Pitching promise has team enthused

La Velle E. Neal III
Star Tribune

Righthander Kyle Waldrop is 2-5 with a 4.70 ERA at Class A Beloit, but the numbers are somewhat deceiving.

Mike Radcliff, Twins director of scouting, watched Waldrop's outing Thursday. Waldrop gave up four runs in 4 1/3 innings, but Radcliff didn't see anything to change his opinion of Waldrop a year after he was drafted in the first round.

"His three pitches were solid," Radcliff said. "He threw 90 [miles per hour] a lot. His fastball was OK. He left one over the middle of the plate to a 27- year old A-ball guy who hit it about 500 feet. His breaking ball is better than last year. The changeup is OK."

Waldrop is one of a handful of pitchers taken in last year's draft that the organization is high on. The others include Beloit teammates Jay Rainville and Anthony Swarzak, both righthanders, and lefthander Glen Perkins at Class A Fort Myers. Waldrop, 19, has good control (10 walks in 67 innings) and the willingness to change speeds, which most prospects his age don't have.

In fact, the Twins want him to work more on spotting his fastball and improving his breaking ball and keeping the changeup in his pocket.

"He's a little youthful at times," Radcliff said. "In this league he's a young guy, but he hung in there good and competed well and used all his pitches.

"He likes to throw his changeup all the time because that's the pitch they can't hit very good."

Radcliff feels Waldrop will be a middle-of-the-rotation control pitcher. Throw in Swarzak (6-3, 2.90 ERA), Rainville (5-2, 4.00 ERA) and Perkins (2-2, 2.77 ERA at Fort Myers), and the Twins are optimistic about the future.

"It's the first time in a long time that the whole group of high picks have gone out and have done extremely well," Radcliff said. "None of them have had any setbacks."

Bad news everywhere

Twins prospects are dropping with injuries.

Righthander Matt Fox, the 35th overall pick last year, is done for the year because of shoulder soreness. He will have surgery in Birmingham, Ala., by noted surgeon Dr. James Andrews.

Reliever Bobby Korecky will have Tommy John surgery and will miss the rest of the season.

And Jake Mauer, brother of Joe and Bill Mauer, will have surgery on his right elbow and will miss about two months. Mauer has been battling elbow problems for most of the year. Bill Mauer retired because of shoulder problems and has moved in with Joe Mauer in St. Paul.

Etc.

Shortstop Trevor Plouffe, the 20th overall pick last season, homered on Thursday for Beloit. Radcliff said Plouffe remains confident despite batting .171 at Beloit.

Jim Rantz, Twins director of minor leagues, said shortstop Jason Bartlett is regaining his confidence at Class AAA Rochester. Bartlett, the Twins' Opening Day shortstop, is batting .292 through 17 games with a homer and five RBI.