Twins Minor League Report (5/20): Eades Exceeds Expectations

Unrelated but it amazes me how much depth we have now. I was re-reading the prospect handbook and saw seths top 30. I realize hindsight is 20-20 but some of those lists a few years back were downright ugly. Those that made the top 5 probably wouldn't be top 10 or top 15 now

I agree with you AZTwin.

What is the reason for the deeper farm system? Is there a new scouting department? Not that I'm aware of.

Does that mean that the same old scouting team is simply doing a better job? Or are the coaches doing a better job of teaching than a few years ago? Dare I say that the improved depth is because of Terry Ryan?

GCL Notes for 8/20:

Jordan Balazovic was impressive in his longest professional outing where he went 6 innings, giving up only 5 hits (all singles), 0 runs, 0 walks and 2 strikeouts.  Currently, Balazovic is not a flamethrower as his fastball was 86-90mph and was sitting 87-88mph on average in the start. The kid had good control of his fastball and was placing it well on the inside half to RHH.  His breaking ball was 79-83 mph with good bend although he left quite a few up in the zone which led to a number of flyballs, his GB:FB rate was 4:11 in the game and 27:24 this season.  Jordan did hit two batters and pitched himself into a jam in the 6th inning but Manager Ramon Borreja let him get out of it himself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux3Uov4ZXPk

In the 8th inning with the Twins up 3-0, the went their 31st pick in the 2016 draft Juan Gamez, a recently converted catcher out of NDSU.  This was only Gamez's second professional outing on the rubber after collecting 20 at bats early in the season behind the plate.  He threw better than his overall line for the night of 2/3 IP, 2H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K.  Juan's fastball was 90-93 mph with some life on it while his slider was 83-85 mph with sharp break.  His control was a little spotty but about where you would expect someone so green to pitch.  For those who were wondering, he has one college inning under his belt giving up 2 H and striking out 2.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvzRjuvb1Mc

The highlight for the 2016 GCL season thus far as been Austrailian softballer turned baseball player Aaron Whitefield.  Whitey is the only regular who is hitting over .300, but he also has the ability to work counts deep as seen in his 14 walks in 151 AB but also his team leading 39 strikeouts.  On the bases the Aussie is fleet footed with a league high 27 stolen bases (27 for 34. The next closest has 20 SB).  Most of that is due to his natural athletic ability and not his basestealing or baserunning acumen.  Of course it doesn't help when you get hosed on the call either though:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVYsU4h_Hvg

Anyone know why Buxton hasn't played the last few days?

Anyone know why Buxton hasn't played the last few days?

Not sure, but he's back in the lineup today. 

I agree with you AZTwin.

 

What is the reason for the deeper farm system? Is there a new scouting department? Not that I'm aware of.

 

Does that mean that the same old scouting team is simply doing a better job? Or are the coaches doing a better job of teaching than a few years ago? Dare I say that the improved depth is because of Terry Ryan?

Years of high draft picks, because of awful teams, and a little bit of luck.

I would say Terry Ryan always had a pretty good system of going out and getting young talent through the draft, etc. His problem, IMO, was how he managed things at the major league level (free agents, trades, call-ups, handling injuries, the country club, etc).

Sure, it seems like there are a lot of prospects in the system. But, the Twins organization has shown a total inability to develop players and arrive at their potential as major league players. Also, the system isn't quite as attractive as it was a few years ago with the graduation of top 50 caliber guys like Buxton, Sano, Berrios, Kepler, etc. Whats left is pretty deep, but the highly touted guys with outrageous projections/comparisons aren't there anymore.

Anyone know why Buxton hasn't played the last few days?

I thought it was kind of interesting to see him used as a runner late in games in these summaries. Makes it seem like it's not a worrisome injury issue. Pure speculation.

I agree with you AZTwin.

 

What is the reason for the deeper farm system? Is there a new scouting department? Not that I'm aware of.

 

Does that mean that the same old scouting team is simply doing a better job? Or are the coaches doing a better job of teaching than a few years ago? Dare I say that the improved depth is because of Terry Ryan?

What matters is what production you get in the Majors, not how many prospects you feel good about before they get there.

I agree with you AZTwin.

 

What is the reason for the deeper farm system? Is there a new scouting department? Not that I'm aware of.

 

Does that mean that the same old scouting team is simply doing a better job? Or are the coaches doing a better job of teaching than a few years ago? Dare I say that the improved depth is because of Terry Ryan?

Depth has improved because we are drafting higher from all the losing. 

That's interesting. I figured he was just drafted as an organizational catcher as you always need warm bodies to catch all the new pitchers. I wonder at what point in the process the Twins knew they were going to ask him to pitch. And I wonder how they knew he could.

Good questions, I'll ask him this weekend if I see him.  I too thought it was an odd switch so soon as he's pretty competent behind the plate with his blocking and a really strong arm.  I saw him at the plate and he was just meh, not good or great but he wasn't Shaq Thompson (2012 BoSox 18th Rd pick, in 2012 was 0-39 with 37 K. He's a NFLer w/ a ring now) bad either.

Here is Gamez just 7 weeks prior as a hitter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJFqozDMDeU