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Download attachment: draft0528buxton.jpg This article was originally posted at Minnesota Sports Hub. Byron Buxton Position: OF Age: 18 Drafted: 1st Round, 2nd pick The Twins have always been infatuated with toolsy outfielders so it wasn’t a surprise when they passed on several high end collegiate pitchers in order to grab Buxton with the 2nd overall pick. Even without that infatuation it would have been hard to pass up on a player that many consider to be the best prospect in the entire draft. When it comes to high school players like Buxton it’s hard to project just how good they will be. Aaron Hicks was considered by many to be the top prospect in the organization just a few years ago but has yet to make any significant progress towards the majors. All the tools in the world are useless if the prospect can’t put them to use, but if Buxton’s tools can translate into success then something special could be in the works. The most impressive of those tools has to be his speed. The story of him scoring from second base on a sacrifice fly is pretty well known across the baseball world by now. Not only will that speed allow him to wreak havoc on the base paths, it will also help him cover the outfield. To go along with his speed he has superb athleticism and a plus arm that elevates his defensive prowess. In the batter’s box he has a smooth swing that could translate into power in the future if it stays consistent. He has yet to face above average pitching so he will most likely need to learn to be disciplined at the plate before any of the offensive numbers begin to show. All in all Buxton could easily become a perennial MVP candidate if everything falls into place. He has the raw skills, now they just need to be harnessed so they can translate into production at the major league level. Jose Berrios Position: RHP Age: 18 Drafted: Supplemental 1st Round, 32nd pick In a stunning turn of events the Twins defied their usual philosophy of grabbing college pitchers and instead went young with the selection of Berrios, a young pitcher from Puerto Rico. Not only does Berrios defy the Twins philosophy of selecting college age pitchers, he also throws extremely hard. He sits around 93-95 mph consistently with his fastball and has hit the high nineties many times before. He throws a sharp slider that is above average and his changeup has late action and is still progressing. Similarly to Buxton it’s hard to pinpoint just how good Beriios will be. Just in the past year he has elevated his game, gaining 20-25 pounds of muscle which has helped his once erratic delivery become more consistent. There is still a lot of work to be done on his delivery in order for him to become a starting pitcher in the future though. Luke Bard Position: RHP Age: 21 Drafted: Supplemental 1st Round, 42nd pick There were rumors that Luke was contemplating returning to Georgia Tech but he couldn’t resist the $1.227 million offer the Twins dangled in front of him. He is the younger brother of the once highly touted pitching prospect Daniel Bard and although he doesn’t reach the high 90’s like his brother, he does consistently sits around 93-95 mph with his fastball and has solid movement as well. Along with that fastball comes a power slider that has been an above average pitch throughout his entire Georgia Tech career. It will be interesting to see how Minnesota treats Bard initially. He has been used primarily as a closer for the Yellow Jackets throughout his career but the belief is that he will be transitioned into a starter after being drafted so high. This will likely mean that it will take a little longer to build up his arm strength and his fastball will probably lose some of its velocity. Given that has fastball has good movement on it already that shouldn’t be a big problem for Bard as he progresses through the system. The other thing working against him is the fact that his season was cut short by a torn lat muscle. He’ll need to get to 100% before he will see the mound. Mason Melotakis Position: LHP Age: 20 Drafted: 2nd Round, 63rd Pick Melotakis may be the most interesting pick for the Twins because no one is really sure what he will be. Obviously he will be pitching but whether he’ll continue to be a reliever or move to the starting rotation is still in question. He has solid velocity, hanging around 94-96 mph with his fastball, but his breaking ball and changeup leave a lot to be desired. He has a good frame (6’3” 206 lbs) which helps him repeat his throwing motion consistently but he’ll need to work on his secondary pitches if he wants to become a starter. One thing that he does have going for him is the fact that he is a LHP, something that all organizations salivate over when it comes to developing starting pitching. Another thing is that towards the end of the season he moved into Northwestern State’s rotation so he does have a sliver of experience starting games. In all likelihood he will become a late game reliever and possible closer. With his ability to challenge hitters with his powerful fastball he should be a very good option for the Twins in the near future. JT Chargois Position: RHP Age: 21 Drafted: 2nd Round, 72nd pick The Twins kept their promise of focusing on restocking their farm system’s shelves with the selection of Chargois. He, like the previous three pitching selections, is a hard throwing college relief pitcher, but unlike the rest of the selections he is somewhat new to pitching. He only switched over to the mound in his sophomore season at Rice University so his mechanics and delivery are still in the developing stages. He tops out around 98 mph with his fastball and his slider sits around 86 mph which he has used primarily as his out pitch. Chances are Chargois will never see the starting rotation and will instead be used as a possible closer down the road. With the deception that he brings to the mound he should be with the Twins in the next year or two, just as long as his throwing motion becomes more fluid. Adam Walker Position: OF/1B Age: 21 Drafted: 3rd Round, 97th pick The Twins went away from their pitching oriented draft strategy and went with power hitting Walker in the 3rd round. A native of Wisconsin and product of Jacksonville University, Walker projects to be a big bat but where exactly he’ll play isn’t known yet. He played 1B at Jacksonville but he was drafted for RF which is confusing considering his lack of defensive skills and below average arm. Those skills will need to be honed if he has any shot of making it to the major leagues as anything but a DH. Then again the Twins didn’t draft Walker for his glove; they grabbed him for his bat. Some scouts have compared his physique to that of Giancarlo Stanton (it’s unlikely he’ll be that good but one can dream) and they have also said that he has the most power potential in the entire draft. All of that potential could be wasted if he doesn’t adapt to professional pitching which is always a gamble. Zack Jones Position: RHP Age: 21 Drafted: 4th Round, 130th pick Jones, out of San Jose State, is another collegiate closer that the Twins are hopeful will turn into a possible starter in the near future. Similarly to the previous selections, Jones throws in the mid to low nineties but will need to develop his secondary pitches if he wants to be successful in the professional game. He’ll also need to work on his command and deceptiveness to be a more dynamic hurler. Once again he projects to be a reliever rather than a starter. The next year or two will tell us a lot about Jones and whether he can develop into a middle of the rotation starter that the Twins need or another bullpen arm. Tyler Duffey Position: RHP Age: 21 Drafted: 5th Round, 160th pick Dipping back into the Rice University talent pool the Twins took Chargois’ bullpen mate Tyler Duffey. The selection of Duffey also was a return to the old strategy of selecting command over sheer power. Duffey throws in the low 90’s and has an average slider that could become a plus pitch in time. He also has a somewhat decent changeup that could be improved upon in the minor leagues. Although he worked mainly as a relief pitcher at Rice there is a solid chance that he will be given a chance to become a starter for the Twins organization. He is very resilient and has a solid frame (6’3” 210 ilbs) for a projected starting pitcher. If the Twins do opt to keep him as a reliever then it will most likely be as a long reliever opposed to a closer or late innings guy. Although he is not as highly touted as some of pitchers picked before him, he may be the dark horse when it comes to developing into a starting pitcher. The organization loves their control pitchers who throw strikes and Duffey can fit that bill. Click here to view the article

