In Round 20, in a field of seven, four players were within three votes of each other. In the end, Niko Goodrum snuck through with just 19% of the vote. Three others finished with 17% (Walker, Wimmers, Baxendale), and Herrmann was a close fifth with 13%. We'll see if the results open up a bit before we add another couple of names to our list.
Who do you like this time around?
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.
Alex Wimmers, RHP
2013 Age: 24
2012 Top Level: New Britain, 4.1 IP (Double-A)
Year | Age | Lev | G | GS | IP | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | 21 | A+ | 0.57 | 4 | 4 | 15.2 | 0.702 | 3.4 | 0.0 | 2.9 | 13.2 |
2011 | 22 | Rk | 0.00 | 1 | 0 | 1.0 | 1.000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 |
2011 | 22 | A+ | 4.20 | 12 | 4 | 40.2 | 1.230 | 6.2 | 1.1 | 4.9 | 8.6 |
2012 | 23 | Rk | 40.50 | 1 | 1 | 0.2 | 7.500 | 54.0 | 0.0 | 13.5 | 0.0 |
2012 | 23 | AA | 4.15 | 1 | 1 | 4.1 | 1.846 | 12.5 | 2.1 | 4.2 | 6.2 |
3 Seasons | 3.61 | 19 | 10 | 62.1 | 1.203 | 6.4 | 0.9 | 4.5 | 9.5 |
Confidence issues, a lack of command, and now recovering from Tommy John surgery, the chips have been seemingly stacked against Wimmers every step of the way following his 15-inning debut with the organization in 2010. A collegiate draft pick who was looked at as a fairly polished arm who could arrive quickly, a best-case scenario now sees Wimmers making his Minnesota Twins debut in 2014 at age 25. That's not bad, but it's probably two or three years behind their initial timetable.
Levi Michael, SS/2B
2013 Age: 22
2012 Top Level: Fort Myers, 512 PA (Advanced A)
Year | Age | Lev | PA | H | 2B | HR | SB | CS | BB | SO | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | 21 | A+ | 512 | 106 | 14 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 56 | 82 | .246 | .339 | .311 |
Another first round draft pick, taken one year after Wimmers, Michael made his organizational debut last season and sputtered a bit. His 11% walk rate was solid, but he didn't make strong contact very often and showed next to no power. Defensively he's seen as a better fit at second than at short. It would be nice to see him develop, since the Twins took him to directly address the massive middle infield depth problem in the organization. He was seen as a relatively polished player who could move quickly (again, just like Wimmers), so keep your fingers crossed for better results in 2013.
DJ Baxendale, RHP
2013 Age: 22
2012 Top Level: Beloit, 11.0 IP (Single-A)
Year | Age | Lev | G | GF | SV | IP | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | 21 | Rk | 0.00 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 7.2 | 0.261 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 18.8 |
2012 | 21 | A | 1.64 | 11 | 10 | 2 | 11.0 | 1.182 | 9.8 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 12.3 |
1 Season | 0.96 | 17 | 12 | 2 | 18.2 | 0.804 | 6.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 14.9 |
Another 2012 draft selection, Baxendale posted killer numbers last summer. His stuff is considered average, but with a moving fastball, a changeup, and a pair of decent breaking pitches in a curve and slider, he has a wide arsenal for a reliever. Like many of his 2012 draftee contemporaries, 2013 will begin the process of separating the men from the boys. Do you think he has what it takes?
Chris Herrmann, C/LF
2013 Age: 25
2012 Top Level: New Britain, 556 PA (Double-A)
Herrmann is a catcher with solid contact skills, a good eye at the plate, and a pretty good defensive reputation. He made his MLB debut last season, but his 1-for-10 performance in 14 games isn't much to go on. Especially for a guy who hasn't played at Triple-A, even if he will be 25 this season. Where you cast a vote for Herrmann probably depends on how you see his future: MLB starter, MLB backup, or organizational guy?
Year | Age | Lev | PA | H | 2B | HR | BB | SO | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | 21 | Rk | 277 | 70 | 14 | 7 | 33 | 40 | .297 | .391 | .453 |
2010 | 22 | A+ | 408 | 78 | 17 | 2 | 41 | 74 | .219 | .310 | .301 |
2011 | 23 | A+ | 106 | 27 | 5 | 1 | 15 | 6 | .310 | .404 | .425 |
2011 | 23 | AA | 406 | 87 | 14 | 7 | 64 | 68 | .258 | .380 | .392 |
2012 | 24 | AA | 556 | 135 | 25 | 10 | 58 | 89 | .276 | .350 | .392 |
4 Seasons | 1753 | 397 | 75 | 27 | 211 | 277 | .264 | .357 | .382 |
Zach Jones, RHP
2013 Age: 22
2012 Top Level: Beloit, 14.0 IP (Single-A)
Year | Age | Lev | G | GF | SV | IP | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | 21 | Rk | 0.00 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 6.0 | 1.000 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 6.0 | 13.5 |
2012 | 21 | A | 3.21 | 12 | 10 | 4 | 14.0 | 1.143 | 5.8 | 0.6 | 4.5 | 16.1 |
1 Season | 2.25 | 18 | 14 | 4 | 20.0 | 1.100 | 5.0 | 0.4 | 5.0 | 15.3 |
And still ANOTHER 2012 draft selection, and yet another 2012 draft pitcher, Jones leans on his fastball and slider. Adding a third pitch would be good, but a bigger matter for Jones is working on his command. Whether his walk rates are just a result of a small sample size or mechanics or something else entirely I'm not sure, but even if the Twins are changing their philosophy on the profile of pitchers they like to target they're still going to want a guy whose walk rates are acceptable.