Article: Friday Minor League Report

[Seth Stohs]

FT. MYERS, Fla. - The Minnesota Twins began their Friday morning with news that nine players had been sent to minor league camp. That brings the spring training roster down to 43, so there are still about 18 more moves to make in the next two weeks. The big league club worked out at Hammond Stadium before making the drive down Daniels Parkway to jetBlue Stadium where they took on the Boston Red Sox.

 

 

As is the case in most games the rest of the way through spring training, a few select (non 40-man roster) minor leaguers will dress with the big league spring training team, providing depth and sometimes getting an inning or a plate appearance late in the game. On Friday, the Twins called up OF Travis Harrison, IF Stephen Wickens, and pitchers Brandon Peterson and Jake Reed for the trip. Only Harrison got into the game, as a pinch runner. He got one at-bat as well.Meanwhile, it was a busy day on the back fields at Hammond Stadium too. Since the High-A and Low-A teams were just traveling across Ft. Myers to play, they worked out on the back fields with the AAA and AA players.

 

Of the nine players sent down to minor league camp, only Jose Berrios worked out on Friday. Players from the 40 man roster get a couple of days to report. Non-roster players are required to report right away but it is likely the Twins brass told them to take the day off.

 

The pitchers did their PFPs and situations. They worked a little more today on pickoff plays. They even spent time working with the right-handed pitchers on pickoff throws to third base.

 

They then broke off onto the three full fields for batting practice (the EST squad went back to their field as well).

 

I also was interviewed by Neil Roberts who does a great job with SpringFeverBaseball.com. Check out his site and read and listen to his reports. He does two-minute interviews with several players and four of five have already been posted. Neil has been doing this for over 15 years. The North Dakotan provides these reports to radio stations around the state. Take a listen. He’s got interviews this year with Kyle Gibson, Adam Brett Walker, Nick Burdi and more posted.

 

The teams were done with their batting practice a little before noon. If anyone happens to be there and need a nice place for lunch, there is a place called Panitella’s Chicken Grill just down Plantation Road in a strip mall area before getting to Daniels Parkway. I’ve gone there the last two days for lunch before coming back for the afternoon games.

 

Ricky Nolasco made the start for the Twins in the AAA game. He was caught by Kurt Suzuki. Watching him in the bullpen, he really has a tremendous curve ball. He also throws a sinker that drops well. After a quick first inning, the second didn’t go as well for Nolasco. One batter reached on an error and the next hit a long, two-run homer. However, after that, he was very good. He went five innings and avoided hard contact.

 

 

 

In the AA game, Glen Perkins worked the first inning. The lefty had no problems at all. He got a high-hopper back to the mound for the first out. He struck out the second batter and got the third batter to ground out to Engelb Vielma at shortstop. His fastball was in the low-90s and his slider was sharp.

 

 

 

Offensively, there was a lot of power shown. But, Twins pitchers did not give up a home run. Meanwhile, both the AAA and the AA teams had four home runs.

 

Adam Brett Walker crushed two long homers for the Red Wings. The first hit the back wall, well behind the fence in left-center field. The second one traveled well over the fence in right field. In the first inning, the Red Wings scored four runs. The big blow that inning was a very long home run for Daniel Palka. An inning later, Dalton Hicks hit a ball so far that the outfielders didn’t move. After a while, they did at least turn around to see how far it went.

 

In the AA game, Joe Maloney hit a long, towering blast, probably nearly 400 feet to left field. The next batter, TJ White, hit one a little lower but nearly as far. Later in the game, Levi Michael hit a homer over the left-center field fence, and soon after, now mustache-less catcher Brett Doe hit a no-doubter as well. The final two home runs were glorious. I mean, they were given up by Glorius… Austin Glorius.

 

 

 

Following Nolasco, Tim Shibuya and Raul Fernandez each threw two scoreless innings in the AAA game.

 

Glen Perkins was followed by DJ Baxendale. The first batter lined one back up the middle that hit Baxendale. After the coaching and training staff came out to check on him and he threw three warm up pitches, he pitched again. However, he walked the next two batters and when checked, he was done, so the inning was done.

 

South African Callan Pearce came in for an inning. Luke Bard pitched really well for two innings. Brian Gilbert finished things with a couple of quiet innings.

