What Are Minnesota Twins Getting in Top Prospect Eduardo Tait?

[Jamie Cameron]

Image courtesy of © Peter Ackerman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Twins have a new global top-100 prospect. They have a new top catching prospect. On Wednesday afternoon, the Twins traded beloved closer Jhoan Duran to the Philadelphia Phillies for catcher Eduardo Tait and right-handed pitcher Mick Abel. Who is Tait? Where does he fit among Twins prospects? What are his strengths and weaknesses? Let’s dig in.

Eduardo Tait (Tah-eet) is an 18-year-old, left-handed-hitting catching prospect, signed for $90,000 out of Panama in the 2023 international signing window. Tait was ranked the 50th-best prospect by Baseball America, 56th overall by MLB Pipeline, and 63rd by Just Baseball.

Tait is a thick-bodied catcher who sets up in the batter’s box with an unusual, sternum-high hand set. It gives way to a sizable leg kick in his load. There’s good bat speed, quick hands and what looks like a short, semi-adjustable stroke here. There’s also serious strength and power. Tait posted some of the best exit velocities in the Florida State League, logging batted-ball speeds north of 113 mph as an 18-year-old. That’s Emmanuel Rodriguez-level age-adjusted power.

What are the warts, offensively? Tait is an aggressive hitter. He’s walked just 8.3% of the time thus far in 2025. He swings aggressively (54.8%), and chases often. The Twins have shown a proclivity for leaning into offensive profiles with chase tendencies, with some success. Luke Keaschall and Kaelen Culpepper are two recent, notable examples.

The rest of the offensive profile is solid. Tait has an overall contact rate approaching 80%, and despite some holes in his swing, he should get to his power plenty often, the more he plays. This should be an output with good bat-to-ball skills, above-average to plus power, and a fringe-average on-base skillset. That’s valuable in and of itself, the more so for a left-handed hitting catcher.

But what of the defense? Tait has a plus arm (he nabbed over 32% of base runners in A ball). By all accounts, his receiving has improved significantly this year. You’d be safe to say that the bat is better than the glove, currently. Specifically, if Tait can move more fluidly as a backstop, he could put his physical tools to better use. He’s a good athlete, though, so there’s reason for optimism there.

In 82 games across Low A and High A in 2025, he’s hitting .255/.319/.434 with 11 home runs and a 107 wRC+. He’ll be assigned to High-A Cedar Rapids.

Where does Tait fit in the Twins system? Overall, I’d rank him 5th, behind Walker Jenkins, Rodriguez, Keaschall, and Culpepper. For me, that says more about my conviction on Culpepper than some kind of ding on Tait. I think there’s a plausible argument to rank him anywhere from 3rd to 6th, depending on how you value defensive positioning, upside, and proximity to the majors. 

Tait is a good distance from impacting the major-league team. This is a slower burn, a longer-term play than any of the four above him on my list. This is not the type of return that plays into the ‘sustainable winner’ mantra so frequently expressed by this front office. Instead, it’s the type of return that leaves you asking: ‘who’s next?'

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[old nurse]

It will take a couple of seasons to find out what they have in Tait. The rush to judge will always be an unwise thing to do.

[Patzky]

Thank you for giving these profiles on new to us player prospects. We know all our young guys but next to nothing about other teams. So he's not 'Tate' that's the first thing I learned. Florida League assignment, or what's left of the Dominican?

[Old Crow]

What the Twins got for Duran was hornswoggled.

[Dman]

Not many if any 18 year old's at high A except Tait.  I wasn't thrilled with getting him initially but after sleeping on it and reading more he could be a really good get.  I just have a horrible bias when it comes to 18 year old/high school level catchers and how they get bumped up prospect lists only to fall out.  Even draft guru's note that high school catcher's from the draft don't work out that often.

At any rate the current contact and exit velocities bode well for his offensive upside but the chase rates will make it very hard for him to succeed as he moves up.  So hopefully the Twins can help him some there.

Defensively the 30% caught steeling rate is impressive for an 18 year old at the pro level.  I am less concerned with framing as I believe the auto K zone is coming so not a large issue IMO.   There is a lot to like in his profile right now and catcher is a key position.  So he should help the team in the future. Key point being future.  I was hoping for someone close to helping next years team, but this is still a good get.

I like both catchers the Twins got in trade.  They should be set there for a while now with suddenly great depth with Cardenas at AAA, Diaw at high A but ready for AA. Tait at high A and Jimenez ready for A ball. Having a top 100 catcher in Tait is a nice feather in the cap for the system.  I am glad the Twins have strengthened a system weakness and hopefully Tait is the best of the bunch. 

