roger

Question about Moran. Agree that it would be best if he could reduce his walks a bit. Is it possible, however, that his being a bit wild helps him being more effective? Don't know the answer, but is something that has me wondering?

Great review, Nick. Thanks! Agree with the concern of lack of catching. Is the next Johnny Bench out there who may be available at #5 this year? When thinking of long shots to break out this year, is Wander Javier still in the organization? As for the Lee vs Lewis debate, I go with Lewis. Just may put Rodriguez at #2.

As I followed the Correa saga and learning what the Mets were spending I kept thinking Steve Cohn is the a……. that is going to destroy baseball. Was I wrong? Are his actions and the Mets spending going to end up saving baseball?

Such an interesting story. How can you not cheer for this young man? Does he find a way back? Count me among those who are cheering for him.

Thanks, Nick. Other than about half a season from Buxton and Polo, the Twins got almost nothing from these ten last year. Every one of these individually should be a key part of a good team. Collectively, you could add them to the worst team in baseball and you would have a contender. We will never know why the Twins were hit with a deluge of injuries last year. 2023 can’t be as bad, can it?

Let’s look at the positive side. He won’t be on the field for what, three weeks. That means he won’t be out there for a drill next week when he was destined to slip and mess up his knee and miss half of this season. Other than that, this is damn disappointing. Did others reading Falvey’s comment get the feeling that they are nearing the end of their patience with this young man?

Will agree with those above that Correa may be the one to move to third, perhaps as early as 2024. Lee has had a fantastic education in the school of baseball. Lewis is known for his exceptional 'make up.' Won't it be wonderful for the Twins to build their future around this pair while Buxton and Correa are still on this team? You just know both are going to be successful. No need to discuss who is/will be more so as both can become superstars. Won't debate who will be playing where, that's going to be a wonderful problem with the Twins staff. Fact is however, unless Miranda works exceptionally hard to improve his D, his days at third are numbered. and with a healthy AK owning first he may become a very young DH.

Before deciding to read this article, would love to see someone do a recap of their Twins projections last year and the actual results. If fairly close on most players, would be a worthwhile read. If way off on many/most, reading would be a waste of time.

Would depend on the contract and cost.

So everyone at TD had him #3. Sure seems possible a year from now you will look back and see you were wrong. My biggest question is whether or not he will still be eligible to be a prospect next winter? Every so often a young star comes along and makes it to “the show” as a 20 year old? Can E-Rod be that next star?

Loved this pick when he was drafted. Now at #4…WOW! Could the Twins be so fortunate to have two top starters in a couple years, Raya and Prielipp?

Agree with the above comment and also don't care about who on the Twins staff may be or soon be an ACE. What I see is a staff of more than five starters who are very good. Give me five starters who are all likely #2 or #3 starters and the team is gonna win a lot of games. Also agree there aren't a lot of true ACES out there. Take Kershaw for example, he sure seems like one until the Dodgers get to the playoffs...then not so much. Like to think that Verlander is an ACE, yet, didn't he struggle in the playoffs/series last year? The only former Twin I would consider an ACE was Santana. Liriano could have been, had he not been injured. And personally, I am saddened with how the game is changing. Was looking at Spahn's career the other day. If memory serves, he had 68 shutouts. Not 68 complete games, that was several hundred, but 68 complete game shutouts. Would guess there weren't 68 complete games, forget them being shutouts, in all of baseball last year. Maybe its time for starting pitchers to make a little less cash and give it the shut down relievers, like Duran.

Fantastic article, thanks DJL44. Raises a question, however. If he was throwing in the mid-90's and touching the upper 90's in high school, where has the velo gone? Also explains his dual last name. Is a bit unusual as most people with two last names have a combo of their dad and mom's maiden name...don't they? Had to be a great experience for him growing up so close to both his dads. That article sure as heck sounds like a young man who is capable of being more than a #5, perhaps much more.

Results matter, at least to me. And 2022 was a fantastic year for this young man. Personally, I like his chances of being a long-term piece of future Twins' rotations. Also expect he will be closer to the #1 spot than the #5 spot.

