2016 Twins Instructional League Roster

[Bob Sacamento]

Don't say I never do anything for ya'll  Here is a sneak peek at the 2016 Twins Florida Instructional League Roster and Schedule.  No Alex Kiriloff, but Wander Javier is making his first appearance stateside! And Ron Gardinhire is in camp as a coach.

 

Pitchers

Balan, Vadim

Balazovic, Jordan
Cordy, Max
Curtiss, John
Davis, Colton
De Jesus, Miguel
Del Rosario, Eddie
Gamez, Juan
Gomez, Moises
Graterol, Brusdar
Hackimer, Thomas
Jones, Matt
Lakso, Blair
Lombana, Logan
Martinez, Jose
Poppen, Sean
Quezada, Johan
Ramirez, Williams
Romero, Fernando
Wells, Tyler
Ynoa, Huascar

 

Catchers

Hamiton, Caleb
Kranson, Mitchell
Molina, Robert
Murray, AJ
Rortvedt, Ben
Salva, Kidany

 

Infielders

Arraez, Luis
Blankenhorn, Travis
Cabbage, Trey
Diaz, Lewin
Javier, Wander
Jernigan, Andre
Kendrick, Kolton
Lopez, Brandon
Mejia, Aderling
Montesino, Ariel
Munoz, Gorge
Palacios, Jermaine
Paul, Chris

 

Outfielders

Albanese, Matt
Baddoo, Akil
Carrier, Shane
Davis, Jaylin
Marrero, Lean
Murphy, Max
Whitefield, Aaron

 

Coaches

Lepel, Joel - Field Coordinator
Rasmussen, Eric - Pitching Coordinator
Perlozzo, Sam - INF/BR Coordinator
Eckstein, Rick - Hitting Coordinator
Watkins, Tommy - Manager
Bello, Cibney - Coach
Bonilla, Henry - Coach
Dinkelman, Brian - Coach
Gardenhire, Ron - Coach
Martinez, |P - Coach
Singleton, Steve - Coach
Smith, Jeff - Coach

 

 

Schedule

Mon Sept 19 CAMP DAY – 1pm

Tue Sept 20 MIN @ TAM – 1pm

Wed Sept 21 BAL @ MIN – 12pm

Thu Sept 22 TAM @ MIN – 1pm

Fri Sept 23 MIN @ BOS – 1pm

Sat Sept 24 BOS @ MIN – 10am

Sun Sept 25 OFF

Mon Sept 26 TAM @ MIN – 1pm

Tue Sept 27 BAL @ MIN – 12pm

Wed Sept 28 CAMP DAY

Thu Sept 29 MIN @ TAM – 1pm

Fri Sept 30 BOS @ MIN – 1pm

Sat Oct 1 MIN @ BOS – 10am

Sun Oct 2 OFF

Mon Oct 3 MIN @ BAL – 12pm

Tue Oct 4 TAM @ MIN – 1pm

Wed Oct 5 CAMP DAY

Thu Oct 6 MIN @ BAL – 12pm

Fri Oct 7 MIN @ BOS – 10am

Sat Oct 8 BOS @ MIN – 10am

Sun Oct 9 OFF

Mon Oct 10 BAL @ MIN – 12pm

Tue Oct 11 MIN @ BOS – 10am

[bluechipper]

Any ideas on why Kiriloff isn't a part of this?

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Any ideas on why Kiriloff isn't a part of this?

Probably has an agreement with the organization not to go to camp this year but will likely go next year, similar to what Nick Gordon did I believe.

[Seth Stohs]

Only real position change that I see if Caleb Hamilton moving from infield to catcher.

 

Juan Gamez switched from catcher to pitcher in the GCL season.

[Rosterman]

I thought John Curtiss was going to the Arizona Fall League.

 

Who is Rick Eckstein?

[108Stitches]

I thought John Curtiss was going to the Arizona Fall League.

 

Who is Rick Eckstein?

The brother of Former Angels World Series MVP David Eckstein

[Bob Sacamento]

 

I thought John Curtiss was going to the Arizona Fall League.

 

Who is Rick Eckstein?

Some of the times, guys going to AFL go to FIL as well to get more work in.

 

Rick Eckstein is the older brother of David. He's the hitting coach for Kentucky but has history with the Nationals and Angels as a hitting coach

[108Stitches]

Any ideas on why Kiriloff isn't a part of this?

Elbow injury per the announcer at Greeneville Astros vs Twins game

[Seth Stohs]

I'm told this isn't a finalized roster. It could still change a little bit.

 

Also told that Kirilloff wouldn't be ready for Instructs (elbow), so he's not going to be there. 

[diehardtwinsfan]

No Lewis Thorpe?  That's two lost seasons for him... not good.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

I'm told this isn't a finalized roster. It could still change a little bit.

 

Also told that Kirilloff wouldn't be ready for Instructs (elbow), so he's not going to be there. 

Time is getting close for a finalized roster as players report on Wednesday the 14th, first workout is the 15th with the first game on the 19th.

[goulik]

Thanks for the early sneak peak

[Bob Sacamento]

Players report to camp tomorrow, so far no publicized changes to the Instruct roster that I posted last week...

[Seth Stohs]

Looks like the official list is out. Only changes... Add Jean-Carlos Arias and Alex Kirilloff to the list. I wonder if Kirilloff will be able to play or just be there. 

