Article: The Core Seven?

[Seth Stohs]

In mid-July, I wrote an article looking at the first half of what I’ve been calling The Core Four. The Core Four, in my opinion, is comprised of Byron Buxton, Miguel Sano, Jose Berrios and Max Kepler.

 

While it is clear that those four have the highest ceilings of any of the Twins young players, but it is becoming more and more clear that the Twins may have more than just four players that they may be able to rely upon for years to come.Let’s start by saying that The Core Four is still the core.

 

At the time of the July article, Byron Buxton was in the middle of a mini-slump. However, with his defense, he was still very valuable. He figured some things out in August and had a huge month. A hand injury likely has stolen some pop from his swing, but his defense is still a must in the outfield.

 

Max Kepler has had some ups and downs. He’s struggled mightily against left-handed pitchers, but that isn’t something that has historically been the case. He plays a strong right field and has continued to show increased power.

 

Jose Berrios was great early, and he’s been more inconsistent from start to start the last six weeks or so. It’s clear that with his stuff, he is a large part of the Twins future.

 

Miguel Sano has been hurt the last three weeks. He strikes out a ton, but there is no questioning the impact that he can have on the Twins lineup. His power is electrifying. And his defense at third base has been adequate at worst, so he is certainly part of the future.

 

But since mid-July, a few others have put themselves in the conversation for being a part of the Twins new core. It’s not that they weren’t part of the future, but there were some question marks.

 

 

ADALBERTO MEJIA

 

Just 24-years-old, Mejia proved himself as a mid-rotation type of starter before experiencing an arm injury that cost him about a month. He has made three rehab starts in the Twins minor leagues, and he will return to the Twins rotation on Saturday against Toronto. Clearly he’s got good, starters stuff. He’s left-handed. He has enough velocity and is able to mix pitches well. If healthy, there is no reason that he shouldn’t be part of the Twins rotation for a half-decade or more.

 

JORGE POLANCO

 

In July, there were so many questions about Polanco. He was rarely playing because he looked lost at the plate, and at times, he was carrying it into the field. However, as the calendar changed to August, Polanco got back into the lineup and put up an incredible month. He posted an OPS well over 1.000 for the month.

 

Is the 24-year-old part of the Twins future? Well, he’s certainly part of the 2018 season. Maybe Nick Gordon will come up at some point in 2018. Will Brian Dozier be traded or extended? In several of these scenarios, Polanco remains in the Twins starting lineup. And if not, he’ll be a starter in the big leagues for years.

 

EDDIE ROSARIO

 

No one has made bigger strides in 2017 than Eddie Rosario. Since signing with the Twins in 2009, it’s been clear that he is immensely talented, has quick hands, big power potential and strong defense (range and arm).

 

What wasn’t clear is if he had it within him to quit swinging at so many pitches outside of the strike zone, or if he was even willing to try. Well, whether it was Rosario, James Rowson, Rudy Hernandez or someone else, Rosario has figured some things out. In fact, he has more walks this year than in the two previous seasons. He has been the Twins top hitter for most of the last three or four months. And, he’s just 25 years old still. If he can continue his trend of better strike zone judgment, he could be an all-star. He’s that talented.

 

The “Core Four” are guys who were top prospects. Sano and Buxton were Top 10 overall prospects. Berrios was a Top 25 guy, and Kepler was a Top 50 guy. Mejia, Rosario and Polanco weren’t Top 50 prospects, but they were right on the borderline of the Top 100. Each of them made a Top 100 list or two as they were working their way up the organizational ladder. In other words, they haven’t just come out of nowhere. But what they have done this year is take a step forward in their development.

 

I’m a big believer that overcoming struggles and difficulties is another part of the development. Maybe it’s the most important part of the development. There is a small group of prospects who work their way to the big leagues without finding extended period of struggle. They get to the big leagues. Have an extended slump, and you find out what they’re made of. Rosario and Polanco certainly fit into that category.

 

The “Core Seven” isn’t as catchy as The “Core Four” but as a Twins fan, it’s great to see more and more reliable talent. These players will have to continue improving and becoming more and more consistent, but it’s in them. All seven are just coming into their primes and there is room to grow. That is what is the most exciting.

