Article: Byron Buxton To Be Promoted to High A-Fort Myers

[Ncgo4]

This will tell us much of we need to know. The Florida State League is not known as a hitter's league. From all reports he's got an amazing attitude and soaks up the teaching like a sponge. If he can pull an Arcia/Rosario/Sano he might really fast track. Remember last year at this time Arcia was also in Fort Myers.

 

You never know how these young guys will adjust and I am not predicting that Buck will tear up the league...but he just might be that 1 in 10-20 year player. It's a great time to be a twins fan, innit?

 

One thing, if he get's off to a crazy fast start, how nuts will this board get?

[ericchri]

Cedar Rapids is already in the playoffs, Ft. Myers is already in the playoffs. New Britain didn't make it first half, and it looks like they have their work cut out for them to make it second half. Honestly, if Buxton hits well at Ft. Myers for a month and it looks like New Britain needs help, could he get a call to play there for a month in hopes he could spark a playoff push?

 

Regardless, good luck to Buxton at the next level! As a Twins fan I'm a little happier right now.

[Otto von Ballpark]

After his super-hot start, his HR power has come back to earth a little bit -- not surprising for a guy his age, Mike Trout's minor league power was largely based on doubles and triples too. He can still hit the ball a long way, though -- hope to see that continue, even if he's not a 30+ HR type hitter yet.

 

I was really skeptical of Buxton around the draft, and even after his rookie league season, because I was afraid he would be more tools than performance. He's really proven me wrong so far. Congrats to him, keep it up!

[Mike Sixel]

I'm with spycake, he has greatly exceeded any expectations I had (probably most of us....who thought he might be the top prospect in baseball....). Based on everything we read, he seemed likely to be more raw / toolsy this early in his career. Looking forward to seeing him in MN in 1-3 years.....

[ThePuck]

What's with all the trolling in this thread? Aren't there rules against that?

 

There's little to no consistency when it comes to warnings and bannings and such.

 

The fact that those posts are still on this thread and the people who posted them didn't get warnings and their posts deleted speaks volumes. I've gotten warnings for stuff much, much tamer.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Cedar Rapids is already in the playoffs, Ft. Myers is already in the playoffs. New Britain didn't make it first half, and it looks like they have their work cut out for them to make it second half. Honestly, if Buxton hits well at Ft. Myers for a month and it looks like New Britain needs help, could he get a call to play there for a month in hopes he could spark a playoff push?

 

Interesting. Right now, primarily due to birthdays (at draft time, Trout was still 17 while Buxton was 18 and a half), Buxton trails Trout's promotion schedule a little bit. But an August 2013 promotion to AA would basically match Trout's April 2011 AA debut. It would definitely be cool to see if he keeps raking at high-A!

[Mike Sixel]

My money would be on him spending all year in high A, and I personally would have no issue with that....next year in AA and maybe AAA/MLB. That's plenty fast for a HS player.

[jay]

Good info, but inaccurate on Mike Trout.

 

Trout played 2 levels at age 17- Rk & Low-A. Played 2 levels at age 18- A & A+. Played 2 levels, including AA and a Major League call-up at 19. Next year- called up from short-stint @ AAA for good at age 20.

 

Sano played GCL at 17. Played Rookie Ball only at 18. Played low-A ball only at 19. Is playing 2 levels for the first time at age 20. Next year @ 21? TBD- but a possible major league call-up would then be in his 5th year of professional ball.

 

Buxton played 2 rookie levels at 18. Is playing A and A+ at 19. Next year @ 20? A+ repeat- or promote to AA- to start out? If it goes really well at AA, he could get a call-up next year @ age 20. I would love to see it, but it hasn't exactly been the Twins Way over time- Joe Mauer made it up just two weeks short of his 21st birthday- in his 4th year as a pro.

 

Fair enough, but I think the evidence still strongly supports that the Twins are moving these guys quickly even in comparison to other elite prospects. An incredibly small sample of a few guys making it maybe a year earlier doesn't prove otherwise.

 

The best of the best prospects seem to make it before or at 22. If Sano comes up next year after let's say the Super 2 deadline, he'll be barely 21. I could also see Buxton up next year for a September call up where he'll still be 20.

[ericchri]

I don't honestly expect him to go any farther this year than Ft. Myers, and I'm fine with that. But I just couldn't help wondering if there'd be any way playing the "help our affiliates out" game could potentially cause him to get another promotion this year when he might not otherwise.

[jay]

What's with all the trolling in this thread? Aren't there rules against that?

 

I don't think every use of sarcasm is considered trolling, but I went ahead and edited my post anyway.

 

Seeing that reaction from so many folks would seem to be pretty telling though. I think it's been bottled-up and the dam broke, so to speak.

[jun]

What about Vargas? I think he needs a promotion as well.

[diehardtwinsfan]

What about Vargas? I think he needs a promotion as well.

 

He hasn't dominated quite as much. I'm guessing he finishes the year in A+ and starts in AA for 2014.

[jay]

What about Vargas? I think he needs a promotion as well.

 

He hasn't dominated quite as much. I'm guessing he finishes the year in A+ and starts in AA for 2014.

 

A .939 OPS in the FSL is pretty darn good. Good enough for 4th in the league behind only some guy named Sano and two other guys.

 

I'm hoping he moves up to AA within the next few weeks since there isn't anything but filler there now. It'd free up a spot at H-A for Dalton Hicks (5th in Midwest league in OPS) and 6' 10" Aussie Rory Rhodes can move up from E-Town.

[ThePuck]

A .939 OPS in the FSL is pretty darn good. Good enough for 4th in the league behind only some guy named Sano and two other guys.

 

I'm hoping he moves up to AA within the next few weeks since there isn't anything but filler there now. It'd free up a spot at H-A for Dalton Hicks (5th in Midwest league in OPS) and 6' 10" Aussie Rory Rhodes can move up from E-Town.

 

That's what I was thinking :-)

[diehardtwinsfan]

A .939 OPS in the FSL is pretty darn good. Good enough for 4th in the league behind only some guy named Sano and two other guys.

 

I'm hoping he moves up to AA within the next few weeks since there isn't anything but filler there now. It'd free up a spot at H-A for Dalton Hicks (5th in Midwest league in OPS) and 6' 10" Aussie Rory Rhodes can move up from E-Town.

 

I did not realize he was doing that well. I take that back. Might not hurt to move him.