Article: What's Next For Alex Meyer?

[Cody Christie]

2015 was supposed to be his season, his moment. After working his way through two different minor league systems over three years, Alex Meyer was on the cusp of making his major league debut. In fact, Baseball Prospectus had him ranked as the 14th best prospect in baseball, his highest ranking on any national list during his professional career.As Meyer entered his age-25 season at last year's TwinsFest, he compared his age to that of another late bloomer, Randy Johnson. Meyer said, "Randy Johnson, I think I read he came up when he was 25. He just so happened to be tall, too, so let's hope. If I could have half that career..."

 

Meyer started the year in the minor leagues and things didn't go exactly to plan. He made eight starts in Rochester and compiled a 7.09 ERA with 41 strikeouts and 24 walks in 39.1 IP. Something wasn't clicking and the Twins decided to move him to the bullpen.

 

"I love starting. I've done it my whole life," Meyer said later in the season. "But going out there and getting my teeth kicked in every game wasn't a good experience."

 

The transition to the bullpen came with some positive results. In his next nine appearance (17 IP), he posted a 0.53 ERA with 20 strikeouts and six walks. Opponents batted .188 against him during this stretch and got on base less than 27% of the time.

 

It was time to see if Meyer could resemble Mr. Johnson as the Twins called him up to make his big league debut. In two interleague games, Meyer pitched 2.2 innings and allowed five earned runs including two home runs. Opponents got on base 50% of the time and batted over .360. It wasn't exactly the magical moment Meyer had dreamed about.

 

Meyer wouldn't make it back to the big leagues in 2015. He'd spend the rest of the season at Rochester figuring out his new bullpen role. Things didn't go perfectly as he allowed 15 earned runs in his next 13.0 innings with a 17 to 8 strikeout to walk ratio. But he did improve in his last 10 games as he allowed two earned runs in 22.2 innings with 22 strikeouts and 10 walks.

 

The Twins have seen other failed starters succeed in bullpen roles. All-Star closer Glen Perkins was a starter before finding success in the bullpen. Brian Duensing went back and forth between starter and reliever before eventually being moved to the bullpen. Trevor May had success as a starter last season but his future looks to be that of a reliever.

 

Luckily for Meyer, as the Twins get closer to spring training the bullpen has more opportunities than the rotation . Minnesota has made few to no significant offseason moves to bolster the pitching staff as the team seems destined to use internal options in 2016. That being said, it would take a strong spring from Meyer to prove he belongs at the big league level to start the year. Meyer's control and use of his change-up will be keys to him finding success at the next level.

 

It seems likely that Meyer will start the year in Rochester as the organization monitors how he can adjust to his first full season as a relief pitcher. His path to the big leagues has taken a different course but he can still be an impact player as the Twins become more relevant in the American League.

 

2015 wasn't his season but 2016 and beyond could bring better moments for Alex Meyer the relief pitcher.

 

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[diehardtwinsfan]

I'm assuming that means he is officially a relief pitcher.  Personally, I'd give him one more shot starting...

[GACbaseball]

I prefer to give up on starting and transition to a reliever full time. No more questions about his role will be and his stuff should play up in a limited role.

 

No one is questioning if Trevor Rosenthal, Aroldis Chapman, or Wade Davis should have been given more opportunities to start....

[bustedstuff88]

Long time lurker....first post. Hey all!

 

How many times are we going to do this? Ive lost count of the starters we have or are trying to convert to relievers... Seems like we do this way more than other clubs. Not that im opposed to getting him to a level of production matching his talents if converting is the key to doing that but....come on already!

[Blackjack]

What is Meyer's status as far as options and being a free agent?? How long is he under Twins control?

[nicksaviking]

 

I prefer to give up on starting and transition to a reliever full time. No more questions about his role will be and his stuff should play up in a limited role. No one is questioning if Trevor Rosenthal, Aroldis Chapman, or Wade Davis should have been given more opportunities to start....

 

Chapman and Rosenthal never got a chance, and it's probably too late now.

 

I would have given both a shot, just as I'd give Meyer a shot.

[JaleelWhite FanClub]

I'm surprised Meyer has "officially" been moved to a relief role. I fee like it's too early to give up on his potential as a starter. A bad eight starts at the beginning of last year seems like a small sample size to merit giving up on him as a starting pitcher.

