Twins Minor League Report (8/10): Brooks Lee’s High-A Debut, Schobel Shines

First, thanks for this each and every night.

Such an ugly farm.  At least when CES and Speer were there, there was something to hope for.

But as ugly as it is, there's no way Noah Miller should be ranked 7th.  You seriously are going to put a future utility guy (and not the good type) as the 7th best prospect?  I'd take him off altogether and start dragging up the names Acuna and Mercedes to see what kind of injuries they'll sustain once ranked.

1 hour ago, twinstalker said:

First, thanks for this each and every night.

Such an ugly farm.  At least when CES and Speer were there, there was something to hope for.

But as ugly as it is, there's no way Noah Miller should be ranked 7th.  You seriously are going to put a future utility guy (and not the good type) as the 7th best prospect?  I'd take him off altogether and start dragging up the names Acuna and Mercedes to see what kind of injuries they'll sustain once ranked.

Oh ok. When you talk of CES and Speer you mention hope, implying uncertainty with prospects. Then you go on to sound quite certain about Miller. Which is it? Miller is 19, his older brother who was considered the lesser prospect is in the majors just getting started and might end up fitting your disruption of Noah, a utility guy. He could end up better than that or worse. Noah looked really good to me at short in spring training as a guy a year out of high school, in Wisconsin, playing with major leaguers for the first time. The book is still out. 

5 hours ago, twinstalker said:

First, thanks for this each and every night.

Such an ugly farm.  At least when CES and Speer were there, there was something to hope for.

But as ugly as it is, there's no way Noah Miller should be ranked 7th.  You seriously are going to put a future utility guy (and not the good type) as the 7th best prospect?  I'd take him off altogether and start dragging up the names Acuna and Mercedes to see what kind of injuries they'll sustain once ranked.

Interesting take on prospect rankings.  You talk about CES as a guy that gave hope, assuming because his offense numbers, and attack Noah Miller, because his offense numbers not as good.  What I draw from your determination on prospects is you only care what their offense output is and do not care about anything else that will go into it.  Like age, defensive position, how well they can play defense, projection based on.  I bet going back to 2019 you most likely said Jose Miranda was not a prospect and had no hope of being anything, being his slash numbers were basically the same as Noah Miller.  Miranda was not high on rankings, but he developed.  Much of prospect ranking is projection, not where they are right now.  

CES is not highly ranked by national rankings.  In part, he is older so less projection there, and many worry when he faces better pitching he will strike out at way to high of rate.  I personally have not watched, unlike the scouts that actually rank him, not sure if you have.  However, the book on him is he will chase too much, and many expect when he faces better pitching that will have less mistakes he will not do as well.  Maybe he proves them wrong. 

Prospect ranks are subjective and many times people get them wrong.  However, to say Miller is destined for utility guy at best when he is only 19 in A ball right now may be a little premature as well.  Maybe you are right, but only time will tell.  

Personally though, I was not big on CES because he has no defense and I have seen too many college bats tear up lower minors only to never make majors because in AAA they face good pitching and their holes are exposed.  Maybe they get a cup of coffee or something at majors but again holes get exposed. 

Will second, or third those comments above regarding the attack on Miller.  But I am an old Badger state guy and I gotta like him, eh?

What I am absolutely thrilled with is that Brooks Lee made his Hi-A debut and even got a hit.  Now I know he may be too old for Hi-A, he is only hitting .250 and blah, blah, blah.  I expect he was excited, yet, seemed like a player in that brief clip we saw.  Can he move up the ladder rapidly and appear at Target Field in 2023?  Don't know where he will play with Royce Lewis manning short, but they will find a place if he is special.

What gives? Minor league starters should be stretching out at this point in the season?

Henriquez is so young, folks. People forget we got him as part of the Mitch Garver trade. Glad to see him shine in long relief. Bard Peacock is also picthing well, as is Sisk, a prospect to watch.

Curtis Terry gone. the 11th minor league free agent signed in the off-season that the Twins have jettisoned. More than two dozen signed. Three have gotten major league time. And the Twins have cycled in another nine since the season started.

Although Wallner has slumped some offensively but I really liked his defensive play. He has risen his stock in my portfolio. The prospects we gave up is mainly redundant, You can't have too much pitching so Povich could be a loss but it'll be awhile before he'd be called up if ever because you can't be too sure about pitching prospects. 

I'm really excited about our core, the prospects that just graduated and the ones that are in the lower ranks. That to me spells success. I'd rather a few exceptional prospects than a farm full of redundant mediocore prospects.

10 hours ago, twinstalker said:

But as ugly as it is, there's no way Noah Miller should be ranked 7th.  You seriously are going to put a future utility guy (and not the good type) as the 7th best prospect?  I'd take him off altogether and start dragging up the names Acuna and Mercedes to see what kind of injuries they'll sustain once ranked.

I think you are a little rough on Miller.  He is a high school kid in his first year of professional ball.  He was doing great until a month or so ago when he tailed off.  I am willing to give him a pass this year as it is a huge jump from playing a few high school games every year to playing a full season of professional baseball.  I am guessing that he is worn down.   I think the potential is there for him to be a fine MLB player.  Will he realize that potential?  I don't know.  But I wouldn't throw him to the wolves based on his first year in professional baseball.  Let's withhold judgment for a year or so and see how he adjusts.  

Wow, Sabato gets moved up to Wichita. Let's see what you got big guy. Holland goes up with him.

The Kernels have a good record and are getting beaten by teams with very poor records, for the past two games.

Miller is holding his own at the plate in Low-A at age 19. The triple slash may not look great, but the league is a hard core pitcher's league anyway. Miller's wRC+ 95 is right about league average and right where it has been all year. Much more important to me, Miller has clearly been working on his strikeout rate and made a massive improvement without taking fewer walks. His on base percentage has been great, near .350 all season.

Since the All Star Break his walk vs. K rate looks way better and way more sustainable.
BB% = 15.2%
K% = 16.5% (down from 25.5% in the first half of the year)

At age 19, there is plenty, and I mean PLENTY of time for his power to develop. I wouldn't expect Miller to be knocking at the MLB door prior to 2025.