Gabriel Gonzalez and Yasser Mercedes: Keys to Boosting Their Prospect Stock in 2025

[Cody Christie]

Multiple Twins prospects improved their stock in 2024, but player development is rarely linear. The 2025 season offers two prospects an opportunity to boost their prospect stock after dropping on the team's rankings. 

Image courtesy of William Parmeter, Seth Stohs

 

The Minnesota Twins have plenty of exciting young talent in their system, and two names to watch closely in 2025 are Gabriel Gonzalez and Yasser Mercedes. Gonzalez arrived in Minnesota as part of the Jorge Polanco trade last season, while Mercedes has been steadily rising since signing as an international free agent. Both players have intriguing potential, but their development hinges on addressing specific areas of improvement. Here's a closer look at how they can raise their prospect profiles in the year ahead.

Gabriel Gonzalez: Unlocking Power and Refining His Game
In his first season with the Twins organization, Gonzalez put together a respectable slash line of .255/.326/.381 (.707) over 81 games. While his 19 doubles, two triples, and five home runs suggest some gap power, his ability to drive the ball with authority is an area ripe for improvement. His defense can continue to be refined in a corner outfield spot, and he can become a better situational base runner as he matures. Last season, Twins Daily ranked him as high as the organization’s third-best prospect, but he dropped to 10th overall this winter.  

Increasing Power Production
To take the next step, Gonzalez must focus on consistently elevating the ball and adding strength to his frame. He has been known for his ability to make contact with a 16.6 K% in 2023, which he lowered to 15.6% last season. Developing a more aggressive approach to pull-side power could boost his home run totals and make him a more complete hitter. He combined for 18 home runs in 2023, so he has previously shown power potential. A concerted effort to refine his swing mechanics and improve his bat speed will be critical as he faces higher-level pitching that isn’t afraid to attack him in the zone. 

Improved Defense in a Corner Outfield Role
Defensively, Gonzalez profiles best as a corner outfielder, but his performance in the field left room for growth in 2024. Players his age tend to continue to add muscle to their frame, impacting their speed and athleticism. His arm is his best tool with MLB Pipeline giving him a 65 grade. Improved reads, routes and reaction times will be essential to maximizing his value. With consistent work on his footwork and throwing accuracy, Gonzalez could evolve into a reliable defender capable of complementing his offensive contributions.

Refining Base Running
Gonzalez went just 5-for-9 on stolen base attempts last season, underscoring the need to improve his base-running instincts. MLB Pipeline and FanGraphs gave him a 45 grade for his running/speed, with a chance that it decreases as he adds muscle to his frame. Better anticipation and a deeper understanding of pitcher tendencies could help him capitalize on his speed more effectively. While stealing bases may not become a centerpiece of his game, improved efficiency on the basepaths will add another layer to his skill set.

Yasser Mercedes: Building on a Strong Foundation
Mercedes showcased a more well-rounded skill set in 2024, slashing .292/.391/.488 (.879) across 61 games. His 19 doubles, two triples, and six home runs hint at untapped power potential, especially considering his six-foot-two frame and physical maturity yet to come. He dropped from 14th to 16th in the most recent Twins Daily prospect rankings. 

Developing More Power
As Mercedes enters his 20s, he has the physical tools to develop into a legitimate power threat. FanGraphs gives him a current grade of 20 for his Game Power and a 45 for his Raw Power. Focused strength training and refining his swing to generate more loft could unlock a significant uptick in home run production. Last season, he faced older pitchers in nearly 60% of his plate appearances and posted a .899 OPS. Maintaining his impressive ability to make consistent contact will be key as he incorporates a more power-oriented approach.

Finding a Defensive Home
Mercedes primarily played center field last season, but there’s a possibility he could shift to a corner outfield spot as he continues to mature physically. Last season, he played over 200 innings in center and over 120 innings in right field. MLB Pipeline gives him a 50 fielding grade, while Fangraphs rates him as a 30 with the potential to reach a 60. Committing to a defensive position and excelling in that role will be vital for his long-term outlook. Whether he sticks in center or transitions to a corner, improving his defensive instincts and arm strength will ensure he remains an asset in the field.

