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 20th edition of the Young Twins Tracker.
Note: Statistics/information through Wednesday's games
IN THE MAJORS
Max Kepler (age 23)
Last week: 7 games, 32 PA, 4 H, 3 R, 6 RBI, 0 SB, 3 BB, 7 K, .143 BA, .219 OBP, .321 SLG, 36 sOPS+, .143 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): 89 G, 349 PA, .243 BA, .325 OBP, .467 SLG, .792 OPS, 45 R, 74 H, 16 2B, 2 3B, 16 HR, 59 RBI, 5 SB, 37 BB, 72 K, 112 OPS+, -0.1 WAR, .262 BAbip
Notable: Kepler's home run in Wednesday night's loss to the Cleveland Indians, was the 1,034th MLB home run hit in August, the most home runs hit in August in league history.
Pat Light (age 25)
Last week: 3 games (0 starts), 0-1, 0 SV, 3 1/3 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 BB, 4 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): 5 games (0 starts), 0-1, 0 SV, 8.44 ERA, 5 1/3 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 1 HR, 5 BB, 6 K, 1.875 WHIP
Notable: Light struggled with control against the Toronto Blue Jays last Friday, allowing three walks and two runs in 1/3 innings. He wasn't much better on Sunday, yielding three runs n 1 1/3 innings. Light improved on Tuesday, however, and did not allow a run in 1 2/3 innings vs. the Cleveland Indians.
Jorge Polanco (age 23)
Last week: 5 games, 21 PA, 7 H, 2 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 3 R, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 0 BB, 6 K, .333 BA, .333 OBP, .524 SLG, 121 sOPS+, .467 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): 41 games, 152 PA, .305 BA, .340 OBP, .447 SLG, .787 OPS, 9 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR, 15 R, 13 RBI, 3 SB, 6 BB, 23 K, 112 OPS+, .356 BAbip, 1.2 WAR.
Notable: Polanco has emerged as one of the Twins' most consistent bats over the last few weeks. Polanco now has hits in 13 of his last 15 games, and had two multi-hit games last week, including a three-hit outing on Wednesday.
Eddie Rosario (age 24)
Last week: 7 games, 25 PA, 8 H, 1 2B, 0 HR, 5 R, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 0 BB, 8 K, .333 BA, .320 OBP, .375 SLG, 96 sOPS+, .471 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): 80 games, 310 PA, .269 BA, .292 OBP, .418 SLG, .711 OPS, 16 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR, 45 R, 30 RBI, 5 SB, 9 BB, 80 K, 91 OPS+, 1.0 WAR, .340 BAbip
Notable: Rosario is currently on a six-game hitting streak that includes two multi-hit games. He has just one extra-base hit over that span.
Miguel Sano (age 23)
Last week: 7 games, 31 PA, 7 H, 2 2B, 0 HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, 0 SB, 1 BB, 12 K, .233 BA, .258 OBP, .300 SLG, 15 sOPS+, .389 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): 97 G, 414 PA, .238 BA, .324 OBP, .452 SLG, .776 OPS, 47 R, 87 H, 18 2B, 0 3B, 20 HR, 54 RBI, 1 SB, 46 BB, 145 K, 108 OPS+, 0.1 WAR, .332 BAbip
Notable: Sano returned to his regular spot at third base on Monday, but was the Twins' designated hitter again on Wednesday, suggesting that he's making progress in his return from an elbow injury.
DOWN ON THE FARM
Jose Berrios (age 22/Triple-A)
Last week (Triple-A): 1 game (1 start), 0-0, 8 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 HR, 1 BB, 14 K
Last week (MLB): 1 game (1 start), 0-1, 5 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 1 HR, 5 BB, 3 K
Season (Triple-A): 17 games (17 starts), 111 1/3 IP, 10-5, 2.51 ERA, 0.988 WHIP, 10.1 K/9
Season (MLB): 9 games (9 starts), 2-4, 37 IP, 9.24 ERA, 1.973 WHIP, 8.5 K/9
Notable: Berrios' second stint with the Twins was only marginally more successful than his first. He allowed six runs on six hits through five innings last Thursday, picking up just two strikeouts and throwing 97 pitches. He got back on track down in Rochester, allowing five hits through eight innings and racking up a season-high 14 strikeouts.
