Twinkie Town 2012 Top 50...Round 50b!

by roger13 on Feb 7, 2012 1:14 PM EST

It appears that Jairo Perez finally got the respect of the readers of Twinkie Town, winning the first of four spots in the finals of the 50th round.

Today we will be voting on ten young men who spent this past summer with the GCL Twins and Elizabethton Twins. Phillip Chapman, a catcher who was a lower round 2011 pick, was the GCL Twins top hitter at .308/.834 OPS in 104 at bats. Matt Parker was the top catcher for the Elizabethton Twins where he hit .277/.725 in 112 at bats. He also appeared in six games during a brief promotion to Beloit. Rory Rhodes is known for hitting very long batting practice home runs. In 157 at bats at Elizabethton, he hit .261/.751 with two home runs. He also struck out 72 times. Kennys Vargas is another big first baseman who was one of Elizabethton's top hitters at .322/.865 in 174 at bats. His season ended early when he began serving a 50-game suspension for using a banned substance. A. J. Pettersen is a solid middle infielder who does all the little things the right way. Pettersen's season was cut in half when he was hit in the face with a pitch that broke his nose in ten places. Pettersen hit .286/.388 OBP in 56 at bats. He struck out only nine times while taking seven walks.

Josh Hendricks is a first baseman from Australia who hit .275/.666 in 160 at bats for the GCL Twins. Jacob Younis is a young Aussie shortstop who turned eighteen during the season. He hit .219/.300 OBP in 105 at bats with seven stolen bases. Candido Pimentel was the center fielder for the GCL Twins. Pimentel hit .250/.350 OBP in 136 at bats. Nick Lockwood played primarily second base at Elizabethton, hitting .260/.314 OBP in 206 at bats. He drew 10 walks while striking out 42 times. After beginning his rookie professional season in the DSL, the Twins made an unusual move by moving Javier Pimentel up to the GCL Twins during the season even though he was only seventeen years old. He hit only .167/.227 OBP in 102 at bats, however, he may be another young Latin shortstop with a bright future.

This round will remain open through noon on Wednesday when we will vote on ten pitchers from the four full season teams.

Poll

Who is the best rookie league prospect eligible for the Fiftieth spot in the Twins organization?

Phillip Chapman

168 votes

Josh Hendricks

10 votes

Nick Lockwood

13 votes

Matt Parker

8 votes

A. J. Pettersen

28 votes

Candido Pimentel

3 votes

Javier Pimentel

29 votes

Rory Rhodes

17 votes

Kennys Vargas

31 votes

Jacob Younis

4 votes

311 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

First vote without any prospects

Time to shut it down and stop at 50.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Feb 7, 2012 1:59 PM EST reply actions

I think there are three in this group that have a chance at making it to the Twins...

…A. J., Javier Pimentel and Younis. Will be shutting it down after we have the final vote for the 50th spot. Will be more prospects in the pitchers remaining who we will vote on the next two days. Personally, I really like Nunez who was awesome this year in the GCL.

by roger13 on Feb 7, 2012 2:14 PM EST up reply actions

Pimentel and Vargas

are prospects in my mind. I don’t think either is in my top 50, but with big 2012s (which both are capable of), they could move up a little. And Luis Nunez has the potential to be a stud. Lefty, throws 94-95, good secondary pitches… but only pitched in the GCL.

by SethSpeaks on Feb 8, 2012 12:04 AM EST up reply actions

Was just scanning numbers

Of course Vargas and Nunez could take the next step and cross my rather arbitrary line in the sand. But right now, they’re not there yet in my book. Neither Pimentel is even close to that line imho.

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Feb 8, 2012 9:46 AM EST up reply actions

Voted for Vargas

Where we’re going, we don’t need Rhodes

by Manley Dewars on Feb 7, 2012 4:12 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on Feb 7, 2012 4:47 PM EST up reply actions

Vargas!

by Han Joelo on Feb 7, 2012 6:12 PM EST up reply actions

Sure, nobody liked my "Viva Kennys Vargas!" lyrics redux comment before.

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"Tell Gardy there's nobody around to protect him now." Ozzie Guillen

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Feb 7, 2012 8:49 PM EST up reply actions

I have to go with Pimental

I’ve seen a lot of lamentations about how the Twins don’t promote aggressively enough, so to see a youngster like Pimental get moved up says something. It might be that they are just trying to protect the signing bonus they invested in him, or it might be that he is talented AND mature enough to make the leap. Maybe he’s a Latin American Max Kepler—its not like Kepler has torn it up, but he has been rated far higher.

by Han Joelo on Feb 7, 2012 6:05 PM EST reply actions

Doesn't Matt Parker do Eric Cartman's voice on South Park?

"Don't take life for granted, because tomorrow isn't promised to any one of us." -Kirby Puckett
"Tell Gardy there's nobody around to protect him now." Ozzie Guillen

by less cowbell, more 'neau on Feb 8, 2012 12:32 AM EST reply actions