Minnesota Twins 2019 Top 50 Prospects

Alex Kirilloff - photo credit Bryan Green on Flickr

Minnesota Twins Top 50 Prospects for 2019

It’s time….it’s time…..it’s PROSPECT TIME! The Twins have had a ton of organizational depth build up throughout the years, and continued to do so in 2018. While in the past they’ve focused on their pitching, it was their offense that I thought took a big step forward last year, towards top caliber players. While not much impact is expected in 2019, it’s next year and beyond that make this an organization to watch and definitely keep an eye on. Patience is key here, and is most definitely a virtue. Doing so could pay off for any dynasty league owner in the future.

Here’s a quick reminder of all of the Twins’ affiliates:

  • AAA: Rochester Red Wings (International League)
  • AA: Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Southern League)
  • A+: Fort Myers Miracle (Florida State League)
  • A-: Cedar Rapids Kernels (Midwest League)
  • Rookie: Elizabethton Twins (Appalachian League)
  • Rookie: GCL Twins (Gulf Coast League)

Prospects1500 Tiers:
Tier 1: Players with high expectations of both making the majors and playing at an All-Star level for a number of years
Tier 2: Players with an above average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 3: Players with an average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
Tier 4: Players who have the potential of making the majors, or have high likelihood of making the majors but providing minimal impact
Tier 5: Players who are worth keeping an eye on, but likely to never make a team’s 40-man roster

For each player on the list, I put their highest level achieved in 2018. Some of the following players have had minimal major league experience, but are still considered minor league eligible players due to not enough qualified at bats or innings pitched.

And without further adieu, I present…..the list de resistance!

 

Tier 1:
1. Royce Lewis, SS
Age: 19
Highest Level: A+
ETA: 2021
The sky is the limit here. Once the current big name prospects from other teams get promoted, you should see Lewis as the top overall prospect, and with good reason. Drafted with the first overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, he earned himself a promotion later that year to A-level Cedar Rapids, which, by all accounts, is a good sign. He showed promise with the bat, slashing a .315/.368/.485 line to start 2018, and was more than good enough with the glove and his defense, thus earning a call up to A+ Fort Myers in July. He continued his upward ascent with a line of .263/.342/.425, all against competition that was older than him, and opened the eyes of scouts everywhere. While he is still young and has time to develop, there is some concern that his body may not translate itself into that of a major league shortstop, thus perhaps making him more of an outfielder. All worries aside, there is no concern with his bat and the sky is the limit for my #1 prospect in the Twins‘ organization.

2. Alex Kirilloff, OF
Age: 20
Highest Level: A+
ETA: 2020
Imagine going to a Fort Myers game and seeing both Lewis and Kirilloff play together on the same field? That’s definitely a site to see, but it may not last for long, because here’s the tale of a player on the fast track for success. Coming back from Tommy John surgery is never an easy task, but Kirilloff did it with ease and opened the eyes of fans everywhere in 2018. Upon his return to baseball, the Twins wasted no time in getting him back to where they wanted him to be. In A+ ball he batted .362/.393/.550, maintained his fantastic hit tool, and was able to spray the ball to all fields while also using power. It’s crazy how far he came this past season, and I even contemplated putting him at #1 because I think he’ll be up before Lewis and will shine. If you have the chance to pick him up now, do so, because the price should be cheap enough where he won’t cost you much.


Tier 2:
3. Brusdar Graterol, RHP
Age: 20
Highest Level: A+
ETA: 2021
I love his name….it reminds me of all of your stereotypical WWE bad guys that come in from other countries, dominate, and do so with massive strength and velocity. And, while Brusdar is by no means a bad guy who will do that to people, he could come in and dominate due to his strength and velocity. Here’s the story of a player who got injured a few years ago, came back with 60 pounds of added muscle, and went from peaking at 88 MPH to bolting to 100 MPH. And while he is short, which could limit his potential to a bullpen arm, the ceiling is high for a guy that not only throws hard, but shows added control. He threw for over 100 innings in 2018, which is a good step forward. Give him time to fine tune his stuff, and he could be their number one arm in a few years. I don’t see the Twins rushing this one.