[TNtwins85]

Great article! Good scouting report. Looking at stats and prospect rankings I thought this return fell a little short. Not bad but not the haul I anticipated. After watching some video on both these guys I’m a bit more positive. This is where scouting comes into play but Tait is definitely an advanced hitter for an 18yo. He’s always gonna have unfair expectations but if he can continue to develop and become an average defensive backstop that can hit 20-25 bombs I think this is a win. I love how he goes the other way with such ease and the ball explodes off his bat. 

[Blyleven2011]

I not going to judge the players we got back from the Duran trade ...

I am going to judge the incompetency of selling low on Duran  ...

Selling a solid closer with team control away that other teams were salivating for and falvey and company trades for players that may not help us immediately  , that's a head scratcher to me  , they do trade for a need in catcher that could be 3 years away , we need a catcher for 2026 and Tait may not be needed in 3 years if he even remains a catcher ..

The word is both players come with risk , Abel to my understanding is going to start in AAA , St Paul  , hope we get a chance to see him pitch this year , he has a small sample size of pitching in the mlb level so it sounds like he is major league ready ...

Disappointed that they didn't immediately better the team with offense which is much needed  ...

If Philadelphia win 3 world series in a row with duran , we definitely lost this trade  , twins will be lucky to win 1 world series ...

How do you trade a proven player with team control for risk taking players in return ( head scratcher to me ) ...

Today is another day of trading , this should of been the day when twins daily should have posted the article , DOʻ WE TRUST FALVEY TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES ...

[The Great Hambino]

I really don't love the process or timing of the trade that led to someone as far away as Tait being the headliner for Duran, but I hope we remember that that's not Tait's fault.  In a vacuum, I like a lot about what I'm hearing about him.  

Quality catcher depth is something that needed improvement throughout the system, especially since they seem to shy away from catcher in the draft and haven't been producing much of anything by way of international free agency.  Again, I really don't love that Duran was the cost of improving that depth at this level of the system, but also again, that's not on Tait.  I hope we don't saddle him with that burden during what's surely going to be nonlinear development up the org ladder

[Nashvilletwin]

Until we have a coaching staff in the show who can transition accomplished and proven minor league position players into average or above everyday major leaguers, we should have zero expectations for Tait (assuming he can even make his way thru the minors).

Tait is depressed today that he was moved to the Twins - the franchise where top position player talent goes to whither on the vine.  

[rdehring]

I think they got two top 100 prospects for Duran, correct?  If so, can't complain too much.  But with all trades, time will tell how they did.

Unfortunately, as several mentioned above I would have liked to see them get a catcher closer to helping the team.  Perhaps by next year.  Now if this kid ends up being the next Sal Perez and joins the Twins as a 20-year old by mid 2027, all would be good.  And that timeline could be realistic...begin next spring in Hi-A, move up to AA by June with a September move to AAA.  Another month or two in 2027 at St. Paul and he could move over to Target Field.  Is that optimistic? Yes.  If this kid is a top 50 guy and plays/develops like it, could happen.  

[FlyingFinn]

Apparently, the Twins didn't like the catchers in the draft as they have already collected two in trades. Also, Falvey must think his job is secure as Tait won't help the Twins until 2028 (unless this was directed by ownership to cut costs).

Speaking of 2028, what will catching look like in the majors. I think framing will no longer be needed because we will have robo umps. That could change catcher stances. Anyone have a crystal ball on any other changes? Just wondering how this would affect guys like Tait.

[Trov]

"this is not the type of return that plays into the ‘sustainable winner’ mantra so frequently expressed by this front office. Instead, it’s the type of return that leaves you asking: ‘who’s next?"

The trade included an MLB ready starting pitcher that is a top prospect as well.  Yes, the 19 year old may be several years away, but to say the deal itself is not the type of return that plays into the mantra I would say you are wrong.  You traded away a pen guy, that yes is very good, but will get even more expensive next year and the year after, if they kept him, which if the new owners, assuming we get one, put a similar financial restriction on the team means less money for other areas. Really having a sustainable winner means loading your farm system with guys through out it and not just always trying to have MLB ready guys.  We traded on MLB guy for one MLB guy and threw in a young top prospect.  I think that helps sustaining winning. 

[TNtwins85]

26 minutes ago, Blyleven2011 said:

I not going to judge the players we got back from the Duran trade ...

I am going to judge the incompetency of selling low on Duran  ...

Selling a solid closer with team control away that other teams were salivating for and falvey and company trades for players that may not help us immediately  , that's a head scratcher to me  , they do trade for a need in catcher that could be 3 years away , we need a catcher for 2026 and Tait may not be needed in 3 years if he even remains a catcher ..

The word is both players come with risk , Abel to my understanding is going to start in AAA , St Paul  , hope we get a chance to see him pitch this year , he has a small sample size of pitching in the mlb level so it sounds like he is major league ready ...

Disappointed that they didn't immediately better the team with offense which is much needed  ...

If Philadelphia win 3 world series in a row with duran , we definitely lost this trade  , twins will be lucky to win 1 world series ...

How do you trade a proven player with team control for risk taking players in return ( head scratcher to me ) ...

Today is another day of trading , this should of been the day when twins daily should have posted the article , DOʻ WE TRUST FALVEY TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES ...

I understand your frustration. I do. I wasn’t thrilled right away but after doing some more research on these guys I believe this is a positive. A MLB ready guy is what everyone wanted. He’s top 100 in many lists. Still has upside. Can slot in now or compete for a spot next year for sure. As for Tait, he also is a top 100 and maybe a top 50 depending on the list. At a position of need. An 18yo at high A. Is holding his own and has some good metrics behind him. Exactly what they said they were looking for. Does losing Duran hurt? Yes. That’s a given. Did they get what they stated they wanted? Yes. Is there risk? Yes. This is the nature of the deadline. I wanted Harry Ford. Apparently either Twins brass wasn’t high on him or they didn’t have what the twins wanted. We’ll probably never know but these are the guys they wanted as far as what the Phillies were willing to part with. 

[David HK]

So, Willians Astudillo and Kyle Gibson, then?

[sweetmusicviola16]

Can you clarify the $90,000 signing bonus in paragraph 2? I think I read and heard that it was 1.3mil or something. 

[Mike Sixel]

A lot of risk here. And while some sites really like both players, fangraphs has been dropping both for a year. We won't know for three years, I'd guess, but it's a very risky profile. 

[Nshore]

I don't think there's anything wrong with aggressive hitters.  Quite the contrary.  They've neutered Wallner and Larnach to such an extent that I get so frustrated I practically have to bite down on a towel to watch them hit.

[bunsen82]

1 hour ago, Blyleven2011 said:

I am going to judge the incompetency of selling low on Duran  ...

 

I don't think anyone is saying we sold low.  Could we have gotten more, thats up to speculation but we got the 2 best prospects traded this deadline.  

 

52 minutes ago, FlyingFinn said:

Apparently, the Twins didn't like the catchers in the draft as they have already collected two in trades. Also, Falvey must think his job is secure as Tait won't help the Twins until 2028 (unless this was directed by ownership to cut costs).

The catcher I think they were targeting was Taitn Gray in the 3rd and was picked 2 picks above them.  Great exit velocities and a very similar profile to Tait -  hell almost the same name.  

[DJL44]

One nice thing about a LH hitting catcher is it is very easy to sit them when a LH pitcher starts. Easy to find a RH hitting catcher for those starts.

[IndyTwinsFan]

2 hours ago, old nurse said:

It will take a couple of seasons to find out what they have in Tait. The rush to judge will always be an unwise thing to do.

I agree completely.  Yet some people apparently can't seem to help themselves by jumping full-tilt into that fray.

[NYCTK]

2 hours ago, Old Crow said:

What the Twins got for Duran was hornswoggled.

[twinstalker]

Easy 3rd behind Jenkins and Keaschall.

 

[TopGunn#22]

I would have liked to see just a little bit more from the Phillies.  Maybe we could have/should have included a player like Castro or a minor leaguer to entice the Phillies to include a CF prospect like Crawford.  I like the players we got back.  It just seems like Falvey left some meat on the bone...didn't quite take FULL advantage of Duran's value, especially with the Clase situation taking him out of the mix.

I would like to see the Twins bring Mick Abel up to the Major League level NOW !!  Why putz around with  Pierson Ohl and Noah Davis etc...when you could be using Abel ??  That they're sending Abel to St. Paul initially is just baffling to me and underscores my desire to see a completely new FO and on field staff in 2026.  

[2wins87]

2 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

Apparently, the Twins didn't like the catchers in the draft as they have already collected two in trades. Also, Falvey must think his job is secure as Tait won't help the Twins until 2028 (unless this was directed by ownership to cut costs).

Speaking of 2028, what will catching look like in the majors. I think framing will no longer be needed because we will have robo umps. That could change catcher stances. Anyone have a crystal ball on any other changes? Just wondering how this would affect guys like Tait.

I think there is a clear trend that the Twins don't rate catchers particularly high as amateur prospects.  They aren't the only team, since many highly ranked catchers don't pan out in the pros.  So they prefer to take guys with big question marks later in the draft, and it hasn't worked out besides Jeffers so far.

