I often see people listing out future lineups or starting rotations and drooling over the possibilities. Well today I was updating my Twins future rosters and when I got to the relievers I started to have a very hard time figuring out where to put people because we have many really good looking prospects. Relief pitcher isn't as sexy as starting pitching but I think we should give some love to the relief pitchers! So here is a potential 2016 relief corp:

 

Perkins

May/Meyer- assuming 1 doesn't stick at starter

Zach Jones- hitting triple digits on radar gun; has pitched 23IP 8H 30K's this year

Michael Tonkin- 11k's/9 this year at AA before heading to Roch.

Corey Williams- K's are down this year but still pitching well

J.T. Chargois- hurt but considered fast to the majors reliever when drafted in 2012

AJ Achter- Twins Daily relief pitcher of the year in 2012

 

 

Others that I considered but couldn't find a spot for:

Tyler Jones (right handers are OPS'ing .310 off of him this year!)

Ryan Pressly

Caleb Thielbar

Pedro Hernandez (Lefties are OPS'ing .429 off him)

Cole Johnson (had a .82 ERA at Fort Meyers before being promoted)

Brett Lee (I think he ends up in the bullpen. Righties are hitting him)

Any starter moving to relief

 

 

So there are my picks. I think there are perhaps 5 legitimate pitchers in this group with closer potential. That's a lot of talent. Now show me yours!

There's probably more than that. Several of the guys in the 2012 class looked like they were safe bets to make the big leagues as hard throwing relievers if they failed as starters. I do think the pen for the next wave will be in pretty good shape...

 

still worried about starters and middle infielders though.

The Twins definitely will be breaking on 1-3 of these guys a year over the next few seasons. Too bad Slama isn't the talk of the town anymore.

There's probably more than that. Several of the guys in the 2012 class looked like they were safe bets to make the big leagues as hard throwing relievers if they failed as starters. I do think the pen for the next wave will be in pretty good shape...

 

still worried about starters and middle infielders though.

 

Yeah I think one or two of the starters will become relievers at some point. I just didn't know who it would be at this point because they're all so far away.