Top 50 Twins Prospects 2009: #18 Carlos Gutierrez

2009 Top 50 Twins Prospects | #18 | Carlos Gutierrez

Position | Pitcher

Bats/Throws | Right/Right

Born | September 22, 1986 (Miami, Florida)

School | University of Miami

Height | 6'3''

Weight | 205 lbs.

2008 Ranking | Not Ranked




Breakdown
The Twins had three draft picks out of the first 31 picks in the 2008 draft. With the 27th pick, they chose to take Carlos Gutierrez out of the University of Miami, which at first caused quite an uproar throughout Twins Nation. The Twins took a college closer, who recently underwent Tommy John surgery despite locking up Joe Nathan for the foreseeable future just a few months before. He was considered one of the biggest head-scratchers on Draft Day, but he had a fantastic professional debut last season and quickly quieted all doubters. He and Ben Revere are both reasons why people should not be so quick to jump down the organization's throat for picking a player "experts" don't have being chosen until later. Gutierrez pitched very well and looked great in his professional debut, which was in Advanced-A Ft. Myers. And despite undergoing Tommy John Surgery, Gutierrez has had a very positive effect from it:

“I almost tell people to go get Tommy John surgery,” Gutierrez joked, “even if you don’t need it. That’s how good I feel.”

The Twins took Gutierrez knowing full well he really featured only one effective pitch, a nasty sinking-fastball which is commonly clocked in the mid 90's. In fact, his fastball is so good that Baseball America recently just named him as having the best fastball in the Twins minor league system. He's also been said to mix in a curveball, but it is not yet a fixture in his repertoire like his fastball is. The Twins intend on turning Gutierrez into a starter, which could be risky being that his innings have been limited since his surgery. But if successful, he could move through the system quickly like another heavy-fastball pitcher did a few years ago, Matt Garza. He'll need to continue to work on developing his other pitches if he wants to make it as a starter. With the pressing need of bullpen help at the major league level, the Twins could decide to pull the plug early if he struggles. But it will depend on how serious they are about him being a starter.

2008 Statistics

Level      W      L      ERA      IP      K      BB      WHIP      FIP

A+         3      1     2.10    25.2     19       7      1.17     2.65

2009 Outlook
With Gutierrez being transformed into a starter, he'll probably return to the Florida State League to start with the Ft. Myers Miracle. Both Beloit and New Britain are possibilities, although I'd say they're pretty slight.

Pitching Repertoire

• Fastball (Sinker)
  
• Curveball
  

Video
Not Available

Estimated Time of Arrival
2011

Top 50 Twins Prospects 2009: #19 Mike McCardell

2009 Top 50 Twins Prospects | #19 | Mike McCardell

Position | Pitcher

Bats/Throws | Right/Right

Born | April 13, 1985 (West Chester, Pennsylvania)

School | Kutztown University

Height | 6'5''

Weight | 220 lbs.

2008 Ranking | 29




Breakdown
Mike McCardell was drafted by the Twins in the 6th round of the 2007 draft. He spent all of the 2008 season in the Midwest League with the Beloit Snappers, dominating his opponents from start to finish. He was drafted after spending 4-years at Kutztown University, but the Twins still did not promote him last season despite the added experience. His scouting report on The Baseball Cube gives him these ratings:

Those numbers are great, and quite accurate. He showcased his great control by issuing just 25 walks in 135.1 innings last season. That's 1.7 walks per 9 innings. He struck out 139 batters as well, which is 9.2 strikeouts per 9 innings (actually down from 2007). He is a great pitcher who has flown under many people's radar his entire career. I like his chances of helping the Twins at some point in the next few years. He should be able to advance quickly through the system, but with the organization currently treating college pitchers like they do high school pitchers (promoting them slowly), it may be difficult. I think he has the potential to be a very capable middle-of-the-order starter in the majors.

2008 Statistics

Level      W     L     ERA     IP     K     BB     WHIP     FIP

A-         9     4    2.86  135.1   139     25     1.00    2.88

2009 Outlook
McCardell will probably be at the top of the Ft. Myers Miracle rotation this coming season. If the Twins come to their senses with some of their college pitchers, he could be in New Britain at some point this season.

Pitching Repertoire

• Fastball (2 & 4-seam)
  
• Curveball
• Change-up

Interview
Mike did an interview for the site back in June 2008. If you haven't seen it yet, make sure to check it out!

Video


Estimated Time of Arrival
2010

Thursday Links

Just thought I'd pass along a few links for people today...

• Over at Twin Cities Dugout, we are conducting the 4th annual Community Top 20 Prospect list. If you're interested, go post your list. Hard to believe this is the 4th list already.

• Over The Baggy looks into whether or not extending Jason Kubel was a good idea. Both Rob Neyer over ESPN and Dave Cameron of FanGraphs both believe it was a bad decision.

• Nick Nelson doesn't believe that Joe Crede is the solution. As much as I'd like to see us have a defensive whiz that is capable of driving in some runs, his analysis makes complete sense.

• Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune has reported that the Twins have broke-off negotiations with reliever Eric Gagne.

• Seth Stohs of Seth Speaks gives some great reasons why teams may look to unload some high-buck players early.

Top 50 Twins Prospects 2009: #20 Rene Tosoni

2009 Top 50 Twins Prospects | #20 | Rene Tosoni

Position | Outfield

Bats/Throws | Left/Right

Born | July 2, 1986 (Toronto, Ontario)

School | Chipola Junior College

Height | 6'0''

Weight | 194 lbs.

