Today is Opening Day for the Minnesota Twins minor league affiliates.
Today marks the start of minor league baseball. The Minnesota Twins affiliates are full of young talent and a few major league hopefuls.
MLB Pipeline put out the list of where the Twins top 30 prospects will start the season. Here is that list:
- Jose Berrios (AAA) Rochester Red Wings
- Max Kepler (AAA) Rochester Red Wings
- Tyler Jay (A+) Fort Myers Miracle
- Nick Gordon (A+) Fort Myers Miracle
- Jorge Polanco (AAA) Rochester Red Wings
- Stephen Gonsalves (A+) Fort Myers Miracle
- Kohl Stewart (A+) Fort Myers Miracle
- Nick Burdi (AA) Chattanooga Lookouts – DL
- J.T. Chargois (AA) Chattanooga Lookouts
- Adam Brett Walker (AAA) Rochester Red Wings
- Alex Meyer (AAA) Rochester Red Wings
- Lewis Thorpe (A+) Fort Myers Miracle
- Taylor Rogers (AAA) Rochester Red Wings
- Wander Javier Dominican Summer League
- Jake Reed (AA) Chattanooga Lookouts
- Engelb Vielma (AA) Chattanooga Lookouts
- Fernando Romero (A) Cedar Rapids Kernels – DL
- Travis Blankenhorn Extended Spring Training
- Mason Melotakis (AA) Chattanooga Lookouts
- Jermaine Palacios (A) Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Trey Cabbage Extended Spring Training
- Stuart Turner (AA) Chattanooga Lookouts
- Travis Harrison (AA) Chattanooga Lookouts
- Yorman Landa (A+) Fort Myers Miracle
- Felix Jorge (A+) Fort Myers Miracle
- Alex Robinson Extended Spring Training
- LaMonte Wade (A) Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Daniel Palka (AA) Chattanooga Lookouts
- Lachlan Wells Extended Spring Training
- Lewin Diaz Extended Spring Training
More from Puckett's Pond
- Minnesota Twins: 2022 Year in Review for Twins Baseball
- Minnesota Twins: Making the Case for the Current 2023 Rotation
- Minnesota Twins: Does the MLB or the Twins have a Spending Problem?
- Minnesota Twins: 2 Possible Free Agent Reunions for 2023
- Minnesota Twins: Holiday Wish List for the rest of the Offseason
Chattanooga has the most top prospects, with eight. However, Rochester and Fort Myers have four players each in the top 10. It’s worth noting that Wander Javier is not starting in the Twins system. Reports are that he could spend the entire summer in the Dominican.
What To Watch For
All eyes will certainly be on Berrios to start the season. He pitched just 4 1-3 innings during spring training allowing two hits, while striking out three and walking three. Berrios finished last season with Rochester, pitching 75 2-3 innings with a record of 6-2. In roughly the same amount of starts, he lowered his ERA from 3.18 in Double A to 2.85 in Triple A.
Twins fans are anticipating his major league debut this year. Expect Berrios to get called up if one of the three following scenarios happen; Ricky Nolasco fails as the fifth starter, Tyler Duffey injures himself or struggles, or multiple injuries to the major league rotation occur.
What’s On Deck
Duffey, not Berrios, will get the opening day start for Rochester. Jason Wheeler will start for Chattanooga against Jacob deGrom‘s look-alike Josh Hader. Gonsalves gets the start over fellow top prospects Stewart and Jay for Fort Myers at home. Finally, the Cedar Rapids Kernels will send Randy LeBlanc to the mound for its home opener.
Next: 2016 Puckett's Staff Predictions
The Rochester Red Wings can be seen on MiLB.TV as well as limited Chattanooga Lookouts, Fort Myers Miracle, and Cedar Rapids Kernels games.