Sickels top Twins prospect list for 2019

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I do think the grading approach puts a bit of a different slant on how I'd critique the list.

 

For instance, it would be REALLY hard for me to have Gonsalves this high on the list...not to mention, so many spots higher than Stewart at this point.  But, he's really only giving Gonsalves a half-grade edge on Stewart.  I guess either on the basis of his minor league numbers, and/or the 'left-handed-and breathing' theory.

 

Note the estimated arrival time on Graterol.  Not 2019, as some of the more optimistic members of our community have mentioned here from time to time.  Not 2020.  2021.  I do think that's a bit conservative, but I agree with the remark regarding where he is with his endurance, track-record of work load.  The same concern exists with Romero, obviously.

Graterol's biggest problem is not needing to be on the 40 man. There's way too many guys on the 40 man who will get looks ahead of him. I think 2020 is quite reasonable there unless Graterol starts looking as the second coming of Kershaw next year.

[tvagle]

 

Graterol's biggest problem is not needing to be on the 40 man. There's way too many guys on the 40 man who will get looks ahead of him. I think 2020 is quite reasonable there unless Graterol starts looking as the second coming of Kershaw next year.

 

Call me confused??? I believe Graterol DOES need to be on the 40-man this winter and being Right-Handed if he's the second coming of Kershaw I'll be more than amazed at his ambidextrousity

[DocBauer]

With his pure stuff and how well he's "come back" after missed time, I guess I felt Graterol might be worthy of an actual A grade.

 

Personally, I still like Gonsalves and have not soured on him despite his mixed bag results in his 2018 debut. I felt he would struggle a bit. And there was some good mixed with the bad, to be fair. I think his ranking is based on his milb career thus far, and how he has adapted and improved at each level.

 

What struck me was all the guys in the "honorable mention" listings at the end. There are a lot of names that are pretty highly thought of, and have shown stuff in their milb career, that would seem to be pretty solid prospects that didn't make his list.

 

De Jong at 11 did surprise me though. Seemed high to me.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Call me confused??? I believe Graterol DOES need to be on the 40-man this winter and being Right-Handed if he's the second coming of Kershaw I'll be more than amazed at his ambidextrousity

 

The site you are pulling that information from is wrong. He was signed as a 16 year old and started his first full season in 2015 in the DSL. He has one more year. 

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

With his pure stuff and how well he's "come back" after missed time, I guess I felt Graterol might be worthy of an actual A grade.

Personally, I still like Gonsalves and have not soured on him despite his mixed bag results in his 2018 debut. I felt he would struggle a bit. And there was some good mixed with the bad, to be fair. I think his ranking is based on his milb career thus far, and how he has adapted and improved at each level.

What struck me was all the guys in the "honorable mention" listings at the end. There are a lot of names that are pretty highly thought of, and have shown stuff in their milb career, that would seem to be pretty solid prospects that didn't make his list.

De Jong at 11 did surprise me though. Seemed high to me.

 

Sickles gives out maybe 20-40 A/A- grades. It's very intentionally a tough grade to get. A B prospect on his scale is a pretty good one. A B+ will be in his top 100. 

 

Graterol still has his question marks, which I think is what is holding him back to only a B+. Missing all of 2016 to injury is a big one, not to mention that he still has durability concerns. He's dominated but yet to play in the high minors. I think you can safely conclude that if Graterol has a similar season in A+/AA in 2019, he will be in the A/A- group. 

[rdehring]

 

I do like the general depth of the system but I do think it lacks big upside. Guys like De Jong, Littel, Stewart, Thorpe and Gonsalves all profile as backend type starters. That's not a bad thing - it's hard to find #3 or better types - but I do wish we had a bit more pitching upside although Romero (graduated off the list) and Graterol have some.

 

I'm not thrilled with the pen arms and UI types at all. 

Must disagree on Thorpe as he seems to me to be a lot better than backend type starter.  I can see this kid going to the front of the rotation, however, understand there is no guarantee it is going to happen.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Worth sharing. He did a podcast on the system.

 

https://www.minorleagueball.com/2018/10/24/18017864/the-minor-league-ball-podcast-pilot-episode-now-on-line

 

 

[Vanimal46]

The site you are pulling that information from is wrong. He was signed as a 16 year old and started his first full season in 2015 in the DSL. He has one more year.

He does not have one more year. He's rule 5 eligible this winter.

 

https://www.rosterresource.com/mlb-minnesota-twins/

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

He does not have one more year. He's rule 5 eligible this winter.

https://www.rosterresource.com/mlb-minnesota-twins/

 

where's spycake when you need him? Pretty sure this was settled mid year. Something to do with everything being inked in December. 

[Vanimal46]

where's spycake when you need him? Pretty sure this was settled mid year. Something to do with everything being inked in December.

It was settled mid year and that is the link spycake shared....

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/30480-40-man-eligible-players-2018-offseason/?do=findComment&comment=766470

 

You even posted on that thread!

[ashbury]

It was settled mid year and that is the link spycake shared....

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/30480-40-man-eligible-players-2018-offseason/?do=findComment&comment=766470

 

You even posted on that thread!

Eh, the other teams will probably be confused too. Try to sneak him through!

[diehardtwinsfan]

hmmm... that wasn't the thread I was thinking of...

[DocBauer]

Must disagree on Thorpe as he seems to me to be a lot better than backend type starter.  I can see this kid going to the front of the rotation, however, understand there is no guarantee it is going to happen.

Going to agree 100% with you here, with the same caveat that nothing is guaranteed. Maybe I'm just an optimist, but it's hard not to love what he's shown, as well as his story thus far. This kid is far from "LH and breathing". As Sickies points out, he throws in the low 90's, has a plus change, and a slider and curve coming along well. To be fair, he states be has the potential to be better than a #4.

 

We can't forget he missed 2 FULL SEASON'S from injury and severe mono, made a solid "comeback" recovery in 2017, and reached AAA for 4 solid starts late last season and is STILL only 22 until just before Thanksgiving this year. Wow!

 

These are his milb career numbers, skewed slightly, I admit, by his initial short season debut in 2013:

 

ERA WHIP IP H SO BB K/BB K/OK

3.01 1.17 328.3 286 392 111 3.53/1 9.19

 

I think/hope my math is correct.

 

Good control. Always fewer hits than IP at any level. Mkre than a K per IP. Ticketed for AAA in 2019 at age 23 despite missing those 2 full seasons.

 

Personally, I think we see him in 2019, even if its late in the year.

 

Again, maybe I'm just an optimist. And prospects are still prospects until they actually prove themselves. But Gonsalves has been highly regarded and ranked in the system by everyone, not just hopeful fans here at TD. He has shown the ability to adapt, learn, and excel at every level he has pitched after taking a little time to settle it, and seems to understand how to "pitch". Should we really be down on him after a streaky debut that should have been expected?

 

I am actually excited about BOTH these young LH starters using 2019 to further their progress and join the rotation in the near future.

[Otto von Ballpark]

It was settled mid year and that is the link spycake shared....

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/30480-40-man-eligible-players-2018-offseason/?do=findComment&comment=766470

 

You even posted on that thread!

I later clarified that link was wrong about Graterol (and Alcala):

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/30946-article-twins-daily-roundtable-prospect-promotions/?p=782620

 

I think Roster Resource is probably based on signing year, but ignores if it came before or after the end of the season?