Spring Training Stock Watch

Over the weekend, the Twins embarked on their first two games of the 2013 spring training "season" dropping both contests (but, who cares about wins and losses in the spring?) but showing some interesting things regarding this year’s team.

While spring training stats and performances all need to be taken with a grain of salt, it is a good opportunity for lesser known or fringe players to make a ‘surge’ into the conversation for a roster spot. Each year, there are players who work their way on (or off) of the roster by simply being great during the spring. (Brian Dozier in 2012, for example).

First, let’s establish that there are a certain number of players who will be on the roster, no matter their spring performance. Those players are:

Position Players

Joe Mauer – Starting Catcher, DH, Backup 1B

Justin Morneau – Starting 1B, DH

Trevor Plouffe – Starting 3B

Josh Willingham – Left Field, DH

Chris Parmelee – Right Field, Backup 1B

Ryan Doumit – DH, Backup catcher

Jamey Carroll – Utility Infielder

Darin Mastroianni – 4^th Outfielder (Possible starting CF)

Pitchers

Kevin Correia – Starting Pitcher

Scott Diamond – Starting Pitcher

Mike Pelfrey – Starting Pitcher

Vance Worley – Starting Pitcher

Glen Perkins – Closer

Jared Burton – Set-up Man

The above group is making the team 100%. Not one of them will start in AAA (maybe the DL, but they’re not getting optioned down to the lower leagues). That means that everyone else is on the fringe. Now, there are certain players with better odds than others (Brian Duensing, Pedro Florimon look likely to make the roster) but a bad spring could, theoretically, knock them out of the running.

With that framework established, let’s begin a weekly feature that I’m calling "Spring Training Stock Watch" and yes, it’s just like it sounds. Each Monday, we’ll look at the spring training performances of ‘fringe’ players over the past week of games and assess their stock as rising, falling or stagnant along with a projection of their spot on the 25 man. Got it? Good – let’s get started.

Rising:

Danny Santana – SS – Only two games into the spring and the early star is Danny Santana. Ron Gardenhire, Terry Ryan and the team’s beat reporters have all been chronicled praising Santana’s tools and skills. His plate discipline has looked good so far, as he’s reached base in every at bat (3 walks, 1 hit). He has solid defensive range and a good arm. At a position of weakness for the Twins, a strong spring from Santana could push him into starting consideration. 25 Man Projection (If season started today) – Danny’s highest level has been AA, so he’d probably be sent to AAA to start the year, but a strong spring will only improve his ranking.

Eddie Rosario – 2B – Rosario is quickly showing why many prospectors and baseball sites are so high on the future Twins 2B. He’s hit well so far this spring, and his defense has been solid. He’s got to improve his defense all around (he’s still dropping some balls and misplaying routine plays) and he needs to show he can hit consistently, but so far so good for the youngster. 25 Man Projection - He’ll see AA to start the year, but it wouldn’t shock me to see him in AAA by mid year and in the big leagues in September if he continues to excel.

Kyle Gibson – SP – Gibson came out of the gate throwing 96 MPH heat, while dropping his slider down to the high 80’s (88 MPH). He’s pitched for 2 innings so far, giving up only 1 hit and striking out 2. He had solid command and great speed. Manager Ron Gardenhire was so impressed he joked that he wished he could shut Gibson down for the rest of the spring to preserve his inning totals (obviously implying he’s a starting rotation candidate). 25 Man Projection – He’d be in the starting rotation, likely as the number 4 or 5 guy.

Liam Hendriks – SP – Liam struggled in 2012, there’s no way around that. He nibbled around the zone, got behind in the count and then, when he was forced to throw the ball down the middle, he was simply blasted out of the park. In AAA, Liam attacked the zone, got ahead of batters and looked very impressive, so it was frustrating for the Twins’ staff to see him fail to do just that at the big league level. He entered spring with a shot at the rotation, but he’d have to really show the ability to throw strikes. He did just that in his first start of 2013. Hendriks pitched for 2 innings, throwing 32 pitches (20 of them strikes) while only giving up 2 hits and 1 earned run. The Twins aren’t looking for him to be an ace, just a solid back of the rotation guy. More outings like this one will show that he can do that. 25 Man Projection – He’s the number 5 guy right now, but with a short leash.

