The Twins Most and Least Aggressive Prospect Assignments

[Cody Christie]

The Twins' minor league seasons are underway, and there are top prospects to follow at every level. Here are Minnesota's most and least aggressive prospect assignments in the farm system.

Image courtesy of William Parmeter

Earlier this week, MLB Pipeline examined minor league rosters across baseball and found the most and least aggressive prospect assignments. Player development only sometimes follows a linear path. Some players need to repeat a level to prove their performance was legitimate. Other players must repeat a level because they struggled in the previous campaign. Here's a look into the Twins farm system and some of the most and least aggressive assignments. 

Most Aggressive
Danny De Andrade, Low-A 
Age: 19
De Andrade is the only teenager on the Fort Myers roster, and he's two years younger than any other player on his team. Last season, he played 48 games with the FCL Twins, where he was nearly two years younger than the average age of the competition. In 204 plate appearances, he hit .242/.333/.371 (.704) with nine doubles, one triple, four home runs, and a 34-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He's young for his level, but the Twins believe he can find success while facing older competition. 

Emmanuel Rodriguez, High-A
Age: 20
Eyes across the baseball world will be on Rodriguez this season after a breakout 2022 campaign. In 47 games, he hit .272/.493/.552 (1.044) with five doubles, three triples, nine home runs, and more walks (57) than strikeouts (52). His season ended early after injuring his knee on a slide into second base, so the Twins could have sent him back to Low-A, where he'd still be young for the level. Instead, he's among a handful of top prospects on the Cedar Rapids roster.

Connor Prielipp, High-A
Age: 22
Entering the season, Prielipp had yet to throw a professional inning after being drafted by the Twins in the second round last June. He had the potential to be a first-round pick, but some teams avoided him because he was returning from Tommy John surgery. The Twins could have let him get his feet wet in Fort Myers, but the club has confidence that he is one of the organization's top pitching prospects. He's over a year younger than the average age of the competition in the Midwest League, so he should pitch the bulk of his innings at High-A in 2023. 

Least Aggressive
Brooks Lee, Double-A
Age: 22
Lee is considered the top Twins prospect by many national outlets. The Twins were very aggressive with him after taking him in the first round last year. He played at three different levels and finished the season in Wichita. Twins fans saw a lot of Lee during spring training as he played in 14 games and had 47 plate appearances. An argument could have been made for Lee to begin the year at Triple-A, but the Saints roster has more veteran players ahead of Lee on the depth chart. If Lee continues to perform well, he should reach Triple-A in the season's second half.

Edouard Julien, Triple-A
Age: 23
Julien is looking to build off a breakout season between Double-A and the Arizona Fall League. He came to spring training with a chance to break camp with the big-league club. He posted a 1.114 OPS this spring and was impressive during the World Baseball Classic while serving as Canada's lead-off hitter. Jorge Polanco's injury could have opened an opportunity for him to make his big-league debut. Still, the Twins thought getting some experience at the Triple-A level was more important. Author's note: Julien was called up earlier this week to take Joey Gallo's roster spot.

Should the Twins have been more or less aggressive with these prospect assignments? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. 

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[mikelink45]

I am always thinking aggressive.  Good players prosper when challenged and MLB is getting younger and younger with top prospects making their way to the bigs quicker than ever.

[FlyingFinn]

They are all good to me. The aggressive assignments all have some struggles (E-Rod with batting average). E-Rod leads the team (maybe the league) in RBI's. He walks, strikes out, and hits extra base hits. No singles yet this year. He seems to be a clutch player, getting big time hits when needed.

[jorgenswest]

Julien’s arm action will cost some outs. They will miss out on some double plays and close plays at first base. I am not sure it gets much better in AAA though repetition and foot work in the position can help. That kind of work would be easier to do in AAA. If he can show his bat will make up for those lost outs he needs to stay. He has a window to show his bat belongs at the top of a major league line up. It is up to him.

It seems a real stretch to think that Brooks Lee was least aggressive. He is 22 with virtually no time at AA. How many drafted last year are above his level? If that is the best you found then the Twins were very aggressive in their promotions this year.

