Tag Archives: Minnesota Twins

2015 MLB Prospect Rankings

Minnesota Twins 2015 Top 20 Prospect Rankings

Leave a comment

By: JP Schwartz
Twitter: @Jaypers413

Every year around this time I like to rank each team’s top overall prospects. My criteria are based on A: Past Performance and B: Future Potential (50% of each per prospect)

Disclaimer: I am not a professional scout, nor did I attend any minor league games this year. These lists are the product of my own research of online scouting reports and scouting videos, as well as statistics, and are compiled purely for entertainment purposes.

Send your questions or feedback to me on twitter @Jaypers413

To qualify for these lists, a prospect must have no more than 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the Major Leagues.

MINNESOTA TWINS

1: Byron Buxton OF
2: Miguel Sano 3B
3: Nick Gordon SS
4: Kohl Stewart RHP
5: Jose Berrios RHP
6: Alex Meyer RHP
7: Trevor May RHP
8: Lewis Thorpe RHP
9: Nick Burdi RHP
10: Jorge Polanco 2B/SS
11: Michael Cederoth RHP
12: Eddie Rosario 2B
13: Felix Jorge RHP
14: Max Kepler 1B/OF
15: Amaurys Minier OF
16: Taylor Rogers LHP
17: Jake Reed RHP
18: Stephen Gonsalves LHP
19: Stuart Turner C
20: Adam Brett Walker OF

Prospect Rankings

Minnesota Twins 2014 Top 20 Prospect Rankings

Leave a comment

By: J.P. Schwartz
Twitter: @Jaypers413

Every year around this time I like to rank each team’s top overall prospects. My criteria are based on A: Past Performance and B: Future Potential (50% of each per prospect)

Disclaimer: I am not a professional scout, nor did I attend any minor league games this year. These lists are the product of my own research of online scouting reports and statistics, and are compiled purely for entertainment purposes.

Send your questions or feedback to me on twitter @Jaypers413

To qualify for these lists, a prospect must have no more than 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched in the Major Leagues.

MINNESOTA TWINS

1. Byron Buxton OF


2. Miguel Sano 3B


3. Kohl Stewart RHP


4. Alex Meyer RHP


5. Eddie Rosario 2B


6. Lewis Thorpe LHP


7. Jose Berrios RHP


8. Adam Brett Walker OF


9. Max Kepler 1B


10. Trevor May RHP


11. Felix Jorge RHP


12. Sean Gilmartin LHP


13. Jorge Polanco 2B


14. Josmil Pinto C


15. Taylor Rodgers LHP


16. Fernando Romero RHP


17. Ryan Eades RHP


18. Travis Harrison 3B


19. DJ Baxendale RHP


20. Stephen Gonsalves LHP

2012 Baseball Prospect Rankings

Minnesota Twins 2012 Mid-Season Top 5 Prospect Rankings

Leave a comment

By: J.P. Schwartz
@Jaypers413

As we are now halfway into the season and the signing deadline for 2012 draft picks has passed, here is my revised list of top 5 prospects in the Minnesota Twins organization.

Remember, a prospect must have fewer than 130 ABs or 50 IP in the Major Leagues to qualify.
(Stats through 7/29/2012)

1) Byron Buxton – OF
Highest Level: Rookie League GCL Twins
2012 Stats:
MILB: .203, 4(2B), 1(3B), 3HR, 8RBI

2) Miguel Sano – 3B
Highest Level: Low-A Beloit Snappers
2012 Stats:
MILB: .244, 19(2B), 3(3B), 20HR, 74RBI, 7SB

3) J.O. Berrios – P
Highest Level: Rookie League GCL Twins
2012 Stats:
MILB: 0-0, 4 Saves, 0.64ERA, 14IP, 2BB, 21K, 0.85BAA

4) Oswaldo Arcia – OF
Highest Level: AA New Britain Rock Cats
2012 Stats:
MILB: .318, 25(2B), 5(3B), 12HR, 66RBI

5) Liam Hendriks – P
Highest Level: MLB Minnesota Twins
2012 Stats:
MLB: 0-5, 7.04ERA, 38.1IP, 10BB, 23K, .345BAA
MILB: 7-2, 2.41ERA, 78.1IP, 21BB, 61K, .207BAA

