Top 10 Candidates for 2020 Sire of Fort Myers

[Tom Froemming]

‘Tis time. The Minnesota Twins opened their spring training schedule, which means we must begin the search for a new Sire. Ryne Harper and Ryan LaMarre represented the crown admirably, both doing the unthinkable and cracking the Opening Day roster. Can a 2020 contender do the same? Hear ye, hear ye …Spring training stats don’t matter, right?

 

WRONG. That was a test. Spring training performances definitely matter for some players. The main goal of the Sire of Fort Myers is to cast a spotlight on those players. We’re out to recognize the unheralded player who has the most impressive spring.

 

So who’s eligible?

1. Anybody who’s not on the 40-man roster, regardless of prior MLB experience.

2. Anyone who hasn’t made their MLB debut.

 

That’s it, pretty simple. The honor goes to the player who had the best spring, not the one most likely to break camp with the big club. It just so happens that the past two winners — Ryne Harper and Ryan LaMarre — did end up making the Opening Day roster.

 

Here are the 10 players I view as the top contenders for this year’s crown.

 

The Frontrunners

Here are my favorites among the starters, relievers and position players. All three of these guys have time in the bigs, but are not on the 40-man roster.

 

Starter: Jhoulys Chacin, 32, RHP

This is the clear-cut favorite at the moment. The Twins signed Chacin, who has 255 MLB appearances under his belt, to a minor league deal on Feb. 1. Last season, Chacin went from Opening Day starter for the Brewers to released.

 

Prior to that, however, Chacin pitched to a 3.89 ERA over 67 starts between 2017-18. He’ll be fighting for a spot either as the fifth starter or a longman out of the bullpen, so expect to see Chacin throw plenty of innings this spring.

 

Reliever: Blaine Hardy, 32, LHP

Hardy’s also a familiar name, as he’s pitched 233 games for Detroit over the past six seasons. Hardy endured elbow pain much of last season, and pitched to a 4.47 ERA in 44 1/3 innings. In 2018, however, Hardy posted a 3.56 ERA in 86 innings pitched.

 

The Twins signed Hardy to a minors deal on Nov. 26. He’s by far the organization’s most experienced left-handed relief arm, aside from Taylor Rogers.

 

Position Player: Tomas Telis, 28, C

This may seem like an underdog pick, but I anticipate Telis getting plenty of work. This stocky, switch-hitting catcher has 122 MLB games to his credit, though he spent all of last season with Triple-A Rochester. Telis hit .330/.364/.490 (.854 OPS) for the Red Wings while striking out just 33 times in 327 plate appearances.

 

He has a familiarity with the organization, just like Ryne Harper did a year ago. He has a contact-focused approach, just like Ryan LaMarre did two years ago. Can he follow in their footsteps?

 

The Relievers

Starting pitchers don’t eat up many innings in spring, so bullpen guys get a ton of opportunity to shine. Aside from Hardy, here are three more names to know. This trio also has some nice looking splits during their time in the big leagues.

 

Cory Gearrin, 33, RHP

3.64 ERA in 336 MLB games (mostly with San Francisco)

vs. RHB .232/.315/.332 (.647 OPS) in 826 PAs

 

Danny Coulombe, 30, LHP

4.27 ERA in 153 MLB games (mostly with Oakland)

vs. LHB: .237/.304/.327 (.631 OPS) in 287 PAs

 

Ryan Garton, 30, RHP

4.90 ERA in 59 MLB games (mostly with Tampa Bay)

vs. RHB: .241/.275/.407 (.682 OPS) in 173 PAs

 

Cody Pirkl also recently wrote about Juan Minaya, another bullpen arm to watch. Here is a video that shows some highlights of Chacin, Hardy, Telis, Gearrin and Coulombe:

 

The Prospects

Here are some prospects in the system I could see getting plenty of looks this spring.

 

Travis Blankenhorn, 23, 2B/3B/LF

Blankenhorn made it to Double A for the first time last season and hit .298/.337/.521 (.857 OPS) in his first 70 games with the Blue Wahoos. He was primarily a second baseman, but has started to play more left field. That flexibility may afford him some more opportunities this spring.

 

Nick Gordon, 24, SS/2B

Gordon’s prospect stock has slipped, but he’s coming off a season in which he hit .298/.342/.459 (.801 OPS) in Triple A. The Twins have incentive to give him lots of looks this spring. They’ll likely need to make a call on Gordon one way or the other before too long.

 

Brent Rooker, 25, LF/1B

Unlike Blankenhorn and Gordon, Rooker isn’t on the 40-man roster yet. That didn’t stop the team from giving him an invite to big league camp. He hit .281/.398/.535 (.933 OPS) for Rochester last season. Rooker was hit by a pitch in the helmet and had to leave the opener against the Gophers, but passed the concussion protocols and is expected to be OK.

 

Zander Wiel, 27, 1B/LF

Another non-roster invitee, Wiel hit .254/.320/.514 (.834 OPS) with 24 home runs and 40 doubles for Rochester last season. He’s been a lefty killer down on the farm, posting an OPS of .922, .825 and .827 against southpaws the past three seasons.

 

There are some other big-time prospects in camp with the Twins, but I chose not to include them due to expected lack of opportunities. Guys like Royce Lewis and Jhoan Duran will get some looks early, which will be awesome, but I don’t think it’s likely they’ll have the opportunity to build a beefy enough resume to garner consideration for the scepter and cape.

