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Over the weekend, we handed out theoretical awards to the top minor league hitter and starting pitcher of the month of August. Today, we conclude the awards by discussing some very impressive bullpen performances over the past month. Image courtesy of Steve Buhr, Twins Daily (Graphics by Thieres Rabelo) Before we get to our Top 4 relievers in the Twins system in August, here are a couple of Honorable Mentions. RHP Michael Feliz - St. Paul Saints - 8 G, 1.80 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, 10.0 IP, 3 H, 4 BB, 11 K RHP Niklas Rimmel - Ft. Myers Mighty Mussels - 8 G, 1.54 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 11.2 IP, 8 H, 5 BB, 16 K THE TOP FOUR RELIEF PITCHERS #4 - RHP Alex Phillips - Wichita Wind Surge - 9 G, 2.13 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 11.0 IP, 8 H, 3 BB, 20 K Phillips put up incredible numbers in his final season at Baylor. He went 7-1 with a 2.40 ERA over 45 innings. Surprising that he wasn’t drafted at all in the 2018 draft, but the Twins were able to sign him later that summer after he had an impressive stint with Evansville in the Frontier League. In 2019, he reached Double-A. In 2021, he pitched in 30 games for Wichita. He began this season on the Injured List first with a shoulder issue, and then after an appendix issue (presumably it was removed). He returned in mid-July, and he was fantastic in August. He didn’t allow many base runners, and that 20 strikeouts to just three walks ratio is pretty incredible. #3 - LHP Evan Sisk - St. Paul Saints - 9 G, 0.87 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 10.1 IP, 5 H, 4 BB, 14 K The Twins acquired Sisk at the trade deadline in 2021. He came to the Twins with John Gant in exchange for J.A. Happ. After the season, he went to the Arizona Fall League. Frankly, he has been terrific the entire 2022 season. In 19 games with the Wind Surge, he went 3-0 with a 0.95 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. Over 28 1/3 innings, he walked 11 and struck out 33. The 25-year-old was promoted to the Saints where he has now pitched in 23 games and has a 2-0 record with a 1.85 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. In 24 1/3 innings, he as given up 12 hits, walked 13 batters and struck out 29 batters. In other words, the walk rate is too high, but the lefty is making himself quite intriguing to Twins fans. As you can see, his walk rate was better in August than in July, and he missed a lot of bats. Originally, he was the 16th-round pick of the Cardinals in 2018 out of the College of Charleston where he teamed with Bailey Ober for two seasons. #2 – RHP Hunter McMahon - Cedar Rapids Kernels - 8 G, 1.62 ERA, 0.66 WHIP, 16.2 IP, 9 H, 2 BB, 16 K Let me just start by saying that if you think Hunter McMahon should have won a second consecutive Relief Pitcher of the Month Award, I am not going to argue with you very much. He had a strong first month with the Kernels in July and was arguably even better in August. He didn’t give up runs. He didn’t hurt himself with walks. He was terrific. McMahon came to the Twins from the Washington Nationals in a late January trade in 2020. He had been the Nationals’ ninth-round pick the previous summer from Texas State. Unfortunately that 2020 season was lost, and he was only able to pitch in five games in 2021 due to injuries. He has made up for lost time in 2022. He began the season with 20 games in Ft. Myers where he posted a 2.23 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP over 32 1/3 innings. He moved up to Cedar Rapids and posted a 1.19 ERA and a 0.66 WHIP in 37 2/3 innings. Combined, he is 4-0 with seven saves. On Labor Day, he received another promotion, this time to Wichita. And the Twins Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Month is: RHP Ryan Shreve - Cedar Rapids Kernels - 10 G, 2 GS, 0.51 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 17.2 IP, 9 H, 5 BB, 19 K Ryan Shreve’s 2022 season started approximately six weeks late, but since then, he has been very reliable in Brian Dinkelman’s Kernels bullpen. And August was no different. In fact, the only earned run he allowed came on the final day of the month when he still struck out four over two innings. It was just the second time he gave up an earned run since June 23rd. Yes, he gave up just one earned run over more than two months. That’s pretty impressive. But, Shreve isn’t just a one-inning guy. In that stretch, he got more than three outs in 10 of the 14 games. Twice he tossed three scoreless innings. He gave up a hit every other inning. He walked one every 3 1/2 innings, and he struck out more than one per inning. Shreve grew up in southern California and went to William Howard Taft High School in Woodland Hills. 