 

Then consider the role-type of players that these guys can and will be surrounded by. Maybe not Top 100 types of prospects, but valuable pieces. Trevor Hildenberger, Alan Busenitz, John Curtiss and Gabriel Moya weren’t Top 100 prospects, but that’s four bullpen arms that could be there for years. Mitch Garver would appear to be the backup catcher for the next several years with the bat to play more often. Zack Granite can be a quality starting outfielder who may find himself in a fourth outfielder role. And there are pitchers coming soon too.

 

 

Couple that Core Seven, with all that additional young talent, and the future is bright. Couple that talent with the veterans like Brian Dozier, Joe Mauer, Ervin Santana and Matt Belisle playing so well, and that’s why this team currently has a two-game lead for a playoff spot with 17 games to go.

 

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[mazeville]

Rosario has helped fill the void left by Sano and last night was awesome. This team has some really good young talent that makes them fun to watch. 

[twinssouth]

I'll drink to this (my coffee that is.). I see a core 6, seems early to include Mejia.

[rdehring]

As you will recall, I have always been a believer of Rosario becoming one of the Twins top players. Have been pleasantly surprised at how much progress he has made this year at the plate. I don't know how defensive metrics are calculated, but I see a player who is above average. Yes, he makes a dumb decision once in awhile, throwing to the wrong base or a bit wild. But he gets to so many balls many outfielders wouldn't, holding runners to one less base.

 

I said to Bonnie earlier this year that I see a lot of Rod Carew in Polanco. Although it is unlikely he, or anyone, will become as good as one of the games all-time best. But he does a lot of the things well that Carew did and I see him as being a long-term asset for this team.

 

Not convinced about Mejia. Would like to see him shed a few pounds and improve his fielding. Don't like his not getting to first base to take a throw when needed...which happened too often.

[D. Hocking]

It is great to see so many people contributing.  If Sano had gone down in June, I think his absence would have been more heavily felt.

 

(Last year is starting to feel like it was a dream).

[Twinfan & Dad]

Couldn't agree more Seth. Nice article.

[drjim]

I hope you are right about Mejia. Seems a little aggressive at this point.

[DocBauer]

While there were certainly warranted questions regarding Rosario and an un-disciplined nature at times, I always believed he could do exactly what he is now. (With room to get better still). You read it in scouting reports, you saw it in milb production and he displayed flashes early in the ML.

 

I think a pale comparison to Cares for Polanco is not a bad one. He makes contact, is difficult to SO, runs well, and he does have the good, quick hands with some pop. Whether he ultimately plays SS or 2B I think he will be fine defensively. I still wonder about he, Dozier and Gordon all existing in the team in some capacity. Would be nice!

 

I don't think, based on potential, stuff and early returns, that it's a stretch to include Mejia here. He's only a rookie, but he has flashed. The biggest problem is economizing his pitches. He seems to largely get ahead of hitters but struggles at times to put them away. But the potential is there and the early returns are very encouraging. I really hope for a few good starts to close out the season.

[NapoleonComplex]

I was really down on Rosario coming into this season. After nearly 800 PAs, under 20 BBs to 200+ K's made me worry about his ability to control the strikezone and keep his aggressiveness in check. Although he was only 24 at the end of last season, I wasn't confident he could overcome those issues considering similar issues with other prospects that raked at every level of the system, but couldn't put it together with the big club.

 

Proud to say he has made me a believer this season.

[blindeke]

how about "the magnificent seven"?

[Vanimal46]

Every superhero needs a sidekick.... I still believe in the core four, and these three are turning into nice supplementary pieces for the core 4. 

[nicksaviking]

I'm probably the in the minority, but I think I believe in Rosario much more than I do Kepler. Lefties learning to hit lefties is a tough ask, but Rosario can and Kepler isn't.

 

Eddie has made good contact at every level, looking at his career as a whole, last year was a clear outlier. He'll never be a superstar but aside from Sano, if someone asked me to put money on a guy who wouldn't be an offensive liability the next half decade, I'd be most confident about Rosario. It seems to me the only thing holding him back is his twice monthly poor throws.

 

Most importantly, and I could be wrong, Eddie kind of looks like he's the Latin leader in the dugout. I want that guy.

[drjim]

 

While there were certainly warranted questions regarding Rosario and an un-disciplined nature at times, I always believed he could do exactly what he is now. (With room to get better still). You read it in scouting reports, you saw it in milb production and he displayed flashes early in the ML.