 

He potentially has more upside than any other starting pitching prospect in the system (including Berrios). Berrios has definitely been more consistent through the minors, but I don't see why the Twins need to give up on starting Meyer. It's not like the Rochester rotation is overflowing with top-shelf prospects.

[hybridbear]

 

I'm assuming that means he is officially a relief pitcher.  Personally, I'd give him one more shot starting...

May or Meyer? I think May should get to start again, Meyer I'm not so sure about.

[Mike Sixel]

I endorse moving Meyer to RP, but I'd also endorse giving him 2 more months to start. But, if they are moving him to RP full time, I hope they trust him to do it, and let him go and stop monkeying with 3rd and 4th pitches......

[markos]

 

What is Meyer's status as far as options and being a free agent?? How long is he under Twins control?

Off the top of my head...

 

- First put on the 40-man roster last year, 2015. Used one option.

- Will be out of options after the 2017 season.

- Service time is a little tricky, but the absolute soonest he could be a free agent is after the 2021 season, and that assumes he is on the major league roster from day 1. If he spends a few more weeks in AAA this year, then it will be pushed back to 2022.

 

 

[DocBauer]

Start him. Start him. Start him.

 

Look, the Twins see and work with these guys daily. They see things and have knowledge way beyond us. But I am flabbergasted that a top SP talent like Meyer...right on the cusp in 2014, and arguably deserving of a September promotion...has a poor year/start to the year, and with a snap of the fingers is now a reliever.

 

Weren't we told last year that the bullpen move was temporary? A chance to work on repeating his delivery over fewer pitches and innings to get in a rhythm?

 

Kepler is a top 10/100 prospect coming off his breakout season and on the cusp of making it. If he has injuries or struggles this year at Rochester, does he suddenly become a 4th OF?

[Thrylos]

Don't know about you all, but I think that it is kinda of silly for the Twins to give up on the only guy in the organization with true ace potential, as far as stuff goes...

[by jiminy]

I have more regrets about May in the bullpen then Meyer. May actually has some success as a starter. Meyer has never dominated for a full season even in the MINOR leagues! His control problems have always been the big, obvious hurdle to success. And he has just not turned the corner.

 

He came into 2015 as a top prospect, based on the assumption that his control problems would improve -- and he had his worst control problems ever.  This is not to say he won't ever solve this.  But he has had years and years to do it and hasn't yet.  There is no reason to assume promoting him will make those problems go away (they tried that too).

 

I like Meyer in the bullpen because if he starts to fall apart, you can just yank him and throw him back out there the next day.  As a starter, you have to wait five days.  If it's a short start, he doesn't hardly get to pitch at all. The bullpen is better for him, because he can get back on that horse and get back to work.  And it's better for the team, because if he pitches great for a few innings, the team benefits from a great short outing, and if he flops, you nip it in the bud without creating a crisis for the bullpen to solve. 

 

I think there is a much stronger case for someone like Chapman to start. He is really good, and you could triple his innings. May, over the course of his career, tends to do much worse the third time through the lineup.  These problems seemed to be diminishing in his last stint as a starter, so he deserves another chance. With Meyer, though, using him in short doses is just the safer route at this point. It lets you maximize his good innings, while minimizing his bad ones. If he truly works out his mechanics, or whatever was preventing him from consistent command, sure, give him another chance. But in the meantime, if he has value in the pen, make the most of it. It's probably the best chance for him to improve anyway. Win-win.

 

It's also his best chance to reach the majors. Would you risk a two inning start and demand seven innings from the bullpen? I wouldn't. But I'd happily bring him in for as many strikes as he can muster before he starts missing the plate. That would be fun to watch, with much less downside.

[GACbaseball]

At this point, I don't think his control issues will ever be "corrected" enough to be an effective starter. I'm just hoping to get strong value from him at this point, and I would rather have him focus on controlling two pitches out of the stretch, to become a dominant reliever.

 

Working on 3-4 pitches, from the stretch and the windup, makes for a lot of things the guy has to work on to repeat consistently.

Yes, he likely has the greatest potential as a starter. I would just like to simplify things for him and lower the potential slightly by making him a reliever but raise his floor substantially

[DocBauer]

At this point, I don't think his control issues will ever be "corrected" enough to be an effective starter. I'm just hoping to get strong value from him at this point, and I would rather have him focus on controlling two pitches out of the stretch, to become a dominant reliever.

Working on 3-4 pitches, from the stretch and the windup, makes for a lot of things the guy has to work on to repeat consistently.