Falling

Brain Duensing – RP - Duensing effectively proved he cannot be a starter during last season’s "anyone with a functioning arm gets to pitch" campaign. His hope coming into this season was to become a solid middle to long reliever, with the downside being a lefty specialist. That downside is looking like his only upside, as Duensing was shelled on Sunday, giving up 4 hits and 3 runs over 1 inning. The Twins do have other options for the bullpen this year, however, so Duensing shouldn’t settle thinking he has a role with the team. More shelling could spell the end for him. 25 Man Projection – Lefty specialist right now…but a strong outing from another lefty could cost him that spot

Anthony Slama – RP – Slama has been the underdog of Twins fans for the past few seasons. He’s been dominate in AAA, but the Twins have never called up him to get a shot at the big leagues. Rumors around the front office point to the fact that the Twins don’t think Slama’s stuff translates to the highest level. He didn’t do anything to discourage that notion on Sunday. Slama pitched 2/3 of an inning, giving up hits, 3 earned runs and walking 2 others. 25 Man Projection – AAA with zero shot of sniffing the major league roster.

It’s early yet, so there’s still much to be sorted out in regards to this season’s roster. There are a lot of players on the fringe who have yet to make a move one way or the other. Keep an eye on Brian Dinkleman, Chris Herrmann and Cole DeVries – they are all dark horse candidates to grab a roster spot out of spring training and a solid few weeks could boost their stock to that level.

As I said, I’ll keep doing this feature each Monday, so we can better track the Twins’ players who are making their move on (or off) the big league roster.

Recapping the Twins' Offseason Moves

Our long national nightmare is over! With pitchers and catchers reporting to their respective spring training facilities today in Florida and Arizona, baseball has finally emerged from the harsh winter to awaken spring from its slumber.

Okay…so it’s still winter. And baseball isn’t really BACK for another few weeks – BUT – your favorite team’s pitchers are playing soft toss with your favorite team’s catchers. That counts for something, right?

Most teams enter spring training with a well full of hope and optimism. Their offseason moves were the ones to propel their team to the World Series. 100 win season? No problem. Win the division? Of course!

Expectations and hopes are high for nearly every team. The Twins, unfortunately, are not one of those teams.

 Let’s recap their offseason moves to see just how well the last place team in the AL Central (2 years running) improved:

Twins sign Kevin Correia to a 2 year / $10 million contract

The Twins were repeatedly attached to big name free agents such as Shaun Marcum, Brandon McCarthy, Brett Meyers and Joe Saunders at the beginning of the offseason. For whatever reason, the Twins decided they couldn’t / wouldn’t be players in the markets for many of these pitchers and, in what can only be described as a moment of panic, went after Kevin Correia, most recently of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Correia is a prototypical Twins "reclamation" project. He has a high ground ball rate (44.3% career) he doesn’t walk batters (3.22 BB/9 career, but he’s been under 2.40 BB/9 the past two years). He also doesn’t strike out batters (4.68 K/9 career) and has an average BABIP (.294 career). In short, Correia is Carl Pavano, Jason Marquis "esque". The Twins aren’t looking for him to be an ace, just an inning eater who posts a .500 record with a 3.5-4.00 ERA.

So why are the fans bemoaning this signing so vigorously? The contract. 2 years for a guy like Correia is questionable, especially when the Twins are basically putting together a stop gap rotation this season. Even worse is the $10 million offered to Correia. When you consider that guys like McCarthy (2 years, $15 million) and Marcum (1 year $4 million) and Saunders (1 year, $7 million) were all had for relatively the same cost, choosing to sign a low upside pitcher like Correia for $10 million is highly questionable.

Twins trade Denard Span to Washington for Alex Meyer

　

The Twins have a surplus of OF talent in their minor leagues. Aaron Hicks will see big league time in 2013. Joe Benson is a strong spring away from being Major League ready and Oswaldo Arcia is likely heading to Rochester with a spot in Minnesota available as soon as they enter "sell" mode and move some players around. The point is, OF depth was one of the few positives for the Twins in 2012. With that depth, a 3.0 WAR player with a great contract like Span was a valuable trade chip.

