As much fun as it has been to follow Ben Revere's year -- and his assault on .400 -- I think it's now time to tune into the new career of Shooter Hunt.
For those of you who don't know, Hunt was a top prospect but fell to the Twins in the Sandwich Round after a disappointing last half of his collegiate year. Since signing, Hunt has played 3 games in the Rookie Level Appy League with the Elizabethton Twins. Here are his lines:
July 4 - 3 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 6 K
July 11 - 5 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, 10 K
July 16 - 6 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 12 K
His stats: 0.64 ERA, 0.29 WHIP, 16.7 K/9
People don't just luck out and have numbers like that.
My only question is does he make his next start with low-A Beloit or high-A Fort Myers?
Showing posts with label Twins Prospects. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Twins Prospects. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Baseball Draft
I'm not exactly sure why, but I love sports drafts.
I consider the NFL the greatest sport, and follow college football closely, so I always have interest in the NFL draft. It doesn't matter what team is drafting where, I follow it. For some reason, I would say that I followed the NFL draft less this year than any other of the previous 10-15 drafts.
I'm not a big fan of the NBA. In the last 5 years, I've probably watched less than a dozen NBA games start to finish. This year, I watched the T'wolves opener, that was it. I usually catch a few playoff games, this year I haven't. I do, however, have interest in the this year's finals. I could see myself watching a few of those. My interest in the NBA peaks near the end of June during the NBA draft. I will watch that closely... too closely. But it seems like my interest in the league will simmer within a week of the draft.
I think the great thing about these drafts is that every team believes they will take "the guy" that will make them instant contenders. They'll be making huge amounts of money, and the pressure, from Day 1, is on.
Tomorrow marks the first day of the MLB first-player draft. Last year was the first year it was televised. The fact that it is not a huge television event is just one of many differences between this and the other drafts.
The eligibility rules are different. Foreign players are free-agents. Can you imagine the NBA if all the foreign players were free agents?
Another big difference with this draft is whether or not certain players are "signable". If a player in the NBA (Steve Francis) or NFL (Eli Manning) is drafted by a team that isn't desirable, there aren't a lot of options for the player; the team is still going to take them. Eventually, the player will get traded, but the drafting team will make a haul. Not the case in baseball. Unless a player is a college senior, they have options - like going back to school. Only seniors are lame-ducks, but in their cases, they've probably been drafted twice (or more) before. When you can re-enter the draft a number of times, you have a little power.
Finally - and what I consider the biggest difference - comes the fact that players who are taken in tomorrow's draft won't become household names until 2010 0r 2011 at the soonest. There is no immediate help. There are very few players whose names you'll recognize from watching SportsCenter.
Thinking about these things left me wondering what I should post about the draft. Should I create a mock draft? Pointless. I decided I'm just going to take some names that I hear the Twins have interest in and post some things I've heard/read about them. That way, if any of these guys become Twins, you'll have some idea about them.
(Players are listed in the order that I prefer)
Zach Collier, OF, Chino Hills HS (CA) - Only 17, considered a "toolsy" outfielder. As much uncertainty as there is with players at the lower levels, I would have a hard time adding another OF to the stable that already includes a lot of young guys, including Joe Benson and Ben Revere at low-A. With that being said, the system lacks a lot of power and Collier projects as a power-hitting corner OF. There is definitely a lack of players with that "power" quality.
I consider the NFL the greatest sport, and follow college football closely, so I always have interest in the NFL draft. It doesn't matter what team is drafting where, I follow it. For some reason, I would say that I followed the NFL draft less this year than any other of the previous 10-15 drafts.
I'm not a big fan of the NBA. In the last 5 years, I've probably watched less than a dozen NBA games start to finish. This year, I watched the T'wolves opener, that was it. I usually catch a few playoff games, this year I haven't. I do, however, have interest in the this year's finals. I could see myself watching a few of those. My interest in the NBA peaks near the end of June during the NBA draft. I will watch that closely... too closely. But it seems like my interest in the league will simmer within a week of the draft.
I think the great thing about these drafts is that every team believes they will take "the guy" that will make them instant contenders. They'll be making huge amounts of money, and the pressure, from Day 1, is on.
Tomorrow marks the first day of the MLB first-player draft. Last year was the first year it was televised. The fact that it is not a huge television event is just one of many differences between this and the other drafts.
The eligibility rules are different. Foreign players are free-agents. Can you imagine the NBA if all the foreign players were free agents?
Another big difference with this draft is whether or not certain players are "signable". If a player in the NBA (Steve Francis) or NFL (Eli Manning) is drafted by a team that isn't desirable, there aren't a lot of options for the player; the team is still going to take them. Eventually, the player will get traded, but the drafting team will make a haul. Not the case in baseball. Unless a player is a college senior, they have options - like going back to school. Only seniors are lame-ducks, but in their cases, they've probably been drafted twice (or more) before. When you can re-enter the draft a number of times, you have a little power.