2008 Ranking | 30




Breakdown
Rene Tosoni was actually drafted by the Twins twice. Once in 2004 in the 34th round and again in the 36th round of the 2005 draft. Visa problems caused him to miss the entire 2006 season but he has been worth the troubles. He has stood out in each of his stops in the Twins system, helping propel three different teams in the playoffs. He has great fundamentals. He is a line drive hitter who doesn't have a ton of power, but drives the ball into the gaps. He can play each outfield position well, but looks to have a future as a corner outfielder in the pros. Other then playing in just a handful of games, he skipped Low-A Beloit and headed to Advanced-A Ft. Myers right after Spring Training last March. He had a great start in Ft. Myers, but a broken foot caused him to miss over 3 months of action. He returned to help the Miracle in the playoffs, but the injury might make him start in Ft. Myers for a second straight season.

2008 Statistics

Level      G     PA     AVG     OBP     SLG     XBH     HR     BB

 RK        2      6    .667    .667   1.167       1      1      0
 A+       42    170    .300    .408    .414      11      1     21

2009 Outlook
Although he only had 170 Plate Appearances in Ft. Myers last season, he played great and could warrant a promotion to New Britain if he has a good Spring Training. But he did missed 3 months last season season due to injury, so I predict he starts the season in Ft. Myers but is moved up to New Britain around mid-season.

Video


Estimated Time of Arrival
2010

Quick Blogging Note

For those that are using Internet Explorer, I am sorry if the format on some of my posts is funky. I personally use Firefox and everything looks fine through that. Again, sorry to IE users. I wasn't aware of the problem until just now (although I should have figured as my '2008 Top 50 MiLB Prospect' list was weird as well).

And for those of you that have contacted me on that topic, yes, I do plan on doing a '2009 Top 50 MiLB Prospects' list after I am finished with my ongoing Twins Prospect list. However, at this time I don't intend on doing it in the same format. Although, that could change...

Thanks for reading, and I appreciate all of the feedback I have received recently. Either negative or positive, I do love to hear what you have to say.

If you have anything to say, leave a comment or feel free to send me an email at JaJohnson021@yahoo.com.

Top 50 Twins Prospects 2009: #21 Steven Tolleson

2009 Top 50 Twins Prospects | #21 | Steven Tolleson

Position | Second Base, Shortstop

Bats/Throws | Right/Right

Born | November 1, 1983 (Spartanburg, South Carolina)

School | University of South Carolina

Height | 5'10''

Weight | 180 lbs.

2008 Ranking | 50




Breakdown
The Twins drafted Steven Tolleson in the 5th round of the 2005 draft. After putting up unspectacular numbers his previous 3 seasons in the Twins system, Tolleson opened a lot of people's eyes last year by putting up great numbers last season. He has a great eye at the plate which could make his arrival to Minnesota come sooner rather than later. He primarily plays shortstop but is often seen playing second base as well. He also played center field last season, but that might just be because of New Britain's strategy of rotating players around to different positions. He reminds me a lot Twins' infielder Matt Tolbert who also plays multiple positions and can also hit pretty good as well. With that said, I think Tolleson's ceiling may be as a utility player, but we all know how much the Twins value utility players (meaning he'll likely get a few starts). He plays sound, fundamental baseball and should be able to stick in our organization for a while.

2008 Statistics

Level      G     PA     AVG     OBP     SLG     XBH     HR     BB

AA        93    397    .300    .382    .466      38      9     44

2009 Outlook
Tolleson without a doubt should begin the 2009 season with the Rochester Red Wings. Whether it is in the middle infield or the outfield, he will be donning a Red Wings jersey. He could make it up to Minnesota at some point in the season.

Video


Estimated Time of Arrival
2009

Top 50 Twins Prospects 2009: #23 Alex Burnett

2009 Top 50 Twins Prospects | #23 | Alex Burnett

Position | Pitcher

Bats/Throws | Right/Right

Born | July 26, 1987 (Anaheim, California)

School | Ocean View High School

Height | 6'0''

Weight | 190 lbs.

2008 Ranking | 21




Breakdown
Alex Burnett was taken by the Twins in the 12th round of the 2005 draft. He has thrown a lot of innings in his first 68 professional starts (not including his 3 relief appearances). He averages 5.4 innings per start which may not seem like a lot, but it adds up. Burnett's K/9 ratio has decreased upon arrival at each stop. But on a bright note, he did make adjustments mid-season in 2008 by improving a 3.87 K/9 ratio in the first half to a 6.57 K/9 ratio in the second half of the season. The Twins may look to send him back to Ft. Myers in 2009 to continue to work on his strikeout ratio. If he can raise his K numbers without letting it negatively effect his other numbers, he could shoot up the prospect charts.

2008 Statistics

Level      W     L     ERA     IP      K     BB     WHIP     FIP

A+        8      6    3.76   143.6    84     36    1.30     3.97

2009 Outlook
Burnett has pitched great in each of his first 3 stops in the Twins minor league. He's still very young and they may decide to move him northward to New Britain, but returning to Ft. Myers is not at all out of the question. I think a lot will depend on how strong New Britain's rotation is compared to Ft. Myers. Regardless, he should be starting in one of the two locations

Pitching Repertoire

• Fastball
  
• Curveball
• Change-up

Video


Estimated Time of Arrival
2011

Top 50 Twins Prospects 2009: #24 Philip Humber

2009 Top 50 Twins Propsects | #24 | Philip Humber

Position | Pitcher

Bats/Throws | Right/Right

Brown | December 21, 1982 (Nacogdoches, Texas)

School | Rice University

Height | 6'4''

Weight | 225 lbs.

