With the pro and minor league seasons now in full stride, numbers are beginning to fall into place. We've all gotten the chance to see how effective some of the newcomers to this year's Twins squad will be. Some of us(like myself), may have gotten the opportunity to see some of the minor leaguers play. So, with some positions on the current roster in an obvious state of flux, who are some of the young guys you see coming up soon(within the next 2 year) and making an impact? What kind of impact will they make? I'll begin.
Matt Tolbert has already made his mark this year and will likely earn a starting gig next year. Liriano may be back before the season is over. One of the kids I really am liking is Luke Hughes, the 3B from AA. From what I've seen, the kids got power and average. He and Morneau as sluggers on the corners sounds nice and will probably look nice sooner than later. I also think Kevin Mulvey will get a chance, even if it's out of the bullpen at some point in the next couple of years. Ben Revere could be Cuddyer's eventual replacement(he only signed a 3 year deal). Finally, the kid that's really suprised is Toby Gardenhire. Not much for power, but great contact.
Ben Revere, I'm completely sold that the Twins were looking for the reincarnation of Kirby Puckett. This kid my yet find a power stroke 5 years into his career, much like Kirby did, but it's things like that, which stick out now. He doesn't have the power, nor the arm to play as a right fielder. If you want to argue that he'd move to left and Delmon Young would then move to right, I might listen.
I think you're going to see someone else rise to the right field crop... Christopher Parmelee. This kid has juice in his bad. A masher at heart, he only hits mid .200's but will improve with age, as he's only 20 this year I believe. He's a pure right fielder, drafted as a right fielder. I see him as Michael Cuddyer's successor when that 4 year contract wears out.
If Luke Hughes is for real, then you're right, he'll get his chance sooner rather than later. I'd like to see the Twins take advantage of a hot bat, no matter what level they're at, and bring up a bat that's in AA even. Look at Chuck Knoblauch if you need an example of a kid moving from the AA club straight to MLB in the Twins organization. Wasn't the worst situation ever, haha.
I hope to see Kevin Mulvey next year. if Boof Bonser keeps giving up runs, it WILL be time to bring someone like Mulvey up though. i was hoping Philip Humber would be the man... but his numbers in AAA are rough. I hope he's just trying to work on certain piches more than anything else. Glen Perkins has done very well in two games though. Maybe if we could hit for him, it'd go even better.
Good call on Parmalee. I had a brain fart and forgot about him. His numbers have been pretty good but he's gonna need a few extra years. I completely agree with your Luke Hughes assessment. The kid is barrelassing through the minors and leaving poor opposing pitchers in his wake. I believe his defense is a few steps lower than his offense, but with the way he's been hitting, he very well should get a shot at some point this year. It won't happen, but it should. If he continues on the streak he's currently on, he will definitely be invited to spriing training next year and his bat could win him the job.
I also agree with your pitching assessment, for the most part anyway. Bonser HAS been giving up a lot of runs, but so has Livan. Also, has anybody else begun to notice(I picked up on this last year) that Gardenhire absolutely adores Boof? He gives up a lot of runs, doesn't strike many people out(he's a power pitcher who lacks ideal power), and is ideally a good #4 or really good #5 guy. Gardenhire refuses to take this guy out of the rotation. Period. Mulvey has been a strikeout artist for Rochester this year. Why not give him a shot at some point? He has 4 good pitches and has good control over all of them. If Mulvey keeps it up, he could go into spring training next year in a very heated competition over Bonser's spot. Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn, Kevin Slowey and maybe Glen Perkins will all be considered front runners for the rotation. If Mulvey outshines Bonser, we could see a trade of the best nicknamed player in MLB.
On Toby Gardenhire....you gotta at least root for him. Coaches son. Good kid. Plays smart. Hits for average. Sounds like a Twin to me. Future coach, perhaps?
I would like to see them drop Rincon and move Slowey to the bullpen. Slowey always has a good two three innings, then the wheels start coming off. Then bring up Kevin Mulvey and let him fill the 5th spot for now. Liriano situation, I'd honeslty leave him down the entire year, unless we are in the playoff hunt in September. Don't let the playoff teams see the new Liriano until game day if he is back on track. Korecky looks like a set-up guy. We got lucky last night and really showed our loss of Neshek as a problem. We have another guy in AA from the Mets trade who is supposed to be lights out closer, can't remember his name though, his last name starts with a G, something like Guirria.
I really wonder if the Twins were to be out of the playoffs this year if the Twins would entertain trading away Nathan for a ton of prospects would be on the table? I know he got that contract and all, but that is the perfect time to trade a guy like that. The team getting know he is there for a few years. Then we get top prospects in return for a lights out closer now. Which if we can replace from within, why not? That would go along with our 6 outfielder problem. Which I believe this is Kubel's last year, so that one may work itself out. Too bad kubel has no trade value. All we could get are some used jock straps and a bunch of practice balls.
Also not mentioned is we have 3 1st rounders in the upcoming draft. The Twins can unload some of their prospects into the big leagues, for they will be replenished. I don't know about this year, but I see a very strong future for the Twins. Just in time for their new stadium. Wonder if we can get an allstar game hosting gig with the new stadium? I know I'd be there for sure!
