Alex Wimmers -- My Adopted Prospect

Alex Wimmers was the Twins' first round draft pick (21st overall) in the 2010 amateur draft.
The 6' 2'' righty was born on November 1, 1988, so he's 24 years old for the 2012 season.
He completed 3 years at THE Ohio State University, where he was back-to-back Big 10 Pitcher of the Year.
Assigned to the Ft. Myers Miracle last spring, Wimmers walked the first 6 batters he faced. The organization made the wise decision to pull him from the rotation. When he came back, first to the bullpen and then, in August, to the rotation, he threw a 7 inning no-hitter, walking only 2 along the way.

He was assigned to AA New Britain this season, and is on most top 10 or to 15 Twins prospect lists. He has only started one game for the Rock Cats, however, because of what is believed to be a minor sore back and flexor strain.

In 40 and 2/3 innings in Ft. Myers last season, Wimmers posted a 4.2 ERA, striking out 39 and walking 22, with a WHIP of 1.23.

In 4 and 1/3 innings in New Britain thus far, Wimmers has a 4.15 ERA, with 3 strikeouts and 2 walks, and a WHIP of 1.846.

Go here for his full minor league stat sheet.

Wimmers is on the 7 day disabled list due to a right elbow strain. Hopefully this is just a minor, short-term injury.
Press release here: http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp...=.jsp&sid=t538

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Twins Fan From Afar

Wimmers is on the 7 day disabled list due to a right elbow strain. Hopefully this is just a minor, short-term injury.
Press release here: http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp...=.jsp&sid=t538

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late last night word from New Britain was that he has a "strained flexor tendon" (same thing that Baker had.) Does not sound too encouraging, but I hope it's nothing serious

Yea, I was just writing about this on my blog. They made it sound "minor" on the radio -- and they also referred to the 7 day DL (admittedly I didn't know that existed). But still, he hasn't pitched since April 9 -- 2 weeks now -- so I'm not exactly sure what to think.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Twins Fan From Afar

Yea, I was just writing about this on my blog. They made it sound "minor" on the radio -- and they also referred to the 7 day DL (admittedly I didn't know that existed). But still, he hasn't pitched since April 9 -- 2 weeks now -- so I'm not exactly sure what to think.

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one clarification: In the Minors, there is only one DL: the 7-day :) So major or minor everyone goes on it

Quote:

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Originally Posted by thrylos98

one clarification: In the Minors, there is only one DL: the 7-day :) So major or minor everyone goes on it

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Well that explains that!

Wimmers underwent an MRI yesterday, and I'll post when the results are released.

http://www.rotoworld.com/player/mlb/6369/alex-wimmers

According to John Shipley of the Pioneer Press, Wimmers will rehab the elbow injury in Ft. Myers.

https://twitter.com/#!/shipleykid/st...09700898336768

It's a shame how college pitchers like Wimmers who has a lot of potential get drafted and get hurt like this. It seems like it happens all to often. Hopefully he can get back on the mound soon.

The news was already announced elsewhere on TwinDaily, but Wimmers has a partial UCL tear.
Definitely not good news. Surgery is not scheduled now, but who knows.

Per La Velle:
http://www.startribune.com/sports/tw...150307955.html

According to John Shipley of the Pioneer Press, Wimmers will not need Tommy John surgery for his UCL tear.
The organization believes that rehab will do the job.
Their track record on these injuries is not exactly great, so we'll see what happens.

Here's the story:
http://www.twincities.com/ci_2061533...ab-not-surgery

sad that every Twins fan/media member already knows the outcome......only the organization thinks its possible.
Kinda like the expectations of this season.

This is such bad news.
I feel for Wimmers. He wants to pitch. I want him to pitch.
This could be devastating to his career if the rehab doesn't work.

obviously surgery is risky....point taken.
What are the benefits of not just havin the surgery & havin him ready for next season. Surgeries show the guy will be ready to go by next April.
With rehab, if all goes along with what they did with Ft Myers pitcher Miguel Munoz (rehab over surgery)......he comes back in July to pitch a handful of games while babying the elbow & NOT pushing him. Then next season, they have to hope that the elbow is actually fully rehabbed & hope their is no re-tear. They have NOT allowed Munoz to start yet & is getting sporadic time in pen.
Seems to be no benefit from waiting it out while the worst possible is he needs surgery later this summer/next spring (ala PNeshek) & he's out 2 full yrs.

I know Wimmers is hurt this year but I was just wondering when should I realistically expect him to be pitching for the Twins? I remember when drafting him he was supposed to be a fast mover through the system but he has struggled with injuries.

There has been no update on Wimmers. Presumably he is still in Ft. Myers, and still is rehabbing this injury. He's been there for close to 2 months.

To address your question, PMKI, my impression -- and let's just assume that Wimmers had been productive and healthy this season -- was that he was going to be fast-tracked, as in getting called up to AAA at some point this summer, and perhaps making a start or two in Minnesota in September.

Obviously, that is not the case now.

Last night on Twitter, I asked John Shipley of the Pioneer Press whether he had heard any updates on Wimmers, and after checking with sources, this was his reply:
"Still hasn't thrown; still wearing stabilizer."

Last I had heard, he wasn't feeling any improvement at all. We can hope, but I wonder when they would set some decision date for surgery.

they have killed 2 full seasons from him...........this medical staff is amazing. Get it done NOW

Started for GCL today. .2IP 4h 3er bb wp
Real story isnt how he performed but how he feels tomorrow