Top 50 Twins Prospects: #3 Kyle Gibson

3. Kyle Gibson

Starting Pitcher

Throws: Right

Age: 22

ETA: 2011

Potential: #1/2 starter

2010 outlook: Will start at class A Fort Myers, but will fly through the system

Kyle Gibson was the Twins first round pick in the 2009 draft. He was expected to be one of the first 5 players drafted, but a minor injury scared many teams away. So the Twins got the steal of the draft and quickly snatched up Gibson. He pitched at the University of Missouri for three years. His last year there, he threw 107 innings and struck out 131, while walking only 19. He had a WHIP of 1.07. Those are outstanding numbers. He didn’t pitch in the minors this season because he was finishing recovering from an injury.

The Baseball Cube rates his control as an 84, his K-rating as a 90, his efficiency as an 89, and his vsPower as a 93. So you can see that he is amazing all-around. He’s listed at 6 feet 6 inches, 208 lbs., so he’s got a great pitcher’s body.

When the Twins signed Gibson, most thought that he instantly became the top Twins pitching prospect. The Twins have said that Gibson will start pitching at class A Fort Myers next season. He should move quickly through the upper three levels of the minors, and while I wouldn’t expect to see him in 2010, he should be there shortly thereafter.

Twins sign Miguel Angel Sano

On July 31, when the Twins traded their only legitimate shortstop prospect in Tyler Ladendorf, I wrote the following:

Now here is where this trade could go from being good to great. The Twins were reluctant to part with Ladendorf. In a now related story, the Twins have been one of the leading candidates to sign top Dominican prospect Miguel Angel Sano who also plays shortstop. If the Twins signed Sano to make up for the loss of Ladendorf then I would be extremely happy. Sano has an extremely high ceiling, much higher than Ladendorf's.

Yesterday the Twins announced that they signed shortstop Miguel Angel Sano. Sano is from the Dominican Republic. He is only 16 years old, and people have said they've never seen a kid with his power at that age in the Dominican. The sky is the limit for this kid. He was the top international prospect this year and the Twins got him.

The Twins signed him for $3.15 million dollars. That sets the monetary record for an amateur Latin position player signing. Sano will debut in the GCL Twins rookie team. Joe Mauer's brother will be his manager. Sano says his goal is to be in the majors in two years. That is highly unlikely, but it's not like the Twins have quality shortstops blocking the way.

This is such a huge signing for the Twins on so many levels.

First of all I think he instantly becomes the top Twins prospect. That might be overreacting, but he will definitely be in my top 5 when I start doing my top 50 Twins prospect list during the offseason (which I am very excited to write up).

Second, he fills a huge organizational need, that of middle infield. He might not stick at shortstop, but we shall see.

Sano also is the first big Latin American talent the Twins have signed in recent memory. They haven't been good at scouting the Dominican Republic, so hopefully this marks the beginning of a new trend.

Sano caps off a huge year for the Twins in acquiring top level talent. This year the Twins drafted the supposed 2nd best pitcher in the amateur draft in Kyle Gibson. The Twins also signed the most highly touted European prospect ever, outfielder Max Kepler. And they also shelled out $750K for Dominican shortstop Jorge Polanco.

I haven't agreed with all of Bill Smith's moves, but acquiring those four has increased the stock of the lower minor-leagues very nicely.

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.