Top Twins prospects look to open eyes in Spring Training
Minnesota has six players ranked in Top 100, including No. 1 overall Buxton
MINNEAPOLIS -- It's no secret the Twins have one of the best farm systems in baseball.
The Twins had six players ranked among MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects list, including Byron Buxton as the No. 1 overall prospect for a second straight year.
As the third installment of MLB.com's Spring Training preview for the Twins, here's a look at the "Prospects to Watch" in big league camp:
CF Byron Buxton: Despite an injury-plagued season, Buxton retained his spot atop MLB.com's Top 100 Prospect this offseason. Buxton, 21, played in just 31 games in the Minor Leagues because of a left wrist injury and a concussion sustained in his first career game at Double-A in mid-August before suffering a broken finger that required surgery while playing in the Arizona Fall League. But Buxton is healthy now and will head to big league camp for the second straight year hoping to make an impression. He's likely to start the year at Double-A Chattanooga.
3B Miguel Sano: Sano missed the entire 2014 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in March, but remains one of the game's top power prospects. Sano, 21, has been working out this offseason without any issues and isn't expected to have any restrictions in Spring Training. Like Buxton, he's expected to start the year at Double-A Chattanooga, but both could make their Major League debuts late in the season.
RHP Alex Meyer: Meyer, 25, had a solid year at Triple-A Rochester, posting a 3.52 ERA with 153 strikeouts in 130 1/3 innings, but missed out on a chance to be a September callup after being shut down with shoulder inflammation. Meyer, a 6-foot-9 right-hander, has the stuff to be a top starter in the Majors, but still needs to work on repeating his delivery. He'll compete for a spot in the rotation but is expected to start at Triple-A Rochester again.
RHP Jose Berrios: Berrios, 20, moved quickly through the system last year, as he pitched at three different levels and reached Triple-A Rochester for his final start. Berrios was named the club's Minor League Pitcher of the Year for his efforts. He'll be in Major League camp, but is likely to start the year at Double-A or Triple-A.
INF Jorge Polanco: Polanco got his first taste of the Majors as a 20-year-old last year, appearing in five games and going 2-for-6 at the plate with a double and a triple. But it was more due to the need for a backup middle infielder, as he made the jump all the way from Class A Advanced Fort Myers. He finished the year at Double-A and is likely to start there again this season, but is emerging as one of the club's top infield prospects.
Video: MIN@TEX: Polanco triples for first Major League hit
OF/1B Max Kepler: Kepler, a native of Germany, will be in Major League camp for a second straight year. Kepler, 22, hit .264/.333/.393 in 102 games with Class A Advanced Fort Myers last year before playing in the Arizona Fall League. He remains one of the club's more intriguing prospects and is expected to open at Double-A for the first time in his career this season.
Video: MIN@TOR: Kepler collects a pair of hits vs. Blue Jays