Article: Twins Option Seven Players To Minor League Camp

[Seth Stohs]

FT. MYERS, Fla - Following Sunday’s game at Hammond Stadium, the Twins announced that five players had been reassigned to minor league camp. On Monday morning, Paul Molitor and Terry Ryan informed seven more players that their time in big league camp this year was complete.

 

The Twins optioned outfielder Adam Brett Walker, LHP Pat Dean, and LHP Mike Strong to Rochester. LHP Mason Melotakis and RHP JT Chargois were optioned to Chattanooga. RHP Yorman Landa and LHP Randy Rosario were optioned to Ft. Myers.Those seven players optioned from the 40-man roster on Monday are part of the first round of cuts which included SS Engelb Vielma, C Alex Swim, RHP Jake Reed, IF/OF Reynaldo Rodriguez, and IF Heiker Meneses.

 

Combined, that is a lot of players, and yet there really weren’t any surprises. This is the point, three weeks from Opening Day, when it is important to have a more manageable roster. Simply, hitters that will (or could) make the team need more plate appearances, starters work longer, and relief pitchers need more consistent work.These players were all long shots to make the Opening Day roster, and now they will head to the minor league complex and start preparing with their team for the 2016 season.

 

It is normal that players on the 40-man roster with little shot of making the big league roster are sent down fairly early in camp. Along with prepping with their teammates and getting at-bats, if a 40-man roster player has a major injury at big league camp, he gets a big league salary for time on the disabled list. The experience working with the big league coaching staff and veteran players is still very valuable for them.

 

Randy Rosario has the world of potential in his left arm, but he finished last year in Cedar Rapids. 2016 will be his first full season back from Tommy John surgery.

 

Yorman Landa is in a similar boat. After missing time in the 2014 season, Landa returned to Cedar Rapids midseason and was terrific. He, like Rosario, will likely begin the season in Ft. Myers with the Miracle

 

JT Chargois showed his upper-90s fastball and three pitch mix. He could head to Chattanooga or Rochester. If he can harness his control, he has a chance to be special.

 

Mason Melotakis has electric stuff, but just coming back from Tommy John surgery and not pitching at all in 2015, he will need to get some innings under his belt to continue shaking off rust as well as continue to develop.

 

Pat Dean will return to Rochester where he will start. He had a bit of a breakout season in Rochester last year and hopes to build off of it. He credited his numbers to improving his curve ball and slider.

 

Minnesota native Mike Strong will work in the bullpen, either at Rochester or Chattanooga. He was added to the 40-man roster in late January.

 

The final player from the 40 man roster to be sent down is outfielder Adam Brett Walker who has had limited at-bats. There are still a lot of outfielders in Twins camp and some big decisions to make. Walker needs to start accumulating some plate appearances to work on the things he has learned in his time in camp.

 

As you can see from that group there is a lot of potential but none of them have played very much this spring so they need to get some playing time at minor league camp before the season.

The Twins now have 52 players remaining in camp (19 non-roster). There are 24 pitchers (8 non-roster), 7 catchers (4 non-roster), 11 infielders (3 non-roster) and 10 outfielders (4 non-roster).

 

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[roger]

Are you enjoying your time in Florida this spring, Seth?  A bit unusual, but is unseasonably warm back here.

 

Is Strong the leading candidate to be waived off the 40-man roster when/if Abad makes the team as a bullpen lefty?

 

And have you had a chance to see much of Vielma?  Is his defense as good as everyone says?

[Thrylos]

I liked what I saw from Chargois.  I think that he pitched better than a lot of the other pitchers who are still in camp.  I was hoping that he might actually get North.  Surprised by that choice there

[sane16]

Temporarily holding on to SEVEN catchers must have been necessary to bullpen the 24 pitchers in camp.

Once the decisions are made on which pitchers to keep, Turner, Garver and Paulino will be shipped out along with the excess pitchers.

