Last night we held a pair of votes. One determined a playoff between two players for thirteenth place, while the second was a typical ballot. With the results now in (Polanco topped Harrison, 59% to 40%, while Santana won the daily vote with 30%), Twinkie Town's Top 15 prospects look like this.
- Miguel Sano
- Oswaldo Arcia
- Byron Buxton
- Alex Meyer
- Aaron Hicks
- Eddie Rosario
- Kyle Gibson
- Max Kepler
- Jose Berrios
- Trevor May
- Joe Benson
- J.T. Chargois
- Jorge Polanco
- Travis Harrison
- Daniel Santana
Luke Bard, RHP
2013 Age: 22
2012 Top Level: GCL Twins, 4 IP (Rookie)
Year | Age | Lev | G | GF | SV | IP | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | 21 | Rk | 3.86 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 7.0 | 1.714 | 6.4 | 0.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 1.00 |
2012 | 21 | Rk | 0.00 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3.0 | 1.333 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 6.0 | 12.0 | 2.00 |
2012 | 21 | Rk | 6.75 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 | 2.000 | 6.8 | 0.0 | 11.2 | 6.8 | 0.60 |
1 Season | 3.86 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 7.0 | 1.714 | 6.4 | 0.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 1.00 |
Bard merits consideration for such a high office, in spite of throwing just seven innings last season, is because of how "complete" scouts see him. He has a solid fastball-slider combination and has the potential to move quickly, and in spite of being drafted in June of 2012 could be pushing for a bullpen job by sometime in 2014. There is potential for an impact relief arm in Bard.
Mason Melotakis, LHP
2013 Age: 22
2012 Top Level: Beloit, 17.1 IP (Single-A)
Year | Age | Lev | G | GS | GF | IP | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | 21 | Rk | 1.35 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 6.2 | 0.600 | 2.7 | 0.0 | 2.7 | 13.5 |
2012 | 21 | A | 2.08 | 13 | 0 | 5 | 17.1 | 1.096 | 7.8 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 12.5 |
1 Season | 1.88 | 20 | 0 | 10 | 24.0 | 0.958 | 6.4 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 12.8 |
Melotakis doesn't make Baseball America's Twins list in any capacity, but he's 12th on John Sickels' prospect list and 17th at TwinsBaseball.com. A strong fastball with good "stuff" could help him rise through the system quickly as a reliever, although the Twins may try to see how he performs as a starter. He'll take longer if that's the case, as he'll need to further develop his curveball and changeup.
Hudson Boyd, RHP
2013 Age: 20
2012 Top Level: Elizabethton, 58 IP (Rookie)
Year | Age | Lev | G | GS | IP | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | 19 | Rk | 2.95 | 13 | 13 | 58.0 | 1.483 | 9.8 | 1.1 | 3.6 | 5.6 |
1 Season | 2.95 | 13 | 13 | 58.0 | 1.483 | 9.8 | 1.1 | 3.6 | 5.6 |
Appearing at #19 at TwinsBaseball.com, Boyd projects to have at least two plus pitches in his fastball and curveball. The 2011 first rounder does not have the raw stuff of other pitchers on this ballot, but he's a starter that is able to sustain himself over multiple innings. There's work to be done, but there's a lot to like about his fastball and curve.
Niko Goodrum, SS
2013 Age: 21
2012 Top Level: Elizabethton, 269 PA (Rookie)
Year | Age | Lev | PA | H | 2B | 3B | HR | SB | CS | BB | SO | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | 18 | Rk | 128 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 34 | .161 | .219 | .195 |
2011 | 19 | Rk | 230 | 56 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 21 | 56 | .275 | .352 | .382 |
2012 | 20 | Rk | 269 | 55 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 38 | 56 | .242 | .349 | .419 |
3 Seasons | 627 | 130 | 26 | 11 | 6 | 18 | 6 | 68 | 146 | .237 | .324 | .357 |
One of the more common adjectives in describing Goodrum as a prospect is "interesting". He has the tools, and particularly on defense they play fine for his current age and level, but most people don't believe he'll stick at shortstop. He could slide to second, but many believe he'll actually end up as an outfielder. The numbers have been better since his debut, but at age 21 it's time for him to show the Twins that he's ready to move.
Adam Walker, OF
2013 Age: 21
2012 Top Level: Elizabethton, 252 PA (Rookie)
Year | Age | Lev | PA | H | 2B | HR | BB | SO | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | 20 | Rk | 252 | 58 | 7 | 14 | 19 | 76 | .250 | .310 | .496 |
1 Season | 252 | 58 | 7 | 14 | 19 | 76 | .250 | .310 | .496 |
We have yet another rookie-level player on our list. Rookie-level players are so far away from the majors that their upside is still hazy, which isn't always a bad thing but it's easier to be optimistic about players whose track records don't have years of dents and scouting reports about downside. In the case of Walker, the Twins like his power. The danger here is in the strikeout totals. If he doesn't clear that up, he could fall off of our list completely by this time next year.