Monday, June 22, 2009

Travis Talks prospect list: Prospect #6

Tonight I will be bringing you prospect number 6 in the organization. I will hope everyone enjoys and will add their 2 cents. You can either email me at travis_aune@yahoo.com or leave a comment in the comment box.



6. Carlos Gutierrez RHP 22 (9/22/1986)


2008 teams: Fort Myers Miracle


  • Carlos Gutierrez was a first round draft pick by the Twins, 27th overall, in the 2008 draft out of Miami University. Gutierrez was a reliever in college, but he projects as a starter because of his heavy sinker that gets him tons of groundballs. After signing with the Twins Carlos made his debut out of the bullpen for Fort Myers to save on his innings. In 16 games with Fort Myers Gutierrez went 3-1 with a very good 2.10era. In 25.2 innings Carlos walked 7 and struck out 19. This year Carlos juined the starting staff for Fort Myers and took off which led to a promotion to AA New Britain. In 10 starts at Fort Myers Carlos went 2-3 with a 1.32 era. In 54.2 innings he walked 22 and struck out 33 and held opponents to a .192 batting average. That led to a promotion to New Britain where he has struggled so far. In 3 starts Gutierrez is 1-1 with a 6.43 era. In 14 innings Gutierrez has walked 8 and struck out only 4. Carlos Gutierrez is a groundball machine with his heavy sinker. His only problem is control problems as he has walked 37 batters in only in only 93 professional innings. He walks 2.5 runners per 9 innings and that is way too many. If he can get his control on track the sky is the limit. He is is a better version of Carlos Silva with a very good sinker. For his development though he needs to develop a third pitch to go with his fastball and sinker. If he doesn't develop that 3rd pitch he will be a reliever because he is going to need that third pitch to develop into a frontline pitcher. If he can get that third pitch he will be a very good pitcher that will get 60 to 70 percent of his outs on groundballs and will be a very good pitcher. The thing about Gutierrez is if he develops that 3rd pitch he will be the top Twins pitching prospect and be a solid number 2 or 3 starter for the Twins. If he can't develop that 3rd pitch he still will be a solid setup man out of the bullpen so as I see it Carlos Gutierrez has a very bright future in one way or another. I can see Carlos getting a September callup or at worst possibly be in the bullpen for the Twins next season.

  • 2009: Starting rotation for New Britain and a possible September callup

  • projection: I project him as a solid number 2 or 3 starter at the big leagues for many years.

2 comments:

FunkytownMN said...

Gutierrez will not be called up in Sept. Twins have already indicated he'll get shut down when he reaches a certain number of innings, based on the fact he's not been a starter until this year.

Travis Aune said...

I just said it was a possibility and with the way he is pitching right now that would not be a possiblity anyways.