Who will the Twins Send to the AFL?

[Seth Stohs]

I would think we'll hear about AFL assignments in the next week or so. I thought it might be fun to try to guess who you think the Twins will send. 

Typically teams send 3-4 hitters and 3-4 pitchers. Usually it's a total of 7 players. Here are my guesses:

 

Pitchers: Brent Headrick,  Blayne Enlow, Denny Bentley, Derek Molina.

Hitters: Alex Isola, Austin Martin, Aaron Sabato, Edouard Julien. 

Coach: Virgil Vazquez or Toby Gardenhire.

 

Your turn...

[FlyingFinn]

Pitchers - Enlow, Cruz, Laweryson, Rijo

HItters - Martin, Sabato, Winkel, Holland

[Blyleven2011]

What do we get if we're spot on ???

Varland  , enlow , woods Richardson 

Wallner  , Julien  , Williams  , bechtold

[Dman]

10 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

Pitchers - Enlow, Cruz, Laweryson, Rijo

HItters - Martin, Sabato, Winkel, Holland

I like your list.  Enlow could use more time refining command and control.  Cruz could use more time refining control and would be nice to see what he can do against that kind of competition. Rijo had a late start and could use the extra work.  Laweryson was there last year and I would swap him with Bentley or maybe German

Martin definitely needs more work. Sabato and Holland could use more work and Winkel is a nice dark horse pick but I think I would go with Isola as he missed a fair bit of time this season and the Twins might need to decide if they want to add him to the 40 man so I think it would be a good idea to get another look at him there but Winkel works too.

Still I like most all of your picks! Especially Cruz as I hadn't thought about him but I think it would be a good idea to see just how refined he looks as they might need to add him to the 40 man as well.  He will get taken in rule V as he can throw 100 MPH and his K rate at 12 per 9 is strong as well.  Yes he has control problems and his ERA is inflated from April and May where he gave up 9 runs in 8 innings of work each month but if you look at the numbers after those two months they are really strong.  I think sending him to the AFL makes a lot of sense good pick there.

[Seth Stohs]

On 8/17/2022 at 8:40 PM, FlyingFinn said:

Pitchers - Enlow, Cruz, Laweryson, Rijo

HItters - Martin, Sabato, Winkel, Holland

Players from countries with Winter Leagues have to get special approval from their teams to compete in the AFL. It can happen and has happened occasionally (Rosario), but I would think it's unlikely Cruz and Rijo would go. Also, Rijo becomes a free agent after the season, so he might not even be with the Twins at that point. 

Laweryson went last year, so while there is no official reason he couldn't go, it's not likely. 

[Seth Stohs]

On 8/18/2022 at 12:07 AM, Blyleven2011 said:

What do we get if we're spot on ???

Varland  , enlow , woods Richardson 

Wallner  , Julien  , Williams  , bechtold

I'd be a little surprised if anyone who finishes the season in St. Paul would go. Their regular season lasts a couple of weeks longer than the other affiliates. Also, it's rare to see guys like Varland, who already has 110+ innings pitched this year, getting more innings. 

Wallner will get plenty of at-bats this season, and he was in the AFL last year, so I think he's unlikely... 

[DJL44]

Players not mentioned yet but possible:

Anthony Prato and Brooks Lee (who seems to be getting the fast track).

Pitcher possibles:

Hunter McMahon, David Festa, Sean Mooney

[DJL44]

It probably couldn't hurt to send Strotman if they want to decide whether or not to cut him from the roster.

[jorgenswest]

Martin seems like a lock. The AFL made a difference for Lewis after a rough year. I have the same hope for Martin.

Pitchers are tricky trying to limit innings. I think they also value their own instructional following the season for their pitchers. Enlow has a partial season so he might make sense. I am not as sure about Headrick.

[DJL44]

On 8/17/2022 at 8:40 PM, FlyingFinn said:

Pitchers - Enlow, Cruz, Laweryson, Rijo

HItters - Martin, Sabato, Winkel, Holland

Holland is a likely pick

[Clear Lake Twinsfan]

I'd like to see Andrew Cabezas land one of the pitcher spots.  He may be slightly older than some of the other prospects being considered, but with his transition to a full-time bullpen role this year, his innings limit shouldn't be an issue.  If he were to show well in the AFL, he could start next year in St. Paul and potentially be in line for a mid-season call up to the Twins bullpen.

 

[nicksaviking]

I like your list Seth, mostly because Headrick, Isola and Julian need to be added to the 40 man, and I can't see them being named AFL players if they don't plan on adding them. But I think Isola and Julian probably are in St. Paul before too long, which means they'll be knocking on the MLB door soon. I think they'll do the more developmental players.

My list will be Headrick, Casey Legumina, Ben Gross and David Festa. And Martin, Anthony Prato, Jair Carmago and Kyle Fedko.

I'd list Enlow, but this team has been limiting the injury prone pitchers, so I'm guessing they'll let him take the winter off.

What's the prize if we win?

[Rosterman]

St. Paul season is running as long as MLB season, so need to AFL the guys playing there, if they get regular at bats and innings for the next two months..

[bean5302]

6 hours ago, DJL44 said:

It probably couldn't hurt to send Strotman if they want to decide whether or not to cut him from the roster.

I'd cut him today if the Twins needed a spot. Players in AAA will be stepping well down in competition level at the AFL so even if Strotman was successful there, it wouldn't really give the Twins any valuable information, I wouldn't think?

[bean5302]

I'd go with:

Austin Martin, Aaron Sabato, Brooks Lee

Brent Headrick, Sean Mooney, Marco Raya, Blayne Enlow

[DocBauer]

Headrick and Enlow for sure. Headrick to get ready for AAA and possible ML help, and Enlow to get innings and get back on course like he was beginning to look before TJ.

I've got Festa on my list. He seems to be a surprise and fast riser. Perfect choice, unless there is an IP concern in his first full year. And while just promoted to AAA, I've got SWR. He actually pitched little in 2021 and is very young. A good AFL sets him up well for 2023. Would they send a 5th arm? Can they? If so, it's a scramble between Bentley, Gross, Olson, etc, etc.

Sabato is an easy choice. Despite being young, just promoted to AA, possessing tremendous power and high OB, and only in his 2nd season of play, he already looks like a potential bust and 2023 could be huge for him. Despite looking like his bat may play tomorrow, I'm thinking Julien is a perfect choice. Keep his momentum going and work hard on defense, including LF. 

Martin makes so much sense I don't even have to comment.

The Twins HAVE to send at least one catcher. Are Isola and Williams 1B/DH bats who can actually catch? Need to know. And can Carmago eventually hit enough to have a ML career?

I hadn't even thought about Holland, but it would make a lot of sense. He was a high pick, athletic, and didn't actually see the field until 2021. He hasn't put up anything close to good numbers but was recently promoted/challenged. Maybe he's just beginning to bloom?

Dark horse: Does Helman go back again? He's capable of multiple positions, is having his beat season, and he's the only RH OF available right now not named Buxton or Garlick. A boost to get him ready for 2023?