Article: How the 2018 Twins Draft Looks One Year Later

[Andrew Thares]

With the 2019 MLB Draft fast approaching, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at the Minnesota Twins 2018 Draft Class and see how they are doing one-year in. Some of the players like 1st round pick Trevor Larnach and 2nd round pick Ryan Jeffers have been closely followed here at Twins Daily, so most of you know what they have been up to, but the draft is a lot more than just a couple picks in the early rounds and players taken all the way through round 40 have a chance to make an impact on the organization.Trevor Larnach | Oregon State | OF | 1st Round | Current Level: High A Fort Myers

Stats: 89 G; .299 AVG; .380 OBP; .471 SLG; 8 HR; 5 SB; 74 K; 43 BB

 

Trevor Larnach had a strong showing last summer, posting an .890 OPS in 42 games between Elizabethon and Cedar Rapids. As a result, he started 2019 in Fort Myers. After a slow month of April, Larnach has found his groove at the High A level in May, as he has a .348/.442/.573 slash line in May.

 

Ryan Jeffers | UNC Wilmington | C | 2nd Round | Current Level: High A Fort Myers

Stats: 103 G; .323 AVG; .410 OBP; .471 SLG; 11 HR; 0 SB; 83 K; 46 BB

 

It has been much the same story for Ryan Jeffers as it has been for Larnach. Jeffers tore it up at Elizabethon and Cedar Rapids last summer, but his numbers have been more in check this spring at Fort Myers, as he has a .770 OPS with just 4 home runs in 39 games.

 

DaShawn Keirsey | Utah | OF | 4th Round | Current Level: A Cedar Rapids

Stats: 42 G; .241 AVG; .318 OBP; .323 SLG; 0 HR; 6 SB: 38 K; 19 BB

 

DaShawn Keirsey had a strong debut with Elizabethon last summer and started 2019 in Cedar Rapids. It has been a rough start to the season for Keirsey who has been dealing with some injury issues.

 

Cole Sands | Florida State | RHP | 5th Round | Current Level: A Cedar Rapids

Stats: 8 APP; 8 GS; 41.1 IP; 3.05 ERA; 1.26 WHIP; 10.7 K/9; 2.4 BB/9; 0 HR/9

 

Cole Sands didn’t make his professional debut until 2019, but he did so in Cedar Rapids, skipping rookie ball all together. Sands has been excellent in 8 starts this spring and has been showing everyone why he was the top pitcher taken by the Twins in last year’s draft.

 

Charles Mack | Williamsville East HS | 3B | 6th Round | Current Level: Rookie GCL Twins

Stats: 30 G; .216 AVG; .314 OBP; .275 SLG; 0 HR; 1 SB; 23 K; 13 BB

 

It was a bit of a rough start for 6th round pick Charles Mack last summer in the GCL. The talented third baseman hopes he can turn that around this year. (Has not made his 2019 debut).

 

Josh Winder | Virginia Military Institute | RHP | 7th Round | Current Level: A Cedar Rapids

Stats: 17 APP; 17 GS; 87 IP; 3.41 ERA; 1.08 WHIP; 8.7 K/9; 2.1 BB/9; 0.4 HR/9

 

The second pitcher taken by the Twins in the 2018 has also shown he can be effective at the professional level. While Winder doesn’t quite have the strikeout numbers that Sands has, he has been effective none the less by pounding the strike zone.

 

Chris Williams | Clemson | C | 8th Round | Current Level: A Cedar Rapids

Stats: 96 G; .240 AVG; .365 OBP; .495 SLG; 23 HR; 2 SB; 87 K; 64 BB

 

So far, Chris Williams has been the power hitting catcher of the two the Twins took in the top 10 rounds. After mashing 15 home runs last summer, he has backed that up with 8 more this spring for the Kernels.

