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They say pitching and defense wins games at playoff time and that certainly was the case in Clinton Monday night, where the Cedar Rapids Kernels and Clinton Lumber Kings not only needed 11 innings to determine a winner, but just as many innings just to see a run tallied. In the end it was Clinton taking the 1-0 win in the deciding game 3 of the West Division series and advancing to the Midwest League’s Championship series against the winner of Tuesday night’s deciding game between West Michigan and Great Lakes.Let’s let Kernels manager Jake Mauer tell the story of the game. “Pitching duel, back and forth. They had chances, we had chances. They caught the ball, we caught the ball. Comes down to the ball finds a hole and the young man puts a good swing on it and that’s it. It’s a tough one. It’s sad that our season had to end on that last game like that.” Mauer was, nonetheless, very proud of his team’s performance this season. “One hundred percent. Those kids battled and competed, gave themselves a chance. It just comes down to one run here or there and that’s just kind of how baseball goes.” Four Kernels pitchers held Clinton scoreless through 10 2/3 innings, but Ricky Eusebio’s line shot to left-center drove in Logan Taylor for the winning – and only – run of the game in the home half of the 11th inning. Sean Poppen got the start for the Kernels and worked five shutout innings, surrendering just three hits without walking a batter, before turning the game over to Michael Cederoth to begin the bottom of the sixth inning. While Poppen struck out three Clinton batters in his five innings, Cederoth matched that total in his first stanza on the mound. Before his night was over the 6 foot 6 inch righthander sent five batters back to the dugout in two innings of shutout relief work. Tom Hackimer relieved Cederoth to begin the eighth inning and gave up just one hit, striking out a pair, in 2 1/3 innings. With a pair of lefties coming up with one out in Clinton’s 10th inning, Lefty reliever Anthony McIver relieved Hackimer and retired both left-handers to end the stanza. McIver was tagged with the loss, however, giving up three singles, including the game-winner, in the 11th. The Kernels had plenty of scoring opportunities throughout the game, despite notching only four hits on the night. Travis Blankenhorn led off the visitors’ fifth inning with a soft line drive double down the left field line and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Clinton shortstop Rayder Ascanio nearly single-handedly squelched that threat, however, making a diving stop on a sharp ground ball by J.J. Fernandez and snaring a line drive off the bat of Nelson Molina. Jaylin Davis struck out to end the inning, stranding Blankenhorn at third base. In the Kernels’ eighth inning, Fernandez led off with a single, was bunted to second, moved to third on a ground out to the first baseman, but was left there when Kevin Garcia grounded out to end the inning. In the ninth, Casey Scoggins singled to start the inning with a single to right field and, after a fly out, Arraez walked. Matt Walker entered to pitch for Clinton and threw his first pitch to the backstop, allowing both Cedar Rapids runners to advance. Walker then intentionally walked Blankenhorn to load the bases, but Fernandez popped up to shallow right centerfield to end that threat. The Kernels failed to record a hit in extra frames, however, and now they’ll pack their bags and head home for the winter. Click here to view the article

The best thing a team can do in a playoff game is jump out to an early lead. However, if said lead is blown a couple of innings later, the new best thing a team can do is put up a five-spot in the very next half inning. That’s what the Kernels did in Wednesday night’s Game 1 of their Midwest League Round 1 playoff series in Appleton, Wisconsin, against the Wisconsin TimberRattlers.The Kernels got off to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Zander Wiel led off with a triple. Travis Blankenhorn was then hit by a pitch. JJ Fernandez gave the Kernels a 1-0 lead with a single to right. Blankenhorn advanced to third and then scored when Nelson Molina grounded into a double play. In the third, they added a run to make it 3-0. With one out, Luis Arraez tripled. He then scored on a Zander Wiel single. 19-year-old Lachlan Wells did well early, too. In the first inning he gave up two hits and a walk, but he was able to get out of the inning without allowing a run. Through four innings, he had eight strikeouts to go with those two hits and a walk. However, in the fifth inning, he gave up three runs and the game was tied. However, that’s when the Kernels came through with their big, five-run top of the sixth. The inning started with doubles from Zander Wiel, Travis Blankenhorn and JJ Fernandez for the first two runs. After a pitching change, Nelson Molina singled Fernandez to third. Jaylin Davis followed by hitting a single that scored two runs. The Kernels now had an 8-3 lead. Wells’ night was complete. He gave up three runs over five innings. He gave up four hits, walked two and struck out nine. Michael Cederoth came in. He was perfect for three innings and struck out five batters. The Kernels added some insurance in the 8th inning. With two outs, Casey Scoggins singled. Christian Ibarra walked. Luis Arraez tripled to score both runners, and he then scored on a wild pitch to give the Kernels an 11-3 lead. Colton Davis got the ninth inning for the Kernels. He struck out the first two batters before getting the final out on a foul pop to first base. Luis Arraez led the way going 3-5 with two triples and two RBI. Zander Wiel was also 3-5 with a double and a triple. Travis Blankenhorn was 2-4 with a double and a triple. JJ Fernandez was 2-5 with a double and two RBI. Nelson Molina and Casey Scoggins also had two hit games. Jaylin Davis went 1-3 with two walks. Final Score: Cedar Rapids 11, Wisconsin 3 Box Score WHAT’S NEXT? Game 2 will be in Cedar Rapids on Thursday night. Eduardo Del Rosario will take the mound for the Kernels against the TimberRattlers. Click here to view the article

CEDAR RAPIDS - There was rain falling for most of the trek between the Twin Cities and Cedar Rapids on Friday morning and early afternoon, but it was a good night for baseball. The Kernels fell behind early but it was still a good game. Be sure to follow Twins Daily and SethTweets on twitter for many pictures to come. For much more on what happened on Friday in the Twins farm system, including quotes from Kernels manager Jake Mauer, please continue.TRANSACTIONS On Friday there were a few transactions in the Twins system: Catcher Brian Olson was promoted from Cedar Rapids to Ft. Myers. Kevin Garcia was sent down to the Kernels.RED WINGS REPORTRochester 5, Charlotte 0 Box Score Logan Darnell was terrific on this night. The left-hander needed 109 pitches (72 strikes) to throw the complete game shutout. He gave up five hits, walked none and struck out four. It was his second shutout of the season already. Byron Buxton came into the game having homered in three straight games. He didn’t homer, but had a walk and his eighth double. Wilfredo Tovar went 2-4 and stole his 13th base. Buck Britton added his ninth double. Eddie Rosario and Adam Brett Walker each hit their fifth Red Wings double. CHATTANOOGA CHATTER Chattanooga 5, Tennessee 5 (11th inning) Box Score In the bottom of the 11th, Travis Harrison came to the plate with a runner on and two outs. He singled to score Leonardo Reginnato and give the Lookouts a 6-5 win. Zach Granite led the offense. He went 4-6 and stole three bases. He now has 21 steals on the year. Daniel Palka provided the power. His seventh homer of the year was a grand slam. Mitch Garver went 3-5 with his ninth double. Reginnato hit his ninth double as well, and he walked in the 11th before the Harrison single. David Hurlbut started. The lefty gave up four runs on ninth hits. He walked two and struck out one. Jake Reed struck out four over two scoreless innings. He gave up a hit and walked two. Mason Melotakis gave up a run on two hits in his inning. Trevor Hildenberger worked a quick inning. Luke Westphal struck out five over two scoreless, one-hit innings and is credited with the win. MIRACLE MATTERS Ft. Myers 2, Charlotte 3 Box Score Kyle Gibson made his second rehab start for the Miracle, this one with Terry Ryan in attendance. The right-hander gave up one run on six hits in five innings. He struck out six without a walk. Nick Anderson came on and gave up one run on four hits over two innings. He struck out two. John Curtiss worked a scoreless inning. However, he gave up an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth to take a loss. Of the four outs he got, he struck out three. Alex Real went 2-4 in the game. Max Murphy doubled for the second time with the Miracle. Logan Wade hit his fifth double. KERNELS NUGGETS Cedar Rapids 3, Wisconsin 3 Box Score Dereck Rodriguez’s rocky season continued. Watching him, you can see that he has some good stuff. Low 90s, good breaking ball. But, at some point, he just loses movement and starts getting hit. And he got hit hard, lots of solid contact. The right-hander was charged with seven runs on six hits. He walked three and struck out five in 3.2 innings. Mauer didn’t mince words. “The ball’s up. It’s just plain and simple. He’s got a good breaking ball. He just can’t get to it, but everything’s up. Up. Up. Up. He threw it pretty good, down the first inning, but he was up the second inning. They barreled him up.” It’s not a lack of effort. “It just seems the harder he tries, the more the ball gets elevated. He’s got to figure things out. He’s got good stuff. No doubt about it.” Michael Cederoth came on and threw a wild pitch and gave up a line drive single so both inherited runners scored. However, he settled down and really saved the bullpen. He went 3.1 innings and gave up just two hits. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out five. Mauer said, “It was real encouraging. It was really good to see. That’s the longest he’s thrown here. I thought everything looked good. Fastball looked lively. Breaking stuff was good. They really didn’t touch him up.” It was important, because it was the second straight night the starter didn’t complete four innings. “Him and Theo. We’ve had five innings-plus the last two nights. The bullpen picked us up. Gave us a chance. Keep putting zeroes up.” Mike Theofanopoulos came on and got two outs. With a runner on second base, he got a pop-up straight up. AJ Murray got under it but he dropped the ball and the runner scored. It ended his scoreless innings streak at 19.1. However, he got the third out and worked another scoreless inning. So, the consecutive innings without an earned run streak is now at 20.2. “He started out real slow, walking a lot of guys. He’s been real good the last seven or eight outings. We’re probably going to use him, with (Nick) Anderson gone, trying to find someone to close some games. He’s a guy we’ll start using later in games.” Offensively, the Kernels were unable to put many hits together. Sean Miller went 2-4 with his seventh double. It was questioned as half of the people in the stadium thought it went out. The other half didn’t. After an umpire conference, they decided it was a double. Daniel Kihle went 2-5. Luis Arraez went 2-5 and had a triple. The three-bagger came in the ninth inning and scored a run. Arraez was actually thrown out at third base, but they called “Obstruction” on the first baseman as they made contact. Nelson Molina drove in a run with a double. The throw went home and got past the catcher. Molina was at second base, celebrating with his arms pointed to the sky. He should have been watching the play and run to third base. Mauer was clearly upset and following the half-inning, Molina was replaced by Alex Perez. It was a good learning opportunity. Mauer said, “He’s a good kid. He just got caught up. The ball’s rolling around back (there), and he’s standing there pointing at the sky. That’s not good.” He continued, “He can thank Jesus after the play is over.” LaMonte Wade went 0-4 through the seventh inning. His 26-game on-base streak was in jeopardy. However, in the ninth, two batters reached ahead of him, meaning he would get one more shot. Rains were pouring down. He was facing a hard-throwing lefty who threw side-arm and had a good slider. Wade launched a home… No wait, he just put together a really good plate appearance and drew a walk, but it did extend his on-base streak to 27 games. Zander Wiel, owner of a 14-game hitting streak, got the night off. TWINS DAILY PLAYERS OF THE DAY Twins Daily Minor League Pitcher of the Day – Logan Darnell, Rochester Red Wings Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Day – Zach Granite, Chattanooga Lookouts SATURDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Charlotte @ Rochester (6:05 p.m. CST) - LHP Tommy Milone Tennessee @ Chattanooga (6:15 CST) - RHP Aaron Slegers Ft. Myers @ Charlotte (5:05 CST) – LHP Randy Rosario Wisconsin @ Cedar Rapids (6:36 CST) – RHP Miles Nordgren Please feel free to ask any questions and discuss the Friday games. Click here to view the article

Yesterday was Part 1 of my preliminary Top 50 Minnesota Twins prospect list, prospects 41 through 50. Today, I’ll continue the countdown by posting my 31 through 40 prospects. I definitely welcome any and all feedback on these prospects. Who should be ranked higher, or lower, and why? This group is headlined by some hard-throwing relievers who could surface in 2016. As a quick reminder, players eligible to be on this list include players who remain eligible for Rookie of the Year voting in 2016. That is to say, hitters with less than 130 at bats and pitchers with less than 50 innings. (The list is preliminary. Following research for the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook 2016 - which Cody Christie, Jeremy Nygaard and I are working on - I’ll provide my final Top 30 prospects list.)Top Prospects 31-40 #40 – Logan Darnell - 26 – LHP – Rochester Red Wings Drafted in the sixth round of the 2010 draft out of Kentucky, Darnell has been a starter throughout the Twins farm system. In fact, he made his MLB debut in May of 2014 as a starter and made four starts for the Twins last year. He came to spring training this year as a bullpen arm. He spent April through July in the Red Wings bullpen, but in August he was moved into their rotation. He responded with his best stretch of the season. In those five starts, he went 3-0 with a 0.83 ERA in 32.2 innings. It earned him a promotion to the Twins. Unfortunately, upon his arrival, he came down with pneumonia, lost 17 pounds and was unable to pitch. Long-relief appears to be where his role with the Twins can be going forward. He is pitching this winter in Venezuela. Previous Top 30 Rankings: 2015 (30), 2012 (25) #39 – Brandon Peterson - 24 – RHP – Ft. Myers Miracle/Chattanooga Lookouts The Savage, MN, native and Burnsville high school graduate was the Twins 13th round pick in 2013 out of Wichita State. He was the Twins Daily Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Year in 2014 when he posted a combined 1.57 ERA and 0.98 WHIP between Cedar Rapids and Ft. Myers. He also added 13.2 strikeouts per nine innings. He began the 2015 season with the Miracle where he spent half the season before being promoted to the Lookouts. At one point, he went 26 innings without allowing a run. Combined, he went 3-1 with a 2.07 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP and 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Peterson tops out at about 94 mph, but he still is able to miss a lot of bats. He’ll likely begin with the Lookouts, but could get up to AAA in 2016. #38 – Corey Williams - 25 – LHP – Ft. Myers Miracle/Chattanooga Lookouts Drafted by the Twins in the third round of the 2011 draft out of Vanderbilt. The hard-throwing southpaw touched AA by the end of the season. However, he hurt his elbow in the spring of 2014 and had Tommy John surgery. He missed all of that season and returned to the mound for the Miracle in early June, 14 months after surgery. He posted a 2.49 ERA in 25.1 innings with the Miracle before a 2.25 ERA in eight innings with Chattanooga. Getting through this season was a big thing for Williams. At full strength, it’s not unrealistic that he could pitch for the Twins late in the 2016 season. #37 – Luke Bard - 24 – RHP – Cedar Rapids Kernels After taking Byron Buxton and JO Berrios in the 2012 draft, the Twins used their second supplemental first round pick on Bard, a right-hander from Georgia Tech. From 2012 through 2014, he worked just 19.1 innings for the Twins due to a variety of arm injuries and a series of surgeries. In mid-May of 2014, he had surgery to re-attach a muscle that connects his scapula from his humerous (which isn’t very funny). Doctors were amazed he was able to throw at all. He returned to the mound for the Kernels in late May, just over a year after the surgery. He pitched in a variety of roles out of the Kernels bullpen and went 7-1 with a 2.41 ERA in 52.1 innings. Like Williams, the key was getting through the season healthy. He was back to throwing in the mid-to-upper 90s. Previous Top 30 Rankings: 2014 (23), 2013 (20) #36 – Tanner English - 22 – OF – Cedar Rapids Kernels The Twins selected English with their 11th round pick in 2014 out of the University of South Carolina. At 5-10 and 175 pounds, he is a tremendous defensive outfielder with great range and a very powerful, accurate arm. He played