5 Minnesota Twins Prospect Storylines to Follow in 2025

[Cody Christie]

The Minnesota Twins farm system has plenty to get excited about during the upcoming season. Here are five prospect storylines to follow in 2025.

Image courtesy of William Parmeter

With the 2025 season fast approaching, the Minnesota Twins farm system is buzzing with anticipation. Between elite talents on the cusp of the big leagues and under-the-radar players ready to break out, the season promises to be filled with intrigue. Here are five key prospect storylines to follow as the year unfolds.

1. Walker Jenkins’ March to the Majors
Few players in the Twins’ system have generated as much excitement as Jenkins. The fifth overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft has quickly cemented himself as one of baseball’s top prospects. He finished the year at Double A as a 19-year-old, while hitting .282/.394/.439 with 32 extra-base hits in 82 games. More impressively, he coaxed more walks (56) than strikeouts (47) while facing older pitchers in all but eight of his at-bats. 

After his performance in 2024, Jenkins enters 2025 knocking on the door of the major leagues. The Twins have a crowded outfield at the big-league level, but Jenkins’s combination of power, plate discipline, and defensive prowess could force the organization’s hand. If he continues to rake in the upper minors, it’s not a matter of if, but when he will debut. Twins fans should circle August as a potential timeline for his arrival. The real question: how impactful can he be once he arrives in Minnesota?

2. Other Top Prospects Poised to Debut
While Jenkins is the headliner, he’s not the only prospect in the system ready to make an impact. Outfielder Emanuel Rodriguez could claim a regular role in the Twins’ outfield by mid-2025, since he finished last season at Triple-A St. Paul. In 47 games, he hit .280/.459/.567 with 25 extra-base hits and a 62-to-51 strikeout-to-walk ratio. In many other farm systems, Rodriguez would be the top-ranked prospect. Rodriguez’s advanced approach at the plate and defensive versatility make him a prime candidate to fill a need at any outfield position, depending on the Twins’ roster configuration.

Outside of Rodriguez, the Twins have plenty of other depth in the system’s upper levels. Out of the current Twins Daily Top-20 Prospects, half finished last season at Double or Triple A. Luke Keaschall, Marco Raya, Andrew Morris, and Cory Lewis each rank among Twins Daily’s top-10 prospects and have a strong chance of debuting in 2025. 

3. Who Will Be the Next Breakout Twins Starting Pitcher?
The Twins have successfully developed homegrown pitchers in recent seasons, including Bailey Ober, David Festa, and Zebby Matthews. The 2025 season could see another arm take a leap. Marco Raya reached Triple A last season, a month after turning 22. The Twins limited him to fewer than 75 pitches in 98% of his first 55 appearances, but he ended the year by crossing the 75-pitch mark five times in seven starts. The right-handed pitcher utilizes a five-pitch mix, which should help him to get through lineups two or three times—if the Twins allow him to pitch over 100 innings for the first time in 2025. 

Another name to watch is C.J. Culpepper, whose combination of size and an improving five-pitch mix makes him an intriguing prospect. Last season, he reached Double A and posted a 3.55 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP and a 26.8% strikeout rate. With solid numbers in the upper minors, Culpepper could be a midseason call-up candidate if injuries or performance issues arise in the big-league rotation.

4. Who Will Be the Next Breakout Twins Hitter?
Every year, a prospect seemingly comes out of nowhere to grab headlines. Last season, Keaschall played through a torn elbow ligament but played well enough to be considered the team’s number three prospect. In 2025, Kaelen Culpepper could be that player. Last year’s first-round pick boasts an enticing mix of speed and power; he posted a solid 90th-percentile exit velocity during his time at Fort Myers. He’s also considered a very patient hitter, with a mature understanding of the strike zone (11 walks in 112 PA) that will help him as he moves into the upper minors. 

Brandon Winokur, a power-hitting multi-position defender, is another candidate. Winokur’s impressive athleticism and raw power have drawn attention since his selection in the third round of the 2023 draft. In 2024, as a 19-year-old, he spent the full season at Low A, posting a .249/.327/.434 slash line across 94 games, including 36 extra-base hits. He showed notable improvement at the plate, reducing his strikeout rate by more than 4% and boosting his walk rate by 2.7% compared to his professional debut.

