2018 Minnesota Twins Top 10 Prospects Chat

Mike Berardino: Good afternoon, everybody. Looks like we’ve got a ton of questions to get to and temps here in the Twin Cities are climbing past 35, so let’s get right to it.

Frank (Indianapolis IN): How many of these guys are worthy of making the BA 100 list, if you had to guesstimate?

Mike Berardino: That’s a better question for J.J. Cooper and friends, but I figure Rooker and Gordon could still be in that mix and you see where they are on this Twins list.

Kelly (St. Cloud MN): Nick Gordon falling 7 spots? Really, Mike? What happened to him being the next great SS/2B in Minny, how he's a terrific hitter with excellent D? Did one season sour you that much on him?

Mike Berardino: First off, I didn’t compile last year’s list. So take that out of the equation. Secondly, it’s not so much about what Gordon didn’t do (although he did struggle against lefties and in the second half at Double-A), but how the Twins and outside evaluators view the rest of the system. Also, the doubts about Gordon’s ability to become a high-end defensive shortstop cannot be ignored. That alone knocks him down a few slots.

Grant (NYC): What were scouts' opinions of Lamonte Wade, both during the season and the AFL? Was he close to making your list?

Mike Berardino: Scouts definitely liked what they saw of the former 9th-rounder this year in the Southern League and also at the AFL. His strike-zone discipline alone makes him very “intriguing,” to quote one scout who saw him in Arizona. He’s a top-20 guy for the Twins.

Paul (St. Louis, MO): What do you project Zack Littell as? He had his fair share of double digit strikeout games, so I'm surprised not to see him here. Thx for chatting.

Mike Berardino: Littell has tremendous pitchability and his K/9 jumped this year before he was traded for the second time already in his young career. The raw stuff doesn’t grade out as well as others, but his frame and projection (not so much the 19-1 record) made him a worthy 40-man roster addition this winter. It will be interesting to see how he does at Rochester this year.

Harry (Queens, NY): Kohl Stewart - prospect or suspect at this point? I see no one took him in the Rule 5.

Mike Berardino: Believe you answered your own question.

Ryan (St. Paul MN): What can you tell us about Bechtold? Can he stick at third, and will we read about him in the handbook?

Mike Berardino: Scouting director Sean Johnson and his staff were thrilled to get the Chipola product in the fifth round. Very athletic, very mature and should have no problem staying at third. He’ll make the handbook.

Zack Granite (Behind you): Where would I fit in, in the Twins' outfield? Just an extra OF, or can I be something more?

Mike Berardino: The little man from Staten Island has already proven so many doubters wrong just by reaching the majors, it would be foolish to say he’s already reached his ceiling. The Twins’ current big-league outfield is young and seemingly set for years to come, so Granite would probably need a transaction of some sort to win a regular job.

J.P. (Springfield, IL): Thanks for chatting, Mike. What did you make of Lewis Thorpe's return from injury? Is his ceiling a mid-rotation SP to you? Will he be in the next ten names on your top 30?

Mike Berardino: Encouraging. He’s still on the radar, as shown by his addition to the 40-man roster. The stuff isn’t quite as electric as it was pre-surgery, and he’ll have to watch his conditioning and work habits, but a 22-year-0ld lefty with mid-rotation potential bears watching.

Ben (Philadelphia): Did newly acquired Jacob Pearson and David Banuelos get consideration for your list? Who are you more bullish on between the two?

Mike Berardino: I didn’t write them up due to the timing of the trades, but both should make the list. I expect Pearson to be several spots higher.

a.j. (dallas): strategy question. With the draft teams always talk about drafting the best player available but did the Twins make a mistake drafting Lewis instead of Kyle Wright simply based on their age and timeline with the rest of their team. A 22 yr old Wright will be ready to help the current 23-24 year old core (Buxton, Sano, Kepler, Berrios) and improve this window instead of waiting for the next wave.

Mike Berardino: Interesting theory, but I believe you’re overthinking this one. Picking 1-1 is something the Twins have only done three times in their history, and they are ecstatic with Royce Lewis so far.

Mike (Aberdeen, SD): Are 2017 draftees Leach, Barnes or Bechtold being considered for the top 30?

Mike Berardino: Leach could move into the top 10 next year. Bechtold we already discussed. And Changeup Charlie was in the conversation for the back end of the top 30 but ultimately lost out to others with more upside.

Benjamin Chase (SoDak): How close was Akil Baddoo to making the list? Also, how close will he be to top 100?

Mike Berardino: Top 10? Very. Top 100? Maybe next year.

Eric (Chicago): Surprised to see Alex Kiriloff that high. Are you sold on the bat?

Mike Berardino: Doesn’t matter what I think. I never saw him swing all year as he recovered from Tommy John surgery in the spring. But I can tell you Twins people were very pleased with the way he tackled his rehab and packed on 30 pounds of muscle (since his first pro summer). His advanced hitting approach, outstanding makeup and maturity and MVP production in the Appy League in 2016 were already there. And you have to love those Kepler/Yelich comps.