 

Willie Joe Garry Jr. | Pascagoula HS | OF | 9th Round | Current Level: Rookie GCL Twins

Stats: 33 G; .160 AVG; .266 OBP; .210 SLG; 0 HR; 5 SB; 28 K; 8 BB

 

Willie Joe Garry struggled at the plate for the GCL Twins last year. He showed very little power as he produced just 4 extra base hits (all doubles) in 33 games. (Has not made his 2019 debut).

 

Regi Grace | Madison Central HS | RHP | 10th Round | Current Level: Rookie GCL Twins

Stats: 6 APP; 1 GS; 10.2 IP; 5.06 ERA; 1.59 WHIP; 6.8 K/9; 3.4 BB/9; 0 HR/9

 

Regi Grace missed some time last summer with an injury, causing him to make only 6 appearances. On the mound he wasn’t all that effective, pitching primarily out of the bullpen. (Has not made his 2019 debut).

 

Michael Helman | Texas A&M | 2B | 11th Round | Current Level: High A Fort Myers

Stats: 83 G; .273 AVG; .322 OBP; .383 SLG; 6 HR; 11 SB; 41 K; 20 BB

 

As was the story for Larnach and Jeffers, so to is the same for Michael Helman as he followed them on the express ticket to Fort Myers this year, with excellent stops in both Elizabethon and Cedar Rapids along the way. Unfortunately for Helman, his performance has taken an absolute nosedive as he is still adjusting to High A level pitching.

 

Jon Olsen | UCLA | RHP | 12th Round | Current Level: Rookie GCL Twins

Stats: Has not played

 

Trevor Casanova | Cal State Northridge | C | 13th Round | Current Level: Rookie Elizabethton

Stats: 38 G; .331 BA; .389 OBP; .490 SLG; 3 HR; 2 SB; 38 K; 13 BB

 

Trevor Casanova was the third college catcher taken by the Twins in the early rounds of the 2018 draft, and much like the other two, Casanova played quite well in his professional debut last summer. (Has not made his 2019 debut).

 

Erick Rivera | Escuela Superior Urbana | OF | 14th Round | Current Level: Rookie GCL Twins

Stats: 23 G; .246 AVG; .358 OBP; .304 SLG; 0 HR; 1 SB; 22 K; 11 BB

 

In minimal playing time last summer for the GCL Twins, Erick Rivera showed that he has the ability to get on base, drawing 11 walks in just 82 plate appearances. However, he didn’t really show much in the power department. (Has not made his 2019 debut).

 

Kody Funderburk | Dallas Baptist | LHP | 15th Round | Current Level: Rookie Elizabethon

Stats: 11 APP; 9 GS; 38 IP; 4.50 ERA; 1.66 WHIP; 8.1 K/9; 3.8 BB/9; 0.5 HR/9

 

After what was an okay at best showing in Elizabethon last summer, Kody Funderburk had to wait until May 18th to make his 2019 debut in Fort Myers. Now back in Elizabethon, the Dallas Baptist product hopes to have a better 2019 than he did 2018.

 

Anthony Tuionetoa | Baldwin HS | RHP | 16th Round | Did Not Sign

 

Erik Cha | Cal State Fullerton | LHP | 17th Round | Current Level: Rookie Elizabethon

Stats: 15 APP; 0 GS; 26.1 IP; 1.37 ERA; 1.14 WHIP; 9.9 K/9; 2.4 BB/9; 0.3 HR/9

 

Pitching exclusively out of the bullpen, Erik Cha has shown that he has the strikeout ability that is needed for a relief pitcher to progress through the minors. He has also shown the ability to go multiple innings out of the pen, as he has pitched more than 1 inning in all but 4 of his outings. (Has not made his 2019 debut).

