Article: Part 2: Seth's Midseason Top 40 Prospects (21-30)

[Seth Stohs]

Prospect rankings are meant to be fun, but they're also meant to recognize players that work hard throughout the season. I choose to update my personal Top 40 Twins prospect rankings before the draft, before an influx of 25 or so new prospects. Obviously the draft, particularly the #1 overall pick but also several others in the top rounds, will affect any organization’s rankings. When the season is complete I do a quick preliminary Top 50 rankings before diving deep into the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook. It is in that publication where you can find my “official” preseason rankings, and a lot more on all Twins minor leaguers.After looking at my Twins Prospects 31-40yesterday, let’s take a quick look at my choices for Twins Prospect 21-40 today. I welcome your questions and any discussion on the players. (I have included my preseason rankings. Note that I do a Top 30 list in the Prospect Handbook, but I keep and update occasionally a ranking of all of the Twins prospects. However, for this, I will put NR if they were outside my Top 50.)

 

 

30. Engelb Vielma, SS, 22

The slick-fielder Vielma signed with the Twins in September of 2011. Last fall, he was added to the Twins 40-man roster and went to his second MLB spring training. When he was sent to minor league camp, Paul Molitor noted that he could do some things with his glove that few can. His defense, his arm, his range and his leadership are all impressive. He began the season splitting time between second base and shortstop, alternating with Nick Gordon. In the last two weeks, he was promoted to AAA where he has played shortstop exclusively (and so has Gordon). Vielma puts together quality at bats, and he will hit for a decent average, but they will mostly be singles. Nothing wrong with that, but he won’t be a guy who puts up big OBP or SLG numbers because pitchers will throw him strikes. But he has value. That kind of defense, any team will be happy with. He’s probably more of a utility guy who you don’t mind starting when needed.

Preseason Ranking: 27

Pre-2016 Ranking: 15

 

 

29. John Curtiss, RH RP, 24

Curtiss was the Twins sixth-round pick in 2014 out of the University of Texas. While in college, he had Tommy John surgery and came back as a closer. The Twins let him start for a year, but he struggled to stay healthy, so he was moved to the bullpen to start the 2016 season, and he took off. His prospect status really took off last year in the Arizona Fall League when he was pitching well and hitting 97. Last year, he was clocked at 98 mph. And, he has a starter’s mix of pitches available to him. He hasn’t been one of the big-named reliever prospects in the organization, but he has a chance to help the big league club, and maybe in 2017. He now has nine saves this year for Chattanooga. He has thrown 17.2 innings and has not yet given up a run. He has given up ten hits and ten walks, but he’s also struck out 25 batters.

Preseason Ranking: 35

 

 

28. Jose Miranda, 3B, 18

Miranda was the Twins third draft pick in 2016. He was the first of two compensatory picks between the second and third round. The 73rd overall pick was drafted as a shortstop out of the Leadership Christian Academy in Puerto Rico. He played some at shortstop last year, but this spring, he was already moved to third base. A lot of that may have to do with the presence of Wander Javier. Miranda is 6-2 and approaching 200 pounds. He’s a good athlete and should adapt to the hot corner well. He also should hit well. In 55 games in the GCL last year, he hit .227/.308/.292 (.600) with seven doubles, a triple and a home run. Obviously he’s got a long way to go before getting to the big leagues, but he’s got the tools and the frame to find him very interesting.

Preseason Ranking: 18

 

.

27. Akil Baddoo, 18

Baddoo was the fourth Twins draft pick in 2016, selected one pick after they took Miranda. The Georgia prep was drafted as a tremendous athlete who had become a very good baseball player. While he hit just .178/.299/.271 (.570) with two doubles and two triples in 38 games, he will advance to Elizabethton to play this season (most likely). He came to spring training this year having gained 15 pounds and it was likely all muscle. Baddoo has all the tools. He should hit. He has major power potential. He’s got great speed and can play really good defense, including center field. And, he’s got the arm to play right field.

