The Twins have 4 highly touted corner infield prospects and with Mauer's move to first base, these prospects could be main pieces of possible trades to help the Twins add some more starting pitching. The number one corner infield prospect won't be traded what so ever, and will be a corner stone for our franchise but the other 3 could be moved as early as tomorrow.
Here is the top 5 corner infielders in the Twins farm systems from 5 to 1:
5. Reynaldo Rodriguez 1B (Double-A New Britain)
Reynaldo hit 21 home runs at Double-A last season and slugged .482, but does have some downfalls. He did strike out 108 times and his on base percentage was just .305, but the biggest downfall is that he is 27 years old already. There are still plenty of prospects who do end up panning out at his age. If he can cut down on the strikeouts, and still continue to mash homers he could see Target Field this season.
4. Kennys Vargas 1B (High-A Fort Myers)
Kennys played the entire season at High-A Fort Myers, where he had a slashline of .267/.344/.468 with 19 homers and 93 RBI as a switch hitter. Kennys has dawned the nickname of "Little Papi" due to how he looks very similar to Big Papi David Ortiz and how his approach at the plate is very similar. He has shown raw power and projects more as a DH later in his career since is average at best defensively at first. He will start in Double-A New Britain this upcoming season, and if he tears up the league for the first few months, he could be September call up this season. If so, it could be to showcase him to other teams and possibly up his trade value.
3. Dalton "DJ" Hicks 1B (High-A Fort Myers)
DJ started at Low-A and earned a mid season promotion to High-A Fort Myers. His slashline between both leagues was .289/.358/.468 with 17 homers and 110 RBI. He also plays a very good defensive first base unlike the 4 and 5 prospects and he also draws more walks than both as well. Getting on base is huge, and hitting with runners in scoring position is huge is well and he did well there driving in 110 RBI in 131 games. He looks like a middle of the order bat and could be a main piece of a deal to land us a good starting pitcher. If he isn't moved we could see him as a call up come September if he continues to mash, but 2015 or 2016 is more likely for DJ.
2. Travis Harrison 3B/1B (Low-A Cedar Rapids)
Travis didn't have as eye popping numbers as DJ and Kennys, but there was one stat that showed that he is way ahead of where he should be at age 21. He drew 68 walks and had an on base percentage of .366 which was 113 points above his batting average. Elite superstar players are the ones who have on base percentages 100 points or more above their batting averages. He showed some of his raw power with 15 homers and 28 doubles. He did slug .416 and struck out 125 times last season. If he can improve on both those numbers, and continue to get on base at such a high clip he will become one of the better prospects in baseball. He could very well be a main piece in a deal this offseason for a good starting pitcher and is currently blocked by number 1 on this list and Mauer. If he does stay in the system and doesn't get moved he looks like 2016 could be the time he sees the beautiful grass of Target Field.
1. Miguel Sano 3B (Double-A New Britain) (Pictured Above)
No surprise here, Miguel Sano is arguably the best prospect in all of the baseball. He has shown absolute once in a lifetime type power thus far in his minor league career. He started at High-A Fort Myers and absolutely made a mockery of High-A and forced his way to Double-A. Between both High-A and Double-A this season his slashline was .280/.382/.610 with 35 homers, 103 RBI, 30 doubles, and 65 walks. He had a total of 70 extra base hits and an insane on base plus slugging of .992 and right around 800 is considered well above average. He has hit 83 home runs in his last 3 seasons along with 262 RBI, 76 doubles and an on base above 370 and slugging above 520 and an ops above 890, all outstanding numbers. For Sano it's not a matter of if he'll be a stud in the majors, it's a matter of when. He'll start in Triple-A Rochester this season, but he can start looking for housing here in Minnesota, because he'll be here soon and for a very long time.
The Twins may need to groom prospects Harrison, Hicks, and Vargas more this season to raise their value going into next season to move them for good starting pitching.
