Ranking Twins Players Age 25 and Under: Part 2 (1-5)

It would be nice if at least 6 of the 7 position players and 2 of the 3 pitchers on this list were everyday players on the Twins by May 1, 2024. 
 

Interesting that you would rank Lee #1 even though he hasn't played a game in the bigs. Kiriloff could be much higher if he would stop getting injured all the time. Lewis is starting to win me over but he also tends to get hurt. Duran needs more consistent command with all his pitches but is my #1 with Kiriloff #2 and Lewis #3 as far as potential. Throwing 98+ isn't a big deal to major league hitters anymore. Hopefully 7-8 of these will really be good when they are here permanently.

I would have Balazovich on the list somewhere.  He is proving himself reliable in the pen now.  

Can't agree with Lee over Lewis.  Why?  Simple, Lewis has proven he can get it done in the big leagues.  Lee has not.

Is this a prospect list or the best Twins players under 25?  Seems to be a mishmash of both...

I'd place Lewis #1 at this point. I'd place Martin ahead of Julien, both are excellent OB players but Martin is a better fielder & base runner. I don't blame Martin for prior lack of production, I blame mismanagement.

Every time I see Lewis play I get more impressed. He deserves to be #1. It seems like Wallner is making leaps forward, too. I don't think his defense is nearly as bad as some claim, though of course SSS.

Lewis is my #1, dude just rakes in the bigs. I'm also putting Walker Jenkins behind Lee at #3. Have a hunch that Jenkins will be a fast track player, kid oozes with talent 

Just let the kids play the game , they are all talented players that are destined  to play in

the major leagues , some will have a long career and maybe some won't  ...

It's not whether you win or lose , it's how you play the game  ...

2 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Agree with the Lewis above Lee comments because he’s done it over a couple stints in MLB.

Really though, who cares how they are listed, which is 2 or 6? What matters is, are they going to be a solid pro.

Duran - check ……Lewis - Check …….Julien - check……Wallner - check……Kirilloff - check

Lee - gotta believe yes……that’s a core of 6 guys.

Varland - Martin have a great shot with a little more time……..75% chance. Martin may be for another team?

 

Me personally not ready to put a check next to any of those players except Duran. He has actually done it for 1 1/2.

I do feel pretty confident in Lewis (if he can stay healthy) and AK if he comes back this year and does well (otherwise that will be 3 lost year and still unknown how good he is or if he can stay healthy)

I need to see more in Julien and Wallner they both have way, way less at bats than Miranda had.

With that said I feel pretty comfortable going into next season giving Lewis, Julien and Wallner (with a shorter leash because he will be 26 next season)  starting spots.

It appears the Twins have some good young players who will help them in the coming years so the future looks bright for many years to come. I am still not a fan of how Rocco manages players, but think he will be around for a long time based on the Twins history with past managers. I think we can only hope that he becomes a better manager. Twins need to reduce strikeout and hit into fewer double plays.

5 hours ago, roger said:

Can't agree with Lee over Lewis.  Why?  Simple, Lewis has proven he can get it done in the big leagues.  Lee has not.

Agreed. I'd probably put Duran at #1, then Julien/Kirilloff/Lewis/Wallner in any order at 2-5 due to their ability to perform at the MLB level. Lee then goes to 6.

Unproven vs guys who are all OPSing over .800 in The Show? Yes, please, to the guys performing at a high-level in The Show.

Lee may be #1 in this exercise a year from now, but not as of 8.16.2023.

5 hours ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

Is this a prospect list or the best Twins players under 25?  Seems to be a mishmash of both...

It is clickbait

I think comparing an organization’s 25 and under talent is more valuable than prospect lists. I would suggest that the work would be done in tiers instead of ranking.

I do think ranking is helpful in getting clicks and conversation about 1v2 or 9v10 but those conversations don’t have much value particularly when looking within one organization itself where the sum of the pieces is what matters.

That top tier in the central might include Luis Robert and Bobby Witt. Would Duran or Clase also be included. The next tier might include players like Greene, Bibee, Lewis, Julien and others who have shown tier 1 promise but not sustained it yet. 

The conversation now turns to comparing the organizations in the central and discourse about individuals and whether they have met a bar for a tier. It would also give a picture of the health of the organization as cost controlled players are extremely valuable to the teams in the central.

Why not include Jenkins, Rodriguez, or other prospects? Miranda, SWR, and Varland have worn a Twins uniform. Martin and Lee have not made an appearance with the Twins. I do like the possibilities of the five currently rostered: Wallner, Julien, Lewis Duran, and Kirilloff (IL). I might have missed the explanation.