5. Potential Trade Packages
With the Twins in the thick of contention, their prospect depth gives them ammunition to pursue upgrades at the trade deadline. However, the front office has hesitated to deal prospects away over the last two trade deadlines. This strategy may be based on the disastrous 2022 trade deadline, when Minnesota added Jorge López and Tyler Mahle. The front office could use a combination of young big-league players like José Miranda, Austin Martin, or Edouard Julien to address minor roster needs, but those players' value is low after poor 2024 seasons. 

If the Twins want to swing big, it will take one of their top prospects. For example, if the Twins seek a frontline starter, a package centered around a prospect like Rodriguez or Keaschall might be necessary. Conversely, more modest additions could involve mid-tier prospects, giving the team flexibility depending on their position in the standings.

As the season unfolds, these prospect storylines will provide plenty of drama for Twins fans. Whether it’s the debut of future stars like Jenkins or the emergence of unexpected contributors, 2025 promises to be a pivotal year in shaping the franchise’s future. Buckle up, Twins Territory, because it’s going to be an exciting ride.

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Which storyline will you be following most closely? Leave a comment and start the discussion.

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[Fatbat]

This could be 3 straight years with incredible rookie classes. As a new ownership group takes over, there is no way the FO trades away young controllable assets.  The WS window is open for years and now is not the time to pay extra to go all in on one missing piece. We aren’t there yet. 
With that being said, Vasquez is probably the most likely to be in a trade package.  Expect to watch a team that looks remarkably like last year, possibly with a rookie on the 26 man. 
Get excited to see LK, Erod, Raya and 3-4 more guys either knock the mlb door down or make cameo appearances before the trade deadline. Jenkins could be our Evan Carter in September/Oct!!!

[Doctor Gast]

Yes, it's very encouraging when looking at our prospects' potential. IMO our roster is very good with minor holes, where we don't have to plow deep into our farm. Up the middle has to be the focus. Catching is a concern where we'd need a promising young MLB-ready catcher to be a 3rd catcher that can capably fill in for Jeffers to keep him fresh. Or better yet trade Jeffers for another young promising MLB-ready catcher. To have 2 promising catchers ready for when Vazquez leaves. I tend to agree with you that if we have young MLB established players that we can trade, I'd do that 1st.  For these, we could use Julien & Jeffers as trade pieces w/o harvesting heavily from our farm.

The Mahle/ Lopez mistake isn't that we used prospects. But due to lack of player evaluation & bad luck. I applaud the attempt but frown on the execution. We can't let those mistakes make us gun-shy.  We didn't lose anyone that we can't live without. If we have a need & prospects are our only solution we need to make that leap. Again fortunately IMO we don't need to use future-impact prospects in trades to make us better.

[Trov]

I personally will be watching Payton Eeles.  I get he will be limited to most likely 2nd base or DH so limits his chances of making Twins.  However, his ability to hit at minors cannot be ignored. If some of the other young guys start to struggle out the gate and Eeles continues the way the was last year I bet we see him at some point.  I mean he had an OBP of .419 at AAA with OPS of .919.  If he can be even close to that there should be a place in the line up. He also stole bases at a 80% success rate, with a total of 41 last year.  Those numbers could fit nice in the lead off spot.

To compare to an old friend Arraez, he never had OBP over 400 and had around 800 OPS in minors.  He never stole bases either.  Not saying he will get base hits like Arraez as he was better average in minors than Eeles showed last year, but Eeles should not be overlooked by people.  I am rooting for him and hope he is given a legit chance to show something.  It will be fun to see him in some spring games. 

[gman]

I'll probably pay most attention to #2. I don't expect the Twins to be involved in any big trade packages for the simple fact that that would come with increases in payroll. The major league roster could get crowded depending on how fast prospects make it to the majors. Unfortunately they would only make it to the major league roster if there was a injury or someone totally fell on their face. When they do make it, I hope we have some prospects that take a job and run with it. Pitchers seem to do better on arrival then the hitters have been. Hopefully the hitters start to catch up this year.

[LambchoP]

What about Eeles. You never hear about him but he could be a major factor in our infield if he hits like he did in St Paul last year. Dude has good contact skills and can steal bases. The next Willi Castro? I'm wondering where Keaschal will be playing. Do they see him as our first baseman of the future? What about Severino? If he has a big year, this might be his last chance at a MLB debut. I think Erod and most of these young pitchers need to prove they're healthy and effective for decent stretches in AAA before counting on MLB innings and at bats. Most of these SP have barely pitched any AAA innings.

