Twins Minor League Hitter of the Month: August 2024

[Cody Christie]

Minor league players are hoping for one more promotion before the season ends, and these hitters certainly caught the organization’s attention over the last month. So, who will be named the Twins’ top-hitting prospect for August?

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey

The Minnesota Twins organization has long been known for its ability to develop homegrown talent, and this year's crop of minor-league hitters is no exception. With a farm system brimming with promising young bats, the future looks bright. From power-hitting corner infielders to fleet-footed outfielders, the Twins have a diverse array of talent that could soon make an impact at the major league level. Let’s dive into the top hitters in the Twins' minor league system from August. 

Honorable Mention

• OF Eduardo Beltre– DSL Twins– 14 G, 18-for-55, .327/.387/.691 (1.078) with five doubles, five home runs, 16 RBI, six steals, five BB, 16 K. 
• OF Jeferson Morales – Wichita Wind Surge/St. Paul Saints– 23 G, 22-for-76, .290/.372/.474 (.846) with five doubles, three home runs, seven RBI, nine BB, 11 K.
• OF Jaime Ferrer– Fort Myers Mighty Mussels– 19 G, 18-for-64, .281/.397/.406 (.804) with eight doubles, seven RBI, five steals, six BB, nine K.
• IF Diego Castillo– St. Paul Saints– 21 G, 22-for-81, .272/.355/.432 (.787) with seven doubles, two home runs, 13 RBI, 10 BB, 12 K.
• IF Rubel Cespedes– Cedar Rapids Kernels– 26 G, 28-for-98, .286/.333/.388 (.721) with seven doubles, one home run, 14 RBI, 5 BB, 21 K. 
• OF Caden Kendle– Fort Myers Might Mussels– 16 G, 26-for-54, .296/.387/.407 (.795) with six doubles, eight RBI, two steals, seven BB, five K. 
• IF/OF Daiber De Los Santos– DSL Twins– 12 G, 22-for-51, .431/.482/.588 (1.070) with six doubles, one triple, eight RBI, eight steals, three BB, 15 K. 

THE TOP FIVE HITTERS
Number 5– Fort Myers Mighty Mussels– IF/OF Brandon Winokur– 24 G, 26-for-94, .277/.327/.543 (.869), five doubles, one triple, six home runs, 15 RBI, nine steals, 7 BB, 26 K.
Winokur was limited to 14 games or less in June and July, so seeing him put together a healthy month in Fort Myers was nice. The 19-year-old outfielder is over two years younger than the average age of the competition in the Florida State League. He’s only had 12 at-bats all season versus younger pitchers. He had nine multi-hit games during August, including a masterful performance on August 16th, going 3-for-5 with three home runs and four RBI. Later in the month, he hit a walk-off homer for Fort Myers on August 27th. He’s a player that will continue to rise on Twins prospect lists this winter. 

Number 4– St. Paul Saints– IF Payton Eeles, 26 G, 28-for-84, .333/.412/.512 (.924), six doubles, three triples, one home run, 12 RBI, six steals, 9 BB, 10 K. 
Eeles began the year with independent Southern Maryland. After six games, the Twins signed him and he went to play in Fort Myers before moving to Cedar Rapids in June and skipping Double-A when the Saints needed infield depth in early July. He hit well in the low minors to begin the season, but it took some time for his bat to adjust to Triple-A. August was the month where he put it all together for the Saints. He had seven multi-hit games during the month and was among the team leaders in batting average, OBP, and SLG. The Twins are comfortable using him at multiple infield positions, and he’s started to see limited action in the corner outfield spots, too. He’s putting himself in contention for a utility spot on the Twins bench next season. 

Number 3– Cedar Rapids Kernels– OF Walker Jenkins, 25 G, 31-for-100, .310/.369/.540 (.909), 10 doubles, two triples, three home runs, 14 RBI, four steals, 9 BB, 15 K. 
Jenkins is the biggest name in the Twins organization, and he was promoted to High-A shortly before the calendar flipped to August. He showed no signs of struggling with the transition to a new level. Jenkins ended the month on a 10-game hitting streak and had seven straight games with an extra-base hit. He’s over three years younger than the average age of the competition in the Midwest League, and he’s only faced younger pitchers in eight at-bats this season. If he ends the season on a high note, Jenkins will be in the conversation as baseball’s top prospect entering next season. 

