2016 Twins off-season top 40 prospects list: 21-25

You can find the introductory segment in this series, including my criteria for eligibility to be a prospect and the list of the 2015 top 40 players who graduated as prospects or are not in the system, here.    Here is my 2015 Twins off-season top 40 prospects list (summary of 1-40) for reference.

You can find players 36-40 here, players 31-35 here and players 26-30 here.


25. Ryan Eades RHP (30)
DOB: 12/15/1991; Age: 24
Positions:RHP
Bats: R, Throws: R
Height: 6'2", Weight: 200 lbs
Acquired: 2th Round Draft Pick 2013
Professional Experience: 3; Highest level: A+ (2015)

Eades was drafted by the Twins from Louisiana State in the second round of the 2013 draft.  The Louisiana native has been a slow bloomer in the pros.  I wrote about him in last season's list:

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.

And what did Eades do this year?  He made a liar out of me and was much more effective.  His peripherals were practically the same (16.4% vs 16.6% K%, 7.8% vs 8.5% BB% and even 0.83 vs 0.79 GO:FO) he did have a considerable decrease in WHIP (1.239 vs 1.481) half of which could be accounted from a normalization of the BABIP (.291 vs .323).  However he translated that into results (3.11 ERA vs 5.14 and 3.48 FIP vs 4.44) beyond what a better defense behind him could bring.  Will be interesting to see whether the tentativeness went away and he started pounding the strike zone and/or whether his stuff improved.  Definitely someone to keep and eye on in 2016

Likely 2016 path: In the Chattanooga Rotation

ETA: 2017

24. Luis Arraez IF (40)
DOB: 4/9/1997; Age: 18
Positions: 2B/SS/3B/LF
Bats: L, Throws: R
Height: 5'10", Weight: 155 lbs
Acquired: International Free Agent 11/5/2013
Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: Rookie GCL (2015)

Arraez who rounded out the prospect list last season was signed in the November of 2013 from Venezuela.  He made the jump from the Dominican and the DSL (where he had a phenomenal for the league .833 OPS) to the United States and GCL with ease.  He hit .309/.377/.391 with an impressive 19 to 10 BB:K ratio.  He stole 8 bases and was caught in another 8 times. He flashed signed of gap power hitting 15 doubles and 1 tripe in 233 PAs, but he is not a power hitter.  Plate discipline is one of the hardest skills to learn and Arraez has it, plus his contact tool is good.  This is a great combination for a middle infielder, and Arraez looks like he will settle at second base, where he is average to above average with the glove, turning 19 double plays last season.

Likely 2016 path: Extended Spring Training and at Elizabethton in June

ETA: 2019


23. Engelb Vielma ss (20)
DOB: 6/22/1994; Age: 21
Positions: SS
Bats: S, Throws: R
Height: 5'11", Weight: 150 lbs
Acquired: International Free Agent 9/4/2011
Professional Experience: 4; Highest level: A+ (2015)

Vielma is a very interesting player who could be ranked higher.  The Venezuelan signed by the Twins in 2011 and has been moving really quickly in the organization.  His glove is really great and he has excellent instinct for the game.  When I saw him play for the first time during the 2014 Spring Training, I wrote this for him: 

This is the single one most unknown superstar in the making in the Twins' organization.  He turned two unassisted double plays (one a line out/throw out the other a step on second throw at first) today and he made them seem so easy.  Like it is an everyday kind of thing.  Looks like his contact tool is getting better.  He has crazy nutty speed and as a cutoff guy, he almost threw a guy out at third on a easy triple. Very strong arm.  And he has room to grow.

And I still stand behind that assessment.  The one thing that bothers me about Vielma is not his bat (we will get to the bat in a second;)  it is his occasional lapses in concentration that result in silly mistakes on the field and on the base paths.  This is the single reason he is ranked that low in my list. I am still very high on Vielma and I think that he has the potential of an All-Star shortstop.  Let's not forget that this is the position that has a player with a career .666 OPS in the Hall of Fame.  Not that I am comparing Ozzie Smith's glove to Vielma's, but their bats are comparable.  Vielma hit .270/.321/.306 this season at Fort Myers which at first sight is about the same .266/.313/.323, if not worse, than he did in Cedar Rapids in 2014, until someone looks below the slash lines:  Vielma was the youngest position player at the Miracle team and the Miracle team slash line was .246/.319/.318, so he made better contact than the average. Power is not his strong suit, so looking at SLG% is misleading.  If you look at component numbers, like wRC+, he had 93 in 2015 vs 84 in 2014.   He is also maturing as a player taking advantage of his speed. He will not walk (7% BB%) or strikeout (14.2% K%) but will make contact and run.  He had 24 sacrifices last season, and most of them (18) on the ground. He stole a career high 35 bases (but was caught 12 times).  Definitely Vielma is on the right track, but I still need to see just a little bit more from him.  Playing at AA might tell us a lot about his maturity.

