19 Questions for 19 Twins Hitting Prospects in 2025

[Jamie Cameron]

Spring Training is here. The Twins have a deep farm system ahead of the 2025 season. What are the key questions facing some of their most notable hitting prospects? Let's dig in and find out.

Image courtesy of © Chris Tilley-Imagn Images

This will be a two-part series: the first on hitters, the second on pitchers. Some of these development steps will seem obvious, others less so. For ease of navigation, prospects have been listed alphabetically.

Billy Amick (3B)
Can he sustain an improved walk rate? Amick posted a solid .763 OPS in an 18-game professional debut. He’s a power-reliant corner infield bat with hit tool risk. He managed an encouraging 15.6 BB% in his brief stint at Fort Myers. If he can keep it up, he raises his floor as a prospect significantly; a higher OBP would mitigate some of his swing-and-miss challenges.

Eduardo Beltre, (OF)
What do contact rates and swing decisions look like Stateside? It’s easy to get carried away with Beltre after his 2024 season. After being one of two marquee signings in the Twins' 2024 international free agent class, he hit .326/.453/.618 in the DSL with 11 home runs and a 177 wRC+ in 43 games. Insane! The reality is that there will be an adjustment to baseball Stateside. Beltre will see a dip in his outputs grounded in declining contact rates and a more stern test of his swing decisions. If he can mitigate the dip, the Twins could be onto something.

Catchers 
Who is next in line? OK, this one is cheating, but I stand by it. The Twins don’t have much in the way of prospect depth at the catcher position. Can one of Khadim Diaw, Noah Cardenas, Andrew Cossetti, et al. take a significant step forward? The 2025 Draft has several catchers with first-round grades (look out for Luke Stevenson, Ike Irish, and Caden Bodine, as all three could move quickly through the minors).

Kyle DeBarge (INF)
Can he get consistent loft with his batted balls? The ‘Sonny Gray’ pick for the Twins at 33rd overall in 2024, DeBarge had a slow start in his pro debut. Despite a .655 OPS in A ball, he showed a discerning eye at the plate, solid swing decisions, and excellent bat-to-ball skills. DeBarge needs to lift the ball more, his average launch angle in 2024 was just 2 degrees. Lift the ball, and prosper.

Daiber De Los Santos, (SS)
Can he rein in the swing-and-miss? De Los Santos (a 2024 international signee) has a ton of exciting tools, including plus raw power (.460 SLG in the DSL in 2024) and plus speed (17 stolen bases in 47 games). He also has significant swing-and-miss concerns. A 31% strikeout rate before playing in the United States is a legitimate orange flag. He’ll need to continue to improve his approach and/or bat-to-ball skills to have a chance in affiliated ball.

Khadim Diaw, C
Can he stick behind the plate? Diaw was a young-for-the-class, defensively raw catching prospect taken by the Twins in the third round in 2024. It’s an offensive profile that’s driven by good bat-to-ball skills. He got off to a nice start in a small sample at Fort Myers (114 wRC+). Diaw shows signs of a good approach at the plate. If he can stick behind the dish, he could be a real find.

Rayne Doncon, INF
Can he keep up the quietly stellar production? Doncon might be the best-kept hitting secret in the Twins system. In 94 games played in 2024 across two levels of A ball, he hit .254/.342/.431, with 11 home runs—good for a 121 wRC+. His walk rate improved (by around 4%), and so did his defense. He's likely to start back at Cedar Rapids and could be one of the fastest risers on industry lists in 2025.

Payton Eeles (INF/OF)
Will the timing line up for him to get a chance with the big-league club? Eeles is now the worst-kept secret in the minors, thanks to some well-deserved acclaim this offseason. A .425 wOBA (155 wRC+) over 111 MiLB games in 2024 is an incredible accomplishment for an undersized, undrafted prospect. It’s great bat-to-ball skills and an exceptional approach at the plate (14.3 BB%, 14.5 K%), with fringy power. Will his exceptional performance meet with exceptional timing, to give him a chance at some run with the big-league team in 2025?

