Twins Daily 2024 Top Prospects: #9 Brandon Winokur, SS/CF

[Seth Stohs]

The Twins Daily Top Prospect series continues today, with our choice for the Twins' No. 9 prospect. Brandon Winokur is another highly-talented prospect from Southern California.  He might be one of the best athletes in the organization.

Image courtesy of Thiéres Rabelo

Prospects are not always easy to rank, and the smaller a “sample size” we have, the harder it is to rank that player. Our choice for the ninth-ranked Twins prospect coming into 2024 has just 17 games of pro ball under his belt. Before last July, he had played zero games above high school. However, he was impressive in those 17 games, and his raw tools have Twins fans (and prospect rankers) excited.

Brandon Winokur
Age: 19 (DOB: 12/16/04)
2023 Stats (FCL): 71 PA, .288/.338/.546, 5 2B, 4 HR, 0 SB, 122 wRC+
ETA: 2028
2023 Ranking: NR

National Top 100 Rankings
BA: NR | MLB: NR | ATH: NR | BP: NR

It's hard not to get excited when you talk about high-school players with tremendous upside and potentially five-tool talent. It’s also important to remember that having tools is insufficient. How many of those tools will develop into skills over the coming seasons to help the player make the big leagues and thrive when they get there? 

When Twins fans look at the team’s 2023 draft, there are at least two players with five-tool potential. Today, we will discuss third-round pick (82nd overall) Brandon Winokur, a five-tool talent from Edison High School in Huntington Beach, California. 

What's to Like
There are a lot of attributes to like with Winokur, on and off the baseball diamond. The first thing you notice is that he stands out on the field--literally. At the draft, Winokur was listed at 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds. There are rumors that he has grown another inch in the offseason.  

Beyond simple height, Winokur is incredibly athletic. Before high school, he played football, basketball, volleyball, soccer, and track. He comes from a family of athletes. His father was a track and field decathlete in college. Brandon’s younger brother is one of the top volleyball players in California. 

The most obvious “tool” for Winokur is his power and, more importantly, his power potential. While he’s had the size and talent since he was in his early teens, he achieved a strong power display in his senior season of high school. That isn’t likely to immediately translate to pro ball, but it should be exciting when it does. 

Winokur has a very strong arm. He pitched in high school and has a fastball reaching into the mid-90s. That’s a valuable trait, whether he is on the left side of the infield or in the outfield. He also has plus speed. Some reports indicate that sometimes it can take a few steps for him to get going, but he runs well. Again, it's all part of him being a great all-around athlete.

That leads us to defense. While there may be questions about what position he will play long-term, there is a belief that he can stick at shortstop or in center field. As we see the emergence of 6-foot-7 shortstops such as Elly De La Cruz and Oneil Cruz, height doesn’t have to be a reason not to play shortstop. Aaron Judge does a very solid job in center field for the Yankees. Video of Winokur at shortstop shows very clean footwork, soft hands, and a strong arm from a lower release point.

Of course, as he continues to grow, work, and mature, that could change. He is known to work hard in the weight room, in the batting cage, on the track, and on his mental game, which shows uncanny maturity. 

What's Left to Work On
I mean, dude just turned 19 in December, and he stands five promotions from the big leagues. So yes, he has room to grow each and every aspect of his game.

As it is for many young power hitters, the primary focus will be making contact. Right now, there is a lot of swing-and-miss in his game. His 17-game pro debut in the Florida Complex League was impressive, particularly the nine extra-base hits, but it was a tiny sample in an unfamiliar environment. We don’t want to make too much of anything. However, it’s hard not to notice his walk rate was just 5.6%, while his strikeout percentage was 32.4%  

Beyond that, he’ll need to keep working and keep adjusting. 

What's Next
Assuming health, Winokur will likely spend the entire season with the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels. I would guess that the organization has worked on a plan for where to play Winokur. That would include half of his games at shortstop and half in center field. Thinking out loud, I would guess that Walker Jenkins will start the season as the Mussels' starting center fielder. After a half-season, he will be promoted to High-A Cedar Rapids. If that’s the case, I can see Winokur being the primary shortstop in the season’s first half and then move out to center field for the second half. 

What do you think of Brandon Winokur and his future? What excites you most about his potential, and what are your biggest concerns? Join the discussion and comment below.

For much more content from Twins Daily on Brandon Winokur, click here. 

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[Dman]

What stuck out to me or surprised me was just how close his OPS was to Jenkins in the FCL and he hit more HR's than Jenkins in that SSSS.  That K rate is the biggest concern for me.  It was the knock when he was drafted as well.  It feels like if he overcomes that (which is no easy task) it would be like getting a 1st round pick in the 3rd round.

He is an incredibly versatile player and I am super excited about this kid, but a full season will give us a better idea of just where he is at in all aspects of his game.

[Eephus]

He projects to be the next Aaron Judge...size wise any way.

[MN_ExPat]

Quick hands, smooth swing, super athletic.  Dude is a little bit of a freak... in a good way 🙂. 

One possible weakness? Like a lot of players with huge power potential, can he be at least competitive against the breaking stuff, especially the "filth".  Time will tell, but he looks like a baseball "dude" who is a super hard worker.

