The Minnesota Twins suddenly went from tons of veteran depth at catcher with Mauer and Doumit, to suddenly youthful and inexperienced after Mauer's move to first and Doumit's move from out behind the plate due to concussions as well. Now it looks like we are heading into 2014 with some uncertainty at the catcher position, but a couple of in-house options could get plenty of playing time depending on if they add another catcher via free agency or trade.
Here are the top 5 catching prospects for your Minnesota Twins-
5. Mitch Garver C (Rookie Elizabethton Twins)
Mitch was a 9th round draft pick in the 2013 draft and played well in his first pro season. He had 19 extra base hits in just 200 at bats and only struck out 31 times. He did only walk 19 times, which he will need to improve on as he rises in our farm system. He also only threw out 33 percent of base stealers. He has a chance to be a fast riser in our system with his bat, and if his defense continues to get better it'll only help him rise even faster.
4. Matthew Koch C (High-A Fort Myers)
Matthew had a very good year at High-A with a slashline of .278/.346/.401 with 7 home runs and 40 RBI. He also had 28 extra base hits. He only threw out 27 percent of base stealers, so he will need to improve on that to continue to move up in our system. He walked 35 times and struck out 75 times in just under 400 at bats. So the sooner Matthew cuts down on his strikeouts and betters his defense the sooner we could see him at Target Field.
3. Tyler Grimes C (Low-A Cedar Rapids)
Tyler is a converted shortstop, who took his offensive game to a level he hasn't seen yet and was exceptional defensively in his first full season as a catcher. He threw out 43 percent of base stealers, which is well above average and fantastic for a person in their first season as a catcher especially one who has been converted from being a short stop. He had a slashline of .256/.377/.382 with 6 home runs, 30 RBI, and 21 extra base hits. He drew 45 walks in just 350 at bats, allowing him to have a fantastic on base percentage and score 54 runs. He did strike out 87 times and he will need to cut down on those as he rises. However, with his outstanding defensive game and his great ability to get on base he could easily move fast and leap frog quite a few prospects along the way.
2. Stuart Turner C (Double-A New Britain)
Stuart started in rookie ball in Elizabethton and then finished the season in New Britain. He was the 3rd round choice of the Twins this past June and had a good first season. He had a slashline of .272/.345/.384 with 3 home runs and 19 RBI. He did throw out 32 percent of base stealers. From everything I hear on him is that he is well above average defensively and it will be his bat that depends on how long it takes him to make it Target Field. If the bat comes around it could be as early as 2015.
1. Josmil Pinto C (MLB Minnesota Twins) (Pictured Above)
Josmil started the season at Double-A New Britain and kept on rising and was a September call up and shined in the short time he was at Target Field. His slashline here in September was .342/.398/.566 with 4 home runs, 12 RBI, and 9 extra base hits in just 76 at bats. He had a slashline between AA and AAA of .309/.400/.482 with 15 home runs, 74 RBI, and 48 extra base hits. He still needs work on his defense, but he did throw out 40 percent of base stealers in AA and AAA. He still isn't ready to take the reigns entirely, and while we can get excited with his success here, we gotta remember Chris Parmelee. He came up and had a strong September like Pinto and hasn't shown anything since. It makes the most sense for the Twins to add a veteran catcher to split the catching duties with Pinto until he is ready to takeover entirely. He may start in AAA this upcoming season since he only played in 19 games at Rochester and could probably use the seasoning. He will be a big part of the future and Twins fans may need to be a little patient at the beginning of 2014, but he should be the main catcher come 2015 for the Twins.
The Twins have a good future at the catcher position, but I still think they need to add an experienced catcher to help shoulder the load until Pinto is ready to take it over. There is talk that the Twins are looking at some veteran catchers and hopefully they can add a solid one to help Pinto out.
Make sure to check out my next post about the top 5 pitchers in our system and then after that I will compile a list of the top 10 overall and when you can expect them at Target Field!
Written by Nick Calo, follow me on Twitter for more updates and
sports thoughts @PRH1987
Here are the top 5 catching prospects for your Minnesota Twins-
5. Mitch Garver C (Rookie Elizabethton Twins)
Mitch was a 9th round draft pick in the 2013 draft and played well in his first pro season. He had 19 extra base hits in just 200 at bats and only struck out 31 times. He did only walk 19 times, which he will need to improve on as he rises in our farm system. He also only threw out 33 percent of base stealers. He has a chance to be a fast riser in our system with his bat, and if his defense continues to get better it'll only help him rise even faster.
4. Matthew Koch C (High-A Fort Myers)
Matthew had a very good year at High-A with a slashline of .278/.346/.401 with 7 home runs and 40 RBI. He also had 28 extra base hits. He only threw out 27 percent of base stealers, so he will need to improve on that to continue to move up in our system. He walked 35 times and struck out 75 times in just under 400 at bats. So the sooner Matthew cuts down on his strikeouts and betters his defense the sooner we could see him at Target Field.
3. Tyler Grimes C (Low-A Cedar Rapids)
Tyler is a converted shortstop, who took his offensive game to a level he hasn't seen yet and was exceptional defensively in his first full season as a catcher. He threw out 43 percent of base stealers, which is well above average and fantastic for a person in their first season as a catcher especially one who has been converted from being a short stop. He had a slashline of .256/.377/.382 with 6 home runs, 30 RBI, and 21 extra base hits. He drew 45 walks in just 350 at bats, allowing him to have a fantastic on base percentage and score 54 runs. He did strike out 87 times and he will need to cut down on those as he rises. However, with his outstanding defensive game and his great ability to get on base he could easily move fast and leap frog quite a few prospects along the way.
2. Stuart Turner C (Double-A New Britain)
Stuart started in rookie ball in Elizabethton and then finished the season in New Britain. He was the 3rd round choice of the Twins this past June and had a good first season. He had a slashline of .272/.345/.384 with 3 home runs and 19 RBI. He did throw out 32 percent of base stealers. From everything I hear on him is that he is well above average defensively and it will be his bat that depends on how long it takes him to make it Target Field. If the bat comes around it could be as early as 2015.
1. Josmil Pinto C (MLB Minnesota Twins) (Pictured Above)
Josmil started the season at Double-A New Britain and kept on rising and was a September call up and shined in the short time he was at Target Field. His slashline here in September was .342/.398/.566 with 4 home runs, 12 RBI, and 9 extra base hits in just 76 at bats. He had a slashline between AA and AAA of .309/.400/.482 with 15 home runs, 74 RBI, and 48 extra base hits. He still needs work on his defense, but he did throw out 40 percent of base stealers in AA and AAA. He still isn't ready to take the reigns entirely, and while we can get excited with his success here, we gotta remember Chris Parmelee. He came up and had a strong September like Pinto and hasn't shown anything since. It makes the most sense for the Twins to add a veteran catcher to split the catching duties with Pinto until he is ready to takeover entirely. He may start in AAA this upcoming season since he only played in 19 games at Rochester and could probably use the seasoning. He will be a big part of the future and Twins fans may need to be a little patient at the beginning of 2014, but he should be the main catcher come 2015 for the Twins.
The Twins have a good future at the catcher position, but I still think they need to add an experienced catcher to help shoulder the load until Pinto is ready to take it over. There is talk that the Twins are looking at some veteran catchers and hopefully they can add a solid one to help Pinto out.
Make sure to check out my next post about the top 5 pitchers in our system and then after that I will compile a list of the top 10 overall and when you can expect them at Target Field!
Written by Nick Calo, follow me on Twitter for more updates and
sports thoughts @PRH1987