2013 Minnesota Twins Top 15 Prospects

                                                                   Minnesota Twins
                      

1.) Miguel Sano 3B                                           Prospect Rating: 725
 Sano might have more power than any player in the minors leagues since Giancarlo Stanton reached the majors in 2010. He is already a physical specimen and will continue to grow as he gets older. The product of the Dominican Republic was perhaps the most highly touted prospect from the island in the last decade. His story was documented in the critically acclaimed Pelotero this past year. And the hype around Sano is well warranted; Sano's power tool is an easy 80 on the 20-80 scouting scale. In his 2011 campaign, Sano ranked  2nd in Appalachian League with 20 homers (in just 66 games) as an 18-year old. In his first year of full season ball Sano paced the Midwest League in home runs, total bases, and RBIs. However their are some areas of Sano's game that are red flags. Sano struck out an average of 32% of his at bats last season. While strike outs will always be a part of his game, most scouts are confident that with more polish he will hit for average along with power. He also draws a lot of walks to help off set all the K's he piles up. Defense is also a question mark for Sano. Originally drafted as a SS, Sano already outgrew the position. He has been converted to third base, but he needs a lot more polish to handle the hot corner. There is a chance he could wind up in Right in the future as well. You are certainly buying into the bat first here, so defense takes as back seat at this point.
2.) Byron Buxton OF                                      Prospect Rating: 700
As load as Sano's tools are, Buxton's may be louder. Buxton was widely regarded as the best prospect in the 2012 draft, and the Twins nabbed him with the 2nd pick last June. Buxton has big time raw power and speed that make scouts drool. He doesn't have a tone of present power, but he has lightning quick hands that generate tremendous bat speed. He is a burner on the base paths too. In center he covers a ton of ground and has a plus arm. He should almost certainly be able to stick there. Unfortunately, Buxton is a very raw talent and may be as many as 5 years away from the big leagues. However, if everything comes together for the native Georgian, watch out.
3.) Eddie Rosario 2B                                      Prospect Rating: 600

Rosario has great pop for a second baseman, and he even out slugged Miguel Sano in the Appalachian League with 21 home runs in 2011. This year he continued his success as he posted  a .347/.499/.846 triple slash-line for Low-A Beloit. He has excellent bat speed, and should continue to hit for decent power as he reaches the next level. Rosario has a refined approach at the dish and appears to have a different plan for every at bat. Defensively, some scouts question whether he has good enough hands to remain a second. He may have to make the move back to the outfield where he began his career as a professional.
4.) Oswaldo Arcia OF                                  Prospect Rating:575
Arcia is yet another bat in Minnesota's system that can flat out rake. After hitting very well for Fort. Myers, Arcia elevated his game even more after a promotion to New Britain. He slugged at .559 clip and hit .328 for the Rock Cats in 69 games. Arcia projects as solid corner outfielder with the potential to  have above average power. He also has a good track-record for having a high average in the minors, but to maintain his success he will need to improve his plate discipline and cut down on his strikeouts.
5.) Aaron Hicks OF                                     Prospect Rating: 525
Aaron Hicks has long been one of the most of the most frustrating prospects in baseball. He is a great athlete oozing with talent, but he has never been able translate his skills into performance. Hicks has solid pop, great speed, a balanced approach, and a rocket for an arm but it almost seemed that like he would never make enough contact to use any of his assets. Everything finally started to come together for the 2008 draftee this year. He hit .287, swiped 32 bags a year, and added 13 homers. While Hick's progress is significantly behind the schedule, he is still only 22. He could get his first taste of the show sometime late this year.
6.) Max Kepler OF                                     Prospect Rating: 500
Few prospects have more interesting backgrounds than Twins' outfielder Max Kepler. Kepler inked an $800, 000 bonus out of Germany, the highest ever for a European signee. He is the son of Polish and American ballet dancers who raised Kepler in Berlin. Kepler has a big-rangy frame and has some serious power potential. He has a pretty swing from both sides of the plate, especially from the left. The German native started to harness his tools and made huge strides in 2012. He made good contact (.297) and connected for 10 home runs for Elizabethton.
7.) J.O. Berrios RHP                                   Prospect Rating: 500
In a banner year for the island, J.O. Berrios was the top arm from Puerto Rico in the 2012 draft. Berrios already has a live arm but there is not a lot of projection left for him. At 6'0" 190 Lbs. he is probably maxed out physically, but his heater comfortably sits between 92-95 and he has reportedly been clocked at 98. Berrios has an aggressive approach and he pounds away at the lower portion of the strike zone. He has a hammer curve that could develop as a plus pitch. His change up is a step or two behind his other offerings at this point. The Papa Juan XXIII graduate has #2 starter potential if he reaches his ceiling. However, there is a decent chance he will end up in the pen because of his size. 
8.) Kyle Gibson RHP                                Prospect Rating: 500
Once an elite prospect, injuries have forced Gibson to fall in recent years. He pitched under 30 innings  in 2011 and time is running out for him to reach potential. At 6'6" Gibson has a huge precense on the mound. His fastball sits in the low 90's with a lot of sink and is at least an average pitch. His best offering is his slider which has a sharp break. Gibson has good command of his pitches and if he can stay healthy he should be pitching in Minnesota this Summer. 

