Minor league talk

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Several potential future starters playing for the Ft. Myers Miracle this season, especially on the pitching staff. Future starting SS Nick Gordon has dazzled with his glove since being drafted and he is adding offensive punch this year....926 OPS so far this season. Only problem? Only 1 walk in 12 games.

More interesting to follow are the starting pitchers down there...Gonsalves, Jorge, Stewart, Rosario and Jay all have the potential to be starters in the bigs in a few years, and all have ERA's under 3 and WHIPs under 1 so far this season. That's our future, guys. Here are the stats to date:

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ibp&cid=509&stn=true&sid=t509

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Ron Gardenhire is a disciple of the Tom Kelly school of understatement, so reading his comments about the pitching at Ft. Myers means a lot. "It's unbelievable watching all this talent". They have a 6-man rotation down there (someone needs to be promoted soon...maybe Gonsalves), and here are the ERAs through 4-5 starts:

Jorge: 1.40
Gonsalves: 1.45
Rosario: 1.57
Stewart: 1.91
Steele: 2.28
Jay: 3.86

Gonsalves is only 21, and has been dominant every year in the minors. He has given up only 2 ERs in his last 4 starts. Felix Jorge has bounced back well from a poor 2014 and hasn't given up more than 2 runs in any start. Former 1st round pick Kohl Stewart seems to be living up to his potential. Rosario seems to have bounced back from TJ surgery, and he also hasn't given up more than 2 runs in any game. I wasn't familiar with 8th round pick Keaton Steele, but he pitched 7 innings of 1-hit shutout ball last start. Finally, 2005 first rounder Tyler Jay hasn't been as dominant as the others, but did throw 6 1/3 shutout innings last start.

Gardy says they all are showing great velocity and movement. It's going to be fun to watch this talented group of 6 progress.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I don't pay a ton of attention to the Twins, but do keep an eye on box scores from time to time. Where is Buxton at these days? Has he been sent back to the minors?

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I don't pay a ton of attention to the Twins, but do keep an eye on box scores from time to time. Where is Buxton at these days? Has he been sent back to the minors?

Buxton was sent down a couple weeks ago after a dreadful start at the plate. His speed makes him a true game changer in the outfield and on the basepaths, but his inability to recognize pitches led to strikeouts in nearly 50% of his ABs this season. It's heartening to see he is hitting over .300 in his first 10 games in Rochester, but he's still striking out too much. I hope he figures it out soon.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I don't pay a ton of attention to the Twins, but do keep an eye on box scores from time to time. Where is Buxton at these days? Has he been sent back to the minors?

Buxton was sent down a couple weeks ago after a dreadful start at the plate. His speed makes him a true game changer in the outfield and on the basepaths, but his inability to recognize pitches led to strikeouts in nearly 50% of his ABs this season. It's heartening to see he is hitting over .300 in his first 10 games in Rochester, but he's still striking out too much. I hope he figures it out soon.

Thanks for the update. I guess it's a little concerning since this guy was considered the #1 prospect in baseball. I don't follow baseball close enough to understand the typical player maturity/improvement curve. I know in the NBA that after 3-5 years and/or by ~ age 25, you sort of are what you are, with only incremental refinements and improvements thereafter before old age kicks in.

Is there still time for this guy to be an absolute 5-tool stud or should we be getting a little worried?

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

Several potential future starters playing for the Ft. Myers Miracle this season, especially on the pitching staff. Future starting SS Nick Gordon has dazzled with his glove since being drafted and he is adding offensive punch this year....926 OPS so far this season. Only problem? Only 1 walk in 12 games.

More interesting to follow are the starting pitchers down there...Gonsalves, Jorge, Stewart, Rosario and Jay all have the potential to be starters in the bigs in a few years, and all have ERA's under 3 and WHIPs under 1 so far this season. That's our future, guys. Here are the stats to date:

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ibp&cid=509&stn=true&sid=t509

Now all the Twins need to do is keep Gordon away from his Brother.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I don't pay a ton of attention to the Twins, but do keep an eye on box scores from time to time. Where is Buxton at these days? Has he been sent back to the minors?

Buxton was sent down a couple weeks ago after a dreadful start at the plate. His speed makes him a true game changer in the outfield and on the basepaths, but his inability to recognize pitches led to strikeouts in nearly 50% of his ABs this season. It's heartening to see he is hitting over .300 in his first 10 games in Rochester, but he's still striking out too much. I hope he figures it out soon.

