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Post by blocknose on Feb 17, 2010 17:19:49 GMT -5
NOTE: Ranking of Top 20 can be found at the bottom of this post.
Blair Erickson
Minnesota Twins — No. 39
Pitcher
Born: October 28, 1984 (1984-10-28) (age 25)
Sacramento, California
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Teams
* Elizabethton Twins (2007)
* Beloit Snappers (2008)
* Fort Myers Miracle (2008-Present)
Career highlights and awards
* Collegiate Baseball Preseason All-America Second team (2002)
* National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association (NCBWA) preseason All-America third team (2002)
Blair Marshall Erickson (October 28, 1984, Sacramento, California) is a minor league pitcher in the Minnesota Twins' organization. The 6'1", 212 lbs. right hander out of the University of California-Irvine was the Twins' 10th-round pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.[1]
Blair began the 2008 season with the Twins' Midwest League affiliate, the Beloit Snappers, however, was promoted to the Twins' advanced-A affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle at the mid-point of the season. In 48 games (all in relief), Blair went 4-3 with a 2.87 earned run average, 76 strikeouts amd one save. In 2009, he was 1-5 with a 4.39 ERA and fifteen saves out of Fort Myers' bullpen.
* Career statistics and player information from Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
Matthew Fox
Smiling for a picture with an autograph seeking fan
Minnesota Twins
Pitcher
Born: December 4, 1982 (1982-12-04) (age 27)
Oviedo, Florida
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Teams
* Elizabethton Twins (2004-2006)
* Beloit Snappers (2007)
* Fort Myers Miracle (2008)
* New Britain Rock Cats (2009-present)
Career highlights and awards
* Baseball America Best Prospects in the Appalachian League (#11, 2004)
Matthew Jacob Fox (December 4, 1982, Oviedo, Florida) is a minor league pitcher in the Minnesota Twins organization. He was a first round sandwich pick (35th overall) in the 2004 draft who was originally signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the sixth round of the 2001 draft.
Fox was ranked the 11th best prospect in the Appalachian League by Baseball America his first season in professional ball with the Elizabethton Twins. a shoulder injury kept him on the disabled list for the entire 2005 season, however, he returned in 2006 to go 4-0 with two saves and a 3.79 earned run average.
His final start of the 2008 season came in the first game of the Florida State League championship series against the Daytona Cubs. Fox struck out ten over six innings to extend the streak of scoreless innings pitched by Fort Myers Miracle starting pitchers to 18.2 in the post season. Unfortunately, the bullpen imploded, and he was unable to record the win as the Cubs defeated the Miracle 5-1. Daytona went on to win the series in four games.
Fox has both started and pitched in relief during his minor league career, however, he was used primarily as a starter in 2009 for the Twins' Double A affiliate, the New Britain Rock Cats. He went 9-9 with a 3.58 ERA and 120 strikeouts in 2009 to help the Rock Cats to their first post season appearance since 2003.
* Career statistics and player information from Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
Aaron Hicks
Minnesota Twins — No. 5
Center Fielder
Born: October 2, 1989 (1989-10-02) (age 20)
Long Beach, California
Bats: Switch Throws: Right
Teams
* Elizabethton Twins (2008)
* Beloit Snappers (2009-present)
Career highlights and awards
* Gulf Coast League Post-season All Star (2008)
* Baseball America Rookie All-Star (2008)
Aaron M. Hicks (Born October 2, 1989 in Long Beach, California) is a center fielder in the Minnesota Twins organization currently assigned to their Midwest League A affiliate, the Beloit Snappers.
The 6'2", 170 lbs. switch hitter from Wilson High School was the Twins' first round pick in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft. In his first professional season, Hicks was tabbed a 2008 Baseball America Rookie All-Star and named the top prospect in the Twins' organization. He batted .318 with four home runs, 27 runs batted in, twelve stolen bases and 28 walks for the Gulf Coast League Twins to earn a Gulf Coast League postseason All-Star nod.