9.)Travis Harrison 3B                              Prospect Rating: 500
Travis Harrison profiles as a corner infielder with solid offensive upside. Harrison spurned the Gamecocks when he took a $1.05 million offer to sign with the Twins in 2011. Harrison's bat is his calling card, as he projects to hit for both average and power. He has a balanced swing that generates a lot of line drives. He could stick at third, but he more than likely will move across the diamond to first.
10.) Adrian Salcedo RHP                         Prospect Rating: 475
Salcedo will probably never be a front-line starter, but he could prove to be to be an asset as a back of the rotation guy with a great feel for pitching. Salcedo can throw all of his pitches (fastball, curve, and change up) for strikes and rarely allows free-passes. Salcedo doesn't blow up the radar guns, but if he add couple pounds to his wirey frame he could add a couple ticks on his velocity. Salcedo has one thing going for him; he gets a ton of movement on his pitches. After missing most of his 2012 season due to injuries, it will be interesting to see how Salcedo bounces back this year. 
11.)Hudson Boyd RHP                          Prospect Rating: 475        
Boyd was selected out of Bishop Verot High School with the 55th overall pick in the 2011 draft. Boyd features a solid fastball that sits between 90-94 mph and a nasty curve. His breaking ball has hard, sharp movement that could be an out pitch for him. Boyd's biggest problem is his weight. After signing Boyd reportedly weighed  close 280 Lbs, but he has shed 35 lbs. of fat since high school. It is interesting to note that he hired the wife of fellow Twins prospect, Kyle Gibson, as his nutritionist. If Boyd is able to keep his body in check he could develop into a workhorse-type starter for the Twins. 
12.)J.T. Chargois RHP                          Prospect Rating: 425
While attending Rice Chargois was a two way player for the Owls, but his future clearly lies on the hill. He fastball has a  lot of late break and has very good velocity. Chargois would be a quick-riser through the Twins system and has the electric stuff to be a late inning reliever. He has an average curve and decent feel for his change up, but Chargois lacks the durability and command to be a starter. For some scouts, his mechanics are also a cause of concern.
13.) Mason Melotakis LHP                  Prospect Rating: 400
Melokatis is one of many power relief arms in the Twins system. He has a big-time fastball that sits in the mid-90's.. Melokatis also features a slider that flashes plus-potential, but he sometimes has trouble commanding it. Melokatis enjoyed excellent success in his debut season. Between Beloit and Elizabethton he compiled an ERA of 1.88 and struck out 34 batters in just 20 innings of work.
14.) Levi Michael 2B/SS                      Prospect Rating: 375
Michael was regarded as a polished switch-hitter when he was drafted by the Twins in the first round of 2011. However he struggled in his first season hitting just .246 with little pop. Michael possesses good plate discipline and bat control so I would expect him to get back on track in 2013. Michael does not have super-star potential, but he plays good defense at both short and second and could carve out a long career as a big-league utility man.
15.) Madison Boer RHP                     Prospect Rating: 375
Boer was a dominant reliever for Oregon but he has been converted to a starter since signing. Both his fastball and slider are plus pitches but he got hammered in the Florida State League this year. I see him returning to the pen before all is said and done. 


