also available at www.SethSpeaks.net -
Sometime today, the Arizona Fall League rosters will be announced. Typically each team will send six players to Arizona. Sometimes a team will get a seventh player. The Twins don’t always send just their top prospects. First, players must have ended the season at Double-A or Triple-A, although there are now two spots that can go to players from High-A. Players who are from countries that have winter leagues (Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Mexico) are not eligible. (Note – I am not certain if this includes Australia now that the Australian Winter League will be going into its second season). Also, the Twins seem to like spreading the AFL opportunity around. Chris Parmelee went there the last two years, but generally it is rare for a Twins prospect to go their twice.
So, who do you think will be the six players sent to the Arizona Fall League? Here are the six that I would want to go there:
- Brian Dozier – half season at New Britain, it’ll be great for him to play with and against some great prospects.
- Alex Wimmers – Now that he’s throwing strikes, it’s time for him to get some innings.
- Joe Benson – Was in the AFL a couple of years ago, but didn’t play a lot.
- Dakota Watts – Hard-throwing bullpen arm would be served well to get more experience.
- Tom Stuifbergen – missed a few starts early in the season. Opportunity to get a few more innings.
- Chris Herrmann – can play outfield and get some time behind the plate too.
UPDATE – The AFL Rosters were announced late yesterday afternoon. The Twins will send RHP Cole DeVries, LHP Scott Diamond, RHP Brett Jacobson, RHP Bruce Pugh, SS Brian Dozier, C/OF Chris Herrmann, and OF Aaron Hicks.
Any thoughts on which players the Twins should send to the AFL?? Comment here.
Joe Mauer could definitely use the extra PAs! (He said in jest)
I don’t think the AFL starts until October, so do you think Gibson could go and air it out and force the issue against real prospects instead of facing overmatched kids in Instructs?
He is injured and probally wont even test his arm until Oct.
Seth,
I agree with you but worry about more injuries!!
Not Wimmers. He needs to take an offseason and feel good that he got back on track.
Dozier is a lock.
I would like Bromberg and Hendricks -if able.
It would be interesting to see Arcia there. I dont like the rule excluding winterball teams. AZ would be fun if it was an all prospects all star league.
Not Winners. When you have emotional problems that is not the place to be at this time! Need to build confidence slowly.
Excuse me; Wimmers
Hello from Fort Myers. Am a Miracle season ticket holder as well as a Twins spring training season ticket holder. One player who gets little publicity is Dan Rohlfing. Twins need a good defensive catcher that can also hit. Dan is leading the Miracle in average. Another player from the Miracle that needs to live up to his hype is Aaron Hicks. So from high class A, I say Dan Rohlfing and Aaron Hicks.
I’d strongly consider sending Nishi
Hard to argue against any of these six, for a variety of reasons. Without looking, I wonder if there are a few other pitchers who need some innings as well. Dozier, Herrmann, and Benson all could play a role next year with the Twins.
With regard to Chuck’s point . . . it would be nice to have some semblance of order amongst the catchers in the organization. Rohlfing, Lehmann, Herrmann, Rams, and Pinto all seem worthy of consideration. Herrmann is the most interesting though.
UPDATE – The AFL Rosters were announced late yesterday afternoon. The Twins will send RHP Cole DeVries, LHP Scott Diamond, RHP Brett Jacobson, RHP Bruce Pugh, SS Brian Dozier, C/OF Chris Herrmann, and OF Aaron Hicks.
What do you think of that, Seth? Pugh makes a lot of sense, come to think of it. They must want to see if DeVries regroups and if Jacobson is worthy of MLB consideration. Not sure why Diamond is going . . . he has suffered from poor defense at Rochester and looks like a viable contender for a rotation/long relief role next year with the Twins. I didn’t even think about Hicks! Suddenly that seems very obvious.
Hello from Fort Myers. Guess I am the only one to mention Aaron Hicks. Am surprised about Bruce Pugh. He is now pitching with the Miracle after being sent down from New Britain.