Thanks for the update. I guess it's a little concerning since this guy was considered the #1 prospect in baseball. I don't follow baseball close enough to understand the typical player maturity/improvement curve. I know in the NBA that after 3-5 years and/or by ~ age 25, you sort of are what you are, with only incremental refinements and improvements thereafter before old age kicks in.

Is there still time for this guy to be an absolute 5-tool stud or should we be getting a little worried?

I actually think it was unfair to Buxton when he was painted as a 5-tool player...you could see early that he was never going to be a consistent power hitter. But he was so elite in the other 4 tools in the minors that he still deserved the #1 prospect reputation. Unfortunately he hasn't been able to even achieve mediocrity in the majors in perhaps the most important tool...hitting for average. There's no question that he runs, fields and throws at an elite level, but his ceiling is going to be Willie Mays Hayes if he doesn't learn how to tell the difference between a fast ball and a slider.

Should we be worried? Yeah, I think so. A year ago, Sano, Buxton and Rosario looked like Wiggins, Towns and LaVine. But while the Wolves Big 3 more or less lived up to their promise last season, the Twins 3 big hitting prospects have struggled to various degrees. Their performance has been the equivalent of KAT averaging 12 and 6, Wig only getting spot minutes off the bench, and Zach getting sent to the D-League. Imagine the despair here if that was the case!

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I don't pay a ton of attention to the Twins, but do keep an eye on box scores from time to time. Where is Buxton at these days? Has he been sent back to the minors?

Buxton was sent down a couple weeks ago after a dreadful start at the plate. His speed makes him a true game changer in the outfield and on the basepaths, but his inability to recognize pitches led to strikeouts in nearly 50% of his ABs this season. It's heartening to see he is hitting over .300 in his first 10 games in Rochester, but he's still striking out too much. I hope he figures it out soon.

Thanks for the update. I guess it's a little concerning since this guy was considered the #1 prospect in baseball. I don't follow baseball close enough to understand the typical player maturity/improvement curve. I know in the NBA that after 3-5 years and/or by ~ age 25, you sort of are what you are, with only incremental refinements and improvements thereafter before old age kicks in.

Is there still time for this guy to be an absolute 5-tool stud or should we be getting a little worried?

I actually think it was unfair to Buxton when he was painted as a 5-tool player...you could see early that he was never going to be a consistent power hitter. But he was so elite in the other 4 tools in the minors that he still deserved the #1 prospect reputation. Unfortunately he hasn't been able to even achieve mediocrity in the majors in perhaps the most important tool...hitting for average. There's no question that he runs, fields and throws at an elite level, but his ceiling is going to be Willie Mays Hayes if he doesn't learn how to tell the difference between a fast ball and a slider.

Should we be worried? Yeah, I think so. A year ago, Sano, Buxton and Rosario looked like Wiggins, Towns and LaVine. But while the Wolves Big 3 more or less lived up to their promise last season, the Twins 3 big hitting prospects have struggled to various degrees. Their performance has been the equivalent of KAT averaging 12 and 6, Wig only getting spot minutes off the bench, and Zach getting sent to the D-League. Imagine the despair here if that was the case!

Yikes!

(note to self: continue to keep an emotional arm's length distance from Twins).

[Monster]

I don't pay a ton of attention to the Twins, but do keep an eye on box scores from time to time. Where is Buxton at these days? Has he been sent back to the minors?

Buxton was sent down a couple weeks ago after a dreadful start at the plate. His speed makes him a true game changer in the outfield and on the basepaths, but his inability to recognize pitches led to strikeouts in nearly 50% of his ABs this season. It's heartening to see he is hitting over .300 in his first 10 games in Rochester, but he's still striking out too much. I hope he figures it out soon.

Thanks for the update. I guess it's a little concerning since this guy was considered the #1 prospect in baseball. I don't follow baseball close enough to understand the typical player maturity/improvement curve. I know in the NBA that after 3-5 years and/or by ~ age 25, you sort of are what you are, with only incremental refinements and improvements thereafter before old age kicks in.

Is there still time for this guy to be an absolute 5-tool stud or should we be getting a little worried?

I actually think it was unfair to Buxton when he was painted as a 5-tool player...you could see early that he was never going to be a consistent power hitter. But he was so elite in the other 4 tools in the minors that he still deserved the #1 prospect reputation. Unfortunately he hasn't been able to even achieve mediocrity in the majors in perhaps the most important tool...hitting for average. There's no question that he runs, fields and throws at an elite level, but his ceiling is going to be Willie Mays Hayes if he doesn't learn how to tell the difference between a fast ball and a slider.