I think a pale comparison to Cares for Polanco is not a bad one. He makes contact, is difficult to SO, runs well, and he does have the good, quick hands with some pop. Whether he ultimately plays SS or 2B I think he will be fine defensively. I still wonder about he, Dozier and Gordon all existing in the team in some capacity. Would be nice!

I don't think, based on potential, stuff and early returns, that it's a stretch to include Mejia here. He's only a rookie, but he has flashed. The biggest problem is economizing his pitches. He seems to largely get ahead of hitters but struggles at times to put them away. But the potential is there and the early returns are very encouraging. I really hope for a few good starts to close out the season.

 

I certainly agree that Mejia has talent and potential and has flashed, but I am concerned about injury and short starts (partially because of what is referenced). I'm just a little hesitant to put him in as a core guy until I see someone who can go 30 starts and 180 innings.

[Dantes929]

Do relievers qualify for big status?   Busenitz and Hildenberger look pretty decent.    When we resign Kintzler will he qualify?

[biscuit]

Eduardo Escobar?

[IndianaTwin]

 

...I said to Bonnie earlier this year that I see a lot of Rod Carew in Polanco. Although it is unlikely he, or anyone, will become as good as one of the games all-time best. But he does a lot of the things well that Carew did and I see him as being a long-term asset for this team.
 

 

Bonnie? Have you been talking to my wife too? No wonder she's fed up with all my talk about baseball. 

 

Apparently we've been telling her the same things, however, because I agree with your post.  

[rdehring]

You may recall, Seth, that several years ago I spoke of the similarities between Rosario and a player I watched as a kid. Similar size, both played some second base before settling in the outfield, both with reasonable speed, and both with very quick, special hands.

 

Now I don't predict that Rosario will become the greatest home run hitter of all-time, but the similarities told me a long time ago he may well become a special player.

[Seth Stohs]

 

You may recall, Seth, that several years ago I spoke of the similarities between Rosario and a player I watched as a kid. Similar size, both played some second base before settling in the outfield, both with reasonable speed, and both with very quick, special hands.

Now I don't predict that Rosario will become the greatest home run hitter of all-time, but the similarities told me a long time ago he may well become a special player.

 

As I recall, that person ended up hitting a lot of home runs in Atlanta and Milwaukee, right?

[jimbo92107]

I agree with most of the comments I'm reading here, and I'd like to add that this Twins club has a hard-working, lunch bucket spirit that is pleasing to watch. Every player on the squad looks to be working on something to improve his game.

 

Sano worked his butt off to improve his fielding technique.

Buxton struggled mightily to refine his weight shift, timing and approach at the plate, while also vastly improving his bunting and stealing techniques.

Rosario is learning to lay off outside junk, gradually narrowing his trigger zone.

Kepler is struggling a bit at the plate, but he will figure it out.

Mejia is gradually honing his command.

Berrios is up and down, but always works like hell.

Dozier learned a new trick - hitting oppo with power.

Joe Mauer perfected his 1B fielding, and now appears to be getting his top hitting form back.

Castro looks solid behind the plate, may have found his hitting stroke.

Escobar looks like a starter at 3B, surprising power at the plate.

Polanco quietly leads with his bat, his feet, and his glove. 

Gibson suddenly looks dominant after working on new mechanics. 

 

Lots of guys are improving on this team, clearly a sign that Molitor and the coaches are getting through to them that they can be champions, if they all work their butts off to get better. Championship teams are built, not just bought. They want to compete with the best teams, and they believe they can get there.

[Don Walcott]

 

I'm probably the in the minority, but I think I believe in Rosario much more than I do Kepler. Lefties learning to hit lefties is a tough ask, but Rosario can and Kepler isn't.

Eddie has made good contact at every level, looking at his career as a whole, last year was a clear outlier. He'll never be a superstar but aside from Sano, if someone asked me to put money on a guy who wouldn't be an offensive liability the next half decade, I'd be most confident about Rosario. It seems to me the only thing holding him back is his twice monthly poor throws.

Most importantly, and I could be wrong, Eddie kind of looks like he's the Latin leader in the dugout. I want that guy.

Totally agree with this. Not sure why you'd think Kepler has more upside than Rosario.