Originally posted at http://minnesotasportshub.wordpress.com/ It’s safe to say that the Minnesota Twins faithful have grown accustomed to the frustration that has surrounded the franchise since opening day of the 2011 season. Whether it was Joe Mauer’s bilateral leg weakness, Justin Morneau’s never ending concussion symptoms or the entire starting rotations lackluster beginning to the 2012 season, there has always been something for the fan base to shake their heads at. As of this moment there is an abundance of frustration inducing examples littered across the entire organization. Brian Dozier’s defensive regression and Nick Blackburn’s lack of a sinker are just two of the most recent examples that come to mind. Although they are maddening in their own unique way they pale in comparison to a Twin’s prospect that has consistently lulled everyone into a false sense of hopefulness only to yank us back into hair pulling madness in the matter of five major league innings. Of course I am talking about the one, the only, Liam Hendriks. Few pitchers have dominated AAA ball this season quite like Liam Hendriks. As of July 11th his ERA sat at an impressive 1.69 while he held opposing hitter’s to a mere .180 average. As if his statistics weren’t impressive enough he also had the look of a major league pitcher. There was an aura of confidence that surrounded him anytime he stepped onto the mound for the Red Wings. A fan from another organization would take one look at him and wonder why on earth he was still pitching in AAA when the Twins are desperate for arms. Well, all it would take is a quick glance at Hendriks 2012 major league stats to kill that curiosity. Here are just a few telling statistics from Hendriks eight games with the Minnesota Twins in 2012: 7.04 ERA .339 Opponents BA 1.75 WHIP 2.35 HR/9 60.0 LOB % Of course the stats only tell a fraction of the story. In order to truly grasp the ineffectiveness of Hendriks you would need to go back and watch one of his eight starts. The impeccable control that he demonstrated in Rochester was nowhere to be seen. His composure was completely shot. He looked over matched, out of his league. He looked like a AAA pitcher. In a way his struggles are understandable. At 23 years old the Aussie is still learning and developing his game. Just as recently as 2011 he was still pitching in AA. But despite his age and lack of experience there is still a massive amount of frustration surrounding his 2012 season. A lot of the frustration surrounding Hendriks isn’t necessarily due to his ineffectiveness at the major league level; it’s the fact that he has the ability to succeed; he just fails to harness that ability. It would be forgivable if Hendriks just lacked the necessary skill set to be an effective major league pitcher. Of course it would sting considering the amount of resources that are used on any given prospect, but it’s forgivable. In Hendriks case we have witnessed his particular skill set and it is impressive. We know what he is capable of which is why it’s so maddening to see him struggle mightily against big league hitters. It’s not that the Twins fan base has unrealistic expectations for the 23 year old Aussie. There isn’t a single person who expects him to become the ace of the staff or even a #2 starter. The only thing that we ask is that he is effective. There aren’t any numbers attached to that expectation. We don’t expect a certain amount of wins or an ERA below 3. The only thing that is being asked is that Hendriks gives the Twins a chance to win. Hopefully the next time Hendriks gets the call he can alleviate the frustration rather than compound it. The Twins fans have enough things to be frustrated with these days.

Originally posted at http://minnesotasportshub.wordpress.com/ It’s safe to say that the Minnesota Twins faithful have grown accustomed to the frustration that has surrounded the franchise since opening day of the 2011 season. Whether it was Joe Mauer’s bilateral leg weakness, Justin Morneau’s never ending concussion symptoms or the entire starting rotations lackluster beginning to the 2012 season, there has always been something for the fan base to shake their heads at. As of this moment there is an abundance of frustration inducing examples littered across the entire organization. Brian Dozier’s defensive regression and Nick Blackburn’s lack of a sinker are just two of the most recent examples that come to mind. Although they are maddening in their own unique way they pale in comparison to a Twin’s prospect that has consistently lulled everyone into a false sense of hopefulness only to yank us back into hair pulling madness in the matter of five major league innings. Of course I am talking about the one, the only, Liam Hendriks. Few pitchers have dominated AAA ball this season quite like Liam Hendriks. As of July 11th his ERA sat at an impressive 1.69 while he held opposing hitter’s to a mere .180 average. As if his statistics weren’t impressive enough he also had the look of a major league pitcher. There was an aura of confidence that surrounded him anytime he stepped onto the mound for the Red Wings. A fan from another organization would take one look at him and wonder why on earth he was still pitching in AAA when the Twins are desperate for arms. Well, all it would take is a quick glance at Hendriks 2012 major league stats to kill that curiosity. Here are just a few telling statistics from Hendriks eight games with the Minnesota Twins in 2012: 7.04 ERA .339 Opponents BA 1.75 WHIP 2.35 HR/9 60.0 LOB % Of course the stats only tell a fraction of the story. In order to truly grasp the ineffectiveness of Hendriks you would need to go back and watch one of his eight starts. The impeccable control that he demonstrated in Rochester was nowhere to be seen. His composure was completely shot. He looked over matched, out of his league. He looked like a AAA pitcher. In a way his struggles are understandable. At 23 years old the Aussie is still learning and developing his game. Just as recently as 2011 he was still pitching in AA. But despite his age and lack of experience there is still a massive amount of frustration surrounding his 2012 season. A lot of the frustration surrounding Hendriks isn’t necessarily due to his ineffectiveness at the major league level; it’s the fact that he has the ability to succeed; he just fails to harness that ability. It would be forgivable if Hendriks just lacked the necessary skill set to be an effective major league pitcher. Of course it would sting considering the amount of resources that are used on any given prospect, but it’s forgivable. In Hendriks case we have witnessed his particular skill set and it is impressive. We know what he is capable of which is why it’s so maddening to see him struggle mightily against big league hitters. It’s not that the Twins fan base has unrealistic expectations for the 23 year old Aussie. There isn’t a single person who expects him to become the ace of the staff or even a #2 starter. The only thing that we ask is that he is effective. There aren’t any numbers attached to that expectation. We don’t expect a certain amount of wins or an ERA below 3. The only thing that is being asked is that Hendriks gives the Twins a chance to win. Hopefully the next time Hendriks gets the call he can alleviate the frustration rather than compound it. The Twins fans have enough things to be frustrated with these days.