Twins Minor League Report (8/14): Prospects in Pensacola

Will the Twins want Graterol to get a stop at Rochester before he gets called up to the Twins?

Will the Twins want Graterol to get a stop at Rochester before he gets called up to the Twins?

No need - they just need his heater!

So nice to see so many prospects having a good day on the same day!   We need that to offset the worry that is inherent in being a Twins fan.

Not really concerned about whether or not Gratrol is up in September or not.

It’s looking like we may be the second wildcard by that point. As a fan, I’m a little miffed about it. This Graterol “plan” is just insulting. It’ll just be pointed to in the press conferences after the season as evidence of going all-in. They should’ve made some real moves while they had the chance (namely, during the off-season).

Additionally, the way the Twins entire pitching staff is going/has gone down in flames, do we really want our top pitching prospect in that atmosphere working with those coaches? Is here anyone left who thinks the major league staff is highly competent (relative to other playoff clubs)?

Nope. I don't see any need for it. Just needs to get some innings under his belt, throw strikes and stay healthy.

13 pitches, 5 strikes.  Yikes.  Gonna have to do better than that to see action with the big league club.

Not really concerned about whether or not Gratrol is up in September or not.

It’s looking like we may be the second wildcard by that point. As a fan, I’m a little miffed about it. This Graterol “plan” is just insulting. It’ll just be pointed to in the press conferences after the season as evidence of going all-in. They should’ve made some real moves while they had the chance (namely, during the off-season).

Additionally, the way the Twins entire pitching staff is going/has gone down in flames, do we really want our top pitching prospect in that atmosphere working with those coaches? Is here anyone left who thinks the major league staff is highly competent (relative to other playoff clubs)?

The Twins ERA is 8th best in the majors. And I’m pretty sure we don’t have the 8th most talented pitching staff. So yes I do believe that the pitching coaches are competent.

Nice day for Lewis, Kirilloff, and Larnach. Hope all three finish the year strong and healthy at AA and go into next year pushing to make the big club. (my way too early prediction: none of them make the team out of spring training, but all see time with the club in 2020, with Kirilloff hitting his way on to the team first and sticking the fastest.)

I think all three are going to be in good shape if they stay healthy and can get all the AA ABs they can handle.

The Twins ERA is 8th best in the majors. And I’m pretty sure we don’t have the 8th most talented pitching staff. So yes I do believe that the pitching coaches are competent.

agree to disagree,

I think Berrios, Gibson, Ordo, Pineda and I hate to say Perez, hold up against all but a couple of starting staffs in the majors as far a talent and for that matter success this year.

You could be correct on the bullpen, but again 4 of those guys have been DFA'd.

Now I am not willing to say they should be fired but I think the jury is still out.

(they looked like magicians the first half and impostures the second)

Pretty sure there is no tie between what was done in July (trade deadline) and Graterol (potentially) coming up. And yes, I want the Twins to have their best pitchers pitching down the stretch, even if this one is 20. I'm not as high on Wes Johnson as seemingly most, but I am completely fine with Graterol working with Johnson and Hefner. 

You could say the "tie" was that he was still in the system after the July deadline?  Because he isn't coming up if he was used to help the rotation and bullpen in a trade.

It seems like many championship teams get some key performances from a new arrival down the stretch, much like the Twins have gotten from Arraez in the middle of the season. The unexpected success boosts team morale and gives everyone a bit more confidence.

Now that arrivals cannot come from late waiver deadline trades, they have to be promotions. Could Graterol be the guy who comes up and keys 2-3 wins in the final month?

13 pitches, 5 strikes.  Yikes.  Gonna have to do better than that to see action with the big league club.

What confuses me is the low (relatively) K% given he throws 100 mph at the AA level.

His K% at Pensacola this year is 24.6%....slightly behind Bryan Sammons. Here are the Twins pitchers with a higher K% at the major-league level this year....Odorizzi, Rogers, May, Duffey, Poppen. Kyle Gibson is at 22.6%. Something isn't adding up quite yet. Lack of high-quality secondary pitch where everyone can sit on the FB? Poor command, tending to throw the FB over the middle of the plate? Some of each? He's 20...got plenty of time to figure that out. But, right now I'm not counting on him to come up and blow people away.

Since there is not much minor league baseball in September, sans playoffs, I don't see any development issues with him sitting on the major bench the last month. He could be short relief or he could be in that long relief rotation getting used to the major leagues. Sounds reasoable to me.

Crazy to bring up Graterol in a year where the Twins are in the second tier behind the Dodgers and Astros. He just spent time injured. Moreover, his stats would have to be near perfect to justify bringing him up as a 20 year old and immediately putting him in pennant race snd playoff meat grinder. I don’t think this year is a one-off and the Twins should try to handle their roster and prospects to build an even better team to consistently win in future years too This year doesn’t have to be the peak.