Next Five: Adam Brett Walker OF, Matt Summers RHP, Felix Jorge RHP, Niko Goodrum SS, Luke Bard RHP

2013 Houston Astros 15 Prospects

                                                                 Houston Astros
                                              

1.) Jonathan Singleton 1B                       Prospect Rating: 675
Singleton is one of the best pure bats in the minor leagues and he possesses plus power that he is just beginning to tap into.. For Corpus Christi (AA) he posted a .284/.396/.497 slash line and launched 21 home runs in 2012. There is not a lot of value that lies in his glove, but he projects as a middle of the order bat with his ability to hit for both average and power. Singleton could make his debut sometime in 2013, however their is no need to rush Singleton as the Astros are far from contention. He could benefit from an extra season in the minors to work on his defensive game and to cut down on his strike out rate.
2.) Carlos Correa SS                                Prospect Rating: 675
The Astros shocked the industry when they passed up Mark Appel to take Correa with the first overall pick last June. However the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy product  may have more upside than any player in the 2011 class. Correa is graceful for his size and has an excellent arm that should enable him to stay at short. Worst case scenario would be that he would be forced to the hot corner as he fills out. He easily draws comparisons to Orioles shortstop Manny Machado, who possesses a similar stature and upside with the bat. He is young for his class and will likely need a lot of minor league seasoning before he gets his call to the show.
3.) George Springer CF                            Prospect Rating: 600
No player in the Astros' system is as toolsy as George Springer. He possesses a rare power-speed combination that could enable him to be a huge impact player down the road. In 2012 he split time between Lancaster and Corpus Christi, where he connected for 24 homers and swiped 32 bags. The knock on Springer is that he has wholes in his swing and in 2012 he stuck out a a 31% clip. With his outstanding athleticism Springer's ceiling is sky-high but is also a very risky prospect.
4.) Lance McCullers RHP                      Prospect Rating 575
Houston stole McCullers, one of 2012's elite high school arms, in the supplemental round of the draft. McCullers throws an electric fastball that grades out at least a 70 on the scouting scale. Some scouts also grade his slider that high when he manages to stay on top of it. The major question mark on McCullers coming out of high school was whether or not he could remain a starter because of his smaller frame. However, the Astros should give him every chance to prove himself before they attempt to convert him to reliever.
5.) Delino DeShields 2B                        Prospect Rating 575
Overshadowed by the heroics of Billy Hamilton, Delino DeShields also reeked havoc on the base pads in 2012. Rebounding from a poor 2011 campaign, Deshileds stole 101 bases last season. To go along with his prestigious speed, DeShields also put up decent power numbers. The son of former major league second baseman, Delino DeShields Sr., connected for 44 extra-base-hits in 2012.
6.) Jarred Cosart RHP                            Prospect Rating 525
Cosart is another big-time arm in the Astros system. His fastball is plus pitch that he can dial up to 98  MPH, and he mixes in a nasty power curve and solid change up. Unfortunately, at this stage in his career Cosart is still more of a thrower than a pitcher. He frequently struggles to repeat his mechanics and his command can be inconsistent at times. Since being drafted by the Phillies in 2008, he has been hampered by shoulder injuries and blisters that have slowed his development.
7.) Mike Foltynewicz RHP                   Prospect Rating 525
Foltynewicz suffered growing pains in his first full season in the pros, and Sally League hitters touched him in 2011 for an ERA just south of 5.00. In his second go around for Lancaster, Foltynewicz made huge strides. He posted a 14-4 record with an greatly improved ERA of just 3.14. Foltynewicz has a projectable frame and should be able to eat up a lot of innings. His fastball sits in the mid to upper 90s and he is continuing to develop his off-speed offerings.
8.) Domingo Santana OF                      Prospect Rating 500
As a 19-year old in the California League, Santana had a breakout season where he hit .302 and slugged at a .536 rate. At 6' 5" and 230 lbs., Santana is a physical player who has tremendous raw power. He projects best as a rightfielder in the big leagues.
9.) Rio Ruiz 3B    500                          Prospect Rating 500
A blood clot in Ruiz's shoulder cut his senior season short so scouts had to evaluate Ruiz's game based on what he had done before the injury. Ruiz was considered one of the batter high school bats in the country before the 2012 season, and the Astros took a gamble by handing him a lofty $1.85 million bonus. Ruiz has very quick hands and bat control that should enable him to hit for a high average. As he fills out, he shows the potential to develop plus power.
10.) Nick Tropeano RHP                    Prospect  Rating 500
Tropeano was a fifth-round pick out of Stony Brooke with a great feel for pitching. Tropeano's best pitch is his change-up, which he loves to throw. His fastball sits in the lows 90's and he also throws an improving slider.
11.) Joe Musgrove RHP                     Prospect Rating 500
Musgrove has everything you would look for in a future middle of the rotation. He has a big body that should allow him to handle a lot of innings, throws hard, and has solid command. His fastball has good sink that should induce a lot of groundballs.
12.) Asher Wojciechowski RHP          Prospect Rating 500
Wojciechowki is another big bodied righthander that projects best as a 3-4 stater. He is an aggressive pitcher that often attacks batters with a fastball that sits between 92-94 fastball. However, his mechanics are a little rough and need so improvement.