Likely 2016 path: Starting Shortstop at AA Chattanooga, on the 40 man roster in the post-season.

ETA: 2017

22. Jean Carlos Arias (--)
DOB: 1/14/1998; Age: 17
Positions: CF
Bats: L, Throws: L
Height: 5'11", Weight: 170 lbs
Acquired: International Free Agent 7/2/2014
Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: Rookie DSL (2015)

Jean Carlos Arias was signed by the Twins as an International Free Agent from the Dominican Republic the summer of 2014.  In his first professional season in the DSL he hit .311/.378/.537 with 18 BB, 30 K, 13 2B, 9 3B and 2 HRs in 189 PAs.  He was 11/17 in stolen bases.  That .914 OPS is not quite at Miguel Sano level (Sano hit .344/.463/.547 at age 17 in the DSL), but cannot be ignored in a league where the average OPS is .680.  His wOBA was .425 and wRC+ 151, which are also on the ridiculous level.  Reports from the Dominican have the 17 year old Arias, who batted at the number 3 spot for the DSL Twins, is a true 5-tool Centerfielder, which would need to be cofirmed once he starts play in the US, but his numbers cannot be ignored.  One additional thing of note:  Arias destroyed RHPs at the rate of .330/.390/.568.

Likely 2016 path: Extended Spring Training and the starting Centerfielder at the GCL

ETA: 2020

21. Rainis Silva C (24)
DOB: 3/20/1996; Age: 19
Positions: C
Bats: R, Throws: R
Height: 6'1", Weight: 185 lbs
Acquired: International Free Agent 7/9/2013
Professional Experience: 3; Highest level: A (2015)

The Venezuelan Catcher was signed by the Twins as a 16 year old in 2012 for $175,000.  I have not seen enough of John Ryan Murphy or John Hicks yet, but other than those 2 potentially, Silva is the most polished receiver in the Twins' organization.  He could catch a major league staff today.  The problem is his bat.  He was fast tracked by the Twins moving from the DSL to A in just 3 seasons.  It is very encouraging to see that his bat has improved with every stop: .539 OPS in the DSL in 2013, .636 OPS in the GCL in 2014, .635 OPS in Elizabethton and .572 OPS in Cedar Rapids in 2015.  Improvement?  This looks pretty horrible.  Here are a couple of other numbers:  .367/.406/.533 in Elizabethton and .333/.333/.556 in Cedar Rapids.  Those are his slash lines last season against LHP.  He absolutely destroys left hand pitching and this is an improvement this season.  He hit lefties at a .217/.254/.267 pace in GCL and at a .222/.294/.244 pace in the DSL the previous 2 seasons, which means that he is learning and adjusting, an incredibly encouraging sign for an organization not that deep in future Catchers.   Why is he not ranked higher?  He has to prove that he is not a liability against RHP.  If his OPS against righties was closer to .700 than .500 (which is the case now,) his glove is good enough to propel him to top 10 prospect conversation.  Not there yet.

Likely 2016 path: Likely start the season at Cedar Rapids and, depending on his performance and the Twins' Draft, a move to Fort Myers by at least mid-season is a good bet.  I will not be surprised if the Twins have him start the season at Fort Myers.

ETA: 2018

2016 Twins off-season top 40 prospects list: 26-30

You can find the introductory segment in this series, including my criteria for eligibility to be a prospect and the list of the 2015 top 40 players who graduated as prospects or are not in the system, here.    Here is my 2015 Twins off-season top 40 prospects list (summary of 1-40) for reference.

This is the third countdown segment of the 2016 off-season Top 40 Twins'  prospect.  You can find players 36-40 here and players 31-35 here .

.