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]1404[/ATTACH]This article was originally posted at Minnesota Sports Hub. Byron Buxton Position: OF Age: 18 Drafted: 1st Round, 2nd pick The Twins have always been infatuated with toolsy outfielders so it wasn’t a surprise when they passed on several high end collegiate pitchers in order to grab Buxton with the 2nd overall pick. Even without that infatuation it would have been hard to pass up on a player that many consider to be the best prospect in the entire draft. When it comes to high school players like Buxton it’s hard to project just how good they will be. Aaron Hicks was considered by many to be the top prospect in the organization just a few years ago but has yet to make any significant progress towards the majors. All the tools in the world are useless if the prospect can’t put them to use, but if Buxton’s tools can translate into success then something special could be in the works. The most impressive of those tools has to be his speed. The story of him scoring from second base on a sacrifice fly is pretty well known across the baseball world by now. Not only will that speed allow him to wreak havoc on the base paths, it will also help him cover the outfield. To go along with his speed he has superb athleticism and a plus arm that elevates his defensive prowess. In the batter’s box he has a smooth swing that could translate into power in the future if it stays consistent. He has yet to face above average pitching so he will most likely need to learn to be disciplined at the plate before any of the offensive numbers begin to show. All in all Buxton could easily become a perennial MVP candidate if everything falls into place. He has the raw skills, now they just need to be harnessed so they can translate into production at the major league level. Jose Berrios Position: RHP Age: 18 Drafted: Supplemental 1st Round, 32nd pick In a stunning turn of events the Twins defied their usual philosophy of grabbing college pitchers and instead went young with the selection of Berrios, a young pitcher from Puerto Rico. Not only does Berrios defy the Twins philosophy of selecting college age pitchers, he also throws extremely hard. He sits around 93-95 mph consistently with his fastball and has hit the high nineties many times before. He throws a sharp slider that is above average and his changeup has late action and is still progressing. Similarly to Buxton it’s hard to pinpoint just how good Beriios will be. Just in the past year he has elevated his game, gaining 20-25 pounds of muscle which has helped his once erratic delivery become more consistent. There is still a lot of work to be done on his delivery in order for him to become a starting pitcher in the future though. Luke Bard Position: RHP Age: 21 Drafted: Supplemental 1st Round, 42nd pick There were rumors that Luke was contemplating returning to Georgia Tech but he couldn’t resist the $1.227 million offer the Twins dangled in front of him. He is the younger brother of the once highly touted pitching prospect Daniel Bard and although he doesn’t reach the high 90’s like his brother, he does consistently sits around 93-95 mph with his fastball and has solid movement as well. Along with that fastball comes a power slider that has been an above average pitch throughout his entire Georgia Tech career. It will be interesting to see how Minnesota treats Bard initially. He has been used primarily as a closer for the Yellow Jackets throughout his career but the belief is that he will be transitioned into a starter after being drafted so high. This will likely mean that it will take a little longer to build up his arm strength and his fastball will probably lose some of its velocity. Given that has fastball has good movement on it already that shouldn’t be a big problem for Bard as he progresses through the system. The other thing working against him is the fact that his season was cut short by a torn lat muscle. He’ll need to get to 100% before he will see the mound. Mason Melotakis Position: LHP Age: 20 Drafted: 2nd Round, 63rd Pick Melotakis may be the most interesting pick for the Twins because no one is really sure what he will be. Obviously he will be pitching but whether he’ll continue to be a reliever or move to the starting rotation is still in question. He has solid velocity, hanging around 94-96 mph with his fastball, but his breaking ball and changeup leave a lot to be desired. He has a good frame (6’3” 206 lbs) which helps him repeat his throwing motion consistently but he’ll need to work on his secondary pitches if he wants to become a starter. One thing that he does have going for him is the fact that he is a LHP, something that all organizations salivate over when it comes to developing starting pitching. Another thing is that towards the end of the season he moved into Northwestern State’s rotation so he does have a sliver of experience starting games. In all likelihood he will become a late game reliever and possible closer. With his ability to challenge hitters with his powerful fastball he should be a very good option for the Twins in the near future. JT Chargois Position: RHP Age: 21 Drafted: 2nd Round, 72nd pick The Twins kept their promise of focusing on restocking their farm system’s shelves with the selection of Chargois. He, like the previous three pitching selections, is a hard throwing college relief pitcher, but unlike the rest of the selections he is somewhat new to pitching. He only switched over to the mound in his sophomore season at Rice University so his mechanics and delivery are still in the developing stages. He tops out around 98 mph with his fastball and his slider sits around 86 mph which he has used primarily as his out pitch. Chances are Chargois will never see the starting rotation and will instead be used as a possible closer down the road. With the deception that he brings to the mound he should be with the Twins in the next year or two, just as long as his throwing motion becomes more fluid. Adam Walker Position: OF/1B Age: 21 Drafted: 3rd Round, 97th pick The Twins went away from their pitching oriented draft strategy and went with power hitting Walker in the 3rd round. A native of Wisconsin and product of Jacksonville University, Walker projects to be a big bat but where exactly he’ll play isn’t known yet. He played 1B at Jacksonville but he was drafted for RF which is confusing considering his lack of defensive skills and below average arm. Those skills will need to be honed if he has any shot of making it to the major leagues as anything but a DH. Then again the Twins didn’t draft Walker for his glove; they grabbed him for his bat. Some scouts have compared his physique to that of Giancarlo Stanton (it’s unlikely he’ll be that good but one can dream) and they have also said that he has the most power potential in the entire draft. All of that potential could be wasted if he doesn’t adapt to professional pitching which is always a gamble. Zack Jones Position: RHP Age: 21 Drafted: 4th Round, 130th pick Jones, out of San Jose State, is another collegiate closer that the Twins are hopeful will turn into a possible starter in the near future. Similarly to the previous selections, Jones throws in the mid to low nineties but will need to develop his secondary pitches if he wants to be successful in the professional game. He’ll also need to work on his command and deceptiveness to be a more dynamic hurler. Once again he projects to be a reliever rather than a starter. The next year or two will tell us a lot about Jones and whether he can develop into a middle of the rotation starter that the Twins need or another bullpen arm. Tyler Duffey Position: RHP Age: 21 Drafted: 5th Round, 160th pick Dipping back into the Rice University talent pool the Twins took Chargois’ bullpen mate Tyler Duffey. The selection of Duffey also was a return to the old strategy of selecting command over sheer power. Duffey throws in the low 90’s and has an average slider that could become a plus pitch in time. He also has a somewhat decent changeup that could be improved upon in the minor leagues. Although he worked mainly as a relief pitcher at Rice there is a solid chance that he will be given a chance to become a starter for the Twins organization. He is very resilient and has a solid frame (6’3” 210 ilbs) for a projected starting pitcher. If the Twins do opt to keep him as a reliever then it will most likely be as a long reliever opposed to a closer or late innings guy. Although he is not as highly touted as some of pitchers picked before him, he may be the dark horse when it comes to developing into a starting pitcher. The organization loves their control pitchers who throw strikes and Duffey can fit that bill.

