Article: Prospect Retrospective: OF Eddie Rosario

[Seth Stohs]

In 2015, Eddie Rosario was called up in mid-April to replace an injured Oswaldo Arcia. At the time of his promotion, it was assumed he would be up for two weeks and go back to Rochester to continue his development. Instead, he became a key cog to the Minnesota Twins surprise success.

 

Join me for this Prospect Retrospective on Eddie Rosario, and later, see how you can meet Eddie Rosario.

 

In his rookie season, he experienced a lot of success. He filled the stat sheet in most offensive categories as well as playing great defense and leading the league in outfield assists. However, his free swinging tendencies have made him a strong candidate for regression in 2016. That’s been what has happened to this point, just eight games into the season, but he is immensely talented and has long qualified as a prospect despite some on and off the field issues that he has dealt with.BACKGROUND

 

In late September of 1991, Eddie Rosario was born in the Puerto Rican community of Guayama. The city is home to approximately 45,000 people and located on the Caribbean Sea, on the southwest side of the island.

 

Reports have indicated that he lived in some tough neighborhoods and wasn’t in the baseball hotbeds of the island. However, it was baseball that helped him break out.

 

THE DRAFT

 

The Twins drafted Rosario in the fourth round of the 2010 draft out of Rafael Lopez Landron High School. At the time, he was considered the most polished hitter from Puerto Rico in the draft. Immediately, he was drawing comparisons to former Phillies and Yankees outfielder Bobby Abreu.

 

PRO CAREER

 

2010

After signing, he went right to the GCL. In 51 games, he hit .294/.343/.438 (.781) with nine doubles, two triples and five home runs. He also used his speed to steal 22 bases in 27 attempts.

 

The numbers themselves don’t matter in the low levels of the minor leagues, but Rosario started to show some of the tools that he was drafted for. He showed that he could hit for average as well as showing plenty of extra-base pop in his bat. He also showed speed. Though he was known as a guy who didn’t have any great tools, he was known for being solid all around.

 

2011

In 2011, Rosario became a top prospect. He would again team with Miguel Sano and provide the fans of Elizabethton with many thrills that summer. While Sano put up a tremendous offensive line, hitting .292/.352/.637 (.988) with 18 doubles, seven doubles and 20 home runs, it was Rosario who was named the Appalachian League’s Most Valuable Player. Rosario played 67 games and hit an incredible .337/.397/.670 (1.068) with nine doubles, nine triples and 21 home runs. He also stole 17 bases in 23 attempts.

 

Most nights, Rosario hit third with Sano hitting fourth. Following the box scores that year was a lot of fun as the two compete with and against each other. They fed off of each other and pushed each other to be better. They also weren’t afraid to support each other. Rosario and Sano both graced the cover of the 2012 Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook.

 

2012

In 2012, Rosario moved up to Beloit. Because the Twins liked his bat and envisioned him being able to move up quickly, they moved him to second base. At the time, there was not a clear future second baseman in the system. Despite having above average range in centerfield and a powerful arm, Rosario was willing to do what was needed of him. Early in the season, he showed very little range at second base. Later in the year, he had become an adequate-at-best defensive second baseman. Throughout the season, he would get a weekly start in center field for the Snappers. However, once the Midwest League playoffs started, Rosario found himself in center field each game.

 

Offensively, he played in 95 games and hit .296/.345/.490 (.835) with 32 doubles, four triples and 12 home runs. He also stole 11 bases but was caught 11 times as well.

 

Rosario was limited to 95 games because he needed surgery on his face. One day before a game, he was around third base when a line drive in batting practice hit him squarely in the mouth. He required surgery and missed about six weeks of game action.

 

2013

Sano and Rosario continued to team together throughout 2013 as well. They began the season in Ft. Myers. Rosario hit .329/.377/.527 (.903) with 13 doubles, five triples and six home runs. The Miracle won a first half title more than a week before the league All Star game. While both players earned Florida State League All Star honors, they moved up to New Britain the day after the team clinched a playoff spot.