The Twins moved that chip for Alex Meyer, a top pitching prospect from the Nationals system. In two years of A and high A ball, Meyer has average a 9.04 K/9 while keeping his ERA at an average of 2.82 over the two years. Meyer is exactly the type of pitcher the Twins are looking to build around, he’s tall, a power thrower and he strikes batters out. He’s viewed as a future ace or #2 starter, and has ranked in every scouting experts’ top 100 prospect list this season.

While Meyer was certainly a great acquisition given the Twins’ needs, it’s unfortunate that he was the ONLY acquisition. A player of Span’s value should bring back a lot more than one A ball pitcher. By moving Span for only one prospect, the Twins undersold their most valuable chip. They didn’t HAVE to move Span, and if that’s the only return they could get for him (highly unlikely) they wouldn’t have been any worse off keeping him for 2013.

Twins trade Ben Revere to the Phillies for Trevor May and Vance Worley

One week after shipping off Span and seemingly anointing Ben Revere as the starting CF for 2013, the Twins do the unthinkable and ship off the popular speedster as well.

Unlike Span, the Twins got a great return for Revere, in fact, you could argue they forced the Phillies to overpay for a player like Revere.

Worley is the biggest grab in this trade. Despite coming off of offseason elbow surgery, Worley looks to be a top of the line starter for the Twins for the next few years. Worley strikes batters out (7.71 K/9 career) limits walks (3.14 BB/9 career) and holds a career FIP of 3.57 (slightly inflated due to a small sample size). The best part is Worley strikes guys out without them swinging the bat, and with a questionable middle infield behind him this year, that aspect may be the most valuable part of his game.

Trevor May had been a top prospect in the Phillies system for the past few seasons before a poor 2012 dropped him from many lists. The issues with May in 2012 have been well documented and reportedly ‘fixed’ meaning the Twins likely believed 2012 was a hiccup and not an indicator of a larger issue. He’s projected conservatively as a #3 starter, but has the potential to be a #2 guy.

While trading away Revere was shocking, the return from the Phillies was simply too good to pass up.

Twins Sign Mike Pelfrey to a 1 year, $4 million contract

Keeping with their theme for the offseason, the Twins picked up another reclamation project in Mike Pelfrey. The 29 year old righty is coming off of Tommy John surgery (in May) but is supposedly ready to pitch at full strength by opening day. Pelfrey has a career K/9 of 5.08, has limited his walks (3.19 BB/9 career) and induces ground balls (48.6% career). He’s not going to blow guys away, but he’s a lot less likely to take the mound and get blown up in the 3^rd inning too. Pelfrey has higher upside than Correia and better talent, and is signed at a better price. Assuming he can pitch at full strength for the entire season, I like this signing by the Twins.

There you have it. Two free agent pitcher signings and two trades. In all, the Twins added three starting pitchers. One who looks to be of the mold the Twins are moving towards (strikeout guys) two who are very much what the Twins have been for the last 10 years (veteran groundball, control guys). They added much needed depth for the future by moving from a position of strength and they didn’t address any of the middle infield concerns.

It’s hard to know how to view the Twins’ offseason. On the surface, it was a series of underwhelming signings and a lot of reliance on upcoming youth (Hicks, Gibson, Parmelee, Hendriks, Florimon and Dozier are all being relied on to develop into something substantial this season). The Twins have lowered their payroll to a miniscule $85 million, and will see that number fall into the $40-$50 million range within the next two years if they don’t make any major signings.

I think the rotation has gotten better, simply by adding consistent veterans to the staff. I think the outfield defense has worsened, but not to the extent others are predicting (Parmelee is not a total disaster in RF). I think the Twins have the potential to be a dark horse team if all the pieces work like they could. They’re also likely the worst team in the AL Central, again, if the plan doesn’t work.

Projecting The AL Central (First Edition)

We’re on the cusp of spring training, Twins fans, and although many fans have soured on the 2013 edition of the Minnesota Twins before the first bats have even been swung, I’m still maintaining a little optimism in regards to this team.

