Cody Schoenmann Twins Daily Contributor Posted July 23, 2025 Posted July 23, 2025 Walker JenkinsLuke KeaschallKaelen CulpepperEmmanuel RodriguezMarek HoustonConnor PrielippDasan HillCharlee SotoRiley QuickBilly AmickAndrew MorrisMarco RayaGabriel GonzalezKyle DeBargeCJ CulpepperKhadim DiawBrandon WinokurQuentin YoungNoah CardenasEduardo Beltre
Steve Lein Twins Daily Contributor Posted July 23, 2025 Posted July 23, 2025 Walker JenkinsJenkins is still #1, based on elite contact skills, athleticism, and 5-tool potential. But I caution that he's looking more like a late-career Joe Mauer as a hitter, compared to a prime Justin Morneau that many may be hoping for. Still plenty of time for man-muscles to develop, and I absolutely still expect it too, but there has been no power showing up in his game. It's all contact at this point in his development. Not a bad thing, just noteworthy.Luke KeaschallCan't come back to the Twins soon enough. Emmanuel RodriguezHas more than enough chops for center field in the major leagues. Contact, strikeouts, and passivity still an issue. After returning from injury came out hot with the Saints before the All Star break, so I'll be continuing to watch for the true breakout. Elite exit velocities highlight his power potential.Kaelen CulpepperIn addition to looking quite slick at SS, Culpepper is showing more as a hitter than anticipated. He has been arguably the biggest riser and one of the most exciting players to watch in the Twins system this season.Connor PrielippHas been giving up hits, but also is a buzzsaw. That's a command issue (as opposed to control, where he's doing just fine with a sub 2.5/9IP walk rate) I will attribute to returning from so many injuries and basically re-learning how to pitch with a new arm. Best raw stuff since Johan and Liriano. I expect him to be bumped to triple-A in the second half, and personally hope he then pitches out of the bullpen to both limit innings, and audition for such a role with the Twins down the stretch.Dasan HillA lefty throwing 98 MPH? Sign me up! Striking out over 13 hitters per 9 innings (elite), but walking close to half that amount (not so elite). Doesn't give up hits though, so as a 19-year old I expect control to be improved. Front-line starter potential if that happens.Gabriel GonzalezYou know the Undertaker from WWE? How he'd always snap back to life from near death while seemingly unconscious on the mat? That's Gabriel Gonzalez this season. Incredible turn-around from posting in .707 OPS in 2024, to a .947 one thus far in 2025. He is not a good outfielder, but this years version of a bat will definitely play. Ranked 20th in my last vote.Charlee SotoI don't like to drop guys too far for missing time to injury, but the fact of the matter here is several people above him have balled out while he's been on the sidelines, so fall he does (from #4 back in April for me). Can hit 100 MPH as a starter, so there's nothing for him to feel bad about here. Easily can climb back up when he gets back on the mound.Marek HoustonLimited exposure to Houston for me, but a mid-1st round pick who plays high-level shortstop belongs in this range. Same spot around where Culpepper debuted for me last season after being drafted. Will need to prove the bat skills from his 2025 college season are legitimate, much like Culpeper has done this year.Brandon WinokurFreak of nature athletically who seems to like big moments. Stats this season won't jump off the page, but they hide big power potential and the fact that at 6'6" (or greater...) he can actually play shortstop. Has also swiped 20 bags in 23 attempts, so there's a comparison to Oneil Cruz of the Pirates here.Riley QuickThe 36th overall pick in June's MLB draft. Like Prielipp, comes out of Alabama and has had Tommy John surgery. Has a big starter's frame and four-pitch mix, with a fastball up to 99 MPH post-surgery.Marco RayaHas turned his season around a bit in the last month, but will need to maintain that performance. Demeanor on the mound has reminded me of former top prospect and Twins pitcher, Chris Archer, which is not a compliment. Needs confidence.Kyle DeBargeDeBarge is a fun player to watch, and is a menace on the basepaths with 46 steals in 49 attempts on the year, in 78 games. In a fun stat I like to put out there with speedsters, is if you include those swipes and basepath outs (43 gross bases) in his total bases number, his slugging percentage on the season jumps from a mediocre .397 to an excellent .542.Quentin YoungI'm amused by the fact Quintin is the nephew of Dmitri and Delmon Young. In his favor is he has the loud tools of former Twin Delmon, when he was arguably the #1 prospect in baseball back in the mid-2000's. There's a huge arm and huge power in his bat. There is risk the Twins aren't able to sign him away from a commitment to LSU, but I also don't believe they would have selected him if they didn't the have confidence to do so.Andrew MorrisMorris pitched at three levels during the 2024 season, following closely behind the meteoric rise of Zebby Matthews. He's not the same control artist and was mediocre this season before hitting the injured list, hence his fall here. But there is a back-end starter here, with potential for mid-rotation upside if he can throw strikes consistently.CJ CulpepperBegan the season on the injured list, but made it back to Wichita in June and has been excellent in limited innings ramping back up. Has allowed just one earned run in five appearances, and struck out 15 in 13 2/3 innings with the Wind Surge.Billy AmickAmick may have taken criticisms of his game to extreme levels coming into the 2025 season, but he may also be better off for it. Big power potential with limited contact was the rub, but this years he's hitting for average with limited power. There's still a lot of strikeouts, but is also getting on base at a .420 clip.Ricardo OlivarOlivar has finally creeped into my own list, as I can no longer ignore the consistency as a hitter. But he still lacks a position and that consistency is born out of average outputs across the board, and nothing that is truly plus.Eduardo BeltreIs having a bit of a rough exposure stateside in the FCL this season after dominating the DSL last year, but also is just 18-years old and has loud tools.Payton EelesThe fact he's returning from a knee injury is showing up in the early going for Eeles upon his return, but as a guy who tore an ACL on a baseball field I know how a knee recovery process can play out back on it. Will pick up hits in bunches, is lightning in a bottle in everything he does on the diamond, and will be a fan-favorite when he makes the majors. And he will make the majors. Eeles is my favorite prospect in the system, always love the underdogs!
Cody Christie Twins Daily Contributor Posted July 23, 2025 Posted July 23, 2025 Walker JenkinsEmmanuel RodriguezLuke KeaschallKaelen CulpepperConnor PrielippDasan HillCharlee SotoMarek HoustonGabriel GonzalezRiley QuickAndrew MorrisMarco RayaBrandon WinokurYasser MercedesKyle DeBargeCJ CulpepperKhadim DiawBilly AmickQuentin YoungEduardo Beltre
Jamie Cameron Twins Daily Contributor Posted July 23, 2025 Posted July 23, 2025 Walker JenkinsLuke KeaschallEmmanuel RodriguezKaelen CulpepperConnor PrielippCharlee SotoDasan HillMarek HoustonRiley QuickMarco RayaAndrew MorrisGabriel GonzalezBrandon WinokurKyle DeBargeCJ CulpepperRicardo OlivarQuentin YoungBilly AmickJames EllwangerKhadim Diaw
FlyingFinn Verified Member Posted July 28, 2025 Posted July 28, 2025 Going back to last year, certainly at the beginning of the year (and maybe even mid-season), Jose Rodriguez was on this list. Today he was released. Wow, that train went off the tracks fast.
Quentin Young Fort Myers Mighty Mussels - A SS/3B The Young infielders knocked his 11th home run of the season on Wednesday morning. It accounted for three of his four RBI in the game. Explore Quentin Young News >
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