 

Andrew Cabezas | Miami (FL) | RHP | 18th Round | Current Level: A Cedar Rapids

Stats: 18 APP; 16 GS; 82.2 IP; 3.16 ERA; 1.08 WHIP; 8.6 K/9; 3.2 BB/9; 0.8 HR/9

 

Andrew Cabezas had himself a great first summer of professional baseball and was named the Twins Daily Short-Season Pitcher of the Year as a result. He’s taken a little bit of a step back this year in Cedar Rapids, but has been an effective pitcher for the Kernels none the less.

 

Austin Schulfer |Wisconsin-Milwaukee | RHP | 19th Round | Current Level: A Cedar Rapids

Stats: 22 APP; 10 GS; 73.2 IP; 1.95 ERA; 1.15 WHIP; 9.9 K/9; 4.4 BB/9; 0.1 HR/9

 

Despite pitching quite effectively primarily as a starter for Elizabethon last summer, Austin Schulfer has been used mostly as a middle innings long reliever in Cedar Rapids this spring. Despite the change in roles, Schulfer has adapted well to the higher level so far.

 

Seth Pinkerton | Hartford | RHP | 20th Round | Current Level: Rookie Elizabethon

Stats: 15 APP; 0 GS; 24.2 IP; 6.57 ERA; 1.82 WHIP; 10.2 K/9; 8.0 BB/9; 1.1 HR/9

 

After pitching for four years at Hartford, the Ogdensburg, New York native Seth Pinkerton struggled greatly with his control as he made the transition to pro ball. However, Pinkerton did show the ability to strike hitters out, so if he can clean up his mechanics that could go a long way.

 

Gabe Snyder | Wright State | 1B | 21st Round | Current Level: A Cedar Rapids

Stats: 82 G; .283 AVG; .378 OBP; .420 SLG; 6 HR; 4 SB; 62 K; 36 BB

 

Gabe Snyder has really come into his own this spring in Cedar Rapids. In 34 games so far in 2019, Snyder has a .878 OPS, and has been one of the best everyday players for the 25-25 Kernels.

 

Jacob Blank | Augustana | RHP | 22nd Round | Current Level: Rookie Elizabethon

Stats: 11 APP; 0 GS; 15.2 IP; 2.87 ERA; 1.28 WHIP; 10.9 K/9; 5.2 BB/9; 0 HR/9

 

Jabob Blank has pitched quite sparingly ever since the Twins drafted him last summer. He has jumped around from EST, to Fort Myers, to Cedar Rapids, and back to EST all this spring.

 

Albee Weiss | Cal State Northridge | 1B | 23rd Round | Current Level: High A Fort Myers

Stats: 40 G; .211 AVG; .274 OBP; .368 SLG; 4 HR; 0 SB; 44 K; 10 BB

 

After not making his 2019 debut until May 17th in Cedar Rapids, Albee Weiss hit the ball well over three games there, doubling in all three, and was quickly promoted up to Fort Myers where he has only played in one game since his promotion.

 

Michael Davis | Texas Tech | 2B | 24th Round | Current Level: A Cedar Rapids

Stats: 62 G; .298 AVG; .355 OBP; .534 SLG; 10 HR; 2 SB; 64 K; 18 BB

 

Michael Davis has played very well in 59 games in Cedar Rapids combined between 2018 and 2019. Davis has missed most of the month of May with an injury, but returned back to the Kernels lineup last Saturday.

 

Laron Smith | Foothills Composite | 1B | 25th Round | Current Level: Rookie GCL Twins

Stats: 13 G; .205 AVG; .326 OBP; .256 SLG; 0 HR; 1 SB; 9 K; 7 BB

 

The high school batter from Canada, Laron Smith, had some struggles in just 13 games with the GCL Twins last summer. We will have to wait and see if he can get himself turned around this year. (Has not made his 2019 debut).

 

Brian Rapp | Boston College | RHP | 26th Round | Current Level: A Cedar Rapids

Stats: 21 APP; 7 GS; 63.1 IP; 4.12 ERA; 1.50 WHIP; 8.8 K/9; 3.1 BB/9; 0.6 HR/9

 

Brian Rapp has seen his walk numbers spike in 2019, as he is walking 4.3 batters per nine innings this spring in Cedar Rapids. That is up from the 2.3 batters per nine innings that he walked last summer in Elizabethon. He will need to fix his control issues if he hopes to progress to higher levels in the Twins farm system.

