Twins Minor League Report (8/19): Colina Ks 10, Kirilloff Collects Three Hits

I hope that they are courageous and bring up Kiriloff for Sept.  I was just in St Louis and watched the Nationals Soto in left field.  Kiriloff might be one of those who just come with all the talent ready made. 

Its a shame Kirilloff won't have enough at bats to qualify for the batting crown in the FSL.  He is about 75 points ahead of the current leader.  

We've seen Vargas' name in these write-ups a lot this month.  Checked and he is over .300 average with 6 home runs in August.  Good for him.  Hopefully it will get him a contract with someone over the winter.

Another great start by Jax, who just might move up the ladder real fast the next two years.  And this Colina guy has been good all year, but really good since the break.  Expect he is another guy that is going to get a lot of consideration when you do your rankings this fall.  And Helman must have read the comment section yesterday and said, "hey, I can hit home runs too."

I believe the last Twin to be promoted direct from hi A ball to the majors is the great Kent Hrbeck. Puckett went from Double A to majors. Be pretty special to have Kirilloff join Hrbeck.

I think Jorge Polanco's first cup of coffee was directly from Ft Myers.  This was because he was already on the 40-man as an international signee and the Twins needed a fill in for an injury.  He hit pretty well in a limited number of at bats.

Another great start from Colina.  I just did some brief researching on him, and the best article that came up was this one, from some site called "Twins Daily"--http://twinsdaily.com/articles.html/_/minnesota-twins-news/minnesota-twins-minor-leagues/edwar-colina-from-chilly-home-opener-to-no-hitter-r6722

I do remember reading this article., but it was worth a reread.  Colina definitely has me intrigued.

I know it's too early to write in Kirilloff as a starter in the Twins outfield.  But if he is, who is the proverbial odd man out between Buxton, Rosario and Kepler.  Should the Twins plan for that likely Kirilloff future by trading Buxton or Kepler in the off-season?  If something happens to Kirilloff, there are other options (Wade, Cave . . .) to fit in.

Can anyone tell me how hard Colina throws?

from that article:

“He’s got plus stuff,” Gardenhire said of Colina. “He’s got a really good fastball, obviously, he runs it up there 95, 96 (miles per hour) a lot of times. He’s got a really good slider and a good change-up that he’s been working on. And the ball moves, that’s the biggest thing. He’s 95, 96 and it doesn’t go straight. He’s got a lot of sink.

“So his biggest thing is, can he control it? Because he has a tendency to kind of dabble around the plate a little bit. When he’s good, he throws a lot of strikes. He’s done that the last couple of times, so hopefully he just keeps getting better with that, too.”

I know it's too early to write in Kirilloff as a starter in the Twins outfield.  But if he is, who is the proverbial odd man out between Buxton, Rosario and Kepler.  Should the Twins plan for that likely Kirilloff future by trading Buxton or Kepler in the off-season?  If something happens to Kirilloff, there are other options (Wade, Cave . . .) to fit in.

Kepler and Kiriloff can both play first. Who knows, maybe this Tyler Austin would be a nice guy to plug in against LH starters too. But yeah, 2020 is probably a realistic and prudent timetable unless he hits .379 in Chattanooga with power numbers.

I hope we'll see both Lewis and Kiriloff in Arizona this Fall; but I think we can only take one single A player, is that correct?

Reminds me of early this century when the Twins had Hunter and Jones as locks and were dabbling with Mohr, Kielty and Buchanan while Cuddyer, Restovich, Kubel, Morneau, Ryan, Ford, Sears and others were all knocking on the door. Kielty and Buchanan were moved in quality trades and several of the others were long time fixtures. 

Agree with the concept.  Those trades were examples of good Terry Ryan.  Not only because he was 'proactive' in looking for the opportunities, and got good (really great) value for Kielty and Buchanan....but because they made the correct choices in which pieces of the depth to trade vs keep.  Bad Terry, proactively traded Hicks because he was sure about Buxton.  Might want to be 'more sure' (at least AA sure?) about Kiriloff before we part ways with any of the major league pieces.

I hope we'll see both Lewis and Kiriloff in Arizona this Fall; but I think we can only take one single A player, is that correct?

That rule no longer exists, so both could go.

I can''t imagine anyone (coaches or front office types) that wouldn't like 'lot of sink.' 

That's really encouraging, though Gardenhire probably liked the "lot of sink" more than the new front office does.

 

I'm encouraged that a pitcher's height no longer appears to be a de facto disqualification for starting opportunities. 

Keeping in mind that was Toby, not Ron.  Toby was hired by the current FO, if I remember correctly.  Like many, maybe all sons out there, I'd like to think that Toby acquired all of his Dad's qualities that made him a good manager, while developing his own personality independent of his father--one that probably goes counter to his pop's "old-fashioned thinking."  Adjusting for generations, Toby probably got Ron started on digital music via iPod, and Ron probably reluctantly gave up his CD collection, after first burning all of his Johnny Cash albums.  And...I'm losing the thread of this metaphor.  But everybody agrees Johnny Cash is good.

And neither one of them probably understood Kevin Slowey's infatuation with vinyl.

It's not courageous. It's wreckless to start his service clock and option years in a lost season.

Are the Nationals reckless with Soto and the Braves with Acuna?  

They were both contenders when they called them up. The Twins are not. You have to be strategic when it comes to players you think have star potential.

Also, Acuna had more than 500 PA at AA/AAA when the Braves pulled the trigger.  And yes, Soto was a fairly significant risk, warranted given the desperate straights Washington was in regarding their playoff race.  (Although, FWIW...what Soto was doing in small samples at A+ and AA were a whole 'nuther level as compared to even what Kiriloff is doing.)

I’m worried that a jump fromA ball to the show would affect his confidence. I would recommend a half 2019 as a Lookout. Maybe fall of ‘19? I guess I am a pessimist on this site, but I don’t see the Twins contending in’19. But he 20’s should be roaring. See what I did there?

I am always the promoter of youth and I am probably too much of an optimist, but at my age I cannot stop!  I still remember when Griffey came up.  

Can't wait to see Gonsalves pitch tonight. Start him every 5th or 6th day until the season ends. Not sure if there is an innings limit with him.

Hard not to get excited about Kiriloff, but no early look in this lost year, please. I, too, hope that Kenny Vargas gets a look next year with some team. Is what we've seen of Kepler all we are going to get from him, or is he capable of becoming elite?

They were both contenders when they called them up. The Twins are not. You have to be strategic when it comes to players you think have star potential.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24429600/atlanta-braves-prospect-bryse-wilson-20-promoted-minors-debut-vs-pittsburgh-pirates

A good player is a good player no matter where you are in the standings.  I thought we were in a new age, but we still hold back the players for contract, super two, place in standings.  I do not support that.  We worry about all these years of service and other nonsense - Bob Feller was 17 - https://baseballhall.org/discover/inside-pitch/bob-fellers-starting-debut  

Griffey was 19.  Were the Seattle Mariners going for a title? No.  Maybe the Nationals should have waited until they were contending to bring up teenager Bryce Harper.  Did Ty Cobb get his career shortened because he came up at 19?  Manny Machado came up at 19, is he suffering because of that?  And of course Mickey Mantle was a terrible teen call up as was that teen sensation Walter Johnson.

Sorry, waiting it a wonderful concept and not a really good idea.

Gonsalves was not worth the wait, but what in this season was? I hope he gets many  more starts.