2008 Ranking | 9




Breakdown
Philip Humber was drafted in the 1st round of the 2004 draft by the New York Mets. After 3 seasons with the Mets, he was traded in early 2008 to the Twins along with 3 other players in the Johan Santana trade. He had a hard time adjusting to the Twins system early in 2008, but he finished the season off strong in both Triple-A Rochester and with the Minnesota Twins. He still has not gained back his form since undergoing Tommy John Surgery in 2005. He does have a great curveball, which is slowly but surely regaining its same effectiveness. Although he's been a starter for most of his career, the bullpen may be where his calling is. It will all come down to Spring Training. If Humber pitches like he did in the last two months of the 2007 season, he should be able to find a spot in the Twins' bullpen. There is still a chance (although I'd call it very slight) that he could crack the rotation should Glen Perkins struggles this Spring (or if there's an injury).

2008 Statistics

Level      W     L     ERA     IP     K     BB     WHIP     FIP

AAA       10     8    4.56   136.1   106    49     1.42    4.86
MLB        0     0    4.63    11.2    6      5     1.37    8.10

2009 Outlook
If Humber doesn't start the season with the big league club, he will be placed on waivers and there's no doubt that he'll likely be claimed. This is Humber's really only second chance, but it could be his last to make an impression on the Twins. He will likely be competing with Boof Bonser and Jason Jones for a bullpen spot. He will likely receive a couple starts as well and could have a shot to crack the rotation if anyone struggles. But I think his best chance to make the roster is through the bullpen.

Pitching Repertoire

• Fastball
  
• Curveball
• Change-up

Video


Estimated Time of Arrival
2008

Top 50 Twins Prospects 2009: #25 Brian Duensing

2009 Top 50 Twins Prospects | #25 | Brian Duensing

Position | Pitcher

Bats/Left | Left/Left

Born | February 22, 1983 (Omaha, Nebraska)

School | University of Nebraska

Height | 5'11''

Weight | 210 lbs.

2008 Ranking | 11




Breakdown
Brian Duensing was selected by the Twins in the 3rd round of the 2005 draft. Despite a down 2008 season, he has posted good numbers in each of his stops in the Twins system. He has good control and is known as a great competitor. He has good pitching mechanics and really has nothing left to prove in the minor leagues. The Twins added him to the 40-man roster which means that there's a good chance that we will see him in Minnesota at some point this next season. Unfortunately for Duensing, he doesn't seem to fit in long-term with this ball club unless it is in a bullpen role. If Craig Breslow struggles, the Twins may pull the plug on him and turn to Duensing as a left-handed reliever in the bullpen.

2008 Statistics

Level      W     L     ERA     IP     K     BB     WHIP     FIP

AAA        5    11    4.28   138.2   77     34     1.33    4.43

2009 Outlook
If there is an injury, Duensing will likely be the first option for the Twins out of AAA Rochester. Although they have Kevin Mulvey & Anthony Swarzak also close to the majors, Duensing has put in the time and effort and I believe the Twins will reward him this season.

Pitching Repertoire

• Fastball (2 & 4-seam)
  
• Curveball
• Change-up
• Slider

Video
Not Available

Estimated Time of Arrival
2009

Top 50 Twins Prospects 2009: #26 David Bromberg

2009 Top 50 Twins Prospects | #26 | David Bromberg

Position | Pitcher

Bats/Throws | Left/Right

Born | September 14, 1987 (Santa Monica, California)

School | Santa Ana Community College

Height | 6'5''

Weight | 241 lbs.

2008 Ranking | 26




Breakdown
The Twins drafted David Bromberg in the 32nd round of the 2005 draft. He started last season giving up around 3.9 BB/9 but after the All-Star Break, he gave up only 2.7 BB/9, which was a considerable improvement. Unfortunately, while cutting down on his walks, he became very hittable. At this point, he reminds me a lot of a young Daniel Cabrera who had erratic control but good strikeout numbers (not so much the case with Cabrera anymore, at least the strikeout numbers). Bromberg lead all of the minor leagues with 177 strikeouts last season, even though he was nowhere nearly as dominant as he was in 2007, that is outstanding for any level and a big reason for optimism. I like Bromberg a lot, I look forward to seeing him in Ft. Myers this season. He should fair well in the Florida State League.

2008 Statistics

Level      G     W     L     ERA     IP     K     BB     WHIP

A-        27     9    10    4.44   150.0   177     54    1.35

2009 Outlook
He's still young but after having an overall successful season in Single-A Beloit, I expect him to be in High-A Ft. Myers this season.

Pitching Repertoire

• Fastball
  
• Curveball
• Change-up
• Slider
  

Video


Estimated Time of Arrival
2012

Top 50 Twins Prospects 2009: #27 Joe Benson

2009 Top 50 Twins Prospects | #27 | Joe Benson

Position | Outfield

Bats/Throws | Right/Right

Born | March 5, 1988 (Hinsdale, Illinois)

School | Catholic Academy

Height | 6'2''

Weight | 211 lbs.