 

This is far from a comprehensive list, and it’s worth noting that Harper didn’t crack my initial top 10 last year. I think Chacin is the obvious favorite, but you never know how things might turn out. Last year’s obvious frontrunner was Lucas Duda. He ended up being released so he could pursue opportunities elsewhere and made the Royals’ Opening Day roster.

 

Who’s your favorite to be crowned 2020 Sire of Fort Myers?

 

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[Seth Stohs]

I don't like Chacin as a candidate because I feel like he was brought in to be the 5th starter, like it's his to lose... 

 

I think Blaine Hardy and Caleb Thielbar are the favorites in my opinion to make the roster. 

[puckstopper1]

My money is on Hardy. The Twins need another lefty on the staff.

 

 

 

[Squirrel]

I’m confused by your criteria? Eligibility requires:

 

1. Anybody who’s not on the 40-man roster, regardless of prior MLB experience.

2. Anyone who hasn’t made their MLB debut.

 

Doesn’t the second requirement contradict the first requirement, or are those requirements 1. OR 2.?

[Tom Froemming]

 

I’m confused by your criteria? Eligibility requires:

1. Anybody who’s not on the 40-man roster, regardless of prior MLB experience.
2. Anyone who hasn’t made their MLB debut.

Doesn’t the second requirement contradict the first requirement, or are those requirements 1. OR 2.?

Or. Anybody who is not on the 40-man roster or has not played a major league game is eligible. 

[Tom Froemming]

 

I don't like Chacin as a candidate because I feel like he was brought in to be the 5th starter, like it's his to lose... 

 

I think Blaine Hardy and Caleb Thielbar are the favorites in my opinion to make the roster. 

Chacin didn't get an MLB deal, the ancient scrolls discovered during the founding of Fort Myers back in 1885 dictate that he shall be eligible. Thielbar would maybe be the best story, so I'll be pulling hard for him.

[Danchat]

I would put my money on Thielbar or Gearrin. Also would like to see one of the prospect hitters to step up.

[AceWrigley]

I'm pulling for Meat Locker too.

[jorgenswest]

You might consider rookie status as a third restriction.

 

Not a prediction but I am pulling for Jake Reed to get noticed.

[Thrylos]

#86 Edwar Collina

[Brandon]

Fernando Romero is my pick

[Dman]

I am going with Hardy.  He is a lefty and had some success in the past.  I think the Twins Coaching staff can get a little more out of him than Detroit did.  

 

I am rooting for Thielbar as well but I feel like Hardy might be just a little better.  Will have to wait and see how things shake out but those two would be my favorite to make it.

 

I really like Tellis but he is an injury or two away from making it up IMO.  The Turtle is too flexible and they likely wouldn't need him unless two catcher went down.  I kind of thought he would have gone to a team where he would have a better chance to be called up but I guess he likes MN.

[Halsey Hall]

Jhoan Duran. 

[DocBauer]

I hate to be obvious, but I'd have to go with Chacin as he does qualify for the award.

 

Gearrin is my second choice and more in keeping with the dark horse candidate status. He's had good seasons, is a veteran, someone could stumble or get hurt and I don't believe we HAVE to have that additional lefty.

 

Am I wrong, or wasn't Kirlloff invited to ST? I know his stay won't be as long as the other guys, but i look for him to be impressive early, slide back over to the milb side of things, and then still make a couple additional appearances as they often "borrow" from the milb side for some games here and there.

 

The bat is for real.

[dxpavelka]

 

I don't like Chacin as a candidate because I feel like he was brought in to be the 5th starter, like it's his to lose... 

 

I think Blaine Hardy and Caleb Thielbar are the favorites in my opinion to make the roster. 

I think Chacin was brought in to compete for the 5th spot.  Don't think that to this point the job has ever been his to lose.

 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Jake Reed

[Han Joelo]

I feel like its gotta be a guy who hits a bunch of taters.  Rooker's my guy.

[stringer bell]

Given the qualifications for the “title”, I think it will be Chacín. I’m pulling for someone to stake a claim to a bullpen spot. Thielbar and Hardy have the clearest path.

[stringer bell]

Barring injuries, I don’t see any chance for a rookie or non-roster position player to make the 26-man roster.

 

The top prospects should get a fair amount of at-bats. I’d like to see them all rake.

[HrbieFan]

After watching Chacin throw BP for the Brewers last year, I just don't see the love for him. I'm going with Hardy, would like another lefty that is effective against RH bats too

[MN_ExPat]

 

After watching Chacin throw BP for the Brewers last year, I just don't see the love for him. I'm going with Hardy, would like another lefty that is effective against RH bats too

That's fair. 

 

I would think that we might all be in a wait and see mode this spring with him, but by all accounts I have read about him (and what little I did see him pitch last year)     last year was a pretty horrible year.   Only time can tell at this point if it was an outlier and he still has some left in the tank or his arm has finally given up the ghost.

[DannySD]

Lamonte Wade Jr! 

[Rosterman]

Caleb Thielbar. Considering the Twins will have two 40-man spots open....just sayin'.

 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I’m on the Rooker bandwagon too

 

Edit to add, were the Sire(s) of Fort Myers, plural, Thielbar throwing gas seems like a good bet.

[gil4]

Does anyone else think we need a new name for this? We're not going to know who the real sire of Ft Myers for 2020 is until post-draft 19 years from now.

 

[bighat]

Weil looked good in the game vs. U of M that I saw him play, and he hit a HR today against the Jays. Nice start for Zander!

[LylesCrocodiles]

Sam Clay.

[operation mindcrime]

Fernando Romero is my pick

That really turned out well!