Jaime Ferrer (OF)
Can he rein in (slightly) an aggressive approach? Ferrer is a converted catcher who crushed for Florida State in 2024 (22 home runs, 1.083 OPS). After being taken by the Twins in the fourth round in 2024, Ferrer had a good start at Fort Myers (122 wRC+). He doesn’t walk or strike out much. It’s a slightly hyperaggressive approach, with good contact skills and solid power.

Walker Jenkins (OF)
Is there more power coming? I’m not one to criticize Jenkins for a lack of in-game power in his age-19 season (in which he reached Double A). His 90th-percentile exit velocity was merely average for the level, though. Adding some extra in-game thump is the one remaining question in a well-rounded offensive profile, buoyed by excellent swing decisions and outstanding bat-to-ball skills. Getting to 25-home run power would make Jenkins a superstar. 

Luke Keaschall (INF/OF)
Where is his defensive home? Keaschall has gone from second-round pick to top-75 global prospect in roughly 18 months, hitting everywhere he goes. A slight drop in performance at Double A still brought about a 138 wRC+ (12 BB%, 19 K%, .832 OPS). Keaschall’s throwing was impacted by arm discomfort, which led to his season being cut short by Tommy John surgery. Will he find a home at second base, or is the outfield a more likely defensive home? He has the athleticism for either, the bat will play anywhere.

Caden Kendle (INF)
Will there be any SLG to back up a strong OBP? Kendle was the Twins' fifth-round pick in 2024 in a draft class that had more bats than expected. His offensive profile is carried by a strong approach and excellent hit tool. He got off to a strong start for Fort Myers in 2024 (118 wRC+, .370 OBP). Is there more impact in his bat than his small-sample .090 ISO suggests?

Yasser Mercedes (OF)
What does the adjustment to full-season ball look like? Mercedes is another toolsy international prospect who thrived in 2024 after an injury-shortened 2023 campaign. He crushed the complex league (151 wRC+, .989 OPS) in 2023, but looked overmatched (in a minuscule sample) at Fort Myers to end the year. Can he make the necessary adjustments to thrive instead?

Carson McCusker (1B/OF)
Can he repeat his impressive Double-A performance at Triple A? Carson McCusker stands out in a crowd. He’s 6-foot-8, and another Twins undrafted free agent success story. Despite being relatively old (2025 will be his age-27 season), he’s made his way all the way to Triple-A St. Paul. In 2024, he hit 15 home runs in 98 games at Double A (.846 OPS). The strikeout rate is alarming, but there’s a world where a continuation of his 2024 performance in Triple A and timing meet for him to get a shot with the big-league club. He’ll have to prove it in a larger sample first, though.

Ricardo Olivar (C/OF)
Can he get back to being an extra-base hitting machine after stalling at Double A? Olivar was tearing up the lower levels of the minors (150 wRC+ at High A), but then reached Double-A Wichita and stalled out. In a small 19-game sample, he managed a .623 OPS, with an increase in strikeouts and a decrease in walks. Olivar doesn’t really have a defensive home (he’s not a catcher and he’s a bad outfielder), so he’ll have to continue to mash when he repeats Double A to remain a viable prospect for the Twins.

Dameury Pena (INF)
Will his exceptional bat-to-ball skills stand up to A ball? Pena is a hit-tool-only diminutive infielder international signing (remind you of anyone?). It’s truly outlier bat-to-ball skills, who has struck out 18 times in 279 plate appearances over two professional seasons (6.5 K%). Those are Arraezian numbers, but his batting average fell precipitously even moving from the DSL to the FCL. He’ll have to continue to hit, hit, hit if he’s going to keep advancing.

Emmanuel Rodriguez (OF)
Can he maintain consistent aggressiveness over the heart of the plate? ‘E-Rod’ is a consensus top-25 prospect. His 110-mph 90th-percentile exit velocity last year was the best among any top 100 prospect. His 24.4% walk rate gives him a floor, backed up by above-average speed and better-than-advertised defense. In short, he’s closer to being the Twins' No. 1 prospect than their No. 3. Minnesota has worked with Rodriguez on being aggressive with pitches thrown over the heart of the plate. If he can maintain an optimal swing rate in these zones, he’s going to do damage, no matter how gaudy the strikeout numbers are.

