Article: Twins Minor League Leaderboard (through 4/16)

[Seth Stohs]

It's too early in the season to make any grand statements about statistics at this time, but here is our first edition of the Twins Minor League Leaderboard.

 

We are here to recognize these minor league performers, and acknowledge that the guys listed below are off to a strong start.Most weeks, we plan to post a leaderboard of statistical leaders in the Twins farm system. Either Saturday or Sunday morning, we will post the hitting and pitching leaders throughout the system.

 

For rate numbers, my hope is to try to be consistent and fair. My goal is to highlight players who have done well, so this is subject to change. I will look for a representative number of plate appearances or innings pitched.

 

For this first report, three of the affiliates have played ten games while one has played nine games. For hitters, I will set the minimum at 24 plate appearances. For starting pitchers, I will put the minimum at 8.1 innings (just over 4 innings per start). For relievers, I’ll put the number at three innings to start with. Of course, as we get through more weeks, the sample sizes will increase and become more meaningful. However, there’s nothing wrong with noticing which minor leaguers have started out their 2016 seasons strong.

 

 

THE HITTERS

(Rate numbers- minimum 24 plate appearances)

 

Plate Appearances - Leonardo Reginnato/LaMonte Wade (45), Chris Paul (43), Tanner English/Zach Granite (41), Nick Gordon/TJ White/Zander Wiel (40)

 

Batting Average - LaMonte Wade (.417), Luis Arraez (.409), Nick Gordon (.385), Stuart Turner (.364), TJ White/Wilfredo Tovar (.333)

 

On-Base Percentage - LaMonte Wade (.489), Stuart Turner (.481), Luis Arraez (.458), TJ White (.450), Nick Gordon (.400), Wilfredo Tovar (.385)

 

Slugging Percentage - Luis Arraez (.727), LaMonte Wade (.694), Nick Gordon (.590), Jorge Polanco (.563), Dalton Hicks (.529), Stuart Turner/AJ Murray (.520)

 

OPS - Luis Arraez (1.186), LaMonte Wade (1.183), Nick Gordon (.990), Stuart Turner (.981), Jorge Polanco (.877)

 

Hits - LaMonte Wade/Nick Gordon (15), Chris Paul (12), TJ White (!1), Daniel Palka/Trey Vavra (10), 5 with 9.

 

Doubles - LaMonte Wade (6), Nick Gordon (5), Daniel Palka/Stuart Turner/Joe Maloney (3), 5 with 2.

 

Triples - Rafael Valera/Jorge Polanco (3) LaMonte Wade (2), 5 with 1.

 

Home Runs - Dalton Hicks (3), Luis Arraez/AJ Murray (2), 10 with 1.

 

Runs Scored - Rafael Valera (9), Chris Paul/Luis Arraez/Dalton Hicks (8), Tanner English (7), Nick Gordon/TJ White (6).

 

RBI - Dalton Hicks/LaMonte Wade (8), Chris Paul/AJ Murray/Daniel Palka/Buck Britton (6), 3 with 5.

 

THE STARTING PITCHERS

(Rate number - minimum 8.1 innings)

 

Innings Pitched: Pat Dean (13.0), Stephen Gonsalves/Kohl Stewart (12.0), DJ Baxendale/Sam Clay/Andro Cutura/RandyLeBlanc/Jason Wheeler (11.0)

 

ERA: Sam Clay/Alex Meyer (0.00), Kohl Stewart (1.50), Jose Berrios (1.80), Tyler Duffey/Pat Dean (2.08), Stephen Gonsalves (2.25)

 

WHIP: Kohl Stewart (0.58), Alex Meyer (0.77), Pat Dean (0.85), Stephen Gonsalves (0.92), Tyler Jay/Andro Cutura/Randy LeBlanc (1.00)

 

K/9: Jose Berrios (11.7), Andro Cutura (11.5), Sam Clay (10.6), Alex Meyer (10.5), Tyler Jay (9.9), Kohl Stewart (9.8)

 

BB/9: DJ Baxendale/Jason Wheeler (0.8), Pat Dean (1.4), Kohl Stewart (1.5), Alex Meyer (1.7), Stephen Gonsalves (2.2)

 

K: Andro Cutura (14), Kohl Stewart/Sam Clay/Jose Berrios (13), Alex Meyer (12), Tyler Jay (11), Stephen Gonsalves (10)

 

 

THE RELIEF PITCHERS

(Rate numbers - minimum 3 innings zero starts)

 

Innings Pitched: Marcus Walden (6.2), Jake Reed/Brandon Kintzler/CK Irby/Logan Lombana (6.0), Trevor Hildenberger/Brian Gilbert (5.2)

 