4. Nick Gordon, SS
Age: 23
Highest Level: AAA
ETA: 2019
Here’s the story of a player who was drafted in 2014, came into the Twins‘ organization, and did everything he was asked to do. Now, he didn’t go above and beyond, and he didn’t do anything less. He’s just a guy who does what he said he would do, and does it well (enough). He struggled in AAA Rochester this season, slashing a lethargic .212/.262/.283 line with minimal power and a ton of strikeouts. Needless to say, he didn’t adapt well to his new surroundings, but he has the ability to come back. He spent time playing 2B this season, perhaps in an attempt to keep Jorge Polanco at SS. I want to believe that the (once upon a time) hype for Gordon is real, so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt that his 2018 AAA numbers are NOT what we can expect. That said, I don’t expect him to go well above and beyond either.

5. Trevor Larnach, OF
Age: 21
Highest Level: A
ETA: 2020
The Twins selected Larnach with the #20 overall selection in the MLB Draft, who was a member of Oregon State, and there is some immense promise here. He went from hitting 3 home runs in 2017 to 19 home runs a year later, all by changing his batting stance and altering his mechanics. He’s got a powerful arm, which should translate to a corner outfield spot. Noted to have high exit velocity, he posts a compact swing despite having a big tall frame. He seems to have some raw power as well, which, once he improves his swing even more, could translate into some nice slash lines. I see him debuting along the same timeline as Kirilloff, making the future outfield very bright for the Twins.

6. Brent Rooker, 1B/OF
Age: 21
Highest Level: AA
ETA: 2019
Pop goes the world should be the theme song for Rooker, as he has flashed some power potential in the minors. Though he has a simple swing consisting of a smooth transfer of his weight and a fluid upper and lower body motion, he does seem to rely on his power too much, causing him to have a lot of strikeouts in the process. He did play 1B in college, but the Twins see him more so as an outfielder, at least for this season if he gets the call up. That said, they’re deep in the outfield and could use some 1B potential if and when the C.J. Cron experiment fails. He has some refinement left to make, but he could be a valuable power piece come next season if given the chance. Hitting 25 HR is not out of the question.


Tier 3:
7. Stephen Gonsalves, RHP
Age: 24
Highest Level: MLB
ETA: 2019
I am probably less excited about Gonsalves as others in the industry are. First, here are the positives: he had a fantastic 2018 in the minors, where he had around a 9 K/9, and held batters well under .200 during his time in both AA and AAA ball. He also has three excellent pitches (fastball, changeup, and curveball) and was successful with his least used pitch, the slider, while in the major leagues. All that being said, he struggled mightily up in the majors, and, for a soft throwing lefty, his other stuff would need to be perfectly placed and timed, and both were non existent. He walked a ton of batters in Minnesota (22 BB in 24.2 IP), and surrendered even more hits. He’s a good enough pitcher to improve on this, but I don’t see him being more than a decent mid rotation starter at best.

8. Akil Baddoo, OF
Age: 20
Highest Level: A
ETA: 2021
At only 5’11 and under 200 pounds, one wouldn’t expect Baddoo to have as much power as he does. However, he did flash some power with 11 home runs and an additional 33 extra base hits in 2018, though that didn’t come without a of strikeouts: 124….all of which came in 423 at bats. What really impressed me though was his discipline at the plate, as he walked nearly 15% of the time, and that patience at the plate shows great awareness of pitches. If this can continue, it leads me to believe that he will be able to maintain a steady upward pace up the rankings all while his body develops from a boy into a man and improving on his hit and power tools. He shouldn’t be up until after Kirilloff, but should produce well when he does.

9. Wander Javier, SS
Age: 19
Highest Level: Rookie Ball
ETA: 2023
If there’s one player on this list that is a complete roll of the dice, it’s Javier, who has an immense amount of raw potential; he could also turn out to be a bust. It seems there’s no in between for him. He’s suffered through some nagging injuries to his hamstring and a torn labrum to stunt his development, but he’s been able to produce when healthy. In 2017, he had an impressive .299/.383/.471 line over 180 plate appearances in Rookie Ball, but his 2018 was cut short due to the aformentioned injury. He’s shown that he has the tools, and I’m a glass half full kind of guy with him. I think he’ll be able to show us why he was signed for a franchise record $4 million signing bonus when he was just 16.

10. Lewis Thorpe, LHP
Age: 22
Highest Level: AAA
ETA: 2019
His background and rise to the top is straight out of a movie: elbow injury in 2014, Tommy John in 2015, mono in 2016….yet here he is. He pitched well in 2017 and was added to the 40 man roster that offseason and was invited to the Futures Games in 2018. His stuff is very good, but great seems like a stretch in that better experienced batters may be able to hit him. He does have four developed pitches, which makes him uniquely intriguing. He just needs to be injury free and develop himself at a normal pace.