I am too. I was really excited when they drafted him but the guy cannot stay healthy. Then again he has only been in the organization since 2010 so he still has time to get it together and be a part of the Twins.

2012 has been a rough year for the Minnesota Twins starting rotation. Ineffectiveness and injuries have led to the worst ERA in the American League and with Nick Blackburn pitching every five games that’s likely not going to change. With the trade deadline nearing and the likelihood that the Twins will swap major leaguers for prospects, it’s time to take a look at what the Twins have in their farm system. Most of these pitchers will not be ready for 2012 or even 2013 but all have ceilings that place them into the starting rotation in the future. I did not include any draft picks from the 2012 class and anyone who has seen Major League action already for the sake of shining the light on a few new prospects. B.J. Hermsen Age: 23 Current Team: New Britain Rock Cats (AA) Throws: Right Drafted: 2008, 6th Round (186th pick) Hermsen fits the typical (or at least what used to be typical) mold of a Twins pitching prospect. He lacks high end velocity (tops out around 87-89 mph) but his ability to throw strikes and hit his spots consistently masks that lack of power. He has been one of the more pleasant surprises in the minor league system in 2012, making the jump from Fort Myers (+A) to New Britain without missing a beat. His ERA sits at an impressive 2.65 through ten starts but what is more remarkable is that his K/BB ratio sits at 4.71. His success solely relies on his command and so far his command has been spectacular in 2012. As of right now he projects to be a #4 or 5 starter or a long reliever in the majors. He has a nice repertoire of pitches (two and four-seam fastball, changeup, curve and a newly added cutter) that could elevate his stock when it comes to breaking into the Twins rotation and his ability to command all of those pitches will also help as well. The big test for Hermsen will come when he gets promoted to the Red Wings and is tested against better bats than what he is currently seeing. Madison Boer Age: 22 Current Team: Fort Myers Miracle (+A) Throws: Right Drafted: 2011, 2nd Round (87th pick) Boer was drafted out of the University of Oregon and was projected to be fast tracked towards the major league after cruising through Elizabethton and Beloit. Things haven’t been as easy in Fort Myers where Boer has struggled mightily. Although his 8.41 ERA is shocking it doesn’t even compare to his atrocious walk rate of 4.43 per 9 innings. Batters are hitting a staggering .359 off of him so far and even his strikeout rate has dipped to 4.65 per 9 innings. Even with his poor 2012 season he has the potential to be a solid starter or a very effective relief pitcher. His fastball sits around 90-93 mph and has even touched 96 which shows that he has the ability to elevate his velocity even more if given the opportunity. Along with his slider he throws a plus slider that he uses as his out pitch and can throw a splitter as well. It’s still unknown whether Boer can become a starter or fall into the relief role but no matter what he needs to learn how to control his pitches before he is ready to continue his trek towards the major leagues. Hudson Boyd Age: 19 Current Team: Elizabethton Twins (Rookie) Throws: Right Drafted: 2011, 1st round (55th pick) When the Twins selected Boyd they were going against everything that they believed at the time. Instead of being a commanding college pitcher as was the usual selection, he was a power pitching high school with plenty of upside. His fastball has reached 97 mph but usually sits around 92-94 and is accompanied by a swooping curveball that scouts rate as a plus pitch. His repertoire is small (fastball, curve and changeup) but given his age there is plenty of chance for expansion in the near future. 2012 is his first professional season after missing out on the 2011 so as of right now there isn’t much to grade Boyd on rather than what his raw skills project him to be. Those skills project him to be an innings eater who could become a power pitcher if given the chance to do so. If there was a dark horse for the ace of the future this would be the guy to bet on. Adrian Salcedo Age: 21 Current Team: Fort Myers Miracle (+A) Throws: R Drafted: NA (signed Nov. 27, 2007) Salcedo, like Hermsen, is a control style pitcher that the Twins coveted once upon a time. Every pitch that he throws, from his fastball to his breaking ball to his changeup, is thrown for strikes. His strikeout rate will never impress because of this but his ability to limit walks negates that aspect of his pitching. So far his 2012 campaign has been very shaky. The control that I spoke of has been absent and his effectiveness has taken a hit because of it. His walk rate is an astounding 6.04 per nine innings which has bloated his ERA to 5.64 through 7 starts. How far Salcedo progresses through the organization will be directly affected by whether his command returns to normal. If it does return then he should go back to his old self that was considered one of the top pitching prospects in the entire organization. Kyle Gibson Age: 24 Current Team: Rochester Red Wings (AAA) Throws: R Drafted: 2009, 1st round (22nd pick) Gibson was well on his way to the Twins starting rotation before he was sidelined with the dreaded UCL tear in 2011. Right now he is currently rehabbing and should be ready to go for the start of the 2013 season. The biggest strength in Gibson’s game is his ability to induce groundballs. He keeps his pitches down in the strike zone and has excellent control of his fastball that sits in the 87-93 mph range. Both his slider and changeup are considered to be above average pitches which give him a very nice arsenal to bring to the mound. Whether he is able to return to his original form after Tommy John surgery is a big question but with advancements in the surgery it’s more than likely he will be back to normal very soon after his return. If that’s the case Gibson can be a very solid #2 starter for the Twins in the upcoming seasons.