Maximizing Base-Running Potential
Mercedes stole 21 bases in just 61 games, demonstrating his ability to be a weapon on the bases. FanGraphs and MLB Pipeline give him a 55 grade for his running, pointing to him already being above average. To maintain and enhance this aspect of his game, he must focus on base-stealing technique and game awareness. His natural speed gives him an edge, but fine-tuning his jumps and slide techniques could make him one of the organization’s premier base stealers.

Outlook for 2025
For Gonzalez and Mercedes, the 2025 season represents a chance to solidify themselves as key pieces of the Twins’ future. Both players must build on their strong foundation by developing more power, finding a defensive home, and maximizing their base-running abilities. They have the talent to make significant strides, and a strong 2025 campaign could position them as breakout prospects in the Twins’ system.

Which prospect has the most to prove in 2025? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

 

 

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[ashbury]

Depending on how some other team views him, I would like to see Gonzalez's value be put to maximum use by including him in a trade for significant major league talent.

Mercedes I would hang on to, a little more tenaciously, in trade talks.

[Blyleven2011]

They are both young , 21 and 20 ....

There is time to be patient and let the players develop as they mature ... , 

[tony&rodney]

I watched several games when Gonzalez was in the outfield. My immediate response was that no Twins scout had ever seen him play before Seattle sent him over in that trade. Is that even possible? There were four balls hit to Gabriel in one game. He had a strategy. When it landed or stopped rolling pick it up and fire it back to the infield. The wide angle lens on several fly balls was damaging. Clearly he can improve and the contact rates, the swing, and his youth are all favorable. Gonzalez has a long way to go before he attracts much attention. He might be the best example of backend Top 100 players not being all that. Enough criticism .... I believe others know about him now and he can work through the issues in the next couple of years to raise his game. A bunch go change and go right in a couple of years for Gabriel.

Yasser is a toolshed. He has it all but he needs a ton of repetitions and playing time to refine those skills. The swing from being a star at one level to being a bum at the next is classic  baseball and Yasser will have to deal with the failure in order to polish those skills and remove the weaknesses. It's a tough job. The Twins will be patient with him because there are a number of good outfielders above him in the organization.

[Doctor Gast]

Gonzalez is a free swinger much like Astudillo, the big difference is that Astudillo had a glove & would play anywhere & hustled, while Gonzalez doesn't. He's limited to RF. Gonzalez became overrated at the end of '23 to make the top 100 because somebody supposed he could develop power. SEA knew it & shopped him hard. Like usual MN bit. His BTV surplus value rose from around 6 to 13.1 & a year later dropped to 3.1. He not going to get better, his best value was in trade but now we won't get much for him as I predicted a year ago.

[Seth Stohs]

On 1/4/2025 at 2:23 PM, Blyleven2011 said:

They are both young , 21 and 20 ....

There is time to be patient and let the players develop as they mature ... , 

This is the most important statistic for both of them!  Gonzalez started the season at age 19 in High A. (same with De Andrade and others). 

Yasser Mercedes overall numbers are solid, but if you just look at his FCL numbers, they're remarkable. He just happened to move up to Fort Myers for like 2 weeks and struggled mightily. But his athleticism is unreal. He'll be fine. 

[Linus]

I’m not big on Gonzalez at all.  Another player who has no defensive future at all and doesn’t run well.  Basically he’s a DH if he really hits and adds some power - if he doesn’t hit at a high level he literally has nothing to offer  I seem to write that a lot about Twins player and prospects.  I’m not a Falvey hater but this philosophy of making the hit tool the only thing they pay attention to drives me nuts.  It’s no mystery why our big league club is poor in the field and on the bases  

[bean5302]

Gonzalez is packing on pounds and eating his way out of a potential CF position quickly. Unfortunately, despite the weight gain, he's lost the mediocre power he was showing in previous years, and if he's going to eat his way out of defensive premium positions, he's going to need that power. It's not like he's a non-prospect, but just holding his own at A+ in his 3rd professional season wasn't the big year a lot of people hoped he'd have.

Mercedes hasn't had much of an opportunity to show what he's got at a level which is projectable so it's hard to say much about him. Being good in a second go 'round of rookie ball is the bare minimum level of performance to be considered a legitimate prospect. At the same time, it's tough to hold a 47 PA sample size against him with a .227 BABIP.

[old nurse]

Talented players but not awesomely talented. While many major league may not have been ranked very high as young players very few players low ranked players become solid major league contributors