30. Taylor Rogers (--)

DOB: 12/17/1990; Age: 25

Positions:LHP

Bats: L, Throws: L

Height: 6'3", Weight: 200 lbs

Acquired: 11th Round Draft Pick 2012

Professional Experience: 4; Highest level: AAA (2015)

The Colorado native was selected by the Twins in the 11th Round of the 2012 draft from Kentucky University.  Taylor has a Twin brother, Tyler, who is in the Giants' system (drafted in 2013) and interestingly is right-handed.  To complicate matters, the Giants had a Taylor Rogers pitching in the organization from 2009-2013.  Genetics and homonymy aside, Rogers is an interesting enough pitcher to make this list for the first time. On first sight he is a "solid" middle of the rotation minor leaguer who can keep his team in the game.  His 2015 pitching line with Rochester was: 28 games, 174 IP, 44 BB, 126 K (7.6 K/9; 17.2 K%), 3.98 ERA, 3.21 FIP. Players like this are usually not prospects, especially when they are 25 years old.  There are three things about Rogers that elevate him this season:  

 

• Between Rochester and the Arizona Fall League Rogers pitched 199 Innings in 2015.  This is the most innings pitched by anyone in the Twins' organization at any level last season (Kyle Gibson was second with 194.7) .Rogers did not have a performance drop-off, actually pitching better in September (in both AAA and AFL) than he did in July and August. 
• His stuff and endurance are better that the guy who projects as the number 5 pitcher in the Twins' rotation, Tommy Milone who has never pitched that many innings in a season and last time he reached 190 IP was 4 seasons ago.  This should count for something 
• And most important: Left-handed hitters, might as well sit down when he is pitching.   He has always been great against LHBs, but his 2015 AAA numbers against lefties are out of the charts:  57 IP, 5 BB, 55 K, .177 OBA, 0.68 WHIP, 1.42 ERA, 2.09 GO:FO  These numbers have LH set up man all over them.  

 

His Fastball is his best pitch and sits at 91-93 mph. Has an average slider and changeup as well. A move in the pen might help him increase his velocity and if one of his secondary pitches improves there is a lot of potential here.  Dark horse for being the LH set up man the Twins were supposed to acquire from outside the organization this off-season.

Likely 2016 path:  Since he was added to the 40-man roster to be protected from this season's Rule 5 draft.  Can potentially make the Twins' pen out of Spring Training or be held in reserve at Rochester, if the numbers are not in his favor.  Likely a September call up at worst case scenario.

ETA: 2016

29. Brandon Peterson (27)

DOB: 9/23/1991; Age: 24

Positions: RHP

Bats: R, Throws: R

Height: 6'1", Weight: 190 lbs

Acquired: 13th Round Draft Pick 2013

Professional Experience: 3; Highest level: AA (2015)

Brandon Peterson is a Minnesotan from Savage, who was drafted in the 13rd round of the 2013 draft from Wichita State University.  With a fastball that sits at 95 mph and a slider that is a hair below a plus pitch, Peterson has been able to move up the Twins' organizational ladder in leaps and bounds, striking out the competition and being the closer at each level he pitched.  Until he reached AA as a promotion from Fort Myers at the middle of this season, where he landed to Earth.  In 20 games he pitched 29.3 innings, walking 13 and striking out 33 (10.1 K/9, and 25.4 K%) with a 1.47 WHIP (.354 BABIP) and 3.38 ERA (2.93 FIP.)  In contrast, earlier in the season in A+ he pitched 21 games (31.7 IP), walking 15 and striking out 44 (12.5 K/9 and 36.1% K%) with a 0.92 WHIP (.222 BABIP) and 0.85 ERA (1.81 FIP.)  He held his opponents to a .131 average in Fort Myers and .259 in Chattanooga. It might be that he needs to adjust his approach to be successful against better competition rather than his stuff not playing against better competition.  But the jury is still out and this reason, in addition to the fact that the Twins' system is loaded with RHRPs, is part of the reason that Peterson dropped 2 spots this year compared to last.

Likely 2016 path:  Sharing closer duties in AA, a promotion to AAA is probably depending his success and promotions to the MLB bullpen of AAA pitchers allowing him a path there.

