Minnesota Twins: Road to the Show, Trevor Hildenberger Edition
By Carl Vagle
The Minnesota Twins have brought the 650th pick from the 2014 MLB Draft to the Show.
In the 22nd round of the 2014 draft the Twins selected Trevor Hildenberger, a right-handed reliever. Hildenberger, from University of California, Berkley was drafted as a senior. He quickly signed with the Twins to begin his minor league career. Trevor will be the first member of his draft class to reach the MLB.
The @Twins deem RHP Trevor Hildenberger @esurance #CallUpWorthy, granting him his first promotion to The Show! pic.twitter.com/kDic6u669N
— Rochester Red Wings (@RocRedWings) June 23, 2017
At Cal-Berkeley Hildenberger didn’t figure it out until his senior season when he posted a 2.83 ERA in 47.2 innings. In his previous two season he had a 5.43 ERA in 59.2 innings and also started five games for them. The Twins decided to draft him and he has done outstanding in the minors.
More from Minnesota Twins News
- Minnesota Twins: Grading the Twins’ Joey Gallo signing
- Minnesota Twins: Grading the Christian Vazquez Signing
- Minnesota Twins: Twins jump into Top 5 in first MLB Draft Lottery
- Minnesota Twins: Byron Buxton wins 2022 Bob Feller Act of Valor Award
- Minnesota Twins: A Twins Homage to the Turkey of the Year Award
In 29 innings of pitching between Elizabethton and the Gulf Coast League he had ten saves and a 2.43 ERA to go along with 32 strikeouts. Hildenberger’s work in the rookie league earned him a spot in Cedar Rapids to start the 2015 campaign.
After spending half of the season with the Kernels and posting a 0.80 ERA he was moved up to Fort Myers. With the Miracle he continued to excel with 21 strikeouts in 19 innings pitched. Over the course of his time in the minor leagues Trevor averaged 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings.
Trevor has been outstanding at every level of the Twins system.
Each season Trevor has been called up to the next level of competition including being selected to the Arizona Fall League in 2015 with Twins prospects Taylor Rodgers, Mitch Garver, Jake Reed, and Nick Burdi on the Scottsdale Scorpions. He also played with future Twins players Adalberto Mejia and Justin Haley.
While pitching with Rochester this season in Triple-A he took over the closers role and had six saves. The Twins hope his success with the Red Wings will translate to the major league level. He pitches with a sidearm delivery that he has made quite effective. He has a fastball, changeup, and slider that he utilizes to attack hitters.
Trevor beat 21 players who were drafted before him for the Twins in 2014. That list includes Nick Gordon, Nick Burdi and Jake Reed. Gordon is currently the Twins top prospect but was drafted out of high school rather than college. He should make the Twins roster within a couple seasons.
In order to make room for Trevor on the roster the Twins made some moves, here is their press release:
#MNTwins select contracts of RHPs Dillon Gee & Trevor Hildenberger. Both will be available for tonight’s game at Cleveland. pic.twitter.com/hKcMjKulJF
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) June 23, 2017
Dillon Gee will be used in a long relief role for the Twins. Nate Palmer wrote a story on him signing a contract earlier this week.
Next: Twins: Road To The Show, Alan Busenitz Edition
As the Twins continue to cycle their bullpen Trevor Hildenberger is the next in line. Congrats to Trevor on a well deserved call-up after posting a 1.57 ERA and 200 strikeouts in his minor league career. Hopefully he can stick in the bullpen and provide strikeouts and consistency.