Twinkie Town Prospect Vote: Round 29

Since we elected a pitcher I will add another pitcher to the voting for round 29. Next week will be the final ballot in the prospect voting. I hope you have enjoyed participating.

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%)
21. Jake Reed - 36% (Arraez 21%, Diaz 20%, Vielma 17%, Wells 5%)
22. Mason Melotakis - 50% (Vielma 18%, Arraez 17%, Diaz 13%, Wells 3%)
23. Lewin Diaz - 35% (Vielma 25%, Arraez 24%, Wells 8%, Haley 7%)
24. Luis Arraez - 35% (Vielma 31%, Baddoo 17%, Haley 9%, Wells 7%)
25. Engelb Vielma 56% (Baddoo 19%, Haley 15%, Wells 8%, Miranda 3%)
26. Lachlan Wells 26% (Baddoo 25%, Haley 25%, Rosario 19%, Miranda 8%)
27. Akil Baddoo 39% (Haley 33%, Cabbage 13%, Rosario 11%, Miranda 4%)
28. Justin Haley 45% (Rosario 20%, Cabbage 18%, Miranda 10%, Palacios 8%)

Griffin Jax, RHP

2017 Age: 22
2016 High Level: Elizabethton (Rookie)

Griffin Jax was drafted by the Twins in the 3rd round of the 2016 draft out of the Air Force Academy. He had a terrific junior year pitching for the Falcons and signed for full slot money from the Twins. His military commitment means he has returned to school for his senior year and will not pitch for the Twins organization until June at the earliest. He also has a commitment to serve in the Air Force that must be fulfilled, although there may be a way for him to serve in the reserves rather than on active duty. He was good in 8-2/3 innings for Elizabethton last summer but the sample size is very small. He has a fastball that can reach the mid-90s along with a good changeup and developing breaking pitches. It is unclear where and when Jax will be pitching for the Twins but many players have served in the military at a young age and still contributed to their teams when their service was complete.

Jermaine Palacios, SS

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

Jermaine Palacios was signed as an international free agent from Venezuela in 2013. He has played mainly at shortstop but his future could be as a utility player due to his average defense. He hit quite well his first two seasons in the Twins organization, posting a .852 OPS as an 18 year old in Elizabethton in 2015. He was promoted to Cedar Rapids in 2016 and struggled in every aspect. He hit just .222/.276/.287 in an injury-shortened season. His stats were weighed down by an awful April (.471 OPS) but he was improving by July (.714 OPS). He left a game July 16 after being hit by a pitch and didn't play for the remainder of the season. Palacios profiles going forward as a bat-first infielder, possibly shifting to another infield position if he is going to be a starter. He will probably start the season back with the Kernels and will try to improve upon his April performance the previous season. If he can regain his swing he could get a mid-year promotion.

Trey Cabbage, 3B

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

Trey Cabbage was the Twins' 4th round pick in the 2015 draft out of high school in Tennessee. He has moved around the diamond some, partly because the Twins have had Travis Blankenhorn at the same level but most scouts see Cabbage at 3B or 1B long term. Cabbage's lefthanded swing and athleticism helped him get an above-slot draft bonus but the results have been less than expected. He hit just .204/.297/.337 at hitter-friendly Elizabethton last summer. I would expect to see Cabbage start the season in extended spring training and repeat Elizabethton this summer in what could be a make-or-break season for him.

Randy Rosario, LHP

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

Dominican pitcher Randy Rosario was signed as an international free agent for a modest $85,000 bonus in 2010. He worked his way up to Cedar Rapids in 2014 before his elbow popped and he required Tommy John surgery. Rosario was added to the 40 man roster in the winter of 2015 to avoid the Rule 5 draft so he has already used one option. 2016 was his first full healthy season since the surgery. He started out well at Fort Myers in the same rotation as Kohl Stewart, Felix Jorge and Stephen Gonsalves but ended up with a modest 6.5 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 along with a Run Average of 4.48 in 94-1/3 innings. He was moved to the bullpen and then sent to AA where he was not good in six innings. He will probably start this season back in the bullpen at Chattanooga where he will try to refine his offspeed pitches to enhance the effectiveness of his mid-90s fastball.

Jose Miranda, 3B

2017 Age: 19
2016 High Level: Gulf Coast Twins (Rookie)

Puerto Rican infielder Jose Miranda was a supplemental 2nd round pick in last summer's draft. He has played a lot of shortstop but profiles as a third baseman going forward. Miranda hits and throws right handed; scouts like his power and his defensive ability. In his introduction to pro baseball last summer he only hit .227 but his defense at 3B was promising. The Twins have done well finding talent in Puerto Rico (Jose Berrios, Kennys Vargas, Eddie Rosario). Let's hope they have found another promising prospect in Jose Miranda.