Article: Twins 2015 Minor League Starting Pitcher Of The Year- Jose Berrios

[Steve Lein]

The minor league seasons came to an end last week, and even though Cedar Rapids and Chattanooga are still playing in the playoffs, it is time to start handing out some awards. All week, we will be handing out some (proverbial) awards. Yesterday, it was Max Kepler taking home the Hitter of the Year prize.

The Twins Minor League Report authors each voted for the five awards being handed out. Today, we’ll take a look at the top starting pitchers in the Twins minor league system in 2015. We each voted for our top six performers.Short profiles of our top six are to follow, but first, some players worthy of Honorable Mention.

 

Honorable Mention:

• Chih-Wei Hu, Fort Myers Miracle/Rochester Red Wings: 16 GS, 6-3, 2.38 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 90.2 IP, 81 H’s, 23 BB’s, 79 K’s.
• Sam Gibbons, Cedar Rapids Kernels: 15 GS, 7-4, 2.89 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 90.1 IP, 84 H’s, 23 BB’s, 68 K’s.
• Aaron Slegers, Fort Myers Miracle, Chattanooga Lookouts: 25 GS, 9-10, 3.35 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 156.0 IP, 143 H’s, 33 BB’s, 104 K’s.
• Ryan Eades, Fort Myers Miracle: 20 GS, 6-3, 3.11 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 118.2 IP, 109 H’s, 38 BB’s, 80 K’s.

Pitcher of the Year

 

Here are the top six vote-getters for Twins Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year.

 

#6 – Pat Dean, Rochester Red Wings: 27 GS, 12-11, 2.82 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 179.0 IP, 170 H’s, 36 BB’s, 98 K’s.

 

 

 

The left-hander drafted out of Boston College in the third round of the 2010 draft, was as steady as you could possibly be for the Rochester Red Wings in 2015. He did not miss a single turn in Rochester’s rotation and led all of the minor leagues in innings pitched on the year. His accomplishments also included leading all Twins farmhands with five complete games, including three of the shutout variety. He also did not wear down with the high workload that comes from leading the minors in innings pitched, as four of those complete games came in his last eight starts of the season. He failed to complete at least five innings in just two starts the entire season, and one of those included a game which was delayed by rain that he could not continue once play resumed. Of his twenty-seven starts, thirteen were of the quality start variety, and he went seven or more innings eleven times. It is quite an accomplishment to rack up twenty-three decisions in twenty-seven starts, and speaks to the consistency Dean displayed throughout the year. Dean appeared in April and August’s Starting Pitcher of the Month reports, and was honorable mention two other times.

#5 – Felix Jorge, Cedar Rapids Kernels: 23 G/22 GS, 6-7, 2.79 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 142.0 IP, 118 H’s, 32 BB’s, 114 K’s.

 

 

 

Jorge spent the entire season with the Cedar Rapids Kernels and racked up quite the workload for a twenty-one-year-old starter in his first full year of exposure to a full-season league. In 2014, he spent some of his time with the Kernels, but needed to make some adjustments and was sent to the Appalachian League when their season started. It helped, as 2015 was a mammoth step forward for the right-hander. He ranked top ten in the Midwest League in ERA (7^th), innings pitched (10^th), and WHIP (3^rd), and just outside the top ten in strikeouts (12^th). He improved in all aspects of his game in the MWL as compared to 2014, and did not fail to finish at least five innings in any of his twenty-two starts on the year. In fact, he failed to go six innings in just two starts, and notched twenty quality starts in those twenty-two games. In his first game of the year, he struck out a season-high ten batters, and followed that up with a nine K effort his next time out. Jorge is poised to start 2016 in Fort Myers, and with a similar performance, will look to reach Chattanooga as a 22 year old. Jorge appeared in the Starting Pitcher of the Month rankings twice (May, June), and received honorable mention two other times.