2012 has been a rough year for the Minnesota Twins starting rotation. Ineffectiveness and injuries have led to the worst ERA in the American League and with Nick Blackburn pitching every five games that’s likely not going to change. With the trade deadline nearing and the likelihood that the Twins will swap major leaguers for prospects, it’s time to take a look at what the Twins have in their farm system. Most of these pitchers will not be ready for 2012 or even 2013 but all have ceilings that place them into the starting rotation in the future. I did not include any draft picks from the 2012 class and anyone who has seen Major League action already for the sake of shining the light on a few new prospects. B.J. Hermsen Age: 23 Current Team: New Britain Rock Cats (AA) Throws: Right Drafted: 2008, 6th Round (186th pick) Hermsen fits the typical (or at least what used to be typical) mold of a Twins pitching prospect. He lacks high end velocity (tops out around 87-89 mph) but his ability to throw strikes and hit his spots consistently masks that lack of power. He has been one of the more pleasant surprises in the minor league system in 2012, making the jump from Fort Myers (+A) to New Britain without missing a beat. His ERA sits at an impressive 2.65 through ten starts but what is more remarkable is that his K/BB ratio sits at 4.71. His success solely relies on his command and so far his command has been spectacular in 2012. As of right now he projects to be a #4 or 5 starter or a long reliever in the majors. He has a nice repertoire of pitches (two and four-seam fastball, changeup, curve and a newly added cutter) that could elevate his stock when it comes to breaking into the Twins rotation and his ability to command all of those pitches will also help as well. The big test for Hermsen will come when he gets promoted to the Red Wings and is tested against better bats than what he is currently seeing. Madison Boer Age: 22 Current Team: Fort Myers Miracle (+A) Throws: Right Drafted: 2011, 2nd Round (87th pick) Boer was drafted out of the University of Oregon and was projected to be fast tracked towards the major league after cruising through Elizabethton and Beloit. Things haven’t been as easy in Fort Myers where Boer has struggled mightily. Although his 8.41 ERA is shocking it doesn’t even compare to his atrocious walk rate of 4.43 per 9 innings. Batters are hitting a staggering .359 off of him so far and even his strikeout rate has dipped to 4.65 per 9 innings. Even with his poor 2012 season he has the potential to be a solid starter or a very effective relief pitcher. His fastball sits around 90-93 mph and has even touched 96 which shows that he has the ability to elevate his velocity even more if given the opportunity. Along with his slider he throws a plus slider that he uses as his out pitch and can throw a splitter as well. It’s still unknown whether Boer can become a starter or fall into the relief role but no matter what he needs to learn how to control his pitches before he is ready to continue his trek towards the major leagues. Hudson Boyd Age: 19 Current Team: Elizabethton Twins (Rookie) Throws: Right Drafted: 2011, 1st round (55th pick) When the Twins selected Boyd they were going against everything that they believed at the time. Instead of being a commanding college pitcher as was the usual selection, he was a power pitching high school with plenty of upside. His fastball has reached 97 mph but usually sits around 92-94 and is accompanied by a swooping curveball that scouts rate as a plus pitch. His repertoire is small (fastball, curve and changeup) but given his age there is plenty of chance for expansion in the near future. 2012 is his first professional season after missing out on the 2011 so as of right now there isn’t much to grade Boyd on rather than what his raw skills project him to be. Those skills project him to be an innings eater who could become a power pitcher if given the chance to do so. If there was a dark horse for the ace of the future this would be the guy to bet on. Adrian Salcedo Age: 21 Current Team: Fort Myers Miracle (+A) Throws: R Drafted: NA (signed Nov. 27, 2007) Salcedo, like Hermsen, is a control style pitcher that the Twins coveted once upon a time. Every pitch that he throws, from his fastball to his breaking ball to his changeup, is thrown for strikes. His strikeout rate will never impress because of this but his ability to limit walks negates that aspect of his pitching. So far his 2012 campaign has been very shaky. The control that I spoke of has been absent and his effectiveness has taken a hit because of it. His walk rate is an astounding 6.04 per nine innings which has bloated his ERA to 5.64 through 7 starts. How far Salcedo progresses through the organization will be directly affected by whether his command returns to normal. If it does return then he should go back to his old self that was considered one of the top pitching prospects in the entire organization. Kyle Gibson Age: 24 Current Team: Rochester Red Wings (AAA) Throws: R Drafted: 2009, 1st round (22nd pick) Gibson was well on his way to the Twins starting rotation before he was sidelined with the dreaded UCL tear in 2011. Right now he is currently rehabbing and should be ready to go for the start of the 2013 season. The biggest strength in Gibson’s game is his ability to induce groundballs. He keeps his pitches down in the strike zone and has excellent control of his fastball that sits in the 87-93 mph range. Both his slider and changeup are considered to be above average pitches which give him a very nice arsenal to bring to the mound. Whether he is able to return to his original form after Tommy John surgery is a big question but with advancements in the surgery it’s more than likely he will be back to normal very soon after his return. If that’s the case Gibson can be a very solid #2 starter for the Twins in the upcoming seasons.

