Article: Kirilloff's 2018 One for the Ages

[rdehring]

Great article, Ted.  And great discussion!

 

Expect AK will be in Chattanooga in the spring.  What happens after that remains to be seen.  We can speculate all we want (yes, I want him at Target Field asap), but he will determine how fast he advances.  As for me, will hold my breath and hope that this kid turns out to be that special player we thought we had a few years ago with Sano and Buxton.  

[nicksaviking]

 

I agree that if Mauer and Kepler aren't performing the FO and Molitor would be less likely to bench them for rookies but I don't know if they would for Odorizzi especially if Gonsalves or Thorpe are dominating AAA.

 

I agree, Odorizzi was basically just a placeholder for that example and my money is on the team moving him to the pen next year regardless of free agency. We can instead use whomever is 2019's free agent version of Lance Lynn.

[jimbo92107]

It's nice to think that one of the next great hitters in the major leagues is now playing for a Twins affiliate in Ft Meyers. No reason to think they can't jump him directly to AA next spring, and if he's still crushing it above .320 for half a season, bring him up after the All Star break. 

[jokin]

 

I agree, Odorizzi was basically just a placeholder for that example and my money is on the team moving him to the pen next year regardless of free agency. We can instead use whomever is 2019's free agent version of Lance Lynn.

 

Yeah. The Twins got a different Odo from his peak year in 2016. Declining velo, trying out new pitches. An inexpensive, low-risk gamble with mediocre results. I suspect he will balk at being banished to the pen, but perhaps he can pitch well-enough as an SP to be moved out early in 2019- for one of the up-and-coming arms (even Thorpe?) after a short stint in AAA.

 

For all of the criticism the FO is receiving, and as hard as Lynn was to watch pitch, the FO proved you don't have to add years to a contract offer to lure a FA. And they ended up with at least one prospect, and maybe two, with a chance to make an impact.

 

 

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Not all four, no, but I certainly wouldn't say Rooker and Kirirloff need to sit around in A and AA to start the year.....both should be moved up, and if they are very good, promoted here if needed. 

 

The league is younger and younger.

 

Do people really think Buxton should have spent another year in AAA? Do we actually know that would have helped at all? It certainly worked for a lot of ATL and other players the last few years......just because two Twins struggled doesn't mean they should drag their feet with the next players.

 

Really, Kiriloff could have been in AA the last month here, but that didn't happen. Then he could spend only a month in AA next year before moving up. So now we'll read how he has to play at least 2 months at every level before moving up, meaning it will be 2020 realistically, meaning they better go get another OF this off season if they plan to compete. 

 

I think people would rightfully be upset if AK and Rooker started next season at their same levels. Both should be up a level from where they finished 2018... Both are potential call up options to MN next year (though I think Rooker, Weil, and Raley will take precedence over AK)

 

That said, I think it's pretty clear Buxton should have spent another year in AAA. At this point it's very easy to say that in hindsight. I'd argue he should be starting there in 2019. 

[nicksaviking]

 

I think people would rightfully be upset if AK and Rooker started next season at their same levels. Both should be up a level from where they finished 2018... Both are potential call up options to MN next year (though I think Rooker, Weil, and Raley will take precedence over AK)

 

That said, I think it's pretty clear Buxton should have spent another year in AAA. At this point it's very easy to say that in hindsight. I'd argue he should be starting there in 2019. 

 

I really don't care where these guys start, I think most of us just get frustrated when vets who aren't playing well get a longer leash at the expense of a prospect and we can only assume it is due to some combination of salary, experience, loyalty or fear of the unknown, none of which in my opinion should extend a struggling vet's stay in the lineup.

 

If the youngsters need seasoning, season them. Don't keep them down because there's a below average vet currently holding his job.

[SF Twins Fan]

https://www.news-press.com/story/sports/2018/09/06/minnesota-twins-prospect-alex-kirilloff-leads-surging-fort-myers-miracle/1210227002/

 

Here is another good story an Kirilloff.

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/2018-pipelines-prospect-team-of-the-year/c-293675566?tid=151437456

 

Kirilloff made the 2018 Prospects Team of the Year.
 

 

[bobs]

I like the Yelich comp.  I don't think there is a current Twins player, besides maybe Rosario, that I want to do well more than Max Kepler.

[bobs]

 

Great year for the kid, but I'm going to hold off on prognosticating and dreaming about him turning the franchise around. You know. Because ...

 

Byron Buxton's 2013

CR MID A(Full)  .341 ./ 431 / .559 .990
FTM FSL A(Adv)  .326 / .415 / .472 .887

 

#negativefridays

See...now why did you have to bring that up...lol.  I was so happy thinking about a bright Twins future!

[bobs]

 

Funny how most were in complete agreement not so very long ago that the Twins had a near-untouchable corps of young OF, with Rosario being the only one of the 3 who seemed shaky enough going forward, that Kiriloff might inevitably challenge to force the Twins to then move Rosario out.

 

Just a couple years later, Rosario is the offensive and veteran rock and leader of the team. Meanwhile, Kepler practically has a foot out the door (with Cave getting an open invitation to stake a claim to a spot in 2019) and Buxton's status, and career-track, is entirely up in the air.

 

Meet the New Youth Movement- almost ready to replace the Old Youth Movement.

 

In the meantime, more Johnny Field-like tryouts and an offseason "StarSearch" for the next Robbie "Rex" Grossman. There's a long way to go create realistic optimism about competing in 2019.

Man, I wish everyone would just stop saying the name "Johnny Field"!   