I think its an ok strategy but means that they have to supplement from outside the org which they have't done all that well, with Vazquez being the primary misstep. Now they are focusing on trading for catching prospects, which again could be fine if they are getting good value in their trades.  I do worry a little bit that by creating such a dearth of catching prospects then trading for need they could be undermining the overall value of their trades a bit.  I think this trade is a fine value but does not qualify as "getting blown away" like they were supposedly seeking for their players with multiple years of control. But we'll have to wait and see with Tait and Jimenez to a lesser extent.

As far as robo-umps, it seems like the challenge system is coming soon, but the fully automated zone probably won't come anytime soon.  Framing will still be important, but could be emphasized less, with challenge decisions becoming another catcher skill.  You will definitely be able to find "Challenge Runs Above Average" as a stat once the system is implemented.

[Charleo]

Seeing what the A's got for Miller (and Sears)....I'm even more disappointed.  Duran is better than Miller and they got the 3rd best prospect in baseball plus others.  Ugh....

[LA Vikes Fan]

12 minutes ago, TopGunn#22 said:

I would have liked to see just a little bit more from the Phillies.  Maybe we could have/should have included a player like Castro or a minor leaguer to entice the Phillies to include a CF prospect like Crawford.  I like the players we got back.  It just seems like Falvey left some meat on the bone...didn't quite take FULL advantage of Duran's value, especially with the Clase situation taking him out of the mix.

I would like to see the Twins bring Mick Abel up to the Major League level NOW !!  Why putz around with  Pierson Ohl and Noah Davis etc...when you could be using Abel ??  That they're sending Abel to St. Paul initially is just baffling to me and underscores my desire to see a completely new FO and on field staff in 2026.  

I agree here. I guess I can see having Abel make one AAA start just so the current staff can see him up close or try to tweak on his delivery. Beyond that though, he needs to be making 8-10 MLB starts this season. There is plenty of room with Lopez still at least weeks away, if coming back at all this season, and Festa still out. By the way, it just occurred to me that the reason he has been assigned to St. Paul is that we need to clear space for him on the 26 man roster by making trades today.

I would like to see Abel starting at our next opportunity which, I think, is next Tuesday in Detroit. I'm assuming that Ober starts Saturday, with Ryan Friday and SWR Sunday. Monday in Detroit would line up perfectly for Matthews, but then Tuesday is an open date for the rotation with Ryan lined up for Wednesday. Let's give Abel the start next Tuesday and see what we got. 

[Mike Sixel]

Just now, Charleo said:

Seeing what the A's got for Miller (and Sears)....I'm even more disappointed.  Duran is better than Miller and they got the 3rd best prospect in baseball plus others.  Ugh....

The A's included another pitcher, the A's pitcher has 2 more years of control, and costs a lot less in salary. All those things really change the equation here. 

[TNtwins85]

19 minutes ago, Charleo said:

Seeing what the A's got for Miller (and Sears)....I'm even more disappointed.  Duran is better than Miller and they got the 3rd best prospect in baseball plus others.  Ugh....

It seems that way and yes De Vries is a top 5 talent in the world but the other players in the deal are Nett(unranked but solid) and 2 guys ranked as a 40 grade and a 45 grade. Equals out to roughly the same really when you break it down. Maybe Falvey could’ve squeezed for a bit more and I think he should’ve but the A’s didn’t make out like bandit compared to the Twins really. The San Diego system was De Vries, Salas and …… name the random guy. 

[LA Vikes Fan]

21 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

The A's included another pitcher, the A's pitcher has 2 more years of control, and costs a lot less in salary. All those things really change the equation here. 

Agreed. Let's also not forget that Mason Miller was better than Duran last year even if Duran is better this year. Frankly, I see the two as pretty even with Miller probably a little more valuable because of the extra years of control and lower costs. Add in that the A's included a quality MLB fourth starter and you would expect them to get more in return than the Twins got for just Duran. And frankly, I'm not sure the A's did get more overall. Depends on whether Abel is a real pitcher. 

[Beast]

This analysis sounds a little more optimistic on some of his tools than I’ve seen elsewhere.

Ive seen that he’s a “hit tool” first guy, without much mention of his physicality/power potential.

Ive also haven’t seen his arm as a plus, more along the lines of average.

Now, I haven’t spent a ton of time scouring scouting reports.  But, I’m certainly more optimistic about him after reading this more comprehensive piece.  Maybe a little more upside there than I initially thought?

Either way I was fine with the trade and think more “selling” is the proper course (only because I know they won’t spend the money needed to take this roster to another level).