The Twins have one of the best farm systems in all of baseball and we should get a glimpse of that farm this season. Thanks to the much needed recent additions of Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes, the Twins will not have to force any of their pitching prospects up earlier then they should be like they did with Gibson last season. Let's see the future faces of Target Field:
10. Felix Jorge SP (Rookie Elizabethton)
Felix has continued to rise a level each year he has been in the organization. What I read from scouts is that he has a nice, easy, and loose delivery that should keep him healthy for quite some time. He throws his fast ball in the mid 90s and has a good curve and change. As long as his secondary stuff continues to improve he could be a front of the rotation type starter for the Twins come 2017.
9. Max Kepler OF/1B (Low-A Cedar Rapids)
Max has been a top prospect in the Twins system since signing out of Germany in 2009. His movement through the system has been slowed down due to injuries. Max has shown all 5 tools and has a huge ceiling in potential at the plate. Max has shown a great eye at the plate and ability to get on base so far in his minor league career. I believe it was Seth Stohs from Twins Daily that mentioned Max having a ceiling of Josh Hamilton. If he could even come close to that ceiling he would be a superstar for years to come and those years could start as early as 2015.
8. Travis Harrison 3B/1B (Low-A Cedar Rapids)
Travis was an absolute on base machine this past season. He did strike out a ton, which is expected when you hit for power but he struck out 125 times in 450 at bats. That's over 25% of the time. Harrison has a massive offensive ceiling, but if he can't cut back on the strikeouts a tad it'll really slow his progress to Target Field. If he does cut back on the strikeouts and perhaps learns some outfield he could be here as early as 2015.
7. Josmil Pinto C (MLB Minnesota)
Josmil was a September call up in 2013 and was not over matched what so over. He has tremendous upside offensively from the catcher position. Some still doubt Pinto ever becoming an above average defensive catcher, but it seems he will get his shot to prove his doubters wrong this season with the Twins striking out on both AJ and Salty. If he can just become league average defensively and hit well like he did in September he can become one of the better catchers in all of baseball.
6. Eddie Rosario 2B/OF (Double-A New Britain)
Eddie Rosario had a fantastic year at High-A and Double-A last season. It seemed that either Rosario or Dozier were going to be moved heading into the off season to help add pitching and shortly into the off season Rosario was hit with a 50 game suspension. Rosario is appealing, but it is unlikely he will succeed and have to face his suspension. This means he won't be able to start his season at Triple-A until June. This means he most likely won't see Target Field until September as a September call up. It is beginning to seem more and more likely that Rosario is going to be moving back to the outfield thanks to the emergence of Brian Dozier and Jorge Polanco right behind him. His bat loses some value as an outfielder, but he is well above average as a fielder in the outfield unlike 2B where he has been the past couple of seasons.
5. Jorge Polanco 2B/SS (Low-A Cedar Rapids)
Jorge is still listed as a SS on lots of prospect websites, but played a majority of 2013 at 2B. Jorge became a very good defensive 2B this past season and is a well above average hitter for his position. He is an on base machine that does not strike out very often. He does have a way higher slugging percentage than you would think for someone who hit only 5 home runs. He can thank his 32 doubles and 10 triples. He is an on base and extra base machine that doesn't strike out, and plays great defense in the middle infield. He could be here in Minnesota as early as 2015, but with the emergence of Brian Dozier I wouldn't expect Polanco to be rushed and only make it here before 2016 if he plays out of his mind and forces the Twins hands. In my opinion based on what I've read, it's not if but when will he take over at second base for the Minnesota Twins.
4. Kohl Stewart SP (Rookie Elizabethton)
Kohl was the 4th overall pick in the 2013 draft and showed why in his short time in the minors this season. He has a great fastball and an even better slider. He projects as a front of the rotation guy and perhaps even an ace of our 2017 staff. Kohl could rise and get up here before 2017 if he stays healthy and continues to miss lots of bats. With how fast prospects seem to be rising these days, I wouldn't be surprised to see him be a 2015 September call up to be a shutdown bullpen arm like David Price was for the Rays in 2008 to help us get back to the post season and begin starting at the major league level for us as early as 2016.
3. Alex Meyer SP (Double-A New Britain)
Alex is by far our best pitching prospect and close to one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball. He can throw his fastball 100 mph and has a devastating slider and nasty changeup. If he can harness his control the Twins could be looking at not only their ace for years to come, or one of the best pitchers in baseball, but one of the best pitchers in the history of the Twins. He did have a shoulder issue last season, but if for some odd reason he does not make it as a starter, he has the stuff to become an elite closer.
2. Miguel Sano 3B (Double-A New Britain) (Pictured Above Right/White)
Miguel is the best power hitting prospect in all of baseball. He has 30 to 40 home runs a year written all over him. He gets lots of comparisons to Miguel Cabrera and rightfully so, not just in body type but just an overall masher. Miguel could easily be the Minnesota Twins all time home run leader before his 6 years of team control are over. Miguel Sano should be in Target Field before the mid summer classic come July this season, and I bet by then if there is a baseball fan that doesn't know who Sano is, they will by then.
1. Byron Buxton OF (High-A Fort Myers) (Pictured Above Left/Red)
Byron is not only the top prospect in the Twins organization, but in all of baseball. He has all the tools and seems to be the next Mike Trout in the waiting. It's tough to gauge how quickly he will move because I think the Twins want him to get a good chunk of at bats in Double-A, but he very well could force their hands. I wouldn't be surprised to see him here as early as August this season. He is going to be the new face of the franchise and hopefully he will take us to the promise land like another center fielder once did.
All in all, the Twins have one of the best farm systems in all of baseball and we should see the top 3 prospects all this season at some point barring injury.
