Twins prospect Jose Berrios pitching like an ace

By Dave Heller
Published

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 2nd edition of the 2017 Young Twins Tracker.

Jose Berrios (age 22/Triple-A)

Last week: 1 game (1 start), 1-0, 6.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 4 K

Season: 6 games (6 starts), 3-0, 1.13 ERA, 39.2 IP, 24 H, 0 HR, 8 BB, 39 K, .169 OBA, 0.81 WHIP

Notable: For the second time in 2017, Berrios did not allow a walk, although he had a season-low four strikeouts in a win over Pawtucket on May 7. Berrios leads the International League in ERA and WHIP.

 



Nick Burdi (age 24/Double-A)

Last week: 3 games (0 starts), 2-0, 3.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K

Season: 10 games (no starts), 2-0, 0.77 ERA, 11.2 IP, 6 H, 1 HR, 4 BB, 15 K, .158 OBA, 0.86 WHIP

Notable:  A pretty clean week for Burdi, who allowed just one hit in his three appearances. The one walk he issues was intentional. Burdi struck out the side May 5 vs. Pensacola.

 

Lewin Diaz (age 20/Low-A)

Last week: 7 games, 29 AB, 9 H, 5 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, 0 SB, 1 BB, 4 K, .310 BA.

Season: 24 games, 90 AB, .267 BA, .302 OBP, .456 SLG, .758 OPS, 8 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 8 R, 14 RBI, 0 SB, 4 BB, 14 K.

Notable: Diaz slugged .552 last week and in nine games in May is batting .351/.368/.730 with six doubles, one triple and two home runs.

 

Nick Gordon (age 21/Double-A)

Last week: 6 games, 26 AB, 9 H, 4 2B, 1 3B, 5 R, 4 RBI, 0 SB, 2 BB, 7 K, .346 BA.

Season: 30 games, 121 AB, .331 BA, .393 OBP, .488 SLG, .880 OPS, 7 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 17 R, 17 RBI, 1 SB, 13 BB, 28 K.

Notable: Gordon has reached base in 20 straight games and has five multiple-hit games in his last nine contests, including a three-hit game May 5 vs. Pensacola.



Adalberto Mejia (age 23/Triple-A)

Last week: 1 game (1 start), 0-1, 4 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 3 BB, 5 K

Season: 2 game (2 starts), 0-1, 4.91 ERA, 11 IP, 10 H, 0 HR, 3 BB, 11 K, .233 OBA, 1.18 WHIP

Notable: Mejia lasted just four innings against Pawtucket on May 5, throwing 83 pitches -- or just two fewer than his seven-inning scoreless start back on April 28.

 

ByungHo Park (age 30/Triple-A)

Season: 5 games, 21 AB, .286 BA, .348 OBP, .429 SLG, .779 OPS, 3 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 4 R, 3 RBI, 0 SB, 2 BB, 5 K.

Notable: First, we'll acknowledge that Park doesn't really fit the "young" part of the tracker, but there's a lot of interest in him so, for now, we'll include him with a separate capsule. Park return after a month-long absence due to injury and went 0-for-5.

 

 

Kohl Stewart (age 22/Double-A)

Last week: 1 game (1 start), 0-0, 4.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 K

Season: 6 games (6 starts), 0-4, 5.63 ERA, 24 IP, 26 H, 1 HR, 22 BB, 14 K, .280 OBA, 2.00 WHIP

Notable: On the plus side, the two walks allowed by Stewart on May 7 were his season low. On the down side, Stewart was placed on the disabled list the next day due to left knee tendinitis.

 

Others: RHP Kyle Gibson allowed three runs in six innings on six hits with three walks and eight strikeouts in his debut for Rochester after being sent down by the Twins. … OF Zach Granite (14th round, 2013) was moved up to Rochester after rehabbing at Fort Myers. He went 3 for 12 in his first three games but then was 0 for 5 on May 10. … Chattanooga RHP Randy LeBlanc (10th round, 2014) was bombed in his first Double-A start, but last week allowed just three runs (two earned) in 12 innings with a 1.25 WHIP. … OF LaMonte Wade (9th round, 2015) was 10 for 21 (.476) last week with 10 walks (.625 OBP) for Chattanooga. On the season, Wade is hitting .326/.458/.478. … Fort Myers 1B Zaner Wiel (12th round, 2015) hit .370/.433/.593 last week with three doubles and a homer while teammate SS Sean Miller (10th round, 2015) batted .364.

Statistics courtesy milb.com

Dave Heller is the author of the book Ken Williams: A Slugger in Ruth's Shadow as well as Facing Ted Williams - Players From the Golden Age of Baseball Recall the Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived and As Good As It Got: The 1944 St. Louis Browns