6. Brusdar Graterol, RHP
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 8/26/1998 (19)
2017 teams/levels played for: Gulf Coast League Twins, advanced rookie Elizabethton Twins
2017 Stats: 10 G, 7 GS, 40 IP, 2.70 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 8.3% BB, 28.7% K
Info: The Minnesota Twins have strong veins into Puerto Rico and Venezuela in their Latin development. Graterol is from the latter. At 6’1″, Graterol came to the Twins with a lot of promise in his arm, but quite lean still in his frame.
Graterol had Tommy John surgery that finished his 2015 season after just 4 games and missed all of the 2016 season. He bulked up well in that season away, turning his body into a well-built 220ish pounds. That added strength brought with it incredible velocity as well.
Graterol runs his fastball up to triple digits, sitting 95-98 with excellent late wiggle and good location. Graterol has seen his hard snap slider creep into the low-90s in velocity, though it typically sits in the upper 80s.
Both Graterol’s low-80s hard curve and mid-80s change had flashes of plus but settled in above-average. Consistency in location, specifically with the change, will allow both to play up significantly.
Graterol simply has the highest ceiling of any pitcher in the Twins organization, but he is a distance away from the big leagues, so he’s currently just a touch behind the guys who have shown it well at the upper minors.
He will be building up his innings with low-A Cedar Rapids, most likely spending the entire season there. It will be 2019 when Graterol could really accelerate up the Twins system as his arm is ready to add on more innings and head to the upper minors.
5. Wander Javier, SS
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 12/29/1998 (19)
2017 teams/levels played for: advanced rookie Elizabethton Twins
2017 Stats: .299/.383/.471, 180 PA, 4 HR, 4 SB, 19/49 BB/K
Info: Javier secured the largest bonus that the Minnesota Twins have ever given out in the Latin American market, even more than they gave to Miguel Sano, and there’s good reason behind that as well.
Javier spent the season working on his swing with the Minnesota Twins brass at advanced rookie-level Elizabethton. He did have a significant strikeout rate for his skill set (27.2%), but much of that can be attributed to adjusting his approach at the plate on the fly.
Javier has a long-limbed body that produces above-average game power
Javier has a long-limbed body that produces above-average game power, specifically in pounding the gaps with sharp drives. He did show better approach as the season wore on, and was more aggressive within the zone.
Javier was an 18 year old facing a lot of college “junk”, so that was tough on him, but he often made adjustments from one at bat to the next with a pitcher, which was a huge positive.
Javier does have plus speed and is able to use his quick reactions and speed to show plus range at shortstop along with a double-plus arm in the field, where he absolutely excels. Javier is a true shortstop, and he should be a plus defensive shortstop moving forward.
Javier could be the reason that the Twins end up jumping their top draft pick to high-A as Javier is ready for the next logical step to low-A ball with Cedar Rapids. If not, he may end up at extended spring until Lewis is able to be promoted up to high-A, opening shortstop up for him.
Next: #3 and #4