Three (More) Names To Watch for Minnesota Twins in Rule 5 Draft

[Matthew Lenz]

The Rule 5 Draft will take place Wednesday at the Winter Meetings, and given the financial constraints imposed by the Pohlads, Derek Falvey may need to fill a need with someone from this year’s pool of candidates. Let’s take a look at three eligible players who could help the Twins in 2025.

Image courtesy of © Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

Last week, Seth Stohs wrote a more comprehensive list (for Caretakers) of the Twins' needs and the players who could potentially fill those needs in the upcoming draft. In no particular order, the Twins' two biggest needs are a left-handed reliever and a right-handed-hitting corner outfielder, both of which can be found in this year's draft. After reviewing the list of available players and the names Seth has already identified, I found two more players I’m really intrigued by, and a third player who needs a bit more seasoning to be helpful in 2025. Remember, the wrinkle with this draft is that any player taken must be kept in the majors all year, or offered back to their previous team. If the Twins are sharp enough in their player development and coaching, though, they can work around that constraint.

OF Christian Franklin
Franklin is a 2021 fourth-round pick for the Chicago Cubs out of the University of Arkansas, and was not protected in his first year of Rule 5 eligibility. Entering his age-25 season, he already has upper minors experience, with a .763 OPS and an impressive 91:73 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 909 plate appearances at Double-A. Although he's only hit 18 home runs in three minor-league seasons, he’s also stolen 52 bases—including 34 last season. While his hard-hit data doesn’t translate to homers, it's worth noting that his 104 mile-per-hour 90th percentile EV and 40.8% hard-hit rate are both above average. He has experience playing all three outfield positions, and multiple scouting reports suggest that could easily be the case even at the major-league level. Since he'd be skipping Triple A altogether, this would be a leap of faith, but his versatility and right-handed bat would fit rather nicely on the Twins' active roster.

LHRP Peyton Alfrod
The Seattle Mariners left Alfrod up for grabs, and he would be a really good fit for the Twins bullpen. Across 57 ⅓ innings at Double A last year, Alfrod had a 2.20 ERA / 3.43 FIP with an 18.6% K-BB rate. While his walk rate is still higher than you’d like, it’s worth noting that he’s improved it by seven percentage points since the 2022 season. His arsenal includes a low-90s four-seam fastball, a slider, and a curveball, each of which have the ability to miss bats at an exceptional rate. 

LHRP Russell Smith
Russell Smith just finished his second year out of the bullpen with decent results at Double-A. The 2021 second-round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers finished the season with a 2.73 ERA / 3.79 FIP across 52 ⅔ innings, which is pretty impressive considering his lowly 10.8% K-BB rate. Smith doesn’t have overpowering stuff (his fastball mostly sits in the upper 80s), but his changeup and slider both carry whiff rates north of 37%. His fastball is still effective thanks to its shape and his extension to the plate, as hitters carried a .608 OPS against the offering. With a walk rate per nine innings of 4.78, he definitely needs to improve his strike-throwing ability, but you'd have the spring to play with his mechanics and his stuff to see whether that might be possible on a short enough turnaround. One quasi-benefit of the team's budgetary predicament is that they can absorb someone who'd be stuck to their 40-man throughout the winter without much trouble, because they probably don't intend to add much from outside the organization through other means. At the moment, they don't face a roster crunch, so they could head to spring training with a pending Rule 5 project player like Smith and see what happens.

While these names won’t jump off the paper, it’s important to remember that’s not really the purpose of the Rule 5 draft. In fact, these guys are available because their respective organizations didn’t think they jumped out enough to justify a 40-man roster spot. That said, there is definitely value to be found here, and the cash-strapped Twins would be remiss not to take a shot on at least one of the names Seth or I mentioned.

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[dxpavelka]

Hope they at least take somebody.  It's a lottery ticket.  You can't win if you don't play.  The ghost of Johan Santana.

[FlyingFinn]

I still say we don't select anyone. It's not going to be Franklin or Smith (doesn't throw hard enough). Alfrod (or Alford??) would certainly fill a need and be worth a flyer, if the Twins have $50K to spare.

[DJL44]

The Twins have players as good as these guys in their own minor league system.

[old nurse]

It is questionable whether or not the Twins believe Helman can be the right hand bat off the bench.  The answer will be if the Twins take someone like Franklin if available.

Considering the moves made last year, they probably will punch the LHP lottery ticket for a reliever. They might even grab a couple to improve their chance of winning 

[Trov]

I do not see the OF being taken by Twins.  The pitchers one may be taken if still there. 

[tony&rodney]

Considering how careful we are told the Twins are regarding money, it would be shocking if they chose a player.