I’m holding off on my full AL & NL projections and playoff picks until the just prior to the start of the season, but I figured I’d put together a little AL Central prediction just for fun. Obviously this ranking could (and likely will) change with injuries or breakout players in spring training, but as of today, here’s how I see the AL Central:

Detroit: 92-70

Chicago: 83-79

Kansas City: 79-83

Minnesota: 71-91

Cleveland: 69-93

　

Detroit Tigers: 92-70

The Tigers finally put enough of their talent together at the end of 2012 to make a run to the World Series. This team is loaded with a solid rotation, anchored by perennial CY Young candidate in Justin Verlander and quality starters Annibal Sanchez, Doug Fister and Rick Porcello.

It’s the Tigers’ offense, however, that should really scare opposing teams. Triple Crown winner Migeul Cabrera, alongside Prince Fielder, Austin Jackson, Victor Martinez and newly acquired Torii Hunter make the Tigers’ lineup a ‘murder’s row’ for any opposing pitcher.

For some reason the team underperformed in 2012, allowing the White Sox to hang around until the last week of the season. It’s entirely possible that their horrible defense and questionable bullpen make the Tigers a little more ‘mortal’ this year, but with a solid staff, great offense and a weak division, the Tigers should win enough games to easily put the AL Central away in mid-August.

　

Chicago White Sox: 83-79

The White Sox were a surprise contender for much of 2012, holding on to first place in the Central for nearly the entire season. Their rotation pitched slightly above average and their offense turned in great seasons from Paul Konerko, Adam Dunn, AJ Pierzynski and a surprise contribution for Kevin Youkilis. In the end, the just didn’t have enough talent to keep up with a loaded Detroit squad.

Many thought the White Sox would enter the 2013 offseason in a "win-now" mode. Their farm system is devoid of high impact talent (they rank 29^th-30^th on many prospect lists) so once their current generation of stars mature, it could be years before they’re back in a contending mode. Instead, the Sox let Youkilis and Pierzynski walk in free agency and replaced them with solid players – but not necessarily upgrades over the players they let go.

I expect the White Sox offense to be worse than their 2012 edition, their relying on aging players to keep contributing at a high level, a risk that will eventually fail. With little in the way of depth and a decent but not outstanding rotation, I could see the White Sox fading to below .500. However, the Sox always find a way to hang around, and I have a hunch that this group will play well early in the year before fading down the stretch. At 83-79 I have them finishing 2^nd in the Central, but the decline will only get worse in the coming years.

　

Kansas City Royals: 79-83

The Royals decided to go all in this offseason, shipping off top prospect Will Meyers and Jake Ordorizzi to the Rays for James Shields and Wade Davis. They also acquired Ervin Santana from the Angels to shore out a rotation around Bruce Chen and Jamie Guthrie. The Shields trade was bold, and the Royals are obviously pushing their chips all in this season in hopes of making a run at the crown.

Unfortunately, the Royals likely jumped the gun. Their offense, built around many young, promising players, is still 1 to 2 years away from being "ready" to compete at a high level. Will Meyers would have been the brilliant final cog in an otherwise solid offense and Ordorizzi would have made a great #3 starter in young rotation. Instead, they’re in Tampa while the Royals picked up Shields, who is only under team control for one more season, and Davis, who is better suited for a bullpen role.

It was a bold move that will improve the team in 2013. Unfortunately, Shields is not enough of a boost to put the Royals on top of the division. Santana has been statistically one of the worst pitchers in the AL over the past few seasons and Guthrie and Chen are anything but top tier talent. Essentially the Royals WERE on the cusp of being the Nationals of the AL, and instead decided to make a foolhardy and premature move that will only show short term bonuses. They’ll be better, but not much better than a .500 team.

Minnesota Twins: 71-91

Yes, I still have faith in the Twins. Their rotation was historically awful in 2012, forcing their above average bullpen to work more innings, thereby dragging their ERA down as well. The offense was slightly above average, but when buried in 5 to 6 run holes, wasn’t enough to help the Twins win.

The Twins have ‘fixed’ their rotation with a battalion of short term patches in Kevin Correia, Mike Pelfrey and Vance Worley (who is less patch, more "solution"). Scott Diamond had a breakout year in 2012 and Liam Hendriks has the potential to do the same in 2013. The bullpen, as mentioned, was very solid last year and looks to be deeper this season with the addition of Rich Harden and the potential of Caleb Thielbar and other minor leaguers making the jump.

