Saturday, May 31, 2008
SethSpeaks Top 50 Twins Prospects
Part 3 - 21-30
Hello! I'm back with Part 3 of the SethSpeaks Top 50 Twins Prospects list. First we looked at my choices for 41-50, then yesterday we looked at #s 31-40. Today we will be looking at Prospects 21-30. Hopefully with a Saturday posting we will still be able to get plenty of discussion on this topic. Anyway, let's get to the list. So please e-mail me or leave Comments below.
TRANSACTION ACTION - I'm sure you've noticed by now that the Twins activated Nick Punto from the Disabled List. They also made the follow-up move that makes the most sense in this situation, they designated Howie Clark for assignment. He will have to clear waivers, which he will likely do, before going down to Rochester. But he has now been taken off the 40 man roster, opening up another spot for the Twins.
SethSpeaks Top 50 Twins Prospects
#30 – Danny Rams – C – 18
2008 Teams: Extended Spring Training
Acquired: Twins 2nd round pick in 2007 out of Gulliver Prep (Miami, FL)
Rams is one of just a couple of guys on this list for whom we have pretty much no statistical background. In fact, the only professional at bats Rams has officially had are some at bats with the GCL Twins last summer. Based on those at bats alone, he probably wouldn't rank this high. However, there are only so many hitters with power potential out there, and Rams is certainly one of them. There are even less power potential catchers. Now, Rams is primarily known for his bat, and there has already been thought of him moving to 1B or being more of a DH. However, I have been told that he has been very impressive in Extended Spring with his footwork, quickness and his strong arm. It will be good to see him get a summer of at bats in Elizabethton. Power Potential is wonderful. Maybe he's a right-handed Justin Morneau (who was drafted as a catcher). Or, maybe he's Hank Sanchez. We really won't know for several years.
2008 Projection: Extended Spring, then catching/DHing for E-Town
Potential: power-hitting catcher, 1B or DH
Could be in Minnesota in: 2012
#29 –
Mike McCardell - RHP –
23
2008 Teams: Beloit Snappers
Acquired: Twins 6th round pick in 2007 out of Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Eight walks. Ninety-Five strikeouts. In 63 innings. Seriously, that is one of the more amazing statistical lines I have seen around the Twins. That, of course, is what McCardell did last year with the GCL Twins and the E-Twins. That alone puts him high on this list. McCardell missed several weeks this season with elbow soreness. He was able to just rest and rehab it and has come back in the last week to ten days successfully. In 27 innings this year, McCardell has 35 strikeouts, but he already has nine walks. I say that fully understand that isn't too bad. McCardell has very impressive stuff. I would have liked to see him get up to Ft. Myers yet in 2008, and he very well still could with some strong outings over the next month. With the elbow concerns though, they should be as patient as necessary because he has the type of arm that could make it all the way to the big leagues.
2008 Projection: split season between Beloit and Ft. Myers
Potential: #3 starter
Could be in Minnesota in: 2010
#
28 –
Yohan Pino – RHP – 24
2008 Team: New Britain Rockcats
Acquired: signed as Free Agent from Venezuela in 2004
I happen to think that Pino is vastly underrated by everyone, and from this ranking, I am certain that I have him ranked too low. Simply put, Pino always gets the job done. Whether it is working long relief or starting, he does his job. He is tiny, very skinny. He doesn't throw very hard, but he just knows how to pitch, how to get the opponent out. He was injured playing ball this winter and missed some time to start spring training, but he came back and pitched very well until recently when he landed on the disabled list. Hopefully he won't be there long because he is such a constant for a New Britain rotation that has been anything but. On the year, he is 1-2 with a 3.25 ERA. In 36 innings, he has just 23 strikeouts, but that is alright when he has just six walks. I can't say that Pino will be a top of the rotation type, but he could be a very solid back of the rotation or long relief type of guy with the Twins.
2008 Projection: Should stay in the New Britain rotation.
Potential: long reliever
Could be in Minnesota in: 2009
#
27 –
Philip Humber
–
RHP – 25
2008 Teams: Rochester Red Wings
Acquired: in March 2008 trade with Carlos Gomez, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra from the Mets for Johan SantanaWhen Philip Humber was named as one of the four players the Twins received from the Mets in the Johan Santana trade, I actually thought that the Twins may have been very lucky to have him included. His stock had dropped because of his Tommy John surgery in July of 2005. He recovered quickly and was back on a AA mound in July of 2006. He made his big league debut in the big apple that September. Last year was his first full season back and he put up league average type of AAA numbers, but that isn't bad in the PCL either. For that reason, I thought that 2008 would be another step forward. Humber had a solid spring with the Twins although he was not really tested. He has really struggled with the Red Wings so far this spring. All together, he is 2-5 with a 5.19 ERA. In 50.1 innings, he has given up 60 hits. That's not good, but when you add in another 27 walks, that is just too many base runners. I am one to believe that a solid pitching prospect should remain in the starting rotation until it is just obvious that he can't handle it. Humber is close to that point. I would venture that as soon as one of the AA starters is deemed ready for a AAA promotion, Humber could go to the bullpen. I believe he could be an important bullpen piece at the big league level.
2008 Projection: OF in New Britain
Potential: 4th OF that could start, solid all-around
Could be in Minnesota in: 2009
#
26 –
Ryan Mullins – LHP – 24
2008 Teams: New Britain Rockcats
Acquired: Twins 3rd round pick in 2005 out of Vanderbilt
Matt Garza. Kevin Slowey. Brian Duensing. Ryan Mullins. In the 2005 draft, Mullins was the fourth college starting pitcher that the Twins selected, and all four have done well. Mullins is the least talked about of the group, but he has really pitched well the last year. Last year, he started in Ft. Myers, moved up to New Britain, then got a few spot starts with Rochester before returning to the Rockcats. That is where he is again this year. He is 5-3 with a 3.38 ERA. In 61.1 innings, he has given up 62 hits. He only has 36 strikeouts, so his 24 walks really stand out. He is a tall, lanky lefty, standing 6-6, but he is a finesse pitcher. He needs to cut down on the walks and then get back up to Rochester.
