Emmanuel Rodriguez Has Waited Long Enough

[Whammy]

32 minutes ago, farmerguychris said:

Sure - why not bring him up when the put Buxton on the IL in the next few days.  Prefer this over bringing up Jenkins because I'd like the coaches to be able to work with him next year during a lock out.

Generally I don't bag on people for their glass half empty opinions/attitudes. This isn't even really glass half empty. This is just the exhausting negative attitude around baseball happening next season.

And like I said, I generally see people think this negatively and just treat it as "whatever. Their crappy expectations don't have to dictate me having positive ones"

But this idea of not bringing him up so that he can play in the minors next year (and it's not just you. There are lot of people saying this) crosses the line into pissing me off. Because now, you're making decisions that are affecting this year's team and their ability to fight for a playoff spot, and adjusting them because of this negativity around next year. Your negative assumptions for next year are preventing positivity this year and that's no way to be.

[LastOnePicked]

1 minute ago, farmerguychris said:

He ain't in the HOF yet - he still can improve and having access to coaches will only help him be the best player he can become.

When this MiLB coaching staff starts churning out HOF-quality players, then we'll talk.

I fail to see how another year at a level he's already dominated will help him conquer the level he's never experienced. 

[LastOnePicked]

6 minutes ago, Whammy said:

Your negative assumptions for next year are preventing positivity this year and that's no way to be.

I mean, it may be a realistic assumption. By all accounts, the MLBPA absolutely will not accept a salary cap, and the owners absolutely will not move forward without one.

But I fail to see how Jenkins's future is possibly helped by not playing at the level his skills suggest he's ready for. What can he learn about himself as an MLB player simply by recycling AAA experiences?

[TJSweens]

I have a couple of friends down here in Florida who are Chicago transplants. They were telling me how much they loved that the Sox purged mediocre vets and went with the kids last year and this year. They are loving the results. We've been begging the Twins to do that all year. 

We've been waiting to see Culpepper,  Emma and Jenkins together up here. It's past time to demote, Jackson, Roden and any other dead weight. There is only have 5 weeks to gage what Emma can do against major league pitching. They need to do it now! Bring up him and Jenkins and play them every day. Make room for Festa too. 

[HarmonK03]

2 hours ago, killercarewoliva said:

without Jeffers next year we need to keep Jackson.

Are you talking about the same Alex Jackson that 29 teams just passed on grabbing for nothing, who has a career batting average of .174.  He did some nice things for us like any role player should.  But if we lose him, which is doubtful he is replaceable.

[mluebker]

5 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

Twins off day today. Put Buxton on the IL. Bring Jenkins to Target Field to get comfortable with his new clubhouse and get some swings in. Put him in the lineup in CF to start the homestand tomorrow.

Yes, yes, and yes.

[HarmonK03]

Jenkins needs to be up here tomorrow and ERod next Tuesday.  They will have to make two moves, are they willing to demote Roden and put Jackson on waivers again.  All the comments do not lead me to believe they are considering putting Buxton on the IL yet.  Should they, I think they should, but he still feels he can play with treatment.  No he isn't helping the team by making them play short for a few games but just because we want him on the IL doesn't mean it will happen.

[chpettit19]

43 minutes ago, farmerguychris said:

He ain't in the HOF yet - he still can improve and having access to coaches will only help him be the best player he can become.

He likely already has private coaches he uses during the offseason. Or, if he doesn't, he'll get them if there's a lockout that bleeds into the season. Like most professional baseball players. They aren't working with team staff during the offseason, they're working at baseball training facilities with their private hitting, fielding, or pitching coaches.

[farmerguychris]

1 hour ago, Whammy said:

Generally I don't bag on people for their glass half empty opinions/attitudes. This isn't even really glass half empty. This is just the exhausting negative attitude around baseball happening next season.

And like I said, I generally see people think this negatively and just treat it as "whatever. Their crappy expectations don't have to dictate me having positive ones"

But this idea of not bringing him up so that he can play in the minors next year (and it's not just you. There are lot of people saying this) crosses the line into pissing me off. Because now, you're making decisions that are affecting this year's team and their ability to fight for a playoff spot, and adjusting them because of this negativity around next year. Your negative assumptions for next year are preventing positivity this year and that's no way to be.

Your argument has points.... But lets remember - E Rod isn't exactly a chump.  He's ranked between #2-#5 of ALL our prospects in the minors.  He's already on the 40 man, and he's OUT of minor league options.  I daresay its even more important to see what we have in E Rod than what we have in Jenkins because next season we have to decide to either put him in the majors, or risk losing him.  I'm not punting on the season, I just think E Rod also has earned his shot and we need to see what we have in him more quickly than we do in Jenkins.

[Whammy]

5 minutes ago, farmerguychris said:

Your argument has points.... But lets remember - E Rod isn't exactly a chump.  He's ranked between #2-#5 of ALL our prospects in the minors.  He's already on the 40 man, and he's OUT of minor league options.  I daresay its even more important to see what we have in E Rod than what we have in Jenkins because next season we have to decide to either put him in the majors, or risk losing him.  I'm not punting on the season, I just think E Rod also has earned his shot and we need to see what we have in him more quickly than we do in Jenkins.