 

The extended spring group played another simulated game. I know that Onas Farfan threw some live BP during that game. He is the New Hope High School player that the Twins drafted out of Ridgewater College in Willmar. He was known as the first player drafted out of the Minneapolis RBI program. I had the chance to chat with him the other day and he is very excited to be pitching again after missing all of last season with Tommy John surgery.

 

 

LaMonte Wade played today after missing the games on Thursday after being hit by a pitch in the forearm. Nick Gordon participated fully in the morning workout. He went through fielding practice and took a full round of batting practice. However, the team kept him out of the game on Friday.

 

Lewis Thorpe faced batters for the first time in almost a year on Friday morning. As he has the other days this week, he watched the minor league games. However, on Friday, along with watching his teammates, he closely watched one of the Red Sox minor league pitchers. Daniel McGrath pitched a couple of innings against the Twins AA team. McGrath grew up about five minutes from Thorpe in Melbourne, Australia. According to Thorpe, the two were teammates on several teams throughout their youth, including some international competitions.

 

 

 

I chatted quite a bit with Stephen Gonsalves. He showed me the grips on his pitches. He has a very interesting chang-up grip. It’s kind of a circle change, but he’s really holding the ball with just two fingers, his middle and ring finger. As he said, “It’s good to have big hands.”

 

Gonsalves is currently on the AA roster, but as more players are sent down from big league camp, it will be interesting to see if he heads back to Ft. Myers. That is the most likely situation, but some of it depends on what happens with Taylor Rogers. If he makes the big league roster, there would be a trickle-down effect. Again most likely he’ll start the season with the Miracle, but it’s very possible he will end the season with the Lookouts.

 

 

It was nice talking with Trey Cabbage. Following a full day of practice, he worked one-on-one with Sam Perlozzo on a side field later in the afternoon. He came over to watch the minor league game. The Tennessee native said his decision to sign with the Twins instead of going to the University of Tennessee on a baseball scholarship was an easy one, yet he knew that he would have been happy with either scenario.

He credits the time he spent playing in Georgia during the summers for moving up draft boards. The Twins took him in the fourth round. He played in Ft. Myers before, in a Perfect Game tournament at Hammond Stadium. I asked him if he missed football and basketball and he said not really. He enjoyed playing and spending time with his friends, but it was never something he enjoyed the way he does with baseball.

 

 

 

Briefly chatted with LHP Corey Williams as well. He said he’s been feeling really good. This will be his first full season after Tommy John. He returned to the Miracle last June and worked his way back to AA, this time in Chattanooga. In the offseason, he has his wife moved from Atlanta to Chicago. He said he also spent some time in Minnesota. He has relatives in southwest Minnesota that he visits at least every other year.

 

Saturday will be my last day at the ballpark. I’ll get there early and stay as long as I can. The AAA and AA teams travel to play the Red Sox. The High-A and Low-A teams will play at home, also against the Red Sox.

Nick will be getting to Ft. Myers and take over Twins Daily duties on Sunday.

 

Click here to view the article

[MrPotential]

Rochester will be stacked.  New guys Walker and Kepler are extra base hit machines.  Vargas and Polanco are back.  Old reliables Rodriguez, Benson and Beresford.  Pitching will be amazing to start season.  Pumped!

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Did Burdi and Chargois go to Rochester?

[sane16]

 The final two home runs were glorius. I mean, they were given up by Glorius… Austin Glorius.


 

Two pitchers that the Twins should acquire, and never will be heard a discouraging word.......

1) Damien Magnifico

           and

2) Austin Glorius

[Seth Stohs]

 

Did Burdi and Chargois go to Rochester?

 

Burdi is working with the AAA team. Chargois was optioned to Chattanooga.

[DocBauer]

Methinks Burdi is a name we've all been obsessed with. And with good reason. Unless he loses his control again suddenly, as he did for a time last season, and I don't believe he will, he will make his appearance and mark on the 2016 season.

