Beloit Snappers

This is the final installment of projected rosters.  In the case of the Snappers, their roster is larger than other teams because I included several players who are likely headed to EST and Elizabethton, however, with a great spring could make the Snappers.   

Starting Pitchers:  Liam Hendriks, Tom Stuifbergen, Brad Stillings, Matt Bashore, Shooter Hunt, Edgar Ibarra, Martire Garcia, Miguel Munoz, B.J. Hermsen and Adrian Salcedo 

Hendriks joined the Snappers mid-season last year and had an excellent 3.51 ERA with 62K/15BB in 66.2 innings.  Stuifbergen was the leader of the Elizabethton staff with a 3.28 ERA and 69 strikeouts with only 6 walks in 79.2 innings.  Look for Hendriks and Stuifbergen to be the top starters on what appears to be an excellent starting rotation.  Brad Stillings was a seventh round pick last year who was solid in Elizabethton while having a 5.73 ERA in seven games (11.0 innings) with the Snappers.  Matt Bashore was the Twins supplemental first round pick out of the University of Indiana.  The lefty was shut down for the summer after pitching 2.0 innings for Elizabethton.  If healthy, look for Bashore to begin his career with the Snappers.  The biggest question in the organization is where will Shooter Hunt begin his season?  If Hunt is able to put his control problems behind him, he could start in Ft. Myers or return to Beloit for a second year.  If not? 

Three of the young starters from last season's Appy League Twins, Edgar Ibarra, Martire Garcia and Miguel Munoz will battle for a spot or two in the Snapper rotation.  Ibarra moved into the Elizabethton starting rotation mid-season last year and impressed everyone with a 6-2 record, 2.84 ERA and 57K/19BB in 50.2 innings.  After excellent season's in the GCL in 2008 Garcia and Munoz both won five games last year, however, they had 4.42 and 5.52 ERA's, respectively.  The final two prospects who will battle for spots in the rotation are B. J. Hermsen and Adrian Salcedo.  They were two of the top starters in the GCL and both are included in my Top 10 after last year.  Salcedo has the makings of a future Ace, however, won't turn 19 until late April.  Hermsen is a year and a half older and may have the better chance  of making the jump to the Snappers.  Twins history would indicate that both will start in EST before moving to Elizabethton.  They both have the talent however, to make the move to A ball this spring.    

Relief Pitchers:  Ben Tootle, Matt Tone, Kyle Carr, Tony Davis, Dakota Watts, Zach See, Kane Holbrooks and Peter Kennelly       

Tootle was a high draft pick who was one of the top short relievers in last year's draft.  He is also one of several pitchers drafted high by the Twins who didn't pitch last summer because of various arm issues (he pitched 6.1 innings in 6 games for Elizabethton without allowing a run).  If healthy, Tootle should begin his season as Beloit's closer.  Matt Tone was incredible last year for the Appy League Twins, finishing with a 4-1 record, 1.31 ERA and 45K/23BB in 34.1 innings.  Kyle Carr was also very good for Elizabethton, where he had a 1.25 ERA before moving up to the Snappers where he had a 3.42 ERA in 23.2 innings.  Tony Davis was solid in Elizabethton before getting a late season promotion to New Britain when their roster was decimated by players leaving for the World Cup.  Dakota Watts is another 2009 draft pick who was very good in his rookie season, beginning with six outings for the GCL Twins without allowing a run.  He moved on to Elizabethton where he had a 2.70 ERA in 13.1 innings.  Zach See was signed as a non-drafted free agent before proving to be to much for the GCL, where he had a 0.69 ERA in 26.0 innings with 34K/10BB before joining the Miracle for the playoffs.  Kane Holbrooks and Peter Kennelly are both 2009 draft picks who will contend for spots in the Snappers bullpen following solid seasons in Elizabethton.  

