With just a little over a month until the pitchers and catchers report, there isn't a lot going on for Twins fans.  LaVelle E. Neal III reported that the Twins may, or may not, be in the hunt for Joe Crede...if he is healthy?  He also reported that Nick Punto may play for Italy in the WBC and that it appears that Joe Mauer will not be with Team USA due to his pre-Christmas surgery.

On the field, there are only a couple teams with Twins players still playing now that the Winter Leagues are in the round robin segment of their playoffs.  Aragua is currently fourth in a five team playoff with a 3-4 record, 2.0 games behind Cardenales de Lara with 9 games remaining.  Last night Aragua lost to Zulia, 3-1, with the winning pitcher for Zulia someone we are familiar with, Heath Totten.  Totten pitched 8.0 innings with 5 hits and only 1 run.  Catcher Wilson Ramos was 1 for 3 and is the leading hitter for Aragua in the playoffs with a .385 average.  Matt Tolbert has seen limited action, hitting .125.  Frank Mata has also seen limited action while Yohan Pino had 2 appearances this week, pitching 2.0 shutout innings in each and getting the win in Wednesday's extra innings win.  Jose Mijares has been excellent since joining the Tigres after their season started, however, had an off night on Wednesday when he allowed 2 hits, 2 walks and 1 run while getting no one out.

The Twins lone representative with Gigantes is lead off hitter Alexi Casilla, who is hitting .275 in the playoffs.  Gigantes is in first place in the DWL round robin playoffs with a 7-3 record and a 1.0 game lead with 8 games remaining. 

I don't know who is the top prospect in the Twins organization, however, seeing what Ramos has done the past two seasons and this winter in the VWL has to put his name into consideration for the best prospect the Twins have.  He is considered an excellent defensive catcher who can hit for both average and power.  He is only 21 and should begin 2009 at AA New Britain.  Now that he is on the 40-man roster there is a chance that Ramos could join the Twins this September.  A player who is a good enough hitter to be a DH when not catching could certainly be a huge addition for the Twins in their opening season in Target Field.  I know we recently completed our rankings of Twins prospects, however, considering what he as done this winter causes me to ask.....Is there anyone in the organization with a higher ceiling?