for Elizabethton after signing with the Twins, though he missed time with a sore shoulder. He played for Cedar Rapids in the 2014 playoffs. He played for the Kernels in 2015 and hit .265/.359/.406 (.764) with 22 doubles, eight triples and five home runs. He also stole 37 bases. Unfortunately his season ended early following a sprained thumb after a collision in the outfield. He missed the final three weeks plus the Kernels’ run to the MWL championship series. In his final 36 games, he hit .328/.400/.518 (.918). He’ll begin the 2016 season in Ft. Myers. #35 – Mitch Garver - 24 – C – Ft. Myers Miracle Garver was the Twins ninth round pick in 2013 out of the University of New Mexico where he played for four years. He spent that summer in Elizabethton. He moved up to Cedar Rapids in 2014 and was named the Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Year. In 120 games, he hit .298/.399/.481 (.880) with 29 doubles, 16 homers and 79 RBI. That earned him an invitation to big league spring training. He moved up to Ft. Myers where it was a tale of two seasons for him. On May 31, after 41 games, he was hitting .185/.317/.215 (.532). However, over his final 85 games, he hit .272/.374/.386 (.760). Most have said that his defense really improved in 2015. He threw out 38% of base runners and pitchers really like throwing to him as well. He is currently in the Arizona. On Thursday, he played his first game and went 2-3 with a walk, a double and a three-run home run. Previous Top 30 Rankings: 2014 (26) #34 – Lachlan Wells - 18 – LHP – GCL Twins The Twins signed the lefty from Australia in August of 2014. At 6-0 and 185 pounds, Wells is still growing and will add velocity. He debuted in the Gulf Coast League this year and was very good. He made nine starts (and one bullpen appearance). He went 5-2 with a 2.09 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP in 47.1 innings. He walked just 11 and struck out 49. He missed the last week of the season as he went to Japan and represented Australia in the U18 World Championships. It is the same tournament that Lewis Thorpe pitched in two years ago. Wells was on that team as well. Though he doesn’t throw quite as hard as Thorpe does, Wells is certainly one to watch. He will certainly begin 2016 in extended spring training and probably go to Elizabethton, but he could see time in Cedar Rapids. #33 – Mason Melotakis - 24 – LHP – Did Not Pitch Melotakis was the Twins second round pick in 2012 out of Northwestern State University of Louisiana where he was a reliever. Starting in 2013, he got the chance to start. He made 18 starts for Cedar Rapids before moving to the bullpen. In 2014, he made two starts for Ft. Myers before being moved ot the bullpen. He made 25 appearances for the Miracle before moving up to New Britain. He pitched in 13 games. He was supposed to pitch in the Arizona Fall League. However, elbow problems surfaced and he had Tommy John surgery. He missed the entire 2015 season. He should return in the 2016 season. As with others mentioned above, getting him through the season healthy will be priority number one. He’s blessed with a big arm, and a big fastball and a very good breaking ball. Patience is important, but he could surface with the Twins later in the year. Previous Top 30 Rankings: 2013 (22) #32 – Zack Jones – 24 – RHP – Chattanooga Lookouts/Ft. Myers Miracle Jones was the Twins fourth round pick in 2012 out of San Jose State. After six games in E-Town, he advanced to Beloit to end the season. He posted a 1.85 ERA for Ft. Myers in 2013 and went to the Arizona Fall League where he pitched in seven games and left early due to lack of feeling in his fingers. Later in the offseason, doctors found an aneurysm in his shoulder and he needed surgery. A blood clot was later found in his leg which cost him more time at the start of the 2014 season. He went to Ft. Myers very late in the 2014 season and was the team’s closer in their championship run. He returned to the AFL. He began 2015 with Chattanooga and was a Southern League All-Star after a strong first half. However, things went downhill at the point and he ended the season Ft. Myers. Despite a tough second half, he remains a guy whose arm could get him to the big leagues. Previous Top 30 Rankings: 2015 (24), 2014 (22) #31 – Michael Cederoth – 22 – RHP – Cedar Rapids Kernels Cederoth, a 6-6 right-hander, was the Twins third round pick out of San Diego State. In college, he started and worked out of the bullpen. As a pro, the Twins will give him the opportunity to start. He made ten starts for Elizabethton in 2014. In Cedar Rapids in 2015, he made six starts and five bullpen appearances. He went 1-4 with a 4.08 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. In 35.1 innings, he walked 18 and struck out 37. His season came to an end in early June when he was placed on the disabled list with an illness. He returned for Instructs. Another hard-throwing right-hander who will likely be in the bullpen long term. His near-triple figures fastball and pitch mix could make him dominant. So, what do you think of Part 2, Prospects 31-40? Next week, we’ll continue the countdown. 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A year ago, Cedar Rapids Kernels starting pitcher Michael Cederoth was neither a Minnesota Twins prospect, nor was he a starting pitcher. But times change. Cederoth was wrapping up his college career at San Diego State in May of 2014, looking forward to entering the June amateur player draft and getting his professional career started.The 6’ 6” tall pitcher spent his junior season as the team's closer and his 20 saves tied the Aztecs school record. A year later, he's a starting pitcher in the Kernels' rotation with a 1-2 record, a 3,75 ERA and 24 strikeouts in the same number of innings pitched over five starts. On Saturday, he threw six innings, giving up just two runs, in the Kernels' 5-2 win over Beloit in the first game of their doubleheader sweep over the Beloit Snappers. http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Cederoth15c-600x400.jpgMichael Cederoth (photo by Steve Buhr)Cederoth was the Twins’ 2014 third-round draft pick last June and soon after found himself in the starting rotation for the Twins' rookie-level team in Elizabethton, Tennessee. At San Diego State, Cederoth pitched for the late Tony Gwynn, who lost his battle with cancer last year. His face lights up when asked about playing for the Hall of Famer. “Wow. I mean, imagine playing for any HOF baseball player. It’s something that every kid wants to be when they grow up and to have that as a coach at the college level is a great opportunity. I was blessed with the fact that he gave me the opportunity to play underneath him and I’ll never forget all the memories I got with him and playing underneath him.” What can a pitcher learn from a guy who made his fame and fortune swinging a bat, rather than throwing the ball? Plenty, according to Cederoth. “We definitely picked his brain. You’ve got one of the best hitters in baseball ever to play the game. Of course you’re going to want to know what’s in the hitter’s mind, so it really helps having that as a pitcher. Because we know what we’re doing out there – we want to know what (hitters) are thinking and he’s the best guy to ask.” Cederoth had a reputation with scouts as being a hard-thrower (occasionally hitting 100 mph on the radar gun) who could be a fast-rising pitcher with the right organization. One national prospects writer even projected him to have the potential to reach the big leagues as a bullpen arm by the end of 2015. Instead, Cederoth is spending 2015 in the class-A Midwest League with the Kernels as the Twins attempt to make a starting pitcher out of him. And that’s just fine with Cederoth. “He wants to do it,” Kernels pitching coach Henry Bonilla said, of Cederoth. “He definitely wants to be a starter. I think he enjoys the nuances that go with it. He has to prepare every day for that one day that he gets his day (to pitch).” When you ask Cederoth, he makes it clear he’s dedicated to whatever role the Twins see as the best fit for him within the organization. “Growing up, I’ve always been however I’m needed, that’s what I’m going to do,” he said. “If they want me to be a starter, then I’m going to do my best to be a starter. If tomorrow they tell me they want me to be relief, then I’m going to do my best to be a reliever,” he added. “They’re giving me this opportunity so I’m going to show them, ‘OK, If you want me to be a starter, I’m going to try my best to be the best starter I can be.’” It’s not like the starting pitcher role is totally foreign to Cederoth, after all. Cederoth was a successful starting pitcher his first two years at San Diego State and converted to the bullpen for his final year on the Aztecs’ staff. The