Carlos Gutierrez

There was a buzz in spring training that Gutierrez, Minnesota's 2008 first-round draft pick, could be fast tracked to be Minnesota's closer after Joe Nathan was lost to Tommy John surgery. However, he had a disappointing season at Double-A with a 4.50 ERA and 1.526 WHIP. Gutierrez is a groundball machine with three groundball outs per fly out at Double-A New Britain last season, but he had a meager strikeout rate (5.9 K/9IP) with mediocre control (75:43 K:BB ratio). He'll begin the season at Triple-A and could emerge as a candidate for the Minnesota bullpen, but he'll need to reduce his walks.

Many analysts said the Twins reached when taking Gutierrez in the first round of the 2008 draft since he was a college reliever coming off Tommy John surgery - most thought of him as a third rounder. However, after his pro debut, he's now considered one of the top pitching prospects in the system. Gutierrez may have the best fastball in the organization, but is primarily a sinker pitcher who keeps the ball on the ground (he did not give up a home run last season). There's been talk he could move into the starting rotation next season, but he could rise rapidly if kept in the bullpen. Either way, he's a pitcher to grab in keeper leagues.