ETA: 2017

28. Brusdar Graterol (--)

DOB: 8/26/1998; Age: 17

Positions: RHP

Bats: R, Throws: R

Height: 6'1", Weight: 180 lbs

Acquired:  International Free Agent 8/27/2014

Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: Rookie/DSL (2015)

I want not untrue when I said that the number 40 prospect, Emmanuel Morel, is a great candidate for being a sleeper prospect who comes out of nowhere and becomes the darling of mainstream media, but this is even more true for Venezuelan, Brusdal Graterol who just turned 17 and has been placed in the Fast Track by the Twins.  Graterol signed for a moderate $150,000 bonus in 2014 just as turned 16 and pitched his age 16 season next summer in the Dominican Republic.  An what he did was opened some eyes wide open after just 4 starts with those numbers:  11 IP, 12 H, 1 BB, 17 K, 2.45 ERA (1.19 FIP), 1.18 WHIP (.444 BABIP).  How wide did those eyes open?  After his first 17 days as a pro, Graterol, who also wins the title of the Twins' prospect with the best name now that Will Hurt is outside the organization, was on a plane to Fort Myers to get acclimated to life in the US and learn English.  I have not seen Graterol pitch, but those numbers for a 16 year old (3 years younger than average DSL age) are extremely impressive.  

Likely 2016 path:  In the Instructional leagues to begin the season and the GCL rotation in June

ETA: 2020+

27. Huascar Ynoa (--)

DOB: 5/28/1998; Age: 17

Positions: RHP

Bats: R, Throws: R

Height: 6'3", Weight: 175 lbs

Acquired:   International Free Agent 7/2/2014

Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: Rookie/DSL (2015)

The Twins signed Huascar Ynoa to an $800,000 bonus on July 2 of 2014 and had his first professional season in DSL the past season as a starter.  He started 14 games (56.7 IP) walked 30 (4.7 BB/9) and struck out 47 (7.5 K/9 and 19.2% K%) with a 2.70 ERA (3.84 FIP) and 1.29 WHIP (.258 BABIP).  Like his 7 year older and 5 inch taller brother Michael, who at some point was the baseball number 20 prospect according to baseball prospectus and now is in the White Sox' organization, consistency is the biggest issue with Huascar Ynoa.  He has 3 pitches (fastball, curve, slider) which all flash above average to potentially plus, but he does not throw them consistently, thus the walks.  He does have a good feel for all his pitches, which suggests that mechanics might be an issue here that can be correctable.  Additional data pointing out to a mechanics issue are his numbers in full wind up when pitching with nobody on:  20.7 IP, 26 H, 24 BB, 15 K for a 2.42 WHIP.  Subtract those from his totals and his numbers when pitching from the stretch position end up like this: 36 IP, 17 H, 6 BB (1.5 BB/9) , 32 K (8 K/9) and 0.639 WHIP, which are absolutely impressive under any and all circumstances.  This, and not genetics, is the reason that Ynoa is ranked that high in my prospects list, and his numbers on full delivery is the reason he is ranked that low.

Likely 2016 path:  Extended Spring Training and move to the GCL rotation in June

ETA: 2020

26. Lachlan Wells (--)

DOB: 2/27/1997; Age: 18

Positions: LHP

Bats: L, Throws: L

Height: 5'8", Weight: 163 lbs

Acquired:   International Free Agent 8/14/2014

Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: Rookie/GSL (2015)

The Twins signed the diminutive Australian as an International Free Agent in August of 2014 and made his debut in the Gulf Coast League in 2015.   He played in 10 games (9 GS) and pitched 47.3 innings, walking 11 (2.1 BB/9) and striking out 49 (9.3 K/9, 26.5% K%) for a 2.09 ERA (3.22 FIP) and 0.97 WHIP (.263 BABIP).  Size is a Concern with Wells, but he is just 18.  He throws an above average 92-93 mph fastball, a work in progress curveball and a changeup that is close to plus and is his out pitch.  So far his spits against lefties and righties are about similar with only one big difference:  He produces 5 times as many ground balls against lefties that he does against righties.  It could be the more frequent use of the changeup, but it is an interesting data point.  It is too early to tell whether the pen or the rotation is in Wells' future, but a plus changeup at 18 is nothing to scoff at.  We will know more as he develops in the Twins' organization.

Likely 2016 path: Extended Spring Training and likely in the Elizabethton rotation in June, depending on the 2016 Twins' draft.

ETA: 2020+

2016 Twins off-season top 40 prospects list: 31-35

You can find the introductory segment in this series, including my criteria for eligibility to be a prospect and the list of the 2015 top 40 players who graduated as prospects or are not in the system, here.    Here is my 2015 Twins off-season top 40 prospects list (summary of 1-40) for reference.

