Article: Twins Minor League Starting Pitcher Of The Month - June 2015

[Seth Stohs]

We already handed out the “award” for Reliever of the Month to Lookouts RHP Brandon Peterson. Now we turn our attention to the starting pitchers and recognize some terrific performances. This month, the choice was difficult. What’s also exciting is that the Twins are getting strong starting pitching performances each month at the upper levels of the minor leagues, adding to their depth.

 

With that, let's start our list of the Top 5 Starting Pitchers for June. We had a chance to catch up with this month’s choice as well.We begin with a few players deserving of mention.

• Chattanooga RHP JO Berrios – 5 GS, 2-1, 3.62 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 27.1 IP, 20 H, 7 BB, 12 K
• Chattanooga RHP Alex Wimmers – 5 GS, 3-1, 2.97 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 30.1 IP, 26 H, 12 BB, 27 K
• Ft. Myers RHP Ryan Eades – 4 GS, 1-0, 2.70 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 26.2 IP, 28 H, 5 BB, 21 K
• Ft. Myers LHP Mat Batts – 5 GS, 2-2, 2.63 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 27.1 IP, 29 H, 3 BB, 25 K

TOP 5 STARTING PITCHERS IN JUNE

 

Number 5 – Ft. Myers – RHP Aaron Slegers - 4 GS, 1-1, 2.13 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 25.1 IP, 21 H, 7 BB, 20 K

 

 

The 6-10 Slegers was the Twins fifth round pick in 2013 out of the University of Indiana where he had been named the Big 10 Pitcher of the Year that season. He went 7-7 with a 4.54 ERA in 20 starts for Cedar Rapids a year ago before ending his season with three starts with the Miracle. In 14 starts with the Miracle this year, he is 5-4 with a 3.21 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP in 84 innings. He has terrific control. His 1.8 BB/9 this year is actually higher than his overall pro average of 1.6 BB/9. Slegers was primed to be high on the May starting pitcher ranking until he had a big clunker, but he has responded from his one bad start with a strong May. He doesn’t throw hard, sitting between 90 and 92, but he has a good slider.

Number 4 – Cedar Rapids – RHP Felix Jorge - 4 GS, 0-1, 2.28 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 27.2 IP, 17 H, 7 BB, 18 K

 

Jorge was signed from the Dominican Republic in 2010 for $250,000. He has pitched well at each level. He began the 2014 season in Cedar Rapids but really struggled. He went down to Elizabethton and was named the Appy League Pitcher of the Year. In his second shot in the Midwest League this spring, he has been terrific. He has made 13 starts and is 3-3 with a 2.20 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP. In his second start of this season, he struck out nine in five innings. He has not pitched less than six starts in any other start this year. He has been very consistent. Still just 21-years-old, Jorge has certainly reclaimed a place among Twins top starting pitching prospects.

Number 3 – Chattanooga/Rochester – RHP Greg Peavey - 5 GS, 2-2, 2.56 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 31.2 IP, 24 H, 3 BB, 17 K

 

Greg Peavey was the Twins minor league Rule 5 selection in December from the Mets organization. He began the season in AA with the Lookouts and it wasn’t pretty. In his first five starts, he went just 22.1 innings and posted a 10.48 ERA and a 2.24 WHIP. Doug Mientkiewicz stuck by him. He made eight more starts for the Lookouts and in that time, he went 5-1 with a 2.12 ERA. In 51 innings, he gave up just 37 hits, walked eight. Following that run, he was promoted to Rochester where he made two more starts with the Red Wings and gave up a combined six runs in 11.1 innings. The Scott Boras client was the sixth round pick of the Mets in 2010. He did a Q&A with Twins Daily shortly after the Rule 5 draft.