Send your questions or feedback to J.P. on twitter @Jaypers413

Minor League Baseball News

Twins Prospect Joe Benson Talks About Being Robbed At Gunpoint During Winterball

Leave a comment

While Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos’ kidnapping made the headlines, he was not the only player to come across some harrowing moments off the field in Venezuela. Twins prospect Joe Benson was robbed at gunpoint after the cab he was riding in crashed. Both Benson and the driver of the cab had most of their belongings and cash taken from them. In the story link below, Benson talks about how scary the incident was, not being able to communicate with gunman, continuing to play winter ball following the robbery, and how security around him beefed up following Ramos’ kidnapping. It’s a very interesting and highly recommended read.

Benson on dangers of playing in Venezuela — FoxSportsNorth.com

2012 Baseball Prospect Rankings

2012 Minnesota Twins Top 15 Prospect Rankings

Leave a comment

By: J.P. Schwartz
@Jaypers413 on Twitter
JP’s FreedomCardboard Blog

2012 Minnesota Twins Top 15 Prospect Rankings

Every year at this time I like to rank each team’s top prospects. My criteria is based upon both past performance and future potential to his parent team. This is my ranking of the 2012 Minnesota Twins Top Prospects. If you have any questions about my rankings, feel free to shoot me a message on twitter @Jaypers413

#1 Miguel Sano 3B
Born: 5/11/1993
Highest Level Reached: Rookie League Elizabethton Twins
2011 Combined Stats: .292, 18(2B), 7(3B), 20HR, 59RBI

#2 Oswaldo Arcia OF
Born: 5/9/1991
Highest Level Reached: High-A Fort Myers Miracle
2011 Combined Stats: .291, 23(2B), 4(3B), 13HR, 51RBI

#3 Eddie Rosario OF
Born: 9/28/1991
Highest Level Reached: Rookie League Elizabethton Twins
2011 Combined Stats: .337, 9(2B), 9(3B), 21HR, 60RBI, 17SB

#4 Levi Michael SS
Born: 2/9/1991
Highest Level Reached: 1st Round Pick 2011 MLB Draft
2011 Combined Stats: Did Not Play In 2011

#5 Joe Benson OF
Born: 3/5/1988
Highest Level Reached: MLB Minnesota Twins
2011 Combined Stats: MINORS: .284, 29(2B), 4(2B), 16HR, 67RBI, 14SB
MAJORS: .239, 6(2B), 1(3B), 2RBI (17 hits in 71 at-bats)

#6 Liam Hendriks RHP
Born: 2/10/1989
Highest Level Reached: MLB Minnesota Twins
2011 Combined Stats: MINORS: 12-6, 3.36ERA, 139.1IP, 21BB, 111K, .258BAA
MAJORS: 0-2, 6.17ERA, 23.1IP, 6BB, 16K, .312BAA

#7 Kyle Gibson RHP
Born: 10/23/1987
Highest Level Reached: Triple-A Rochester Red Wings
2011 Combined Stats: 3-8, 4.81ERA, 95.1IP, 27BB, 91K, .282BAA
(Had Tommy John Surgery In September 2011 Not Expected Back Till Late 2012)

#8 Hudson Boyd RHP
Born: 10/8/1992
Highest Level Reached: Supplemental 1st Round Pick 2011 MLB Draft
2011 Combined Stats: Did Not Play In 2011

#9 Aaron Hicks OF
Born: 10/2/1989
Highest Level Reached: High-A Fort Myers Miracle
2011 Combined Stats: .242, 31(2B), 5(3B), 5HR, 38RBI, 17SB

#10 Travis Harrison 3B
Born: 10/17/1992
Highest Level Reached: Supplemental 1st Round Pick 2011 MLB Draft
2011 Combined Stats: Did Not Play In 2011

#11 Madison Boer RHP
Born: 11/9/1989
Highest Level Reached: Low-A Beloit Snappers
2011 Combined Stats: 2-1, 3.91ERA, 11 Saves, 25.1IP, 3BB, 43K, .253BAA

