Quick Look
The Twins' tried-and-true formula for competing without big-market resources is developing and promoting from within. They rode Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, Denard Span, Jason Kubel, Nick Blackburn, and other homegrown products to the playoffs this year, and will continue to rely on cost-effective youngsters in the future. Minnesota has a new outdoor stadium opening in 2010, so that will be an exciting new chapter in the franchise's history. Down on the farm, the Twins have sundry talents. Their wide variety of prospects will probably land them in the 10-15 range in terms of organizational talent.
Top Prospects
Aaron Hicks, of
Age: 20 Level: Low A-High A
The switch-hitting former 1st-round pick has immense talent and room to grow. Hicks has excellent speed and a plus-plus arm (his fastball hit 97 mph in high school), giving him the skills to be a terrific fit in center field. He also controls the zone well for a young hitter (13.6 BB% in 500 career PAs), suggesting that he has a plan at the plate. Hicks has plus bat speed and power potential. The Long Beach native could be a 5-tool player, but he is fairly raw. He has holes in his swing and needs offensive refinement. He hit .251/.353/.382, albeit as a teenager competing in the unforgiving environment of the Midwest League in his first full pro season (and his peripherals were encouraging). Hicks will need several more years in the minors to get more repetitions, but his precocious feel for the zone and dynamic all-around talents are exciting.
Kyle Gibson, rhp
Age: 22 Level: none-High A
Gibson is a prime candidate to be a steal, as he went 22nd overall this year. The polished Mizzou product was a cinch top-10 pick until he sustained a stress fracture in his throwing arm in the days leading up to the draft. Gibson, ultra-projectable at 6-6, 208, has an 88-91 mph fastball with plus movement that he commands well, and his dirty slider is an out pitch. His changeup is improving. Gibson is lauded for his makeup. The total fastball package makes it a nice pitch, but its velocity alone is underwhelming, meaning it will tough for Gibson to be a top-of-the-rotation guy at higher levels. He has a strong chance to become a #3 in short order, however, with the potential for more.
Wilson Ramos, c
Age: 22 Level: Double-A-Triple-A
Ramos is one of the top prospects in the minors who doesn't receive much hype. Injuries forced the 6-0, 220-pounder to miss half of the 2009 season, but he still went .317/.341/.454. Ramos' strength and sound stroke give him the chance to hit 20 homers a year. He makes hard contact and will be a well above-average producer for a catcher. With a 6.1% career walk rate, though, Ramos is a free swinger, and his lack of plate discipline will likely prevent him from becoming an offensive star. He is lead-footed and bounces into too many double plays also. Ramos, a native of Venezuela, has a plus arm and nabbed more than 40% of potential basestealers last season. His other defensive skills are decent. Ramos is a habitually slow starter, often heating up in the summer months and then obliterating winter ball. He needs to pick up the energy in the spring, but that should come with more maturity. He has no path around Joe Mauer, but Ramos' high upside and positional value will make some team find room for him. He's primed to put together a breakout offensive season in Triple-A in 2010.
Danny Valencia, 3B
Age: 25 Level: Triple-A-MLB
Valencia has the opportunity to be the long-term solution at third base in Minnesota. The 2006 19th-rounder has bat speed and strength, and could produce for pretty good average and power. His plate discipline must improve, however. Valencia also needs to become more consistent (on offense and defense). The Miami product is a below-average runner and an average defender at present. The Twins will be satisfied if he's good for a .290/.340/.470 line in his prime, which would make him a useful regular. He will compete for a roster spot in Spring Training.
Ben Revere, of
Age: 21 Level: High A-Double-A
Revere, an off-the-board 1st-round pick by the Twins in 2007, has 2 plus-plus tools with the potential for 3. The 5-9 lefty is a absolute speed demon who will be an even greater terror on the basepaths once he fine-tunes his jumps and technique. Revere also has superb contact ability. He came directly out of high school and proceeded to hit .337 over his first 3 seasons. He is incredibly difficult to strike out, having maintained a 7.6 K%. The Kentucky native has outstanding potential in center as well. He is still improving defensively with jumps and reads, but Revere's speed could make him an elite defender eventually. Revere's quick stroke is geared for line-drives and groundballs, aiding his on-base ability but also limiting his power. Add in a slight frame, and he seldom drives the ball (3 pro homers and a sub-.100 IsoP boosted by a glut of triples). In spite of his marvelous talents, I'm not convinced Revere will be able to hold his own against high-level pitchers. Double-A, a true test of his abilities, is on tap for next year.