 

Hunter Lee | High Point | 2B | 27th Round | Current Level: High A Fort Myers

Stats: 53 G; .208 AVG; .331 OBP; .309 SLG; 4 HR; 0 SB; 38 K; 24 BB

 

It hasn’t been the best of springs for Hunter Lee, who has a .121/.246/.224 slash line in 20 games for Cedar Rapids. On Saturday Lee was assigned down to Elizabethon, before getting reassigned up to Fort Myers on Tuesday, where he has yet to make his debut for the Miracle.

 

Austin Hale | Stetson | C | 28th Round | Current Level: Retired

 

J.T. Perez | Cincinnati | LHP | 29th Round | Current Level: Rookie Elizabethon

 

Stats: 15 APP; 0 GS; 21.2 IP; 4.57 ERA; 1.75 WHIP; 11.6 K/9; 5.4 BB/9; 0 HR/9

J.T. Perez split his time between the GCL Twins and Elizabethon last summer, making 10 appearances in the Gulf Coast League and 5 more for Elizabethon. Overall, he had much more success pitching in the GCL where he had a 2.31 ERA vs his 7.20 ERA in Elizabethon. (Has not made his 2019 debut).

 

Seth Halverson | Heritage Christian Academy | RHP | 30th Round | Did Not Sign

 

Zach Neff | Mississippi State | LHP | 31st Round | Current Level: A Cedar Rapids

Stats: 29 APP; 0 GS; 49.2 IP; 3.62 ERA; 1.23 WHIP; 10.9 K/9; 3.4 BB/9; 0.5 HR/9

 

It was a bit of a rocky start for Zach Neff last summer in Elizabethon, though his peripheral metrics said he should have faired much better than he did. This spring he has pitched much better for Cedar Rapids, with a 3.28 ERA and striking out 12.4 batters per nine.

 

Ryan Holgate | Davis HS | OF | 32nd Round | Did Not Sign

 

Denny Bentley | Howard College | LHP | 33rd Round | Current Level: Rookie GCL Twins

Stats: 13 APP; 0 GS; 17.1 IP; 2.60 ERA; 1.27 WHIP; 10.9 K/9; 3.1 BB/9; 1.0 HR/9

 

Pitching exclusively out of the bullpen, Denny Bentley showed signs that he could be an effective pitcher at the professional level. He did give up a couple of home runs, but other than that did excellent job. (Has not made his 2019 debut).

 

Dylan Stowell | California Baptist | RHP | 34th Round | Retired

 

Tanner Howell | Dixie State | RHP | 35th Round | Current Level: Rookie Elizabethon

Stats: 17 APP; 0 GS; 32.1 IP; 4.18 ERA; 1.27 WHIP; 8.9 K/9; 2.8 BB/9; 0.8 HR/9

 

Tanner Howell made 8 appearances with the GCL Twins last summer before being re-assigned to Elizabethon. Howell’s results were much more favorable with the GCL Twins as he gave up only 1 earned run over 12 innings with a 7 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio. (Has not made his 2019 debut).

 

Zac Taylor | Illinois | OF | 36th Round | Did Not Sign

 

Luke Ritter | Wichita State | OF | 37th Round | Did Not Sign

 

Dylan Thomas | Hawaii | RHP | 38th Round | Did Not Sign

 

Bryce Collins | Hart HS | RHP | 39th Round | Did Not Sign

 

Tyler Webb | Memphis | OF | 40th Round | Current Level: Rookie GCL Twins

Stats: 41 G; .287 AVG; .373 OBP; .336 SLG; 1 HR; 11 SB; 27 K; 14 BB

 

Like Howell, Tyler Webb started off his professional career with the GCL Twins before getting moved to Elizabethon during the summer when they were in need of an outfielder. Webb has excellent speed that helped him steal 11 bases in just 41 games last summer.