[bobs]

 

How is Kiriloff’s arm? Which “corner” would work best for him? And might he play 1B in 2020 while Rokker takes over in 2021? Any reason to start him at high-A for a month next year and then move him up to the Lookouts?

Rooker is likely to arrive first.

[Monkeypaws]

 

Rooker is likely to arrive first.

Not sure about Rooker - he faded big time down the stretch.

 

There are the 22 dingers, but his OPS was only .798. Far more Ks than hits, 150 vs. 128.

 

Granted, it was his full first year of pro ball, and he played in AA almost a year younger than league average.

 

Still, Kiriloff is a phenom. Rooker projects more as a Brunansky than a Puckett.

[nicksaviking]

 

https://www.news-press.com/story/sports/2018/09/06/minnesota-twins-prospect-alex-kirilloff-leads-surging-fort-myers-miracle/1210227002/

 

Here is another good story an Kirilloff.

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/2018-pipelines-prospect-team-of-the-year/c-293675566?tid=151437456

 

Kirilloff made the 2018 Prospects Team of the Year.
 

 

I like how they put Kirilloff's face in the CF spot. Even if he's not CF material that suggests that his prospect status shouldn't be held back by his position seeing as Tucker and Jimenez's aren't.

[jokin]

 

Man, I wish everyone would just stop saying the name "Johnny Field"! 

 

HA.

 

My own insipid joke when he first was signed was:

 

Johnny (Out)Field? His name might say MLB baseball player, but his career stat line says MLB baseball pretender... Why?

[jmlease1]

Kirilloff had a wonderful season. It was really great for his future to see him not miss a beat upon promotion to high-A, and his hit tool is developing really, really well. His approach looks really good, the power is showing up, and I think he's ready for the next step.

 

Coming off the major injury, I was fine with not trying to jump him another level at the end of the season. I don't think a few dozen ABs at AA changes much for him and letting him finish strong at Ft. Myers (where the franchise has good facilities because of the spring training complex and all) made sense. I think he'll start at AA next year, and that makes sense to me.

 

I probably give him a pass on the AFL or winter ball, considering this was his first year coming off the injury. Let him rest and use the winter to continue to get stronger and be ready for next season. I'd probably give him an invite to big league spring training to see how he reacts (unless you have to add him to the 40 man for that?) and let him be around the coaches and players.

 

I think he's on a fast track and if he keeps hitting like this, we may see him sooner rather than later. He might be special. Hope he attacks AA just like he did everything this year.

 

I love Kepler, and root hard for him, but Kirilloff could force Kepler into a bench role if he can't get his BA up and hit better. That said...if Buxton gets it together, having Kepler as a 4th OF who gets quite a bit of playing time might be a really nice asset. I'm not giving up on Max, but Kirilloff seems likely to push someone hard for a corner OF slot.

 

I'd love to have a guy on the big club that hits for that high average, and Kirilloff might be the best pure hitter we've had since Mauer's heyday. The ceiling is there.

[Thrylos]

 

Why no AFL for Kiriloff?

Too young.  He needs a break the first season back from surgery

 

[Thrylos]

Great to see Kirilloff performing with the stick.  Would need to check some video of his season in OF to make me forget about the triple bounces from RF to 1B and the balls over his head while at ST.

 

Players his age are a work in process, and at least he seems to be progressing...

 

At some point the Twins need to ask themselves the question regarding how many left hand hitting, left hand throwing OFs are appropriate in an organization...

Edited September 8, 2018 by Thrylos

[bird]

 

What about when they were Morneau, Mauer, Cuddyer, Kubel, Liriano, Perkins and Baker? Seems the fans were right then.

 

I don't think the front office is moving prospects slowly, but I don't think it's unfair for the fans to want to see them either, especially when the team at the MLB level is awful.

 

The difference, I think, is that for the most part the players you're mentioning were in fact moved along quickly (Mauer and Baker) , or would have been were injuries and struggles (Kubel and Cuddyer) not present, and all of them were ultimately successful. 

 

My earlier question is twofold: Is it still not possible that Kirilloff and maybe a couple of the other top prospects perform seamlessly and therefore advance at a Mauer-like pace? And second,  is it possible that guys like Wade and Rooker, to pick on two of the touted prospects, are ultimately no more productive as major-leaguers than prospects like Becker, Cordova, or Kielty, who we also wanted the organization to move along more quickly?

 

The thing is, whether a prospect ultimately ends up as the next Mauer or the next Becker, we're going to clamor for the organization to speed their timetables up at the first sign of excitement. When we're right about a prospect, chances are they advanced quickly perhaps by any standard but our own. And when we over-hype a guy and can't understand why he's "languishing" in the minors, more often than not we get to see why that happened later as we deal with our disappointment. I wonder if Gonsalves isn't a bit of a poster boy for this, and I worry that Rooker and Wade might be too: lofty expectations soon to be adjusted.

[MikeW]

Kirilloff’s batting average .362 compares favorably Mauer at High A level (.320).

 

I mention that because Mauer made it to majors the following season (2004)

[bobs]

 

Not sure about Rooker - he faded big time down the stretch.

 

There are the 22 dingers, but his OPS was only .798. Far more Ks than hits, 150 vs. 128.

 

Granted, it was his full first year of pro ball, and he played in AA almost a year younger than league average.

 

Still, Kiriloff is a phenom. Rooker projects more as a Brunansky than a Puckett.

But we would take BOTH of those wouldn't we?! 

[Monkeypaws]

 

But we would take BOTH of those wouldn't we?! 

Absolutely!