#4 – Mat Batts, Cedar Rapids Kernels/Fort Myers Miracle: 24 GS, 11-6, 2.61 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 141.1 IP, 127 H’s, 28 BB’s, 129 K’s.

 

 

 

Batts started his season in the Midwest League alongside Jorge, and laid waste to its hitters. The lefty posted a 2.21 ERA in seven starts, with forty-four K’s in 40.2 innings before being bumped up to the Florida State League. He continued his success there, posting a 2.77 ERA in seventeen starts and 100.2 more innings. He struck out eighty-five FSL hitters. His eleven wins on the season ranked fourth in the organization, behind only pitchers that make up this list, and also ranked third in strikeouts and fifth in ERA. Batts received honorable mention in three of the monthly awards rankings, and took home the Pitcher of the Month award in July, when he was 3-0 in five starts with a 1.15 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, .179 batting average against, and 30 K’s compared to just 7 BB’s in 31.1 total innings.

#3 – Tyler Duffey, Chattanooga Lookouts/Rochester Red Wings: 22 GS, 7-8, 2.54 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 138.0 IP, 119 H’s, 30 BB’s, 122 K’s.

 

 

 

Duffey has made quite an impression with Twins fans after his promotion to the major leagues and continues to do so in their push for the playoffs, but before that he was making quite an impression in Double- and Triple-A too. With the glut of pitching the Twins had to stash in AAA to start the season, Duffey found himself in Chattanooga to start the year despite making some appearances for the Red Wings in 2014. He didn’t stay there long. In eight starts, Duffey racked up 52.2 innings (6.5 innings/start) and struck out fifty-four hitters with a 2.56 ERA. In what would be his final start there, he struck out a season high twelve hitters to earn a promotion back to AAA. He made fourteen more starts with the Red Wings before he found himself in the majors pitching meaningful games with the Twins, which totaled 85.1 innings with a 5-6 record and 2.53 ERA. He struck out sixty-eight and walked just eighteen. With the Twins he has held his own after a rough introduction, and has struck out eight twice in six starts. Duffey reached as high as number two on the monthly award lists (June), and number five another time (July) with one honorable mention (May).

#2 – Stephen Gonsalves, Cedar Rapids Kernels/Fort Myers Miracle: 24 GS, 13-3, 2.01 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 134.1 IP, 95 H’s, 53 BB’s, 132 K’s.

 

 

 

Even moreso than Jorge or Batts, Gonsalves was otherworldy to start the year in Cedar Rapids. He made just nine starts there before it was determined he needed to be in the Florida State League. He needed to be there because he was 6-1 in this nine games, with a 1.15 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, just twenty-nine hits and fifteen walks in 55.0 innings, while racking up an astronomical seventy-seven strikeouts. He struck out double-digit hitters in four of those games, including his last two, and did not record fewer strikeouts than innings pitched in any of his starts while Midwest League batters hit just .154 against him. They couldn’t get him to the Florida State League fast enough. While the strikeout numbers didn’t persist for the projectable lefty in the FSL, his overall success did. In fifteen starts with the Miracle, Gonsalves went 7-2 with a 2.61 ERA in 79.1 more innings. On the year as a whole, Gonsalves did not allow more than three earned runs in any of his twenty-four starts, and surrendered just four home runs the entire season despite being a fly-ball heavy pitcher (0.72 GO/AO ratio). Gonsalves took home the monthly award for April, and was number two for the month of May (though he might as well have won it then too, since it went to Tommy Milone, haha), and appeared at number six again in the month of July.

Starting Pitcher of the Year – Jose Berrios, Chattanooga Lookouts/Rochester Red Wings: 27 GS, 14-5, 2.87 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 166.1 IP, 136 H’s, 38 BB’s, 175 K’s.

(picture of Berrios by Craig Gordon)

 

 

As if you didn’t already know?!

