Twins sign International Prospect Amaurys Minier

[Parker Hageman]

On International Signing Day, the Twins locked in Dominican shortstop Amaurys Minier for $1.4 million - leaving them with approximately $1.5 million to divvy up among any other international signings.

 

According to Baseball America, the six-foot-two Minier ranked 12th among available prospects and was the fourth-best rated shortstop prospect. The switch-hitting Minier has a decent sized frame including a stout lower-half making many evaluators believe that he will eventually move from his original position to third base.

 

Here's what the scouting report on him from the Dominican Prospect League has to say:

 

Minier is a legitimate switch-hitter who has the same type of bat speed and power from both sides of the plate, a real rarity in any 16-year old switch-hitter, but even more so for a player with plus/plus power potential. His left handed swing is more polished right now and he takes most of his BP swings left handed, but it is easy to see that with more frequent repetitions from the right side there would be little difference in his relative ability. Minier will get pull happy at times and his best swings are when he’s driving the ball to the alleys and not opening up his front side early. In addition, the alleys get much closer when he’s swinging than they do for most hitters.

[Mike Sixel]

Parker, how old is he?

[Cap'n Piranha]

16. The question is did the Twins do the same exhaustive verification they did on Sano, or is that fudged a little bit?

[Parker Hageman]

Parker, how old is he?

16... maybe. Birthday says 1/30/1996.

[Jeff P]

Perfect Game had a series of blog entries back in March from something called the "Domican Prospect League". Minier was mentioned a couple of times:

 

"If I had to choose, the two most impressive BPs were Nathanael Javier and Amaurys Minier.... Amaurys Minier is a switch hitter who is very good from both sides, but really stands out from the left side with a short swing with lots of bat speed. Minier has great bat control and he squares up balls with easy, driving them all over the park. He also has big pull pop and can easily hit the ball 400+ feet. He isn’t quite as quick or easy from the right side but still crushes every pitch he sees."

 

"Amaurys Minier followed up his BP performance by going the other way with a tough outside fastball, showing the plate coverage and the ability to adjust to pitch location. He can flat out rake."

 

http://www.perfectgame.org/blogs/View.aspx?blog=222

[nicksaviking]

Considering the success righties have compared to lefties in Target Field, I hope his right handed swing develops.

 

I wonder if most teams disagree with BA's rankings, or if the Twins have to overpay for some reason? So far this is the second highest international signing this year. The Yankees got the number two guy for less.

[fetch]

Considering the success righties have compared to lefties in Target Field, I hope his right handed swing develops.

 

I wonder if most teams disagree with BA's rankings, or if the Twins have to overpay for some reason? So far this is the second highest international signing this year. The Yankees got the number two guy for less.

I'm sure just a disagreement. MLB.com had him ranked 4th I think.

[Badsmerf]

Considering the success righties have compared to lefties in Target Field, I hope his right handed swing develops.

 

I wonder if most teams disagree with BA's rankings, or if the Twins have to overpay for some reason? So far this is the second highest international signing this year. The Yankees got the number two guy for less.

Meh. The left-handed argument thing is being overplayed. Everyone can see its tougher on lefties, just don't think its as bad as some are making it out to be. Shoot, Span doesn't have much of a problem hitting them out to RF.

[jianfu]

Always fun to hear about young talent coming in.

 

Although it'd be nice if one of these times they'd target a young shortstop or two who actually might stick at the position. Cuddyer, Plouffe, Sano, Levi Michael, Goodrum, Minier... I once heard Kevin Goldstein observe that if a young shortstop has doubters that he can stay at short, he probably won't stay at short. It's a really hard position to find.

 

(Perhaps not coincidentally, this is Gardy's 11th season at the helm. How many times has he written in the same starting shortstop on opening day? Three: Cristian Guzman from 2002-2004. Since 2005, the opening day shortstops have been Jason Bartlett, Juan Castro, Bartlett again, Adam Everett, Nick Punto, JJ Hardy, Alexi Casilla, and Jamey Carroll. If you adhere to the tenant that quality teams are built up the middle, that's not a great pattern.)

 

But enough unprovoked ranting. Glad to see they've added another fairly regarded international prospect. They've been more aggressive as of late in this area, but given they spent more money than anyone else in the draft this year, I wasn't sure if they'd do much internationally.

[Thrylos]

Always fun to hear about young talent coming in.

 

Although it'd be nice if one of these times they'd target a young shortstop or two who actually might stick at the position. Cuddyer, Plouffe, Sano, Levi Michael, Goodrum, Minier... I once heard Kevin Goldstein observe that if a young shortstop has doubters that he can stay at short, he probably won't stay at short. It's a really hard position to find. .