14-year MLB big leaguer and long-time Astros manager Larry Dierker went to high school… about 50 years before Ryan. Current Giants manager and 12-year MLB player Gabe Kapler went there. Hall of Famer Robin Yount graduated from there about the same time the Brewers made him their first-round pick. Shreve attended the University of the Pacific, in Stockton, California, where he pitched in a variety of roles as a freshman, solely out of the bullpen as a sophomore and solely as a starter in his junior season. In 2017, he was a member of the St. Cloud Rox of the Northwoods League. The Twins made him their 16th round pick in 2019 and sent him to Elizabethton for the summer. In 2021, he began with six games with the Mighty Mussels before moving up to Cedar Rapids. In 22 games and 34 2/3 innings, he went 4-3 with a 3.63 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. He also had 49 strikeouts. This year with the Kernels, he has pitched in 27 games. He has a 3.25 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. In 36 innings, he has 36 strikeouts. ------------------------------------------------------- As you can see, there were several strong relief pitcher performances in August. These guys are all worthy of some recognition. It was a good month for each of these pitchers mentioned today. Previous 2022 Relief Pitchers of the Month April: RHP Tyler Viza, Wichita Wind Surge May: RHP Matthew Swain, Ft. Myers Mighty Mussels June: LHP Denny Bentley, Wichita Wind Surge July: RHP Hunter McMahon, Cedar Rapids Kernels Congratulations to Kernels righty Ryan Shreve, the Twins Daily Minor League Relief Pitcher of the Month for August 2022. View full article

At the end of June each year, not long after the completion of the draft, the short-season minor leagues begin. The GCL Twins stay in Ft. Myers, and the Elizabethton Twins take the long bus ride to Tennessee. The last few seasons, Twins Daily has added two annual awards for the short-season Twins players. Yesterday, we handed out the award for the top hitter in the short-season teams. Today, we’ll start with the pitchers. Previous Winners: 2016: Huascar Ynoa 2017: Jovani Moran 2018: Andrew CabezasAs you’ll read below, there were several pitchers on the Twins short-season teams who put together real solid seasons. Of course, we are generally talking about a limited number of innings due to their seasons being just two months long. One poor outing can have an effect on their overall numbers. Six Twins Daily Minor League writers voted for the various awards this year. For the short-season pitcher of the year, we each voted for five players. The player who was voted as #1 received five points, #2 received four points and so on with the #5 vote receiving one point. Results were tabulated and can be found below. Short profiles of our top five are to follow, but first, some players worthy of honorable mention. These players also received votes. Others Receiving Votes: Osiris German - Elizabethton Twins - 16 G, 3-1, 3.11 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 37.2 IP, 30 H, 10 BB, 47 KAnthony Escobar - GCL Twins - 11 G, 6 GS, 5-2, 3.83 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 42.1 IP, 33 H, 13 BB, 37 KEvan Gillespie - GCL Twins - 12 G, 1 GS, 3-1, 2.16 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 16.2 IP, 14 H, 4 BB, 18 KShort-Season Pitcher of the Year Here are the top five vote-getters for Twins Short Season Minor League Pitcher of the Year. #5 – Ryan Shreve, Elizabethton Twins: 14 G, 2 GS, 2-2, 3.40 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 45.0 IP, 55 H, 7 BB, 58 K Shreve was the Twins 16th-round pick in 2019 out of the University of the Pacific where he pitched for three years. He spent one summer with the St. Cloud Rox. The 6-6 right-hander from South California signed quickly and went to pitch for the Elizabethton Twins. After pitching 79 innings in college this season, he worked another 45 innings for the E-Twins, mostly out of the bullpen. #4 – Miguel Rodriguez, GCL Twins: 9 G, 5 GS, 2-2, 2.48 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 32.2 IP, 29 H, 11 BB, 39 The Twins signed Rodriguez in July of 2017 out of Venezuela. He spent the 2018 season pitching in the Dominican Summer League. He came to the States in 2019 and pitched for the Gulf Coast League Twins. He’s got good control and a good mix of pitches. He also showed an ability to miss bats. Opponents hit just .236 off of the 20-year-old. #3 – Donny Breek, GCL Twins: 10 G, 7 GS, 1-2, 0.74 ERA, 36.1 IP, 1.10 WHIP, 21 H, 19 BB, 38 K Breek signed with the Twins out of The Netherlands