Random Tuesday Twins Thoughts and Tidbits

Here is this week's installment:

• Who would have thought that at this point this season, Trevor Plouffe would have higher OPS+ (110 vs 107) and more HRs (9 vs 7) than Michael Cuddyer.  Yet, again, the similarities were too good to ignore last November


• It is fairly astonishing, but every Twins' position player now, other than the middle infielders, has an OPS+ higher than 100.


• The only 3 pitchers with more than a strikeout an inning are Fransisco Liriano, Glen Perkins and Jared Burton.  The only Twins' relief pitcher to have allowed more than a hit per inning pitched is Anthony Swarzak, but a bunch of those came when he was starting


• I have created a list of the 2012 Twins draft signees and will update as new information comes.  You can find the list here.  You can find useful information like High School or College player or College Senior.  Also the bonuses are included. As of this post, 18 draftees have signed, including 9 of the Twins' 10 top picks.  I am editing the list when new information, including bonus amounts comes and will continue to do so until July 13th, the signing deadline


• After following closely the 2012 Draft, the biggest difference (and was expected) from previous drafts was the amount of College and JC players selected.  Lots and lots.  Guess that helps high school kids go to College and will probably improve College Baseball.  Now if they got rid of the aluminum bats there...


• This is a great article describing some of the new nuances of the MLB Draft


• The Director of Media and Community Relationships of the Beloit Snappers has a blog.


• Nick Lockwood, the Twins' 9th round pick of the 2009 MLB Draft who was released has been playing with the Washington (PA) Wild Things of the Independent Frontier League.  Other notable 2009 Twins' draft picks making their debuts in the independent leagues: Ben Tootle (3rd Round) with Abilene (TX) Prairie Dogs of the North American Baseball League, Brad Stillings (7th Round) with the River City (MO) Rascals of the Frontier League, and Kane Holbrooks (21st Round) with the Fort Worth (TX) Cats of the North American Baseball League.


• Oswaldo Arcia made the Florida State League (A+) All Star team


• And former Twin Luke Hughes was assigned to the A's AA team, Midland Rockhounds of the Texas League.


• The Twins' product of the week is the MLB Minnesota Twins Authentic On Field Alternate 59Fifty Fitted Cap, Navy AKA, the Twins'lucky "M" Cap

The parting shot today is of one of the best-kept secrets in the Twins' organization as far as prospects go,  Beloit Snapper's catcher Matthew Koch.  He is having an incredible season and is flying totally under the radar.  As of yesterday he was hitting .291/.413/.544 for a .956 OPS.  This OPS is at least 100 points higher than that of his very well celebrated teammates Miguel Sano and Eddie Rosario.  As a matter of fact, his OPS is the highest of any Twins' Catcher in any step of the organization including MLB.  He also threw out 48% of the would be stealers this season. Koch was the Twins' 12th round pick in the 2011 Draft out of Loyala Marymount University and played 12 games with the Elizabethton Twins after he signed last season.  I would not be surprised if he gets called up to Fort Myers soon.  And as I was writing this last night, this scouting report on the Snappers came out...