Twinkie Town Prospect Vote: Round 21

Huascar Ynoa won a very close round 20. The separation in potential between players is getting smaller as we get deeper into the minor league system. I will continue to try to offer diversity of position players and pitchers. Since a starting pitcher was elected I will add a starting pitcher to the list.

Twins top 30 prospects for 2017

1. Stephen Gonsalves - 52% (Gordon 34%, Kirilloff 8%, Jay 7%)
2. Nick Gordon - 73% (Jay 15%, Kirilloff 13%)
3. Tyler Jay - 46% (Kirilloff 29%, Romero 17%, Stewart 4%, Mejia 4%)
4. Alex Kirilloff - 51% (Romero 35%, Stewart 9%, Mejia 6%)
5. Kohl Stewart - 43% (Romero 29%, Chargois 14%, Javier 9%, Mejia 6%)
6. Fernando Romero - 48% (Chargois 32%, Javier 11%, Mejia 10%)
7. Wander Javier - 35% (Chargois 33%, Jorge 20%, Mejia 12%)
8. J. T. Chargois - 43% (Jorge 26%, Mejia 16%, Blankenhorn 14%)
9. Felix Jorge - 31% (Mejia 30%, Garver 30%, Blankenhorn 5%, Rortvedt 4%)
10. Adalberto Mejia - 45% (Garver 32%, Burdi 13%, Blankenhorn 6%, Rortvedt 4%)
11. Mitch Garver - 47% (Thorpe 24%, Burdi 18%, Blankenhorn 7%, Rortvedt 4%)
12. Nick Burdi - 45% (Thorpe 36%, Blankenhorn 11%, Rortvedt 8%)
13. Lewis Thorpe - 49% (Palka 21%, Rortvedt 12%, Blankenhorn 11%, Wade 6%)
14. Daniel Palka - 32% (Rortvedt 21%, Blankenhorn 19%, Wade 16%, Ynoa 12%)
15. Ben Rortvedt - 60% (Wade 15%, Blankenhorn 14%, Ynoa 11%)
16. Travis Blankenhorn - 37% (Wade 23%, Hildenberger 22%, Ynoa 19%)
17. Zack Granite - 55% (Wade 13%, Hildenberger 13%, Ynoa 10%, Vielma 9%)
18. LaMonte Wade - 29% (Hildenberger 27%, Ynoa 21%, Diaz 15%, Vielma 7%)
19. Trevor Hildenberger - 31% (Ynoa 23%, Reed 20%, Diaz 14%, Vielma 12%)
20. Huascar Ynoa - 25% (Reed 24%, Arraez 17%, Vielma 17%, Diaz 17%)

Lachlan Wells, LHP

2017 Age: 19
2016 High Level: Cedar Rapids (A)

Wells was signed by the Twins in August of 2014 by their hardworking scout Howard Norsetter in Australia. Listed at 5 foot, 8 inches and 165 pounds, his frame and giant glasses reminds many of Squints from "The Sandlot". Despite his youth and size, Wells performed very well at Cedar Rapids last season posting a 2.65 Run Average, 7.9 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 in 71-1/3 innings. He has an effective fastball and average curve with good control of his location. He should be promoted to Fort Myers this season and we will be able to see if that advanced command is enough at the higher levels. We should also get to see him pitch in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. If he doesn't quite measure up as a starter, the Australian with the Scottish name could have a future in the bullpen as a lefty specialist.

Luis Arraez, 2B

2017 Age: 20
2016 High Level: Cedar Rapids (A)

The Twins signed Arraez in 2013 as a 16 year old from Venezuela. Arraez doesn't impress scouts with physical tools. His speed is below average for a middle infielder which affects his baserunning and his range. His arm is average though he has decent hands and a low error rate at second base. He doesn't hit balls over the fence (3 HR) or steal bases (3 SB in 6 attempts last year). What Arraez is very good at is making contact, hitting .347 for the Kernels last season while only striking out 10% of the time. Fortunately that is one of the better skills to have if you want to make the big leagues. Scouts are mixed about whether he can handle 2B in the big leagues or if a move to LF would be necessary but if he can continue to make solid contact and find the gaps for doubles he has a shot to play everyday.

Jake Reed, RHP

2017 Age: 24
2016 High Level: Rochester (AAA)

Jake Reed was the Twins 5th round draft pick in 2014 from the University of Oregon. Scouts like the reliever's mid-90s velocity and movement on his fastball. He also has a good slider and an average changeup. Reed was fantastic in 2014 reaching the Arizona Fall League in his first minor league season. He struggled in his initial promotion to AA in 2015 but did well last year repeating the level. In 2016 he struck out 9.2 batters per 9 innings (but also walked 3.2 per 9) and earned a promotion to AAA. Lefthanded hitters tend to pick up the ball fairly well off Reed so his platoon splits are higher than desired (551 OPS against for RHB, 727 for LHB). If he can improve his command and his effectiveness against lefties he could find some innings in the big league bullpen as soon as next season.

Lewin Diaz, 1B

2017 Age: 20
2016 High Level: Elizabethton (Rookie)

The Twins signed Diaz for a sizeable $1.4M bonus in the summer of 2013. Diaz was ranked the 15th best international prospect that summer by Baseball America and #10 by MLB.com due to his projectable power. That power lay dormant for the first three seasons playing in the rookie leagues but arrived last summer when he repeated Elizabethton and hit .310/.353/.575. His lefty swing has drawn comparisons to David Ortiz and Ryan Howard. If Vielma is glove-only, then Diaz is bat-only but his powerful bat might carry him all the way to the big leagues. He should get his first taste of full season play at Cedar Rapids this summer.

Engelb Vielma, SS

2017 Age: 23
2016 High Level: Chattanooga (AA)

Vielma was signed as an international free agent from Venezuela in 2011. He is listed as 5'11" and 155 pounds which is jarring because my brain thinks "Engelbert" and "baseball" and immediately remembers the fat catcher from The Bad News Bears. Vielma is known as a great fielding shortstop with terrific range, clean footwork and a strong arm. At the plate he is the stereotypical "all glove, no bat" shortstop posting a .264/.327/.309 line for his minor league career. He stole 10 bases in AA but was caught 8 times so he needs work in that area. Vielma was added to the 40 man roster in the offseason and given the lack of infield depth on the roster you may see him called up if there is an injury to Polanco, Dozier or Escobar.