Here is a quick look at the Twins Florida Instructional League roster:

 

PITCHERS

 

Luke Bard, Michael Cederoth, Sam Clay, Rich Condeelis, John Curtiss, Eddie Del Rosario, Stephen Gonsalves, Yorman Landa, Randy LeBlanc, Wilfredy Liranzo, Logan Lombana, Jovani Moran, Brandon Poulson, Johan Quezada, Williams Ramirez, Alex Robinson, Fernando Romero, Randy Rosario, Keaton Steele, Mike Theofanopoulos, Zack Tillery, Lachlan Wells.

 

NOTE: There are some big arms here... the hardest thrower may be Johan Quezada, who has touched 100. Then again, several of these guys have. 

 

CATCHERS

 

Kerby Camacho, Jorge Fernandez, Roberto Molina, AJ Murray, Brian Navarreto, Rainis Silva, Rafael Valera

 

NOTES: Interesting to see Valera moving to catcher after spending time at all three infield position at Cedar Rapids. Utility type, so likely just adding another position.

 

INFIELDERS

 

Luis Arraez, Travis Blankenhorn, Nick Gordon, Kolton Kendrick, Sean Miller, Amaurys Minier, Jermaine Palacios, Alex Perez, TJ White, Zander Wiel.

 

OUTFIELDERS

 

Chris Cavaness, Brad Hartong, Daniel Kihle, Chris Paul, LaMonte Wade.

 

NOTE: Hartong was a catcher, drafted as a catcher, so this is a move for him as well.

 

STAFF

 

Joel Lepel - Field Coordinator

Eric Rasmussen - Pitching Coordinator

Sam Perlozzo - Infield, Base Running Coordinator

Tommy Watkins - Manager

Coaches: Henry Bonilla, Ramon Berrego, Brian Dinkelman, JP Martinez, Jeff Smith, Javier Valentin, Virgil Vasquez

when do they report to instructional league?

 

 

Tommy Watkins as manager. Good to see that. I'm happy that the Twins see him as a guy that casn fit that role.

Interesting... Blankenhorn is invited, but not Trey Cabbage?

 

Nice to see Kendrick, Arraez and Palacios in the mix.

What? No Appy League Pitcher of the Year- Dereck Rodriguez?

 

What? No Appy League Pitcher of the Year- Dereck Rodriguez?

 

He's likely been there 2-3 times already. 

 

Tommy Watkins as manager. Good to see that. I'm happy that the Twins see him as a guy that casn fit that role.

 

Yeah, I would expect Jake Mauer to move up, and maybe Doug Mientkiewicz too (to a big league job somewhere), and I think Tommy will be a manager next season. Then again, I thought that last year.

 

He's likely been there 2-3 times already. 

 

Not as a pitcher.  He just switched to pitching in 2014.

I looked back... 

 

Dereck Rodriguez went to Instructs in 2012 and 2013 as an OF, and in 2014, he went as a pitcher. 

Quezada's cut in walks from 2014 to 2015 is impressive. Ahem. I don't think I have ever seen 14.1 BB/9 before!

Roberto Molina,catcher. Any chance he's the spawn of one of the many Molina's that are MLB catchers?

 

Quezada's cut in walks from 2014 to 2015 is impressive. Ahem. I don't think I have ever seen 14.1 BB/9 before!

 

Sure you have

 

Shooter Hunt topped that number

 

 

Roberto Molina,catcher. Any chance he's the spawn of one of the many Molina's that are MLB catchers?

 

Robert actually; not Roberto.  And the 18 year old is Venezuelan and not Puerto Rican like the Molina brothers...

A few surprising names here for me. Accepting the premise that they're all invited because they show above average aptitude, we're being told  Condeelis and Lombana are better than their stats. Cavaness, Kihle, and Perez surprised me too for some reason. That's good news.

Edited September 15, 201511 yr by birdwatcher

Condeelis and Lombana are better than their stats. 

I don't know if "better" is the way I'd look at it, or simply "there's something intriguing the staff would like to explore."

 

In the case of Condeelis I see 20 SO and 12 BB (uffda) in 15+ innings. He's listed as 6'5" 220 lb. I for one would pay $1 to watch an inning or three on one of the back fields in Ft Myers, just to see what we've got here.

 

A few surprising names here for me. Accepting the premise that they're all invited because they show above average aptitude, we're being told  Condeelis and Lombana are better than their stats. Cavaness, Kihle, and Perez surprised me too for some reason. That's good news.

 

Yeah, don't just assume this is for prospects only. Lots of guys in their first or second years in the organization, many who haven't been through spring training. This gives them time with a good "student/teacher ratio" but also gets them used to what they'll be doing next spring. Also let's Twins coaches and evaluators see them first hand.

Do the AFL guys go to instructionals as well before they leave for AFL?

 

I don't know if "better" is the way I'd look at it, or simply "there's something intriguing the staff would like to explore."

 

In the case of Condeelis I see 20 SO and 12 BB (uffda) in 15+ innings. He's listed as 6'5" 220 lb. I for one would pay $1 to watch an inning or three on one of the back fields in Ft Myers, just to see what we've got here.