Kala’i Rosario (OF)
Can his SLG overcome his K%? The 2023 AFL home run derby champ and Midwest League MVP had a 2024 to forget, managing just 67 Double-A games in a season cut short by injury. A strikeout rate north of 30% at that level doesn't bode well for a prospect with little defensive value, even with thump in his bat. If Rosario can’t take a step forward defensively, he’s going to need to be an otherworldly masher to overcome the extreme swing-and-miss in his profile.

Brandon Winokur (INF/OF)
Will late-season improvements carry over into High A? Winokur did exceptionally well in his age-19 season, managing a respectable .761 OPS in the tough hitting environment that is the Florida State League. A singular athlete, Winokur hit 14 bombs (36 extra-base hits) to go with 23 stolen bases in a toolsy profile. If Winokur can keep his strikeout rate in check (28% in 2024), he has a chance to be a power/speed profile at a premium defensive position (centerfield).

Which Twins hitting prospect are you most excited to see this offseason? What are other questions facing Twins prospects this season? Feel free to add your own in the comments.

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[Cory Engelhardt]

Jamie also wrote a pretty great article recently breaking down the 1st round catcher options he mentioned here for the mlb draft this July. Just wanting to share

https://www.justbaseball.com/mlb/2025-mlb-draft-deep-dive-evaluating-college-catchers/

[thelanges5]

Thanks for providing this list. Looking beyond Emma and Jenkins. 
 

Love me some Keaschall. Mid-season call up seems likely. 2nd base and/or corner OF are the best path forward. 

Can Amick hit his way to 1st baseman of the future (2026 and beyond)?

 

[Nashvilletwin]

Question 20: In the spirit of true positional flexibility - an almost required trait among any Twins prospect hoping to make the big club - when will we see Jenkins, ERod, Keaschall, and/or Winokur start catching?  Think about how cool that would be - outfield one day, infield the next and catcher the next.  Rocco could really ramp up his platoon opportunities to a whole new level as well. Being a mediocre defender at more than one position goes way up in value if catcher is one of those.  Sadly, it might be too late for Miranda, Julien, Larnach, Martin and/or Lee to become a catcher.

We really need a sarcasm font….

[mikelink45]

Some names I have not followed at all and a few I am really excited about.  My curiosity goes to McCusker and Eeles - will they be given a chance?  Nice independent ball finds.  Of course Winokur, Keaschall, Walker and Beltre remain the prospects that I am anxious to follow.

Emmanuel Rodriguez  gives me that Minnesota Twins injury list chills.  Please get and stay healthy.

Doncon was a pleasand MiLB surprise and I do expect him to prosper and soon which of course means somewhat of a logjam with all the other players I mention in this post.

[Linus]

It’s fun to read about all of them.  The one I am most interested in is EmRod.  If he can hit in the bigs it’s a roster changing move.  We improve our defense immediately and with neutral splits we cut down on some of the platoon tomfoolery.  While I have concern about his hitting profile he really is a badly needed piece.  Plus you could trade Larnach for something decent.

[arby58]

Nice piece - I was surprised that Kaelen Culpepper wasn't on  the list. Thoughts there?

[Jamie Cameron]

12 minutes ago, arby58 said:

Nice piece - I was surprised that Kaelen Culpepper wasn't on  the list. Thoughts there?

Thanks! Yeah I got kinda fatigued by the end and I had just written up Culpepper. I think he was off to a nice start. Lot's of assets in the profile. My projection if it all goes well would be above average hit and possibly average power. His chase rate was extremely high in college ~30%, so it's a matter of making good swing decisions. I think the Twins have a pretty established track record of accomplishing that with guys now, so that's what I'd monitor with Culpepper. A successful season would end in AA.

Thanks for reading and commenting.

[terrydactyls]

Just curious.  Why is Jenkins' 90th percentile exit velocity only average but the same number for Rodriquez puts him at the top of the Top 100 list?

