Availability is the Best Ability

[Matthew Lenz]

Typically the phrase “Availability is the Best Ability” is used when referencing a player's health. In fact, this was a phrase uttered again and again as a reason to extend Jose Berríos, who we could rely on for 190 plus innings a year. Alas, Berríos is in Toronto and the current Twins regime has placed value in a different type of availability in their time with the Twins.

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge

 

The Twins Front Office has made it a point of having players on their roster who can handle multiple positions. From Ehire Adrianza when they first took over, to signing Marwin Gonzalez ahead of 2019, and more recently signing the likes of Kyle Farmer, Donovan Solano, and Joey Gallo. Maybe a better example of the value a multi-positional player can bring is former first round pick Nick Gordon, who played multiple infield and outfield positions last season. Not surprisingly, you can find this throughout the Twins Minor League system as well. Jose Miranda was a utility infielder, Austin Martin has playing time at  three positions, and even top prospect Royce Lewis was moving around the diamond prior to his second ACL tear in 2022. This regime clearly values players who can make themselves available to play multiple positions.

Enter Anthony Prato.

The 24-year-old prospect has found himself playing every position aside from pitcher, catcher, and center field. A 7th round pick out of the University of Connecticut in 2019, Prato is yet another success story from a draft that includes Matt Wallner, Brent Headrick, Louie Varland, and Edouard Julien – all guys who have already contributed to the Major League club in 2023. But calling him just a super-utility player would be selling him short…after all, you aren’t named a 2022 Organization All-Star by MiLB.com "just" because you can play six positions. Prato can HIT.

In his first three Minor League seasons, Prato has boasted a .772 OPS, including a .380 OBP (!!!) and 64 extra-base hits across 972 plate appearances. His power is a work in progress but it’s inarguably coming along by evidence of hitting 10 home runs in 2022 when he entered the season with just two round trippers to his name. If that isn’t proof enough of the developing skill, check out this bomb where the opposing Left Fielder didn’t even move other than to get a better view of the moonshot.

In addition to his on-base ability and developing power Prato is a threat on the base paths, stealing 22 bases in 2022 and already notching one steal in 2023. I wouldn’t put it past him to notch a 15-15 season this year which was something only 102, or 2.5%, of Minor Leaguers accomplished last season.

By adding more power to his game in 2023, Prato hopes to be added to the Twins 40-man roster ahead of the next Rule 5 Draft. For fans familiar with the Twins Minor League system and the Rule 5 Draft, I think we can agree that the Twins were very lucky to keep him in the 2022 iteration of the draft. He’ll be forcing the Twins hand if he puts up a wRC+ of 119 or better in the 2023 season. Even if the power stays where it’s at, a .444 SLG was good for 9th in the organization in 2022, we know this regime loves players who make themselves available at multiple positions. Anthony Prato does just that.

To learn more about Anthony Prato, including his favorite pizza spot in New York City (yes, he grew up a Yankees fan…we forgive him?), please check out the eight minute interview embedded at the top of this article.

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[MABB1959]

I would love a stable regular lineup and fielding.   Seriously if they didn’t have their names on their backs I would not know who is who.  When I get notifications on my phone at times I don’t even know if the player is a Twin or not. 

[DocBauer]

I've had my eye on Prato for a while now. He doesn't seem to do anything particularly great, but seems to just do everything well. That in itself is quite a skill. I picked him recently in one of the TD articles that was about players to watch at each level, IIRC, or similar. Frankly, I was a little surprised he didn't begin this season at St Paul after having such a good AA year in 2022.

The Twins are looking at a rather large influx of prospects this year and next between Julien, Lewis, Lee, Severino in the INF, and Martin probably in the OF but with some INF capability. The OF might still end up a little crowded with Larnach, Buxton, Gordon, Wallner, Celestino, etc. So even though Prato can play on both the dirt and the grass, he might still face a numbers crunch.

But if he keeps playing good defense at multiple spots, keeps hitting, keeps making contact and getting OB, keeps popping some XBH and stealing some bases, he could be a great 26th man on the team.

[Parfigliano]

He steals bases.  Prediction: Closer he gets to MLB the less he will do that.

[Melissa]

With the steady stream of prospects and rookies flowing toward Target Field, we have to imagine that some will not pan out, perhaps due to injury, and others may make up part of a tempting package for an established bat or arm.

still - very exciting to look forward to!