Young Twins Tracker: Light makes Minnesota debut

By foxsports
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. Please note the glossary of advanced stats at the bottom of the story.

This is the 19th edition of the Young Twins Tracker.

Note: Statistics/information through Wednesday's games

IN THE MAJORS

Jose Berrios (age 22)

Last week: 1 game (1 start), 0-0, 4 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 0 HR, 4 BB, 2 K

Season (Triple-A): 16 games (16 starts), 103 1/3 IP, 10-5, 2.44 ERA, 1.006 WHIP, 9.7 K/9

Season (MLB): 8 games (8 starts), 2-3, 32 IP, 9.28 ERA, 1.938 WHIP, 9 K/9

Notable: Berrios looked shaky once again in his eighth start, allowing four runs while facing just 21 batters in a 5-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals. The Twins' top pitching prospect has logged more than five innings of work just once so far in the majors.

 

Max Kepler (age 23)

Last week: 5 games, 18 PA, 3 H, 0 R, 0 RBI, 1 SB, 1 BB, 5 K, .176 BA, .222 OBP, .176 SLG, 1 sOPS+, .222 BAbip

Season (Triple-A): 30 G, 128 PA, 110 AB, .282 BA, .367 OBP, .455 SLG, .822 OPS, 16 R, 31 H, 4 2B, 6 3B, 1 HR, 19 RBI, 1 SB, 16 BB, 14 K

Season (MLB): 82 G, 317 PA, .254 BA, .335 OBP, .482 SLG, .817 OPS, 42 R, 70 H, 14 2B, 2 3B, 15 HR, 53 RBI, 5 SB, 34 BB, 65 K, 119 OPS+, 2.6 WAR, .275 BAbip

Notable: Kepler's coronation may have been slightly premature. The German-born rookie hasn't homered since Aug. 2, but his numbers remain near the top amongst American League rookies, particularly his .817 OPS.

 

Pat Light (age 25)

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

Season (Triple-A/Twins only): 6 games (0 starts), 1-0, 2 SV, 2.57 ERA, 7 IP, 5 H, 0 HR, 2 BB, 6 K, 1.000 WHIP

Season (MLB/Twins only): 2 games (0 starts), 0-0, 0 SV, 0.00 ERA, 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 HR, 0 BB, 2 K, 0.500 WHIP

Notable: Light, acquired from the Red Sox for Fernando Abad, made his Twins debut on Tuesday, striking out Detroit's Justin Upton and pitching 2/3 of the seventh inning.

 

Jorge Polanco (age 23)

Last week: 6 games, 25 PA, 5 H, 1 R, 3 RBI, 0 SB, 1 BB, 4 K, .217 BA, .280 OBP, .348 SLG, 72 sOPS+, .263 BAbip

Season (Triple-A): 75 G, 293 AB, .276 BA, .335 OBP, .457 SLG, .793 OPS, 32 R, 81 H, 14 2B, 6 3B, 9 HR, 39 RBI, 27 BB, 51 K

Season (MLB): 36 games, 131 PA, .300 BA, .341 OBP, .433 SLG, .774 OPS, 7 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 12 R, 13 RBI, 3 SB, 6 BB, 17 K, 110 OPS+, .340 BAbip, 1.0 WAR.

Notable: After moving around the infield earlier in the season and starting a few games and third in early August, Polanco has settled in as the Twins' starting shortstop over the last week and has started 10 of his last 12 games at the position.

 

Eddie Rosario (age 24)

Last week: 6 games, 22 PA, 4 H, 1 2B, 0 HR, 1 R, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 1 BB, 8 K, .190 BA, .227 OBP, .238 SLG, -3 sOPS+, .294 BAbip

Season (Triple-A): 38 games, 150 AB, .307 BA, .329 OBP, .513 SLG, .842 OPS, 46 H, 13 2B, 0 3B, 6 HR, 24 R, 23 RBI, 5 SB, 6 BB, 24 K 

Season (MLB): 73 games, 285 PA, .263 BA, .290 OBP, .422 SLG, .712 OPS, 15 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR, 40 R, 28 RBI, 5 SB, 9 BB, 72 K, 91 OPS+, 0.7 WAR, .328 BAbip

Notable: Rosario has had one multi-hit game over the last week. He smacked a double and a single in a 5-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Friday.

