Article: Twins Minor League Hitter of the Month - May 2017

[Seth Stohs]

May is complete. June is upon us. Today we look at some of the top hitters in the Twins organization during the season’s second month. As you would expect, there is a good mix of young prospects and veterans. There are some power-hitter types and some guys for whom on-base percentage is a more important indicator of their potential.

 

In case you missed it, here are the previously-announced May winners:

• Starting Pitcher of the Month, Aaron Slegers
• Relief Pitcher of the Month, Randy Rosario

Pitching wins, but only if the hitters score enough runs in that game. There were quite a few hitters that started their seasons strong. Let’s take a look at the Top 5 hitters of the month, but first here are some players deserving of honorable mention.

 

HONORABLE MENTION

• Edgar Corcino - Chattanooga - 25 G, 28-88, .318/.382/.409 (.791) with five doubles, one homer, 21 RBI.
• Jaylin Davis - Cedar Rapids - 29 G, 29-113, .257/.294/.531 (.825) with seven doubles, eight homers, 18 RBI.
• Zander Wiel - Ft. Myers - 25 G, 25-94, .266/.337/.489 (.826) with five doubles, two triples, four homers and 12 RBI.

THE TOP FIVE HITTERS

 

Number 5 – Cedar Rapids - Christian Cavaness - .278/.338/.528 (.865). 20-72 with five doubles, two triples, three home runs and 15 RBI.

 

 

Cavaness signed as a non-drafted free agent after a very successful season at NAIA Lindenwood University in Belleville, Illinois. He split 2016 between Elizabethton and Cedar Rapids. He began this season with the Kernels and played sparingly in April.

And then the calendar turned to May. And he started hitting, and Tommy Watkins rewarded him with more and more playing time. He delivered at the bottom of the Kernels order by getting on base and hitting for some power. He can play center field fine. He certainly has the range. But he’s been mostly playing left field and doing a very nice job.

Number 4 – Chattanooga – SS Nick Gordon - .294/.374/.532 (.906). 32-109 with 11 doubles, three triples, three home runs and 12 RBI.

 

Gordon was the Twins first pick in the 2014 draft, and he has continued to progress nicely as he’s moved up a level a year. After a very strong showing last year in the Arizona Fall League, Gordon earned an invitation to major league spring training. He told me shortly after he was sent to minor league camp that he was feeling all kinds of confidence due to the opportunities in Arizona and at spring training.

He’s been leading off most every game for the Lookouts. He’s been doing a nice job all season, and remained consistent through May. He has started to walk more, showing a much better knowledge or the strike zone. He’s also increased his power this year in terms of doubles and home runs. There continue to be mixed reports on his defense, though most think he can be a major league shortstop.

 

Number 3 - Chattanooga – OF LaMonte Wade - .318/.456/.432 (.888) 28-88 with four doubles, two homers and 14 RBI

 

Wade had a tough first ten games in Chattanooga, but he quickly adapted to the Southern League and has been very good since. He is doing the things that made him such an intriguing prospect. He began walking more than he strikes out. He has a plan going into every plate appearance, and no one in the system knows the strike zone better.

Wade was the Twins ninth-round pick in 2015 out of Maryland where he missed a large chunk of his junior season with injury, which probably pushed him down a few rounds in the draft.

Number 2 - Ft. Myers – 3B Chris Paul - .383/.459/.585 (1.044), 36-94 with 11 doubles, one triple, two homers and 20 RBI.

 

Chris Paul was the Twins fifth-round draft pick out of Cal-Berkeley. He had spent a couple of summers playing for the St. Cloud Rox. He began 2016 season in Cedar Rapids though he moved up to the Miracle within the first month due to injuries higher up the ladder. He struggled and his season came to an end early due to his own injury.

He’s been one of the better hitters in the Twins organization through the first two months of the season.He was good in April, but he was very good in May. He hit for average. He got on base almost 50% of the time, and he hit a bunch of doubles. He had a walk-off, three-run homer and a few days later had a walk-off single for the Miracle. Unfortunately, he ended the month on the disabled list.

And the Twins Minor League Hitter of the Month is:

 

Cedar Rapids – 1B Lewin Diaz - .327/.361/.627 (989), 36-110 with 13 doubles, one triple, six homers and 23 RBI.

 

Lewin Diaz signed with the Twins way back in 2013 for $1.4 million of the Dominican Republic. After a year in the DSL, he moved up to the GCL in 2015. Last year, he was the Twins Daily short-season Minor League Hitter of the Year for his efforts in Elizabethton. This year, he made the move to full season and has done a very nice job for the Kernels.

At 6-5 and roughly 250 pounds, he can be an intimidating batter in the middle of the Kernels lineup. He’s got plenty of room for improvement, but he’s more than held his own, and he’s starting to show even more power than maybe expected. His 20 doubles lead the Twins minor leagues right now. He’s in the Top 3 in home runs and RBI. He’s got some work to do around first base, though he is fairly athletic and smooth around the bag.