Preseason Ranking: 20

 

 

26. Lewis Thorpe, LHP, 21

In July of 2012, the Twins signed Thorpe out of Australia for $500,000. He burst onto the scene the following year when he went 4-1 with a 2.05 ERA in 12 games. In 44 innings, he walked six and struck out 64. The following season, he moved up to Cedar Rapids in mid-May, and as an 18-year-old, he struck out 80 in 71.2 innings. Unfortunately, in his final start of the season, he hurt his elbow. The result was Tommy John surgery which cost him two seasons. He returned to the mound last week and made his second Miracle start on Thursday night. His fastball is still in the 91-93 range, and his secondary pitches are starting to work already. Thorpe will very likely move up this list quickly again.

Preseason Ranking: 26

Pre-2016 Ranking: 13

Pre-2015 Ranking: 12

 

 

25. Lachlan Wells, LHP, 20

When Thorpe returned to the Miracle, he joined fellow Australian Lachlan Wells in the team’s starting rotation. Wells signed with the Twins in August of 2014 for $300,000. He’s actually followed the path of Thorpe fairly closely. He had a strong debut in the GCL in 2015 when he went 5-2 with a 2.09 ERA. In 47.1 innings, he walked 11 and struck out 49. Last year, he jumped up to Cedar Rapids midseason and made 12 starts for the Kernels. He went 6-4 with a 1.77 ERA. In 71.1 innings, he walked just 16 and struck out 63. He pitched for Australia in this spring’s WBC. He began this season with the Miracle and right now he is 2-6 with a 3.72 ERA. In 46 innings, he has walked ten and struck out 36 batters. Not great numbers, but consider he is three years younger than the average player in the Florida State League. Wells, like Thorpe, has a high baseball and high pitching IQ. He knows how to pitch. He’ll make adjustments.

Preseason Rankings: 23

 

 

24. Ben Rortvedt, C, 19

Rortvedt was the Twins second round pick in 2016 out of Verona Area High School in Wisconsin. He went to the GCL and hit .203 (.531) in 20 games before moving up to Elizabethton where he hit .250 (.598) in 13 games. I admit that I was a little surprised that he started in Cedar Rapids right away this season, and he has struggled with the bat. However, he is one of the youngest players in the Midwest League and he is tremendous defensively. While he’s hitting just under .150 and his OPS is just shy of .400, he is providing value to his pitchers and to the coaching staff. Obviously at some point he will need to hit, but I have little doubt that will happen at some point.

Preseason Ranking: 16

 

 

23. Aaron Whitefield, OF, 20

Aaron Whitefield signed with the Twins in May of 2015 after playing fast-pitch softball nearly his entire life. He was the lone GCL Twins player last year to make the league’s post-season All-Star team. He was a top player for the two-time defending Claxton Shield champion Brisbane Bandits in the ABL, and he represented Australia in the WBC this spring. He jumped up to Cedar Rapids to start the season and has played pretty well. In 42 games, he has hit .285/.327/.472 (.799) with six doubles, three triples and five home runs. He’s also stolen seven bases and become a reliable center fielder with great range. Then remember that he has only played baseball for about four years. He’s also 6-4 and 200 pounds. He’s got all of the tools. He just needs to play, and play a lot. He may be a diamond in the rough, but he’s certainly intriguing.

Preseason Ranking: 48

 

 

22. Jake Reed, RH RP, 24

Reed was the Twins fifth-round pick in 2014 out of the University of Oregon. Upon being drafted, he gave up just one earned run in 31 innings between Elizabethton and Cedar Rapids before giving up one run in 12.2 innings in the Arizona Fall League. In 2015, he struggled early in Chattanooga. He went down to Ft. Myers and was good before returning to the Lookouts late. He ended strong and again pitched well in the AFL. Last year, he pitched well in Chattanooga and ended strong in Rochester .This spring, he went to his second big league spring training and clearly impressed the coaching staff. Unfortunately, in the final exhibition game (Rochester vs Twins), he pulled a muscle in his side. He has been out since. He has pitched in recent days in extended spring training and even hit 98. He should return to the Red Wings soon.

Preseason Ranking: 19

Pre-2016 Ranking: 18

Pre-2015 Ranking: 18

 

 

21. Luis Arraez, 2B, 20

The Twins signed Arraez in November of 2013 out of Venezuela. He broke out last year in Cedar Rapids. As a 19-year-old, he led the Midwest League in batting average in 2016. He went back home and played in the Venezuelan Winter League where he hit .335 against competition much older than him on average. He was starting to be talked about more and more as a bigger prospect. He began this season by going 5-13 (.385) in his first three games. However, in his final at-bat of that third game, he lunged toward first base and landed awkwardly, falling over the bag. He was carted off the field. Two days later, we learned that he had a torn ACL and would miss the entire remainder of the 2017 season.

