Ranking the Twins Top-5 Fastball Prospects

I can't disagree with the 5 listed, but I am curioius how you viewed Varland's fastball.  I know it has been rated a 55, but boy now that he is hitting a 100 on the gun at times, it must be better than that.  How close was he to making the list?

Our cache of pitching prospects is very impressive to me, and exciting as we watch them progress.  I am looking forward to the time when our staff is populated by a majority of home grown talents.

I am curious how Ryan can be rated number one in fastball.  Yes he has a deceptive delivery and succeeds with it, but his Fastball does not have the velocity of others on the list. 

Velocity isn't the only thing with fastballs. Jim Hoey is the perfect example. A 100mph straightball is easy for an MLB hitter to knock out of the park. Deception on delivery and movement are key to fastball value.

Velocity matters, but the type of fastball matters too. Sinking fastballs generate weak ground ball contact with late break downwards (Jordan Hicks) and four seamers generate strikeouts (Chris Sale) while cutters can generate both on unpredictable movement (Mariano Rivera).

Other pitches wind up playing into the fastball as well. A pitcher with a great changeup automatically makes the fastball better because it adds to the deception if the hitter can't figure out which pitch is coming their way. Great control adds to it again since results do kind of find their way into the grades of the pitches themselves as well.

Your "average age of competition" mention always helps in the context of player development. Interesting article. Thanks

Would Petty and Graterol have made this list?  While I like the two veterans obtained in the trades involving Graterol and Petty, I'm just curious.

Petty would have made the list, though Graterol is no longer a prospect as he lost his rookie status. MLB grades Chase Petty's fastball as a 70. They put his slider at 55 and his changeup at 50 while Baseball America was even more bullish with a 70, 70, 55 ratings on those pitches, respectively.

The MLB world will know far more about him once he starts pitching against professional competition this year. 

12 hours ago, bean5302 said:

Petty would have made the list, though Graterol is no longer a prospect as he lost his rookie status. MLB grades Chase Petty's fastball as a 70. They put his slider at 55 and his changeup at 50 while Baseball America was even more bullish with a 70, 70, 55 ratings on those pitches, respectively.

The MLB world will know far more about him once he starts pitching against professional competition this year. 

 

 I saw Petty throwing at spring training several weeks ago, before he was traded, and I must rate his slider as jaw-dropping. There were audible sounds like "wow", "awe", "Umph" and "Mmph" from several of the fans stranding behind the fence within 10 feet of the catcher, and on the other side of the fence, even a player or two made sounds, when Petty threw his slider. It was impressive.   

3 hours ago, tarheeltwinsfan said:

 I saw Petty throwing at spring training several weeks ago, before he was traded, and I must rate his slider as jaw-dropping. There were audible sounds like "wow", "awe", "Umph" and "Mmph" from several of the fans stranding behind the fence within 10 feet of the catcher, and on the other side of the fence, even a player or two made sounds, when Petty threw his slider. It was impressive.   

The Petty trade could definitely end Falvey's tenure with the Twins. The reports on him made me feel he was just soooooo far ahead of what people were expecting.