Twinkie Town Community Prospect Vote: Round 4

Congratulations to Nick Gordon for winning round 3.

Twins Top 30 prospects for 2018

1. Royce Lewis - 57% (Gonsalves 25%, Gordon 18%)
2. Stephen Gonsalves - 55% (Gordon 30%, Javier 10%, Romero 5%)
3. Nick Gordon - 65% (Romero 19%, Javier 9%, Kirilloff 7%)

I am adding another pitching prospect this round. This pitcher was a trade acquisition last summer.

Fernando Romero, RHP

2018 Age: 23

2017 High Level: Chattanooga (AA)

Romero was signed by the Twins as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic in 2012. He missed all of 2015 due to Tommy John surgery but came back strong in 2016 getting promoted to Fort Myers. He built up his stamina in 2017 logging 125 innings at AA Chattanooga with a 120K against 45BB. Romero faded a bit at the end of 2017 and ended the season on the disabled list with a shoulder impingement. Romero throws really hard and has great stuff but has not been durable so a move to the bullpen might be his fastest route to the major leagues. Alternately the Twins could try to build up his innings in AAA with an eye on a September debut.

Wander Javier, SS

2018 Age: 19

2017 High Level: Elizabethton (Rookie)

The Twins signed Javier as an international free agent in the summer of 2015. He was ranked by Baseball America as the #9 international prospect and #8 by MLB.com. The Twins gave him a $4M signing bonus which was their entire international free agent budget. He hit .299/.383/.471 at Elizabethton last summer and was named the #2 prospect in the Appalachian League. Scouts love his righthanded power and ability to play the position. He should debut at Cedar Rapids this spring and could be competing for a big league spot in 2021.

Alex Kirilloff, OF

2018 Age: 20

2016 High Level: Elizabethton (Rookie)

Alex was the Twins first round pick in 2016. He was drafted #15 overall for his lefthanded bat. Kirilloff was sent to advanced rookie ball at Elizabethton straight out of high school and he did so well that he was named the league MVP. In late August of 2016 he suffered an elbow injury to his left (throwing) elbow. In spring of 2017 the doctors determined ligament replacement surgery was the best option and he missed the 2017 season. He should be back in 2018 and will probably play at Cedar Rapids some time this summer. Kirilloff has a pretty high floor as his bat should play well at higher levels. His ceiling is limited by how much power he develops and his ability to play defense as a corner outfielder. Don’t expect to see Kirilloff in the big leagues before 2020.

Zack Littell, P

2018 Age: 22

2017 High Level: Chattanooga (AA)

Zack Littell was drafted by the Mariners out of high school in the 11th round of the 2013 draft. He struggled in his first two seasons but by 2015 he was performing well in low A level Clinton. The Mariners hired Jerry Dipoto as their new GM after the 2015 season. Littell’s 2016 was very good earning a midseason promotion to high A level Bakersfield and continuing to post a K/9 > 8 and BB/9 <2. At the end of 2016 Littell was traded to the Yankees for reliever James Pazos in one of Dipoto’s many trades to remake the Mariners system. Littell kept up his good performance in 2017 earning a promotion from Tampa to AA Trenton where he was dominant (10.6 K/9, 1.6 BB/9, 2.14 RA). Minnesota flipped their recently acquired starting pitcher Jamie Garcia and agreed to pay the remaining 2017 salary in order to get Littell from the Yankees. Littell’s numbers faded a bit at Chattanooga (7.1 K/9, 3.9 BB/9, 3.46 RA) but were still respectable considering he is 3 years younger than the average AA player. He ended up with 19-1 record in the minors last season. Littell was added to the 40 man roster and is likely to pitch in AAA this season. If there is a need for a spot starter he will be a phone call away.