that Kepler will debut with the Twins in September.

There were several strong performances in May. The Lookouts stole the show, but Trey Vavra has been keeping up. In May, some of the organization’s biggest stars put up some big numbers. Max Kepler shone brightest.

 

Feel free to discuss the top hitters in the Minnesota Twins organization in May. We’ll be back tomorrow to conclude our monthly awards with the top starting pitchers in the organization in May.

 

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[AlwaysinModeration]

It's a pretty good month for your minor league hitters when a guy hits 7 jacks in the month and only scores an honorable mention.

 

The nine triples should also be as large font as possible. Wow.

[roger]

Polanco and Swim hit for .353 and .364 averages, respectively, and can't make your Top 6! 

 

No disagreement here, just a bit unbelievable.  Looking forward to a short stop in Chattanooga on July 1st.  Will be great to see the 2017 Minnesota Twins a bit early.

 

Have a good one, Seth.  Appreciate all you do for us minor league junkies.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Not sure I'd put Buxton ahead of Sano for the hitter of the month.  Sano was a better hitter this month.. Just my 2 cents.

 

Question on Kepler.  Is he's 1B or an OF type?  How is his OF defense?  He's far more valuable if he can hit well and be average or better at an OF spot.

[tobi0040]

It is encouraging to me to see so many top prospects on this list.

 

This franchise is set up for a long, sustainable run in my opinion. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Not sure I'd put Buxton ahead of Sano for the hitter of the month.  Sano was a better hitter this month.. Just my 2 cents.

 

Question on Kepler.  Is he's 1B or an OF type?  How is his OF defense?  He's far more valuable if he can hit well and be average or better at an OF spot.

 

I struggled with how to order Buxton and Sano. You're probably right, overall hitting Sano was better. I just considered that Buxton is a leadoff hitter and had the kind of impact he did. That was pretty impressive. But, they're really 3a and 3b in my opinion.

 

As for Kepler's position. He can play all three outfield spots well. He's not a burner, so he won't be a big league CF. He's a pretty solid 1B too. I asked him what he thought his best position was, and he said he thinks either corner outfield spot. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Polanco and Swim hit for .353 and .364 averages, respectively, and can't make your Top 6! 

 

I know... Swim is just singles, so as good he is as a hitter, he doesn't take a ton of walks or hit for any power. I almost went to 7 prospects just to include Polanco. He was very good. I went to 6 profiles because I think Harrison's reclaimed some prospect status this year with a really strong two months. No one talks about him at all.

 

Polanco would normally be on the list, and despite the low average, Walker had 7 homers in the month and a great SLG. And, I didn't include Stuart Turner. He didn't have as many at bats since he's a catcher and hits 7-9 in the Lookouts order, but despite a low batting average, he had good OBP and SLG in the month. That Lookouts lineup is stacked and they'd be even better with Hicks and Michael in it.

[tobi0040]

After looking at Buxton's 9 3B in one month, I looked up the MLB record for a season.  Chief Wilson hit 36 triples in 1912.  Now I don't know if the OF were all really slow or the fences were 600 feet back in the day, but the top 25 or so are in the 1880-1920 range.

 

Post 1950, the record is Curtis Granderson with 23. Lance Johnson had 21, Guzman, Rollins, and Brett had 20.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/3B_season.shtml

 

 

[maxisagod]

 

...

As for Kepler's position. He can play all three outfield spots well. He's not a burner, so he won't be a big league CF. He's a pretty solid 1B too. I asked him what he thought his best position was, and he said he thinks either corner outfield spot. 

 

Your probably right, but Terry Ryan was just quoted by Mike Berardino saying Kepler's natural position is CF, but they got someone else playing that position on the team. I only mention it because if Kepler were to keep hitting there isn't much room in AAA for a 1st basemen/DH this year in Rochester, but if neither Hick or Rosario are going back down, he could get promoted up there before some of the other top prospects. 

[Steve Lein]

 

Question on Kepler.  Is he's 1B or an OF type?  How is his OF defense?  He's far more valuable if he can hit well and be average or better at an OF spot.