I don't have a clue what the future holds for Prielipp. But I continue to ask/wonder why the Twins can't have one of their picks shock the world. You know, like the Acuna kid in Atlanta who became a star at 20 years old. Or like Chris Sale, who was pitching for the Sox the year after being drafted. So I ask, why can't Prielipp be that special player? Why can't he rocket thru the organization to the Twins? Granted, coming off TJ it is unlikely he makes it this year. But can he make it to AA and pitch for the Twins in early 2024? Why can't the Twins have that young star like so many others? And yes, it could be Prielipp.

Have seen lots of posts that talk about the more balanced schedule and there not being as many games against the Royales and Tigers. But that is the same for all the teams in the Central. So it won't have an effect on winning the Division. Granted, it could make a difference for a wild card. Also see talk about facing the Aces out there, Alcantara, Cole, etc. If we are facing the Ace, there is a good chance we will also be facing the #4 or #5 guys. With the Twins starting depth, I'll gladly put our #4, #5 and #1 up against others teams 4,5 and 1.

Kind of embarrassing when I read the headline and thought, who? I know us old timers are always concerned with our memories, but this name drew a big blank. Love his speed as I do with guys like Martin and Lewis. But will the Twins use it? Gotta agree with Nashville above that I too prefer to rank players off what they have done. When reading everything about what this kid has to work on seems #8 is too high, way too high for me. To be honest, I was more excited about the younger kid down in the DSL when I saw who the Twins got for one of my two favorite Twins.

Did you ever see Henry Aaron bat? Especially when he was younger?

Loved the last five words of your comment, MMM. Got a really good smile! And count me among those that just doesn't understand why this article was even written. Has anyone seen Miranda this spring? Has Alex? Has he had a discussion with Miranda on what he did over the winter? I just don't understand why being in better shape, whatever that means, relates to being a poorer hitter or power hitter in 2023.

Loved the young man I saw on the mound at Yankee stadium and his next four games. Considering how little experience he has, would think all his pitches will improve beginning next week. Will be shocked if he isn't much higher than a #5 starter in future Twins rotations. Like many of you, am tired of seeing the first thing mentioned what his velo is...or isn't. Have to wonder where the experts would have ranked Brad Radke the year before his joining the Twins as one of their top pitchers for what was it, a decade? Had a chance to talk to an old timer, maybe 20 or so years ago. One of the young Legion players at the banquet wanted to get into a debate with him about throwing hard. What I recall is a response that was more about refining all your pitches and being able to throw them when and where you wanted. He certainly never threw hard, doubt he ever broke 90. Yet, he went on to win more games in MLB than any other left handed pitcher. As he said, Velocity ain't all that important if you know how to pitch.

Interesting article. Biggest question may be what is the arm strength of Lewis and Lee as they will likely be playing somewhere in the infield by the end of 2023. Must take exception, however, to your comment about the 'new' defensive challenge. Nothing is new. Rather, baseball is returning to how it was played for its first 100++ years before computers got way more involved than some of us old timers prefer.

At #10, do you have him too high? Or too low? Hopefully, 2023 will answer those questions. Add me to the list of those who would encourage the Twins: "If it ain't broke, don't fik it." Like many of you, I see a ton of value from an Arraez like player, a player who has a ton of value without much or any power. Add the fact that Martin has lots of speed, and we could (note I used the word could) have someone who becomes Luis +.

Often find myself scratching my head when reading scouting grades. He has four grades of 50 and one 45. Cannot understand how that equates to a 45 overall?

Question? Who has the higher ceiling, Mercedes or ‘Em Rodriguez? And how high are those ceilings? The little we saw of Wallner in right field told me he needs lots of work. Unless he improves a lot, the only position I want to see him playing is DH regardless how good his arm is.

Not a clue, but that is what spring training is for. With the Lopez trade, however, someone is going to be moved out of the starting rotation. That is unless they have more early season injuries. Hopefully, that isn't happening this year.