Part 3: Seth's Top 30 Twins Pitching Prospects (16-20)

Thanks for adding new names to our prospect list.  Nothing on this group stood out - Vallimont still does not seem like a real asset yet and hopefully Moran will fill out a BP role this year.  I hope you give us up dates when the season actually starts this year.

Thanks Seth.  Appreciate all the extra work on these lists (loving the separate pitcher/hitter lists).  I like the idea of the subset of starters and relievers, as situational needs and differing priorities can often color where people would "rank" individual players.  Seems like a lot of extra work, but if your willing to write it up, I am more than pleased to read it (and thank you for you work  ). 

I was keeping an eye on Osiris last year especially after dominating in low A.  He slipped a bit in High A as his WHIP went up quite a bit.  I assume due to adjusting to a tougher level.  Not sure what to think just yet as you generally need to wait until AA and AAA to see how pitchers are going to do and the jump to MLB is even tougher.  His A ball numbers give me something to dream on though.

Reggie's numbers were solid but I have to say I was disappointed that he was hurt so much of the year.  It was a tough year for our pitchers last year.  Hopefully next year is better but just too little info to form any real opinion on Reggie Grace.

I don't know why but my general impression on Casey Legumina was I questioned whether he had good enough stuff or not but looking at the numbers again it looks like he had a solid debut. I guess I must have seen the shaky starts?  

Vallimont is crazy inconsistent.  I have seen him walk the bases loaded only to strike out the next two or three guys.  Lots of K's but lot's of Walks.  It was the beef MLB.com's profile had on him early on and it doesn't look like much has changed.  I can see why the Twins added him but once again he has a big year ahead of him.  Needs to harness his stuff if he ever hopes to make it.

Moran was dominant in the minors last year but he was struggling as the season went on IMO.  Tough debut at the MLB level but at least he has been there done that now.  That change is a hammer but I worry about his Fastball getting hit out of the park.  It was hittable in years past maybe it is better now but if he solves that he could be elite.  His K rate has always been elite but control and and the fastball are the things that have held him back to this point IMO.  I hope he reaches his ceiling I feel like I have been watching and waiting for him to make it forever.

I also enjoy these lists and think the separation of pitchers from hitters is useful to avoid meaningless comparisons. If you separated starters from relievers, you might think about only doing 15 of each to keep 30 total pitchers. Of course, it's often hard to tell with prospects which ones will end up in the rotation vs. the bullpen.

Just impossible for me to comment on Grace or Legumina due to such a SSS. I fully appreciate any prospect list is based on pure stuff and potential and trying to extrapolate that for the future. But missing such time at this point, I just don't know if I'd rank them this high. But I also don't know that I wouldn't rank them this high either. Just really hope for a bigger and more clear picture after the 2022 season is complete.

Very glad Vallimont was protected and I'm still very hopeful. While he needed to work on control previously, I don't recall it ever being so bad prior to 2021. I'm thinking the lost season just messed with his mechanics. The potential/stuff is obviously there. I could absolutely see a move to the pen in his future if the control and secondary stuff just doesn't come around.

Thanks, Seth.  Considering these five were 16-20, really looking forward to the next group(s).

Will agree with the above comments that I just don't know what to expect from Vallimont.  Excited for the young trio, knowing they are a long way off.  Have my fingers crossed that Moran is the real deal and he confirms that with his play in 2022.

Thanks and good work, they seem old for where they are ranked, I would hope to see players like this a little bit younger, but good arms no matter their age are a positive.

I'm a big fan of Moran. He's going to walk more batters than some people will be comfortable with, but that change-up is a real weapon and means that he's not going to be just a lefty specialist. I think he's MLB ready right now, but whether or not he starts the season in the Twins bullpen will depend on whether they sign more arms, I think. Regardless of where he starts, I'd wager money on him being in the bullpen at the end of the season.

Vallimont is an interesting case. Any pitcher that can hunt Ks like he does is worth watching, but he may not be able to consistently command his pitches well enough to make it as a starter. But for a K-hunter like him, the bullpen is a fine backup plan. He would have 100% been grabbed if left unprotected in the Rule V because even good teams can take a flyer on a bullpen option like him for $100K and seem if they can get him on track consistently, because it's low risk. If you succeed, you've got a weapon for $100K, if you fail you either get $50K back or stash him in your system to keep trying for the rest of the season. Vallimont likely starts back at AA, and I have to wonder if this season if he still struggles as a starter if they'll make the conversion around midyear. The lack of a development year from COVID almost certainly hurt his progress. 

Still have questions,  may have preferred Twins protected Gore rather than Vallimont.  Think both are good, but Gore may be more projectable.  Good chance Vallimont never makes it, but if he does will be a real weapon. 

Rest are lower level pitchers I know little about, but still a great article.

1.64 whip for Vallimont. I just can’t get excited about that. 

On 1/3/2022 at 9:14 AM, MN_ExPat said:

Thanks Seth.  Appreciate all the extra work on these lists (loving the separate pitcher/hitter lists).  I like the idea of the subset of starters and relievers, as situational needs and differing priorities can often color where people would "rank" individual players.  Seems like a lot of extra work, but if your willing to write it up, I am more than pleased to read it (and thank you for you work  ). 

Seth, If you build it, they will come.