Number 2– St. Paul Saints– OF DaShawn Keirsey Jr., 24 G, 32-for-92, .348/.410/.554 (.964), four doubles, three triples, three home runs, 15 RBI, 11 steals, 9 BB, 22 K.
Keirsey was arguably the Saints' best hitter for August. He combines power and speed while playing at multiple outfield positions. With Byron Buxton injured, why the Twins weren’t giving him a chance in center field was perplexing. He had nine multi-hit games during the month, and on August 22nd, he went 4-for-4 with a home run, a triple, and three runs scored. Minnesota left him unprotected from the Rule 5 Draft last winter, and no teams picked him. They are going to have to add him to the 40-man roster this year because he has been one of Triple-A’s best hitters in recent weeks. 

And the Twins Minor League Hitter of the Month is:
Wichita Wind Surge/St. Paul Saints– OF Carson McCusker, 25 G, 29-for-95, .305/.353/.653 (1.006), seven doubles, one triple, eight home runs, 21 RBI, 7 BB, 28 K.
McCusker began the month at Double-A and hit .311/.346/.662 (1.008) with 13 extra-base hits in 19 games. The Twins promoted him to Triple-A on August 24th, and he continued his hot-hitting ways. He went 6-for-21 (.286 BA) in six games with two home runs and a double. He leads the Twins organization in XBH, TB, OPS, SLG, and HR. 

The Twins signed McCusker from the independent Frontier League last year after he posted a 1.307 OPS in 37 games. After signing, he split last season between Low-A and High-A, where he posted a .867 OPS in 46 games, but he was old for both levels. The 26-year-old has played both corner outfield spots this season, with some additional time at DH. Minnesota has depth in the corner outfield at the big-league level, but it will be interesting to see if McCusker gets an opportunity with his strong offensive skills. 

We want to congratulate St. Paul Saints’ Carson McCusker, Twins Daily’s choice for Minor League Hitter of the Month for August 2024. Feel free to share your thoughts and ask questions.

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[tony&rodney]

McCusker and Winokur are two big athletic guys who hit the ball really hard. Both are an at bat worth watching.

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

Not only is the organization producing a lot of bats that could help at the big league level,  why Keirsay hasn't gotten a shot is beyond me,  along with Eeles and Mccusker ect,  but you have several players that have the potential to be all stars.  E-rod is contraversal,  but Winokur and Jenkins have some high end talent.  Winokur is just missing a bit more hit tool, but the power is already there.  For an organization that is heavy on infielders,  developing a strong outfield, will be key to continue our success.  Not all will pan out, but I have name 5 outfielders.   At minimum 1 to 2 of those will likely pan out.  

[CCHOF5yearstoolate]

I love the Eeles/McCusker storyline. Two guys who couldn't be more opposite ball players (and a 15 inch height difference), both signed out of Indy ball and have crushed it in their own ways all year.

The system is in a really good place. 

[FlyingFinn]

2 hours ago, CCHOF5yearstoolate said:

I love the Eeles/McCusker storyline.

Two Indy guys doing great. Kudos to the scouting of these guys and signing them.

[mikelink45]

I am not sure I would have Walker that high for the month.  I might have slotted Beltre in at five, but the nice thing is that we have so many that are worthy of top five status.

[gman]

Hopefully the infield settles in next year with fewer injuries. Looks like the best of the outfield will be tapping on the door in 2026. We also have multiple utility players available. If we can just add ten more spots on our 26 man roster we'll be OK.

[twinstalker]

The Keirsey thing is indeed perplexing.  I mean, we can guess that he's wrong-handed to fit, but that seems too simple.  Can he not hit anything but AAA fastballs down the middle? And do so with really low exit velocities?  Will the fan love him too much?

I suggested recently the Twins didn't want to make a 40 move with him then have to take him off the 40, thereby exposing him to waivers...when they could wait to the end of the season to add him so they'd have their cheap 5th OF for 2025.  Whereas they wouldn't be worried about a guy like Helman, but even when I said it, I had a hard time convincing myself they'd be worried about losing Keirsey.  And Helman bats right-handed.

Helman can easily be sent to AAA (no one will want him).  My guess is Helman gets DFA'd, Buxton comes back, and maybe Keirsey gets a chance later in the month when the Twins don't think there'd be reason to cut him. They can take Severino off the 40.

[LambchoP]

I thought we'd see Keirsey when Margot went on the IL. Of course, with this teams obsession with utility players who don't play any position that well, but can technically be put all over the field, we got Helman. Now I'm just hoping Kepler goes on the IL next for his knee. They would have to finally call up Keirsey then, wouldn't they? Either way, I'm excited for all these bats coming up. The OF alone we have Jenkins, E-Rod, Rosario, Keirsey, Mccusker. I hadn't heard much about Mccusker, but looking at his stats he could be a RH OF bats with some home run potential. As long as some of these prospects pan out, we should be in a good place depth wise offensively. Meaning the tiny bit of money the team will have can be spent on fixing our mess of a bullpen and building some rotation depth.