 

As Seth mentioned, he's not an MLB center fielder, though he could probably fill in there fine. Pretty good athlete in a corner though.

 

He didn't much play outfield until he came to the Twins as a pro, he was a first baseman before that. I'd actually call that his "natural position."

[Monkeypaws]

Very glad to see Kepler hitting like that. Not many Europeans out there on the ball field. 

[dbminn]

Kepler has kept his strikeouts very low. A refreshing concept. 

[GMinTraining]

 

It's a pretty good month for your minor league hitters when a guy hits 7 jacks in the month and only scores an honorable mention.
 

 

No Doubt - but like Seth said, there were some solid numbers throughout the system in May.  System looking brighter each day.

 

Adam Brett Walker (27-107) .252/.304/.533 (.837) with seven doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 28 RBI.

 

His slash line is right around his career averages too

[Seth Stohs]

 

Kepler has kept his strikeouts very low. A refreshing concept. 

 

I like that too... though on June 1, I think he struck out three times in the game, but those happen too. I like the idea of a guy not wanting to strike out!

[DocBauer]

I can easily see Kepler as our future 1B and part time corner OF. He'd be a much better than average athlete for a 1B which would be outstanding in regard to being on the bases and such.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I can easily see Kepler as our future 1B and part time corner OF. He'd be a much better than average athlete for a 1B which would be outstanding in regard to being on the bases and such.

 

How would this happen? Will they keep him in the minors for 3 more years somehow? Or move Mauer?

 

btw, I've been saying this also should be his future.....

Edited June 3, 2015 by mike wants wins

[Kwak]

Another thread illustrating the pending logjam for three positions--LF, RF, and DH. I can visualize rotating four guys for three positions--but no more than four--some continuity must be preserved in order to maintain consistency of performance.  Arcia is like the lobster in a heating pot--he doesn't sense the trouble he is in until it's too late.

[DocBauer]

How would this happen? Will they keep him in the minors for 3 more years somehow? Or move Mauer?

 

btw, I've been saying this also should be his future.....

HUGE potential logjam in the OF corners, DH and 1B as Kwak reminds us. Someone pleased emind me again, when is Mauer's contract up? Isn't 2017 his last year?

 

I have always been a Mauer fan and supporter. I'm puzzled, frustrated and happy for his 2015 campaign thus far. He's not hitting like he should be, like I expected him to, but he's been CLUTCH and playing a very nice 1B. But while I think he has life left, can play, and might even surprise us yet again this season, and the next couple, I have to believe when his contract is up.....so is his career. At least as a Twin. (Unless he suddenly moves behind the plate again late in his career-doubtful)

 

Walker, Harrison and Kepler may get cups of coffee, but more than likely, each is a year away. Meaning they are ready, or ready sometimes during Mauer's last season. The timing may not be all that bad.

 

Of courses,if I'm mistaken about '17, then we are in much more of a jam than Im thinking.

[Oldgoat_MN]

Mauer is signed through 2018.

 

 

[Mike Sixel]

 

Mauer is signed through 2018.

 

right.......which is going to be a problem (heck, I'd say it is a problem already this year)

[tobi0040]

 

right.......which is going to be a problem (heck, I'd say it is a problem already this year)

 

If he hits anything like he is right now I agree. .268 avg,   .322 OBP and .361 slugging

[Blackjack]

A surplus at any position is a good problem to have.  Can you say 'trade chips'? 

[Mike Sixel]

 

A surplus at any position is a good problem to have.  Can you say 'trade chips'? 

 

Only if you are willing to trade them......and do so before they lose value.

[Seth Stohs]

These things tend to work themselves out, and when it becomes apparent what needs to be done, it may be a different thing that we think right now. 

 

I would have penciled Arcia into the outfield for a long time. Now, I can't do that. Many such examples.

 

Depth is good.

[GMinTraining]

It's a great thing to have options if your the Twins management

[Otto von Ballpark]

A surplus at any position is a good problem to have. Can you say 'trade chips'?

But if it only a surplus because we are stuck with an underperforming and untradeable vet at 1B, that's not as good of a problem.