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Players the Minnesota Twins Should Look at the Rest of 2017

By Benjamin Chase

LOUISVILLE, KY - OCTOBER 23: 2015 World Series bats of Daniel Murphy of the New York Mets lay on a rack ready to be shipped out at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory on October 23, 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY - OCTOBER 23: 2015 World Series bats of Daniel Murphy of the New York Mets lay on a rack ready to be shipped out at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory on October 23, 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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LOUISVILLE, KY – OCTOBER 23: 2015 World Series bats of Daniel Murphy of the New York Mets lay on a rack ready to be shipped out at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory on October 23, 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KY – OCTOBER 23: 2015 World Series bats of Daniel Murphy of the New York Mets lay on a rack ready to be shipped out at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory on October 23, 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Players that the Minnesota Twins should be looking at the rest of this season

The Minnesota Twins may still make a run this year as they’ve still got a quality team, especially a very good lineup that could run off a collection of wins, and their youth in bullpen arms and rotation arms could serve them well for a late-season run as well. However, there are a certain few players that should really be getting a look before the end of the season. These players are important to get a look at for Rule 5 draft reasons, options reasons, and 40-man roster reasons for 2017. We’ll have players that match those criteria and one that is outside of all of those that is a “bonus” player that would be good to see for the rest of the season as well.

We’ll start with one guy that could have a significant impact in 2017 right away:

Mason Melotakis, LHP

Melotakis was part of the 40-man roster until early in the season when he was designated for assignment in order to sign Dillon Gee. Thankfully, he passed through waivers to allow the Twins to assign him to the minor leagues.

However, the Twins really don’t have another left-handed arm that’s close with the same type of raw stuff in the bullpen that Melotakis has. Melotakis missed roughly two full seasons due to elbow surgery, but he’s come back strong and threw well in 2016, especially in the Arizona Fall League.

Melotakis can throw a fastball that sits in the mid-90s, touching 97-98 at the top end, with some late sink. He pairs that pitch with an overhand spike curve that comes in 83-85 with tremendous direct break, not getting slurvy at all. He’ll also flash a change up to keep hitters really off base as well, but his two-pitch mix is plenty to be a significant bullpen weapon.

Obviously, the signs of Taylor Rogers‘ overuse this season have begun to show. Since July 20th, he’s posted a 27.00 ERA over 5 appearances that lasted 3 innings, allowing 10 runs (9 earned) on 7 hits, 4 walks, and 5 strikeouts. He’s given up 3 home runs in that time as well.

The only other lefty reliever on the 25-man roster currently is Buddy Boshers, though there are a couple of rehabbing or minor league lefty relievers on the 40-man roster. Getting Melotakis up will require removal of someone from the 40-man roster, but with his ability to be an impact arm in 2018 for the bullpen, getting him the experience now at the major league level should be worth that with plenty of arms that could be moved off the 40-man currently.

Next: Budding Backstop

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