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Weekly Roundup (5/6-5/12) For some reason, Niko started the week with a couple games at DH and proceeded to go 0-9 with 4 strikeouts. However, after being re-inserted in the defensive lineup, Niko got back to his hot hitting ways and ended the week with a superb 3-4 with 1BB and 1SF performance in the Kernels Sunday 23-run drubbing of the Snappers. Manager Mauer also continues to sparingly use Niko at 3B. I take this as merely evidence of the surplus of middle infielders at Cedar Rapids, but who knows? On the week: 5G | 24 PA | 4-1B/1-2B/1-3B/0-HR/4-RBI/4R | 2-BB/7-SO | 1SB/0CS | 2E/0DP On the season: 30G | 135 PA | .282/.407/.391 | 13RBI/26R | 3SB/2CS | 7E/10DP

From what I've seen on Twitter - Miguel has a bruised elbow from the HBP. Says he'll be out at least 2 days.

Weekly Roundup (4/29-5/5) Another nice week for Niko. Hitting primarily in the #2 spot for the red-hot Kernels, Niko is quietly molding himself into an on-base machine. To wit, he's currently in the midst of a 17-game on-base streak during which he has taken at least one walk in 14 games and multiple walks in 6 games. Predictably, this high on-base proclivity has lead to an impressive 19 runs scored during the streak. Defensively, playing mainly at SS with one game at 3B, Niko has also been solid. In fact, yesterday he ended a 16 game error-free streak. On the week: 6G | 29 PA | 4-1B/1-2B/0-3B/0-HR/2-RBI/8R | 8-BB/5-SO | 1SB/0CS | 1E/2DP On the season: 25G | 111 PA | .281/.423/.382 | 9RBI/22R | 3SB/2CS | 5E/10DP

The world doesn't start and stop at your convenience, Donnie!

Weekly Roundup (4/22-4/28) Another solid week for young Mr. Goodrum including his first home run of the season. Niko's slowly molding himself into a top-of-order type of hitter with high OBPs, good speed and run-scoring ability. Also notable, he hasn't committed an error at SS in 11 straight games: 5G | 27 PA | 4-1B/1-2B/0-3B/1-HR/2-RBI/7R | 6-BB/6-SO | 0SB/2CS | 0E/4DP On the season: 19G | 82 PA | .294/.415/.412 | 7RBI/14R | 2SB/2CS | 4E/8DP

Weekly Roundup (4/16-4/21) A nice week for Niko, including another game-winning RBI last night. On the week, good plate discipline & solid defense: 5G | 22 PA | 6-1B/1-2B/0-3B/0-HR/4-RBI | 5-BB/6-SO | 1SB/0CS | 0E/2DP On the season: 14G | 55 PA | .298/.400/.383 | 5RBI/7R | 2SB/0CS | 4E/4DP

He's a range for ya: Carlos Gomez Floor Willie Mays Ceiling

Also, Mason's preferred nickname is "The Jar"

Weekly Roundup Catching up on the action so far... 9G | 33 PA | .258/.303/.355 | 1SB/0CS | 4E/2DP Notes: Let's hope the early season errors are merely cold-weather induced.

Cartier Niko Goodrum http://mlb.mlb.com/shared/video/embed/embed.html?content_id=25599073&width=400&height=22 4&property=mlb Born: February 28, 1992 - Fayetteville, Georgia Bats: Both Throws: Right Height: 6'3" Weight: 170 Drafted as a SS out of Fayette County HS by the Twins - 2nd round (#71 Overall) of 2010 June MLB Amateur Draft. Pro Stats: 2010: Twins GULF - 36G | 128 PA | .161/.219/.195 | 4SB/2CS | 9E/18DP 2011: Etown APPY - 59G | 230 PA | .275/.352/.382 | 8SB/1CS | 25E/32DP 2012: Etown APPY - 58G | 269 PA | .242/.349/.419 | 6SB/3CS | 18E/31DP 2013: Starting SS for Cedar Rapids MIDW Prospect Review: Athletic shortstop Niko Goodrum recently began his first year of full-season baseball in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 2012 found Niko repeating rookie ball in Elizabethton, where he exhibited improvements in fielding, power and plate discipline. However, his batting average remained in the mid-.200's and his overall game didn't take the leap some Twins fans were predicting. As someone just a month over the legal drinking age, the book is far from written on young Mr. Goodrum. 2013, though, will go a long ways towards predicting whether he'll be a mainstay middle-infielder for the next wave of winning Twins teams. My feeling, after following him closely for a year, is that he'll either break out this year and become a top-tier prospect or he'll begin the process of converting into a super-utility player. He's certainly the kind of athlete who could handle all 7 defensive positions and get on base just enough to make an MLB roster in his mid-twenties. I'm really hoping Niko can become a long-term SS option, since he's a nice kid who would look great at the bottom of a lineup that included misters Buxton, Rosario, Mauer, and Sano. Twitter Feed: nikogoodrumtc

Sticking with my man Niko Goodrum

I had always assumed that we'd keep the same players until they either made it to the bigs or washed out and then added new players each Spring and after the draft. Would like to keep Niko and Melotakis if possible.