 

Miguel Sano (age 23)

Last week: 6 games, 20 PA, 1 H, 0 2B, 0 HR, 0 R, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 1 BB, 7 K, .053 BA, .100 OBP, .053 SLG, -49 sOPS+, .400 BAbip

Season (Triple-A): 6 games, 19 AB, .158 BA, .304 OBP, .474 SLG, .778 OPS, 3 H, 0 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 4 BB, 7 K

Season (MLB): 90 G, 383 PA, .239 BA, .329 OBP, .466 SLG, .795 OPS, 44 R, 80 H, 16 2B, 0 3B, 20 HR, 50 RBI, 1 SB, 45 BB, 133 K, 113 OPS+, 0.3 WAR, .326 BAbip

Notable: Sano returned to the lineup after missing time with a sore elbow, and the results weren't pretty. He had just one hit in 19 at-bats, and hasn't homered since Aug. 12.

 

DOWN ON THE FARM

Nick Burdi (age 23/Double-A)

Last week: N/A

Season: 3 games (no starts), 1-0, 9.00 ERA, 3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 HR, 1 BB, 1 SO, 1.32 WHIP

Notable:  Burdi hasn't pitched since April 28 and has been on the disabled list since May 5 for a bone bruise on his right arm, but hopes to return to action before the end of the season.

 

Alan Busenitz (age 25/Double-A)

Last week: 2 games, 0-0, 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K

Season (Double-A/Twins only): 5 games (0 starts), 0-0, 3.52 ERA, 7 2/3 IP, 9 H, 0 HR, 1 BB, 5 K, 1.304 WHIP

Season (Triple-A/Twins only): 2 games (0 starts), 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 IP, 3 H, 0 HR, 2 BB, 2 K, 1.667 WHIP

Notable: Busenitz was promoted to Triple-A last week, earning his first save for the Red Wings in a win over the Gwinnett Braves.

 

Byron Buxton (age 22/Triple-A)

Last week: 5 games, 19 AB, 6 H, 5 R, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 0 BB, 9 K, .316 BA

Season (Triple-A): 42 games, 162 AB, .315 BA, .376 OBP, .568 SLG, .944 OPS, 11 2B, 3 3B, 8 HR, 17 RBI, 7 SB, 13 BB, 45 K

Season (MLB): 63 G, 218 PA, .193 BA, .247 OBP, .315 SLG, .561 OPS, 20 R, 38 H, 13 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 9 SB, 13 BB, 80 K, 52 OPS+, 0.4 WAR, .311 BAbip

Notable: Buxton is striking out at a higher rate during his most recent stint in Triple-A, but he flashed a bit of power last week, hitting a two-run homer against Norfolk

 

Stephen Gonsalves (age 22/Double-A)

Last week: 1 game (1 start), 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K

Season (High Single-A): 11 games (11 starts), 65 2/3 IP 5-4, 2.33 ERA, 43 H, 19 R, 2 HR, 20 BB, 66 K, 0.959 WHIP

Season (Double-A): 11 games (11 starts), 7-1, 1.78 ERA, 65 2/3 IP, 36 H, 1 HR, 31 BB, 78 K, 1.020 WHIP

Notable:  Gonsalves' hot streak continued with another win last week. His ERA dropped again on Monday, as Gonsalves racked up his third straight win, and fourth such decision in his last five appearances. He hasn't lost since July 1.

 

Nick Gordon (age 20/High Single-A)

Last week: 6 games, 23 AB, 4 H, 0 R, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 1 BB, 8 K, .174 BA

Season: 107 games, 426 AB, .293 BA, .338 OBP, .390 SLG, .728 OPS, 51 R, 22 2B, 5 3B, 3 HR, 50 RBI, 16 SB, 21 BB, 80 K

Notable: Gordon had one multi-hit game last week, while smacking a double against the Jupiter Hammerheads.