[DJL44]

If Eeles can play defense at 2B he will force his way up.

[Otaknam]

1 hour ago, Trov said:

I personally will be watching Payton Eeles.  I get he will be limited to most likely 2nd base or DH so limits his chances of making Twins.  However, his ability to hit at minors cannot be ignored. If some of the other young guys start to struggle out the gate and Eeles continues the way the was last year I bet we see him at some point.  I mean he had an OBP of .419 at AAA with OPS of .919.  If he can be even close to that there should be a place in the line up. He also stole bases at a 80% success rate, with a total of 41 last year.  Those numbers could fit nice in the lead off spot.

To compare to an old friend Arraez, he never had OBP over 400 and had around 800 OPS in minors.  He never stole bases either.  Not saying he will get base hits like Arraez as he was better average in minors than Eeles showed last year, but Eeles should not be overlooked by people.  I am rooting for him and hope he is given a legit chance to show something.  It will be fun to see him in some spring games. 

I agree with you on Eeles. He has come  of nowhere and performed at a very high level. And I don’t remember any negative comments about his defense, so it must be better than Julien’s. If he had been a top ten draft choice two years ago we would be considered a top prospect, despite his size. And Eeles is a great story that the media would be all over if he plays well at the major league level.

[Fire Dan Gladden]

I realize that there are some throwaway lines in articles like this, but to say that the Twins have a crowded outfield at the MLB level that may impede Walker Jenkins is a ludicrous statement.  No current OF4, Larnach and Wallner still needing to prove they can stick and Buxton's health issues...

As excited as we all are for Jenkins, if his MLB debut is before August, the MLB team is having serious problems.

The clock is ticking on Julien and Martin.  Slow starts from Festa, Matthews, Lee, Wallner, Miranda, possibly even Lewis, could open up a floodgate of new faces by late June.

[twinstalker]

If Winokur had three less strikeouts in 2023 or 1-2 more walks, you'd find his rates didn't change at all.   His 2023 numbers can't be used to determined whether he improved or didn't.  Look how the slg pct dipped in 2024.  Well, it's not real, it's that he hit one more homer in 2023 than what would have been a similar rate to what he hit them in 2024.

So, you need to take Winokur's numbers in aggregate or, better yet, ignore rookie league, so let's just use low A.  Foremost, he's of true prospect age.  He isn't too old for his level, he's about right for a hitter to be considered a prospect.  He was 19, but note age 20 is usually too old at low A to be considered a hitting prospect of consequence unless there are unusual circumstances.  Winokur's circumstances are not unusual.  His tools are normal for a decent prospect, his development straightforward (no major injuries, e.g.).  If he had to repeat the level, most likely you could take him off your prospect list.  He won't repeat the level, so that's good.  He'll be age 20 at high A

It's also good that his ho-hum numbers occurred in probably the toughest hitter's league.  Ballparks, humidity, and maybe pitchers being more advanced early on (many are much older) are trademarks of the FSL or low A overall.  He's shown the ability  to hit for power, with 36 xbh in 362 ABs.

He's also shown his ceiling is that of a regular, with plenty of doubt that he'll make it.  His k rate of 28%, given the lack of any star attributes, portends maybe a short-side OF platoon as his most likely outcome.  With a few exceptions, a K rate in the early minors of 25%+ is indicative of a platoon/pinch hitter, assuming the small chance he can carve out a role at all..  20-25% is a better player, maybe a regular, 15-20% suggests a good player, possible all-star, and under 15% a real star,  The categorizations are of course not firm, and the K rate needs to be combined with other factors, most commonly hitting peripherals (e.g. barrels, exit velocity, chase rate, raw power), and age vs level.  There's a reason why Emmanuel Rodriguez is a top 5 prospect in the Twins system and Winokur should be listed closer to 20.

Winokur is a fine minor leaguer.  It's possible he discovers something and doesn't chase or miss as much going forward.  The K rate is the important stat to look at this year.  If he brings it down to 22%, he's got a legit shot.  Note that the ballparks get easier, especially starting with AA in the Twins system, so his surface level hitting stats can fool you going forward.   Many have been fooled by Yunior Severino's "hitting prowess," and Winokur is in danger of following in those footsteps unless he drastically reduces his K rate, maintains his power and peripherals, and does it all at good age vs level junctures.

