Article: 2018 Twins Midseason Top Prospect List: 36-40

[Tom Froemming]

Prospect heads rejoice! It’s time to revisit the top prospects list.

 

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be revealing the Twins Daily Midseason Top 40 Prospects List. That’s right, we’re expanding the size of the official site rankings, doubling upward from our preseason list. The journey starts today with numbers 40 through 36.40. Aaron Whitefield – CF

Age: 21

ETA: 2020

2018 Stats (A+/Rk): .220/.301/.293 (.594 OPS), 3 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 23 K, 9 BB

2018 Ranking: NR | 2017 Ranking: NR

Seth: 29 | Tom: NR | Cody: 42

 

Whitefield just recently returned to action with the MIracle. He suffered a broken hamate bone in late April, which forced him to miss all of May and most of June. He made a name for himself with the Kernels last year flashing both speed (33 stolen bases) and power (11 homers). He’s also a legit center fielder. Over the winter, Whitefield won his third-straight Claxton Shield (which is awarded to the Australian Baseball League champions). Here’s hoping he can get back healthy and continue to build momentum.

 

39. Jaylin Davis – RF

Age: 24

ETA: 2019

2018 Stats (AA/A+): .265/.358/.395 (.753 OPS), 11 2B, 0 3B, 6 HR, 67 K, 27 BB

2018 Ranking: NR | 2017 Ranking: NR

Seth: 41 | Tom: 43 | Cody: 35

 

Over his first two seasons in the system, Davis displayed impressive power but it came with a hefty number of strikeouts and not many walks to offset them. This season, he’s looked like a whole new hitter. After posting a career 30.2 K% and 6.8 BB%, Davis has improved those rates to 25.2 K% and 11.0 BB% in 2018. The power took a dip, but that was to be expected in the FSL. The higher-ups took note of the strides Davis was making, and promoted him up to Chattanooga a couple of weeks ago.

 

38. Ricky De La Torre – SS

Age: 18

ETA: 2022

2018 Stats: .333/.417/.500 (.917 OPS), 3 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 7 K, 3 BB

2018 Ranking: NR | 2017 Ranking: NR

Seth: 44 | Tom: 29 | Cody: 43

 

Drafted out of Puerto Rico, De La Torre made his pro debut last year as a 17-year-old and opted to sign with the Twins instead of heading to Auburn. He cracked three homers with the GCL Twins last year, which doesn’t sound like much, but only 15 batters went deep five or more times in that entire league last season. Shortstop is a crowded spot in the system, which is a good problem to have, but De La Torre may be the best suited of anyone to make the transition to third base due to his strong arm.

 

37. Lachlan Wells – LHP

Age: 21

ETA: 2021

2018 Stats: None, injured.

2018 Ranking: NR | 2017 Ranking: NR

Seth: 48 | Tom: 33 | Cody: 32

 

Another Australian! Wells had Tommy John surgery in mid May and will miss the entire 2018 season. Originally looked over due to his diminutive stature, Wells really filled out the past couple years, though he’ll still never be mistaken for Tyler Wells (who’s listed at 6-foot-8, 265 lbs). In 204 innings as a pro, Lachlan has a 2.74 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and has averaged 8.2 K/9 against just 2.0 BB/9. It’s a shame we won’t get to see him on the mound again for quite some time.

 

36. Aaron Slegers – RHP

ETA: 2018

Age: 25

2018 Stats (AAA): 83.2 IP, 3.55 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 5.9 K/9, 2.0 BB/9, 2.89 K:BB

2018 Ranking: NR | 2017 Ranking: NR

Seth: 33 | Tom: 34 | Cody: 45

 

Slegers lacks the kind of overpowering stuff that puts pitchers higher up on prospect lists, but there’s no questioning his track record of getting outs in the high minors. He’s made five appearances with the Twins over the past two years, but during that time he’s also 20-9 with a 3.38 ERA over 37 starts for Rochester. Slegers pitched the fifth-most innings in the Southern League in 2016, logged the fourth-most innings in the International League last season and is easily pacing his Red Wings teammates in innings so far this year.

 

That's it for now, check another five pack of prospects tomorrow.

 

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[BJames]

Slegers need to be in the Bigs, throwing long relief. Move Magill to the 6th,7th,8th inning guy with Rodger,Pressly,Reed.  Whitefield could be a sleeper and move up quickly, but that's not the Twins way. 

[Thrylos]

I like Whitefield, but still not sure whether he can hit a baseball against good pitching.  Like most converted softball players he has real trouble with breaking stuff.  Real trouble.  This season was going to be interesting, but it is pretty much lost with injury.  Excellent globe, base running and hustling and a good guy to root for.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I like Whitefield, but still not sure whether he can hit a baseball against good pitching.  Like most converted softball players he has real trouble with breaking stuff.  Real trouble.  This season was going to be interesting, but it is pretty much lost with injury.  Excellent globe, base running and hustling and a good guy to root for.

 

That's why he's #40 on this list. If there weren't any question marks, with his athleticism and talent, he'd be way higher on the list. 