 

As far as the Latin thing, watching Kevin Gorg interview Rosario after the game, with a translator present, it made me wonder if Twins Daily has any Spanish-speaking writers who could really improve the reporting on a team that has so many Latinos who'd much prefer to be interviewed in Spanish. I would think this would be a gold mine of information about these players and the team to which the mainstream press does not have access (sorry "Access").

[Mike Sixel]

I'm a Mejia believer, and even I think putting him as part of the core is premature. But, I think he's a long time number 4 type here.....which would be great!

[beckmt]

Agree with most of this, though I also might swap Kepler for Rosario.  Rest of year should be fun, and seeing what comes of all this in the offseason will also be fun.

[jkcarew]

 

I'm probably the in the minority, but I think I believe in Rosario much more than I do Kepler. Lefties learning to hit lefties is a tough ask, but Rosario can and Kepler isn't.

This...especially if you replace 'much more' with more.  Not sure we can have one of the core 4 be a platoon player.  And have always been mystified by the opinion that Kepler 'clearly' has more upside than Rosario.

 

Mejia has to do WAY more.  I'm not there with Polanco.  He's had an encouraging year, to be sure...but I'm not convinced he will be a better value at shortstop (and/or second) than a number of guys that will be pushing him in 2 years.  I don't think any of the other position guys have anyone pushing them any time soon.  So, they better be 'core'.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

 

Eduardo Escobar?

I like EE a lot, but hes a utility player. Important and good utility player, but utility none the less. Tough to put him in the "Core".
 

[Han Joelo]

I think I might have coined the Magnificent Seven idea.  No matter, but if you make the comparison with the movies, the magnificent seven has two main studs (Brynner/McQueen, Denzel/Pratt, Buxton/Sano) and then five more guys of diminishing star quality.  I think our movie is still in the Act I phase, the "assembling the gang" montage.  I'd say spot 7 is still up for grabs.  Currently auditioning:

 

Meija

Hildenberger

Vargas

Adrianza

Busenitz

 

I think in the both the original and the remake, the seventh guy was kind of a chubby guy, so Meija and Vargas make the most sense, but performance will dictate.

[rdehring]

As I recall, that person ended up hitting a lot of home runs in Atlanta and Milwaukee, right?

Yup! It was a long time ago and I only saw him a game or two a year (there wasn't tv back then), but Rosario reminds me so much of him when he was a young player. Much different personality, as Hank was soft spoken and very reserved.

[rdehring]

I think I might have coined the Magnificent Seven idea.  No matter, but if you make the comparison with the movies, the magnificent seven has two main studs (Brynner/McQueen, Denzel/Pratt, Buxton/Sano) and then five more guys of diminishing star quality.  I think our movie is still in the Act I phase, the "assembling the gang" montage.  I'd say spot 7 is still up for grabs.  Currently auditioning:

 

Meija

Hildenberger

Vargas

Adrianza

Busenitz

 

I think in the both the original and the remake, the seventh guy was kind of a chubby guy, so Meija and Vargas make the most sense, but performance will dictate.

I like this and agree that putting Mejia into the Magnificent 7 is premature. Personally, I would like the 7th to be a late inning reliever. Some guy with a bit of a wild look that comes into the game with loud music playing "wild thing." Maybe we wait for Curtiss or Burdi to take that last step and become that shut-down closer.

[the blade]

 

Totally agree with this. Not sure why you'd think Kepler has more upside than Rosario.

 

As far as the Latin thing, watching Kevin Gorg interview Rosario after the game, with a translator present, it made me wonder if Twins Daily has any Spanish-speaking writers who could really improve the reporting on a team that has so many Latinos who'd much prefer to be interviewed in Spanish. I would think this would be a gold mine of information about these players and the team to which the mainstream press does not have access (sorry "Access").

I speak spanish.  Put me to work.

 

[ND-Fan]

I would like to say this is all making of previous Front office and it looks like they were not as incompentent as all people on here have made them out. It just took time for these players to develop. I will give credit to this front office on several of new coaches hired it seems they have been able to turn the corner on this group of players in getting them to make needed changes. Also i have stated in past this front office was able give up on some previous high draft picks and let this new group play in there natural positions. The question is will this new Front office will be able add the right people and subtract right people in the future to improve this team in next few years because this core could win couple of championships if they can add pitching without subtracting to much from the core.

[Vanimal46]

 

I speak spanish.  Put me to work.

 

Would you accept hot dogs from Target Field as proper compensation for your work? If so, you're hired!