ERA: CK Irby/Luke Westphal/Corey Williams/John Curtiss/Todd Van Steensel/JT Chargois/JR Graham (0.00), Trevor Hildenberger (1.69)

 

WHIP: JT Chargois (0.00), John Curtiss (0.25), Luke Westphal (0.43), Marcus Walden (0.60), JR Graham (0.67), Cody Stashak (0.75)

 

K/9: JT Chargois/John Curtiss (18.0), Luke Westphal (15.4), Mike Theofanopoulos (12.3), Mason Melotakis (12.0), Yorman Landa (10.8)

 

BB/9: Alex Wimmers/Trevor Hildenberger/JT Chargois (0.0), Nick Anderson (1.8), Luke Westphal (1.9), Cody Stashak/John Curtiss (2.2)

 

K: Luke Westphal/John Curtiss (8), CK Irby/Brandon Kintzler (7), Trevor Hildenberger/JT Chargois/Jake Reed (6)

Saves: Trevor Hildenberger (3), JR Graham (2), 6 with 1.

 

Click here to view the article

[roger]

Thanks Seth.  Would say the most exciting numbers I see are Stewart's strikeouts and Meyer's walks, or lack thereof.  And of all the starters at Rochester, are Berrios and Duffey pitching third and fourth best right now?  Not a slam at either, but a statement of how well Meyer and Dean have pitched their first two times out.Also, is Cutera a legit prospect?

[Seth Stohs]

 

Thanks Seth.  Would say the most exciting numbers I see are Stewart's strikeouts and Meyer's walks, or lack thereof.  And of all the starters at Rochester, are Berrios and Duffey pitching third and fourth best right now?  Not a slam at either, but a statement of how well Meyer and Dean have pitched their first two times out.Also, is Cutera a legit prospect?

 

I noticed... 

Sam Clay has 11 scoreless innings. 

Alex Meyer has 10.1 scoreless innings.

Stephen Gonsalves gave up 3 runs in his first inning... since then he's thrown 11 scoreless innings. 

 

Regarding Berrios and Duffey - this is why we have to go with the Small Sample Size note... 

 

Cutura is interesting. He was good in E-Town last year... He was  #7 draft pick, so there's certainly something there. 

[Darius]

Really nice to see Gordon putting up good number across the board (especially all of those doubles).

 

Berrios picked up where he left off where he left off last year, as expected. He should be with the big club right now. Too bad they need to milk that service time.

 

Really excited about Kohl Stewart. After all the concern about him, he looks primed to take a big step this year.

 

The big league club is starved for pitching (even though it's been the offense off to a slow start). Really nice to see these young power arms putting it together (Stewart, Meyer, etc.). Again, they just need to get Berrios up here, and try to crawl back into this thing.

[benji21]

Hey Guys - Can you tell me if you think Trey Vavra is a legit prospect?  I believe he was injured for most of the second half last year iirc.  Seems like the kid just hits whenever he is healthy.

What about Luis Arraez?  He's been a staple in these reports so far this year.  I remember Seth wrote that he has been sticking around possibly until short seasons start.  What's his profile?

[Seth Stohs]

 

Really nice to see Gordon putting up good number across the board (especially all of those doubles).

Berrios picked up where he left off where he left off last year, as expected. He should be with the big club right now. Too bad they need to milk that service time.

Really excited about Kohl Stewart. After all the concern about him, he looks primed to take a big step this year.

The big league club is starved for pitching (even though it's been the offense off to a slow start). Really nice to see these young power arms putting it together (Stewart, Meyer, etc.). Again, they just need to get Berrios up here, and try to crawl back into this thing.

 

Right now, service time isn't the issue with Berrios. The issue has been command. It's been better, and he's close. But as you said, with Meyer there (and maybe continuing to pitch well as a starter) and Duffey (who will pitch better), there is some reason for optimism.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Hey Guys - Can you tell me if you think Trey Vavra is a legit prospect?  I believe he was injured for most of the second half last year iirc.  Seems like the kid just hits whenever he is healthy.

What about Luis Arraez?  He's been a staple in these reports so far this year.  I remember Seth wrote that he has been sticking around possibly until short seasons start.  What's his profile?

 

Tough questions:

 

Regarding Trey Vavra... a few things, based on where he was drafted, one could conclude that he's not a prospect. Based on prospect rankings, he's not really a prospect. Based on tool set, I don't think he'd be a big prospect as none of his tools are elite. One thing I would note is that he can hit. I enjoy going to Cedar Rapids and to Ft. Myers in spring training to be able to make my own notes. In doing that, I would argue that Trey puts together some of the most professional at bats I've seen in the 6-7 years of doing that. He's got really good intangibles beyond the "coach dad" thing. 

 

So, is hie a "legit prospect?"  I mean, he won't be on my Top 30 list (most likely), but I wouldn't put it past him to get to the big leagues as  pinch hitter, versatile type.