in September of 2017. He pitched in the GCL in 2018, posting an ERA of 2.84. He returned to the level this year, and as you can see, he was much improved. He has the ability to miss bats, though lack of control is the only thing really slowing him down. Over the weekend at the European Championships, he struck out ten batters over six scoreless innings. Gave up just just two hits and one walk. #2 – Niklas Rimmel, GCL Twins: 9 G, 7 GS, 3-1, 2.15 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 37.2 IP, 30 H, 8 BB, 34 K The Twins signed Rimmel out of Germany about a week before they signed Breek. The right-hander threw just over 14 innings in 2018, but he greatly improved his control. Rimmel stands about 6-3 and is lanky. He’s got a very smooth delivery with a repeatable motion. . Pitcher of the Year – Cody Laweryson, Elizabethton Twins: 10 G, 6 GS, 1-1, 1.76 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 41.0 IP, 25 H, 9 BB, 59 K Laweryson grew up in Maine and went to the University of Maine where he pitched for three years. He worked primarily out of the bullpen the first two seasons before moving into their starting rotation this year. In 14 starts, he went 5-5 with a 2.85 ERA. He threw 72 2/3 innings and struck out 79 batters. With that performance, and his size (6-4) and stuff, he caught the eyes of Twins scouts. The Twins drafted him in the 14th round in June. He signed quickly and reported to Ft. Myers for that fun-filled bus ride up to Elizabethton. The right-hander began by pitching six games for Elizabethton before moving up to Cedar Rapids where he made a spot start. In that Midwest League game, he tossed five shutout innings and gave up just two hits. He returned to the E-Twins where he made four more appearances. In his final start of the season, he struck out 15 batters in six shutout innings. Laweryson made a great first impression. He threw strikes (2.0 BB/9), recorded strikeouts (12.3 K/9), and opponents hit just .168 off of him on the season. All told, it was an easy choice for our votes, and summed up, it was clear why Cody Laweryson was our unanimous choice for Twins Daily Short-Season Pitcher of the Year. There you have it, the top pitchers in the short season leagues for the Minnesota Twins in 2019. The Ballots In an attempt to be transparent, here are the votes from our Twins Daily minor league writers: Seth Stohs – 1) Cody Laweryson, 2) Donny Breek, 3) Miguel Rodriguez, 4) Niklas Rimmel, 5) Anthony EscobarCody Christie – 1) Cody Laweryson, 2) Donny Breek, 3) Niklas Rimmel, 4) Miguel Rodriguez, 5) Evan GillespieTom Froemming - 1) Cody Laweryson, 2) Osiris German, 3) Niklas Rimmel, 4) Ryan Shreve, 5) Donny BreekSteve Lein – 1) Cody Laweryson, 2) Donny Breek, 3) Niklas Rimmel, 4) Osiris German, 5) Miguel RodriguezTed Schwerzler - 1) Cody Laweryson, 2) Niklas Rimmel, 3) Donny Breek, 4) Miguel Rodriguez, 5) Ryan ShreveMatt Braun - 1) Cody Laweryson, 2) Ryan Shreve, 3) Niklas Rimmel, 4) Miguel Rodriguez, 5) Donny BreekFeel free to discuss. What do you think? How would you rank them? How would your ballot look? Click here to view the article

Two different Minnesota Twins affiliates had doubleheaders scheduled on Tuesday as rain wreaked havoc on the Florida panhandle on Monday. Rain continued to affect the schedule in the Florida State and Gulf Coast Leagues on Tuesday, but both teams managed to get both games official when all was said and done. Pitching lines owned the box scores on the night, but there were also multiple walk-off games, and a couple that may have gone that way if not for being completed early.To find out everything that happened with all your favorite Minnesota Twins prospects on the day, keep reading! TRANSACTIONS There were a few transactions in the upper levels of the minor leagues with RHP Sam Dyson’s activation from the injured list into for the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday: The Rochester Red Wings activated C Wynston Sawyer from the seven-day injured list while placing RHP Sean Poppen on it with a right elbow contusion. RHP Cody Stashak was also optioned to AAA in a corresponding move with Dyson’s activation.C Caleb Hamilton was assigned to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos from AAA with the placement of SS Jordan Gore on the seven-day injured list.RED WINGS REPORTRochester 3, Indianapolis 6 Box Score The Red Wings plated single runs in third, seventh, and eighth innings but that was all they could muster as the Indians doubled them up with two crooked innings on the scoreboard. Rochester got their runs in the form of a balk after Zander Wiel led off the third with a triple, an RBI single from Mike Miller in the seventh, and Brandon Barnes’ 