Jose Berrios came into the 2015 season with lofty expectations for himself. In spring training, he talked about how one of his goals was to break camp with the major league team. It didn’t matter to him that he was just twenty-years old and had made just one appearance above AA in 2014.

He certainly didn’t perform himself out of the chance, as he appeared in two games with the major league squad that totaled six innings of 0.00 ERA pitching. But the Twins had a plan for him, and it included getting stretched out for a full minor league season to fully developing their prized young pitcher, who had made quite an impression.

It’s hard to argue with the end results, even if you’re in the camp who believes he could be contributing in the majors for the Twins right now (I do! I do!).

Berrios returned to the ranks of AA, where he had spent a good portion of his 2014 season with the New Britain Rock Cats of the Eastern League, but with the Twins new affiliate in the Southern League, and the stacked roster of the Chattanooga Lookouts.

But he wasn’t about to be overlooked.

His first start of the season came on April 10^th, and he allowed one earned run in 6.1 innings to pick up his first win. He struck out eleven on just eighty-nine pitches.

As the month turned to May, Berrios really started to find his footing in AA. He made six starts on the month, and went 4-1 with a 2.61 ERA. He totaled 41.1 innings, including a two-run, eight inning effort on May 8^th that he followed up with a two-hit complete game shutout on May 13^th.

He made his final start in double-A on June 28^th, going seven innings to improve his record to 8-3, allowing just one run on two hits while striking out six.

In Rochester, Berrios experienced some early struggles, allowing five runs in each of his first two outings, but he learned quickly.

His next start was a seven-inning gem where he allowed just two runs on seven hits and a walk, while striking out nine. It was a springboard for the domination he would sustain over the season’s final two months.

From that start on July 18^th on, Berrios made ten more starts with the Red Wings. He completed seven innings in six of those games, six in three others, and only failed to complete that number in his last start as he was shut down for the year with a well-above his career high 166.1 innings pitched.

In a two start stretch in August with General Manager Terry Ryan in attendance, Berrios allowed just one run on only eight hits and one walk, while striking out twenty-two in consecutive seven inning appearances. Ryan had to have his mind made up at that point, as you don’t see that type of dominance and come away unimpressed if auditioning for a major league call-up. It doesn’t get any better than that.

As a fitting end to his phenomenal year, Berrios finished the 2015 season by leading all of the minor leagues in strikeouts with 175. Though it might come a year later than he originally had hoped, Berrios is poised to make a strong contribution in the majors in 2015, and who knows, it could be as soon as April (or March?!) 2016 against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Obviously, there were some fantastic starting pitcher performances from Twins minor leaguers throughout the system in 2015. Congrats to all the players on a fantastic season that was loads of fun to follow like every year, and get ready for 2016!

 

The Ballots

 

In an attempt to be transparent, here are the votes from our Twins Daily minor league writers:

• Seth Stohs – 1) Jose Berrios, 2) Stephen Gonsalves, 3) Mat Batts, 4) Tyler Duffey, 5) Felix Jorge, 6) Pat Dean
• Jeremy Nygaard – 1) Jose Berrios, 2) Stephen Gonsalves, 3) Tyler Duffey, 4) Felix Jorge, 5) Mat Batts, 6) Pat Dean
• Cody Christie – 1) Jose Berrios, 2) Stephen Gonsalves, 3) Felix Jorge, 4) Mat Batts, 5) Aaron Slegers, 6) Tyler Duffey
• Steve Lein – 1) Jose Berrios, 2) Stephen Gonsalves, 3) Tyler Duffey, 4) Mat Batts, 5) Pat Dean, 6) Felix Jorge
• Eric Pleiss – 1) Jose Berrios, 2) Tyler Duffey, 3) Stephen Gonsalves, 4) Mat Batts, 5) Felix Jorge, 6) Ryan Eades

Feel free to discuss. How would your ballot look?