 

Tyler Jay (age 22/Double-A)

Last week: n/a

Season (High Single-A): 13 games (13 starts), 69 2/3 IP, 64 H, 24 R, 5 HR, 21 BB, 68 K, 2.84 ERA, 1.22 WHIP

Season (Double-A): 5 games (2 starts), 14 IP, 13 H, 10 R, 2 HR, 5 BB, 9 K, 5.79 ERA, 1.286 WHIP

Notable: Jay was placed on the DL with a neck strain on Aug. 1. There was some concern injury could extend to his shoulder, but tests showed it was a nerve irritation in his neck. The Twins are hopeful he'll return to the mound this season.

 

Alex Kirilloff (age 18/Rookie)

Last week: 7 games, 24 AB, 4 H, 3 R, 0 2B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 0 SB, 2 BB, 5 K, .167 BA

Season: 51 games, 204 AB, .314 BA, .341 OBP, .446 SLG, .787 OPS, 32 R, 9 2B, 0 3B, 6 HR, 29 RBI, 0 SB, 8 BB, 31 K

Notable: The Twins' first-round pick ranks second in the Appalachian League with 64 hits, while his .314 average ranks sixth.

 

Adalberto Mejia (age 23/Triple-A)

Last week: 1 game (0 starts), 2 1/3 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

Season (Triple-A/Twins only): 3 games (3 starts), 1-2, 4.66 ERA, 19 1/3 IP, 21 H, 2 HR, 3 BB, 20 K, 1.241 WHIP

Season (MLB/Twins only): 1 game (0 starts), 0-0, 7.71 ERA, 2 1/3 IP, 5 H, 0 HR, 1 BB, 0 K, 2.571 WHIP

Notable: Mejia, obtained from the Giants for Eduardo Nunez, made his Twins debut on Saturday, and it didn't go particularly well. Mejia entered the game with Minnesota training 8-0, allowing two runs on eight hits through just 2 1/3 innings.

 

Kohl Stewart (age 21/Double-A)

Last week: 2 game (2 starts), 2-0, 14 IP, 12 H, 4 R, 7 BB, 7 K

Season (Single-A): 9 games (9 starts), 3-2, 2.61 ERA, 51 2/3 IP, 39 H, 19 R, 2 HR, 19 BB, 44 K, 1.12 WHIP

Season (Double-A): 15 games (15 starts), 8-6, 3.14 ERA, 86 IP, 88 H, 4 HR, 41 BB, 46 K, 1.500 WHIP

Notable: Stewart pitched eight innings for the second time this season on Friday, registering five strikeouts in a win over the Montgomery Biscuits. It was his highest strikeout total since July 8.

 

Adam Walker (age 24/Triple-A)

Last week: 7 games, 26 AB, 8 H, 3 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 1 SB, 2 BB, 7 K, .308 BA

Season (Triple-A): 120 games, 433 AB, .245 BA, .311 OBP, .480 SLG, 19 2B, 4 3B, 26 HR, 55 R, 69 RBI, 6 SB, 42 BB, 186 K

Notable: Walker hit his fourth triple of the season last week, driving in two runs on the play, and stole just his sixth base of the season.

 

A glossary of some of the advanced statistics used:

OPS: On base percentage + slugging percentage

OPS+: OPS compared to league average of 100, adjusted to the player's ballpark

sOPS+: OPS for the split (in our case the last 7 days) compared to the league's split OPS (100 being average).

BAbip: Batting average on balls in play.

WHIP: Walks plus hits divided by innings pitched.

ERA+: ERA compared to league average of 100, adjusted to the player's ballpark

FIP: Fielding Independent Pitching. Measures a pitcher's effectiveness at presenting home runs, walks and hit by pitches while causing strikeouts. The MLB average FIP is the same as the MLB average ERA.

WAR: Wins Above Replacement value. Represents the number of wins the player added to the team above what a replacement player would add (we are using WAR from baseball-reference.com).

Statistics courtesy of baseball-reference.com and milb.com