#12 Pat Dean LHP
Born: 5/25/1989
Highest Level Reached: Double-A New Britain Rock Cats
2011 Combined Stats: 5-7, 5.00ERA, 108IP, 25BB, 76K, .299BAA

#13 Matt Summers RHP
Born: 8/17/1989
Highest Level Reached: Rookie League Elizabethton Twins
2011 Combined Stats: 1-1, 0.87ERA, 6 Saves, 5BB, 36K, .153BAA (4th Round Pick 2011 MLB Draft)

#14 Alex Wimmers RHP
Born: 11/1/1988
Highest Level Reached: High-A Fort Myers Miracle
2011 Combined Stats: 2-3, 4.10ERA, 41.2IP, 23BB, 40K, .185BAA

#15 Max Kepler OF
Born: 2/10/1993
Highest Level Reached: Rookie League Elizabethton Twins
2011 Combined Stats: .262, 11(2B), 3(3B), 1HR, 24RBI

Disclaimer – I did not attend any minor league games this year, nor do I claim to have any scouting experience. These lists are the product of my own research of statistics and online scouting reports.

Minor League Baseball News

Ivan Rodriguez Enjoys Watching His Son Dereck Embark On His Professional Career With The Twins

Leave a comment

Washington Nationals catcher Ivan Rodriguez is not the only pro baseball player in the family. His son Dereck, who was a 6th round pick of the Minnesota Twins in the 2011 draft is beginning his career, and proud papa Pudge is getting a chance to watch him play this offseason. Ivan has been a regular spectator this past week at the Twins instructional league games watching his son, an outfielder, play. In the story link below, both Ivan and Dereck talk about the support each has provided as their respective baseball careers have progressed, and looking forward to the opportunity to play winter ball together as teammates for the first time. It’s a good read.

All-Star ready for son to shine — News-Press.com

Prospect Rankings

2011 Minnesota Twins Top 15 Prospects Post Season Report Card

Leave a comment

With the 2011 minor league season complete we check in on the progress of each of the Minnesota Twins preseason Top 15 prospects as ranked by our prospect ranker J.P. Schwartz. The post season grading report was done by the publisher of Top Prospect Alert, not Mr. Schwartz, and reflects only the 2011 season and not future upside or downside of the individual prospect. Our 2012 preseason rankings will be published in the coming months.

#1 Kyle Gibson GRADE: C
Gibson went 3-8 with a 4.81ERA for the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings before partially tearing his ulner collateral ligament. He will miss all or most of 2012 following Tommy John surgery. His grade reflects his performance prior to his injury. Gibson walked 27 and struck out 91 in 95.1 innings. Opposing hitters batted .282 against him on the season.

#2 Miguel Sano GRADE: A
Sano hit .292 with 18 Doubles, 7 Triples, 20 Home Runs, and 59 RBI’s for the Rookie League Elizabethton Twins. He walked 23 times and stuck out 77 times in 66 games. While his hitting was awesome, Sano did have 26 errors on the year.

#3 Aaron Hicks GRADE: C
Hicks batted .242 with 31 Doubles, 5 Triples, 5 Home Runs and 38 RBI’s for the High-A Fort Myers Miracle. He also stole 17 bases. Hicks walked 78 times and struck out 110 times in 122 games.

#4 Alex Wimmers GRADE: B
Wimmers went 2-3 with a 4.20ERA for High-A Fort Myers. He walked 22 and struck out 39 in 40.2 innings. Opposing batters hit just .189 off of him. Wimmers threw a seven innings complete game No Hitter in his final start of the season.

#5 Oswaldo Arcia GRADE: A-
Arcia batted a combined .289 with 23 Doubles, 4 Triples, 13 Home Runs and 51 RBI’s between four games with the Rookie League GCL Twins, 20 games for the Low-A Beloit Snappers, and 59 games with High-A Fort Myers. He walked 18 times and struck out 70 times in 81 games.

#6 Ben Revere GRADE: A
Revere batted .267 with 9 Doubles, 5 Triples and 30 RBI’s for the Twins. He also had 34 stolen bases in the big leagues. He walked 26 times and struck out just 41 times in 117 games. At Triple-A Rochester, Revere hit .303 with 3 Doubles, 1 Triple, 1 Home Run and 9 RBI’s.

