Life On The Farm: Minnesota Twins (# 22)

The system where baby pitchers come out of the womb throwing strikes.

Graduated To Majors: Matt Tolbert (2B, # 22), Jose Morales (C, UR), Anthony Swarzak (SP, # 6), Kevin Mulvey (SP, # 8, now with Diamondbacks), Jeff Manship (SP, # 11), Phillip Humber (SP, # 26), Armando Gabino (Swing, UR), Brian Duensing (SP, # 16), Jose Mijares (RP, # 4)

The Rest Of The Top 10 (with quick commentary)
Hitters: BA-OBP-SLG, AB, HR-RBI, BB-K, SB-CS
Pitchers: G-GS, W-L, ERA, IP-H-HR-BB-K

1 - Aaron Hicks: CF
Lo A: .251-.353-.382, 251, 4-29, 40-55, 10-8
Quick Take: Disappointing debut to full season ball for the 2008 1st round pick.

2 - Ben Revere: CF
Hi A: .311-.372-.369, 466, 2-48, 40-34, 45-17
Quick Take: Continues to just hit and run, will he ever have much power?

3 - Wilson Ramos: C
R: .316-.316-.947, 19, 3-6, 0-0, 0-0
AA: .317-.341-.454, 205, 4-29, 6-23, 0-0
Quick Take: Catcher looks to be ready to be on a crash for the roadblock of the century (aka Joe Mauer) by the end of next season.

5 - Danny Valencia: 3B
AA: .284-.373-.482, 218, 7-29, 31-40, 0-2
AAA: .290-.309-.457, 269, 7-41, 8-37, 0-2
Quick Take: Showed well in 1st exposure to AAA minus the plate discipline aspect.

7 - Shooter Hunt: SP
R: 7-5, 0-4, 7.80, 15-9-0-23-8
Lo A: 7-5, 0-1, 10.70, 17.2-15-1-33-18
Quick Take: "Refined" college starter has lost all semblance of control upon entry into pro ball.

9 - Carlos Gutierrez: SP
Hi A: 11-10, 2-3, 1.32, 54.2-37-1-22-33
AA: 22-6, 1-3, 6.19, 52.1-62-6-24-32
Quick Take: Trying to build up his innings to develop him as a starter, this former college reliever made some strides in getting to AA.

10 - Angel Morales: RF
Lo A: .266-.329-.455, 376, 13-62, 30-104, 19-6
Quick Take: Toolsy player shows plently of tools and also a lot of rawness.

AAA: Rochester Red Wings (IL)
Breakout Hitter: Jose Morales (UR): .336-.413-.436, 211, 2-26, 28-27, 1-3
Disappointing Hitter: Drew Butera (UR): .211-.268-.292. 298, 2-25, 22-49, 0-1
Breakout Pitcher: Armando Gabino (UR): 38-7, 6-4, 2.94, 98-80-7-24-64
Disappointing Pitcher: Tim Lahey (UR): 41-0, 2-3, 5.72, 56.2-70-6-21-44
Quick Take: Morales and Gabino worked their ways to the big leagues this season. Butera was the emergency option in case of an injury to Mauer, but quickly lost his job to Morales while Lahey had a hugely disappointing season for a reliever in the weaker of the 2 AAA leagues.

AA: New Britain Rock Cats (EL)
Breakout Hitter: Wilson Ramos (# 3): Line above.
Disappointing Hitter: Matt Moses (UL): .224-.274-.353, 252, 7-43, 18-52, 4-5
Breakout Pitcher: Jeff Manship (# 11): 13-13, 6-4, 4.28, 75.2-72-2-20-45
Disappointing Pitcher: Deolis Guerra (# 20): 12-11, 6-3, 5.17, 62.2-62-4-17-49
Quick Take: Ramos has put himself on the fast track to Minnesota. Manship propelled himself from AA to making starts in a pennant race. Moses was a former 1st round pick who is dangerously close to getting release. Guerra has been a huge disappointment since coming over from the Mets in the Santana deal, but is slowly putting together sigsn of putting it all together.

Hi A: Fort Myers Miracle (FSL)
Breakout Hitter: Ben Revere (# 2): Line above.
Disappointing Hitter: Deibinson Romero (# 21): .222-.308-.314, 424, 5-56, 51-103, 3-1
Breakout Pitcher: David Bromberg (# 19): 27-26, 13-4, 2.70, 153.1-125-6-63-148
Disappointing Pitcher: Henry Arias (UL): 44-1, 4-5, 5.19, 69.1-72-7-36-55
Quick Take: Revere wasn't really a "breakout", but he was the best of a weak crop of hitters. That weak crop was led by Romero, who suffered a real bad year and will need a bounceback year to remain in the team's plans. Bromberg broke through well, but is one of the rare Twins that is still trying to learn to harness his stuff. Arias is here because some one had to be, as Fort Myers had stellar pitching.

Lo A: Beloit Snappers (ML)
Breakout Hitter: Ramon Santana (UL): .296-.384-.453, 371, 9-60, 50-94, 8-9
Disappointing Hitter: Aaron Hicks (# 1): Line above.
Breakout Pitcher: Joe Testa (UL): 25-1, 0-2, 2.56, 45.2-26-1-23-63
Disappointing Pitcher: Shooter Hunt (# 7): Line above.
Quick Take: Santana came out of nowhere to put up a solid season and he was the best of another weak crop of hitters. Hicks strong pro debut last season led to increased expectations for his full season debut, which he failed to match. Testa got a midseason promotion to Hi A and pitched even better (22 games, 5-0, 1.22, 18 walks, 53 K's in 37 IP). Hunt is searching for his command.

TK's Early 2010 Top 10 Prospects:
1) Wilson Ramos: C
Ramos is the best of the bunch for the Twins, who plays a position with a heck of a roadblock (similar to Ryan Howard vs. Jim Thome back in the day)
2) Ben Revere: CF
Speedy CF looks to try and pass AA test.
3) Kyle Gibson: RHP
2009 1st rounder looks to show he should have been worth a Top 10 pick.
4) Aaron Hicks: CF
Still toolsy, will look to learn from his struggles.
5) David Bromberg: RHP
One of the few Twins prospects who played above their expectations, can he continue to do it?
6) Anthony Slama: RHP
Reliever looks major league ready (81 IP, 112 K's, 40 BB's at AA and AAA)
7) Danny Valencia: 3B
Will be contending for a job in spring training.
8) Carlos Gutierrez: RHP
Will he start or close?
9) Ryan Mullins: LHP
6-6 lefty posted a 4.03 ERA at AA with 36 walks against 133 strikeouts in 145 innings.
10) Tyler Robertson: LHP
Another tall lefty (6-5) who posted a 3.39 ERA at Hi A with 103 K's against 51 walks in 143 innings.

Dropped From Top 10: Hunt (# 7)

Final Overview: Wow, this system has been depleted. Known for their good pitching, more of the same is coming through the pipelines, led by 2009 draftee Gibson, a sure Top 10 pick until he developed arm problems and fell to the Twins at 22. The lack of impact bats is disturbing and the lack of bats period is really, really disturbing. They had better find a way to resign Mauer and Morneau b/c their replacements haven't yet entered the organization. Ramos projects to be a solid average or slightly above average catcher. This system has gotten worse and will likely be in the late 20's next year.