[tony&rodney]

23 minutes ago, twinstalker said:

If Winokur had three less strikeouts in 2023 or 1-2 more walks, you'd find his rates didn't change at all.   His 2023 numbers can't be used to determined whether he improved or didn't.  Look how the slg pct dipped in 2024.  Well, it's not real, it's that he hit one more homer in 2023 than what would have been a similar rate to what he hit them in 2024.

So, you need to take Winokur's numbers in aggregate or, better yet, ignore rookie league, so let's just use low A.  Foremost, he's of true prospect age.  He isn't too old for his level, he's about right for a hitter to be considered a prospect.  He was 19, but note age 20 is usually too old at low A to be considered a hitting prospect of consequence unless there are unusual circumstances.  Winokur's circumstances are not unusual.  His tools are normal for a decent prospect, his development straightforward (no major injuries, e.g.).  If he had to repeat the level, most likely you could take him off your prospect list.  He won't repeat the level, so that's good.  He'll be age 20 at high A

It's also good that his ho-hum numbers occurred in probably the toughest hitter's league.  Ballparks, humidity, and maybe pitchers being more advanced early on (many are much older) are trademarks of the FSL or low A overall.  He's shown the ability  to hit for power, with 36 xbh in 362 ABs.

He's also shown his ceiling is that of a regular, with plenty of doubt that he'll make it.  His k rate of 28%, given the lack of any star attributes, portends maybe a short-side OF platoon as his most likely outcome.  With a few exceptions, a K rate in the early minors of 25%+ is indicative of a platoon/pinch hitter, assuming the small chance he can carve out a role at all..  20-25% is a better player, maybe a regular, 15-20% suggests a good player, possible all-star, and under 15% a real star,  The categorizations are of course not firm, and the K rate needs to be combined with other factors, most commonly hitting peripherals (e.g. barrels, exit velocity, chase rate, raw power), and age vs level.  There's a reason why Emmanuel Rodriguez is a top 5 prospect in the Twins system and Winokur should be listed closer to 20.

Winokur is a fine minor leaguer.  It's possible he discovers something and doesn't chase or miss as much going forward.  The K rate is the important stat to look at this year.  If he brings it down to 22%, he's got a legit shot.  Note that the ballparks get easier, especially starting with AA in the Twins system, so his surface level hitting stats can fool you going forward.   Many have been fooled by Yunior Severino's "hitting prowess," and Winokur is in danger of following in those footsteps unless he drastically reduces his K rate, maintains his power and peripherals, and does it all at good age vs level junctures.

The impressive part of Winokur is not his stats. He is quite athletic and his play has become more refined even if the numbers have not jumped off the page. You have to watch him play in a several dozen games to see the improvement. As the year went on he looked better even as his numbers sagged at times. Obviously, Winokur has used up his honeymoon phase now and we should expect much more consistent production from him at Cedar Rapids. Winokur is a tall player and the refinements typically are a bit harder for taller players. He does need to show where he is headed to some extent, although I think we should expect Brandon to take three more years of experience in the minor leagues.

[rdehring]

Most of us are excited about Jenkins, who I understand is ranked first or second in all of baseball.  Would be great to see an article of how previous highly ranked prospects have done.  Say a look at where the top 3 or 5 from the past ten years are now and what they have done.

Are there any/many busts from the top 3?  How many all-stars?  If there are few or no busts, then we have reason to really get excited.

[jmlease1]

I can't not be excited about walker jenkins, who looks amazing. Should be fun to see him destroy AA pitching and roll up to Saint Paul.

I do think it'll be a fun storyline to see where Eeles and McCusker end up. Both are unheralded players with plenty of doubters. But both are guys who took advantage of their opportunities and have moved forward and are making people take them seriously. They're great, fun stories and I'm rooting for them to keep producing.

A starting pitcher breakout will be fun to look for, I think. we have a lot of depth in AA and AAA with starters that might be someone...or might not. It wouldn't surprise me at all if one of them comes into the season with a few more mph on their fastball, or better feel for the change or something that leads to more dominant performances. Cory Lewis is a guy I like a lot, and if he's healthy from the jump this year I think he's going to impress in saint Paul.

[RpR]

42 minutes ago, rdehring said:

Most of us are excited about Jenkins, who I understand is ranked first or second in all of baseball.  Would be great to see an article of how previous highly ranked prospects have done.  Say a look at where the top 3 or 5 from the past ten years are now and what they have done.