 

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[Joe A. Preusser]

Seems to be a discrepency between Jeffers stat line and the posted .770 OPS. Awesome write-up, Thank You.

[dbminn]

 

Seems to be a discrepency between Jeffers stat line and the posted .770 OPS. Awesome write-up, Thank You.

 

I think Andrew's stat lines include both 2018 and 2019.

[Seth Stohs]

Stats of guys drafted and making their pro debuts are pretty meaningful. I mention that as it relates especially to guys like Charles Mack or Willie Joe Garry. They don't play regularly and are making a lot of adjustments. I'm excited about both of them. Laron Smith signed late (like Mack) and as a catcher (and one of 4+ catchers in the GCL), he would play a half game ever 2nd or 3rd day, maybe get an at bat or two with each. 

 

Worrying about high school hitters struggles in the GCL is like worrying about college pitchers who pitch in the GCL. 

[Seth Stohs]

Some other notes:

 

Kody Funderburk is now with  Cedar Rapids. He just crossed the parking lot in Ft. Myers once to help the Miracle. 

 

Seth Pinkerton tore his ACL after last season and had surgery. He hopes to pitch this year. 

 

Regi Grace wasn't actually hurt. They just shut him down for a couple of weeks and worked on some other stuff ,and then he made a couple more appearances late.

 

Jon Olsen is working his way back from Tommy John surgery, which he had while still at UCLA. 

 

Chris Williams played on 1B last year in E-Town while still recovering from shoulder surgery. That's where he played for the most part with CR to start this season, but he has been doing more catching since Banuelos moved up to FM. 

 

Casanova being in Extended Spring Training is crazy. Dude can hit!

 

Schulfer appears to now be in the Kernels rotation. 

 

Blank has been in Ft. Myers in Extended Spring Training. Like several others, he has gone across the parking lot to the Miracle a couple of times. He did have a short stint with the Kernels. Elizabethton's season starts in late June.

 

Likewise, Albee Weiss spent all of the spring in EST until he was promoted to CR when Gabe Snyder went on the inactive list for 3 days. Weiss went back to Extended Spring Training and is temporarily with the Miracle for a couple of games before he'll go back to Extended Spring Training. Also, Hunter Lee spent a few weeks with the Kernels, but he was sent back to Extended Spring Training last week. Tonight he played for the Miracle, but like Weiss, it'll be temporary. 

 

 

 

[ashbury]

I suppose there is no excuse for the Miracle to ever be caught short a man or two on their roster.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I suppose there is no excuse for the Miracle to ever be caught short a man or two on their roster.

 

The are frequently bringing guys over from EST... When there aren't guys pushing to be promoted from CR to FM, it's a good option to just bring them over. It's a nice incentive for the guys playing well in Extended Spring Training too. 

[MN_ExPat]

Great write up Andrew.    It's always fun hearing about these guys and everything they go through.   They truly deserve more credit and appreciation than they often get.   

[Han Joelo]

Seems like a lot of late round guys are making solid contributions, as I have seen many other their names mentioned in the daily reports.  Good stuff, thanks.

[rdehring]

Thanks for the update.  I believe that if a team gets 3 players out of each draft who eventually contribute to the major league team, it was a good draft.  Especially if one becomes a regular.

 

You never know where these guys are going to end up, however, looks to me there is a good chance at least three will play for the Twins some day and Larnach looks to be a real good player.

[Dman]

That Jeffer's pick I didn't like last year seems to be paying off for the Twins.  His numbers haven't been too far off of Larnach's this year and he was taken in the second round and plays the valuable catcher position.  

 

A bit disappointed in Keirsey and Helman this spring but it has been a down spring for a lot of our prospects.  There is still time for these guys to adjust especially the high schoolers but this draft appears weaker than the last couple of years.