In 2009, Hicks batted .251 with four home runs, 29 RBIs, ten steals and 40 walks for Beloit.[2]
* Career statistics and player information from Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
Steven Hirschfeld
Fort Myers Miracle pitching prospect
Minnesota Twins — No. 36
Pitcher
Born: September 8, 1985 (1985-09-08) (age 24)
Moab, Utah
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Teams
* Elizabethton Twins (2007)
* Beloit Snappers (2008)
* Fort Myers Miracle (2009-present)
Career highlights and awards
* All-Scenic West Athletic First Team (2006)
* Midwest League All-Star (2008)
* Florida State League All-Star (2009)
Steven Joseph Hirschfeld (September 8, 1985, Moab, Utah) is a minor league pitcher in the Minnesota Twins organization currently assigned to their advanced A affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle. The 6'5" right hander was the Twins' ninth-round pick in the 2007 first year player draft.
Hirschfeld played basketball for three seasons and two years of football at Grand County High School in Moab, along with four year as a varsity letterman in baseball. He was named MVP as a junior in 2003, and was his team's captain in 2003 & 2004. Before signing with the Twins, Hirschfeld was drafted in the 29th round of the 2004 draft by the Montreal Expos, and the 25th round of the 2005 draft by the Colorado Rockies, but chose, instead, to attend the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas.[3]
Hirschfeld joined Miracle teammates David Bromberg, Carlos Gutierrez, Spencer Steedley, Daniel Lehmann, Chris Cates, Steve Singleton, Ben Revere & Chris Parmelee as 2009 Florida State League All-Stars as a late addition, replacing injured St. Lucie Mets pitcher Brant Rustich. This is Hirschfeld's second All Star selection, as in 2008, he represented the Twins organization in the Midwest League All Star game as a member of the Beloit Snappers. With Beloit in 2008, he went 10-5 with a 3.30 ERA in 31 appearances, including 16 starts. He's been used primarily out of the bullpen thusfar with Fort Myers, though he does have three starts.[4]
* Career statistics and player information from Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
Danny Lehmann
Smiling for a picture with an autograph seeking fan
Minnesota Twins — No. 11
Catcher
Born: September 5, 1985 (1985-09-05) (age 24)
Denver, Colorado
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Teams
* Elizabethton Twins (2007)
* Beloit Snappers (2008)
* Fort Myers Miracle (2008-2009)
* New Britain Rock Cats (2009-present)
Career highlights and awards
* Midwest League All-Star (2008)
* Florida State League All-Star (2009)
Daniel Joseph Lehmann (September 5, 1985, Denver, Colorado) is a catcher in the Minnesota Twins' organization who signed with the Twins in the eighth round of the 2007 First Year Player Draft. He is 5'11" tall, and weights 186 lbs., and bats and throws right handed.[5]
The former Rice University standout began the 2008 season with the Beloit Snappers of the Midwest League. He batted only .240 with no home runs, yet his defensive skills (catching 14 of 35 base stealers for a 40% success rate) earned him a Midwest League All-Star selection, and a promotion to the Twins' advanced-A affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle. With the Miracle, he batted .244 with no home runs and six runs batted in backing up All-Star catcher Wilson Ramos.
He reported to Spring training with the Twins on February 15 as a non-roster invitee, and begins the 2009 season on the Miracle roster, however, spent part of the season with the Twins' double A affiliate, the New Britain Rock Cats. With New Britain, he batted .243 with three RBIs; with Fort Myers, Lehmann batted .286 and caught nine of twelve would-be base stealers to earn himself a Florida State League All-star selection.[6]
* Career statistics and player information from Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
Jose Lugo
With the Fort Myers Miracle in 2008
Minnesota Twins
Pitcher
Born: August 10, 1984 (1984-08-10) (age 25)
San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic
Bats: Leftt Throws: Left
Teams
* Arizona Fall League Athletics (2005)
* Elizabethton Twins (2006)
* Beloit Snappers (2006-2007)
* Fort Myers Miracle (2008)
* New Britain Rock Cats (2009)
* Rochester Red Wings (2009)
Jose A. Lugo (Adames) (born April 10, 1984 in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic) is a minor league relief pitcher in the Minnesota Twins organization.