[Fatbat]

The Angels just called up Zach Neto who was drafted 5 spots after Brookes Lee. They say he is up for the long term and have moved former Twin Gio Urshela to first base. I’d prefer that the Twins move a little slower in developing all the youngsters on the above list but I cant help but wonder if at least 3 of them are with the varsity when we make a deep run in the playoffs this October! 

[Jocko87]

I would be more neutral with Lee.  After being very aggressive last year it would have been extremely aggressive to all but skip AA.  If he was ready to skip AA he would have been in the breaking camp discussion.  They were able to be aggressive last year because he produced, that has to come first.  He's right where he should be and if he keeps playing well he will be moving quickly again.

I'm quite interested in Prielipp, both from seeing the individual player develop and as a gauge of how aggressive they are willing to be.  If they are willing to be aggressive with a pitcher coming off an injury like this there would seeem to be a bit of front office mindset change.  If he pitches well, I would not be surprised to see him in Wichita this year, along with E-Rod.

[Jocko87]

47 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

The Angels just called up Zach Neto who was drafted 5 spots after Brookes Lee. They say he is up for the long term and have moved former Twin Gio Urshela to first base. I’d prefer that the Twins move a little slower in developing all the youngsters on the above list but I cant help but wonder if at least 3 of them are with the varsity when we make a deep run in the playoffs this October! 

I wouldn't read too much into comping Neto and Lee, the Angels have nothing at SS holding him back and are in win now mode trying to get Ohtani to believe in the future.  Urshela already has 6 starts platooning with David Fletcher at SS and they can't win that way.  If Lee was in the Angles org he might have broke camp with them.

[Fatbat]

2 minutes ago, Jocko87 said:

I wouldn't read too much into comping Neto and Lee, the Angels have nothing at SS holding him back and are in win now mode trying to get Ohtani to believe in the future.  Urshela already has 6 starts platooning with David Fletcher at SS and they can't win that way.  If Lee was in the Angles org he might have broke camp with them.

I agree! I hope for Neto’s sake that the lack of milb development doesn’t mess him up long term. In the same thought light tho, I can see Lee getting the August call up if he is crushing it in AA and we keep sending guys to the IL all summer long.  If Erod does the same in Iowa, he will likely be moved up to AA in June or July.  As always I worry that Buxton will trip on a blade of grass and end his season early which could then lead to Erod being on the post season roster and since it seems like he lives for the big moments…. He could be given a spot to show off….

[Jocko87]

5 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

I agree! I hope for Neto’s sake that the lack of milb development doesn’t mess him up long term. In the same thought light tho, I can see Lee getting the August call up if he is crushing it in AA and we keep sending guys to the IL all summer long.  If Erod does the same in Iowa, he will likely be moved up to AA in June or July.  As always I worry that Buxton will trip on a blade of grass and end his season early which could then lead to Erod being on the post season roster and since it seems like he lives for the big moments…. He could be given a spot to show off….

I don't know much about him but its not a bad situation.  He's 22 and with Trout, Ohtani and Rendon he should be able to hit low in the order and just play out of the spotlight.  Pretty good vets to ask about breaking into the league young too.  He was also raking in the minors.

[gman]

Well Julien is in the majors. Pre-injuries, there would not have been room on the major league roster. That might be an aggressive move.  Of course this might be a year when he is on the shuttle between 3 A and the majors.

I think Lee was just fine starting at 2 A and I'm thinking he gets to 3A by late May to early June. He could make it to the majors in August if there's room and he earns it. Let him earn his way all the way up, no reason for automatic promotions.

[FlyingFinn]

1 hour ago, Jocko87 said:

I'm quite interested in Prielipp, both from seeing the individual player develop and as a gauge of how aggressive they are willing to be. 

No chance now to be aggressive. He's back on the IL.

[Jocko87]

6 minutes ago, FlyingFinn said:

No chance now to be aggressive. He's back on the IL.

Shoot, didn't see that. What is it for?

[FlyingFinn]

Just now, Jocko87 said:

Shoot, didn't see that. What is it for?

 "to see team doctors for evaluation of surgically repaired left elbow."