[Seth Stohs]

I think people forget how tough the Florida State League is for most hitters. Helman isn't quite the hitters that Larnach and Jeffers are so he's struggled a bit (though that's been caused by a couple of long rough patches... started the season 1-25, and just recently had a 1-31)... But he is holding his own there for the most part. I do think context is important in all of this. Helman putting up a .188 average is more impressive than if he were hitting .300 at Cedar Rapids (depending on the stuff we can't see in stat lines). 

[jmlease1]

You can never have too many catchers who can hit. Twins have shown the advantage of having three catchers on the roster this year, so making sure we have more catchers in the pipeline is excellent, especially since we're seeing guys with success.

 

draft looks solid so far, long way to go on a lot of these guys. Hopefully none of the top picks bust, few have to give it up from injury, and we have 1 or 2 late round guys rise up and become serious prospects.

 

 

[TouchEmAllGuy]

Thanks for the write-up. Solid contributions for a bunch of our prospects.

[bird]

Looking at reports like this always reminds me of how very long the odds are for almost all of these prospects.

 

In our current starting lineup, 3 of 4 domestic players were first-rounders: Buxton (1st overall), Castro (10th), and Cron (17th). Rosario was considered the best hitting prospect in Puerto Rico, a 4th rounder. Backup Garver may be the most improbable as a 9th rounder, but even he was regarded as I think the second best collegiate catcher in the draft. In other words, none of these guys really came out of nowhere to make their mark.

 

(The above fact points to how important it is for organizations to scout and acquire IFA talent, right? We rely on Kepler, Polanco, Sano, and pick-ups Cruz, Schoop, and Marwin.)

 

That's why even TWO "success stories" after the second round in any draft sets a team apart. For example, Taylor Rogers was the 340th guy taken in the draft, and of the roughly 300 of those selected after the first round or so, he's one of I think 6 guys playing in the big leagues. That's beating the odds!

 

Trevor Hildenberger and Tyler Duffey may never become core players, but they're already success stories in a relative sense.

Edited May 30, 2019 by birdwatcher

[mikelink45]

If you were to rank these players now - would the order they were drafted change?  Who are the real risers and sinkers?

[bird]

 

If you were to rank these players now - would the order they were drafted change?  Who are the real risers and sinkers?

 

 

My personal assessment is that not much would change until after next year, and then things would be much more predictable in the third year. I base that view in large part on what the pundits' tendencies are.

 

For example, only about 15% of anyone's league-wide Top 100 list is comprised of prospects from the 2018 draft class. That's predictably prospects picked in the first half of the first round. Over half the prospects on such a list are in their 2nd and 3rd year. Why? Because the opinions shift from being pedigree-based to performance-based. So the new guys have to kick non-performing older prospects off the island, so a Nick Gordon gets the boot. It's a bell curve. By year 4, those previous 2 and 3 year guys make up less than 40% as opposed to over 50% the previous year.

 

Performance eventually becomes evident (barring injuries) and drives people's opinions much more than pedigree. That's what makes it fun to watch, because guys kind of crash onto the scene like Kirilloff did.

 

Maybe Wander Javier is next? Balazovic is on the cusp in year 2. But from this list, I wouldn't count on anyone other than Larnach cracking anyone's Top 100, and for good reason. Guessing which, if any, of these later round guys might make it is fun.

 

The Twins Daily Top Prospect lists are more optimistic than I am, but I love the enthusiasm for guys like Grace, Sands, Kiersey, etc.

Edited May 30, 2019 by birdwatcher

[Otto von Ballpark]

I think people forget how tough the Florida State League is for most hitters. Helman isn't quite the hitters that Larnach and Jeffers are so he's struggled a bit (though that's been caused by a couple of long rough patches... started the season 1-25, and just recently had a 1-31)... But he is holding his own there for the most part. I do think context is important in all of this. Helman putting up a .188 average is more impressive than if he were hitting .300 at Cedar Rapids (depending on the stuff we can't see in stat lines).

