Puckett’s Pond Top 20 Minnesota Twins Prospects: Others To Know
Upper Minors Pitchers
Luke Bard, RHP, Chattanooga – Bard was moving slow up the system as a compensatory 1st round pick in 2012 from Georgia Tech. He ended up having elbow surgery and missing all of the 2014 season. He has come back strong, and this year he’s shown excellence out of the bullpen in AA, with a 2.57 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 42 innings.
J.T. Chargois, RHP, Rochester – On the fast track as a big-armed reliever after 2016, Chargois has struggled with injury this season and made only 2 appearances.
John Curtiss, RHP, Rochester – 2014 6th round selection moved to the bullpen in 2016 full-time and saw his stuff tick up tremendously and could be argued as the best relief prospect in the system, putting up a 1.31 ERA and striking out 48 over 34 1/3 innings between AA and AAA.
Ryan Eades, RHP, Chattanooga – One time big-time prospect was a 2nd round pick in 2013 but struggled as a starter. Has found big success in a swing man role, with a 2.98 ERA over 18 games, 6 of them starts with a 1.05 WHIP.
Zack Jones, RHP, Chattanooga – A big-armed reliever, the Brewers attempted to take Jones in the rule 5 last season but could not keep him when he ended up hurt. He’s been recovering from injury this year with the Twins.
Mason Melotakis, LHP, Rochester – Melotakis has shown himself as at least a very skilled LOOGY type if not a future valuable lefty reliever with a 2.20 ERA and 0.89 WHIP between AA and AAA.
Alex Muren, RHP, Chattanooga – Muren was a productive reliever out of Cal State-Northridge, drafted in 2012 in the 12th round before he had arm issues and missed all of the 2016. He’s just getting back to the mound this season, and has put up a 1.91 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 28 1/3 innings between high-A and AA.
Jake Reed, RHP, Rochester – Big armed reliever drafted from the University of Oregon in the 9th round in 2014 has faced arm issues this season after showing himself as a dominating reliever previously.
Dereck Rodriguez, RHP, Chattanooga – Sixth-round pick out of high school in 2011, Rodriguez was originally an outfielder and converted to the mound in 2014, which is why he’s a bit “older” than most who are on the same development time line. He has a good pitch mix that could work to a very workable major league starter and has flown under the radar to this point.
Randy Rosario, LHP, Rochester – Rosario has worked his way up the Twins system and moved to the bullpen full-time last season and found big success in short bursts. He’s made it all the way to Minnesota this season and has put up a 1.56 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in the minors this year.
Aaron Slegers, RHP, Rochester – Towering 6’10” righty relies on getting weak contact on his heavy sinker. Has always been a starter in the Twins system, but he could find success out of the bullpen where his size and sinker would be devastating in short bursts.
Nik Turley, LHP, Rochester – Signed after finishing 2016 in independent ball, Turley worked with the Twins staff and has really developed his stuff well to befuddle hitters at both the AA and AAA levels to the tune of 95 strikeouts in just 64 2/3 innings. Could end up really pushing forward in his move to the bullpen from the left side.
Alex Wimmers, RHP, Rochester – After struggling as a starter and even seemingly having a case of the “yips” as a starting pitcher, Wimmers has found success moving to the bullpen. He’s struggled with his control in two big league trials, but that hasn’t been an issue out of the bullpen in the minors, so he’ll continue to work back toward the Twins bullpen.