Preseason Ranking: 17

 

So there you have it, my choices for Twins prospects 21-30. If you missed my choices for Twins prospects 31-40, click here. The top 20 prospects will come over four more installments of five prospects a piece until we reach #1.

 

 

Please feel free to leave comments and discuss the prospects mentioned and the order they are in.

 

Click here to view the article

[mikelink45]

I hate to see some of the names we have been reading about dropping in ranking rather than going upward.  Rortvedt's struggles is a disappointment.  I was hoping to see him on a fast track, it is nice to see Thorpe back and hopefully he will jump up the rankings again.  

 

Baddoo and Miranda ratings puzzle me.  Based on what they are showing in the stats you share I would say they should be at least down in the next ten on the list.  They are listed on hope and I do not put much stock in that until I see real production.  I hope to follow your career updates.

 

Arreaz injury is the worst news on the list. 

[ThejacKmp]

The only sad thing about Vielma is that it likely means this is the last year of Escobar. Vielma seems likely to take his place next year. It'll be interesting to see what happens to Eduardo. He's clearly a competent utility guy but that's the kind of guy who can be replaced on the cheap. A lot of guys hit where he is (one year from free agency) and start to get a little more expensive and find themselves with no job.

Love the Thorpedo. Surprised he didn't move up the list at all.

[drjim]

The only sad thing about Vielma is that it likely means this is the last year of Escobar. Vielma seems likely to take his place next year. It'll be interesting to see what happens to Eduardo. He's clearly a competent utility guy but that's the kind of guy who can be replaced on the cheap. A lot of guys hit where he is (one year from free agency) and start to get a little more expensive and find themselves with no job.

 

Love the Thorpedo. Surprised he didn't move up the list at all.

If he stays healthy, Thorpe will much higher on the next list. But I agree with Seth here, needs to show it.

[Seth Stohs]

 

The only sad thing about Vielma is that it likely means this is the last year of Escobar. Vielma seems likely to take his place next year. It'll be interesting to see what happens to Eduardo. He's clearly a competent utility guy but that's the kind of guy who can be replaced on the cheap. A lot of guys hit where he is (one year from free agency) and start to get a little more expensive and find themselves with no job.

Love the Thorpedo. Surprised he didn't move up the list at all.

 

I don't know that Vielma being in AAA means that Escobar would be gone. At least that's not directly true. Vielma isn't guaranteed a big league job next year at all. He's in AAA. Hopefully things go well, but there's no reason he can't be in AAA again next season. Obviously how he performs between now and Labor Day will play a role in that decision. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

I hate to see some of the names we have been reading about dropping in ranking rather than going upward.  Rortvedt's struggles is a disappointment.  I was hoping to see him on a fast track, it is nice to see Thorpe back and hopefully he will jump up the rankings again.  

 

Baddoo and Miranda ratings puzzle me.  Based on what they are showing in the stats you share I would say they should be at least down in the next ten on the list.  They are listed on hope and I do not put much stock in that until I see real production.  I hope to follow your career updates.

 

Arreaz injury is the worst news on the list. 

 

Stats in those lowest levels, and in the small sample of the GCL season are pretty meaningless. It's about the potential and upside and both have big upsides. They could both move up or down quite a bit this year. I wouldn't worry much about Rortvedt yet either. 

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I hate to see some of the names we have been reading about dropping in ranking rather than going upward.  Rortvedt's struggles is a disappointment.  I was hoping to see him on a fast track, it is nice to see Thorpe back and hopefully he will jump up the rankings again.  

 

Baddoo and Miranda ratings puzzle me.  Based on what they are showing in the stats you share I would say they should be at least down in the next ten on the list.  They are listed on hope and I do not put much stock in that until I see real production.  I hope to follow your career updates.

 

Arreaz injury is the worst news on the list. 

 

Not terribly surprised on Rortvedt's struggles... second rounder picks out of HS don't typically get pushed to low A in their first full season.  I wouldn't be surprised if he got demoted to E-town if the bat doesn't pick up.  Even if he did, that is not necessarily a bad thing. 