Condeelis has a very deceptive delivery and a high spin rate, he needs to hammer down a consistent release point and he's an intriguing reliever.  I'll be on the backfields this weekend just to see what's going and it's free

 

 

Do the AFL guys go to instructionals as well before they leave for AFL?

Last year  they did with Buxton and Meyer

 

 

Interesting... Blankenhorn is invited, but not Trey Cabbage?

 

Nice to see Kendrick, Arraez and Palacios in the mix.

For those who don't know, Cabbage got hurt towards the end of the GCL season.  A stress reaction in his lumbar region (lowback), they at least caught it before it turned into a spondy/pars fracture which is the good news.  The bad news is after talking with him he's predisposed to the issue due to hamstring tightness and hypertonic lumbar muscles, as he's very inflexible.  He is already in the rehabbing process but won't be ready for game action til the end of instructs so he's just sitting out.  I gave him my personal recommendation of pilates and yoga to help with his inflexibility issues.  A few of the players told me they will returning to the complex today, 9/16 to begin camp.

 

Do the AFL guys go to instructionals as well before they leave for AFL?

 

Yeah, that's usually where they go to work out with them.

 

Condeelis has a very deceptive delivery and a high spin rate, he needs to hammer down a consistent release point and he's an intriguing reliever.  I'll be on the backfields this weekend just to see what's going and it's free

 

I am looking forward to reading about your visit.   Any report on Lachlan Wells would be interesting.  If he stays healthy he could be interesting

 

I am looking forward to reading about your visit.   Any report on Lachlan Wells would be interesting.  If he stays healthy he could be interesting

Condeelis on mound in GCL 

 

Lachlan Wells on mound in GCL

 

Neat to see Brian Dinkelman listed among the coaches...

 

For those who don't know, Cabbage got hurt towards the end of the GCL season.  A stress reaction in his lumbar region (lowback), they at least caught it before it turned into a spondy/pars fracture which is the good news.  The bad news is after talking with him he's predisposed to the issue due to hamstring tightness and hypertonic lumbar muscles, as he's very inflexible.  He is already in the rehabbing process but won't be ready for game action til the end of instructs so he's just sitting out.  I gave him my personal recommendation of pilates and yoga to help with his inflexibility issues.  A few of the players told me they will returning to the complex today, 9/16 to begin camp.

 

Thanks Bob.  That's good to know, as Cabbage appeared to perhaps be the most athletic position player taken in the draft.  Sounds like lots of time in the training room for Trey- that should keep him out of trouble, and perhaps have the combined value of nipping this problem early and keeping him out of trouble down the road. 

 

In the case of Condeelis I see 20 SO and 12 BB (uffda) in 15+ innings. He's listed as 6'5" 220 lb. I for one would pay $1 to watch an inning or three on one of the back fields in Ft Myers, just to see what we've got here.

 

Condeelis on mound in GCL 

Now I'm almost sorry I asked. Uggggggly delivery. Did he receive any coaching at all in the GCL? CAN he be coached? Looks like a shoulder strain waiting to happen.

No kohl Stewart?

 

No kohl Stewart?

 

He got through most of the year. I'm guessing they're happy with that and won't ask him to do any throwing until January. 

 

Now I'm almost sorry I asked. Uggggggly delivery. Did he receive any coaching at all in the GCL? CAN he be coached? Looks like a shoulder strain waiting to happen.

He received coaching but I'm sure he'll be taking in more in Instructs as in GCL they pretty much let him go as he was in college (Pitt).  On the Pitch f/x at Jetblue his FB 91-94mph with a 2100-2300rpm and a 78-82mph SL with a 2300-2500rpm that plays up even more with his extension and delivery.  As a 36th Rounder, he's lotto ticket

PLAYERS/STAFF REPORTING DATE: Wednesday, September 16

FIRST WORKOUT: Thursday, September 17

FIRST GAME: Monday, September 21

LAST DAY: Tuesday, October 13

 

2015 MINNESOTA TWINS

INSTRUCTIONAL LEAGUE SCHEDULE

 

Mon Sept 21 CAMP DAY – 1pm

Tue Sept 22 MIN @ BAL – 12pm

Wed Sept 23 CAMP DAY – 1pm

Thu Sept 24 BAL @ MIN – 12pm

Fri Sept 25 MIN @ BOS – 1pm

Sat Sept 26 BOS @ MIN – 10am

Sun Sept 27 OFF

Mon Sept 28 MIN @ TAM – 1pm

Tue Sept 29 MIN @ BAL – 12pm

Wed Sept 30 CAMP DAY

Thu Oct 1 TAM @ MIN – 1pm

Fri Oct 2 BOS @ MIN – 1pm

Sat Oct 3 MIN @ BOS – 10am

Sun Oct 4 OFF

Mon Oct 5 TAM @ MIN – 1pm

Tue Oct 6 BAL @ MIN – 12pm

Wed Oct 7 CAMP DAY

Thu Oct 8 MIN @ TAM – 1pm

Fri Oct 9 BOS @ MIN – 1pm

Sat Oct 10 MIN @ BOS – 10am

Sun Oct 11 OFF

Mon Oct 12 BAL @ MIN – 12pm

Tue Oct 13 MIN @ BOS – 10am