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. The Twins haven't named Burdi to the Arizona Fall League yet, but such a move could be imminent if he can't get back on the mound soon.
Byron Buxton (age 22/Triple-A)
Last week: 7 games, 28 AB, 7 H, 5 R, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB, 1 BB, 13 K, .250 BA
Season (Triple-A): 49 games, 190 AB, .305 BA, .359 OBP, .568 SLG, .927 OPS, 11 2B, 3 3B, 11 HR, 24 RBI, 7 SB, 14 BB, 58 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 headed back to the majors after a big week in Rochester. He started the with three straight multi-hit games, homering once in each, while racking up a combined six RBI. He had just one hit in four games the rest of the week, enough to earn another call from the Twins.
Alan Busenitz (age 25/Double-A)
Last week: 2 games, 1-0, 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 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): 4 games (0 starts), 1-0, 1 save, 3.60 ERA, 5 IP, 6 H, 0 HR, 3 BB, 3 K, 1.800 WHIP
Notable: Busenitz closed for the Red Wings on Wednesday, drawing three pop ups on eight pitches to help Rochester to a win over Syracuse.
Stephen Gonsalves (age 22/Double-A)
Last week: 1 game (1 start), 5 2/3 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 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): 12 games (12 starts), 8-1, 1.64 ERA, 71 1/3 IP, 41 H, 1 HR, 33 BB, 84 K, 1.037 WHIP
Notable: Gonsalves has been on fire since being promoted to Double-A in June, and picked up his fourth straight win on Saturday. He hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in nearly two months, and hasn't allowed more than five hits in a single game over that span.
Nick Gordon (age 20/High Single-A)
Last week: 6 games, 24 AB, 6 H, 3 R, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 1 BB, 4 K, .25- BA
Season: 113 games, 450 AB, .291 BA, .335 OBP, .387 SLG, .722 OPS, 54 R, 22 2B, 6 3B, 3 HR, 50 RBI, 16 SB, 22 BB, 84 K
Notable: The Twins announced Wednesday that Gordon is one of six players they've assigned to the Arizona Fall League.
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 after being moved to the bullpen in Chattanooga due to concerns about his workload. The Twins are hopeful he'll return to the mound this season.
Alex Kirilloff (age 18/Rookie)
Last week: 4 games, 12 AB, 2 H, 1 R, 0 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB, 3 BB, 1 K, .167 BA
Season: 55 games, 216 AB, .306 BA, .341 OBP, .454 SLG, .794 OPS, 33 R, 9 2B, 1 3B, 7 HR, 33 RBI, 0 SB, 11 BB, 32 K
Notable: Kirilloff cracked MLB.com's list of the top 100 prospects in baseaball -- at No. 100 -- Wednesday, joining fellow Twins minor-leaguers Gordon (51) and Jay (38).
Adalberto Mejia (age 23/Triple-A)
Last week: 1 game (1 start), 7 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Season (Triple-A/Twins only): 4 games (4 starts), 2-2, 3.76 ERA, 26 1/3 IP, 28 H, 3 HR, 3 BB, 25 K, 1.177 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 Aug. 20, and it didn't last long. He made his first start on Friday since moving back down to Triple-A, allowing seven hits and one run through seven innings.
Kohl Stewart (age 21/Double-A)
Last week: N/A
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 was placed on the disabled list with right bicep tendinitis on Sunday. He last pitched on Aug. 24.
Adam Walker (age 24/Triple-A)
Last week: 7 games, 27 AB, 9 H, 6 R, 3 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 1 SB, 2 BB, 9 K, .333 BA
Season (Triple-A): 127 games, 460 AB, .250 BA, .314 OBP, .491 SLG, 22 2B, 4 3B, 27 HR, 61 R, 75 RBI, 7 SB, 44 BB, 195 K
Notable: Walker hit two more home runs last week, and had three straight multi-hit games. He's now tied with Jesus Aguilar for the International League lead in homers with 27.
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