Benjamin Chase (SoDak): The Twins have a depth of quality relief prospects. Behind Jay, who is the next guy? Also, who is outside of the top 30 that will be in the handbook that Twins fans should be watching for to move up the way John Curtiss did last season (hasn't seen upper minors yet, but could find way to majors in 2018)?

Mike Berardino: Country John Curtiss is still rookie eligible so he’ll be in the handbook this time. Outside the top 30? Well, Ryan Eades and Andrew Vasquez both had solid showings in the fall league. And newly married Jake Reed made it through the Rule 5 draft after an uneven 2017. He’s on the cusp if he can improve his command.

Dusty (Colorado): If everything breaks right for Wander Javier, what's his ceiling?

Mike Berardino: Same as the day they signed him: Five-tool talent with the ability to stay at shortstop. That’s why he’s No. 2.

M.C. (Chicago): Why no love for Akil Baddoo? Kid seems like a fairly high-ceiling prospect, and one with the kind of tools, mojo and in-box aggressiveness that a team led by Paul Molitor would die to have.

Mike Berardino: There’s plenty of love for Baddoo in Twins World. He took a major step forward in 2017 and just missed the top 10. If the arm graded out better and there was more conviction about him staying in center, he might have bumped Jay out of the top 10. His star is definitely on the rise.

Dan (Augusta, ME): What can you tell us about the Softball Slugger, Aaron Whitefield? Do scouts think he will continue to improve as he gets more baseball experience? Thanks

Mike Berardino: The late-bloomin’ Aussie (see what I did there?) has plenty of upside and the tools to stay in center. I turned him in as a top-20 guy. Not a bad gamble for $70K.

Drew (Minneapolis MN): Fernando remero has dropped down on these rankings what should we look for this season to see if he will turn it around

Mike Berardino: Romero faded badly in August and landed on the DL with a shoulder impingement. Other clubs still wonder if his violent delivery and shorter stature might play better in the bullpen, but there’s still a lot to like.

Eric Rodriguez (Puerto Rico): Jose Miranda and Ricky de la Torre are in the prospect handbook?

Mike Berardino: Miranda is.

Roger H. (Oklahoma City, OK): Do you see Brent Rooker's tools and career path being similar to Jake Bauers in that is plays OF through the minors until ultimately being moved to 1B? Could Rooker end up in the top 100 this year if he stays in the OF?

Mike Berardino: Rooker’s power and advanced hitting approach have him firmly on the fast track. You know the bat is special when there’s so much support for him in a top 10 this strong despite offering minimal defensive value. Plus, he’s an 80 tweeter.

Rob (Alaska): I would say that Akil Baddoo should have made the list on the strength of his 80 grade name alone, but how close was he? What's the outlook?

Mike Berardino: Nickname should be “Yabba Dab.”

Wander Javier (Top 100 Prospect?): Hi, and thank you for chatting with us today. After receiving a massive $4 million signing bonus, I went out on put up a .299/.383/.471 line at Rookie League. Am I already a top 100 prospect? What do my future tools look like? 60 hit / 55 power / 55 run SS?

Mike Berardino: You’re welcome, Wander. This was part of the standard writer’s agreement, so I didn’t have much choice.

Andy (Bay Area): This is the highest I've seen Wander Javier ranked. For not having played full season ball, is his ceiling so high that he was ranked above a more established but lower ceiling prospect such as Stephen Gonsavles?

Mike Berardino: Real estate, as you know, is all about location, location, location. For BA’s prospect rankings, it’s ceiling, ceiling, ceiling. Youth must be served. And all that.

AJ (Orange County): Thanks for the chat. Who is your 2018 breakout pick that could burst into top 10?

Mike Berardino: Maybe Whitefield or Bechtold. See above.

Matt (Jacksonville): Hi Mike, what is Luis Arraez's status after that season ending injury early last season? Does Brent Rooker return to High A Ft. Myers to start year?

Mike Berardino: Twins people are still very high on Arraez’s bat. He’s in the top 15, even after missing virtually all of 2017.

Alan (Orange County): Did Blankenhorn, Palacios, and Wade miss top 10 by much? Can you give a quick assessment of where each stand and what they need to work on?

Mike Berardino: Yes. I’ll leave that second part up to new Twins farm director Jeremy Zoll.

Tom (VA): Were Lewis Thorpe or Lewin Diaz close to making this list?

Mike Berardino: No.

AJ (Orange County): Is Kohl Stewart still a prospect?

Mike Berardino: See above.

Casey (Morgantown): Surprised to see Graterol above Romero. What was the thinking here? Who has higher upside?

Mike Berardino: I might have been a tad aggressive with Graterol, given his limited mound time, but the high-end velocity, durable frame and quality of the secondary pitches all point to him as a future impact starter. One high-ranking Twins official told me Graterol might have the highest ceiling of anybody in the system. He won’t turn 20 until late August. Think about that.

Ally (Saint Louis, MO): Is Rortvedt a significantly better catching prospect than Bañuelos? How close are they?

Mike Berardino: Banuelos is ahead of Rortvedt, but it’s fairly close.

Jesse (Boston): Where does the Braves refugee Severino fall, close to the top 10?