Lugo signed with the Oakland Athletics on January 30, 2002. Over four seasons in their organization, he compiled a 14-6 record. The Minnesota Twins selected Lugo in the Rule V Draft following the 2005 season. He split 2006 between the Elizabethton Twins and Beloit Snappers, going 8-4 with a 3.56 earned run average in 13 games started with Elizabethton and 1-4 with a 4.45 ERA in 22 relief appearances with the Snappers. With Beloit again in 2007, he went 5-6 with a 4.32 ERA in 40 games (seven starts). In 2008, he pitched for the Fort Myers Miracle, making 51 relief appearances and going 2-6 with a 4.04 ERA.
On December 11, 2008, he was acquired by the Kansas City Royals in the Rule V Draft, and on that same day he was traded to the Seattle Mariners for cash considerations.[7] He was sent back to the Twins on April 1, 2009.[8]
* Career statistics and player information from Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
Chris Parmelee
Twins 2006 First Round Draft Pick
Minnesota Twins — No. 38
Outfielder
Born: February 24, 1988 (1988-02-24) (age 21)
Long Beach, California
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Teams
* Gulf Coast League Twins (2006)
* Beloit Snappers (2006-2008)
* Fort Myers Miracle (2009-present)
Career highlights and awards
* AFLAC All-American (2006)
* Baseball America second best prospect in Gulf Coast League (2006)
* Twins' Minor League Player of the Week (June 22-28, 2007)
* Florida State League All-Star Selection (2009)
* FSL Home run derby winner (2009)
* FSL Player of the Week (June 22-28, 2009)
* FSL Post-Season All-Star (2009)
Christopher Matthew Parmelee[9] (born February 24, 1988 in Long Beach, California) is a minor league baseball first baseman/outfielder in the Minnesota Twins organization. He stands 6'1" and weighs 223 lbs., and bats and throws left handed.
The Twins selected Parmelee with their first round (20th overall) pick in the 2006 MLB draft after he hit .407 with 11 home runs and 26 runs batted in as a senior at Chino Hills High School in California. As soon as the Twins signed Parmelee, he instantly became one of the organizations top power hitting prospects and they are projecting him to be a potential impact player in the middle of their lineup within the next few years.[10]
Parmelee began the 2009 season assigned to the Twins' advanced A affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle-- with whom he batted .244 with five home runs and 28 RBIs in the first half of the season. He joined teammates David Bromberg, Chris Cates, Carlos Gutierrez, Steven Hirschfeld, Daniel Lehmann, Ben Revere, Steve Singleton & Spencer Steedley as All-stars for the Florida State League's Southern division, and won the home run derby held before the game.[11]
* Career statistics and player information from Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
Tyler Robertson
Minnesota Twins — No. 45
Pitcher
Born: December 23, 1987 (1987-12-23) (age 22)
Simi Valley, California
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Teams
* Gulf Coast League Twins (2006)
* Beloit Snappers (2007)
* Fort Myers Miracle (2008-present)
Career highlights and awards
* All-League & All-Metro High School Teams (2006)
* Baseball America Low Class A All-Star (2007)
* Twins' Minor League Pitcher of the Month (July 2007)
Tyler Robertson (December 23, 1987, Simi Valley, California) is a minor league pitcher in the Minnesota Twins' organization currently assigned to the Twins' addvanced-A affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle. The 6'5" 220 lbs. left hander was the Twins' third-round pick in the June 2006 draft.
In the first half of the 2008 season, Tyler went 4-2 with a 2.76 earned run average and 58 strike outs over 11 starts to help Fort Myers captured the Florida State League first-half West Division title. One of those wins was a complete game 6-1 victory over the Tampa Yankees at Steinbrenner Field.