 

Regarding Arraez, I think he fits more into the "legit prospect" category. He wasn't in my Top 30, but he would have been close. He's very young for the level of competition. Although he only played in one of the Kernels first four games (game 3), he has been in the lineup every day since. Why? Because he's hit. He's not the hitter or prospect that Palacios is, yet. But he's off to a terrific start. He isn't a very big kid, so I wouldn't expect him to end with too many more home runs. He's a good leadoff type of hitter, takes pitches, willing to walk some. Defensively probably limited to 2B.

 

As for my thinking that he is just there for experience until the E-Twins season starts... I think I made that comment sometime in those first four games. It doesn't make sense to have a 19 year old (just turned 19 last week) sitting all year. But he can learn a lot from Jake and Dinkelman too. If he keeps hitting and leading off, he's going to stick around. 

[clutterheart]

How long do you think fort myers will stick with a six man rotation? Hopefully that ends due to a deserved promotion in the next few weeks

[twinssouth]

Great report Seth, you do a terrific job keeping us informed

 

Good to see Corey Williams get off to a strong start, as well as JT.

 

Going to be quite the day when the Ft Myers starters move up and join the Chattanooga bullpen. Wow

 

Awesome starts for Stewart and Meyer.

[twinssouth]

I should add I meant no disrespect to the current Chattanooga starters. They all work hard in being the best.

[Seth Stohs]

 

How long do you think fort myers will stick with a six man rotation? Hopefully that ends due to a deserved promotion in the next few weeks

 

They will stay with a 6-man rotation all year. If one of them gets promoted they'll call up someone else to be in the 6-man rotation. Same with Cedar Rapids. It's all about limiting innings with younger pitchers. 

[dougd]

Luis Arreaz

This is what BP writer Jeff Moore said about Arreaz last August 24 in a Monday  Morning Ten Pack:

 

(GCL Twins)
In the low levels of the minors, there are a ton of slick-fielding, athletic middle infielders with little to no power. It's not that that's a bad profile, but in order to stand out, a player in this mold has to have something extra. Arraez is doing that thus far, as his something extra is bat control within the strike zone. This is aided by an incredibly short swing path that makes no attempt to drive the ball or hit for any power, but there are plenty of players with similar swings who still swing and miss plenty. Arraez, despite being just 18 and stateside for the first time, makes contact at incredibly consistent rates, and even though he doesn't drive the ball, he does connect solidly. His approach is primarily to hit up the middle and the other way, which limits his power even further.

Arraez is limited to second base and needs to hit .300 to succeed, and average foot speed limits his overall profile further, but his contact skills and barrel control are also rare for an 18-year-old, which gives him a chance to max out that profile. – Jeff Moore

[Don't Feed the Greed Guy]

Seth, I asked you a week or two ago about your prediction that TJ White would be most likely to be promoted out of Ft. Myers. WOW, what a prediction. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. 

 

My two boys, ages 10 and 12, met White last year down in Cedar Rapids. TJ gave my boys a cracked, game-used bat without more than a request for an autograph. "Boys, I've got something for you..." He ran to the dugout, and came back with the bat. 

 

Here's one dad that hopes  TJ White's opportunities, and place on the MILB leaderboard, continue to rise.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Seth, I asked you a week or two ago about your prediction that TJ White would be most likely to be promoted out of Ft. Myers. WOW, what a prediction. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy. 

 

My two boys, ages 10 and 12, met White last year down in Cedar Rapids. TJ gave my boys a cracked, game-used bat without more than a request for an autograph. "Boys, I've got something for you..." He ran to the dugout, and came back with the bat. 

 

Here's one dad that hopes  TJ White's opportunities, and place on the MILB leaderboard, continue to rise.

 

I me him last year in  Cedar Rapids and did an interview with him. He's an intimidating tough, big and strong, huge arms. But he ends up being one of the best interviews and a really good person. It was nice to get to spring training this year and catch up with him a little bit too. As important in the baseball light, he is really good. It took an injury for him to move up to Chattanooga this quick and we'll see if he stays there.

 

I know that Goodrum is likely out for a couple of months, so he could stick even after Vielma comes back. If he keeps hitting AA pitching, he just might. 

[clutterheart]

 

They will stay with a 6-man rotation all year. If one of them gets promoted they'll call up someone else to be in the 6-man rotation. Same with Cedar Rapids. It's all about limiting innings with younger pitchers. 

 

Have they always done this?  I don't remember a Twins minor league team having 5 starters who all have MLB potential like FM does, so maybe I never noticed.  

[howieramone2]

 

Really nice to see Gordon putting up good number across the board (especially all of those doubles).