Are there any/many busts from the top 3?  How many all-stars?  If there are few or no busts, then we have reason to really get excited.

https://www.mlb.com/news/top-3-draft-picks-who-never-made-the-majors-c265745454

[RpR]

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

If Eeles can play defense at 2B he will force his way up.

He would not be forcing any thing, he would fill a hole.

[bean5302]

1 hour ago, rdehring said:

Most of us are excited about Jenkins, who I understand is ranked first or second in all of baseball.  Would be great to see an article of how previous highly ranked prospects have done.  Say a look at where the top 3 or 5 from the past ten years are now and what they have done.

Are there any/many busts from the top 3?  How many all-stars?  If there are few or no busts, then we have reason to really get excited.

Here's a link at how Walker Jenkins' last decade or so of competition has performed. His peers mean 
Top 5 MLB Prospects.

and further, the direct matches for being in A+ ball or higher while age 19 and their performances. High performing MLB players in bold.
1) MLB .270/.340/.477 OPS .817 ISO .206 wRC+ 121 Bryce Harper
2) AA .326/.374/.520 OPS .895 ISO .195, wRC+ 159 Ron Acuna, Jr.
3) AA .326/.414/.544 OPS .958, ISO .218, wRC+ 156 Mike Trout
4) AA .326/.351/.598 OPS .909, ISO .272 wRC+ 159 Xander Bogaerts
5) AA .402/.449/.671 OPS 1.120, ISO .269 wRC+ 203 Vlad Guerrero, Jr.
6) AA .286/.355/.507 OPS .862, ISO .221 wRC+ 133 Fernando Tatis, Jr.
7) AA .253/.315/.542 OPS .857, ISO .289 wRC+ 133 Jarred Kelenic
8) AA .289/.407/.395 OPS .801, ISO .105 wRC+ 131 Francisco Lindor
9) AA .281/.368/.452 OPS .820, ISO .171 wRC+ 127 Jurickson Profar
10) A+ .346/.453/.512 OPS .966, ISO .166 wRC+ 172 Wil Myers
11) A+ .326/.415/.472 OPS .887, ISO .147 wRC+ 155 Byron Buxton
12) A+ .290/.382/.481 OPS .862, ISO .191, wRC+ 147 Walker Jenkins
13) A+ .325/.416/.510 OPS .926, ISO .185 wRC+ 144 Carlos Correa
14) A+ .275/.377/.508 OPS .885 ISO .233 wRC+ 131 Addison Russell
15) A+ .275/.359/.433 OPS .791 ISO .157 wRC+ 121 Gleyber Torres
16) A+ .275/.352/.407 OPS .759, ISO .131 wRC+ 119 J.P. Crawford
17) A+ .255/.327/.399 OPS .726, ISO .144 wRC+ 110 Royce Lewis
18) A+ .262/.354/.387 OPS .741, ISO .125 wRC+ 110 Victor Robles
19) A+ .257/.307/.335 OPS .642 ISO .078 wRC+ 97 Amed Rosario

[tony&rodney]

40 minutes ago, RpR said:

https://www.mlb.com/news/top-3-draft-picks-who-never-made-the-majors-c265745454

So that means 91% of the top three picks made MLB. Considering all of the things that can go wrong, I would say a top five pick is generally a good bet. Baseball is tough. Each year quite a few NFL and NBA draft choices wind up starting for their teams. Very few baseball players go from high school or college directly to an MLB roster. Walker Jenkins is going to be fun to follow this year. 

[chpettit19]

3 hours ago, twinstalker said:

If Winokur had three less strikeouts in 2023 or 1-2 more walks, you'd find his rates didn't change at all.   His 2023 numbers can't be used to determined whether he improved or didn't.  Look how the slg pct dipped in 2024.  Well, it's not real, it's that he hit one more homer in 2023 than what would have been a similar rate to what he hit them in 2024.

So, you need to take Winokur's numbers in aggregate or, better yet, ignore rookie league, so let's just use low A.  Foremost, he's of true prospect age.  He isn't too old for his level, he's about right for a hitter to be considered a prospect.  He was 19, but note age 20 is usually too old at low A to be considered a hitting prospect of consequence unless there are unusual circumstances.  Winokur's circumstances are not unusual.  His tools are normal for a decent prospect, his development straightforward (no major injuries, e.g.).  If he had to repeat the level, most likely you could take him off your prospect list.  He won't repeat the level, so that's good.  He'll be age 20 at high A

It's also good that his ho-hum numbers occurred in probably the toughest hitter's league.  Ballparks, humidity, and maybe pitchers being more advanced early on (many are much older) are trademarks of the FSL or low A overall.  He's shown the ability  to hit for power, with 36 xbh in 362 ABs.

