Wait A Minute -- Could We See Emmanuel Rodriguez Called Up To The Twins In September?

While the Twins will surely be cautious with Emmanuel Rodriguez (ranked No. 3 in the latest Twins Daily Prospect Ranking), teams are often forced to get creative if they want to catch lightning in a bottle before the postseason. So is it realistic for fans across Twins Territory to dream of a scenario where the slugging outfielder makes his MLB debut with the club this month? It will probably depend on two major factors - Rodriguez’s performance on the field and the availability of a spot on the now-28-man roster.

While there isn’t much time remaining for him to to turn heads in St. Paul (16 games, to be exact), it only takes one big push to prove you’re the top dog in the upper level of the minor leagues. If he can showcase his fantastic eye at the plate (25.1% walk rate in 37 games at Double-A this season) while boasting his patented plus power (.621 slugging percentage) and speed (nine stolen bases), he’ll be awfully enticing for a Twins lineup that is seemingly running on fumes. 

For what it’s worth, the team isn’t in urgent need of a left-handed outfielder--at least, not exactly, and not yet. Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner are both swinging strong bats at the moment, and are middle-of-the-order hitters against opposing righties. Max Kepler is still seeing regular playing time, but he’s been dealing with a sore knee for a few weeks now, and his performance hasn’t been particularly impressive (.246/.287/.352 clip in the second half, 81 wRC+). And after being a late-scratch to Tuesday night’s starting lineup in Tampa Bay, questions continue to swirl regarding the right fielder’s health and effectiveness down the stretch.

Should the Twins decide to put Kepler on the shelf, the easy answer would be to activate center fielder Byron Buxton, who will likely return for the Kansas City series, either way. But beyond that, you could make the case that Rodriguez presents the best opportunity for an upgrade in the outfield. Not only has he had a fantastic season when healthy, but he plays a competent center field (which could be huge, given the murky nature of Buxton’s health status) and he is already on the 40-man roster, meaning the Twins wouldn’t have to risk losing a player who would need to come off the roster in his place.

So what could Rodriguez provide for this year’s Twins team? Why would they even consider promoting a 21-year-old who only has 38 games above High-A? 

If Kepler were to go on the injured list, and the Twins wanted to increase their thump from the left side of the plate, Rodriguez would slide in rather perfectly to an outfield that had Larnach in left, Wallner in right, with Brooks Lee and Willi Castro playing up the middle on the dirt. Buxton will likely need days off, or at least days as the designated hitter. Just imagine this batting order against a right-handed opponent, and how well each of these players has done in those scenarios so far in 2024:

1. Castro - SS (117 wRC+)
2. Larnach - LF (127)
3. Wallner - RF (170)
4. Lewis - 3B (142)
5. Buxton - CF/DH (142)
6. Carlos Santana - 1B (94)
7. Ryan Jeffers - C (110)
8. Lee - 2B (80)
9. Rodriguez - CF/DH

That’s a pretty fearsome lineup, and one that still provides a ton of positional versatility and impactful pinch-hit opportunities. And for a team that had an inconsistent stream of run support in August, and continues to lack clarity regarding the return of their star shortstop, Rodriguez could provide a jolt that other players on the fringe of the roster simply can’t at this time. 

A Rodriguez promotion would likely mean one of Austin Martin or Michael Helman gets optioned--which wouldn’t be the end of the world, as neither are providing a ton of value at the moment, nor are they at risk of being claimed by another team. Each has options remaining, so they could be shuttled back to St. Paul without being exposed to waivers.

Is it likely that Rodriguez plays his way into an opportunity with the big league club in September and hopefully into the playoffs? Probably not. It's more probable that both he and the team want to avail themselves of this chance to get regular playing time at Triple-A, after an injury-disrupted season. However, there is a version of reality where it could make the most sense to challenge him and roll the dice for the huge potential return of a late-season MLB debut. For now, the outfield prodigy can continue to acclimate himself to Triple-A, and wait for an opportunity to be their lightning in a bottle. 

What do you think? Would you like to see Rodriguez get a chance with the big league club before the end of the season? Or should the Twins let him simmer in Triple-A for the remainder of the year? Let us know what you think in the comment section, and as always stay sweet.