[Cory Engelhardt]

I wouldn't be shocked if they took someone. If they took an outfielder (for example) that may just be an attempt to fill a platoon spot with a rookie instead of a Canha/Grichuk etc. Depending on the rookie, the results may be negligible. 

[LambchoP]

I think our potential backup outfielders are better. Keirsey, Helman, Martin and eventually ERod. I do think we need a LHRP for our pen. We do have Moran, Headrick and Prelipp that could make the jump. Maybe they bring Theilbar back on a minor league deal and give him one more shot. Either way, none of these guys seem worthy of a roster spot for the whole season without being able to send them down at all.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

Keeping in mind the rules in place for Rule 5 selections, if there is someone they like/pick, expect some sort of trade to soon follow so they do not have to keep them on the MLB roster all season.

Teams are always looking for depth, especially pitching.  If there is someone the Twins see as an possibility, they should make the move.  These are generally very lost cost options, especially for THIS team.

[Blyleven2011]

Rule 5 draft ..

With an inconsistent lineup  , we can't afford to choose a bat and hide him , plus the team is strapped and pinching pennies ...

A left handed bullpen arm is needed but again they are pinching pennies and we still have Moran  and they might even bring back  theilbar back on a minor league deal  ...

[Otaknam]

Russell Smith has a high 80s fastball and high walk rate. No thanks! Franklin as a right handed hitter as a fourth outfielder with speed who can play all three outfield position might make sense if they don’t think Martin or Helman is the guy. But if they make a Rule 5 pick I think it will be a lefty reliever. 

[DJL44]

Better pitchers will be available as minor league free agents

[Doctor Gast]

Too much of a stretch on these, I don't think so.

[Jeff K]

I don't really agree with the premise that the greatest needs are OF and lhrp.  While we could use a RELIABLE left hander out of the pen; I think the greatest need for the Twins is at first base.

[High heat]

1 hour ago, Jeff K said:

I don't really agree with the premise that the greatest needs are OF and lhrp.  While we could use a RELIABLE left hander out of the pen; I think the greatest need for the Twins is at first base.

Totally agree with you!  They have other bullpen pieces and outfielders who are very similar profiles to what you would get in the rule 5.  What they don’t have is a 1B.  
 

If they have next to zero dollars to spend this offseason it would make sense to bring in a firstbaseman  platoon with Miranda or even make him available for trade and let Julien hit and work out defensively at 1B.

 

Its a low cost option to bring some competition into ST at the least and cost to next to nothing if it doesn’t work out.

[Cory Engelhardt]

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/eiberson-castellano/sa3015414/stats?position=P

Good numbers in high A and AA this year. Twins took him in the rule 5. 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

3 hours ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/eiberson-castellano/sa3015414/stats?position=P

Good numbers in high A and AA this year. Twins took him in the rule 5. 

We got one!

 

Out of curiosity, were those mentioned in the article selected by other teams?

 

(turned the live feed on just before Minnesota selected. Auspicious timing.)

Edited December 11, 2024 by sampleSizeOfOne
lice, lice baby!

[Cory Engelhardt]

8 minutes ago, sampleSizeOfOne said:

We got one!

 

Out of curiosity, were those mentioned in the article selected by other teams?

 

(turned the lice feed on just before Minnesota selected. Auspicious timing.)

Not that I saw. But his numbers are good last year. Lot's of k's, really low walk numbers, and apparently throws a mid 90's fastball. Having him try out for the long reliever role this year isn't the worst thing.

He was the Phillies minor league pitcher of the year in 2024.

[DJL44]

No Twins selected in the MLB portion of the draft

[DJL44]

16 minutes ago, sampleSizeOfOne said:

(turned the lice feed)

[DocBauer]

57 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

https://www.fangraphs.com/players/eiberson-castellano/sa3015414/stats?position=P

Good numbers in high A and AA this year. Twins took him in the rule 5. 

Interesting. I would have thought they'd look harder at a LH option, but AA had some serious pen issues in 2024, and AAA wasn't always great either. Just wonder if he isn't more of a draft and then trade for option to stash and continue developing in the minors rather than a 26 man roster stash.

[Blyleven2011]

5 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

Too much of a stretch on these, I don't think so.

Catcher Kyle Teel  and 3 others have been traded to Chicago  for pitcher crochet  ...

Now we need a solid catcher from the Dodgers  in a trade ...

Will it happen  , I just can't believe they are sitting on their as** ...

A solid catcher is needed  for our future ...

[old nurse]

Mr Lenz’s career as a talent evaluator either just hit a speed bump, or a crater of a pothole. Nobody picked his selections

[sampleSizeOfOne]

3 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Good catch!

I thank you from the top of my head.