2008 Ranking | 12




Breakdown
Joe Benson was drafted by the Twins in the 2nd round of the 2006 draft. He's one of the best all-around athletes in the entire system. He was a highly touted football prospect before he was drafted but decided to go through with Baseball instead. Although he played a lot of the time at catcher in his high school days, he has primarily played center field due to his athleticism so far in the pros. Benson has the potential to be a 5-tool player, but he has yet to show any of it at the plate. After spending the last two seasons in Beloit, he still hasn't really given the organization a reason to move him up. He is a very raw player who still has a lot to learn. He will only be 21-years-old in 2009, so there is still plenty of time for him to turn the ship forward. His 2008 season was cut short by a back injury but he was making improvements in the power department which is great to see. Hopefully he can start cutting down on his strikeouts and increase his on-base percentage.

2008 Statistics

Level      G     PA     AVG     OBP     SLG     XBH     HR     SO

A-        69    290    .248    .326    .382      23      4     73

2009 Outlook
He's still young enough, so sending him back for a third season at Beloit may still be an option. It will all depend on his Spring Training results. The FSL is tough on hitters, so he'll have a tough task ahead if Ft. Myers is his destination.

Video


Estimated Time of Arrival
2012

Top 50 Twins Prospects 2009: #28 Dustin Martin

2009 Top 50 Twins Prospects | #28 | Dustin Martin

Position | Outfield

Bats/Throws | Left/Left

Born | April 4, 1984 (Burnet, Texas)

School | Sam Houston State

Height | 6'2''

Weight | 210 lbs.

2008 Ranking | 36




Breakdown
Dustin Martin was drafted in the 26th round of the 2006 draft by the New York Mets. Martin along with catcher Drew Butera were traded during the middle of the 2007 season to the Twins in exchange for second baseman Luis Castillo. Since arriving, Martin has been a solid all-around player for both the Ft. Myers Miracle and New Britain Rock Cats. He's shown good defense and a good bat in each stop, thus far. He likely fits the mold of a #4 outfielder. He can play all three outfield spots. If Martin were a couple years younger, he'd likely be a top 10 prospect. However, he'll be 25 at the beginning of the 2009 season and has yet to take an AB above the Double-A level.

2008 Statistics

Level      G     PA     AVG     OBP     SLG     XBH     HR     RBI

AA       133    573    .290    .355    .447      52     10      72

2009 Outlook
I expect Martin to be in Rochester this coming season. He might be moved to left field or right field if Jason Pridie is back in center. But regardless, Martin should be manning one of the three outfield spots for the Red Wings come 2009. Could be a September call-up for the Twins.

Video


Estimated Time of Arrival
2009

Twins, Jason Kubel agree to two-year deal

After a breakout 2008 season, the Twins rewarded Kubel with a two-year contract extension.La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported today that the Twins and designated hitter Jason Kubel have agreed to a two-year deal with a club option for a 3rd year. The two-year deal buys out the last two years of Kubel's arbitration and the option would buy out his first year of arbitration. The terms of the deal haven't been announced, but I'm sure it's around $8 million with a $8 million option for 2011, which could make it a 3-year $16 million deal. The deal is not finalized yet, but it's said to be just a physical and a few signatures away from being a done deal.

Kubel, 26, had a breakout year last season compiling a hitting line of .272/.335/.471 with 20 home runs, 78 RBI and a 120 OPS+. Kubel has battled knee problems ever since he hurt his knee in the 2004 Arizona Fall League which caused him to miss the entire 2005 season and much of the 2006 season was spent between Minnesota and Triple-A Rochester. In 2006, he had a lingering sore knee problem throughout the season which caused him to miss nearly 40 games. Finally last season, Kubel remained healthy throughout the season and finally delivered.

Kubel was at one time considered a top prospect and was considered to be one of the best pure hitters to come through the system and was destined to join fellow left-handed sluggers Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer in the Twins lineup for years to come. It's better late than never, and it's great to see that Kubel will be in a Twins uniform for a few more seasons. I can't wait to see how he performs next season while continuing to have the bulk of the Designated Hitting duties.

I'm not sure what the deal is for, but the point is that the Twins have money that they can use right now to lock some of their young players up long term, and I just hope that they continue to explore contract extrensions for other players.

Top 50 Twins Prospects 2009: #29 Erik Lis

2009 Top 50 Twins Prospects | #29 | Erik Lis

Position | Outfield

Bats/Throws | Left/Left

Born | March 8, 1984 (Palos, Illinois)

School | University of Evansville

Height | 6'1''

Weight | 220 lbs.

2008 Ranking | 19




Breakdown
Erik Lis was taken by the Twins in the 9th round of the 2005 draft. He had a very successful collegiate career at the University of Evansville and has been a consistent performer in the Twins system since he was drafted. His bat is in the mold of Lyle Overbay's of the Toronto Blue Jays, in otherwords, he's a strong linedrive hitter who hits a lot of doubles. Lis does struggle with his plate discipline, having a 3.44 K/BB ratio in 2008. Even though he was drafted out of college, the Twins have been slow to advance him through the system due to his defense, which is probably his biggest downfall. Once a former first baseman, Lis spends most of his time in left field and at DH. Unfortunately, he's not much better in the outfield as he is at first base. If Lis makes it to the majors, which he should, he'll likely be a bench bat or designated hitter.

2008 Statistics

Level      G     PA     AVG     OBP     SLG     XBH     HR     RBI

AA       105    437    .277    .31     .462      50     11      51

2009 Outlook
Lis will more than likely be in Rochester this coming season, the only question is, at what position? Despite his questions on defense, his bat is what has and will continue to carry him through the system.

