Here is part 3 of my prospect list I hope you enjoyed part 1 and 2. Today I will be bringing you prospects 40-36. I will be bringing you 5 a day until we get all the way to number one. This will take awhile so keep checking back here for daily looks at who I have in certain spots and what I think of them. I am sure you will disagree with some and if so by all means leave me a comment in the comment section. If you prefer you can also shoot me an email at travis.aune@gmail.com. Also if you prefer you can hit me up on twitter @texastwinsfan so whichever way you prefer let me know what you think of my list.
40. Matt Summers SP 8/17/89 24 4th round pick of 2011 draft out of UC-Irvine
2013 stats: 7-7 3.09era 27 games 26 starts 1CG 142.2inn 125 hits 46bb 100k
2013 teams: Fort Myers, New Britain
2014 team: New Britain
ETA: 2015
Matt Summers made a big leap in 2013 as he dominated in Fort Myers and got a shot in New Britain. In 21 starts in Fort Myers he went 6-5 with a 2.47 era for the Miracle. Things weren’t quite as kosher in New Britain as he had a robust 6.45 era, but in just six starts for the Rock Cats. His dominance in Fort Myers got everyone excited as he appeared to take it to next level after having a 4.81 era in Fort Myers in a short burst in 2012. Summers does not get a lot of strikeouts as he only had 100 in 142.2 innings in 2013. He counts on a very good sinking fastball to get guys to pound the ball into the ground. He also has a four seamer that is more straight but can get more velocity on it. He also has a hard breaking ball and one that he throws slower. He also has a changeup that is a nice change of pace to things. To be honest though he throws mostly his two fastballs and two breaking pitches to get guys out. I see him as a groundball pitcher if he is going to make it to the bigs. His four seamer he can get good velocity on but gets no movement, but with his two seamer he can get alot of movement. I am excited to see how he does with a full season in New Britain. He reminds me of a pitching version of Aaron Hicks as Summers, just like Hicks, struggles right away in a new level and then makes adjustments and does well after. I expect Summers to do really well in New Britain in 2014 and possibly get a shot late in the year at Rochester.
39. Tyler Duffey P 12/27/90 23 5th round draft pick in 2012 draft from Rice
2013 stats: 7-7 3.64 era 24 games 18 starts 121 inn 116 hits 23bb 91k
2013 teams: Cedar Rapids, Fort Myers
2014 team: Fort Myers
ETA: 2015
When the Twins drafted Tyler Duffey in the 5th round in the 2012 draft the belief was that the Rice alum would be a relief pitcher with a big arm. However, the Twins did in 2013 what they do with most college arms and that is build their arm strength up by giving them a chance to start to see if they can start or if they belong in the bullpen. Duffey dominated hitters in Cedar Rapids as he went 3-2 with a 2.78 era in nine starts with the Kernels. He then moved up to Fort Myers where he struggled a bit having a 4.45 era in 15 games including nine starts. I have always thought that Duffey’s future was in the bullpen, but I think he will start until he gets up to New Britain at the earliest. There is no reason to have him stop starting if you don’t have to. The thing that I love about Duffey is his two fastballs as he has a four seamer in which he can touch 97 out of the bullpen and low 90’s as a starter. He also throws a nice cutter that the ball moves really well with. I also love his curveball in which he gets most of his strikeouts with. He is working on a changeup that is ever improving, but is not what it needs to be in order to remain a starter. Duffey could be an alright starter or a dominant reliever and I think in the end the Twins will go with him as a dominant reliever in time.
