Former Twins: How Did They Fare in 2012 (AA Edition)

First, there are a couple of things at play here. This will be the last piece on former Twins, as once you get to Double-A, you're left to choose between aging vets far from the bigs and former farmhands dealt in trades. Additionally, they'd have had to not be mentioned by me in any of my previous posts. Anyway, let's take a look at the Double-A players whom were formerly Twins property, and how they fared in 2012.

Eastern League:

Juan Morillo - Reading Phillies - 5.34 ERA, 59 IP, 10.2 K/9, 8.4 BB/9, 1.73 WHIP
Dustin Martin - Binghamton Mets - .279/.361/.438 (359 PA)
Kevin Mulvey - Binghamton Mets - 5.59 ERA, 19.1 IP, 6.5 K/9, 6.1 BB/9
C.J. Nitkowski - Binghamton Mets - 5.68 ERA, 19 IP, 9.9 K/9, 1.95 WHIP
Allan de San Miguel - Bowie Baysox - .239/.331/.399 (251 PA)
Matthew LeCroy - Manager, Harrisburg Senators
Joe Testa - Harrisburg Senators - 5.48 ERA, 38.1 IP, 7.8 K/9, 7.6 K/BB, 1.69 WHIP

Morillo briefly pitched for the Twins in 2008; what I remember him for was a 3-0 pitch to Jason Bartlett -- then of the Tampa Bay Rays -- that was punched out of the park at the Metrodome. Martin toiled in the minors for a handful of seasons after coming over with Drew Butera in the Luis Castillo trade. Mulvey was a piece in the Johan Santana trade, and actually retired in-season. Nitkowski was a spring training invite to Twins camp back when I believe the last LOOGY standing was Dennys Reyes. San Miguel is an EXTREMELY light-hitting catcher who is probably going to be an org. guy for the rest of his career. LeCroy is the Senators' skipper, with his first season at the helm resulting in a record of 64-78. Testa was the other piece in the dreaded Matt Capps trade.

Southern League:

Mike Tarsi - Mississippi Braves - 1.89 ERA, 19 IP, 9.0 K/9, 1.16 WHIP

With the exception of Tarsi, the only other SL-er I saw who had been a Twin was Philip Humber, and he was only a Southern Leaguer about as long as he was a big leaguer with the Twins. Tarsi spent nearly a year out of baseball after the Twins bid him adieu before he landed with the Bridgeport Bluefish. After a solid two-month stint in Bridgeport, the Braves decided to give him a look.

Texas League:

Tyler Ladendorf - Midland Rockhounds - .240/.324/.358 (476 PA)
Matt Rizzotti - Midland Rockhounds - .307/.350/.507 (5 HR in 160 PA w/ Midland)

Ladendorf was the player dealt to acquire Orlando Cabrera in the 2008 stretch run, and he's shown virtually nothing at any level since departing. Unless he's a sensational defender, it's hard to envision him as a big leaguer at any time. Rizzotti was cut loose when he failed to cash in on his one tool -- power -- in the Twins organization. He promptly started hitting for power again upon his dismissal.

Next week, look for my interview with Tyler Robertson.