Number 2 – Rochester – RHP Tyler Duffey - 5 GS, 3-2, 2.45 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 33.0 IP, 31 H, 5 BB, 29 K

 

Duffey was the Twins fifth-round draft pick in 2012 out of Rice University. He was the co-closer there with JT Chargois. Since signing with the Twins,

he has worked primarily as a starter. In 2014, he made 25 starts between three levels. He was invited to big league spring training, but he was sent back to AA – this time to Chattanooga – to start the season. He responded well. He made eight starts with the Lookouts and went 2-2 with a 2.56 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. In mid-May, he returned to Rochester. On June 11, he made his second straight start against Scranton/Wilkes Barre and gave up seven runs. He pitched against them six days later and struck out nine over eight shutout innings. In two starts since then, he has not given up an earned run. In his seven starts with Rochester, he is 3-4 with a 2.82 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. Duffey should debut with the Twins in 2015. If not, he’s almost a given to be added to the 40-man roster following the season. (Read the Get To Know Tyler Duffey story from Spring Training.)

And the Twins Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Month is:

 

Rochester Red Wings – LHP Taylor Rogers – 6 G, 5 GS, 3-1, 2.40 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 41.1 IP, 36 H, 7 BB, 24 K

 

Taylor Rogers was the Twins 11^th round pick in 2012 out of the University of Kentucky. He split time that season between Elizabethton and Beloit and posted a 2.27 ERA in 63.1 innings after a solid college season. He began the 2013 season in Cedar Rapids but made just three starts before being promoted to Ft. Myers. There, he went 11-6 with a 2.55 ERA and was named the 2013 Twins Daily Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year.

In 2014, he moved up to AA New Britain. After a slow start in the first month, Rogers ended the season 11-6 with a 3.29 ERA. He finished third in the 2014 Twins Daily Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year.

He went to the Arizona Fall League where he was hit by a line drive in his first outing. It cost him most of the season, though he did return late in the Salt River Rafters’ championship run. (His twin brother Tyler represented the Giants organization in the AFL as well.)

The success earned him a spring training invite this year, an experience he enjoyed. “The spring training invite was great. I was honored to be there and just wanted to watch and see how everyone prepared for their season.”

He began this season in the rotation for the Rochester Red Wings. In all, he is 7-4 with a 2.96 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He has already thrown 103.1 innings. He has walked just 27 and struck out 71. He has made 15 starts, and he is credited with one relief appearance. Actually, he “started” a rain-suspended game from earlier in the season and worked the remaining seven innings.

The transition to AAA has gone well for Rogers and yet it hasn’t been easy. “I think the biggest difference is the quality of the lineups. Everybody can hit and pitch. It's so much fun to compete out there every day.”

Rogers has a strong three-pitch mix of fastball, curveball and change up, though he’s continuing to work on the latter. “I’ve been working on using the change up more often and effectively. It's a work in progress so far.”

His out pitch? “Usually my curve is more of the out pitch, but situation dependent, it could be anything well executed.”

The Twins already have a difficult decision to make. Whose spot in the rotation will Ervin Santana take? Having strong starting pitching depth is unusual in the Twins recent history. Consider there are six or seven options for five starting rotation spots right now, and that doesn’t factor in Taylor Rogers, Tyler Duffey, Greg Peavey and Jose Berrios who are all now in the Rochester rotation.

The bullpen is certainly an option for Rogers as Twins left-handed relievers in the big leagues have been struggling mightily of late. Rogers has dominated left-handed batters in AAA to the tune of a .174/.193/.183 (.376) slash line, including two walks with 35 prospects. He would not be against a call up to the Twins bullpen.

“I think having depth in the organization is a strength of ours. And, anyone will tell you a lot of people are deserving of a call. It will happen when it’s supposed to happen.”

Rogers can only control himself and he reminds himself, “I just have to stay in the moment.”

One thing is for certain, Taylor Rogers had terrific 2013 and 2014 seasons, and he’s impressing with his strong first half in AAA. In fact, today he was named to the International League All Star roster.

Rogers could be a call up during the 2014 season. If not, he’s a guarantee to be added to the team’s 40 man roster following the season.