Except for AJ, Torii, Nathan, Big Papi, Kubel, Casey Blake, Garrett Jones, Jesse Crain, etc... I'd say that's more of a coin flip for how various MLB careers play out, not some credit or detriment to Gardy.

Don't the wheels have to be on before they can fall off?

Offseason Update: Over the winter, The Jar was featured in an MLB top prospect profile, and was a consensus Twins top 20 prospect (#12, #18, #22, #14, #13 etc...) 2013 Outlook: Making the switch to starter, it would seem logical for Mason to begin back in the Midwest League as part of the Kernels rotation. If he's able to maintain the power fastball and control that brought success as a reliever, Mason could shoot quickly up prospect lists and through the organization. Otherwise, a future as a Glen Perkins-type power lefty reliever is not a bad alternative. Let's check back on this one around May 1.

Offseason Update: Over the winter, Niko visited an elementary class, was featured in an MLB top prospect profile, appeared in many scouting books, and was generally a consensus Twins top 25 prospect (#16, #27, #15, #17, #16, etc...) 2013 Outlook: Niko is likely to spend the season with Jake Mauer and the Cedar Rapids Kernels. The hope is that Niko can improve contact while continuing the defensive and plate discipline progress he made in 2012. It will be interesting to see if, at some point, Niko shows enough progress to join former prospect-peers Miguel Sano and Eddie Rosario at Ft. Meyers or if he is left languishing in the corn fields for a year. Don't be surprised by a bump in power from the 6'3" athlete who turns 21 this Thursday (2/28/13).

Trade him for Mark Buehrle and a prospect, stat.

From Twins Top Ten on Prospect361.com 10. Niko Goodrum (SS) Repeating the Appy League usually doesn’t get you on many Top 10 lists, particularly when your statistical output declined in the second year. However, Goodrum has a number of things going from him including athleticism, nice swing mechanics with great balance and bat speed, and the ability to play a quality premium position.

Niko's final numbers for 2012 at E-Town: 58G | 269PA | 56SO | 38BB | 31-1B | 12-2B | 8-3B | 4HR | 38RBI | .242/.349/.419 | 6SB - 3CS Any thoughts?

Does anyone know if Slama is funny and/or smart? It seems like whenever the Twins do something mind-boggling like this, it turns out that "his personality doesn't fit in the Twins Clubhouse."

The Jar's first professional season has been a mostly positive endeavor, as would be expected from a 2nd Round power college arm in Rookie and Low A Ball. None-the-less, reports have his fastball consistently in the mid-90s with good control of the offspeed stuff (6BB's in 22 IP). On the Season: E-town: 1-1 | 1.35 ERA | 7G - 6.2IP | .600 WHIP - 13.5 K9 - 2.7 BB9 Beloit: 3-1 | 2.35 ERA | 11G - 15.1IP | 1.174 WHIP - 12.3 K9 - 2.3 BB9 Combined: 4-2 | 2.05 ERA | 18G - 22.0 IP |1.000 WHIP - 12.7 K9 - 2.5 BB9

Unfortunately, Niko's hot start has faded into a tumultuous August where his offensive numbers have dropped to below respectable in the hitter friendly APPY League. The big difference from early in the season has been plate discipline, as Goodrum has struck out twice as often has he's walked over the past month vs. the exact opposite (2X BB to SO) for June. Update: 56G | 260PA | 54SO | 37BB | 30-1B | 11-2B | 7-3B | 4HR | 37RBI | .237/.346/.406 | 6SB - 2CS With the league ending in early September, it's easy to see why Goodrum was given another year in the APPY League. My guess would be he'll play full season next year at Beloit in what could be a make-or-break type of year.

Not much to see here. Niko's essentially holding ground statistically on offense but for a continued dry spell on extra base hits: 45G | 210PA | 42SO | 33BB | 24-1B | 10-2B | 6-3B | 3HR | 34RBI | .247/.367/.425 | 5SB - 2CS Would love to hear some first-hand reports on how he's performed at SS. For what it's worth, there has been a marked improvement this year over last in his fielding statistics: RF/G has increased from 4.22 to 4.34 and fielding percentage has increased from .905 to .948 (24E in 252Ch in 2011 vs 9E in 174Ch in 2012).

I take it you've hit up a few Snappers games. Any other notes on The Jar? Pitch speed/mix? Composure?

Two week update: The Jar continues to pitch well against tougher Midwest League competition. At this point, he doesn't have a clearly defined role (finishing some games, pitching mid or early relief in others, etc...) but it appears as though the Snappers are content with keeping him at only 2 games a week with 1-2 inning per appearance. On the Season: E-town: 1-1 | 1.35 ERA | 7G - 6.2IP | .600 WHIP - 13.5 K9 - 2.7 BB9 Beloit: 2-1 | 2.00 ERA | 6G - 9.0IP | 1.444 WHIP - 9.0 K9 - 3.0 BB9 Combined: 3-2 | 1.72 ERA | 13G - 15.2 IP | 1.085 WHIP - 10.9 K9 - 2.9 BB9