Berrios picked up where he left off where he left off last year, as expected. He should be with the big club right now. Too bad they need to milk that service time.

Really excited about Kohl Stewart. After all the concern about him, he looks primed to take a big step this year.

The big league club is starved for pitching (even though it's been the offense off to a slow start). Really nice to see these young power arms putting it together (Stewart, Meyer, etc.). Again, they just need to get Berrios up here, and try to crawl back into this thing.

Actually. the pitching has been good. Who would you get rid of?

[birddog]

Thanks, Seth. I really enjoy reading this article every week. I follow box scores every day at MILB.com so it's nice to get insight on some of the names. Great to see the success for Berrios, Meyer, Gonsalves, Polanco, and other players who deserve to be brought up early this year or next.

 

The Twins already have 40-man roster issues, but will really have some tough decisions to make in the next couple years.  Twins appear to have a close-knit clubhouse and it seems as if the Twins' top trade candidates like Plouffe and Dozier provide much of the leadership. It would appear we need to make some three-for-one trades or almost-ready prospects for great young talent who don't need to be protected yet. I am one of the few who still has total trust in TR. Seth, what do you foresee TR doing to avoid losing some great prospects yet bringing about the best roster for winning a championship? Or maybe I should ask who you think stays and who provides the most trade value?

[Pitz]

 

Luis Arreaz

This is what BP writer Jeff Moore said about Arreaz last August 24 in a Monday  Morning Ten Pack:

 

(GCL Twins)
In the low levels of the minors, there are a ton of slick-fielding, athletic middle infielders with little to no power. It's not that that's a bad profile, but in order to stand out, a player in this mold has to have something extra. Arraez is doing that thus far, as his something extra is bat control within the strike zone. This is aided by an incredibly short swing path that makes no attempt to drive the ball or hit for any power, but there are plenty of players with similar swings who still swing and miss plenty. Arraez, despite being just 18 and stateside for the first time, makes contact at incredibly consistent rates, and even though he doesn't drive the ball, he does connect solidly. His approach is primarily to hit up the middle and the other way, which limits his power even further.

Arraez is limited to second base and needs to hit .300 to succeed, and average foot speed limits his overall profile further, but his contact skills and barrel control are also rare for an 18-year-old, which gives him a chance to max out that profile. – Jeff Moore

 

In looking at his minor league numbers a few days ago and now reading this report, I keep thinking Placido Polanco, who seemed to be somewhat underrated. He was also somewhat annoying (as an opponent) because he was just a tough out. I'd be thrilled if Arraez had a comparable MLB career to Placido for the Twins. Of course he's got a long way to go to get there.

 

[d-mac]

Man, I'm pretty excited about LaMonte Wade and Luis Arraez. Anytime minor league hitters can walk more than they strike out in a season I take notice. When they show the ability to do that at multiple levels I get excited. IMO, strikeout to walk ratios are the most important minor league stat for both position players and pitchers.

 

Also, I really hope Stewart's strikeouts are legit. 

[d-mac]

 

In looking at his minor league numbers a few days ago and now reading this report, I keep thinking Placido Polanco, who seemed to be somewhat underrated. He was also somewhat annoying (as an opponent) because he was just a tough out. I'd be thrilled if Arraez had a comparable MLB career to Placido for the Twins. Of course he's got a long way to go to get there.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/katoh-projects-minnesota-twins-prospects/

 

Over at fangraphs, Chris Mitchell's KATOH projection system ranked Arraez as the Twins #7 prospect. Being extremely young for a level, hitting over .300, and walking more than he strikes out indicates that he may be a quality prospect.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Have they always done this?  I don't remember a Twins minor league team having 5 starters who all have MLB potential like FM does, so maybe I never noticed.  

 

They have the last 3-5 years.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Thanks, Seth. I really enjoy reading this article every week. I follow box scores every day at MILB.com so it's nice to get insight on some of the names. Great to see the success for Berrios, Meyer, Gonsalves, Polanco, and other players who deserve to be brought up early this year or next.

 

The Twins already have 40-man roster issues, but will really have some tough decisions to make in the next couple years.  Twins appear to have a close-knit clubhouse and it seems as if the Twins' top trade candidates like Plouffe and Dozier provide much of the leadership. It would appear we need to make some three-for-one trades or almost-ready prospects for great young talent who don't need to be protected yet. I am one of the few who still has total trust in TR. Seth, what do you foresee TR doing to avoid losing some great prospects yet bringing about the best roster for winning a championship? Or maybe I should ask who you think stays and who provides the most trade value?

 

Not to try to wriggle out of answering it, but these things typically take care of themselves. Guys who come off the 40 man roster are generally fairly easy choices. Any truly elite prospects will  be added, and they'll have to make choices.

 

They aren't going to make trades just to get out of weird 40 man roster choices...