 

He finished with 70 games in New Britain. There, he hit a solid .284/.330/.412 (.742) with 19 doubles, three triples and four home runs. He played nearly exclusively at second base throughout the season. He went to the Arizona Fall League where he hit just .238/.262/.275 (.537) with two extra base hits in 20 games.

 

It was in the AFL that things kind of got out of control for Rosario. Soon after he returned to Puerto Rico, reports came out that he acknowledged that he had tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug. Of course, several months later, it came out that he had been suspended for a drug-of-abuse and would miss the first 50 games of the 2014 season.

 

2014

Rosario was given permission by the Twins to miss spring training for ‘personal’ reasons. That carried over into his 50 game suspension. When the 50 games were complete, he played eight games in Ft. Myers, almost as a rehab of sorts. He then went back up to AA New Britain and he struggled mightily. In 79 games, he hit just .237/.277/.396 (.672) with 20 doubles, three triples and eight home runs.

 

He returned to the Arizona Fall League and this time really played well. In 24 games, he hit .330/.345/.410 (.755) with four doubles and two triples. He also homered in the championship game.

 

In November, he was added to the 40-man roster.

 

2015

Paul Molitor became the Twins manager in the offseason. Molitor had spent a lot of time working with Rosario in his previous role as a roving minor league instructor. They worked together at second base, and they worked on base running and more. Rosario had an advocate in Molitor.

 

Rosario went to spring training and really impressed the manager. He hit just .233/.227/.442 (.669), but Molitor frequently praised the outfielder. In 23 games in Rochester, he hit .242/.280/.379 (.659) before getting called up. That’s when he was called up, and that’s why it was so surprising when he hit .267/.289/.459 (.748). He hit 18 doubles 15 triples and 13 homers. He stole 11 bases and had 16 outfield assists.

 

2016

Sure, Rosario has looked like a different player so far this season. He has been even more aggressive but at some point he’s going to have a hot streak.

 

SCOUTING

 

Rosario is not a big guy. He’s listed at just 6-1 and 180 pounds. However, he is strong. He also has some very strong hands and wrists. When he is on, he is driving line drives to the left side of the diamond because he is able to wait longer and still hit the ball hard the other way. At times, it’s clear he tries to do too much and pulls too much.

 

He swings at everything. As you can see from his pre-AA stats, he used to be more willing to walk. He’ll never walk in 10% of his plate appearances, but if he can get that back up to 7-8%, he should be successful.

 

 

Looking back at my Top 30 Twins Prospects history, here is where I had ranked Eddie Rosario coming into each of his seasons.

 

2011 - 17

2012 - 2

2013 - 7

2014 - 5

2015 - 8

 

SEE EDDIE ROSARIO

You can meet EddieRosario at AME Sports in the Rosedale Mall this Saturday from 5-6:30 PM. Tickets are just $20 and allow you to get ANY item signed and a photo opportunity FREE. If you haven’t been to an AME event, you’ll find it different than other autograph signings where fans are herded through just for an autograph. Indeed, AME Sports was created to provide a private, personal and fun experience for the fans to meet their favorite athletes.

 

And Twins Daily readers get a special welcome. Just mention Twins Daily when you buy your ticket and you’ll be entered to win a $25 gift card from AME.

 

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[clutterheart]

Dont you think its too early in his career to do a retrospective?

Also, 20 dollas? To "meet" a 2nd year player?

 

Ridiculous.

[HitInAPinch]

Eddie is an exciting player.

[alarp33]

AME Sports tweeted multiple cheap shots for no apparent about Mauer before the season.  Extremely unprofessional for a business that relies on Twins players for promotion.  I won't give them $1, and I think its disappointing Rosario and the Twins are apparently working with them on this. 

[Pardon My Dinger]

2014. That's good!

AFL. That's bad. 

2015. That's good!

2016. That's bad. 

Meet Eddie. That's good!

$20. That's bad. 

FREE. That's good!

[Taildragger8791]

Pay $20 for a free photo opportunity? Even Blyleven's California math senses something is off about that.

[AMESports]

It's a little confusing but for $20 you get a autograph and a photo op with Eddie. That's around the norm for young baseball players. Sorry about the confusion. Great article! Eddie is a great kid.