[Rosterman]

Still gotta cut 27 players. That's a lot of extra bodies. See more happening by Wednesday/Thursday once minor league games really get going. We must remember that guys can always cross the field from minor league camp to play in a game. I see the big question coming with the guys out of options and if the Twins gamble that no one will claim them: Tonkin, Arcia, Santana. That would open three 40-man spots. But I really don't want to see journeymen get major league spots this year. It will be an interesting spring of roster construction.

 

[Han Joelo]

Re: Chargois. What has Burdi done differently to separate himself? Just curious.

[h2oface]

Tonkin seems never quite ready, including this Spring Training. I really hate to see him getting the opportunities that could go to others that pitch so much better in their opportunities. Especially with the stable of young arms in the system, and the retreads that Ryan continues to clog the pipeline with that take their opportunities, too. Tonkin should have been hyped and traded long ago, before he has proven to be one that has a best chance of getting paid to his ceiling in Japan or Korea.

 

[Vanimal46]

Are you enjoying your time in Florida this spring, Seth? A bit unusual, but is unseasonably warm back here.

 

Is Strong the leading candidate to be waived off the 40-man roster when/if Abad makes the team as a bullpen lefty?

 

And have you had a chance to see much of Vielma? Is his defense as good as everyone says?

I'm not Seth but that's a good call on Strong. I think he's a candidate to be removed from the 40 man to add Abad, Quentin, or another non-roster invite that impresses this spring.

 

I wouldn't be surprised to see Dean or Tonkin as possible candidates either.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

 I see the big question coming with the guys out of options and if the Twins gamble that no one will claim them: Tonkin, Arcia, Santana. That would open three 40-man spots. 

The only one of the three that could come back to bite you in the ass would be Arcia.  You can pretty much guarantee that he won't slide through waivers especially with the number of NL teams in rebuilding mode that would love to have a 24yo left handed bat with 20+ hr potential for free.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Are you enjoying your time in Florida this spring, Seth?  A bit unusual, but is unseasonably warm back here.

 

Is Strong the leading candidate to be waived off the 40-man roster when/if Abad makes the team as a bullpen lefty?

 

And have you had a chance to see much of Vielma?  Is his defense as good as everyone says?

 

Good trip so far. It is HOT though. Ha!

 

I think they'll see how the Tonkin situation plays out. I think he'd be #1 unless they take him up north. If not, then I would say Strong is most likely. 

 

I haven't seen Vielma this year. I have seen him, and I would expect he'll play tomorrow. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Temporarily holding on to SEVEN catchers must have been necessary to bullpen the 24 pitchers in camp.
Once the decisions are made on which pitchers to keep, Turner, Garver and Paulino will be shipped out along with the excess pitchers.

 

Temporarily holding on to SEVEN catchers must have been necessary to bullpen the 24 pitchers in camp.
Once the decisions are made on which pitchers to keep, Turner, Garver and Paulino will be shipped out along with the excess pitchers.

 

Also have to assume that neither Suzuki or Murphy wanted to make the trip to Jupiter today. I would think Turner and Garver will head to minor league camp soon, probably even by Wednesday.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Re: Chargois. What has Burdi done differently to separate himself? Just curious.

 

He's pitched really well, and he's not on the 40 man roster. Chargois is on the 40 man roster. That's why he's heading down earlier.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Good trip so far. It is HOT though. Ha!

 

 

I haven't seen Vielma this year. I have seen him, and I would expect he'll play tomorrow. 

Ah, you Northerners, that's how ya know you're NOT from Florida, 85 is hot?  Try the backfields in August with GCL going, not uncommon to hit 110 with the heat index. 

 

Might make it up to 90 before you leave Seth!!

[Squirrel]

Good trip so far. It is HOT though. Ha!

 

 

It's not HOT, but I'll give you plenty warm, mid-80s perfect. Don't forget your sunscreen!

[dougkoebernick]

As I was leaving the state on Monday it seemed the humidity picked up. Thanks for the updates Seth!