[TopGunn#22]

I'm always in favor of promoting aggressively.  Who is the hot prospect at SS in St. Paul blocking Lee?  No one.  I'm O.K. with Lee at AA only if he's in St. Paul by 2-3 weeks into May.  Julien belongs with the major league team.  Some of this will depend when Farmer is able to come back but they need Julien at the top of the order against RH pitchers and maybe full time.  I have to admit, I've been very impressed with Louie Varland every time he's pitched for the Twins.  

[jkcarew]

AAA is for "4-A", break-glass, veterans...and prospects that have noting to prove at AA.

Julien fits that bill, so AAA was appropriate. You can see that he has plenty of work to do...including on defense...before he's in a starting major-league lineup. And you don't bring him up to sit on the bench and PH.

Lee, does have a little to prove in AA. I'm fine with that start.

I like the aggressiveness. Although, Rodriguez is worrying me a bit with his 50% K rate. Yep, 50%.

[ashbury]

I wouldn't call either of these "least aggressive" assignments too conservative at all.  Julien is demonstrating that he's still got something to learn at the plate against major league caliber pitching, and his play on defense still has rough edges that possibly can be smoothed out so that he can be at least adequate. AAA was a good choice for him and remains so.  Brooks Lee is doing well in 7 games at AA and there will be plenty of time to promote him to AAA in May/June before adding him to the 40-man irrevocably, perhaps in September.  If these are the mistakes, the FO has overall done well IMO.

[ashbury]

2 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

 "to see team doctors for evaluation of surgically repaired left elbow."

Ughhhhhhh.  Did not see that mentioned before.  Ughhhhhhh.

[Jocko87]

6 hours ago, ashbury said:

Ughhhhhhh.  Did not see that mentioned before.  Ughhhhhhh.

Double ughhhhhhhhh

 

[Doctor Wu]

18 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

 "to see team doctors for evaluation of surgically repaired left elbow."

Not good to hear. Let's hope this "evaluation" is only a normal one and that he's cleared to pitch again ASAP. 

[Trov]

I would disagree that Lee is the least aggressive.  This is his first full season of pro ball.  They were super aggressive on moving him all the way up to AA by season end.  Could they have tried AAA off the bat, sure, but then he would be in the more aggressive.  I am sure you can find someone on the prospect list that is much less aggressive than Lee.  I would put Walner in the least aggressive over both Lee and Juilien being he is in AAA, and has repeated that level even after getting some MLB time last year. At least with Lee he barely played AA last year, and Juilien moved up a level. 

[chpettit19]

I thought these were all pretty straight forward placements.

De Andrade showed he was too good for rookie ball. He may be younger than his teammates, but there's plenty of 19 year olds in A ball. Seems pretty obvious to move him from a level he mastered to a new level to start this year. There's multiple 18 year olds in that league even.

I guess there could've been some thought that ERod's sample size in A was too small and to start him there for this year. But he was dominating so it seems pretty straight forward to bump him up to a league that will challenge him more. 

Prielipp's question has never been about talent, just health, and innings limits. You can limit his innings anywhere. Made sense to start him at A+ ball. It's awful to hear he's already meeting with Drs about that elbow, though. Really hope that kid doesn't turn into the next Canterino.

Lee had a handful of ABs in AA last year. There's no real argument to be made, in my opinion, for starting him in AAA this year. What would be the point? Once you're at AA you're on the MLB doorstep, and there's no reason to not let him get his footing at AA to start the season. He got a lot of ABs in spring, but he wasn't exactly dominating.

Julien didn't really have a shot to crack the opening day lineup unless Gordon also went down. They'd never start the year with a prospect sitting on the bench in the bigs instead of getting everyday ABs in the minors. That'd be terrible roster/prospect management. Julien was always going to AAA until a starting spot opened up. It did so now he's in the bigs. Once Polanco comes back he'll probably be the one heading back to AAA where he can get everyday starts. Pretty straight forward stuff. It's a good "problem" to have that you can afford to keep your top guys in the minors when they still have things to work on. It's only a real problem if they've conquered AAA and you're leaving them there to play bad big leaguers at their positions.