He's also shown his ceiling is that of a regular, with plenty of doubt that he'll make it.  His k rate of 28%, given the lack of any star attributes, portends maybe a short-side OF platoon as his most likely outcome.  With a few exceptions, a K rate in the early minors of 25%+ is indicative of a platoon/pinch hitter, assuming the small chance he can carve out a role at all..  20-25% is a better player, maybe a regular, 15-20% suggests a good player, possible all-star, and under 15% a real star,  The categorizations are of course not firm, and the K rate needs to be combined with other factors, most commonly hitting peripherals (e.g. barrels, exit velocity, chase rate, raw power), and age vs level.  There's a reason why Emmanuel Rodriguez is a top 5 prospect in the Twins system and Winokur should be listed closer to 20.

Winokur is a fine minor leaguer.  It's possible he discovers something and doesn't chase or miss as much going forward.  The K rate is the important stat to look at this year.  If he brings it down to 22%, he's got a legit shot.  Note that the ballparks get easier, especially starting with AA in the Twins system, so his surface level hitting stats can fool you going forward.   Many have been fooled by Yunior Severino's "hitting prowess," and Winokur is in danger of following in those footsteps unless he drastically reduces his K rate, maintains his power and peripherals, and does it all at good age vs level junctures.

His height is the "unusual circumstance." James Wood, Aaron Judge, Oneil Cruz, Elly De La Cruz. These are the kinds of guys who are in the 6'5"-6'7" range. That's an unusual size for an MLB player. It's notable and adds a challenge. Takes a little longer to adjust as it's more body to get locked in.

Here's all their A ball numbers (BP is Baseball Prospectus, FYI.)

Age 19 Winokur: 94 G 411 PA 115 K 14 HR 34 BB .249/.327/.434/.761 8% BB rate, 28% k rate

Age 19 Wood: 71 G 329 PA 68 K 12 HR 47 BB .324/.429/.560/.989 14% BB rate, 21% k rate
Topped out as BP's #3 global prospect. Was a top 20 global prospect on 3 lists after his A ball season. Clearly better numbers than Winokur at same age.

Age 22 Judge: 65 G 278 PA 59 K 9 HR 39 BB .278/.377/.467/.844 14% BB rate, 21% k rate
Topped out as BP's #18 prospect. Was a top 70 global prospect on 3 lists after his A ball season. Highest ranking before season he debuted was 45 on MLB. Clearly better numbers, but 3 years older.

Age 18 and 19 Cruz: 208 G 881 PA 232 K 24 HR 70 BB .262/.320/.419/.739 8% BB rate, 26% k rate
Topped out as BP's #12 prospect. Multiple top 20 rankings before season he debuted. Was a top 100 prospect on 3 lists starting season after his second A ball year. Winokur had better overall numbers and very similar K%.

Age 19 De La Cruz: 50 G 210 PA 65 K 5 HR 10 BB .269/.305/.477/.782 5% BB rate, 31% k rate
Topped out as BP's #5 prospect. Was top 100 on 3 lists after that A ball season above. Winokur had better BB and K rates and only slightly worse OPS, but in terms of wRC+ Elly's was 106 compared to Winokur's 116. Elly had/has a clearly different level of speed/athleticism, though.

I'm not claiming Winokur should be a top 100 prospect or that he's going to be any of these guys. Just saying players at his size are "unusual circumstances" and should be viewed a little differently. Very much boom or bust type players. Him being as athletic as he is at his size and adjusting well and doing well in his first year is a very nice step one. 

[chpettit19]

1 hour ago, RpR said:

https://www.mlb.com/news/top-3-draft-picks-who-never-made-the-majors-c265745454

Walker Jenkins wasn't a top 3 MLB draft pick...

[Blyleven2011]

2 hours ago, RpR said:

He would not be forcing any thing, he would fill a hole.

Someone has to fill the poor performances at 2nd base the past few years  , keaschall or ????

[DocBauer]

Just a sticking point first, Miranda didn't have a bad season really. He was really, really good until he hurt his back. 

I could easily get carried away with who I'm excited about or watching, but will TRY to keep it brief.

