I’ve decided to write a series of posts regarding the depth in the Twins system or possibly lack thereof depending on how you feel about a particular position. I plan to go position by position in hopes to shed some light on who could make an impact as early as 2025, or who may make an impact within a few years. I started doing this back in 2023 and then life happened, so let’s try again! I’ve worked my way around the diamond and will discuss shortstops today! I’ll be using Roster Resource’s depth chart, which can be found at FanGraphs. There is a long list of shortstops, and as mentioned, a number of these guys will move down the defensive spectrum. Guys who were once shortstop prospects currently on the roster include Royce Lewis, Brooks Lee, Austin Martin, and Jose Miranda.

Here are the previous iterations:
Catchers

1^st base

2^nd base

3^rd base

Here is a short write up of each player at shortstop in the Twins System that is not on the 40-man roster. I’ll include how they were acquired, and the highest level played at in 2024.

Ben Ross

Level: AA

Acquired: 5^th round, 2022

               Drafted in the 5^th round in 2022 out of Division II Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Ohio, Ross had moved up the organizational ladder slowly but sure, having played this past season in AA Wichita. In three years in college ball, he hit .405/.471/.758 so the bat was a stand out tool in those years. He has played primarily shortstop since being drafted and struggled some offensively in 2024, finishing with a .626 OPS. He did show the ability to steal bases, nabbing 20 over his season with the Wind Surge. He showed some steps forward in the Arizona Fall League, where he hit .281 with 1 HR and 15 RBI with three stolen bases over 24 games played. Ross will likely end up with AAA St. Paul at some point this year and if he can hit enough, a utility role could be in the cards for him.

Rayne Doncon

Level: A+

Acquired: Trade (LAD), 2024

               Acquired along with Manuel Margot for former 1^st round pick, Noah Miller from the Dodgers, Doncon started the 2024 season with single-A Fort Myers and was promoted to High-A Cedar Rapids in May. His offensive numbers left something to be desired with the Kernels, but he was a full 2 years younger than the average player at high-A this past year. He will likely start the year in Cedar Rapids and see if he can continue to build on what he has learned in his time in professional ball. I would guess he could end up at AA at some point in the year, getting a taste of the high minors at the age of 21. He’s someone that lots of folks probably wrote off as a “toss in” with Margot, but Doncon does show some promise at multiple infield positions, including second base and third base, which he played this past season.

Danny De Andrade

Level: A+

Acquired: Amateur Free Agency, 2021

               De Andrade was part of the international Free Agency class in 2021, having signed for $2.2 million. He has risen through the minors steadily since then. He played in just 24 games prior to suffering an ankle injury, so the hope is he can have a healthy year to continue moving forward in his progression. The big question is if he will stick at shortstop long term, but he has mostly played shortstop, so the Twins are giving him every chance to stick there. He could end up as high as AA this year as long as he is able to stay healthy and productive.

Jorel Ortega

Level: AA

Acquired: 6^th round, 2022  

               Ortega, drafted in the 6^th round in 2022 out of Tennessee, has played shortstop, but also played a number of other positions including 1^st base, 2^nd base, 3^rd base, left field, and center field this past season in AA. This was likely to see if he could handle different positions, but also because a lot of prospects who are shortstops end up moving to different spots because not everyone can play shortstop long term. Ortega will be in his age 24 season in 2025, so seeing if he can hit like he did in the lower minors will be key to his value. He has shown the ability to walk some, with a 10.6% walk rate at AA this past season, paired with a 24.5% strikeout rate.

Kaelen Culpepper

Level: A+

Acquired: 1^st round, 2024

               You’ve probably read a decent amount on Culpepper, who was taken in the 1^st round this past year with the 21^st overall pick. He starred at Kansas State, first at 3^rd base and then shifting over to shortstop to finish his collegiate career. In 61 games with the Wildcats, he hit 11 HR and stole 17 bases, which helped move him up draft boards. He has shown a disciplined approach, and the ability to have upwards of average power long term. His long term position may be at 3^rd, but he may need to hit for a bit more power to be considered a long term option there. Keep an eye on him this year to see how he continues to develop in his first full year with the Twins.

Brandon Winokur

Level: A

Acquired: 3^rd round, 2023

               Winokur can play a bunch of different positions, and at 6’6”, he probably isn’t a shortstop long term. Rated as the Twins #17 prospect this past year, Winokur held his own in single-A with Fort Myers hitting .249/.327/761 during his age 19 season. Winokur has also shown his ability to play center field, 3^rd base, and right field, so his long term position may still be in flux. Expect to see Winokur at AA Wichita if he continues to hit. Striking out less is something to keep an eye on, having struck out 28% of the time in 2024. He’s an exciting prospect, who is extremely athletic and someone I’m personally excited to see develop over the next few years.

Nick Lucky

Highest Level: AAA (for 1 game), A+ for regular time

Acquired: Free Agent (Indy), 2024

               A former 14^th round pick by the Red Sox in 2018, going unsigned, Lucky signed with the Twins out of independent ball in 2024 after playing college at Coastal Carolina. Playing mostly in single-A and high-A, Lucky did get called up to AAA for one game this past year. He played in 60 games in the Twins organization this past year, hitting .203/.338/.356, so unless he can improve offensively, he may serve as organizational depth until then. One intriguing thing on him is that he played other positions, so his ability to play multiple positions is likely the reason he got that one game call up in July to AAA as a fill-in. He’s played LF, RF, 2B, and 3B  along with shortstop in his one year with the Twins.

Yilber Herrera

Level: Complex League

Acquired: Amateur Free Agent, 2022

               Herrera, a switch-hitting middle infielder spent 2024 in the Complex League, playing in 45 games. He is still just playing in his age 20 season in 2025, so has a long way to go to make an impact, but he has stolen 27 bases in 130 games between the Dominican Summer League and the Complex League over the past few years, so that is something to keep an eye on.

Bryan Acuna

Level: Complex League

Acquired: Amateur Free Agent, 2022

               At just 18, Acuna was an above average hitter in the Complex League, where he was over a year younger than the average player at that level. His brother, outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr of the Braves is one of the best players in the game, so that’s a fun tidbit about him. Acuna has shown a good eye at the plate, having walked at a high rate over the past two seasons. Here’s to hoping he continues to develop and can rise up some prospect boards in 2025.

Daiber De Los Santos

Level: DSL

Acquired: Amateur Free Agent, 2024

               Playing in 47 games in the Dominican Summer League, De Los Santos struck out at a very high rate (31%), but still hit for a solid average at .301. He’s going to be playing his age 18 season, so still a long way to develop, but a guy further down to check on from time to time.

Hendry Chivilli

Level: Complex League

Acquired: Amateur Free Agent, 2023

               Chivilli was ranked as the 38^th best prospect in the 2023 international class. Still getting his feet wet in pro ball over the past two years, he will likely be at the Complex League and we will see if he continues to develop. An MLB scouting report prior to signing said “The teen has solid tools across the board, and those skills should improve as he matures and his body develops. He already shows good arm strength, and it projects to be above average as he makes his way through the Minor Leagues.”

Santiago Leon

Level: ---

Acquired: Amateur Free Agent, 2025

               Leon was ranked #24 in this year’s international free agent class and signed for $1 million. Check out JD Cameron’s breakdown of Leon here.

Haritzon Castillo

Level: ---

Acquired: Amateur Free Agent, 2025

               Signing for $950,000, Castillo was ranked #43 in this year’s international free agent class. JD’s breakdown on Castillo can be found here.