[Twins GFP]

1 hour ago, terrydactyls said:

Just curious.  Why is Jenkins' 90th percentile exit velocity only average but the same number for Rodriquez puts him at the top of the Top 100 list?

To further that question, how does a 90th percentile exit velocity equal average.  Wouldn't average be 50th percentile?

Not trying to be snarky, just trying to understand where the numbers come from.

[chpettit19]

I'm obviously excited to see what the big 3 bats can do and if they can all debut this year, and I love Payton Eeles, but Brandon Winokur is the bat I'm most excited to follow this season.

He has the chance to skyrocket up prospect lists if he can continue to adjust and put up some big numbers this year. He's nowhere near as fast (few are) as Elly, but he's in the mold of Elly De La Cruz, Aaron Judge, Oneil Cruz, and James Wood as the super tall, super athlete. No, I'm not predicting he's going to be any of those guys, but that's the type of player he is with being such an incredible athlete at that size. He's the guy I'll watch most this summer.

[Jamie Cameron]

30 minutes ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

To further that question, how does a 90th percentile exit velocity equal average.  Wouldn't average be 50th percentile?

Not trying to be snarky, just trying to understand where the numbers come from.

Jenkins EV90 was around 104 mph, around 50th percentile for the level he was at in 2024

E Rod EV 90 was 110mph, the highest among top 100 prospects. Sorry if the wording was confusing.

[ashbury]

Caden Kendle.  Huh, that name didn't even ring a bell for me.  If he is legit in CF then maybe the lack of power could be tolerated, but in his first taste of pro ball he played mostly the corners.  Max Kepler without the power?  It could be a short career....

[chpettit19]

3 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

Just curious.  Why is Jenkins' 90th percentile exit velocity only average but the same number for Rodriquez puts him at the top of the Top 100 list?

 

1 hour ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

To further that question, how does a 90th percentile exit velocity equal average.  Wouldn't average be 50th percentile?

Not trying to be snarky, just trying to understand where the numbers come from.

90th percentile exit velocity isn't saying he's in the 90th percentile, it's the 90th percentile for his personal exit velos. 

[amjgt]

I'm a math guy so I have a clarifying question on the EV90 stuff...

Is EV90 the average of his top 10% of exit velocities, or is it literally the raw exit velocity of his 90th percentile batted ball. (ie. 30th highest velo out of 300 batted balls).

[amjgt]

I went down a little bit of a Eduardo Beltre rabbit hole the other day and decided to look up where the top 5-10 OPS guys in the Dominican Summer League in each season from 2018-2021 are today. 

Let's just say... it's pretty ugly.

Julio Rodriguez in 2018 was the only notable guy and there were a lot of "Status: Released"

Fingers crossed that Beltre can buck the trend. 

[nicksaviking]

27 minutes ago, amjgt said:

I went down a little bit of a Eduardo Beltre rabbit hole the other day and decided to look up where the top 5-10 OPS guys in the Dominican Summer League in each season from 2018-2021 are today. 

Let's just say... it's pretty ugly.

Julio Rodriguez in 2018 was the only notable guy and there were a lot of "Status: Released"

Fingers crossed that Beltre can buck the trend. 

Probably still preferable to being in the bottom 5-10 in OPS.

[Steve Lein]

4 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

Just curious.  Why is Jenkins' 90th percentile exit velocity only average but the same number for Rodriquez puts him at the top of the Top 100 list?

Jenkins' 90th percentile exit velocity was ~102 MPH in low-A (and actually just below average for the FSL as a whole), thus significantly worse than the 110 MPH for E-Rod that led the top 100, in that metric.

This take may raise some eyebrows, but I have watched plenty of Jenkins to this point to notice it:

It's an all-contact swing approach in it's current form that has been hard for me to see reaching any of those peak power projections unless something changes. Whether that's getting naturally stronger with age (he is already notably strong for a 19-year old, so this is not all that unlikely), or an effort to put some more behind those swings. If you gave me a choice I'd definitely want what's currently there over a power-centric approach that may hinder him elsewhere, but I would like to see some more situational aggression from him in 2025, too.