This is the second countdown segment of the 2016 off-season Top 40 Twins'  prospect.  You can find the first segment, players 36-40 here.


35. Yorman Landa (--)
DOB: 6/11/1994; Age: 21
Positions: RHP
Bats: R, Throws: R
Height: 6'0", Weight: 165 lbs
Acquired: International Free Agent 9/3/2010
Professional Experience: 5; Highest level: A (2014, 2015)

Yorman Landa was signed by the Twins as an International Free Agent on September of 2010.  It is fairly telling that the 21 year old Venezuelan has 5 professional seasons under his belt, yet he is younger than half of the Twins 2015 draft class.  This is the first time in those 5 years that Landa cracked my top 40 prospect list, part of the reason being that he was a 2 pitch starter/long reliever and the Twins did not know what they wanted to do with him. Add to this a shoulder surgery in the summer of 2014 and very slow climbing of the organizational steps, and does not make a great case for inclusion in a prospect list.  What happened?  The Twins decided in 2014 that he really belongs to the pen, and moved there in Cedar Rapids that season with good results.  After the surgery, he recovered completely and returned to Cedar Rapids with a new delivery from a lower arm angle that produces a mid-90s fastball with nasty movement and cleaned up some of his secondary pitches.  He pitched 27 innings in 15 games, producing an 1.67 ERA (3.47 FIP) and and 1.19 WHIP (.258) BABIP.  He walked 4 and struck out 31 (10.33 K/9 & 27% K%).  The Twins are thinking highly of him and added him to their 40 man roster to protect him from this years' Rule 5 Draft.  I think that he is still a work in progress because he still works too many and needs at least one convincing secondary pitch, but that Fastball and the new delivery has opened some eyes.

Likely 2016 path:  Will be with the big club this Spring Training as part of the 40-man roster and then likely pitch for Fort Myers. 

ETA: 2018

34.  Fernardo Romero (37)
DOB: 12/24/1994; Age: 21
Positions: RHP
Bats: R, Throws: R
Height: 6'0", Weight: 215 lbs
Acquired: International Free Agent 11/4/2011
Professional Experience: 4; Highest level: A (2014)

Fernando Romero was signed by the Twins as an International Free Agent on November of 2011. The Dominican right hander has misses all of 2015 and most of the 2014 recovering from Tommy John surgery.   Here is what I wrote about him last year:

After spending the 2012 season in the Dominican Summer League, he made the jump to the Gulf Coast League in 2013.  He pitched in 12 games (6 GS) for 45 innings to a 1.60 ERA and had 47 strikeouts and only 13 bases on balls.  His WHIP was 1.00 and K% a very impressive 26, while his K/BB was 3.62. He missed 2014 with Tommy John surgery.   It will be interesting to see how Romero will rebound in his age 20 season. He had a heavy fastball is in the mid to low 90s and barely adequate supplementary stuff.  Romero does have mid rotation potential, depending on development of his secondary pitches and staying healthy.    He will likely begin 2015, his age 19 season, in Cedar Rapids where he will alternate between the rotation and pen until extended. 

He did not make it on a professional field in 2015, but expecting to return in full force in 2016.  One thing that needs to be remarked is his ability to hide the ball really well from both lefties and righties and throwing a Carlos Silva - like heavy sinker.  Time will tell how he will move on, but the potential is still there as long as he stays healthy. 

Likely 2016 path:  Will be eased into the Cedar Rapids bullpen and depending on success move on to Fort Myers in the middle of the season.  Likely will stay in the pen the whole season.

ETA: 2019

33. Chris Paul (--)

DOB: 10/12/1992; Age: 23

Positions: 1B/3B/OF

Bats: R, Throws: R

Height: 6'3", Weight: 200 lbs

Acquired: 6th Round Draft Pick 2015

Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: A (2015)

Chris Paul was drafted by the Twins in the 6th round of this years' draft from University of California Berkeley.  The California native was a polished hitter in College.  He hit .321/.406/.509 in the summer of 2014 in the wooden bat Northwoods Summer College League playing for St Cloud Rox (he played there for 3 summers, so he has been well-scouted by the Twins).  Continued hitting .325/.404/.562 in 2015 for Berkely and did not miss a bit by turning pro, hitting .302/.375/.488 in 96 PAs for Elizabethton earning a promotion to Cedar Rapids, where he ran out of gas hitting .244/.277/.356 in 12 games.  Not much of a home run thread at this point, but he does have double power to the opposite field.  Long swing makes him vulnerable to breaking balls, but it is fixable.  The Catch-22 with Paul is that he does not have a position.  He played pretty much everywhere but Catcher in College and High School, and all corner infield and outfield positions in the pros.  He was named in the Pac 12 all defense team, so his defense is not a liability.  His versatility might allow him to make it to the Bigs earlier as a utility player, but that would be his ceiling. On the other hand, players like Ryan Zobrist and Daniel Murphy are making a good living out of it.  