Ben Revere and Denard Span are gone, but Aaron Hicks is apparently ready to assume the CF role. Chris Parmelee, fresh off a monster season in AAA (seriously, look up his numbers – he was the best offensive player in the International League – the other top guys were former Major Leaguers or AAAA type players) is ready to take over full time duties in right field. Trevor Plouffe is healthy once again and looks to recapture his power surge from June of 2012. Josh Willingham, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau are all above average offensive options that will fill out the center of the batting order.

This team is a solid rotation away from being a sneaky contender. While the Twins opted for cheap "lottery ticket" type players this offseason, the potential is there for the patchwork staff to ‘click’ and start winning games. I’m tempering expectations – I see the Twins improving by about 6-7 wins, but I wouldn’t be shocked if everything went right and they crept up closer to 81 wins. (Alternatively, it could all go wrong – like 2012 – and they could plummet to 100 loses).

Cleveland Indians: 69-93

Cleveland burst out of the gate in 2012, jumping to an early division lead and playing like a contending team. Unfortunately for them, the calendar changed from May to June and they began a free fall to the AL Central cellar. The Indians made a few improvements, shipping out Choo for Drew Stubbs and Trevor Bauer, but much like the Royals, a few upgrades do not make a winning team.

They’ve still got a perplexing starting rotation, a questionable bullpen and a potentially great-yet oddly subpar offense. Terry Francona will help this team win games, assuming they keep their rebuild going. Cleveland is silently in position to move to the top of the Central with the Twins over the next few years, but for 2013, I don’t see how they can be anything but basement dwellers yet again.

Top 25 Prospects In The Twins System

With spring training a mere week away, it’s a good time to break down the lower levels of the Twins’ system and see just how deep the team is heading into 2013. Thankfully, after suffering through a few years with a very poor farm system, (somewhat unexpectedly, as the Twins have always been a team to build from within) the Twins are entering 2013 with a very strong farm system that is now back to ranking within the top 5-10 in Major League Baseball.

 Today, I’ll take my run down of the best 25 players in the Twins’ system, along with a brief synopsis of why they ended up where they did. Let’s get rolling!

1. Miguel Sano (3B)
 • Sano proved his power potential while in A ball last season, hitting .258/.373/.528 with 28 home runs and 100 RBI. Sano has been praised for his ability to hit absolutely bad pitches out of the park. He’s a dangerous hitter who will only benefit from some more time in the minors to improve his plate discipline. His one flaw would be his defense at 3B. I don’t let that weigh his value, however, as he can always be shifted to 1B if that doesn’t improve.

2. Byron Buxton (OF)
 • Buxton could be argued for the #1 spot, but he’s still full of “potential” where Sano has actually proven some ability. Buxton’s swing is frequently compared to Ken Griffey Jr. which should tell you just how fluid and compact it is. He has great speed and scouts believe his power will develop as he advances through the minors. He does have the tendency to open up his stance pre-swing before closing his stance as he was swinging. This is a mechanical issue that coaches SHOULD be able to fix, but left unchecked, it would greatly lower his MLB value.

3. Aaron Hicks (OF)
• Hicks has shown up from 5-7 on many Twins’ prospect lists this season, I’m a bit higher on him than others. He showed a great deal of patience and an improved batter’s eye while in AA last season. He doesn’t have overwhelming power (think: Denard Span) but his speed is elite and his arm is one of the best in the system. He’ll make his debut in CF for the Twins sometime in 2013.

4. Eddie Rosario (2B)
• Rosario began his career as yet another OF in a farm system chocked full of OF prospects. The Twins shifted Rosario to 2B last season, an obvious area of need for the club, and he excelled. His more to the infield is the biggest reason he cracks my top 5. His swing has been compared to Robinson Cano’s, he has solid power, great discipline and plays above average defense at 2B. Because he fills a bigger need for the Twins, he gets a spot or two “bump” on the list. He’s still 2 years away from the bigs, but a solid year at AA this season could see that scheduled excelerated to next season.

5. Oswaldo Arcia (OF)
• Arcia is a personal favorite. He has demonstrated great power, solid plate discipline and above average defense over the past few seasons. His path to the Majors is nearly cleared, meaning he’ll likely be called up at some point in 2013. My favorite active player comparison? “A Venezuelan Jason Kubel”.