Video


Estimated Time of Arrival
2009

Twins closing in on a reliever?

The Twins bullpen was tied for 17th in baseball with 27 loses last season, including 23 blown saves which was tied for 16th in baseball.According to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, he was told by a "source" that the Minnesota Twins and Eric Gagne are close to a deal that would bring Gagne to the Twins as a setup man. Another source debunked that rumor and said that the Twins were close with a "handful of relievers" and that nothing with Gagne nor his agent were close.

Gagne, 33, has spent time with 4 different organizations in the last 3 seasons. At one time, Gagne was the best closer in baseball and even won the 2003 National League Cy Young Award. Following his second Tommy John Surgery of his career in 2005, Gagne has had a hard time re-gaining his old form. He has shown flashes of great pitching, but nothing substantial enough to warrant enough optimism that he'll really ever regain it.

He has been putrid in the last year-and-a-half with both the Boston Red Sox and Milwaukee Brewers, although he did have a good second half with the Brewers. He had a 1.00 WHIP and a .205 BAA to go along with a 3.52 ERA in 23 innings after the All-Star Break.

In December of 2007, Gagne's name came up in the infamous "Mitchel Report." In it, he was accused of using Human Growth Hormone. His numbers with the Dodgers sure could back that up, but it's hard to say after he underwent a second Tommy John Surgery within the last 10 years.

The Twins are probably interested in a $3-4 million deal, which one could argue is a huge mistake or a very good low-risk, high-reward kind of deal. I'll leave that decision up to you. I personally can understand both sides of the argument.

The Twins have also been linked to former Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Brandon Lyon as well. However, La Velle E. Neal doesn't believe that the Twins are one of the teams that have reportedly made him an offer worth $9 million over 2 years. That deal makes a little more sense in that Lyon's numbers have been much more stable in the past couple years than Gagne's, but with relievers like Rob Delaney and Anthony Slama presumely one a year away from making it to the majors, signing a guy for 2-years when we should be trying to re-sign other players, makes a little less sense.

But really, the Twins need to do something. Of course we can try counting on Matt Guerrier having a better season and seeing an improvement from Jesse Crain and/or Boof Bonser, but the Twins need to reassure that the bullpen does not become their achilles heal in 2009 like it was for them in 2008. Luckily the Twins have a lot of in-house options. As long as they're better than last season, I don't care who's in the bullpen.

Top 50 Twins Prospects 2009: #30 David Winfree

2009 Top 50 Twins Prospects | #30 | David Winfree

Position | Outfield

Bats/Throws | Right/Right

Born | August 5, 1985 (Virginia Beach, Virginia)

School | First Colonial High School

Height | 6'3''

Weight | 215 lbs.

2008 Ranking | 25




Breakdown
David Winfree was drafted in the 13th round of the 2003 draft. He is a corner-infielder turned corner-outfielder after he proved to be a defensive liability at both first and third base. Winfree is a proven run producer at the plate, but he does not get on base at a very high average. On the bright side, last season Winfree did cut down on his strikeouts and increased his walk-rate considerably from 2007. He doesn't seem to be a likely fit in the outfield at the major league level and probably will end up as a bench bat unless he continues to improve his on-base percentage. Winfree has good enough power though to potentially make some teams look past his on-base problems. We will see how he plays next season in the outfield. It's pretty safe to say that his days in the infield are behind him so if he wants to make it to the majors he will have to do it either as an outfielder or as a Designated Hitter. Unfortunately for Winfree, both of those positions have quite a bit of depth and are currently filled for the foreseeable future.

2008 Statistics

Level       G     PA     AVG     OBP     SLG     XBH     HR     RBI

AA        126    502    .252    .319    .450      49     19      87

2009 Outlook
If he has a good spring training, Winfree should be wearing a Red Wings uniform this season. Winfree has spent the last two seasons in the Eastern League, compiling nearly 1,000 plate appearances in that time. He is still young enough to keep him there, but if there is room in Rochester I really don't see why they would.

Video
None

Estimated Time of Arrival
2010

Top 50 Twins Prospects 2009: #31 Steve Singleton

2009 Top 50 Twins Prospects | #31 | Steve Singleton

Position | Second Base

Bats/Throws | Left/Right

Born | September 12, 1985 (San Francisco, California)

School | University of San Diego

Height | 5'11''

Weight | 189 lbs.

2008 Ranking | Not Ranked





Breakdown
The Twins selected Steve Singleton in the 11th round in the 2006 draft. He attended the University of San Diego for 3 seasons and .363 in his junior year, he decided to sign with the Twins. He has outstanding patience at the plate and is an all-around good hitter. He also is solid defensively. Unfortunately for Singleton, he's been stuck behind Brian Dinkelman since he's been with the Twins, so he'll likely have to continue waiting for Dinkelman in the future. Even after a great half-season with the Miracle, I wouldn't be surprised to see him back in the Ft. Myers infield come 2009. I do see him in New Britain by mid-season. He deserves to be promoted, but the Rock Cats might now have the room. Still, it'd be a good idea to push him forward a little as the Twins middle infield depth is pretty dismal with exception of a few, Singleton being one of them.

2008 Statistics

Level      G     PA     AVG     OBP     SLG     XBH     HR     BB

A-        65    235    .302    .348    .421      14      6     13
A+        62    241    .295    .371    .452      26      5     26

2009 Outlook
Will probably start the season in Ft. Myers, but probably will be in New Britain by mid-season.

Video


Estimated Time of Arrival
2010

The Twins need to re-sign Joe Mauer, now!

