I have no confidence in the Minnesota Twins having any
better season then they have had the last three years. I think the starting
pitching is improved and the bullpen remains solid, but the team lacks hitting
will hurt it more than the improved starting pitching will help it. I do feel though
there are some things worth watching this season which if they turn out
positively could lead to better things for the Twins and their fans in the
future.
Oswaldo Arica and Aaron Hicks are highly touted prospects
who have taken different routes to the majors. Arica was not a prospect from the get go, but
has put up great numbers at each minor league level he played at. Arica had decent numbers
in his first year in the majors, and is being counted on to provide power in
the middle of the Twins lineup this year. Hicks was a prospect from the get go,
but has never really justified his high prospect ranking with great minor
league seasons. Hicks struggled mightily last season as a rookie, but the Twins
need him to secure the center field job while batting lead off this season. Arica, a favorite of
mine, is under no threat of replacement, but Hicks has to be looking over his
shoulder as mega prospect Byron Buxton is not that far away from taking over the
center field job.
Phil Hughes could be a very good starting pitcher for the
Twins. Once top prospect Alex Meyer gets here, Meyer, Ricky Nolasco, Hughes,
and Kyle Gibson could be the anchors for a good pitching staff for the next 3-5
years. Hughes has the ability to be the #2 starter behind the highly talented
Meyer. Having meet Hughes at Twinsfest, I like him and have decided I am making
him one of my favorite players on the Twins. Meyer is a favorite of mine as
well in part because how many professional baseball players spend their
off-season as a substitute teacher as Meyer did this off-season? I think not
many.
Brian Dozier is another nice guy, and I want to root for his
success. If Dozier can improve his offense and keep up his elite defensive play,
the Twins will have something they have not had since Chuck Knoblauch after the
1997 season - stability at 2nd base.
Josmil Pinto is another guy I want to root for. With Joe
Mauer now at 1st base, we need a catcher who not only can defend,
but hit. Pinto is the best option, though I believe the Twins will start the
season with veteran Kurt Suzuki as the starter.
Minor leaguers Byron Buxton, Alex Meyer, Miguel Sano, Kohl
Stewart, Danny Santana, Michael Tonkin, Kennys Vargas, Trevor May, Eddie
Rosario, Felix Jorge, Jorge Polanco, Max Kepler, Joe Berrios, Lewis Thrope, and
Fernando Romero have star potential. How many will actually make it to the
majors and become stars? No one can know for sure, but for the sake of the
Twins and their fans hope a good number make it.
As it is the Twins will be lucky to develop enough players
to make the team a contender for the division title in 2016. For now it is more
the same for the Twins and their fans. Still I look forward to seeing players
like Arcia, Hicks, Hughes, Meyer, Dozier, and Pinto develop hopefully into
better player; so here’s to a great 2014 Twins baseball season!
