Top 50 Twins Prospects: #16 Danny Rams

16. Danny Rams

Catcher/Designated Hitter/First Baseman

Bats: Right

Age: 20

ETA: 2013

Potential: Starting DH/Backup catcher

2010 outlook: C/1B/DH at class A Fort Myers

Danny Rams was the Twins 2nd round draft pick in 2007. He flashed some power in 2008, but the problem was he had 71 strikeouts in 149 at-bats. This year his bat showed some great potential. He started at Elizabethton. He had 62 at-bats where he hit 5 homers, 3 triples, 8 doubles, and his triple slash line was .355/.444/.790. He also struck out 22 times. After demolishing the pitching at the rookie level, he was promoted to class low A Beloit. In 175 at-bats, he had 7 homers, 14 doubles, hit .229/.308/.429, and struck out 77 times.

I love “Bam-Bam-Rams” bat, but he’s got to cut down on the strikeouts. When he makes contact with the ball, his power is amazing. Rams’ bat has some of the highest potential of any Twins prospect, but he definitely needs to cut down on the strikeouts if he wants to make it to the big leagues.

Top 20 Twins Prospects

Seth over at SethSpeaks.net has posted his updated top 50 Twins prospects. It was a very enjoyable read (as always). Seth is a Twins blogger who I've been reading daily since his first week of blogging in June 2003. His blog is top notch, especially his knowledge on the Twins minor league system. Anyways it was a good read for me since I have been working on my top 20 Twins prospects list this week as well. No commentary on the prospects this time, but after the season ends I'll update the list with commentary. Anyways, here it goes:

1. Aaron Hicks, CF, Beloit

2. David Bromberg, SP, Fort Myers

3. Angel Morales, OF, Beloit

4. Danny Valencia, 3B, Rochester

5. Ben Revere, OF, Fort Myers

6. Danny Rams, C/1B, Beloit

7. Wilson Ramos, C, New Britain

8. Rene Tosoni, OF, New Britain

9. Joe Benson, CF, Fort Myers

10. Carlos Gutierrez, SP, New Britain

11. Adrian Salcedo, SP, GCL Twins

12. Tyler Robertson, SP, Fort Myers

13. Chris Parmalee, OF/1B, Fort Myers

14. Deolis Guerra, SP, New Britain

15. BJ Hermsen P, GCL Twins

16. Jeff Manship SP, Minnesota Twins

17. Anthony Slama, RP, Rochester

18. Luke Hughes, UT, New Britain

19. Rob Delaney, RP, Rochester

20. Mike McCardell, SP, New Britain

Meet Danny Rams and Tyler Ladendorf

Today we will talk about two of the hottest hitters in the Twins system. They are Tyler Ladendorf and Danny Rams. I haven't put up a Twins top prospect list for a while, but I'd like to put one up sometime soon, although I will probably wait until the end of the minor league season. That doesn't mean I've got somewhat of an idea of who the top ten are. I don't know where I'd put 2009 first round pick Kyle Gibson (when he signs), but he'd have to go in the top 5.

Anyways Ladendorf and Rams will likely be cracking the top 10 list. Before the season started they weren't very high, maybe at best #30. But they have been on fire.

Tyler Ladendorf was the Twins second round pick in last years draft. He plays shortstop, perhaps the weakest area in the Twins organization. Last season he didn't hit much after getting drafted. But this year he has a .439 on-base percentage, a .557 slugging percentage, and a .351 batting average. In 97 at-bats he's hit 8 doubles, 4 homers, 3 steals and 20 RBI. He's walked 14 times compared to 15 strikeouts.

Granted, those aren't a lot of at-bats to judge a guy off of, but if he plays like this for the rest of the season, he will certainly be considered one of the Twins best prospects. Ladendorf is starting to look like he could be the Twins starting shortstop in two or three years.

Danny Rams was the Twins second round pick in 2007. He plays catcher and first base. He is similar to Ladendorf, in that he didn't do much prior to this season to warrant getting excited about. But this season in 106 at-bats, he has 10 homers, 29 RBI, 13 doubles, to go along with a batting average of .327, on-base percentage of .408, while slugging .736!

Again, these are not a lot of at-bats, but if he continues this level of play then you have to consider Rams up there with Chris Parmalee as the Twins top power prospect. He plays the same position as Mauer and Morneau, but I guess he could be the DH or learn another position. With his power bat, they'll find a place for him. Rams looks like he could become a true slugger for the Twins.