by Matt Sisk

My cousin's boyfriend is the weather man! Long story...but my family did get him to say "unicorn" on the air. His mastery of meteorology inspries me, and I felt like taking a novice stab at forecasting something I enjoy talking about: Twins Prospects! Here is what I predict MLB.com's Twins prospect list will look like after this coming minor league season (Top 10 anyway)...


(Eddie is moving on up)

1. Byron Buxton - CF
2. Alex Meyer - RHP
3. Eddie Rosario - 2B/CF
4. Miguel Sano - 3B/DH
5. Trevor May - RHP
6. Jose Berrios - RHP
7. Max Kepler - OF
8. Corey Williams - LHP
9. Jorge Polanco - 2B/SS
10. Travis Harrison - 3B

1. Byron Buxton - Byron is like a Corvette, as long as you don't push it too fast with him he will perform beautifully with flash. Buxton as the Twins #1 prospect isn't too much of a stretch. He will probably go "bananas" at Cedar Rapids, even if he doesn't begin the season there. After being the best prospect in the rookie circuit last summer, Byron will most likely continue to leave impressive impressions on any league he graces in 2013. Some may freak out at the thought of Sano moving down on this list. This is just the start of Sano's descent. So just sit back and let go, while I present my case for these next few gentlemen.

2. Alex Meyer - With the Twins needing to find someone better than Vance Worley to lead their MLB rotation, Meyer is gonna smell blood in the waters of the Eastern League. The Twins may start this stud at A+, but once he gets his shot at Double-A...clear the way. I predict a big season for Alex with lots of innings, a sub-3 ERA, and a ton of strikeouts. He was fantastic in his pro debut last year, and was a steal in trade for the "above average" Denard Span.

3. Eddie Rosario - Yeah, yeah...He might not stick at 2B. His value is dependent on where he plays defensively. Well, the same can be said for Sano. But nobody is talking about how Eddie's body-type will prevent him from playing 2B. Both Eddie and Miguel can hit for power, no doubt. But Sano's strikeouts were out of control last year, while Eddie's were not. Eddie also hit more doubles than Sano in far fewer games played. If Rosario would have been able to play the entire season, he may have hit 15-20 homeruns to go along with 40+ doubles. I predict he sticks at 2-bag, and rakes at A+ next year.

4. Miguel Sano - Since I moved him down, this must be all bad news. Well, not really...I do feel that Sano will continue to strikeout like crazy in 2013. However, I also want to point out that our farm system is going to look very strong with a guy like Sano at #4 in the organization. No one is silly enough to predict that Sano will not mash (.500+ SLG%) in A+ next year. I am simply predicting that Rosario will outshine Sano at the same level. I'm a big Sano fan however, so it will be fun to track his progress towards becoming a monster in Minnesota.

5. Trevor May - May keeps his #5 ranking after Hicks, Arcia, and Gibson lose their prospect status by getting extended time in Minnesota next summer. What do we have in May? We are gonna find out quick. May has more upside than his trade buddy Worley, but his ERA was not so hot at AA last summer. However, he was striking dudes out and not giving up many hits. There is no reason to move May down, but there "may" be reason to move him up following 2013.

6. Jose Berrios - Does anyone really believe this guy has anything to prove at the Rookie level? I can understand the case for keeping him down south until the weather in Cedar Rapids more closely resembles that of Puerto Rico. But come on now, we don't need him to pitch for ELZ and take up a spot that could go to a lesser guy with something to prove at that level. I predict Berrios dominates again in the (insert league here) . He will be knocking on the big door following the 2014 season.

7. Max Kepler - That's right, Max Kepler! You might be thinking: Travis Harrison. But here is my case for Kepler: the German kid was 19 at Elizabethton and hit better than the 20-yr-old California kid. How can we not expect more out of Kepler as a prospect than Harrison? I understand that Harrison plays 3B, and Kepler is a mere CF-type. Ridiculous. Kepler has better numbers at a younger age at the same level, and he deserves more recognition. I predict he gets it following 2013.

Check it out (Maximilian): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL1OxzlhmhE
If you didn't already know, that is a beautifully powerful swing by a 19-yr-old.

8. Corey Williams - This guy did not have a sparkling ERA after a full season of A-ball last year. But he has nasty stuff, and allowed fewer hits than innings pitched. He also K'd more guys than innings pitched, which makes me want to believe in what he can do at A+ next summer. Left-handed guys with good stuff are not out walking around on the street, so let's all give some support to this tough kid that could end up in Minnesota by 2014.

Give it up for Corey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nle8-1K-wTw
P.S. I am assuming Corey does not hang em like this anymore.

9. Jorge Polanco - Okay, okay...most fans have no idea who this guy even IS. And none of my readers will agree that he belongs in the Top 10! But let me state my case (please and thank you): He hit .318/.388/.514 at Elizabethton last summer. He is a switch-hitting second-baseman, but did play 15 games at SS. He will turn 20 next July. How is this guy not making waves among prospect junkies?! Well, this aggression will not stand: you are my #9 Jorge!

Check it out (Jorge batting): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrgvU-gUVwo
Great bat speed. Great foot speed.

10. Travis Harrison - I like Travis, I really do. But something about him holding out after being drafted #50 overall in 2011, and not playing at all his 19-yr-old summer really bothered me. He did hit well in his pro-debut, amid concerns about his defense at 3B and his future at that position. BUT, he was out-slugged by 165 lb. second-baseman Jorge Polanco, and Kepler, and Walker. I was considering dropping Harrison from the Top 10, but I think Joe Benson will lose his prospect status. So Travis is in, by the hair on his chin.

T. Harrison: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=192XhRctXuI
(meh) He has a lot to prove this year.