Stock Up, Stock Down: Minnesota's Top 10 Prospects for Week of June 24

It has been a while since we checked in on the farm and let me tell you that a lot of things have changed. Not only did the corn shoot up overnight, but so did some of the Minnesota Twins’ top prospects.

So let’s crank up the old John Deere, go cruise around the back 40 and daydream about the future of the Minnesota Twins franchise.

The top 10 prospects for the Twins are based on MLB.com’s list of the top 20 prospects per team. Only players who have appeared in games in 2013 are included in the list.

All stats seen are from the players’ respective profile pages on MILB.com.

Season stats are as current as the games completed on Monday July 1. Season stats are the combination of all levels of minor league ball.

No. 1 Prospect: 3B Miguel Sano, Double-A New Britain

2013 stats:

.306/.399/.646, 22 HR, 17 2B, 64 RBI, 63 R

Overview:

Last time we checked in on Mr. Miguel Sano he was in Fort Myers tearing up the world. He has since moved on up in the world to Double-A New Britain, appearing in 19 ballgames.

After a slow start, for Sano standards, the 20-year-old is starting to really come around at the higher level. This was highlighted in a game where Sano hit two home runs with five RBI.

Last week’s stats:

8-for-25, 4 HR, 2 2B, 8 RBI, 6 R

Stock:

Up

No. 2 Prospect: Of Byron Buxton, Single-A Fort Myers

2013 stats:

.340/.426/.546, 8 HR, 16 2B, 10 3B, 58 RBI, 72 R

Overview:

Byron Buxton has also moved on up one notch on the minor league ladder, now a member of the high Class-A Fort Myers Miracle. Buxton has only played five games so far for the Florida-based team, so it’s too early to pass judgment on his new stop. 

All-in-all, the fact that Buxton has moved up is a good sign.

Last week’s stats:

7-for-24, 0 HR, 1 2B, 4 RBI, 4 R

Stock:

Even

No. 3 Prospect: P Alex Meyer, Double-A New Britain

2013 stats:

11 GS, 3-3, 3.69 ERA, 27 BB, 73 K, 61.0 IP

Overview:

Alex Meyer hasn’t moved since the last farm report. Not just on the minor ladder, but at all. Meyer has been on the DL with shoulder irritation since his start on May 27.

Meyer made his first start after his disabled list stint on Monday, but that wasn’t last week. Just as a preview, Meyer went 6.1 innings and only gave up one run in a Rock Cats victory.

Last week’s stats:

N/A

Stock:

Even

No. 4 Prospect: P Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins

2013 minor league stats:

15 GS, 7-5, 3.01 ERA, 28 BB, 79 K, 92.2 IP

Overview:               

Consistency.

Allegedly, that’s what the Twins’ management was looking for before finally bringing up Kyle Gibson for his major league debut on Saturday.

With every downed major league starter, the cry for Gibson’s arrival grew louder, and he didn’t disappoint in his first start.

Gibson went six innings while giving up eight hits resulting in two runs. That was all good enough for a victory in his first start wearing a major league uniform.

Last week’s stats:

1 GS, 1 W, 2 ER, 8 H, 0 BB, 5 K, 6 IP

Stock:

Up

No. 5 Prospect: 2B Eddie Rosario, Double-A New Britain

2013 stats:

.306/.361/.475, 6 HR, 16 2B, 40 RBI, 52 R

Overview:

It’s probably safe to say that Eddie Rosario and Miguel Sano will be connected for a long time. When Sano moved up, Rosario came with him.

After hitting .329 at Single-A Fort Myers, Rosario is now only hitting .234 at Double-A New Britain, but there’s always a learning curve to endure.

Rosario hasn’t quite heat up like Sano, but only time will tell.

Last week’s stats:

5-for-25, 0 HR, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 5 R

Stock:

Down (slightly)

No. 6 Prospect: P Trevor May, Double-A New Britain

2013 stats:

16 GS, 6-5, 3.84 ERA, 40 BB, 87 K, 89.0 IP

Overview:

Looking at Trevor May's stats last week, the thing that pops out is six strikeouts. It looks really good until you realize that’s an average outing for the right-handed pitcher.

The ERA is just a tad too high for comfort at the Double-A level, and it was that way when we checked in on May about a month ago.

Last week’s stats:

1 GS, 1 L, 4 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 6 K, 5 IP

Stock:

Down

No. 7 Prospect: P Jose Berrios, Single-A Cedar Rapids

2013 stats:

10 GS, 5-3, 3.09 ERA, 15 BB, 65 K, 55.1 IP

Overview:

I encourage you to take a gander down at the stat line for Jose Berrios’ one start last week, because it is very impressive.

No one can sneeze at nine strikeouts.

Last week’s stats:

1 GS, 1 W, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 9 K, 7.0 IP

Stock:

Up

No. 8 Prospect: Of Max Kepler, Single-A Cedar Rapids

2013 stats:

.295/.392/.659, 3 HR, 5 2B, 11 RBI, 7 R

Overview:

The German has landed. After being sidelined by injury for the beginning of the season, Max Kepler has found a home in Cedar Rapids and has played in 11 games so far.

Kepler has put up some nice numbers in an 11-game span, but we will give him a couple more games before moving his stock.

Last week’s stats:

8-for-28, 1 HR, 2 2B, 8 RBI, 5 R

Stock:

Even

No. 10 Prospect: SS Daniel Santana, Double-a New Britain

2013 stats:

.284/.302/.364, 1 HR, 12 2B, 28 RBI, 32 R

Overview:

On the Jose Berrios slide I urged you to look at his stats from last week. For Danny Santana, I urge you to avert your eyes. If you have small children reading this, quickly blindfold them from the horror.

Last week, Santana had a total of three hits and drew one walk. That’s not good. That’s not good at all.

Quickly go to the next slide. It can only get better.

Last week’s stats:

3-for-23, 0 HR, 0 2B, 2 RBI, 3 R

Stock:

Down

No. 12 Prospect: 3B Travis Harrison, Single-a Cedar Rapids

2013 stats:

.277/.374/.509, 13 HR, 24 2B, 48 RBI, 43 R

Overview:

If you haven’t taken note of Travis Harrison, maybe you should. He has played 77 games for Cedar Rapids so far this season and has been pretty impressive.

Slugging third basemen are apparently growing like weeds down on the farm for the Minnesota Twins.

Last week’s stats:

6-for-21, 1 HR, 2 2B, 7 RBI, 5 R

Stock:

Up