Today is the third installment in the top 40 Twins' Off-season prospects countdown. You can find all installments here in reverse chronological order. Previous rankings: 36-40, 31-35. You can find the 2014 off-season summary list here In these listings in
parenthesis, I am including their ranking in the last prospect list,
which was the 2014 mid-season list, with "--" if not ranked. You can
find that list here.
30. Ryan Eades RHP (19) RHSP, DOB: 12/15/1991, 6'2", 178 lbs
Eades was the Twins second round pick in the 2013 draft. After he signed he played 10 games in the Elizabethton pen pitching 15.7 innings striking out 13 and walking 12. He had a 4.60 ERA (4.22 FIP) and 1.596 WHIP. Eades was ranked 11th in last season's rankings, but he dropped to 19th in the mid-season rankings based on what I saw from him last Spring Training. His potential is a mid to top of the rotation starter with four good pitches. He reported had a plus fastball that sits at 93-95 mph and peaks at 97-98, with good command. However, the Eades I saw was a good 5 mph below those numbers and was pitching really tentatively.
In his 2014 season he started 25 games in Cedar Rapids (133 IP). He was at an average age with the list and finished with 5.14 ERA (4.44 FIP) 98 Strikeouts and 50 BBs. His K% fell down to 16.6 %. His loss in velocity and inability to strike out players his age, further dropped him to number 30 in these rankings. Will likely move to Fort Myers for 2015, but Eades really needs to regain his velocity and start missing bats, because pitching to contact with low 90 mph FB, will result to contact with bad consequences for his teams.
29. Felix Jorge RHP (23) RHSP, DOB: 1/2/1994, 6'2", 170 lbs.
Felix De Jesus Jorge was signed by the Twins out of the Dominican in February of 2011 for $250,000. He started his pro career at the DSL where he pitched in 9 games (5 starts) for 27 innings, walking 9 and striking out 26 (2.67 ERA, 2.50 FIP, 1.037 WHIP). He move to the States and pitched 12 games (7 GS) in the GCL in 2012 with similar results (34.7 IP, 37 K, 12 BB, 2.34 ERA, 2.28 FIP, 1.212 WHIP, .303 BABIP) and moved up to Elizabethton as a 19 year old in 2013 starting 12 games (61 IP) striking out 72 and walking 18, with a 2.95 ERA, 2.25 FIP and 1.213 WHIP (.338 BABIP.) He started the season in Cedar Rapids (1.5 years too young for the league) and he did not respond well: 39 IP, 1.974 WHIP, 9.00 ERA (7.70 FIP) 20 BB and 23 K. He lost command and control and resulted in demotion to Elizabethton again (about half a year younger for the league) were he improved in all aspects, but his K%: 66 IP, 1.091 WHIP, 14 BB, 61K, 22.9% K%.
Jorge is also one of those rare pitchers who had 3 above average pitches when he signed at 16 and he has been improving them. He has a low 90s fastball with decent downward movement, which he hides really well with his delivery. Above average slurvy curveball and change up. He commands all three pitches well, has good control and he mixes pitches well. Endurance is a question mark, thus the drop in the rankings. Will likely repeat Cedar Rapids in 2015.
28. Stuart Turner (--), RH, C, DOB: 12/27/1991, 6'2", 220 lbs
Stuart Turner was drafted by the Twins in the third round of the 2013 draft from the University of Mississippi. He spend all his season (but one game he filled in for the Rock Cats) for the Elizabethton Twins, where he played at 35 games (146 PAs) and hit .272/.345/.384 with 3 HRs and 19 RBI. He walked 12 times, struck out 23 and hit by a pitch 4. Last season he played for Fort Myers, hitting .249/.322/.375 in 364 PAs with 7 HRS and a 31:61 BB:K ratio.
Turner has been always described as an excellent defensive catcher with a great feel for the game, but his bat will determine his potential as a prospect.Turner has a large frame and projectable power that will come as he grows. He will likely start his age 23 season in Fort Myers again with a mid-season promotion, but bat development (even though there are good signs) is crucial, despite this organization's persistence in promoting soft hitting catchers.
