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Puckett’s Pond’s Minnesota Twins 2018 Top-40 Prospects: #36-40

By Nate Palmer

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 20: A Minnesota Twins cap and glove in the dug out before a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards at on August 20, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 20: A Minnesota Twins cap and glove in the dug out before a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards at on August 20, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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No. 37 Andrew Vasquez, LHP, 24-years-old

The Twins drafted left-handed reliever Andrew Vasquez in the 32nd round of the 2015 MLB draft. Vasquez was really a bit of a flier as a college senior from the small Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA. Taking that chance has paid off for the Twins as Vasquez has pitched well as he has advanced through the Twins minor league system.

After pitching well in 2017 for the Twins two Single-A affiliates, Vasquez earned a spot in the Arizona Fall League. While pitching for Surprise, the southpaw appeared in 11 games, held a 1.42 ERA, and a 9.9 K/9. Vasquez then started 2018 again in Fort Myers where he tossed 32.2 innings with a 1.38 ERA, 10.2 K/9, and recorded five saves. After earning a promotion to Double-A he has only continued his dominance where he now has a 1.33 ERA and a 16.7 K/9 over 27.0 innings for Chattanooga.

Vasquez’s best pitch is his curveball which comes in at 74-77 mph. It keeps batters off balance and contributes to his high strikeout rate even though he doesn’t have an overpowering fastball at only 88-91 mph. Vasquez also has a changeup that he will mix in as well which sits around 75-78 mph. (All pitch and velocity numbers credit Baseball Census)

We can add Vasquez to the line of potential bullpen arms that the Twins have scattered across their farm system. While his velocity isn’t where most impact bullpen arms clock in he has continued to get the job done even against good Southern League competition this season. If he can continue to mix his fastball and curveball well Vasquez could be a good left-handed arm out of the bullpen for the Twins in the not too distant future.

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