Twins have made a practice, in recent years, of drafting strong-armed college relievers and giving them experience in a starting rotation, at least at the lower minor league levels. Bonilla admitted that helping a pitcher make that transition isn’t always easy. “It’s a problem if the kid doesn’t want to do it,” he said. “It’s a little harder when you try to make a guy a starter and he wants to be a 1-2 innings blowout kind of guy.” Bonilla also provided some insight to the organization’s thinking when they consider whether to try to turn a successful college reliever in to a professional starter. “A lot of times you’ll see a guy and you’ll go, 'OK, at worst, he’s going to be a reliever. Let’s see what we’ve got.’” Bonilla thinks Cederoth definitely has the potential to make it as a starter because he not only has the high-velocity fastball in his arsenal, but is developing other quality pitches, as well. “He’s got a mix (of pitches) to him. He can spin the ball. He’s got both the curveball and slider and with that velo, can he maintain it?” And if, later, it turns out Cederoth returns to the bullpen, the effort has not been in vain, according to the pitching coach. http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/CederothBP-400x600.jpgMichael Cederoth (photo by Steve Buhr)“The good thing about it, as a reliever he’ll get 1-2 innings of experience at a time. Here he’s getting 6 innings, 7 innings, 100 pitches at a time. It gets him out of his element. A lot of these guys, they’re comfortable doing one thing. When they’re uncomfortable, you see their true colors. So you’ll see him starting something new and he really has to adjust, you can see his mental capacity and what he really is. “He (Cederoth) is doing a really good job of transferring to the starting position. It’s hard.” For his part, Cederoth isn’t interested in even discussing any potential Plan B the organization might have. “I really didn’t think about that,” he said. “I can’t think about that. They didn’t tell me that. Honestly, they told me they want me to be a starter and I’m really trying to be the best starter I can be. I’ve been working a lot and trying to hone my mechanics and my delivery.” Having served in both roles in college, Cederoth is more prepared to make the switch than other college relievers who have seldom started a game above the high school level. He came in to the process already aware of adjustments he needed to make. “A lot of it is routine, that’s really the similarity,” he explained. “But the difference is, what are the routines? So that is really what I had to transition with. I knew how to do a routine, I knew how to get in to a routine, but now it’s the routine as a starter. “As a reliever, every day could be your day. So every day is kind of the same thing. As a starter, you have a routine. Every day is different, but it’s the same thing every week. The game you’re starting you throw 6 innings. The next day, what’s that day? And then the following day after that? “As a reliever, you might have to pitch that day so you do everything you can to get ready to pitch that day. Did you pitch that day? Well you have to do the same thing the next day. If you pitched that day, well, you might have to pitch the next day. So, it’s the same thing every day. That’s really the physical part.” There are differences in the mental approach, as well, according to Cederoth. “As a reliever, your job is to come in there and get three, six, maybe nine outs. At most nine outs, hopefully. Because you want to throw the next day,” he explained. “As a starter, you want to flip the lineup at least twice. It’s really a chess game. You’ve really got to plan out how you’re going to pitch. What did you give the guy his first at-bat? What did he show you when you threw this pitch? You’ve got to keep that in the back of your head. “It’s not just a bulldog mentality of go after him bang - bang - bang. You have to plan out what kind of game you’re going to go in to and what kind of hitters they have, unless you’re just gifted with the fact that you can just do the same thing over and over again and get guys out. If you’re on your game, then great, then you can do that. When you’re not always on your ‘A’ game, you’ve got to deal with what the day gives you.” Tall pitchers, like Cederoth, often are challenged to develop consistent, repeatable deliveries and that’s something he’s working on with Bonilla this season. He’s also working to improve his secondary pitches. “Curveball and change up right now. My curveball has come a long way,” Cederoth said, of the pitches he’s specifically working to integrate in to his game plans. “You’re facing guys twice. You go fastball – slider to one guy. Maybe the next time you face him, you throw a curveball at him. Completely change their whole game plan.” Striking out batters has never been an issue for Cederoth and through five starts for the Kernels, he has averaged more than a strikeout per inning. Ultimately, however, the ability to develop several effective pitches will likely determine whether Cederoth – or any starting pitcher – will have success in a big league rotation. He’s well aware of that. http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Cederoth15a-600x400.jpgMichael Cederoth (photo by Steve Buhr)“There’s some guys that can survive on just three pitches,” he said, adding, “I believe that I can get four good pitches. My change up is something that I’m really trying to get. If I can get that down, I can have more success getting early outs and dropping my pitch count. That’s been my problem, the pitch count. So getting that quick out, just getting a guy to roll over, is something I’m really trying to work on. Right now, it’s not totally ready, but it will be soon.” Cederoth is also working on his mechanics with his pitching coach and he’s clearly pleased to be getting another opportunity to work with Bonilla, who had the same role for the Twins’ rookie-level team at Elizabethton a year ago. “Don’t get me wrong, I had amazing pitching coaches in college, but when I came to Elizabethton last year, I worked with Henry Bonilla. We had a great relationship in rookie ball. “My problem has always been my balance in my drive leg. There’s so much going on in my wind up that it’s not always consistent. My body is leaning a different way every time instead of always going toward home. I’ve always had to try to adjust in mid pitch and that’s why I’ve been so inconsistent. So what we’ve focused on (is) the plant leg getting right and make sure everything is going towards home. “So, yes, mechanically, I’m becoming a little more sound and I’m happy about it.” Click here to view the article

It may not be what casual baseball fans want to see, but in most cases and at most levels of professional baseball, the teams with the best pitching win the most games. Sometimes, it really is that simple. http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/KernelsAutographs-600x400.jpg(L-R) Zack Larson, Stephen Gonsalves, Zach Granite and C.K. Irby sign autographs on the field after a Kernels game on April 26It arguably has been exactly that simple for the Cedar Rapids Kernels over the course of the first three weeks of their season. The Kernels are 11-7 on the year and sitting in a second place tie behind the Quad Cities River Bandits in the Midwest League’s Western Division standings. They open their first series with the Bandits on Tuesday in Davenport. Cedar Rapids’ offense has been, at best, a bit streaky. They sit at or near the middle of the MWL pack in most hitting categories, though they have managed to score the fourth-most runs in the league. But, through the weekend's games, Kernels pitchers lead the MWL in team ERA (2.27), strikeouts (187) and WHIP (1.09). When you see team numbers like those, obviously it’s not just one or two guys carrying the load. The Kernels are consistently getting quality work out of their starting rotation and their bullpen has been locking things down in the late innings. Manager Jake Mauer and pitching coach Henry Bonilla have primarily used six pitchers in their rotation, so far. Stephen Gonsalves, Mat Batts, Felix Jorge, Michael Cederoth, John Curtiss and Jared Wilson have accounted for all but two of Cedar Rapids’ starts this year. Zack Tillery has one spot start and Twins pitcher Ricky Nolasco started Sunday's game on a rehabilitation assignment. http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Theofanopoulos2015b-600x400.jpgMichael TheofanopoulosGonsalves, Batts and Jorge each have ERAs at 1.50 or better, with Gonsalves leading the team at 0.90. The success of Gonsalves and Batts is impressive, but not entirely unexpected. The two pitchers combined to make 13 starts for the Kernels last season and both were being counted on from the season's onset