http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?id=1684758 Friday, December 12, 2003 Ben L. from Oregon asks: What do you think of Twins' prospect J.D. Durbin, and do you think he would be ready to contribute in the majors next season? He's been getting a lot of press in the Twins media and some say that he'll be in the rotation sometime during this next season. I like Johan Santana and Brad Radke at the front of the Twins' rotation, but I feel like they need one more front-end starter to really go anywhere in the playoffs. Could Durbin be that guy? Durbin was a second-round pick in 2000, out of high school in Arizona. He stands 6-foot-0, 190 pounds, not super-imposing on the mound. But he is an excellent athlete, who could have played Division I college football as a receiver. He's got plenty of arm strength, with a 90- to 92-mph fastball and an excellent slider. His changeup can be spotty, although he improved it in 2003. He is very intense emotionally, which has had a few drawbacks at times, but is generally considered a positive trait. The main concern with Durbin is potential durability problems; he throws with a lot of effort, and some worry that he'll get hurt eventually. But it hasn't happened yet. Looking at the numbers, Durbin went 15-5 this year at two levels with a 3.11 ERA. In Double-A he made 14 starts, going 6-3 with a 3.14 mark and a 70/29 K/BB ratio in 95 innings. He still needs work on his command, and at this point I don't think he'll be ready to start the season in the major leagues. We should see him at some juncture in the second half. I don't think he'll be an ace, but I can see him turning into a fine No. 2 or 3 starter, or perhaps an excellent short reliever. I don't expect big numbers from him in '04, but by '05 he should be ready to contribute. I've been a Twins fan most of my life, and I have to say that I'm not real wild about the rotation going in to '04. Radke and Santana are fine, but after that things get shaky, with Eric Milton being traded and the apparent departures of Rick Reed and Kenny Rogers. Shannon Stewart is a very good player, but the Twins have lots of outfielders already begging for playing time, and personally I would rather have spent the money to boost the pitching staff. The Twins are still the favorites to win the division I think, but they have to have several things go right for that to happen, as both the White Sox and the Royals remain dangerous. --

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