Snappers have impressive duo in outfield

Parmalee, Benson will draw lots of attention

By Rob Lucas
Beloit Daily News

For the Beloit Snappers' Chris Parmelee and Joe Benson, the Midwest League season can't start soon enough.

“I've been waiting all off-season for this,” Parmelee said at the annual Meet the Team event at Central Christian Church in Beloit.

The wait is finally over for two of the Minnesota Twins' top minor league prospects.

Parmelee and Benson, drafted back-to-back in the first and second round of the 2006 June amateur draft, are hoping to fulfill the promise one of baseball's top franchises saw in them.

“I'm really excited,” Parmelee said. “I worked hard this off-season and I'm just excited to get started.”

Parmelee, the 20th overall pick, was drafted out of Chino Hills High School in California. According to Baseball America, Parmelee is already the fourth best prospect in the entire Twins' minor league system; a system that ranks eighth in all of baseball.

“It's reassuring in your abilities when you get some recognition,” Parmelee said. “Other than that, that stuff doesn't really mean anything like winning and being successful count.”

Last season, the 19-year-old outfielder played 45 games for the Gulf Coast League Twins before a cup of coffee with the Snappers at the end of the year. He displayed his good plate discipline with 23 walks in 45 games for the GCL Twins while smacking eight homers. The Twins drafted Parmelee after he hit 11 homers in high school and believe he has the chance to develop into a big-time power hitter.

“I just try to go out there and do what they drafted me for which is hit the ball,” Parmelee said. “I don't really go out there and think a lot.”

During the offseason, Parmelee tried to train his body for the long season ahead, his first full season in professional baseball.

“I did a lot of long distance stuff,” Parmelee said. “Stuff that is going to keep my endurance up, that will keep my heart rate up for a while so I can go that long season and get that push when other people are getting tired.”

Parmelee also knows how lucky he is to be drafted by an organization with the track record of the Twins.

“I'm really thankful I was drafted by the Twins,” Parmelee said. “They really develop their minor league players, rather than some other teams that just take established major leaguers and make their roster that way.”

Benson, ranked as the eighth best prospect, is very excited to have the opportunity to possibly become a Twin one day.

“With the Twins, they are real special and you could see it in spring training,” Benson said. “They take the time for the coaching and the development. They don't want you just to get to the big leagues, they want you to do things right.”

A Joliet, Ill. native, Benson was a football star as well in high school, rushing for 2,183 yards as a senior. He could have played college football, but instead chose to sign with the Twins. The outfielder is said to have the best speed/power combination in the Twins' system and is also considered the organizations best athlete.

Benson knows the importance of his first season and hopes his offseason preparation will help him succeed this year.

“This first long season, from what I hear, is a test on how you are going to perform in the future,” Benson said. “I'm confident I did all the right things in the offseason to have a successful season.”

Arriving at the Twins Spring Training facility a few weeks earlier than necessary, Benson received the added benefit of spending time with established big leaguers who had also reported to camp early.

“The first couple weeks we were working out, playing catch with them and shagging balls,” Benson said. “Those are the coolest guys. You wouldn't be able to tell they were major leaguers with the way they treated you. It shows how humble people are in the organization.”

Benson hit .260 between the GCL Twins and the Snappers, including five home runs and 29 RBIs in 60 games. He is a raw talent right now, but possesses great speed and power potential and is considered a legitimate five-tool player, which is rare.

Benson and Parmelee could see a lot of each other throughout their careers, since they were drafted together, both play outfield and are similar ages.

“It's kind of cool, getting throw into this together, drafted together,” Benson said. “We are both in the outfield so we can push each other, but also support each other.”

“It's a healthy competition,” Parmelee added. “Pushing each other to the limit to see who can do better.”

Both players feel like the Snappers will be very competitive this year and should make a run at the playoffs once again.

“Offensively and defensively we should be sound,” Benson said. “It's hard to tell with the pitching because in spring training you only get work a couple innings at a time, but we have great chemistry as a team.”

But no matter what happens at the end of the year, all these two potential stars want to do is get on the field Thursday night.

“I can't wait,” Benson said with a grin. “It's what I've been waiting for all offseason.”