Make sure to check out my previous post about the top middle infield prospects and look out for my next post about the top outfielders in our system.
Written by Nick Calo, follow me on Twitter for more updates and sports thoughts @PRH1987
Here is the top 5 corner infielders in the Twins farm systems from 5 to 1:
5. Reynaldo Rodriguez 1B (Double-A New Britain)
Reynaldo hit 21 home runs at Double-A last season and slugged .482, but does have some downfalls. He did strike out 108 times and his on base percentage was just .305, but the biggest downfall is that he is 27 years old already. There are still plenty of prospects who do end up panning out at his age. If he can cut down on the strikeouts, and still continue to mash homers he could see Target Field this season.
4. Kennys Vargas 1B (High-A Fort Myers)
Kennys played the entire season at High-A Fort Myers, where he had a slashline of .267/.344/.468 with 19 homers and 93 RBI as a switch hitter. Kennys has dawned the nickname of "Little Papi" due to how he looks very similar to Big Papi David Ortiz and how his approach at the plate is very similar. He has shown raw power and projects more as a DH later in his career since is average at best defensively at first. He will start in Double-A New Britain this upcoming season, and if he tears up the league for the first few months, he could be September call up this season. If so, it could be to showcase him to other teams and possibly up his trade value.
3. Dalton "DJ" Hicks 1B (High-A Fort Myers)
DJ started at Low-A and earned a mid season promotion to High-A Fort Myers. His slashline between both leagues was .289/.358/.468 with 17 homers and 110 RBI. He also plays a very good defensive first base unlike the 4 and 5 prospects and he also draws more walks than both as well. Getting on base is huge, and hitting with runners in scoring position is huge is well and he did well there driving in 110 RBI in 131 games. He looks like a middle of the order bat and could be a main piece of a deal to land us a good starting pitcher. If he isn't moved we could see him as a call up come September if he continues to mash, but 2015 or 2016 is more likely for DJ.
2. Travis Harrison 3B/1B (Low-A Cedar Rapids)
Travis didn't have as eye popping numbers as DJ and Kennys, but there was one stat that showed that he is way ahead of where he should be at age 21. He drew 68 walks and had an on base percentage of .366 which was 113 points above his batting average. Elite superstar players are the ones who have on base percentages 100 points or more above their batting averages. He showed some of his raw power with 15 homers and 28 doubles. He did slug .416 and struck out 125 times last season. If he can improve on both those numbers, and continue to get on base at such a high clip he will become one of the better prospects in baseball. He could very well be a main piece in a deal this offseason for a good starting pitcher and is currently blocked by number 1 on this list and Mauer. If he does stay in the system and doesn't get moved he looks like 2016 could be the time he sees the beautiful grass of Target Field.
1. Miguel Sano 3B (Double-A New Britain) (Pictured Above)
No surprise here, Miguel Sano is arguably the best prospect in all of the baseball. He has shown absolute once in a lifetime type power thus far in his minor league career. He started at High-A Fort Myers and absolutely made a mockery of High-A and forced his way to Double-A. Between both High-A and Double-A this season his slashline was .280/.382/.610 with 35 homers, 103 RBI, 30 doubles, and 65 walks. He had a total of 70 extra base hits and an insane on base plus slugging of .992 and right around 800 is considered well above average. He has hit 83 home runs in his last 3 seasons along with 262 RBI, 76 doubles and an on base above 370 and slugging above 520 and an ops above 890, all outstanding numbers. For Sano it's not a matter of if he'll be a stud in the majors, it's a matter of when. He'll start in Triple-A Rochester this season, but he can start looking for housing here in Minnesota, because he'll be here soon and for a very long time.
The Twins may need to groom prospects Harrison, Hicks, and Vargas more this season to raise their value going into next season to move them for good starting pitching.
Make sure to check out my previous post about the top middle infield prospects and look out for my next post about the top outfielders in our system.
Written by Nick Calo, follow me on Twitter for more updates and sports thoughts @PRH1987