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JT Chargois won round 8 handily. Two catchers have been added for your consideration.
Twins top 30 prospects for 2017
- Stephen Gonsalves - 52% (Gordon 34%, Kirilloff 8%, Jay 7%)
- Nick Gordon - 73% (Jay 15%, Kirilloff 13%)
- Tyler Jay - 46% (Kirilloff 29%, Romero 17%, Stewart 4%, Mejia 4%)
- Alex Kirilloff - 51% (Romero 35%, Stewart 9%, Mejia 6%)
- Kohl Stewart - 43% (Romero 29%, Chargois 14%, Javier 9%, Mejia 6%)
- Fernando Romero - 48% (Chargois 32%, Javier 11%, Mejia 10%)
- Wander Javier - 35% (Chargois 33%, Felix Jorge 20%, Mejia 12%)
- J. T. Chargois - 43% (Jorge 26%, Mejia 16%, Blankenhorn 14%)
Ben Rortvedt, C
2017 Age: 19
2016 High Level: Elizabethton (Rookie)
Rortvedt was the Twins second round pick in 2016 out of high school in Wisconsin. He split the season between the two Twins rookie leagues. He didn't hit all that well in his first exposure to pro ball and wood bats (.559 OPS) but scouts still like his lefthanded swing. His catching tools didn't seem to be a problem although he only had a mediocre 28% caught stealing percentage. High school catchers are notoriously high risk draftees and Rortvedt is a long ways from the majors but scouts like his chances to be a big league starter some day.
Mitch Garver, C
2017 Age: 26
2016 High Level: Rochester (AAA)
Garver was the Twins 9th round pick in 2013 from the University of New Mexico. He had a breakout season in 2014 at Cedar Rapids posting a .298/.399/.491 line. At that time he was splitting time in the Twins system with Stuart Turner and the Twins tried to get his bat in the lineup by playing him at DH and 1B. This led to questions about Garver's glove that seem to have been answered positively. He has thrown out 38% of basestealers in his minor league career and gets good (but not glowing) reports on pitch framing and handling pitchers. Garver got his first invitation to the Arizona Fall League in 2015 and he raked with a .916 OPS. He split 2016 between Chattanooga and Rochester and hit .270/.342/.422 across both levels. This earned him another invitation to the Arizona Fall League where he hit well again (.815 OPS). He was added to the 40 man roster this fall and should see the big leagues in 2017 either as the backup catcher or as the first man up from AAA in case of an injury.
Travis Blankenhorn, 2B/3B
2017 Age: 20
2016 High Level: Cedar Rapids (A)
Travis was a third round pick by the Twins in 2015 out of high school. He was drafted as a third baseman but the Twins have spent some time playing him at 2B, trying to find playing time for Blankenhorn and fellow 2015 draftee Trey Cabbage in the same infield. Blankenhorn hit very well at Elizabethton (.297/.342/.558) to start 2016. His average and OBP held up in a late season promotion to Cedar Rapids but his home run totals suffered leading to a lower slugging percentage (.286/.356/.418). Blankenhorn might be a bit of a tweener trying to find a real position on defense but scouts believe his bat will play even if he has to move to the outfield.
Felix Jorge, RHP
2017 Age: 23
2016 High Level: Chattanooga (AA)
Felix Jorge was signed by the Twins as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic and pitched his first innings in the organization in 2011. He has worked his way up the organizational ladder by throwing strikes with decent strikeout rates but a better ability to avoid walks. Jorge pitched 167 innings last season which shows good durability. His performance at Fort Myers was excellent (7.5 K/9, 1.1 BB/9, 1.84 run average) but like teammate Kohl Stewart he was challenged by his first exposure to AA (3.9 K/9, 1.5 BB/9, 4.12 RA). Jorge was added to the 40 man roster this offseason to prevent a team from picking him in the Rule 5 draft. Scouts believe he could be an effective fourth starter or strong bullpen arm in the major leagues with his current mix of pitches with potential to exceed that projection if he can improve his off-speed pitches.
Adalberto Mejia, LHP
2017 Age: 24
2016 High Level: Twins (MLB)
Mejia was signed as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic by the Giants in 2011. He worked his way through the Giants system as a starting pitcher quickly reaching AA in his third season in the system. He stalled out a bit at AA but took a step forward last season with 2.0 BB/9 and 8.6 K/9 and a 3.14 RA across AA and AAA. Mejia was dealt to the Twins for Eduardo Nunez in July. He made his MLB debut with the Twins in August, then returned to AAA where he finished the season after 150 innings pitched. Mejia projects as a back of the rotation lefty or perhaps a strong bullpen arm and is likely to begin the season back in Rochester.