Twitter Ten: Top Minor League Players To Follow | 
This weeks’ column is a spotlight for MILB players in the Twitter world. I had a few criteria:
Consistency – Like their game on the field, this was of the highest importance. Consistent, fairly frequent content…
Content – Sharing updates and engaging with followers is what baseball fans are looking for from their team’s rising stars.
Humor – All the guys chosen get high marks in that area.
Finally, Personable – Sounds silly, but I see plenty of guys completely ignore compliments, recommendations, and questions. That’s not good Twitter etiquette.
These ten players utilize the social media tool to reach baseball fans, relating their unique experiences, and making even more of a name for themselves off the baseball field.
I also decided to include independent baseball players, despite not being affiliated with the major leagues, indy league has become more important to major league teams. And certainly more popular. And had I not allowed them, I would’ve had to omit the number one pick. And that would’ve been impossible.
1. Michael Schlact @michael_schlact Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (Atlantic League)
2. Ryan Westmoreland @RWesty25 Boston Red Sox
3. Deck McGuire @deckmcguire Toronto Blue Jays
4. Jiwan James @jiwan23 Philadelphia Phillies
5. Justin Jackson @JaxChillinONE Toronto Blue Jays
6. Richard Giannotti @JustMeGee Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
7. Brandon Douglas @BrandonDouglas5 Detroit Tigers
8. Ian Kadish @BearJew36 Toronto Blue Jays
9. Zack Wheeler @WheelerPro45 New York Mets
10. Kevin Rath @KRath702 Chicago White Sox
Twitter has been a source of controversy and debate in connection with athletes, but those ten players have successfully reached baseball fans on social media. It’s an interesting concept. Athletes, particularly young ones, are hotly protected by their teams and agents. But there’s a way to be themselves and socialize, as well as increasing their visibility, without embarrassing themselves or those invested in them.
In the future, more minor league players will surely join with the hope of creating a following before they’ve made it to the majors. They can look to these ten to know exactly how it’s done and the value of the experience.
All players were listed with team they were with in 2011. Free agency wasn’t taken into account.
Topics: Baseball Fans, Baseball Field, Baseball Players, Boston Red Sox, Brandon Douglas, Chicago White Sox, Compliments, Consistency, Detroit Tigers, Etiquette, Followers, Game, Giannotti, Independent Baseball, Jackson 5, Jiwan, Justin Jackson, Kadish, Maryland Blue Crabs, Media Tool, Michael Schlact, minor league baseball, Minor League Players, Nationals, New York Mets, Padres, Philadelphia Phillies, Rising Stars, Rule 5 Draft, Southern Maryland, Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, Spotlight, Toronto Blue Jays, Westmoreland, White Sox, Yankees
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Typo on my twitter name. KRath702 not KRath72. But thanks so much for the compliments! Its greatly appreciated
Just wanted to note here, Brandon Douglas (@BrandonDouglas5) is awesome. I became his 500th follower last night and he promised me tickets to a game next year. Needless to say, he won a new fan. What a fantastic use of social media. If there’s a right way to use Twitter, it’s the way he uses it. Great list.
[...] Before I begin, I’d like to give a big thanks to Justin for taking the time to answer my questions, and he also responded really quickly as well. So, if you have a Twitter account you should go check out Justin’s profile (https://twitter.com/#!/JaxChillinONE ) and follow him. Justin was recently ranked number 5 for the top Minor League tweeters, on baseballdigest.com. Here is the article to see the list, http://www.baseballdigest.com/2011/12/19/twitter-ten-top-minor-league-players-to-follow [...]