Improvement For Twins Starts With Starting Pitching
FORT MYERS, Fla. (WCCO) – If the Minnesota Twins have any chance to get better coming off their fourth straight season of at least 90 losses, it all starts with the starting pitching.
The Twins starting rotation had one of the highest earned run averages in the major leagues last year. Pitchers and catchers have been working out in Florida since Monday. If that's going to change this year, they'll have to rely on some young arms waiting in the wings.
WCCO-TV's Mark Rosen caught up with one big pitching prospect with big potential and a big frame to go with it.
The impact rookie right-handed pitcher everyone is buzzing about is 6 foot, 9 inch Alex Meyer. He was a first-round pick of the Washington Nationals who was traded here for outfielder Denard Span. Believe it or not, Meyer has been a substitute teacher at his old high school in Indiana in the offseason.
But after a successful year in Class AAA Rochester, the 25-year-old is hopeful to jump to the head of the class with the Twins.
"I just want to come here and help them win. This is my third spring training with Minnesota, so hopefully I'm getting closer," Meyer said. "I'm hoping I can find some way to benefit the team, but I just have to go out there and get people out."
"I want to see him come north with us if he earns that position," General Manager Terry Ryan said. "I think we're going to carry 12 (pitchers) and if he's one of the 12, whether it's in the rotation or in the bullpen. If he's one of those guys he'll come with us, if he's not and needs some more seasoning we'll send him back."