 

Click here to view the article

[ThejacKmp]

Ver intrigued by what the Twins will do long term with a guy like Pat Dean (and to a lesser extent Logan Darnell or Taylor Rogers).  With a ML squad that has trouble getting May and Berrios slots in the rotation and a lot of talent pushing its way up the organization, it's tough to see a starting opportunity for Dean. I know its always good to have too much starting pitching but Dean seem too buried in the depth charts to even be useful as depth.

 

Would he have value on the trade market? Hard to see as he doesn't profile as a top of the rotation starter and doesn't have an elite minor league record. Will the Twins try to turn him into a reliever? He doesn't have the K rate to profile as anything more than a middle reliever.  At 26, there isn't much room left for growth and it seems time to make a decision on Dean.

[HitInAPinch]

I like the way Terry Ryan is handling things.  Some people are ready when they're ready [ Sano ].  Some, you want to be a little more careful with.  Buxton is one [he only got called up because there was a need], Berrios is another.  He's really proven himself by his ability to make adjustments at each new level.  And I like what Duffey and Gonsalves has done so far.  A future 3/5ths of a rotation.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I was wondering if they could flip a guy like Dean for international dollars or a comp pick in the draft.  He's pretty much ML ready and the team would have full control over him.  Only real problem is that he's a back end type with little upside. 

 

That's what I would do with him at least.  There's no room for him in the rotation with what's already there and what's coming up.

[Shane Wahl]

I almost want to put Taylor Rogers on the ballot just because he could have been top 6 if things didn't fall apart for him in August. He was cruising along at a solid pace in AAA.

 

I still think big things could come from Jorge.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I almost want to put Taylor Rogers on the ballot just because he could have been top 6 if things didn't fall apart for him in August. He was cruising along at a solid pace in AAA.

 

I still think big things could come from Jorge.

 

I had Rogers on my ballot candidates, but I couldn't put him in the top 6. He ate a ton of innings too.

[SF Twins Fan]

I'm definitely excited for some of the young pitchers in the Twins system. Felix Jorge, Mat Batts and Stephen Gonsalves all could start next season in the A+ league and move up quickly to AA or AAA by seasons end. 

 

Berrios is knocking on the door to be a starter for the Twins.  He probably won't start next season with the Twins for financial reasons but will / should be up by May.  (Similar to Kris Bryant this season)

 

A starting rotation next season of Santana, Hughes, Gibson, Berrios and May looks to be solid. With Milone and Duffey as options as well. It makes you wonder if Terry Ryan will try and trade Hughes and or Nolasco this offseason. (Crossing my fingers)

[Seth Stohs]

I know that Berrios was the unanimous pick, but I really had to give a lot of thought to Gonsalves too. What a terrific season he had... there were several terrific performances. Very exciting.

[jokin]

 

I like the way Terry Ryan is handling things.  Some people are ready when they're ready [ Sano ].  Some, you want to be a little more careful with.  Buxton is one [he only got called up because there was a need], Berrios is another.  He's really proven himself by his ability to make adjustments at each new level.  And I like what Duffey and Gonsalves has done so far.  A future 3/5ths of a rotation.

 

Roy Smalley noted upon Buxton's second call-up that "there's nothing else for Buxton to learn in the minors", and I tend to agree. He OPS'd at .986 in his brief stint in AAA. It's painful at times to watch him struggle, but getting close to 200 MLB PAs and working directly with the major league hitting coaches as well as his helpful peers is the best way to prepare him for 2016 and beyond. No reason to be careful with Buck, this kid's psyche is solid.

Edited September 15, 2015 by jokin

[DocBauer]

I know that Berrios was the unanimous pick, but I really had to give a lot of thought to Gonsalves too. What a terrific season he had... there were several terrific performances. Very exciting.

 

If it weren't for Berrios, or he was already in the majors, just think how much more we'd all be chomping at the bit in regard to Gonsalves and his season.

 

Perhaps next year?