Tier 4:
11. Jorge Alcala, RHP
Age: 23
Highest Level: AA
ETA: 2020
A hard throwing Dominican pitcher, Alcala came over with Celestino (who you will see soon) from the Astros in a midseason trade. It’s worth noting that late in 2017, his fastball was consistently hitting 99 MPH, and even once hit 102 MPH, so he’s able to throw the heat. Questions arise of if he’s able to not only become a starter, but stay a starter, where he was originally projected to be, but his lack of control is glaring. If he can lower the walks, then he has a shot to be a mid rotation guy, but others suggest that a bullpen role might be what’s best, since he can throw so hard. There is a ton of upside here.

12. Blayne Enlow, RHP
Age: 19
Highest Level: A
ETA: 2021
A high school pitcher with great success in 2017, Enlow was committed to go to LSU, so the Twins used million to sign him, thus showing their significant interest in him. After a successful outing with the A-Level GCL Twins, he was assigned to go to Level-A Cedar Rapids, where he not only pitched well, but grew up and over 190 pounds through strength and conditioning. What makes him even more intriguing as a prospect is that he finished the season very strong, surrendering only 12 runs in his final 52.1 innings. Armed with a low 90’s fastball and an elite breaking ball, he is one developed pitch away from being able to overtake more experienced batters and take the next step forward.

13. Gilberto Celestino, OF
Age: 19
Highest Level: AA (Astros)
ETA: 2021
Before anything else, how about a shout out to Celestino for the rarity of throwing with his left hand, yet batting right….not too many people, if any, can do that! Anyways, he’s a great defender with speed in center field, making him an asset when he’s on the field. With the bat, there isn’t much power to talk about, and he does have a small frame, but his bat speed is deceptively good with a very good hit tool that will allow him to at the very least get on base and utilize his speed. He has time to develop all of this as I don’t see him up for a few years.

14. Luis Arraez, 2B/OF
Age: 21
Highest Level: AA
ETA: 2020
Arraez’s strength is most definitely his bat, as he can make contact and get on base. He shows excellent plate discipline and can spread the ball around multiple fields. Once considered to be one of the better young prospects in the system, his career was derailed as he injured his ACL in 2016. He quickly rebounded to hit over .300 upon his return and was subsequently promoted to AA, doing the same there for the Lookouts. The negative here lies with the fact that he possess no power at all and limited speed. If he could somehow improve on that, he will shoot up the rankings and become a household name.

15. LaMonte Wade, OF
Age: 24
Highest Level: AAA
ETA: 2019
Considered by some to be under-rated, others see him as an overachiever. He’s not necessarily great at any one thing, but he’s solid all around. He struggled when got called up to AAA, as his strikeout rate almost doubled. He’s an older prospect, so his time is soon. If he can adjust to better pitching, and tap into some power, he should have at the very least a reserve role somewhere on the Twins‘ roster at some point in 2019.

16. Gabriel Maciel, OF
Age: 19
Highest Level: A
ETA: 2022
Acquired from the Diamondbacks in the trade of Eduardo Escobar, the switch-hitting OF shows patience at the plate, sporting a walk rate of 10%, while shouldering a K rate of 16%. He seems to be more of a speedy defender type of player, and perhaps even more as a traditional proto-typical leadoff hitter. He has a long way to go before he enters the majors, but he’s on the right path.

17. Luke Raley, OF/1B
Age: 24
Highest Level: AA
ETA: 2019
Another in-season acquisition, as he was a part of the Brian Dozier deal, Raley comes off a very successful NCAA career and a phenomenal year in Class A ball for the Dodgers. He’s big, tall, and is able to hit both left and right handed pitching, which can be tough for young batters. What impressed me about him is that no matter where he’s been, whether at AA Tulsa or AA Chattanooga (post trade) he has produced and has been on a steady upwards swing. With a more polished swing, he could be one to watch late in the 2019 season to earn a spot on the Twins in 2020.

18. Travis Blankenhorn, 2B
Age: 22
Highest Level: A+
ETA: 2020
He reminds scouts of Baddoo, in that he has a solid frame and deceptive power, that was tapped into this season. He shows ability to drive the ball and has flashed power surges, leading him to hit 11 home runs at A+ this past season, but his K% was his weakness, striking out 26% of the time. What happens when he starts AA will be telling if he has a bright future or not. He needs to work on his glove and his hit tool, both of which do not project to be great. As said, starting AA will be a great indicator of if he can take the next leap or not.