 

Congratulations to the May Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Month for 2017, Cedar Rapids first baseman Lewin Diaz.

 

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[twinswatch]

Very interesting picks.  I would have thought Davis (Kernels) would have at least made it into the top 5 for May.  He has been in the Kernels top three for runs, rbis, sb, and hr for the month.  He's also been a pretty solid RF. Not to mention the three nighter and the two nighter and leading the Midwest in HRs. I don't know just saying..

[Han Joelo]

I had just checked the nightly minor league box scores before reading this. I thought to myself that Lewis has been solid lately, and if he keeps it up he'll be hotter of the month--for June. Hadn't realize he'd been that good for so long.

[rdehring]

Gotta agree with twinswatch. Don't see how 8 home runs in the month isn't worthy of the top 5.

 

Interesting reading about Cavaness. Thinking back a bunch of years, Seth, didn't the Twins have another prospect from Lindenwood or another school in Belleville (if there is one)? Don't remember the name, thought you might recall.

[Twinsoholic]

I also agree that DAVIS should be in the top 5 for the month.

[AKTwins]

What's everyone's thoughts on Wade's ceiling? Is he a 4th OF, platoon player, solid everyday player? He behind Granite in the pecking order to be called up eventually. Would he have value in a trade?

[Mike Sixel]

I like Wade more than Rosario. No way I am trading him right now. Well, almost no way.

[drjim]

What's everyone's thoughts on Wade's ceiling? Is he a 4th OF, platoon player, solid everyday player? He behind Granite in the pecking order to be called up eventually. Would he have value in a trade?

Likely a 4th of, but on pace to get some run in the bigs, could turn into more.

 

Not very much trade value at the moment, maybe gets you a solid reliever with 1.5 years of control or a decent corner bat rental.

[caninatl04]

How does Diaz physically compare to Sano and Vargas?

 

Thanks

[hugelycat]

Great to see Diaz mashing. Also exciting because this is his first year in full season leagues. Let's hope this is a sign of things to come!

[yarnivek1972]

Perhaps this is picking nits, but I guess I would rank a .906 OPS from a SS ahead of a .888 from a corner OFer.

[gman]

I'd like to see that lineup with Sano at 3rd and Diaz at 1st. Probably 3 years away.

 

Wade looks like he could take playing time away from Buxton. as well as Rosario. His consistent AB's will be hard to keep out of the lineup next year.

[Thrylos]

 

What's everyone's thoughts on Wade's ceiling?

 

Matt Lawton.

[Thrylos]

 

 

How does Diaz physically compare to Sano and Vargas?

 

Thanks

 

He used to be bigger but lost a lot of weight this spring.  Already at 6'3", he is closer to 220 lbs.  Solid core, his body type is more like Sano's than Vargas's.

 

This is a video of him hitting a home run for the Kernels this season.

Edited June 4, 2017 by Thrylos

[D.C Twins]

Thanks to TD for putting these monthly summaries together; one of the best contributions.

 

If Wade and Granite can continue to maximize their potential….they replace Rosario and Grossman over the next 1-2 years. Together, they would make us more well-rounded defensively and offensively (as well as cheap and controllable).

[Carneal&Gordon]

Wade, Wade, Wade. Please don't trade him.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Gotta agree with twinswatch. Don't see how 8 home runs in the month isn't worthy of the top 5.

Interesting reading about Cavaness. Thinking back a bunch of years, Seth, didn't the Twins have another prospect from Lindenwood or another school in Belleville (if there is one)? Don't remember the name, thought you might recall.

 

 

I guess I'd point out Davis's OBP and OPS relative to the others in the Top 5... but I know Home Runs are fun, so I definitely gave him a lot of consideration. He did have a nice month though.

 

I don't think they had anyone from Lindenwood. Brian Dinkelman had gone to an NAIA school from Illinois or Ohio, I believe.

[Seth Stohs]

 

What's everyone's thoughts on Wade's ceiling? Is he a 4th OF, platoon player, solid everyday player? He behind Granite in the pecking order to be called up eventually. Would he have value in a trade?

 

With his On-Base skills and solid all-around game, I don't know why anyone would put his ceiling at fourth outfielder at this point. He's definitely a potential starting left fielder... I'm not saying that's what will happen, but I don't know why we'd limit his ceiling to 4th OF at this time when his performance and age-to-level and skill set say he could be a starter. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

How does Diaz physically compare to Sano and Vargas?

 

Thanks

 

More Vargas than Sano at this point in terms of his look... though he's a bit smaller than Vargas. He's not quite the athlete that Sano is, but he's much more of an athlete than Vargas is. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

Matt Lawton.

 

I think that's a great comp for what Wade could become, and I think that fans and front offices might much better appreciate what Lawton brought to the table now than they did 15 years ago.