[Originally posted at http://minnesotasportshub.wordpress.com/2012/06/18/the-road-ahead-for-the-2012-minnesota-twins/] The trading deadline is on the horizon, the time to buy or sell is near. Rumors are emerging from the mystical land of unnamed sources, mostly revolving around Justin Morneau and the Toronto Blue Jays, and they will only grow louder as the days pass by. It’s rather clear that the Twins will be sellers come July 31st but instead of focusing on the soon to be AAA Twins, lets take a detour and talk about the unlikely possibility that the Twins turn around their 2012 season. Sure the Twins currently sit at 26-39 and are the worst team in the American League. Yes they do have the worst ERA in the AL and their rotation is a never ending carousel of ineffectiveness. I understand that they have been on a 1-4 skid against two of the weaker NL teams. But why can’t they turn it around? It’ll take a small miracle but maybe all we need is a little optimism to push us in the right direction. As of June 18th the Twins have 97 games remaining in their 2012 campaign. Of those 97 games, 54 of them will be played against AL Central opponents, allowing the Twins to make up ground rather quickly. Working in their favor is the fact that no single team has run away with the division as of yet. 8.5 games is all that separates the division leader White Sox and the AL worst Twins which means that all it takes is a two week long hot streak and they are back in the thick of things. The Twins have just recently proven that they have the capability to put together a solid stretch of games. Before their current 1-4 game skid they had won 10 of their previous 13 games including four out of six against division opponents (Indians and Royals). It’s that kind of stretch that the Twins will need to replicate in order to close the gap between themselves and the rest of the AL Central. The good news is that the Central will likely be wide open throughout the entire season. The Tigers, who were crowned AL Central champs before a game was even played, have sputtered behind inconsistent pitching and a lack of depth in their lineup. The Indians lack the necessary pitching to break away from the rest of pack and their lineup has yet to mature into the force that they were projected to be. The White Sox have a stellar 1-2 punch with Jake Peavy and Chris Sale in their rotation but outside of Dunn, Konerko and Rios they lack any quality bats (Pierzynski and De Aza will come back down to earth at some point). The Royals, well, they’re the Royals. With a division that is so wildly inconsistent it’s easy to see how the Twins, even with their abundance of flaws, have a fighting chance. The fight won’t come without its challenges though. They’ll be on the road for 51 of their 97 games and 28 of those 51 games will be against teams with records of over .500. In fact, 55 of their 97 remaining games will come against opponents with winning records. Not only will they be facing successful teams, they’ll be facing teams that have given them fits in the past few years, specifically teams from the AL East. 17 games will come against the Orioles, Red Sox, Rays, Yankees and Blue Jays who the Twins have combined to win just 5 of 12 from so far this season. Simply put, the Twins have a tough road ahead of them, but it’s not impossible by any means. Just look at the 2011 collapse of the Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves. No one would have predicted that to happen, especially not twice in one September. Sure it’s incredibly unlikely that the Twins come out as the 2012 AL Central champs, but crazier things have happened before.

[Originally posted at http://minnesotasportshub.wordpress.com/2012/06/18/the-road-ahead-for-the-2012-minnesota-twins/] The trading deadline is on the horizon, the time to buy or sell is near. Rumors are emerging from the mystical land of unnamed sources, mostly revolving around Justin Morneau and the Toronto Blue Jays, and they will only grow louder as the days pass by. It’s rather clear that the Twins will be sellers come July 31st but instead of focusing on the soon to be AAA Twins, lets take a detour and talk about the unlikely possibility that the Twins turn around their 2012 season. Sure the Twins currently sit at 26-39 and are the worst team in the American League. Yes they do have the worst ERA in the AL and their rotation is a never ending carousel of ineffectiveness. I understand that they have been on a 1-4 skid against two of the weaker NL teams. But why can’t they turn it around? It’ll take a small miracle but maybe all we need is a little optimism to push us in the right direction. As of June 18th the Twins have 97 games remaining in their 2012 campaign. Of those 97 games, 54 of them will be played against AL Central opponents, allowing the Twins to make up ground rather quickly. Working in their favor is the fact that no single team has run away with the division as of yet. 8.5 games is all that separates the division leader White Sox and the AL worst Twins which means that all it takes is a two week long hot streak and they are back in the thick of things. The Twins have just recently proven that they have the capability to put together a solid stretch of games. Before their current 1-4 game skid they had won 10 of their previous 13 games including four out of six against division opponents (Indians and Royals). It’s that kind of stretch that the Twins will need to replicate in order to close the gap between themselves and the rest of the AL Central. The good news is that the Central will likely be wide open throughout the entire season. The Tigers, who were crowned AL Central champs before a game was even played, have sputtered behind inconsistent pitching and a lack of depth in their lineup. The Indians lack the necessary pitching to break away from the rest of pack and their lineup has yet to mature into the force that they were projected to be. The White Sox have a stellar 1-2 punch with Jake Peavy and Chris Sale in their rotation but outside of Dunn, Konerko and Rios they lack any quality bats (Pierzynski and De Aza will come back down to earth at some point). The Royals, well, they’re the Royals. With a division that is so wildly inconsistent it’s easy to see how the Twins, even with their abundance of flaws, have a fighting chance. The fight won’t come without its challenges though. They’ll be on the road for 51 of their 97 games and 28 of those 51 games will be against teams with records of over .500. In fact, 55 of their 97 remaining games will come against opponents with winning records. Not only will they be facing successful teams, they’ll be facing teams that have given them fits in the past few years, specifically teams from the AL East. 17 games will come against the Orioles, Red Sox, Rays, Yankees and Blue Jays who the Twins have combined to win just 5 of 12 from so far this season. Simply put, the Twins have a tough road ahead of them, but it’s not impossible by any means. Just look at the 2011 collapse of the Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves. No one would have predicted that to happen, especially not twice in one September. Sure it’s incredibly unlikely that the Twins come out as the 2012 AL Central champs, but crazier things have happened before.