27. Brandon Peterson RHP (36) RHRP, DOB: 9/23/1991, 6'1", 190 lbs
Brandon Peterson is a Burnsville, MN native who was drafted by the Twins in the 13th round of the 2013 draft from Wichita State. He has been a continues surpise with his ability to strike out hitters at a rate about double than his best at College. In 2013 he played for the Elizabethtown Twins, pitching 27.3 innings walking 9 and striking out 40, 1.134 WHIP, 2.96 ERA, 2.92 FIP, 36% K%. He started 2014 at Cedar Rapids (age average) pitching 12.3 innings walking 2 and striking out 19 (0.71 ERA, 0.96 FIP, 39.6% K%, 0.87 WHIP and with a .333 BABIP) before he promoted to Fort Myers where he was a year and a half younger than the league. In the FSL he pitched 45 innings striking out 65 and walking 5 (36.3% K%) with an 1.80 ERA, 1.64 FIP and 1.00 WHIP. Peterson has a low to mid 90s fastball, a good slider and working on a change up. Will likely start 2015 in Fort Myers. Depending on development and his ability to strike out batters in New Britain, we might see him in the Minnesota pen as soon as 2016 or 2017.
26. Max Murphy OF (--) RHB, DOB: 11/17/1992, 5'11", 195 lbs
Max Murphy is a New Hope, MN native who was drafted by the Twins in the 9th round of the 2014 draft from Bradley University. Max terrorized Appalachian League pitching at a rate of .378/.483/.723 and 10 HRs in 35 games, making a fine transition to the wooden bat, despite being about 1 year older than his league mates. He moved to Cedar Rapids where he landed back to reality hitting .242/.314/.395 and 4 HRs in 32 games with 8 BBs and 40 Ks. The strikeout was his issue in Cedar Rapids (he had a 22:34 BB:K ration in Elizabethton) and pitch selectivity and laying off bad pitches is something that the 22 year old needs to work on. Very good power potential from a small frame, the ability to play a good CF, might propel him pretty fast, if his bat develops. He reminds some of Rich Becker, who actually was Murphy's age when he made the Twins...
30. Ryan Eades RHP (19) RHSP, DOB: 12/15/1991, 6'2", 178 lbs
Eades was the Twins second round pick in the 2013 draft. After he signed he played 10 games in the Elizabethton pen pitching 15.7 innings striking out 13 and walking 12. He had a 4.60 ERA (4.22 FIP) and 1.596 WHIP. Eades was ranked 11th in last season's rankings, but he dropped to 19th in the mid-season rankings based on what I saw from him last Spring Training. His potential is a mid to top of the rotation starter with four good pitches. He reported had a plus fastball that sits at 93-95 mph and peaks at 97-98, with good command. However, the Eades I saw was a good 5 mph below those numbers and was pitching really tentatively.
In his 2014 season he started 25 games in Cedar Rapids (133 IP). He was at an average age with the list and finished with 5.14 ERA (4.44 FIP) 98 Strikeouts and 50 BBs. His K% fell down to 16.6 %. His loss in velocity and inability to strike out players his age, further dropped him to number 30 in these rankings. Will likely move to Fort Myers for 2015, but Eades really needs to regain his velocity and start missing bats, because pitching to contact with low 90 mph FB, will result to contact with bad consequences for his teams.
