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Mejia finally found enough votes to make the top 10. I added another foreign lefthanded starting pitcher prospect to replace him on the list as we go to eleven.
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%)
- Felix Jorge - 31% (Mejia 30%, Garver 30%, Blankenhorn 5%, Rortvedt 4%)
- Adalberto Mejia - 45% (Garver 32%, Burdi 13%, Blankenhorn 6%, Rortvedt 4%)
Lewis Thorpe, LHP
2017 Age: 21
2016 High Level: Did not pitch - 2014 High Level: Cedar Rapids (A)
Thorpe was signed as an international free agent from Australia in 2012. At his best the lefty starter has shown a 93-95 MPH fastball with good movement along with a plus changeup, a plus curveball and a developing slider. He also seemed to have a knack for knowing how to sequence those pitches to get batters out, posting an 11.2 K/9 in the minors. He was one of the youngest players on the team in 2014 while dominating batters 3-4 years older. Unfortunately that was 2014. He injured his elbow and needed to have Tommy John surgery. His comeback last season was complicated by a bout with mono. If he can recover from the two missed years he has the potential to become a top of the rotation starter. If not, his stock will fall rapidly.
Nick Burdi, RHP
2017 Age: 24
2016 High Level: Chattanooga (AA)
Nick Burdi was the Twins second round pick in 2014 out of the University of Louisville. As a college relief prospect with a high velocity fastball and nasty slider, he was expected to move quickly through the Twins system. He reached AA in just his second season with the organization and pitched in the Arizona Fall League in 2015. He has been an outstanding strikeout pitcher (12.6 K/9) but has had issues with command (4.8 BB/9) and staying healthy(3 IP in 2016). If he can recover from his "forearm strain" he could make the Twins out of spring training. If not, he could end up on the operating table.
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.