Tom Stuifbergen

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #24 prospect in 2012
  If international baseball can be called the "bright lights"--and compared to Class A it certainly can be--then it's evident Stuifbergen is at his best in the spotlight. He tossed 17 scoreless innings for the Netherlands at the World Cup in Panama last fall, helping his nation win its first-ever gold medal in international play. Working in relief, he touched 94 mph with his fastball and flashed a plus curveball that he picked up from another Dutch righty, Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven. Stuifbergen also threw four shutout innings in the Netherlands' upset victory against the Dominican Republic in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. In the minors, however, Stuifbergen has been plenty hittable. He usually pitches with an 86-91 mph sinker and a solid curveball, along with an average changeup. He has a feel for changing speeds and pounds the strike zone, but the quality of his stuff is too inconsistent. He'll have to tone up his big frame, and maturity and consistency in his work habits and approach to the game would help as well. Stuifbergen ended his regular season with five solid innings in a spot start in Triple-A, but he was left off the 40-man roster in November. He'll have to earn a spot in Double-A during spring training.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #27 prospect in 2011
  Stuifbergen is trying to beat Max Kepler to the majors to become the first big league product of the Twins' European scouting efforts. A Netherlands native, Stuifbergen has become his homeland's go-to pitcher in international baseball, tossing four scoreless innings against the Dominican Republic in a memorable 2009 World Baseball Classic victory and matching up with Cuba in October's Intercontinental Cup. Stuifbergen thrived when healthy as he jumped to full-season ball for the first time in 2010, but he missed six weeks at midseason with an elbow strain and didn't pitch as well in the second half after his return. At his best, he has a feel for pitching that belies the stereotypes of European players. He adds and subtracts from his fastball, touching 93 at times after lulling hitters to sleep with a mid-80s sinker. Stuifbergen learned his curveball from the patron saint of Dutch baseball, Bert Blyleven, and at times it's a plus pitch. So is his changeup, a solid-average offering. Stuifbergen needs to show he can stay healthy, and his 260-pound frame could use firming up. Despite his size, he repeats his easy delivery and pounds the strike zone. He projects to have average big league command, if not a tick above. The Twins would like to see better maturity in terms of his fitness as well as mound demeanor, but a healthy Stuifbergen could jump on the fast track in 2011, starting with a stint in high Class A.