[DocBauer]

Been a huge fan and believer in Berrios since day one. From the very start there's just been something tough and determined about him. My fear isn't whether or not he breaks camp with the Twins or not. No. Day one or a month in, he'll be up...he'll contribute...and he'll be important.

 

My fear is that with what the Twins have on roster now, plus the addition of Berrios, they might be tempted to keep May in the bullpen rather than look for an addition from elsewhere. And that would be a cry in' shame. Next to Berrios...and possibly right beside him...he's arguably the team's top young SP...at least from the RH side...major or milb level.

[HitInAPinch]

 

Roy Smalley noted upon Buxton's second call-up that "there's nothing else for Buxton to learn in the minors", and I tend to agree. He OPS'd at .986 in his brief stint in AAA. It's painful at times to watch him struggle, but getting close to 200 MLB PAs and working directly with the major league hitting coaches as well as his helpful peers is the best way to prepare him for 2016 and beyond. No reason to be careful with Buck, this kid's psyche is solid.

OMG, that's Roy Smalley on the Twins broadcast?  He needs to stop talking once in a while

He sounds more like a management shill each time I hear him.

 

Yea, I think the MLB experience is good for him, like it was for Hicks.  Buxton's hitting has been bad.  He had a 2 hit game yesterday, so maybe something is changing.  However, in 121 PA's he has only 5 walks.  For the season, Buxton has a .242 OBP and a .514 OPS, the latter Bill James rates a "G Atrocious". 

 

The thing I would want to see is better plate discipline.  I believe Molitor wants the same thing, as he is sitting Buxton and pinch hitting for him a lot.  There's not much left of the season, so he really bears watching over the final few weeks.

[Rick Niedermann]

What an amazing list. It shows how far the Twins Minor League system has come. And this list doesn't even include names like: Kohl Stewart, Alex Meyer, Brett Lee, Alex Wimmers, DJ Baxendale, or David Hurlbut.   All who are better then guys who were in the top 20 mix just 5 years ago like Deolis Guerra, David Brombert, Jeff Manship. Never have the Twins enjoyed such minor league riches.

[jokin]

 

OMG, that's Roy Smalley on the Twins broadcast?  He needs to stop talking once in a while

He sounds more like a management shill each time I hear him.

 

Yea, I think the MLB experience is good for him, like it was for Hicks.  Buxton's hitting has been bad.  He had a 2 hit game yesterday, so maybe something is changing.  However, in 121 PA's he has only 5 walks.  For the season, Buxton has a .242 OBP and a .514 OPS, the latter Bill James rates a "G Atrocious". 

 

The thing I would want to see is better plate discipline.  I believe Molitor wants the same thing, as he is sitting Buxton and pinch hitting for him a lot.  There's not much left of the season, so he really bears watching over the final few weeks.

 

Roy Smalley isn't necessarily my cup of tea as a broadcaster, but this is a guy with more MLB pedigree and his own professional experience- and the resultant qualifications to discuss the science of hitting- than anyone else I can think of on the local scene.

 

Buxton has started slowly at virtually every new level along his developmental path- and then proceeded to master that level in short order. 121 PAs is way too soon to draw meaningful conclusions other than that he's in an extended adjustment period to the level of the pitching.  Right now he's strictly guessing early in the count, and can't recognize breaking balls out of the zone late in the count-  as Rob Antony has oft-stated- there's nothing else really close to the level of major league pitching.  The only way he can take better control of his MLB ABs, is by experiencing more MLB ABs.  I'm pretty sure the combination of

 

1) facing nothing but MLB pitchers, plus

2) the daily input from hitting coaches, video/cage work and peers, plus

3) his own talent and self-driven work ethic

 

will help him turn the corner at the plate in short order.  

 

He'll end up the year with close to 200 PAs this year, let's revisit where he's at once he crosses 300 more PAs next season.  I think his professional history strongly suggests we'll be very pleased with his BB%, OBP and OPS.

 

 

Edited September 16, 2015 by jokin