Finally - and what I consider the biggest difference - comes the fact that players who are taken in tomorrow's draft won't become household names until 2010 0r 2011 at the soonest. There is no immediate help. There are very few players whose names you'll recognize from watching SportsCenter.
Thinking about these things left me wondering what I should post about the draft. Should I create a mock draft? Pointless. I decided I'm just going to take some names that I hear the Twins have interest in and post some things I've heard/read about them. That way, if any of these guys become Twins, you'll have some idea about them.
(Players are listed in the order that I prefer)
Zach Collier, OF, Chino Hills HS (CA) - Only 17, considered a "toolsy" outfielder. As much uncertainty as there is with players at the lower levels, I would have a hard time adding another OF to the stable that already includes a lot of young guys, including Joe Benson and Ben Revere at low-A. With that being said, the system lacks a lot of power and Collier projects as a power-hitting corner OF. There is definitely a lack of players with that "power" quality.
Brett Lawrie, C/3B, Brookswood SS (B.C.) - Doesn't have a true position, but is a power hitter. The Twins have been good with Canadien players (Koskie, Morneau). Lawrie has moved up and around on draft boards - mentioned as high as #7. If both him and Collier are there at 14, I hope they take one of them. Either would be okay with me, I'm keeping Collier above because he has a projectable position.
Aaron Hicks, OF/RHP, Woodrow Wilson HS (CA) - Many teams have reportedly shied off because Hicks refuses to sign as a pitcher. The Twins, alledgedly, want him as an OF. I hope he's gone by 14, so it's not considered. However, if Lawrie and Collier continue to rise and are gone, Hicks wouldn't be a reach.
Ethan Martin, 3B/RHP, Stevens County (CA) - Another 2-way player. I could really see the Twins making Martin their guy as either a 3B or a P. At this point, he's not super high on my list because I don't know if I should view him as a P or 3B (although indications are that he, too, only wants to be a position player).
Brett DeVall, LHP, Niceville HS (FL) - Big, strong lefty. The Twins really like players described in those three words. Not overly powerful, but has command and the ability to develop a few more pitches. I would assume that Twins will take DeVall at 27 or 31.
Isaac Galloway, OF, Los Osos HS (CA) - Similar to Collier, only a lower ceiling. If the Twins are dead-set on adding an OF and Collier is gone at 14, Galloway would make sense at 27 or 31.
Christian Friedrich, LHP, Eastern Kentucky - Considered the 2nd-best college LHP available. Although he's probably the most talented guy on this list, I'm not a big fan. He would fall right into the age range that is stacked with pitching prospects in the system. Unless the Twins consider him a #1, I hope they pass at 14. He should be gone by 27.
Anthony Hewitt, SS, The Salisbury School (CT) - I've heard a lot of teams between 14 and 27 are hot on Hewitt. I'm not. He's a SS now, but will need to be moved to CF. As a MIF, I'm listening, but a move to OF? Has a lot of "raw" talent. For me, only if he's available at 31.
Isaac Galloway, OF, Los Osos HS (CA) - Similar to Collier, only a lower ceiling. If the Twins are dead-set on adding an OF and Collier is gone at 14, Galloway would make sense at 27 or 31.
Christian Friedrich, LHP, Eastern Kentucky - Considered the 2nd-best college LHP available. Although he's probably the most talented guy on this list, I'm not a big fan. He would fall right into the age range that is stacked with pitching prospects in the system. Unless the Twins consider him a #1, I hope they pass at 14. He should be gone by 27.
Anthony Hewitt, SS, The Salisbury School (CT) - I've heard a lot of teams between 14 and 27 are hot on Hewitt. I'm not. He's a SS now, but will need to be moved to CF. As a MIF, I'm listening, but a move to OF? Has a lot of "raw" talent. For me, only if he's available at 31.
Jemile Weeks, 2B, Miami - I cringe when I read a guy is a "table-setter" because that's what Weeks is, and that's what the Twins like. I'm hoping the combination of Casilla having a good year and Rickie Weeks having a bad year will be enough to scare the Twins off Weeks. Plus, you can only "set the table" so much before someone else needs to take care of it.
Brad Hand, LHP, Chaska HS (MN) - A local prep lefty. The Twins have always felt the need to protect their backyard. Could be considered at 27 or 31, more likely to be taken in the 2nd round.
Brad Hand, LHP, Chaska HS (MN) - A local prep lefty. The Twins have always felt the need to protect their backyard. Could be considered at 27 or 31, more likely to be taken in the 2nd round.
My Twins projections: Ethan Martin at 14; Brett DeVall at 27; Brad Hand at 31.
My ideal Twins draft: Zack Collier at 14; Brett Lawrie (somehow) falls to 27; Brett DeVall or Brad Hand at 31.
That's all I have, tune into ESPN2 tomorrow at 1pm to see what happens. I'm thinking the Twins should be drafting around 2:15, 3:30 and 4:00, but that all depends on how long teams take. They can't trade picks, so it could move much faster... so don't schedule your draft-watching around my times.
That's all I have, tune into ESPN2 tomorrow at 1pm to see what happens. I'm thinking the Twins should be drafting around 2:15, 3:30 and 4:00, but that all depends on how long teams take. They can't trade picks, so it could move much faster... so don't schedule your draft-watching around my times.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Twins Prospect Ranking: 1-5
1. Deolis Guerra, RHP, 4/17/89, Ft. Myers (A+), The final piece of the Santana-trade puzzle. Considered one of the best young pitching prospects in baseball. Has a huge frame and big-time ability, but the stats don’t match. Youngest player (by almost a year) in Twins full-season leagues. Now with the Twins organization, will slowly climb through the organization. Will probably arrive in Minnesota as a mid-season call-up in 2011.
2. Ben Revere, OF, 5/3/88, Beloit (A-), Twins first-round pick in ’07. Many believed he was drafted way too high. Started season in EST, but was moved up to Beloit where he has been unreal. Batting over .400 and been a huge spark for the team. Projects as lead-off CF with little pop, but is a long ways away. An estimation of 2012 – with Gomez moving to LF (and 3rd in the order) and Young to RF – is as good of guess as any.
3. Tyler Robertson, LHP, 12/23/87, Ft. Myers (A+), Widely considered the top Twins prospect going into last offseason. Has statistically been similar to Guerra, with much better K numbers; ranked lower based on age/stat comparison. As left-handed arms are short in supply, Robertson may be able to scratch the major-league surface as soon as 2010.
4. Kevin Mulvey, RHP, 5/26/85, Rochester (AAA), Forgotten amongst Santana trade chips. His stats for ’08 are not very good (2-6, 1.63 WHIP, 24-23 K/BB), but let’s not forget about his age – he’s only a couple months older than Anthony Swarzak, who is considered a top prospect and pitching a level lower. Not on the 40-man roster, Mulvey, realistically, probably won’t contend for a spot on the big club until 2010.
5. Trevor Plouffe, SS, 6/15/86, New Britain (AA), It seems like Plouffe has been around forever, so languishing at AA must mean he’s been a bust. After doing some research I believe the opposite. Steadily climbing the organizational ladder, Plouffe is repeating AA. Offensively, Plouffe has always been just ok, even showing a little bit of power, and has been a little better this year. He needs to lower his Ks and Es, but the fact is, Plouffe is young for AA and would even be considered young if playing in Ft. Myers. Compares favorably to former-Twin Jason Bartlett. Could become utility backup by 2010.
2. Ben Revere, OF, 5/3/88, Beloit (A-), Twins first-round pick in ’07. Many believed he was drafted way too high. Started season in EST, but was moved up to Beloit where he has been unreal. Batting over .400 and been a huge spark for the team. Projects as lead-off CF with little pop, but is a long ways away. An estimation of 2012 – with Gomez moving to LF (and 3rd in the order) and Young to RF – is as good of guess as any.
3. Tyler Robertson, LHP, 12/23/87, Ft. Myers (A+), Widely considered the top Twins prospect going into last offseason. Has statistically been similar to Guerra, with much better K numbers; ranked lower based on age/stat comparison. As left-handed arms are short in supply, Robertson may be able to scratch the major-league surface as soon as 2010.
4. Kevin Mulvey, RHP, 5/26/85, Rochester (AAA), Forgotten amongst Santana trade chips. His stats for ’08 are not very good (2-6, 1.63 WHIP, 24-23 K/BB), but let’s not forget about his age – he’s only a couple months older than Anthony Swarzak, who is considered a top prospect and pitching a level lower. Not on the 40-man roster, Mulvey, realistically, probably won’t contend for a spot on the big club until 2010.
5. Trevor Plouffe, SS, 6/15/86, New Britain (AA), It seems like Plouffe has been around forever, so languishing at AA must mean he’s been a bust. After doing some research I believe the opposite. Steadily climbing the organizational ladder, Plouffe is repeating AA. Offensively, Plouffe has always been just ok, even showing a little bit of power, and has been a little better this year. He needs to lower his Ks and Es, but the fact is, Plouffe is young for AA and would even be considered young if playing in Ft. Myers. Compares favorably to former-Twin Jason Bartlett. Could become utility backup by 2010.
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