For Twins, Prospects In Mirror May be Closer than They Appear
Since the Twins punted on the 2018 season at the trade deadline by sending Eduardo Escobar, Ryan Presley, Zach Duke, Lance Lynn and Brian Dozier to greener pastures, the question turns to…. now what? The Indians have started to pull away, and although the Twins squeeked one out in Cleveland last night, their playoff odds are basically non-existent. So, what do we do now? The answer is simple (and reoccurring)…look to the future:
Now I know you’ve heard that over and over and over and over and over and over (I could go on) again. And trust me I have too. But this time should be different. This future feels even brighter. This future goes by the name of Royce Lewis, or goat if you prefer. Check this out:
Royce Lewis went 4-for-6 with two homers tonight. He’s now hitting .329/.418/.506 with a 15/13 K/BB ratio through 21 games at high Single-A as a 19-year-old.
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) August 7, 2018
The Twins drafted this kid in 2017. The sweetest swing in the Twins entire system is just cracking the surface on his seemingly unlimited potential. Royce is too busy being awesome to even bother with any form of social media. He just flat-out rakes and MLB experts are taking notice. MLB.com has Lewis as their #10 prospect in ALL OF BASEBALL already and the Twins system has vaulted up the ranks as it continues to mature.
Lewis makes for a very shiny star atop the proverbial prospect tree, but he’s certainly not alone. The Twins are riddled with prospects who are tearing the cover off the ball.
Take outfield prospect Brent Rooker for example:
Brent Rooker has been on a tear recently, hitting .315 with 15 doubles, 11 home runs & 29 RBIs in the second half!
?https://t.co/M4TuNrsIku pic.twitter.com/Gb0NMkbG6u— Chattanooga Lookouts (@ChattLookouts) August 3, 2018
Rooker is currently the 7th best prospect in the Twins system. He profiles as a 1B/Corner OF/DH type in the field. But his bat WILL find the lineup every day.
Oh and Alex Kirilloff is a pretty damn good hitter too:
Alex Kirilloff 2 oppo hits were a thing of beauty. The hands stay back, the front shoulder stays closed, and he barrels up. This is the type of approach that not only says .300 hitter in the big leagues, but potential batting champ. #MNTwins pic.twitter.com/soapEMXESy
— Jason Woodell (@JasonAtTheGame) August 7, 2018
Kirilloff is the 2nd best prospect in the Twins system. Who knows where Alex would be
And with all of these younger studs, I keep forgetting about the guy who will likely be the first top-prospect, currently in the system, to reach the big leagues. His name is Nick Gordon. Gordon has been struggling at AAA since his call up. But with Dozier now gone there is a spot for him to get some run in September, if he can get things together. Logan Forsythe is currently manning that spot since he came to the Twins in the Dozier trade, but he’s just keeping the seat warm.
I haven’t even touched the pitching side of this equation. Aside from Berrios and Gibson the rotation is very much in flux. One potential option to fill a spot next year is this guy:
WATCH: Stephen Gonsalves went 5.1 innings allowing 2 ER on 5 hits and 3 walks last night against the @PawSox.
He struck out 3 batters. pic.twitter.com/Za2ebhiqLH
— Morrie Silver (@MorrieSilver8) August 4, 2018
Stephen Gonsalves is straight FILTH. 7-3 at AAA since his promotion with 81 K’s in 88.1 innings and 10-3 overall with 106 K’s in 108.1 innings this year. He’s struggled a bit with control, walking 60 hitters this year, but he’s been better of late and control problems haven’t been his MO coming through the system. He might not be a top of the rotation starter but we already have one of those in Señor Berrios. You probably remember Fernando Romero from his hot start with the Twins. He will also be a factor in the rotation over the next couple of years.
And don’t forget the best name in the Twins minor league system: BRUSDAR GRATEROL
Brusdar Graterol was ? for @MiracleBaseball:
6 IP
5 H
1 R (0 ER)
0 BB
5 K
Graterol in the #MNTwins No. 4 prospect: https://t.co/QHu30m3ymE pic.twitter.com/BtagVmrL4Z— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 4, 2018
Throw all of these names together in 2 years and you have something like this:
C: Mitch Garver
1B: Brent Rooker
2B: Nick Gordon
SS: Jorge Polanco
3B: Royce Lewis
LF: Eddie Rosario
CF: Byron Buxton
RF: Alex Kiriloff
DH: Miguel Sano
SP: Jose Berrios
SP: Kyle Gibson
SP: Fernando Romero
SP: Stephen Gonsalves
SP: Adalberto Mejia
And, obviously this lineup doesn’t include the $80-100 Million that is falling off of the books after this year as contracts from the previous regime start to fall off. If you can’t get hyped about what lies ahead, then I don’t know what to tell you. Because the future is so bright for this Twins team you have to wear shades to see it.
Seth Toupal @SethToups
Minnesota Sports Fan
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