Longest-Tenured Minnesota Twins

[Seth Stohs]

There are some 14-year-olds who don't know a world in which Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler are not a part of the Minnesota Twins organization. 

Image courtesy of Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

When Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler came to Fort Myers for spring training this year, it marked their 15th season as members of the Minnesota Twins organization. It also marked the first time that Miguel Sano was not in the organization with them. 

Every year, the Twins draft and sign players. They sign international free agents. It is very difficult for a player to remain in the organization until he can become a minor-league free agent. Consider this: players drafted in 2016 could have become free agents at the end of the 2022 season if not on the 40-man roster. Of the 33 Twins 2016 draft picks that signed, just four remain in the organization. The Twins drafted and signed 29 players in 2017. Just five of those players remain in the organization. If those players are not on the Twins 40-man roster by the end of the World Series, they can become free agents. Four of the Twins top five picks from the 2021 draft have already been traded. 

So it is in that light that I think it's important to recognize those players that have remained in the Twins organization the longest. 

Honorable Mentions 
Before we get to the ten players who have been in the organization the longest, here are the next ten on the list of longest-tenured Twins players. 

• #20 - Randy Dobnak - 7/28/17 
• #18b - Andrew Bechtold -  2017 draft (7/22/17)
• #18a - Blayne Enlow - 2017 draft (7/22/17) 
• #16b - Wilfri Castro - 7/3/17 
• #16a - Miguel Rodriguez - 7/3/17 
• #15 - Luis Baez - 7/2/17 
• #14 - Bailey Ober - 2017 draft (6/22/17) 
• #13 - Royce Lewis -  2017 draft (6/17/17) 
• #12 - Mark Contreras - 2017 draft (6/16/17) 
• #11 - Jeferson Morales - 10/6/16 

THE TOP 10 LONGEST-TENURED TWINS 

#10 - In the fifth round of the 2016 draft, the Twins selected Jordan Balazovic from St. Martin Secondary School in Mississauga, Ontario. He didn’t sign until July 19, 2016. He looked good in the GCL that summer but really struggled in 2017. In 2018, he impressed as a 19-year-old in the second half of the season at Cedar Rapids. He went 7-3 with a 3.94 ERA over 61 2/3 innings (he had 78 strikeouts). Keith Law made him a Top 100 prospect at that time before others did. He was even better in 2019. He made four starts for the Kernels and then 14 starts for Ft. Myers. Combined, he posted a 2.69 ERA and had 129 strikeouts and just 25 walks over 93 2/3 innings. He joined the Twins alternate site in the last few weeks in 2020. He was good again in Double-A Wichita in 2021 when he struck out 102 batters in 97 innings. And… Grace. Since then, things have been a struggle for Balazovic. He had a knee injury coming out of spring training, then went straight to St. Paul where he went 0-7 with a 7.39 ERA in 21 starts. He did have 76 strikeouts in 70 2/3 innings, but he also had 35 walks. It was the first time that control had been an issue for him, which could have been, in part, related to the knee injury. Looking to move forward in 2023, Balazovic was punched in the face in a Fort Myers bar just before spring training started and had to have surgery in which his jaw was wired shut. He missed spring training and was optioned quickly to minor-league camp. He has started this season in the Saints bullpen where he has four strikeouts and given up just one run over 3 2/3 innings. He also has five walks. However, it would be too early to completely give up on a pitcher with his talent. 

#9 - On the first day of the 2016 international signing period (7/2/16), the Twins signed Osiris German from San Cristobal, in the Dominican Republic. He made his pro debut in 2017 in the Dominican Summer League. He split 2018 between the DSL and the GCL. In 2019, he struck out 47 batters in 37 2/3 innings at Elizabethton. Like other minor leaguers, he did not pitch in 2020. Now 22, he split the 2021 season between Ft. Myers and Cedar Rapids. While his overall numbers didn’t look great, he had 90 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings. People started really talking about his remarkable changeup. He began 2022 with the Kernels but very quickly moved up to Double-A Wichita. He posted a 3.33 ERA and had 49 strikeouts in 46 innings. 

#8 - In 2016, Jose Miranda was the Twins' third of four high school hitters drafted in the first two rounds. Alex Kirilloff was selected first. Ben Rortvedt was the second-round pick. Miranda and Akil Baddoo were taken back-to-back with the 73rd and 74th picks. Miranda also became the second player drafted out of Leadership Christian Academy in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. A year earlier, the Twins drafted outfielder Lean Marrero in the 16th round. He signed on June 23, 2016. Drafted as a shortstop, it was pretty well known he wouldn’t stay there. He split most of his minor-league years between second base and third base. He has incredible bat-to-ball skills, but he struggled with his knowledge of the strike zone. He would often swing at pitches outside the strike zone and get himself out. He had a great experience in the Puerto Rican Winter League before the 2021 seasons and even played in the Caribbean Series. His focus became knowing the strike zone, and he did just that and saw immediate results. He began 2021 in Wichita and in 47 games, he hit .345/.408/.588 (.996). Two months in, he was promoted to Triple-A St. Paul. He hit .343/.397/.563 (.960). Combined, he had 32 doubles, 30 home runs, and 94 RBI and was the Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Year. He began the 2022 season with 21 games in St. Paul, but he came up and hit .268/.325/.426 (.751) with 25 doubles and 15 homers in 125 games for the Twins. This season, he will be playing third base and hitting in the middle of the Twins lineup. 

