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Minnesota Twins: Minor League Opening Day 2016

By Martin Schlegel

Mar 13, 2015; Bradenton, FL, USA; Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Jose Berrios (68) pitches during the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2015; Bradenton, FL, USA; Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Jose Berrios (68) pitches during the third inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at McKechnie Field. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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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:

  1. Jose Berrios  (AAA) Rochester Red Wings
  2. Max Kepler  (AAA) Rochester Red Wings
  3. Tyler Jay  (A+) Fort Myers Miracle
  4. Nick Gordon  (A+) Fort Myers Miracle
  5. Jorge Polanco  (AAA) Rochester Red Wings
  6. Stephen Gonsalves  (A+) Fort Myers Miracle
  7. Kohl Stewart  (A+) Fort Myers Miracle
  8. Nick Burdi  (AA) Chattanooga Lookouts – DL
  9. J.T. Chargois  (AA) Chattanooga Lookouts
  10. Adam Brett Walker  (AAA) Rochester Red Wings
  11. Alex Meyer  (AAA) Rochester Red Wings
  12. Lewis Thorpe  (A+) Fort Myers Miracle
  13. Taylor Rogers  (AAA) Rochester Red Wings
  14. Wander Javier  Dominican Summer League
  15. Jake Reed  (AA) Chattanooga Lookouts
  16. Engelb Vielma  (AA) Chattanooga Lookouts
  17. Fernando Romero  (A) Cedar Rapids Kernels – DL
  18. Travis Blankenhorn  Extended Spring Training
  19. Mason Melotakis  (AA) Chattanooga Lookouts
  20. Jermaine Palacios  (A) Cedar Rapids Kernels
  21. Trey Cabbage  Extended Spring Training
  22. Stuart Turner  (AA) Chattanooga Lookouts
  23. Travis Harrison  (AA) Chattanooga Lookouts
  24. Yorman Landa  (A+) Fort Myers Miracle
  25. Felix Jorge  (A+) Fort Myers Miracle
  26. Alex Robinson  Extended Spring Training
  27. LaMonte Wade  (A) Cedar Rapids Kernels
  28. Daniel Palka  (AA) Chattanooga Lookouts
  29. Lachlan Wells  Extended Spring Training
  30. Lewin Diaz  Extended Spring Training

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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.

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