Congratulations are in order for Mason Melotakis, who lands at the #16 spot on Twinkie Town's prospect list after collecting 49% of the vote. Luke Bard came in a distant second with a respectable 28%, while the rest of the field all posted in the single digits. Tonight we add a pair of newcomers to the ballot: Alex Wimmers and Levi Michael. Will they make a bid to get into our Top 20? Do you think they're good enough?
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.
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.
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.