#6c - The Twins were thrilled to see the sweet-swinging Alex Kirilloff with the 15th overall pick in the 2016 draft out of Plum High School, in Pittsburgh. He signed on June 21, 2016. He spent that summer in Elizabethton, but his season ended a little early with an elbow injury. Unfortunately, in spring training in 2017, he needed Tommy John surgery and missed the whole season. He returned in 2018 and showed himself to be one of the best hitters in minor-league baseball In 65 games at Low-A Cedar Rapids, he hit .333/.392/.607 (.999), and then in 65 games at High-A Ft. Myers, he hit .362/.392/.550 (.943). Combined, he hit 44 doubles, seven triples, 20 home runs, and 101 RBI. He played 94 games at Double-A Pensacola in 2019 but missed some time with a wrist injury. He spent the 2020 partial season at the Twins' alternate site in St. Paul. He made his MLB debut in the playoffs against the Astros. In 2021, he played 59 games with the Twins before his season ended early with wrist problems and surgery. In 2022, he played 45 games with the Twins, continued having wrist issues, and had a much more aggressive wrist surgery where some of the bone was essentially chiseled off. He continues to rehab in Ft. Myers and just recently started the rehab assignment. 

#6b - In the third round of the 2016 draft, the Twins made Griffin Jax that highest-drafted player from the US Air Force Academy. He signed on June 21, 2016. The Twins thought they would get Jax full-time by May 2017. However, the Department of Defense altered its policy and required him to serve two years of active duty. Jax spent his military leaves pitching in the minor leagues, but the fear was he would not be able to be a full-time baseball player until at least 2019 if not 2020. However, the military has a World Class Athlete Program which allows active-duty military personnel to make training for the Olympics their full-time responsibility. Because Baseball was again an Olympic sport in 2020, he could do that. The Twins and the Air Force figured out the financial side of things and he was fully with the Twins starting in 2018. In 2019, he pitched at Double-A and ended the season with three games in Triple-A. He was at the alternate site in 2020. In 2021, he made eight starts for the Saints and then 14 starts for the Twins. He became the first Air Force Academy graduate to play in the big leagues. He struggled, but he moved to the bullpen in 2022 and went 7-4 with a 3.36 ERA in 72 1/3 games over 65 games in the big leagues. His role will continue to be in high-leverage situations for the Twins this year. He continued his education and worked on gaining a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, focusing on Marketing and Data Analytics. After the 2021 season, he was honored as the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award recipient. He maintains the rank of Captain in the Air Force Reserves. He and his wife Savannah recently had their first child. She is also a Captain in the Air Force. 

#5 - The last remaining member of the Twins 2015 draft is left-hander Jovani Moran. The 25-year-old was the Twins’ 7th-round draft pick from the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy. He signed in early July and worked in six games in the GCL. Unfortunately, he missed the 2016 season because he had bone chips removed from his elbow. In 2017, he dominated at Elizabethton and was the easy choice for Twins Daily Short-Season Minor League Pitcher of the Year. He has experienced a lot of ups and downs over the years. His changeup made him intriguing and helped him to strike out a lot of batters, but he also struggled with his control often too. In September of 2021, he made his MLB debut and pitched in five games. He split 2022 between the Saints (6.00 ERA in 20 games) and the Twins (2.21 ERA in 40 2/3 innings). He made his first Opening Day roster in 2023. 

#4 - The Twins used the fifth overall pick in the 2014 draft to select shortstop Nick Gordon from Olympia High School in Orlando. He signed days later (June 9, 2014). The son of Tom Gordon, and the brother of Dee Strange-Gordon, Nick Gordon advanced through the Twins organization one level per year until he reached Triple-A. Unfortunately, that’s when he started experiencing several injuries and health issues. He was added to the 40-man roster after the 2019 season. In 2020, he was having some stomach issues and ended up with a very serious bout with Covid. He was down below 150 pounds and felt weak. Thankfully, he eventually got healthy and doctors figured out his stomach ailment. He’s been adding strength since. In 2021, he got an opportunity in the big leagues and hit .240 (.647) over 73 games as a rookie. He broke out in 2022. In 138 games, he hit .272 (.743) with 28 doubles, four triples, and nine home runs. In 2023, he played in left field, center field, and second base. He’s off to a slow start, but the Twins will (and should) stand by him. 