Should we be worried? Yeah, I think so. A year ago, Sano, Buxton and Rosario looked like Wiggins, Towns and LaVine. But while the Wolves Big 3 more or less lived up to their promise last season, the Twins 3 big hitting prospects have struggled to various degrees. Their performance has been the equivalent of KAT averaging 12 and 6, Wig only getting spot minutes off the bench, and Zach getting sent to the D-League. Imagine the despair here if that was the case!

Yikes!

(note to self: continue to keep an emotional arm's length distance from Twins).

Eh I don't think it's that bad. I think people got a little too excited and expected these guys to just blow up right away and Buxton was billed as a can't miss type. Keep in mind a guy like Torii Hunter or Calos Gomez took a while to figure thinks out and they were not considered the prospects (especially Torii) that Buxton was/is. Honestly the guy that's been the bigger disappointment to me is Murphy. He was actually primed to at worst be as good or bad as Suzuki and he has struggled big time. He wasn't a super prospect but when acquired seemed to be a guy that would project as decent catcher going forward. It's still early and he hasn't really hootenanny many opportunities but it's not good so far. Hicks is pretty much in the same boat in NY so at least there is that.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I don't pay a ton of attention to the Twins, but do keep an eye on box scores from time to time. Where is Buxton at these days? Has he been sent back to the minors?

Buxton was sent down a couple weeks ago after a dreadful start at the plate. His speed makes him a true game changer in the outfield and on the basepaths, but his inability to recognize pitches led to strikeouts in nearly 50% of his ABs this season. It's heartening to see he is hitting over .300 in his first 10 games in Rochester, but he's still striking out too much. I hope he figures it out soon.

Thanks for the update. I guess it's a little concerning since this guy was considered the #1 prospect in baseball. I don't follow baseball close enough to understand the typical player maturity/improvement curve. I know in the NBA that after 3-5 years and/or by ~ age 25, you sort of are what you are, with only incremental refinements and improvements thereafter before old age kicks in.

Is there still time for this guy to be an absolute 5-tool stud or should we be getting a little worried?

I actually think it was unfair to Buxton when he was painted as a 5-tool player...you could see early that he was never going to be a consistent power hitter. But he was so elite in the other 4 tools in the minors that he still deserved the #1 prospect reputation. Unfortunately he hasn't been able to even achieve mediocrity in the majors in perhaps the most important tool...hitting for average. There's no question that he runs, fields and throws at an elite level, but his ceiling is going to be Willie Mays Hayes if he doesn't learn how to tell the difference between a fast ball and a slider.

Should we be worried? Yeah, I think so. A year ago, Sano, Buxton and Rosario looked like Wiggins, Towns and LaVine. But while the Wolves Big 3 more or less lived up to their promise last season, the Twins 3 big hitting prospects have struggled to various degrees. Their performance has been the equivalent of KAT averaging 12 and 6, Wig only getting spot minutes off the bench, and Zach getting sent to the D-League. Imagine the despair here if that was the case!

Yikes!

(note to self: continue to keep an emotional arm's length distance from Twins).

Eh I don't think it's that bad. I think people got a little too excited and expected these guys to just blow up right away and Buxton was billed as a can't miss type. Keep in mind a guy like Torii Hunter or Calos Gomez took a while to figure thinks out and they were not considered the prospects (especially Torii) that Buxton was/is. Honestly the guy that's been the bigger disappointment to me is Murphy. He was actually primed to at worst be as good or bad as Suzuki and he has struggled big time. He wasn't a super prospect but when acquired seemed to be a guy that would project as decent catcher going forward. It's still early and he hasn't really hootenanny many opportunities but it's not good so far. Hicks is pretty much in the same boat in NY so at least there is that.

It's not that bad because of a couple positives...Mauer's bounce-back year and the emergence of Park and Berrios. But I think my analogy of the progress of our three best hitting prospects compared to the progress of the Wolves' Big 3 is sadly right on:

Sano is hitting about .250 with 3 HRs...not terrible, but not at all what we expect from a former top 3 prospect. I think his stats are a lot like KAT putting up 12 and 6:

Buxton has been sent down...again. He was recently the #1 prospect in baseball, so that's like Wig getting sent down to the D-League.

After a promising start last year, Rosario spends most of his time on the bench now. That's the equivalent of Zach not being able to get into the rotation.

Sad, but unfortunately quite accurate.