Twins' Class AA team is deep with upper-90s fireballers

CHATTANOOGA, TENN. – The Twins organization has been criticized and mocked in recent years for its acceptance of a soft-tossing, pitch-to-contact philosophy.

Jose Berrios looks at the team's Class AA pitching staff — himself included — and sees a different approach.

"Whew, we have good gasoline," he said.

Translation: They throw really hard.

Berrios leads all Southern League pitchers in strikeouts with 77 in 69⅓ innings, and the Chattanooga Lookouts bullpen features three relievers who can hit 100 miles per hour on the radar gun and a fourth who throws in the mid-90s.

"The blueprint is [to] throw harder," Berrios said. "The most important thing is the guys have heart to play baseball."

None more so than Berrios, who recently turned 21 and ranks among the top pitching prospects in baseball.

Berrios (pronounced ba-REE-ohs) hasn't received as much hype as teammates Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano, but his career arc is moving at an accelerated pace, too.

Berrios has leapfrogged Alex Meyer as the top pitching prospect in the organization. The hard-throwing Meyer is regarded as having the best "stuff" in the organization but control problems at Class AAA Rochester led to a demotion to the bullpen.

Berrios seems bound for the major leagues on an express train.

"Hopefully I'm going to make the team this year," he said. "That is my goal for this year."

He is 6-3 with a 3.25 ERA this season with 77 strikeouts and only 20 walks.

Berrios said his fastball mostly sits at 93 mph and occasionally reaches 97 on the radar gun. He also throws an effective changeup and slider.

Berrios is not very big (6 feet and 187 pounds), but he has a fluid delivery that looks almost effortless and the ball jumps out of his hand.

"The No. 1 thing about Jose is, he competes his rear end off," Lookouts manager Doug Mientkiewicz said. "He wants to start and close his own games."

As the manager at Class A Fort Myers last season, Mientkiewicz arrived at the ballpark before noon each day. Players rolled in later. Everyone except Berrios, who would be in the middle of his daily workout as coaches arrived.

"He's a workaholic," Mientkiewicz said.

Berrios has an explanation for that.

"I prepare myself, I have a strong mind, I have a good plan," he said.

That preparation includes studying other pitchers, but none more than his two favorites: Justin Verlander and Felix Hernandez.

"That's who I want to be in the future," Berrios said.

Fastball alone not enough

The Lookouts also have an intriguing collection of relievers. Three of them — Zack Jones, Nick Burdi and J.T. Chargois — are capable of throwing 100 mph. Jake Reed's fastball resides around 95, with good movement.

In one recent appearance, Burdi didn't register a fastball slower than 98 on the gun.

"I don't think I've been in a bullpen where I throw the third-hardest," Jones said, smiling.

Their power arms give them a solid foundation. Now, the trick is learning how to pitch and not just rely on grooving fastballs past hitters, an approach that won't cut it as they face tougher competition.

"It's pretty evident here that it doesn't really matter how hard you throw, these guys will hit it," said Jones, the Lookouts closer.

"It's nice to have a bullpen that throws really hard. But it's better when you can complement that fastball with a good off-speed [pitch]."

Jones, Burdi and Reed all average at least one strikeout per inning pitched. That's the good news. But Reed and Burdi also have ERAs above 4.81 and have averaged at least one hit allowed per inning pitched.

The relievers still are learning to locate their fastballs and change speeds to keep hitters off-balance. Both Jones and Burdi say they are experimenting with a changeup to go along with their fastball and slider.

"Obviously it's not ideal trying to work on pitches up one in the ninth," Jones said. "But as far as developing as a pitcher, that's what you've got to do."

This group of hard throwers needs seasoning in the minors to refine their repertoire. But like Berrios, their power arms represent a welcomed change in organizational philosophy.

"It's pretty cool to be around a power bullpen because we do push each other to be better," Jones said.

Day One: Grade A talent in a AA town. Read it here.