Twins Short-Season Minor League Pitcher of the Year-2024

[Steven Trefz]

Today, we continue to hand out our proverbial Twins Daily hardware. Who were the top pitchers for the Twins Florida Complex League and the Dominican Summer League? 

Yesterday, we named DSL Twins outfielder Eduardo Beltre the Twins Daily Short-Season Minor League Hitter of the Year. Today, we will discuss the pitchers in the two Twins Complex Leagues, the Florida Complex League (FCL) and the Dominican Summer League (DSL). 

Before getting into the 2024 crop of short-season pitchers, here are the previous recipients of this award:

2016: Huascar Ynoa
2017: Jovani Moran
2018: Andrew Cabezas
2019: Cody Lawyerson
2021: Samuel Perez
2022: Miguel Olivares 
2023: Juan Cota 

 

The Twins saw their major-league bullpen collapse toward the end of the season, and utilized several rookies as starters in ways that sped up the pipeline. In this climate, finding young diamonds in the rough of short-season minor league pitching should peak everyone’s interest.

The Twins Daily minor league writers and video providers were asked to vote on these awards. Before getting into the top four, some others received votes.

Others Receiving Votes

• RHP Joel Garcia, 20, FCL Twins: 6 G, 5 GS, 1.50 ERA, 0.72 WHIP, 18 IP, 13 H, 0 BB, 16 K
• LHP Wilker Reyes, 22, FCL Twins: 7 G, 0.00 ERA, 0.65 WHIP, 7.2 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 12 K
• LHP Cleiber Maldonado, 20, FCL Twins: 14 G, 1 GS, 2.04 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 17.2 IP, 14 H, 5 BB, 18 K
• RHP Aiberson Ventura, 18, DSL Twins: 10 G, 1.10 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 16.1 IP, 11 H, 2 BB, 13 K
• RHP Jose Vasquez, 19, DSL Twins: 11 G, 3 GS, 4.99 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 30.2 IP, 30 H, 15 BB, 45 K
• RHP Santiago Rojas, 17, DSL Twins: 11 G, 10 GS, 4.02 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 40.1 IP, 35 H, 27 BB, 41 K

Short Season Relief Pitcher of the Year
Here are the top four vote-getters for Twins Short Season Pitcher of the Year

4.  RHP Devin Kirby, 25, FCL Twins
11 G, 0 GS, 2.55 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 24.2 IP, 25 H, 8 BB, 31 K
Kirby signed with the Twins after the 2023 college season at the University of Connecticut, hence why he achieved his minor league work this season at the ripe old age of 25. As reported by Seth Stohs in his Arizona Fall League roster preview, Kirby not only made strides from short-season to Fort Myers in 2024, but he also will be making the journey to Arizona for an extended look. Kirby’s knuckleball works, and the Twins are encouraging its use as a potential bullpen weapon for the future.

3. RHP Yency De Jesus, 22, FCL Twins
11 G, 1 GS, 1.08 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 25 IP, 17 H, 16 BB, 21 K
De Jesus signed as an international free agent in 2022 as a 20-year-old prospect from the Dominican Republic. While his K/BB numbers declined from 2023 to 2024, he managed to pitch the 2024 season without surrendering a home run. This attribute alone should put him in the crosshairs of Twins plans for minor-league ascension in 2025.

At only 5’11’’ and 170 pounds, De Jesus will need to build some frame to endure in full-season work, but he has the tools to miss bats and to end rallies, if he can harness his control as he continues to build his pitch mix.

2. RHP Adrian Bohorquez, 19, FCL Twins
10 G, 7 GS, 3.68 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 36.2 IP, 23 H, 17 BB, 41 K
Bohorquez consistently delivered in the short season for the FCL Twins, and while his 2-3 record as a starter doesn’t scream “future talent,” his steadily improving K/BB rate gives a fan hope and ability to continue to climb up the promotional ladder shows no signs of stopping for the Venezuelan.

Bohorquez fills out his 6’1” frame at a reported 190 pounds, and developed more length in his starts for Fort Myers after the FCL season was completed.

1.  RHP Melvin Rodriguez, 18, DSL Twins
11 G, 8 GS, 2.72 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 46.1 IP, 39 H, 12 BB, 48 K
The other short-season starting pitcher on the radar shines even more brightly, as Rodriguez brought length, strike outs, and consistency of control to the table for the Dominican Summer League Twins in 2024. The Dominican Republic native finished his first season by finishing tops in ERA and right behind Bohorquez in WHIP for qualified starters.

The teenage free agent signee looms large on the mound, boasting a 6’2” height and 195 pound frame, and he appears to be built to last as evidenced by his debut effort. With the Twins rushing their starting pitcher pipeline in 2024, prospects like Rodriguez look to continue to progress as they look to develop and to build off of successful starts in the minor leagues.

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Hope sprung up through the pitching performances in the complex leagues in 2024, with some left-handed relief, emerging young starter mentalities, and strike out princes en route to becoming kings some day for the big league club. For 2024, Melvin Rodriguez earned and deserved our choice for Twins Daily Short-Season Minor-League Pitcher of the Year. 

 

 

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[terrydactyls]

Devon Kirby?  At age 25 already?  He can't be considered as a prospect at this "advanced age", at least according to some posters on this sight.  😉

[LambchoP]

Anyone know what's up with Matt Canterino? Him and Prelipp probably have some of the best stuff in our system and could both be big league bullpen weapons next year if they could ever get and stay healthy. As far as our rotation, we should have some decent depth with SWR, Festa, Mathews and Morris. I just know management will use this assumed depth as a reason for not signing any new pitchers or upgrading the rotation or bullpen in any meaningful way:(

[roger]

What I found most interesting was how little the Twins have got from the previous seven winners.  Granted, winners the past few seasons wouldn't be expected to arrive by now.  But the only name on the list who has pitched for the Twins is Moran.  And although he has great stuff, his control limited him to being a disappointment.  Maybe he will come back from this year's injury and put it together.

[FlyingFinn]

Bohorquez and Rodriguez are the ones that excite me. Great K/BB ratios. 

[DocBauer]

I honestly can't recall the last time the Twins had an international signing arm that offered real promise. They've done well with a number of position players, but arms have been few and far between.

They're really young and have a long way to go, but Bohorquez and Rodriguez look like a very interesting young duo.