Twins Prospect Hot Sheet, July 7, 2025: It’s Walker Jenkins’s World

[Dman]

15 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

No, but I'm not convinced about most any prospect, and even many MLB players. I guess we disagree on taking chances on upside, rather than settling for bad veterans.

We all want to see those players and if the system was designed in a way to allow for that we would likely see more of that.  As things stand you can't just add all these guys get tired of them and then expose them to waivers.  You have to have a plan.  I think that is all most are saying when it comes to Eeles.

Here's an example for you.  Anthony Prato had a  lights out year at AAA in 2023.  Close to the same number of games as Eeles (72 vs 64). .302 batting average .991 OPS.  Monster numbers.  He never has come close to those numbers since at any level.   Adding him to the 40 man after that good stretch would have been a mistake.

They had guys like me saying they would lose him to rule V, but it didn't happen and he came right back down to earth the next year.  They can give Eeles all the time they need to be sure he needs to be added.

 

 

[mikelink45]

3 hours ago, Wedman13 said:

It said he was #20 prospect 

At any time how many top 20/30 prospects on any teams list make it to the majors?  It is a difficult route through the minors, but that does not mean Eeles should not be recognized for what he is doing and the fact that he has value.  These are trade chips if not players who can fill emergency needs. 

[Steve Lein]

9 hours ago, Dman said:

But we've seen several players come back to earth after a couple of hot months. So you're convinced absolutely no doubt he is a .300 average 900 OPS no matter what right now? if not then the sample is still too small IMO.

I'll say honestly, in my opinion, this means you haven't watch enough of Eeles. This dude is a ballplayer, and the quicker we start thinking of him like that instead of the fact he's not a "top prospect," the better.

I write an article at the start of every year picking the guys I think will make their MLB debut with the Twins. Even knowing he was going to miss at least 2 months to start this one, I commented on that article that he was one of the four I was most sure of to do so this season. That's because of what I've seen out of him.

In small sample size terms, I'm giving him a lot of leeway right now in the fact he is currently returning from that knee injury, so needs some sample to ramp back up. 4-for-5 tonight, so maybe that is in motion!

[Dman]

24 minutes ago, Steve Lein said:

I'll say honestly, in my opinion, this means you haven't watch enough of Eeles. This dude is a ballplayer, and the quicker we start thinking of him like that instead of the fact he's not a "top prospect," the better.

I write an article at the start of every year picking the guys I think will make their MLB debut with the Twins. Even knowing he was going to miss at least 2 months to start this one, I commented on that article that he was one of the four I was most sure of to do so this season. That's because of what I've seen out of him.

In small sample size terms, I'm giving him a lot of leeway right now in the fact he is currently returning from that knee injury, so needs some sample to ramp back up. 4-for-5 tonight, so maybe that is in motion!

No one is arguing he can't make it, but he needs to prove it again at AAA.  Especially coming back from injury.  We haven't even seen much power out of him yet. Two months of great play isn't enough to just send him to the majors.  To small a sample. He wasn't in A ball for a year or High A for year or AA for a year like most players to prove the production is for real.

Also other things are in play.  Those 40 man spots are valuable.  Someone needs to go, for him to have a spot and they have a lot of second baseman.  Would you not protect Schobel to put Eeles on the 40 man this year?  Getting rid of Jullien?  There isn't room for everyone.  Eeles doesn't "need" to be added right away unless he "proves" he is ready and he proves it by giving a larger sample size of production.  That is all most were arguing.  He might have to prove he is better than Keaschal, Lee and Culpepper to find a spot.  That might take time.

He had a great night tonight I can't think of single person on the board that doesn't want him to make it.  I just think there is no hurry and that he needs to prove that he can continue that type of production at AAA before adding him to the 40 man and it looks like that is what the Twins are doing.

I have watched him a ton as well, All the way when he jump started the Fort Myers team.  Everyone can see he looks "special", but it is still a small sample size.  One year of production out of someone in Indy ball.  He'll get there once they feel he is the best fit for the team. Right now they have Correa, Lee and Lewis as the main infield.  Whose place is he taking?

[DJL44]

On 7/8/2025 at 1:06 PM, Mike Sixel said:

I guess we disagree on taking chances on upside, rather than settling for bad veterans.

What's the upside on Eeles? Below average second baseman? That's the kind of player you use when they're cheap and non-tender in their 2nd arb year.

[Mike Sixel]

8 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

What's the upside on Eeles? Below average second baseman? That's the kind of player you use when they're cheap and non-tender in their 2nd arb year.

It's a general statement not necessarily specific to Eeles. I have no idea if he can play, but we know several current twins aren't good. Rostering those every year, and spending money on them, is my issue. 

[TheLeviathan]

Happy to see Jenkins on this list.  I was wondering if it would be him or Gabriel Gonzalez.  (Who is absolutely crushing it this year)