29. Felix Jorge RHP (23) RHSP, DOB: 1/2/1994, 6'2", 170 lbs.
Felix De Jesus Jorge was signed by the Twins out of the Dominican in February of 2011 for $250,000. He started his pro career at the DSL where he pitched in 9 games (5 starts) for 27 innings, walking 9 and striking out 26 (2.67 ERA, 2.50 FIP, 1.037 WHIP). He move to the States and pitched 12 games (7 GS) in the GCL in 2012 with similar results (34.7 IP, 37 K, 12 BB, 2.34 ERA, 2.28 FIP, 1.212 WHIP, .303 BABIP) and moved up to Elizabethton as a 19 year old in 2013 starting 12 games (61 IP) striking out 72 and walking 18, with a 2.95 ERA, 2.25 FIP and 1.213 WHIP (.338 BABIP.) He started the season in Cedar Rapids (1.5 years too young for the league) and he did not respond well: 39 IP, 1.974 WHIP, 9.00 ERA (7.70 FIP) 20 BB and 23 K. He lost command and control and resulted in demotion to Elizabethton again (about half a year younger for the league) were he improved in all aspects, but his K%: 66 IP, 1.091 WHIP, 14 BB, 61K, 22.9% K%.
Jorge is also one of those rare pitchers who had 3 above average pitches when he signed at 16 and he has been improving them. He has a low 90s fastball with decent downward movement, which he hides really well with his delivery. Above average slurvy curveball and change up. He commands all three pitches well, has good control and he mixes pitches well. Endurance is a question mark, thus the drop in the rankings. Will likely repeat Cedar Rapids in 2015.
28. Stuart Turner (--), RH, C, DOB: 12/27/1991, 6'2", 220 lbs
Stuart Turner was drafted by the Twins in the third round of the 2013 draft from the University of Mississippi. He spend all his season (but one game he filled in for the Rock Cats) for the Elizabethton Twins, where he played at 35 games (146 PAs) and hit .272/.345/.384 with 3 HRs and 19 RBI. He walked 12 times, struck out 23 and hit by a pitch 4. Last season he played for Fort Myers, hitting .249/.322/.375 in 364 PAs with 7 HRS and a 31:61 BB:K ratio.
Turner has been always described as an excellent defensive catcher with a great feel for the game, but his bat will determine his potential as a prospect.Turner has a large frame and projectable power that will come as he grows. He will likely start his age 23 season in Fort Myers again with a mid-season promotion, but bat development (even though there are good signs) is crucial, despite this organization's persistence in promoting soft hitting catchers.
27. Brandon Peterson RHP (36) RHRP, DOB: 9/23/1991, 6'1", 190 lbs
Brandon Peterson is a Burnsville, MN native who was drafted by the Twins in the 13th round of the 2013 draft from Wichita State. He has been a continues surpise with his ability to strike out hitters at a rate about double than his best at College. In 2013 he played for the Elizabethtown Twins, pitching 27.3 innings walking 9 and striking out 40, 1.134 WHIP, 2.96 ERA, 2.92 FIP, 36% K%. He started 2014 at Cedar Rapids (age average) pitching 12.3 innings walking 2 and striking out 19 (0.71 ERA, 0.96 FIP, 39.6% K%, 0.87 WHIP and with a .333 BABIP) before he promoted to Fort Myers where he was a year and a half younger than the league. In the FSL he pitched 45 innings striking out 65 and walking 5 (36.3% K%) with an 1.80 ERA, 1.64 FIP and 1.00 WHIP. Peterson has a low to mid 90s fastball, a good slider and working on a change up. Will likely start 2015 in Fort Myers. Depending on development and his ability to strike out batters in New Britain, we might see him in the Minnesota pen as soon as 2016 or 2017.
26. Max Murphy OF (--) RHB, DOB: 11/17/1992, 5'11", 195 lbs
Max Murphy is a New Hope, MN native who was drafted by the Twins in the 9th round of the 2014 draft from Bradley University. Max terrorized Appalachian League pitching at a rate of .378/.483/.723 and 10 HRs in 35 games, making a fine transition to the wooden bat, despite being about 1 year older than his league mates. He moved to Cedar Rapids where he landed back to reality hitting .242/.314/.395 and 4 HRs in 32 games with 8 BBs and 40 Ks. The strikeout was his issue in Cedar Rapids (he had a 22:34 BB:K ration in Elizabethton) and pitch selectivity and laying off bad pitches is something that the 22 year old needs to work on. Very good power potential from a small frame, the ability to play a good CF, might propel him pretty fast, if his bat develops. He reminds some of Rich Becker, who actually was Murphy's age when he made the Twins...