Skol Brandon! Godspeed and blessings upon you.

[EGFTShaw]

I am SHOCKED... 😄

That we haven't had a plethora, (I can use that word cuz Twins fans are smart vs NYY fans...), a let's hold our horses posts...

Athleticism is a good thing.  I wonder if 3rd would work out, can you imagine the diving range at the hot corner of someone 6'5" to 6'7".

Also, how many HRs could he rob in center at the fences at that height.

I just like these posts so I can get a better handle of what we have in the farm system.

Thanks!

[MN_ExPat]

9 minutes ago, EGFTShaw said:

I am SHOCKED... 😄

That we haven't had a plethora, (I can use that word cuz Twins fans are smart vs NYY fans...), a let's hold our horses posts...

Athleticism is a good thing.  I wonder if 3rd would work out, can you imagine the diving range at the hot corner of someone 6'5" to 6'7".

Also, how many HRs could he rob in center at the fences at that height.

I just like these posts so I can get a better handle of what we have in the farm system.

Thanks!

[nicksaviking]

Excited to see what he can do!

Don't like the idea that his, or Jenkins or any other player's season is planned out a year in advance. There's no need to keep them at a level if they are performing above expectations, just as there's no need to promote them if they aren't.

[2wins87]

Great writeup.

I kind of thought the SS thing was more "he's young and athletic, let's throw him out there and see how it goes."  If there are evaluators that thing he's got a good shot of sticking there that's interesting and exciting.  Being a plus 3B or even corner OF wouldn't be bad though either.

[Karbo]

Seems like a pretty high rating for a guy that doesn't have 100 ABs even at the lowest levels. Grading on potential he rates highly, but how often does potential get it done? If he does prove out, he could rate even higher.

[awmonahan]

Good write up, and he sounds like a tremendous athlete. Hopefully professional coaching can help him with the K rate. 

[Mike Sixel]

Exciting!

[roger]

Knew nothing about this kid, thanks for an excellent report.

Don't see any need to even mention where he plays related to Jenkins.  Jenkins isn't going to spend much, or any, time in Ft. Myers this spring.

 

[CCHOF5yearstoolate]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

Excited to see what he can do!

Don't like the idea that his, or Jenkins or any other player's season is planned out a year in advance. There's no need to keep them at a level if they are performing above expectations, just as there's no need to promote them if they aren't.

Having an outline doesn't necessarily mean it's scheduled in granite. 

[jimbo92107]

He'll be in the show in two years. Bummer  of a nickname, tho... "Wino."

[wabene]

Winokur caught my eye at the draft and his highlights from his first taste of pro ball were exciting. He sure is high on this list considering his draft status. Not complaining he has me intrigued as well. I'll be keeping an eye on him. I heard he somewhere milb TV will be showing some of the lower level games this year. 

[jmlease1]

He did great in rookie ball, and frankly it would be really promising if he moves up to low-A at the start of this season. (Kepler for example didn't reach Low-A until his age-20 season) and it'll be interesting to see how he does in the FSL. the athleticism is impressive, so if he can translate those tools into effective baseball skills he'll rise quickly. It'll be interesting to see what position they start to lock him into?

[sweetmusicviola16]

Let him play SS. I remember a guy a long time ago who was 6-4 and played SS. The talk back then was that he was too tall for SS and should change position. They tried real hard to make him a 3B in his ROY year of 1982. The change eventually happened in 1997. Cal Ripken

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

5 hours ago, Dman said:

What stuck out to me or surprised me was just how close his OPS was to Jenkins in the FCL and he hit more HR's than Jenkins in that SSSS.  That K rate is the biggest concern for me.  It was the knock when he was drafted as well.  It feels like if he overcomes that (which is no easy task) it would be like getting a 1st round pick in the 3rd round.

He is an incredibly versatile player and I am super excited about this kid, but a full season will give us a better idea of just where he is at in all aspects of his game.

He came in and looked pretty solid for what was supposed to be an athletic high school project.  If he crushes A ball this year we can start to get giddy.  Jenkins looks like has the possibility of being a draft pick you hit on once or twice a decade.  To have another very very good high school outfielder drafted in the same class,  would be sensational.  You have heard me say it before this class has the potential to be the game changer for this organization.  You have these 2 headlining the hitters along with Keaschall-  Then we took a boatload of high upside pitchers that have more talent and experience than we tend to be able to draft due to the depth of last years class.  

[DocBauer]

For myself, he's the most intriguing player in the entire system. I say that as Jenkins is simply considered more of a "he's going to do it, it's just a question of how well/great he may do it", and Winokur is maybe as good of an athlete but with more questions. Hence, my personal "most intriguing" label.

Power is there. The arm is there. Overall athleticism is there. Above average to good speed is there, though I don't know enough yet to know if we're just talking playing speed to cover ground vs maybe stealing some bases.

That's a hell of a base for a 19yo kid to work with!

There is absolutely no reason to not keep playing him at SS until he proves he can't, possibly just outgrowing the position. But 3B looks like a good landing spot for him. But why not CF? Good speed, good length, cannon arm, all good qualities for CF unless, again, he just outgrows the position and loses too much speed.