Catchers:  Jeff Lanning, Josmil PInto, Tobia Streich and Chris Herrmann 

Jeff Lanning could move up to the Miracle or return to the Snappers after hitting .250/.308/.354 in 164 at bats last summer.  Pinto is a catcher who will also see a lot of time at DH following a huge season at Elizabethton where he was one of the top power hitters in the league (13 home runs) while hitting .332/387/.610.  Tobia Streich could move up to Beloit or return to Elizabethton where he hit .222/.287/.450.  Chris Herrmann was another big bat for Elizabethton who is moving back to his college position.  After hitting .297/.391/.453 one would expect Herrmann to move up, however, the position change could cause the Twins to keep him in EST before reporting to either the Appy League or Beloit. 

First Base:  Jon Waltenbury, Michael Gonzales and Paul Klingsberg

Second Base:  Derek McCallum

Shortstop:  Brian Dozier and Daniel Santana 

Third Base:  Nathan Hansen, Anderson Hidalgo and Reggie Williams

Jon Waltenbury had a big first month for the Snappers before finishing his season hitting .236/.306/.326.  This big Canadian could move up to Ft. Myers, however, it is more likely the Twins will send him back to Beloit with a mid-season move to the Miracle.  Michael Gonzales was a ninth round pick in 2008 before hitting for a .331 Average in the GCL.  He followed that start by hitting .304/.364/.477 in Elizabethton.  Klingsberg had an excellent season at Elizabethton (.320/.384/.500) following being drafted in the 49th round of the 2009 draft.  Can he follow in Brock Peterson's footsteps?

Derek McCallum was a fourth round pick last year out of Minnesota.  Many believe this talented second baseman has what it takes to make it all the way to the Twins.  Brian Dozier was the second best hitter in the Appy League where he hit .353/.417/.431.  Daniel Santana is a special talent who had a tremendous rookie season as an 18 year old in the GCL.  Santana hit .265/.302/.418 while stealing 11 bases in 12 attempts.  Santana likely will play in Elizabethton this year, however, should a spot open up in Beloit he could take it. 

Two middle infielders who I haven't included are former second round picks Paul Kelly and Andrew Thompson.  Kelly hasn't played in several years following a serious knee injury and his future is unknown.  Thompson also missed over a year before returning to Beloit last season. He worked himself back into the regular line-up at second base.  He could return to Beloit or more likely move up to Ft. Myers. 

Nate Hanson had a solid season in Beloit and could move up to Ft. Myers or return to the Snappers.  Anderson Hidalgo should move up from Elizabethton where he hit .291/.379/.469.  Reggie Williams is a raw prospect who saw his playing time increase at Elizabethton before joining the Snappers late last season.  Williams had 7 home runs in Elizabethton before getting 6 hits in 10 at bats for the Snappers.

Outfielders:  Adan Severino, Dominic De La Osa, Steve Liddle, Jonathan Goncalves and possibly Aaron Hicks, Michael Harrington, Wang-Wei Lin or Oswaldo Arcia.                  

Many from the Twins organization have hinted that Aaron Hicks could begin his season back at Beloit.  With a big spring training, he also could move up to Ft. Myers.  Look for Mike Harrington to be the person on the bubble to move up should Hicks return to Beloit.  De La Osa was at Beloit last summer and should return in the spring.  Steve Liddle joined Elizabethton late last summer following the draft.  He should move up Beloit after hitting .360/.441/.520 in only 50 at bats.  Goncalves was the Appy League Twins regular centerfielder.  His move up is also dependant upon where Hicks begins his season.  Wang-Wei Lin had a tremendous start in the GCL before an injury cut his season short when he was hitting .364/.432/.545.  Many believe that Oswaldo Arcia, who hit 5 home runs for the GCL Twins, has the talent to grow into a top prospect.  It is unlikely that either will make the jump from the GCL to Beloit, however, both have the talent to do so with a big spring!

After the most disappointing season in the system last summer, the Snappers should be hungry to get back on the diamond this spring.  This version of the Snappers should have a strong starting rotation with an excellent bullpen.  Their starting nine will be very young.  Will there be enough scoring to get the Snappers back in the hunt for a playoff spot this summer?