[Originally posted at http://minnesotasportshub.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/2010-twins-if-only-morneau-were-healthy/] The 2010 Minnesota Twins season will always be remembered for what it could have been rather than what it was. Dreams of grandeur floated around Target Field as the Twins ended the regular season with a 94-68 record and home field advantage against the New York Yankees in the ALDS. Even the most pessimistic of fans, myself included, began to wonder if this could be the year the Twins finally exercise their Yankee curse. That wonderment only increased as the Twins held a 3-0 lead going into sixth inning of game 1, but then, the inevitable occurred. Four hits and a walk led to four runs in the sixth, giving the Yankees the lead. The Twins managed to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning but J.J. Hardy’s strikeout left the bases loaded and the memories of past playoff collapses crept into everyone’s mind. Those memories quickly became reality when Mark Teixerra took a 3-2 Jesse Crain fastball deep to right. All the confidence evaporated from the lineup with a single pitch and it was never recovered. The Yankees swept the series and the Twins have never been the same since. It’s been two years since the 2010 season and those memories are still fresh in our collective minds. The what if’s are as persistent as ever but there is one ‘what if’ that rings louder than any other. What if Justin Morneau had remained healthy for the entire season? For the first 81 games of the season Justin Morneau was not merely good, he was incredible. Here is a list of stats that he accrued for the first half of the season: .345 avg. .437 OBP .618 SLG 18 HR’s 56 RBI’s .274 ISO 1.055 OPS .385 BABIP The statistics only tell a fraction of the story though. Standing alone they are impressive but to truly comprehend how dominant Justin Morneau was during the 2010 season you had to watch him at the plate. You always hear how confidence can change a player but I never understood it until Morneau stepped into the batter’s box that year. It’s not that he lacked confidence in previous seasons, he did win the AL MVP in 2006 after all, the confidence level had just reached a new high.That confidence led to an increased plate discipline that saw his walk rate (14.4 %) hit a career high. There was something special brewing in the 2010 season until July 7th rolled around and changed the progression of Morneau’s career. An errant knee to the head by Toronto Blue Jays second baseman John McDonald landed Morneau on the DL with a concussion. The duration of the DL stint wasn’t initially known but as time passed it was clear that concussions symptoms were lingering longer than expected. As the Twins neared the postseason there was speculation that Morneau would return to the lineup but on October 4th he was officially shut down for the season. The odds that Morneau would have continued his torrid pace throughout the 2010 season were not high but it was undeniable that he would have continued to produce at a high clip. Michael Cuddyer filled in very well at 1B but there was no way to replace Morneau’s production and that was evident in the ALDS. Morneau had built up the reputation as a Yankee killer in previous seasons even as his team struggled against them. Another bat may have helped the Twins overcome Teixeira’s blast in Game 1 and that could have turned the tide of the series. Of course there is no way to tell if Morneau would have pushed the Twins past the Yankees in the ALDS. There is no way to tell if Morneau would have ended up producing one of the great seasons in Twins history on his way to his 2nd AL MVP. All we can do is wonder, what if...

[Originally posted at http://minnesotasportshub.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/2010-twins-if-only-morneau-were-healthy/] The 2010 Minnesota Twins season will always be remembered for what it could have been rather than what it was. Dreams of grandeur floated around Target Field as the Twins ended the regular season with a 94-68 record and home field advantage against the New York Yankees in the ALDS. Even the most pessimistic of fans, myself included, began to wonder if this could be the year the Twins finally exercise their Yankee curse. That wonderment only increased as the Twins held a 3-0 lead going into sixth inning of game 1, but then, the inevitable occurred. Four hits and a walk led to four runs in the sixth, giving the Yankees the lead. The Twins managed to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning but J.J. Hardy’s strikeout left the bases loaded and the memories of past playoff collapses crept into everyone’s mind. Those memories quickly became reality when Mark Teixerra took a 3-2 Jesse Crain fastball deep to right. All the confidence evaporated from the lineup with a single pitch and it was never recovered. The Yankees swept the series and the Twins have never been the same since. It’s been two years since the 2010 season and those memories are still fresh in our collective minds. The what if’s are as persistent as ever but there is one ‘what if’ that rings louder than any other. What if Justin Morneau had remained healthy for the entire season? For the first 81 games of the season Justin Morneau was not merely good, he was incredible. Here is a list of stats that he accrued for the first half of the season: .345 avg. .437 OBP .618 SLG 18 HR’s 56 RBI’s .274 ISO 1.055 OPS .385 BABIP The statistics only tell a fraction of the story though. Standing alone they are impressive but to truly comprehend how dominant Justin Morneau was during the 2010 season you had to watch him at the plate. You always hear how confidence can change a player but I never understood it until Morneau stepped into the batter’s box that year. It’s not that he lacked confidence in previous seasons, he did win the AL MVP in 2006 after all, the confidence level had just reached a new high.That confidence led to an increased plate discipline that saw his walk rate (14.4 %) hit a career high. There was something special brewing in the 2010 season until July 7th rolled around and changed the progression of Morneau’s career. An errant knee to the head by Toronto Blue Jays second baseman John McDonald landed Morneau on the DL with a concussion. The duration of the DL stint wasn’t initially known but as time passed it was clear that concussions symptoms were lingering longer than expected. As the Twins neared the postseason there was speculation that Morneau would return to the lineup but on October 4th he was officially shut down for the season. The odds that Morneau would have continued his torrid pace throughout the 2010 season were not high but it was undeniable that he would have continued to produce at a high clip. Michael Cuddyer filled in very well at 1B but there was no way to replace Morneau’s production and that was evident in the ALDS. Morneau had built up the reputation as a Yankee killer in previous seasons even as his team struggled against them. Another bat may have helped the Twins overcome Teixeira’s blast in Game 1 and that could have turned the tide of the series. Of course there is no way to tell if Morneau would have pushed the Twins past the Yankees in the ALDS. There is no way to tell if Morneau would have ended up producing one of the great seasons in Twins history on his way to his 2nd AL MVP. All we can do is wonder, what if...