I am usually the guy that mentions the FSL hitting environment, but I think this is taking it quite a bit too far. Helman has a 47 wRC+ there right now, he's not really holding his own. (And you can't just throw out a nonconsecutive one-third of his at bats when making that determination.)

 

And the FSL batting average is exactly the same as that of the Midwest League (.241), so no, .188 in Ft Myers is not more impressive than .300 in Cedar Rapids, and it's not particularly close.

 

The only encouraging thing about Helman is that his struggles are not related to his K rate. He's generally making contact -- he just needs to make better contact, it appears.

[Seth Stohs]

 

And the FSL batting average is exactly the same as that of the Midwest League (.241), so no, .188 in Ft Myers is not more impressive than .300 in Cedar Rapids, and it's not particularly close.
 

I'm saying that if Helman was in the MWL, he would be facing Low A pitchers versus facing High A pitchers. Generally speaking, the higher the level of play, the better the pitching. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Trevor Hildenberger and Tyler Duffey may never become core players, but they're already success stories in a relative sense.

Relative to other draftees more than to other teams at that point, I would think. I'd guess most MLB franchises occasionally get these levels of contributions (Hildenberger and Duffey, to date) from these levels of picks.

 

The rest of your post is spot-on, though -- what sets teams apart is the plus performers. (Although hopefully both Hildenberger and Duffey can still contribute more and move into that category!)

[Otto von Ballpark]

I'm saying that if Helman was in the MWL, he would be facing Low A pitchers versus facing High A pitchers. Generally speaking, the higher the level of play, the better the pitching.

You think the difference in pitching quality alone between A and A+ is greater than .112 worth of batting average? That seems... a little steep.

 

A guy whose average drops by that much between those levels is far more likely to get cut (or at least held back) than promoted, so how is that level of performance "more impressive" for a player? Especially .300 to .188 -- the latter is dangerously close to the lower bound of pro player performance (think pitchers hitting) -- many minor leaguers could bat at least .100 in MLB right now.

 

I guess, from the Twins perspective, it may be more useful to let Helman hit .188 at A+ now than have him repeat A and hit .300. But that doesn't mean .188 is more impressive or anything.

[Seth Stohs]

 

You think the difference in pitching quality alone between A and A+ is greater than .112 worth of batting average? That seems... a little steep.

A guy whose average drops by that much between those levels is far more likely to get cut (or at least held back) than promoted, so how is that level of performance "more impressive" for a player? Especially .300 to .188 -- the latter is dangerously close to the lower bound of pro player performance (think pitchers hitting) -- many minor leaguers could bat at least .100 in MLB right now.

I guess, from the Twins perspective, it may be more useful to let Helman hit .188 at A+ now than have him repeat A and hit .300. But that doesn't mean .188 is more impressive or anything.

 

I mean, Helman hit .355 in 27 games in Cedar Rapids last year. Yes, I think he could be hitting .300 if he was in the Midwest League if he was there this year. 

 

As for what's useful, I don't know. Says a lot about what they think about Helman's make up. 

[bird]

 

Relative to other draftees more than to other teams at that point, I would think. I'd guess most MLB franchises occasionally get these levels of contributions (Hildenberger and Duffey, to date) from these levels of picks.

The rest of your post is spot-on, though -- what sets teams apart is the plus performers. (Although hopefully both Hildenberger and Duffey can still contribute more and move into that category!)

 

Yeah, I'm talking about ANY player from ANY team drafted in the 5th (Duffey), 11th (Rogers) and 22nd (Hildenberger) rounds. The ones that ever get a W2 from the big club for even a week are in rare company.

The Twins are far from unique in producing them, but they select and develop their fair share I think. I'm excited to think that process might improve now that the development side is getting much needed attention. We'll see.