26home run on the year in the International League in the eighth. Each of Wiel (2-for-4, 2 R, 3B), Ronald Torreyes (2-for-4), and Barnes (2-for-4, R, HR, RBI) had two hits on the game while Tomas Telis added a double. Lefty Lewis Thorpe got the start in this one and in what one might consider major league roster strategic fashion, went just three innings. This despite throwing only 42 pitches (29 for strikes) and allowing only one earned run on a solo homer and striking out four hitters. Adam Bray came on for the fourth and went the next two innings, giving up one hit and one walk with two strikeouts. Fernando Romero got the sixth and was charged with three unearned runs after an infield error was followed by a two-out bases-clearing triple. He walked one, allowed two hits, and struck out two. Jeremy Bleich finished out the final two innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits while striking out four. BLUE WAHOOS BITES Chattanooga 6, Pensacola 3 Box Score The Twins former Southern League affiliate used a big third inning to take it to the Blue Wahoos on Tuesday, while also doubling them up on the hit tally, twelve to six. Top prospect Jhoan Duran took the mound for Pensacola but ran into trouble in multiple frames as the Lookouts had his number early and often. In just 2+ innings Duran was charged with six earned runs on seven hits and two walks. He struck out two and left the game in the third after loading the bases with a hit-by-pitch and two walks, a wild pitch, then allowing two run-scoring singles before being lifted in favor of Jovani Moran. Moran went 1 1/3, allowing a hit and walk along with striking out one. Andrew Vasquez went the next 1 2/3 scoreless, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out three. Jonathan Cheshire and Alex Phillips combined for four scoreless innings to close the game. Cheshire struck out two and Phillips K'd four. Big-name prospects got it started on the right foot with two runs in the bottom of the first when Alex Kirilloff led off with a double and scored on a Royce Lewis single before Trevor Larnach brought Lewis around with a double. From there the next fourteen Blue Wahoos hitters were retired and a Lewis sac fly in the eight was all the offense they could muster on the game. Ryan Jeffers and Jimmy Kerrigan also added doubles to the effort. MIRACLE MATTERS Game 1: St. Lucie 7, Fort Myers 4 (7 innings) Box Score After their rainout yesterday, the Miracle had a doubleheader on Tuesday that also got started a bit late due to the weather. This one went back and forth until the Mets broke it open with a three-run sixth inning to take the lead for good, 6-4. Cole Sands made the start and left in line for the win after five innings. He allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out four. Melvi Acosta was summoned in for the sixth when things went south. He allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits and a walk in his inning, striking out one. Cuban signee Yennier Cano allowed an insurance run for the Mets in the seventh when he gave up a solo home run. He walked one and struck out one otherwise to finish the game. The lineup responded to the Mets in the second inning thanks to a two-RBI single from David Banuelos to tie it, then took their first lead in the fourth when he brought in another runner with a double. Tied at three going into the bottom of the fifth, the Miracle took their last lead of the game on an RBI-double from Trey Cabbage before the Mets' rally in the sixth. Game 2: St. Lucie 2, Fort Myers 3 (9 innings) Box Score The Miracle got back at the Mets in game 2, but it took extra innings as part of their shortened game doubleheader. Starter Dakota Chalmers was brilliant for the first six innings, allowing just one run (unearned) on three hits and a walk, while punching out nine St. Lucie hitters. Of his 88 pitches, 59 went for strikes (67%) and he racked up 15 swinging strikes. Zach Neff came on and took Fort Myers into extra innings, picking up his third win for his efforts. He allowed an unearned run on two hits and a walk, notching three K’s in three innings pitched. The Miracle got on the scoreboard first in the second inning when Taylor Grezalowski drove in Jacob Pearson with a single. The score remained tied until the top of the ninth when St. Lucie went up 2-1, but the home team answered in the bottom half with a two-out rally. Yeltsin Encarnacion brought in the tying run with a single, then Gabriel Maciel followed with an RBI single of his own to walk it off in Hammond Stadium. Grezalakowski was the only batter with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-4 with an RBI and a double. They drew six walks as a team