Yes, he likely has the greatest potential as a starter. I would just like to simplify things for him and lower the potential slightly by making him a reliever but raise his floor substantially

 

To be fair, there are a lot of power pitchers who struggled with BB/control, at least early, in their ML career. This includes Randy Johnson, who Meyer has been compared to more than once. Some guys figure it out. Some never do completely. Pure stuff and SO ability tend to offset the walks and slips in control. I just think it's way, way too soon to say he can't do it or won't ever get it figured out.

[REPETE]

 

To be fair, there are a lot of power pitchers who struggled with BB/control, at least early, in their ML career. This includes Randy Johnson, who Meyer has been compared to more than once. Some guys figure it out. Some never do completely. Pure stuff and SO ability tend to offset the walks and slips in control. I just think it's way, way too soon to say he can't do it or won't ever get it figured out.

Check me if I'm wrong here, but yes, the Randy Johnson comparison has been made repeatedly.  That said, wasn't Randy Johnson the exception to the rule of 8' tall pitchers being able to figure out the "repeatable motion"?  Personally, at this point in his career, I believe a Relief role may be the best option.  if he figures it out, and dominates, we can have the discussion of "should we move him back to starting", but worst case, he becomes a good/dominant reliever.  As we've seen in the TD vitriol over the last 8 months, we desperately need those!

 

[Thrylos]

 

Check me if I'm wrong here, but yes, the Randy Johnson comparison has been made repeatedly.  That said, wasn't Randy Johnson the exception to the rule of 8' tall pitchers being able to figure out the "repeatable motion"?  

 

Andrew Brackman, Chris Young, Jeff Niemann, Doug Fister, et. al. would beg to differ

[Sir_Eugene11]

 

Off the top of my head...

 

- First put on the 40-man roster last year, 2015. Used one option.

- Will be out of options after the 2017 season.

- Service time is a little tricky, but the absolute soonest he could be a free agent is after the 2021 season, and that assumes he is on the major league roster from day 1. If he spends a few more weeks in AAA this year, then it will be pushed back to 2022.

You're correct on all of that. Two option years remaining and with only 8 days of service time accumulated, the Twins will likely control through 2022, heading into the 2023 season.

[SF Twins Fan]

Personally I'm not too concerned about him starting the year off in the bullpen, because you never know what is going to happen.  He could always start the year in the bullpen and make the jump to the Show and once he is more comfortable move into a long relief or spot start role.  I'd say get him up to the MLB anyway possible where he will succeed and gain confidence and then go from there.

[dxpavelka]

 

I prefer to give up on starting and transition to a reliever full time. No more questions about his role will be and his stuff should play up in a limited role. No one is questioning if Trevor Rosenthal, Aroldis Chapman, or Wade Davis should have been given more opportunities to start....

Hindsight.

[Han Joelo]

Given the amount of other hard-throwing relief prospects the Twins have, I really want to give Meyer another shot starting.

 

I know it isn't exactly apples to apples, but watching my 6 year old develop (in many different ways--reading, bike riding, this weekend downhill skiing--age/maturity does matter, and light-bulbs do go off.  A year ago my son wouldn't even try any of the above activities without major teeth pulling, but as he's matured, and he's been given ownership and choice over the decision to do those things, he's taken off.  Again, not a perfect comparison--a lot more relative difference between a 5 and 6 year old than a 25 and 26 year old, but you never know.

 

Maybe Alex saw a sports psychologist all winter, or took up Tai Chi, or something else that might help him break through.

[Vanimal46]

Depends on what level Meyer begins the season at. If he makes the MLB team, more than likely he will be in the bullpen. But if he's in Rochester to start the season, there's no one that should be blocking him from the starting rotation. 

[Kwak]

Meyer is a failed starter.  The Randy Johnson straw man is obscuring reality.  Meyer is more like Jim Hoey.  Give him time in Rochester's pen and ascertain if he can command the strike zone.  If Meyer can't command, he is just a thrower and not a pitcher.  Beware, there are lots of prospects coming up the system and the Twins must not let pride and the shame of a failed trade block better talent from promotion.

[ScrapTheNickname]

Randy Johnson didn't figure it out until he was 29 years old, and he became a Hall of Famer. That is very amazing.

 

Then again, as Kwak implies, how many hundreds of pitchers with blazing stuff, have not ever figured it out?

