:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/39669962/20140713_jla_sl8_045.jpg.0.jpg)
On Monday the Twins attempted to not be ultra-depressing, naming Kennys Vargas minor league player of the year and pitching-prospect Jose Berrios pitcher of the year. The pair grew up about ten miles apart in Puerto Rico and both participated in the Futures Game at Target Field over the All-Star Break. Both had stellar years.
Jose Berrios started the year in Class-A Fort Myers, and jumped all the way to Triple-A in just five months. In Fort Myers, Berrios went 9-3 while posting a 1.96 ERA. He was promoted to AA New Britain on July 7th, and made one start for AAA Rochester at the end of August. Overall, Berrios went 12-8 with a 2.76 ERA over 140 innings pitched.
Kennys Vargas, of course, made the jump from Class-AA New Britain directly to the majors on August 1st. Since his arrival in the big leagues, Vargas has hit .288/.303/.480 with nine doubles, one triple, and nine home runs, shocking everyone and Terry Ryan. "I saw him when he was in the [entry-level] Gulf Coast League. He was crude and raw," he told the Star Tribune. "One thing he did was drive baseballs from both sides. The other parts of his game were crude. But that's what development is all about."
Vargas' goals for 2015? "I will keep working hard for try to get selected, I don't know, an All-Star player or something on the big league team and make the World Series."