Something like swing speed metrics would be really interesting for me to see on him as well, because I'd bet a lot of money his isn't all that high. Maybe that would also tell us he gets a lot more out of his swing speed than others do because of that strength he has, though. It'd be an interesting trade off to investigate. This is something I'll be watching with purposeful intent this year in the minors with Jenkins.

[DocBauer]

I had forgotten about Caden Kendle in the 5th round last season, so focused on other guys.

I keep wondering if 4th round pick Ferrer shouldn't be put back at catcher. Rumor has it he was highly regarded as a HS recruit at the position. 

Nice to see the mention of Winoker as a future CF for the Twins. He's got a ways to go for sure, but I keep seeing him in the middle, flanked by Jenkins and Rodriguez in a couple of years.

[DocBauer]

Oh, and did I miss Danny DeAndrade somewhere?

[arby58]

8 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

Just curious.  Why is Jenkins' 90th percentile exit velocity only average but the same number for Rodriquez puts him at the top of the Top 100 list?

90th percentile exit velocity isolates the 10 percent of fair ball contact for a hitter and averages it. Since there is a clear correlation between high exit velocity and positive hitting outcomes, it is a useful tool.  The article doesn't identify what they are in miles per hour for both players.

[TopGunn#22]

There are always the obvious one for all the obvious reasons: 

Walker Jenkins-he's ranked as our top prospect and we lucked out getting the 5th pick in a 5 player draft where Jenkins landed in our lap.

E-Rod-he's the closest to getting to the big leagues and we've been hearing about him for years.  He's got tremendous power and great plate discipline.  But is he too passive?  He's got the power and speed to be truly impactful.  One of the things I'm excited about is his defense.  I've heard he's a legit CF.  If he's that good, maybe Buxton starts playing LF and that helps Byron stay healthy.

Keaschall-he's a personal favorite of mine that I'm excited to see how he does in spring training.  It's said he's got the speed to play the OF but I'd be content with him at 2B if it got his bat to the big league club sooner.

Now for the slightly under the radar guys.

Winokur is just so intriguing to me with his size and athleticism.  And his glove has to be legit as well if he's playing SS and CF.  He is such a Wild Card going forward.  If he can make contact a little more consistently as he climbs from one level to another he's going to be a Minnesota Twin some day.  it's hard to imagine what his ceiling will be but his athletic ability just jumps out at you.

Lastly, I have to mention the polar opposite of Winokur in Peyton Eeles.  One is 6:6 and the other is...about a foot shorter.  What Eeles has is elite bat to ball skills and a good eye at the plate.  His OBP at several levels is just striking.  He could be a decent utility guy but may be best suited to 2B if he's got what it takes to be a regular.  If Eeles and Keaschall BOTH blow up at St. Paul it will be interesting to see how the Twins handle it.

St. Paul may be a very fun place to go watch baseball early this season to see their pitching staff but especially to see E-Rod, Keaschall and Eeles play.  

[Dman]

Gotta agree with @chpettit19 that Winokur likely has the highest potential ceiling of any of the names mentioned.  If and I know it is a big if, his hit tool ends up plus he looks like the only 5 tool player on this list to me.  He is so athletic he can handle short.  It's crazy athleticism and he could be pure 60 tools all the way across the board if he can get his plate discipline and hit tool to that 60 level.  Given the tools he has even a 50 hit tool would work well for him, but given that K rate and contact rate there is work to do.

I really like what Eeles brings to any team he is on.  If guys don't perform at the MLB level he might not give them their spot back.  I think his approach will work at the MLB level but no reason to rush him.

I also like Doncon.  He has been young for the levels with good power and I thought he looked OK at short nothing special there and third is his likely home, but good power and solid approach make he think he could be special.  I think AA gives him problems but he could be a stud 3rd baseman if the bat is good enough.

Lot's of interesting bats in the list.  Should be a fun system to watch this year.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

Thank you for a very optimistic and informative article.