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Minnesota Twins 2013 Prospect Vote: Round 2

Congratulations to Miguel Sano, voted the organization's top prospect for 2013.

Jeff Gross

First things first: congratulations to Miguel Sano, who blew out the competition and brings home the organization's top prospect ranking with 66% of the vote!

For our second round of voting, things get significantly more interesting. Since our first a couple of weeks ago, the Twins added two pitchers who could break their way into the organization's Top 10 list: Alex Meyer and Trevor May. While May isn't on this ballot, Meyer's addition takes the voting options for prospect number two from five to six.

Here's who's up for the Twins' number two prospect.

Oswaldo Arcia, RF
2013 Age: 22
2012 Top Level: New Britain, 299 PA (Double-A)

Year Age Lev PA H 2B HR BB SO BA OBP SLG
2008 17 FRk 248 67 12 4 16 27 .293 .343 .432
2009 18 Rk 187 46 11 5 15 18 .275 .337 .455
2010 19 Rk 283 97 21 14 19 67 .375 .424 .672
2011 20 A+-A-Rk 316 85 23 13 18 70 .291 .335 .531
2011 20 Rk 8 4 1 0 0 1 .500 .500 .875
2011 20 A 81 25 8 5 9 16 .352 .420 .704
2011 20 A+ 227 56 14 8 9 53 .263 .300 .460
2012 21 AA-A+ 534 150 36 17 51 107 .320 .388 .539
2012 21 A+ 235 64 16 7 23 45 .309 .376 .517
2012 21 AA 299 86 20 10 28 62 .328 .398 .557
5 Seasons 1568 445 103 53 119 289 .314 .371 .535
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/12/2012.

Say what you will about Sano's special talents and Buxton's tools and potential, but among the top prospects it's Arcia with the longest track record that more than holds its own. He's the outfielder, he's the hitter, who is the closest to being ready in the entire system who is also capable of dragging star power in his wake.

Byron Buxton, CF
2013 Age: 19
2012 Top Level: Elizabethton, 87 PA (Rookie)

Year Age Lev PA H 2B HR SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG
2012 18 Rk 189 41 10 5 11 3 19 41 .248 .344 .448
2012 18 Rk 102 19 4 4 4 3 11 26 .216 .324 .466
2012 18 Rk 87 22 6 1 7 0 8 15 .286 .368 .429
1 Season 189 41 10 5 11 3 19 41 .248 .344 .448
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/12/2012.

Buxton's slower start in the GCL picked up as he saw more action, and by all accounts continues to be the most athletically gifted player in the system. A lot of this is obviously based on perceived upside, but it's hard to hold that against him when that's exactly what these votes are about. While it's difficult to put at ETA on him after just 189 plate appearances, if we allow him one level per year and subtract one due to talent we're still looking at 2016 when he'll be just 22.

Aaron Hicks, OF
2013 Age: 23
2012 Top Level: New Britain, 563 PA (Double-A)

Year Age Lev PA H 2B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG
2008 18 Rk 204 55 10 4 27 12 2 28 32 .318 .409 .491
2009 19 A 297 63 15 4 29 10 8 40 55 .251 .353 .382
2010 20 A 518 118 27 8 49 21 11 88 112 .279 .401 .428
2011 21 A+ 528 107 31 5 38 17 9 78 110 .242 .354 .368
2012 22 AA 563 135 21 13 61 32 11 79 116 .286 .384 .460
5 Seasons 2110 478 104 34 204 92 41 313 425 .271 .379 .421
A (2 seasons) A 815 181 42 12 78 31 19 128 167 .269 .383 .411
AA (1 season) AA 563 135 21 13 61 32 11 79 116 .286 .384 .460
Rk (1 season) Rk 204 55 10 4 27 12 2 28 32 .318 .409 .491
A+ (1 season) A+ 528 107 31 5 38 17 9 78 110 .242 .354 .368
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/12/2012.

A slow May followed an alright April, leading many to believe it was "just another disappointing season" for the 2008 first-round pick. But then he exploded, recording OBPs of .371, .430, .398, and .467 from June through September. Hicks turned a corner and his patience at the plate is no longer just being passive. He should spend 2013 at Triple-A, but everyone would love to see him for the Twins' hand in center field at some point this season.

