Andrew Kneeland and John Meyer Talk Twins

Posted by John on July 16, 2010 under Andrew, John | 5 Comments to Read

I grabbed TwinsMVB contributor and founder of TwinsTarget.com, Andrew Kneeland, to talk Twins on a Friday afternoon. Have a listen!

Twins/Rays Series Preview: 7/1-7/4

Posted by andrew on June 30, 2010 under Andrew | 3 Comments to Read

After a satisfying series victory over the divisional rival Detroit Tigers, the Twins will end their homestand with a four-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Tampa Bay started the season off on an excellent note, perching themselves atop the American League East while the Yankees and Red Sox tried to re-group. Now, though, the Rays have struggled to maintain their pitching prowess, and have slipped in the standings.

Still one of the best teams in baseball, though, the Rays will be trying to accomplish the same thing as the Twins during this series: closing the door on a rotten June in an attempt to get back on track in July.

Game One – Jeff Niemann (6-2, 2.72) vs. Carl Pavano (9-6, 3.33)

Niemann, 27, was a major factor into Tampa Bay’s incredible start to the season, posting a 2.38 ERA through the month of May. Like his team, though, Niemann took a step back in June. This step back has been minimal, but could be the start of a major regression.

Despite coming off two successful starts against National League squads, Niemann is a classic example of a pitcher with artificially impressive stats. With an extremely low BABIP, a low line drive percentage, and a very high strand rate, it’s not a question of whether or not Niemann will regress; it’s a question of when.

While he’s certainly not as good of a pitcher as his stats suggest, Niemann may not return to earth for quite a while. The longer he keeps up this façade, though, the harder his fall will be.

Pavano’s success, meanwhile, appears to be more a result of ability. Although he has the benefit of a low BABIP and high strand rate, Pavano hasn’t given up any fewer line drives than is usual for the 34-year old. His overall talent level is probably worse than his current 3.33 ERA, but to expect a 4.00 ERA on the season would be fair.

Though not the case for most Twins, the month of June has been extremely friendly to Pavano. Coming off two consecutive complete games, Pavano has an ERA of 2.25 through 40 June innings. Pavano (and teammate Francisco Liriano) have been paramount to Minnesota’s ability to avoid a free-fall this month.

Both BJ Upton and Carl Crawford have dealt with minor bumps and buises these past few days, and they may miss a game or two during this series.

Game Two – David Price (11-3, 2.44) vs. Scott Baker (4-7, 4.97)

A few weeks ago, David Price was in the same boat as Niemann; a lucky pitcher who would likely plummet back to a more realistic realm. Instead of regressing, though, Price seems to be finally tapping into his incredible potential.

Price, 24, has marginal success last year with basically two pitches: a four-seam fastball and a slider. This season Price has introduced two new pitches: a curveball and a two-seam fastball. With the ability to better deceive opposing batters, Price has had great success in 2010. His ERA won’t stay below 2.50 for too long, and he won’t be able to strand nearly as many runners as he is now, but Price, the first overall pick in the 2007 draft, has started to realize his potential. Which should frighten batters across the American League.

Baker has been one of the most disappointing players for Minnesota this season. A career 4.36 ERA pitcher, Baker’s near-5.00 ERA this season has angered many fans. Looking at the stats, though, shows that Baker has BABIP slightly higher than is usual for the right-hander, and that more fly balls than usual are ending up as home runs. Both of these will likely regress eventually, though, Minnesota fans could be treated to a start along the lines of Baker’s most recent.

Game Three – Wade Davis (5-9, 4.68) vs. Francisco Liriano (6-6, 3.47)

When looking at opposing pitchers in these series previews, I usually make sure to mention whether or not that pitcher has had “luck” on their side. In Davis’ case, though, his poor stats are simply because he hasn’t pitched very well.

Whether his issues are mental or mechanical isn’t necessarily known, but he has garned far fewer swinging strikes than in the past. This lack of deception has greatly hurt his stats, and Price could be replaced by top prospect Jeremy Hellickson very soon.

Liriano has been one of the best pitchers in the American League this season, and “luck” hasn’t played too big a factor in his success. He will give up more home runs per fly ball than he is now, but all signs point back to the biggest reason for Liriano’s success: his improved slider.

Game Four – James Shields (6-8, 4.76) vs. Nick Blackburn (7-5, 6.02)

On the face of things, it appears that Shields has been unimpressive this season. When trying to root out the reason for this mediocrity, though, I can’t find any glaring abnormalities. Most of his batted-ball and plate discipline stats have remained the same from years past, as Shields is still inducing plenty of ground balls and getting ahead in the count at a very impressive clip.

So why is the ground-ball pitcher struggling? For one, his BABIP is slightly higher, but something intangible is also a likely culprit. In any case, Shields hasn’t been very effective this season, and there is no reason to believe that his mediocrity will end against the Twins.

Blackburn has also struggled to get batters out this year, but we can pinpoint exactly what is ailing the 28-year old righty: He just isn’t very good. He is dead-last in the league in strikeouts per nine innings, and when he throws a pitch in the strike zone, opposing batters make contact an astounding 96.6 percent of the time, which is also tops in the league.

Marginally successful for the past few years, Blackburn relied upon his extremely accurate arm to paint the corners of the plate and walk very few opposing batters. This year, however, it appears the league knows that most of Blackburn’s pitches are hittable.

Minor League Check-In, 6/23

Posted by andrew on June 23, 2010 under Andrew | 3 Comments to Read

With a few months of the minor league season in the books, and with several players having been either promoted or demoted throughout the system, it’s time for another Minor League Check-In. Here are three players who Twins fans should be keeping their eye on this year:

Kyle Gibson, SP, New Britain Rock Cats

After dominating his opposition while with the Fort Myers Miracle, Gibson sported a 1.87 ERA on the season. His strikeout-to-walk ratio was looking excellent, and a few thought the former first-round pick may be able to challenge for a September call-up later in 2010.

Since being promoted to Double-A New Britain, however, Gibson has received a harsh welcome. Through seven starts, Gibson has a 4.83 ERA to go with an inflated WHIP. He is being hit much harder in New Britain, but Gibson has managed to keep his K/BB ratio in tact and as appealing as ever.

Nearly all hope of a 2010 appearance with the major-league club has been dissolved, but Gibson should still be able to finish the season with the Rochester Red Wings. He will contend for a rotation spot to start the 2011 season.

Joe Benson, OF, New Britain Rock Cats

Benson was one of the first Twins to be promoted this season, as he was sent from Fort Myers to New Britain. He has played 40 games at the Double-A level, and has proven that he isn’t over-matched at the higher level. He is still struggling with strikeouts, but Benson’s .350/.478 on-base and slugging percentages are among the best in Minnesota’s organization. Benson has hit 12 home runs so far this season, and is stealing more bases than he has in the past.

Although the Twins’ outfield is jam-packed with talented players, if Benson keeps hitting like this it will be impossible to leave him out of the major-league picture for too long.

Miguel Sano, 3B/OF, Dominican Summer League

One of the Twins’ biggest international signings in their history, Sano has been raking opposing pitching through his first 14 games. Hitting .341/.444/.636, Sano has shown himself to be a natural hitter at the Hot Corner.

Of course, he’s only had about 50 professional plate appearances, and Sano will need many more years before he is polished enough to join the big-league club. When Sano is ready for big-league action, though, the Twins will be more than happy to accommodate him.

Twins Bolster Minor League System in 2010 MLB Draft

Posted by andrew on June 9, 2010 under Andrew | 6 Comments to Read

The Twins certainly didn’t stray from their organizational philosophy in this most recent MLB Draft. Holding the 21st overall selection in the Rule 4 Draft, Minnesota made several selections of players that fill a mold that Twins’ fans have grown familiar with. Here is a brief run-down of Minnesota’s first three picks.

21st pick: Alex Wimmers, RHP, Ohio State (6′2”, 195 lbs)

Wimmers is exactly the type of pitcher the Twins have historically favored in the draft. Although he doesn’t possess a blazing fastball, Wimmers is able to consistently throw three pitches for strikes. His curveball has the possibility to develop into a ‘60′ pitch on the 20-80 scouting scale, according to Keith Law, while his changeup could reach ‘65.’ Wimmer’s fastball ranges from 89-92 mph, which is why he will rely on his offspeed stuff in the future.

One of the safest picks in the draft, Wimmers is a very polished pitcher and should be able to fly through the minor league system, perhaps reaching the Twins’ rotation in the middle of 2011. Of course, the sooner he signs the sooner he can fill out a rotation spot in Minnesota.

71st pick: Niko Goodrum, OF, Fayette County HS, Jonesboro, Ga. (6′3”, 175 lbs)

A toolsy 18-year old from Georgia, Goodrum was one of the more high risk/high reward players in the draft this year. He is a switch hitter, and played shortstop in high school, though both of those are in question as he transitions to professional baseball. Goodrum will probably move to center field to take advantage of his plus speed and arm.

Goodrum’s main concern lies in his ability to make contact. His raw strength shows great power potential, but he needs to make contact before he can send the ball into the seats. The Twins have tons of athleticism to work with, but Goodrum could very likely be a complete bust at the minor-league level. With the Twins coaching and development staff working their magic, though, I wouldn’t bet against Goodrum having a long major-league career.

102nd pick: Pat Dean, LHP, Boston College (6′1”, 175 lbs)

Any left-handed pitcher has a better-than-average change of making it in professional baseball, but Dean’s polished four-pitch repertoire gives him an even better chance. Dean’s sum is greater than his parts, as no aspect of his game is far above average. The fact that he possesses an average ability to do so much, though, is where he finds his value.

An average fastball, changeup, curve, and slider are available to Dean, though he didn’t use his offspeed pitches very much because of the low quality of his opponents. Dean’s above-average command and control are probably what attracted him most to the Twins, and he should move through the minor-league system with relative ease.

Twins-Athletics Series Preview, 6/4-6/6

Posted by andrew on June 4, 2010 under Andrew | Read the First Comment

Starting the season with low expectations and a very young team, the Oakland Athletics find themselves at the top of their division through the first third of the season. In the Oakland Colosseum, the Athletics boast an impressive 19-8 record. As the Twins attempt to shake off a disappointing series with Seattle, the Athletics appear an intimidating foe.

Game One - Baker (5-4, 4.48 ERA)vs. Braden (4-5, 3.60 ERA)

As I’m sure you’re aware, Braden tossed the first perfect game of this historic 2010 season. Despite being forever plastered in the record books, though, Braden is not an elite pitcher. His BABIP is unusually low, which is why his FIP is higher than his impressive-on-the-surface ERA. Braden has been an extreme fly-ball pitcher, and is very prone to the home run ball. He doesn’t strike out many opposing batters at all, though his fastball/changeup duo are noteworthy.

Baker, on the other hand, has fought off some tough luck so far this season. His BABIP is a few points higher than his career average, which indicates a possible regression of opposing batters’ ability to keep their batted balls out of Minnesota gloves. Baker’s strikeout and groundball rates are higher than last year, and he’s averaging just over six innings of work per start.

Twins fans have long been searching for an ace since Johan Santana was dealt away. Liriano hasn’t been able to fill the void, but so far this season Baker has looked everything like an ace. If Baker can step up and help the Twins finish off this tough road series on a good note, the unofficial designation of “staff ace” is his to lose.

Game Two - Liriano (5-3, 3.29 ERA) vs. Cahill (4-2, 3.02 ERA)

So far this season, few pitchers have been as lucky as Trevor Cahill. With a BABIP of just .222, he is sure to regress to the mean eventually. Will it be against the Twins tomorrow night? Probably not. Even so, Cahill has struck out opposing batters at one of the lowest rates in the league while walking around three per nine innings. He has been aided by an extremely good groundball rate, as well as a great strand rate.

Liriano started the season off beautifully, but struggled for a brief three-game stretch before returning to his groove. If you remove Liriano’s starts on May 8, 15, and 20 from his season total, his ERA drops to just 2.02. Even with the low ERA (which isn’t the best way to evaluate a pitcher), Liriano’s FIP is even lower. He has struggled through a very high BABIP of .349 while striking out just over nine opposing batters per nine innings.

With five days of rest, Liriano’s ERA is 1.78. Unfortunately, Liriano will only get four days of R&R during this turn of the starting rotation, where he has an ERA of 5.76.

Game Three – Blackburn (6-2, 4.73 ERA) vs. Gonzalez (5-3, 3.68 ERA)

Fortunately, the Twins will be able to escape Oakland without being forced to find an answer for Brett Anderson. Instead, they will take on three young starters who boast very impressive ERAs, and are currently riding lucky streaks. Gonzalez has been able to limit baserunners at a great clip this year, with a WHIP of just 1.29. He hasn’t struck out many, though, and his strand rate is way above his career average.

Blackburn has been one of the more disappointing Twins’ pitchers this year. He is currently dead-last in the league in strikeouts per nine innings, and his walk and homerun rate are both higher than last year. Blackburn’s ability to induce groundballs is up, but his stats don’t look to be aided by a BABIP regression anytime soon. He has been able to provide the Twins with plenty of average innings, though, as he’s averaged 6.42 innings per start so far this season.

It’s way too early to apply the “must-win” label to this series, but two or even three wins in Oakland could help the Twins prepare for a tough interleague stretch later this month.

2010 MLB Draft Preview

Posted by andrew on June 3, 2010 under Andrew | Read the First Comment

When it comes to scouting, drafting, and developing minor-league talent, most teams are envious of the Minnesota Twins.

Consistently competing on a reduced payroll and in a small market, the Twins owe a great deal of their success to their scouting department. Minnesota’s young core of players — Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Jason Kubel, among others — are all home-grown and a product of Minnesota’s usually-excellent minor-league system.

This year, the Twins will look to bolster that system by adding some organizational depth.

Predicting what Minnesota will do in the Rule 4 Draft is as futile an exercise as making contact with a Steve Carlton slider; unless you got lucky, there’s no way you are going to make solid contact.

The Twins have no discernable tendencies in the June First-Year Player’s Draft. They are just as willing to draft a prep outfielder as they are a college-groomed relief pitcher. Minnesota will draft the player they feel will help the organization the most.

This year, the Twins have been awarded the 21st overall selection in the draft. Here are five players that they could wind up in Minnesota’s minor-league system.

Bryce Brentz, OF, Middle Tennessee State – (Click here to read more!)

There is certainly an abundance of outfielders in Minnesota’s organization, but if Brentz is still on the board, the Twins might not be able to pass him up.

Last year, Minnesota took a gamble on Kyle Gibson, a Top-10 talent who fell in the draft due to a stress fracture in his throwing arm. Like Gibson, Brentz was widely thought to be an elite talent in the 2010 draft, but a stress fracture in his right ankle has made him fall into the 15-25 area in most mock drafts.

Brentz’s main weapon is his bat, which most scouts believe can develop power and an ability to hit for average. This 21-year-old slugger isn’t the quickest on his feet, but possesses a cannon for an arm (he can throw a 93 mph fastball) and projects as a defensively-competent right fielder.

Ideal scenario: Brentz is capable of hitting 20+ homeruns and batting at least .280 from the middle of a team’s lineup while providing slightly above-average defense from a corner outfield position.

Alex Wimmers, RHP, Ohio State

Wimmers is one of the most MLB-ready college arms available in this draft class. His name shouldn’t stay on the board for long, which isn’t so much a result of his ceiling as it is his being a safe pick.

His fastball sits right around 91 mph, and he regularily hits the strikezone. The Twins are constantly teaching and preaching strike-throwing, and Wimmers fits in with Minnesota’s MO nicely.

Although his fastball is an average pitch at best, Wimmers possesses a plus changeup and a plus curveball, both of which he can get across the strikezone. A junior this year for Ohio State, Wimmers has experience pitching in high-pressure situations, and should have no problem adjusting to professional baseball.

Ideal scenario: Wimmers spends a year or two perfecting his craft in the minor leagues before joining a major-league rotation, where he will fill the #3 or #4 position.

Christian Colon, SS, Cal State Fullerton

As the captian of last summer’ Team USA, Colon’s stock rose dramatically as he showcased his leadership skills, knowledge of the game, and defensive abilities on a world-wide stage.

Despite having below-average quickness and speed, Colon’s defensive range is top-notch, and should have the arm strength required to stay at the shortstop position in most organizations.

Colon doesn’t have the powerful bat some in this draft boast, but he is a solid contact hitter with the ability to maintain a solid batting average at a major-league level. (According to some, Colon is well-adjusted to the wood bats, and shouldn’t require much transition time once he signs a professional contract.)

Ideal scenario: Colon could compare to the 2007/2008 version of Minnesota’s JJ Hardy, minus most of the power. Outrageously slow on the basepaths, but boasting great defense from short. Colon should be an average major-leaguer.

Delino DeShields, Jr., 2B, CF/2B, Woodward Academy (Georgia)

Because of his father, DeShields has garnered plenty of attention throughout his young high school career. His main tool is his outstanding speed: a consensus 80 on the 20-80 scouting scale. DeShields could be a college runningback, which has many scouts doubting his desire to play professional baseball.

DeShield’s signability concerns will lead to him being drafted much lower than his talent level would usually be. If a team can manage to entice the 17-year old into a professional contract, they would get a guy who can cover plenty of ground in center field. Because of his father’s major-league position, some teams may wish to try DeShields at second base, where he could put his soft hands to work.

With a very short swing, DeShields has the ability to hit for average at the major-league level and some power should develop as he gets older.

Ideal scenario: DeShields could either be a speedy center fielder or a second baseman with great range. Wherever he plays, it will likely be a defense-first position that will greatly benefit from his prowess with the bat.

Kaleb Cowert, 3B/RHP, Cook County HS (Georgia)

Cowert is perhaps the most interesting figure in the 2010 Rule 4 Draft. As a switch-hitting infielder, Cowert has plus power and an outstandingly-strong arm that projects well at third base. According to some scouts, Cowert’s mechanics at the plate will need some fine-tuning, though he would be capable of being a major-league regular.

From the mound, however, Cowert’s fastball is among the best of this year’s prep talent. Reaching 95 or 96 on some radar guns, Cowert’s fastball has plenty of movement and could almost be considered major-league ready.

His other two pitches, though, are still a work-in-progress. Though his control is top-notch, Cowert’s slider and changeup are still very inconsistent and will take several years with a minor-league coaching staff to perfect. At 17 years of age, Cowert has a very high ceiling as a future closer, or even a starting pitcher.

Cowert has said that he prefers to play every day, though, and would like to be drafted as an infielder. If you ask three scouts which position Cowert will be drafted at, you’ll probably get four or five different opinions. Cowert’s future position will be one of the most interesting storylines come draft day.

Ideal scenario: As a pitcher, Cowert could wind up as a closer with an over-powering fastball and a couple of supplemental pitches to keep opposing hitters on their toes as he closes out the 9th. As a switch-hitting third baseman, Cowert could rack up 15-20 homeruns per season while maintaining solid defense at the Hot Corner.

Twins-Yankees Series Preview 5/25-5/27

Posted by andrew on May 25, 2010 under Andrew | 2 Comments to Read

Another rematch against a team that we just can’t seem to beat.

After being swept in the season series against the Yankees last year, and losing two of three to them in our first meeting this year, the Twins will be considered the underdog in this series, despite what the above numbers say. Should the Twins fail to win this series against the Bronx Bombers, there will undoubtedly be people throwing in the towel on the season, citing the Twins’ inability to beat the “good teams” that they will be paired up against in the postseason.

That’s certainly an overreaction, but winning two of three in the Yankee’s first visit to Target Field sure would be nice.

Game One - Burnett (4-2, 3.86 ERA) vs. Baker (4-4, 4.88 ERA)

AJ Burnett has certainly been having a great season, and was among the early favorites for Cy Young before he got rocked for six runs in just under seven innings a few days ago. Ignoring that last start, Burnett has been an above-average starter. He isn’t striking out his usual total, though, and he is giving up plenty of hits. If an offensively potent team can string some hits together — like the Rays did last week — Burnett’s ERA may rise a few dozen points.

On the face of things, it appears as if Baker is his “start the season slow” mode. With a relatively high 4.88 ERA, Baker is hardly pitching well enough to be considered the staff’s “ace.” As evidenced by his abnormally-high .343 BABIP and improved groundball rate, Baker may be on the cusp of a few lucky breaks. Baker is striking out the most in his career and walking opposing batters at a very low clip, and has the 25th-lowest xFIP in baseball: 3.70.

Game Two – Pettitte (5-1, 2.68 ERA) vs. Liriano (4-3, 3.25 ERA)

Andy Pettitte has been the anti-Baker so far this year. Although his ERA and win/loss record is appealing, his xFIP is a much-higher 4.34, which testaments to his high walk rate, low strikeout rate, and low BABIP, all of which indicate a regression to the mean in the very near future. Pettitte also has a very impressive 82.2 strand-rate, which simply isn’t sustainable over the course of a whole season.

After posting a 7.02 ERA over his last three starts, Liriano seems to have finally convinced people that he will never return to his pre-surgery form. Even with three less-than-desirable starts so far this year, Liriano’s intangibles have been right in line of what we expect: a solid strikeout rate and an average walk rate. His almost complete aversion of the long-ball this year (he’s given up just two home runs all season) is also good to see.

Game Three – Vazquez (3-4, 6.69 ERA) vs. Blackburn (5-1, 4.50 ERA)

After dealing away a package centering around Melky Cabrera for Javy Vazquez, the Yankees are undoubtedly upset with their return. Vazquez, who finished fourth in Cy Young voting last season, is off to a terrible start with New York. His sky-high ERA is only slightly worse than the advanced stats claim, and hope can’t even be gleaned from his BABIP, which is maddeningly (at least for Yankees fans)  normal.

Blackburn, on the other hand, has pitched worse than his ERA indicates. Striking out an extremely low 2.50 batters per nine innings (the lowest mark in baseball among qualified pitchers) and giving up far more than his fair share of home runs, Blackburn has been “off” this season. His BABIP isn’t too far off line, and he is inducing more groundballs than he usually does, which is what he needs to do to be successful in 2010. Against the mighty Yankee’s offense, I’m guessing a full return to his usually-reliable self isn’t going to happen.

This series will be the last time the Twins play the Yankees this season. While too much shouldn’t be read into a mid-May series, any matchup of two of the best teams in baseball is important. Another series lose would leave an awful taste in Twins’ fans mouths, but a good showing could help spring-board a successful June for Minnesota.

The Perkins Problem

Posted by andrew on May 19, 2010 under Andrew | Read the First Comment

Remember when we thought that Glen Perkins could be a large part of a trade for San Diego closer Heath Bell?

Now, not so much.

Thanks to the emergence of Francisco Liriano, Perkins was forced to begin the season in Triple-A Rochester where the 27-year old would hopefully build up his trade value. Through his first seven starts in the Twins’ minor league system, Perkins is 0-5 with a 10.08 ERA and a 1.988 WHIP.

With a career major-league ERA of 4.73 in 281.2 innings, Perkins is either still hurt or simply forgot how to pitch. Perkins made his last start on Saturday, where he gave up four earned runs in five innings. His ERA actually dropped .64 points.

Perkins hit the shelf late last season with tendonitis in his left shoulder. He missed 23 days on the disabled list, and the Twins’ failure to give Perkins service time during his rehab stint procured a Berlin Wall of ill feelings between the two parties.

Throwing a total of 12 innings in 2009 between Rookie-League and High-A, Perkins amassed an ERA of 2.25. He faced 45 batters, and struck out nine while walking just one. Even if there were still concerns over Perkin’s shoulder, the Twins didn’t seem to be worried.

During Spring Training this year Perkins complained of lower back stiffness, which some dismissed as simply another cry for attention from a whiny pitcher who wasn’t very good in the first place. Could either his left shoulder or lower back be acting up again?

Some cite Perkin’s very high opinion of himself as problematic. Could the sharp drop in production due to injury have impacted Perkin’s confidence, resulting in horrid starts this year in Triple-A? Or is he as cocky as ever, but still hurt?

Either way, there is little chance Perkins sees major-league action with the Twins this season. He is quite a ways down the totem pole in Rochester. If the Twins’ starting rotation suffers a devastating series of injuries, Perkins may not even be the third player called up.

Perkins may be a home-town kid who grew up dreaming of a chance to play for the Twins, but any future major-league success will come with another franchise. For the sake of both the Rochester rotation and Perkin’s career, the Twins need to part ways with the 6’0’’ lefty.

If they don’t, this Perkins Problem may develop into something even more distracting.

Taking A Look At Some Hot Starts

Posted by andrew on April 28, 2010 under Andrew | 2 Comments to Read

The season may still be young, but several players in the Twins’ minor league organization are certainly off to a great start. Here is a quick look at five of these players:

Bobby Lanigan, RH-SP, Ft. Myers Miracle

Lanigan, a third-round selection of the Twins in the 2008 draft, is off to a great start in his first full year of High-A ball. Through 22.1 innings this season, Lanigan has compiled a 0.81 ERA along with a 0.896 WHIP. He is striking out 8.1 batters per nine innings, and has walked just four.

Opponents are hitting just .198 off Lanigan, and the 22-year-old righty has a 1.30 groundout/flyout ratio. Lanigan is known for his outstanding slider, and could move up to Double-A as soon as one of the New Britain starts promoted to Rochester.

Liam Hendriks, RH-SP, Beloit Snappers

Hendriks, while just 20 years of age, has been off to a very impressive start through 22 innings in Beloit. With a 0.41 ERA, Hendriks has given up just one earned run while striking out 26 and walking just two. His WHIP is 0.409, and he has been incredibly dominant through his first four starts.

Hendriks has had excellent control throughout his three minor-league seasons, and has a 1.50 groundout/flyout ratio this season. He could fight for a job in Fort Myers when the first round of promotions begins.

Rene Tosoni, OF, New Britain Rock Cats

Tosoni has done a great job in his attempts to convince the Twins’ brass that he can hit left-handed pitching. With a combined line of .351/.413/.526 through his first 64 plate appearances, Tosoni is hitting .375/.474/.438 against south-paws. He has a total of six extra-base hits so far this year, and could potentially be a September call-up to the major-leagues.

Tosoni probably doesn’t have the range to play center field, but he has a cannon of an arm and will fit nicely in a corner outfield position. If he keeps raking opposing pitchers at his current clip, there is no reason why he can’t be playing in Rochester in a few months.

Top 15 Prospects: Status Report, April 21

Posted by andrew on April 21, 2010 under Andrew | Read the First Comment

15. Deolis Guerra, RH-SP, New Britain

Guerra has made two starts so far this season, and has a 4.91 ERA through 11 innings. His WHIP is just above 1, but he isn’t striking out as many as he had in the past. Guerra ended last season with the Rock Cats, and pitched 62.2 innings with a 5.17 ERA and seven strikeouts per nine innings. This year, though, Guerra has yet to walk a batter.

14. Tyler Robertson, LH-SP, New Britain

Robertson is making his first appearance in the Florida State League this year, and has made two less-than-stellar starts so far. His ERA is 5.40, his WHIP 1.500, and he has managed to last a combined total of just 6.2 innings. It’s early, but Robertson has struck out just two batters, and opponents are hitting .333 off him. Robertson has induced more fly-outs than ground-outs, which is troubling.

13. Rene Tosoni, OF, New Britain

Tosoni has had a monster start to the season, and is hitting .432/.488/.649 in the first ten games of his second year at Double-A. On Monday, Tosoni went 4-4 with a double, home run, and stolen base. The sample-size is obviously very small, but Tosoni has hit equally well against both right- and left-handers. His inability to hit against southpaws throughout his career is probably his biggest drawback. If he can figure out left-handers, there is no reason why he can’t be a candidate for a late-season call-up.

12. BJ Hermsen, RH-SP, EST

Hermsen hasn’t compiled any stats so far this year, which could be because he is participating in Extended Spring Training. After EST, Hermsen could either go back to the Gulf Coast League, or advance to the Beloit rotation.

11. David Bromberg, RH-SP, New Britain

In his two starts so far this season, Bromberg has looked great. He has just 11 innings under his belt, but Bromberg has an ERA of 0.82, and opponents are hitting just .139 off him. This is Bromberg’s first year of Double-A, and he is limiting his base-runners while striking out plenty.

10. Miguel Angel Sano, SS/3B/OF, EST?

Sano will most likely play for the GCL Twins this season. They haven’t started playing games yet.

9. Joe Benson, OF, New Britain Rock Cats

Benson performed well in the Florida State League last year, and made the jump to Double-A this season. Through ten games, Bromberg is hitting .216/.326/.351 with one home run, and he has four stolen bases. As Benson gets accustomed to the environs of Double-A, his production will greatly improve.

8. Chris Parmelee, 1B/DH, New Britain

Parmelee was given a relatively unexpected promotion to New Britain to start the 2010 season, and has shown his power right out of the gate. Through ten games, Parmelee is hitting .250/.304/.475 with two home runs and three doubles. We’ve yet to see how his defense looks, which is the biggest issue with Parmelee. Should he prove capable of playing adequate first base or corner outfield defense, his value as a prospect will shoot up.

7. Adrian Salcedo, RH-SP, EST

Like Hermsen, Salcedo will likely start the year in Extended Spring Training before joining the Beloit rotation. He hasn’t thrown a competitive pitch yet this year.

6. Wilson Ramos, C, Rochester

After the Twins opted to give Ramos consistent playing time over a back-up catcher role with the big-league club, Ramos has hit .189/.211/.297 in nine games. He has one home run, but has a 10/1 K/BB ratio. This is his first year of Triple-A, and he clearly needs some time to re-gain his footing.

5. Kyle Gibson, RH-SP, Fort Myers

Gibson has made three starts so far this year for the Miracle, and has looked exceptional. He is striking out an average of 9.7 batters per nine innings, and has an ERA of 2.70. He has struck out 18 opposing batters, and given a free pass to just three. After a few more starts like these, Gibson could find his way to New Britain very soon.

4. Danny Valencia, 3B, Rochester

Valencia finished last season with the Red Wings, and is hitting .188/.250/.250 in his nine games in Rochester in 2010. The season is still very young, and he will get the hang of things eventually. When he does, Valencia stands a very good chance to make the big-league squad and attempt to take playing time away from Nick Punto and Brendan Harris at the hot corner.

3. Ben Revere, OF, New Britain

After a great showing in Spring Training, Revere started the 2010 season in New Britain. This is his first season in Double-A, and he is hitting .214/.353/.214 through eight games. He has two stolen bases in as many attempts. If he can get his bat working for him, Revere could find his way to Rochester by the end of the season.

2. Angel Morales, OF, Beloit Snappers

After hitting .266/.329/.455 with 40 extra-base hits at Beloit last season, Morales was denied a promotion to High-A and was sentenced to repeat Low-A and work on his very high strikeout rate. So far this year, not much has improved. Morales has struck out 12 times, while only drawing two walks. He’s still just 20 years old, though, and has plenty of time to develop plate discipline, which will be the main focus of 2010 for Morales.

1. Aaron Hicks, OF, Beloit

Hicks spent last season in Beloit, and wasn’t very impressive at the plate. This season, as a 20-year old, Hicks has hit .108/.233/.216 through ten games. The athleticism, speed, and plate discipline are all very advanced for Hicks, but the bat has yet to come around.