DSL Twins Starting Pitchers: All with impressive stats, but who are the top prospects?

by Justin & Joe on Aug 9, 2008 8:26 PM EDT

18 years old - Pedro Guerra: 2.05 ERA, .94 WHIP, 57 H in 70.1 IP with 63 Ks and 9 BB

20 - Eliecer Cardenas: 1.84 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 49 H in 58.2 IP with 55 Ks and 10 BB

17 - Adrian Salcedo: 1.40 ERA, .76 WHIP, 38 H in 57.2 IP with 39 Ks and 6 BB

21 - Ramon Acosta: 0.0 ERA, .64 WHIP, 26 H in in 54.2 IP with 35 Ks and 9 BB

Obviously the DSL is an extreme pitchers league, but still, Acosta was arguably the best pitcher in the league, and Salcedo the best 17 year old, with the other two not far behind.

Any information about their stuff?

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Comments

No one 20 or older in the DSL is really a prospect, unless they have some flat out sick stuff. Even with the younger guys looking at production isn’t necessarily a good way to see who is worth tracking. It is much more about scouting at such an unrefined level.

by aCone419 on Aug 10, 2008 12:57 AM EDT reply actions

Tyler Robertson

Off topic, but I figured the people who read this thread would know what’s up.

He hasnt pitched for a couple weeks now… anything wrong with him?

by alskor on Aug 10, 2008 3:16 AM EDT reply actions

They shut him down with shoulder soreness. I don’t know anything more than that.

by OldDutchPots on Aug 10, 2008 5:57 AM EDT up reply actions

that isn't a good sign with his motion

A lot of people have been predicting shoulder problems since he was drafted. You can’t trust those DSL players, look at Darwin De Leon or Edwar Reynoso. He can’t strikeout anyone in the states and probably won’t ever see the majors likely.

by Bravesin07 on Aug 10, 2008 7:40 AM EDT up reply actions

Robertson was getting pretty good results

Prior to this. I dont think its a stuff/cant get anyone out issue. More like a “I throw a nasty slider that my shoulder cant maintain” issue. Combine that with his “my fastball isnt all that” issues and he could really fall off a cliff when he reaches AA hitters who dont swing at every breaking ball off the plate. Im pretty worried now.

Here’s hoping for the best.

OldDutchpots – Thanks for the update. Much appreciated. I googled him every way I could think of and all I could find was optimistic stories from the start-mid of July.

by alskor on Aug 10, 2008 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions

crap

by alskor on Aug 10, 2008 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Robertson

He started long tossing today and he’s hoping to make it back for the playoffs. His long term ability to dominate is still in doubt so we’ll see how he progresses. There are certainly a lot of pitchers in the Twins system who hit a wall in AA (see Anthony Swarzak) and it all depends on whether they can adapt to more disciplined hitters. For the the guys you mentioned in the DSL, unless they’re racking up strikeouts I wouldn’t think any of them are much of a prospect. I’m assuming they’re all taking well to the Twins philosophy of throwing strikes and pitching to contact. Most of the hitters in that league should get themselves out more often than not against those type of pitchers. One or two of them could persevere and make it to the big leagues as a Blackburn type, but that’s unlikely.

Gardenhire's major league career: Banjo hitting, futility infielder who couldn't lick it.
Rick Anderson's major league career: Strikethrower who never made it happen with his sub 90's fastball.
Really gives a new definition to living vicariously through other people, don't it?

by caseintheface on Aug 10, 2008 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions

PED's

With the rate that players from the DSL are getting popped for PED suspensions related to AAS, I’d be leery of putting any faith in any of these players until they’ve replicated their performance without a positive test at a higher level.

by GuyinNY on Aug 15, 2008 9:49 AM EDT reply actions