Two Twins named to Baseball America's minors all-star team
The Minnesota Twins have already gotten a boost from youngsters like Byron Buxton, Trevor May, Eddie Rosario and Miguel Sano. More help could be on the way in 2016, at least according to Baseball America, which put two Twins prospects on its 2015 minor-league all-star team.
Max Kepler was listed as one of the three outfielders on the team and Jose Berrios one of the five starters.
Kepler, who played at Single-A Fort Myers and Double-A Chatanooga, hit .318 with a .520 slugging percentage between the two stops.
Baseball America's analysis:
"The sweet-swinging German led the Southern League with a .416 on-base percentage and .531 slugging percentage in a breakout season at Double-A Chattanooga. Speed, plate discipline and feel for the barrel round out the package for the left-handed-hitting prospect who hit .322 and walked (67) more than he struck out (63) in the SL. He also started at least 15 games at each outfield position as well as first base."
Berrios pitched for Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Rochester, compiling a 2.87 ERA and 1.05 WHIP while striking out more than a batter per inning. He was thought to be a candidate to join the Twins in September, but Minnesota wants to limit his innings in 2015 to 170 and he had already pitched 166.
Baseball America's analysis:
"The 2012 sandwich pick from Puerto Rico experienced a breakthrough in 2015 by finding a consistent arm speed for his changeup that matches his fastball delivery. The results speak for efficacy of his mechanical improvement, for Berrios led all minor-league pitchers with 175 strikeouts while spending July and August in Triple-A and positioning himself for a role in the big league rotation in 2016."
Berrios was also a second-team selection on last year's BA all-star team.
