Prospects acquired at trade deadline flourishing in Twins organization
The Minnesota Twins are reshaping their franchise with an injection of youth and prospects.
Every Thursday for the rest of the season, FOX Sports North will take a closer look at some specific young players — as well as noting others who might be stepping up — measuring, highlighting and evaluating their progress.
This is the 18th edition of the 2017 Young Twins Tracker.
Lewin Diaz (age 20/Low-A)
Last week: 5 games, 20 AB, 7 H, 1 HR, 3 R, 1 RBI, 1 SB, 3 BB, 5 K, .350 BA.
Season: 119 games, 454 AB, .291 BA, .329 OBP, .445 SLG, .774 OPS, 32 2B, 1 3B, 12 HR, 46 R, 67 RBI, 1 SB, 25 BB, 79 K.
Notable: Diaz just keeps hitting. The 20-year-old first baseman is on an eight-game hitting streak and put up a three-hit game on Aug. 27.
Stephen Gonsalves (age 23/Triple-A)
Last week: 2 games (1 start), 0-1, 6 2/3 IP, 11 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 6 K
Season (Triple-A): 5 games (4 starts), 1-2, 5.56 ERA, 22 2/3 IP, 27 H, 4 HR, 8 BB, 22 K, .293 OBA, 1.54 WHIP
Notable: Gonsalves had a great start on Aug. 25, allowing just one run in six innings for Rochester. However, a relief appearance that followed a three-inning rehab stint by Adalberto Mejia ended in four earned runs, two walks and no strikeouts in just 2/3 of an inning for Gonsalves.
Nick Gordon (age 21/Double-A)
Last week: 6 games, 24 AB, 2 H, 0 2B, 0 HR, 1 R, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 1 BB, 7 K, .083 BA.
Season: 117 games, 496 AB, .270 BA, .343 OBP, .407 SLG, .750 OPS, 28 2B, 8 3B, 8 HR, 76 R, 63 RBI, 13 SB, 52 BB, 126 K.
Notable: It was a rough week for the Twins’ 2014 first-round pick, only collecting a pair of hits in six games. In Gordon’s last 10 games, he’s hitting .143./.200/.143. Despite his cold streak, Gordon was named a Postseason All-Star in the Southern League.
Royce Lewis (age 18/Rookie)
Last week: 5 games, 19 AB, 6 H, 7 R, 0 RBI, 1 SB, 4 BB, 6 K, .316 BA.
Season (Single-A): 15 games, 62 AB, .339 BA, .391 OBP, .452 SLG, .843 OPS, 2 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 15 R, 10 RBI, 3 SB, 5 BB, 14 K.
Season (Rookie): 36 games, 133 AB, .271 BA, .390 OBP, .414 SLG, .803 OPS, 6 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 38 R, 17 RBI, 15 SB, 19 BB, 17 K.
Notable: Lewis reached base four times on Aug. 30 with a walk and three hits. He’s getting comfortable at Single-A level and actually hitting for a better average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage than he was in Rookie ball. Plus, he made a sweet play at shortstop:
Fernando Romero (age 22/Double-A)
Last week: 1 game (1 start), 0-1, 5 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Season: 24 games (23 starts), 11-9, 3.53 ERA, 125 IP, 124 H, 4 HR, 45 BB, 120 K, .256 OBA, 1.35 WHIP
Notable: Romero will finish his season on the 7-day disabled list, placed there on Aug. 28 after allowing nine hits and six runs in his latest start. His ERA was at 2.60 on the year before giving up six runs in each of his last three starts, inflating it to 3.53.
Brent Rooker (age 22/Single-A)
Last week: 4 games, 15 AB, 6 H, 1 2B, 3 HR, 6 R, 6 RBI, 0 BB, 5 K, .400 BA.
Season: 38 games, 135 AB, .281 BA, .370 OBP, .570 SLG, .941 OPS, 6 2B, 0 3B, 11 HR, 23 R, 35 RBI, 0 SB, 16 BB, 44 K.
Notable: Rooker homered in three straight games to boost his total to 11, which ranks second on the Miracle. Zander Wiel leads the team with 12 dingers, but Rooker has 303 less at-bats than Wiel.
Kohl Stewart (age 22/Double-A)
Last week: DNP
Season (Triple-A): 1 game (1 start), 1-0, 7.20, 5 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 5 K, .333 OBA, 1.60 WHIP
Season (Double-A): 15 games (15 starts), 5-6, 4.01 ERA, 74 IP, 68 H, 4 HR, 42 BB, 52 K, .250 OBA, 1.49 WHIP
Notable: Stewart was placed on the 7-day disabled list with left knee tendinitis on Aug. 22, just four days after making his Triple-A debut. He earned the win despite giving up four runs in the second inning, but it was enough to give Rochester a 10-4 win. The injury is poor timing for Stewart and may prevent him from getting a September call-up from the Twins.
Others: The Twins announced they are sending Fort Myers LHP Tyler Jay (Round 1, 2015), Fort Myers RHP Tom Hackimer (Round 4, 2016), Chattanooga LF LaMonte Wade (Round 9, 2015) and Fort Myers 3B Chris Paul (Round 6, 2015) to the Arizona Fall League. … Each team sends six of its top prospects, so the Twins still have two more players to choose. … OF Edgar Corcino, DH Jon Rodriguez and RHP Gabriel Moya were named Southern League Postseason All-Stars for Chattanooga along with Nick Gordon. … Tyler Watson (acquired in Brandon Kintzler trade) earned his first win at Cedar Rapids and has allowed just four runs in his last three starts. … RHP Zack Littell (acquired in Jaime Garcia trade from Yankees) went six innings and gave up two runs on Aug. 26. … Littell has a 4-0 record with a 3.03 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings since joining Chattanooga on Aug. 1.
Statistics courtesy milb.com