"This one's special, and special steps should be taken" - Jim Souhan, Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Jim Souhan wrote a great article about why the Twins should re-sign Joe Mauer right now. It makes total sense and I agree 100% with the article. We have the money right now and with the new stadium opening in just over a year, the Twins will have more than enough money to add on a good $10 million to just Mauer alone. Of course there are other players that need to be re-signed as well and other player's salaries that will get larger, but the Twins cannot afford to lose Mauer.

Mauer's value is sky-high right now, but I don't really seeing it going down anytime soon. With the economy the way it is right now, teams need to take extra precaution when they sign players to long-term, expensive deals. But I just don't want to see the Twins make the same mistake with Mauer like they did with Johan Santana a few years ago. Had we had really made a hard attempt to re-sign Santana a year earlier than we did, he probably would still be in a Twins uniform. Of course it would probably still be a deal worth an excess of $100 million, but the Twins probably could have gotten him to sign for well under what the Mets shelled out.

On the other side of it, like Souhan said, had the Twins traded Santana a year earlier too, we probably would have gotten a king's ransom in return (ei. Jacoby Ellsbury & Jon Lester, Clayton Kershaw & Matt Kemp, Jose Reyes, etc.) but like Souhan said, it would have been very unpopular given that the Twins were contenders and were just coming off of one of the greatest comebacks in the history of baseball to win the division on the last day of the year.

I'm in no way suggesting that we trade Mauer, but I am just bring it to the attention that the Twins cannot wait until it gets too late with Mauer, because like Souhan said, "this one's special."

Top 50 Twins Prospects 2009: #32 Dan Osterbrock

2009 Top 50 Twins Prospects | #32 | Dan Osterbrock

Position | Pitcher

Bats/Throws | Right/Left

Born | January 27, 1987 (Cincinnati, Ohio)

School | University of Cincinnati

Height | 6'3''

Weight | 190 lbs.

2008 Ranking | Not Ranked




Breakdown
The Twins drafted Dan Osterbrock in the 7th round of the 2008 draft. He had a very successful career with the Cincinnati Bearcats, but he's been even better as a Twin. He had a 13/1 K/BB ratio in his first season of Rookie Ball. Osterbrock has oustanding control on his pitches and has a great arsenal of pitches in which he's in able to use at any time. Here are his Scouting Report from The Baseball Cube:

Osterbrock will probably spend most (if not all) of the 2009 season in the Midwest League, but he is a guy to keep an eye on to jump a level or two per season the rest of the way through the system. He is a very polished pither and it will be interesting to see the way he plays in full season league like the Midwest League.

2008 Statistics

Level      W      L      ERA      IP      K      BB      WHIP      FIP

R          7      2     3.00    75.0    104       8      1.04     2.08

2009 Outlook
Osterbrock will start the 2009 season in Beloit. With the plethora of pitching expected in Ft. Myers, he'll probably stay in the Midwest League for the entire season.

Pitching Repertoire

• Fastball
  
• Curveball
• Slider
  
• Change-up

Video
None

Estimated Time of Arrival
2012

Top 50 Twins Prospects 2009: #33 Tyler Ladendorf

2009 Top 50 Twins Prospects | #33 | Tyler Ladendorf

Position | Shortstop

Bats/Throws | Right/Right

Born | March 7, 1988 (Des Plaines, Illinois)

School | Howard College

Height | 6'0''

Weight | 185 lbs.

2008 Ranking | Not Ranked





Breakdown
The Twins selected Tyler Ladendorf in the second round of the 2008 draft. Heading into the draft, he was regarded as one of the best JUCO players in the country. He hit .542 with 29 doubles, 5 triples, 16 home runs and 83 RBI in 53 games his Sophomore season at Howard College. He has a lot of pop in his bat, unfortunately he struggled in his first go-around in pro ball which is why he is ranked this low. He has a good glove and is a solid all-around player. Some believe that he may have to move to third base eventually, but at this time he's going to be used as a shortstop. I like Ladendorf a lot and I think that his good defense and strong eye at the plate may give the Twins a reason to move him to Beloit after 175 disappointing plate appearances in the GCL. If he struggles in Spring Training, he will probably be held in Extended Spring Training and will later head to Elizabethton, but if he succeeds, he could be in Beloit on opening day.

2008 Statistics

Level      G     PA     AVG     OBP     SLG     XBH     HR     BB

R         45    175    .204    .308    .293      10      1     17

2009 Outlook
Spring Training will probably decide Ladendorf's destination, hopefully he is in Beloit coming opening day.

Interview
Tyler answered some questions for the site back in June of 2008. Click here to view it.

Video
None

Estimated Time of Arrival
2012

Top 50 Twins Prospects 2009: #34 Cole Devries

2009 Top 50 Twins Prospects | #34 | Cole Devries

Position | Pitcher

Bats/Throws | Right/Right

Born | February 12, 1985 (Eden Prairie, Minnesota)

School | University of Minnesota

Height | 6'2''

Weight | 185 lbs.

2008 Ranking | 42




Breakdown
The Twins signed Minnesota-native Cole Devries as a non-drafted free agent prior to the 2007 season. He attended the University of Minnesota and posted a 7-3 record with a 2.42 ERA in his final season. He played all of 2007 in the Midwest League with the Beloit Snappers and had a pretty strong campaign going 9-5 with a 3.41 ERA in 27 games for the Snappers. Last season, his WHIP, K's, and walks were nearly identical to that of 2007. He gave up 17 home runs in 2007 but gave up just 8 in 2008. He also had no wild pitches which is pretty outstanding considering he pitched over 135 innings. Devries has great control and although many don't believe he has the "stuff" to make it to the majors (which is why he wasn't drafted), it's hard to argue with the success he has had these last two years. I really like Devries and I think he'll be able to help the Twins in some capacity within the next year or two.