Mike Berardino: Mid-teens.

Richard Hansen (Milwaukee): How healthy is Alex Kirilloff, and where does he go this year?

Mike Berardino: Completely healthy, from what I was told. I’m expecting him to open in extended spring to keep that surgical elbow out of the Iowa cold, but that could change.

Jesse (Boston): What makes Graterol's fastball so special and how are his secondary pitches?

Mike Berardino: Triple digits with command and late life. Plus slider, curve that has a chance to be above-average and a change that should be at least average. All of it from a smooth, repeatable delivery powered by a strong, durable frame. What’s not to like?

Mike Berardino (Minneapolis): I've really done a great job on this list! If I had to pick a #11 it would be ________________.

Mike Berardino: I don’t live in Minneapolis.

Ryan (San Diego, CA): All Stephen Gonsalves does is crush it wherever he goes. Why are the Twins looking for pitching when they have a guy like Gonsalves ready to step in right now?

Mike Berardino: You’re right. He’s been productive throughout and is on the verge of a breakthrough. But he did miss time with shoulder woes in the fall of 2016 and the spring of 2017, so there’s that. Plus, the Twins aren’t targeting back-end help. They want somebody to start Game 1 of a postseason series.

Dan (Augusta, ME): What's the story on Travis Blankenhorn? Off year or sign of bigger issues? Thanks

Mike Berardino: Something clicked for him late in a difficult year. He still has his backers. Don’t be surprised if he surges back up the list after 2018.

Paul Molitor (Target Field): Will Tyler Jay fit into my bullpen this year? I see you have him as my future closer, who would you compare him to with that nasty slider?

Mike Berardino: I could see that by midseason, but Jay will need to stay on the mound first and reclaim his career momentum.

Bill A. (SF): Does Brusdar carry reliever risk? If that arsenal exists without RP risk, he’s insane.

Mike Berardino: I’m telling you, they believe he’s a starter.

Benjamin Chase (SoDak): The top 10 contains 3 middle infielders, but it's feasible the book could contain up to 5 more (Palacios, Arraez, Severino, Morel, Blankenhorn if you classify him in this way). Is this why Gordon's name has been floated in trade rumors so frequently, and would he have the value to headline a deal?

Mike Berardino: Not sure what trade rumors you’re referring to.

Rick (Dallas, TX): How does Kirilloff remain as high as he is without playing a single game this past season?

Mike Berardino: See above.

Joe (North Dakota): Did Nick Gordon fall to #8 or did 7 prospects jump over him. He was a consensus top 50 prospect the past few seasons and now ranks #8 in his own farm? What gives?

Mike Berardino: I didn’t compile last year’s list.

Justin (Minneapolis): Wow Nick Gordon at 8. That is the lowest I've ever seen him. Are you guys light on Gordon and did his stock drop (after a solid season) in you guys opinion and why?

Mike Berardino: Based on conversations with people inside and outside the organization, I believe I have Gordon ranked precisely where he belongs. Doesn’t mean he won’t be a productive major leaguer.

Tony (Los Angeles): What is Lewin Diaz's ceiling and is there optimism regarding his chances of fulfilling his potential?

Mike Berardino: They still love his power and were relieved he made it through the Rule 5 draft.

Matt (Virginia): What's your opinion of Tyler Watson who Twins got in Brandon Kintzler deal?

Mike Berardino: Good frame. Still some projection. Middling stuff. He should be around 20th.

Karl of Delaware (Georgetown, Delaware): Looks like all the Twins minor league affiliates had winning records, and the systems overall record was the 2nd best in baseball - is this a stat that pretends great things for the Twins future, or just numerical clutter without much value?

Mike Berardino: Beats finishing last.

Zac (NYC): Who do you expect to make the biggest leap forward this year? Related, which prospects in the lower levels outside of the top ten - safer bets and high risk/high reward - are you most excited to keep an eye on in 2018?

Mike Berardino: Derek Molina. Remember the name.

Russ (Minneapolis): Jose Miranda's offensive season looks really impressive, given his age. Does he have a chance to be a first-division third baseman?

Mike Berardino: Very interesting guy. He’s in the book.

Richard Hansen (Milwaukee): What is the likelihood that Kohl Stewart ever makes the Twins rotation. He seems to have fallen by the wayside for the #4 pick in the 2013 draft?

Mike Berardino: Low. Thought the new regime might help him miss more bats with improved sequencing, but that didn’t prove to be the case. Maybe the Rule 5 slight will light a fire under him, but it seems more likely he starts getting that football itch again. Or, as I like to call it, Weinke-Booty Syndrome.

Drew (St. Paul): How do the top 2 prospects in the Twins system, Royce Lewis and Wander Javier compare to each other? Lewis seems to be the better athlete and defender. Does Javier have the higher offensive ceiling? Who do you think eventually moves off of SS?

Mike Berardino: Wouldn’t you like to know.

Mike Berardino: Whew. I’m tuckered out, and apparently so are you. Thanks for all the questions, everybody. Pitchers and catchers before you know it. With that, I’m out. Enjoy Giuffria!