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Looks like the official list is out. Only changes... Add Jean-Carlos Arias and Alex Kirilloff to the list. I wonder if Kirilloff will be able to play or just be there. 

I was surprised Arias wasn't on there before.  Worst case Kirilloff participates in slide drills and easy side work maybe working with Perlozzo at 1B like Kepler had 

[clutterheart]

Arias had a really disappointing year.  After signing for 500K and his excellent 2015 in the DSL I was hoping he would take off.  Hopefully he can get it,    

[clutterheart]

Things I would ask that anyone who is down there would please note:

 

What positions are Arraez,and Blankenhorn playing/learning?

Is Balazovic worth the hype?

Graterol - Nice year as a 16 year old in the DSL in 2015, but injured and didn't pitch in 2016.  How does he look?

Anything positive regarding Rortvedt & Romero. 

[nicksaviking]

Three Latin coaches. That's encouraging.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Things I would ask that anyone who is down there would please note:

 

What positions are Arraez,and Blankenhorn playing/learning?

Is Balazovic worth the hype?

Graterol - Nice year as a 16 year old in the DSL in 2015, but injured and didn't pitch in 2016.  How does he look?

Anything positive regarding Rortvedt & Romero. 

I'm thinking I'm the only one down here for the duration of Instructs so I'll try to answer your questions when they come up.  The where does Luis and Travis play is an interesting question.

 

I can tell you I saw Jordan Balazovic pitch on 3 different occasions in GCL, the kid has the size and stuff to pitch and is very cerebral.  His FB was 86-90mph, breaker at 78-83 mph, and a 79-81 mph change that needs work like most HSers.  He'll gain more on his fastball the more he fills out as there is plenty of room to add muscle to his 6'4 175 frame.  But yes looks like a good buy as a fifth rounder.  If you didn't see it earlier in my GCL posts, here is Jordan pitching on 8/20.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ux3Uov4ZXPk

 

As for Brusador, great kid, he spent his summer watching the GCL and rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.  Only in the past couple of weeks has he started to throw again as well as Balan.  He was actually telling me of his TJ surgery were they took a portion of his infrapatellar tendon on his left knee to replace the ulnar collateral ligament on his right elbow, the same procedure that Fernando Romero had done.

 

 

I'm going to be honest, as El Presidente of the "El Toro" Romero fan club, I'm a little biased but he throws his fastball in the 95-97mph area with a slider that is just as nasty reaching 88-91mph.  They shut him down for the FSL due to innings yet is headed to Instructs to work on his changeup from what I was told much like Gonsalves was sent to Instucts last year to work on his breaking ball.

[diehardtwinsfan]

So is Thorpe officially not in town? 

[theBOMisthebomb]

This organization will not progress bringing guys like Gardy back into the fold. A new regime cannot get here soon enough.

[Bob Sacamento]

 

This organization will not progress bringing guys like Gardy back into the fold. A new regime cannot get here soon enough.

Well then you won't like to know that Gardy got into town yesterday and showed up at the field in his street clothes, introduced himself to the players after they completed slide drills as well as talked to the other coaches, Sam Perlozzo, Henry Bonilla, Jeff Smith and Tommy Watkins.

[Deduno Abides]

Three Latin coaches. That's encouraging.

It should almost counter the hole Jeff Smith dug in combination with TR when they benched Sano a few years ago after not running out a home run as fast as they wanted - aka not playing the game the "right" way.

[Bob Sacamento]

Other players that are still in camp but not listed on the Instruct roster include:

 

Aaron Whitefield, Isaiah Aluko, Tyree Davis.

 

Fernando Romero and Kirilloff are suppose to report to camp today, yes one of the few times they practice on Sundays

[Bob Sacamento]

 

It should almost counter the hole Jeff Smith dug in combination with TR when they benched Sano a few years ago after not running out a home run as fast as they wanted - aka not playing the game the "right" way.

If you've never watched the documentary "Pelotero" I highly recommend it as it gives a great in depth look into Sano's upbringing and what he's dealt with growing up.

[Deduno Abides]

If you've never watched the documentary "Pelotero" I highly recommend it as it gives a great in depth look into Sano's upbringing and what he's dealt with growing up.

I saw it a few years ago. It shows how the Twins would not have gotten Sano if the Pirates had behaved professionally and treated Sano and his family with respect. Like with any other job, you would hope understanding and respect would continue after getting hired.

[Bob Sacamento]

Official Roster and Schedule released by the Twins today at the campus

 

 

 

[spinowner]

 

It should almost counter the hole Jeff Smith dug in combination with TR when they benched Sano a few years ago after not running out a home run as fast as they wanted - aka not playing the game the "right" way.

The way I remember it Sano was showing up the opposing team after homering. I think Smith was correct in teaching good sportsmanship to the young man.

[Deduno Abides]

The way I remember it Sano was showing up the opposing team after homering. I think Smith was correct in teaching good sportsmanship to the young man.

Your memory is right, but the way Smith and Ryan handled it was wrong. A conversation would have communicated the message just as well, instead of benching a young guy to teach him the "right" way. In other words, a benching was not mandatory, even if it may have been some people's idea of old school.

[Squirrel]

 

Your memory is right, but the way Smith and Ryan handled it was wrong. A conversation would have communicated the message just as well, instead of benching a young guy to teach him the "right" way. In other words, a benching was not mandatory, even if it may have been some people's idea of old school.

And this has something to do with this year's instructional league roster how? Let's please stay to the topic.