Alex Meyer, RHP
2013 Age: 23
2012 Top Level: Potomac, 39 IP (Advanced-A)

Year Age Lev ERA G GS IP WHIP H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9 SO/BB
2012 22 A-A+ 2.86 25 25 129.0 1.101 6.8 0.4 3.1 9.7 3.09
2012 22 A 3.10 18 18 90.0 1.133 6.8 0.4 3.4 10.7 3.15
2012 22 A+ 2.31 7 7 39.0 1.026 6.7 0.5 2.5 7.4 2.91
1 Season 2.86 25 25 129.0 1.101 6.8 0.4 3.1 9.7 3.09
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/12/2012.

While some thought that the Twins could have gotten more in return for the proven and hot commodity of Denard Span, that can't be held against Meyer, who was the Nationals' first-round draft pick in 2012. Going into just his second season in professional ball, Meyer should spend most of his time at Double-A with a view to breaking into Minnesota sometime in 2014. He is expected to be one of a number of very talented, young, and inexpensive pitchers who will lead the Twins back into contention.

Kyle Gibson, RHP
2013 Age: 25
2012 Top Level: Rochester, 6.2 IP (Triple-A)

Year Age Lev ERA G GS IP WHIP H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9 SO/BB
2010 22 AA-A+-AAA 2.96 26 26 152.0 1.151 8.1 0.4 2.3 7.5 3.23
2010 22 A+ 1.87 7 7 43.1 1.038 6.9 0.4 2.5 8.3 3.33
2010 22 AA 3.68 16 16 93.0 1.215 8.8 0.5 2.1 7.5 3.50
2010 22 AAA 1.72 3 3 15.2 1.085 6.9 0.0 2.9 5.2 1.80
2011 23 AAA 4.81 18 18 95.1 1.427 10.3 1.0 2.5 8.6 3.37
2012 24 Rk-A+-AAA 4.13 13 11 28.1 1.129 8.3 1.0 1.9 10.5 5.50
2012 24 Rk 2.45 9 7 14.2 0.886 5.5 0.6 2.5 9.8 4.00
2012 24 A+ 2.57 2 2 7.0 1.000 7.7 1.3 1.3 9.0 7.00
2012 24 AAA 9.45 2 2 6.2 1.800 14.8 1.4 1.4 13.5 10.00
3 Seasons 3.72 57 55 275.2 1.244 8.8 0.7 2.4 8.2 3.47
AAA (3 seasons) AAA 4.67 23 23 117.2 1.402 10.1 0.9 2.5 8.4 3.33
A+ (2 seasons) A+ 1.97 9 9 50.1 1.033 7.0 0.5 2.3 8.4 3.62
AA (1 season) AA 3.68 16 16 93.0 1.215 8.8 0.5 2.1 7.5 3.50
Rk (1 season) Rk 2.45 9 7 14.2 0.886 5.5 0.6 2.5 9.8 4.00
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/12/2012.

Gibson missed a vast majority of 2012 due to recovery and rehab after 2011's Tommy John surgery, throwing 21.2 innings between the GCL Twins and Fort Myers before making two starts for the Red Wings at the end of the season. He also had a decent performance in the Winter League before a couple of less impressive outings at the end. He's expected to contribute to the Major League team in 2013, although his innings may be limited this season, leading some to believe he may start the year as a reliever before moving into the rotation later in the year.

Eddie Rosario, 2B/OF
2013 Age: 21
2012 Top Level: Beloit, 429 PA (Single-A)

Year Age Lev PA H 2B HR SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG
2010 18 Rk 213 57 9 5 22 5 16 28 .294 .343 .438
2011 19 Rk 298 91 9 21 17 6 27 60 .337 .397 .670
2012 20 A-Rk 449 123 35 13 11 11 32 71 .299 .347 .499
2012 20 Rk 20 7 3 1 0 0 1 2 .368 .400 .684
2012 20 A 429 116 32 12 11 11 31 69 .296 .345 .490
3 Seasons 960 271 53 39 50 22 75 159 .310 .362 .538
Rk (3 seasons) Rk 531 155 21 27 39 11 44 90 .321 .375 .578
A (1 season) A 429 116 32 12 11 11 31 69 .296 .345 .490
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 12/12/2012.

Considering he missed time after getting hit in the face with a baseball and still returned to finish the season, I think it's safe to say that Rosario is still the Twins' greatest hope of having a player who can hit and play the middle infield at the same time. He's flying under the radar in a lot of the mainstream prospect listings, but there's no denying he's performed to this point. His ETA is sometime in 2015.