to make strong contributions again in 2015. Jorge’s success was far from a sure thing, however, at least in the minds of fans who only saw his work on the mound for Cedar Rapids early last year. In 2014, he put up a 2-5 record in 12 appearances (including eight starts) and amassed a 9.00 ERA before being sent back to extended spring training by the Twins. Jorge turned his year around with a solid season at rookie-level Elizabethton, but nobody was quite certain what to expect from the 21-year-old right-hander during his second shot in the Midwest League. “This was the Jorge we thought we were getting last year,” Mauer said recently. “It's a lot of things. Here it was freezing cold, he probably didn't get comfortable right away. "He's got a different look to him (this year). He's way more confident. He's worked really hard with Henry as far as his timing, when his hands break. He seems to be way more in rhythm than he was last year. If you can be way more in rhythm, you're going to throw a lot more strikes.” Bonilla, who was also Jorge's pitching coach in Elizabethton last year, is happy to see the improved version of the pitcher this season. “It's good to see him get some good games under him early, especially with the cold," Bonilla said over the weekend, of Jorge. "I think the cold kind of had him a little bit last year. But he's kind of taken responsibility for that and he's gone forward. "Ultimately, at the end of the year, you can hopefully start seeing his (velocity) get back to where it was when he was a young kid and his delivery get down in the zone a little bit. His breaking balls are coming along pretty good." Bonilla thinks Jorge was primarily throwing an 88-89 mph fastball a year ago, which is not what the Twins were expecting when they gave the then-17-year-old Domincan a $250,000 signing bonus in early 2011. "That's not really what he is. I think he's kind of getting back to it. We're doing some stuff mechanically. Hopefully, by the end of the season, we're talking more plan and location, instead of delivery, with him." Of course, the downside for Kernels fans to having pitchers get off to hot starts is that the fans may not get many more opportunities to watch those players in Cedar Rapids. They are all just a phone call away from a promotion to the class high-A Fort Myers Miracle. Batts, at 23 years old, might be a guy the Twins want to push up a level as soon as he appears ready and, between the end of last season and his start to the current campaign, the Twins could be getting close to wanting to see what he can do against more mature hitters. It may be likely that the parent club would want to see Jorge demonstrate more extended success in the Midwest League, given his false start at this level a year ago. Gonsalves doesn’t turn 21 until July, but his manager feels the Twins’ fourth-round pick in 2013 has already shown just about enough to move up a level. “He’s getting close,” Mauer said recently, when asked if he thought Gonsalves might be ready for a promotion. “I’d like to see a little more shape on his breaking ball, but he's dominated the teams that he's thrown against. If he gets a breaking ball, he's going to be really dangerous. Really, really dangerous.” Gonsalves' velocity on his fastball has ticked upward this season but his manager doesn't think he's topped out yet. "I think it's going to even get better. As he keeps maturing, I think he's going to be a 94-95 (mph) guy. I really do. When he gets his 'man-muscles,' as they say. I think he's really going to bring it. "He's thrown some better this year. Some breaking balls have had some shape, compared to last year. He gets bigger and stronger, that ball will have even more shape. He's got a good change up. But I think he's going to run it up there pretty good." The bullpen could be ripe for plucking by the Miracle, as well, if the need arises. It's a bullpen that even their manager had expressed some nervousness about at the onset of the season. “We didn't know who was going to step up," Mauer recalled over the weekend, ”and they've been outstanding. Really, really good.” The nine pitchers who have made relief appearances for the Kernels have put up a combined 1.92 ERA out of the pen. Relievers Cameron Booser (1.13), Trevor Hildenberger (1.00) and Michael Theofanopoulos (1.74) are each sporting sub-2.00 ERAs for the Kernels. http://knuckleballsblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Tillery15a-600x400.jpgZack TilleryThis crew has brought some heat in April. The only full-time reliever who hasn’t averaged a strikeout per inning is newcomer Miles Nordgren, who has made just two appearances since joining the Kernels as the replacement for Curtiss, who went on the disabled list with a concussion. And, while Nordgren hasn’t been a strikeout machine in those two appearances, he also hasn’t given up a run. In that regard, he joins Tillery and Wilson, neither of who have surrendered an earned run in their relief appearances. Bonilla is glad to see his staff get off to a good start, before the hitters start to catch up to them. “They're taking advantage of the cold and that's a good thing," the pitching coach explained, "because once it gets warm, the bats get hot, too. Those guys want to swing the lumber. It's good numbers-wise. It's a confidence boost a little bit." But Bonilla believes the hot start for his pitching corps is important for reasons that go beyond the obvious results on the field. He believes that early success also aids individual development. "There's some things each guy is working on - his own individual plan and the goals we have for him," he explained. "It's good to get off to a fast start because it builds confidence in the season and they're more open to do things that maybe they weren't - that they're reluctant to do when they're struggling. "When you're struggling, you want to get back to what you're comfortable with. So we can maybe add a few things like maybe sink the ball a little bit more to certain guys - working on breaking balls. They're a lot more open, when you're having success, to do things. When you're struggling, you're just grinding away.” If the Kernels can keep most of this pitching staff intact and the bats in the lineup can heat up as the weather warms up, Cedar Rapids could be a serious Midwest League contender in 2015. Click here to view the article

Last night at Perfect Game Field at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium, the Cedar Rapids Kernels played their Home Opener in front of a crowd of 1,732. After a short delay, the hometown team gave the crowd what they would look for, a lot of great action and a win to improve to 4-0. Here are some notes and quotes from Cedar Rapids Opening Night:First, I made the long trek down to Cedar Rapids, in part, because I really do enjoy the experience. Perfect Game Field is tremendous. The grass was green, and the game-experience is wonderful for a fan. As is done in minor league stadiums across the country, there are games and give-aways between innings. They make it a lot of fun. If you live in the southern Twin Cities area, you’re looking at about a four hour drive to Cedar Rapids. And it’s easy. Just take 35W south for about 150 miles. Around Mason City, you exit onto 27 South and take that for 50 miles or so. Then 218 South, followed by 380 south. All of these are four-lane highways so the drive is really easy and smooth. As always, it’s great to get there and be greeted by Tommy Watkins. I watched the Kernels take batting practice and as they were just about done, it began to sprinkle. The Kernels quickly finished batting practice, and then the grounds crew got the tarp on the infield. It never really rained hard. In fact, the Beloit Snappers players got their stretching in and played catch on the outfield grass. They just took batting practice in the cages under the stadium. Looking at the radar, it was clear that there would be clouds and sprinkles until about 4:00 (scheduled game time), but then there would be nothing after that. Radar proved very accurate. The tarp came off the infield around 3:45 and the Kernels grounds crew had the field ready for player introductions at about 4:15. There is a grill down the left field line that I would definitely recommend if you get to a Kernels game this spring or summer. You can get burgers, hot dogs, brats, chicken, pork and more right off the grill. You can then add toppings. I added fire-roasted peppers and onions, some jalapenos and mushrooms on top of mine. Excellent! Oh yeah, the game and baseball stuff. There was a game that was played and it was a good game. Michael Cederoth made the start for the Kernels. He had a scoreless first inning with two groundouts and a strikeout. The Kernels scored once in the first inning. Zach Granite led off with