Goodrum will stick, Michael likely as well, but Goodrum is great with the glove at SS. Minier "projects as a 3B" but I can see him at a corner OF position as well

[fetch]

Goodrum will stick, Michael likely as well, but Goodrum is great with the glove at SS. Minier "projects as a 3B" but I can see him at a corner OF position as well

Pretty much everything I've read/heard is that Goodrum is OF bound and Michael is a second baseman.

[jlovren]

 

 

Glad to see they've added another fairly regarded international prospect. They've been more aggressive as of late in this area, but given they spent more money than anyone else in the draft this year, I wasn't sure if they'd do much internationally.

My thoughts exactly. The Twins need to be all over the international players. We used to have a pipeline to Venezuela, what happened?

[DPJ]

My thoughts exactly. The Twins need to be all over the international players. We used to have a pipeline to Venezuela, what happened?

When was the pipeline to Venezuela?

 

The Twins have had Rivas & Mijares & Luis Rodriguez reach the major from Venezuela and that's really it.

[Thrylos]

Pretty much everything I've read/heard is that Goodrum is OF bound and Michael is a second baseman.

Even the 500 pound guerrilla of minor leagues and prospect scouting says that "Goodrum has the system's best throwing arm, he runs well and his hands are soft enough to stay on the infield". The fact that he is a tall kid scare some and might think that the OF is his future.

 

Michael hasn't played enough pro ball yet. Half a season. Grimes is not a SS on the other hand

[fetch]

Even the 500 pound guerrilla of minor leagues and prospect scouting says that "Goodrum has the system's best throwing arm, he runs well and his hands are soft enough to stay on the infield". The fact that he is a tall kid scare some and might think that the OF is his future.

 

Michael hasn't played enough pro ball yet. Half a season. Grimes is not a SS on the other hand

That's the only source I've seen say Goodrum is a SS in the future. (also not to be that guy but it's gorilla unless there is some inside joke I am unaware of).

 

As for Michael I agree they should give him time but if he's already splitting time at high A you know he's not going to be a SS much longer. Plus just watching him you can tell.

[kab21]

Even the 500 pound guerrilla of minor leagues and prospect scouting says that "Goodrum has the system's best throwing arm, he runs well and his hands are soft enough to stay on the infield". The fact that he is a tall kid scare some and might think that the OF is his future.

 

Michael hasn't played enough pro ball yet. Half a season. Grimes is not a SS on the other hand

Perhaps 'will' was too strong of a word. When there are questions before they even get to full season ball I think you have to consider it 'could stick'.

 

As much as everyone complains about the Twins in drafting/signing/development, they have acquired a lot of guys that could stick at 2B/SS/3B in the last couple of years. Out of Sano/Harrison/Goodrum/Polanco/Rosario/Michael somebody (hopefully 2) should make it to the majors as average players. Now let's see them do this with pitching.

[gunnarthor]

When was the pipeline to Venezuela?

 

The Twins have had Rivas & Mijares & Luis Rodriguez reach the major from Venezuela and that's really it.

No, he was right. The Twins had a pretty good system established in Venezuela - Wilson Ramos was one of our big signings from there but so was Oswaldo Arcia. The politics in Venezuela made a lot of baseball teams move out, including the Twins.

[gunnarthor]

That's the only source I've seen say Goodrum is a SS in the future. (also not to be that guy but it's gorilla unless there is some inside joke I am unaware of).

 

Fangraphs:

“His soft hands, quick feet, [and] strong accurate arm give him every chance to stay at shortstop… He has the natural athletic ability to play any position on the field. Niko is still learning the art of shortstop and the mental grind of playing every day by not talking a bad at bat to the field or an error to the plate.” That same scout also summed up Goodrum at the plate: “He has a fluid, balanced, easy swing… not much wasted movement… The power will come as he physically grows into his frame… He needs 2,000 at-bats for memory work of reading spin and how pitchers work in certain situations. The learning curve is the stage he is in now.”

 

 

[DPJ]

No, he was right. The Twins had a pretty good system established in Venezuela - Wilson Ramos was one of our big signings from there but so was Oswaldo Arcia. The politics in Venezuela made a lot of baseball teams move out, including the Twins.

 

I forgot about Ramos, still I don't know if I'd call 4 MLB players a pipeline. Houston had a pipeline when it was signing Santana, Carlos Guillen, Aberu, Richard Hidalgo and others. A ****ty 2B, an relief pitcher, a crappy utility player and a promising but young catcher isn't a pipeline.

[Seth Stohs]

According to MLB Trade Rumors, the Twins have signed 16-year-old Australian LHP Lewis Thorpe for around $500K.