and in the end took advantage when they needed to by finishing 4-13 with runners in scoring position compared to 1-for-7 for the Mets. KERNELS NUGGETS Scheduled Day Off The Kernels just finished off the start of August by winning eight games in a row and will look to extend that perfect month against the Los Angeles Dodgers-affiliated Great Lake Loons on Wednesday at home. Lefthander Kody Funderbunk is scheduled to start the game. E-TWINS E-NOTES Pulaski 1, Elizabethton 0 (8+ innings) Box Score Hits were at a premium in this one as the teams combined for just five hits on the game. The only run of the game scored when Twins catcher Jonigson Villalobos’ attempted to pick a runner off third base and his throw got into the outfield in the fourth inning. Elizabethton left nine men on base compared to Pulaski’s three. As the leadoff man Willie Joe Garry Jr. finished 1-for-3 with a walk. He ended up stranded on third in the first inning when the Twins were unable to capitalize on loading the bases with two-outs. That was their best threat of the game despite four walks and three hit-by-pitches. Parker Phillips and Max Smith picked up the other singles while Seth Gray drew two of those four walks. 2019 fourth-round draft pick Cody Laweryson got he start for Elizabethton and was brilliant four five innings. His only run allowed was unearned, surrendering only two hits and a walk while striking out five. It was his fourth appearance (three starts) in a row without allowing an earned run, and seventh of nine appearances in his professional career. As a professional he’s pitched 35 innings with a 1.29 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and 40 strikeouts to just nine walks. Unfortunately, this game was made official after two-outs were recorded in the top of the ninth inning thanks to rain, so Elizabethon never got their final chance at pulling out a victory. GCL TWINS TAKES Game 1: GCL Rays 2, GCL Twins 3 (8 innings) Box Score In the early morning game of their doubleheader, the Rays and Twins needed an “extra” inning to close it out, with the Twins coming out on top in walk-off fashion. Making his second rehab appearance since hitting the injured list all the way back on May 25th, left-hander Stephen Gonsalves got the first inning in this one and set the Rays down in order, including striking out the first two hitters of the game. Another rehabber followed him for the second in the form of Trevor Hildenberger, who gave up a run on two hits while striking out one. From there, primary pitcher Miguel Rodriguez shouldered the rest of the game's load. In six bulldog innings, he allowed just one run on four hits and a walk along with striking out five to pick up his second win in the Gulf Coast League. The Twins scored first in this one thanks to an error by the Rays to the leadoff man in the bottom of the opening frame. Victor Heredia drove him in with a single two batters later. Down 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth Jesus Feliz tied the game with his third home run of the season. In the extra frame it was a two-out RBI single from Wander Valdez that brought in the walk-off run for the Twins. The home team collected just five hits on the game but made them count by finishing 2-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Alec Craig scored two runs out of the leadoff spot and nine-man Jake Hirabayashi drew two walks. Game 2: GCL Twins 3, GCL Rays 0 (6+ innings) Box Score The teams made up for that extra inning in game one by finishing only six innings in game two thanks to the rain that also delayed the Miracle’s start. The teams combined for just seven hits in this one, but the advantage went to the Twins by finishing 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position while the Rays went 0-for-5. The Twins scored all three of their runs in the second inning, with Luis Milla driving in one with a single through the right side, and Erick Rivera following later with a two-RBI single to center. Francisco Martinez finished his day 1-for-1 with a run scored and a pair of walks. On the bump in this one was right-hander Niklas Rimmel and he took it to the Rays hitters. In five innings he scattered four hits and allowed zero runs while striking out four. Steve Theetge came out for the sixth inning but before he could record an out the rains came and the contest was ruled official. TWINS DAILY MINOR LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE DAY Pitcher of the Day – Dakota Chalmers, Fort Myers Miracle (6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, BB, 9 K) Honorable Mention: Miguel Rodriguez, GCL Twins (W, 6.0 IP, ER, 4 H, BB, 5 K) Niklas Rimmel, GCL Twins (W, 5.0 