 

But at this point, IMHO, I rank Chargois amongst the Twins top prospects. Despite his previous injuries and limited innings, I think he's shown an arm and do the stuff that can't be ignored. The crowd could push him to AA, where he finished 2015, but, despite being a reliever and not a starter or position player, I could easily rank him with Kepler and Berrios and Burdi as the top players in the system to make an appearance and impact on the upcoming season. I hope limited innings won't scare the Twins in holding him back. I have a feeling the guy has the IT factor.q

[MrPotential]

Watch for Bard to have a Chargois (2015) like season.  He is about to become a major prospect again soon.  I like Chargois better than Burdi, but both seem like future stars.  With Reed lurking.

 

http://m.twins.mlb.com/news/article/168153342/twins-have-four-hard-throwing-young-relievers

 

 

Edited March 20, 2016 by MrPotential

[Seth Stohs]

I'm a big believerole in Luke Bard. Saw him twice down there and he looked good. Most important, he feels good and is healthy.

[lightfoot789]

I heard the AA and AAA teams played several innings at Jet Blue before the rain came Saturday.  Walker hit 3rd HR in 4th game over on the minor league side.  Glad to see ABW finally getting reps.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

I'm a big believerole in Luke Bard. Saw him twice down there and he looked good. Most important, he feels good and is healthy.

91-93 mph with his FB on Saturday

[FormerMinnasotan]

Good to hear Lewis Thorpe is continuing to progress. I think if he can look respectable this year and improve off of what he was in 2014 next year we may have at worst a middle rotation and at best a top of the rotation guy who could have 4 plus pitches at his disposal.

[FormerMinnasotan]

I also wouldn't be too offended if Stephen Gonsalves started in A+ ball in Ft. Meyers and got promoted during the season. From what I have heard the jump from A+ ball to AA is pretty significant so it would stand to reason that Gonsalves would need some time to improve his secondary pitches. Personally I hope Kohl Stewart starts another season in Ft. Meyers as well, just until he can improve both his strikeout rate and walks rate.

[Squirrel]

 

I also wouldn't be too offended if Stephen Gonsalves started in A+ ball in Ft. Meyers and got promoted during the season. From what I have heard the jump from A+ ball to AA is pretty significant so it would stand to reason that Gonsalves would need some time to improve his secondary pitches. Personally I hope Kohl Stewart starts another season in Ft. Meyers as well, just until he can improve both his strikeout rate and walks rate.

I wouldn't mind that ... especially if I get down there in early May with the hopes of seeing them pitch.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

I wouldn't mind that ... especially if I get down there in early May with the hopes of seeing them pitch.

Gonsalves should still be here then, but if he turns it on like he did in 2015, he won't be here at the FSL All-Star break

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Good to hear Lewis Thorpe is continuing to progress. I think if he can look respectable this year and improve off of what he was in 2014 next year we may have at worst a middle rotation and at best a top of the rotation guy who could have 4 plus pitches at his disposal.

 

Lewis said he is staying in EXST to keep up with his rehab but hopes to be pitching in For Myers (for the Miracle) by the end of the season.  It would be aggressive but he has the stuff and tenacity to workout to get there.

[FormerMinnasotan]

Lewis said he is staying in EXST to keep up with his rehab but hopes to be pitching in For Myers (for the Miracle) by the end of the season. It would be aggressive but he has the stuff and tenacity to workout to get there.

Thorpe sounds like a very mature 20 yr old with his tenacity and high goals set for this year. To be honest until I did my research on Thorpe in 2014 I thought he'd be another Liam Hendricks. But upon learning Thrope's arsonal and his young age I realized Thorpe to be a very legit prospect. I hope all goes well for him. If he can be at worst a #3 in the Twins rotation that would be a plus.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Of the nine players sent down to minor league camp, only Jose Berrios worked out on Friday. Players from the 40 man roster get a couple of days to report. Non-roster players are required to report right away but it is likely the Twins brass told them to take the day off.

The big blow that inning was a very long home run for Daniel Palka. An inning later, Dalton Hicks hit a ball so far 

Lewis Thorpe faced batters for the first time in almost a year on Friday morning. As he has the other days this week, he watched the minor league games. However, on Friday, along with watching his teammates, he closely watched one of the Red Sox minor league pitchers. Daniel McGrath pitched a couple of innings against the Twins AA team. McGrath grew up about five minutes from Thorpe in Melbourne, Australia. According to Thorpe, the two were teammates on several teams throughout their youth, including some international competitions.


