Who Is Joe Testa?

by Jesse on Jul 16, 2009 4:36 PM EDT in Player Profiles

While browsing minor league numbers for the Twins this afternoon, I came across a pitcher by the name of Joe Testa. Who is he?

This is his page at MiLB.com. No profile picture. Check out those numbers, though. He's currently pitching with the Miracle in Fort Myers, having appeared in half a dozen games and 10.2 innings. Testa's struck out 14, walked three and allowed eight hits. Nobody's scored yet. He's sporting a 1.44 FIP according to FirstInning.com, although they haven't logged two of his appearances, which probably means that FIP is even lower.

For the majority of this spring and summer, Testa was quietly blowing away hitters as a pitcher for the Beloit Snappers, Minnesota's low-A ball affiliate. He started just one game, appeared 24 times in relief, and accumulated a substantial 45.2 innings. Strikeouts: 63. Hits: 26. The walks weren't quite as impressive, with 23 earning a free pass. That's a 1.07 WHIP, 2.56 ERA (FIP 2.70), and a .161 opponent average.

Testa is a 23-year old southpaw, undrafted out of Wagner College in 2008. Wagner College is in Staten Island, New York, and has been part of the NCAA since 2003. Until recently, in the history of the school only Curt Blefary has had a major league career ('65 - '72), although a couple of guys did make it to triple-A. In 2006, the Oakland Athletics drafted Andrew Bailey, a teammate of Testa at Wagner in '05 and '06. Baily is now blowing people away as a rookie relief pitcher with the A's.

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2009 - Andrew Bailey	4-1	39	0	0	0	10	4	51.2	31	11	11	3	19	60	1.92	.97

Bailey, now 25, was a big strikeout pitcher for Wagner. But it's Testa that holds school records in games started (44), wins (19), innings (299) and strikeouts (308). Naturally this isn't to say that Testa is a better pitcher than Bailey, or to say that Testa is destined for the majors, but both were four-year collegiate players from the ages of 19-22, and it does make for an interesting comparison.

In 2008, Testa was the Northeast Conference's Pitcher of the Year, in addition to being a conference All-Star. This was just last summer, and immediately afterward joined the Twins rookie club in Gulf Coast. In 28.1 innings between the GCL and Fort Myers he struck out 30 in 28.1 innings, allowing just 23 hits and 10 earned runs.

You already know what he's been doing this year.

If there's any caveat in what we've seen from this unknown lefty, it's that to this point he's been pitching to some very young hitters. The good news is that if he keeps pitching like this, he will be promoted again before the end of the year. If he can finish the season in New Britain, and keep pitching well, Joe Testa could be a Twin by next summer.

Be sure to check out this Q & A with Testa from Seth (Sounds like Testa throws a fastball, cutter, changeup, curve and slider; the fastball (low to mid-90's) and the cutter are his "out pitches".)

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Comments

Yep, Testa has been very good all along

in our system

and the Twins have been moving him up rather aggressively, (rightfully so) -I’ve always pictured Testa as a Jon Grabow or Garrett Olson type of pitcher (I hope he one day is as good as Grabow)

I think Testa is from Brooklyn, no ?

by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Jul 16, 2009 5:27 PM EDT reply actions

This is

very exciting information. Thanks for posting it.

Baseball is the soundtrack to my summer.

by FoulJack on Jul 16, 2009 6:19 PM EDT reply actions

I appreciate your assessment of Joe.
But there are a few thinks you can not see by watching him pitch.
As someone who has watched him pitch since he was 7 years old, he has heart and determination.
he has always been the underdog because of his size. I guess you might say he has something to prove. Everywhere he has pitched he has dominated from little league to where he is now.
So hopefully he will prove you wrong, lol. Also He now throws 89-91 consistently and hits 93 at times. He also has developed a better change up and is working on it.

by jatee on Jul 17, 2009 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Great feedback.

It’s always good to get the live perspectives from those who are lucky enough to watch these kids play.

by Jesse on Jul 17, 2009 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I saw Testa pitch for Beloit this year

I am not sure quite what to report. He dominated. But his stuff did not seem dominating. He was throwing mostly in the high 80;s. His fastball seemed pretty straight. He did not exactly keep the ball down very well. His breaking ball was not all that impressive.

Yet, he seemed to blow hitters away. Steedley did the same thing last year when I saw him in Beloit. Steedley kept the ball down around the knees all the time though. Steedley was very consistent but did not throw very hard. Testa seemed pretty similar, except Testa has more of a stocky build than Steedley. Testa is shorter and thicker.

I don’t know…I said it at the time I saw him..and again when I saw him later ….I just don’t get it. He does not project all that well to me…but I have been wrong before. I must say I was surprised by his success in Fort Myers….

Who knows, maybe he is deceptive to hitters somehow, but I sat right behind home plate and I did not see anything deceptive in his delivery. Right now, I, personally, don’t consider him a legitimate prospect as I think his stuff is pretty average…and he will be exposed in AA. But I am willing to be wrong. Hopefully he proves me wrong.

by NorthDakotaTwinsFan on Jul 16, 2009 11:55 PM EDT reply actions

Excellent info.

Like I said above, it’s always great to get first-hand accounts of prospects. Thanks!

by Jesse on Jul 17, 2009 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Testa picture

You can usually find something at www.TwinsCards.com. I try to stay on top of the organization in the 2009 roster section and usually have all A-ball and above guys pictured (with autographs).

Visit www.TwinsCards.com and check out "rosters" to see my collection!

by rosterman on Jul 17, 2009 12:31 PM EDT reply actions