Article: Rule 5 Pick Ryan Pressly Looking for an Opportunity

[Seth Stohs]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1359-Rule-5-PickRyan-Pressly-Looking-for-an-Opportunity

[Mave]

Hoping he does well! Question-- Jonathan Mayo just put him at #18 on the Twins top 20 prospects, is that an accurate assessment of both the Twins system, and Pressly's ability? How does he stack up against some of the arms grabbed in the past couple of drafts?

[beckmt]

If he ranks that high hope we can keep him. He can replace Swarzak and see what happens.

[old nurse]

Swarzak is the long man in the bullpen, Pressly sounds like a one inning guy. Big difference.

[Seth Stohs]

Swarzak is the long man in the bullpen, Pressly sounds like a one inning guy. Big difference.

 

Pressly has been a starter until midseason 2012, so I don't know why he would have to be "only a one inning guy."

[Otto von Ballpark]

Not only did he really struggle as a starter in 2011 and 2012, but his initial conversion to relief in 2012 left something to be desired too (not exactly great K and BB rates for his age pitching relief in AA). Hopefully it was just transitional, and his AFL stats are encouraging in that regard.

 

As an aside, how often do teams send a guy to the AFL and then leave him unprotected in the Rule 5 draft two months later? Seems like a waste of an AFL roster spot, although I suppose the team may want to see more of the player before deciding whether to protect him or not. (Which would not bode well for Pressly's chances this year, if the Red Sox sent him to the AFL and still decided to leave him unprotected. If they wanted to sneak him through, not sending him to the AFL would have been the better play, no?)

[nicksaviking]

Swarzak's injury certainly opens the door for a guy like Pressly to take a spot.

[Seth Stohs]

As an aside, how often do teams send a guy to the AFL and then leave him unprotected in the Rule 5 draft two months later? Seems like a waste of an AFL roster spot, although I suppose the team may want to see more of the player before deciding whether to protect him or not. (Which would not bode well for Pressly's chances this year, if the Red Sox sent him to the AFL and still decided to leave him unprotected. If they wanted to sneak him through, not sending him to the AFL would have been the better play, no?)

 

Quite often. In 2011, the Twins sent De Vries. In 2012, they sent Bigley, who they haven't protected twice. One year, they sent Spencer Steedley and Steve Singleton and then didn't add either. It happens quite a bit.

[LoganJones]

Spencer Steedly sounds like he fell out of a Noir Novel. Pressly seems like a good project. He very well might take Swarzak's spot as the long guy, if his rib injury proves to be a setback. Or if they move Swarzak up to a 1 inning guy and let Burnett head back to AAA.

[Miraclemat]

Check this out...Diamond Rule 5 Drat pick looking better all the time!

According to the Twitter feeds of the Atlanta Braves beat writers, right-handed relief pitcher Billy Bullock has been suspended 50 games after violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. This is his second violation. It was apparently not a PED, but a "drug of abuse."

Bullock was acquired from the Minnesota Twins two years ago in exchange for starting pitcher Scott Diamond. Bullock has shown promise as a hard throwing reliever, holding opponents to low batting averages and racking up high strikeout totals, but he has also tallied high walk totals throughout his career. He was highly regarded as a bullpen prospect, but that excitement has been tempered by his lack of progress this past year.

He has spend the majority of the past two season at double-A Mississippi, and did not fare well in a late season promotion to triple-A. The suspension will begin at the start of the 2013 regular season.

[Kwak]

Check this out...Diamond Rule 5 Drat pick looking better all the time!

According to the Twitter feeds of the Atlanta Braves beat writers, right-handed relief pitcher Billy Bullock has been suspended 50 games after violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. This is his second violation. It was apparently not a PED, but a "drug of abuse."

Bullock was acquired from the Minnesota Twins two years ago in exchange for starting pitcher Scott Diamond. Bullock has shown promise as a hard throwing reliever, holding opponents to low batting averages and racking up high strikeout totals, but he has also tallied high walk totals throughout his career. He was highly regarded as a bullpen prospect, but that excitement has been tempered by his lack of progress this past year.

He has spend the majority of the past two season at double-A Mississippi, and did not fare well in a late season promotion to triple-A. The suspension will begin at the start of the 2013 regular season.

 

Valencia's name was on "the Miami List"--though there was no designation (left hand side of paper) like there was for the other names on said list. My point is: Do the Twins "know" something about their players, keep it quiet, and then dispose of said player for some other stated reason?

[fairweather]

If there is one thing the 2013 Twins bullpen needs it's a power RHP in the bullpen. Last year for as well as the Twins bullpen did it didn't strike out a ton of hitters. Guys like Burnett and Swarzak would be prime candidates to be replaced by a guy who misses more bats.

[TRex]

Kwak,

Not to hijack the thread, but I think everyone who watched Valencia (and DYoung) launch bomb after bomb onto the Budweiser Deck in batting practice knew... now whether we chose to believe or not is another thing.

