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They say Graterol's "stuff is now better than just about anyone else’s in the minors". Later they say Nate Pearson has the best raw stuff.

The second group of ten pitchers is in Fort Myers for individual instruction. They will be joined next Monday by Brusdar Graterol, Jordan Balazovic, Jhoan Duran, Blayne Enlow, Prelander Berroa, Luis Rijo, Josh Winder and Jorge Alcala, according to Dan Hayes. I wonder how many of the pitchers Tom has mentioned are in camp now, and how the new instructional program is going.

‘Go time’: New pitchers’ camps are latest piece of Twins’ player development plan. New article by Dan Hayes at The Athletic. The first ten pitchers have reported to Fort Myers for some individual instruction, with ten more next week, and ten more in two weeks. Enlow is reporting two weeks early, likes the new plan (instead of the month long instructional league in September/October).

It is often not real helpful to compare the total minor league numbers of a player signed out of high school with a player signed after graduating from college. In their age 23 seasons, both playing in AA, Navaretto and Turner had basically the same OPS. [.619]. Turner improved to .686 the following year, repeating AA, and was selected by Cincinnati. Turner had quite a few more strikeouts and walks than Navaretto, so I remain hopeful that Brian can have a Drew Butera type of career.

I don't think Arraez will be protected or selected. If he played more positions well, or was a better baserunner, or hit for more power and drew more walks, it would be another story.

I think it is Engelb Vielma you are referring too, and it took me a while to remember, even though I saw him make an amazing play in the one minor league game I have been able to attend. He was waived and selected by 5 teams last winter, finally traded to Baltimore for PTBNL, and had 7 AB. If Hinch's statement that Marwin G was Houston's best defensive shortstop is not hyperbole, I would offer him the starting SS job and overpay him.

BPro listed Luis Milla in their Deep Dynasty Names to Know article a few days ago. Mostly played CF last year, signed when he was 18 years old. Potential 4th OF, not very impressive stats.

Delmon is batting cleanup for the Navegantes, the Venezuelan team that features our Luis Arreaz leading off with an 978 OPS, 5 BB and 4SO. Delmon is leading the team with 5 HR, but has 19 SO and 3 BB and a 764 OPS. Astudillo plays for the Caribes, has yet to strike out in 68 AB, and has a 894 OPS.

I was listening to an Astros playoff game and the announcer reported that Hinch had said that Gonzalez was Houston's best defensive third baseman, and shortstop, and second, and first. If he really is better than Correa defensively at shortstop, I would make signing him the top offseason priority and move Polanco to second. There will certainly be a place for him somewhere in the final years of his contract.

AJ Hinch reportedly said that Marwin Gonzalez was the best defensive 3B, SS, 2B, and 1B on the Houston roster. I would offer the Twins SS job to him for a couple years.

I think Trevor may be an excellent traditional closer for the Twins the next few years. The clearly defined role might be good for his health, and it appears he has the temperament and swinging strike rate to succeed.

There are at least a few of us who wonder why Brian Navaretto is not considered a prospect, at least for a defense-first backup catcher. He had a bit of a down year at throwing out runners, only 40%. His framing runs saved is 10.6 at BPro, compared to Willians AAA score of 1.3 (Mitch Garver is -8.8, but was 3.3 in AAA last year). Overall Brian is ranked excellent for saving runs defensively. No framing stats for Ben R, but he has cut his Passed Balls from 15 to 4 this year. The usual response is to recite his minor league OPS. But he started in the minor leagues out of high school, not college. And it appears he has made quite a bit of improvement this year. A .246 average, one less extra base hit than Ben R. He doesn't draw enough walks yet to get his OPS respectable. He seems to be on the same pace as Butera, who has found MLB employment for a good number of years.

Polanco needs to play outfield in winter league ball.

The Prospect Summary indicates that Jose Miranda did not play, although he is mentioned in the game summary. He had FM's first RBI, and in the 3 run 5th inning was intentionally walked with no outs after AK's double in order to face Travis Blankenhorn, batting cleanup with an 1.3 OPS at the time. He has had quite a productive last couple weeks.

Quezada had 3 K's in 12 pitches the first inning of relief tonight, and one more in the scoreless second inning.

He was pretty average in the Southern League in 20 starts this year (age 22), but improved the last couple of games. Never pitched against Chattanooga. Promoted to AAA in August, he did well in 3 of 4 starts, then pitched in relief the last three games. I suspect the Twins would turn a 22 year old starter into a temporary relief pitcher if it would help them in the playoffs.

The cupboard is pretty bare at Rochester for relievers. Only Reed has been above average since July 1. Curtis has had some recent scoreless outings.

In his last seven games, Magill has given up an earned run in six of them. In his previous nine games, Belisle had given up earned runs in one game (and lots of runs in that game).

Perhaps he can improve, but Garver's pop time is second worst to Flowers this year, and his exchange time is last among catchers with 10 SB attempts against. His throws aren't real accurate. from BP fantasy article Finding Catchers to Run Against, July 20.

In their Futures Game Preview, BPro said of Thorpe: After dipping his toes back into competitive waters last year he’s been downright electric at points in a gloves-further-off campaign at Double-A this year, striking out 104 batters in 82-plus innings with a deep four-pitch arsenal. The fine command’s still winding its way back, and he’s been hittable at points. But it’s safe to say he’s reemerged as one of the more exciting arms in a sneaky-deep Twins system. —WK

CJ Wittmann at BPro has this to say about Gonsalves today: Gonsalves has always been an underrated prospect in the Twins’ system. The lefty boasts plus command of an above-average fastball, plus changeup, and average curveball. He can really sequence and attacks hitters differently each time through. He could be in the big leagues soon and pitch there for a while.

And Anthony Escobar threw 7 no-hit, one walk innings as the DSL Twins beat the Yankees.

Nothing against Littell or the trade, but maybe Huascar Ynoa will be in the majors sometime as well. In his last start,: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER/R, BB, 9 K. CJ Wittman of BPro mentioned him in May 30 Minor League Update: Ynoa is the younger brother of former $4.2M dollar bonus baby Michael Ynoa. Huascar was signed by the Twins during the 2014 J2 period for $800K and later traded to the Braves for Jaime Garcia. He features a plus fastball, average changeup and slightly below-average curveball but the main concerns have always been his well-below-average command. He’s likely headed for a bullpen role in the future but only 1 BB in 6 IP is encouraging. Off topic, but the next player mentioned was: Jose Miranda, 2B, Twins (Low-A Cedar Rapids): 3-5, 2 2B, HR, R, 6 RBI. Miranda was a 2016 second-round pick by the Twins out of Puerto Rico. Miranda had a solid end to the 2017 season and was considered one of the better hitting prospects in that league. He provides average defensive value all over the diamond but he’s gotten off to a slow start this year at the plate. If he could hit at a fringe-average level with the same power grade, he could be a utility piece in the future.

Garver has had about 3 times as many passed balls per inning as Wilson in their respective careers. His caught SB % in the minor leagues is 37%, compared to Wilson's 24% in the major leagues, however. Other catchers: Willians Astudillo (who has played every position except CF and P) has an even higher PB rate than Garver, and a 32% caught stealing %. Ben Rortvedt has 25 PB in 1154 innings, the highest % of the group. His caught SB % is 35. Brian Navaretto has about the same PB % as Garver, but about a 50% caught stealing rate. He is also starting to hit, and while 3 years older than Ben R, is two levels higher.