13.) Nolan Fontana 2B/SS                  Prospect Rating 450
Fontana is a low-ceiling, high-floor player who is almost a lock to be a big league middle infielder. At the dish he grinds out at bats and waits for his pitch. He has decent pop for his position too.

14.) Robbie Grossman OF                 Prospect Rating 425
Grossman does not have a standout tool but he does a lot of little things well. He is a very selective switchitter and probably close to big league ready.
15.) Bobby Borchering OF                Prospect Rating 425
Borchering is a big time power hitter,  who has crushed 24 home runs in each of his last two seasons. Unfortunately he does not make a lot of contact. He hit well under the Mendoza-line after being promoted to AA and fanned 159 times on the year.



Next 5: Kevin Comer RHP, Vincet Velasquez RHP, Jonathan Villar SS, Carlos Perez SS, Ariel Ovando OF

Welcome to America Shohei Otani

In the past week their has been a lot of buzz regarding Japanese pitching phenom Shohei Otani. At 6' 4", Otani has the ideal pitchers frame and  has a fastball that can touch triple digits. Otani was slated to be a top pick in Thursday's Nippon amateur draft but he has expressed desire to take his talents to the MLB. Earlier this week Otani said," “I think I will start in the minor leagues but I want to challenge myself in the majors. It’s been my dream since entering high school.” Otani will be the first Japanese prep player to make such a leap. If he is not drafted by a Nippon team he will begin negotiating with MLB teams on Friday. However, if he is selected then he will have to wait until March 31st. Currently the Red Sox, Dodgers, Rangers, and Yankees are reported to be in the lead for Otani's services. Dodgers assistant GM Logan white said that the 18-year-old right-hander had the potential to be the top pick in the MLB draft.

Otani is unique in that he will not be subject to the Japanese posting system. Clubs will not have to pay hefty fees in order to negotiate with Otani. Furthermore, since Otani is an amateur he will be affected by the new collective bargaining agreement. Teams are limited to a 2.9 million dollar cap to sign all of their international free agents. As a result, MLB teams will not be forced to give Ohani a deal like the 108 million dollar one that Yu Darvish received from the Rangers last winter. However Otani's elite talent may cause teams to blow bast the 2.9 million dollar cap. The penalties for a club that surpasses the international bonus threshold are not as harsh as those for the draft.

However, Otani is far from a finished product. Like most teenagers he struggles with command at times. In one outing last year he both walked and stuck out 11 batters. His secondary offerings also lag behind his fastball. While he throws a slider, curve, and splitter that all have the potential to develop into plus pitches, he sometimes labors to throw them with consistency. Furthermore, some scouts question whether or not Otani is even the best  prep pitcher in his country. Many evaluators are partial to the more polished Shintaro Fujinama.

Personally, I would take a stab at signing Otani. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for any GM. No other young Japanese arm has been developed in the United States by an MLB organization. It will be intriguing to see how Otani compares to other Nippon studs like Yu Darvish and Daisuke Matsuzaka. And for the price, you can not beat Otani's ceiling.