a ground ball to shortstop that he beat out. The shortstop was charged with an error because he had to rush. My personal opinion is that he would have beat out the throw anyway. He stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Zack Larson grounded out to third but it scored Granite to give the Kernels the lead. After a Jorge Fernandez walk, Tyler Kuresa doubled down the left-field line to score the speedy Fernandez. The Snappers had the bases loaded in the second inning on a single, a walk and a bunt. Cederoth did a nice job to get out of the inning, allowing just one run. The inning’s fourth batter hit a slow grounder down the first base line. Tyler Kuresa fielded it, looked home but there was no play there, and he tagged out the batter running down the line. The Kernels second inning was their big inning, though it didn’t start out looking like the team would score. Jhonatan Hinojosa lined a single to center field. Unfortunately, he was caught stealing. The next batter struck out. With two outs, Tanner English singled to right field. He stole second and advanced to third base on a balk. Zach Granite walked and stole second base. Nick Gordon was hit by a two-strike pitch to load the bases. Zach Larson put together a really good at-bat that ended with a line drive double down the right-field line. Sidenote – Nick Gordon may not be as fast as his brother Dee, but watching him go from first to home showed that he can run really well. Cederoth got through four innings. He gave up just one run on three hits. He walked three and struck out three. However, he was done after four innings because he was already over 80 pitches. He had a lot of three-ball counts. In the first inning, he was throwing between 94 and 96 with the fastball. He also has a really good curveball. Of the Twins third-round pick in 2014, manager Jake Mauer said, “Cederoth was OK. He threw some really good breaking balls early in the game that weren’t called strikes. He’s working on some things. But if he can gain control, he can be really good. But, that’s why he’s here.” Lefty Sam Clay, the Twins 2014 fourth-round pick, came on for the fifth inning. He walked the first batter and then threw a wild pitch. He walked the second batter. He got an out on a ground ball, but then walked another batter to load the bases. Snappers third baseman Edwin Diaz doubled to score two more runs and cut the lead to 5-3. That was the end of the line for Clay. Zach Tillery, Twins 13th round pick last year, came on to play hero for the team. He got a strikeout before getting the final out on a ground ball. He then got nine out of the next ten batters out and completed 3.2 innings of shutout relief. “I got through it pretty well. That first inning, I let it go a little bit. I was pretty tired the rest of the way.” According to Mauer, Tillery entered spring training with an opportunity to start, “He was in the mix to start this spring, but with the trickle down all the way up, we decided to move him to the bullpen.” Tillery is just fine with that decision. “I started the year this year as a starter. A week and a half ago, our pitching coach Henry Bonilla said, ‘Hey man, you’re going to throw out of the pen.’ I did that in college, so that’s good.” Tillery says he throws “a fastball, a cutter, traditional breaking ball and a changeup.” Mauer said that Tillery will likely get a chance to start at some time this season. For his part, Tillery is just fine with his role right now. “Right now, I’m just trying to help the team win. That’s all I’m worried about. They can throw me out of the pen. They can have me close. They can do whatever they want. I’ll go play third base, for all I care.” The score remained 5-3 Kernels until the bottom of the eighth inning when the Kernels grabbed some insurance runs. With one out, Jhonatan Hinojosa and Brian Navarreto hit back-to-back singles. Tanner English bunted to advance them to second and third. Zach Granite came up with a big double to right center that scored two runs. It was a “normal” single, but he turned it into a double. When I asked Granite if he’s always thinking double, he said, “Oh yeah. I’m thinking triple out of the box. I stop at second because they throw it in, but yeah, I’m always thinking extra bases. There’s nothing better than a double. I like having extra base hits.” Lefty Cameron Booser came on for the ninth inning. He was a little nervous and walked the first batter. However, he struck out the next three. He has two pitches and both are excellent. His fastball sat between 95 and 96 mph and he touched 99 with one pitch. He also had a mid-80s slider. Even more impressive than his arm? His mustache! Following Sunday Kernels games, the Kernels players go out to the outfield grass. Fans are able to go down on the field and get autographs from the players for 15 to 20 minutes. At the same time, fans can run the bases or play catch in the outfield. Its’ really a pretty neat experience. The Kernels front office staff does a tremendous job of, well, everything. They have great promotions. They make the games great for their fans, and that’s what minor league baseball is about, the fan experience. And, of course, player development. The Kernels team has some really intriguing prospects. Obviously, 2014 top pick Nick Gordon headlines that list. However, there are several other minor leaguers whose names you will read frequently at Twins Daily who have a real chance to advance through the system and someday, maybe, play some games at Target Field. For those of you who live near the Twin Cities and really are Twins fans, I encourage you to make the drive down to Cedar Rapids at least once this summer, if you haven’t already, and check it out. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Click here to view the article

On Monday, the Cedar Rapids Kernels announced their Opening Day roster for the 2015 season. Jake Mauer returns to the helm after compiling a record of 161-117 over the last two seasons. Nick Gordon is the best prospect on the roster. However this team should have some pretty strong pitching. They have a few arms that throw very hard. The team opens their season on Thursday at Kane County, and their first home game is on Sunday night. Who else will be on the Kernels roster on Opening Day? Check below for the complete list.Here is a look at the Opening Day roster of the Kernels in some detail: Starting Pitchers: Mat Batts (LHP), Michael Cederoth, John Curtiss, Stephen Gonsalves (LHP), Felix Jorge, Zack Tillery Batts was the Twins 17th round pick in 2014 out of UNC-Wilmington. The lefty pitched for the GCL Twins, Elizabethton and Cedar Rapids after pitching over 100 innings in college. If you're looking for a guy who could jump into the Twins top ten prospects in 2015, many believe that guy can be Stephen Gonsalves. The lefty was the Twins fourth-round pick in 2013 out of high school and has put up good numbers in his two professional seasons. Cederoth was a college reliever, but the Twins gave the right-hander with the triple-digit fastball an opportunity to start at Elizabethton last year. That will continue this season. John Curtiss was the closer at Texas in last year’s college World Series, but he also was asked to start when he signed. He pitched for E-Town, but he also made one start for the Kernels in the playoffs in 2014. Felix Jorge began last season with the Kernels, but he struggled mightily and finally was sent back to Elizabethton where he was named the pitcher of the year in the Appalachian League. Zack Tillery was a 2014 draft pick from Florida Gulf Coast. Bullpen: Cameron Booser (LHP), Sam Clay (LHP), Trevor Hildenberger, CK Irby, Randy LeBlanc, Mike Theofanopoulos, Jared Wilson When I talked to Jared Wilson at spring training, he made the comment that he would get an opportunity to start at the beginning of this season. He is listed as a reliever, but the rumor has it that he and Tillery will piggyback with each other (one starting and one coming in and stretching out). Booser was rumored to be hitting 98-99 mph at Instructional League. Clay was the Twins fourth-round pick a year ago out of Georgia Tech. He struggled initially at E-Town but ended the season very strong. He throws hard and could advance quickly. Hildenberger and Theofanopoulos pitched in college together. Theofanopoulos is a crafty left-hander. Hildenberger throws hard, but he also throws from a three-quarter (or maybe five-eighths?) angle and gets a lot of movement. Irby throws hard. The 2013 draft pick struck out 51 in 33.1 innings at E-Town last year. LeBlanc was drafted out of Tulane in 2014 and struck out 34 in 37 innings at E-Town. Catchers: Jorge Fernandez, Brian Navarreto These two catchers both have the potential and the talent to eventually get to the big leagues. They have a long ways to