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

I've got quite a bit of hope for him. He's not an automatic doghouse guy like Correia is.

[Seth Stohs]

Valencia's name was on "the Miami List"--though there was no designation (left hand side of paper) like there was for the other names on said list. My point is: Do the Twins "know" something about their players, keep it quiet, and then dispose of said player for some other stated reason?

 

First, I don't care if Valencia took something. It doesn't affect my thoughts on him.

Second, he was always a great guy to me, great to talk to an such, so I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

Third, the Twins have had lots of guys test positive for non-PEDs (recreational drugs) including Swarzak and a couple others. They have also had several who have been suspended for PEDs.

Having talked to many people, I truly don't believe that the Twins encourage it in any way. I also believe they have the meetings that tell people what they can and can't do. They also provide them with lists of what can and can't be taken. Anything not included on those lists, they are provided with a number and can call it to find out. The Twins can't do any more than that. Up to the players at this point.

[Willihammer]

Anything not included on those lists, they are provided with a number and can call it to find out.

 

I wonder if anyone has ever called that number.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Valencia's name was on "the Miami List"--though there was no designation (left hand side of paper) like there was for the other names on said list. My point is: Do the Twins "know" something about their players, keep it quiet, and then dispose of said player for some other stated reason?

I think they had plenty of reasons to dump Valencia, beyond any suspected PED use.

 

Bullock is more interesting -- his suspension is for a "drug of abuse" and probably speaks more to his intelligence/character than anything. Could have been a factor in the Twins trading him.

[Boom Boom]

Kwak,

Not to hijack the thread, but I think everyone who watched Valencia (and DYoung) launch bomb after bomb onto the Budweiser Deck in batting practice knew... now whether we chose to believe or not is another thing.

 

Batting practice is a different animal from live pitching. The BP coach is deliberately leaving the ball in a meaty part of the plate.

 

As far as I know, PEDs don't do much to help intelligence, approach, and coordination.

[Thrylos]

I think that we have to put expectations into perspective here:

Pressly was 23 last season and started his 2012 season in high A, moving to AA mid-season as a reliever. Here are some comparable pitchers in age and level in the Twins' organization:

 

Matthew Houser

Edgar Ibarra

Jose Gonzales

Marty Popham

Bruce Pugh

Tom Stuifbergen

Dakota Watts

 

I really cannot see any of the above cracking the Twins' 25 man roster in April. I am referring judgement on Pressly until I see him pitch this ST, but my gut feeling is that he will not make it...

[ashbury]

Spencer Steedly sounds like he fell out of a Noir Novel.

 

Scott Diamond could be Richard Diamond's son and heir to his private detective business. Drew Butera (or Darin Mastroianni) could be the college-educated son of a mob boss, and Anthony Swarzak could be the goon who protects him, while Trevor Plouffe could be the hairdresser (and snitch) for Butera's girlfriend Jamie (sic) Carroll. Joe Benson sounds like he'd be the bartender Scott Diamond goes to for the word on the street when Plouffe comes up empty. You might be onto something there.

[Oldgoat_MN]

I really cannot see any of the above cracking the Twins' 25 man roster in April. I am referring judgement on Pressly until I see him pitch this ST, but my gut feeling is that he will not make it...

 

I agree. Still, someone must have thought they saw something in the guy.

Maybe...

[Es1308]

Swarzak is the long man in the bullpen, Pressly sounds like a one inning guy. Big difference.

 

He's only not been a starting pitcher since after the All Star break last season so his arm and stamina is still present allowing him to definitely be more than a "one inning guy." Actually, the more innings he throws the more lose and comfortable he becomes throwing well into the mid-upper 90s consistently hitting 98 during the season as well as in Arizona. Hopefully the Twins will give him a chance because they seem interested and have made the investment in him. Now they just have to wait for the pay off.

[jokin]

Swarzak is the long man in the bullpen, Pressly sounds like a one inning guy. Big difference.

 

Sounds like you might be hard of hearing.

[Es1308]

I agree. Still, someone must have thought they saw something in the guy.

Maybe...

 

Obviously they saw something in him. They've seen him play year after year in Ft Myers...who wouldn't see something in a 24 year old who has a 12-6 major league curveball, an upper 90s fastball and a change up that comes out of his hand looking like a fast ball but sits 83-86 and runs up on right handed batters. Texas boys have "stuff" that teams want and other teams hate to face.

[Riverbrian]

Obviously they saw something in him. They've seen him play year after year in Ft Myers...who wouldn't see something in a 24 year old who has a 12-6 major league curveball, an upper 90s fastball and a change up that comes out of his hand looking like a fast ball but sits 83-86 and runs up on right handed batters. Texas boys have "stuff" that teams want and other teams hate to face.

 

After that scouting report... I can't wait to see him pitch.

[Riverbrian]

I would have no problem letting this guy work out some kinks for a year... If his stuff is that good.