2008 Statistics

Level      W      L      ERA      IP      K      BB      WHIP      FIP

A+        10      9     2.93   135.1    105      38      1.30     3.35

2009 Outlook
Devries showed that the Florida State League was no match for him last season, so he should spend most of the season in New Britain come 2009.

Pitching Repertoire

• Fastball
  
• Curveball
• Change-up

Video


Estimated Time of Arrival
2010

Top 50 Twins Prospects 2009: #35 D.J. Romero

2009 Top 50 Twins Prospects | #35 | D.J. Romero

Position | Third Base

Bats/Throws | Right/Right

Born | September 24, 1986 (Perdernales, Dominican Republic)

School | N/A

Height | 6'0''

Weight | 195 lbs.

2008 Ranking | 24





Breakdown
Deibinson Romero signed with the Twins as a non-drafted free agent in the summer of 2004 as a 17-year-old. He spent all of the 2005 season in the Dominican Summer League and then made his way to the states in 2006. He had a great two-season stint in the Twins rookie leagues combining to hit .314/.390/.487 in 423 AB's between the two stops. Besides having a great bat, he also has great defense, making difficult plays at shortstop look easy with a good glove and a strong arm. Prior to the 2008 season, Baseball America posted their "Best Tools" for the Twins System and Romero ranked best as both the "Best Defensive Infielder" and as the "Best Infielder Arm" in the Twins system. Unfortunately for Romero, he really took a step back in 2008. He had two serious leg injuries. He injured his left leg on April 28th and didn't return until June 18th. The then went on to fracture his right leg in July and was lost the rest of the season. The injury occured when Romero was making a sensational catch in foul territory over the dugout. Despite the injuries, the Twins added Romero to their 40-man roster prior to the 2009 season. He still has plenty of upside, and if he can prove to be healthy in 2009, he could really make up ground on prospect charts.

2008 Statistics

Level      G     PA     AVG     OBP     SLG     XBH     HR     RBI

A-        40    162    .268    .309    .396      12      3      18

2009 Outlook
Romero will most likely be starting the season with the Beloit Snappers but if he proves he's 100% recovered, he may move up to Ft. Myers mid-season.

Video


Estimated Time of Arrival
2012

Top 50 Twins Prospects 2009: #36 Brian Dinkelman

2009 Top 50 Twins Prospects | #36 | Brian Dinkelman

Position | Second Base

Bats/Throws | Left/Right

Born | November 10, 1983 (Centralia, Illinois)

School | McKendree College

Height | 5'11''

Weight | 195 lbs.

2008 Ranking | 41





Breakdown
The Twins drafted Brian Dinkelman in the 8th round of the 2006 draft. He is not an outstanding player by any means, but he fits the Twins mold by showing that he has good defense with good discipline at the plate. Since second base is in no way locked for the future, with a strong 2009 campaign he could very well be starting at second base in 2010. Of course that may be thinking too optimistically, but I love Dinkelman's approach at the plate and I think he has a strong enough bat to someday make him a fine second baseman. He doesn't hit for much power, but he does drive the ball which is evident by his 40 extra-base hits in 2008 (only 4 of which were home runs). In his career, he has a 119/158 BB/K ratio (1.33 strikeouts per walk). He is just an all-around solid player and despite his age, I still like his chances of someday helping the Twins.

2008 Statistics

Level      G     PA     AVG     OBP     SLG     XBH     HR     BB

A+        63    274    .293    .399    .414      22      2     33
AA        52    216    .247    .299    .369      18      2     10

2009 Outlook
Brian Dinkelman will more than likely be in New Britain come 2009, but I expect him in Rochester by mid-season.

Video


Estimated Time of Arrival
2010

Top 50 Twins Prospects 2009: #37 Bobby Lanigan

2009 Top 50 Twins Prospects | #37 | Bobby Lanigan

Position | Pitcher

Bats/Throws | Right/Right

Born | May 5, 1987 (Staten Island, New York)

School | Adelphi University

Height | 6'4''

Weight | 220 lbs.

2008 Ranking | Not Ranked




Breakdown
The Twins drafted Bobby Lanigan in the 3rd round of the 2008 draft. He was the 3rd college pitcher taken by the Twins, and like the others he has a very bright future ahead of him. Lanigan attended little known private school Adelphi University in Long Island. After setting records there, the Twins felt Lanigan was worth a high pick, and it looks like it may pay off. He has a smooth delivery and has great command. He throws in the low 90's with his fastball, but his slider is his bread-and-butter. Many scouts feel Lanigan's mechanics are good enough to put him on a fast-track to the majors. We'll see how he fairs in a full-season league like the Midwest League. The only thing that could be blocking him from advancing is a lockjam of starters in Ft. Myers.

2008 Statistics

Level      W      L      ERA      IP      K      BB      WHIP      FIP

R          6      5     2.78    74.1     65       9      1.12     2.81

2009 Outlook
I expect Lanigan to be in Beloit with the Snappers for most (if not all) of the 2009 season. When drafted, teams knew he has a good chance of making it to the majors quickly, so perhaps he could make his way up to Ft. Myers if all goes well.