I chatted quite a bit with Stephen Gonsalves. He showed me the grips on his pitches. He has a very interesting chang-up grip. It’s kind of a circle change, but he’s really holding the ball with just two fingers, his middle and ring finger. As he said, “It’s good to have big hands.”

I'm lazy this week, here are some pictures to help tell Seth's story

 

 

My highlight was talking with Terry Ryan for about ten minutes about scouting in general but mainly Spring Training.  For those who haven't met the GM, he's extremely fan friendly, gladly talks to everyone about nearly everything involving the Twins; he also has a memory like a steel trap.  I've been lucky enough to run into Terry at least every few months down here and he doesn't let me forget it.  As he said to me, for someone who's a Cubs fan you sure do spend alot of time with the Twins.  Terry asked my opinion on a few of the GCL guys from 2015, saying you saw them more then I did.He brought up my hometown of Springfield, Illinois, knew some of my relatives, baseball players/prospects from the area - that we had talked about in passing a year or so ago.  

 

As Palka entered the batter's box, I congragulated Ryan on his trade find as Palka had hit a monster homerun in his last at bat.  As Terry said, you know just as well as I that you don't let Spring Training fool you and he preceded to breakdown Palka's swing and approach with me.  The swing is pretty with the bat staying in the zone for a long duration yet it gets long leaving him suspetible to high K numbers and offspeed pitches.  The new BoSox pitcher was a softer tossing lefty (the first pitcher was RHP Teddy Stanky 93-95mph) who had good secondary pitches.  Palka fouled off the first pitch up and in, then the fortune teller Ryan said watch this, next pitch Palka swings at a slider away in the dirt and misses, the next pitch up and in for a ball, followed by another breaking ball in the dirt for the strikeout.  Terry turns to me and says that's why we don't get too excited for one at bat. 

Edited March 22, 2016 by Bob Sacamento

[Seth Stohs]

Good photos... you even cropped the photo of me, and I appreciate it! HA!

[ashbury]

Palka fouled off the first pitch up and in, then the fortune teller Ryan said watch this, next pitch Palka swings at a slider away in the dirt and misses, the next pitch up and in for a ball, followed by another breaking ball in the dirt for the strikeout.  Terry turns to me and says that's why we don't get too excited for one at bat. 

Great Spring story. It's killing me that I didn't get to come down this year.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Good photos... you even cropped the photo of me, and I appreciate it! HA!

No problem at all, was trying to get a picture of the two of you when you weren't watching.  Being a horizontally challenged caucasian male as well, I understand the plight.

 

Side note, can't believe it hasn't been brought up but apparently there is a facial hair ban in the Twins MiLB.  The only facial hair they can have are moustaches, thus the hideous porn-cop staches in camp.  Think I'm going to put together a Stache-Off of the MiLBers in camp this weekend.

[Seth Stohs]

 

No problem at all, was trying to get a picture of the two of you when you weren't watching.  Being a horizontally challenged caucasian male as well, I understand the plight.

 

Side note, can't believe it hasn't been brought up but apparently there is a facial hair ban in the Twins MiLB.  The only facial hair they can have are moustaches, thus the hideous porn-cop staches in camp.  Think I'm going to put together a Stache-Off of the MiLBers in camp this weekend.

 

Yeah, they've always had that rule...

 

Seeing Aaron Thompson there a day or two after he got sent down at minor league camp was shocking with him all clean-shaven. 

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Yeah, they've always had that rule...

 

Seeing Aaron Thompson there a day or two after he got sent down at minor league camp was shocking with him all clean-shaven. 

I hadn't looked for or saw him after the shave but I did see him beforehand and he talked about how much he loved the beard.  As a beardwearer since 15yo that is a stupid rule

[Mike Sixel]

That is an incredibly stupid rule, that serves no purpose.

[ashbury]

That is an incredibly stupid rule, that serves no purpose.

If it saves us from just one ugly beard, like the one above that Aaron Thompson apparently thinks he is rocking, then we all will benefit.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

I hadn't looked for or saw him after the shave but I did see him beforehand and he talked about how much he loved the beard.  As a beardwearer since 15yo that is a stupid rule

And now: