Minnesota Twins Prospect #3 (Poll)
It took a run-off, but Twinkie Town selected 3B Danny Valencia as the team's top prospect. With that, we advance to the vote for Prospect #2.
- Danny Valencia, 3B
- Ben Revere, OF
Off the ballot (for this round) - Carlos Gutierrez, Trevor Plouffe,
On the ballot - Kevin Mulvey (back on), and since people seem to like relievers, I'll put a feeler out on Rob Delaney and Anthony Slama.
Again, please vote for the player that you think is the Twins top prospect among those remaining on the ballot. Poll will be up for approximately 24 hours. Please vote, but also discuss your selection and the players available.
Who is your choice for the top remaining Twins prospect?
0 recs |
18 comments
Comments
My vote
Is again for Aaron Hicks… I had him at #1 in my ranking. Huge upside in terms of power, speed, defense, arm, and he could be a great one… In my mind, prospect rankings are as much about ceiling as it is about likelihood of achieving it.
by SethSpeaks on Oct 8, 2008 2:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
My vote
this round went to Morales, mainly because I, for some reason, could not find Hicks. But I strongly support my vote, although if I did see Hicks I would have voted for him. I could see both of those players getting into AA, maybe even AAA by the end of next season.
Certainly AAA in 2010 and then a September callup would probably ensue. In 2011, we should see both players in the organization along with Revere. I’m not sure though…Gomez and Span are guys I would really like to hang on to. maybe we could move Gomez to SS and Span to 3B in 2011? or else move Morales to 3B. Its an idea but very highly unlikely. Ah, well, just wait and see. REALLY excited though for those players!
by 33MorneauMVP on Oct 8, 2008 3:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
how?
Seriously, Hicks and Morales could get to AA or AAA next year???
Also, Hicks is on the list too.
And… Span at 3B? Yeah… VERY highly unlikely.
by SethSpeaks on Oct 8, 2008 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Span 3b
Span is left handed and throws left handed. That isn’t going to work well for infield.
by WITwinsfan on Oct 9, 2008 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Optimistic much?
I think your exuberance is making you a little unrealistically optimistic. For instance, are you aware that as a lefty thrower he won’t be put at 3B. That would be like a left-handed catcher. Gomez @ shorstop? I’m definitely confused here? Why would we move one of the top defensive CF in the league to a position that he hasn’t played, particularly when his attention deficit would clearly become a bigger issue in the infield.
We all want the Twins and all of their players to be great, but we also have to be a little more cautious and calculating when we consider the realistic potential of our team and our players.
by snolls on Oct 9, 2008 12:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seth, my #1 is Morales...
…so he got my vote for the third time. Hicks and Morales to AA or AAA in 2009. Well, maybe if they were with the Mets. Fortunately, the Twins take very good care of these young players and don’t push them to far, to fast.
by roger13 on Oct 8, 2008 3:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The way this is shaping up...
…when was the last time the Top 5 prospects in any Twins prospect list were all position players? The times they are a’changin!
by roger13 on Oct 8, 2008 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What happened to Mijares?
I would have voted for him probably.
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by joeiscool12 on Oct 8, 2008 5:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
good catch...
I will definitely put him back on the next vote… Sorry everyone!
by SethSpeaks on Oct 8, 2008 5:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
My Vote Goes For Slama
He was a Great Closer at Fort Myers.
by Tony_O on Oct 8, 2008 6:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Hicks
For me it was between him and Morales, and despite Morales being younger and getting more extra base hits, I just love the BB:K of Hicks as an 18 year old. I really think it bodes well for his future. Morales will be my next vote though.
by Hoya on Oct 8, 2008 7:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
TY
You guys always keep us up-to-date on what’s going down in the minors. Thanks for your excellent work.
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by Skippy tastes better than Jiff on Oct 8, 2008 7:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Upside vs. Trade Value
BA put Blackburn as their #1 prospect last year and most people were aghast. Span was panned. Meanwhile, a young player by the name of Deolis Guerra was rated quite highly by many and the lynchpin of the Santana trade. So, for now, I am sticking with higher level guys, in this case Swarzak. I am probably in way over my head, but this is fun, and thanks for setting this up Seth and thanks to everyone else for humoring my comments.
I just look at the list and think if I was the Seattle Mariners and I was trading Beltre away, who would I absolutely have to have? Swarzak may not have the huge upside Hicks and Morales appear to have, but he seems to be projectable as a #3 starter type, and maybe a big game pitcher who thrives under increased pressure.
If (and he will) loses this round, I’m changing my strategy. (Another fun thing about this is I don’t have my own top ten or fifty list, so I don’t feel obligated to keep voting for my personal #1 until that player makes the list. I am easily swayed by others knowledge/insight/opinions, and I hope people keep commenting. I’d really like to hear more comments on stats, personal observations, etc. I am stuck in Idaho and have never seen or heard these guys play—well, I’ve heard Mijares pitch—almost all my knowledge comes from Seth and Roger’s write ups.)
(Sorry for the length) I lived in Seattle for three years…would anyone enjoy a wintertime chat discussing ways to turn the Mariners into the Marliners, starting with Beltre to the Twins?
by Han Joelo on Oct 8, 2008 9:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree
My top two are Morales, and Swarzak in that order. Swarzak wins because he seems like the highest ceiling player that is close to the majors. He has already demonstrated the tools and talents that will be needed. Theo other young players are still just Frankenstein’s creations. This one has Rickey Hendersen’s legs, Griffey’s swing, Nolan Ryan’s right arm, and if his hormones do the right things in his late teen’s and early 20’s, he could develop Barry Bond’s skull and bacne. Morales, on the other hand, gets some credit because even though he is at a very low level, he is showing the power, the contact, etc. I like to think that makes him less of a dream and a projection, and more measurable and dependable in some way.
We’ll see.
by snolls on Oct 9, 2008 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great Comments
I love following this stuff and have been doing this for about 5 years. I try to pick up trends and stuff, but when it comes to this, in the end, we’re all just guess. Blackburn and Span are great examples. Although Guerra dropped from #2 on my list to the 12-13 range due to control. But in saying that, I also point out that at 19, he could easily jump back up to #1 at some point… or, if he does happen to not find his control, he could keep falling.
But in my mind, it is fun to talk about all the prospects, and give them their due.
I’d think that the Mariners will ask for one of the five Twins starters. In my mind, Liriano, Baker and Slowey are untouchable, and I’d rather not deal Blackburn or Perkins. If it were one of those two, they could be packaged with a mid-tier prospect. I think they would want Swarzak and Mulvey and maybe Pridie or Martin and probably Delaney. I’m not saying the Twins should give up that much, but Seattle is going to want probably two near-ready starting pitchers, a near-ready position player and probably another player. If that’s what they are asking, the Twins should just say no.
by SethSpeaks on Oct 8, 2008 11:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What if
I agree, a package with that many prospects would not be a good deal.
However, what if the deal was Perkins, Mulvey, Pridie and Harris/Buscher, and we got Beltre and a low level prospect that management likes. That is something I could handle, because we give up quantity not quality. There are probably a lot of interchangeable parts that could be substituted in there, but any deal where we didn’t give up a top player would be worth it. And, I’d go to Blackburn + Swarzak, if it meant that they ate salary.
by snolls on Oct 9, 2008 6:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I went with Ramos...
As much as I like the upsides of Hicks/Morales, and like Swarzak as well, Ramos’ position and upside are pretty damn amazing himself.
And at a REALLY premium position. Plus he dominated at a higher level (not than Swarzak, of course).
And I’ll second the addition of Mijares. I could have voted for him here as well.
by DJSkillz on Oct 9, 2008 12:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

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