I’ve watched Miami righthander Carlos Gutierrez pitch twice during the NCAA tournament and I don’t like what I’ve seen.

The first time was Saturday after the Twins present closer, Joe Nathan, blew a save opportunity against the Brewers. Gutierrez came on to close out a potential win against Georgia in the College World Series, but all Gutierrez did was cough up the lead as the Bulldogs rallied for the win.

The second time came today, after the nationwide work slow-down to watch the U.S. Open. Gutierrez came in with Miami leading Florida State 7-2 - and promptly gave up three runs. He wanted no part of Buster Posey with the game on the line.

Gutierrez was ranked by Baseball America as the 82nd best prospect in the draft,  but the Twins took him at No. 27. Two Twins scouts saw him pitch in January and were very impressed with his sinking fastball.

He does have a good sinker but he really struggled to spot his four-seam fastball and what he uses as a slider. This guy needs some polish before he can get on the fast track to the majors and justify why the Twins would take him nearly 60 spots ahead of where he was ranked by one publication. Getting Shooter Hunt in the supplemental round, however, could make up for the Gutierrez pick….

Twins minor league director Jim Rantz made massive moves today. “These are the most I’ve made in one day in a long, long time.” he said.

From Class A Fort Myers to Class AA New Britain:

RHP Jeff Manship

RHP Rob Delaney

2B Brian Dinkleman

3B Danny Valencia

From New Britain to Fort Myers:

RHP Jay Rainville

RHP Oswaldo Sosa (43 walks in 62 innings!!)

From Low-A Beloit to Fort Myers:

  2B Steven Singleton

3B Garrett Olson

C Dan Lehmann

From Fort Myers to Beloit:

C Allan De San Miguel

LHP Henry Reyes

Activated from DL to Beloit:

SS Paul Kelly

3B Deibinson Romero

I suspect that Rantz may move some more players once the official halfway point of the season arrives. 

By the way, I’m not a fan of the Twins being careful with their prospects. How about Ben Revere to Fort Myers? And I don’t know why Aaron Hicks can’t at least start his career at Elizabethton, Tenn., which is in a league that’s a notch above the Gulf Coast League. But Hicks will open with the GCL Twins at Fort Myers. Based on everything I’ve heard, Hicks is good enough. They did it with Joe Mauer, why not Hicks?

And second round pick Tyler Ladendorf, despite having some college experience, is starting his pro career with the GCL team. Come on! Give these guys a challenge and find out what they are made of! 

One more thing. I sort of agree with BC Beneke’s assertion that the Twins may not be hurting for third base prospects with Valencia and Romero. But I don’t know if Plouffe will have enough pop to merit him playing third and Luke Hughes is more of a second baseman.

Still, you draft the you-know-what out of third basemen until you find a mainstay and use the rest as trade bait. It’s so hard to find a keeper at that position.

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