He was pulled after four innings against the Vero Beach Devil Rays on July 7 with shoulder soreness, and did not pitch again for the rest of the season.[12]
* Career statistics and player information from Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
Steve Singleton
Waiting on deck for his at bat
Minnesota Twins — No. --
Second Baseman
Born: September 12, 1985 (1985-09-12) (age 24)
San Francisco, California
Bats: Left Throws: Right
Teams
* Elizabethton Twins (2006)
* Beloit Snappers (2007-2008)
* Fort Myers Miracle (2008-2009)
* New Britain Rock Cats (2009-present)
Career highlights and awards
* Midwest League Starting All-Star Second Baseman (2008)
* Florida State League All-Star (2009)
Steven Scott Singleton (September 12, 1985, San Francisco, California) is a second baseman in the Minnesota Twins organization selected by the Twins in the 11th round of the June 2006 draft. He is 5'11" tall and weighs 189 lbs. He bats left handed, but plays his position righty.[13]
Singleton began the 2008 season with the Twins' Class A Affiliate, the Beloit Snappers. He batted .302 with six home runs and 32 runs batted in to earned himself starting honors on the Midwest League Western Division All-Star Team, and a promotion to the Twins' advanced-A affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle. With the Miracle, he batted .295 with five home runs and 25 RBIs.
In 2009, Singleton joins teammates David Bromberg, Carlos Gutierrez, Spencer Steedley, Daniel Lehmann, Chris Cates, Chris Parmelee and Ben Revere as All-stars for the Florida State League's Southern division. Singleton was promoted to double A New Britain during the second half of the season.[11]
* Career statistics and player information from Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
Spencer Steedley
Twins pitching prospect currently assigned to the New Britain Rock Cats
Minnesota Twins — No. 16
Pitcher
Born: May 31, 1985 (1985-05-31) (age 24)
Charlotte, North Carolina
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Teams
* Elizabethton Twins (2007)
* Beloit Snappers (2008)
* Fort Myers Miracle (2008-2009)
* New Britain Rock Cats (2009-present)
Career highlights and awards
* All-Conference (A-10) (First Team) (2006)
* Midwest League Mid-Season All-Star (2008)
* Florida State League All-Star (2009)
Spencer Steedley (May 31, 1985) is a left-handed pitcher in the Minnesota Twins organization currently assigned to their Eastern League double A affiliate, the New Britain Rock Cats. He is 6'2" tall, and weighs 194 lbs.[14]
Spencer is from Charlotte, North Carolina, and attended UNC-Charlotte, where he earned first-team A-10 All-Conference in 2006 and was named Pitcher of the Week in February, 2007 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.[15] He was selected by the Twins in the 25th round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.
His first season with the Twins, he was assigned to their Rookie Appalachian League affiliate, the Elizabethton Twins. He pitched primarily out of the bullpen, with only one start, and compiled a 2-3 record with a 2.92 earned run average, and struck out 51 in only 37 innings.
He began the 2008 season in class A with the Midwest League Beloit Snappers. After compiling a 5-3 record with a 2.14 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 46.1 innings, he was named a Midwest League Western division All-Star.
Following the All-Star game, he was promoted to the Fort Myers Miracle. With the Miracle, he went 1-4 with a 6.59 ERA in 15 games (four starts). Thus far, he's been used exclusively in the bullpen in 2009, however, he's been outstanding in that role. In the first half of the season, Steedley went 3-0 with a 0.74 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 24.1 innings to earn a Florida State League All-Star selection.[16] Spencer was promoted to double A New Britain during the second half of the season.
* Career statistics and player information from Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
Top 20 Minnesota Twins Prospects for 2010.
All grades are EXTREMELY PRELIMINARY and subject to change. Don't get too worried about exact rankings at this point, especially once you get beyond the Top 10. Grade C+/C guys are pretty interchangeable depending on what you want to emphasize.