Pitching Repertoire

• Fastball
  
• Slider
• Change-up

Video
None

Estimated Time of Arrival
2011

Top 50 Twins Prospects 2009: #38 B.J. Hermsen

2009 Top 50 Twins Prospects | #38 | B.J. Hermsen

Position | Pitcher

Bats/Throws | Right/Right

Born | December 1, 1989 (Masonville, Iowa)

School | West Delaware High School

Height | 6'6''

Weight | 230 lbs.

2008 Ranking | Not Ranked




Breakdown
The Twins drafted B.J. Hermsen in the 6th round of last June's draft. He was a surprise to sign after committing to Oregon State to play baseball. Hermsen is very athletic. He played baseball, basketball and football in high school and was recruited in all. He was considered by many to be one of the most advanced high school arms in the draft, showing great command on both of his fastballs and his curveball. He throws in the low-90's at this time, but with his size, many predict he'll be in the mid-90's in a few years. In his senior year, he was 10-0 with a 0.63 ERA in 66.2 innings. He also had a 14.3 K/BB ratio (129/9). He has a lot of potential, which is why the Twins decided to give him a $650,000 signing bonus. For comparisons, 2nd round pick Tyler Ladendorf signed for $673,000 and 3rd round pick Bobby Lanigan signed for $417,000. Although he is advanced for his age, I expect to see the Twins handle him slowly at least in the beginning of his career. He's ranked this low solely on the fact that he hasn't pitched in the regular season yet, but he's a personal favorite of mine and I expect him to shoot up the rankings next year.

2008 Statistics

Not Available (Signed Late)

2009 Outlook
Although advanced for his age, he is still very young. I expect we'll see him in Rookie Ball come June. Most likely Elizabethton.

Pitching Repertoire

• 2-Seam Fastball
• 4-Seam Fastball
  
• Curveball
• Change-up

Video (Best I could do)

B.J. Hermsen, Gazette Athlete of the Year from GazetteOnline.com on Vimeo.

Estimated Time of Arrival
2014

Top 50 Twins Prospects 2009: #39 Daniel Ortiz

2009 Top 50 Twins Prospects | #39 | Daniel Ortiz

Position | Outfield

Bats/Throws | Left/Left

Born | January 5, 1990 (Cayey, Puerto Rico)

School | Benjamin Harrison High School

Height | 5'11''

Weight | 166 lbs.

2008 Ranking | Not Ranked





Breakdown
The Twins shocked the world when they drafted yet another "toolsy" outfielder in the 4th round of last June's draft. In the last few years, Joe Benson, Angel Morales, Ben Revere, Aaron Hicks and others have been drafted highly and all have quite a few tools that could make them something special someday. The same can be said about Daniel Ortiz. Ortiz at just 5-feet 11-inches packs quite a punch in his bat. In fact, many scouting reports believe he has the potential to be a five-tool player, including hitting power. He has both great speed and a great glove. Ortiz can be added to the list of high-ceiling outfielders. He (like the others) will take time to develop his skills, so the Twins will need to be patient. I expect we won't see him in Beloit until 2010. But (like always) injuries can change everything.

2008 Statistics

Level      G     PA     AVG     OBP     SLG     XBH     HR     RBI

R         48    205    .274    .328    .419      18      2      27

2009 Outlook
I expect to see Ortiz in extended spring training and with the Elizabethton Twins come June.

Video
None

Estimated Time of Arrival
2014

Top 50 Twins Prospects 2009: #40 Jay Rainville

2009 Top 50 Twins Prospects | #40 | Jay Rainville

Position | Pitcher

Bats/Throws | Right/Right

Born | October 16, 1985 (Providence, Rhode Island)

School | Bishop Hendricken High School

Height | 6'3''

Weight | 230 lbs.

2008 Ranking | 19




Breakdown
The Twins drafted Rainville with the 39th pick of the first round (compensatory round) in the 2004 draft. Rainville was one of 4 pitchers taken in the first round by the Twins, as the club had 5 choices in the first 39 picks. Rainville was one of the highest touted high school pitchers in the draft, mainly due to his "bulldog" mentality on the mound and his blazing fastball, both of which reminded scouts of baseball legend Roger Clemens. Unfortunately, a nerve problem in his shoulder costed him the entire 2006 season. After returning in 2007, he put up good numbers in the Florida State League, finishing 9-11 with a 3.25 ERA and a 3.5 K/BB ratio. 2008 was a different story, he had a much harder time adjusting to the Eastern League and was sent back to Ft. Myers to work out his kinks with the Miracle. He did, but upon return still wasn't very good. Rainville hasn't been able to regain his mid-high 90's fastball since returning from surgery, but if he does, he could be a player to watch fly up the prospect charts. I don't know if he fits in as a potential starter long-term, but since he is a "workhorse" it's hard to imagine a switch to the bullpen at this time.

2008 Statistics

Level      W      L      ERA      IP      K      BB      WHIP      FIP

A+         1      1     2.87    15.2     13       3      1.02     2.94
AA         9      9     5.78   123.0     83      44      1.52     5.44

2009 Outlook
Rainville has proven to have what it takes to pitch in the Florida State League, now it is time for him to show if he has what it takes to pitch in the Eastern League. I expect him to be in New Britain with the Rock Cats in 2009.

Pitching Repertoire

• Fastball
  
• Curveball
• Change-up

Video


Estimated Time of Arrival
2011