38. Alex Wimmers SP 11/1/88 25 1st round pick of 2010 draft out of Ohio State
2013 stats: 0-1 7.20 era 6 starts 15 inn 25 hits 5bb 18k
2013 team: GCL Twins
2014 team: Extended Spring Training
ETA: 2015
The thing that needs to be remembered about Alex Wimmers that in the last two seasons he has had more surgeries than wins. After the 2010 season most Twins fans thought that Alex Wimmers would join Kyle Gibson as the future top of the rotation for the Twins. Then in 2011 Wimmers hurt his elbow and after trying to rehab the injury, Wimmers had the dreaded Tommy John surgery. Wimmers missed most of the 2012 season rehabbing the surgery limited to only five innings in 2012. There was hope that 2013 would be the comeback year for Wimmers much like 2012 was for Kyle Gibson. That lasted 15 innings before Wimmers had to go back under the knife for another surgery on his elbow. The sad thing is in the last three seasons Wimmers has only pitched a total of 61 innings. Whether it is fair or not Alex Wimmers has hit the end of the road. 2014 will be a make or break year for him as he went unclaimed in the rule V draft in December. The Twins need to see him make some strides in 2014 or I can’t see them keeping him around. The key to that is just keeping him on the mound. When healthy Wimmers throws a low 90’s fastball with an excellent changeup up which is his best pitch and a workable curveball. The key to him staying with the Twins is him staying healthy and frankly that is no sure thing anymore.
37. Mason Melotakis P 6/28/91 22 2nd round pick 2012 draft from Northwestern St.
2013 stats: 11-4 3.16 era 24 games 18 starts 1save 111 inn 106 hits 39bb 84k
2013 team: Cedar Rapids
2014 team: Fort Myers
ETA: 2016
Mason Melotakis was another power arm the Twins took in the 2012 draft. Melotakis a southpaw out of Northwestern State is someone that can be a solid starter or a power arm out of the bullpen. Much like Tyler Duffey, Melotakis will be given the opportunity to start for now, but ultimately he likely will end up in the bullpen. He had a good rookie year with the Kernels with a very good 3.16 era and winning eleven games. The difference for Melotakis between starting and relieving is velocity. As a starter he consistantly sits in the low 90’s with a good curveball that he is able to get a feel for the longer he is in the game and a changeup that is ever improving. However, as a reliever he throws in the mid 90’s who can occasionally hit 96-97. As a reliever he needs to be more consistant with his curveball and changeup as he does not have time to find the feel for the pitches. Honestly, if he is a reliever he probably won’t use both of them as most relievers are usually two pitch pitchers especially when one of your pitches is a mid 90’s fastball. He can throw all the pitches he wants, but if he remains a reliever he will rely on his fastball and be a power pitcher. I look for him to go to Fort Myers and spend most of year as a starter and do ok, but there is no doubt in my mind that his future is as a reliever. There is also no doubt in my mind that in a few years he will be a power set up guy for the Twins.
36. Tyler Jones P 9/5/89 24 11th round pick in 2011 draft out of LSU
2013 stats: 5-6 2.58 era 36 games 13 saves 52.1 inn 37 hits 20bb 66k
2013 teams: Cedar Rapids, Fort Myers
2014 team: Fort Myers
ETA: 2015
If you want to talk about guys finding their niche you need look no further than Tyler Jones. I saw him pitch in Beloit in 2012 and honestly I was not that impressed. You could see the talent, but he walked too many guys and command was obviously a problem. In 2012 he walked 35 batters in 86.2 innings which led to a 4.67 era. The decision was made before 2013 to move Jones to the bullpen and boy did that work out. He was unhittable for Cedar Rapids to a 1.93 era tune in 24 appearances before moving up to Fort Myers. He was also very good up there. I could make the case that he is the best relief prospect in the whole Twins organization. He is a big guy at six foot four, but he lost some weight and it made the difference. The reason he is so good out of the bullpen is the fact that he touches 98 consistantly with a nice easy motion. He also has a nice hard slider that he uses to get his strikeouts. The difference between a reliever and a starter is a reliever only needs two quality pitches while a starter needs atleast three and the fact that Jones could not control his changeup made the decision easy to go to bullpen. The key for Jones is experience as 2013 was his first year as a reliever. With that blow away fastball and hard slider I think he could quickly move through the system. I am probably more excited about Tyler Jones as a relief prospect as anyone in the system. There is no doubt in my mind that in a couple years he will be getting big outs for the Twins bullpen so keep an eye out for the fireballer.
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