19. Ben Rortvedt, C
Age: 21
Highest Level: A+
ETA: 2021
Behind the plate, Rortvedt has displayed prowess, being able to block the plate and throwing out 36% of base stealers. Where he needs to improve, however, is in the batter’s box, where he showed more consistency in 2018, sporting a .253/.347/.373 line. The catcher position has been thin for the Twins for quite awhile in the minors, so if he can improve on his hitting, he can expect a call up in a couple of years.

20. Zack Littell, RHP
Age: 23
Highest Level: MLB
ETA: 2019
Despite a bump in the road with 20+ innings pitched for the Twins this season, Littell had a successful 2018. He doesn’t have fast, overpowering stuff, but he does have good control, working the zone well to get batters out. He likes to keep the ball down and relies on ground ball outs. He should take a step forward this season, and not only pitch for the Twins out of the pen, but also get some spot starts. He projects to be at best a fourth starter, but probably a fifth.

21. Lewin Diaz, 1B
Age: 21
Highest Level: A+
ETA: 2020
As a 1B, his numbers from 2018 did not bounce off the page, in a positive way: .224/.255/.344 with six home runs do not look great whatsoever, but there is some potential. He’s a young A+ player who possesses untapped potential as he makes consistent contact and shows the ability to drive the ball everywhere. Hopefully after another year of seasoning, he can move up these ranks.

22. Yunior Severino, 2B/SS
Age: 19
Highest Level: Rookie
ETA: 2022
There’s not much to go on for Severino, as he’s played only a handful of games in Rookie Ball. He was a victim of a big release of all international prospects by the Braves due to their penalty for violating signing rules of their own. The Twins swooped in to sign him, and the rest, as they say, is history. Scouts everywhere have said he has quick wrists when he swings and a great hit tool. His .259/.309/.391 line suggests that there is some potential as he did also hit eight doubles and five home runs. He should be one to jump up the ladder quickly and become one of the Twins‘ top prospects within a couple of years.

23. Jhoan Duran, RHP
Age: 20
Highest Level: A
ETA: 2021
Another former Diamondback, Duran is an exciting prospect to watch, because his upside seems apparent and legit. In 36 innings pitched for Cedar Rapids, Duran struck out 44 batters with an 2.00 ERA and a WHIP under 1.00. He has a mid 90’s fastball right now, which could increase as his body matures and develops. What’s even better than that is that his fastball sinks, leading to ground ball outs. If he fails as a mid rotation starter, he could be a late innings pitcher, if his control and command don’t pan out as hoped.

24. Jacob Pearson, OF
Age: 20
Highest Level: A
ETA: 2021
Acquired from the Angels for international signing bonus money, Pearson was brought in and impressed people with his power and his speed. With an outside shot of 20-20 potential, he grades out as a 45, due in part to a weak(er) arm, which should improve once his torn labrum fully heals. He has time on his side and another full year to show what he has to offer.

25. Tyler Wells, RHP
Age: 23
Highest Level: AA
ETA: 2020
With a massive frame at 6’8” and 265 pounds, Wells did well at Fort Myers before being promoted to AA Chattanooga, where he dominated. Over his career, he is 20-13, with a 2.82 ERA and 288 strikeouts over 255.2 innings pitched and a WHIP of 1.06…..very impressive. It’ll be interesting to see how a pitcher so big and tall develops as scouts know how to hit him. Pitchers that tall don’t normally succeed since they’re already so high up on the mound. Give him a year and then (hopefully) watch him boom up the rankings.

26. John Curtiss, RHP
Age: 25
Highest Level: MLB
ETA: 2019
One of our older prospects here, Curtiss has actually had some time in the majors, but struggled mightily. First, the positives: mid to high 90’s fastball and a nice breaking ball that projects well as a late bullpen arm; very successful for AAA, which included a 10.2 MiLB K/9 and even 10 saves in 2018 and 19 back in 2017. The negatives: 15 career innings pitched for the Twins with 17 hits and 6 walks (but 17 strikeouts!). Give him some more time to develop before he tries it again at the major league level.

27. Kohl Stewart, RHP
Age: 24
Highest Level: MLB
ETA: 2019
A former multi-sport athlete (football as well), Stewart struggled in the minors after a rough season in AA, thus leading to him being unprotected in the Rule 5 Draft. He remained in the organization and, despite his poor outings, did get a call up to the majors. The weird part about looking at his stats is that he seemed to have his best part of 2018 while actually in the majors, recording 2 wins, a lower ERA than both AA and AAA, and holding opponents to a .246 batting average. All that being said, he still has a ways to go if he’s going to remain with the club, like lowering his walks and hits as well as improving on the location of his pitches. Rumors of him returning to football have surfaced, so perhaps that is distracting him from reaching his full potential.