[diehardtwinsfan]

Curious what the question markson De La Torre are. He's more than 2 years below league average in Etown and doing quite well there (granted SSS). The write up on his defense says he should stay in the infield. Strikes me as a pretty decent prospect. I'd think if he kept that up, he'd be much higher than that.

[rdehring]

Interesting that none of the five from this group were previously ranked.  Personally like De La Torre and expect him to climb this ladder over the next few years.

[Dman]

 

Curious what the question markson De La Torre are. He's more than 2 years below league average in Etown and doing quite well there (granted SSS). The write up on his defense says he should stay in the infield. Strikes me as a pretty decent prospect. I'd think if he kept that up, he'd be much higher than that.

 

Must be a tough top 30 to crack?

[ThejacKmp]

 

Slegers need to be in the Bigs, throwing long relief. Move Magill to the 6th,7th,8th inning guy with Rodger,Pressly,Reed.  Whitefield could be a sleeper and move up quickly, but that's not the Twins way. 

 

He's not going to move quickly but not because of the Twins Way. He's new to baseball and they're going to have to teach him significantly more than they do most players.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Curious what the question markson De La Torre are. He's more than 2 years below league average in Etown and doing quite well there (granted SSS). The write up on his defense says he should stay in the infield. Strikes me as a pretty decent prospect. I'd think if he kept that up, he'd be much higher than that.

 

De La Torre is a really nice prospect, but it has nothing to do with his stats. Way too small of a sample at this time to even really look at the numbers.

 

But he's known as being very good defensively. Good range, strong arm. Offensively, there are question marks, but he's' got potential. I mean, he's so young at this point, but the tools are terrific. 

 

Prospect rankings are based on so many things... Tools, age-to-level, and somewhat stats (though the lower the level, it's less about stats)... But proximity does come into play as well. De Le Torre is kind of at a point where he was  6th round pick, was very young, has OK numbers but is more about the tools right now, so guys with good stat lines that are older and up the system are higher now. But being in the high-30s now is kind of impressive right now.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

De La Torre is a really nice prospect, but it has nothing to do with his stats. Way too small of a sample at this time to even really look at the numbers.

 

But he's known as being very good defensively. Good range, strong arm. Offensively, there are question marks, but he's' got potential. I mean, he's so young at this point, but the tools are terrific. 

 

Prospect rankings are based on so many things... Tools, age-to-level, and somewhat stats (though the lower the level, it's less about stats)... But proximity does come into play as well. De Le Torre is kind of at a point where he was  6th round pick, was very young, has OK numbers but is more about the tools right now, so guys with good stat lines that are older and up the system are higher now. But being in the high-30s now is kind of impressive right now.

 

Usually at this level, tools tend to take precedence over results... hence my question. If the tools are there, he's ranked way too low... or the system is just that deep. I haven't looked that close of late. I know there's a lot of youngish talent, so it's encouraging to see an 18 year old infielder in advanced rookie ball, not only doing well, but ranked low.

[jkcarew]

 

Usually at this level, tools tend to take precedence over results... hence my question. If the tools are there, he's ranked way too low... or the system is just that deep. I haven't looked that close of late. I know there's a lot of youngish talent, so it's encouraging to see an 18 year old infielder in advanced rookie ball, not only doing well, but ranked low.

Don't know how toolsy he really is.  He's already bigger than most that end up sticking at SS, and he really hasn't shown any speed (at least in terms of SB) yet.  On the plus side, more mistakes and bigger mistakes are made on the very young players...and this kid was drafted at a very young age.  Maybe we'll have a 6th-round steel.  Nice to see him already doing well at Elizabethton.

[caninatl04]

You wrote:

Davis displayed impressive power but it came with a hefty number of strikeouts and not many walks to offset them. This season, he’s looked like a whole new hitter. After posting a career 30.2 K% and 6.8 BB%, Davis has improved those rates to 25.2 K% and 11.0 BB% in 2018.

 

Whatever soup they're feeding him, can they give some to Sano?

 

Excellent write-up and thank you.

[mikelink45]

Slegers is the name that sticks out.  The 21 - 40 rankings are usually interesting to me because I know nothing about them.  But Slegers has been prominent in the TD minor league reports for 2 years.  Ranking this low on the prospect list says a lot about why he does not get the call up.  What do you think his future really is?

[DocBauer]

Whitefield is one of my favorite prospects. How could he not be? His story is just so good! THIS is a guy you have to be be patient for. But if he can be healthy and learn to hit breaking stuff, he seems to have the kind of talent and potential that would have made him a pretty high draft pick.

 

De La Torre is just so young, but all reports seem to indicate he's a young man to keep an eye on. From potential and skill set, it be really interested to know how he compares to Javier.

 

I both understand and am confused by Slegers being so low. Despite his big frame, he just doesn't bring real heat. I get it. But he's performed at every level, and has shown flashes in his brief ML appearances. The Twins are, thankfully, a bit flush with rotation starters, rotation prospects very close, and a couple really good ones a year or two away but filled with real upside. Still, it seems to me Slegers is about perfect as an ideal long man who can swing in to the rotation when you need him to. A RH version of Duensingm if you will. Wonder when, or if, he actually gets a real shot to stick.

 

Wells injury really stinks. Let's hope he makes a full recovery for 2019.