go and much to learn, but they have the type of tools you are looking for in a catcher. Both have very strong arms. Both are very athletic behind the plate. Fernandez is more athletic, and there are always rumors of him getting time in the outfield. Navarreto is a large man, very strong. He is often compared with Royals’ catcher Salvador Perez. Fernandez has doubles power, while Navarreto could develop 25-home run power. Both are young but should be a lot of fun to watch grow in 2015. Infielders: Nick Gordon, Jonatan Hinojosa, Pat Kelly, Tyler Kuresa, Trey Vavra, TJ White The Twins used the fifth overall pick in the 2014 draft on Nick Gordon, the high school shortstop from Orlando who is the son of former big leaguer Tom Gordon and the brother of Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon. Gordon has all of the tools, plus a maturity beyond his years. Hinojosa split 2014 between Elizabethton and Cedar Rapids. Pat Kelly is a Minnesota kid who the Twins drafted from Nebraska in 2014. The Twins drafted Kuresa in the 11th round in 2010 and offered him a lot of money to sign, but he chose to go to college. The Twins drafted him in the 16th round last year. He is a powerful, left-handed hitting first baseman with a good glove. Trey Vavra was selected in the 33rd round by the Twins in 2014. He is the son of Twins bench coach Joe Vavra and his brother Tanner played for the Kernels in 2014. He put up 20 doubles in Elizabethton last year. TJ White was the Twins 19th round pick a year ago out of UNLV. He signed late, but he did get into a couple of games with the E-Twins as well. Outfielders: Tanner English, Zach Granite, Zack Larson, Max Murphy This is a pretty talented group of outfielders. Zach Granite was the Opening Day leadoff hitter for the Kernels last year, but just a couple of games into the season, he was hurt. He came back in late June for a couple of weeks before getting hurt again. He has an advanced approach at the plate and might be a guy who could move up quickly if he gets off to a fast start. Larson was also on the Kernels’ Opening Day roster last season, as a 20 year old. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before he hurt his hamstring and did not return until late in the season. Max Murphy was drafted from Bradley in 2014. The Minnesota native crushed Appalachian League pitching and even though he was promoted to Cedar Rapids with a month to play, he was still named the Appy League’s MVP. He struggled with the Kernels, but he has a chance to be very good. Tanner English was the team’s 11th round pick a year ago. He signed later and had a shoulder injury, so he didn’t play a lot in Elizabethton. When their season ended, English joined the Kernels for their second-round playoff series. Disabled List: Brandon Bixler (LHP), Yorman Landa, Chris Mazza, Randy Rosario, Fernando Romero, Lewis Thorpe, Suspension: Hudson Boyd (50 games) Manager/Coaching Staff: Jake Mauer (MGR), Tommy Watkins (Hitting Coach), Henry Bonilla (Pitching Coach). Mauer returns to Cedar Rapids for his third season with the Kernels. In his first two seasons, he has a record of 161-117. It is his eighth season as a manager in the Twins minor league system, having managed the GCL Twins and the Ft. Myers Miracle in the past. He has led the Kernels to the playoffs each of the past two seasons. Tommy Watkins returns to the Kernels. It is his sixth season as a coach in the Twins system. Henry Bonilla was the pitching coach at Elizabethton the last three years. SIDENOTE – I’ll be in Cedar Rapids starting Sunday night when the Kernels play their home-opening series. WHO ARE THE TOP PROSPECTS? Twins Daily Prospects: #6 Nick Gordon, #11 Lewis Thorpe, #13 Stephen Gonsalves Seth: #4 Nick Gordon, #12 Lewis Thorpe, #15 Stephen Gonsalves, #25 Fernando Romero, #28 Zack Larson, #29 Brian Navarreto Cody: #5 Nick Gordon, #11 Lewis Thorpe, #13 Stephen Gonsalves, #17 Felix Jorge, #22 Michael Cederoth, #28 Fernando Romero Jeremy: #7 Nick Gordon, #8 Lewis Thorpe, #17 Stephen Gonsalves, #20 Max Murphy, #28 Michael Cederoth, #29 Cameron Booser *** If you didn’t get your copy of the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook 2015, be sure to order yours today. You can order a hardcopy or order an electronic copy for immediate download. Click here to view the article

One of the highlights of the off-season for a core of Twins fans is the release of the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook. Seth Stohs has worked to put together this fantastic book for the last seven years. In 2012, he gave me my first taste of helping with the book. By 2013, I was writing an article for the Annual and for the last three years I have been among a trio of writers that includes Jeremy Nygaard, Stohs, and myself.There is a ton of work that goes into the creation of this book. I don't know if we could create this without the help and push from the other writers involved. Besides profiles of all of the prospects in the Twins system and articles on topics from across the baseball world, one of the best sections of the book are our Top 30 Prospect Lists. Over the next few days, I will be counting down my Top 30. I have some differences with the other authors but that's what makes this fun. To see their Top 30's, you're going to have to pick up a copy for yourself. ***Get your copy of the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook now (Paperback or PDF).*** 30 – Brett Lee – LHP – Ft. Myers Miracle 2014 Stats: 10-5, 2.45 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 106.1 IP, 33 BB, 54 K Lee pitched all of 2014 for the Fort Myers Miracle. His strikeout rate is terrible and he will need to improve in this area if he is going to find any sort of success in the higher levels of the minors. Saying that, he was able to limit runs scored against him and he posted career best marks in wins and ERA. 29 – Jason Wheeler – LHP – Ft. Myers Miracle, New Britain Rock Cats, Rochester Red Wings 2014 Stats: 11-9, 2.67 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 158.1 IP, 37 BB, 115 K Wheeler had arguably the best professional season of his career as he cruised through three different levels and finished the year at Triple A. He fits the mold of pitching to contact as he throws a lot of strikes and doesn't strike out a ton of batters. Wheeler's impressive season was rewarded as he was added to the 40-man roster so there's a chance he could debut in 2015. 28 – Fernando Romero – RHP – Cedar Rapids Kernels 2014 Stats: 0-0, 3.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 12.0 IP, 5 BB, 9 K Romero was three years younger than the competition in the Midwest League. He was limited to three starts after tearing his UCL at the end of June. He underwent Tommy John surgery and will likely miss almost all of next season. He threw hard before Tommy John surgery so he could move through the system quickly if he can get back to his previous level. 27 – J.R. Graham – RHP – Mississippi Braves 2014 Stats: 1-5, 5.55 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 71.1 IP, 26 BB, 50 K The Twins just selected Graham in the Rule 5 draft so there is a chance that he's back with the Braves organization before the season starts. He spent time as a starter and a reliever. His strikeout rate has dropped in recent years. For him to stay with the Twins, he will have to fill a bullpen role for the entire 2014 campaign. 26 – Engelb Vielma – SS – Cedar Rapids Kernels 2014 Stats: .266/.313/.323, 13-2B, 4-3B, 1 HR, 33 RBI Vielma made some huge strides in the jump from rookie ball to a full season league. He got on base over 31% of the time and his batting average increased by 32 points. Vielma's biggest strength might be his defensive ability and his fielding percentage jumped 42 points. If he can continue to make offensive improvements, he could rise in the years to come. 25 – Zack Jones – RHP – GCL Twins, Fort Myers Miracle 2014 Stats: 0-0, 3 S, 1.74 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 10.1 IP, 6 BB, 14 K Jones got into limited action in 2014 after having shoulder surgery at the end of February. Doctors found that he had an aneurysm in his shoulder that was causing circulation problems. Jones served as the closer for the Miracle in their run to the FSL title. He pitched well in the AFL to cap off his 2014 campaign: in 11.1 innings in 11 appearances, he didn't allow an earned run and struck out 11. 24 – Jake Reed – RHP – Elizabethton Twins, Cedar Rapids Kernels 2014 Stats: 3-0, 0.29 ERA, 0.45 WHIP, 31.0 IP, 3 BB, 39 K Reed was a fifth-round pick in 2014 out of Oregon. He put up impressive numbers in his professional debut as he threw strikes and overpowered the opposition. Cederoth throws a little harder than Reed and that's why he's higher on the list. His fastball hits up to 95 and he has a decent slider to keep hitters off balance. 