2013 MLB Mock Draft With Set Order

2013 MLB Mock 2.0

1.) Mark Appel RHP Stanford- Houston Astros
2.) Ryne Stanek RHP Arkansas- Chicago Cubs
3.) Austin Meadows OF- Colorado Rockies
4.) Sean Manaea LHP- Minnesota Twins
5.) Austin Wilson OF- Cleveland Indians 
6.) Drew Ward  SS- Miami Marlins
7.) Clint Frazier OF- Boston Red Sox
8.) Jonathon Crawford RHP- Kansas City Royals
9.) Kris Bryant 3B- Pittsburgh Pirates
10.) Kohl Stewart RHP- Toronto Blue Jays
11.) Reese McGuire C- New York Mets
12.) Justin Williams OF- Seattle Mariners
13.) Bobby Wahl RHP- San Diego Padres
14.) Clinton Hollon RHP- Pittsburgh Pirates
15.) Colin Moran 3B- Arizona Diamondbacks
16.) Trey Ball LHP- Philadelphia Phillies
17.) Karsten Whitson RHP- Milwaukee Brewers
18.) Jeremy Martinez C- Chicago White Sox
19.) Ian Clarkin LHP- Los Angeles Dodgers
20.) Ryan Boldt OF- St. Louis Cardinals
21.) Aaron Judge OF- Detroit Tigers
22.) Andy McGuire SS- Los Angeles Angels
23.) William Abreu OF- Tampa Bay Rays
24.) Stephen Gonsalves LHP- Baltimore Orioles
25.) Trey Williams 3B- Texas Rangers
26.) Dylan Covey RHP- Oakland Athletics
27.) Chris Oakey RHP- San Francisco Giants
28.) Dustin Driver RHP- Atlanta Braves
29.) Ryan Eades RHP- New York Yankees
30.) Jonathan Denney C- Cincinnati Reds
31.) Rob Kaminsky LHP- Washington Nationals

2013 Draft Profile Kris Bryant

First Look Kris Bryant
1B          San Diego
6' 5"    215 Lbs.
Bats Right   Throws  Right


Kris Bryant was an elite prospect coming out of high school, however scouts questioned his defense and many clubs were frightened by his strong commitment to San Diego. Teams bypassed on Bryant until the 18th round when the Blue Jays took a flier on him. Bryant chose to take his talents to the collegiate level where he has since anchored the Torero's lineup. In his sophomore campaign, he hit .366 and connected for 14 home runs. Bryant is an offensive juggernaut; he can hit for power, contact, and he can draw a walk. However his best tool is his power, which would rate as a 70 on the scouting scale. Bryant will wait for his pitch and then hit it a mile. His wrists are very quick and he generates excellent bat speed. He projects as a middle of the order hitter in pro ball. He currently plays 1B, however if a team sought to get more value out of him he might be able to make transition to third. There is no guarantee that he would be able to remain at the hot corner as he continues to fill out. Regardless, with the pop in Bryant's bat, he should hear his name called early in the first round.

Oscar Mercado 2013 Draft Profile

First Look Oscar Mercado
SS Gaither, Florida
6' 2"    175 Lbs.
Bats:Right    Throws: Right
Committed to Florida State

Mercado frequently draws comparisons to both Francisco Lindor and Alcides Escobar. With his slick fielding,  pus athleticism, and offensive projection he could easily live up to that bill. Mercado is one of the few shortstops in this class who has the ability to stick there. He glides across the diamond and has a strong arm to go along with excellent footwork. Speed is also an asset of Mercado's, and he has posted 60 times as low at 6.61 seconds. He is no slouch with the bat either. He has an easy swing but he can push line drives to all parts of the field. He makes good contact and should drive the ball more as he fills out. However, you are buying defense first here. Even if his bat doesn't fully develop, his defensive game should enable him to be an everyday regular.

2013 Draft Profile Austin Wilson

First Look Austin Wilson
OF- Stanford
6'5"     250 Lbs
Bats: Right    Throws: Right



Austin Wilson is simply a beast. At 250 Lbs. he a monstrous athlete with upside that can make scouts drool. Wilson was a first-round talent out of Harvard Westlake HS in the 2009 draft, but he slipped to the 9th round because of sign-ability issues. Wilson wound up on campus the following season and has been a key contributor to Stanford baseball since his arrival. His sophomore campaign was good, but not spectacular, as he posted a .285/.389/.493 slash line. He also connected for 10 homers in just over 200 at bats. However, if he is ever able to tap into his raw power, which is at least a 70 on the 20-80 scale, expect him to hit a lot more than that. Wilson projects best in right field. He possesses a rocket for an arm, that also grades out as a plus-plus tool. While Wilson does not have blazing speed, he is quick for his size and moves well once he is under way. At this point, his greatest challenge will be to learn how to be a hitter oppose to just an athlete. At the dish, he needs to improve his plate discipline and cut down on his strikeout rate. Wilson could make a run at being  a top 5 pick this June.