6. Alex Meyer (SP)
 • Twins fans should be excited to see Meyer in the big leagues. As the lone piece the Twins got in the Denard Span trade, some fans soured quickly on Meyer, thinking the Twins had made a bad deal. When you step back and objectively look at Meyer, you’ll see the Twins made a GREAT trade. Meyer has a great pitch selection, elite control and (gasp!) enough power to strike batters out. He’s projected to be a #1 starter (#2 at worst) once he hits the bigs. His debut won’t come until 2014 at the earliest, but he’s a player Twins fans should be excited for.

7. Kyle Gibson (SP)
• Gibson was on pace to make his Major League debut in 2012, but Tommy John surgery at the end of 2011 ensured he would have to sit out most of the season. He pitched well in the Arizona Fall League at the end of the year and will likely start 2013 in either the bullpen or AAA on a pitch count. Gibson has great control, induces groundballs and projects to be a solid #3 guy in the big leagues.

8. J.O. Berrios (SP)
• The Twins second draft selection in 2012, J.O. Berrios is a flame thrower with great control. He has a nice pitch selection and strikes batters out. The Twins molding him into a starting pitcher, but he can always be shifted to a bullpen role if he can’t cut it as a starter (which looks unlikely right now). Berrios just needs experience, look for the Twins to give him all of 2013 in the minors before calling him up in 2014.

 9. Trevor May (SP)
• Acquired from the Phililes as part of the Ben Revere trade, Trevor May immediately adds great depth to a Twins system that was lacking quality starters. Entering 2012, May was listed as the Phillies best prospect, but a sub-par 2012 season had him lower on many scout’s lists. The Phillies attributed this poor season to a mechanical flaw in May’s delivery. Once they found and corrected that flaw, May returned to the dominant starter he was in 2011. May’s upside is a #2 starter, but look for him to be more of a solid #3 guy. He could crack the big league roster as early as 2013 if he excels, but 2014 is a more realistic debut day for the right hander.

10. Joe Benson (OF)
 • Benson had a horrible, no good, very bad 2012. He started the year in a hitting slump, and then injured his wrist, causing him to miss most of the season. When you look at his abilities, however, (Speed, Power, Defense) you can see that Benson is still a top prospect. Write off last season as an anomaly – Benson still has a great chance to find his way onto the 2013 roster.

11. Luke Bard (SP/RP)
• Another 2012 draft pick from college, Bard is set to make quick progress through the minor leagues. He worked both as a starter and reliever in college, but the Twins are trying to convert him to a starter full time. He has great control and does strike out batters at a decent rate with a plus fastball and solid slider. He’s viewed as a solid, complete pitcher who needs nothing more than experience before he’s big league ready. Look for a 2014 debut.

 12. Max Kepler (OF)
• 2012 saw Kepler make impressive strides in both power and plate discipline while playing in the Appalachian League. He’ll start 2013 in A level Cedar Rapids, so he’s a ways away from a big league debut, but if he keeps developing and improving he’s certainly got a spot in the outfield in Minnesota.

13. Mason Melotakis (RP)
 • Another 2012 draft class relief pitcher, Melotakis compares well with Luke Bard. He throws hard, has great control and a solid pitch selection. He’s projected to be more of a reliever than starter, which is why the similarly skilled Bard lands 2 posts ahead of Melotakis on the list. Look for a big league debut of 2014 to 2015.

14. Travis Harrison (3B/1B)
 • Harrison is another ‘big stick’ prospect in the Twins’ system. He has outstanding power but average to below average plate discipline. The Twins have him playing 3B right now, but he’s likely to be moved to 1B or even a corner outfield spot if his defense doesn’t improve. His 2012 Appalachian League season wasn’t as impressive as the team might have liked, so it’s hard to say if he’ll make it to Cedar Rapids to start the season.

15. Niko Goodrum (SS)
• Another one of my favorites, Goodrum has demonstrated solid defense and good plate discipline while spending the past two years in the Appalachian League. He’s still a bit raw, and needs to develop all of his skills a little more. 2013 will likely see him promoted to Cedar Rapids where he’ll have a chance to show he’s improving.

16. Jorge Polanco (2B)
• Between Rosario, Goodrum, Polanco and Micheal, this Twins do actually have some infield depth on the way. Polanco has an above average glove at 2B and just needs to continue improving his bat to become a high level prospect. He’ll likely start 2013 in either Cedar Rapids or the Appalachian League.