[Originally posted at: http://minnesotasportshub.wordpress.com/] Ever since the Twins traded away Johan Santana before the 2008 season the organization has been searching for the all important ace of their pitching staff. For four seasons they have rummaged through their minor league system in order to pinpoint who this mystery ace would be and every name that emerged was struck down by injury or lack of production. Then suddenly, just as the pitching staff had hit rock bottom with a league worst ERA of 6.59 a new hope emerged. In his first start for the 2012 Twins he pitched seven scoreless innings while giving up four hits and one walk. He commanded the mound like he had been there before, mostly because he had. Just a season ago he was called up from AAA Rochester and inserted into the rotation in late July and was battered to the tune of a 5.08 ERA in seven games. There were questions as to whether this man would still be with the organization in 2012 let alone be its most successful pitcher. Just who is this possible ace you ask? Well it’s Scott Diamond of course. Scott Diamond doesn’t fit the mold of a prototypical ace that we have grown accustomed to seeing. His K/9 rate is a very modest 5.64 and opponents are hitting .275 off of him which, compared to a typical ace such as David Price whose K/9 rate is 8.01 and opponent’s batting average is .235, are on the low end of the spectrum. It’s not that Diamond doesn’t possess velocity, he consistently hits the low nineties with his fastball, he just doesn’t have the zip to overpower hitters nor does he have the elite out pitch that a lot of the current aces have. The good news is that Diamond doesn’t have to fit into that mold in order to be an ace. Pitchers such as Greg Maddux, Tim Hudson and most recently R.A. Dickey, have proven that an ace doesn’t necessarily have to possess an abundance of velocity in order to be effective. What they do need to do is become a master of their craft. For Greg Maddux that meant out-thinking the hitter, for Tim Hudson that meant commanding his sinker and for R.A. Dickey it’s having movement on his knuckleball. All of them were extremely effective and all of them lacked velocity. They succeeded because they knew what worked for them and stuck to it. In order for Diamond to become a top of the line starter he needs to understand what his craft exactly is. By looking at the small sample size that Diamond has accrued this season we can make an educated guess as to what that craft may be. Here are a few telling statistics: - He is allowing .81 walks per nine innings which would lead the majors if he had enough innings to be eligible. - 82.6% of the runners that reach base never touch home which would rank him in the top five of the MLB. - His strikeout to walk ratio is 7 which would also lead the MLB if eligible. - 61.1% of the balls put in play are groundballs, putting him just behind Derek Lowe and Trevor Hill at the top of the league leaders. After taking a look at those numbers there are three things that we can conclude; he doesn’t hurt himself with walks, he strands runners and when the ball is hit it’s usually on the ground. All of these things bode very well for Scott Diamond and the Twins organization because they aren’t mirage statistics, meaning they have substance to them. When you combine all three aspects they can combine to make an attainable craft for Diamond which is that of a control pitcher. The big key as to whether Diamond continues his progression towards being the Twins # 1 pitcher is consistency. So far in this young season he has yet to be lit up by opposing hitters which shows that he doesn’t get rattled very easily. It’s that mental toughness that will allow him to command his pitches and keep his consistency throughout tough stretches that are inevitable. It’s also that mental toughness that will keep his control intact which will then allow him keep his pitches down where they need to be. Of course this is just best case scenario. To expect Diamond to become an ace after never showing signs of being a dominant starter in his career is a lot to ask, but for right now he has the best chance of doing so. He might not be the ace that we fans have fantasized about, but he just might be the ace that the Twins desperately need.

[Originally posted at: http://minnesotasportshub.wordpress.com/] Ever since the Twins traded away Johan Santana before the 2008 season the organization has been searching for the all important ace of their pitching staff. For four seasons they have rummaged through their minor league system in order to pinpoint who this mystery ace would be and every name that emerged was struck down by injury or lack of production. Then suddenly, just as the pitching staff had hit rock bottom with a league worst ERA of 6.59 a new hope emerged. In his first start for the 2012 Twins he pitched seven scoreless innings while giving up four hits and one walk. He commanded the mound like he had been there before, mostly because he had. Just a season ago he was called up from AAA Rochester and inserted into the rotation in late July and was battered to the tune of a 5.08 ERA in seven games. There were questions as to whether this man would still be with the organization in 2012 let alone be its most successful pitcher. Just who is this possible ace you ask? Well it’s Scott Diamond of course. Scott Diamond doesn’t fit the mold of a prototypical ace that we have grown accustomed to seeing. His K/9 rate is a very modest 5.64 and opponents are hitting .275 off of him which, compared to a typical ace such as David Price whose K/9 rate is 8.01 and opponent’s batting average is .235, are on the low end of the spectrum. It’s not that Diamond doesn’t possess velocity, he consistently hits the low nineties with his fastball, he just doesn’t have the zip to overpower hitters nor does he have the elite out pitch that a lot of the current aces have. The good news is that Diamond doesn’t have to fit into that mold in order to be an ace. Pitchers such as Greg Maddux, Tim Hudson and most recently R.A. Dickey, have proven that an ace doesn’t necessarily have to possess an abundance of velocity in order to be effective. What they do need to do is become a master of their craft. For Greg Maddux that meant out-thinking the hitter, for Tim Hudson that meant commanding his sinker and for R.A. Dickey it’s having movement on his knuckleball. All of them were extremely effective and all of them lacked velocity. They succeeded because they knew what worked for them and stuck to it. In order for Diamond to become a top of the line starter he needs to understand what his craft exactly is. By looking at the small sample size that Diamond has accrued this season we can make an educated guess as to what that craft may be. Here are a few telling statistics: - He is allowing .81 walks per nine innings which would lead the majors if he had enough innings to be eligible. - 82.6% of the runners that reach base never touch home which would rank him in the top five of the MLB. - His strikeout to walk ratio is 7 which would also lead the MLB if eligible. - 61.1% of the balls put in play are groundballs, putting him just behind Derek Lowe and Trevor Hill at the top of the league leaders. After taking a look at those numbers there are three things that we can conclude; he doesn’t hurt himself with walks, he strands runners and when the ball is hit it’s usually on the ground. All of these things bode very well for Scott Diamond and the Twins organization because they aren’t mirage statistics, meaning they have substance to them. When you combine all three aspects they can combine to make an attainable craft for Diamond which is that of a control pitcher. The big key as to whether Diamond continues his progression towards being the Twins # 1 pitcher is consistency. So far in this young season he has yet to be lit up by opposing hitters which shows that he doesn’t get rattled very easily. It’s that mental toughness that will allow him to command his pitches and keep his consistency throughout tough stretches that are inevitable. It’s also that mental toughness that will keep his control intact which will then allow him keep his pitches down where they need to be. Of course this is just best case scenario. To expect Diamond to become an ace after never showing signs of being a dominant starter in his career is a lot to ask, but for right now he has the best chance of doing so. He might not be the ace that we fans have fantasized about, but he just might be the ace that the Twins desperately need.