Below are the rosters of the minor league affiliates of the Minnesota Twins:
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| Chris Cates | |
|---|---|
| Minnesota Twins | |
| Shortstop | |
| Born: April 15, 1985 Tampa, Florida |
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| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
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Chris Cates (born April 15, 1985) is a minor league shortstop in the Minnesota Twins organization currently assigned to their Double A affiliate, the New Britain Rock Cats. He was selected by the Twins in the 38th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft.
Cates graduated in 2003 from Brandon High School in Brandon, Florida where he was a four year letter winner in baseball. When he joined the University of Louisville Cardinals in 2004, he was the smallest player in NCAA Division I baseball.[1] Despite standing only 5'3" tall and weighing just 145 lbs., his junior year he was named Third-Team All-Big East while leading the Louisville Cardinals with a .332 batting average and 47 runs scored.[2]
Cates also played for the North Adams Steeplecats of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, a collegite summer baseball league. He won the Most Valuable Player award at the 2005 NECBL All-Star Game.
In 2008, he represented the Beloit Snappers in the Midwest League All-Star game,[3] and in 2009, Cates was 1-3 with a walk and a run scored as the starting shortstop for the South in the Florida State League All-Star game.[4] For the season, he batted .251 with 25 RBIs and 41 runs scored. Cates split 2010 between Fort Myers and New Britain, batting a combined .198. He has yet to hit a professional home run.
| Estarlin De Los Santos | |
|---|---|
| Minnesota Twins – No. 82 | |
| Shortstop | |
| Born: January 20, 1987 Villa Mella, Dominican Republic |
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| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
Estarlin De Los Santos (Starling) (born January 20, 1987) is a Minor League Baseball infielder in the Minnesota Twins organization, he is currently assigned to their Class-A Advanced affiliate, Fort Myers Miracle.
The 5'10", 165 lb. Dominican signed with Twins as a non-drafted free agent shortly after his eighteenth birthday in 2005. Though he played poorly his first professional season with the Gulf Coast League Twins (.195 batting average, no home runs and only two runs batted in with a .889 fielding percentage), he has shown steady improvement in the three seasons since, In 2007 with the Beloit Snappers, De Los Santos tied for the league lead with 60 runs scored, second with six triples, fourth with 75 hits and third with 27 stolen bases. He was named the Appalachian League player of the week (July 10–16, 2007) and a Post-Season All-Star.
De Los Santos has primarily played shortstop thus far in the Twins farm system, however, he has seen some action at second base as well. He played Winter ball with Gigantes del Cibao of the Dominican Winter Baseball League in 2009,[5] and on November 20, 2009, he was added to the Twins' 40 man roster.[6]
| Cole DeVries | |
|---|---|
With the Fort Myers Miracle in 2008 |
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| Minnesota Twins | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: February 12, 1985 Eden Prairie, Minnesota |
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| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
Cole William DeVries (born February 12, 1985) is a minor league right-handed pitcher in the Minnesota Twins' organization. Born in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, DeVries signed with the Twins as a non-drafted free agent out of the University of Minnesota on August 22, 2006, and is currently assigned to his home team's Triple-A affiliate, the Rochester Red Wings. He is 6'2" tall, and weighs 185 lbs.
DeVries spent the 2008 season with the Twins' advanced A affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle. In the first half of the season, DeVries went 5-5 with a 3.11 earned run average and 47 strike outs over 13 appearances (12 starts) in Fort Myers' quest for the Florida State League first-half West Division title. DeVries pitched 6.2 innings of scoreless ball in the first playoff game against the second half division winners, the Dunedin Blue Jays to earn the 2-1 win for the Miracle in Dunedin.[7]
In his first start of the 2009 season, DeVries led New Britain to their first victory, pitching 5.1 innings, and giving up only one earned run against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Eastern League Double A farm club of the Toronto Blue Jays. For the season, he went 7-14 with a 4.84 ERA in 26 starts. He made ten appearances for the Rock Cats in 2010, five starts and five relief appearances, before being promoted to Rochester. He was used exclusively out of the bullpen with the Red Wings, producing a 5.06 ERA and ten strike outs in five appearances before returning to New Britain.
| Kyle Gibson | |
|---|---|
| Minnesota Twins | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: October 23, 1987 Greenfield, Indiana |
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| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
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Kyle Gibson was drafted by the Minnesota Twins with the 22nd overall pick of the 2009 MLB Draft out of The University of Missouri. He was given a $1,800,000 signing bonus.
Gibson transferred to Greenfield-Central High School from Cathedral High School between his freshman and sophomore years. He was ruled ineligible for varsity baseball by the IHSAA for his sophomore year due to the transfer. During his junior year, he was 7-2 and led the Cougars to a sectional championship and to the regional finals. In his senior year, he was 8-6 with a 0.98 ERA and 140 strikeouts. He led Greenfield to the Elite Eight by pitching all of his team's tournament games. He was named the Hancock County Player of the Year after his senior year. He was also named to the Indianapolis Star All-East team in both his junior and senior years. After his senior year, named All-East Player of the Year and made the Indiana All-Star Team. Following his senior year, he was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 36th round of the 2006 MLB Draft but chose to attend University of Missouri on a baseball scholarship.
At the 2009 MLB amateur draft Gibson was taken by the Minnesota Twins in the first round (22nd overall pick). In 2010 he started the year with the class A Fort Myers Miracle then was called up to the class AA New Britain Rock Cats. On August 13 Gibson was promoted to the class AAA Rochester Red Wings. On January 11, 2011, Kyle Gibson was part of 19 non-roster players to get invited to spring training.
| Aaron Hicks | |
|---|---|
| Minnesota Twins | |
| Center Fielder | |
| Born: October 2, 1989 Long Beach, California |
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| Bats: Switch | Throws: Right |
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Aaron M. Hicks (born October 2, 1989 in Long Beach, California) is a center fielder in the Minnesota Twins organization currently assigned to their Midwest League A affiliate, the Beloit Snappers.
The 6'2", 170 lbs. switch hitter from Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach, California was the Twins' first round pick in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft. In his first professional season, Hicks was tabbed a 2008 Baseball America Rookie All-Star and named the top prospect in the Twins' organization. He batted .318 with four home runs, 27 runs batted in, twelve stolen bases and 28 walks for the Gulf Coast League Twins to earn a Gulf Coast League postseason All-Star nod.
In 2009, Hicks batted .251 with four home runs, 29 RBIs, ten steals and 40 walks for Beloit.
| Steven Hirschfeld | |
|---|---|
Fort Myers Miracle pitching prospect |
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| Minnesota Twins | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: September 8, 1985 Moab, Utah |
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| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
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Steven Joseph Hirschfeld (born September 8, 1985 in Moab, Utah) is a minor league pitcher in the Minnesota Twins organization currently assigned to their advanced A affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle. The 6'5" right-hander was the Twins' ninth-round pick in the 2007 first year player draft.
Hirschfeld played basketball for three seasons and two years of football at Grand County High School in Moab, along with four year as a varsity letterman in baseball. He was named MVP as a junior in 2003, and was his team's captain in 2003 & 2004. Before signing with the Twins, Hirschfeld was drafted in the 29th round of the 2004 draft by the Montreal Expos, and the 25th round of the 2005 draft by the Colorado Rockies, but chose, instead, to attend the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas.[8]
Hirschfeld joined Miracle teammates David Bromberg, Carlos Gutierrez, Spencer Steedley, Daniel Lehmann, Chris Cates, Steve Singleton, Ben Revere & Chris Parmelee as 2009 Florida State League All-Stars as a late addition, replacing injured St. Lucie Mets pitcher Brant Rustich. This is Hirschfeld's second All Star selection, as in 2008, he represented the Twins organization in the Midwest League All Star game as a member of the Beloit Snappers. With Beloit in 2008, he went 10-5 with a 3.30 ERA in 31 appearances, including 16 starts. He's been used primarily out of the bullpen thus far with Fort Myers, though he does have three starts.
| Shooter Hunt | |
|---|---|
Shooter Hunt and fans |
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| Minnesota Twins – No. 22 | |
| Relief Pitcher | |
| Born: August 16, 1986 Wyckoff, New Jersey |
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| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Steven Daniel "Shooter" Hunt (born August 16, 1986[9]) is a right-handed relief pitcher in the Minnesota Twins organization. He is 6'3" tall, and weighs 200 lbs. Hunt attended Ramapo High School in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.
Hunt played college baseball for the Tulane Green Wave in Conference USA starting in the 2007 season. Hunt was named Conference USA's Pitcher of the Year in 2008.[10] The Twins selected him in the first supplemental round of the 2008 MLB Draft with the 31st overall pick.[10]
| Danny Lehmann | |
|---|---|
Smiling for a picture with an autograph seeking fan |
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| Minnesota Twins – No. 81 | |
| Catcher | |
| Born: September 5, 1985 Denver, Colorado |
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| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
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Daniel Joseph Lehmann (born September 5, 1985 in Denver, Colorado) is a catcher in the Minnesota Twins' organization who signed with the Twins in the eighth round of the 2007 First Year Player Draft. He is 5'11" tall, and weights 186 lbs., and bats and throws right-handed.
The former Rice University standout began the 2008 season with the Beloit Snappers of the Midwest League. He batted only .240 with no home runs, yet his defensive skills (catching 14 of 35 base stealers for a 40% success rate) earned him a Midwest League All-Star selection, and a promotion to the Twins' advanced-A affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle. With the Miracle, he batted .244 with no home runs and six runs batted in backing up All-Star catcher Wilson Ramos.
He reported to Spring training with the Twins on February 15 as a non-roster invitee, and begins the 2009 season on the Miracle roster, however, spent part of the season with the Twins' double A affiliate, the New Britain Rock Cats. With New Britain, he batted .243 with three RBIs; with Fort Myers, Lehmann batted .286 and caught nine of twelve would-be base stealers to earn himself a Florida State League All-star selection.[11]
| Brandon Roberts | |
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Roberts on third base in Rochester |
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| Minnesota Twins | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: November 9, 1984 Bakersfield, California |
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| Bats: Left | Throws: Right |
Brandon Roberts (November 9, 1984 in Bakersfield, California) is an outfielder in the Minnesota Twins organization originally selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the seventh Round (212nd overall) of 2005 First-Year Player Draft. He is six feet tall and weighs 185 lbs. He bats left-handed, yet plays his position righty.
Brandon was traded by the Reds to the Twins for Juan Castro, June 15, 2006. Upon his acquisition, he was assigned to the Twins' advanced A affiliate, the Fort Myers Miracle, with whom he batted .316 with three home runs, 34 RBIs and 40 runs scored in 71 games.
These numbers earned him a promotion to the double-A New Britain Rock Cats for the 2008 season, however, a strained hamstring caused him to be reassigned to Extended Spring Training (he was replaced on the roster by Toby Gardenhire, son of Twins' manager Ron Gardenhire).[12]
Brandon collected three hits in nine at bats during his rehabilitation stint with the Gulf Coast League Twins before being promoted back to Fort Myers. With the Miracle, he batted .409 in eight games. On August 10, he was returned to the Rock Cats.[13]
| Tyler Robertson | |
|---|---|
| Minnesota Twins | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: December 23, 1987 Simi Valley, California |
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| Bats: Left | Throws: Left |
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Tyler Robertson (born December 23, 1987 in Simi Valley, California) is a minor league pitcher in the Minnesota Twins' organization currently assigned to the Twins' triple A affiliate, the Rochester Red Wings. The 6'5" 220 lbs. left-hander was the Twins' third-round pick in the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft.
In the first half of the 2008 season, Tyler went 4-2 with a 2.76 earned run average and 58 strike outs over 11 starts to help Fort Myers captured the Florida State League first-half West Division title. One of those wins was a complete game 6-1 victory over the Tampa Yankees at Steinbrenner Field.
He was pulled after four innings against the Vero Beach Devil Rays on July 7 with shoulder soreness, and did not pitch again for the rest of the season.
| Nicholas Romero | |
|---|---|
| Minnesota Twins | |
| Third basemen | |
| Born: July 15, 1987 Chula Vista, California |
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| Bats: Switch | Throws: Right |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Nicholas Daniel "Nick" Romero (born July 15, 1987 in Chula Vista, California) is a Minor League Baseball infielder for the Minnesota Twins organization. He is currently assigned to their Class-A Advanced affiliate, Fort Myers Miracle. He was drafted by the Twins in the 5th round, 156th overall in the 2008 MLB Draft out of SDSU. He is 6'1" tall and weighs 200 lbs.
| Spencer Steedley | |
|---|---|
| Minnesota Twins | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: May 31, 1985 Charlotte, North Carolina |
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| Bats: Left | Throws: Left |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Spencer Steedley (born May 31, 1985) is a left-handed pitcher in the Minnesota Twins organization currently assigned to their Eastern League double A affiliate, the New Britain Rock Cats. He is 6'2" tall, and weighs 194 lbs.
Spencer is from Charlotte, North Carolina, and attended UNC-Charlotte, where he earned first-team A-10 All-Conference in 2006 and was named Pitcher of the Week in February, 2007 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.[14] He was selected by the Twins in the 25th round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.
His first season with the Twins, he was assigned to their Rookie Appalachian League affiliate, the Elizabethton Twins. He pitched primarily out of the bullpen, with only one start, and compiled a 2-3 record with a 2.92 earned run average, and struck out 51 in only 37 innings.
He began the 2008 season in class A with the Midwest League Beloit Snappers. After compiling a 5-3 record with a 2.14 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 46.1 innings, he was named a Midwest League Western division All-Star.
Following the All-Star game, he was promoted to the Fort Myers Miracle. With the Miracle, he went 1-4 with a 6.59 ERA in 15 games (four starts). Thus far, he's been used exclusively in the bullpen in 2009, however, he's been outstanding in that role. In the first half of the season, Steedley went 3-0 with a 0.74 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 24.1 innings to earn a Florida State League All-Star selection.[11] Spencer was promoted to double A New Britain during the second half of the season.
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| Minnesota Twins franchise | |||
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| Triple-A | Double-A | Class A | Rookie |
| Rochester Red Wings | New Britain Rock Cats |
Fort Myers Miracle Beloit Snappers |
Elizabethton Twins GCL Twins DSL Twins |
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