Your 2009 New Britain Rock Cats

The starting rotation should be anchored by two prospects returning from the 2008 staff.  Jeff Manship remains one of the organizations top prospects and will likely return to the Cats where he had both some excellent and disappointing  starts after his promotion at mid-season.  Jay Rainville was one of the Twins most promising starters prior to missing all of 2006 following shoulder surgery.  Jay was solid during the second half of last year and could return to form in 2009.  The remaining three starters will be players promoted from Ft. Myers.  Cole DeVries was the Miracle's best starter at the end of last season and should be in the Rock Cats rotation.  Alex Burnett likewise had an excellent season at Ft. Myers and should move up to AA where he will begin the season as a 21 year old. 

The last man in the rotation should be one of two pitchers returning from injury or a highly thought of prospect who struggled at Ft. Myers in 2008.  Kyle Waldrop spent part of 2007 with the Cats before missing all of 2008 following shoulder surgery.  Seth Stohs has reported that Waldrop says his arm feels better than it has in several years and Waldrop could return to the pitcher he was when the Twins drafted him in the first round of the 2004 draft.  Some believe Tyler Robertson was one of the Twins top starters before he incurred an injury that derailed an excellent season last summer.  Both of these top prospects could begin the season in the Rock Cat rotation, back at Ft. Myers or in EST.  The remaining candidate for the Rock Cat rotation is Deolis Guerra, the prospect many believe to be the best of the four players the Twins received in the Santana trade.  Guerra spent his second season in the FSL last year and the numbers weren't good, however, the Twins admitted they were making changes to how he pitched.  Guerra will still be 19 when the 2009 season starts, will he return to Ft. Myers or will he take that next step?

Starting Pitchers:  1) Jeff Manship; 2) Cole DeVries; 3) Jay Rainville; 4) Alex Burnett; 5) Kyle Waldrop, Tyler Robertson or Deolis Guerra (7 for 5 positions)

Oswaldo Sosa should return to the Cats after spending the last year and a half with them and yet, at 23 years old is still young for the league.  Matt Fox should move up to New Britain after a solid season in the Ft. Myers bullpen and starting rotation.  Although both could be starters, look for both to begin 2009 in the Rock Cat bullpen.  Anthony Slama should finally move up to AA and will anchor the bullpen as its closer.  Frank Mata and Yohan Pino should both return following solid winter seasons in Venezuela where Pino was one of the Aragua Tigres key middle relievers all the way to the Caribbean Series Championship.   Kyle Aselton has been an effective player for the organization, both as a starter and reliever.  Although he could begin the season in Rochester, Armando Gabino could find himself returning to New Britain if all the free agents signed this winter find themselves in Rochester following spring training.  One last player who pitched very well after his promotion to Ft. Myers last year is Blair Erickson.  He could begin 2009 in AA or return to the FSL for the first half.

Relief Pitchers:  Anthony Slama, Frank Mata, Yohan Pino, Kyle Aselton, Oswaldo Sosa, Matt Fox, Armando Gabino and Blair Erickson (8 for 6 or 7 spots)

There shouldn't be much question who the starting catcher will be in 2009, Wilson Ramos.  Following an excellent season at Ft. Myers last year, Ramos was arguably the Caribbean Series Champion Tigres leading hitter this winter.  Ramos will double as the Rock Cats DH when not catching.  Jeff Christy will return to New Britain following a season where he spent some time at Rochester after Jose Morales injury.  Rodolpho Palacios was promoted to New Britain last season after Jeff Christy moved up to Rochester.  He split time as a back up catcher and at first base.  

Catchers:  Wilson Ramos, Jeff Christy and Rodolpho Palacios (3 for 2 or 3 spots)

Danny Berg is a young Aussie who has played lots of positions and should continue to do so this season in New Britain where he was solid the last month of last year.  Two highly drafted first basemen with a history of injuries will be looking to move up from Ft. Myers, Whit Robbins and Johnny Woodard.  Danny Valencia led the FSL in hitting the first half of last year and hit very well late in 2008 after adjusting to AA pitching.  Many believe that Valencia is the Twins third baseman of the future, yet, look for him to return to New Britain out of spring training.  Brian Dinkelman should return to the team he was promoted to after having an all-star first half at Ft. Myers last year.  Toby Gardenhire is a utility infielder who had his best season at the plate since joining the organization.  Steve Singleton should move up following an excellent second half at Ft. Myers.

Infielders:  Danny Berg, Whit Robbins, Johnny Woodard, Brian Dinkelman, Steve Singleton, Toby Gardenhire and Danny Valencia (7 for 6 or 7 spots)

The outfield appears to be the area with the most questions.  Will Matt Moses return to finally have the type of season the Twins expected following his selection in the first round of the 2003 draft.  Brandon Roberts should probably be with the Red Wings this spring, but after missing nearly all of 2008 he will likely begin in the same spot as last year...center field in New Britian.  Rene Tosoni surprised most when he skipped Beloit and began 2008 in Ft. Myers, yet, he was the Miracle leading hitter when injured in May.  With such little playing time he may return to Ft. Myers, however, this young man continues to surprise and just might be the Rock Cat starting right fielder opening day.  Two other outfielders who could move up from Ft. Myers are Juan Portes and Edward Ovalle. 

Outfielders:  Matt Moses, Brandon Roberts, Rene Tosoni, Edward Ovalle and Juan Portes (5 for 4 spots)

Like most teams in the Twins organization, the Rock Cats should have excellent starting pitching with able bodies waiting in the bullpen or Ft. Myers should there be injuries, failures or promotions.  This team is somewhat different however, as their bullpen may have as much talent as the starting rotation.  Catcher Wilson Ramos and third baseman Danny Valencia are two of the top three or four prospects in the organization who both should be starters with the Twins sometime in the next few years (well Ramos has a guy ahead of him with the Twins by the name of Mauer, yet, Gardenhire will need to figure that out because Ramos will need to play).  Many will expect to see Tosoni begin the season at Ft. Myers, however, he will likely earn his way to New Britian in spring training.  Add a couple solid middle infielders to the mix with a solid center fielder who can run and this should be an exciting team that should contend.  Now we have said that every spring for the past few seasons only to be disappointed...maybe this will be the season Rock Cats fans have been waiting for?