 17. Zach Jones (RP)
• Now we start our run on pitching depth. Another 2012 draft pick, Jones is a hard throwing relief pitcher who debuted in Beloit during 2012 and impressed many scouts with great control and great speed (hitting 100MPH on a few occasions). He’ll need time to refine his skills, but a 2013 start in AA New Britain and a 2014-2015 big league debut isn’t out of reach.

18. J.T. Chargois (RP)
• Stop me if you’ve heard this before – Chargois was a 2012 draft pick, a college relief pitcher, who throws hard and has solid control. The Twins view him as someone with closer potential. With his skills, he should advance quickly through the farm system. Expect a 2013 AA debut followed by a mid-season promotion to AAA if he continues to pitch well.

19. Caleb Thielbar (LHRP)
• Admittedly, I’m higher on Thielbar than others. He rocketed through the Twins system in 2012, starting the year at the A level, before ending 2012 in AAA Rochester. The lefty reliever is making the most out of his second chance in the big leagues (he was in the Brewers system in 2010). He has great control and keeps the ball in the park. If he doesn’t start the year in the Twins bullpen, look for him to be one of the first guys called up in the event of injury.

20. B.J. Hermsen (SP)
 • Once again, Hermsen is higher on my list than some others, but I tend to value guys who are on the cusp of the big leagues a little more than the A ball players. Hermsen is a more prototypical “Twins type” pitcher. He’s big, has great command and keeps the ball in the park. He’s not going to blow you away with strikeout totals, but his ability to induce ground balls makes him a solid #4 to #5 starting candidate. He’ll begin 2013 in AAA, but he’s not far from seeing the Target Field mound.

21. Nate Roberts (OF)
 • Roberts had a break-out season at the Arizona Fall League. He posted an absurd 1.226 OBPS with an equally impressive .446 BA over 84 starts in the Fall League. With his great speed and average power, Roberts is built to be a leadoff hitter. Injuries have kept him from advancing, making him one of the older players in Beloit last year. 2013 should see him start in New Britain. While his numbers will likely come down to earth, if he can continue to show the ability to get on base, he’ll have a job as a leadoff hitter on some big league roster in a few years.

22. Adam Walker (OF)
• Walker makes my top 25 based solely on the “P” word (Potential). He has great power and speed, but strikes out far too much and doesn’t always make good contact with the ball. He’s still in the low levels of the system, so there is certainly time for the Twins coaches to iron out these issues.

23. Chris Herrmann (C)
• Herrmann saw a brief flash of the bigs last season during a late September call-up. He struggled at the plate, but showed very impressive defense at both catcher and OF. Herrmann actually swings a solid bat, and his defensive flexibility is an added bonus. He’s filling in for Drew Butera by the middle of 2013 at best, by the start of 2014 at worst.

24. Levi Michael (SS/2B)
 • A top pick from 2010, the Twins were criticized for taking Michael so high in the draft when many thought he was 2nd to 3rd round talent. Michael struggled in his first season, but in 2012 the Twins shifted him to 2B and he seemed to improve. He’s not advancing at the pace a top pick should be, but he shouldn’t be counted as a bust yet either. He’s years away from making any form of big league impact, but the talent is certainly there.

25. Micheal Tonkin (RP)
• A strikeout inducing reliever who has shown the ability to hit 95-97MPH on the gun while keeping guys off base. He pitched well in the Arizona Fall League and will likely start in New Britain in 2013. He’s yet another valuable reliever in a system chocked full of relief arms. It’s not the same list as many other evaluators have put up, but I’m always a little more biased to guys who are knocking on the door.

Take a look at that list for a minute, look how many of the players are new additions from 2012. There are 8 players who were not with the team in 2011. Of those 8, 4 are in the top 10 and 6 are in the top 15. Say what you want about Terry Ryan’s offseason moves as far as the starting roster goes, but from a farm standpoint, Terry Ryan took a struggling system and infused it with needed talent.

Waiting is a hard thing to do, I know, but Twins fans can take some solace in the fact that the Twins are gearing up for another run of being competitive with home grown talent. All we have to do is wait a couple years.