2016 Twins Top 40 Prospects list: Introduction

It might not feel it, the way the wind is blowing outside, but Catchers and Pitchers report to Fort Myers in less that 50 days, so it is about time that I post the 2016 Twins off-season top 40 prospects list.   As in other times, I will be posting it in groups of 5 players counting down from 40 to 1.   But this year, I felt like an introductory post is needed, because of 2 reasons:

• To remind you that my criteria for eligibility for players to be in this top 40 prospect list is different than most people, and it is very simple:  You played in The Show, you are not a prospect.   So all the players who have played in the majors are not included in this list.
• Because of these strict criteria, this list will look a lot different that the 2015 list.

As a reminder, here is was 2015 offseason Twins' top 40 prospects list:

1. Miguel Sano 3B
2. Jorge Polanco SS
3. Byron Buxton OF
4. Alex Meyer RHP
5. Jose Berrios RHP

6. Amaurys Minier 1B/3B/OF
7. Kohl Stewart RHP
8. Eddie Rosario OF
9. Lewin Diaz 1B
10. Nick Burdi RHP

11. Lewis Thorpe LHP
12  Nick Gordon SS
13. Stephen Gonsalves LHP
14. Travis Harrison OF/3B
15. Max Kepler OF/1B

16. Jake Reed RHP
17. Mitch Garver C
18. Chih-Wei Hu RHP
19. Jorge Fernandez C
20. Engelb Vielma SS

21. Adam Walker OF
22. Levi Michael 2B
23. Mike Cederoth RHP
24. Rainis Silva C
25. Alexis Tapia RHP

26. Max Murphy OF 
27. Brandon Peterson RHP
28. Stuart Turner C 
29. Felix Jorge RHP 
30. Ryan Eades RHP

31. Aaron Slegers RHP 
32. Randy Rosario  RHP 
33. Zach Larson OF
34. Todd Van Steensen RHP
35. Mat Batts LHP

36. Jermaine Palacios IF 
37. Fernardo Romero RHP 
38. Tyler Kuresa 1B 
39. Moises Gomez RHP 
40. Luis Arraez IF 

And here is who dropped:

Graduated: Miguel Sano 3B (1), Jorge Polanco SS (2), Byron Buxton OF (3), Alex Meyer RHP (4), Eddie Rosario OF (8), Max Kepler OF/1B (12)

Traded: Chih-Wei Hu RHP (18),  Alexis Tapia RHP (25)

Released: Tyler Kuresa 1B (38)

Retired: Mat Batts LHP (35)

Exactly 10 players, of 25% of last seasons' list, including the Twins' 4 top prospects.  

So expect a very different 2016 prospects list this winter