Byron Buxton is Back

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Most Twins fans knew that 2014 would be yet another rebuilding season, but with Byron Buxton and several other top prospects advancing through the minor league levels, there seemed to be more hope than in recent years. This hope was and is justified. While the Twins are tied with the White Sox for last place in the division, their record is only 44-50, which is not terrible. And while there have been some setbacks for a few of the Twins’ top prospects, there have also been some surprises. Here are some prospects you’ll want to follow in the second half (use “Next” button to toggle slides).

The Return of Byron Buxton

Mar 4, 2014; Jupiter, FL, USA; Minnesota Twins center fielder Byron Buxton (70) at bat against the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

As we all know, Buxton has sat out the majority of the season. He injured his wrist diving for a ball back in March, then re-injured it after playing for a week in May. Since returning on July 6th, the Miracle have been taking things slow. For his first few games back, Buxton split time in center field with Max Keppler (an impressive prospect in his own right).

Now, however, it appears that baseball’s #1 prospect is back to his old habits. Last night, he logged his first multi-hit game of the season, going 3-4 with a triple, walk, and RBI. He has also stolen two bases and played well defensively since returning to the lineup. Look for a promotion to New Britain if Buxton gets on a roll.

Miguel Sano‘s Recovery

March 21, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Minnesota Twins infielder Miguel Sano (97) reacts after he hit a double during the second inning against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

When Miguel Sano went down with a torn UCL, things seemed bleak. Buxton was already injured, and Eddie Rosario was set to serve a 50 game suspension for violating the league’s policy on banned substances. Sano’s Tommy John surgery completed the trifecta.

Fast forward to July, and things don’t seem all that bad. While it would absolutely be preferable to see Sano preparing himself for a Big League call up, we can take solace in the fact that his recovery is progressing nicely. He’s been cleared to throw, and while he won’t see any game action during the season, it seems probable that he’ll man the hot corner in the Arizona Fall League. By all indications, he’ll be ready for spring training next year.

Alex Meyer Finds his Groove

Jul 13, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; USA pitcher Alex Meyer throws a pitch during the All Star Futures Game at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

There was a period when it seemed that Alex Meyer might not be as MLB ready as everybody thought coming into the season. His last three starts in June weren’t pretty, as he failed to pitch more than 3.2 innings in any of them (albeit one game was the second leg of a double header, in which Meyer didn’t give up any runs, but did leave the game conspicuously early).

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Since then, he’s been red hot. In his last three outings, Meyer has pitched 18 innings while striking out 20, walking nine, and giving up a mere four earned runs. On the season, he has struck out 103 batters in 89.1 innings pitched (10.38 K/9), 43 BB (4.33 BB/9), a 3.43 ERA, a .230 BAA, and a FIP of 3.78. It seems likely that Meyer will be manning the bump at Target Field later this season.

Trevor May Rises

Feb 25, 2014; Ft Myers, FL, USA; Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Trevor May (65) poses during photo day at Hammond Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

What is there to say about Trevor May other than he’s ready for the show? There were plenty of early season doubters, but May has done everything in his power to silence them. Simply put, he has been one of the best pitchers in the Twins system this year, posting 9.15 K/9 against 3.5 BB/9. Opponents are hitting a miniscule .203 off the right hander, and that includes a .266 BABIP. May’s other peripherals look great, as well. His actual ERA is an impressive 2.94, which is backed up by his 3.17 FIP. May’s next start comes on Saturday against Norfolk, meaning that he’ll be due to pitch again when the Twins’ currently vacant number five slot is up. If he pitches well, May could be in Minneapolis as early as next week.

Berrios Dominates

Jul 13, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; World pitcher

Jose Berrios

throws a pitch in the first inning during the All Star Futures Game at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Perhaps the only pitcher in the Twins system who has been better than May this season is 20 year old Jose Berrios. The 2012 first rounder has been electrifying for pretty much the entire season. Before getting promoted to Double-A New Britain last week, Berrios made 16 starts at Advanced-A Fort Myers. There, he struck out a ridiculous 109 batters against only 23 BB in 96.1 innings. Command? Absolutely. His ERA during that period was a measly 1.96, and his FIP was an impressive 2.48. Berrios’s dominance wasn’t based on luck, in other words. He’s just. That. Good. Now that he’s pitching for the Rock Cats, he’s about four years younger than his average opponent. Berrios is certainly one to watch in the second half. If he proves himself at the Double-A level, he could set himself up for a Major League call up sometime next season.

Several Prospects Surprise

Of course, besides the big name prospects, there are always a few guys who spring up as pleasant surprises. One such player is Minnesota native Mike Kvasnicka. The Lakeville outfielder and former Golden Gopher is hitting .278/.309/.443 for the Rock Cats so far, good for a .752 OPS. These numbers don’t pop immediately, but it’s worth noting that Kvasnicka has been on fire over his last ten games. Over this span, he’s hitting .359/.359/.641. That adds up to an even 1.000 OPS. He has homered twice, doubled five times, and driven in 7 runs during his hot streak. It’s a bit concerning, however, that he hasn’t drawn a single walk since his bat has heated up. He’ll most likely regress sooner rather than later, but he has certainly put himself on the radar.

Another player to watch is Fort Myers backstop Alex Swim. He’s a guy you probably hadn’t heard of coming into the season, but like Kvasnicka, he’s done the work to get noticed. Swim is currently on a 12 game hitting streak, during which he is hitting an astounding .458. Only three of his 21 hits over this span have been for extra bases, and he has only walked four times (six total BB on the season). Swim is another candidate for regression, but it’s still nice to see him perform well. Most of this work was done in Cedar Rapids, but it was good enough for a recent promotion to Fort Myers.

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