No more injuries has Rodriguez with the Twins by mid season, IMO. Just a SUPER talented player! I do expect a few growing pains, however, as he needs to strike a better balance between being properly aggressive and being overly passive looking for BB. AAA and ML pitchers are going to have better control than he's seen so far.

Jenkins hopefully raking at AA and at least finishing the season at St Paul, if not being their by mid season, has got to be one of the more exciting players to watch.

I'm also high on Eeles as what he did in 2024 was so good it's hard to believe he was a 1 year wonder. Future starter or really nice utility player is yet to be determined. I'm not as high on McCusker, but the guy has shown a steady rise and steady improvement. Might he be a RH corner OF/DH as a late bloomer? 

ASSUMING Paddack is moved...and he might not be...Festa is in the rotation. If Paddack ISN'T moved, one of Festa or SWR is in AAA. But let's say the Sheriff is gone. St Paul has Matthews, Morris, Raya, Lewis, Adams and Nowlin all as rotation options. (I think Nowlin still ends up in the pen at some point). And what if the Twins make a deal with the Phillies to keep Castellano instead of keeping him stashed on the roster? That's 6-7 rotation arms not including guys like Headrick or Ynoa as fill ins. Or Culpepper ready to move up to AAA at some point. Whether it's now, or the deadline, or even next offseason, the Twins are going to be able to/have to move a couple arms in a deal for someone. Maybe a young catcher?

Speaking of pitching, I'm SUPER EXCITED to see what a healthy Prielipp does in 2025!

Breakout pitchers not already mentioned? Kyle Jones might be the best bet after being slowed a bit in 2024. But I'd keep an eye out for Christian Macleod, Tanner Hall, and Ty Langenberg. 

Looking lower in the system, I'm going to be watching Soto closely. What kind of a step does he take this upcoming season? VERY excited to see the debut of Dasan Hill. On the player side, is DeAndrade healthy and ready to go? He missed the AFL, but he could be in AA fairly quickly if his upward trend continues. And young OF Jose Rodriguez and Yasser Mercedes have exciting potential. Rodriguez had a poor 2024, can he take a step forward? Mercedes flashed. Is he ready for Cedar Rapids? 

And I can't fail to mention Winokur. He's one of the most intriguing players in the entire system. And i agree he's probably 3yrs away, but his combination of power, good speed, and surprising athleticism for such a tall/long prospect is crazy. As of today, he's a possible CF option. He might end up at 3B or a corner OF spot eventually just due to his body filling out. At WORST, he could be an athletic, powerful 1B who can move and run far better than any typical 1B.

I'm leaving out a few guys of course, but that's more or less the key guys I'm looking at. There's a good 4 or 5 guys from the 2024 draft who have barely played so far that I'm not even mentioning that could jump up really quickly.

 

[DocBauer]

4 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

Someone has to fill the poor performances at 2nd base the past few years  , keaschall or ????

Yes, Keaschall could fill the 2B spot, and probably fill it well. However, Lewis and Lee might just fill 2B and 3B right out of the gate. Keaschall might end up as a super athletic 1B. Nothing wrong with that. Or maybe he replaces Castro as the Super Utility player on the roster.

Maybe Eeles takes over 2B and Lewis moves to 1B, or Lee becomes a Super Utility INF and Lewis sticks at 3B and Keaschall is at 1B? Miranda is a DH/1B/3B option? Sooo many possibilities to fill up the INF, with Keaschall and Eeles also backup OF possibilities. (I haven't even mentioned Julien getting himself right again).

Now, health and actual production have to be considered. And trades may happen. But isn't it exciting to look at the INF and all the possibilities for 2024 and beyond?

[Fatbat]

7 hours ago, RpR said:

https://www.mlb.com/news/top-3-draft-picks-who-never-made-the-majors-c265745454

Good thing Jenkins was a pick at #5.  Thats quite a list of failure. Short and salty. Jenkins wont make that list. 

[tony&rodney]

2 hours ago, DocBauer said:

Yes, Keaschall could fill the 2B spot, and probably fill it well. However, Lewis and Lee might just fill 2B and 3B right out of the gate. Keaschall might end up as a super athletic 1B. Nothing wrong with that. Or maybe he replaces Castro as the Super Utility player on the roster.

Maybe Eeles takes over 2B and Lewis moves to 1B, or Lee becomes a Super Utility INF and Lewis sticks at 3B and Keaschall is at 1B? Miranda is a DH/1B/3B option? Sooo many possibilities to fill up the INF, with Keaschall and Eeles also backup OF possibilities. (I haven't even mentioned Julien getting himself right again).