Likely 2016 path:  Will start the season as a utility player in Cedar Rapids.

ETA: 2018

32. Kolton Kendrick (--)

DOB: 8/10/1996; Age: 19

Positions: 1B/DH

Bats: L, Throws: R

Height: 6'3", Weight: 225 lbs

Acquired: 8th Round Draft Pick 2015

Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: Rookie/GCL (2015)

Kolton Kendrick  was drafted by the Twins in the 8th round of this years' draft from Oak Forest (LA) Academy.  He fell to the Twins in the 8th round, while considered a top 100 player in the draft, by many insiders, including top 62nd by Baseball America.  Kendrick who played his senior season in High School with a wooden bat, has plus plus power and great plate selectivity for a teenager.  He walked 50 times in his senior season in High School.  As a pro in 24 games (89 PAs) in the Gulf Coast League, he hit .200/.371/.271 with 18 BB, and 24 K, 3 doubles and a triple.  Kendrick, generously listed at 225 lbs, is a work in progress with the glove and how he will respond to breaking balls and changeups in the pros, is still up for discussion.  He is a lot like Kennys Vargas was that age, if you could imagine Vargas as an exclusively left hand hitter, with bright red hair and freckles. Now that Miguel Sano is a big leaguer, Kendrick has the highest power potential in the Twins' minors organization, and being a lefty, is something they have been missing for the Twins, since Justin Morneau departed.   Getting consistent swings, staying in shape and improving his fielding will help him get in the majors earlier, but he is playing a position that the Twins have a couple long term answers in the majors in Joe Mauer and Byung Ho Park and Vargas in the High Minors.  

Likely 2016 path:  Will start the season in Extended Spring Training and be the starting 1B at Elizabethton once that League starts play.

ETA: 2020+

31. LaMonte Wade (--)

DOB: 1/1/1994; Age: 22

Positions: CF

Bats: L, Throws: L

Height: 6'1", Weight: 195 lbs

Acquired: 9th Round Draft Pick 2015

Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: A (2015)

LaMonte Wade was drafted by the Twins in the 9th round of this years' draft from University of Maryland.  Wade's 2015 practically came out of nowhere.  Before 2015 he was regarded as a glove-first Centerfielder with excellent strike zone judgement but many contact issues.  In 2014 as a Sophomore for Maryland he hit .247/.358/.335 (62 games) and for the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod League .145/.351/.200 in 21 games.  Then something clicked:  In his Junior (and final College) season he hit .335/.453/.468 in 42 games and in his first pro season in Elizabethton, he hit .312/.432/.506 in 64 games (284 PAs) with 8 doubles, 5 triples, 8 HRs, 12/13 SBs, 46 BB and 34 K.  He played 4 games in Cedar Rapids. Between College and Pros, he finished the season with 13 HRs and 19 SBs.  Quick wrists, excellent eye, decent power and speed, very good Centerfield play and hitting and throwing as a lefty have had some people drawing Denard Span comparisons.  However the truth of the matter is that Span has less power, speed, and strike zone judgement than Wade and has never had a season like Wade's 2015.  It will be interesting to see how Wade's hitting will stand against better and better competition, but he has a very high ceiling in a position in need in the Twins' organization.

Likely 2016 path:  Will start the season as the starting Centerfielder for Cedar Rapids.

ETA: 2018

2016 Twins off-season top 40 prospects list: 36-40

You can find the introductory segment in this series, including my criteria for eligibility to be a prospect and the list of the 2015 top 40 players who graduated as prospects or are not in the system, here.    Here is my 2015 Twins off-season top 40 prospects list (summary of 1-40) for reference.