#3 - The Twins were not a good baseball team in 2011 and truly earned the second overall pick in the 2012 draft. As you know, the Astros selected a talented shortstop from Puerto Rico with the first overall pick. I wonder where Carlos Correa is these days. I hope he has found success somewhere. The Twins followed by selecting outfielder Byron Buxton out of high school in Georgia. On June 13, 2012, he signed. He quickly became the top prospect in baseball. He debuted with the Twins in 2015. In 2017, he received MVP votes, won his first Gold Glove, and was also awarded the Platinum Glove as the best defensive player in the American League. Unfortunately, injuries have cost Buxton a lot of time since. He hasn’t had another season in which he played 100 games or more. When healthy, he is a huge difference-maker for the Twins. He has become a tremendous talent with the bat. Following the 2021 season, the Twins and Buxton agreed on a $100 million contract extension, loaded with incentives. In 2022, he was named an All-Star for the first time and homered in the game.  

#2 – On July 11th, 2009, the Twins signed highly-regarded German outfielder Max Kepler. Though Kepler was always blessed with great athleticism and tools, it wasn’t until 2015 that everything came together for him. He was the Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Year when he was named the Southern League MVP and led the Chattanooga Lookouts to the league title. While his team was celebrating, Kepler learned that he was heading to the big leagues. On the season’s final day, he recorded his first MLB hit off of Johnny Cueto. He put up very similar numbers from 2016 through 2018. In 2018, he hit .224 with 30 doubles and 20 homers. He signed a five-year contract extension for $35 million in the offseason. In 2019, Kepler broke out. He hit .252/.336/.519 (.855) with 32 doubles and 36 home runs. In 2020, his OPS dropped to .760, then .719 in 2021, and just .666 in 2022. His 129 home runs rank 16th in Twins history. Another 20-homer season would put him into the Top 12. The Twins have an option on Kepler’s 2024 contract. 

#1 – On July 2, 2009, the Twins signed defense-first shortstop Jorge Polanco from the Dominican Republic. The Twins were very patient with him in the lower levels, but in 2014, he became the youngest player to debut with the Twins since Joe Mauer in 2004. He moved up and down between Triple-A and the big leagues in 2016 until July when Eduardo Nunez was traded. He missed the first 80 games of the 2018 season on a PED suspension but came back strong in the second half. He signed a five-year, $25 million contract extension. In 2019, he was voted as the starting shortstop in the All Star game. He ended the season by hitting .295 with 40 doubles and 22 home runs. In 2020, the Twins moved him to second base. He played 152 games in 2021 and hit .295 with 35 doubles and 33 home runs. He played in just 104 games in 2022 and will start the 2023 season on the Injured List. The Twins have options on Polanco’s contract the next two offseasons.  

So there you have it, the players in the Twins organization who have been in the system the longest, consecutively. I’ll guess that at least a couple of the names may not surprise you. I’m certain that you wouldn’t have guessed all 10 on this list.

Feel free to leave your thoughts, or let me know if I forgot anyone.

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[mikelink45]

I have to admit that your lead caused me to try and find Miguel - a real disappointment.  I did not find him.  Is he on someone's minor league team?  Is he playing in another country?  What a sad ending to such a promising career.  I worry that Balazovic (#10) might be another disappointing story. 

I suspect that Kepler will be off this list next year.  

The honorable mention list had Lewis and Ober and the rest don't do much for me.  But the top nine have done well except for injuries. 
 

[PopRiveter]

Thanks for a fun read, Seth

[Matt Braun]

That 2016 draft—with Miranda, Kirilloff, and Jax—now looks like Terry Ryan’s final parting gift to the organization. 
 

With Rortvedt, Baddoo, Tyler Wells, Sean Poppen, and Caleb Hamilton also making the majors, it seems like he had one last stroke of genius before it ended. 

Edited April 18, 2023 by Matt Braun

[Doctor Gast]

Larnach didn't make the list, seems like he's been around for awhile. Miranda almost didn't make the list because he was left unprotected along with Baddoo, Baddoo was taken and Miranda was not. A pretty young team and next year it could very well be even younger.

[Seth Stohs]

3 hours ago, Matt Braun said:

That 2016 draft—with Miranda, Kirilloff, and Jax—now looks like Terry Ryan’s final parting gift to the organization. 

With Rortvedt, Baddoo, Tyler Wells, Sean Poppen, and Caleb Hamilton also making the majors, it seems like he had one last stroke of genius before it ended. 

I mean, it was Deron Johnson's final draft. Not sure Ryan was terribly involved in the actual picks.