 

Truthfully, we just saw Meyers take a sip of very sour coffee and spit it out last year with the Twins, so all I can say is that I want to see him pitch again, whether as a reliever or a starter. Perhaps how he pitches going forward will solve the issue.

Edited January 19, 2016 by ScrapTheNickname

[nicksaviking]

I don't care about Randy Johnson or Jim Hooey or Wilt Chamberlain. I don't care if there hasn't been a reasonable comp in the history of the game. If he still has three pitches, he should be given a shot at starting, and not just at AAA. A starter who can throw 95+ is way more valuable than a reliever. Besides, if control is his issue, it's not like that's going to improve in the bullpen pitching far fewer innings. I'm more than willing to ride the starter train for one more year, if he was out of options that would be a different story.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I don't care about Randy Johnson or Jim Hooey or Wilt Chamberlain. I don't care if there hasn't been a reasonable comp in the history of the game. If he still has three pitches, he should be given a shot at starting, and not just at AAA. A starter who can throw 95+ is way more valuable than a reliever. Besides, if control is his issue, it's not like that's going to improve in the bullpen pitching far fewer innings. I'm more than willing to ride the starter train for one more year, if he was out of options that would be a different story.

 

so, 27 before you make him a RP, losing another year of value.......

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Given the amount of other hard-throwing relief prospects the Twins have, I really want to give Meyer another shot starting.

 

I know it isn't exactly apples to apples, but watching my 6 year old develop (in many different ways--reading, bike riding, this weekend downhill skiing--age/maturity does matter, and light-bulbs do go off.  A year ago my son wouldn't even try any of the above activities without major teeth pulling, but as he's matured, and he's been given ownership and choice over the decision to do those things, he's taken off.  Again, not a perfect comparison--a lot more relative difference between a 5 and 6 year old than a 25 and 26 year old, but you never know.

 

Maybe Alex saw a sports psychologist all winter, or took up Tai Chi, or something else that might help him break through.

In prior off seasons, Meyer did substitute teaching, if I recall correctly. This offseason he got married and I presume took a honeymoon and got his mind off baseball.

 

Next offseason he runs for city council in Rochester, N.Y. (kidding about that last one).

 

I am very much a pro-Meyer guy and hope he has some good innings in ST and either way he needs to be brought north, I believe.

[Dantes929]

 

I endorse moving Meyer to RP, but I'd also endorse giving him 2 more months to start. But, if they are moving him to RP full time, I hope they trust him to do it, and let him go and stop monkeying with 3rd and 4th pitches......

This is a good point if trying to perfect 3rd and 4th pitches have stopped him from perfecting any.   I am not sure this is the case but am not sure it is not the case.    In his 2015 season he would dominate for several starts in a row and then have a stinker or two.   I can live with that.  To me wildness and inconsistency plays worse out of the bullpen.    If you sparkle in the rotation 6 out of 10 starts you will be worthwhile because the average starter has a 50% quality start rate and if you stink you get a quick hook.  .    If you are a one inning guy and  you stink out of the pen 4 out of 10 outings you will not be worthwhile.   2014 makes me think he should be a starter but I don't know what to make of 2015.    I suspect that if he can command his fastball he can do anything he wants but if trying to perfect 4 pitches is messing with his head then he needs to simplify.   I would give him another shot in AAA as a starter.   

[nicksaviking]

 

so, 27 before you make him a RP, losing another year of value.......

 

Sure, there are literally a half dozen guys that should be in AA-MLB that have a shot at what his potential could be as a reliever.

 

Like I said, if he was out of options, then yeah, stick him in the MLB pen and cross our fingers.

[JaleelWhite FanClub]

With the Royals run over the past two seasons, the bullpen has become the "it" thing for teams and fans to focus on. I don't see relying on a dominant bullpen to overcome a lousy staff as a sustainable strategy for most teams.

 

That being said, if you look at the Royals, how many relievers actually made up that killer bullpen? Mainly three (2014 - Herrara, Davis, Holland; 2015 - Madsen, Herrara, Davis) were used in the playoffs. So if all the posters wanting to throw Meyer into the bullpen have their way, I see the Twins reaching a point of having too many pitchers and too few slots to fill (candidates over the next two years: Perkins, Jepsen, May, Meyer, Fien, Burdi, Petersen, Chargois, Rosario, Reed, Hildenberger, and on, and on).

 

It seems I actually have a little more hope for the Twins starting pitchers than others. Meyer is included in my hopes. Who cares about his age? Let him start till he's out of options.