#7 Liam Hendriks GRADE: B+
Hendriks went a combined 12-6 with a 3.36ERA for the Double-A New Britain Rock Cats and Triple-A Rochester. He walked 21 and struck out 111 in 139.1 innings of work. Opposing hitters batted .258 against him. In four big league starts with the Twins, Hendriks was 0-2 with a 6.17ERA

#8 Adrian Salcedo GRADE: B
Salcedo went 6-6 with a 2.93ERA for Low-A Beloit. He walked 27 times and struck out 92 times in 135 innings. Opposing batters hit .252 off Salcedo on the season.

#9 Joe Benson GRADE: B
Benson batted .285 with 28 Doubles, 4 Triples, 16 Home Runs and 67 RBI’s for Double-A New Britain. He also stole 13 bases. He walked 56 times and struck out 109 times in 111 games. In 21 big league games with the Twins, Benson batted .239 with 6 Doubles, 1 Triple and 2 RBI’s.

#10 Max Kepler GRADE: C+
Kepler batted .262 with 11 Doubles, 3 Triples, 1 Home Run and 24 RBI’s for Rookie League Elizabethton. He walked 23 times and struck out 54 times in 50 games.

#11 Niko Goodrum GRADE: B-
Goodrum batted .275 with 10 Doubles, 3 Triples, 2 Home Runs and 20 RBI’s for Rookie League Elizabethton. He walked 21 times and struck out 56 times in 59 games.

#12 Carlos Gutierrez GRADE: C+
Gutierrez went 2-3 with a 4.62ERA for Triple-A Rochester. He walked 31 and struck out 57 in 62.1 innings. Opposing batters hit .246 off of Gutierrez.

#13 Pat Dean GRADE: C
Dean went a combined 5-7 with a 5.00ERA between Low-A Beloit, High-A Fort Myers and Double-A New Britain. He walked 25 batters and struck out 76 in 108 innings. Opposing batters hit .299 off Dean on the season.

#14 Manuel Soliman GRADE: B-
Soliman went 7-11 with a 3.97ERA for Low-A Beloit. He walked 50 and struck out 120 in 136 innings of work. Opposing batters hit .250 off Soliman on the year.

#15 Martire Garcia RELEASED BY THE ORGANIZATION
Garcia went 2-1 with a 5.57ERA for Low-A Beloit before being released by the Twins in May. He had walked 25 and struck out 22 in 21 innings before being let go.

Major League Baseball News

Michael Cuddyer Walk Off Home Run Saved Life Of Teammate Brad Thomas Scheduled To Be On 9/11 WTC Flight

Leave a comment

Ten years ago Minnesota Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer hit a walk off home run to win the first round of the 2001 Eastern League playoffs for his New Britain Rock Cats. The win extended the season and forced the players to change their airline plans. Australian native and Cuddyer’s teammate Brad Thomas was one of many who had to change their flight plans. It turned out that Cuddyer’s blast not only won the series but it also saved Thomas’s life. He was ticketed on American Airlines Flight 11 scheduled to go from Boston to Los Angeles on the morning of September 11th 2001. The plane was hijacked and crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. In the video from KSTP News in Minneapolis, Cuddyer talks about how he thinks of Thomas and everyone affected by the 9-11 tragedy.

Minor League Baseball News

Rangers Pitcher Mark Hamburger’s Unlikely Pro Career Began At A Twins Open Tryout

Leave a comment

In addition to having one of the best names in baseball, Mark Hamburger also has one of the best stories as to how he made it into pro baseball. Hamburger was an unknown who happened to show up at a Minnesota Twins open tryout camp during the summer following his senior year of high school. He was playing summer baseball for the Tri City Shark club team, attended the Twins open tryout at the Metrodome, hit 93 on the gun and was offered a chance to sign. Four years later Hamburger is in the big leagues as a reliever for the Texas Rangers. In the story Hamburger talks about the Twins tryout camp, sharing the news of his call up with his family, and what its like playing in the big leagues. It’s a very good read.

Shooter Now: Mark Hamburger’s road to majors started with Minnesota Twins’ tryout
— TwinsCities.com