Former Snappers Rank High as Twins' Top Prospects
Published on November 27, 2006 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Beloit Sky Carp News Release
In the latest edition of Baseball America, six former Snappers are ranked in the Top 10 Prospects for the Minnesota Twins. Baseball America lists Matt Garza as the top prospect in the Twins system. Garza, a 2005 first-round draft pick, finished the 2005 season with the Snappers. In Beloit he was 3-3 with a 3.54 ERA and recorded 64 strikeouts in 64 innings of work. Garza became the 100th player to make the jump from Beloit to play at the Major League level since the franchise was started in 1982, following an August promotion. Garza is the first Snappers player during the Minnesota Twins affiliation to reach the majors.
Kevin Slowey, a right-handed pitcher and member of the 2005 Snappers, ranks as the number three prospect for the Twins. Slowey was 3-2 with 2.24 ERA in 2005 for Beloit. He was selected out of Winthrop in the second round of the June 2005 draft.
Chris Parmelee, the Twins first pick in the 2006 draft, comes in as the fourth best prospect. Parmelee, an outfielder, finished the 2006 season in Beloit and could return for the 2007 season. He hit .227 in limited action with the Snappers, but did launch eight home runs with the Gulf Coast League Twins.
Baseball America ranks right-hander Anthony Swarzak as the fifth best prospect for Minnesota for the second straight season. Swarzak pitched for the Snappers in 2005, going 9-5 with a 101 strikeouts before a mid-season promotion to Ft. Myers. He was a second round selection in the 2004 draft.
Joe Benson, a native of Joliet, IL, is the eighth best prospect in the Twins system. Benson was selected in the second round of the June 2006 draft. He was promoted to Beloit with Parmelee following their season with the GCL Twins. Benson hit .263 at Beloit and will likely be in the Snappers outfield in the 2007 season.
Ranking ninth on the list is shortstop, Paul Kelly. Kelly played in Beloit at the end of the 2005 season and spent all of the 2006 with the Snappers before being sidelined with a knee injury. Kelly hit .280 with 48 RBI. He was a second-round selection in 2005.
Rounding out the top ten, were Glen Perkins (#2, left-handed pitcher), Pat Neshek (#6, right-handed pitcher), Alexi Casilla (#7, infielder), J.D. Durbin (#10, right-handed pitcher).
Midwest League Stories from November 27, 2006
- Former Snappers Rank High as Twins' Top Prospects - Beloit Sky Carp
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