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 4 K) Cody Laweryson, Elizabethton Twins (L, 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, BB, 5 K) Hitter of the Day – Gabriel Maciel, Fort Myers Miracle (1-for-4, RBI, BB, walk-off single in extra innings) PROSPECT SUMMARY Here’s a look at how the Twins Daily Midseason Top 20 Twins Prospects performed: #1 - Royce Lewis (Pensacola) - 1-for-3, R, 2 RBI, SF #2 - Alex Kirilloff (Pensacola) - 1-for-4, R, 2B #3 - Brusdar Graterol (Pensacola) - Did not pitch #4 - Trevor Larnach (Pensacola) - 1-for-4, 2B, K #5 - Wander Javier (Cedar Rapids) - No game #6 - Jordan Balazovic (Fort Myers) - Did not pitch #7 - Keoni Cavaco (GCL) - Did not play #8 - Brent Rooker (Rochester) - Injured List (groin) #9 - Jhoan Duran (Pensacola) - 2.0+ IP, 6 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 2 K #10 - Blayne Enlow (Fort Myers) - Did not pitch #11 - Lewis Thorpe (Rochester) - 3.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 4 K #12 - Nick Gordon (Rochester) - Injured List (leg contusion) #13 - Ryan Jeffers (Pensacola) - 1-for-3, 2B, BB #14 - Luis Arraez (Minnesota) - Game in progress #15 - Matt Wallner (Elizabethton) - 0-for-3, K #16 - Ben Rortvedt (Pensacola) - Did not play #17 - Akil Baddoo (Fort Myers) - Injured List (Tommy John surgery) #18 - Jorge Alcala (Pensacola) - Did not pitch #19 - Misael Urbina (DSL) - No game #20 - Travis Blankenhorn (Pensacola) - 0-for-4 WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTERS Rochester @ Indianapolis (12:35PM CST) - RHP Griffin Jax (1-0, 6.00 ERA) Chattanooga @ Pensacola (6:35PM CST) - LHP Bryan Sammons (4-5, 4.60 ERA) St. Lucie @ Fort Myers (6:00PM CST) - LHP Tyler Watson (1-5, 3.87 ERA) Cedar Rapids @ Wisconsin (7:05PM CST) - LHP Kody Funderburk (0-2, 4.45 ERA) GCL Braves @ GCL Twins (11:00AM CST) - TBD Please feel free to ask questions and discuss Tuesday’s games! 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Last Friday in the lunch room of the Twins academy in Ft. Myers, players were eating after their morning workout and before their afternoon games against the Rays. Standing in the middle of the room were a couple of guys speaking to each other in German. Niklas Rimmel, a right-handed pitcher from Berlin that the Twins signed following the 2017 season, was meeting his role model, fellow Berlin native and Twins outfielder Max Kepler. It was the first time that the two had met and the conversation lasted just ten to 15 minutes, but they will talk again before the Twins leave Ft. Myers to start their 2019 season. Rimmel is the most recent player that the Twins have signed from Germany. When the Twins signed Kepler out of Berlin in 2009, he received a $700,000 bonus, at the time the largest ever signed by a German-born player. Raw at the time, Kepler grew and continued to develop. He was the Twins (and Twins Daily’s) Minor League Player of the Year in 2015. He helped the Chattanooga Lookouts to a Southern League championship and the next day made his Major League debut. He wasn’t on the Twins Opening Day roster in 2016, but he was called up soon after and has been up ever since. In 2018, he was the Twins choice for the Jim Kaat Award, handed out at the Diamond Awards to the top defensive player on the team. He also hit 20 home runs in 2018. Early in spring training, Kepler and his first baseball roommate, Jorge Polanco, were signed to long-term contracts. Kepler, who was arbitration-eligible for the first time this offseason, signed a five year, $35 million contract with a couple of option years. While the Twins and their fans look for him to really take a step forward in his production on the diamond starting in 2019, Kepler has already risen up the charts in terms of the top players born in Germany to play in the big leagues. Today, we will show where Kepler ranks among German-born players, what his signing has meant for baseball in Germany, and how Kepler is viewed by young baseball players in his home country.Max Kepler is already in the conversation of best German-born baseball players of all time. A quick glance at the leader board shows that he is clearly in the Top 5 players born in Germany to play in the big leagues. His 419 games played ranks eighth. His 1,633 plate appearances rank sixth. More rankings: Hits (337) - 6th2B (82) - 5thHR (56) - 3rd (22 home runs behind the leader, Mike Blowers)Runs (199) - 5thRBI (190) - 5thOn these lists, Kepler ranks behind the likes of:12-year big leaguer Glenn Hubbard who was born at Hahn Air Force Base11-year big leaguer Mike Blowers who was born in Wurzburg. His step-father was in the army.11-year big leaguer Jeff Baker who was born in Bad Kissinger. His father was Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army.10-year big leaguer Bill Kuehne whose family immigrated to the United States when he was very young, played in the 1880s.Other MLB players born in Germany in military families include: Ron Gardenhire, Craig Lefferts, Edwin Jackson, Will Ohman, Bruce Maxwell, and Phillies outfielder Aaron Altherr. With his recently-signed five-year contract extension, it is likely that Kepler will distance himself from the pack and be the best player ever born in Germany. Of note, he wasn’t just born in Germany, but he lived there his full life and was signed in Germany. The others moved to the States, be it for military transfers or family immigration in the 1800s and early 1900s. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Niklas Rimmel is a big, tall, right-hander pitcher from Berlin who the Twins signed after the 2017 season. He made his professional debut in 2018 with 14 innings pitched in the Gulf Coast League. He is likely to begin his 2019 season there as well. Rimmel began speaking with scouts when he was 15 and playing in international tournaments in Europe. “Basically the only way you can be scouted or seen is at a European, international tournament,” he said. He had several options for teams interested in signing him. “The whole minor league system of the Twins is really, really good. I like the way that they handle the players. It’s really good that they believe in me and gave me the chance. I really appreciate that.” He continued, “Kepler being with the Twins was kind of part of it. He was my role model.” While baseball remains a secondary sport in Germany, behind the likes of soccer, among baseball people in Europe, Max Kepler is very highly regarded. Rimmel noted last week, “In Germany, Kepler is the biggest role model everybody has. That’s why it’s such a great honor to play in the same organization as him. I like having the opportunity to step in his footprints. In ‘Baseball Germany’, he’s a really big name there.” ------------------------------------------------------------------------ With the help of the MLB's academies in Europe, players there do have some more opportunities to be signed than in the past. There are academies in Germany, Italy and The Netherlands. New ones pop up from time to time. As Rimmel noted, that is the main means of players being noticed by MLB scouts. While Kepler is a hero to kids who love and play baseball in Germany, soccer still easily remains the sport of choice. Twins Director of Player Personnel and former Director of Scouting Mike Radcliff noted, “Baseball has gained some footage in soccer-infatuated Europe. There are several academies where players are gaining important coaching and teaching in fundamentals.” Max Kepler came out of the academy in Regensburg, Germany. He told me that there is now one in Paderborn as well. Kepler sees things improving but notes that it still has a long ways to go. “It’s progressing, little by little, but I think they just lack the funds, and soccer and other sports are still the main focus. It hasn’t really progressed as much as I’d like to see. With time, maybe.” There was always value for the Twins, or potentially other organizations to sign the best players from countries where baseball was not as popular. The Twins have signed Vadim and Petr Balan from Moldova. Matej Hejma and Jakub Hatjmar signed from the Czech Republic. Hein Robb was from South Africa. Tom Stuifbergen signed from The Netherlands. Frederic Hanvi signed from France. Nik and Andrei Lobanov signed out of Russia. None of these players got to the big leagues. But the Twins name is known in each of those countries. The same can be said in Australia where the Twins have always been a top contender for the top talent. But even with the rise of Max Kepler to the big leagues, that alone can’t alter the thinking of a whole country. But again, in baseball circles, Kepler and the Twins are very popular. Radcliff remarked, “Not sure we expect exponential growth of baseball in Europe, but there are some initiatives and private resources that have spurred interest in recent history.” Kepler believes that baseball can continue to grow in Germany. It will take time, money and some work. “You need the interest in place when kids start playing at a young age. I can try to do some camps and clinics and such in the offseason and start gaining interest that way.” He has done it before in Berlin. He talked to some of his coaches and some of his former teammates. They sold out the camp with 100 kids. For those kids, and every kid who plays baseball in Germany, Max Kepler is the face of not only the Twins franchise, but of Major League Baseball right now. Click here to view the article