Without further ado, here is the 2016 countdown of prospects, with their ranking in the 2015 list in parenthesis :

40. Emmanuel Morel (--)
DOB: 5/4/1997; Age: 18
Positions: SS/2B
Bats: R, Throws: R
Height: 5'10", Weight: 150 lbs
Acquired: International Free Agent 4/8/2013
Professional Experience: 2; Highest level: Rookie/DSL (2014, 2015)

Every season in this prospect list, I include prospects who are traditionally bypassed by many (because they have not played games in the US) and ended up picked up by the mainstream media a season or two afterwards. Last season it was Jermaine Palacios at 36; This season is Emmanuel Morel at 40, who has already 2 professional seasons under his belt before his 19th birthday.  In 2015 he alternated games between the 2 middle infield positions with 17 year old Yeltsin Encarnacion for the Dominican Summer League  Twins.   In a league dominated by pitchers he hit  .282/.428/.370 (.798 OPS), had 51 singles, 6 doubles, 5 triples in 230 plate appearances.  He struck out 43 times and walked 46 times.  He also stole 24 bases in 35 attempts.    In other words, he reached base 43% of the time, walking more than striking out, he attempted a stole base in about 41% of his opportunities and he was successful 69% of the time.  This is pretty impressive at any level of professional ball at any age in the twenty first century.  You cannot teach plate selectivity and you have to have the guts to be aggressive.   If Morel continues those traits when he will cross the Tropic of Cancer, and he shows signs of reliability with the glove, the Twins will have another good middle infield prospect from Latin America in their pipeline.

Likely 2016 path:  Will start the season in Extended Spring Training, get used to live in the US in the Twins' Fort Myers Complex and join the Gulf Coast League Twins when they start playing games after the 2016 draft

ETA: 2020+

39. Trey Cabbage (--)


DOB: 5/3/1997; Age: 18
Positions: SS/3B/LF/RF
Bats: L, Throws: R
Height: 6' 3", Weight: 190 lbs
Acquired: 4th Round Draft Pick 2015
Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: Rookie/GCL (2015)

Trey Cabbage was the Twins' fourth round draft pick in the past draft from Grainger (TN) High School and is a day older from the number 40 prospect, Emmanuel Morel.  Mostly a shortstop in High School, he moved all over the field in his first pro season with the Gulf Coast League.  He was projected to play third base, but it will still be a work in progress, because his first try in the position (6 errors in 21 games) was not as smooth as hoped.   His transition to the wooden bat has been painful as well, hitting .252/.302/.269 with only 2 doubles as extra base hits, 7 walks and 37 strikeouts in 129 PAs.  Stole one base and was caught 5 times.   A small sample size ray of hope:  He hit He hit .350/.435/.350 overall in 20 ABs against LHPs and finished the season .321/.310/.321 in 28 August ABs.    The transition to the wooden bat is not a small feat for an 18 year old and Cabbage does get the benefit of the double.  Will likely work several positions in the low minor leagues to find a position that he is a good fit defensively.  Before the draft he was touted as one of the "sweetest" left hand swings, since you know who, but still have to see this.  Cabbage was a multi-sport player (Football and Basketball) and also pitched in High School, and some focus and taking time off this winter might help him a lot.

Likely 2016 path:  Starting in Extended Spring Training and focusing of figuring out which position might be the best fit for him and then playing there in the GCL.

ETA: 2020+



38. Travis Blankenhorn (--)
DOB: 8/3/1996; Age: 19
Positions: 3B/1B
Bats: L, Throws: R
Height: 6' 1", Weight: 195 lbs
Acquired: 3th Round Draft Pick 2015
Professional Experience: 1; Highest level: Rookie/Elizabethton (2015)

Travis Blakenhorn, was drafted in the third round of the 2015 draft from Pottstown (PA) High School, and like Trey Cabbage, is a left hitting third baseman who started the season and his professional career in the GCL.  Unlike Cabbage he has some success with the bat, .245/.362/.408, 4 doubles, 2 triples, 7 walks and 11 strikeouts in 58 PAs, allowing the Twins to move him up a level at Elizabethton in the middle of July.  In Elizabethton, he started on fire hitting .321/.387/.482  for July, and then leveled off, ending up the season in the Appalachian League hitting .243/.306/.326 with 3 doubles, 3 HRs, 11 BBs and 32 Ks in 158 PAs.  Was effectively neutralized by LHP (.172/.250/.310,) but, again, the transition from aluminum to wood is not an easy one.   Blakenhorn projects as a power hitter and he flashed some.  Has a solid powerful build that would allow him to play at either infield corner, but his strong arm has him a better fit at third or at a corner outfield position.   Blakenhorn picked up some Alex Gordon comparisons, but that is a bit of reaching at this point.  Fellow Twins' prospects, Travis Harrison and the gentleman whose profile follows, might be better comparables for now...