[Tom Froemming]

Ben Rortvedt is definitely gonna stick at catcher, is only 19, has Popeye's forearms and Iron Man's hand cannon things from which he can launch baseballs down to second base. I know the hitting numbers are trash, but if anything I personally think he's too low on this list.

 

Than again ... I'm still holding out hope that Brian Navarreto (who has a sub-.600 OPS for the third year in a row) develops some offensive skills, so what do I know.

[brvama]

Wouldn't it be cool to have both Wells and Thorpe in the rotation sometime in the future?  Crocodile Dundee I & II.

[Mike Sixel]

Sure would like to see some RP promotions soon

[gunnarthor]

I'm really excited about those young draft picks from last year, particularly Miranda. I really like that we drafted Miranda, Baddoo and Rortvedt (and Jordan Belovozic).  Rortvedt is already in A ball, the other three were 17 when they were drafted. I think, after we see them physically develop more, we will see significant jumps in their prospect rankings.

[gil4]

It seems like Reed has been around much longer than the 2014 draft and I was ready to mostly write him off.  He is 24, so the clock is ticking, but he has some time left to make it.

[twins_89]

I didn't realize Arraez was out for the year. It sucks that two of the organizations top position prospects (Arraez and Kirilloff) are going to miss a season of development.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I'm really excited about those young draft picks from last year, particularly Miranda. I really like that we drafted Miranda, Baddoo and Rortvedt (and Jordan Belovozic).  Rortvedt is already in A ball, the other three were 17 when they were drafted. I think, after we see them physically develop more, we will see significant jumps in their prospect rankings.

 

And Kirilloff too, who would be in Cedar Rapids if not for the injury.

[Seth Stohs]

 

It seems like Reed has been around much longer than the 2014 draft and I was ready to mostly write him off.  He is 24, so the clock is ticking, but he has some time left to make it.

 

I would say that a 24 year old "has some time left to make it." 

 

It seems like he's been around longer because he got to AA so far... Injuries are always part of it though. 

 

I'll never understand the thinking that a player needs to be in the big leagues before 25 or they won't be good or something. They may not be a Hall of Famer, but if you get a player's ages 25-31, that's pretty good...

[joey emerson]

Seems like most of the twins bats are in extended spring training or low A. Maybe not as gifted as this last group of players to reach the bigs but it seems to have a lot more depth

[bluechipper]

 

It seems like Reed has been around much longer than the 2014 draft and I was ready to mostly write him off.  He is 24, so the clock is ticking, but he has some time left to make it.

For the Twins, 24 is young for a relief prospect.

[nater79a]

Saw that Tyler Benninghoff was mentioned in the 31-40 comments. Could definitely see him in the  countdown this time next year.  Obviously, this year is all about Tyler getting his feet wet and staying healthy.

 

Seth- any thoughts on Johan Quezada? Big arm, but really needs to harness the control. Roughly the same prospect status as last year; maybe another go-round at E-Town?

[nater79a]

 

Wouldn't it be cool to have both Wells and Thorpe in the rotation sometime in the future?  Crocodile Dundee I & II.

 

Then we just need to coax ex-major league catcher Dave Nilsson out of retirement (at what, age 50 by then?) and we can have an all-Aussie battery!

[Seth Stohs]

 

Saw that Tyler Benninghoff was mentioned in the 31-40 comments. Could definitely see him in the  countdown this time next year.  Obviously, this year is all about Tyler getting his feet wet and staying healthy.

 

Seth- any thoughts on Johan Quezada? Big arm, but really needs to harness the control. Roughly the same prospect status as last year; maybe another go-round at E-Town?

 

Benninghoff has a chance, for sure.

 

Quezada was hurt this spring with a shoulder impingement. I haven't heard anything for awhile, but very hard thrower. Very long and lanky. Needs control.

[bird]

A flame-throwing relief pitcher hurt? Huh.

[goulik]

Looking at the minors has been depressing this year because of the injuries. Gonsalves, Thorpe and Reed are getting back at it now but Burdi, Kirriloff, etc... Tough to keep reading about all these.

[DocBauer]

Season long and begining the season injuries has been a HUGE downer thus far.

 

But what I find so interesting about this list...while still opinion of course...is how many recognizable names and even close to probably/maybe contributing names are this low. Makes the top 20 list that much more intriguing and exciting!