I want them both up. 

As you note, the mechanics of option years has put us in the weird spot with Emma. Emma needs to come up because he needs MLB reps. He's ready... just not AS ready Jenkins, in my opinion. 

We aren't in a weird spot with Jenkins other than it being painfully obvious that he can probably add a spark to the major league team. 

[SteveLV]

The apparent angst over Jenkins taking a roster spot on the 40 man confuses me.

If it is concern over being locked out in the Spring, I kinda get it.

But if it the idea that we can't find anyone to drop from the 40 man to make room, this is ridiculous.  We can cut 10 guys right now and have no material impact on their competitiveness, maybe more.  This is hardly a loaded roster.

[Andy MacPhail]

The time is right, bring up Emma & play him. They should have brought him up when Martin went down.

[Fatbat]

With Erod and Jenkins in the Twins lineup daily, we probs win 7of 10 games. Its clearly service time manipulation that they are both in AAA yet. 

[jimbo92107]

The team's outfield has been disappointing. At this point, having called up their top prospect, why hold back with another top outfielder? Bring up Emmanuel Rodgriguez. 

[saviking]

9 hours ago, saviking said:

I mainly watch the Twins now to see Culpepper play. Bring up E-Rod so I have someone else to entertain me. 

And now I have Jenkins!!!

[Derojo]

Speculating about Erod is like farting into the wind. A lot of stink and not much substance.

[DJL44]

11 hours ago, bean5302 said:

He wouldn't have needed to wait so long if he wasn't an absolute moron who refused to learn his lesson about using his thumb as a braking mechanism every time he slides into a base. 

If there's space on the roster, sure, Emma should be called up so the Twins can confirm his game will play at the MLB level or if the K rate will approach or exceed 50%. I expect the latter, but I think Emma's either an All Star caliber player (early Gallo) or a bust (later Gallo). I don't think there's much in between.

I still think Max Kepler is a good projection. Good RF defense, hits .230 with a bunch of strikeouts.

[Historyking88]

He can keep waiting! He’s just Sano 2.0. Trade him in the offseason for an established rotation arm. 

[umterp23]

9 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

He likely already has private coaches he uses during the offseason. Or, if he doesn't, he'll get them if there's a lockout that bleeds into the season. Like most professional baseball players. They aren't working with team staff during the offseason, they're working at baseball training facilities with their private hitting, fielding, or pitching coaches.

Last I heard he works with Jeffers in off season and then some work with UNC Wilmington baseball team before training camp with Jeffers as well.they get a plan for off season from coaching staff with check-ins on progress. It’s up to the player in the end to be ready come spring training 

[MeleMouth]

On 8/27/2026 at 7:32 AM, chpettit19 said:

Twins off day today. Put Buxton on the IL. Bring Jenkins to Target Field to get comfortable with his new clubhouse and get some swings in. Put him in the lineup in CF to start the homestand tomorrow.

Emma up on 9/1 with roster expansion.

Bring Buxton back if Cleveland hasn't finally put the sub-.500 teams to bed. If they've pulled away and the playoff field is essentially set, let him get surgery if it's needed or just a few extra weeks of rest heading into the offseason while the kids get some experience for 2027 and beyond.

Buxton should have surgery now instead of risking his hip getting worse. They should also end the magical thinking that he will play better with an injury if he just rests it a little while. It's never worked for him in the past and this injury could be worse. You just can't play baseball well with his hip injury.

[bean5302]

12 hours ago, DJL44 said:

I still think Max Kepler is a good projection. Good RF defense, hits .230 with a bunch of strikeouts.

Max Kepler for Walker Jenkins, sure. 60 grade raw power, very good contact rates, below average K rates, good plate discipline, just barely good enough speed to cover CF, great defensive instincts, solid arm, left handed batter. That makes a ton of sense.

 

For Emma, I don't see it. Emma has elite raw power, and terrible contact rates. Kepler's career K rate is only 18.7%. 

[DJL44]

24 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

Max Kepler for Walker Jenkins, sure. 60 grade raw power, very good contact rates, below average K rates, good plate discipline, just barely good enough speed to cover CF, great defensive instincts, solid arm, left handed batter. That makes a ton of sense.

For Emma, I don't see it. Emma has elite raw power, and terrible contact rates. Kepler's career K rate is only 18.7%. 

Kyle Tucker is the comp for Walker Jenkins.

[HarmonK03]

2 hours ago, MeleMouth said:

Buxton should have surgery now instead of risking his hip getting worse. They should also end the magical thinking that he will play better with an injury if he just rests it a little while. It's never worked for him in the past and this injury could be worse. You just can't play baseball well with his hip injury.

What surgery is he putting off, I did not realize the injury required surgery.  All reports are that it needs rest that isn't going to happen until the offseason or sooner if he shuts it down.

[ashbury]

9 hours ago, MeleMouth said:

Buxton should have surgery now instead of risking his hip getting worse. 

Is there reason to think some specific surgery is being considered?  People older than Buxton get their hips entirely replaced; if "surgery" less than replacement were an option presumably that would be the preference.  It's possible there's no fixing him.