Likely 2016 path: Starting at Extended Spring Training, then the starting third baseman in Elizabethton as soon as Appalachian League play starts in June.

ETA: 2020

37. Niko Goodrum (--)

DOB: 2/28/1992; Age: 23
Positions: 3B/SS/CF
Bats: S, Throws: R
Height: 6' 3", Weight: 198 lbs
Acquired: 2nd Round Draft Pick 2010
Professional Experience: 6; Highest level: AA (2015)

 I have to admit, Niko Goodrum frustrates me.  Has a ton of potential and never put it together in six professional seasons.  As a matter of fact, he has been in an out in my top 40 prospect list for the last 3 years.  Why is he in again?  In a second, bit of history first: Niko Goodrum was drafted 71nd overall in the 2010 draft (a spot after Braves', and now Angels', Andrelton Simmons who has 4 seasons in the majors and a couple gold gloves.)  That was the Alex Wimmers draft.   Goodrum's career slash line is .244/.337/.357 and he has not been deviating by more that 0.30 or so in any of its components in his six seasons as a pro (other than his short first season of .414 OPS.)     In other words he has been pretty average, or below average, at any level, which does not a good prospect make.  So why is he back here again?  Three reasons:

• When he moved to Chatanooga in the middle of the season, he improved his approach as a hitter.  He hit .244/.332/.392 with 6 doubles, 5 triples, 5 HRs, 28 BBs, and 51 K in 238 PAs, in a league where .700 OPS is the average.
• Sustained improvement in base running and base stealing and considerable jump in power:  Goodrum stole 20, 35 and 29 bases the last 3 seasons.  He was 18 for 22 in Chatanooga this season.  In addition, he hit a career high 9 HRs, more than doubling his previous best (4).
• He might have actually found a position he can play and be above average.  He was drafted as a shortstop, and played most of his first 3 seasons there very erratically.  He was transferred to third base the last 3 seasons with similar results.  However, Doug Mientkiewitz and serendipity (not many OFs in the organization) had him at Centerfield for 15 games, in which he was a good centerfielder and better with the bat when played there.  Maybe the game slowed down enough at OF for him.

So there is enough potential and intrigue to believer that Niko Goodrum might actually make a major league centerfielder some day, if the Twins continue using him there, which they should.  So Goodrum makes the list as an outfielder.

Likely 2016 path:  Depending on where Byron Buxton ends up, likely the starting Centerfielder for Chatanooga.

ETA: 2017

36. Kuo Hua Lo (--)
DOB: 10/28/1992; Age: 23
Positions: RHP
Bats: R, Throws: R
Height: 5' 10", Weight: 195 lbs
Acquired: International Free Agent 6/10/2011
Professional Experience: 4; Highest level: Rookie/Elizabethton (2013-2015)

Lo was signed by the Twins as an International Free Agent from Taiwan at age 18, 4 seasons ago and has shown steady improvement to be regarded as a top 40 prospect, with a near breakout 2015 season.  He pitched 31.3 innings with a 1.44 ERA (2.75 FIP) allowing 15 hits, 8 walks (0.734 WHIP) and had 43 strikeouts (12.4 K/9 and 36.4 K%) and was the primary closer for Elizabethton.  On the downside he was a year and a tad older than the league average, his BABIP was .213, and he was threepeating Elizabethton, but BABIP does not affect the strikeouts, he made the transition from Taiwan to the US as a teenager and that 36.4% K is impressive at any level, making me think that he actually got "it".  What is "it"?   A second above average pitch. Lo has had an above average to plus fastball with good downward movement, which can reach 94 mph or so, but the rest of his repertoire was hit and miss.  Reports out of Elizabethton have him throwing a "filthy" off-speed pitch, which sounds like an above average change up or slurve, but regardless, it is apparently effective.   Still have to see it in person, so I reserve judgement, but there is a lot of potential there to worth inclusion in this list.

Likely 2016 path:  Cedar Rapids Kernels' bullpen and co-closer

ETA: 2018

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