Before anyone tells me I’m crazy for the order of this list and its omission of names like Aaron Hicks and Ben Revere, let me explain:

These are players in the Twins farm system that have not yet made their MLB debut who I believe can earn a roster spot legitimately and contribute significantly to the MLB team sooner rather than later.  It is not an overall Top 10 list.

Its fun to talk about the exciting prospects in the system like the aforementioned Hicks and 2008 Minor League Batting Champ Revere, but those guys still have a long way to go through the system and won’t be seen near the MLB roster for as long as outfielders Carlos Gomez, Denard Span, Michael Cuddyer and Delmon Young are around.  I like to talk about the guys you may see this year, and those who have a chance to snag a permanent roster spot in the near future.  So anyway, on to my list:

1.  Shooter Hunt, RHP

Highest Level: A Beloit

Projected 2009 Starting Level: A+ Fort Myers

A right-handed starting pitcher chosen in the supplemental 1^st round of last years draft out of Tulane.  He earned a call-up to Beloit after only 4 starts in the rookie league due to his domination of the hitters there (and that is understating it).  Hunt struck out 34 batters in just 19 innings of work, and allowed only 4 hits.  After his promotion, the control issues that were the only knock on his skills in the draft showed up, and he struggled in 7 starts.  But Hunt reminds me of another former pitcher who flew through the Twins farm system in less than a year, Matt Garza, and he’s got better stuff.  His pitches include a devastating hammer-type curveball and a mid-to-upper 90’s fastball with ‘electric’ type movement, which many say is the reason for his inconsistency.  Hunt already has multiple MLB caliber pitches, just needs to harness his control.  Plus, you can’t find a better name for a starting pitcher.

2. Anthony Slama, RHP

Highest Level: A+ Fort Myers

Projected 2009 Starting Level: AA New Britain

I developed a slight man-crush on this reliever last year while scouring the stats of Twins minor-leaguers.  In my opinion, he very well could be the best set-up reliever on the Twins roster right now. He has improved on his statistics at every level, but along with the next guy on this list, has been moved through the system rather slowly, which I do not understand considering his track record.  He spent all of last season at Fort Myers, beginning as a set-up man, but was moved into the closer role when Rob Delaney got moved up to AA.  For the season he posted a 1.01 ERA and saved 25 games for the Miracle while fanning 110 batters in 71.0 innings pitched.  His minor league numbers compare favorably to another reliever Twins fans would be familiar with, Pat Neshek, and Slama actually surpasses Neshek’s success in several (if not all) of the major categories.

3.  Robert Delaney, RHP

Highest Level: AA New Britain

Projected 2009 Starting Level: AAA Rochester

Another relief arm who should get a shot at contributing to the MLB team this year.  If at any time someone in the bullpen starts to falter, Delaney is the one who likely gets the first look(or should).  He spent parts of last season as the closer for both Fort Myers and New Britain, and has a minor league career .92 WHIP. He also has fantastic control with a 6.6:1, K to BB ratio.  At the time last year when Delaney was moved up to AA, I felt Slama’s numbers deserved it more, but Delaney was in the closer’s role and the Rock Cats were in need.  In the end it worked out well for both of them, and with Delaney likely being given the closing role with the Red Wings to start the season, Slama will be given the same role with the Rock Cats, though expect them to be re-united as back-end relievers at some point, possibly even in the Twins pen.

4.  Danny Valencia, 3B

Highest Level: AA New Britain

Projected 2009 Starting Level: AA New Britain.

The first position player to make my list, Valencia is a heralded infield prospect who brings a very competent bat up to the plate.  For his minor league career, Valencia is a .305 hitter, with a .846 OPS.  He has some power potential as well and is viewed as the eventual long-term option for the Twins at 3B.  Valencia will likely begin the season at AA so he can play everyday, but if he improves on last years numbers like he has at each of the lower levels, it will be hard for the Twins to keep him there long.

5.  Wilson Ramos, C

Highest Level: A+ Fort Myers

Projected 2009 Starting Level: AA New Britain

Ramos is perhaps the most talked about position prospect in the Twins system this spring training as fans and scouts wonder how long Joe Mauer can stay healthy and maintain his productivity as a catcher (which is dumb in my opinion).  Last year at Fort Myers, Ramos batted .288 with 13 Hrs, 78 RBI’s, and threw out 43.2% of base stealers.  He was also voted by managers as the best defensive catcher in the Florida State League, and is just 21 years old.

6.  Brian Duensing, LHP

Highest Level: AAA Rochester

Projected 2009 Starting Level: MLB Twins

With LH reliever Jose Mijares struggling this spring and Duensing pitching lights out, I would not be surprised if the Twins give him the first shot to be a LH option out of the pen to start the year, and also has value as a long reliever given his starting experience.  Think of him as this years version of Glen Perkins.  Duensing struggled for most of last season with the Red Wings, but turned it around in Winter ball and has continued that success into spring training.  As of today, he has given up only 1 run in 12 IP for a 0.75 ERA, compared to 11 runs in 10 IP and a 9.90 ERA for Mijares, who caused rumbles among coaches when he showed up to camp drastically out of shape.

7.  Carlos Gutierrez, RHP

Highest Level: A+ Fort Myers

Projected 2009 Starting Level: A+ Fort Myers

For the second year in a row in 2008, the Twins scouting department surprised many observers by selecting a player in the first round of the draft who was projected to go much later in Gutierrez.  But what no one will deny with him is the fact that he has perhaps the best pitch in the entire Minnesota Twins organization: A sinking 95 mph fastball that looks ridiculous when you watch him pitch.  The knock on him is that he lacks any complimentary pitches, but when you see this one you understand why, he hasn’t needed any others.  He also underwent Tommy John surgery while he was at Miami (Fla), but is one of the lucky one’s whose velocity has been improved by the procedure.  Maybe the scouts saw him as a Mariano Rivera type who is able to get away with only one pitch because of its effectiveness, but rest assured the Twins coaches will work diligently with him to add to his repertoire.

8.  Luke Hughes, IF

Highest Level: AAA Rochester

Projected 2009 Starting Level: AAA Rochester

A relative surprise last season, this Australian infielder played in the All-Star Futures game in 2008 and batted .319 with 15 Hrs for AA New Britain Rock Cats before being moved up to Rochester for the last quarter of the minor league season.  His power output was a welcome addition to a farm system severely lacking in that category, and he will likely be given the 3B starting spot at Rochester to begin this year.  Hughes has experience at other positions as well, as he began his career at 2B, and he has also seen time in the outfield.  He is slated to be a temporary MLB call-up if the unfortunate happens and someone goes down this year, and would also have value as a utility option who is capable with a bat.

9.  Anthony Swarzak, RHP

Highest Level: AAA Rochester

Projected 2009 Starting Level: AAA Rochester

Swarzak was the beneficiary from a mediocre AA pitching staff, who was moved up to Rochester last season when Francisco Liriano was recalled to the Twins.  Something clicked immediately for him there, and he went 5-0 with a 1.80 ERA at AAA in 7 starts.  He is probably the 4^th or 5^th starting option that would be called up right now with names like Phillip Humber, Brian Duensing, Kevin Mulvey, and R.A. Dickey also on the depth chart, but it is also not out of the question for him to earn a spot start or two this year.

10.  Trevor Plouffe, IF

Highest Level: AAA Rochester

Projected 2009 Starting Level: AAA Rochester

While his career minor league statistics aren’t that impressive (.255 avg, .699 OPS), he has been moved up a level in every season he has been a professional, and has been one of the youngest active players in each league.  Plouffe was the Twins 1^st RD pick in 2004, and is viewed by many to be the long term future answer at SS and was added to the 40-man roster last season.  After being called up to the Red Wings he split most of his time between 3B and 2B out of necessity.  Plouffe possesses all the raw tools that scouts rave about and a decent eye at the plate, which puts his potential ceiling very high, but he still needs to put it all together for a full season.

Honorable Mention:

IF Steven Tolleson, SP Kevin Mulvey.

’til next time…