28. Andrew Vasquez, LHP
Age: 24
Highest Level: MLB
ETA: 2019
Here’s a guy who started in A+ and moved all the way to the MLB level within one season, thanks to a combined 108 strikeouts in 69.1 innings, and ERA of 1.30 and a WHIP of 1.024 in 40 games. He uses his curveball to keep batters guessing since his fastball usually clocks around 90 MPH. He’s a good left handed arm in the bullpen for the Twins this season. Maybe a good holds player if he continues to better his pitches.


Tier 5:
29. Jose Miranda, 2B/3B
Age: 20
Highest Level: A+
ETA: 2022
Miranda struggled upon his promotion to A+, but that doesn’t mean that the end is near. He projects to be above average with the bat, but one that can make consistent contact and spread the ball. He lacks power and speed, but is decent with the glove. He’s a player the Twins will take their time on since they are so deep already at the middle of the field.

30. Luis Rijo, RHP
Age: 20
Highest Level: Rookie
Acquired from the Yankees in the Lance Lynn deal, Rijo has the potential to be a mid to back end of the rotation starter. Impressive numbers in a season that include a 20% K rate and a low 5% BB rate, Rijo could jump up the rankings if he can work on developing a third pitch, other than his low-to-mid 90’s fastball and his live curveball.

31. Landon Leach, RHP
Age: 19
Highest Level: Rookie
ETA: 2023
At 6’4, 220 pounds, Leach is one of the biggest prospects on this list. What makes him unique, other than the fact that he’s Canadian (like me:)) is the fact that he has transitioned well from being a catcher to a pitcher. With mixed results in the bag, which include a 2.18 ERA but a 10% BB rate, his “shot in the dark” potential is something to monitor as he heads into another season.

32. Tyler Jay, LHP
Age: 24
Highest Level: AA
ETA: 2020
Originally thought of as a potential starter, Jay seems poised to have a role at the back end of the bullpen, as his struggles and injuries have added up over the years. With a live mid 90’s fastball, and three other developing pitches, Jay has a shot to be great in the bullpen, but only if he can polish one or more of those other pitches and stay healthy. That is, however, a big IF, and there are others in the organization to do what Jay can do too.

33. Ryan Jeffers, C
Age: 21
Highest Level: A
ETA: 2021
Unfortunate for Jeffers is that he has a bigger frame than the proto-typical catcher body at 6’4”, 228 pounds, and a bat that would not hold up at any other position. And though he has a good arm behind the plate, can call a decent game and throw out batters, until he improves with the bat, he’s nothing more than a platoon-type catcher at an already thin position for the Twins.

34. Andrew Bechtold, 3B
Age: 22
Highest Level: A
ETA: 2020
A rare Twins 3B prospect here, Bechtold makes consistent contact and displays patience at the plate, showing he knows how to get on base. He has some speed and is pretty solid with the glove, making it promising for him in the future. Give him a full season to develop, and we could see him shoot up the rankings.

35. Jordan Balazovic, RHP
Age: 20
Highest Level: A
ETA: 2021
Signed out of high school 3 years ago, the Canadian has filled out considerably, which has allowed his fastball to gain traction. With a great K/9 rate in 2018, (11.4 in 11 starts), the Twins still feel like they have a starter on their hands, but only time will tell if they’re right. Patience is key here, and he is one to keep an eye on for the future.

36. Devin Smeltzer, LHP
Age: 23
Highest Level: AA
ETA: 2019
Acquired in the Brian Dozier trade, the Twins got yet another arm that could pay dividends in the future. With a good K rate and a changeup that looks like a two seam fastball, Smeltzer has transitioned into a relief role with the Twins organization, becoming someone who could see some time with the club later this season.

37. Griffin Jax, RHP
Age: 24
Highest Level: A+
ETA: 2020
Despite having military field service in his background (and potential future), the Twins took a chance on Jax when others wouldn’t, and he’s paid them back well. He’s a plain and simple pitcher who throws hard and has four pitches up his sleeve, though all can use refinement. Give him a few years before making the leap on Jax.