23 – Niko Goodrum – SS/3B – Ft. Myers Miracle 2014 Stats: .249/.337/.336, 19-2B, 5-3B, 3 HR, 49 RBI, 35 SB Goodrum has ranked higher on my list in previous years. His speed and on-base abilities make him a threat once he reaches base. However, he struggled to make consistent contact this year at High-A. He also doesn't flourish at any specific defensive position. The transition to Double A could be tough and it might be a make-it or break-it season for Goodrum. 22 – Michael Cederoth – RHP – Elizabethton Twins 2014 Stats: 4-2, 3.55 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 45.2 IP, 18 BB, 42 K One of a core group of hard-throwing college pitchers the Twins have selected in recent drafts. Because of his up-and-down track record, he could be a good candidate to end up in a bullpen role. His professional debut didn't go perfectly but he should improve as he moves up the ladder. 21 – Chih-Wei Hu – RHP – Elizabethton Twins, Cedar Rapids Kernels 2014 Stats: 8-2, 2.15 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 71.0 IP, 15 BB, 64 K Hu had one of the most surprising seasons in the entire Twins organization. He could be on his way to being much higher on next year's list if he continues on his current trajectory. He doesn't strike out a ton of batters but he controls the strike zone. He had dominant stretches in Low-A as a 20 year old and could be a sleeper pick For more from Cody Christie make sure to follow him on Twitter @NoDakTwinsFan and to read his other work at http://www.NoDakTwinsFan.com Click here to view the article

Yesterday, we began looking at my preliminary Top 50 Twins prospects list by reviewing prospects 41-50. Today, we’ll look at the next ten prospects, 31-40. Again, this list is a combination of hard throwers and young, athletic hitters from around the diamond.Reminders: This list is preliminary. Following research for the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook 2015, as well as your feedback, I’ll provide my final Top 30 prospects list. Players eligible to be on this list include players who remain eligible for Rookie of the Year voting in 2015. That is to say, hitters with less than 130 at-bats and pitchers with less than 50 innings. On last night’s Twins Hangouts, we discussed in a little more depth the choices for prospects 41-50. You can listen to that here. Top Prospects 31-40 #40 – Aderlin Mejia – 22 – IF – New Britain Rock Cats/Ft. Myers Miracle Mejia signed with the Twins out of the Dominican in 2010 and slowly worked his way up. As we have written many times before, he was at extended spring training to start the 2013 season (and likely would have gone to Elizabethton) when there was a need with the Miracle. He got an opportunity and took advantage of it. He hit .308 in 75 games. He began the 2014 season at New Britain, but after committing seven errors in 15 games he was sent back to Ft. Myers. He played all over. He played 45 games at second base, 24 at shortstop, 19 at third base and six at first base. Mejia is a speedy middle infielder with little power. #39 – Jorge Fernandez – 20 – C – Elizabethton Twins Fernandez was the Twins seventh round pick in 2012 out of high school in Puerto Rico. He spent two seasons in the GCL before moving up to Elizabethton in 2014. He hit .321/.361/.440 (.802) in 33 games with the E-Twins, with nine extra base hits. Fernandez is 6-3 and 190 pounds. He is very athletic, and there has been talk at times about moving him to the outfield. He threw out five of 13 base stealers (38%). He should move up to Cedar Rapids to start 2015. #38 – Mason Melotakis – 23 – LHP – Ft. Myers Miracle/New Britain Rock Cats Melotakis was the Twins second round pick in 2012 out of Northwestern State University where he pitched out of the bullpen. In 2013, he made 18 starts for Cedar Rapids. In 2014, he moved up to Ft. Myers where he made just two starts before he was moved into the bullpen. As a starter, he would sit 90-92. Out of the bullpen, he can reach back and hit 97. As important, he has developed his secondary pitches which should really him out of the bullpen. In early July, he was promoted to New Britain where he pitched in 13 games and struck out 17 while walking three in 16 innings. However, he missed time with a sore elbow. He was supposed to pitch in the Arizona Fall League, but he was still experiencing soreness in the elbow, so they shut him down. If healthy, he could see time with the Twins in 2015. #37 – Jason Adam – 23 – RHP – Northwest Arkansas/Omaha/New Britain Adam came to the Twins in the on July 31 from the Royals in exchange for Josh Willingham. He has worked primarily as a starter coming up in the minor leagues. He began this season in AA with 18 starts. He went 4-8 with a 5.03 ERA. He was promoted to AAA where he made eight appearances out of the bullpen. After the Twins acquired him, they said that he would be given the opportunity to start with the Twins organization. He is blessed with a fastball that reaches 94. He will pitch in the Arizona Fall League. #36 – Michael Cederoth – 21 – RHP – Elizabethton Twins Cederoth was the Twins 3rd round pick in 2014 out of San Diego State. In college, he was given a couple opportunities to start, but that didn’t go well. He was much more successful out of the bullpen. A 98 mph fastball in college will get a lot of outs. When he signed with the Twins, they allowed him to start at Elizabethton. In 45.2 innings, he gave up 41 hits, walked 18 and struck out 42. Long-term, my assumption is he’ll move to the bullpen though he will get the opportunity to start. #35 – Brian Navarreto – 19 – C – Elizabethton Twins Navarreto was the Twins sixth round pick in 2013 out of high school in Florida. He is a 6-4, 220 pound catcher with a very strong arm. He also has immense power. When I was in Ft. Myers in spring training, I saw him hit a long home run off of JO Berrios in an intra-squad game. He struggled in Elizabethton, though he missed some time with minor injury. He hit .194/.241/.370 with eight doubles and three home runs. #34 – John Curtiss – 21 – RHP – Elizabethton Twins/Cedar Rapids Kernels The Twins used their sixth round pick on the right-hander. He was the closer for the University of Texas during the 2014 season that culminated in a trip to the College World Series in Omaha. It was his first full season back from Tommy John surgery. Upon signing with the Twins, he was sent to Elizabethton where he made six starts after three relief appearances. He went 2-1 with a 2.30 ERA. In 31.1 innings, he walked seven and struck out 41. Following the E-Twins playoff series, Curtiss was promoted to Cedar Rapids and made a start for the Kernels in Round 2 of their playoff run. He threw five scoreless innings in a no-decision. He will be given the opportunity to start. #33 – Aaron Slegers – 22 – RHP – Cedar Rapids Kernels/Ft. Myers Miracle It was an up and down 2014 season for the 6-10 Slegers. He got off to a quick start in Cedar Rapids before really struggling. However, he turned things around and ended the season with three starts in Ft. Myers where he went 2-1 with a 3.32 ERA in 19 innings. Not overpowering, Slegers mixes three pitches. He also has very good control considering his long arms. He threw 132.1 innings before reaching his innings limit and being shut down. #32 – Levi Michael – 23 – 2B – Ft. Myers Miracle/New Britain Rock Cats Michael was the Twins first round pick in 2011 out of the University of North Carolina. Unfortunately, he has spent much of his career to this point injured. Finally healthy, Michael was able to play most every day for Ft. Myers, and he hit. He hit .305/.375/.395 (.770) with 12 extra base hits in 45 games. However, he fouled a ball of his foot and missed nearly two months. After a short return to the Miracle, he was promoted to New Britain where he hit .340/.444/.358 (.803) in 15 games. Although 2014 was his third year of pro ball after three years in college, he is still just 23 years old. He needs to stay healthy, but 2014 gave fans a glimpse that he could be a solid utility guy or even a regular second baseman if needed in another year. #31 – Mitch Garver – 23 – C – Cedar Rapids Kernels Garver was drafted by the Twins in the ninth round of the 2013 draft out of the University of New Mexico. He had been the runner up for the Johnny Bench Award for top collegiate catcher. In 2014, he spent the entire season in Cedar Rapids where he became a force in the middle of the Kernels lineup. He was my choice for Twins minor league hitter of the year after he hit .298/.399/.481 (.880) with 29 doubles, 16 homers and 79 RBI. He played well behind the plate as well. He threw out 32% of would-be base stealers. So, what do you think of Part 2, Prospects 31-40? Next up will be prospects 21-30. Click here to view the article