But nothing wrong if that happens and he ends up as a powerful corner bat either. (Again, 3B might be a good option as well). 

But let's be honest, IF he slows down appreciably, and somehow ends up at 1B 5yrs from now, but can hit decently and crank out 30HR, even that would be a great result. 

It all comes down to bat to ball skills and acceptable BB and K numbers. I understand the initial concerns, but we're talking 17 games from a kid right out of HS at this juncture.

But the skills and potential are tantalizing, so I have no problem with him being ranked this high. And as I said in the begining, he's probably the most intriguing position player to me.

[Fatbat]

The kid is so smooth for how raw he is.  He might just be not only coachable but smart enough to figure out the strike zone and thrive quickly. I chuckle to myself when I see his arrival date as 2028 as a  23YO and Jenkins might be here in ‘25  as a 20yo.  What is the organization gonna do if his numbers are on par with Jenkins?  His height is a huge asset at SS. No different than Correa at 6’3”.  
So his biggest weakness is the K rate, what will people say if that changes thru development and becomes a strength? Is he gonna chase a batting title someday like Morneau?

[Blyleven2011]

The twins had a terrific draft in 2023 , I was impressed with his athletic abilities  when I read his stats on draft day ...

Young kid out of high school going into proball  is a big step , but in his small sample at fcl league he managed to impress even further ...

He's got a long ways to go and maybe he can and maybe he won't make it to the show ...

He's in the minors for one reason  and that is to be groomed to be a professional baseball player for the show ...

Nobody is questioning his talent , work hard  and play the game the right way ...

I wish Winokur nothing but success  ...

[Jocko87]

4 hours ago, jimbo92107 said:

He'll be in the show in two years. Bummer  of a nickname, tho... "Wino."

Winky? Winky-poo?

Locker rooms are tough, good thing he's huge.

If he's in the show in two years he'll be able to chose his own nickname, not many get to do that.

Brando, darklord of dingers.

Really though, we should be thinking combo names with Jenkins. Shake and bake!

[tony&rodney]

4 hours ago, wabene said:

I heard he somewhere milb TV will be showing some of the lower level games this year. 

If the A games were televised we could see him play this summer. I have watched a ton of games on milb.com, but the lowest league televised has been A+. It is easy to have all of Cedar Rapids, Wichita, and St. Paul up on separate windows and pause then to go back and forth between games. The 10 second advance works beautifully for moving through the games and not missing a pitch. Try to watch a couple of times per week.

[wabene]

19 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

If the A games were televised we could see him play this summer. I have watched a ton of games on milb.com, but the lowest league televised has been A+. It is easy to have all of Cedar Rapids, Wichita, and St. Paul up on separate windows and pause then to go back and forth between games. The 10 second advance works beautifully for moving through the games and not missing a pitch. Try to watch a couple of times per week.

Yeah I think Tom F mentioned in one of his videos that some of the A ball games would be available this year. 

[Sielk]

1 hour ago, tony&rodney said:

If the A games were televised we could see him play this summer. I have watched a ton of games on milb.com, but the lowest league televised has been A+. It is easy to have all of Cedar Rapids, Wichita, and St. Paul up on separate windows and pause then to go back and forth between games. The 10 second advance works beautifully for moving through the games and not missing a pitch. Try to watch a couple of times per week.

 

51 minutes ago, wabene said:

Yeah I think Tom F mentioned in one of his videos that some of the A ball games would be available this year. 

Fort Myers will televise all of their home games from this season on! So we should be able to watch a good amount of Winokur and other exciting prospects they will have.

[Doctor Wu]

18 hours ago, EGFTShaw said:

Athleticism is a good thing.  I wonder if 3rd would work out, can you imagine the diving range at the hot corner of someone 6'5" to 6'7".

Or at first base. The next "Stretch" McCovey!

[Doctor Wu]

16 hours ago, roger said:

Knew nothing about this kid, thanks for an excellent report.

Don't see any need to even mention where he plays related to Jenkins.  Jenkins isn't going to spend much, or any, time in Ft. Myers this spring.

 

I second the motion! Good report about a player I hadn't really read much about until now. Looks like he has the tools to be successful. Hopefully the Twins are patient and "develop" him to be a force in the majors someday soon. 

[HrbieFan]

Hope he doesn't do the bat flip and sit and watch his HRs in the pros. If so, he will be dodging plenty of inside heaters 

[wabene]

40 minutes ago, HrbieFan said:

Hope he doesn't do the bat flip and sit and watch his HRs in the pros. If so, he will be dodging plenty of inside heaters 

That doesn't seem to be true anymore. The Latin players have brought a more outwardly exuberant style to the game which I like. The all-American kid, Jeffers with his American flag headbands, had about the biggest bat flip last year I've ever seen. I'll bet the vast majority of players like this style of play. They watch NFL players on Sundays, why should those guys have all the fun? 

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

With Winokour, Jenkins,  and after the trade Gonzalez,    outfield prospects went from a big question mark to dare I say it a strength in the minors if those 3 perform this year.