Now, health and actual production have to be considered. And trades may happen. But isn't it exciting to look at the INF and all the possibilities for 2024 and beyond?

For sure, all of the above, especially the last paragraph. The Twins are playing cards and have a decent hand for now and potentially an even better one in the future. They can play the pat hand or take a few gambles. It is totally their choice. What belief does the front office have in specific players and are they willing to make a few deals that are really gambles? Only Falvey & Sons will know where this is headed, but there are opportunities and I have no idea where this team is headed. If I had to guess I think they stand pat. 

We know that the team would like to wait and see how all of Eeles, Keaschall, and Rodriguez perform in AAA in April and May, but if the talent looks like it can play sooner there may be options to add via deals. 

[mikelink45]

I am one who would like to see McCusker get a chance to fill that first base or DH role. He has shown some real talent and I know he's not rated high by everyone but he has the feeling of the old Frank Howard. Joe adcock kind of a player. And right now we need to fill that slot and a lineup. I think he's worth giving a shot. Not sure Miranda's back Will hold up and not sure that. Julian will make the comeback that we all hope.  Like others on here. I'm excited to see what Eeles can do. 

[Fatbat]

@DocBauer please don’t ever keep it brief!! TW needs you to hit the nail on the head more. Not that you haven’t, just that it happens regularly and it’s a great read every time you pontificate! 
 

Even tho this offseason has been laughably slow, Twins fans have a lot to be excited about!  A strong returning core of vets and young stars finding their way in MLB. A top 5starting rotation. A top 5 farm system. An abundance of question marks and the young depth to fill all the answer slots. 
A few promising young superstars in the high minors that may smash their way through to MLB in just a few months! 

Most importantly, we will have new ownership that will set a tone for the ‘25/26 seasons and beyond.  No more tone deaf “right sizing” silliness from the past 2 decades. It will be like that feeling of buying a new car when the Pohlads are traded in. Everything will smell fresh.  
 

The cherry on top, we will be able to watch all this play out and every pitch of every game without taking out a second mortgage. Last season was ridiculous when the service providers couldn't do their job to get the product to the fans. The ‘25 season may become special for so many reasons and @DocBauer, please don’t be brief about what you want to say. 

[twinfan]

While it's nice to see that we seem to have a number of good prospects for the future, I personally do not put much stock in performances at levels below AA because they are mainly playing against most players who will never make it. At the AA and especially the AAA level is where the true abilities come out. But baseball is a unique sport in that draftees don't make it for 2-4 years and one bad year could knock a prospect way down the totem pole. Top 10 prospect lists change wildly almost every year so we'll see. Hopefully 3-4 of those named can not only make it here but can be impact players.

[FargoFanMan]

20 hours ago, RpR said:

He would not be forcing any thing, he would fill a hole.

Exactly, the only two guys forcing anything are Jenkins and Rodriguez. That’s if they’re completely destroying AAA. There’s a long depth line at 2B. 

[FargoFanMan]

18 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

Someone has to fill the poor performances at 2nd base the past few years  , keaschall or ????

The job was Julian’s last year until he fell flat on his face. The big question is what the hell happened there? Forget finding a prospect for the spot. The guy showed incredible numbers and upside and then just completely fell off a cliff. The talent is still there. Was the old hitting regime trying to do an Austin Martin on him and try to find more power? Messing with his swing/approach to squeeze 2 or 3 more HR’s a year out of him? Seems to be their MO.

[tony&rodney]

51 minutes ago, FargoFanMan said:

The job was Julian’s last year until he fell flat on his face. The big question is what the hell happened there? Forget finding a prospect for the spot. The guy showed incredible numbers and upside and then just completely fell off a cliff. The talent is still there. Was the old hitting regime trying to do an Austin Martin on him and try to find more power? Messing with his swing/approach to squeeze 2 or 3 more HR’s a year out of him? Seems to be their MO.

Julien has a pretty severe upper cut swing. Still, the fall last year and subsequent relegation to virtual non-entity was surprising in its totality. There must be a couple of thoughts on Julien. One could be that he needs another setting via trade, a fresh start. Another could be that the winter off to reset and adjust returns Julien to relevance. Despite the flack Julien took on Twins Daily, he was a key player in the second half of the 2023 season. I would think there are teams hoping to acquire Eddie for a song.