2008 Projection: half season in New Britain, then up to Rochester
Potential: #4 starter
Could be in Minnesota in: 2009
#
25 –
Denard Span – OF –
24
2008 Teams: Rochester Red Wings
Acquired: Twins 1st round pick in 2002 out of Tampa Catholic
Denard Span came to spring training this year clearly on a mission to prove everyone wrong. I think it is fair to say that he has done just that. He had a very good spring, doing all the things that the Twins could have asked. As a leadoff hitter, he has taken a lot of pitches, taken walks, stolen bases (even at a good percentage). When called up to the Twins, he played RF, a position that he had not played as a pro. After he was sent down, Span crushed the ball and did very well until he landed on the DL with a broken bone in his hand. Before that, he hit home runs in three consecutive games. Now, he isn't suddenly a power hitter, but he has shown that he doesn't have to be just a slap-happy hitter either. I think that if need be he can be a solid big league centerfielder. Defensively in center, I think he is excellent. At the corners, he just needs some time. So, when he comes back from the DL, I hope he gets to move around a little bit. For the Twins, I see Span primarily as a #4 or #5 type of outfielder. If dealt to another team, he could be another Juan Pierre type.
2008 Projection: playing CF in Rochester again, will get back to the Twins.
Potential: solid prototypical leadoff hitter.
Could be in Minnesota in: 2008
#2
4
– Deibinson Romero – 3B - 21
2008 Team: Beloit Snappers
Acquired: signed by Twins as free agent from Dominican Republic
Romero was a guy that I was really excited to see play a full season. We really didn't see much of him before his knee surgery, and what we saw did not induce a lot of confidence in him. He didn't hit, or hit for power, or walk much. He struck out a lot and committed a lot of errors. Some of that can be attributed to playing in the cold conditions for the first time in his life. Some of it is a reminder that he has a lot of development to go. He should be back in about a month, and when he comes back, I do expect that he will really have a strong second half, both with the bat and with the glove.
2008 Projection: 3B at Beloit
Potential: middle of the lineup hitter
Could be in Minnesota in: 2012
#
23
– Brian Dinkelman –
2B – 24
2008 Team: Ft. Myers Miracle
Acquired: Twins 8th round pick in 2006 out of McKendree College
Dinkelman needs to move up to New Britain soon. He has nothing more to prove at that level. He is a solid 2B who can hit for average, get on base via the walk, take a lot of pitches, hit a lot of doubles. He plays adequate defense. He is ready for the challenge and because of his age, he really should move up. So far this season, Dinkelman is batting .314/414/.438 with 17 doubles. He is also 8-9 in stolen base attempts. A left-handed hitter, Dinkelman is actually hitting .391/.462/.543 against southpaws. Although he went to a small school, and he isn't even 6-0 tall, he is a natural-born hitter and will be ready for the Eastern League. I anticipate he will be promoted after the Florida State League all-star game.
2008 Projection: FM's 2B. Midseason move to NB
Potential: solid #1 or 2 hitter
Could be in Minnesota in: 2010
#22 – Dustin Martin – OF – 24
2008 Teams: New Britain Rockcats
Acquired: in July 30, 2007 trade with New York Mets for Luis CastilloMartin has been out of the lineup with hamstring tightness a couple of times this year already, but when he does play, he has played quite well. He is hitting .316/.384/.443 with 15 extra base hits and 13 stolen bases. He had enough speed to play an adequate centerfield, and he has enough doubles-power to maybe be a successful corner outfielder at some point. You thought Dinkelman hit well against lefties, how about the lefty-hitting Martin? Well, this year he has hit .436/.515/.509 against them. I think we can all agree that Luis Castillo was not that good and the fact that the Mets gave him for more years is laughable. The Twins got a guy in Drew Butera that they feel can be a big league backup catcher. They also got Dustin Martin who can adequately play all three outfield positions and hit with some pop. That may turn out to be a trade that we really like in a couple of years.
2008 Projection: OF in New Britain
Potential: 4th OF that could start, solid all-around
Could be in Minnesota in: 2009
#
21
– Steven Tolleson – IF
– 24
2008 Team: New Britain Rockcats
Acquired: Twins 5th Round Pick in 2005 out of U. of South Carolina
Tolleson is one of the biggest moving prospects on the Top 50, and for him it's a good thing because the direction of the move was upward. Tolleson was left off of the preseason Top 50 list. He really has moved swiftly through the system. The middle infielder is just so consistent. He hits for average. He gets on base. He walks about about as much, if not more, than he strikes out. He has extra base power. He plays a very solid infield at three positions. He has a good arm. He is a solid base runner with ability to steal bases. He has big league pedigree. When you realize that he is doing a great job as a leadoff hitting at AA New Britain, doing many of the same things that Brian Dinkelman does, and he is essentially the same age, it is impossible not to rank Tolleson higher. He has put himself in position for a promotion to Rochester if need be. He likely could be a utility infielder at the big league level, but he has enough skill and baseball smarts to be a regular 2B.
2008 Projection: middle infielder in New Britain, probably all year
Potential: utility infielder
Could be in Minnesota in: 2009
That's it for today! What do you think of #s 21-30? Have a great day!
Be sure to check back in the coming days for Part 4 of the SethSpeaks.net Top
50 Twins Prospects list.