For in depth info on each of these prospects check out my other posts in this blog where I broke it down based on position.
Written by Nick Calo, follow me on Twitter for more updates and sports thoughts @PRH1987
10. Felix Jorge SP (Rookie Elizabethton)
Felix has continued to rise a level each year he has been in the organization. What I read from scouts is that he has a nice, easy, and loose delivery that should keep him healthy for quite some time. He throws his fast ball in the mid 90s and has a good curve and change. As long as his secondary stuff continues to improve he could be a front of the rotation type starter for the Twins come 2017.
9. Max Kepler OF/1B (Low-A Cedar Rapids)
Max has been a top prospect in the Twins system since signing out of Germany in 2009. His movement through the system has been slowed down due to injuries. Max has shown all 5 tools and has a huge ceiling in potential at the plate. Max has shown a great eye at the plate and ability to get on base so far in his minor league career. I believe it was Seth Stohs from Twins Daily that mentioned Max having a ceiling of Josh Hamilton. If he could even come close to that ceiling he would be a superstar for years to come and those years could start as early as 2015.
8. Travis Harrison 3B/1B (Low-A Cedar Rapids)
Travis was an absolute on base machine this past season. He did strike out a ton, which is expected when you hit for power but he struck out 125 times in 450 at bats. That's over 25% of the time. Harrison has a massive offensive ceiling, but if he can't cut back on the strikeouts a tad it'll really slow his progress to Target Field. If he does cut back on the strikeouts and perhaps learns some outfield he could be here as early as 2015.
7. Josmil Pinto C (MLB Minnesota)
Josmil was a September call up in 2013 and was not over matched what so over. He has tremendous upside offensively from the catcher position. Some still doubt Pinto ever becoming an above average defensive catcher, but it seems he will get his shot to prove his doubters wrong this season with the Twins striking out on both AJ and Salty. If he can just become league average defensively and hit well like he did in September he can become one of the better catchers in all of baseball.
6. Eddie Rosario 2B/OF (Double-A New Britain)
Eddie Rosario had a fantastic year at High-A and Double-A last season. It seemed that either Rosario or Dozier were going to be moved heading into the off season to help add pitching and shortly into the off season Rosario was hit with a 50 game suspension. Rosario is appealing, but it is unlikely he will succeed and have to face his suspension. This means he won't be able to start his season at Triple-A until June. This means he most likely won't see Target Field until September as a September call up. It is beginning to seem more and more likely that Rosario is going to be moving back to the outfield thanks to the emergence of Brian Dozier and Jorge Polanco right behind him. His bat loses some value as an outfielder, but he is well above average as a fielder in the outfield unlike 2B where he has been the past couple of seasons.
5. Jorge Polanco 2B/SS (Low-A Cedar Rapids)
Jorge is still listed as a SS on lots of prospect websites, but played a majority of 2013 at 2B. Jorge became a very good defensive 2B this past season and is a well above average hitter for his position. He is an on base machine that does not strike out very often. He does have a way higher slugging percentage than you would think for someone who hit only 5 home runs. He can thank his 32 doubles and 10 triples. He is an on base and extra base machine that doesn't strike out, and plays great defense in the middle infield. He could be here in Minnesota as early as 2015, but with the emergence of Brian Dozier I wouldn't expect Polanco to be rushed and only make it here before 2016 if he plays out of his mind and forces the Twins hands. In my opinion based on what I've read, it's not if but when will he take over at second base for the Minnesota Twins.
4. Kohl Stewart SP (Rookie Elizabethton)
Kohl was the 4th overall pick in the 2013 draft and showed why in his short time in the minors this season. He has a great fastball and an even better slider. He projects as a front of the rotation guy and perhaps even an ace of our 2017 staff. Kohl could rise and get up here before 2017 if he stays healthy and continues to miss lots of bats. With how fast prospects seem to be rising these days, I wouldn't be surprised to see him be a 2015 September call up to be a shutdown bullpen arm like David Price was for the Rays in 2008 to help us get back to the post season and begin starting at the major league level for us as early as 2016.
3. Alex Meyer SP (Double-A New Britain)
Alex is by far our best pitching prospect and close to one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball. He can throw his fastball 100 mph and has a devastating slider and nasty changeup. If he can harness his control the Twins could be looking at not only their ace for years to come, or one of the best pitchers in baseball, but one of the best pitchers in the history of the Twins. He did have a shoulder issue last season, but if for some odd reason he does not make it as a starter, he has the stuff to become an elite closer.
2. Miguel Sano 3B (Double-A New Britain) (Pictured Above Right/White)
Miguel is the best power hitting prospect in all of baseball. He has 30 to 40 home runs a year written all over him. He gets lots of comparisons to Miguel Cabrera and rightfully so, not just in body type but just an overall masher. Miguel could easily be the Minnesota Twins all time home run leader before his 6 years of team control are over. Miguel Sano should be in Target Field before the mid summer classic come July this season, and I bet by then if there is a baseball fan that doesn't know who Sano is, they will by then.
1. Byron Buxton OF (High-A Fort Myers) (Pictured Above Left/Red)
Byron is not only the top prospect in the Twins organization, but in all of baseball. He has all the tools and seems to be the next Mike Trout in the waiting. It's tough to gauge how quickly he will move because I think the Twins want him to get a good chunk of at bats in Double-A, but he very well could force their hands. I wouldn't be surprised to see him here as early as August this season. He is going to be the new face of the franchise and hopefully he will take us to the promise land like another center fielder once did.
All in all, the Twins have one of the best farm systems in all of baseball and we should see the top 3 prospects all this season at some point barring injury.
For in depth info on each of these prospects check out my other posts in this blog where I broke it down based on position.
Written by Nick Calo, follow me on Twitter for more updates and sports thoughts @PRH1987