2010 Top 20 Minnesota Twins Prospects in Review
Here is a review of the 2010 Twins prospect list, originally published October 19, 2009. THIS IS A REVIEW OF THE OLD LIST AND PRE-SEASON GRADES. THIS IS NOT A NEW LIST. The new list with new grades won't be ready until I start writing the 2011 book.
1) Aaron Hicks, OF, Grade B+: Hitting .270/.388/.411 with 65 walks, 14 steals in 24 attempts for Low-A Beloit. Got off to a slow start, has hit better over the last month. Draws a lot of walks, but also strikes out a lot and power hasn't blossomed. Still young, but stock has dropped a bit.
2) Ben Revere, OF, Grade B: Hitting .297/.363/.349 for Double-A New Britain, 31 steals. Still hitting for a good average and showing speed, but lack of power is obvious and could end up being a significant handicap. Stock flat to slightly down.
3) Kyle Gibson, RHP, Grade B-: Brilliant run in High-A (1.87 ERA in seven starts) resulted in Double-A promotion, where he's been inconsistent, with a 3.81 ERA and a 66/21 K/BB in 80 innings. Gets lots of grounders, a successful season but not as spectacular as it looked at first.
4) Wilson Ramos, C, Grade B-: .241/.280/.345 in Triple-A, went 8-for-27 in major league trial. Looks very strong defensively but poor plate discipline holds bat back. Traded to Washington Nationals.
5) Adrian Salcedo, RHP, Grade B-: Got killed in six starts for High-A Fort Myers, but he's just 19. Sent back to Appy League and has pitched well, 3.16 ERA in eight starts with 55/6 K/BB in 51 innings.
6) Billy Bullock, RHP, Grade B-: 21 saves, 3.72 ERA with 76/35 K/BB in 56 innings between High-A and Double-A. Needs to get the walks down, but overpowering.
7) Angel Morales, OF, Grade C+ Hitting a combined .285/.365/.416 between Low-A and High-A, with 24 steals. Slugged .474 at Beloit but just .333 at Fort Myers. Plate discipline remains his biggest problem.
8) Danny Valencia, 3B, Grade C+: Hit .292/.347/.373 for Triple-A Rochester, then .388/.442/.495 in 33 games so far for the Twins. He's not really that good, but this performance ensures he'll get plenty of chances.
9) Chris Parmalee, OF-1B, Grade C+: .338/.430/.463 for Fort Myers in 22 games, .271/.328/.395 in 78 games for New Britain, although he has been very hot in July. Sharp platoon split stands out.
10) Miguel Sano, SS, Grade C+: .289/.321/.487 in 20 games for the GCL Twins, with a 3/23 BB/K in 76 at-bats. His potential is huge but he'll need work with the strike zone at higher levels. Stock moving up.
11) Carlos Gutierrez, RHP, Grade C+: 4.88 ERA, 61/41 K/BB in 100 innings for New Britain, 109 hits, 2.80 GO/AO. Gets grounders, but just doesn't dominate. I still see him as a future reliever. Stock down.
12) Joe Benson, OF, Grade C+: .294/.375/.588 in 21 games for Fort Myers, .242/.325/.520 in 77 games for New Britain. Intriguing power/speed combo with 21 homers and 15 steals, but plate discipline and too many strikeouts remain problems.
13) David Bromberg, RHP, Grade C+: 3.62 ERA with 65/35 K/BB in 99 innings for New Britain, has a 18/2 K/BB and 4.50 ERA in three starts for Rochester. Interesting that his K/BB and K/IP are so much better at the higher level, granted the sample size there is tiny.
14) B.J. Hermsen, RHP, Grade C+: Made 12 starts for Beloit, with 5.00 ER and 46/15 K/BB in 72 innings, 85 hits. Recently sent back to Elizabethton, has made two starts with a 15/1 K/BB in 13 innings. Will try again at Beloit next year.
15) Ben Tootle, RHP, Grade C+: 7.64 ERA with 14/12 K/BB in 18 innings for Beloit, went on the DL in May then had shoulder surgery.
16) Anthony Slama, RHP, Grade C+: He's so good, hitters get tattoos that say "Slama" after he strikes them out. 64/24 K/BB with 1.71 ERA in 53 innings in Triple-A, just 30 hits, 17 saves.
17) Matt Bashore, LHP, Grade C+: Out with Tommy John surgery.
18) Tom Stuifbergen, RHP, Grade C+: 1.51 ERA with 50/13 K/BB in 54 innings for Beloit, 45 hits. Missed most of
May and June on the DL but is pitching well now.
19) Jeff Manship, RHP, Grade C: 4.83 ERA with 76/20 K/BB in 91 innings, 122 hits for Rochester. Has a 2.45 ERA with an 8/3 K/BB in 15 innings for the Twins. Not a great season in the minors by any means but could still be useful utility pitcher.
20) Tyler Robertson, LHP, Grade C: 2-11, 5.07 with a 72/44 K/BB in 110 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, 138 hits. Ugly numbers and scouting reports are no better.
Mixed results on this list, and the 2011 version is going to look a lot different in all likelihood.
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