Carlos Gutierrez, rhp
Age: 23 Level: Double-A-Triple-A
Minnesota drafted Gutierrez, the shutdown closer on the U of Miami's 2008 CWS bunch, 27th overall with the plan of converting him to a starter. The 6-3, 205-pound sinkerballer had mixed results in his initial pro season. In High A, he put up a 1.32 ERA, but also walked 3.6 and fanned just 5.4 per 9 innings. Upon a promotion to Double-A, Gutierrez struggled to a 6.19 ERA and was even worse in the K-BB department. He moved to the bullpen during his Double-A stint, but I'm not sure if the Twins have given up on the rotation for good. Gutierrez' 89-94 mph sinker is a plus-plus pitch that serves up groundball after groundball (insane 4.48 GO/AO ratio in High A and an excellent 2.73 a rung higher). His next-best offering, a mid-80s slider, is inconsistent, and he lacks an effective changeup. If he can't firm up his secondary pitches, Gutierrez will leave a tantalizing, Derek Lowe-esque upside unfulfilled. He could still carve a meaningful role in the bullpen working almost exclusively off his sinker.
David Bromberg, rhp
Age: 22 Level: High A-Double-A
Bromberg is big and durable at 6-5, 240, and he has tossed 150+ innings the past 2 seasons. The California native led the MiLB in strikeouts in 2008 with 177, and he maintained a strong K rate this year. He's off to Double-A in 2010, with a chance for a promotion during the season. Bromberg's 4-seamer touches 95 mph, but he more often works in the 88-93 range. His curveball draws conflicting grades, from a slurvy offering to a nasty out pitch. He also throws a fringy circle change. The 2005 draftee does not surrender an excessive number of home runs, but he is a flyball pitcher, and his control and command need improvement. Those points will be on his to-do list for New Britain next year. Bromberg could seamlessly make the move to relief, but I'm optimistic he'll develop into a solid mid-rotation starter.
Rene Tosoni, of
Age: 23 Level: Double-A-MLB
Tosoni is a sound lefthanded hitter. After dealing with injuries that limited his development the first few years of his career, the Toronto native played 122 games and recorded a .271/.359/.454 line this season. The 6-0, 195-pounder has average speed and athleticism, but is not skilled enough to hold down an everyday center field job. Though Tosoni delivered 15 of his 20 career homers this year, his power probably won't cut it on a corner either. He won't be an impact player, but Tosoni has a good chance to become a David DeJesus-type player.
Miguel Sano, ss
Age: 16 Level: none-Rookie
Sano was the top prospect in this year's international class. The Santo Domingo, D.R., native netted a $3 million signing bonus after showing plus tools in workouts. Sano has a quick, loose swing and projects for power. He has a strong arm and will start his career at short. Many touted international prospects fizzle, however, and Sano has proved next to nothing thus far. He's several years from the majors, if he ever gets there. As of now, he has no track record to go on. It's too early to tell if the 6-2, 170-pounder will be the next Hanley Ramirez or Balbino Fuenmayor.
Matt Bashore, lhp
Age: 21 Level: none-High A
The consensus would not place Bashore this high, even though the Indiana product went in the supplemental round this year. I'm a big believer in the 6-2, 200-pounder, and like him nearly as much as his college teammate, Milwaukee 1st-rounder Eric Arnett. Bashore has a 89-92 mph heater that has been recorded up to 95. He has an average curveball, but his changeup is sub-par. He's a sleeper, and could move quickly, as his control is improving. Ultimately, Bashore projects as a #3-4 starter.
Others: RHPs Billy Bullock, Jeff Manship, B.J. Hermsen, Ben Tootle, and Alex Burnett; OFs Max Kepler, Angel Morales, Chris Parmelee, and Joe Benson
Impact Talent: C+
Farm System Depth: B+
2010 Breakout Prospect
Adrian Salcedo, rhp
Age: 18 Level: Rookie-Low A
Loose and projectable, Salcedo's promising repertoire could be even more devastating as he gets older. The Dominican righty currently works in the low-90s with his sinking fastball. He has a power curveball and is making strides with a changeup. He made the Gulf Coast League look Little League in 2009, posting a 1.46 ERA and a 58-3 K-BB ratio. Salcedo's control is not as advanced as that stat suggests, but he is willing to attack hitters. Salcedo simply needs experience, and he could move into elite prospect territory with a strong 2010 campaign, most likely in the Midwest League.
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