 

Between Thorpe and Minier, that's $1.9M... $1M more to go!

[fetch]

Fangraphs:

“His soft hands, quick feet, [and] strong accurate arm give him every chance to stay at shortstop… He has the natural athletic ability to play any position on the field. Niko is still learning the art of shortstop and the mental grind of playing every day by not talking a bad at bat to the field or an error to the plate.” That same scout also summed up Goodrum at the plate: “He has a fluid, balanced, easy swing… not much wasted movement… The power will come as he physically grows into his frame… He needs 2,000 at-bats for memory work of reading spin and how pitchers work in certain situations. The learning curve is the stage he is in now.”

 

 

God I hope so.

[Thrylos]

(also not to be that guy but it's gorilla unless there is some inside joke I am unaware of).

About this:

Not a joke, just a play in words... I was referring to a militant (guerrilla) and not to an ape (gorilla)

[fetch]

About this:

Not a joke, just a play in words... I was referring to a militant (guerrilla) and not to an ape (gorilla)

haha gotcha. (i know what a guerrilla is, just didn't get the pun)

[jlovren]

No, he was right. The Twins had a pretty good system established in Venezuela - Wilson Ramos was one of our big signings from there but so was Oswaldo Arcia. The politics in Venezuela made a lot of baseball teams move out, including the Twins.

 

Why have we not started more academies in other places that do not have such political turmoil? If a number of players are being signed out of the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Panama than why do we not have a large presence there?

[jlovren]

When was the pipeline to Venezuela?

 

The Twins have had Rivas & Mijares & Luis Rodriguez reach the major from Venezuela and that's really it.

[TABLE=class: wikitable sortable jquery-tablesorter]

 

[/TD]

[TD]130

Juan Rincón

P

Minnesota Twins, AL

June 7, 2001

Active

123

Luis Rivas

IF

Minnesota Twins, AL

September 16, 2000

September 20, 2008

117

Johan Santana All-Star

P

Minnesota Twins, AL

April 3, 2000

Active

71

Juan Carlos Pulido

P

Minnesota Twins, AL

April 9, 1994

April 24, 2004

9

César Tovar

IF

Minnesota Twins, AL

April 12, 1965

September 29, 1976

48

Germán González

P

Minnesota Twins, AL

August 5, 1988

September 25, 1989

35

Álvaro Espinoza

IF

Minnesota Twins, AL

September 14, 1984

July 12, 1997

40

Lester Straker

P

Minnesota Twins, AL

April 11, 1987

October 1, 1988

58

Richard (El Guapo) Garcés

P

Minnesota Twins, AL

September 18, 1990

July 20, 2002

174

Luis Rodríguez

SS

Minnesota Twins, AL

May 21, 2005

Active

180

Alejandro Machado

IF

Minnesota Twins, AL

September 3, 2005

October 2, 2005

139

Carlos Silva

P

Minnesota Twins, AL

April 1, 2002

September 7, 2010

157

Alex Prieto

2B

Minnesota Twins, AL

July 26, 2003

June 24, 2004

230

José Mijares

P

Minnesota Twins, AL

September 13, 2008

Active

249

Wilson Ramos

C

Minnesota Twins, AL

May 2, 2010

Active

 

[/TABLE]

[James]

Why have we not started more academies in other places that do not have such political turmoil? If a number of players are being signed out of the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Panama than why do we not have a large presence there?

I don't know about Panama, but the Twins do have an academy in the DR. They have been increasing their presence there for a few years now. Puerto Rico is more difficult as those players enter the draft, and are more difficult to hold on to after you develop them, but I'm sure the Twins are there as well.

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

Great name and I'm sure he'll become my favorite prospect in no time.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Not to pick nits, but Santana was a rule V selection from I believe Houston... He may have come through Venezuela, but not via the Twins.

[gunnarthor]

Why have we not started more academies in other places that do not have such political turmoil? If a number of players are being signed out of the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Panama than why do we not have a large presence there?

Puerto Rico is part of the draft and the Twins have been one of the more active teams in scouting PR - Angel Morales, Eddie Rosario, Daniel Ortiz, JO Berrios, Jorge Fernandez were all recent draft picks from PR.

[Steve Lein]

Pretty much everything I've read/heard is that Goodrum is OF bound and Michael is a second baseman.

 

Huh, that's different from what I've read about Goodrum... If he isn't going to be a SS it's certainly not because he's going to "outgrow" the position. He's very lanky (I don't see muscle/body-mass-projection that would move him off the position), and is definitely still learning the position, but he's got the arm, hands, and athleticism for it. In fact, he's my best hope for a future SS that I see in the organization. This ball left the yard in a big way at ST last year: