Two top pitching prospects fail to make cut

FORT MYERS, Fla. – With their mid-90s fastballs, Alex Meyer and Michael Tonkin still project as a possible staff ace and a potential shut-down closer. But for now, they remain Rochester Red Wings.

The Twins optioned both hard throwers to Class AAA Rochester on Friday, explaining to each that having the pitches of a big-leaguer isn't enough. In Meyer's case, said manager Paul Molitor, "he needs polish." Tonkin, the manager said, "gets pretty predictable at times."

It's a disappointment for each, since they came to camp determined to earn a job in the majors. But both were outpitched by fellow job-seekers.

"We all know there are guys that, it takes a little more time than others," General Manager Terry Ryan said.

Meyer, perhaps the Twins' best pitching prospect, pitched only 5⅔ innings this spring. He gave up one run and four hits, while striking out six.

But he walked seven batters, four of them in a shaky two-inning appearance against the Rays on Thursday, and he sounded discouraged by his inability to throw strikes.

"I'm searching right now," said Meyer, who has battled control problems his entire career. "I feel like there's something mechanically going on."

"My impression is [that] he puts a lot of pressure on himself. … I feel like whenever he goes out there, he's always got the weight of the world on him," Molitor said.

"I told him today, he just has to be himself."

Once the 2011 first-round pick, acquired in November 2012 from Washington for outfielder Denard Span, develops more confidence, Molitor said, his results will better match his raw talent.

"I don't think anyone likes to face him. He has to start understanding he can take command of those situations," Molitor said. "It's going to be more about confidence for him."

Ryan, too, believes Meyer's problems are fixable.

Meyer led the International League by striking out 153 batters in 130 innings at Rochester last season, but his 64 walks were the second-most in the league.

He opened spring training as one of five pitchers vying to become the Twins' fifth starter this year, a competition that has been whittled, with Meyer's departure and Tim Stauffer's move to the bullpen, down to three: Mike Pelfrey, Tommy Milone and Trevor May.

For Tonkin, who has pitched for Rochester the past two seasons, Friday's two-hit, one-run inning was a continuation of his problems this spring; he was scored upon in three of his four appearances.

"His trouble is that people can look for that fastball and pretty much know they're going to get one at some point," Molitor said. "His secondary pitches have to be more efficient, not only to get ahead or get back in [a count] but to finish."

Both pitchers are 25, old for top prospects. Yet Meyer has not appeared in a major league game, and Tonkin has only 30 innings of experience.

"Different people [develop] at different rates," Molitor said. "We see where [Gibson] is at now. Alex, we hope, will follow suit."