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