 

Please feel free to post your comments on Taylor Rogers, Tyler Duffey and the rest of the Twins minor league starting pitchers that pitched well in June. How do you feel about the rankings? We’ll be back tomorrow with the Minor League Hitter of the Month of June.

 

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[d-mac]

#FreeTaylor

[Mike Sixel]

So great to see Wimmers' name back up there!

 

 

[jimbo92107]

D-dang! When I read the four honorable mentions, I see Berrios and Wimmers, two of my favorites. They didn't even make the top five? And no Dr. Hu??

 

Even without all the flame-throwing relievers, the Twins minor league system seems brimming with solid talent these days. Problem is, I don't see any obvious aces in the mix, not yet anyway. But a team with lots of mid-rotation starters in the pipeline could sure do a lot worse.

[drock2190]

Rogers for LOOGY

[Monkeypaws]

 

So great to see Wimmers' name back up there!

Nice to see Eades and Slegers too - our high pick college starters who had rough starts are picking it up now.

 

Again, when has the Twins organization ever had this much pitching throughout the system?

[Dman]

I've always underestimated Rogers even though he has always pitched well through the levels. Hopefully we have a future solid lefty on our MLB team soon.

 

Every where you look we seem to have nice starting pitching prospects. Just need some to actually make it to MLB now.

[Thegrin]

If the Rochester starters are indeed knocking on the door, then the Red Wings should have a great record in July and August.  

[Ncgo4]

Our starters are pitching very much above pre-season expectations. If or when they return to their norm it will be very interesting to see how Twins management handles this. We have seen a surprising movement to youth on the offensive side with Rosario, Buxton and Sano. But those decisions were fairly easy with a club that has no one who can hit .270. Will be interesting how quickly they adjust if the starters go bad. They certainly haven't responded with a bunch of overpaid non-performing relievers.

[HitInAPinch]

I really hope Aaron Slegers pans out.  However, I see "6-10", "He has terrific control" and "He doesn’t throw hard, sitting between 90 and 92, but he has a good slider." and I say RUN FOR THE HILLS.  We've seldom seen these types of pitchers pan out to more than a middle reliever.

[stringer bell]

Of the 10 pitchers listed, five of them are in the upper minors. There is help in the pipeline. Interestingly, there is no urgent need to provide help right now. Trade fodder? Convert to relievers?

Edited July 3, 2015 by stringer bell

[jokin]

 

I really hope Aaron Slegers pans out.  However, I see "6-10", "He has terrific control" and "He doesn’t throw hard, sitting between 90 and 92, but he has a good slider." and I say RUN FOR THE HILLS.  We've seldom seen these types of pitchers pan out to more than a middle reliever.

 

Your descriptors are a pretty close comp to Chris Young, who had  a really good first five years to his career.  I'd take that from a 6'10" 5th rounder.

Edited July 3, 2015 by jokin

[Seth Stohs]

 

I really hope Aaron Slegers pans out.  However, I see "6-10", "He has terrific control" and "He doesn’t throw hard, sitting between 90 and 92, but he has a good slider." and I say RUN FOR THE HILLS.  We've seldom seen these types of pitchers pan out to more than a middle reliever.

 

90-92 with a good slider and good control? I can't imagine a team, GM, or player evaluator that wouldn't want that guy in their organization, especially when he's just 22.

[jimbo92107]

 

I really hope Aaron Slegers pans out.  However, I see "6-10", "He has terrific control" and "He doesn’t throw hard, sitting between 90 and 92, but he has a good slider." and I say RUN FOR THE HILLS.  We've seldom seen these types of pitchers pan out to more than a middle reliever.

A taller version of Chris Young? With an mlb-average heater? Remember, the only thing that really matters is, can he get guys out? There's a lot of ways to do that, and no two pitchers do it quite the same way.

[drivlikejehu]

Slegers is an interesting prospect. His strikeout rate has picked up a bit recently after a very slow start in that area. In his career to date, he has walked few batters and induced a lot of infield flies. There is definite MLB rotation potential if he progresses in terms of refining his command and off-speed pitches.