38. Misael Urbina, OF
Age: 16
Highest Level: N/A
ETA: 2022
Here’s someone that has a ton of potential, but is down the rankings only because his major league debut is so far away. Here’s what we know of the fourth highest paid Venezuelan player prospect signed earlier this year: above average speed, hit and field tools, average arm, below average power, solid contact hitter, promising center-fielder with range. The ETA is just a guess for me, as I really don’t know, but what I do know is that he has immense promise and will be fun to monitor.

39. Ryley Widell, LHP
Age: 21
Highest level: Rookie
ETA: 2022
He’s a big, tall pitcher who uses a curveball and fastball with decent command. If he can develop his changeup, he could be a multi-inning bullpen arm to get useful outs and some strikeouts. If he can keep the walks down, he’d be even more valuable.

40. Jaylin Davis, OF
Age: 24
Highest Level: AA
ETA: 2020
Some nice power potential here from Davis, but until he can keep the strikeouts to a minimum, it’ll be tough for him to offer any value in mixed leagues. Here’s hoping that he can exhibit more patience at the plate and improve on his poorly graded hit tool. In doing that, his value could be sneaky good as a power source.

41. DaShawn Keirsey Jr., OF
Age: 21
Highest Level: Rookie
ETA: 2022
After destroying PAC12 pitching, he did well in Rookie Ball, sporting a .301/.371/.427 line, albeit with no power to speak of. It will be interesting to see if a full season of Rookie Ball (or higher) will be just as easy or more difficult.

42. Cole Sands, RHP
Age: 22
Highest Level: NCAA
Yet to pitch professionally, it’s hard to judge talent. All we know is that he was drafted in the 5th round of the 2018 MLB Draft, can hit the mid 90’s with his fastball, and, along with a slider, mixed in a two-seamer and a curveball as a junior. At 6’3”, he screams potential, but, until we see a full season, it’ll be difficult to project anything.

43. Dakota Chalmers. RHP
Age: 21
Highest Level: A (Oakland A’s)
ETA: 2021
Traded by the A’s in the Fernando Rodney deal, the young prospect can hit the mid 90’s with his fastball and possesses some tailing motion on it as well. The A’s also tweaked and altered his throwing motion so that his front leg could be stronger and more useful. He suffered an injury and required Tommy John surgery this summer. He’s a name to watch this September to see how rehab is going.

44. Alex Robinson, LHP
Age: 24
Highest Level: A+
ETA: 2021
Robinson struggled entering A+ Ball this season as he couldn’t keep batters off the bases. It’ll take some refinement and consistent work in 2019 for Robinson to get any glimmer of hope of joining the big leagues anytime soon. He’s got a long ways to go.

45. Ryan Costello, 1B/3B
Age: 22
Highest Level: A
ETA: 2021
Traded from the Mariners to the Twins, Costello brings good plate discipline and decent power with him. If he can keep the strikeouts down, he could find a way to the main roster as a nice utility-type player and have a niche role with the club.

46. Zack Granite, OF
Age: 24
2018 Highest Level: AAA
ETA: 2019
He played for the Twins in 2017 as a backup and did very little to impress. He’s probably just there to hold the fort until other, better prospects/players make their way to the Twins. Nothing to see here.

47. Charles Mack, 3B/SS
Age: 19
Highest Level: Rookie
ETA: 2022
Despite showing considerable power in the collegiate level, Mack struggled with the bat last season in Rookie Ball. A second season with the club could be what he needs to get back on track.

48. Josh Winder, RHP
Age: 22
Highest Level: Rookie
ETA: 2022
In nine games this season, Winder actually did quite well, sporting an ERA of 3.72, posting a WHIP of 1.11, and surrendering only one home run. It’s a long shot, but keep an eye on this 2018 7th round pick for any progress or regression.

49. Chris Williams, C
Age: 22
Highest Level: Rookie
ETA: 2022
A senior out of Clemson, Williams hit 15 home runs this past season, and showed nice plate discipline. The position is thin within the Twins‘ franchise, so anything is possible.

50. Willie Joe Garry Jr., OF
Age: 18
Highest level: Rookie
ETA: 2022
Willie struggled in Rookie Ball this past year and has a ways to go to be anywhere near relevant for fantasy purposes.

Dave Funnell covers the Minnesota Twins minor leagues for Prospects1500. Located just south of Toronto in the city of Hamilton, he's an hour away from Buffalo (and the Bisons). He's been a fan of baseball his entire life and doesn't have a favorite team, which hopefully gives way for objectivty in analysis. Dave is in multiple keeper fantasy baseball leagues and is active on Twitter at @sportz_nutt51.




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