[HarmonK03]

1 minute ago, ashbury said:

Is there reason to think some specific surgery is being considered?  People older than Buxton get their hips entirely replaced; if "surgery" less than replacement were an option presumably that would be the preference.  It's possible there's no fixing him.

Zoll said today offseason surgery is definitely a possibility.

[MeleMouth]

2 minutes ago, ashbury said:

Is there reason to think some specific surgery is being considered?  People older than Buxton get their hips entirely replaced; if "surgery" less than replacement were an option presumably that would be the preference.  It's possible there's no fixing him.

They said he has an impingement. Hundreds or thousands of athletes have surgeries for hip impingements. For example, in 2005 Matt Birk had hip surgery for a torn labrum, then played ten more years. Similarly, in 2006, a somewhat pioneering surgery was done on LaMarcus Aldridge in his second year of college, when he was injured pretty badly, and he went on to play 16 years in the NBA. To put that lengthy career in context, just imagine the hip movements necessary to play basketball and the risk from jumping and landing on a bad hip. Those were 20 years ago. Surgery has gotten a lot better since then.

[MeleMouth]

On 8/27/2026 at 12:30 PM, TJSweens said:

I have a couple of friends down here in Florida who are Chicago transplants. They were telling me how much they loved that the Sox purged mediocre vets and went with the kids last year and this year. They are loving the results. We've been begging the Twins to do that all year. 

We've been waiting to see Culpepper,  Emma and Jenkins together up here. It's past time to demote, Jackson, Roden and any other dead weight. There is only have 5 weeks to gage what Emma can do against major league pitching. They need to do it now! Bring up him and Jenkins and play them every day. Make room for Festa too. 

Agree with most, but what are they going to do with Festa, who just had season-ending double surgery four weeks ago?

[ashbury]

13 minutes ago, MeleMouth said:

They said he has an impingement. Hundreds or thousands of athletes have surgeries for hip impingements. For example, in 2005 Matt Birk had hip surgery for a torn labrum, then played ten more years. Similarly, in 2006, a somewhat pioneering surgery was done on LaMarcus Aldridge in his second year of college, when he was injured pretty badly, and he went on to play 16 years in the NBA. To put that lengthy career in context, just imagine the hip movements necessary to play basketball and the risk from jumping and landing on a bad hip. Those were 20 years ago. Surgery has gotten a lot better since then.

Yeah.  Minutes after I made my post I saw that Gleeman was relaying a specific comment about surgery on the horizon.  Never mind. Though, it was a genuine question, that I had missed there being an answer to. 

He might go on the 60-day the day after they lose the game that finally makes the FO (and ownership) throw in the towel on the season.

[DocBauer]

Thank you Mr Larnach for your service as a solid, slightly above average ML OF for us the past few years. We'll keep you on the roster to finish the season and you'll still play once in a while, but you won't be back next season. While the playoffs are a pipedream at this point, we're still trying to finish strong and hopefully hit a .500 record. But we have younger, more talented young players that might not only give us a spark, but we need to get them ready for 2027.

Thank you Mr Roden for a handful od good games and a couple BIG moments. We still like you and believe you have a ML future, with us or with someone else. But right now, we're shooting for a .500 record and need to play even younger players with more potential to get them ready for 2027.

That's really the story here.

Jenkins, Buxton, Keaschall, and Rodriguez are all in the Twins OF for 2027. Jenkins is now being brought up. Rodriguez should be up in a couple of days. Emma is extremely talented. He's got CF speed...for now at least...and a RF arm. He's got 20-20 potential, along with 30+ DBLs every single year, to go along with quality defense. He could HIT only around .225-.235 with an OB% of around .315...given his eye and zone control...and STILL be a productive, valuable player.

Some have speculated he could be "protected" in 2027 as if he was a rule 5 player being "stashed" to allow him time to develop. I call B.S. on that idea! He needs to play! The Brewers, Guardians, and Rays aren't afraid to play young prospects and give them time to "fail" some while "figuring it out". And the Twins shouldn't be afraid to follow the same path!

And while there are obvious concerns about Rodriguez and his K% vs BB% and career AVG in MILB, his ability to still HIT at an acceptable pace at each MILB stop, along with ALWAYS having a high OB% tells me there is SOME actual HIT ability inside of him.

I recall an interview with him during ST where he openly stated he understood he couldn't be as passive at the ML level as he was in MILB and would have to be more aggressive on pitches he could hit at the ML level because he knew the pitchers would be better. Sounds like a kid who has a pretty good understanding of who he is, has been, and needs to be as a ML ballplayer. Smart young man. 

I understand he's a bit of an enigma who might take a little time to get his total game going. But forget "freezer burn" as to him being a prospect. Just look at the production when he's been on the field. NOTHING is guaranteed, but the potential is a very special player if given a little time.

And that time should start no later than September 1st! He and Jenkins should be in the lineup 5 days out of 6 in whatever lineup configuration is needed to make that happen. The Twins might be shooting for a .500 record, but getting ready for 2027 is what's most important at this point. And those goals aren't mutually exclusive.