Feel free to critique the list, but use logic and reason rather than polemics to do so. The list and grades are based on a blending of present performance and long-term potential. Full reports on all these players can be found in the 2010 Baseball Prospect Book. We are now taking pre-orders for the book. Order early and order often!
Star-divide
1) Aaron Hicks, OF, Grade B+: Excellent tools, numbers are better than they look on the surface. I think he'll break out in 2010.
2) Ben Revere, OF, Grade B: Kenny Lofton ceiling, Juan Pierre midpoint, Joey Gathright basement.
3) Kyle Gibson, RHP, Grade B-: Would be a Grade B+ at least if not for the injury concern.
4) Wilson Ramos, C, Grade B-: Power and defense are positives, main question is weak walk rate.
5) Adrian Salcedo, RHP, Grade B-: Best of the pitchability right-handers in a system full of them.
6) Billy Bullock, RHP, Grade B-: Borderline C+; great stuff but will he throw strikes?
7) Angel Morales, OF, Grade C+: Could make a case for B-. Very good tools, numbers are better than they look on the surface, needs to improve discipline.
8) Danny Valencia, 3B, Grade C+: Needs to improve strike zone judgment and glovework to get a job in 2010.
9) Chris Parmalee, OF-1B, Grade C+: Lotsa power, draws walks, other skills are unimpressive.
10) Miguel Sano, SS, Grade C+: I really have no idea how to rank him at this point. Might turn into Miguel Cabrera, could fizzle in A-ball, no way to know yet.
11) Carlos Gutierrez, RHP, Grade C+: Ground ball machine. Could rank as high as seventh.
12) Joe Benson, OF, Grade C+: Excellent tools and is showing signs of skill development. Could also rank as high as seventh.
13) David Bromberg, RHP, Grade C+: Classic Twins pitching prospect, relies on pitchability rather than pure stuff.
14) B.J. Hermsen, RHP, Grade C+: Great rookie ball performance, projectable, need data from higher levels.
15) Ben Tootle, RHP, Grade C+: High-ceiling arm, needs to improve command.
16) Anthony Slama, RHP, Grade C+: Deceptive delivery with high strikeout rates, tough on right-handed hitters, could slot into middle relief role in 2010.
17) Matt Bashore, LHP, Grade C+: Could rank higher if he stays healthy.
18) Tom Stuifbergen, RHP, Grade C+: Could be a Grade C. Another pitchability guy. Gets lots of grounders.
19) Jeff Manship, RHP, Grade C: Possible fifth starter or long relief type.
20) Tyler Robertson, LHP, Grade C: Stock has dropped a lot, but looks like a potential LOOGY to me.
OTHERS (all Grade C right now): Oswaldo Arcia, OF; Alex Burnett, RHP; Rob Delaney, RHP; Estarlin De los Santos, SS; Deolis Guerra, RHP; Chris Herrmann, OF; Steve Hirschfeld, RHP; Luke Hughes, INF; Max Kepler-Rozycki, OF; Bobby Lanigan, RHP; Andrei Lobanov, LHP; Jose Lugo, LHP; Derek McCallum, 2B: Mike McCardell, RHP; Josmil Pinto, C-DH; Trevor Plouffe, SS; Tobias Streich, C; Brad Tippett, RHP; Mike Tonkin, RHP; Rene Tosoni, OF; Loek Van Mil, RHP, Blayne Weller, RHP.
There were about 10 other guys I considered but cut due to space reasons. I can't write about everyone. The Twins system is thin at the top, but they have a huge number of Grade C prospects with potential upside. Grades for several guys could be much higher once we have 2010 data. The signings of Sano and Kepler-Rozycki show an increased emphasis on high-ceiling players from the international market, though due to their youth and lack of pro data I'm going with conservative grades right now. I like the organization's interest in European players like MKR, Lobanov, and the Dutch pitchers.
Pitchability is obviously very important in this organization, and recent hitting draftees such as Parmalee, Hicks and Revere show awareness of strike zone judgment as well.
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